Calvary: the Hill Sermons

In what genre do we think our life is found? What kind of narrative do we think we're living? Unless we're well aware that our lives are all about Jesus, we can often fear that off-genre events derail our lives. Instead, we ought to embrace the hardships of marriage as aspects of God's written plan. He's in charge of the narrative. Craig and Vicki Finley offer pivotal marriage tips like practicing...

When scribes from Jerusalem label Jesus as a high ranking satanic agent, Jesus pronounces a stern warning that there is a sin that cannot be forgiven. Here we see that each person must decide whether to fight for Jesus or against Him. There is no neutral ground (Mark 3:22-30).

Jesus calls 12 young men to be His specially selected disciples, known as apostles. These men stand apart from the generic crowds that surround Jesus. What is the difference between a bystander and a disciple? Relationship. Our walks with Jesus are highlighted by the truth that He's reached out to us to enter into relationship with Him (Mark 3:7-21).

We find Jesus spending His Sabbath at the synagogue when enters a man with a withered hand. Jesus uses this as an opportunity to show that God's law was meant to proactively do good, not merely refraining from evil (Mark 3:1-6).

With Ahab, son of Omri in power, God raises up Elijah the prophet to speak His word. Elijah is bold in the face of opposition but when he sees that the Baal worshippers won't relent, he falls into a panic. God assures Elijah of His retained remnant, and sends Elijah on three final assignments.

When Jesus' disciples are caught picking grain on the Sabbath, the Pharisees think they've caught Jesus' troupe in apostasy. This accusation becomes an opportunity for Jesus to share God's heart for the flourishing of life. In this we see how God intends to set His people free to rest and to work, not to bind them by restrictions regarding rest and work (Mark 2:23-28).

Both Israel in the North and Judah in the South begin their descent into judgment. Israel's kingdom declines much more quickly with betrayal after betrayal leading to a number of separate dynasties. The Davidic Dynasty in Judah remains intact, but even the Davidic Kings display a departure from God's ordinances. Idolatry, treachery, and assassination plague these succeeding generations of God's on...

People ask why Jesus' disciples don't fast like John's disciples. Jesus uses this as an opportunity to declare Himself to be something entirely new, rather than just a reformer. He explains that His ministry celebrates an unprecedented Arrival (Mark 2:18-22).

Tonight we cover two chapters of sharp incline and two chapters of an even steeper decline. Solomon's reign marks the zenith of Israel's history, but his use of wealth and his polygamy turns his heart away from the Lord. God's favor is also turned away from Solomon's lineage (though He promises to preserve a remnant for David's sake). Solomon's son Rehoboam's trust in inexperienced counsel leads t...

Jesus shocks His friends and critics alike when He enters into the house of Levi, a tax collector. We learn in this passage how the Gospel always pushes the boundaries we normally impose upon It. Jesus challenges us to reach out to those on the other side and extend to them the same grace He's shown us (Mark 2:13-17).

Solomon continues his father's legacy by building a temple to the Lord (plus, a house for himself). Despite the majesty of this edifice, Solomon's dedication speech makes clear that it cannot contain the Person of the Lord. God's glory fills this temple and so begins the pinnacle of Israel's history.

When faithful men bring their beloved friend to Jesus, they find the way obstructed by too many attendees. They deface the roof to lower their friend down to Jesus. When before Jesus, the man finds forgiveness (Mark 2:1-12).

As David advances in age, his son Adonijah plans a campaign to laud himself as the successor to the throne. Bathsheeba and Nathan ask David whether he'd intended to appoint Solomon instead. David sees to Solomon's ascension and Solomon executes his father's final orders in the beginnings of his reign of affluence and wisdom.

The book of Acts does not follow the works of the Apostles without Jesus, rather the work of Jesus through His people. Sincere prayer is the common underlying precursor to every powerful work. We as the church today should be given to grow in prayer just like our forefathers that we may more experience the presence, power, and purposes of God. (Acts 1:14 & 2:1; Acts 4:23-31; Acts 12:5-17; Acts 13:...

The work that the Bible can do in our lives is efficacious and life changing. No other written work can demonstrate this level of activity. The power of Scripture is does not lie in the written words themselves, but that they bear the power of the God Who sent them (Hebrews 3:7-4:13).

Jesus' use and view of scripture shows us how we should uphold the Bible. We see in this passage how Jesus not only trusts the word of God but refers to it as a standard of Truth (Matthew 4:1-11).

Can the Bible really be understood? Can God truly be known through Scripture? The doctrine of the Clarity of Scripture means that because God has made himself known through human language and culture that we can understand what he said. This doctrine doesn't remove the need for study, it invites it (Deuteronomy 30:11-14).

When we say that Scripture is sufficient, we don't mean that the Bible tells us everything exhaustive detail about every individual topic. What we mean is that no prerequisite for wisdom or holiness is missing from the works of the Bible. From the wealth of Scripture, we can glean entirely what we need for a life of meaning and salvation (2 Timothy 3:14-4:4).

According to Paul, even the greatest minds and the most creative imaginations can never come to the conclusions of who God is. Instead, like any personal introduction, this requires God's own words to tell us Who He is (2 Corinthians 2:6-13).

The nature of our Bible is tied up in the nature of the God who sent it. This Bible is not the well-intentioned words of men and their best hypothesis of a god and things they cannot understand; this is God Himself speaking to reveal Himself in His own words. We find this verifiable by accomplished prophecy and internal consistency (Isaiah 45:18-25).

Jesus is able to heal us of all our infirmities, even the deeply physical ones, but is He willing? (Mark 1:29-45)

In the last stretch of the book, we see this epilogue which includes David's recompense to Gibeah, David's last words, and David's national sin. We find that no hero is without failure, but a lover of God is made blameless by the mercies and graces of God.

Jesus enters into the synagogue in Capernaum. When there, His teaching leaves the hearers dumbfounded, not because of His eloquence or insight, but because of His authority. This apparent authority is exemplified when Jesus commands a demon to leave a male synagogue attendee (Mark 1:21-28).

The loose end comes back to whip in this continuation of the Tamar story. Absalom revolts against the king by winning over the hearts of the people and by force takes his father's throne and concubines. This collection of chapters reads like a spy thriller, with intrigue, betrayal, and deceit. In the end, several thousands are left dead including some of David's irreplaceable.

Jesus begins His ministry by calling obscure fishermen to walk with Him. We see in this passage how Jesus' divinity gives Him a significant authority in placing a destiny upon His people (Mark 1:16-20).