West Ridge EC Podcast

Jesus leaves the crowd to cross the sea with his disciples and encounters a storm. Through this story, we will learn that storms will hit our lives, storms will often last longer than expected, and after storms, it requires effort to rebuild.

Jesus continues teaching in parables focusing on the layers of the kingdom of God where we will examine the pricision of reaping and sowing, of cooperation, and of God's Sovereignty.

This week we get into Mark's first passage where he records what Jesus is teaching, the parable of the sower. Through this parable we will examine the different types of soil people can be in response to God's word, hard, shallow, choked, and fruitful.

When Jesus' family shows up after hearing about his ministry actions, we find out how God's kingdom accounts for family and we discuss the boundary of home, a divided home, and an unforgivable sin.

Jesus goes up on a mountain and selects his lead team in this week's passage, which brings up the role of mountains and valleys in our lives and how God uses both for His purposes.

Our next scene in Mark is also on the Sabbath, but this time the focus is on interaction with the Pharisee and how, afterward, Jesus retreats for some rest, but the crowds still come. From these snapshots, we will discuss looking for a reason to accuse, looking for a reason for revenge, and looking for a reason to heal.

Our next action scene has Jesus and his disciples being challenged about their spiritual practices around fasting and the Sabbath. We learn that there is a time to feast and a time to fast, a time to slow down to see what matters, and a time to rest in God.

In Mark's next scene, Jesus calls Levi to follow him. The calling of such a person continues the theme of forgiveness from the last scene, and we learn that we need divine help with forgiveness, the right way with forgiveness, and highway hypnosis with forgiveness.

This week we study the story of Jesus healing a paralyzed man and discuss the need for other people in our journey of sanctification (becoming more like Jesus).

The speed of grace never outruns the peace of the Spirit.