We are continuing our study through the Gospel of Mark with the 4th of Jesus's parables in chapter 4. It's yet another parable around the idea of a seed growing, but this time it's the smallest of seeds that a Jewish person would have grown in the ancient Near East, the Mustard Seed. In it we see that God can make the smallest thing grow to impact all the people of the world if we will partner with him. "Parables: Big Things in Small Packages" is now available!

The Kingdom of God is like a seed that is planted and grows. No one knows exactly how but God makes it happen. How can we partner with God to prepare the soil so that the Kingdom of God grows within us and those around us? "Parables: The Seed Grows" is now available!

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke tell Jesus's parable of the light that the good news should be placed on a lampstand and not be hidden. Both Matthew and John go on to recall Jesus saying to his disciples; "YOU are the light of the world" which can be a big pill to swallow depending on how you were brought up. Matthew takes it further saying that you are a "city on a hill". What is Jesus really getting at here? "Parables: YOU are the Light of the World" is now available!

The Parable of the Sower in the Gospel of Mark is really not about the sower. God sows seed indiscriminately but it is the condition of the soil that determines whether it will take root in our lives. How are we preparing our soil and the soil of other's lives? "Parables: Soil Prep" is now available!

Jesus spent so much time being with and helping those who were sick or oppressed by unclean spirits that he was accused of being possessed by a long extinct God named Beelzebub. Even his family was worried about him. He shows us what it looks like to care for others, fight spiritual forces and handle rejection. There's much to take away from Matthew's take on Mark 3.

You are chosen and called to partner with God to bless all the nations of the world as the new Israel. Will you accept the call? Only the few have before but no matter who you are or where you come from, Jesus is issuing an invitation to you.

Jesus did the unthinkable for the Pharisees and the Herodians when he healed a man on the Sabbath. His point was to show us that the Kingdom of God is radically inclusive to those who are hurting and are willing to follow and obey because they see how good God’s ways are.

The Sabbath is a moment in every week that reminds us that it is a blessing to be a live. That we are good, God is good and life is good. Jesus confronts the legalism of the Pharisees as they miss the point of this God appointed time to rejuvenate.

What if God is not looking to empower our own personal hopes and dreams for a “good” life but instead is trying to rescue and transform us into a better humanity.

We live in a culture that says more is more but is that the message God is tryign to tell through scripture? Whether we feel less than ourselves or that our lives will not be complete unless we have more (fill in the blank), much of Jesus's message was that less is actually more. What will we choose?