Pastor's Corner: WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?

  Discipleship 101: Growing in Grace, Even in the Storms! Mark 6:45-52 Introduction : Have you ever been amazed by the performance of a world class tightrope walker? Would you trust one enough to allow him to push you across a chasm in a wheelbarrow? Me? NO   WAY! That’s the difference between amazed or entertained, and faith!   Remember Mark’s first summary of Jesus’ preaching , “ The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel ” (Mk 1:15). Jesus came to reveal himself and to make a way for sinners to be reconciled to God. That involves recognizing our sin and turning from our prideful rebellion to Him. It means surrendering to Him, being willing to “get in the wheelbarrow,” and trust Him with our life. The first verse of Mark said it, Jesus Himself is the Good News , “ The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ” The miracles Jesus did amazed many people. Only gradually are the disciples understanding what the signs

  Feed My Sheep (or, Honored to Serve ) Mark 6:30-44 Introduction : Pediatrician David Cerqueira shares a story of how a little girl showed his church the honor of serving God:      One Sunday my wife had prepared a lesson on being useful. She taught the children that everyone can be useful—that usefulness is serving God, and that doing so is worthy of honor. The kids quietly soaked up my wife's words, and as the lesson ended, there was a short moment of silence. [A little girl named] Sarah spoke up. "Teacher, what can I do? I don't know how do to many useful things."      Not anticipating that kind of response, my wife quickly looked around and spotted an empty flower vase on the windowsill. "Sarah, you can bring in a flower and put it in the vase. That would be a useful thing."      Sarah frowned. "But that's not important."     "It is," replied my wife, "if you are helping someone." Sure enough, the next Sun

  Conscience, Conviction, and Courage Mark 6:14-30 Introduction : On Christmas day we mentioned the transition reflected in the song, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” The Angel’s announcement of “Peace on Earth” is echoed in much of our Christmas music, but it can seem so far from what we see in the world. Longfellow was overcome by the dissonance between what he heard being sung, and what he had experienced , both personally, and nationally, with the country mired in the Civil War. In the third verse of the hymn we read his words, “ And in despair I bowed my head, ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said. ‘For hate is strong and mocks the song of Peace on Earth, good will toward men .’” The evidence of the Fall is all around us, exposing the darkness in human hearts, “ The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it? ” We are reminded every day that we live in a fallen world, and that all around us are people who desperately need Jesus. This stor