The Lord of Lost Causes
Mark 5

Purpose: Jesus displays His power over unclean spirits, chronic illness and death by displaying compassion for outcasts and lost causes.

1. Lord of the Demoniac (5:1-20)

2. Lord of the Chronically Ill (5:25-34)

3. Lord of the Lost Little Girl (5:21-24, 35-43)

Christ’s Kingdom in Pictures

Mark 4

Purpose: to better see the mystery of the Kingdom of Christ as revealed through His parables

1. King Jesus Sowing the Gospel in Our Hearts (4:1-20)
       Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower (4:1-9)
       Jesus’ reason for teaching in parables (4:10-12)
       Jesus’ explanation of the Parable of the Sower (4:13-20)
           Sower =
           Seed =
           Beside the Road =
           Rocky Ground =
           Among the Thorns =
           Good Soil =
           Which one am I?

2. King Jesus and His People Shine! (4:21-25)
       What about those who don’t?
       Which one am I?

3. The Kingdom of Jesus Will Grow! (4:26-32)

4. King Jesus is Creator God! (4:35-41)
       “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

The Kingdom of Jesus Christ is unstoppable! Do you see, do you understand? Are you in or out?

He Was Despised
Mark 3

Purpose: To show that the world despises their Sovereign, Servant, Savior, but those who believe are brought into His family.

1. The Pharisees Despised Him (Mark 3:1-6)

2. The Unclean Spirits Despised Him (Mark 3:7-12)

3. The Traitor Despised Him (Mark 3:13-19)

4. The Home Crowd Despised Him (Mark 3:20-21)

5. The Scribes Despised Him (Mark 3:22-30)

Will You Despise Him? (Mark 3:31-35)

For What Are You Coming to Jesus?

Mark 2

Purpose: Come to Jesus to find forgiveness, acceptance, new life, spiritual rest.

1. Come to Jesus to Find Forgiveness (2:1-12)

2. Come to Jesus to Find Acceptance (2:13-17)

3. Come to Jesus to Find New Life (2:18-22)

4. Come to Jesus to Find Spiritual Rest (2:23-28)

Because Jesus is God, we sinners will only find forgiveness, acceptance, new life, and spiritual rest in Him.

8 Testimonies That Jesus Is the Messiah
Mark 1

Purpose: To show by the testifying works and words of many witnesses, that Jesus
                is the Messiah.

1. The Testimony of the Author (Mark 1:1)
2. The Testimony of the Messenger (Mark 1:2-8)
3. The Testimony of the Father and the Spirit (Mark 1:9-11)

4. The Testimony of the Adversary (Mark 1:12-13)

5. The Testimony of the Called (Mark 1:14-20)
6. The Testimony of the Synagogue (Mark 1:21-28)
7. The Testimony of His Works (Mark 1:29-39)
8. The Testimony of The Healed (Mark 1:40-45)

Jesus is the sovereign, servant, savior of the world.

Who We Are Becoming – Part 2
We Exist to Glorify Christ in Worship, Discipleship, & Mission
Ephesians 4:1-16

1. Christ Rules

2. Leaders Regulate
                     Elders                                         Deacons
   Office:      Overseer (1 Tim. 3)                    Servant (1 Tim. 3)
   Character: Elder (1 Tim. 3 &1 Pet. 5)        Full of Spirit                                                                     and Wisdom
                                                                       (1 Tim. 3 &
                                                                        Acts 6)
   Function:  Pastor (Eph. 4)                        Maintain                                                                            Unity (Acts 6)

3. Disciples Reproduce
              Redeemed for Service
               Gifted for service
               Equipped for the work of service

We are designed to glorify Christ in worship, discipleship, and mission, by being Elder led, Deacon served, and Congregationally executed.

Who We Are Becoming – Part 1

We Exist to Glorify Christ in Worship, Discipleship, & Mission

In Worship By:

• God-centered worship in Spirit & Truth (Jn 4:24)
• Expository book-by-book preaching & teaching (2 Tim 4:2)
• Gathering as the church for corporate prayer in one time and place. (Acts 2:42)
• Baptism, Lord’s Supper, & Membership

In Discipleship By:

• Every member gathering in Worship & growing in a Discipleship Group (Heb 10:24-25)
• Growing in the Word & ways of Jesus Christ together (Jn 15)
• Children- Truth78 & VBS (Ps 78:3-4)
• Youth – Truth78 & Disciple 6 (Ps 78:3-4)

In Mission By:

• Great Commission Ministry (Matt 28:18-20) including yearly international mission
    trip(s) to UPGs (Unreached People Groups)
• Every member sharing the Gospel
• Supporting the Cooperative Program, IMB, NAMB, & Send Relief
• Adults on Mission, Royal Ambassadors, Girls in Action, & Mission Friends
• Called to the Nations Scholarship at MBTS

God’s Will for the World!

Psalm 67

Introduction: The 5 Great Commission Passages

Purpose: God blesses His people (OT Israel/NT Church) for His glory among all nations!

1. Blessed to Be a Blessing/a.k.a. God’s Greater Glory (Ps 67:1-2, 6-7)
        Defining "fear"
        God’s Plan of Salvation
        Numbers 6:23-27 – God’s blessing
        Galatians 3:6-9; Genesis 12:1-3 – God’s Covenant Blessings For All Nations
        Isaiah 11:9; Habakkuk 2:14 – God’s Glory Over All
        2 Corinthians 5:17-21 – Ambassadors for Christ
        Isaiah 49:6 – God’s Greater Glory

2. Prayer for the Peoples (Ps 67:3, 5)
        Matthew 9:35-38 – Pray to the Lord of the harvest
        Ephesians 6:18-20 – Pray for boldness to preach the gospel

3. Worthy of Worship by the Whole World (Ps 67:4)
        John 4:20-42 – Jesus is the Savior of the World!
        Psalms 97:1; 67:3-4; 104:34; 9:2; 96:3

Conclusion

     Revelation 7:9 – Every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues
     The Great Commission according to Paul:
     Romans 10:9-18 – We must send preachers so that the lost can hear and be saved
     Romans 15:18-21 – Aspire to preach the gospel not where Christ is already named

God’s Response to Wicked Humanity
Psalm 53

Purpose: We are called to warn the wicked and watch for restoration.

1. The Problem of Humanity (Psalm 53:1-4)

2. The Punishment of God (Psalm 53:5)
        Proverbs 28:1
        Colossians 2:15

3. The Promise of Salvation (Psalm 53:6)

Christ puts the wicked to shame, but brings joy to the righteous.

The Contrite Heart
Psalm 51

Purpose: We are called to confess our sin and seek God’s mercy and restoration

1. A Sinner’s Cry for Mercy (Psalm 51:1-4)

2. A Sinner’s Cry for Restoration (Psalm 51:5-13)

3. A Sinner’s Promise to Praise (Psalm 51:14-19)

Christians should confess their sin and seek God’s mercy and restoration, which He graciously gives us in the person and work of His son Jesus to the glory of His name.

Oh How Sweet To Be Forgiven!

Psalm 32

Purpose: to rejoice in the forgiveness of sin found only in Jesus Christ!

1. The Sinner, Forgiven! (Ps 32:1-2)

2. The Sinner, Remembering, Confessing! (Ps 32:3-5a)
       1 John 1:9-10 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive”
       Colossians 2:9-14 “forgiven” in the cross of Christ

3. The Forgiveness of God! (Ps 32:5b-7)
       How does God forgive sin?
       By grace through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ
      Ephesians 2:8-10 made alive “by grace through faith”
      Luke 24:44-47, esp. 47 “repentance for the forgiveness of sins”
       See also 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

4. The LORD Instructs the Righteous (Ps 32:8-11)
       Notice: the wicked v. the righteous
       Philippians 3:1; 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – Rejoice in forgiveness!

No greater joy is there than to know that your sin is forgiven by God in Jesus Christ!

Courage in the Waiting

Psalm 27

Purpose: We are called to be confident and courageous in the LORD our Savior.

1. The LORD, our Confidence (Ps. 27:1-3)

2. The LORD, our Contentment (Ps. 27:4-6)

3. The LORD, our Champion (Ps. 27:7-10)

4. The LORD, our Counselor (Ps. 27:11-14)

Those who’s confidence is in the LORD, will not be disappointed. He gives courage in the waiting.

Jesus, the King of Glory, Our God!

Psalm 24

Purpose: to glorify Jesus Christ, the Creator-Savior-God, the King of Glory!

Introduction: Luke 24:44; Psalm 24 in the context of Psalms 22 & 23

1. Jesus, The Creator God (Ps 24:1-2)
       Isaiah 45:18 – YHWH is the Creator, there is none else!
       Psalm 136:5 – “lovingkindness”  is YHWH’s Covenant faithfulness
       1 Corinthians 10:26
       Colossians 1:15-20 – The Preeminent Creator Jesus Christ
       John 1:1-4, 14 – The Word, Jesus Christ, Creator God Incarnate
       Hebrews 1:1-4

2. Salvation by Jesus, the Holy God (Ps 24:3-6)
       Isaiah 1:15-18 – Pure hands are not stained with blood!
       Exodus 3:13-15 & John 8:58 – Jesus is YHWH
       Matthew 27:11 – Jesus is King!
       Luke 24:44-47 – the gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sin in Jesus to all nations!

3. Jesus, The King of Glory, Our Victorious God! (Ps 24:7-10)
       “LORD of hosts” = “YHWH Almighty” => “pantokrator” = JESUS!
       2 Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 1:8; 4:8; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:6, 15; 21:22

Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates:

Behold, the King of glory waits!

The King of Kings is drawing near,

The Savior of the world is here.

Life and salvation He doth bring,

Wherefore rejoice and gladly sing.

-a hymn by Georg Weissel (1961):

Jesus is the Creator-Savior-God-King Who has come down to dwell in the midst of humans.