You do have good reason to an outlook today that is filled with thankfulness. We have the Good News! Certainly, our world bombards us with concerns. It is a sin sick world! Yet, we are commanded to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). How is that even possible? Colossians 1:3 begins with these words: “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…” Take a few minutes to read Colossians 1:3-8. On Sunday morning we will carefully look at the text, meditating on the realities of the Good News that gives us constant reason for a genuinely thankful heart.

Is change possible? Can our lives really change in such a way that God is glorified? So often Christians go through life constantly defeated, often discouraged by our present world culture, and living no differently than the unbelieving world around them. Why is that? What will enable each believer to experience the differences inspired by our new life in Christ? On Sunday we open a new sermon series at Walnut Park—Colossians. We will begin with an introduction and overview of book of Colossians with an aim to identify what God reveals about how we can change and how we can comprehend living a new life for His glory.

Our culture tends to take sin very lightly. How often do you hear someone say, “I’m not a bad person”? Or maybe you hear someone boast about all the great things they do for God. Or what about you? Have you let a bad habit creep back in? Do you sometimes think God owes you for how much you serve him? Where does all this light-heartedness about sin come from? If Isaiah were alive today, he would tell us it’s because we need a fresh glimpse of the holiness of God. When we begin to see who God really is in all his glory and splendor, we become painfully aware of who we really are in all our sin. And when sinners see the holiness of God, they are either softened toward service or hardened in heart. May God give us softened hearts as we listen to His Word together.

We anticipate this Sunday! The choir will be singing. The children will be singing. We’ll all be singing! Why? Christ is risen from the dead! He live and lives forevermore. We will also examine Mark 16:1-8 with particular emphasis on the impact the resurrection made on the followers of Christ. Their lives were transformed and so are ours. The truth of the gift of life God provided through the resurrection of Jesus Christ provides great perspective and motivation for how we live our lives today. Because He lives…

On this coming Sunday, Palm Sunday, our choir will be presenting O What A Savior, by Russell Mauldin. One of the numbers they will sing repeats this phrase, “Oh, praise the One who paid my debt!” We will also take time to meditate on one verse, Mark 15:34, “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” Which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Why? Why was Jesus forsaken? As we examine that question we will be moved and motivated to praise the One who paid our debt!

After a long journey, it’s always good to finally arrive at your destination. And in many ways, that’s where we find ourselves in Mark 15 this Sunday. Mark 15 is that story that tells all the other stories. It’s the center point of Mark’s gospel account. It’s the center of the entire New Testament. And it’s the center of the entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments. This is the story that everything else in the Bible points to. The sinless Son of God was forsaken by God and was unjustly and brutally crucified by the hands of hateful men. What a love! What a cost! We stand forgiven at the cross!Note: for those with sensitivities or with small children, please be aware that as we meditate on the death of Jesus, the sermon this Sunday may contain some graphic explanation of crucifixion and the suffering that Jesus endured. Parents of young children, please be advised.

Historically, Christians have spent the month leading up to Resurrection Sunday in personal meditation on the cross of Christ. And since we are going through the gospel of Mark on Sundays, we have the joy and privilege of meditating together as a church for four weeks leading up to Easter on the events leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection. This Sunday, we’ll find Jesus all alone, deserted by all his friends, confronted with the reality and proximity of his terrible suffering. In the end, who proves faithful? Do we champion our own faithfulness? Or do we look to the faithful One who keeps us faithful?

Join with us this Sunday morning at 10:45 am for our first Sunday of the month communion remembrance. We will stop to appreciate two momentous moments in Mark 14 revealing magnificent plan of God for our salvation. Take a few moments prior to the service to meditate on our text, Mark 14:1-26. What would motivate a woman to pour such a costly substance over the head and feet of Jesus? When we consider the price the Anointed One paid to provide propitiation for our sins, it makes sense. Why did Jesus emphasize the bread and the cup at the Passover meal? The answer to that question provides great assurance of the sufficiency of Christ, our Messiah.

Since the early church age, people have tried predicting the Second Coming of Christ. There’s something intriguing about trying to “read the times” and match them to biblical prophecy. But is that the point of biblical prophecy? Is that the point of a passage like Mark 13? In the last few chapters that we’ve looked at in Mark, we’ve seen Jesus in the temple. And it hasn’t exactly been a friendly scene. Jesus entered the temple in Mark 11 in order to clear it out. And in Mark 12, Jesus’ authority is constantly being challenged. There will always be opposition to Jesus. But will that opposition last forever? Followers of Christ understand that though opposition will increase throughout history, God will bring final judgment. And so, as Jesus says, Christians must stay awake and be on guard, always watching for Christ’s return.

We will study Mark 12:38-44 on Sunday morning. In that text Jesus gives a warning, “Beware of the scribes (vs.38),” and Jesus gives a compliment, “This poor widow put in more than all those (vs 43).” We need to understand why Jesus cautions us against takers, and why he compliments the humble giver. More importantly, we need to actively apply Christ’s teaching. Ask yourself, am I a taker or a giver?Takers will say, “I need you to do this.” Givers will say, “what can I do for you?”Takers are focused on their own agenda. Givers want to further your agenda.Takers resent requests that they give of their time or energy or resources. Givers relish the opportunity to do so.Takers are greedy. Givers are gracious.Takers are entitled. Givers enable.Takers use people. Givers serve people.Takers are concerned about themselves. Givers are concerned for others.Takers will stab you in the back. Givers will give you the shirt off their back.

In preparation for our time in communion on Sunday morning prepare your heart by reading Scripture. Read Isaiah 5:1-6:8. Read it thoughtfully and prayerfully. When you do read that passage you’ll begin to see so many comparisons that fit with our day and our need. We need to face the reality of the mess that surrounds us in a world that calls evil good and good evil. More importantly, we need to see the reality of God as He is and in so doing discover the answer the Lord has provided. When you see that, what will be your response?

We all tend to be intimidated when facing hard questions about our faith and life in Christ. However, Christ demonstrates for us how believers can be confidently prepared to handle difficult situations by learning how to respond to hard questions and how to ask the right questions. Read and meditate on Mark 12:13-37 in preparation for our service on Sunday morning at Walnut Park. You’ll see that Christ set a great example for his disciples of bold witness in difficult circumstances by using the tool of “questions.”

One of the four core values that we emphasize again and again at Walnut Park is this: “Life is all about Christ, our Lord, and our God!” Have you ever taken time to consider that word “Lord”? What does it mean? Essentially, it means that Jesus is our authority. How should it impact how we live? Does it even matter? We will see in our study of Mark 11:27–12:12 that it should impact how we live. Yes, Christ’s authority does matter. In preparation for our Sunday morning worship service take a few minutes to read our text (Mark 11:27-12:12). Ask God to prepare your heart to be in awe of Jesus as your Lord.

Some things in life are not what they appear to be. They might look great on the outside, but on the inside, it’s disgusting. In Mark 11, we are going to encounter the temple. We’re going to see Jesus ride to Jerusalem, and we are going to see him in the temple. But the temple is not what it appears to be. And this reveals something about humanity, and Jesus has something to say about it. In our text, we’ll see that Jesus is a different kind of King than anyone expected, and we’ll see what he desires for his people. May God lead us to complete dependence on him!

On Sunday morning, the first Sunday of the New Year, we will again observe the Lord’s Table, remembering the work of Christ. His death, burial, and resurrection makes known to us the hope of the Gospel! That Gospel should change the way we live! Like the children of Israel addressed in Isaiah chapter 1 we need to understand why the hope of the gospel is so important and how we should live willing and obedient lives for our Lord.

Tomorrow is New Year's Day, and like many holidays, New Year's seems to be approached with either hope and excitement or cynicism and disdain. Some celebrate with the hope of a fresh start, a clean slate, a chance to begin again. While others see January 1st as just another day, more of the same, marked by resolutions destined to be broken. As we look at 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 this morning, let us celebrate that in Christ, we truly can experience lasting change and newness of life. 

“The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!”

One of the most lovely things about the Christmas season is all the beautiful lights used to decorate all kinds of places. Why do we celebrate Christmas using lights? It's because during this season, we remember the Light of the World, who came into the world. John 3:19 says that people would rather have the darkness, because their deeds are evil. Yet the Light of the World didn't come into the world to expose sin for the purpose of condemning. Instead, the Light of the World came into the world, so that the world might be saved through him. This Christmas season, may we rejoice in the Light who gives life.

While describing to the nation of Israel the desperately serious problem of a looming attack by an enemy nation, the prophet Isaiah also needed them to see the bigger problem–the darkness of their sin problem. Then a wonderful prophecy occurs. Isaiah proclaims, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light!” As bad as their problem was, God had a solution. Then Isaiah leads the people to rejoice in the promise of God revealed and the plan of God foretold. Take a few minutes to read Isaiah 9:1-7. As we come to the Lord’s Table this Sunday, prepare your heart to worship Jesus Christ, our promised Messiah. Consider the seriousness of our sin problem. Rejoice in the promise God gave to conquer our sin problem. Marvel at God’s plan revealed to Isaiah and fulfilled at the birth of Christ. “For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6

The Gospel of Mark describes discipleship in terms of walking with Jesus. When we find Jesus “on the way to Jerusalem” in chapters 8-10, “the road” becomes a teaching opportunity for Jesus on what it looks like to follow him. A disciple is someone who walks with Jesus. And when someone walks with Jesus, he opens their eyes to understand what it looks like to follow him. In our passage, we find Jesus both healing a physically blind man and in the process of healing the disciples of spiritual blindness. The disciples think greatness comes from pushing your way to the top. But Jesus says true greatness is found in serving. May God open our eyes to find rescue in Jesus and serving as a way of life.

Express thanks! Most of us need to work on that admonition. We say we are thankful, yet we rarely actually express our thankfulness to God and to others who have influenced our lives in a positive way. Question: If we fail to express our thanks are we truly thankful? On Sunday morning we will be challenged to humbly express appreciation. Take time to read Luke 17:11-19. Consider this: Jesus provided healing for the ten lepers. Only one returned to express thanks. Why?