This Sunday we will celebrate the baptism of two newborn members in the Hope family. The message is based on Mark 10:13-16 where the children (Luke mentions ‘babies’, Luke 18:15-17) are brought to Jesus for a blessing. Hmm, can babies and children brought to Jesus without their own choice actually receive a blessing? What kind of blessing…
Author: Norm
Church Library opens this Sunday (Apr 22)!!!
Library Grand Re-Opening This coming Sunday (April 22, 2007) after months of hard work, the Library Team is having an official opening for the new and improved Church Library. New books have been added! A computer system now manages the sign out process. Find out more this coming Sunday. Join us for cake and door…
Apr 16 — Mark 16:1-8
SCRIPTURE: Mark 16:1-8 OBSERVATION: The disciples were not expecting Jesus to come back to life, as far as they were concerned their dream had died. Surprise! The heavy stone is rolled away, someone is sitting in the tomb, Jesus’ body is not there, Jesus is alive and will meet them in Galilee – not your typical…
Apr 15 — Mark 15:40-47
SCRIPTURE: Mark 15:40-47 OBSERVATION: Jesus identified with society’s second class citizens – women, children, tax collectors, prostitutes, Samaritans – and they identified with Him, here we see the women who followed Jesus. ”Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council”, shows the remarkable impact that Jesus had, not just for society’s outcasts. Joseph was a…
Apr 14 — Mark 15:21-39
SCRIPTURE: Mark 15:21-39 OBSERVATION: That Mark mentions Alexander and Rufus suggests that he knew of them, possibly that they became Christ followers. ”Wine mixed with myrrh” was like a pain killer, this is why Jesus declined it. ”Cast lots”, probably a joke, was there much left of the clothes after his trial? Those who mocked Jesus…
Apr 13 — Mark 14:66-15:20
SCRIPTURE: Mark 14:66-15:20 OBSERVATION: Even though he was warned, and he firmly denied it, Peter ends up denying Jesus 3 times. Not just denial, he basically calls down curses on himself if he is lying, to prove that he is telling the truth. No wonder he broke down and wept. Pontius Pilate was no friend of the…
What Jesus’ resurrection means to you!
Time to hear from you again. I would love to hear why the resurrection of Jesus is important to you. There are no right or wrong answers, just an opportunity for you to share your own personal experience of the resurrection. Does it matter to you? Do you have a hard time believing that it…
Apr 12 — Mark 14:32-65
SCRIPTURE: Mark 14:32-65 OBSERVATION: Jesus takes the same ones He took up the mountain when He was “transfigured” (Matthew 17:1-2). Jesus agonizes with God in prayer, and He is overwhelmed with emotion, “deeply distressed and troubled”. “Abba” was the Aramaic term for ‘daddy’. Jesus pleads for another way, but remains committed to doing whatever the Father asks…
Apr 11 — Mark 14:1-31
SCRIPTURE: Mark 14:1-31 OBSERVATION: The Passover (Jewish feast marking the night the angel of death spared their firstborn sons (Exodus 12:13,23,27) The Feast of Unleavened Bread followed, lasting seven days (Exodus 12:15-20). Jerusalem was crowded with festival pilgrims, hence the leaders fear of a riot. The second time Jesus is anointed (Luke 7:36-50), this time by Mary, the sister…
Apr 10 — Mark 12:3-27
SCRIPTURE: Mark 12:13-27 OBSERVATION: An interesting alliance, since the Pharisees were not fans of Herod, while the Herodians were his political supporters. Shows how desperate (and despicable) they were. The tax question was a trick, trying to entice Jesus to say something worthy of the death penalty. Jesus answers in a way that avoids the trap….