Truth should change things! As we consider this week's passage, we find that Mark keys in on how one should respond to the Word of truth given by our Lord. To sum it up in a few words, the message for the hearers is 'repent and believe!'Today as we go into the book of Mark, we want to see how Jesus presented the gospel and the response He expected. We also want to see how the disciples responded to His call to follow Him.

As we begin our study in the book of Mark, we find a gospel that focuses on the life and ministry of our Lord for a specific duration - from the time His ministry here on earth began to the conclusion of it on the cross. Mark's gospel begins abruptly and it ends rather abruptly as we'll see at the close of the book. In the introduction there is no mention of the miraculous birth of the Lord as in the books of Luke and Matthew. There is no mention of His existence in eternity past with the Father as in the book of John. Mark begins with the conviction that Jesus is the Messiah - the Son of God sent to us by the Father is worthy to follow!

God is Sovereign. He is the God of revelation. His plans unfold according to His Word and His power supersedes the powers of this earth.

What is a gift? A gift is something given with no expectation of something being given in return. Each gift we give in the right spirit is a picture of God's grace and the way He gives gifts. This morning we're going to see from God's Word the greatest gift ever given - the Lord Jesus Christ and His provision for our sin.

Big Idea: Chapter 7:1-22 Wisdom confronts reality and provides perspective on the human condition while benefiting the wise by preserving and protecting them. Chapter 7:23-29 Wisdom can only come from God. Everything else is just a futile destructive scheme by man to be like God.

As we come to the conclusion of Hebrews, we find a benediction that reminds us who God is and what He does in us. Really, these closing words are a summary of the entire book. There is praise for God’s person and plan and then power for us to perform His will.

As we come to this letter's closing comments, the writer of Hebrews takes up an issue that has been important to the church body throughout the ages - the issue of authority in church leadership. As leaders are to lead in a godly biblical way, so the church body is to follow their leadership in a godly, biblical way.

We find that many people have become dissillusioned with the idea of organized religion. Religion is a system of beliefs and practices that attempt to bring people closer to the god of their belief system. In every other religious model, the idea of working your way to God is centeral to their religious system. The teachings of Jesus Christ is something quite different. The Word of God informs us that we come into a relationship with God not based on what we've done, but solely on the basis of what Christ did for us on a the cross.

The issue of sound teaching is addressed in almost every letter recorded in the New Testament to one degree or another. Why is teaching the Word of God som important? Suppose you went to a mechanic who had been taught the wrong way to fix your car, or worse yet, a physician who had been taught the wrong way to treat you. God is a God of revelation. To go to other sources to learn more about Him or to make it up as we go along about God on our own will lead us to worship a false God - not the God of truth and revelation. This morning we want to see the importance of sound teaching, and that the internal change that God's grace brings is far superior to the external product of human effort.

For 12 chapters the writer of Hebrews has stressed the importance of choosing to follow the Lord Jesus Christ because of who He is, what He has done, and what awaits us in eternity because of Him. As we come to the closing chapter of this book, we're now given a series of commands as to how we can practically live in a way that reflects that we believe that our salvation has great value and is worthy of being a priority for us.