Sermon Blogs Archive

Day 18 – Mark 11:25

Is it important to me to have God’s mercy and forgiveness? Wow, a resounding yes! I don’t want to think about where I would be without that blessing. Yet at times I tend to hold onto petty grievances and rehash words or actions that are said or done by another person that I found offensive. Unforgiveness has an enormous tap root with long tentacles that reach into the depths of our hearts and souls. As long as it remains, our prayer life suffers, our relationship with God and others suffers, even our health may suffer. Holy Spirit, show us any areas where unforgiveness lurks. Jesus, help us, enable us to forgive freely and graciously, that we may freely receive Your forgiveness and then freely live!

-Lisa Oechsli

Day 17 – Mark 10: 17-31

The rich young man in this passage is an example of someone who has knowledge of the Scriptures without applying it to his life in a meaningful, tangible way.
I was struck by the contrast between his eagerness to know what Jesus had to say and his response (or lack there of) to the truth Jesus spoke into his life about his finances- he walks away sad, unchanged. Jesus reveals a part of the young man’s heart that has been untouched by knowing the Law and invites the young man to follow him. I imagine the young man was surprised by what Jesus asked of him, and honestly, it seems like a lot to ask!

This passage applies to me too- how often do I come to the Word excited and eager to learn and spend time in His presence, hear what He has to say, but then walk away sad because I am unwilling to change? What is something that I am holding on to that is inhibiting me from being able to truly follow Jesus the way He is asking me to?

Lord, please change my attitude to be more open and willing to change in response to your truth. Holy Spirit, identify an area where I have heard the Word or know the commandments but have walked away sad, disobedient to the Word, disregarding the invitation you have extended to change and follow you. I choose to agree with You, no matter the cost. Amen.

-Chelsea Nycum

Day 16 – Mark 9:33-35

We all have to confess that at times we can be selfish, prideful, and have the me first attitude. That is wrong, but there is nothing wrong with wanting to be great in the Kingdom of God. I want my life to be great and to count for something, I want to worship God with all my heart and I want the world to see that. I love how Jesus quickly brings the disciples to the truth. If you want to be great (there is nothing wrong with that, it’s a God given desire in each of us for this) then the answer is to serve. Give your life away, bless others, put them ahead of yourself, love without condition, etc. The key to greatness is serving and putting others first, not yourself. I pray that God would remind us of this truth and give us His kingdom desire to give our lives away.

-Jonathan Love

Day 15 – Mark 8:34-38

S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S. “Is there an example to follow?” I’ve always found it amazing that Christians, including me, are surprised at suffering. Its as if we think God should keep us from it BECAUSE we are the ones who know and love him. Yet, “take up your cross” is what God the Father said to God the Son, Jesus. If the way of our salvation, freedom from sin, was through the suffering of our savior, should we not be ready to endure suffering as followers of the savior because of sin? May Christ genuinely be our example in all things.

-Jeremy Gwaltney

Around the Word in 40 Minutes or Less

 
Get the handout .pdf

Day 13 – Mark 6:45-51

Here is how I picture myself in this story. When winds are against me, the rowing is hard, life is difficult and it feels like I’m not going to make it across this sea, Jesus shows up in ways I might not recognize. I am struggling, but Jesus is calmly walking on top of all the turbulence going on around me. Peter is amazing. He would rather walk with Jesus on top of the crashing waves, than stay in the boat. He saw something the others didn’t, Jesus inviting him to walk with him through the turbulence without drowning. “If it is really you, command me to come walk on the water.” I see Jesus inviting me and commanding me to walk with him through every difficulty. Then even if I falter, he will reach for my hand and keep me safe. To that I say, yes!

-Jim Reklis

Day 12 – Mark 6:35-44

This image of God’s provision is amazing! Imagine looking out at 5,000 people, hungry for Jesus’ teaching, and being told to feed them! Ha! How? With what? I can’t. There it is; I can’t, but Jesus can! God loves to provide for His children! And there’s more than enough. It’s in our deficiencies and inability that we see our need for our provider, and give Him glory and praise. I definitely relate to the doubt and worry, but this encourages me to seek God, and He will provide abundantly beyond my expectations.

-Ken Hill

Day 11 – Mark 5:21-43

Wow this story brings back memories. I can’t help but identify with Jarius. It was 13 years ago that my daughter was born, nearly three months premature. She seemed to be doing well even though she only weighed two pounds. And then we received a call. It was early on a Wednesday morning and the Doctor in charge told us that we needed to get to the hospital immediately. There was something seriously wrong with my daughter and they didn’t believe she would make it.

When we arrived there was mayhem, doctor’s shouting orders, instruments beeping, crowds of people around my daughter’s tiny incubator. One of the nurses even asked us if we wanted her to call a priest for the last rights. It was there, at a time when it appeared that everyone had given up hope that Sue and I approached our daughter’s incubator. The people around the incubator made room for us and I went to my knees and touched her tiny little hand. She clutched my finger and opened her eyes as if saying “Dad please don’t worry, I’ll be alright no matter what happens”. In that moment I knew that she was God’s and that I would thank Him for her life no matter the outcome. I also sensed faith rising up in me and I prayed a simple prayer much like Jarius. Today my daughter Julia is 13 years old, almost the same age as the girl in the story. I can just see Jesus speaking to Julia “Little girl, I say to you get up”.

-Steve Grenon

Day 10 – Mark 4:35-41

I picture myself in the boat and feeling like the disciples, questioning God’s care for my life. When I am caught up in storms of life, I don’t always have immediate confidence that God is going to do something to get me out of it. I usually have to wrestle with me thoughts of doubt. The picture of Jesus at rest in the midst of a storm is extremely helpful to me. He doesn’t panic. God doesn’t panic, wringing his hands wondering what he is going to do about the storm. He really does care and have it all under control. My prayer is to recognize who is in my boat when I’m going through a storm and that he does care,but is not agitated or panicked like I may be.

-Jim Reklis

Day 9 – Mark 3:1-6

I can picture myself with the withered hand and being somewhat intimidated by the challenging dynamic between the religious leader and Jesus.

The man obeyed Jesus, but I can imagine he had questions, like “What’s going on? Who is right? What am I doing here?

I have those feelings, question and uncertainties from time to time.

This passage encourages me to listen, learn and obey God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit in rear life situation where He is giving me direction, but I have an “iffy” feeling.

Yea God! He know best and I just need to obey and follow.

-Larry Greenwold

Day 9 – Mark 3:1-6

The image that stands out to me the most as I picture the scene in Mark 3:1-6 is the outstretched hand of the man being healed in this story. How vulnerable he must have felt standing in front of this crowd, reaching out his shriveled hand – a deformity that had most likely caused him much pain, ridicule and social isolation. And yet his faith that Jesus would heal him, even on the Sabbath, gave him the courage to stretch out his hand and receive the blessing Jesus had to offer.

It is interesting to compare this man’s out stretched hand to the tight grasp the Pharisees in this story had on their religious rules. I wonder how often I allow my own rules, opinions, preferences, and expectations put boxes around what Jesus can do in the broken places of my own life and in my community?

-Melissa Gray

Day 8 – Mark 1:40-45

The “picture it” method helps me see the leper’s healing from an entirely new perspective. I can feel his both desperation and hope as he kneels before Jesus. This poor man’s life has begun anew, yet he completely ignored Jesus’ warnings on how to share this experience publicly. How would I have reacted to this miraculous event? Is there more I can learn about obedience to Jesus?

-Katharine Everson