Podcast #5, entitled “Keep Following,” is an explanation of Mark 4:1-20. In the “Parable of the Soils” Jesus urges his followers to persevere. There are two snares that may divert them from the path of discipleship. One (the Stony Ground) is especially dangerous for the new follower; the other (the Thorny Ground), for the long term disciple. You can access this podcast, and the four that preceded it, by clicking the link below:
Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:29). To meet Jesus once again and answer this question anew, join us during March, April, and May as we pursue these studies in the Gospel of Mark. A new podcast will be uploaded each Sunday. Click below to access the podcast for Sunday, March 28, 2021, entitled “Two False Answers” (Mark 3:7-35).
When we look at the founding the Church at Philippi (Acts 16) and read what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, we come to understand why God chooses to work through human weakness. His working through our weakness is a great mercy. If we come to think that we can build God’s Kingdom or meet our own spiritual needs with our programs, all is lost. “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord!”
Today’s lesson gives us a glimpse of early Christian community by focusing on Priscilla and Aquila and the church(es) that met in their household! This glimpse is enough to make us hungry for that community today.
When the disciples run away, the women who follow Jesus appear–at the Cross, at his burial, and at the empty tomb–with Mary Magdalene at their head. If you listen to the podcast below, you will not only see her as a “Portrait of Discipleship,” you will be drawn to follow Jesus.
Every summer we find spiritual refreshment by attending Camp Sychar in Mount Vernon, OH. This camp takes its name from the well at Sychar where Jesus met the Samaritan woman in John 4:4-42. Just inside Camp Sychar’s gate is a refreshing, ever-flowing well where all can drink. Many, also, have found Camp Sychar a source of the “living water” that Jesus offered the Samaritan on that hot day at Jacob’s well. The Sunday School lesson for tomorrow, Feb 7, is from this passage. Click below to listen to an explanation of this passage and drink once again, for yourself, from this “living water.”
How should we understand the gift of the Holy Spirit in terms of Joel’s prophecy in Joel 2:28-32? What role does the coming of the Spirit play in the Biblical drama? What does His coming mean for us? Listen to this explanation of Acts 2:14-21, 21:8-9; and Luke 2:36-38, the Sunday school lesson for January 31!
What would you ask Jesus to pray for you? What request would you give Him? See what He, in fact, did pray on your behalf by listening to the explanation of John 17:14-24 below:
My students used to joke that the answer to every question in the class on the Gospel of Mark was “the authority of Jesus.” They were right. Mark 2:1-12 focuses on the authority of Jesus to forgive sins–and its implications for His identity! Implicitly, Jesus faces those around Him with the question, “Who do you say that I am?” For an explanation of this passage click below.
Have you had an encounter with the living Christ like the one Peter had on that morning on the Sea of Galilee not far from the Capernaum shore? Learn about what happened to Peter that day by listing to this podcast explanation of Luke 5:1-11.
