Mark, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

Today we are wrapping up the first chapter with what is possibly the most moving story in Mark, outside the cross. In Mark 1:40-45, Jesus heals a leper. Now to grasp what Mark is doing by placing this story here we need to understand that Jesus doesn’t heal for the sake of healing. Yes, his healing demonstrates his power. Yes, his healing authenticates his message. Yes, his healing points to the perfect world to come. But, his healing is also a visual of why he came. Today, more than a healing, we get a vivid picture of who we are, who Jesus is and what he came to do. In this passage we see that our need is great, but his provision is greater.

Mark, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

One of the over-arching themes of Mark’s gospel is that everywhere Jesus went, things got better – the blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised and more. Just imagine what it would have been like to witness this life. What would a day in the life of Jesus look like? What did he do? Where did he go? How did people respond to him? Mark gives us an opportunity to do just that today, in 1:21-39, where we have a 24 hour window with Jesus where we get a massive demonstration of the character of the King and the Kingdom.

Mark, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

Last week we heard for the first time from Jesus himself, his primary subject was the “Kingdom of God”. Today we hear his call to follow Him and become “fishers of men”.

Mark, Media, Sermons, Uncategorized | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

Last week we saw that Jesus came to identify with us, invite us into relationship with the trinitarian God, and intervene on our behalf. Today we hear from Jesus himself for the first time in Mark’s gospel. His primary subject of concern is the “kingdom of God”.

Mark, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

Last week (Mark 1:1-8) we met John the baptizer, the long-awaited messenger sent to prepare God’s people for the coming of Yahweh himself (cf Mark 1:3). Today (Mark 1:9-13) we meet Jesus for the first time in Mark’s gospel account.

Mark, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

Nearly 2,000 years ago, in a small rural province of Roman-ruled Israel, there was a man who claimed to not only be a king, but the King; not only one sent from God, but the Son of God. His name was Jesus. In dramatic detail, the Gospel of Mark tells the riveting story of Jesus’ brief years of ministry in sixteen short, action-packed chapters. Mark, an assistant to the apostle Peter, is a masterful story-teller. Using a style of writing that is simple and original he recounts the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; events which form the very center of cosmic and human history. Over the near we will be exploring the life and work of the One who fulfilled all the Old Testament hopes for the coming Christ, the Messiah, and see first-hand how only his story makes sense of our own.

Jonah, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

Today we come to the end of our four-part series in the book of Jonah. This week (Jon. 4:1-11) we get an up-close and personal look into the self-righteousness in Jonah’s heart – and ours – and the great liberation God offers us through the gospel.

Jonah, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

Today we are reminded that God is on a mission to seek and save the lost from all tribes, tongues, nations – and cities – of the world. Oddly, and beautifully, he uses imperfect, reluctant, messy messengers to deliver the life-changing, sin-forgiving, shame-shattering new s of Jesus that will save them.

Jonah, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

We are working our way through a four-part series in the book of Jonah. Today we move into the second scene of the unfolding story (1:17-2:10). This chapter is the happiest part of the entire book, which is telling if nearly drowning and being swallowed by a large marine mammal is the high point of your story. The entire chapter is comprised of Jonah’s prayer to God from within the fish. In it he records his distressing descent to the bottom of the ocean and God’s subsequent (and unlikely) miraculous salvation. While it is easy to get distracted by the fish, the main character is God himself. Today we see that God is so bent on Jonah’s ultimate good that he goes to great lengths in pursuit of him. He is more concerned about the condition of Jonah’s heart, than the condition of his life. In fact, as only God can do, he uses the conditions of life to effect change in Jonah’s heart. He does the same in our lives today.

Jonah, Media, Sermons | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

Jonah is perhaps one of the best known, and debated, books of the Bible. Unlike other prophetic books, this book focuses on the prophet himself. Yet, this book is not only about him; it’s about us too. We are a lot like Jonah. Jonah received a word from the Lord. We have the Word of the Lord. Jonah is called to a great city. We are called to a great city. Jonah runs from God. We also run. Jonah reluctantly obeys. We do the same. Jonah prefers personal comfort over heartfelt trust. We often do likewise. Yet, amidst Jonah’s disobedience, idolatry and self-righteousness we see the great mercy, kindness and grace of God. This book is a call to repentance, a call to mission, a call to the city, a call to love those unlike ourselves and a call to radical trust in God.