If you've watched children eat, you know it's an adventure. Food ends up in many places besides their mouths. If there's a puppy in the house, it knows where to sit. What we view as crumbs and scraps are treasures for a pup. In Mark 7:24-30 Jesus met a woman who viewed any gift from God the same way. His crumbs were more than she deserved and beyond anything the world could give. So, she positioned herself next to Jesus to receive them. That’s why we’re here today. Jesus distributes coveted morsels through the gospel in the Word and in the sacrament. We’re glad you’ve gathered with us to receive them.
Jesus disagreed with the religious leaders of his day about many things including how to be cleansed of sin and how he would provide that cleansing. But Jesus agreed with the religious leaders on one thing: we all need cleansing. Oddly, that's the thing about which we're most likely to disagree with Jesus. We look for things on the outside that can change our hearts, lives, and world. Jesus, however, works from the inside out. It's a key theme in the Old and New Testament, and it's as relevant as today. We’re glad you’re in God’s house with us today. May the Spirit fill you with gratitude for the cleansing only Jesus can accomplish.
When it comes to what you believe and how you make decisions, are you more inclined to listen to your head, your heart, or the experts? Jesus' answer was something else. Today, discover the basis of Jesus' way of thinking, his emotions, and his actions. It might change what you listen to. This is what we do each week: open the Bible and let God speak to us through it. He does the rest. We’re glad you’re here and hope we can serve you in the future, too. Email us at info@st-andrew-online.org.
Have you ever experienced emotional and physical exhaustion? Have you been pushed to the brink, overwhelmed with stress, questioning so much of your life, and wondering if the struggle is worth it? This weekend we see the disciples emotionally and physically exhausted as they're at the end of a long day and stuck in the middle of the Sea of Galilee surrounded by strong winds. There amid the struggle, Jesus walks up bringing peace and rescue as only he can provide. Who do you know that could use this encouragement? Be sure to share today's message with them via iTunes or our website.