FOUR SCENES THAT DEMONSTRATE THE KIND OF KINGDOM JESUS HAS BROUGHT NEAR

In Mark 1, Jesus declares that the “Kingdom of God is at hand”. Besides the fact that this kingdom is ruled by the Sovereign Creator of all things, why should we or anybody else care that this kingdom is near? Because it’s a kingdom characterized by grace. In other words, the kingdom Jesus brings is the kingdom ruled by One who has come to deal with everything that’s broken in the kingdom you’ve been living in. Even though you and I don’t deserve it. Listen to last week’s sermon from Mark 1:21-45 to learn more.

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THE STORY OF THE GOSPEL

In Mark 1:14-20, Jesus speaks His first recorded words in Mark’s Gospel. These words reveal what Jesus is all about, what He has come to “proclaim”, what His “theme song” is, for all intents and purposes. In short, Jesus had come to tell the best story; God’s story, which is the story of the Gospel, complete with the inbreaking of God’s kingdom. But, it gets even better. As Jesus calls His first disciples, Mark tells us that Jesus came to call men and women into that better story. Jesus has called you, invited you, welcomed you into that story. How will you respond? Listen to Sunday’s sermon to learn more.

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THE BAPTISM AND TEMPTATION OF JESUS PROVE HE’S THE FIRST AND ONLY ONE TO PLEASE GOD

We’re learning through the Gospel of Mark that the first question you should ask of each story in Mark is “who is Jesus?” This is true in the accounts of the baptism and the temptation of Jesus. What we discover about Him in these stories is that through His coming suffering, foreshadowed by His baptism and His active obedience demonstrated by His successful resistance of temptation…Jesus has won God’s pleasure. He’s succeeded where Adam failed. Where Israel failed. Where we failed. And the pleasure He won allows us to dare to ask such an audacious question as, “if He could win God’s pleasure for Himself, then perhaps He could win God’s pleasure for us?” Listen to last week’s sermon from Mark 1:9-13 to find out more.

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THE GOSPEL OF MARK’S FIRST QUESTION SHOULD BE OUR FIRST QUESTION

This Sunday Pastor Kyle kicked off our new sermon series in the book of Mark. It’s a New Testament book that, unsurprisingly, introduces us to the story of Jesus. But at the outset, nobody except for John the Baptist really knows who Jesus is. Everybody has an assumption. But Jesus’ true identity and the work He came to do is only progressively revealed through the books 16 chapters, until finally, His progress ends at a cross; a cross that, to everyone’s surprise, reveals Jesus’ identity most truly and gloriously.

First and most importantly, Mark asks, “who is Jesus?” His Gospel teaches us that “who is Jesus” should also be our first question in every situation - a lesson we’ll learn well through our many months progressing through this sermon series.

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IS YOUR LOVE FOR CHRIST FADING?

Do you remember what it was like when the Lord first saved you? When you first came to know Jesus and your life was wonderfully turned upside down? When you just couldn’t help but study his word, seek him in prayer, or share his gospel with others? This question is posed to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7, and to us as well. On Sunday, Pastoral Intern, Jason Roenicke introduced us to the church in Ephesus that was by all accounts a good and faithful church. Yet something was missing: their passion for Christ was fading. They were steadfastly serving, patiently enduring, and vigorously defending the truth, but they were like a lampstand in danger of running out of fuel. They’d grown complacent in a good church and “abandoned the love [they] had at first” (2:4). How can we return to our “first love” for Christ? By reminding ourselves that he’s never abandoned his “first love” for us. Our love for him is revived when we rest in his unchanging love for us.

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GOD HAS SENT HIS CHURCH TO DECLARE THE BEAUTIFUL WORDS OF HIS SAVING WORK

On Sunday, Pastor Jeff concluded our “Beauty of the Church” sermon series as he preached from John 20:19-23. He helped us behold the beauty of the church as God’s rescue plan for the world. The local church is the center of God’s saving activity in the world. He sent her to welcome the world into the beauty of Christ through the word of the gospel. He’s given her his Spirit to work in and through her gospel witness. And he’s granted her the confidence that those she welcomes through the gospel on earth have truly been welcomed by God in heaven. Listen to this message to be encouraged and equipped in our mission.

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THE TRUTH IS HER REASON FOR EXISTING IN THE WORLD

On Sunday, guest preacher Abelardo Muñoz from, Iglesia Gracia Soberana of Juarez, Mexico preached from 1 Timothy 3:14-16. He helped us to behold the beauty of the church as a pillar and buttress of God’s very truth. As a pillar and buttress, the church upholds and holds firm the truth. What is the truth she’s been called to promote and protect? It’s none other than the gospel - the supremely beautiful truth of the salvation found in Jesus Christ. This great redemption is the grand story of all of Scripture, and it’s the good news that all believers are called to prize, promote, and protect.

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A KINGDOM LIKE NO OTHER

On Sunday, guest preacher Mike Davis from our sending church, Sovereign Grace Church of Orange, preached from Colossians 1:13-14. He helped us to behold the beauty of the church as the kingdom of Christ. What makes this kingdom better and more beautiful than all the other kingdoms of the world? It is ruled by Christ, the amazing King who is supreme in power and abounding in love. It is a place of redemption, hope, and forgiveness freely given while the kingdom of this world is characterized by condemnation, enslavement, and hopelessness. Its citizens are a special people who proclaim the excellencies of the King and live out the beautifully strange culture of his kingdom. When we behold this beauty, there’s nowhere else we’d ever want to be. Listen to this message to learn more about the kingdom without comparison.

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THE BEAUTY OF THE CHURCH IS THE CHURCH LOVING THE CHURCH

On Sunday, guest preacher Tim Lambros from Sovereign Grace Church of Tucson, AZ preached from John 13:31-35. He helped us to behold the beauty of the church as the people of Christ. A people who are beautiful because they are marked by love. Created through the self-sacrificial love of Christ upon the cross. Called to live out this love with one another through service, patience, and perseverance. Known for beautifully shining forth the brilliant light of the love of Christ for all to see. Listen to this message to learn more of what it means for the church to be known by her love for the church.

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THE CHURCH CAN’T BE THE CHURCH WITHOUT ALL HER MEMBERS

On Sunday, guest preacher Trey Richardson from Center Church in Gilbert, AZ preached from 1 Corinthians 12:12-26. He helped us to behold the beautiful picture of the church as the body of Christ. A body that is beautiful because it is the unity of many different members under one Savior & Head, in which every member matters, and all members are serving and being served. If you’ve ever looked at the local church and wondered, “How can I be sure I belong? Where do I fit in? What’s my place here?” listen to this message and learn just how you need the church and the church needs you.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE