God’s vision for us is that we grow in the grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He gives us his Word and sacrament to accomplish his vision. Those things come to us in all sorts of ways but most often through each other. In short, we need each other to grow. Some of our togetherness happens here. Much of it happens in families. Today, get a glimpse of what God sees as the future for your family. Let it inspire you to adore him, trust him, and shape your families’ life around him.
Welcome to church. Or, more accurately, welcome to the place where the church gathers. You see, in the Bible, the word church is never used for a building. It’s used to describe those whom God has called out of darkness into his wonderful light. Those people want to get together and, unless you have the largest living room I’ve ever seen, that’s why we need this building, too. We’re glad you’re with us today to let God teach us his vision for us: church.
Ask people, "What is the church here to do?" and imagine the variety of answers you’d hear. Their answers would vary as much as answers to the question, "What's your favorite song?" St. Andrew doesn't answer the second one, but we have to answer the first one—not just because it helps us pull in the same direction, but because Jesus gives us his answer. You could call it hope, because we all need hope for our future. On Sundays in May, we'll be asking the Spirit to paint for us God's vision for our future. We’re glad you’re with us and ask the Spirit to bless you through the gospel of Jesus you encounter today.
Have you ever joked about your birthday "week?" Let the celebration continue all week long. Maybe even call it your birthday month! When it comes to Easter, it's no joke. Jesus' resurrection gives us something to celebrate every day. But, like your birthday, we set aside one day a week to have cake and light candles. Okay, so we don’t have cake today, but we do light candles. We’re glad you’re part of our continuing celebration of Jesus’ resurrection today. He is risen! He is risen, indeed!
A message of hope, purpose, and life based on Mark 16:1-8 by Pastor Randy Hunter.
A devotion based on Mark 15:33-39 by Pastor Randy Hunter
A devotion based on Mark 14:12-26 by Pastor Kelly Huet
What do you learn from Jesus' triumphant entry on Palm Sunday? What details fascinate you? What questions do you have? This weekend as we celebrate Palm Sunday, we are confronted with two radically different reactions to Jesus. As we witness the various reactions, we are confronted with our own reactions to Jesus.
Shakespeare wrote in The Tempest, "Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows." Today a common extension of that is "politics makes strange bedfellows," meaning politicians form peculiar associations to win more votes. In Mark's record of Jesus' burial we find a most unusual association: a pagan, women and a Pharisee. What is it about Jesus that draws together people who would otherwise never hang out together (like the one you’re sitting in now)? Let Mark's record help you answer that. We have three weeks left in our year and a half study of the Gospel of Mark. To get daily devotions on these culminating crucifixion and resurrection accounts, sign up at st-andrew-online.org/mark.
Our journey through the Gospel of Mark is about to come to a close. The entire book has been pointing to the events of the next few weeks. We’ve been seeing and following Jesus, learning who he is and what he has done for us! We've seen Jesus heal the sick, give sight to the blind, make the lame walk, and raise the dead. The picture today, though, is that of humility and punishment as he is mocked for not freeing himself. Why did they mock him? Why did he endure it? As we gather today we will hear from Jesus his answer.
In every revolution, the new people in power destroy their enemies. Jesus started a revolution by loving and forgiving his enemies. Obviously, Jesus is a different kind of king. And Jesus’ people bring about change in a different kind of way. We’re glad you’re with us today to hear Mark’s account of Jesus’ trial before Pilate. May Jesus’ few words and his substitutionary life cause a revolution in your heart. We call that “church.”
A Lenten devotion written by Pastor Tom Trapp. Read by Pastor Randy Hunter.
The word judge is volatile. Maybe it’s because we don't want anyone to tell us what to do… not even God. Maybe it’s because too often we put ourselves on God’s throne, hand down a ruling, determine a penalty, and even insist that it be carried out (and more often than not we get it wrong). In our worship today, let God the Spirit show you through his Word the kind of Judge God is. You’ll notice most of our prayers, songs, and talk is from God’s Word. You’re about to experience what God does through it. May he fill your life with blessing…and fill you with trust in surprising judgments.
Welcome to Lent. The word just means “springtime” but it’s more than one of four seasons. It’s a time to prepare for the greatest event in the history of the universe and of your life: Jesus’ resurrection. On Thursdays and Sundays, we keep the Easter theme. On Wednesdays, we gather for brief evening devotions on Jesus’ suffering and death. But this year, our series on the Gospel of Mark brings us into Jesus’ suffering and death even on Sundays in Lent. Today, Peter’s denial. But see it as more than a history lesson of a failed disciple. See it as a lesson drawn from your own failure. And find the same healing Peter found: in the Good News of Jesus. If you want to dig deeper into this text, join one of the Mark Growth Groups and subscribe to receive daily Mark devotions at st-andrew-online.org/mark.
Today we see the heart of Jesus on display. We pause at his transfiguration where he reveals his glory and speaks with Moses and Elijah about what is about to take place. We see his love for his disciples so physically and emotionally exhausted they can't keep their eyes open. And we see Jesus' humanity, pleading for an alternative to what is coming, but humbly and willingly obedient to the Father's will. We journey to Gethsemane to learn of prayer and trust in God.
Betrayers: Just the word probably makes your stomach tighten. Nothing good can be said of betrayal, or of one who betrays. That’s why Jesus’ words to his disciples are hard to hear, but good to hear. A patient who is sick may not like an unhappy diagnosis, but without it he’ll never get the right treatment and get better. Jesus is the best doctor ever. He’s honest about our malady, but only so that he can heal. In the songs you’ll sing today and Word you’ll hear, listen for Jesus’ words of your malady, but keep listening for Jesus’ sweet words of your healing. Welcome to church!
Everything so far in the Gospel of Mark has been leading up to the death of Jesus. This weekend we come to the beginning of what many call the Passion of the Christ. Mark puts two people who knew Jesus in front of us, and we can learn from both. One shows us how it’s possible to know Jesus and not change. The other is totally changed and shows us how our greatest value is in Jesus. Let that make all the difference in the world to you. We’re glad you’re with us today and pray for the Spirit to bless your worship.
Have you become numb to the warnings that surround you? Do you panic when the gas light comes on, or do you see how far the fumes can really get you? How about weather warnings? Are you one who heeds the warning, shelters, and waits for the all clear, or do you dismiss the weather center's warnings as little more important than that gas light from before? We receive so many warnings that sometimes we become numb or apathetic, not realizing the severity of the situation. Today we learn from Jesus the importance of heeding his warning and to keep watch!
You only live once? How about twice? YOLO is catchier than YOLT, but it's not as accurate. According to Jesus, you only live twice. In Mark 13, Jesus gives his disciples some hard words about the future. It's worth putting up with the distress—not because living once is worthless, but because living twice is infinitely and eternally better. We’re glad you’ve joined us today because, if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s this: when Jesus makes a promise it’s worth taking him up on it!