Raintree Community Church

Text:  Mark 11:12-19   Fruitlessness Judged (11:12-14) Jesus curses the fig tree for not producing any fruit. The barren fig tree is an illustration of Israel, as they did not show any fruits of repentance and faith .     Faithlessness Exposed (11:15-19) Instead of attacking the Romans, Jesus attacks and exposes the faithless worship of the temple (see Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11). The fig tree...

Text:  Mark 11:1-11   The Savior-King's Providential Plan (11:1-7) The divine fulfillment of Scripture The divine authority of the Messiah   The Savior-King's Dramatic Entrance (11:8-10; Luke 19:39-40) Jesus receives the praise of the people who do not fully grasp His identity. Jesus receives criticism from the Pharisees who are bent on destroying Him (Luke 19:39-40).   The Savior-King's Temple Vi...

The Sinner's Desperate Plea for Mercy (10:46-48) The blind man is undaunted in his pursuit of Jesus and His mercy. The blind man did not need to see Jesus and His miracles of healing to believe that He was the Messiah . The blind man serves as an illustration to us as sinners in need of God's mercy to save us .   The Savior's Deep Display of Mercy (10:49-52) Jesus condescends to the blind man's ne...

Text: Mark 10:32-45   The Cross and the Suffering Savior (10:32-34) Jesus foretells His suffering and death for the third time. Jesus proves that He is the Suffering Servant in Isaiah's prophecy.   The Cross and Self-Centered Ambition (10:35-41) The disciples pursued self-promotion from Jesus. The disciples would eventually suffer for Jesus. Jesus would drain the cup of God's wrath and be baptized...

Text: Mark 10:23-31   The Astonishing Difficulty of Entering the Kingdom (10:23-25) Jesus declares that the kingdom of God is not about human achievement. Jesus proves that it is hard to enter the kingdom of God.   The Amazing Grace of Entering the Kingdom (10:26-27) Jesus declares that entering the kingdom of God comes only through divine access. Jesus proves that salvation is a work of God's gra...

Text: 1 Peter 1:3-9   In Christ, We Possess an Eternal Salvation (1:3) We have been shown great mercy in Christ. We have been born again to a living hope in Christ. We have been given salvation through the work of Christ.     In Christ, We Possess an Eternal Inheritance (1:4-5) Our inheritance in Christ is imperishable. Our inheritance in Christ is undefiled. Our inheritance in Christ is unfading....

Text: Mark 10:17-22   The Question of Eternal Life (10:17-20) Jesus counters the rich young ruler's question by pointing him to a true understanding of God. Jesus proves that the law is not a ladder by which we reach up to God; it is a mirror that shows us our need for God to reach down to save us.   The Place of Eternal Trust (10:21-22) The rich young ruler trusted in his perceived goodness and w...

Matthew 6:25-34   1. The Value of that Lifestyle (Matthew 6:25-30)   2. The View of that Lifestyle (Matthew 6:31-33)   3. The Joy of that Lifestyle (Matthew 6:34)

Text:  Mark 10:13-16   The Disciples' Hindrance Displayed (10:13) The crowd brought their children for Jesus to bless. The disciples rebuked the crowd and hindered them from coming to Jesus.     The Kingdom's Entrance Unveiled (10:14-16) Jesus rebukes the disciples for hindering the children from coming to Him. The entrance to God's kingdom is reserved for the weak, helpless, and lowly who come to...

Mark 10:10-12 & Selected Passages   Jesus' Counter-Cultural Statement on Divorce and Remarriage (Mark 10:10-12; Matthew 19:3-12) The disciples' clarifying questions from their minds Jesus' counter-cultural answer for their hearts   God's Comprehensive Record on Divorce & Remarriage God laid out His plan for His people regarding marriage, divorce, and remarriage (Deuteronomy 24:1-4) God divorced Hi...

Mark 10:1-9     The Challenging Question on Divorce (10:1-4) The Pharisees came to trap Jesus in order to discredit His authority and destroy His popularity.   The Confrontational Answer to Hardened Hearts (10:5) Jesus confronts the Pharisees on their hardness of heart toward God and His Word.   The Creation-Based Teaching on Marriage (10:6-9) Jesus takes us back to creation to teach on the sancti...

Text: Mark 9:42-50   The Corporate Demand of Devotion (9:42) Jesus gives a stern warning about causing others to stumble. Jesus connects loving others to leading others toward righteousness.     The Costly Demand of Holiness (9:43-48) Jesus calls us to deal seriously with our sin through radical amputation. Jesus warns us to deal seriously with our sin in light of the reality of hell.     The Crit...

Text: James 4:7-10   James provides for us six steps to cure worldliness: 1. Submit Yourselves – 4:7 2. Resist the Devil – 4:7 3. Draw Near to God – 4:8 4. Cleanse Hands and Heart – 4:8 5. Repent of Your Sins – 4:9 6. Humble Yourselves – 4:10   You end where you began (v. 7). The paradoxes of the Christian life: last/first; slave/free; die/live; humbled/exalted; the way down is the way up!

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...