Sermons
Gospel of Mark:
Following Jesus Christ
If we are to follow Jesus and follow him effectively, then we are faced with two questions that are of utmost importance. Who is Jesus? and What is a disciple? We'll answer these questions as we go through the Gospel of Mark, so that we can be equipped to be true disciples.
Following Jesus Christ
Mark 1:1-15
Abraham Cremens
September 1, 2019
Throughout history, anyone who has been exposed to Jesus has had to answer two questions: Who is he? And how should I respond to him? Mark knows this and aims to answer these questions head on. In our passagetoday we see Jesus as God, as the goal of God’s plan in this world, and as the victor in that plan. A disciple, then, is one who repents and believes in Jesus.
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Following Jesus Christ on Mission
Mark 1:16-20
Abraham Cremeens
September 8, 2019
Jesus’ ministry began with recruiting a few men to be with him indiscipleship. Jesus took the initiative and their response was total abandon and submission to him and his mission. Biblically, then, to follow Jesus is to also help others do the same as we fish for people. This reveals that to be a disciple is also to be a disciple-maker among the least and the lost in this world.
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Following Jesus Christ in Authority
Mark 1:21-39
Gami Ortiz
September 15, 2019
As Jesus begins his ministry, teaching in a synagogue, people recognize he teaches with authority. He does not reference others' authority or expertise, because Jesus himself is the authority! Disciples then are those who submit to the authority of Jesus in their lives. In turn, they are sent in his authority to continue his mission of making disciples.
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Following Jesus Christ through Suffering
Mark 1:40-2:12
Abraham Cremens
September 22, 2019
In our passage, we meet two men with real needs who approach Jesus for healing. Jesus’ response shows that he has all authority to meet those needs and the deeper needs behind them. Our response as disciples must always be to see our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs as a pathway to experiencing Jesus as sufficient in every area of our life.
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Following Jesus Christ to Outsiders
Mark 2:13-17
Abraham Cremens
September 29, 2019
In our passage, we meet a tax collector named Levi. He represents all outsiders, those who don’t belong in society or with God. We also see Jesus arrive on the scene full of grace. Jesus loves to make outsiders into insiders as they find their belonging in him and the new redeemed community he is building. In response to the grace of Jesus, Levi connects his “outsider” friends to the great Physician Jesus who can heal their sin-sick heart and then be on the inside with him.
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Following Jesus Christ as the Greater Goal
Mark 2:18-3:6
Abraham Cremens
October 6, 2019
In our passage, Jesus faces three more controversies centered on the practices of fasting and Sabbath rest. Both practices are good gifts from God meant to help his people connect with him in the midst of life’s rhythms. However, people had turned these practices into the end goal rather than seeing Jesus as the greater goal of these rhythms. Jesus took the opportunity to reveal more truth about himself and encourage his disciples to follow him as the greater goal of their lives.
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Following Jesus Christ in Spiritual Investment
Mark 3:7-19
Abraham Cremens
October 27, 2019
In our passage, Jesus models fruitful ministry that focuses both generally to all and specifically to a few. In the former, his popularity grows as he gives of himself compassionately and sacrificially to the masses. In the latter, he forms the nucleus of his church as he trains a few men who will eventually reach those masses. A main takeaway for the church of every generation is that we, too, must multiply as we invest in the lives of others who go on to do the same.
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Wrong Conclusions: Tragic Consequences
Mark 3:20-35
Paul Briggs
November 3, 2019
What a person believes about Jesus Christ is centrally tied to how that person will choose to live life in the present and where that person will spend eternity in the future. To put it another way, drawing a wrong conclusion about who Jesus Christ is and what He came to do brings God’s righteous anger and eternal separation from Him.
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Following Jesus as Disciple-Makers
Mark 4:1-20
Gami Ortiz
November 10, 2019
Jesus provides a commentary by way of a parable on the varying responses to his message by those around him. Some follow him to accuse, some are caught up in the excitement of the supernatural, and others have left everything to follow him. Jesus makes clear that those that are true disciples are ones that receive his message and also preach it.
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Following Jesus in Kingdom Confidence
Mark 4:21-34
Abraham Cremeens
November 17, 2019
In this passage, Jesus expresses truths about his kingdom in four different parables. Altogether we see that the kingdom is visible in Jesus, accessible in Jesus, powerful under the authority of Jesus, and glorious through the work of Jesus. Disciples, then, enter the kingdom by faith in King Jesus and engage in kingdom living for the glory of his name.
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Following Jesus Christ in the Storm
Mark 4:35-41
Will Peycke
November 24, 2019
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From Madness to Mercy
Mark 5:1-20
Paul Briggs
January 5, 2020
What is impossible for a human being is possible with God. Both in the account of the calming of the storm (Mark 4:35-41) and the healing of the man with the demon (Mark 5:1-20), we see the glory of the deity of Jesus in how he handles both of these humanly impossible situations. The order and calm which result from Jesus taming the forces of nature in the storm and evil in the life of the demon-possessed man demonstrate His power, His greatness, and His worthiness is to be recognized and to be praised in our practice of truth.
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Jesus Loves with Selfless Openness
Mark 5:1-20
Will Peycke
January 12, 2020
Jesus is confronted with four different intrusions or hassles in this passage and turns each into an opportunity to love others and strengthen their faith. He speaks and acts with authority and tenderness, always attentive to the person’s needs. When things go wrong, it is easy for us to doubt whether God is trustworthy and kind. But Jesus uses sufferings, interruptions, and delays to strengthen our faith and teach us to love.
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Following Jesus Christ through Rejection
Mark 6:1-13
Gami Ortiz
January 19, 2020
Jesus has proven his divinity in teaching with authority, casting out demons, and healing the sick. Now Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth but is rejected. Jesus moves on from there, continuing his ministry and sending out the disciples to take up the mission. They are to remain dependent on God for all things, even in the face of rejection, as Jesus has already demonstrated.
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Following Jesus Christ to Our Finish Line
Mark 6:14-30
Abraham Cremeens
January 26, 2020
In our passage, two very different lifestyles are displayed. Herod Antipas chooses a life that values all that this world offers. John the Baptist, on the other hand, chooses to value Christ at all costs and gives his life for him. This reveals that if you want to follow Christ, you have to be willing to die for him. And if we want to be ready to die for him, then we have to live for him each and every day.
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Trusting Jesus with the Impossible
Mark 6:30-44
Will Peycke
February 2, 2020
This familiar story gives us an important glimpse into what following Jesus looks like. Truly living the life that Jesus calls us to live is impossible to do on our own. But we are not on our own. When we are faced with overwhelming needs, Jesus invites us to look past what we can do in our own power and to trust him for help—because with Jesus, nothing is impossible.
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Following Jesus Christ through Struggle
Mark 6:45-56
Abraham Cremeens
February 9, 2020
Struggles are hard, but God purposes them to serve as opportunities to know him more. The disciples saw Jesus in a new way when they saw their limits and saw Jesus for who he really is. It is in the boat of our own struggles that we experience the presence of Christ and see him more clearly.
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Following Jesus Christ With Our Hearts
Mark 7:1-23
Gami Ortiz
February 16, 2020
Jesus is asked why he and his disciples don’t (ceremonially) wash their hands before they eat, in accordance with Jewish tradition. Jesus responds with a teaching on traditions, law, and what it means to truly be clean. It’s not the outside that counts, but the condition of the heart.
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Following Jesus Christ in Belonging
Mark 7:24-37
Abraham Cremeens
February 23, 2020
We all have a deep longing to belong but how do we arrive at such a destination? While we can find belonging in certain relational circles, and even more so within the common faith community of the church, true belonging comes only in Christ. He made a way for outsiders like us to truly belong with him on the inside.
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Following Jesus Christ in Understanding
Mark 8:1-21
Abraham Cremeens
March 1, 2020
We can often settle for lesser things (the bread) rather than experience the sufficiency of Christ (the Bread of Life). It is only in the boat with Jesus that we can understand who he is and the lessons he wants us to learn. The invitation, then, is to submit to his agenda for our lives as we posture ourselves humbly before him and experience satisfaction in him.
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Following Jesus Christ on the Way
Mark 8:22-38
Abraham Cremeens
April 5, 2020 (Virtual Worship Gathering)
All disciples of Jesus are on a journey. This journey is full of dots on a map where we learn more about who Jesus is and what it looks like to truly follow him. In that sense, you are a disciple on the way with Jesus throughout life’s paths. As a disciple on the way, you must receive the touch of Jesus, embrace the person of Jesus, and choose daily to follow Jesus.
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Following Jesus Christ for His Glory
Mark 9:1-13
Abraham Cremeens
April 12, 2020 (Resurrection Sunday)
On the heels of a life-surrendering call to be a disciple, Jesus reinforced confidence in why anyone would respond: He is worth it. He is worth living for and he is worth dying for because all of creation, including you, exists for his glory. Our passage in Mark 9 reveals the glory of Christ inherent in who he is and what he does.
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Following Jesus Christ in Dependence
Mark 9:14-29
Abraham Cremeens
April 19, 2020
Following Jesus as a disciple-maker comes with its challenges. We can often be tempted to fall into faithlessness and self-reliance when those challenges come our way. Jesus shepherds us on a different path, though. He leads us toward prayerful dependence on him in which we exchange our weakness for his strength. That is the way toward a fruitful life.
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Following Jesus Christ in Humility
Mark 9:30-41
Abraham Cremeens
April 26, 2020
In God's Kingdom, true greatness shows itself in ways contrary to how the world operates. Even the disciples were confused as they argued over who would be the greatest. However, true greatness imitates the wonders of Christ who came not be served but to serve. He redefined greatness as that which takes the last seat and aims to serve all.
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Following Jesus Christ in Holiness
Mark 9:42-50
Abraham Cremeens
May 3, 2020
Sin is a weighty matter. Apart from Christ, sin owns a person and drags him to hell. But that power is broken by Christ for anyoen who puts their faith in him. A disciple of Jesus, then, sees the seriousness of sin as he or she pursues a life of holiness as an expression of worship.
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Following Jesus Christ Toward a Healthy Marriage
Mark 10:1-12
Abraham Cremeens & Bill Davis
May 17, 2020
God designed marriage to be a beautiful gift intended to reflect his covenant love for his people. However, marriage faces attack when selfishness takes over. Therefore, Jesus steers the focus away from selfishness and challenges his disciples to pursue marital oneness in every way and every circumstance.
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Following Jesus Christ Like a Child
Mark 10:13-31
Will Peycke
May 24, 2020
Jesus reverses our ideas about how to come to God. There is only one way into God's kingdom, and it has nothing to do with how well life is going fo rus or how well we are doign life. In fact, the very things we see as spiritual assets are actually liabilities, while the things we view as weaknesses are what get us in the door. The only way to enter God's kingdom is receive it like a child.
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Following Jesus Christ in Service
Mark 10:32-45
Abraham Cremeens
May 31, 2020
In this third occurrence, Jesus took another opportunity to clarify his mission to save sinners with his death and resurrection. There was confusion on the part of the disciples which caused James and John to aim for a prominent seat in the kingdom. Jesus, however, patiently redefined the terms and reshaped the conversation as he once again spoke of true greatness not as power and prestige, but as a posture of humility and service.
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Following Jesus Christ by His Mercy
Mark 10:46-52
Abraham Cremeens
June 7, 2020
After three explanations of true discipleship, Jesus gave another call to dependence through a real-time parable in the life of Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus started beside the way (or road) in verse 46. He was considered in the way by the crowd in verse 48, and then finally was on the way with Jesus after receiving mercy (verse 52). It is a reminder that no disciple can follow Jesus on the way apart from his mercy.
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Following Jesus Christ in Celebration
Mark 11:1-11
Abraham Cremeens
June 14, 2020
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, there were a variety of responses. The crowd, recognizing the Old Testament pointers, saw Jesus and celebrated him as the coming King. That was contrasted, though, wiht those in the temple who completely missed his arrival. Mark poses and indirect question to any of his raders: Which group are you a part of? Will you see Jesus or will you miss him? You life only matters inasmuch as you see and celebrate Christ.
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Following Jesus Christ as a Faith Community
Mark 11:12-25
Abraham Cremeens
June 21, 2020
In this passage, Mark presented an essential lesson that a healthy church bears fruit through prayerful dependence. Between these vaerses related to the fig tree's death was a prophetic rebuke. Jesus confronted the religious leaders because they had hindered the Gentiles from enjoying God in prayer and worship. Jesus also took it further by making it clear to his disciples that he was creating a new faith community from all nations that would be joined together in prayerful dependence.
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Following Jesus Christ as our Authority
Mark 11:27-12:12
Abraham Cremeens
June 28, 2020
Although the religious leaders attacked Jesus' authority he revealed his ultimate authority in his response. Their inability to answer his question yet again showed their failure in leadership. Further, his parable explained his ultimate authority as the Son. Although he would be rejected, he later was exalted as the Cornerstone. As his church, we can live in confidence no matter what happens because we follow the King who has all authority in heaven and on earth.
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Following Jesus Christ in Allegiance
Mark 12:13-17
Abraham Cremeens
July 5, 2020
In another confrontation, the Pharisees and Herodians attempted to trap Jesus in his words. If Jesus endorsed the poll tax to Rome then he would lose popularity with the Jewish people. If he discouraged it then he would be accused as an insurrectionist. But Jesus showed tha the cannot be placed in their "box" and taught an important lesson for his followers. Taxes belong to Caesar but people belong to God and our belonging to God must drive our living for God.
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Following Jesus Christ into Eternity
Mark 12:18-27
Abraham Cremeens
July 12, 2020
In another confrontation, the Sadduces, who don't believe in the resurrection, created a fiction to "disprove" it. But Jesus met them head-on and pointed them to the truth of Scripture and the power of God. He is not God of the dead, but of the living. This gives us confidence for kingdom living under the power of God.
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Following Jesus Christ in Love
Mark 12:28-34
Abraham Cremeens
July 19, 2020
As the conversations in the temple continue, this next one was initiated by a scribe. He was sincere in his approach and wanted to know what Jesus thought was the most important commandment of all. Jesus' response shows us that all of life begins, continues, and ends with God himself. In response to his love, his people aim to love him and others. This is the guiding principle for all of life.
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Following Jesus Christ in True Devotion
Mark 12:35-44
Will Peycke
July 26, 2020
Jesus wraps up his day at the temple by addressing the religious leaders' original question about his authority, pointing ou ttheir self-serving hypocrisy, and then calling his disciples' attention to a poor widow who embodied everything he had taught that day. It is easy to use religious devotion as a cover for self-promotion. In contrast, we worship and fellowship with Jesus in true devotion as we become like him in sincere, sacrificial, self-forgetful giving.
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Following Jesus Christ to the End
Mark 13
Abraham Cremeens
August 2, 2020
At the conclusion of the temple conversations with the Sanhedrin, Jesus began to teach on othings of the future. He expressed in detail the near future local events regarding the destruction of the temple which were fulfilled within a few decades. He also spoke of future global events regarding his return. However, his primary aim was not to give a timetable bur rather a tactic for faithful living until his return.
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Following Jesus Christ in Worship
Mark 14:1-11
Gamaliel Ortiz
August 9, 2020
In this prelude to the Passion of Christ, Mark draws a stark contrast between the religious leaders who plot to kill Jesus and a woman who worships Jesus through a very costly offering. Though the disciples call this a waste, Jesus praises her for true worship.
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Following Jesus Christ in Communion
Mark 14:12-25
Will Peycke
August 16, 2020
Jesus prepares his disciples for the shock of Judas' betrayal and hihs own death. As "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," he fulfills the Passover and initiates a new remembrance meal looking forward to its own fulfillment in the kingdom of God. The Lord's Supper is a physical embodiment of all God's covenant promises to us in Jesus.
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Following Jesus Christ through Trials
Mark 14:26-42
Abraham Cremeens
August 23, 2020
In this passage, we see a clear contrast. Peter saw the trial ahead, but anchored into his self-reliance. Jesus, on the other hand, pursued prayerful dependence in full submission to the Father. Peter's resolve failed while Jesus' flourished. Gethsemane reveals for all Christians that spiritual trials are won only by the strength that comes with prayer.
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Following Jesus Christ with Boldness
Mark 14:43-72
Abraham Cremeens
August 30, 2020
The betrayal, arrest, and trial of Jesus revealed truth about Jesus but also exposed the fears of the disciples. While Jesus remained steadfast as the perfect Son of God who fulfilled all of Scripture, Peter and the others fled in fear. Every disciple faces pressure of some kind and in those moments must choose to honor Christ. A life of boldness develops over time as we choose Christ in every moment and live out our confession of faith no matter what comes our way.
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Following Jesus Christ at the Cross
Mark 15
Paul Briggs
September 6, 2020
While from a human perspective the cross of Jesus Christ is an odd and offensive centerpiece, in the sight of God it is both precious and powerful. For it was there that the single most important event in human history took place - the fulfillment of the promises of God to save His people from their sins. In the cross we see the love of God displayed, the mercy of God demonstrated, and the justice of God satisfied.
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Following Jesus Christ in Victory
Mark 16
Abraham Cremeens
September 13, 2020
At the close of his gospel, Mark ends on the note. The tomb was empty. Death lost the war. Jesus won. All who put their faith in him live in the resurrection life he provides. The response that remains for the church of every generation is to celebrate and proclaim the wonders of the cross and the glory of the resurrection.
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