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MARKed By Good News- Week 2
Pastor Andrew Schmidt continues a new sermon series called, “MARKed by Good News”. This is part of our MARKed: A Year in the Gospel of Mark, which began on April 20th. This week’s passage centers on Mark 1:1-13. Camille Schmidt begins this sermon by reading the scripture passage for this week.
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Sermon Notes:
Mark 1:1-13
In Jesus baptism, we see the mystery of the trinity: one God in three persons (Mark 1:10-11)
Voice of the Father
Descent of the Spirit
Jesus, the Son
Why does Jesus get baptized by John, when John offered a baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4-5)?
Because Jesus was identifying with sinful humanity completely even in the depths of our sin, darkness and evil. In doing so, he was willingly taking on one we deserve.
When we get baptized or confirm our baptism through public profession of faith we are identifying completely with Jesus taking on his life and in the end will get what he deserves.
We respond to Jesus by:
Receiving God’s grace he loved us before we ever loved or reached out to him (while we were still in the depths).
Acknowledging what’s true about God/Jesus and about ourselves including where we miss the mark.
Taking steps to change and actually making decision(s) to follow Jesus way and what he wants.
Rely on God’s grace including the Holy Spirit with whom we are baptized when we give our life to Jesus.
Resources:
Lectio Davina Approach to Scripture PDF
Free Online Bible: BibleGateway
Free SmartPhone Bible App: YouVersion
MARKed By Good News- Week 1
Pastor Andrew Schmidt begins a new sermon series called, “MARKed by Good News”. This is part of our MARKed: A Year in the Gospel of Mark, which began on April 20th. This week’s passage centers on Mark 1:1.
There were two sermons on Easter Sunday, April 20th. The first service is available to watch above. The second service sermon is the audio version you will find below or on our podcast.
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Sermon Slide Notes:
Mark’s Gospel starts “The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah the Son of God.” As we spend a year in this Gospel we note that it will be all about Jesus and it will be good news.
God’s people at the time Jesus lived needed to be prepared in order to receive the Messiah.
John the Baptist is the one who prepared them. Three aspects of John’s preparation:
They confessed their sins (1:5) that is they acknowledged what’s true about their life in relation to God and his ways.
He preached a baptism of repentance (1:4) that is they were to take steps to change.
This baptism was for the forgiveness of sins (1:4) that is they receive God’s grace to do for them what they could not do for themselves.
Story after story in Mark’s gospel presents people, both religious and irreligious, being called to respond to Jesus. They are described in such a way as to invite us to decide how we will respond to Jesus.
If we are to receive Jesus we need to respond in the same ways as those who were prepared by John the Baptist that is with:
Confession: Acknowledging what’s true
Repentance: Taking steps to change
Forgiveness of sins: Receiving God’s grace
Possible Action Steps are:
Baptism (Sign up for Faith Commitment class if you have not been baptized or confirmed your child baptism as an adult through public profession of faith)
Bible (Read the Gospel of Mark during the coming weeks and months)
Resources:
Lectio Davina Approach to Scripture PDF
Free Online Bible: BibleGateway
Free SmartPhone Bible App: YouVersion