Honest Reflection

The book of Mark concludes with Jesus' trial, crucifixion, and resurrection. Jesus proves His authority over the kingdoms of this world and death by being resurrected after a brutal and torturous death. He ends the gospel by telling His disciples to continue the mission and to make disciples by baptizing and teaching them to observe Jesus commands. As the ultimate sign of authority, Jesus now...

In Mark 14, Jesus' physical life is coming to an end. The leaders have developed a plot to arrest and kill Him and will be assisted by one of Jesus' closest disciples. Jesus is physically and emotionally drained by His pending betrayal, and He will attempt to mentally prepare the rest of the Twelve. Listen today as Nick and Cody discuss Mark chapter 14.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, He was disappointed in what He found. Whether it was abuse in the temple or the combative nature of the religious leaders, Jesus did not find the good fruit that He was expecting in the temple or in Jerusalem as a whole. In Mark 13, His disciples are in awe of the outward appearance of the temple, and Jesus responds by telling them that the temple and the soon-to-be o...

The King enters Jerusalem, and He is again met with mixed reactions. Some praise Jesus with shouts of "Hosanna!" The religious leaders stand in opposition through their questioning and ultimately their intent to kill Jesus. As the chapter progresses, we see the difference in heart between the people who accept Jesus' authority and those who reject it. Listen today as Cody and Nick di...

In Mark 10, Jesus has some difficult things to say. Some of these statements shock His disciples. Other statements cause people to go away sad. Jesus' loving challenges are a normal part of life under His authority, and how we respond to them says a lot about whether we truly value Him or not. Listen today as Cody and Nick discuss Mark chapter 10.

In Mark chapter 9, Jesus continues to teach His disciples. From events like the Transfiguration, we see that Jesus has authority even over the Law and the Prophets. His teachings continue to emphasize that His authority will be used to do the will of the Father. All of this is to instruct His disciples how they should wield their authority in the future as they strive to live like children in the...

Jesus continues to exercise His authority, and it continues to generate different responses. We see His disciples both struggling to understand Jesus and coming to amazing conclusions about who He really is. Listen today as Cody and Nick discuss Mark chapters 7 and 8.

As Jesus' ministry continues to grow, so too does the opposition to Him and His kingdom. He is rejected by His hometown and His forerunner is murdered, but His influence continues to grow. In Mark chapter 6, Jesus equips His disciples to do miracles and does two of His most famous miracles. Listen today as Cody and Nick discuss Mark chapter 6.

As the book of Mark continues, Jesus continues to display His authority. He teaches parables that highlight the authority of the kingdom that He is the head of. He continues to perform miracles and healings, and even raises someone from the dead! Jesus showing His authority on earth should help us understand why we need His authority in our lives. Listen in today as Nick and Cody talk through Mark...

Jesus begins His ministry with amazing displays of power and teaching. People recognize Jesus' authority in what He says and the miracles He can do, and they flock to Him. In a stark contrast, chapters two and three of Mark are filled with opposition to Christ. The religious leaders constantly reject Jesus' authority even while witnessing the same miracles as believers. Listen today as Cod...

Mark chapter one records the early portions of Jesus' ministry. He is teaching with authority, healing, and performing miracles, all to the amazement of the crowds around Him. Listen today as Cody and Nick discuss Jesus' authority in the book of Mark.

The gospel of Mark tells the wonderful story of King Jesus. Mark highlights the aspects of Jesus' life that show His rulership, power, and authority. From powerful teachings, to incredible miracles, to a resurrection from the dead, Mark is sure to illustrate the Jesus has all authority. Our focus this season will be to reflect on how our understanding of Jesus' authority and kingship affec...

The Hebrews author uses the last chapter to describe what our lives need to look like if we are faithful to Christ and the promises of God. His exhortations range from commands that involve our love for our brethren, our marriages, our priorities, and even our interactions with congregational leaders. The author is clear that this life is necessary for the Christian, but is only possible with the...

In Hebrews 12, the author concludes his plea for faithfulness and endurance. The trials they are enduring can be understood as discipline from the Lord. If they can change their perspective and hold fast to Christ, they will receive the wonderful blessings that God has always had in store for them. Listen today as Cody and Nick discuss Hebrews chapter 12.

In Hebrews 11, the author gives examples of the endurance and the faithfulness that are necessary to please God. The examples range from notable characters like Abraham and Moses to unnamed people who were tortured, beaten, and even gave their lives for the Lord. Regardless of how difficult the task was, their faith in God motivated them to do incredible things. If the author's audience can de...

In Hebrews chapter 10, the writer begins to move to the application portion of the message. All of these "better things" found in Christ should motivate someone to cling to Jesus and cling to other followers of Jesus. There is, of course, has always been danger for those who reject God or His message, but there is also great hope for those who obey God. Listen today as Nick and Cody disc...

In Hebrews chapter 9, the author begins to focus on the new covenant that Jesus brought in. The old covenant had physical regulations and buildings, so it was inferior to the new, better covenant that is built on a spiritual foundation. With that said, there are aspects of the old covenant that highlight the need for the new covenant. Listen today as Nick and Cody discuss Hebrews 9.

In the 8th chapter of Hebrews, the author rounds out the discussion of Jesus as the High Priest and transitions into what that shift in priesthood means. This new priesthood represents the new covenant, new promises, and a new people before God. This covenant is superior to the previous covenant and has greater benefits for the believer in Christ. Listen today as Cody and Nick discuss Hebrews chap...

In Hebrews chapter 7, the Hebrews writer begins explaining how Jesus is the promised priest like Melchizedek. He uses this connection to explain how Jesus is a superior high priest to any earthly high priest the Old Covenant could have produced. Through this perfect High Priest, believers now have the Greatest Advocate before God. Listen today as Cody and Nick discuss Hebrews chapter 7.

In Hebrews chapter 6, the author gives both a sobering warning as well as a comforting message of hope. Those who have tasted the goodness of Jesus Christ and chosen to reject Him are in a dangerous position. They cannot be renewed to repentance, because nothing more can be done. Thankfully, these Christians are not at that point yet. For them, the wonderful blessings of Christ are still available...

In the Old Testament, the Jewish people had a high priest. Men, from the line of Aaron, would serve as the middleman between the people and God. They would offer sacrifices to God on behalf of the entire nation of Israel. Today, Jesus is our High Priest. He has offered the Greatest Sacrifice of all time, Himself. He is a better high priest than anyone before Him. Listen today as Cody and Nick disc...

God has always wanted to invite people into His rest. Whether that be the invitation to the rest of Eden, the Sabbath, or the promised land, humans have always had the choice to make. Do we accept and enjoy His rest, or do we reject or corrupt it? The Jewish Christians are in the midst of that same choice, and the Hebrews writer tells them to enjoy the rest that comes from Jesus. We too make the s...

The Hebrews writer turns his attention to Jesus' superiority over Moses, the previous law-giver. Moses was a key figure in Jewish history and someone this primarily Jewish audience would have respected greatly. The writer continues the argument by reminding them of what happened when their ancestors rejected God through Moses, as they are in danger of doing that again, this time through Jesus....

In Hebrews chapter 2, the writer continues to establish Jesus as greater than any other, including the angels. It may not always seem like Jesus has gained victory, but it is still a fact, and Old Testament scripture affirms this for us. Even though Jesus is worthy of all honor, He is still our Brother and still shared the same flesh, temptations, and trials as we do. This makes him a unique bless...

Hebrews 1 serves as a powerful introduction to the book. The writer begins to make their claim of Jesus's superiority and backs it up with several Scriptures and comparisons to Old Testament figures. Listen in today as Nick and Cody talk through Hebrews chapter 1.