Sermons on Mark
Do Not Be Alarmed
In what is known as Mark’s “little apocalypse,” Jesus describes events that sound chaotic and fearful—wars, natural disasters, and upheaval—but he also offers a calm reminder: “Do not be alarmed.” This teaching challenges us to look beyond our immediate fears and recognize that God’s presence remains constant, even in difficult times. Scripture: Mark 13:1-8 (NRSVue)
Out of Their Abundance
Today, we dive into Jesus’ surprising praise for a poor widow who, despite her poverty, gave “all she had to live on.” In a world that often values outward appearances and assumes that “more” is always “better,” Jesus’ affirmation of the widow’s gift invites us to reconsider what it means to give. This story challenges our understanding of abundance and invites us to consider how we, too, might give in ways that embody our trust in God. Scripture: Mark 12:38-44…
Let me See
As we conclude our Walking with Jesus series, we explore the story of blind Bartimaeus. This final encounter of the series invites us to see clearly—ourselves, others, and the path ahead. Scripture: Mark 10:46-52 (CEB)
Not to be Served
As we continue our “Walking with Jesus” series, we arrive at a memorable moment in Mark where James and John seek positions of honor. Jesus redirects their ambition toward service, challenging us to rethink leadership. Scripture: Mark 10:35-45 (CEB)
Needles & Camels
Continuing our Walking with Jesus series, we turn to Mark 10:17-31, where Jesus challenges a rich man to release his wealth and follow him. This difficult passage calls us to examine our own relationship with material things. Scripture: Mark 10:17-31 (CEB)
Resurrection
Please enjoy our Easter Sunday worship service. Scripture: Mark 16:1-8 (CEB)
The Crucifixion of the Christ
We continue our Lenten sermon series based on the book The Last Week by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan, journeying day by day through Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem. We are quickly moving to the end of the week, and therefore closer to the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus. Each day has been building, and this day we arrive at Jesus’ most profound teaching at the last supper. But that’s not the end of the day… Scripture: Mark 15:1-15…
A Meal, A Prayer, A Trial
We continue our Lenten sermon series based on the book The Last Week by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan, journeying day by day through Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem. We are quickly moving to the end of the week, and therefore closer to the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus. Each day has been building, and this day we arrive at Jesus’ most profound teaching at the last supper. But that’s not the end of the day… Scripture: Mark 14:1-11…
Challenging Authority
This week we move to Tuesday and an expanse of texts from the middle of the 11th chapter all the way through the end of the 13th chapter. Roughly two-thirds of this section shows Jesus in conflict with the religious leaders in the temple, where Jesus is continually challenged with questions intended to entrap and discredit him in a public setting. Scripture: Mark 12:28-34 (CEB)
The Temple in Frame
We continue our Lenten sermon series based on the book The Last Week by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan, journeying day by day through Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem. This week we move to Monday, the day that Jesus turns over the tables in the temple. Known as a “cleansing” of the temple, Jesus’ motives and intentions have been widely explored in countless sermons and papers. This story is framed by a narrative about a fig tree, something that…
Royal Entrance
This is the first week of our Lenten sermon series based on the book “The Last Week” by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. As we open, we explore the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, and compare this to the likely historical entry that Pontius Pilate would have made through the opposite side of the city. These differences are essential to understanding the divine power of the Christ, and his essential teachings during this final week. Scripture: Mark 11:…
Call & Response
This week we continue our post-Christmas sermon series called “Why Be Christian?” As we explore texts from the story of Jonah and the call of the disciples, we will consider the importance of our response: our response to God, to our faith, to the circumstances of the world. In doing so, we will ask ourselves whether these responses should be inward or outward… or perhaps both! Scripture: Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Mark 1:14-20 (CEB)
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