The Church at Meadowlake Podcast

Cary Cox, from Mark 4:35-41. Jesus again does what only God can do. He commands the wind and waves – and they obey him! The disciples are terrified, and ask, Who is this? That is the question Mark wants you and I to consider. The evidence and eye-witness testimony he is presenting shows us that … Continue reading Lord Over Nature

Cary Cox, from Mark 4:26-34. Jesus said the kingdom of God has come – yet, surprisingly, it looks insignificant and small to those who are blind to its beauty. It often looks like nothing is happening. But Jesus said we scatter the seeds and sleep. We rest because God is working behind the scenes! We … Continue reading The Hidden Glory of God’s Kingdom

Cary Cox, from Mark 4:21-25. Jesus compares himself to a lamp shining and revealing the kingdom of God. He calls us to pay careful attention to what and how we hear God’s word. There is great blessing for those who hear the preached word of Christ with faith! We need God-opened eyes and ears!

Cary Cox, from Mark 4:13-20. Our conclusion to Jesus’ parable of the sower. The gospel of the kingdom is rejected and by resisted by many. Some seem to receive the gospel, but do not endure to the end. A faith that does not last is a false faith that does not save! Genuine disciples continue … Continue reading Genuine Disciples Bear Fruit

Cary Cox, from Mark 4:13-20. The Parable of the Sower, Part 2. Jesus shows how important our hearing of God’s word is. There is a real and active enemy, the devil, who attacks people at the point of hearing God’s word. What are we doing to combat this strategy? How are we hearing the preached … Continue reading Satan Steals the Word

Cary Cox, from Mark 4:1-20. Jesus spoke to the crowds of outsiders in parables as a judgment for their hard hearts. But he explained the truth to his disciples, who were hungry for God’s word. The word of his kingdom will triumph in spite of great obstacles and unbelief! It is of the utmost importance … Continue reading The Parable of the Sower Part 1

Cary Cox, from Mark 3:20-35. Mark combines a story of Jesus’ family rejecting him with a story of Jesus’ nation rejecting him (in the official rejection of the religious leaders of Israel). The ones you expect to be on the inside are being thrust outside the kingdom, while the ones you would expect to be … Continue reading The True People of God

Cary Cox, from Mark 3:7-19. The crowds are following Jesus, but mostly for the miracles he can give them. But his disciples are coming closer. Jesus calls his 12 apostles to be with him in fellowship, and to minister out of that relationship to Jesus. They are flawed men with sins and differences, but they … Continue reading Called Closer to Jesus

Cary Cox, from Mark 3:1-6. A Sabbath showdown in the synagogue between Jesus and the Pharisees! Jesus is driving home his claim to be Lord of the Sabbath – the true interpreter of God’s word, and the intent of his heart. The Pharisees have hard hearts and end up plotting to destroy Jesus, who shows … Continue reading Lord of the Sabbath Part 2

Cary Cox, from Mark 2:23-28. When Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees about the Sabbath, he makes astounding claims about himself, and corrects their understanding of God’s priority. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath – the Messiah, and the very God who instituted and rules over the Sabbath rest for God’s people! Our rest is … Continue reading Lord of the Sabbath Part 1

Cary Cox, from Mark 2:18-22. Everything is new with the coming of Jesus Christ! He brings the joy of the kingdom of God, the messianic feast! He is the Bridegroom of God’s people! He is the substance of all the shadows, prophecies, promises, and pictures of the OT. In Christ we are a new people … Continue reading The New Day in Christ

Cary Cox, from Mark 2:13-17. Jesus did not come for the healthy, but the sick! All are infected with sin, but not everyone knows it. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. In this passage, Jesus balances Truth and Love perfectly. He hangs out with sinners. But he does not affirm their sin. He calls … Continue reading He Came for Sinners

Cary Cox, from Mark 2:1-12. When a paralyzed man is brought to Jesus (through the roof!), Jesus claims to do what only God can do – forgive sins! He does two miracles to back up his claim. Jesus has authority to forgive sins!

Cary Cox, from Psalm 16. Peter quotes Psalm 16 on the day of Pentecost to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Peter even says David was specifically speaking about the resurrection of the Christ! This psalm shows God as our hope and all-satisfying joy, in this life, and beyond the grave, forevermore!

Cary Cox, from Mark 1:40-45. In the healing of a leper, Mark shows us the heart of Jesus. He is moved with compassion, angry at the suffering of this broken world, willing to intervene, and powerful to heal and cleanse the hurting man! Sin is our leprosy, and Christ is still willing and able to … Continue reading Power and Compassion

Clint Pitman, from Titus 3. All three Persons of the Trinity are at work in our salvation! The reason we are saved is not found in us, but in God. It is not according to our works, but according to God’s mercy!

Cary Cox, from Mark 1:28-39. Jesus has a full day of ministry, and stays up late showing compassion and power to the whole town! He gets up early to pray, and has a time of testing. The crowds are calling, but Jesus is not after fame and worldly success. He is after obedience to the … Continue reading Fame and Success

Cary Cox, from Mark 1:21-28. Mark is showing us who Jesus is – the Son of God! In this passage, he shows us the powerful authority of Jesus in word and deed that left everyone completely overwhelmed and amazed!

Cary Cox, from Mark 1:16-20. Jesus calls his first disciples, beginning to build his community. He calls them directly with authority and they answer with immediate obedience, leaving all to follow Jesus!

Cary Cox, from Mark 1:12-15. After Jesus is baptized and anointed for ministry, He is driven out to the wilderness to be tested and prepared. He enters into the great spiritual conflict! And he begins his ministry by preaching the gospel of the kingdom and calling people to repent and believe!

Cary Cox, from Mark 1:9-11. At the Baptism of Jesus, He is officially revealed to Israel as the Messiah! Mark continues to connect Jesus and the beginning of His ministry to the OT Scriptures. We see the Persons of the Trinity at Jesus’ baptism.

Cary Cox, from Mark 1:1-9a. Mark connects his gospel of Jesus with the prophecies of the Old Testament. They predicted a messenger who would prepare the way for God. John the Baptist came and prepared the way for Jesus! The passages of the OT about Yahweh God are consistently applied to Jesus by the NT … Continue reading Preparing for God

Cary Cox, from Mark 1:1. As we begin a verse by verse study of Mark’s Gospel, we first do an overview of the whole book. Who was John Mark? What is the message of his gospel? Mark is proclaiming to us that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God!

Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 24. The book of 2 Samuel comes to an end with David’s sinful census and his sacrifice that satisfied the wrath of God and averted the plague from Israel. David anticipates and points ahead to King Jesus, who gives himself as the final sacrifice for God’s people, satisfying God’s wrath … Continue reading The King’s Sacrifice

Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 23:8-39. The list of David’s mighty men remembers David’s kingdom as one of might and power! God used these men to bring victory to his people and judgment on his enemies. But this passage also reminds us of David’s sin, pointing us away from him, to the Messiah to come! … Continue reading The King of Might and Power