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11/24/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, do you have a grateful heart? In light of today’s message, my prayer for each of us is that we would not take God’s blessings for granted but rather like the Samaritan Leper, we would thank Jesus for everything He has given us. Luke 17:15-16 says, "Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan."
May we each have a grateful heart! May we display God’s grace on our lives both through thanks and through giving. I pray that you and your family will have a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving! Blessings- Pastor Joe
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11/17/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, as I was reading these verses the key verse, Mark 1:17 stood out to me. It reads as follows, “And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
Now Jesus said these words to Peter and his brother Andrew, but Jesus is also speaking these words to us today, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men!” Notice a couple of things about this key verse. One, we all start by following Jesus. Where does Christianity start? It starts with following Jesus. He is the leader, we follow him! Secondly, He will make us fishers of men. Now, Jesus was the world’s greatest fisher of men. But He wants us to fish for men as well. So, how do we do it? Beloved, He will show us how, for He says, “I will make you fishers of men.” This discipleship takes time but don’t worry, Jesus is a great teacher. Beloved, if you have ever wondered how to fish for men, I want to give you an opportunity. Next Sunday we have Ryan Reis coming in to hold a revival night. Invite someone to come with you! Invite an unbelieving friend or relative or neighbor. Let’s start fishing for men and women! Blessings- Pastor Joe 11/10/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, as we meet Jesus here in the Gospel of Mark, we find Him displayed in humble beginnings. First, Jesus had a rather common, unremarkable name. Secondly, He was from Nazareth, which was an unremarkable, despised village. In addition, Nazareth was in Galilee, which was an unspiritual region and not the “Bible belt” of Israel at that time.
But remember the theme of the Gospel of Mark. Jesus came not to be served but to serve. Thus, as many other servants, He had a humble upbringing. To further illustrate the point of His servitude, Jesu was baptized. He was baptized, not because He needed to be baptized but to identify with sinful man. In today’s study, we learn of Jesus’ arrival through His baptism, His temptation and His ministry. May we also follow His example of service to a lost and dying world! 11/3/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, did you know that when Bible translators go to a people who have never had the Scriptures in their own language, they usually begin by translating the Gospel of Mark. Mark is the most translated book in the entire world. One reason is that it is the shortest Gospel, but the other reason is that this Gospel was written for people unfamiliar with first century Judaism. Mark wrote it for the Romans.
The key verse for the Gospel of Mark is Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Hence, Jesus is portrayed as a servant or THE SERVANT here in Mark’s Gospel. This verse also happens to be one of our key verses for 2024. As we make our way through the Gospel of Mark may we not only become more familiar with Jesus but also fall more in love with Jesus. May Jesus be the passion of our lives! Blessings- Pastor Joe |
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