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

  I Believe… Help My Unbelief! Mark 9:14-29 Introduction: Have you ever had the experience of coming down from a “mountain top” experience, and then immediately being confronted by the reminder of the struggles of life in a fallen world? Elijah certainly had such an experience after contending with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (I Kings 18). After seeing God send fire down from heaven before the people, he heard that Jezebel had sworn to put him to death, and in despair he prayed for God to take him (I Kings 19:2-4)! Consider Moses who spoke with God on Mount Sinai. He entered the cloud that covered the mountain and received from God the Law (Ex 31). When he delayed in returning the people had Aaron make a Golden Calf, and they set it in the center of the camp and were having a wild party!        What about you? Maybe you return from a Christian conference or a retreat and you are feeling on top of the world. And then you get home, and the bills are still waiting to be pai

  The Transfiguration: In His Presence Mark 9:1-13 Introduction: The transfiguration was, for the inner circle of the disciples, both literally and spiritually a “mountain top” experience. It was a revelation that, for a time, they would need to keep to themselves, but which would no doubt provoke them to consider more deeply what it revealed about who Jesus is, and even invite them to consider what He came to do. They didn’t get it then, but after the cross and resurrection their minds would be opened, and this experience on the mountaintop would be with them the rest of their lives. Peter reflects on it in 2 Peter 1:16-18, 16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.   17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,"   18 we ourse

  Gospel-Centered Living: Gaining through Losing Mark 8:32b-9:1 Introduction :   During our time serving as missionaries in Brazil, one of the most popular churches espoused a theology of health, wealth, and prosperity. They taught that if you have faith, you will experience blessing and abundance in terms of physical health and material blessings. You just have to believe, and then, name it and claim it. That is attractive, but that is not the message of the Bible. John said it this way in his first epistle: 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.   16 For all that is in the world- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions- is not from the Father but is from the world.   17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever (I John 2:15-17). In our passage today Jesus makes some paradoxical statements. He says h