Seeking A Homeland – And Its Politicians
Everyone acknowledges politics are imperfect now. While we live and vote responsibly in todayâs world, Jesus promised us he would bring his administration to this Earth some day. Letâs say hello to what that promised future will be like â what kind of leaders would I love to have and vote for... Judges who works for justice to the weak â the illiterate and socially awkward â and fatherless, and those afflicted and sick. And even judges who bring about good for the poor who cannot afford a lawyer to help them fight their cause. (Psalm 82:3, Exodus 23:6)Presidents (or
Keeping the Cross at the Center
From What is the Gospel by Greg Gilbert (Chapt. 7). Read:  Mark 15:21-47 At one point in John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, the hero of the story, Christian, finds himself talking with two sketchy fellows named Formalist and Hypocrisy. Like Christian himself, they insist, they are on their way to the Celestial City, and they're quite certain they'll make it because many in their country have gone this way before. Of course, the names give it away. Formalist and Hypocrisy aren't going to make it to the city at all. The first time Christian sees the two men, they are tumbling over
Why Did the Crowd Turn on Jesus and Yell “Crucify Him”?
Adapted and updated from The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah by Alfred Edersheim (Book V, Chapter https://www.christianity.com/jesus/death-and-resurrection/holy-week-and-passion/why-did-the-crowd-turn-against-jesus-so-quickly.html Read:  Mark 15:1-20 During the Passion Week, the crowd in Jerusalem seems to have had a major swing in opinion. Jesus entered the city to praise and adoration but, by the end of the week, faced a crowd shouting "Crucify Him!" demanding for his crucifixion. Can such a change really happen so quickly? Why Did the Crowd Turn on Jesus and Yell "Crucify Him"? We must consider first that the people shouting "Hosanna" when Christ arrived were not the residents of Jerusalem. Instead, He rode in the
The Look of Love
Written by THABITI ANYABWILE  |  FEBRUARY 21, 2010, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-greatest-prayer-in-the-world. Read:  Mark 14:53-72 Each of the four gospel writers record that faithful night when the apostle Peter denied our Lord with three statements of increasing rejection.  They tell us of Peterâs bitter weeping when he realized that Jesus correctly predicted his denials before the rooster crowed. But Luke includes a profound little detail. Luke 22:61 says that just as Peter was denying Jesus for the third time and the rooster crowed, âThe Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to himâŠ.â That look must have killed Peter a
The Greatest Prayer in the World
Written by John Piper, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-greatest-prayer-in-the-world. Read:  Mark 14:32-42 It is Thursday, the night before Jesusâs crucifixion. This evening has been laden with teaching (John 13â17), shocking with foot washing by the greatest for the least (John 13:3â20), epoch making with the institution of the Lordâs Supper (Matthew 26:20â30; Mark 14:17â26; Luke 22:14â20), and pivotal with the departure of Judas (John 13:30). Now Jesus and the eleven have gone to the garden of Gethsemane (John 18:1; Mark 14:32). Here Jesus prays the greatest prayer in the world. What hung in the balance was the glory of Godâs grace and the salvation of the world. The
Lay Your Burdens Down at the Table
Written by Matt Damico.  https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/lay-down-your-burdens-at-the-table Read:  Mark 14:1-31 Have you ever walked into church and felt crowded? I donât mean by the people. I mean crowded in yourself â the inward tug you get when the junk of your life clings on and wonât let go. When recent conversations, work troubles, and sin issues hang like a fog. Or when thereâs been a diagnosis, or some unforeseen drain on your bank account that you can neither avoid nor afford. You know that feeling? When you walk into church like that, itâs hard to get out of your own head and see
Praying for Unity in Our Church
By Hayden LindseyIâve found the division and strife in our world these days disheartening. Seeing this discord on social media, even among Christians, left me feeling saddened and a bit helpless this summer. In August, the Lord pressed on my heart the importance of praying for unity in the church. He is our Help and our Hope in these strange times. Blaire Savage and I compiled 30 daysâ worth of verses to pray, and our elder wivesâ prayer group joined us in praying through the month of August. My dear small group ladies also joined in this effort. Another group
Help with Mark 13!
As I mentioned in my sermon on Mark 13, here are a couple of resources that might be helpful for you in further study: Some definitions of terms from John Piper. Piper is here defending his view of a rapture of the church that happens after a time called the great tribulation (post-tribulation is the label of this view).  Regardless if you agree with him or not, his definitions of terms are quite helpful. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/definitions-and-observations-concerning-the-second-coming-of-christ Two  sermons by Dr. Danny Akin on Mark 13. You can either listen to him preach or read the manuscript.  This teaching is similar to his commentary âExalting
A Prayer of Praise to the King of Creation
Written by Douglas McKelvey, Every Moment Holy. p. 273-277 Read: Â Mark 13 Join me in this prayer of praise to the King of Creation and Re-creation. Our thoughts of you, O Lord, have been too small, too few - for seldom have we considered how specific is the exercising of your authority, extending as it does into the myriad particulars of creation. There is no quarter over which you are not king. And as creation hurtles toward its liberation and redemption, the full implications of your deep Lordship are yet to be revealed in countless facets unconsidered: Christ, you are
Theology Can Blind You to God
Article by Marshall Segal | The Gospel Coalition Read:  Mark 12:35-44 Jesus had enemies. As soon as heâs declared Son of God in the Gospel of Mark, heâs driven into the wilderness to face Satan, his first and greatest adversary (Mark 1:12). Satan lurks behind all opposition to Jesus, and his demons show up repeatedly to entice and corrupt, but surprisingly, his henchmen are more often theologians than demons. Satan is mentioned only five times in Mark, and demons only thirteen times. But the scribes and Pharisees are mentioned 29 times, and in 27 of those verses, they are wielding their knowledge
