Calvary Church | Messages

Isaiah 40 is written to God’s people right after they received devastating news that their future was not going to be what they hoped. So God, through Isaiah the prophet, says be comforted, stand on My Word and behold your God. It begins with His sovereignty and goodness, but there’s so much more...Behold !

Whenever we are “In the midst” God’s Word is our anchor. It speaks to life’s biggest questions by making sense of the past and bringing hope for the future. But it also brings comfort and hope as it directs our steps today.

“In the midst” of whatever we might be facing our God has revealed Himself to us as the “Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3). What does it look like to be comforted by God “in the midst” of our current situation? Let’s look together...

Often times when we are “in the midst” of a trying or challenging time we either want to know why it is happening or we look toward the day when it will be over. Neither are wrong, but what if our mindset shifted and we realized God is not only with us, but He is at work “in our midst.”

Mark not only gives us the facts of Jesus’ crucifixion, but also introduces us to the people who surrounded Jesus during this time. Soldiers, criminals, religious leaders, bystanders, men, women and one Roman Centurion. It is a reminder that even though these people responded differently to Him, He was giving His life as a ransom for them all . . . including you and me.

Jesus has triumphantly entered Jerusalem (Sunday), overturned tables in the temple (Monday), and had a series of conflicts with the religious leaders who were looking to trap, humiliate and discredit him (Tuesday). He now leaves the temple and Jerusalem and teaches His disciples on the Mount of Olives about near and far prophetic events.

Jesus has triumphantly entered Jerusalem and overturned tables in the temple. He now enters into a series of conflicts with the religious leaders who are looking to trap, humiliate and discredit him. Jesus’ wisdom and authority are again on display for all to see.

Welcome to Palm Sunday, a few weeks early. Last week Jesus told his followers of his upcoming death and in this portion of the story, Jesus rides into Jerusalem hailed as King. What do followers then and now learn from his entry into Jerusalem and actions at the Temple?

Today we come to the end of the middle section Mark and the thematic verse for the entire Gospel (v.45). Jesus predicts his death for a third time, His disciples continue to jockey for position in the kingdom, and Jesus graciously restores the sight of a blind beggar.

As Jesus continues to develop what it means to be one of His followers, He teaches principles about divorce, children and money. But on a deeper level He is reorienting the priorities of our heart.

By restoring a young child, Jesus teaches a powerful lesson about faith. He then continues to deliberately and methodically teach his disciples, and us, what must happen to Him and what it looks like to be one of His followers.

Jesus continues to be revealed as the Messiah, the Son of God, through public and private miracles. But as we pivot to the next critical section of Mark’s gospel, Jesus focuses on the lack of spiritual understanding of His disciples.

Jesus continues to validate his identity as the Messiah, the Son of God. By validating His claim through miracles, Jesus is essentially telling his listeners then and today, that right standing with God and life in Christ is found in no one and nothing else other than relationship with Him. But with any claim comes controversy.

Jesus continues to be revealed as the Messiah, the Son of God, through public and private miracles. He cares for a large crowd by teaching and miraculously providing a meal. He reveals his divinity privately to his disciples by walking to them on the water. And His healing of many confirms to all that He is the Son of God.

Last week we eased our way back into Mark's Gospel, today we are fully immersed. Thus far, Jesus' authority has been on display in his teaching and miracles, but his reception has been diverse, especially in his hometown. But Jesus' ministry continues as he sends out the twelve and we see the cost of following Jesus fully on display in the death of John the Baptist.

Although you won't find the wonder of Christmas in The Gospel of Mark, Mark's Gospel is, nevertheless, full of wonder. That's clear from the opening verses of chapter 6. Jesus, having amazed the crowds with his compassionate miracles, now astonishes his would-be hometown fans with his deep wisdom, and even winds up marveling himself at their chilly reception. Fitting it is to begin the New Year, w...

As we continue today in our Advent series, we light the candle of JOY. It is our inward response--expressed outwardly--to the good news of what God has done for us and in us through His Son Jesus, the Savior who is Christ the Lord.

As we continue today in our Advent series, we light the candle of LOVE. The coming of Jesus not only defines love for us but it puts it on full display. The message of Christmas teaches us that He is Emmanuel—God with us, but His demonstrated love proves God is for us as well.

Advent means coming. We look back with hope at the first Christmas when Jesus came into our world as a humble baby in a manger and we anticipate His second coming. For many, Christmas is a time filled with hope and anticipation. How does the reality of Christ coming as a baby and His promised return fill us with hope and anticipation that goes beyond Christmas?

In this, the final message before we break for Advent, Jesus demonstrates his power and compassion when he encounters two desperate people. Their stories are different, and yet, they each share some common ground. Jesus meets their needs but in ways neither expected.

In the final two messages before we break for Advent, Jesus demonstrates his power and authority over a fierce storm (4:35-41), an army of demons (5:1-20), a chronic disease (5:25-34) and even death itself (5:35-43). Today we look together at those first two events.

Jesus’ teaching in Mark 4 is a picture of the reception his message has received thus far. It is a reminder to us all that not everyone will respond the same way to the Word of God. It is also a personal challenge for each of us to examine the receptive condition of our hearts.

In our study of the book of Mark we have seen Jesus teach and demonstrate his authority and power. As we continue today, Mark the author, will continue to show us who Jesus is and there will be a variety of responses. As we see how people responded then, each of us can consider how we have responded and how we are responding each day to Jesus.

Last week, Jesus demonstrated he has authority to solve our greatest need of all - our sin. Today, we will look at four different scenes as people wrestle with questions, specifically what do I have to do in order to please God?