LifePoint Church

What would cause someone to be dunked under water while lots of other people watch and cheer? Jesus chose to be baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist, at the beginning of his ministry. We continue following Jesus' example in baptism as well as his command to baptize others. Let's explore the significance of this unusual practice and celebration this weekend.

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New possibilities, new opportunities, and new hope--all rising from new life in Jesus, that is what Easter is all about. Jesus Christ rose up and walked out of a tomb to begin God's new creation work. Together, we join him in this new creation and explore this most significant moment where Jesus rose from the dead. Let's rediscover Jesus as our Living Hope!

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Jesus’ three stories in Matthew 25 pass on his mission to his followers and offer a glimpse of his coming Kingdom. Our task is to live today with growing awareness and confidence in the coming of his kingdom and to bring into our reality the values of that future day. How can we take our next step into faithfully following Jesus today while recognizing all that tomorrow holds for us?

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Salvation is a free, unconditional gift. We receive that gift through faith in the work that God already completed in Jesus Christ—his life, death, and resurrection. This gift can’t be taken away or lost and is all about God’s work for us. The Scriptures also teach that we can receive rewards for our faithfulness with the good gifts and opportunities God gives us in life. These rewards can be won or lost and are conditional—based on our faithfulness and good works. The second story Jesus tells in Matthew 25 encourages us to be faithful stewards of the resources, gifts, and opportunities God entrusts to us. How can we live a life worthy of rich rewards in eternity?

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What does it look like for us to continue Jesus’ mission and faithfully watch for his return? As Jesus faced the end of his life, he also talked about the end of this age (or as we might think of it, the end of the world) and charged his followers to be faithful until the conclusion of history when Jesus returns to establish his kingdom. In the first of three stories Jesus told in Matthew 25, we discover a sense of urgency as our temporary life now connects with eternal life that never ends.

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Jesus must have frequently shocked and sometimes scandalized his original audiences. Today, when we take the time to listen to his words in the Gospels, how could we avoid being surprised? Mark carefully sequenced narratives about Jesus and teaching from Jesus to help us understand what a Jesus-following looks like. As we conclude this portion of teaching through Mark’s Gospel, we come away surprised by Jesus again but also receive insight about responding to the surprises we experience from life with Jesus.

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Following Jesus will lead us into situations that will test our faith. Jesus told us to expect troubles in this world. But trials still catch us by surprise. They can leave us confused. Thankfully, we can trust God in the difficult times because we know they are opportunities for our perseverance, our character, and our hope to grow stronger-if we persist. And in the end, unimaginable glory awaits us!

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On our journey with Jesus, it’s all too easy to focus on the steps we’re taking and lose sight of the one we’re following. When this happens, we’re in danger of constructing a rigid religion instead of enjoying the revolutionary relationship Jesus invites into. Following Jesus liberates us from legalism while giving us the tools to receive His love and grace daily.

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Part of growing up in Jesus means realizing that Jesus is the primary actor in our lives, and we learn to react or respond to what he has done. Through Jesus’ words, healing a paralyzed man, and then partying with sinners—we find Jesus taking bold, unexpected actions that demand a response. This weekend let’s discover how we can respond to Jesus’ bewildering actions.

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Why should we follow Jesus with our lives? One of the big questions Mark tries to answer in his Gospel stories about Jesus is also a question every one of us ask. This weekend we’re exploring a few reasons Jesus is worth following. Along the way, we will also realize that following Jesus isn’t about self-improvement, self-realization, or self-care but involves self-service and sacrifice to expand God’s reign and God’s purposes.

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