Verbatim Word with Justin Gerry

Everyone worships something. In Jesus' final week of his earthly ministry, he teaches lessons about worship while at the very temple itself. God does not dwell in temples made with human hands, and believers of Christ themselves are temples of the Holy Spirit. BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 12:35-13:2 | JOHN 1:14 | JAMES 4:8 | 2 SAMUEL 7:1-14 | ACTS 17:16-31 | MATTHEW 18:20 | JEREMIAH 23:5 | JEREMIA...

Always be ready. What we believe will come under attack, and we are wise to be prepared to give a defense. The critics confront Jesus, hoping to trap Him. But He graciously loves them and points them to the truth.  BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 12:13-34 | 1 PETER 3:15 | EPHESIANS 2:8-9 | MATTHEW 10:16 | JOHN 6:51-68 | ROMANS 13:6-7 | TITUS 3:1 | ACTS 4:18-19 | GENESIS 1:27 | ROMANS 12:1-2 | 1...

We have all dealt with rejection. Jesus confronts the fact that the nation had rejected God's authority. While He has come as their long-awaited Messiah, it is their move as to whether they will accept Him. BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 11:27-12:12 | EPHESIANS 5:15-16 | ECCLESIASTES 3:1 | PSALM 127:2 | MARK 2:27 | 1 TIMOTHY 6:17 | PROVERBS 28:1 | MATTHEW 28:18-20 | JOHN 3:2 | JOHN 8:47 | ROMANS 1:1...

Spiritual life is meant to endure in all seasons. As Jesus arrives in Jerusalem, He confronts a fruitless nation that is trying to hide behind religious activity. When we draw away from God to other things, signs of withering will soon follow.  BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 11:12-26 | GENESIS 2:8 | GENESIS 3:24 | JOHN 15:5 | EXODUS 12:1-13 | JOHN 1:29 | JOHN 1:36 | JOHN 12:1-11 | HEBREWS 4:15-...

Right on time. Jesus arrives in Jerusalem on schedule to fulfill prophecies made long before. God has a plan and a purpose for our lives in a bigger picture He has in view. BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 11:1-11 | GENESIS 1:14 | PSALM 72:5 | GENESIS 3:15 | JOHN 2:4 | JOHN 7:30 | JOHN 8:20 | ZECHARIAH 14:4 | ISAIAH 46:9-10 | JEREMIAH 25:11 | DANIEL 9:1-5 | ZECHARIAH 9:9 | MATTHEW 21:1-17 | REVELATION...

Sometimes you've got to take what you can get. A blind man begging on the road outside of Jericho asks Jesus to have mercy on him. He gladly receives his sight and sets off to follow the Messiah on His final trek into Jerusalem where the cross awaits.  BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 10:46-52 | JOHN 12:8 | MATTHEW 5:3 | 1 CORINTHIANS 5:7 | EXODUS 23:17 | DEUTERONOMY 16:16 | JOSHUA 6:1-27 | MATTH...

It all comes down to perspective. Jesus heads to Jerusalem where He will make the ultimate sacrifice, and only He truly understands all that awaits. Seeking God's perspective brings clarity as we navigate through life in this world.  BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 10:32-45 | ISAIAH 55:9 | HEBREWS 12:1-2 | 2 CORINTHIANS 4:17 | PHILIPPIANS 1:12 | 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 | ROMANS 12:1-3 | COLOSSIANS 1:...

Packing light for the journey. Jesus challenges his disciples to leave behind anything that is unnecessary - attitudes, commitments, choices, and stuff - that would deter them from receiving all that eternity has to offer.   BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 10:13-31 | NUMBERS 20:11-13 | EPHESIANS 1:6 | ISAIAH 61:10 | JEREMIAH 31:34 | HEBREWS 4:13 | PHILIPPIANS 2:13 |  ROMANS 8:29 | HEBREWS 1...

Till death do us part? Marriage is a blessing that God has designed. Jesus holds up to the light the complicated issue of divorce in a world in which commitment is truly lacking on all levels. BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 10:1-12 | DEUTERONOMY 24:1-4 | HEBREWS 13:4 | GENESIS 2:22 | ECCLESIASTES 4:9-12 | HEBREWS 3:12-13 | PSALM 127:1 | MALACHI 2:16 | 1 PETER 3:7 | MATTHEW 19:9 | 1 CORINTHIANS 7:10-...

No one likes to be left out. Jesus has made it possible for us to enter the inner circle. He draws us close to teach us, lead us, and correct us. BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 9:30-50 | DEUTERONOMY 32:9-10 | JAMES 4:8 | JAMES 1:5 | JOHN 10:27 | HEBREWS 12:6-7 | ROMANS 2:4 | JOHN 16:8 | JOHN 10:14-16 | 2 TIMOTHY 2:19 | EPHESIANS 2:8 | ROMANS 10:3-4 | ROMANS 10:9 | MATTHEW 7:21-23 | MATTHEW 24:24 | A...

Life is not always lived out on the mountaintop. In the valleys and the day-to-day needs that come our way, we need to draw upon the power that only Christ can give.  BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 9:14-29 | JAMES 4:7-10 | 2 TIMOTHY 3:1-6 | 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9 | JOHN 14:12 | JOHN 15:4 | JOSHUA 7:3-5 | 2 CORINTHIANS 3:5 | MATTHEW 17:18-20 | JEREMIAH 1:10 | EPHESIANS 6:12-13 | 1 JOHN 4:4 | ISAIAH...

Seeing is believing. Jesus gives some key disciples a glimpse of His glory. The Lord will show us what we need in order to step forward in His will for our lives.  BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 9:1-13 | ROMANS 10:1-3 | MATTHEW 7:21-23 | HEBREWS 4:15 | EXODUS 19:3-6 | EXODUS 24:13-18 | 1 KINGS 17:1-7 | JUDE 9 | 2 KINGS 2:11 | 1 THESSALONIANS 4:17 | REVELATION 11:3-13 | 2 CORINTHIANS 5:9-10 | JO...

Our expectations do not always align with reality. When things turn out other than we anticipated, we can slip into denial. Jesus challenges His disciples to embrace Him as the Christ, and reveals to them all the implications of what that truly means. BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 8:22-38 | 1 KINGS 19:12 | 2 CORINTHIANS 5:7 | 1 CORINTHIANS 13:12 | MATTHEW 17:10-12 | ISAIAH 53:1-12 | PSALM 22:1-31 |...

Sometimes you just have to do something. Jesus shows His heart of compassion for a Gentile crowd in the miracle of the feeding of the 4000. And God imparts His heart to us, as well, to reach those in this world who are in need. God's greatest act of compassion is seen in the cross of Jesus Christ.  BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 8:1-21 | ACTS 1:8 | ROMANS 3:23 | ROMANS 1:16-17 | JOHN 4:7-15 | J...

You can't put God in a box. His ways are higher, His means are greater. Trusting the Lord each step of the way and seeking Him on our journey is what we are called to do. BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 7:24-37 | MATTHEW 5:14 | LUKE 18:1-14 | JOSHUA 24:15 | MATTHEW 15:21-28 | EPHESIANS 3:20 |

Earthquakes occur at fault lines.  Man's traditions and God's Word often clash when facing off against one another. The religious leaders call out Jesus' disciples for breaking tradition, but Jesus stands upon God's true heart behind the Father's commands.  BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 7:1-23 | JOHN 6:15 | EXODUS 30:19 | EXODUS 40:12 | 1 KINGS 22:5-8 | JOHN 12:47-48 | EXODUS 20:12 | EXOD...

Where are you looking? The Bible tells us consistently to look up to the Lord. Doing so places our eyes on God for a clearer perspective. BIBLE VERSE REFERENCES: ISAIAH 40:21-22 | GENESIS 15:5-6 | PSALM 121:1-2 | LUKE 21:25-28

Back to square one. When the Lord repeats life lessons, we sometimes wonder why. The disciples entered a storm for the second time around. This retry had a unique purpose in Jesus' playbook. BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 6:45-56 | LEVITICUS 23:3 | PSALM 121:4 | MARK 9:33-34 | JOHN 20:24-29 | PSALM 145:18 | MATTHEW 12:36 | 1 SAMUEL 17:34-37 | 1 CORINTHIANS 3:1-3 | MATTHEW 14:27-32 | GENESIS 22:1-2 |...

Jesus helps the disciples see their self-sufficiency and how it limits themselves and others from experiencing God's best.  Where our resources end, we have a gracious heavenly Father who draws upon the unlimited storehouses of heaven to accomplish His will for His glory. BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 6:30-44 | 1 KINGS 17:14 | EXODUS 17:16 | NUMBERS 20:8 | MALACHI 3:10 | 2 CORINTHIANS 4:5-7 |...

How tragic. Mark records the death of John the Baptist - a faithful servant who met an inglorious end. His witness for truth was partly to blame for his demise at the hands of those who pressed on in sin rather than repent and be saved.  BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 6:14-29 | ACTS 1:8 | ROMANS 5:8 | JOHN 3:19 | MARK 1:15 | MALACHI 4:5 | DEUTERONOMY 18:15 | JOHN 14:6 | JOHN 3:16 | JOHN 10:30 |...

What is waiting in the wings? Jesus' ministry is met with unbelief when He returns home. He invites the disciples to step out and carry the message forward, challenging them to let go of self-sufficiency and trust Him wholly in faith. BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 6:1-13 | MARK 1:12 | 1 TIMOTHY 3:4-5 | ZECHARIAH 4:10 | HEBREWS 4:15 | LUKE 2:41-52 | 1 SAMUEL 10:6 | JAMES 2:18 | HEBREWS 11:6 | ROMANS...

Some choices are more difficult than others. God's advice to us is always to choose life. Listen to the second installment of a two-part series.

God is the giver of life. Does He have the right to our lives? Listen to Part 1 of the two-part message.

Good things come to those who wait. Jairus' plan to bring Jesus home to heal his daughter was met with a delay. But though disappointed they did not reach her in time to heal her, God did something greater that would transform Jairus' home - and faith - forever. BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 5:35-43 | GENESIS 11:10-12:1 | LUKE 3:23-38 | ACTS 1:10-11 | PSALM 86:15 | HEBREWS 4:16 | ROMANS 4:20-21 | M...

Desperate times call for desperate measures. In such moments we often get past ourselves and humbly approach Jesus. As a good Father, He lovingly sees our need and meets us.  BIBLE VERSE References: MARK 5:21-34 | JOHN 7:7 | JOHN 15:18-19 | 1 JOHN 3:13 | ACTS 8:3 | ROMANS 1:16 | MARK 8:38 | LUKE 8:43 | ISAIAH 55:1-3 | 1 TIMOTHY 6:5 | 2 PETER 2:1-3 | ACTS 8:17-22 | JOHN 1:12-13 | LUKE 15:14-20...