-Sung Psalm- 116-----Associate Pastor Joel Irvin continues his series in Mark.----Outline-----1- Passover Preparation - the Sovereign Lord -vv. 12-16-----2- The Lord's Mercy for Those in Slavery -vv. 17-21-----3- Meaning of the Meal to Partakers -vv. 22-25-

Associate Pastor Joel Irvin continues his series in Mark.----Outline-----Passover near -v. 1--- Religious Leaders plan for Jesus' death -vv. 1a-2--- Nameless Woman helps prepare Jesus for death -vv. 3-9- -- Judas helps prepare Jesus for death -vv.10-11---Passover here -vv. 12ff-----1- The Secret Plans of Men - the Sovereign Purposes of God -vv. 1-2-----2- An Act of Beauty for a Time Such as This -vv. 3-9-----3- An Act of Betrayal as Judas Considers the Cost -vv. 10-11-

-Sung Psalm- 33-----When I was at General Assembly I saw a dear friend. He commented on how he sometimes feels as though his ministry is redundant. He serves in an area where there are lots of PCA and OPC churches. -There are so many other churches - so many other pastors - what is the point of my ministry------There is a tendency in our culture to make us think that we have to be -special-. Americans, in particular, have an illusion of superiority. If you ask 100 Americans to rate themselves in various attributes, most people will rate themselves in the top third - which is absurd, if you think about it.----We can't all be above average--- --It's worth noting that other cultures don't do this. Japanese, Chinese, Koreans - tend to rate themselves more accurately. Then again, they don't have this crazy notion that everyone is special-----Revelation 5 shows us that Jesus is special. He is worthy. And no one else.----That's freeing- I don't have to be special- My ministry should be redundant- Our lives should be ordinary.----God blesses the weak and foolish things - and uses them in his kingdom-----And we see that clearly in our text today...

Tonight we conclude our study of Zechariah's night visions with consideration of the final three visions.----The first and the last visions include horsemen -or chariots- who patrol the earth. In the first vision, the LORD was angry for 70 years with his people. But the promise of the first vision was that -the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.- -1-17- And in the last vision - the vision of the four chariots, the Spirit of the LORD is now at rest.----In the second vision Zechariah saw four horns that scattered Judah - and four craftsmen who cast down the four horns - the nations that scattered God's people. ----In the third vision, - the vision of a man with a measuring line - the LORD had called his people out of Babylon, and had promised that many nations would join themselves to the LORD -which is where chapter 6 will end as well-- ----In the fourth vision, Zechariah saw Joshua, the high priest, standing before the angel of the LORD in filthy garments - and the LORD clothed Joshua in pure vestments - taking his iniquity away -and now in chapter 5, -iniquity- is taken away from Israel as well-.----In the fifth vision, Zechariah saw a golden lampstand - and heard the word of the LORD to Zerubabbel- -Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the LORD of hosts.-

-Sung Psalm- 122-----In Exodus 24 we see the first corporate worship service in Israel's history. God had told Moses to bring his people out of Egypt to Mt. Sinai where they would worship God.-- --So Israel does precisely what God had commanded Moses- They offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings -v5-. Then -as the meat of the peace offering was being cooked- Moses read the Book of the Covenant to Israel. The people of God responded by professing their faith and obedience - -All that the LORD has spoken we will do- - and then Moses sprinkled the blood of the covenant on the people -thereby showing the connection between the blood of the covenant and the book of the covenant-.----And then Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up the mountain-----Wait--------God had said no one besides Moses and Aaron were to go up the mountain- What has happened-----The sacrifice has happened- Through the shedding of blood, sin is atoned for. God is teaching Israel that the wages of sin is death - and the only way for a sinful people to enter the presence of a holy God is through the blood of the covenant.----And so they go up the mountain and they eat and drink before God.----For us, we enter the presence of God through the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus- ----And then we hear the book of the covenant read and proclaimed. We respond with our prayers and praises. And we partake of the covenant meal - we participate in the body and blood of our Lord Jesus.----Now, we don't follow this pattern just because Moses did it. Rather - as Revelation will show us - Moses himself followed this pattern because it is the heavenly pattern...

-Sermon Outline-----Disciples say, -Look at the great Temple-- Jesus then predicts destruction -vv. 1-2- -- -WHEN, Jesus-- -v. 4- -----Vv. 5-31 refer to days -plural- to occur during -this generation,- i.e. the disciples' generation.---- -5- -See that no one leads you astray-- False teachers,- -8- -end is NOT YET- -- -9- -Be on your Guard-- Trials, gospel to all nations,- -9- -BEGINNING--- BUT WHEN you see the abomination of desolation -vv. 14-23--- -19- -for IN THOSE DAYS- -specific time period in the -not yet- end period- -- -22-3- -Be on your guard- False teachers will arise-- BUT IN -THOSE DAYS,- reference to v. 19 -vv. 24-31--- -26,27- -And THEN- And THEN- -Answering -WHEN- of v. 4--- -28, 30- -WHEN you see these things taking place- this generation------Vv. 32-36 refers to unknown future day -singular- after -those days--- -- BUT CONCERNING THAT DAY no one knows, no t even Son -vv. 32- 36--- -33- -Be on guard- Keep awake-- You do not know when-- -35- -Stay awake-- You do not know when-- -36- -Stay awake-- Lest he come suddenly and find you asleep

Sermon outline-----1- Passionate about Fruitfulness -vv. 12-14-----2- Pulling Down the Fa-ade -vv. 15-19-----3- Prayer- The Power of Faith - a Posture of Forgiveness -vv. 20-25-

Sermon Outline----1- Relationship is much more than Religious Rituals -vv. 28-34-----2- A Riddle to Ponder about the Messiah's Identity -vv. 35-37- ----3- Religious Hypocrisy - a Reversal of Status -vv. 38-40-----4- A Clue from a Poor Widow- Giving Your Whole Life -vv. 44-44-

Sermon Outline-----1- Allegiance during the Kingdom of this Age -vv. 12-14-----2- Like Angels in the Kingdom to Come -vv. 15-19-----3- Not Far from the Kingdom of God -vv. 20-25-

Sermon Outline-----1- A Question about Temple Authority -and How to Know When You Are Being a Fool- -11-27-33-----2- A Story of Unprecedented Privilege - Irrational Rebellion -12-1-8- ----3- The Answer to the Temple Question - the Glory of God's Sovereignty -12-9-12-