July 2018

Lord of the Sabbath – Mark 2:23-3:6

Lord of the Sabbath – Religious rule keeping and the priority of human need are at odds here, when it comes to keeping the Sabbath.  The Sabbath was made for God’s people in order to restore and renew them physically and spiritually.



Jesus Displays his Power – Mark 1:21-2:12

Jesus teaches with authority.He heals diseases, and the crowd loves it! He declares the paralytics sins forgiven. The religious leaders bristle in the midst of Jesus’ popularity.  He spends time alone with the Father.



Calling – Mark 1:14-20 (& Mark 2:13-17)

Calling – Jesus abruptly appears by the Sea of Galilee. He calls unsuspecting fisherman to be disciples, part of a community of followers. Jesus’ call is to follow him. This is God’s calling of us – a command with a promise, followed by obedience, with lives that will never be the same again. The force […]



The Beginning of Jesus Ministry – Mark 1:1-13

The book of Mark starts in the wilderness. Then Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, signifying his following God’s call for him to bring out of the wilderness new life. The devil who tempts him, the beasts with him, and the angels who attend to him, all acknowledge that Jesus is the one who […]