Sermons

Follow: Learning from Mark about Jesus’ Most Misunderstood Command

Of all the commands Jesus spoke, perhaps the most misunderstood was the call to follow Him. The misunderstanding stemmed from a similar misunderstanding of who he was, what he was coming to do, and what following him would, and would not, require. For the next several months we will ask the simple question: what does it mean to follow Jesus? We begin by ruling out one thing it simply cannot mean: please, don’t admire Him.

Rebuild - Haggai

Rebuild - Listening to Haggai on Beginning Again

General Topic

Ascend

Ascend: Further Up And Further In With the Songs of Ascent 

All summer we’ll move our way through the collection of biblical songs known as the Psalms of Ascent (Pss 120-134). These were songs which were sung by God’s people during the uphill journey to worship in Jerusalem, which resided on the highest point in Palestine. The ascent was literal but it was also metaphorical, directing the pilgrims to live upward towards God. These songs have provided lyrical content for the upward call of Jesus’ followers for centuries. And after our most disorienting year, we need to learn to live these songs afresh, reminded that Jesus has called us further up and further in. 

The first song teaches us that this world doesn’t satisfy us nor is it safe. We remember that the disciple must turn from the world and its ways and turn to Jesus as we follow him. The journey of discipleship begins with repentance, a no that is a yes.