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Jul 22, 2012
Jul 1, 2012
Achieving Greatness
Pastor Nathan Norman
Mark 10:32-45
Mk 10:32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.
Mk 10:33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles,
Mk 10:34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise."
Mk 10:35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
Mk 10:36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
Mk 10:37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
Mk 10:38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
Mk 10:39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,
Mk 10:40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
Mk 10:41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.
Mk 10:42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
Mk 10:43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, Mk 10:44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
Mk 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Pastor Nathan Norman
Mark 10:32-45
Mk 10:32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.
Mk 10:33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles,
Mk 10:34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise."
Mk 10:35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
Mk 10:36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
Mk 10:37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
Mk 10:38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
Mk 10:39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,
Mk 10:40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
Mk 10:41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.
Mk 10:42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
Mk 10:43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, Mk 10:44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
Mk 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jun 25, 2012
Wealth and the 1%
Pastor Nathan Norman
Mark 10:17-31
Mk 10:17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Mk 10:18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.
Mk 10:19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’ 39 ’”
Mk 10:20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
Mk 10:21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Mk 10:22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Mk 10:23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich a to enter the kingdom of God!”
Mk 10:24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
Mk 10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Mk 10:26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
Mk 10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Mk 10:28 Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!”
Mk 10:29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel
Mk 10:30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.
Mk 10:31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Pastor Nathan Norman
Mark 10:17-31
Mk 10:17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Mk 10:18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.
Mk 10:19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’ 39 ’”
Mk 10:20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
Mk 10:21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Mk 10:22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Mk 10:23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich a to enter the kingdom of God!”
Mk 10:24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
Mk 10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Mk 10:26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
Mk 10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Mk 10:28 Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!”
Mk 10:29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel
Mk 10:30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.
Mk 10:31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Jun 17, 2012
DIVORCE & CHILDREN
Nathan Norman
Mark 10:1-16
Mk 10:1 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.
Mk 10:2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
Mk 10:3 “What did Moses command you?” he replied.
Mk 10:4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”
Mk 10:5 “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied.
Mk 10:6 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’
Mk 10:7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,
Mk 10:8 and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one.
Mk 10:9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
Mk 10:10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this.
Mk 10:11 He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.
Mk 10:12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”
The Little Children and Jesus
Mk 10:13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.
Mk 10:14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Mk 10:15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Mk 10:16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
Nathan Norman
Mark 10:1-16
Mk 10:1 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.
Mk 10:2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
Mk 10:3 “What did Moses command you?” he replied.
Mk 10:4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”
Mk 10:5 “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied.
Mk 10:6 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’
Mk 10:7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,
Mk 10:8 and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one.
Mk 10:9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
Mk 10:10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this.
Mk 10:11 He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.
Mk 10:12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”
The Little Children and Jesus
Mk 10:13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.
Mk 10:14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Mk 10:15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Mk 10:16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
Jun 10, 2012
Graduates and All Need Wisdom!
Bruce Sheets
Note to the listener: The first couple minutes of this sermon are difficult to here due to some microphone problems. This issue was resolved quickly and the remainder of the sermon will be much easier to hear.
Proverbs 3:1-26
Pr 3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
Pr 3:2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.
Pr 3:3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Pr 3:4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Pr 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
Pr 3:6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Pr 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
Pr 3:8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
Pr 3:9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
Pr 3:10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Pr 3:11 My son, do not despise the LORD'S discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
Pr 3:12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
Pr 3:13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,
Pr 3:14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
Pr 3:15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
Pr 3:16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
Pr 3:17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
Pr 3:18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
Pr 3:19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;
Pr 3:20 by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.
Pr 3:21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight;
Pr 3:22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.
Pr 3:23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble;
Pr 3:24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Pr 3:25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
Pr 3:26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.
Bruce Sheets
Note to the listener: The first couple minutes of this sermon are difficult to here due to some microphone problems. This issue was resolved quickly and the remainder of the sermon will be much easier to hear.
Proverbs 3:1-26
Pr 3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
Pr 3:2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.
Pr 3:3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Pr 3:4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Pr 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
Pr 3:6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Pr 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
Pr 3:8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
Pr 3:9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
Pr 3:10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Pr 3:11 My son, do not despise the LORD'S discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
Pr 3:12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
Pr 3:13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,
Pr 3:14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
Pr 3:15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
Pr 3:16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
Pr 3:17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
Pr 3:18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
Pr 3:19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;
Pr 3:20 by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.
Pr 3:21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight;
Pr 3:22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.
Pr 3:23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble;
Pr 3:24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Pr 3:25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
Pr 3:26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.
Jun 4, 2012
I Believe: Help My Unbelief
Pastor Nathan Norman
Mark 9:14-50
The Healing of a Boy With an Evil SpiritMk 9:14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them.
Mk 9:15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
Mk 9:16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.
Mk 9:17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech.
Mk 9:18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
Mk 9:19 “O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
Mk 9:20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
Mk 9:21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered.
Mk 9:22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
Mk 9:23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
Mk 9:24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Mk 9:25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
Mk 9:26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.”
Mk 9:27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
Mk 9:28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
Mk 9:29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
Mk 9:30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were,
Mk 9:31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”
Mk 9:32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
Who Is the Greatest?
Mk 9:33 They came to Capernaum. l When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?”
Mk 9:34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
Mk 9:35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
Mk 9:36 He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,
Mk 9:37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us
Mk 9:38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
Mk 9:39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me,
Mk 9:40 for whoever is not against us is for us.
Mk 9:41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
Causing to Sin
Mk 9:42 “And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.
Mk 9:43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.
Mk 9:45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.
Mk 9:47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,
Mk 9:48 where “ ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’
Mk 9:49 Everyone will be salted with fire.
Mk 9:50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
May 27, 2012
"REJECTING YOURSELF"
REJECTING YOURSELF
Pastor Nathan Norman
Mark7:24-9:13
The Faith of a Syrophoenician Woman
Mk 7:24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. Mk 7:25 In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. Mk 7:26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. Mk 7:27 “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” Mk 7:28 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Mk 7:29 Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” Mk 7:30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
The Healing of a Deaf and Mute Man
Mk 7:31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. Mk 7:32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man. Mk 7:33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. Mk 7:34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”). Mk 7:35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. Mk 7:36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. Mk 7:37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand
Mk 8:1 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, Mk 8:2 “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. Mk 8:3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” Mk 8:4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” Mk 8:5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied. Mk 8:6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. Mk 8:7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. Mk 8:8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. Mk 8:9 About four thousand men were present. And having sent them away, Mk 8:10 he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha. Mk 8:11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. Mk 8:12 He sighed deeply m and said, “Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.” Mk 8:13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod
Mk 8:14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. Mk 8:15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” Mk 8:16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” Mk 8:17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Mk 8:18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? Mk 8:19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. Mk 8:20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” Mk 8:21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
The Healing of a Blind Man at Bethsaida
Mk 8:22 They came to Bethsaida, u and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. Mk 8:23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” Mk 8:24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Mk 8:25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Mk 8:26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t go into the village.” Peter’s Confession of Christ Mk 8:27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” Mk 8:28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” Mk 8:29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” Mk 8:30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. Jesus Predicts His Death Mk 8:31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. Mk 8:32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. Mk 8:33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Mk 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Mk 8:35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. Mk 8:36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Mk 8:37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? Mk 8:38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” Mk 9:1 And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”
The Transfiguration
Mk 9:2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. Mk 9:3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. Mk 9:4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Mk 9:5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Mk 9:6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) Mk 9:7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Mk 9:8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. Mk 9:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. Mk 9:10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant. Mk 9:11 And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” Mk 9:12 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? Mk 9:13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”
Pastor Nathan Norman
Mark7:24-9:13
The Faith of a Syrophoenician Woman
Mk 7:24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. Mk 7:25 In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. Mk 7:26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. Mk 7:27 “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” Mk 7:28 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Mk 7:29 Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” Mk 7:30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
The Healing of a Deaf and Mute Man
Mk 7:31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. Mk 7:32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man. Mk 7:33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. Mk 7:34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”). Mk 7:35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. Mk 7:36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. Mk 7:37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand
Mk 8:1 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, Mk 8:2 “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. Mk 8:3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” Mk 8:4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” Mk 8:5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied. Mk 8:6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. Mk 8:7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. Mk 8:8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. Mk 8:9 About four thousand men were present. And having sent them away, Mk 8:10 he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha. Mk 8:11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. Mk 8:12 He sighed deeply m and said, “Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.” Mk 8:13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod
Mk 8:14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. Mk 8:15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” Mk 8:16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” Mk 8:17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Mk 8:18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? Mk 8:19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. Mk 8:20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” Mk 8:21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
The Healing of a Blind Man at Bethsaida
Mk 8:22 They came to Bethsaida, u and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. Mk 8:23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” Mk 8:24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Mk 8:25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Mk 8:26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t go into the village.” Peter’s Confession of Christ Mk 8:27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” Mk 8:28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” Mk 8:29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” Mk 8:30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. Jesus Predicts His Death Mk 8:31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. Mk 8:32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. Mk 8:33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Mk 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Mk 8:35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. Mk 8:36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Mk 8:37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? Mk 8:38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” Mk 9:1 And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”
The Transfiguration
Mk 9:2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. Mk 9:3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. Mk 9:4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Mk 9:5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Mk 9:6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) Mk 9:7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Mk 9:8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. Mk 9:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. Mk 9:10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant. Mk 9:11 And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” Mk 9:12 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? Mk 9:13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”
May 20, 2012
It Doesn't Matter What You Eat
Pastor Nathan Norman
Mark 7:1-23
Mk 7:1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and
Mk 7:2 saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were “unclean,” that is, unwashed.
Mk 7:3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.
Mk 7:4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)
Mk 7:5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders j instead of eating their food with ‘unclean’ hands?”
Mk 7:6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Mk 7:7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’
Mk 7:8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.”
Mk 7:9 And he said to them: “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe 21 your own traditions!
Mk 7:10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’and, ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’
Mk 7:11 But you say p that if a man says to his father or mother: ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God),
Mk 7:12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother.
Mk 7:13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition r that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”
Mk 7:14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this.
Mk 7:15 Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’ ’”
Mk 7:17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him s about this parable.
Mk 7:18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him ‘unclean’?
Mk 7:19 For it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods t “clean.”)
Mk 7:20 He went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’
Mk 7:21 For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
Mk 7:22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.
Mk 7:23 All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’ ”
Pastor Nathan Norman
Mark 7:1-23
Mk 7:1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and
Mk 7:2 saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were “unclean,” that is, unwashed.
Mk 7:3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.
Mk 7:4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)
Mk 7:5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders j instead of eating their food with ‘unclean’ hands?”
Mk 7:6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Mk 7:7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’
Mk 7:8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.”
Mk 7:9 And he said to them: “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe 21 your own traditions!
Mk 7:10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’and, ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’
Mk 7:11 But you say p that if a man says to his father or mother: ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God),
Mk 7:12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother.
Mk 7:13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition r that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”
Mk 7:14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this.
Mk 7:15 Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’ ’”
Mk 7:17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him s about this parable.
Mk 7:18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him ‘unclean’?
Mk 7:19 For it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods t “clean.”)
Mk 7:20 He went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’
Mk 7:21 For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
Mk 7:22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.
Mk 7:23 All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’ ”
May 14, 2012
NON-BELIEVERS GET IT
Pastor Nathan Norman
May 13, 2012
Mark 6:30-56
Mk 6:30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.
Mk 6:31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Mk 6:32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.
Mk 6:33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.
Mk 6:34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Mk 6:35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late.
Mk 6:36 Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
Mk 6:37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take eight months of a man’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”
Mk 6:38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”
Mk 6:39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.
Mk 6:40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.
Mk 6:41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.
Mk 6:42 They all ate and were satisfied,
Mk 6:43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.
Mk 6:44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.
Mk 6:45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.
Mk 6:46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
Mk 6:47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land.
Mk 6:48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them,
Mk 6:49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out,
Mk 6:50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Mk 6:51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed,
Mk 6:52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
Mk 6:53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.
Mk 6:54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus.
Mk 6:55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.
Mk 6:56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
Pastor Nathan Norman
May 13, 2012
Mark 6:30-56
Mk 6:30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.
Mk 6:31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Mk 6:32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.
Mk 6:33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.
Mk 6:34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Mk 6:35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late.
Mk 6:36 Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
Mk 6:37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take eight months of a man’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”
Mk 6:38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”
Mk 6:39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.
Mk 6:40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.
Mk 6:41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.
Mk 6:42 They all ate and were satisfied,
Mk 6:43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.
Mk 6:44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.
Mk 6:45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.
Mk 6:46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
Mk 6:47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land.
Mk 6:48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them,
Mk 6:49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out,
Mk 6:50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Mk 6:51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed,
Mk 6:52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
Mk 6:53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.
Mk 6:54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus.
Mk 6:55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.
Mk 6:56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
May 6, 2012
Sharing in God's Plan
Sharing in God's Plan
Pastor Nathan J Norman
Mark 6:7-30
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. x
Mk 6:7 Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.
Mk 6:8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.
Mk 6:9 Wear sandals but not an extra tunic.
Mk 6:10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town.
Mk 6:11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.”
Mk 6:12 They went out and preached that people should repent.
Mk 6:13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
John the Baptist Beheaded
Mk 6:14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
Mk 6:15 Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”
Mk 6:16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”
Mk 6:17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married.
Mk 6:18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Mk 6:19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to,
Mk 6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.
Mk 6:21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.
Mk 6:22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.”
Mk 6:23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
Mk 6:24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.
Mk 6:25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
Mk 6:26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.
Mk 6:27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison,
Mk 6:28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother.
Mk 6:29 On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
Mk 6:30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.
Pastor Nathan J Norman
Mark 6:7-30
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. x
Mk 6:7 Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.
Mk 6:8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.
Mk 6:9 Wear sandals but not an extra tunic.
Mk 6:10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town.
Mk 6:11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.”
Mk 6:12 They went out and preached that people should repent.
Mk 6:13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
John the Baptist Beheaded
Mk 6:14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
Mk 6:15 Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”
Mk 6:16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”
Mk 6:17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married.
Mk 6:18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Mk 6:19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to,
Mk 6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.
Mk 6:21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.
Mk 6:22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.”
Mk 6:23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
Mk 6:24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.
Mk 6:25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
Mk 6:26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.
Mk 6:27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison,
Mk 6:28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother.
Mk 6:29 On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
Mk 6:30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.
May 1, 2012
Dealing With Rejection
The Orchard Church - Pastor Nathan J Norman
delivered on April 29, 2012
Mark 6:1-6a
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Mark 6
Rejection at Nazareth
1 He went away from there and came to His hometown, and His disciples followed Him.
2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said. “What is this wisdom given to Him, and how are these miracles performed by His hands?
3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t His sisters here with us?” So they were offended by Him.
4 Then Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.”
5 So He was not able to do any miracles there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.
6 And He was amazed at their unbelief. Now He was going around the villages in a circuit, teaching.
delivered on April 29, 2012
Mark 6:1-6a
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Mark 6
Rejection at Nazareth
1 He went away from there and came to His hometown, and His disciples followed Him.
2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said. “What is this wisdom given to Him, and how are these miracles performed by His hands?
3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t His sisters here with us?” So they were offended by Him.
4 Then Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.”
5 So He was not able to do any miracles there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.
6 And He was amazed at their unbelief. Now He was going around the villages in a circuit, teaching.
Apr 27, 2012
When Jesus Comes Too Late - Mark 5:21-43
The Orchard Church - Pastor Nathan J Norman
delivered on April 22, 2012
Mark 5:21-43
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
A Girl Restored and a Woman Healed
21 When Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him while He was by the sea.
22 One of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet
23 and kept begging Him, “My little daughter is at death’s door. Come and lay Your hands on her so she can get well and live.”
24 So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd was following and pressing against Him.
25 A woman suffering from bleeding for 12 years
26 had endured much under many doctors. She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse.
27 Having heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His robe.
28 For she said, “If I can just touch His robes, I’ll be made well!”
29 Instantly her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was cured of her affliction.
30 At once Jesus realized in Himself that power had gone out from Him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My robes?”
31 His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing against You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”
32 So He was looking around to see who had done this.
33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came with fear and trembling, fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth.
34 “Daughter,” He said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be free from your affliction.”
35 While He was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher anymore?”
36 But when Jesus overheard what was said, He told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.”
37 He did not let anyone accompany Him except Peter, James, and John, James’s brother.
38 They came to the leader’s house, and He saw a commotion—people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.”
40 They started laughing at Him, but He put them all outside. He took the child’s father, mother, and those who were with Him, and entered the place where the child was.
41 Then He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).
42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk. (She was 12 years old.) At this they were utterly astounded.
43 Then He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this and said that she should be given something to eat.
delivered on April 22, 2012
Mark 5:21-43
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
A Girl Restored and a Woman Healed
21 When Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him while He was by the sea.
22 One of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet
23 and kept begging Him, “My little daughter is at death’s door. Come and lay Your hands on her so she can get well and live.”
24 So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd was following and pressing against Him.
25 A woman suffering from bleeding for 12 years
26 had endured much under many doctors. She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse.
27 Having heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His robe.
28 For she said, “If I can just touch His robes, I’ll be made well!”
29 Instantly her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was cured of her affliction.
30 At once Jesus realized in Himself that power had gone out from Him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My robes?”
31 His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing against You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”
32 So He was looking around to see who had done this.
33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came with fear and trembling, fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth.
34 “Daughter,” He said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be free from your affliction.”
35 While He was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher anymore?”
36 But when Jesus overheard what was said, He told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.”
37 He did not let anyone accompany Him except Peter, James, and John, James’s brother.
38 They came to the leader’s house, and He saw a commotion—people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.”
40 They started laughing at Him, but He put them all outside. He took the child’s father, mother, and those who were with Him, and entered the place where the child was.
41 Then He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).
42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk. (She was 12 years old.) At this they were utterly astounded.
43 Then He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this and said that she should be given something to eat.
Apr 16, 2012
Spiritual Superiority
The Orchard Church - Pastor Nathan J Norman
delivered on April 15, 2012
Mark 4:35-5:20
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Wind and Wave Obey the Master
35 On that day, when evening had come, He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.”
36 So they left the crowd and took Him along since He was already in the boat. And other boats were with Him.
37 A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.
38 But He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him up and said to Him, “Teacher! Don’t You care that we’re going to die?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 Then He said to them, “Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?”
41 And they were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
Mark 5
Demons Driven Out by the Master
1 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes.
2 As soon as He got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met Him.
3 He lived in the tombs. No one was able to restrain him anymore—even with chains—
4 because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had snapped off the chains and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him.
5 And always, night and day, he was crying out among the tombs and in the mountains and cutting himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before Him.
7 And he cried out with a loud voice, “What do You have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God, don’t torment me!”
8 For He had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
9 “What is your name?” He asked him.
“My name is Legion,” he answered Him, “because we are many.”
10 And he kept begging Him not to send them out of the region.
11 Now a large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside.
12 The demons begged Him, “Send us to the pigs, so we may enter them.”
13 And He gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs, and the herd of about 2,000 rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there.
14 The men who tended them ran off and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened.
15 They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed by the legion, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
16 The eyewitnesses described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and told about the pigs.
17 Then they began to beg Him to leave their region.
18 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed kept begging Him to be with Him.
19 But He would not let him; instead, He told him, “Go back home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how He has had mercy on you.”
20 So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.
delivered on April 15, 2012
Mark 4:35-5:20
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Wind and Wave Obey the Master
35 On that day, when evening had come, He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.”
36 So they left the crowd and took Him along since He was already in the boat. And other boats were with Him.
37 A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.
38 But He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him up and said to Him, “Teacher! Don’t You care that we’re going to die?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 Then He said to them, “Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?”
41 And they were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
Mark 5
Demons Driven Out by the Master
1 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes.
2 As soon as He got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met Him.
3 He lived in the tombs. No one was able to restrain him anymore—even with chains—
4 because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had snapped off the chains and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him.
5 And always, night and day, he was crying out among the tombs and in the mountains and cutting himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before Him.
7 And he cried out with a loud voice, “What do You have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God, don’t torment me!”
8 For He had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
9 “What is your name?” He asked him.
“My name is Legion,” he answered Him, “because we are many.”
10 And he kept begging Him not to send them out of the region.
11 Now a large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside.
12 The demons begged Him, “Send us to the pigs, so we may enter them.”
13 And He gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs, and the herd of about 2,000 rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there.
14 The men who tended them ran off and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened.
15 They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed by the legion, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
16 The eyewitnesses described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and told about the pigs.
17 Then they began to beg Him to leave their region.
18 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed kept begging Him to be with Him.
19 But He would not let him; instead, He told him, “Go back home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how He has had mercy on you.”
20 So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.
Apr 12, 2012
The Cross of Barabbas - Matthew 27:15-26
The Orchard Church - Pastor Nathan J Norman
delivered on April 8, 2012 - EASTER
Matthew 27:15-26
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Jesus or Barabbas
15 At the festival the governor’s custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted.
16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.
17 So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Who is it you want me to release for you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Messiah?”
18 For he knew they had handed Him over because of envy.
19 While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of Him!”
20 The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. 21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?”
“Barabbas!” they answered.
22 Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Messiah?”
They all answered, “Crucify Him!”
23 Then he said, “Why? What has He done wrong?”
But they kept shouting, “Crucify Him!” all the more.
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. See to it yourselves!”
25 All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
Additional References
Mark 15:6-15
Luke 23:13-25
John 18:38b-40
delivered on April 8, 2012 - EASTER
Matthew 27:15-26
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Jesus or Barabbas
15 At the festival the governor’s custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted.
16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.
17 So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Who is it you want me to release for you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Messiah?”
18 For he knew they had handed Him over because of envy.
19 While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of Him!”
20 The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. 21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?”
“Barabbas!” they answered.
22 Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Messiah?”
They all answered, “Crucify Him!”
23 Then he said, “Why? What has He done wrong?”
But they kept shouting, “Crucify Him!” all the more.
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. See to it yourselves!”
25 All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
Additional References
Mark 15:6-15
Luke 23:13-25
John 18:38b-40
Apr 1, 2012
"Communion" - Luke 22:14-23
The Orchard Church - Pastor Nathan J Norman
delivered on April 1, 2012
Luke 22:14-23
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The First Lord’s Supper
14 When the hour came, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.
15 Then He said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17 Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves.
18 For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”
20 In the same way He also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant established by My blood; it is shed for you.
21 But look, the hand of the one betraying Me is at the table with Me!
22 For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”
23 So they began to argue among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do this thing.
NEXT SUNDAY IS EASTER!! We'd be most pleased if you would join us.
HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!!
delivered on April 1, 2012
Luke 22:14-23
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The First Lord’s Supper
14 When the hour came, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.
15 Then He said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17 Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves.
18 For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”
20 In the same way He also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant established by My blood; it is shed for you.
21 But look, the hand of the one betraying Me is at the table with Me!
22 For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”
23 So they began to argue among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do this thing.
NEXT SUNDAY IS EASTER!! We'd be most pleased if you would join us.
HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!!
Mar 25, 2012
When God Empowers Our Work - Mark 4:26-34
The Orchard Church - Pastor Nathan J. Norman
delivered on March 25, 2012
Mark 4:26-34
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Parable of the Growing Seed
26 “The kingdom of God is like this,” He said. “A man scatters seed on the ground;
27 he sleeps and rises—night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows—he doesn’t know how.
28 The soil produces a crop by itself—first the blade, then the head, and then the ripe grain on the head. 29 But as soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30 And He said: “How can we illustrate the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to describe it?
31 It’s like a mustard seed that, when sown in the soil, is smaller than all the seeds on the ground.
32 And when sown, it comes up and grows taller than all the vegetables, and produces large branches, so that the birds of the sky can nest in its shade.”
Using Parables
33 He would speak the word to them with many parables like these, as they were able to understand.
34 And He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, He would explain everything to His own disciples.
delivered on March 25, 2012
Mark 4:26-34
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Parable of the Growing Seed
26 “The kingdom of God is like this,” He said. “A man scatters seed on the ground;
27 he sleeps and rises—night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows—he doesn’t know how.
28 The soil produces a crop by itself—first the blade, then the head, and then the ripe grain on the head. 29 But as soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30 And He said: “How can we illustrate the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to describe it?
31 It’s like a mustard seed that, when sown in the soil, is smaller than all the seeds on the ground.
32 And when sown, it comes up and grows taller than all the vegetables, and produces large branches, so that the birds of the sky can nest in its shade.”
Using Parables
33 He would speak the word to them with many parables like these, as they were able to understand.
34 And He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, He would explain everything to His own disciples.
When You Do Good Things and Nothing Happens
The Orchard Church - Pastor Nathan J Norman
delivered on March 18, 2012
Mark 4:1-25
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Parable of the Sower
1 Again He began to teach by the sea, and a very large crowd gathered around Him. So He got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while the whole crowd was on the shore facing the sea.
2 He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said to them:
3 “Listen! Consider the sower who went out to sow.
4 As he sowed, this occurred: Some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it sprang up right away, since it didn’t have deep soil.
6 When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it didn’t have a root, it withered.
7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn’t produce a crop.
8 Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop that increased 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.”
9 Then He said, “Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!”
Why Jesus Used Parables
10 When He was alone with the Twelve, those who were around Him asked Him about the parables.
11 He answered them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables
12 so that they may look and look, yet not perceive; they may listen and listen,
yet not understand; otherwise, they might turn back—
and be forgiven.”
The Parable of the Sower Explained
13 Then He said to them: “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any of the parables?
14 The sower sows the word.
15 These are the ones along the path where the word is sown: when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word sown in them.
16 And these are[e] the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.
17 But they have no root in themselves; they are short-lived. When pressure or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately stumble.
18 Others are sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word,
19 but the worries of this age, the seduction of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20 But the ones sown on good ground are those who hear the word, welcome it, and produce a crop: 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.”
Using Your Light
21 He also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand?
22 For nothing is concealed except to be revealed, and nothing hidden except to come to light.
23 If anyone has ears to hear, he should listen!”
24 Then He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, it will be measured and added to you.
25 For to the one who has, it will be given, and from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.”
delivered on March 18, 2012
Mark 4:1-25
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Parable of the Sower
1 Again He began to teach by the sea, and a very large crowd gathered around Him. So He got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while the whole crowd was on the shore facing the sea.
2 He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said to them:
3 “Listen! Consider the sower who went out to sow.
4 As he sowed, this occurred: Some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it sprang up right away, since it didn’t have deep soil.
6 When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it didn’t have a root, it withered.
7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn’t produce a crop.
8 Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop that increased 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.”
9 Then He said, “Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!”
Why Jesus Used Parables
10 When He was alone with the Twelve, those who were around Him asked Him about the parables.
11 He answered them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables
12 so that they may look and look, yet not perceive; they may listen and listen,
yet not understand; otherwise, they might turn back—
and be forgiven.”
The Parable of the Sower Explained
13 Then He said to them: “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any of the parables?
14 The sower sows the word.
15 These are the ones along the path where the word is sown: when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word sown in them.
16 And these are[e] the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.
17 But they have no root in themselves; they are short-lived. When pressure or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately stumble.
18 Others are sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word,
19 but the worries of this age, the seduction of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20 But the ones sown on good ground are those who hear the word, welcome it, and produce a crop: 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.”
Using Your Light
21 He also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand?
22 For nothing is concealed except to be revealed, and nothing hidden except to come to light.
23 If anyone has ears to hear, he should listen!”
24 Then He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, it will be measured and added to you.
25 For to the one who has, it will be given, and from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.”
Mar 11, 2012
When Helping People Gets Ugly
Orchard Church - Pastor Nathan J Norman
delivered on March 11, 2012
Mark 3:7-35
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Ministering to the Multitude
7 Jesus departed with His disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee, Judea,
8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to Him because they heard about everything He was doing.
9 Then He told His disciples to have a small boat ready for Him, so the crowd would not crush Him.
10 Since He had healed many, all who had diseases were pressing toward Him to touch Him.
11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, those possessed fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”
12 And He would strongly warn them not to make Him known.
The 12 Apostles
13 Then He went up the mountain and summoned those He wanted, and they came to Him.
14 He also appointed 12—He also named them apostles—to be with Him, to send them out to preach,
15 and to have authority to drive out demons.
16 He appointed the Twelve:
To Simon, He gave the name Peter;
17 and to James the son of Zebedee,
and to his brother John, He gave the name “Boanerges” (that is, “Sons of Thunder”);
18 Andrew; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus,
and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot,
19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
A House Divided
20 Then He went home, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat.
21 When His family heard this, they set out to restrain Him, because they said, “He’s out of His mind.”
22 The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul in Him!” and, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons!”
23 So He summoned them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan?
24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
26 And if Satan rebels against himself and is divided, he cannot stand but is finished!
27 “On the other hand, no one can enter a strong man’s house and rob his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he will rob his house.
28 I assure you: People will be forgiven for all sins[h] and whatever blasphemies they may blaspheme.
29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—
30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
True Relationships
31 Then His mother and His brothers came, and standing outside, they sent word to Him and called Him.
32 A crowd was sitting around Him and told Him, “Look, Your mother, Your brothers, and Your sister are outside asking for You.”
33 He replied to them, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”
34 And looking about at those who were sitting in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!
35 Whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”
Join us for our message series, "Hard Work that Matters". Pastor Nathan will continue to explore the book of Mark with his upcoming schedule. Here is a sneak peek:
March 18 When You do Good Things and Nothing Happens Mark 4:1-25
March 25 When God Empowers Our Work Mark 4:26-34
delivered on March 11, 2012
Mark 3:7-35
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Ministering to the Multitude
7 Jesus departed with His disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee, Judea,
8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to Him because they heard about everything He was doing.
9 Then He told His disciples to have a small boat ready for Him, so the crowd would not crush Him.
10 Since He had healed many, all who had diseases were pressing toward Him to touch Him.
11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, those possessed fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”
12 And He would strongly warn them not to make Him known.
The 12 Apostles
13 Then He went up the mountain and summoned those He wanted, and they came to Him.
14 He also appointed 12—He also named them apostles—to be with Him, to send them out to preach,
15 and to have authority to drive out demons.
16 He appointed the Twelve:
To Simon, He gave the name Peter;
17 and to James the son of Zebedee,
and to his brother John, He gave the name “Boanerges” (that is, “Sons of Thunder”);
18 Andrew; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus,
and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot,
19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
A House Divided
20 Then He went home, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat.
21 When His family heard this, they set out to restrain Him, because they said, “He’s out of His mind.”
22 The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul in Him!” and, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons!”
23 So He summoned them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan?
24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
26 And if Satan rebels against himself and is divided, he cannot stand but is finished!
27 “On the other hand, no one can enter a strong man’s house and rob his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he will rob his house.
28 I assure you: People will be forgiven for all sins[h] and whatever blasphemies they may blaspheme.
29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—
30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
True Relationships
31 Then His mother and His brothers came, and standing outside, they sent word to Him and called Him.
32 A crowd was sitting around Him and told Him, “Look, Your mother, Your brothers, and Your sister are outside asking for You.”
33 He replied to them, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”
34 And looking about at those who were sitting in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!
35 Whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”
Join us for our message series, "Hard Work that Matters". Pastor Nathan will continue to explore the book of Mark with his upcoming schedule. Here is a sneak peek:
March 18 When You do Good Things and Nothing Happens Mark 4:1-25
March 25 When God Empowers Our Work Mark 4:26-34
Orchard Church 3-4-2012
The Orchard Church did not have service on 3-4-2012 due to a extremely severe snowstorm.
Feb 26, 2012
When Church Gets in the Way of Ministry
Orchard Church - Pastor Nathan J. Norman
delivered on February 26, 2012
Mark 2:23-3:6
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Lord of the Sabbath
23 On the Sabbath He was going through the grainfields, and His disciples began to make their way picking some heads of grain.
24 The Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David and those who were with him did when he was in need and hungry—
26 how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest and ate the sacred bread—which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests—and also gave some to his companions?”
27 Then He told them, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.
28 Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Mark 3
The Man with the Paralyzed Hand
1 Now He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a paralyzed hand.
2 In order to accuse Him, they were watching Him closely to see whether He would heal him on the Sabbath.
3 He told the man with the paralyzed hand, “Stand before us.”
4 Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do what is good or to do what is evil, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent.
5 After looking around at them with anger and sorrow at the hardness of their hearts, He told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.
6 Immediately the Pharisees went out and started plotting with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.
Join us for our message series, "Hard Work that Matters". Pastor Nathan will continue to explore the book of Mark with his upcoming schedule. Here is a sneak peek:
March 4 When Helping People Gets Ugly Mark 3:7-35
March 11 When You do Good Things and Nothing Happens Mark 4:1-25
March 18 When God Empowers Our Work Mark 4:26-34
delivered on February 26, 2012
Mark 2:23-3:6
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Lord of the Sabbath
23 On the Sabbath He was going through the grainfields, and His disciples began to make their way picking some heads of grain.
24 The Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David and those who were with him did when he was in need and hungry—
26 how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest and ate the sacred bread—which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests—and also gave some to his companions?”
27 Then He told them, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.
28 Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Mark 3
The Man with the Paralyzed Hand
1 Now He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a paralyzed hand.
2 In order to accuse Him, they were watching Him closely to see whether He would heal him on the Sabbath.
3 He told the man with the paralyzed hand, “Stand before us.”
4 Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do what is good or to do what is evil, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent.
5 After looking around at them with anger and sorrow at the hardness of their hearts, He told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.
6 Immediately the Pharisees went out and started plotting with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.
Join us for our message series, "Hard Work that Matters". Pastor Nathan will continue to explore the book of Mark with his upcoming schedule. Here is a sneak peek:
March 4 When Helping People Gets Ugly Mark 3:7-35
March 11 When You do Good Things and Nothing Happens Mark 4:1-25
March 18 When God Empowers Our Work Mark 4:26-34
Feb 23, 2012
Growing in God - Seeking the Presence of God
Orchard Church - Pastor Nathan J. Norman
delivered on February 19, 2012
Mark 2:18-22
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
A Question about Fasting
18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees[a] were fasting. People came and asked Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”
19 Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast.
20 But the time will come when the groom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.
21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new patch pulls away from the old cloth, and a worse tear is made.
22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”
delivered on February 19, 2012
Mark 2:18-22
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
A Question about Fasting
18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees[a] were fasting. People came and asked Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”
19 Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast.
20 But the time will come when the groom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.
21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new patch pulls away from the old cloth, and a worse tear is made.
22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”
Feb 14, 2012
Growing in God - Accepting the Unacceptable
Orchard Church - Pastor Nathan J Norman
delivered on February 12, 2012
Mark 2:13-17
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Call of Matthew
13 Then Jesus went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to Him, and He taught them.
14 Then, moving on, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” So he got up and followed Him.
Dining with Sinners
15 While He was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were also guests with Jesus and His disciples, because there were many who were following Him.
16 When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
17 When Jesus heard this, He told them, “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do need one. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Here's what's happening at the Orchard:
The Jesus Disciple
Feb 19 Seeking the Presence of God Mark 2:18-22
delivered on February 12, 2012
Mark 2:13-17
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Call of Matthew
13 Then Jesus went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to Him, and He taught them.
14 Then, moving on, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” So he got up and followed Him.
Dining with Sinners
15 While He was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were also guests with Jesus and His disciples, because there were many who were following Him.
16 When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
17 When Jesus heard this, He told them, “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do need one. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Here's what's happening at the Orchard:
The Jesus Disciple
Feb 19 Seeking the Presence of God Mark 2:18-22
Feb 5, 2012
Growing in God - When All Hope is Lost
Orchard Church - Pastor Nathan J Norman
delivered on February 5, 2012
Mark 2:1-12
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Mark 2
The Son of Man Forgives and Heals
1 When He entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that He was at home.
2 So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and He was speaking the message to them.
3 Then they came to Him bringing a paralytic, carried by four men.
4 Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above where He was. And when they had broken through, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
5 Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
6 But some of the scribes were sitting there, thinking to themselves:
7 “Why does He speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8 Right away Jesus understood in His spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?
9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’?
10 But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” He told the paralytic,
11 “I tell you: get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
12 Immediately he got up, picked up the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Here's what's happening at the Orchard:
The Jesus Disciple
Feb 12 Accepting the Unacceptable Mark 2:13-17
Feb 19 Seeking the Presence of God Mark 2:18-22
delivered on February 5, 2012
Mark 2:1-12
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Mark 2
The Son of Man Forgives and Heals
1 When He entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that He was at home.
2 So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and He was speaking the message to them.
3 Then they came to Him bringing a paralytic, carried by four men.
4 Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above where He was. And when they had broken through, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
5 Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
6 But some of the scribes were sitting there, thinking to themselves:
7 “Why does He speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8 Right away Jesus understood in His spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?
9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’?
10 But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” He told the paralytic,
11 “I tell you: get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
12 Immediately he got up, picked up the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Here's what's happening at the Orchard:
The Jesus Disciple
Feb 12 Accepting the Unacceptable Mark 2:13-17
Feb 19 Seeking the Presence of God Mark 2:18-22
Jan 29, 2012
Orchard Church 01-29-2012 - Growing in Service - delivered by Pastor Nathan J Norman
Mark 1:21-45
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Driving Out an Unclean Spirit
21 Then they went into Capernaum, and right away He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach.
22 They were astonished at His teaching because, unlike the scribes, He was teaching them as one having authority.
23 Just then a man with an unclean spirit was in their synagogue. He cried out,
24 “What do You have to do with us, Jesus—Nazarene? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
25 But Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”
26 And the unclean spirit convulsed him, shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him.
27 Then they were all amazed, so they began to argue with one another, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”
28 News about Him then spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.
Healings at Capernaum
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went into Simon and Andrew’s house with James and John.
30 Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.
31 So He went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
32 When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all those who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.
33 The whole town was assembled at the door,
34 and He healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
Preaching in Galilee
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there.
36 Simon and his companions went searching for Him.
37 They found Him and said, “Everyone’s looking for You!”
38 And He said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come.”
39 So He went into all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
A Man Cleansed
40 Then a man with a serious skin disease came to Him and, on his knees, begged Him: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched him. “I am willing,” He told him. “Be made clean.”
42 Immediately the disease left him, and he was healed.
43 Then He sternly warned him and sent him away at once,
44 telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
45 Yet he went out and began to proclaim it widely and to spread the news, with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But He was out in deserted places, and they would come to Him from everywhere.
Upcoming Sermons:
The Jesus Disciple
February 5 When All Hope is Lost Mark 2:1-12
February 12 Accepting the Unacceptable Mark 2:13-17
February 19 Seeking the Presence of God Mark 2:18-22
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Driving Out an Unclean Spirit
21 Then they went into Capernaum, and right away He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach.
22 They were astonished at His teaching because, unlike the scribes, He was teaching them as one having authority.
23 Just then a man with an unclean spirit was in their synagogue. He cried out,
24 “What do You have to do with us, Jesus—Nazarene? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
25 But Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”
26 And the unclean spirit convulsed him, shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him.
27 Then they were all amazed, so they began to argue with one another, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”
28 News about Him then spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.
Healings at Capernaum
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went into Simon and Andrew’s house with James and John.
30 Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.
31 So He went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
32 When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all those who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.
33 The whole town was assembled at the door,
34 and He healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
Preaching in Galilee
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there.
36 Simon and his companions went searching for Him.
37 They found Him and said, “Everyone’s looking for You!”
38 And He said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come.”
39 So He went into all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
A Man Cleansed
40 Then a man with a serious skin disease came to Him and, on his knees, begged Him: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched him. “I am willing,” He told him. “Be made clean.”
42 Immediately the disease left him, and he was healed.
43 Then He sternly warned him and sent him away at once,
44 telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
45 Yet he went out and began to proclaim it widely and to spread the news, with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But He was out in deserted places, and they would come to Him from everywhere.
Upcoming Sermons:
The Jesus Disciple
February 5 When All Hope is Lost Mark 2:1-12
February 12 Accepting the Unacceptable Mark 2:13-17
February 19 Seeking the Presence of God Mark 2:18-22
Jan 22, 2012
Orchard Church 01-22-2012 - Growing in Relationships
Delivered by Pastor Nathan J. Norman
Mark 1:16-20
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The First Disciples
16 As He was passing along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen.
17 “Follow Me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people!”
18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in their boat mending their nets.
20 Immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.
Mark 1:16-20
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The First Disciples
16 As He was passing along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen.
17 “Follow Me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people!”
18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in their boat mending their nets.
20 Immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.
Jan 15, 2012
Orchard Church 01-15-2012 - Growing in God - delivered by Pastor Nathan J. Norman
Mark 1:14-15
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Ministry in Galilee
14 After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news of God:
15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news!”
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Ministry in Galilee
14 After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news of God:
15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news!”
Jan 12, 2012
Orchard Church 01-08-2012 Prepare the Way - delivered by Pastor Nathan J. Norman
Mark 1
The Messiah’s Herald
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You,
who will prepare Your way.
3 A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
Prepare the way for the Lord;
make His paths straight!
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were flocking to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. 6 John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He was preaching: “Someone more powerful than I will come after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals. 8 I have baptized you with[f] water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism of Jesus
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. 10 As soon as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending to Him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven:
You are My beloved Son;
I take delight in You!
The Temptation of Jesus
12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels began to serve Him.
The Messiah’s Herald
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You,
who will prepare Your way.
3 A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
Prepare the way for the Lord;
make His paths straight!
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were flocking to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. 6 John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He was preaching: “Someone more powerful than I will come after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals. 8 I have baptized you with[f] water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism of Jesus
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. 10 As soon as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending to Him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven:
You are My beloved Son;
I take delight in You!
The Temptation of Jesus
12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels began to serve Him.
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