Redeemer Church

The next up to attempt a trap for Jesus would be the Sadducees. Their topic? The foolish and illogical notion of life beyond the grave. Yet again, Jesus confounds the “wisdom of the wise” and delights in the glorious promise of joy forevermore that exceeds anything our current earthly existence has to offer. Do you long for that glory with a passion greater than for the things of this world?

Still intent on undermining the authority of Jesus and the sway He has over the crowd; an unusual team appears eager to catch Him in a trap. This time the subject is submission to the government – Should we come under the Roman tax, or stand opposed to the ungodly ruler over us? Jesus, the master-teacher, amazes them with His answer and lays down a principle for Christ-followers of every age to fo...

I just don’t see enough servants in our world, or in the Church today. I see more disciples committed to learning and growing, but fewer servants committed to going and dying, to a life of sacrifice and selflessness - day in and day out. We are all called to be servants, and some are set apart within the church for the office of deacon and deaconess. They are an irreplaceable gift to the church al...

After the religious leaders interrogate Jesus about the source of his authority to do what he does, he stumps them with a question of his own about authority. Having silenced his critics, he goes on to answer his own question by use of a parable. Through the parable we learn that the very nature of God is the reason that he has all authority and is worthy of our complete submission.

It’s now Tuesday and the Jewish leaders have had the evening to process Jesus’ actions in the Temple courts. They aren’t happy. They like to be in control. At the first opportunity, they challenge Jesus’ authority in an effort to maintain their own. Jesus masterfully unmasks their hypocrisy and self-seeking leadership over the people. They are the fig trees with the beautiful leaves and no fruit.

On the Monday of Passion Week, Jesus makes His way into Jerusalem, and we observe two encounters that expose the righteous anger of the King. The humble entrance into the city the day before must not be mistaken for passivity. Driven by the mission of the Father, we are given a rare glimpse into the emotions of our Savior, and what compels Him to action.

The mission of Jesus now enters its final phase. The reason for which He came, and has declared now multiple times, will soon be upon Him – To suffer and die. A king put to death? Most certainly. But this is no ordinary king, no mere human royalty. As Jesus enters Jerusalem, it becomes quickly apparent that we are watching something utterly unique leading to that which will change the world foreve...

It doesn’t have to be wicked, sinful things that take you out. It may be good things gone wrong, or necessary things elevated to the first place in your heart, that keep you from spiritual maturity. A spiritual inventory is often needed to audit our heart priorities. Are yours in the proper place and perspective?

The Lord alone satisfies the longing heart. Oh, if it were only that easy. We were created with longings and so much of life is avoiding sinful longings and fighting the disappointment we find in the lesser longings that never truly satisfy. We need to constantly rehearse the source of all true satisfaction, both in the fallen world today and the perfect one yet to come. May our hearts find their...

Jesus has been teaching the disciples and the crowd, revealing who He is to them, yet they have not had spiritual eyes to see. Now, on the verge of entering Jerusalem, days away from the cross, His healing of blind Bartimaeus clearly demonstrates the heart of true discipleship. We are forced to consider the character of all true disciples who clearly see and understand what it means to follow Jesu...

Asking for the right thing makes all the difference in personal discipleship, church unity, and Kingdom impact. Pride and selfishness ask for others to do what we want them to do, while denying yourself kind of living asks how we can serve each other. Jesus, the greatest man to ever live, was also the greatest servant of all time. In fact, the whole reason He left heaven and came to our dirty plan...

Worldly riches promise satisfaction but can become a major obstacle to denying oneself and following after Jesus. Jesus turns to the disciples after his interaction with the rich young man and highlights the joys of salvation that come only by denying idols in our lives and living wholly dependent on Himself.

Obstacles to radical discipleship abound. Jesus is ruthlessly committed to exposing them to eliminate them, for His disciples then and for us now. From a radical eliminating of sin (9:43-48), to now the exhortation to pursue treasure in heaven over riches on earth. It’s certainly not about money being bad, but it is about those idols of the heart that occupy your affections and rob God of your una...

As the crowds clamored for selfish gain, the Pharisees sought to trap Jesus to discredit His power and influence. Emerging from the private ministry of discipling His disciples, Jesus immediately faced a question from the Pharisees. A question not asked to learn but asked to test. The Pharisees want to talk divorce, but Jesus wants to talk marriage, applying the principles of “deny yourself” to av...

Don’t for a minute think walking as a humble servant is easy, comfortable, or for the weak. To be great in the Kingdom is to be the servant of all, and being a servant is not for the faint-of-heart. Faithful followership of Jesus is about a radical obedience that serves others and battles sin with an unwavering commitment to the King.

Someone famously said, “Everyone wants to be a servant until you are treated like one.” I’ve certainly found that to be true in my own life. I want to selflessly, sacrificially serve people, and yet my pride rises when I feel slighted or go un-thanked. We, like the disciples, need yet another lesson in discipleship. Following Jesus means following the way of the Servant. Denying ourselves means gi...

We have reached a pivotal point in the gospel of Mark. The disciples have been used to walking by sight. Jesus has been right there: teaching them, encouraging them, rebuking them, performing miracles right in front of them. But, now Jesus is heading to Jerusalem and his impending death, resurrection, and ascension. Soon the King will be gone, and he must prepare his disciples to walk in powerful...

In one of the most fantastic scenes in Biblical history, the veil of Jesus’ humanity is peeled back and three humans become witnesses to the future indescribable glory of the King. What a gift they were given in the treacherous journey of discipleship here on earth to see what is to come. Disciples, then and now, must embrace that the cross comes before the crown, suffering before glory. But what...

To understand who Jesus is demands following what Jesus requires. Jesus’ path of obedience to the Father went through the suffering of the cross before the glory of heaven, and ours does too. But make no mistake, the cost of following King Jesus now is worth more than anything and everything this world has to offer. Trusting, obeying and following Jesus is always your very best option!

Jesus heals a blind man in two steps; the disciples are challenged to explain who Jesus is. How do these two events relate to each other? John Mark intentionally constructs these two accounts to show us our spiritual blindness and the remedy for our lack of sight. An intimate, vulnerable encounter with Jesus will bring us into the light!

Dull in understanding, slow to believe, and lazy in obedience … all characteristics of the disciples. Mind you, these Twelve were with Jesus, learning by His side. If that’s the case with them, we ought all to be on guard that we don’t develop a hard heart. Jesus warns them against the little “leavens” that corrupt the heart, and we would do well to listen in on His warnings too!

Here we go again … another feeding, more fights with the Jewish leaders, and a lack of complete understanding by the disciples. Why does John Mark (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) include these events here in chapter eight? If we look carefully, we see the compassion of Jesus spreading as the disciples understand a little bit more. As for the Pharisees, they can’t see what’s right in fro...

A gentile mom had greater understanding of, and faith in, Jesus than the disciples. How did that happen? Simply – Jesus opened her heart to believe in Him. In our narrative today, we see that beautiful picture of the work of Jesus to open deaf ears and make speechless tongues to give praise to Him. This story brings the cohesive teaching of Mark 7 to a glorious conclusion – Jesus does all things w...

After the strong rebukes of Jesus to the religious leaders who operated from the outside in, we now meet and experience the faith of one who operates from the inside out. We meet a woman, a Gentile, a foreigner … all identities of which the Jews were dismissive. But not Jesus! His posture is one that welcomes genuine faith and rewards those who seek Him. Come meet this mother of faith.

Leading Theme is the Church of Antioch changed the world. They were Selfless with their leaders. They had an A-Team Church Planting Team and rather than keeping them, they sent out their best. We will talk about being a church that is constantly focused on being Selfless.