SERMONS

In our passage today, Jesus points to tested fruit produced by genuine faith. Two scenarios reveal important truths about following Jesus. The genuine faith taught in these passages is not based on works of righteousness done for God but on loving God. Growing affection for Christ produces a desire to be near him and to be like him. Even when testing comes and exposes the true nature of our sinful hearts, it is given by God to reveal a deep need for Jesus. Those who come to Jesus come with humble love for Jesus, forsaking the world and all its trappings.

Marriage is God’s design and is meant to honor him. Although Sin has corrupted God’s good gift of marriage, Christ redeems.

Continuing with the theme of discipleship, Jason Williams, one of the elders at Redeemer, preaches from 1 John on building a culture of hospitality and missions in our lives and within the church.

Discipleship, an inward alignment of character and integrity that flows outward to actions, begins when a dead heart is made alive, regenerated by God, and set on the path of Christ to follow, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in obedience. This sermon aims to demonstrate that disciples willingly follow Jesus on the path of suffering walking in humility, not in rivalry on the path of sin.

True faith, faith that works, perseveres through failure, trusts despite fear, and finds fulfillment in Christ alone. True faith, rightly placed in Christ, is a gift that is intended to be put to work. The God who has saved us from our works of self-righteousness has redeemed and sanctified work through Christ and given faith, among many other good gifts, so that his people will put it to use.

The events in Mark 8 & 9 mark a pivotal point in Mark’s gospel. The warning about the leaven of the Pharisees; Jesus rebuking Peter for setting his mind on the things of man rather than on the things of God (8:14-21, 33); the two-stage healing of the blind man (8:22-26); the first human profession of Jesus as the Christ in Mark’s gospel, made by Peter, although he doesn’t fully understand what that means (8:27-30); and the first clear announcement of Jesus’ mission as the suffering servant (vv.31-36). At the transfiguration, we see that JESUS IS GREATER: HIS GLORY IS REVEALED THROUGH SUFFERING FOR THOSE WITH EYES TO SEE. 

True faith is not blind; it is informed. Faith, informed by God’s Word and given clarity through the Holy Spirit, produces fruit in the life of the disciple of Jesus to the glory of Christ. Jesus came to rightly reveal God and bring clear sight to the spiritually blind. Seeing God rightly comes only through seeing the right person (Jesus) and seeing his purpose clearly. In this sermon, Pastor Nate discusses Mark 8:22-38, a pivotal transition in Mark’s narrative.

This Sunday, we look at Mark 8:10-21, where Mark records two scenes: the first involving the Pharisees and the second involving the disciples.

Mark records three separate, yet connected, accounts of Jesus’ ministry in Gentile regions, concluding with a second time Jesus provides bread in the wilderness for Gentiles. Jesus’ primary ministry was in the Jewish context, but the text reveals it is not the only context. The gospel, which came first to the Jews, was never intended to remain with the Jewish people but to go to the ends of the earth.

In this sermon, pastor Nate looks at Mark chapter 7, where Jesus is questioned by the religious leaders about the Jewish traditions, with the underlying question being what defiles a person. Who is defiled and who is pure? Jesus confronts the leaders’ misinterpretation of the Old Testament law, then turns and teaches the crowd in parables, and offers further explanation in private to his disciples. Mark’s conclusion is that a defiled sinner can only become a pure saint through Christ, not through the law or the traditions, but through Christ alone.

In this sermon, church planter and guest preacher Blake Pierce preached on the compassion of Christ as demonstrated as the Satisfying Shepherd, the Rescuing Revelation, and the Lord-loving and lowly.

In this sermon, we see that Mark joins missions and martyrs, success and sacrifice; gospel purpose and gospel faithfulness. By placing the martyrdom of John the Baptist within the account of Jesus sending the disciples on their first gospel mission. Additionally, we see that disciples obey Jesus with gospel purpose and trust the outcome to the Lord, pursuing faithfulness over fame.

We encounter a Jewish leader coming to Jesus for help, a woman with some semblance of faith who also comes to Jesus, trembling in fear—faith in Jesus doesn’t mean the absence of fear, it means trusting in Jesus despite fear. Seeing with the eyes of faith leads to belief, whereas seeing with the eyes of the flesh leads to unbelief. Seeing Jesus rightly as he has been revealed in Scripture, and seeing our circumstances in light of eternity, is seeing with eyes of faith.

This story is absolute chaos for those who see only with natural eyes. Natural chaos in the seen world is followed by supernatural chaos in the unseen world. But for those who see through the lens of faith, Jesus is plundering the realm of Satan and demonstrating his awesome authority over cursed creation, over fallen angels, and this is only the beginning, for Jesus has authority over all things…even death itself will bow with its face in the dust to the victorious Son of God.

The Kingdom of God has come in Christ; it does not resemble human institutions, nor does it maintain human aspirations. It will come as a surprise to many. In this sermon, Mark records four parables and includes an editorial note on a teaching that Jesus gave privately to his disciples. This sermon addresses the argument Mark began in the previous text, addressing the question, “Who is in and who is out of the kingdom of God?”

The first words Mark records from Jesus is, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” In the text today Mark reveals some who think they are on the inside of the kingdom are actually standing outside, and those inside are those seated at the feet of Jesus as his disciples. As conflict continues to grow between the religous elite and Jesus, Mark addresses the question of who are God’s people.

In this sermon, we observe five separate scenes in Jesus ministry. Mark’s underlying theme is the growing rejection and hardening toward Jesus by the religious leaders. Those conditioned to see God through extensive knowledge of Jewish customs, traditions, history, and OT law could not see beyond their pride and, like their ancestors, chose their way above God’s way.

In this sermon, we observe five separate yet connected narratives in three categorical locations (Capernaum, Sea of Galilee/desolate place, Region of Galilee); there is one main point today. Mark seems to desire his readers to see Jesus as he truly is through the work Jesus does. Jesus reveals who he is through conviction, compassion, and courage in conflict, both as the Suffering Servant (true humanity) and as the Son of God (true divinity).

Following the right path is of utmost importance. There are a multitude of cultural narratives: follow your heart, do as you feel, or find your truth. These statements often leave one dissatisfied and confused. Contrary to this ideology, Jesus led the way of the Lord when no one else could, in perfect obedience, and then extended the invitation to come and follow him. The sermon follows Mark’s introduction, including the ministry of John the Baptist, the baptism and temptation of Christ.

The Gospel of Mark is a fast-paced narrative of the life and ministry of Jesus. Mark’s account begins with the good news, not as a message or a written story, but as a person: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This sermon launches our series through Mark’s gospel account, providing context on the writing and the writer as Mark tells the story of the Son of God and suffering servant.

The Church is called to pray and make disciples of all nations. Three times in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus assumes prayer is a regular discipline for his followers. When you pray. In this model prayer, Jesus offers both prohibitions and exhortations. This final sermon in the series on the church focuses on prayer and missions.

The Church: One body with many members. The members are all given different roles as arranged by God. Paul uses an illustration of the human body to help his readers understand God’s good design for the church: Unity in diversity and strategy in role distinctions.

Though the church has a responsibility to engage in evangelism and discipleship. Conversion and fruit are the work of the Spirit to the glory of God. This sermon aims to 1) Exalt the role of The Lord in conversion; 2) Identify the role of the church in evangelism and discipleship; and 3) Glorify the work of the Spirit, providing assurance that the work of the church is not in vain–for God’s Word will not return void (Is 55:11).