The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'" John appeared, baptizing in … Continue reading Why Does Mark’s Gospel Begin with the Ministry of John the Baptist?
Jesus Is God’s Beloved Son: A Lesson from Mark 9:7-8
And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.Mark 9:7-8 This event displays the second time readers of Mark's Gospel have witnessed a voice exclaim that Jesus is God's … Continue reading Jesus Is God’s Beloved Son: A Lesson from Mark 9:7-8
The Old Testament Points Us to Jesus: A Lesson from Mark 9:4-5
And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." For he did not know what else to say, for they were … Continue reading The Old Testament Points Us to Jesus: A Lesson from Mark 9:4-5
Jesus’ Transfiguration Reflects His True Nature
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.Mark 9:2-3 Mark's Source Many scholars argue that Mark's Gospel comes from the … Continue reading Jesus’ Transfiguration Reflects His True Nature
Jesus Is Greater than Moses
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.Mark 9:2-3 Why Six Days? Mark, under the divine inspiration of the Holy … Continue reading Jesus Is Greater than Moses
Love Your Neighbor: Think About Deleting Your Social Media Accounts
The dangers of social media are becoming more observable in our society. People are divided. Civil discourse dwindles in the online sphere. Tempers rage as people engage on these various platforms. Many social media users remain oblivious to the reality that the person on the other side of a screen exists as a real human … Continue reading Love Your Neighbor: Think About Deleting Your Social Media Accounts
Your First Step in Sermon Prep
One of my favorite questions to ask pastors when I sit with them is, "What does your sermon preparation process look like?" By God's grace, he has wired every single one of us differently; therefore, everyone's process is unique to them. Some pastors prepare later in the week while others prepare all week long. A … Continue reading Your First Step in Sermon Prep
How Does Jesus’s Kingship Comfort Believers?
Disclaimer: this blog post comes out of a sermon I preached on 9/12/2021 at First Baptist Church Spring Hope in Spring Hope, nc. At the top of Mark's Gospel in my Bible are written the words, "The King has come!" I am not sure when I wrote this or what sermon I was listening to … Continue reading How Does Jesus’s Kingship Comfort Believers?
How God’s Moral Law Benefits Believers
A Hypothetical Scenario Pretend for a moment that you are the parent of a 7 year old child. It goes without saying, but just for the sake of argument, you love your child very deeply. In your love for your child, you decide to take them to a water park--the best one in the world. … Continue reading How God’s Moral Law Benefits Believers
