Mandarin Baptist Church

Our Faith family must pursue honesty before God and one another to live out all that God has intended. A redemptive community must recognize their desperate need for God, and has a deep level of honesty & vulnerability. We will find power, comfort, and grace in honesty before God and one another. Our Redemptive Family (3) Honesty and Transparency James 5:13-16 1. Take a look at the research fr...

We were never intended to walk this rough journey alone. We all need nurturing people to come around us, and walk with us. Our gatherings are with the intent to stir Gospel confidence, mutuality in submission to one another, and a commitment to one another. A Redemptive Family is Nurturing Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering…  This passage captures why our faith family ne...

If the church is God's people, then we should be where the world looks to for peace, love, comfort, wholeness, and healing. We should mirror the very character of Jesus to those who are part of the body, but also to those all around us. The true image of the church should create wonder   for what has been done in the past, provide hope, possibility, and purpose in the present, and cast our im...

We will always see the goodness and kindness of Jesus in the midst of sinners and sufferers. We should not only call Him good when we are feeling the good; we should call Him good even in the unknown. We will be experiencing the grace and goodness of God for all of eternity, and we will never see the end of His love toward us. Who He Is… Jesus Forevermore! (Easter 2021 with our Mandarin Family) Sc...

We are more than sinful, we were completely dead in our sin and transgressions. Jesus, not only gives us life, He gives us new mercy every single day. We are all covered in sin, guilt, and shame, but His mercy is so much more. He is rich in mercy, and He lavishes His love on us. That is who this Jesus is. WHO HE IS…. JESUS!  (4) Easter at Mandarin Scripture: Ephesians 2.4; Ephesians 2.1-6; John 21...

Why do we so often run or hide because of our sin and shame? We should come out of the hiding to experience the Heart of Christ towards us. The joy of Christ is being made complete as His people come to Him to be made whole. He rejoices in seeing His people forgiven, made whole, new, and complete.

Jesus showed us that  following God is more important than the rules the the religious people enforced. Looking at His life here on earth, it was defined by compassion, love, grace and mercy. The compassion of Christ defines His heart, and should shape our lives. True compassion doesn't stand still, but moves towards action. Who He Is [Week 2] Matthew 9:35-39 If Jesus is known for compassion…...

Who He Is….The Heart of Jesus (1) Easter 2021 Matthew 11.28-30 The heart is the central animating feature of all that we are and all that we do.   Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-3...

The church is known for many things right now, but over all things, the church should be known for love. We should reflect the perfect love of God, as Jesus brought us into the 'Us-ness' of the Trinity. According to scripture, we are one church, one body of Christ, one movement, one 'Us'. This is what Jesus was praying for in John 17. The Prayer of Jesus (5) John 17.20-23 May t...

Are we too busy living FOR Jesus, when we really need to live FROM Him? Our lives, as followers of Jesus, should be lived out of the overflow of His presence, and His truth. Perhaps the greatest thing that He will ever show us is Himself. We are transformed by His word, and now we live as His representatives in this world. The Prayer of Jesus (4) John 17.13-19 Those who hear God’s voice best are p...

DNOW MAKE IT MATTER Acts 7 Take a moment to read through Acts 7. What are some things that surprise you? What is something you take away from this scripture?  How are you actively apart of His story right now? If you are not engaging in God’s story right now, what needs to change? What is holding you back from living on mission?  Has there ever been a moment where you didn’t listen to a prompting...

We are on the winning side of eternity, yet have done nothing to contribute to that victory. It is entirely based upon Gods work of salvation. His prayer is not that we try harder, or do better, but that we fully trust in what He accomplished for us, and how He is continually working in us even now. If we are deeply convinced of this gospel of Jesus, it will unite us under His name. The Prayer of...

The prayer of Jesus is His heart connecting our heart with the Father's heart. Nothing at all can separate us from the love of God, as Jesus is constantly and passionately moving toward us, working in us, and interceding for us. Jesus' rescue and salvation reaches all the way into the darkest crevices of our souls. John 17.6-8 Father, I have manifested who you really are and I have revea...

When we read John 17, we see a glimpse into the heart of Jesus. His heart is full of passion and focus. His heart is aimed on giving glory to the Father, but also on the love He has for his followers. Even then, we were in His heart, His mind, and His prayer.  Focus for this Week: John 17.1-5  ‘The Son of God… loved me and gave Himself for me.’ His heart for me could not sit still.  * Wonder… In t...

In Jesus, we are not who we once more. All things are made new in Jesus. It is all through Him, and by Him, and ultimately for Him. This is who we are, and this is what we pass on from generation to generation to generation. DNA (4) Scripture: * Ephesians 1.1-2 * Ephesians 1.3-14 Hello, my name is Paul….  * God is making all things new. He is changing our ‘name’ (Ephesians 1.1), which is the total...

As a church, and as individuals, we were placed here in this world and season for a purpose. We might never see all the results of our lives fully devoted to Christ, but we are called to live on mission and to befriend faithfulness. As a people after the heart of God, we should find our delight in the Lord, and we will find ourselves faithful to His purposes. Scripture: Psalm 37:3-5 If you are lea...

Who we are as individuals, and as a church, is not determined by external forces; it is by the indwelling Holy Spirit within us. He is our internal supply, and we should abide in Jesus. When we start to let go of our desire to be in control of our lives, we will begin to see Gods wonders in and through us. Scripture: Psalm 145.4-7; John 15.4-6 Pastor Mark talked about two lakes in the Keystone/ Me...

As we enter the new year, we evaluate our mission: to demonstrate God's love to a broken world. We are called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This will lead us to multiply and reproduce that kind of love in our faith family, but also our community.  Scripture - Psalm 145: Matthew 22.37-39; Matthew 28.18-20 1- The most important idea ever given is that we ‘love God wi...

We can all tend to forget, or move past things quickly and so easily. So as we celebrate the birth of Jesus through the Christmas season, we also should be reminding ourselves of the death and resurrection of Christ. Communion is not something we do only in remembrance as we look back. Communion is something that helps to unify us, focus us, and is a constant reminder of the Gospel we so desperate...

Isaiah 9:6 is one of the most used passages of scripture especially during the advent season. As we look at the time and context this was written, we will see a hope filled prophecy in the midst of a societal upheaval and captivity. But the one who is coming, brings a new, unimaginable Kingdom. And when we discover more of this King, we discover more of who we are: sons and daughters of God. There...

Behold (2) Christmas at Mandarin 2020 Scripture: Luke 2.25-38; Psalm 136; Psalm 86.11; Micah 7.7 Suddenly there was a multitude of heavenly hosts with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest….  - Luke 2.13-14 1- Spend some time in Luke 2.25-38.  What do you learn about worship from Simeon and Anna? Talk about their character traits and how those traits postured their life a...

Behold (1)…. Christmas at Mandarin 2020 Jesus has put on flesh and He dwells among us and within those of us who believe. We BEHOLD His glory, the glory of the one and only Who is filled with grace and in truth. - John 1 Scripture: Micah 7.7; Galatians 4.4-5; Luke 2.9-14 But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord. - Micah 7.7 (NASB)  * How is watching different from waiting?  * What are...

Consuming Ambition Week 3  1) Reread Acts 1:6-8. What stands out to you in these verses? What challenges you? Look at the question by the disciples. What is surprising about Jesus’ response? 2) A missionary by the name of Henry Martyn said “His last command should be our first concern. The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of Missions and the nearer we get to him the more intensely missionary we must...

Consuming Ambition (2) Scripture: 2 Timothy 2.2; Matthew 28.18-20; Ephesians 3.17-20; Matthew 5.16;  2 Corinthians 5.14; I Thessalonians 2.8 Let our lights and our light so shine before others, so that they see your good works and they give glory to our Father in heaven. - Matthew 5.16 * The ultimate aim of our lives is to bring glory to God. We desire for others to see, in our lives, the glory of...

Consuming Ambition Text: 2 Timothy 1.13-14; Matthew 28.18-20; Acts 11.15-25 Generations moving together in the advance of the great commission. * Based on Matthew 28.18-20, when all of the authority of Jesus is moving among His people, what is happening in His church? Sketch out the expectation and mission for His church shared in this scripture. What patterns do you anticipate forming when Jesus’...