We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. —2 Corinthians 1:8-9 Unlike the Pharisees, who added many layers of oral tradition to the law, the Sadducees…
In Mark 12, Jesus confronts the religious leaders of Israel as they seek to trap Him again with their questions. Jesus seizes the opportunity to instruct them by means of a parable about wicked tenants. This parable points to the character of God the Father as He sends His beloved son. It confirms that Jesus will be rejected as the…
In the second half of Mark 11, we see two incredible displays of Jesus’ divine authority: when He curses the fig tree and when He cleanses the temple, along with an attempted challenge of His authority by the Pharisees. This morning, we will declare this authority in word and song, beginning with the words of Jesus Himself in today’s Gospel…
The passage Pastor Grant is preaching through this morning tells the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem—the event we commemorate every year on Palm Sunday. Because of this, we will sing quite a few pieces associated with that celebration, such as All Glory, Laud, And Honor, Sing Hosanna, and Crown Him With Many Crowns. Of course, Palm Sunday this year…
This morning, we will hear quite a bit about humility. The Gospel Invitation from Philippians reminds us that Jesus emptied Himself (some versions say, “made Himself nothing”) by coming to us as a servant—or as the poet puts it, “His chariot is humility” (Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates). The hymn All Creatures Of Our God And King calls…
The first portion of Mark 10 seems to be a series of ethical teachings on various topics: marriage and divorce, the dignity of children, and the love of money. But on a closer inspection, with each situation, Jesus is contrasting the wisdom of the world with the way of the Kingdom of God. We’ll find this contrast in a number…