When we read the stories of the Bible from the comfort of our modern homes and conveniences it's easy to forget that life for those we're reading about was difficult. Often they faced death as a daily part of life but even more so for early believers who's lives were so transformed that that their friends and family wanted them dead, not just quiet. But that's the nature of the Gospel message; it's transformational not just informational. If what we hear doesn't transform us to look, live and love more like Jesus can it really be called the Gospel?

Paul preached in Thessaloniki for not more than 21 days yet the people were so transformed by the work of God over those 21 days that their lives were forever changed. They allowed faith to work in them and then through them, laboring from a place of love for others and held onto the hope of Jesus' return despite difficult persecution. 21 days and everything changed for them - what about us?

We've look at how Jesus challenged the Jewish understanding of culture, gender-roles, the future and nationalism and now we'll see Jesus begin to shift the understanding of family. In a patriarchal society where family was HUGE (consider how most names in the bible are so and so begat so and so) Jesus says your church family is ALSO your family with all the baggage and beautifulness.

Jesus used apocalyptic language to talk about the future - not to share specifics about what would happen in the future, but to give a framework for coming to grips with the future. One phrase on repeat was, “no one knows the day or the hour except the Father.” This was not mysterious language this was well known marriage language. In part 2 of Future we’ll discuss how we should look at the future, not with fear but with faith.

During the time period of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, women faced oppression and very low status among their male counterparts. Men had the power, women had very little of anything. But the Bible actually gives women prominent placement, elevates their names and calls our attention to them. The Apostle John includes a story of a woman who bucks convention and shows us how to love and worship Jesus well, something the disciples would learn from her.

In Mark 13 Jesus speaks to His disciples about what’s to come in what some people call the little apocalypse. There has been much speculated about the future and a lot of fear surrounding the future - that was not the biblical authors intention. Apocalyptic literature, even in the bible isn’t supposed to be about what’s going to happen or when it’s going to happen but WHY it’s happening and WHO’s in charge.

Jesus was a Jew who never renounced His Jewish heritage or told others to stop being Jews. Instead, Jesus impacted His culture by loving God and loving others. If Jesus is your King and you're working for His Kingdom to come and will to be done then you've got to stop making enemies and start loving everyone.

Easter is an exciting time for followers of Jesus because we know how the story ends, but for those who where there that first Easter morning it was a much different story. Whether your new to faith or have been a follower a long time the Empty tomb and Risen Jesus changes everything.

When Jesus cleared the Temple He was angry because those who had come to worship God were being denied access because of their financial position, physical condition or place of origin. Jesus clears the Temple area then heals those who had been denied access to the Temple because of their physical condition so they could draw close to God spiritually. On the cross Jesus did the same for all of us, He removed the sin that keeps us from the presence of God.

TJesus' 3 temptations are a symbolic do-over of Israel's 3 tests. The 3 tests were all about community. Jesus first, middle and last demonstrations of who He was not only show His commitment to community but also have a connection to water, bread and sacrifice.