Jesus often taught with parables that could be confusing to understand for his listeners. Are we any better at listening and understanding today? What's the secret?
In this series of stories from Mark 2 Jesus' reactions are surprising, sometimes even the opposite of what the Pharisees expect. What preconceived notions do you need to let go of, in order to make space for Jesus to work in surprising new ways in your life?
The first words of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark are about the Kingdom of God coming near. How are those words true for you today?
As we learn from the example of Jesus in Mark 1, we pray that God's will would also be done in us, in the ministry of this new year as we follow him.
Advent is a season all about preparing, but our Christmas preparations can actually lead us away from, not toward what our hearts need! While Christmas preparations often involve covering over what we consider broken, Advent preparations involve getting real about them with God, and looking to his promise to meet us in our need. In this bad news world, the good news Jesus brings is only beginning.
In a world of shouting and hurrying, Advent is an invitation to listening and waiting.
In the time of Ezra, the exiles returned. Since unfaithfulness to God's law led to exile, they made fulfilling the law their central focus- losing sight of God's desire for relationship rather than sacrifice. We make idols of things we think we can control, while God really wants to be Lord of our hearts. Through Jesus' death and resurrection he makes of our lives a temple- are hearts are his kingdom territory.
What do we do when the "Fruit" of our lives turns sour? We trust in the grace and mercy of the vineyard owner.
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