What does it take to go to heaven?

Dennis McCallum
Mark 10:13-31

Jesus interacts with a rich young man whose self-righteousness and moral goodness prevent him from seeing his need for Jesus. Jesus' interaction demonstrates the power of affluence and how seeing the need for Jesus is difficult. Instead, Jesus proposes that people become like children, that is: humble, dependent, and willing to trust in Jesus. Those who are humble enough to see their need for Jesus can inherit eternal life, while those who are caught up in wealth and their own righteousness could miss out.

Who Do You Say I Am?

Dennis McCallum
Mark 8:27-37

The biggest question to answer is who Jesus is. Jesus came and predicted that he would suffer, be killed, and rise again three days later. For followers of Jesus, the next decision is whether or not discipleship (radically following Jesus) is something that you desire. Jesus' example of self-sacrifice was demonstrated through his death on the cross and is the key to enjoying a satisfying and fulfilling life for Christ.

Introduction & Overview

Gary DeLashmutt
Luke 1:1-4

The book of Luke is the first of a two part written history of the Gospel; it tells the story of Christ's life, while the second part, the book of Acts, tells the beginning of the Church. Luke got his information for this book from three very reliable sources: oral testimony of eyewitnesses, previously written accounts, and his own thorough research. In this book Luke emphasizes that Jesus is radically inclusive and subversive, and the true savior of humanity.

Kingdom Parables

Dennis McCallum
Mark 4:26-33

Jesus uses parables to describes new dimensions of God's purposes and plans. Contrary to what the people were expecting, the growth of the Kingdom of God will be gradual and will, over time, become large in scope. God's kingdom will infiltrate the current world system and will be purchased by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Our role in God's kingdom is cultivate and seek to grow the kingdom, to appreciate the great work of God's kingdom, and remember that God's power is the source of all the growth.

Parable of the Soils

Dennis McCallum
Mark 4:1-20

Jesus describes people's responsiveness to God's Word in a parable of four soils. The four responses of the soil include: 1) forgetful hearer; 2) superficial hearer; 3) distracted hearer; and 4) the soil that bears much fruit. The focus for Christians is sending forth God's message to people and being faithful to His message even when people don't respond to it. The choice is still up to the individual on which type of soil they'd like to be.

Who is Jesus?

Dennis McCallum
Mark 1:21-2:12

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus performs many miracles. He interacts with a man with an unclean spirit, a man with leprosy, and a paralyzed man. These interactions communicate Jesus' authority over evil spirits, that he is deeply compassionate towards those who are outcasts, has the power to forgive sins, and can sense deep spiritual hunger of people who don't know him. These miracles are signs to point to Jesus' greater work seen through dying on the cross for humanity.

The Good News

Dennis McCallum
Mark 1:1-8

The gospel of Mark begins with declaring the good news that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is coming. John the Baptist paved the way for Jesus' arrival, teaching that people needed forgiveness through God that would ultimately be possible through Jesus. Jesus' work was prefigured throughout the prophets in the Old Testament, revealing God's plan for salvation from the beginning. Jesus' message of reconciliation with God was something completely radical to people of his day, and his message of grace is still radical today.

When You Hear God's Voice

Gary DeLashmutt
Hebrews 3:1-19

Due to persecution, many Jewish Christians are considering reverting back to living under the Law, instead of following Christ. The author of Hebrews reminds the recipients of Moses, warning them of history repeating itself: God is making a promise, and His people are rejecting it. Christ is greater than Moses, and the promise is greater now than in Moses' example. Two application points can be drawn from this lesson: 1) real faith in Jesus lasts, and 2) listen to God's ongoing instruction (considering symptoms of a hardened heart and how to prevent one).

Why Jesus Became a Human

Gary DeLashmutt
Hebrews 2:5-18

Hebrews makes the case that Jesus is greater than any person or institution. This second chapter provides understanding about why this is: because of his sacrifice in order to rescue humanity. The necessity of Christ to become human is explained in three reasons: 1) to regain humanity's lost dominion over the earth (prevailing where Adam failed in the fall), 2) to die in our place for the guilt of our sins(allowing us to join God's family), and 3) to help us when we suffer (since he, himself, knows what it means to suffer).