Raintree Community Church

Text: Mark 9:30-41   The Standard of True Humility Modeled and Misunderstood (9:30-32) Jesus predicts His death and resurrection a second time. The disciples misunderstand and reject Jesus' statement. Jesus displays the ultimate model of humility as He carries out His mission (see also Philippians 2:5-11).   The Scale of True Greatness Measured and Illustrated (9:33-37) The disciples measure great...

Text: Mark 9:14-29   The Boy's Dreadful Predicament (9:14-18) The crowd's argument over the boy's condition The apparent hopelessness of the boy's condition The vain attempts of the disciples to heal the boy's condition The Messiah's Decisive Response (9:19-20) The disciples are rebuked for their faithlessness Jesus receives the boy with compassion The demon revolts at the presence of Jesus    The...

Text:  Mark 9:9-13   The Importance of the Resurrection (9:9-10) Jesus commands His disciples to silence until after the resurrection. True Gospel proclamation depends upon complete Gospel understanding. The resurrection is essential to the Christian faith and the Gospel.   The Necessity of the Cross (9:11-13) Jesus underscores the necessity of fulfilling prophecy as the suffering servant who woul...

Text:  1 Corinthians 12:12-27   The Church Defined as a Unified Body The church is the body of Christ. It is a unified body with many members. The church puts God's Truth on display. It is the Gospel made visible for the world around us as "the pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Timothy 3:15)   The Church Defined as an Essentially Diverse Body Within the Body of Christ, there is harmonious unity...

Text:  Mark 9:1-8   A Glorious Transformation (Mark 9:1-3; Matthew 17:1-2) Christ's promise to see the kingdom come in power Christ's radiant glory revealed to the disciples   A Prophetic Conversation (Mark 9:4; Luke 9:30-31) The appearance of Moses and Elijah: The Law and the Prophets The conversation concerning the Christ and His mission   A Hasty Suggestion (Mark 9:5-6) The plan to build tabern...

Text:  Mark 8:34-38   Self-Denial vs. Self-Worship We are called to leave ourselves behind and worship Christ alone. We don't merely add Jesus to our life. He becomes our life!   Cross-Bearing vs. Comfort-Seeking We are called to join Christ on the way to the cross. We are not called to life a comfort and ease in this life.   Seeking Eternal Gain vs. Suffering Eternal Loss We must turn our eyes aw...

Text:  Mark 8:27-33   The Great Confession (8:27-30) Question #1: "Who do  people  say that I am? Question #2: "Who do  you  say that I am?" Conclusion: "You are the  Christ ."   The Gospel Mission (8:31-33) The Savior's Mission: Suffering, Rejection, Death, Resurrection The Satanic Opposition: Circumvent the Cross for the Crown  

Text:  Luke 2:25-38   The Savior's Arrival Anticipated (2:25-26, 36-37) Simeon, a godly man in Jerusalem, watched and waited with anticipation and hope for the Messiah to come in his lifetime. He took God at His Word! Anna, an aged widow and prophetess, looked daily for the redemption God had promised. She fasted and prayed with confidence in God's ability to deliver His people!      The Savior's...

Text:  Luke 2:8-14   The Scope of the Gospel Story (2:8-10) God kept His promise to His people in condescending to the lowest of towns and to the lowest of people for the purpose of redemption (Isaiah 61:1; Micah 5:2-5). The Gospel is the good news of great joy for all people who believe it (John 15:1-11; Romans 15:8-13).   The Savior of the Gospel Story (2:11-12) The Gospel comes to all people th...

Text:  Luke 1:67-80   God's Promised Redeemer (1:67-75) God promised to personally come to visit and redeem His people God promised to fulfill His covenant and display His mercy to His people. God promised to save His people unto sanctified service to Him.   God's Promised Forerunner (1:76-80) The Messiah would be preceded by a forerunner who would prepare the way by preaching salvation through re...

"Songs of Advent in Scripture" Text:  Luke 1:46-56   True Worship Magnifies the Lord's Saving Might (1:46-49, 51-52) Mary praises God for being a Mighty Warrior who brings about deliverance. Mary praises God for being a Mighty Warrior who condescends to the humble. Mary praises God for being a Mighty Warrior who brings down the proud.     True Worship Looks to the Lord's Sustaining Mercy (1:50, 52...

Text:  Mark 8:11-26     The Prevalent Unbelief of the Pharisees (8:11-15) The Pharisees came in their arrogance before Jesus to make their arguments to Jesus. They had no intention to listen and believe. Jesus sees their unbelief and rejects their request for a sign. The Pharisees' unbelief serves as a warning to us, proving that even a small amount of unbelief can contaminate our hearts.   The Pe...

Text:  Mark 8:1-10   The Deep Compassion of Jesus (8:1-3) Jesus was deeply moved with love toward the Gentiles What moves Jesus' heart should also move us to share Christ's love with others!   The Satisfying Provision From Jesus (8:4-10) Jesus' feeding the Gentile multitude proves that He is the Bread come down from Heaven for all people. Jesus is the True Bread that will satisfy the hungry soul a...

Text:  Mark 7:31-37   Renewed Hope in the Healer to the Uttermost (31-37)   Jesus heals a man who is both deaf and mute, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 35:5-6. This reveals Jesus as the Christ! The people were "astonished beyond measure" and proclaimed Jesus as the One who does all things well. This reveals Jesus as the Creator!

Text: Mark 7:24-30 Saving Faith in the Savior to the Uttermost - Jesus draws out the sincere faith of the Syrophoenician Woman. - Jesus reaches down to bring Gentiles into the family of God, leading them out of darkness.

In this sermon, Jeff Fitzgerald walks us through Romans 8:18-30. We will consider the good that God is accomplishing in His children as we groan for His return.

Text:  Mark 7:14-23   Defiled Hands vs. Defiled Hearts  (Mark 7:14-23) The Pharisees pursued an outward cleansing through their own merits. Jesus points out the evil actions and attitudes that come from our hearts. Jesus provides an inward cleansing of the heart through His mercy and grace.

Text: Mark 7:1-13   Man's Tradition vs. God's Word (1-13) The Pharisees twisted Scripture to fit within their sinful desires. The Pharisees nullified the Scriptures by exalting their traditions. Jesus calls us to exalt the Scriptures above man's tradition.

Text:  Mark 6:45-56   The Great I Am Intercedes (Mark 6:45-46) Jesus dismisses His disciples and the crowd. Jesus departs to the mountain to be alone with His Father and pray.   The Great I Am Intervenes (Mark 6:47-52) Jesus walks on the water toward His disciples by displaying His deity (see Job 9:1-8; Isaiah 43:1-3) . Jesus dispels the disciples' fears, proclaiming by His identity . Jesus confro...

Text:  Mark 6:30-44   The Shepherd's Care for Souls (Mark 6:30-32) Jesus debriefs the disciples after their mission. Jesus invites the disciples to rest after their mission.   The Shepherd's Compassion for Souls (Mark 6:33-34) Jesus saw the crowd as sheep without a shepherd (see Numbers 27:17; Isaiah 40:11) Jesus gave the crowd the Gospel teaching they needed to direct their hearts to God.   The S...

Text:  Mark 6:14-29   The Christ-Exalting Integrity of John the Baptist (John 1:19-29; 3:25- 30) He was marked by self-denial and humility. He found contentment and joy in the role God gave him. He lived to see Christ and His ministry increase and see himself decrease .   The Christ-Denying Corruption of Herod the King (Mark 6:14-29) He was a slave to his own lusts (his wife was a slave to her own...

Text:  Mark 6:1-13   The Amazing Rejection of Jesus (6:1-6) The people were amazed at Jesus' claims and message. Jesus was amazed at the people's lack of faith. The people took offense at Jesus and his message. In the backdrop of unbelief, Jesus did not carry on His mighty work of signs and wonders.   The Simple Deployment of the Disciples (6:7-13) The Disciples are sent with a Christ-derived auth...

In this sermon, you will encounter how to live according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh. This is the way of true spiritual life that leads us to become fellow heirs with Christ as God's beloved children!

Text:  Psalm 127   The Fruitless Toil of Life Apart From Trusting God (127:1-2) It is vain to build, watch, and work apart from a central trust in God. When we trust in God and His promises, we will find true rest for our souls.     The Fruitful Blessing of Trusting God (127:3-5) We must trust in the Lord to build and bless His people. Children are a heritage and blessing from the Lord whose purpo...

Text:  Psalm 103   A Personal Call to Praise God for His Redemptive Work (103:1-5) We are called to praise the Lord for His forgiveness, redemption, and healing.   A Corporate Call to Consider God's Merciful and Gracious Character (103:6-18) We are called to consider how God removes our sin and displays His steadfast love.   A Universal Call to Give God the Glory Due His Name (103:19-22) We are ca...