Sometimes you just have to do something. Jesus shows His heart of compassion for a Gentile crowd in the miracle of the feeding of the 4000. And God imparts His heart to us, as well, to reach those in this world who are in need. God's greatest act of compassion is seen in the cross of Jesus Christ. 

BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 8:1-21 | ACTS 1:8 | ROMANS 3:23 | ROMANS 1:16-17 | JOHN 4:7-15 | JOHN 4:32 | LUKE 15:15-24 | PSALM 34:8 | MATTHEW 5:43-46 | MATTHEW 16:14 | DANIEL 2:44-45 | DEUTERONOMY 30:6 | LAMENTATIONS 3:22-23 | ROMANS 5:8

You can't put God in a box. His ways are higher, His means are greater. Trusting the Lord each step of the way and seeking Him on our journey is what we are called to do.

BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 7:24-37 | MATTHEW 5:14 | LUKE 18:1-14 | JOSHUA 24:15 | MATTHEW 15:21-28 | EPHESIANS 3:20 |

Earthquakes occur at fault lines.  Man's traditions and God's Word often clash when facing off against one another. The religious leaders call out Jesus' disciples for breaking tradition, but Jesus stands upon God's true heart behind the Father's commands. 

BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 7:1-23 | JOHN 6:15 | EXODUS 30:19 | EXODUS 40:12 | 1 KINGS 22:5-8 | JOHN 12:47-48 | EXODUS 20:12 | EXODUS 21:17 | GALATIANS 3:21 | JAMES 2:10 | ACTS 10:9-16 | COLOSSIANS 2:12-13 | MATTHEW 12:33 | EZEKIEL 36:26 |

Where are you looking? The Bible tells us consistently to look up to the Lord. Doing so places our eyes on God for a clearer perspective.

BIBLE VERSE REFERENCES: ISAIAH 40:21-22 | GENESIS 15:5-6 | PSALM 121:1-2 | LUKE 21:25-28

Back to square one. When the Lord repeats life lessons, we sometimes wonder why. The disciples entered a storm for the second time around. This retry had a unique purpose in Jesus' playbook.

BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 6:45-56 | LEVITICUS 23:3 | PSALM 121:4 | MARK 9:33-34 | JOHN 20:24-29 | PSALM 145:18 | MATTHEW 12:36 | 1 SAMUEL 17:34-37 | 1 CORINTHIANS 3:1-3 | MATTHEW 14:27-32 | GENESIS 22:1-2 | JOHN 6:13-14 | PSALM 20:4 | 

Jesus helps the disciples see their self-sufficiency and how it limits themselves and others from experiencing God's best.  Where our resources end, we have a gracious heavenly Father who draws upon the unlimited storehouses of heaven to accomplish His will for His glory.

BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 6:30-44 | 1 KINGS 17:14 | EXODUS 17:16 | NUMBERS 20:8 | MALACHI 3:10 | 2 CORINTHIANS 4:5-7 | JOHN 15:15 | 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9 | EPHESIANS 3:20-21 | JOHN 14:18 | ISAIAH 64:6 | 2 KINGS 2:9

How tragic. Mark records the death of John the Baptist - a faithful servant who met an inglorious end. His witness for truth was partly to blame for his demise at the hands of those who pressed on in sin rather than repent and be saved. 

BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 6:14-29 | ACTS 1:8 | ROMANS 5:8 | JOHN 3:19 | MARK 1:15 | MALACHI 4:5 | DEUTERONOMY 18:15 | JOHN 14:6 | JOHN 3:16 | JOHN 10:30 | ROMANS 5:12 | PSALM 51:5 | 2 TIMOTHY 4:3-5 | PROVERBS 3:12 | JAMES 1:14-15 | 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 | JOHN 8:34 | ISAIAH 61:3 | JOB 13:15 | PSALM 116:15 |MATTHEW 25:21 | MATTHEW 7:23 | ROMANS 1:16 |

What is waiting in the wings? Jesus' ministry is met with unbelief when He returns home. He invites the disciples to step out and carry the message forward, challenging them to let go of self-sufficiency and trust Him wholly in faith.

BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 6:1-13 | MARK 1:12 | 1 TIMOTHY 3:4-5 | ZECHARIAH 4:10 | HEBREWS 4:15 | LUKE 2:41-52 | 1 SAMUEL 10:6 | JAMES 2:18 | HEBREWS 11:6 | ROMANS 10:17 | HEBREWS 4:12 | ISAIAH 55:10-11 | HEBREWS 11:7 | MATTHEW 24:37-39 | JOHN 3:17-18 | JOHN 12:47 | EPHESIANS 4:15 | JOHN 14:12 |

Some choices are more difficult than others. God's advice to us is always to choose life. Listen to the second installment of a two-part series.

God is the giver of life. Does He have the right to our lives? Listen to Part 1 of the two-part message.