IF GOD IS GOD, THERE WILL BE A RESURRECTION

On Sunday, we moved from a focus upon Jesus' resurrection to our own. In Mark 12:18-27, Jesus comes into conflict with a group known as the Sadducees, "who say there is no resurrection" (12:18). They deny that the dead will be raised and teach that this life is all there is. What about you? Do you say there is a resurrection from the dead? Do you have hope in life beyond the grave? If it exists, do you have confidence that you'll enter into it? These are very important questions, but an even more important question is, "What does Jesus say?" What does the soon-to-be Risen Christ have to say about what is in store for us? In his response to the Sadducees trick question regarding the nature of marriage "in the resurrection," (12:23) Jesus argues from the OT Scriptures and the very nature of God that the dead will in fact be raised (12:24-27). He says that those who trust in the living God will not be abandoned to death but will be raised to life as he always intended it. All those who trust in the Crucified & Risen Christ will be raised in a resurrection like his to live with him forevermore. 

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

BY HIS RESURRECTION

Mark 12:1 begins with Jesus still locked in the same scene of conflict with the religious authorities of Israel who have questioned and challenged his own authority. They've feigned ignorance and failed to answer Jesus' question about John's baptism, but Jesus won't let them off the hook so easily. He advances the conversation by speaking a parable to them. One that provides an answer to the question, "By what authority?" In the story of the wicked tenant-farmers, Jesus warns the temple authorities of the fate that awaits all those who reject the Son - the tenant farmers will be destroyed (12:9). It further interprets the impending death and resurrection of the Son as his rejection at the hands of men but vindication by the hand of God (12:10-11, Ps 118:22-23). In other words, Jesus says His resurrection will prove the authority He’s been so audaciously claiming. His resurrection will be the decisive moment in which God's "Yes" would overturn man's "No" and the authority of Jesus' opponents would be decisively overruled. 

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

A FIG TREE, UNCHARACTERISTIC ANGER AND A (SEEMINGLY) UNANSWERED QUESTION

Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem, and after his quiet entrance on the heels of the triumphal entry, what happens next cannot go unnoticed. The center of Sunday’s passage was the cleansing of the temple (11:15-19). An action which is anticipated and explained by the judgment sandwich of the fig tree scenes which occur before & after it (11:12-14, 11:20-26). This series of stories is confusing, at best, when taken out of context, leading to, at worst, harmful interpretations. But taken together in context, Jesus the Christ enters into the heart of the religious system of the day and indicts it and its leaders as corrupt and declares the people of Israel to be faithless - which is what the scenes with the fig tree symbolize. Jesus has come not to reform but to replace this defunct worship with a pure temple, faithful priesthood, and ultimate sacrifice. His shocking actions in the temple naturally raise the question amongst the Jewish authorities of the day, "By what authority does he do these things? Who does he think he is coming into the temple like that?" (11:28).

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE FOR THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION

MARK 11:1-11

During our annual Communion Service, we remembered that the King who’s come to us, established his Kingdom through his cross. Even as King Jesus arrived in Jerusalem and entered the temple made with hands, he’d also, as our Great High Priest enter into the true Temple not made with hands (11:11). He’d cleanse that former temple & offer a perfect sacrifice to cleanse his people. We rejoice in the presence of the King because he’s paid the price for sinners like us to enter into his holy presence.

LISTEN TO THE COMMUNION HOMILY HERE

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW COMMUNION BRINGS US INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE KING HERE & HERE

A DESPERATE PLEA FOR MERCY

In this scene, Jesus practices exactly what he preached in 10:35-45. Here we see the road to the cross and the true nature of the cross come to be further impressed upon those who follow after Jesus. On the last leg of the journey to Jerusalem, Jesus brings the royal caravan that had formed to a screeching halt as he stops to heal a blind beggar. The Son of Man who would be welcomed with honor in Jerusalem delays his grand reception in order to meet the needs of a man the group had concluded was not worth their time. Jesus has come precisely to serve people like this. Those who behold their need is great but believe that Jesus is greater. Bartimaeus didn't ask for glory. He just wanted to see SO THAT he might follow after Jesus. Following Jesus is what he wants. Following Jesus - yes even to the cross - is his reward. In this healing, we're challenged to consider how we'd answer the question, "What do you want me to do for you?"

LISTEN TO SUNDAY’S SERMON HERE

HE CAME TO DIE FOR US

In Mark 10:32-45, we come to the single most important verse in the Gospel of Mark. Prior to this point, it's been made abundantly clear that Jesus will die. But the crucial question that remains to be clearly answered is "Why?" Why must the Messiah suffer and die at the hands of men? What does his death mean? Our all-important verse answers these questions. But, in order for us to reach the top of Calvary's hill and take in the astounding accomplishment of the cross, we must first journey along with the disciples to the cross. The meaning of Christ's death is explained in the context of James & John's endeavor to become men of greatness and reign in glory. But what does it mean to be truly great? According to Christ, the great ones sacrifice. The foundation and fuel for living this kind of sacrificial life is the sacrificial death of Christ. The Son of Man "who was given dominion and glory, that ALL peoples, nations, and languages should serve him," (Dan 7:14) "came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (10:45). And here we come to the heart of the gospel and meaning of the cross. Jesus says it himself: "I won't just die, I'll die for you."

Listen to the sermon HERE

BY COMING TO GOD WITH THE EMPTY HANDS OF A CHILD

The march toward the cross continues on and along the way, through the living illustrations of children and a rich young ruler, Jesus makes it clear how we can enter the kingdom of God. The answer, in short? It’s impossible. That is, it’s impossible with man. Listen to last Sunday’s sermon to learn more about what the Bible teaches about how anyone can be saved.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

MARRIAGE TELLS THE STORY OF THE GOSPEL

On the heels of teaching humility, we journey with Jesus into an arena in which humility is much required: marriage. Jesus arrives in Judea and is thrown a controversial question by the Pharisees: "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" (10:2). Jesus answers the question about whether it is permissible to break a marriage covenant by expanding the conversation to hold out God's good and wise design in the marriage covenant. A design that goes all the way back to the beginning (Gen 1-2). A design that points to the great end for which God created the world: that his Son would have a bride. In the Old Covenant, God made an exception for man’s hardness of heart. Under the New Covenant, God’s highest intention for marriage is fulfilled in Christ’s unbreakable union with the Church (Eph 5:22-32). A union made possible by the cross - so that we could rightly say the true meaning of marriage is shaped by the cross. In the cross-shaped marriage, Jesus' marriage becomes the model and motivation for our own. His sacrificial love softens the hardness of our hearts toward our spouses. His undying faithfulness spurs on those tempted toward unfaithfulness. 

If after listening to last Sunday’s sermon, you’d like to spend more time studying the topic of marriage, divorce and remarriage in the Bible, here are some suggested resources for you:

• Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage by Jay Adams

• Before you Leave Your Wife by Marshal Segal

• Why “Falling Out of Love” Never Justifies Divorce by John Piper

• Child of Divorce, Do Not Fear Marriage by T. Kim

• Love That Lasts by Gary and Betsy Ricucci

• When Sinners Say “I Do”: The Power of the Gospel for Marriage by Dave Harvey

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

DO YOU WANT TO BE GREAT?

We all want to be great. But all too often, we pursue greatness according to the world’s way. In Mk 9:30-50, Jesus doesn’t call us to quit this pursuit, but challenges our perception of true greatness. It’s a greatness which can’t come apart from humility shaped by the cross. A humility that thinks less of ourselves, more of others, and most of the Christ who became least, lowest, and last of all for us. Listen to the sermon to learn more about the cross-shaped humility that frees us to serve and celebrate those around us.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

FIGHT AGAINST ANXIETY WITH PRAYER

This past Sunday we had the privilege of hearing the preached word from Trey Richardson, from our sister church, Center Church in Gilbert, AZ. We were reminded that in one way or another, we're all affected by the enemy of anxiety. Life often feels like too much. We're prone to be overwhelmed, paralyzed, or fearful as we look at what's before us today, tomorrow, or in this new year. In Philippians 4:4-7, Paul addresses our problem of anxiety by holding out the promise of prayer. Prayer is the weapon God provides to fight against anxiety. Because through it, we entrust ourselves to a sovereign God who's greater than any anxiety. 

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE