The Garden | San Antonio

In the conclusion of our 2025 series Good News: The Life of Christ in the Gospel of Mark , Pastor Caleb looks at the book's sudden and seemingly unresolved conclusion. What appears to be an abrupt and even underwhelming closing note becomes in the context of the whole book of Mark a bold testament to the faithfulness of God and a provocative invitation to meet Jesus where he lives and works to...

As we draw closer to the end of our year-long sermon series through the book of Mark, Good News , we come now to Jesus' death. Pastor Caleb looks at what the cross represents and what it's meant to emphasize for believers. As we consider what the cross is and isn't , we see through the stories of three characters Mark singles out in his account – a Jewish passerby, a Roman centurion, a...

Continuing our series, Good News: The Life of Christ in the Gospel of Mark , Pastor Caleb looks at Jesus' response and demeanor before Pontius Pilate and a crowd calling for his crucifixion. When Jesus does not meet the expectations of a King or a victorious warrior or the Son of God, he is quickly rejected. The religious leaders, the Roman authorities, and the crowd all choose the familiar an...

For Partner Sunday, our friend Whit Anderson from First Presbyterian Church in San Antonio joins us to teach on Praise, one of the four core values of The Garden. Looking through the lens of Psalm 27, Whit shows us how true praise is built on confidence in Christ, and how daily practices of devotion can remind us of our sure foundation in him. For more info, visit ⁠thegardensa.org .

Our year-long series, Good News: The Life of Christ in the Gospel of Mark , continues with a look at Jesus' arrest and the way fear can drive us from God and the fellowship of His people. All of Jesus' friends abandon him, but it is Peter in particular who offers a close look at the way denial forms in us. As Pastor Caleb discusses, while the darkness of the world and the darkness within c...

Jordan continues Good News , our series walking through the gospel of Mark. Looking at Mark 14:32-42, we see a surprising story of Jesus' distress. The Messiah brings his friends and prays fervently into the messiness of sorrow, offering us a new path forward in our own moments of pressing. Mark 14:32-42 (NIV) For more resources and ways to connect, visit thegardensa.org .

Pastor Caleb continues Good News , our year-long series through the Gospel of Mark, with a look at what is known as the Lord’s Supper. Jesus, on his way to the cross, facing impending rejection by those closest to him, gathers his friends for a moment of grace, breaking bread with them and giving them a place to turn to in the days after his death and resurrection. The theology and expression of c...

Continuing our series Good News: The Life of Christ in the Gospel of Mark , Pastor Caleb looks at the beginning of Jesus' Passion Narrative in Mark Chapter 14. While the enemies of Jesus find a way to end his life and ministry through the betrayal of Judas, a woman comes to Jesus with a gift of immense value to honor him. As a room full of critics descend upon her, berating her wastefulness an...

In Part 40 of our year-long series Good News: The Life of Christ in the Gospel of Mark , Pastor Caleb looks at Jesus' concluding words in Chapter 13. Rather than inspiring fear, Jesus intends to encourage faith in his discussion of his return and the end of this world as we know it. The hope of Christ returning does not come through a hysterical search for a date on the calendar, but comes to...

Our series Good News: The Life of Christ in the Gospel of Mark continues with a look at Mark 13:1-31. Jordan unpacks a conversation between Jesus and his disciples about the destruction of the temple and the nature of God's unshakable Kingdom. The chaotic waters of history are the very place Jesus invites us to be his disciples through love and humility. Mark 13:1-31 (NIV) For more info, visit the...

Our series Good News: The Life of Christ in the Gospel of Mark continues with a consideration of what defines true greatness. In Mark 12, Jesus presents himself to teachers of the law and a watching crowd as something far greater than what they envision. But rather than seeking a platform or status, Jesus demonstrates that true strength is most visible when it expended to love. Pastor Caleb walks...

Pastor Caleb continues our series Good News: The Life of Christ in the Gospel of Mark with a look at what Jesus calls the two greatest commandments – loving God as He loves us, and loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. Those transformed by the love of God revealed in Christ's sacrifice must carry his cross with the same heart. Jesus' commands are a vital invitation to find the love we...

Continuing our series Good News: The Life of Christ in the Gospel of Mark , Pastor Jordan takes look at an often misunderstood and misinterpreted passage where Jesus is asked about life in eternity. What might we expect of resurrection? What prevents us from receiving the gift of it as a hope for today? Jesus invites us to leave behind preconceived notions of what we long for in order to grasp som...

As we continue our series Good News: The Life of Christ in the Gospel of Mark , Pastor Caleb looks at a passage where Jesus does the unthinkable in mixing politics and religion. With his loyalty questioned by Jewish authorities, Jesus defies the wisdom of his day and points to the responsibilities of God's people living in a world seemingly dominated by empire. Rather than calling believers to...

In Part 34 of our series Good News: The Life of Christ in the Gospel of Mark , Pastor Caleb looks at Jesus' response to a group of religious leaders questioning his authority. With a question of his own and two parables, Jesus gives a word – to not only these corrupted leaders but all who would follow him – about what true faith looks like. Merely acknowledging the Word of God is not enough. W...

Part 33 of Good News: The Life of Christ in the Gospel of Mark. Caleb continues with a sermon on prophecy, fruitfulness, fig leaves, and what it means when Jesus enters the spaces where our worship has been corrupted by lesser pursuits. ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Mark 11:12-25 ⁠⁠⁠⁠ (NRSV) For more information about our church and ways to connect with us, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ thegardensa.org ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ .

Part 32 of Good News: The Life of Christ in the Gospel of Mark. Jarren Longoria joins us to teach on Jesus’ triumphal entry, which poses important questions for those who want to follow him. How will we respond to the humility of the Savior when he shows up in the ordinariness of our own lives? ⁠⁠Mark 11:1-11 (NRSV) For more information about our church and ways to connect with us, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠ theg...

In Part 31 of our series Good News: The Life of Christ in the Gospel of Mark , Pastor Caleb walks through the story of Bartimaeus, a blind man begging on the side of a road who has enough faith to stand, leave everything behind, and follow the voice of Jesus. Discouraged but undeterred by a callous crowd around him, Bartimaeus' persistence and trust provide us with a paradigm of discipleship a...

Pastor Caleb continues our series Good News: The Life of Christ in the Gospel of Mark . Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem and speaking with his disciples about true glory and what it costs to attain. In his words and example, Jesus overturns the world's definitions and expectations of greatness. The Son of Man invites all who would follow him to eternal life to see the power and the pathway of...

In Part 29 of our series Good News: The Life of Christ in the Gospel of Mark , Pastor Caleb looks at Jesus' provocative encounter with a man often referred to as the "rich young ruler." When we consider what we have in common with this man, the passage becomes both tragedy and warning: Those who are unwilling to be empty-handed will walk away from Jesus empty-hearted. Thankfully, Jes...

In a special break from our Mark series for a Partner Sunday, our friend Nate Garza joins us to teach on our core value of Perseverance . Looking at Habakkuk 3, we see an invitation to honestly face our circumstances and see with clarity the Savior waiting to carry us in them. For more info, visit ⁠thegardensa.org

In Part 28 of our series, "Good News: The Life of Christ in the Gospel of Mark," Robert Saenz looks at the words of Jesus in Chapter 10 and the evident love and care of God for those who approach Him humble, submissive, dependent, and trusting. For more information about our church and ways to connect with us, visit ⁠ thegardensa.org ⁠ .

In Part 27 of our series, "Good News: The Life of Christ in the Gospel of Mark," we consider what a healthy marriage looks like. Jesus responds to a question from Pharisees about divorce not with an answer about legality but with a teaching about communion . What we hear from him, as Caleb discusses, is not marriage or dating advice, but a word for the entire Church on how to be the brid...

Part 26 of "Good News: The Life of Christ in the Gospel of Mark." Jesus speaks boldly at the end of Chapter 9 about two uncomfortable topics: sin and hell. Caleb walks us through this passage to where Jesus leaves his listeners – with a view of life when we choose his way. For more info, visit ⁠thegardensa.org

Part 25 of “Good News: The Life of Christ in the Gospel of Mark”. Looking at Jesus’ dialogue with John in Mark 9:38-41, Jordan teaches on the broader definition of belonging that Jesus gives his disciples. For more info, visit thegardensa.org