Mark 7:24-8:10 A sense of entitlement can easily creep into we relate to God. We easily start to feel not just that society owes but that God does too – but nothing could be further from the truth. The three true stories in this passage highlight how undeserving we really are, and how thankful we should be.
Mark 7:1-23 Hands, face, space. Such measures are effective in stopping the spread of a virus, but useless when in stopping the spread of sin. Much religion though operates on this basis. It assumes that the problem is out there in the world and we need to protect ourselves from infection and wash ourselves clean. But true worship recognizes the problem is not outside of us but in us. And a much deeper solution is needed.
Mark 6:30-56 Jesus’ feeding of 5000 people and his walking on water are two of his most famous miracles. But what was the point? What message were they meant to…
Confession is the very first step on the way to repentance. But it can be so difficult, we feel shame and guilt, all because we need to know better the heart of Christ. Confession should be a humble act that leads us to worship.
There may be times in the Christian life that we feel we may tension between our need to fully rely on God, and our need to obey his word. How do we follow his will for our life while also depending upon him and trusting that he will provide for us? This was something that the people of God in Nehemiah’s day had to learn, and something each one of us needs to also.
What makes us human? Is there more to us than meets the eye? What does our outer surface actually mean? We are exploring these questions with Dr. Monty Lyman at a guest service.
Mark 6:1-30 The gospel is the best news in the world that through Jesus we can be forgiven and know God and have eternal life. So why is it so hard sharing the gospel with others, and even believing the gospel ourselves? One big reason is that the gospel calls us to repent, and we don’t want to. But without repentance, there is no salvation.
Mark 5:21-43 In the past we may all have had deep-down fears of sickness and death, but there’s nothing like a global pandemic to bring these fears to the surface. Faith in a Jesus who rules over sickness and death is the answer to our fears – but that requires bringing our faith and our fears together, and not keeping them in separate compartments. This passage will help us do just that.
Where does our joy and strength come from? Particularly when times are hard? The people of God are to look to him for all their joy. It is their duty and delight. For us today as we live in this world as citizens of the next, we need to have our souls refreshed and strengthened by the joy of the Lord.
The word of God central to the worship of God by his people. We need to not treat it as secondary, side-line it, or substitute it. We should certainly realise that it is for everyone and needs to be understood. And our relationship with God should be strengthened by his word, leading us to worship and joy.