“Are We There Yet?” Sermon Series

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus proclaims “The Kingdom of God is near!” But when we look around at the world today, it seems like the Kingdom of God is a long way off. So what did Jesus mean by that statement and what is our role in ushering in the kingdom? Join us as we explore the topic of the Kingdom of God in the gospel of Mark.

February 19, 2023 // The Kingdom of God // Mark 1:14-15, Mark 12:28-32

Many times we read the Bible for application, inspiration, or direction. However, there are times when the author wants to simply point the reader to a big idea… an idea that fits together with God’s grand story. In the gospel of Mark, he documents Peter’s experience with Jesus that led Peter to believe in one big idea: the kingdom of God is near, and everyone is invited to participate.

February 26, 2023 // Everyone is Invited // Mark 1:38-45, 2:2-5, 13-14

Jesus ignored certain religious protocols. He claimed to have authority to forgive sin. He was uncomfortably comfortable with unrepentant sinners. In this message, we hear about three encounters that showed Jesus came to reverse the order of things.

March 5, 2023 // The Heart of the Law // Mark 2:15-17

Whether it’s school, sports, or religion, when we focus only on the rules, it can be difficult to remember the overall purpose of something. Jesus reminds us that when we focus so much on the letter of the law, we may forget why the law was written in the first place.

March 12, 2023 // Loophole Religion // Mark 7:1-15

From an early age, we learn quickly to look for loopholes in the rules. We try to figure out what we can get away with and still be okay. We tend to take this same mindset into our relationship with God, but it doesn’t work. When we opt for loopholes and workarounds, we find ourselves in a category no one wants to be in: hypocrites. Jesus calls us to move beyond loophole religion.

March 19, 2023 // Others First // Mark 10:32-45

Fear invites us to follow the path of self-preservation. However, if we follow that path long enough, we will neither preserve nor have anything to show for our lives. The original disciples of Jesus had the same tendencies at times. On one occasion, Jesus reminded them of what it means to follow him by saying four powerful words that still apply to his followers today.

March 26, 2023 // Storms of Life // Mark 14:48-50

Many times, our faith deteriorates as our circumstances deteriorate. When that happens, our faith is quickly overcome by fear, and the future looks dark. The apostle Peter experienced this, and he temporarily fled his faith in Jesus.

April 2, 2023 // The End of the Beginning // Mark 14:66-72

We all have embarrassing moments we can laugh about later. There are shameful moments that we would give anything to undo. But while our pasts remind us, they don’t have to define us.