The Peace Of Judgement
Judgement is real, judgement is satisfying, and judgement is elevating. Jesus as the judge is a delight.
Matthew 25:31-46
What is Justification?
Question 38: What is justification? Justification is the gracious act of God in which He declares that we are totally righteous, as if we had never sinned and as if we had positively obeyed all of God’s law perfectly.
2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:33
Living as Dual Citizens
Christians are citizens their country, but their primary citizenship is in heaven and this primary citizenship determines how they live as citizens of the country of their earthly life.
1 Peter 2:9-12
Leaving Success for Significance
In our journey through life, we often find ourselves at crossroads where we must choose between pursuing worldly success and embracing a higher calling. The story of Simon Peter’s encounter with Jesus by the Sea of Galilee offers a powerful illustration of this pivotal moment.
Luke 5:1-11
The New Covenant People of God
Jesus prophesied that with the destruction of the Temple and the end of the Old Covenant era the Gospel would go to all nations, gathering people from every nation into God’s people.
Mark 13:1-4, 26-27, 30-31
Greater Love Has No One
Jesus emphasizes the greatest commandments: to love God and to love our neighbors. Genuine love always involves sacrifice, mirroring Christ’s ultimate act of laying down His life for us.
Matthew 22:34-40; John 15:13
The New Covenant Temple
Jesus prophesied that the Temple would be destroyed and the Old Covenant would end, for in the New Covenant the people of God are God’s Temple.
Mark 13
Countdown to Destruction
In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus prophesied that the temple and Jerusalem would be destroyed during the lifetime of the generation then alive, and this was fulfilled in 70 AD, proving the authority and truth of Jesus’ Word.
Mark 13
Extended Cut – Israel’s Judgement Day
Jesus pronounced final judgment upon the leaders and people of Israel for the willful, persistent refusal to receive God’s messengers, culminating in their rejection of Him as their Messianic King.
Matthew 23
More Than Meets the Eye
Jesus condemned the scribes who looked outwardly impressive but were inwardly far from God, but He praised a poor widow whose tiny offering flowed from a heart of true faith and love for God.
Mark 12:38-44
The Messiah’s Divine Authority
Jesus calls everyone to embrace the true identity and authority of Messiah – the Son of God!
Mark 12:35-37
The Heart of God’s Law
Jesus taught that the heart of God’s Law is to love God with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love my neighbor as myself.
Mark 12:28-34
Life After Death
Jesus showed that Scripture teaches that life continues after death when God’s people experience the fullness of life and the promises of God.
Mark 12:18-27
The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Man
The Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Jesus in a false dilemma about paying taxes, but in His brilliant answer Jesus provides the basis for a Christian view of government and citizenship.
Mark 12:13-17
God’s Vineyard and the Wicked Tenants
The parable of God’s vineyard and the wicked tenants displays the patience and mercy of God, the wickedness of the leaders of Israel, and God’s vindication of Jesus.
Mark 12:1-2
The Conflict Intensifies
Jesus’ teaching, actions, and authority consistently caused amazement among the people, but they also prompted fear and opposition, especially among the leaders, and this pattern intensified as Jesus ministered in Jerusalem during His final week.
Mark 11:27-33
Faith, Prayer, and Forgiveness
The fruit of true worship in the New Covenant that God desires is faith, prayer, and forgiveness.
Mark 11:20-25
The King Comes To His Temple
Like the fig tree, the Temple was utterly barren of fruit and Jesus pronounced it to be dead, never to bear the fruit of true worship of God again.
Mark 11:11-25
The King Comes To His City
As He entered Jerusalem for the final time, Jesus purposefully fulfilled several Messianic prophecies, and the crowd’s joyful response was also a fulfillment of the prophecies regarding the coming of the King to His City.
Mark 11:1-11
Lessons for Disciples – True Sight
The interaction of Jesus and Bartimaeus that led to his healing and salvation is the picture of true sight and the model of real discipleship.
Mark 10:46-52
Way to Worship
Scripture tells us a lot about worship, but how do we become true worshipers of God? And why is it so important as Christians to participate in worship?
John 4:19-26
The Meaning Opportunity
Everyone has faith in something, we are all believers in something. This raises questions though. How we think about meaning and purpose drive our behavior and inform our thinking. But we fool ourselves if we put faith in things that aren’t true; and fail to adequately address the doubts we all have whatever we believe.
John 18: 33-38
Jesus Is the Victor
All of creation is under a curse and subject to constant evil which leads to suffering and death. But Jesus has won a monumental victory over Satan, sin, suffering and eternal death, and followers of Christ can live boldly and rejoice in knowing that they have eternal life and freedom from the antagonists of God.
Revelation 20:15-22:7; Genesis 3:1-19
The Pattern of Discipleship
Disciples personally respond to Christ in repentance and faith, obey His command to be baptized, and are vital members of a local church.
Acts 2:36-47
Lessons for Disciples – A King’s Ransom
Jesus the King is the Servant of the Lord Who will lay down His life to ransom His people, taking their sin and punishment on Himself, setting them free from death and restoring them from exile to be the people of God.
Mark 10:45