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

  The “Who” and the “Why” of the Gospel Mark 8:27-32a Introduction : Teachers often say there are no “bad” questions. That may be, but some are surely better than others! We’ve seen the disciples asking some questions that prove the point! It is true, that some questions are really good – it is how we learn. A friend once asked Isidor Isaac Rabi, a Nobel prize winner in physics, how he became a scientist. Rabi replied that every day after school his mother would talk to him about his school day. She wasn't so much interested in what he had learned that day, but she always inquired, "Did you ask a good question today?" "Asking good questions," Rabi said, "made me become a scientist." On the other hand, one prominent pastor reflected on his experience as a student in the class of Dr. Charles Feinberg at DTS. He said the first day of class a student asked a question. Dr. Feinberg looked at him sternly and said, “Young man, if you don’t have a more...

  Open the Eyes of my Heart, Lord! Mark 8:22-26 Introduction : This short account of the miraculous healing of a blind man in Bethsaida is unique to Mark. Because of how the healing is done, some see it as one of the more difficult passages in the NT. The context will make the meaning clear . The setting is in Bethsaida, a town near the border of Galilee, north of the lake, just on the east bank of the Jordan. This would be the last miracle Jesus does in this region (after this scene Jesus continues north, into the region of Caesarea Philippi, before beginning the final trip to Jerusalem). It leads into a climactic and transitional scene of the gospel, as the questions Mark has been asking and answering are explicitly addressed, 1) “ Who is Jesus? ” 2) “ Why did He come? ” and 3) “ What does it mean to follow Him? ” The rest of Mark 8 (Peter’s confession, Jesus’ explicit statement about his coming death and resurrection, and the call to discipleship) will bring to the forefron...

  Stop, Look, and Listen! Mark 8:13-21 Introduction : We have had a series of train accidents this year, thankfully most involved derailments of freight trains, even so, there has been loss of life. A derailment is one thing, but when a crash happens between a train and a motor vehicle, it is usually devastating. One of my walking routes takes me to a train crossing, and the flashing lights, ringing bell, and the bar that lowers across the road, and across the sidewalk, leave no doubt when a train is coming! In some areas it is more common to be warned only by a sign that says, “Stop, look, listen” at the crossings. Despite the warning, every year there are accidents and fatalities, often because drivers don’t heed the warning signs right in front of them. Stop, look, and listen : It is not just a suggestion, it can be life or death!   What is true of railroad crossings is also true of living the Christian Life. We can make a trainwreck of our lives if we are not on guard...

  THE NEWS THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING: HE IS RISEN! John 20:1-18 Introduction : One of my great-grandmothers was a Ukrainian immigrant. They came over early in the 20 th century. She died around 1970. One thing I remember about her, is the beautiful eggs she decorated at Easter time. Not just colored eggs, but carefully, artistically designed patterns. Some of those eggs would be eaten, others had the egg carefully removed from the shell before it was dyed so that they could be displayed longer. A strange thing, so beautiful on the outside, it looked like an egg, but a hollow shell, empty. Paul said a similar thing would be true of Christianity if it were not for the historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus… 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.   18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.   19 If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.  ...