How can we understand the singular event of Jesus cleansing the temple, overturning tables and scattering all the coins and animals? This passage has much to tell us about the worldview and values of the marketplace versus the temple, as God envisioned it, to be a house of prayer and blessing to all the nations.

When Jesus enters Jerusalem, he is greeted by shouts of Hosanna amid great excitement and enthusiasm. But this is the same crowd that yells, "Crucify!", a mere week later. What can we learn from this tragedy concerning our expectations and desires, and the ways they become disappointment, bitterness, and even hatred?

Reading through the rest of Mark 10, Jesus paints a picture of God who desires our thriving and flourishing (hence, rules for how our lives are to be lived), a God whose notions of importance and value are radically different from our own, and God's compassionate love for each of us, "What do you want me to do for you?"

Jesus teaches his disciples to treat sin drastically in Mark 9:43-50 in his very vivid and unforgettable rabbinic way. However, the main message here is deeper, grappling with the difference and value of earthly life and eternal life.

The disciples were caught arguing among themselves, "Who's the greatest?" Fear, self-protectiveness, and a whole host of other reasons caused them to miss the real drama that was unfolding: the servanthood of Jesus who lay down his life for the powerless.

On Easter Sunday, "We had hoped...," the disciples uttered as they headed down that road to Emmaus, sets the stage of our human hearts for the remarkable reversal God accomplished in Jesus--reversing the downward spiral of nature, reversing the condemnation and accusation of sin, and reversing the hearts of people from despair to unbounded new hope.

The Mount of Transfiguration tells us who it is that will be on the cross: one who will satisfy all the demands of the Law and the promises of the Prophets, who will show us that salvation is accomplished wholly by God alone.

Jesus invites us in Mark 8:34-9:1 to take up our cross and follow him. He isn't merely inviting us to a "way of life," he describes life as it is and tells us the profound truth that to lose our lives is to gain it, and to hold onto our lives is to truly lose it.

In Mark 8:27-9:1, Jesus asks his disciples a question we must all answer for ourselves, "Who do you say I am?" The answer has implications on our lives, whether we call him teacher, crazy, or Lord. We also study Jesus' staunch refusal to accept any alternate voices that might dissuade him from going to the cross.

The disciples neither see nor hear, and do not understand in our text today, Mark 8:1-26. Ultimately, they bring to Jesus' words their own issues and insecurities, and end up missing what he has to say.

A discussion on ceremonial cleansing brings to light an entire teaching of the external vs. internal lives. What are we focused on? Mere impression management, or do we really know what's going on inside our hearts? Jesus's confrontation with the Pharisees, contrasted with the following encounter, the Syrian Phoenician woman, provides a compelling picture of coming to God with the right posture and heart.

In Mark 6:1-29, we encounter prejudice that refuses to listen or learn, which ultimately prevents growth. We also examine Herod's relationship with John the Baptist, and get a picture of how not to respond to God's voice.

Jairus and his beloved daughter and the bleeding woman seem an unlikely cast of characters occupying the stage together in Mark 5. However, despite their different social situations, they share kinship in their desperate need for Jesus' intervention in their lives.

The ordination of 3 new pastors is a first for Gracepoint and a momentous occasion. As William, Manny, and Timothy receive their pastoral charge and we celebrate together God's faithfulness, our entire congregation is reminded by Paul's example in Ephesus that we are all called to be ministers of the gospel.

In Mark 4:35-5:20, Jesus takes his disciples along on a journey that will see him silencing a raging, out-of-control storm and restoring a violent, out-of-control man. Through it all, we can learn how to grow in our faith when we must weather storms in our lives from without and within.

Jesus' parable of the sower teaches us four responses to the word of God: the path, the rocky soil, the thorny soil, and the good soil.

Every year we ring in the new year together with a time of reflection, prayer, worship, testimony sharing, and communion. Moreover, our congregation receives the key verse for the new year together.

In today's text (Mark 3:7-35), Jesus withdrew from the spiritual establishment and ministered to the people, drawing huge crowds from all over the countryside. Appointing the twelve apostles and relating to his family, Jesus teaches us what it means to be a disciple, and gives us a new definition of family. ( notes)

Matthew 1:21 gives us the true picture of that first Christmas many years ago. Why did Jesus come? What problem of humanity did his coming solve? Why not make some decrees from on high and save himself the trouble of coming to be with us? Perhaps, it was the coming to be with us that Christmas is really about.

Jesus provoked controversy in his confrontations with the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law. Jesus' answers to their questions often left them wondering, "Who does he think he is?" That's precisely the question we ask ourselves today in Mark 2:18-3:6 as Jesus teaches on the true meaning of fasting, the Sabbath, and this strange business of old and new wineskins.

Guest speaker, Pastor Joe Kim, joins us today, sharing from Ephesians 3, that true power does not come from the body, nor even the mind, but from Christ dwelling in the unchanging soul of each human person. He also gives a missions presentation on the nation of Japan, and shares his calling and his quickly-approaching future there as a missionary and school president in Nagoya.

As we cover Mark 2:1-17, we encounter two who are called by Jesus: the paralytic on the mat and Levi, the tax collector. Our attention is drawn to the similarity the two men share--their inner paralysis as identified, needy sinners. It is a deep issue we too must confront in our own lives as Jesus issues his invitation to us, "Get up," "Follow me."

Our annual Thanksgiving Celebration has always started with a time to remember all that God has done in our ministry the past year. It's our opportunity to thank God for all He has done, and to remember the role of gratitude in our own lives.

Healing in the synagogue, in the house of Peter, and late into the night: what do these tell us about Jesus? How is it that Jesus' compassion reaches out to touch a leper, and what message does this have for you and I today?

When Jesus uttered his famous words, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men," the disciples left it all--their fish, nets, boats, and even their own father--to respond. What were they leaving for? Was it worth it?

The Gospel of Mark begins not with the life of Jesus, but with John the Baptist. Who was he? What was his story? What did he do to "prepare the way for the Lord?" ( notes | Intro to Mark )

Core to the gospel is the message of extravagant, wasteful love. Jesus on the cross demonstrated this for us. The church too is called to demonstrate this for one another and for the world. ( notes | video)

The bible's primary understanding of the church is the "body of Christ," meant for good works as a vehicle of salvation for others. How does this happen? What role does authority and spiritual leadership have? What does the bible have to say about this? ( notes)

What is the church? In what ways is the church like a symphony, complete with orchestra, conductor, and score? (video) ( notes)

Now that we know what happiness isn't, what is happiness? Join us as we explore the ingredients and components to happiness. ( notes)

Since we live in a fallen world with broken people, we'll go through life collecting grudges, grievances, and all kinds of junk. What do we do with them? What does it look like to trust God with the grudges and grievances we've accumulated? ( notes)

Are you a hopeful person? Do you get discouraged easily? Do you get more depressed than you want to? Do you fail more than you think you should? What's the difference between "optimism" and "Christian hope?" ( notes)

What challenges are you experiencing in your life right now? What is your response? ( notes)

Our strategy to get happiness often focuses on changing our material circumstances. But experience tells us (and so do the social scientists!) that we're not very good at happiness forecasting. What to do then? ( notes)

Recent American life tells us having more stuff doesn't make us more happy. Is there a problem when we make happiness our goal in life? ( notes)

God's character ensures the fulfillment of His promises on Abraham's life, the twelve disciples, and on our own lives. Today, we look to God as the subject of our last Portrait of Faith. ( notes)

How does God lead us step by step to become a person of faith? Could God ever use someone like me? If so, what steps do I need to take? What would that kind of life look like? Join us as we look to the life of Gideon for some answers. ( notes)

How do ordinary people practice their faith and live a life of faith? Learn from the paralytic and his four friends how ordinary people demonstrated remarkable, praiseworthy faith. ( notes)

Peter, who walked on water to go to Jesus, took a step of faith and experienced God, leaving behind the safety of his boat and fears. ( notes)

What will be greater? God and the faith journey He has called us to, or the present reality, circumstances, and doubt? ( notes)

What is faith? Why does God want us to have faith? Why does God take so long to deliver on His promises? ( notes)

The majestic, creator God is also the God who invites us to have a personal relationship with Him. ( notes)

The God in the bible is holy, completely dedicated to what is right and good, and opposed to sin and evil. It is a holiness that inspires reverence and awe. ( notes)

At the core, David and his mighty men shared a deep fellowship of affection and loyalty. What lessons are offered here about our own relationships with others? What can we learn about our own relationship with Jesus, our Lord? ( notes)

David had many people in his life willing to speak truth to him even in the midst of great anger or terrible loss. It is from his response to people like Abigail and Joab that we learn how we too ought to listen and receive truth in our lives. ( notes)

This lesson on Saul is a grave warning as to what happens when we do not let go of our insecurities and clutch tightly onto our positions and status. ( notes)

Join us as we review Jonathan's relationship with David, and how Jonathan provides us all with an example of how to be a friend and relate to the people in our own lives. ( notes)

As we talk about God's heart for the nations, we look forward to our summer mission teams' impending departure to Taiwan and Cambodia, and also pause to observe Not-For-Sale Sunday. ( notes)

Vision is a picture of the preferred future that galvanizes your energies toward its realization. ( notes)

In a society that has glamorized the quitter, what does it mean to endure? What is something you quit and wish you hadn't? ( notes)

Why is it so difficult to be courageous? What are ways we can become courageous? notes and famous quotes

Joe Horness, Associate Pastor and Worship Director at Bay Pointe Community Church in Michigan joins us and asks, "Why do we worship God?"

Jesus' resurrection on Easter Sunday introduced a new hope into reality: transformation. The gospel stories present us with stories of transformation--beginning with people, and then how these same people changed the people and situations around them: the samaritan woman, Zacchaeus, Simon Peter, St. Patrick, William Wilberforce, and many others throughout history. ( notes)

The two disciples leaving Jerusalem said, "We had hoped..." It's a profoundly human sentiment we all share, but Jesus' death on the cross is, in part, a statement that in a world dominated by the certainty of death, our lesser hopes must die. And so the cross which is for the disciples is also for us. But it is the aftermath of the Resurrection--after the cross--that things change and begin to make sense in light of remembrance and reflection. In fact, everything changes. ( notes)

A sober look at the world in which we live reveals a broken, God-forsaken place filled with suffering, evil, and sorrow. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" turns out to be not so far from our own heart's cry. Jesus' words, "I am thirsty," tell us he isn't a distant, superhuman figure unfamiliar with our frailty. Jesus enters our suffering, broken world and confronts the evil we face everyday. He models what our response can be when, despite the world's worst, he yet commits his life and spirit to God. ( notes)

That we need forgiveness and a prayer of intercession for our lives is no surprise; "Father, forgive them for they don't know what they are doing." The assumption, of course, is that our lives are full of not knowing, and is apt to feel like a walk through uncharted territory. When Jesus tells the criminal, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise", it's a promise to us too that we're heavenbound people and life's difficult situations aren't the end of the story. And finally, Jesus' third (of seven) last words not only enlarges our understanding of heaven, but is a commission for us to enlarge our own lives to love our world as much as he did. ( notes)

We know instinctively compassion involves more than mere sentimentality. It involves action. After all, in its original Latin, it means "to suffer with." How do we become compassionate? Jesus' example teaches us to recognize first the tremendous need in our world at large, and in the lives of those near to us. When we personalize these needs instead of simply becoming numb, then we begin to understand God's heart and involve ourselves. ( notes)

While the world tells us that our life consists of an abundance of possessions, the parable of the Rich Fool teaches us that a person who lives with only himself in mind is narrow in perspective and ultimately tragic. Yet we often allow pursuits of the future, career, and lesser things come between us and God because we think we have an eternity to live our lives. But we will have to answer to God for our lives, and while it is still day, the Bible commends us to live in a manner that is rich towards God. ( notes)

Before mighty Goliath on the battlefield, the apparent absence of God was the absence of faith. When William Wilberforce saw the Goliath of slavery in his day, he made the choice--as David did in 1 Samuel 17--to step out in faith to seize and create what turned out to be the defining moment of his life. What can you not stand? It's incumbent on us to recognize what battle is worth fighting, and then to choose to step out in faith and move forward in God's almighty name. ( notes)

We all have a choice to move towards God or away from Him. When Moses moved towards God in the Horeb desert, he was given a mission to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage. If the last 39 years of his life in the desert didn't make sense, hindsight makes clear that God had been preparing Moses for just this task from the moment of his birth. In the figurative deserts of our own lives, God calls us, able to use the stuff of our lives. The only quality He looks for, as He did with Moses, is brokenness. ( notes)

Defining moments occur when we come face to face with life-altering truth and it changes us permanently. We seldom live life looking for such moments, but they are the very opportunities through which God speaks to us. Such a moment came for Jacob at the river Jabbok, as he realized after a night of struggle that he cannot be his own source of blessing for his life, nor could he run away any longer from confronting the God who was so interested in relating to him and blessing him. ( notes)

In our society, we've come to believe that "sins" are mere "mistakes", and that we're not so much "sinful" as we're "mostly good". But God asserts we are all sinners to the core, guilty, and willful in our moral decisions and choices. If God's standard is perfection (Matthew 5:48), then we have all of us sinned and fallen short. What are we to do then? ( notes)

Somewhere along the way, we picked up the mentality that Rebellion = Freedom, and that rebelling against prohibitions and authority are not only desirable, but the only way to keep ourselves from missing out. But we seldom realize that rebellion--especially rebellion against God's authority and Word--yields unforeseen, previously unappreciated consequences. True freedom, the bible says, comes in obeying and submitting to the proper source of authority: God. ( notes)

Is there such thing as an invisible reality? A spiritual reality? The bible asserts not only is there a spiritual reality, but there is also a personal spiritual force--the devil. He doesn't have to get you to worship him or even believe he exists. He just needs to get you to disbelieve God, and he does this by twisting long accepted and self-evident truths. We'll talk about how we defend ourselves and how we wage spiritual battle by using God's word. ( notes)

In Matthew 25, a woman breaks her alabaster jar and pours perfume over Jesus. Judas protests, "Why this waste?" In contrast, Jesus declares, "She has done a beautiful thing." Evaluating this woman's act, much like evaluating our own lives this past 2006, we can look through Judas' eyes or through Jesus' eyes: wasteful, beautiful, and faithful. ( notes)

We all want to have or give the perfect gift yet ironically, the problem is not that the perfect gift is unattainable; the problem is that it is unrecognized. In this finale of the Christmas series we discover how our search for the perfect gift leads us to all kinds of wishes and desires but overlooks the humble manger where the true need of humanity is met; salvation from sin. ( notes)

The Christmas story's infamous Innkeeper uttered the words, "No room", describing not just his inn, but also his life and our lives too as we live the excessively busy lives that we do. In contrast, Joseph, the peasant carpenter betrothed to Mary, had the room to receive the wounds, bewilderment, and ultimately the joy of the baby Jesus. In a world that encourages "No room", the greatest tragedy comes in the things we miss; and conversely, the great joy when room in our hearts opens the door for God's blessing and presence into our lives. ( notes)

The desire to belong and the experience of being excluded are universal to the human condition. Whether it's picking teams on the school playground, the social group we're not a part of, or the notorious "who's In" and "who's Out" games we all play, we yet deeply desire to be welcomed, to be wanted, and to feel claimed. The walls that separate man, that ultimately separate us from God in that greatest wall of our sin, is crossed by God's Christmas message: that there are no walls around the manger, before which we can all kneel in humility and be cla