Raintree Community Church

The Gospel Message of Jesus (Mark 1:14-15) The good news that Jesus proclaimed was the culmination of all history and prophetic Scripture. The good news that Jesus proclaimed was about repentance of sin and belief in Him as the Messiah and Son of God. The Gospel Mission of Jesus (Mark 1:16-20) Jesus' call to discipleship centers around allegiance, service, and surrender. Jesus' call to discipleshi...

The Setting of Christ's Temptation (Mark 1:12-13) Christ's temptation is set in the wilderness without food or worldly comforts. Christ's temptation was Satan's strategic assault on His mission to the cross.   The Schemes of Satan's Temptation (Matt. 4:1-11) The temptation of self-sufficiency The temptation of self-preservation The temptation of self-exaltation   The Strategy of Christ's Triumph o...

The Gospel Appeared in a Person (1:1) Jesus is the Gospel message in the flesh He is the promised Messiah and the Son of God The Gospel was Announced by a Messenger (1:2-8) John the Baptist was the prophesied forerunner to Jesus the Messiah. John the Baptist's role was to prepare the way for Messiah through repentance, pointing all to Him.   The Gospel was Approved by God (1:9-11) In Jesus' baptis...

The Author of Mark's Gospel The human author of this Gospel is John Mark. This was validated by several early church fathers, including Papias in 120 A.D. He served with the Apostle Paul and became a useful servant of Christ. He was also a protégé of the Apostle Peter and drew his Gospel account primarily from him.   The Audience of Mark's Gospel The Gospel of Mark was most likely written between...

Love One Another Genuinely (verses  9-10a ) We are called to love without hypocrisy We are called to love with affection   Honor One Another Faithfully (verse 10b) We are called to outdo one another in showing honor   Serve One Another Generously (verses 11-13) We are called to serve passionately with joy and patience We are called to serve in prayer We are called to serve in giving to others' nee...

We Must Intentionally Continue in the Word (2 Tim. 3:14-15) We are called to continue learning and believing the Scriptures, which point us to Jesus. We believe that the primary tool that the Holy Spirit uses to change lives and hearts is the Word of God. We see God's attributes in what He has made, but we come to know Him personally through what He has said (Rom. 10:17)! Because of this, we empha...

1. The Gospel Defines Us The Gospel is the glorious announcement of what God has done through the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christ's work on the cross has satisfied God's holy wrath, secured forgiveness of sins, and given eternal life to all who repent and trust in Christ alone for their salvation. Therefore, the Gospel is not what God requires.  The Gospel is wha...

Glorifying God: Our Purpose We were created for God and His glory We were created to know God and make Him known.   Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ: Our Identity Disciples of Jesus will follow Jesus Disciples of Jesus will imitate Jesus   Making Disciples of Jesus Christ: Our Mission Disciples of Jesus will live under the authority of Jesus Disciples of Jesus will seek to make disciples of Jesus...

Christ, the Eternal Savior Came to Make Sinners into Saints (Rev. 1:4-8) Christ came in love as the One who is the foundation and culmination of all things. Christ came in love to bring freedom from sin by His blood. Christ came in love to bring those who trust in Him into His eternal kingdom.   Christ, the Eternal Savior Promises to Make All Things New (Rev. 21:1-8) Christ will dwell with His peo...

1. The Identity of Emmanuel Unveiled (John 1:1-5) 2. The Witness of Emmanuel Portrayed (John 1:6-9) 3. The Purpose of Emmanuel Proclaimed (John 1:10-13) 4. The Role of Emmanuel Revealed (John 1:14-18) "This Christ is not a reflection of the current mood or the projection of our own desires. He is our Lord and God. He is the Father's Son, Savior of the world, and substitute for our sins—more loving...

The Setting of God's Promised Comfort (Is. 40:1-2) God's message of renewing comfort comes in the midst of man's sin and failure God's message of renewing comfort is reinforced with compassion, reminding His people that God always keeps His promises   The Substance of God's Promised Comfort (Is. 40:3-5) The promise of God's renewing comfort is fulfilled in the promised Messiah The Messiah will com...

The Darkness of Sin's Captivity (Is. 1:2-4; 8:5-22) Israel had rebelled against the Lord and forsaken His ways (Is. 1:2-4) Israel would soon be taken into captivity by the Assyrians (Is. 8:5-10) God would not leave them or break His covenant!   The Light of the Messiah's Eternal Kingdom (Is. 7:14; 9:1-7) Even amid the darkest of days, the light of the Messiah was already shining! God had a plan to...

Omnipresence Defined and Described God is present everywhere at the same time, filling every part of existence with His whole being. Jeremiah 23:23-24: "Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him?"   Omnipresence Displayed and Applied God is always present in His universe (Psalm 139:7-12; Acts 17:22-28) God is alw...

Omniscient Defined and Described God is "all-knowing." God's knowledge includes all things past, present, and future, all things immediately, simultaneously, exhaustively, and eternally. God never learns anything since His knowledge never comes through experience or imagination, nor is it acquired by a process of reasoning or observation. God's knowledge is completely exhaustive.    Omniscience Di...

Omnipotence Defined God is omnipotent, or all-powerful. The Latin-based term omnipotence combines two words: omni, meaning all, and potens, meaning powerful. In other words, God can do all of His holy will. Psalm 115:1-3 - "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! Why should the nations say, 'Where is their God?' Our God...

We are Called to Identify the Wanderers Among Us (vs. 19a) This individual is a professed Christ-follower who has begun to wander away from Christ. We must feel the burden of this calling, recognizing that we are all susceptible to wandering from Christ.   We are Called to Search and Rescue the Wanderers Among Us   (vs. 19b; Galatians 6:1-2) This search and rescue operation is OUR responsibility t...

Prayer Works in All Circumstances (vs. 13-16a) Depend upon God in prayer during times of affliction. Give praise to God in singing during times of joy. Pray with the elders to God during significant weakness or sickness, expecting God to work His will. Confess your sin to God, knowing He will forgive. Be open to confessing your sin to fellow believers for the purpose of prayer and healing.   Praye...

Prayer Works in All Circumstances (vs. 13-16a) - Depend upon God in prayer during times of affliction. - Give praise to God in singing during times of joy. - Pray with the elders to God during significant weakness or sickness, expecting God to work His will. - Confess your sin to God, knowing He will forgive. - Be open to confessing your sin to fellow believers for the purpose of pray and healing.

1. Avoid a Life of Self-Deceived Duplicity (v. 12a; Matthew 5:33-37)   - Be careful in the oaths you take and the promises you make - Be mindful of tolerating duplicitous speech in your life   2. Pursue of Life of God-Honoring Integrity (v. 12b)   - Say what you mean and mean what you say to the glory of God. - Your integrity in speech is a serious matter, not a secondary issue.

Perseverance Through Suffering Exemplified in the Prophets (vs. 10-11a) They obeyed God's call to proclaim His Word They waited for God's purposes to come to pass They persevered through suffering with a Godward focus Lesson Learned: Our suffering has a God-ordained purpose Perseverance Through Suffering Illustrated in Job (vs. 11b) Job sought to worship and obey God Job endured the loss of everyt...

  Freedom From Slavery (v.2) Former law, Mosaic law, was never meant to save us. Former law was meant to point to our need for a Savior.   Freedom From Condemnation (v.3) God knew the former law was unable to save us. In response, He sent His Son to us to do what the law could not do.   Freedom From Being Controlled (v.4) Because Christ is in us and we are in Christ, all of God's requirements are...

1. Planning is Important  Prov. 16:9, James 4:13-17     2. Who Will God Call?  John 1:43, Rom 5:10, Eph 4:22, 1 Cor 1:25     3. What Should You Be Doing?  John 6:1-13, John 12:20-22

1. Wait for the Lord's Return with Steadfast Endurance (vs. 7-8) Waiting on the Lord produces the fruit of endurance Waiting on the Lord strengthens your heart to stand firm   2. Wait For the Lord's Return Without Grumbling (vs. 9) Do not fret and grumble about this current age God is coming and He will set everything right   3. Wait For the Lord's Return With Unshakable Hope  (Isaiah 25:8-9; Roma...