Mark, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

In Mark 11:22-25 Jesus contrasts His prior rebuke against the temple and the faithlessness it had come to represent with a simple yet profound lesson on faith in God and mountain moving prayer. Jesus commands only to,”have faith in God”, but within that command we are required to ask what we believe of God, faith, and the condition of our hearts. Jesus then encourages that out of confident trust comes heartfelt prayer, and tells us to pray big prayers with the comfort that He will answer. Through this story we are again reminded that God does not want merely right actions, He wants our hearts; not religious ritual but real relationship.

Mark, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

This morning we are in Mark 11:1-22. In the first of six chapters that record the last seven days of Jesus' life, Mark tells two stories that frame the rest of the Gospel. Jesus makes a triumphant entry into Jerusalem on a donkey and declares who He is. The next day, he overturns the temple and proclaims why He came. Through these accounts we must too, ask if Jesus is our king, and look ahead to a second entrance when Jesus returns as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

Mark, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

This morning we reach the end of the tenth chapter of the Gospel of Mark (Mark 10:46-52) and the last passage before Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (11:1-11). Today, we meet a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. What we’ll see is that this story isn’t really about a blind man 2,000 years ago. This story is about us, our profound need and Jesus’ amazing grace.

Mark, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

In our section this week, Mark 10:32-45, Jesus gives us another lesson in what it means to be truly great. Its important to point out that Jesus doesn’t offer this lesson because he has more to add to his previous teaching but rather the disciples just weren’t getting it. They needed to hear it more than once – just like us. Today, Jesus teaches us that having a worldview with a God who dies for his enemies at the center changes (literally) everything, especially how we understand what it means to be great.

Mark, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

This week in Mark 10:13-31, Jesus gives us a lesson on what it takes to enter the kingdom of God. Our hearts must be as a child – helpless, needy, and dependent. The story of the rich young ruler follows as an example. Focused on what he must do to enter the kingdom of heaven, the young ruler is confident in his own works. Jesus, as usual, addresses his heart, and the one thing he holds higher than God. Through this account, we are reminded to be aware of running from God by attempting to work our way to Him, and miss ever knowing God at all.

Mark, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

In our section today, Jesus leaves the region of Galilee and crosses into Judea, the region surrounding Jerusalem. In Mark 10:1-12, he is confronted (again) by Pharisees who are looking to trap him. This time, their trap involves the controversial and much debated topic of divorce. Marriage, divorce, and remarriage in Jesus’ day were matters of controversy, just like in our day. Even though the events described in our passage today occurred 2,000 years ago they could hardly be more relevant.

Perseverance, Mark, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

This week we are back in Mark 9:42-50 to look at Jesus' words regarding the seriousness of sin. Jesus gives us three warnings that address three particular areas of danger. He warns against putting the followers of Jesus at risk for sin, putting ourselves at risk for sin, and loosing our saltiness. Through all of these warnings Jesus calls us to hearts that honor Him over everything else, and to persevere in faith, considering ourselves a living sacrifice in worship to our King.

Mark, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

At this point in the story, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem and is only months out from his death and resurrection. His public ministry is largely complete and he is now focused on training his disciples. So far, Jesus has given them lessons on the nature of faith and true greatness. Today, in Mark 9:42-50, Jesus raises two more important topics – the seriousness of sin and the reality of hell. Today, we will work through the humbling and horrible reality of hell. What did Jesus say and believe about hell? How should we understand and respond to it?

Mark, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

Our hearts are hard wired for greatness. We all desire to live lives well spent. Jesus addresses this desire in Mark 9:30-41. The disciples are arguing over who is greatest among them, and Jesus uses the opportunity to teach them and us the meaning of true greatness. He who would be great must be last and servant of all. Jesus wants to turn our thinking right side up and seek the blessing of God and flourishing of others over ourselves.

Mark, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

The first half of the book of Mark (1-8) primarily deals with the person of Jesus, while the back half (8-16) primarily deals with the purpose of Jesus. In chapter eight, Peter rightly identifies Jesus as the Christ, but Jesus turns their understanding of what that means upside-down by explaining that he must be betrayed, suffer, die and rise again. For the rest of Mark’s Gospel we follow Jesus on his way to Jerusalem. On his way, he spends focused time training his disciples – and us – on some crucial topics before he is gone. Today’s lesson from Mark 9:14-32, through a miraculous rescue of a demon possessed boy, is on faith – specifically, we learn about the focus of faith, the measure of faith and the nature of faith.