Mark 11:12-25

A fig tree, a Temple, and faith.

In our Lenten journey, we are ready to consider what is offered to us through the Holy Spirit: cleansing.

In preparation for the Kingdom, we will need to be cleansed.

Are we ready?

Let's start simple with t-shirts and coffee.

A rich man approaches Jesus...

He follows all of the rules...

He believes the right things..

But he lacks one thing...

After his encounter with Jesus, he says no to following in a life of discipleship for the Kingdom of God.

What do we say?

Our 2018 Lenten Season will be focused on The Kingdom of God in the Gospel of Mark.  This earliest Gospel's author had a unique perspective on the good news of Jesus Christ.  We will spend the next several weeks walking through Mark's presentation and narrative to identify the understanding of Jesus' message of the Reign of God.

We begin with the question of "What are we striving for in life?"

Are we seeking opportunities to be great?  How does this kind of living measure up in the Kingdom perspective of Jesus?

One of God's greatest gifts are the prophets.  Sadly, most people resist the message of the prophet.

Let's consider the work of the prophet.  Let us understand how Jesus was the perfect prophet who calls us to continue his work of proclaiming the Kingdom of God here and now.

Jesus begins his ministry by proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.

"The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe the good news!"

This call has as much relevance in our lives now as ever in history.  Not because we are special, but because the message continues to call us into a new way of life.  We are invited to drop our nets and follow Jesus.

This way of life never ends.  We constantly find new ways to come into a new understanding of what it means to live as followers of Jesus who proclaims the good news of the Kingdom of God.

How is God speaking to you today?

How is the Spirit of God guiding you?

Where is Jesus calling you to follow him?

Jesus calls some disciples.  Accepting such a call means you give up everything you think you knew about yourself, God, the world, faith, etc. and open yourself to the process of learning/growth.

When you follow Jesus of Nazareth you are proclaiming that he is a teacher/Rabbi worth following.

You prove your belief by what you are willing to let go of.

Disciple = student.

This process never stops.

So what has gotten in the way of your learning and growing?

  Luke 2:1-20 We've heard this story dozens of times.  Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, donkeys, shepherds, angels, and a manger. But...what if we read it again, slowly, and carefully?  We might find that this familiar story is unfamiliar.  After all, there was no inn...there were no animals mentioned at all.  And why did the angels appear to shepherds?  Shepherds were despised by "civilized" people.  And how did no one in Joseph's family (remember...he's from Bethlehem) have room for his betrothed who was about to give birth? Let's hear the story again and allow it to speak. We may find ourselves confronted with the dilemma of deciding whether we have room in our own hearts for this infant king.

Luke 1:46-55  &  Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 Mary receives the word from Gabriel that turns her world upside down.  This young girl (maybe not even a teenager yet) learns she is pregnant before she is married and that her son will be the long awaited anointed Son of God. She quickly leaves town and goes to her cousin Elizabeth whom the angel has also spoken of giving a miraculous birth in her barrenness.  Upon their meeting Mary receives the comfort and confirmation she needed and responds with a beautiful song...the Magnificat. Let us consider the words closely to understand just how monumental the gift of Jesus Christ was then and is now.