The Good Shepherd
Jesus is the Good Shepherd who provides physical and spiritual rest, nourishment, and care, even in the wilderness.
Mark 6:30-44
God’s Heart for the Nations
The entire Bible reveals God’s heart for the nations to come to Him, and His people are called to love all nations and cultures and labor to take the Gospel to them.
Genesis 12:1-3
Pledge Your Head To Heaven
The beheading of John the Baptist is a sober reminder to Christians of the difficulties and costs of the mission we have been given by Jesus, but we must not shrink from calling others to repentance and faith.
Mark 6:7-30
Rejection and Resurgence
The way of God’s Kingdom and Word causes scandal and offense to many, but God calls His people to continue to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom and minister to push back the kingdom of darkness.
Mark 6:1-13
Submitting To God’s Discipline
Christians, covered by the blood of Christ, can no longer be punished for their sins – but they will be tested and disciplined by their loving Father.
Faith In the Lord Over Death
From the story of Jairus we learn how to sustain faith while we await the final day when Jesus’ powerful word raises us from the dead.
Mark 5:21-43
Savior of the Outcast
Even those who are outcasts from society and whose situations are hopeless will receive salvation when they reach out to Christ through faith.
Mark 5:21-34
Lord Over the Demonic Legion
Satan’s demonic forces want to confuse, enslave, and destroy, but Jesus has the authority to restore people who can then go forth to tell others of all He has done.
Mark 5:1-20
Lord Over the Storm
Jesus’ Sovereignty over the storm reveals His Deity and invites His disciples to turn from the fear of circumstances to the fear of God and trust in His Sovereign care.
Mark 4:35 – 41
A Growing Kingdom
In the parables of the seeds, Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of God begins small and seemingly insignificant, but it will certainly grow until it becomes great and fruitful through the power of God and His Word.
Mark 4:26–34
What Is Water Baptism?
Water baptism is the sign and seal of our union with Christ and the cleansing He provides for sin, a means of grace to provide strength in our struggle against sin, and the medium through which we testify of our faith in Christ and membership in the church.
Colossians 2:9-15; Romans 6:3-7
Eternal Joy In the Resurrection of Christ
We were made for joy in this life and in eternity, but it is only found in God and is secured for us in the resurrection of Christ.
Psalm 16
Concealed and Revealed
The parable of the sower, the seed, and the soils teaches the secret of the Kingdom of God – that it has broken into the world in the Person, teaching, and work of Jesus, that is rejected by many, but that the Word of Jesus will bear great fruit in the lives of those who hear and embrace it.
Mark 4:1-20
The Sower, the Seed, and the Soils
The parable of the sower, the seed, and the soils teaches the secret of the Kingdom of God – that it has broken into the world in the Person, teaching, and work of Jesus, that is rejected by many, but that the Word of Jesus will bear great fruit in the lives of those who hear and embrace it.
Mark 4:1-20
The Love of God
Our triune God serves because love is the foundational feature of His identity, and blessing flows when we receive His love and share it with others.
John 13: 1-17
The Family of Jesus
The true family of Jesus and His followers is not defined by biological relation but rather by a common obedience to the will of God.
Mark 3: 31-35
Kingdoms In Conflict
Theme Statement
Bible Reference
The Crowds, the Demons, and the Disciples
Jesus had a distinct relationship and response to the crowds, demonic powers, and His disciples, who were called out of the crowd to be with Him and then go back to the crowd to proclaim the Gospel and confront Satan’s kingdom.
Mark 3:7-19
The Son of Man and the Sabbath (Part 2)
Legalism blinded the Pharisees to God’s gracious work through Jesus, so instead of praising God, they decided Jesus must be put to death.
Mark 3:1–6
The Son of Man and the Sabbath (Part 1)
As the Son of Man, Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath and He cut through the extra-biblical burdens that had been added to the Sabbath to return it to its original purpose as a gift for humanity.
Mark 2:23-28
The Son of Man and the New Covenant
With the coming of Jesus, the old covenant promises, types, and shadows find fulfillment in the glorious realities of the new covenant.
Mark 2:18-22
No Excuses – God Is With You!
God calls individual people according to His specific purposes, giving them everything they need to walk out that calling, and granting them comfort and assurance that He is with them.
Exodus 4:1-17 (ESV)
The Son of Man and Sinners
Jesus did not come to shun those who were separate from God, but rather to seek them out so that they might return to God.
Mark 2:13-17
The Son of Man and Sin
Jesus has the authority not only to heal physical illness but also to forgive and heal sin, restoring people to God’s favor.
Mark 2:1-12
Faithfully Fulfilling Our Callings
Christians should strive by God’s grace to be faithful in their callings – the specific tasks and responsibilities given to us by God, through which God works to serve our neighbors and promote the common good, restraining the effects of the curse and bringing blessing to every realm of life and every corner of creation.
Colossians 3:23-24; 1 Peter 4:10-11