Ambassador Presbyterian

A Glimpse of Glory - The Gospel According to Mark: Following Jesus (Ch 9:1-13)

God's word reminds us that pain, suffering, hardships we experience in this world are not the end of the story. Such things as like the pains of childbirth, that will eventually lead to a glorious life to be revealed (Romans 8:22). But how can we know?  Jesus' disciples were likely asking the same question when he began to tell them about his suffering and death. In order to encourage their hearts and strengthen their faith, God gives them a glimpse of glory as Jesus is transformed in glory for a moment on a mountaintop. Here we're given a glimpse of Jesus' (and our) future glory to encourage our souls.  

Dying to Live - The Gospel According to Mark: Following Jesus (Ch 8:31-38)

During this pandemic, we have seen great efforts to protect life, but often at the cost of truly living. In Mark 8 Jesus shows how the gospel turns our natural inclination for self-preservation upside down, calling his followers to deny and die to self in order to experience true life. We continue in Mark's gospel and hear Jesus' radical call to be willing to give up everything for his sake: dying to truly live.

O Say Can You See - The Gospel According to Mark: Following Jesus (Ch 8:22-30)

If you've ever been to the eye doctor, you are familiar with what is usually the last test given in order to correct poor vision. The doctor puts the big goggle-like machine over your eyes and begins to flip different lenses asking "Which is better, this one or that one." And even though the differences may seem small, they help us to have the clearest vision possible. When the people brought a blind man to Jesus to be healed, he goes through a similar sort of test, gradually restoring this man's sight to see things clearly. In this miracle, Jesus is showing his disciples and us the need we have for our spiritual eyesight to be corrected such that we can clearly see and understand who he is and why he has come.  

The Disciples are Forgetful and So Am I: The Gospel According to Mark: Following Jesus (Ch 8:1-21)

As Jesus relates with different groups of people, we learn about Him and often ourselves. And sometimes the picture we see of ourselves isn’t that pretty.  But these passages give us want we all want and need - truth and hope.  Join guest speaker Don Knox in the next installment of the Mark series. 

I Will Build My Church - Rev. Eddie Brown

Matthew 16:13-18. In these last few months we’ve thought about, maybe worried about, and had many questions about the church going forward.  In a time like this Jesus has the answer to our questions and fears when he says:  I will build my Church!  How wonderful for the church in all times, in all places and in all situations to hear Jesus saying: I will build my church! 

Jesus Does All Things Well - The Gospel According to Mark: Following Jesus (Mark 7:31-37)

As Mark records Jesus' ministry spreading from the region of Galilee out into Gentile territory, his amazing works of healing the sick, casting out evil spirits, and caring for others, are well summarized in the statement of those who witness his healing of a deaf man with a speech impediment: "he has done all things well." Yet, the purpose of Jesus' miracles were not just to do things well or to gain a good reputation, but to point to the reality of who he is as the Son of God and what he had come to do as the savior of sinners. Jesus' approach to dealing with this deaf man teaches us about God's approach in dealing with our sin, and how we might approach others in pointing them to the God who does all things well. 

Bringing Outsider In - The Gospel According to Mark: Following Jesus (Ch 7:24-30)

The dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile in Jesus' day was pretty high.  And Jesus himself acknowledged the priority and privilege which God's chosen people had in his mission as redeemer.  But even those on the outside religiously and socially, were recipients of Jesus' healing grace, as is demonstrated in his encounter with a gentile woman. Listen as we see Jesus go out of his way to bring outsiders in.   

Handwashing, Hypocrisy and the Heart - The Gospel of Mark: Following Jesus (Ch 7:1-23)

 

Wash your hands, wear your mask, keep your distance. We’ve become all too familiar with rules meant to keep us safe from a deadly virus. But what about the deadly effects of sin? We are pretty good at creating rules to protect us from sin, but the problem is sin is not something we catch from others, but something we are already infected with. When we put our hope in the rules to protect us, we will miss the remedy God has given in the gospel. Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who trusted their rules above God’s redemption in Christ. 

Seeing Ghosts or Trusting God - The Gospel According to Mark: Following Jesus (Ch. 6:45-56)

It seems when Jesus tells his disciples to get in the boat and head out, there's a good chance a big storm will arise. In Mark 6, the disciples face another violent storm on the lake, only this time Jesus isn't in the boat with them. When he shows up walking on the water, the disciples think they are seeing a ghost. Jesus never promises that he won't lead us into times of great difficulty, but he does promise to be present with us in the midst of them. Our problem is that we often fail to recognize God and trust his grace in the midst of the storm.  Here we unpack the familiar story of Jesus walking on the water.  

Resting in God's Provision - The Gospel According to Mark: Following Jesus (Ch 6:30-44)

Overwhelmed, under stress, feeling the constant pressure of people or things crying out for your attention. There are times when we just want to get away for some rest. But sometimes we just can't avoid the pressing needs. Join us as we look at the familiar story of Jesus' feeding the five thousand and see how true rest is found in Christ's compassion and power to provide all we need and more.