In a broken world, people are lost in a cave, and it is our job as christians to help them see in a new perspective by leading them out of the cave and showing them the love of Jesus.

But what I like about this story is Bartimaeus had a need, he had limitations, but he did not hide behind or excuse them or even worse, condemn himself because of his condition.

They’ve Heard this before…, it's not new…  but the don’t really get it … so they just set it on the back burner…. they focus on the things they want to and like. You know what happens when this happens? “SELF-tianity”!

Destruction does not negate the Builder… in fact the contrast illumines Him all the more. Our sin, our choices cost Him pain and suffering too. The only reason there is a Christmas is because we are Sinners… that need a Savior. 

I hope that Christmas this year would matter more than ever. I hope every week is another week for you to embrace the coming of Christ and the love, forgiveness, help that he offers. I hope that from the darkness of the 2020, the light of Christ would re-emerge in the church.

Before we start planning our 2021, let’s first plan our lives. Who are you gonna meet with this year? What small group will know your name and your struggles? Let's use the acronym S.A.F.E. to stay safe by being closer to God this upcoming year!

Jesus is saying, deal violently and directly with any part of your being… Your hobbies, activities, schedule, location, or whatever makes you stumble, cut it out, tear it out, throw it away from you!

This message is to look at the Ecclesial Church authority and civic authority and to help you to know how to abide in Christ and the State governing authorities to better equip us as we move forward.

Peter and the disciples are given a glimpse into the glory of Christ. Though there is ultimate glory to be had in eternity, God’s plan for glory on earth brings us through suffering. Jesus is our example of suffering well and trusting in the glory to come.

“I have compassion on the crowd” Theses are some of the most tender words from Jesus' lips. He is giving the disciples a glimpse into His heart. Those who put Jesus first were recipients of His compassion.

Do we see the need in others and feel such compassion for them that we are compelled to bring them to Jesus. He’s the only one who can heal all things. Pride is one of the most dangerous sins, humility brings the grace of God.

At this point Jesus is testing if she is mimicking or truly believing. She knew the “lingo” … but, did she know the man? She imitated the “religion”… but failed miserably, until she got real and came in brokenness and emptiness before Jesus.

We ask the Same Question of God all the time, “What good would  that do”? The key to changing our world is found right here! Give what you got! You got skills, bring em! Each one reach one! One day, one person, at a time.

Dads, whom do you need to bless? Humble Yourself Likewise, become a blessing to your family and others… pray for, over & with your family. 

Being a synagogue official he had money and position, but NONE OF THAT meant anything to him at this moment! It's funny how so many objections go out the window when we see hardships in life.

Mark here has really given his readers a powerful proclamation. It can’t just be brushed aside! Who Alone but God has such Power and Compassion?

As we recently were reminded, Jesus style was to speak through parables which He Adapted to “Their Levels” of Understanding… I  love that… farmers, fishermen, scribes… and the same is true today.

Today we’ll be in Mark 4:21-25. Let’s lean in to see how Jesus uses 3 key things to give us greater understanding of his Word spoken in the parable of the 4 soils and continuing into verses 21-25; And these 3 keys apply universally to understanding God’s Word.

God's got you mom! In the time of her trouble, trial, and difficulty, she gave what she could to someone else… we can see why the Lord chose this widow in 1 Kings 17.

What is a Parable? Simply, it’s a little story with a big message. They were simple; yet deep. 

Jesus summons those whom He Himself wanted… Jesus does not call these men out of some disinterested obligation of duty. He calls them because He wants them, He chooses them out of His own love for them.

God, what are you doing in all of this and how can I join you in it?Lord, What are you saying and how can I hear you better? What are the works of God waiting to be revealed in me and in each of us through this?

Do you have hope or do you fear? Place your hope in God and do not fear the things of this world. Faith in God and His word is the anti-doe to our fears. 

Are you living a ritual or relational sabbath? Since evil is at work every day, including the Sabbath Day, why shouldn’t doing good be at work as well?

Religion is what you do, christianity is what has been done.

Those who risk vulnerability find Jesus. Jesus saw Zaccheus for who he was and was able to call him out of the tree. In the gospel, we take all our struggles and sins to the tree and Christ takes our place there.

Are we seeing people for who they are in the inside, and not what they do? Are we willing to have people over our house for a "sinner dinner"?

Jesus is all-powerful. He has power over the physical, the demonic, and now we see He has the power to forgive sins.

The power and authority of God is best experienced in His moving towards us in compassion.

The Lord speaks much when we take the time to spend time with him. Why should we make time for the all-powerful, all-knowing, faithful, grace-filled King of the Universe who stepped down from heaven to pay the penalty of our sins? Think that answers the question.

Fear is a feeling, Faith is an action.  It's all about knowing who your King is.  It is not about what God and his people did, but what God and his people do.

 Are we trying to speed up Gods timing or are we patiently waiting on God?  Do we truly follow Christ and fully trust in Him?

How can we model our approach to temptation to combat its pull like Jesus did in the desert?

Jude's letter challenges us to show mercy to others. How does that differ from grace? 

Looking forward into 2020, how can we be more other focused?

Our theme for 2019 was "Grateful." Were we, in fact, grateful and content through the year? Pressing forward, how do we share this reason for gratitude with "others?"

Many things change many things, but only one thing changed everything.

From Mary, mother of Jesus, to the lowest of shepherds - Christ came for all. He came for you!

Join us as we go verse by verse through this popular Christmas song. Let us lift our voices in exultation unto the Lord this season!

Join us as we dive into this ancient chant. Every verse reveals God's character and prophesy fulfilled.

The Holy Spirit is a person and He wants to give you gifts, but more so He is about the fruit. How do you know you've been filled with the Holy Spirit? Agape love and boldness

Jesus was baptized for our sins so that he could take them to the cross and pay our sin debt in full by his death and resurrection. And he is coming back soon! What will you be doing differently to prepare for his return?

The Lord tells us to take his yoke upon us. But what does that look like? Often we are so weighed down by pressures from society or self that we aren't letting Christ's love for us determine our worth.

Join us as we dive deeper into John the Baptist's ministry and how he was the new Elijah.

God sent John the Baptist to be a forerunner of Jesus Christ. We too are called to be forerunners!

Each of the gospels was written for a particular audience with a particular goal in mind. They are not biographical accounts. Mark is writing to the Romans and uses language they culturally understand: son of god and freedmen.

Mark's story is full of failures, shame, rejection, and second chances. But his story was redeemed, not just by God, but by Barnabus -- an encourager. We all need a Barnabus in our life.

We are of one race, nation, and people: chosen. God has called us out of the darkness and into his magnificent light. 

We are of one race, nation, and people: chosen. God has called us out of the darkness and into his magnificent light. 

1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us that because the Lord is faithful, we will not be tempted beyond what we are able. How often it gets misconstrued to "God won't give you more than you can handle." It would better be stated as "Whatever God brings you to, He will bring you through."

Philippians 4:13 is another commonly misused verse throughout Christianity. We cannot accomplish all our own personal goals through Christ, but we can accomplish all He has called for us through Him

Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most commonly misused verses in the Bible. What does God mean when He says he has plans to prosper and not to harm? Let's dive in to the context of this verse and the prophecies of Jeremiah.

Christ bore the weight of your sins and took them to the cross. It is finished, but He is not finished. He will return to carry you home.

A summary of the 16 weeks we spent studying the book of Malachi can be wrapped up in 4 simple words: God has loved you!

Malachi 4 is God’s Loving Warning that a day is coming when God will judge sin. “For behold, the day is coming…” Is referring to the 2^nd coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, not in peace, but to judge and wage war on sin. The Bible has spoken of “This Day” in many books like Isaiah, Revelation and 2^nd Peter. Why would God warn us? BECAUSE HE LOVES US! In Christ, we are no longer under the coming judgement of sin, but as Malachi 4:2 says, “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.” That’s how much GOD LOVES US! Out of His Great Love, we are warned, now share with others, Hope & Salvation are found only in Jesus Christ!

Set your eyes on the things above and trust in God in all things. He is faithful.

The absolutely unapproachable holy God can be approached absolutely.

What does the Holiness of God look like? Isaiah recounts his vision of the Lord in chapter 6 of the book of Isaiah.  

Are we on the rooster road to destruction or are we just too chicken to let God love us? Are we moving from knowing to understanding?

The book of Malachi is a love story. God pleads with His people to return to him with their whole tithe. But more than money, this tithe is a tithe of heart.

What’s so good about the good news? In our human nature we often tend to made things more complex than they are. Today we were reminded about the “4 coins” of the simple gospel and why it is that we crave good news.

Serving While Serving: This week we heard from 3 different members of the military- 2 currently serving and 1 veteran. Sam, Rye & Brian share how they were called to serve and how God has been working in their lives to this day.

In Malachi 3, we continue to discuss how God commands us to "bring the whole tithe into the storehouse," but is God just taking our money? Listen as Kahu discusses how God wants out hearts above all else because He first loved us.

The body can only function at full potential if every part is doing its job. Let us set aside differences in opinions and come together in love. 

Earthly fathers are going to fail (there are even examples within the Bible), but we must set our sight on the Heavenly Father as our role model. 

How do we, the church, win the battle over evil? We must submit ourselves to God, take captive every thought, and fill our minds with His Word-- the battle ground is in our mind.

We rob God when we come forth with an insincere heart. As a result, we are robbed of God's presence and thus his blessings.

God is passing us through the refining fire and meticulously purifying us. We won't be completely refined until our Refiner's image can be clearly seen and reflected in us.

Believers must clearly understand the definition of sin and be tender to someone who is struggling in it.

Throughout verses 10-16 of Malachi 2, we focus on the unholy behaviors of the people -- mainly divorce and taking matters of the heart into our own hands instead of entrusting them to God.