Mark: The Good News of Jesus

Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” – Mark 8:27-29 NLT

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. – Mark 1:1 ESV

• • Pharisees – Blasphemer and Demon Possessed (Mark 2:7; 3:22)
  • Family – Crazy (Mark 3:21)
  • Hometown – Fraud (Mark 6:3-4)
  • King Herod – John Resurrected (Mark 6:14-16)
  • Disciples – “Who is this man?” (Mark 4:41)

Jesus is the Anointed King

Jesus is the Unexpected King

Jesus is the Crucified King

Jesus is the Risen King

Hearing God

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. – Mark 12:28-29 ESV

“Learning to hear God’s voice – his word and his whisper – is the single most important thing you will ever learn to do.” – Pete Greig

“My sheep hear my voice…” – John 10:27 ESV

Ways God speaks

• • Jesus
  • Scripture
  • Sacrament
  • Spirit
  • Dreams/Visions
  • Peace
  • Prophecy
  • Still small voice

Finances

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. – 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 ESV

Hospitality

And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” – Luke 5:29-32 ESV

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” – Luke 19:10 ESV

The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ – Luke 7:34 ESV

Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. – Romans 15:7 ESV

Christian Hospitality is creating a space for others to encounter Jesus.

“Radically ordinary hospitality–those who live it see strangers as neighbors and neighbors as family of God. They recoil at reducing a person to a category or label. They see God’s image reflected in the eyes of every human being on the earth. They know they are like meth addicts and sex-trade workers. They take their own sin seriously–including the sin of selfishness and pride. They take God’s holiness and goodness seriously. They use the Bible as a lifeline, with no exceptions. Those who live out radically ordinary hospitality see their homes not as theirs at all but as God’s gift to use for the furtherance of his kingdom. They open doors; they seek out the underprivileged. They know the gospel comes with a house key.” – Rosaria Butterfield