Bible, theology, culture, etc.
Originally written, April 2020 Are you tired? What do you do when you are exhausted? How do you recharge the batteries at the end of a long day or long week? We are going into week seven or eight of quarantine now—how are you doing? Feeling weary? Feeling okay? Normal life, if you’re doing it … Continue reading Exhaustion and Rest (Mark 6:30-44)
Originally written in April, 2020 “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then as I looked its wings … Continue reading Authority Abused (Mark 6:12-30)
245 years ago shortly after midnight a young man rode his horse furiously from one small town to another, warning the villagers and townsfolk of the coming invasion. Because of this young man’s diligence and perseverance, weapon stores were reallocated, and butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers transformed themselves into armed militiamen. As the brisk morning … Continue reading The Mission in the Face of Unbelief (Mark 6:1-13)
I just finished preaching two sermons on Mark 5: Jesus and Demons (Mark 5:1-20) and Jesus and Death (Mark 5:21-43) and was struck by a subtle theme in the chapter. I want to propose a (cautious) theological interpretation of the chapter that I believe Mark intends for the perceptive reader to pick up on and … Continue reading Deeper Dive in Mark Five
Link to sermon video: https://youtu.be/iM619t9eEyE Sermon Discussion Questions: What stood out to you most? What fears do you most commonly struggle with? How has Jesus' victory over death affected how you deal with every other fear? Do you have a hard time applying Jude 22? Do you tend to look more like Jairus or the … Continue reading Jesus and Death (Mark 5:21-43)
Sermon Video: https://youtu.be/ktvIpAijRZc Sermon Discussion Questions: 1. What stood out to you most? Anything confusing? What was the most interesting part of the text, Mark 5:1-20? 2. In CS Lewis' preface to his Screwtape Letters he writes, "There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is … Continue reading Jesus and Demons (Mark 5:1-20)
Sermon Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ13txA5bh4 Sermon Discussion Questions: 1. What stood out to you most? 2. “The true Christian can think calmly about the holy God whose eyes see all his or her actions and feel: he is my Father, my reconciled Father in Christ Jesus. I am weak; I am unworthy, but, in Christ, he regards me as … Continue reading The Great Storm (Mark 4:35-41)
Watch sermon here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVw8WOCU1Aw Questions for Discussion: 1. What was one thing that stood out from the sermon? 2. What things in life did you assume were “certain” before this new crisis? Read through James 4:13-15. What has this taught you? 3. What is the kingdom of God? 4. Why do you think the first parable (Mark 4:26-29) emphasizes … Continue reading The Parables of the Seed (Mark 4:26-34)
Listen to sermon here. Discussion questions for community groups and family worship: 1. What was one thing that stood out to you from the sermon? 2. Which of the four soils do you tend to identify with most? 3. If Mark's definition of a disciple is one who "hears the word, accept it, and bear fruit," … Continue reading The Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-20)
This Sunday I preached on Jesus' Sabbath confrontations with the Pharisees in Mark 2:23-3:6. One question that I did not get time to address was practically: are Christians required to still honor the Sabbath? If so, how? One of the main points of my sermon was to argue that the Sabbath command pointed to Christ … Continue reading Am I Required to Keep the Sabbath?
Marc Sims 