In the Gospels that describe Jesus' birth, there are many characters surrounding the birth of the Messiah who are experiencing grief, suffering, loss, and great trials. And just as Jesus brought hope to those who waited for him then, he brings hope to those who wait for him now.

This Thanksgiving you can be grateful for all your highlights, or you can put in some time and some work and really explore the three hidden thanksgivings that can truly bless you this season. So whether its the gratitude for suffering, the unspoken gratitude, or the abundance of blessings hidden in the small fonts check out this sermon for ideas on how to really be grateful this season.

Our world is filled with so much worry and anxiety and money, inflation and the economy. And our natural instinct is to cling to what is ours. But both science and Scripture reveal that giving generously is the key to destroying financial anxiety. This sermon uses data, experiments, and examples of the incredible generosity bursting forth all around Northwest to explore how we can be set free from financial fears by following Jesus' example and being open handed givers.

How did Mark's Gospel end in his original version? We don't know for sure, but this sermon explores those possible endings and what it means for our understanding of Mark's conclusion. But the most important thing is that Mark's Gospel was never designed to end the story. His story was designed to launch a final chapter which is told in the lives change by the Jesus story. So how does your life and your response to the good news of Jesus finish Mark's otherwise unfinished gospel?

As Jesus heads toward the cross, small characters make decisions about how to respond to the crucifixion in ways that can help us think about our reaction to the cross today. We also explore how Jesus' words "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me," may not be an exclamation of abandonment, but rather a final sermon pointing us to the prophecy fulfilled from Psalm 22 which ends "HE HAS DONE IT!"

As Jesus enters Jerusalem the people give him a royal parade and proclaim the return of the line of David. But as Jesus enters what should have been his Temple coronation the parade fizzles and everybody goes to bed. While the Temple establishment failed to recognize it's Lord and Messiah, a woman anoints Jesus as the final events of Jesus' ministry are set into motion. Will you make Jesus king of your life?

In this crucial central part of Mark's gospel the Apostles are accepting that Jesus is the Son of God and Messiah, but they are also struggling to see what kind of Kingdom Jesus plans to rule over. This section, bookended by two stories of blind men seeing ask how much we truly see the true king.

This week we continue our study of Mark by learning the "Lesson of the Loaves." Mark weaves this lesson from the feeding of the 5000 to Jesus walking on water to Jesus feeding the 4000. When all of these things happen and the Apostles are still worried about having enough bread Jesus asks them, "Have you not learned the lesson of the loaves? Do you stil not understand?" The question for us, is if we still doubt Jesus has the power to move in our lives or do we still not understand?

We are too often afraid to have gospel conversations with people. But there's only three things that could happen. They could reject us (red light), be open to talking more (yellow light), or choose to follow Jesus (green lights). We are so afraid of red light interactions that we fail to chase green lights. But as we see in Mark 6, disciples chase green lights and don't let anything stop them. 

Pigs, blood, demons, unclean people, dead bodies...these were things that Jews wouldn't touch because it could make them unclean. But in today's sermon we see Jesus touch exactly these kinds of people in ways that fail to make him unclean but instead share his contagious holiness, cleanliness, and wholeness. Do we live like we believe that same power and Spirit dwells in us today?