Archive for the ‘Biblical Studies - The Gospel of Mark’ Category

7 Ways to discern if you’re becoming (are) a fundamentalist

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

for my Gospel of Mark classes at BCS.

Don’t be a Pharisee. There’s NOTHING down that road…

Isaiah 59:15b-20 (ESV) via Mark 6:6

Sunday, June 7th, 2009

For the “Smaller Setting” Gospel of Mark community.

Thank you for spurring me on to love and good deeds…

Mark 6:6 – And he marveled because of their unbelief…

Isaiah 59:15b – The LORD saw it, and it displeased him
that there was no justice.
16 He saw that there was no man,
and wondered that there was no one to intercede;
then his own arm brought him salvation,
and his righteousness upheld him.
17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
and a helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.
18 According to their deeds, so will he repay,
wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies;
to the coastlands he will render repayment.
19 So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west,
and his glory from the rising of the sun;
for he will come like a rushing stream,
which the wind of the LORD drives.

20 “And a Redeemer will come to Zion,
to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the LORD.

Lifehouse – Storm

Sunday, May 3rd, 2009

For the Sunday night Gospel of Mark community at Blackhawk Ministries, a consistently encouraging song for a consistently transformational community…

Mark 4:35-41 (English Standard Version)

Jesus Calms a Storm
35(A) On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37And a great windstorm arose, and the waves(B) were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39And he awoke and(C) rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and(D) there was a great calm. 40He said to them, “Why are you(E) so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41And they were filled with great fear and said to one another,(F) “Who then is this, that even(G) the wind and the sea obey him?”

Psalm 89:8-9 (English Standard Version)

8O LORD God of hosts,
(A) who is mighty as you are, O(B) LORD,
with your faithfulness all around you?
9You rule the raging of the sea;
when its waves rise, you(C) still them.

Does the Bible Claim Jesus is God?

Friday, April 24th, 2009

Are Demons Real?

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

Gospel of Mark – Blackhawk Ministries Community

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

Details below.

We’re about six weeks into the study at this point, and are really enjoying our time together focused on the amazing and incomparable Christ.

Join us if you can.

I’ll be making our study materials available online soon.

The Gospel of Mark

Monday, January 12th, 2009

On the threshold of a very intensive six months in Mark’s Gospel, I offer you this video…

A good introduction, with some poignant observations…

John R.W. Stott – The Cross of Christ

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

The Shadow of Death

1873 William Holman Hunt – The Shadow of Death

The Cross of Christ

Description: The work of a lifetime, from one of the world’s most influential thinkers, about the heart of the Christian faith.

“I could never myself believe in God, if it were not for the cross. . . . In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it?”

“Before we can begin to see the cross as something done for us (leading us to faith and worship), we have to see it as something done by us (leading us to repentance). Indeed, ‘only the man who is prepared to own his share in the guilt of the cross…may claim his share in its grace.’ Horatius Bonar (1808-89), who has been called the ‘prince of Scottish hymn-writers’, expressed it well:

‘Twas I that shed the sacred blood;
I nailed him to the tree;
I crucified the Christ of God;
I joined the mockery.

Of all that shouting multitude
I feel that I am one;
And in that din of voices rude
I recognize my own.

Around the cross the throng I see,
Mocking the Sufferer’s groan;
Yet still my voice it seems to be,
As if I mocked alone

Blood:Water Mission

Saturday, April 12th, 2008

Been thinking a lot about this ever since Jeremy Moore

gave me a bracelet Friday.

Great song, great video.

Watch for the two weeks of sacrifice coming to a classroom near you.

Commentary on the Gospel of Mark – 1:1

Wednesday, February 20th, 2008

In my ongoing, ten-year love affair with Mark’s Gospel, I’ve decided to post some of my observations here, verse-by-verse over the next few months. To God be the glory…Mark 1:1 – The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.The eschatological nature of Mark’s Gospel is reinforced by the use of the word arche “beginning” in the opening verse.What Mark will set forth in these chapters is the most important thing that will ever happen.As Genesis 1:1 speaks of the beginning of creation, so Mark 1:1 reminds us that Jesus Christ will now usher in Isaiah’s promised new creation (already … but not yet).Mark is writing a gospel, which (as a term) for the Romans looked back on good tidings of the past. For the Jews, (as Isaiah 40,52 & 61 describe), gospel was a hopeful term looking ahead to the inbreaking of God’s Kingdom in the person of Messiah.As Mark 1:1 makes clear, the arrival of the Son of God is this long-awaited moment.We expect to see the blind seeing, the lame walking, and the captives freed.In Mark’s Gospel, our expectations are fulfilled in the amazing, marvelous and unprecedented work of Jesus.