The Table Community Church (Belgrade)

So, Jesus speaks in parables…a lot. These sayings are simple yet profound illustrations of what life looks like when we follow Jesus. This Sunday, we explore how Jesus uses seeds to teach us about life in his Kingdom. As followers of Jesus, we get frustrated at the time it takes for growth to occur, whether within a church or within our own spiritual life. Yet, Jesus’ teachings show us that the slow work is some of the best. We will look at what it means to have the patience and intentionality of a good farmer in this journey of discipleship.

Our apologies. Due to technical issues, there is no recording this week. Here is the description of the message:

This Sunday, we will be in Mark 4:21-25. Yes! Only four verses! But do not let the brevity fool you, as it is packed with meaning and instruction for us as followers of Jesus. I want you to think about one question as we prepare for Sunday: How do I know if I take Jesus seriously? Now…taking Jesus seriously does not mean we live with stoic posture or without joy and adventure (quite the opposite!). Still, how do we know if Jesus has an authoritative voice in our lives? We will explore this together on Sunday!

Last Sunday, we looked at the nature of discipleship. This Sunday, we'll explore the Kingdom and the word. Hopefully, we'll get lost in a parable about parables together. Then, look to Jesus to help us make sense of it all. Specifically, we'll explore Mark 4:1-20. Questions to consider throughout the week is:

• How do you respond to God when you don't understand something?

• What gets in the way of welcoming Jesus into your everyday life?

This Sunday, we will look at the nature of discipleship. Our text is a bit longer but filled with insight into what it means to follow Jesus well. One question to consider as we move towards Sunday: How might you respond if someone asked you to define the church in one sentence? To get a grip on what we will read, look at Mark 3:13-35.

In the Gospel of Mark, we find Jesus in conflict with the religious elites quite often. Last Sunday, we looked at Jesus’ teachings on feasting and fasting, which challenged the old traditions. This Sunday, we find one of the most controversial teachings of Jesus for his time: the nature of the Sabbath. It is equally controversial in our time but for different reasons. I look forward to discussing with you all the beauty of the Sabbath in the light of Jesus.

This Sunday, we will look at Mark 2:18-22. Here, we have Jesus challenging customs around fasting by giving three strange images:

1. A wedding

2. A patch of clothing

3. Wine

This section raises essential questions that go beyond fasting. Jesus shows up with ‘something new,’ and those who had been organized around tradition were upset. What does this look like today? How do we properly discern what God is up to in our culture and time? For example, CS Lewis is now celebrated as an essential voice for the contemporary church. Yet, he was not as popular then, and many resisted his work (he wasn’t perfect, to be sure, but he remains a trusted voice). How do we navigate the work of the Spirit through his people in our world?

This week, I am excited to lead us through Mark 2:1-12 as we look at one of the most memorable moments in Jesus’ ministry: a group of people carrying their paralyzed friend to Jesus in a dramatic fashion, and it causes Jesus to stop his sermon and acknowledge the deep faith before him. As usual with Mark, there is more to the story than meets the eye. We will talk about the role of being intercessors, here and now, and in visible ways. Intercessory ministry is not less than prayer but much more.

In Mark 1:40-2:1, we continue our journey through the gospel of Mark. It is always interesting to think about what Jesus could have done with his power but what he chose to do with it, and in Mark's gospel we see Jesus continually going to those who had been excluded from community, sick and isolated, or those just simply in need of his healing touch.

This Sunday, we look at Mark 1:14-39. In this passage, we hear Jesus’s first words in Mark’s gospel and how he chooses to launch his public ministry. It is filled with action but focuses on the power of Jesus’s words and deeds. We will explore what this text teaches us about who Jesus is and what it means to follow him.

The Gospel of Mark - The Voice in the Wilderness

"JESUS COMES CLOSE"

Two weeks ago we started our journey through the gospel of Mark. Something to keep in mind as we move along is what Mark reveals to us about Jesus: Jesus is the sovereign, suffering, and victorious king. If we keep that in mind, much of Mark will come alive in a fresh way. This Sunday, we will pick up on the very next passage and look at Jesus's baptism and his time in the wilderness. Some questions we will explore together are 1) Why should I care about the baptism of Jesus? 2) What is the significance of Mark's version of the wilderness in comparison to Matthew and Luke's?

View or download slides ⁠⁠here⁠ ⁠(PDF).

Please accept our apologies for the poor audio quality. We are looking into the cause.