theHeart

This is the first teaching in a new series entitled "150 Days of Psalms". Today's teaching is by Jason English, Teaching and Vision Pastor at theHeart church in Boone, NC.

 

DAY 1

What are the Psalms?

 

 

Hebrew literature was born in Babylon.

 

Psalm 137.1-6

“By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land? If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.”

 

Psalm1

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

 

“Do not read the Bible with yourself at the center of the narrative.

It is not about you.

Let the God of the Bible speak to you on his terms, in his culture,

in his time, in his ways;

and, when you listen to his self-revelation, humbly bearing witness to his movements through culture and history, poetry and prophecy, not only will the God of Bible unfold his beauty before you,

but you will find yourself laid bare, knowing who you are,

who you were created to be, and what you were made for.

Read to know God and you will find yourself known. ”

Ethan Hardin

Dani Stewart tells her story of how an unplanned pregnancy became her greatest blessing.

This is the final installment in a 46 part series on the Book of Mark. Today's teaching is by Jason English, Teaching and Vision Pastor at theHeart church in Boone NC.

 

POST MARK

MARK 16:9-20

 

[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9-20]

 

When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either. Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubbonr refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. He siad to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

 

MATTHEW 28:16-20

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and siad, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."  

 

LUKE 24:13-53

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, name Cleopas, asked him, "Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know thte things that have happened there in these days?"

"What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied, "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus." He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with the. When he

This is Part 45 in an extended teaching series on the Book of Mark. Today's teaching is by Jason English, Teaching and Vision Pastor at theHeart Church in Boone, NC.

 

MARK 16:1-7

 

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body.

Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked eath other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.

As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.'"

 

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eu [good]

aggelos [messenger]

euaggelistes [messenger of good]

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Isaiah 52:7

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

 

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Mark 16:8

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

 

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1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

This is Part 44 in an extended series on the Book of Mark. Today's teaching is by Jason English, Teaching and Vision Pastor at theHeart church in Boone, NC.

 

MARK 15:21-47

 

A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus,  was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.

 

They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha  (which means “the place of the skull”).

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Capitoline [caput]

Golgotha [gulgoleth]

[rosh]

Calvary [calvaria]

[kranion]

[kera]

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Psalm 118.19-27

Open for me the gates of the righteous;

I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.

The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;

the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.

Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

From the house of the Lord we bless you.

The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine on us.

With boughs in hand, join in the festal

procession up to the horns of the altar.

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Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.  And they crucified him.

 Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.  It was nine in the morning when they crucified him.  The written notice of the charge against him read:

THE KING OF THE JEWS.

 

They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left.  Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!” 

In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.”

Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

 

At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 

And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice,

“Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”

(which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

 When some of those standing near heard this,

they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”

 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone.

Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.

 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

 

The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 

And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died,

he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

 

 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath).

So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

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Good Friday?

This is Part 43 in an extended series on the Book of Mark. Today's teaching is by Dan Enarson, Humanitarian and Guest Teacher at theHeart in Boone, NC. 

 

MARK 15:1-15

Jesus Before Pilate

 

 

PILATE

Judge ~~~ Justice

Self-Preservation ~~~ Self-Emptying

 

"This is the best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends." John 15:13 (The Message)

 

 

CROWD

Blindness of the Crowd ~~~ Jesus sees clearly

 

"Few words in the New Testament more clearly and solemnly express the magnaimity of Jesus' spirit than that sublime utterance from the cross, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." This is love at its best... We must recognize that Jesus was nailed to the cross not simply by sin but also by blindness. The men who cried "Crucify him," were not bad men but rather blind men."

Dr. Martin Luther King

 

BARABBAS

Aramaic: Bar (son of) Abba (father)

a father's son ~~~ The Father's Son

insurrectionist ~~~ murderer

Royal Heir ~~~ murdered

 

WATCH & PRAY

W + P = LnA

Head & Heart Aligned

 

 

"In the craziness of our world, it takes tremendous effort  to find a quiet place.

It takes time to quiet your mind and heart before the Lord."

Francis Chan

 

 

Strength to Love - Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is Part 42 of an extended series on the Book of Mark. Today's teaching is by Jason English, Teaching and Vision Pastor at theHeart church in Boone, NC.

 

MARK 14:27-72

A special Christmas Evening Gathering of theHeart church in Boone, NC. Homily by Jason English, Teaching and Vision Pastor.

The entire service can be viewed online at this Facebook link.

 

 

 

 

 

"Do not be afraid," cries Father Christmas. “Aslan is on the move!”

“Winter has begun to melt away, I have broken through at last --

long live the true King."

 

 

 

 

Isaiah 9.6

to us a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

 

 

O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light.

Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light, may also extend that Light.

Be born in us this night, in our hearts, our minds, our lives.

To the one on your left:

God is with you.

To the one on your right:

God is with you.

To your neighbors:

God is with you

To your enemies:

God is with you.

To your own hearts:

God is with you.

To You Oh Lord:

We are with You.

Amen.

This is Part 41 in a year-long series on the Book of Mark. Today's teaching is by Jason English, Teaching and Vision Pastor at theHeart church in Boone, NC.

 

 

 

MARK PART 41 - PEACE

 

 

Mark __.__-___

Matthew 1:1 - 2:23

Luke 1:1 - 2:40

John 1:1-14

 

 

Incarnation brings peace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

shalom

 

completeness, soundness, peace,

quiet, tranquility, contentment, peace (from war)

 

When you know who you are.

When you are who you are.

When there is no war within you.

 

 

What is the simplest way to articulate your incarnation narrative?

When have you experienced Jesus entering your darkest places?

This is Part 40 in a year long series on the Book of Mark. Today's teaching is by Jason English, Teaching and Vision Pastor at theHeart church in Boone, NC.

 

 

MARK 14:12-26

The Last Supper

 

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Passover Preparation Prayer

Blessed are You. Lord our God. King of the Universe. who has sanctified us by Your commands, and commanded us to remove the leaven.

… … …

All the leaven that is in my possession, that which I have seen and that which I have not seen, be it null, be it counted as the dust of the earth.

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Psalm 139:23,24 - Search me, God

1 Corinthians 5:7,8 - Cleanse out the old leaven

1 Corinthians 11:28 - Everyone ought to examine themselves

 

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A New Covenant that Has Always Been

Genesis 3 - provided proper coverings

Genesis 15 - covenant with Abram

Exodus 24 - the blood of the covenant with Israelites

“Everything the Lord has said we will do.”

Mark 14 - “This is my blood of the [new] covenant.”

1 Peter 1:19,20 - before the creation of the world

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HEBREWS 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame,

and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners,

so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 

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Jesus removed our sin in joy.

Let us, therefore, celebrate in joy.

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The Body of Christ broken for you.

The Blood of Christ shed for you