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

  Extravagant Worship (or, “Crazy Love” ) Mark 14:1-11 Introduction : Valentine’s Day is just a couple of weeks away, a day when we especially celebrate love. Usually, it is not in some vague generalities, but specifically focused on a special someone! Men, not only that day, but always, the Apostle Paul has a word for us: “ Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ” (Eph 5:25)! That reminds us that love is not just an emotion, it shows itself in action. OK, you have two weeks to think about it! And what about our love for God? He has shown us His love. How then should we live? I read this quote… “The main difference between Christians and others is that we take God seriously and they do not. We really do believe that He is the central reality of all existence …” [And so,] “… we order our lives in response to that reality and not some other …”        If we know God, we will love Him. If we love Him, we will live differently. The Christia

  Behold! He Comes! Mark 13:24-31 Introduction : One little girl heard her Sunday School teacher talk about the return of Christ. When she saw her mom later she asked her, “Mommy do you believe Jesus is coming back? And that it could be soon?” The mom replied, “Yes dear, I do.” The girl paused, looked heavenward, and then asked, “Would you please comb my hair?” She wanted to be ready! I think that is one of the practical implications of this doctrine: be ready! That theme is very clear and it carries through this chapter.        As we have gone through this chapter I’ve pointed out that of all the chapters in Mark, this is the most challenging and most disputed, even among conservatives, as to nailing down the meaning of Jesus’ words (and as those who come out on Wednesday nights know, I am still far from having all of this figured out!). The question of Jesus’ meaning in verse 30, “ this generation ,” is the crux of the entire discourse and will impact our reading of the whole c

  Night Vision! Mark 13:14-23 Introduction:   Last week I had an eye exam and had my pupils dilated. When I left the office, it was getting dark, but not for me, I was like an owl! It was great… until the head lights from an oncoming car pointed my way… from seeing like and owl to blind as a bat, just like that! Night Vision… Our military has been able to say for quite some time, “We own the night.” Against many of the less technologically advanced adversaries our military has had to engage, our “night vision” capabilities have allowed our forces to conduct operations in the darkness with great effect, and with a lot less risk to our troops. I thought of that when I read this week Daniel 7:13,14… “… I saw in the night visions , and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.   14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him