The King Is Ready for Glory (Mark 11:1-11)

The hour has come, Holy Week commences, the King arrives with passion, ready for glory.

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Message title: The King is Ready for Glory (Mark 11:1-11)
Thirty-third week in the Gospel of Mark
Scriptures: Mark 11:1-11; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; see also Matthew 21:1-17; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19+
Preacher: Jeff Patterson
Date: 4/14/19

Listen or download:

Quote:

“It would be hard to overestimate the political and religious volatility incited by Jesus’ actions.”

-Andreas Kostenberger, The Final Days of Jesus 

Scripture readings:

Mark 11:1-11 (ESV)

11 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

11 And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 (ESV)

118 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

2 Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save us, we pray, O Lord!
O Lord, we pray, give us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God,
and he has made his light to shine upon us.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,
up to the horns of the altar!

28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
29 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

Gospel of Mark


Audio for this teaching may be played above, and is included in the RENEW Church podcastsubscribe in iTunes here, or access the church podcast feed directly here.

The Good News of God’s Glorious Grace (Ephesians 1:1-14)

People will tell you that this upcoming election will change everything. 

We need to talk about the election that did change everything. The Election that took place before the foundation of the world.

Message title » The Good News of God’s Glorious Grace (Ephesians 1:1-14)
1st week through the Book of Ephesians
Scriptures: Ephesians 1:1-14; Romans 8:28-30
Preacher: Jeff Patterson
Date: 9/30/18

Listen to audio:

New City Catechism, question 13:

Can anyone keep the law of God perfectly?

Kids: Since the fall, no human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly.

Full response: Since the fall, no mere human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly, but consistently breaks it in thought, word, and deed.

Quotes:

John Mackay on reading Ephesians as a teen: “I saw a new world … Everything was new … I had a new outlook, new experiences, new attitudes to other people. I loved God. Jesus Christ became the centre of everything … I had been ‘quickened’; I was really alive.”

God is glorified not only by His glory’s being seen, but by its being rejoiced in. When those that see it delight in it, God is more glorified than if they only see it.” —Jonathan Edwards

“The lofty tiers in which he extolls the grace of God toward the Ephesians are intended to rouse their hearts to gratitude, to set them all on flame, to fill them even to overflowing with this thought. The full certainty of future happiness rests on the revelation of his love for us in Christ, which God makes in the gospel. To confirm the matter are fully, he rises to the first cause to the fountain—the eternal election of God, by which ere we are born (Rom. ix.11), we are adopted as sonsThis makes it evident that their salvation was accomplished, not by any accidental or unlooked-for occurrence, but by the eternal and unchangeable decree of God.” —John Calvin on Ephesians 1:3

Scriptures:

Ephesians 1:1-14 (ESV) 

Greeting

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Romans 8:28-30 (ESV) 

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.


Audio for this teaching may be played above, and is included in the RENEW Church podcastsubscribe in iTunes here, or Google Play podcasts here, or access the church podcast feed directly here. (Subscribe below for all new blog posts via email.)

Behold: Keep Looking at the Center (Mark 9:1-13)

Upon the mountain top three of Jesus’ disciples had an experience that was out-of-this-world. They beheld the glory of God, as Jesus transfigured before their very eyes — becoming brighter than the sun. Struggling to make sense of the moment, Peter took a risk and suggested they build three special tents for three significant prophets there: Moses, Elijah, and Jesus.

What God said in that moment changed everything.

The Christian life is much more than behaving a certain way, and even more than believing specific doctrines. In Christ we get to behold the glory of God, and in seeing Him and hearing Him, be changed. This is God’s Beloved Son, let us listen to Him!

Message title: Behold: Keep Looking at the Center (Mark 9:1-13)
Twenty-sixth week in the Gospel of Mark
Scriptures: Mark 9:1-13; 2 Corinthians 3:12-17; 4:1-7
Preacher: Jeff Patterson
Date: 5/28/17

Listen or download:

(We’re pausing on the Gospel of Mark for the Summer, and will pick up this study again in the future.)

Gospel of Mark

Scripture readings:

Mark 9:1-13 (ESV):

And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

The Transfiguration

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one[a] on earth could bleach them.And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,[b] it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son;[c] listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?”12 And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

Footnotes:
  1. Mark 9:3Greek launderer (gnapheus)
  2. Mark 9:5Rabbi means my teacher, or my master
  3. Mark 9:7Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved

2nd Corinthians 3:12–4:7 (ESV):

12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one[a] turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.17 Now the Lord[b] is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,[c] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.[d] For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

The Light of the Gospel

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God,[e] we do not lose heart.But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice[f]cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants[g] for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Treasure in Jars of Clay

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

Footnotes:
  1. 2 Corinthians 3:16 Greek he
  2. 2 Corinthians 3:17 Or this Lord
  3. 2 Corinthians 3:18 Or reflecting the glory of the Lord
  4. 2 Corinthians 3:18 Greek from glory to glory
  5. 2 Corinthians 4:1 Greek having this ministry as we have received mercy
  6. 2 Corinthians 4:2 Greek to walk in
  7. 2 Corinthians 4:5 Or slaves 

Other quotes from the message:


Audio for this teaching may be played above, and is included in the RENEW Church podcastsubscribe in iTunes here, or access the church podcast feed directly here.

This year each of us is invited on an adventure to build an altar to God each new day, to look up and love our Creator first. What will be your plan to develop a new rhythm of seeking God each day? » Find some help here.

(Stop it!) Peace, Be Still (Mark 4:35-41)

Jesus went with His disciples on a trek across the Sea of Galilee, summarily feel asleep in the boat, and when a storm arose the sum of all the disciples’ fears came to the surface. What happens before the wind and the waves obey Him? Why is this story lived and told here and in this way?

Gospel of Mark

Message title: (Stop It!) Peace, Be Still
Twelfth week in the Gospel of Mark
Scriptures: Mark 4:35-41; Psalm 46; Jonah 2
Preacher: Jeff Patterson
Date: 11/20/16

Listen or download:

Scripture readings:

Mark 4:35-41 (NLT)

Jesus Calms the Storm

35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

Psalm 46 (ESV)

God Is Our Fortress

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.[a] A Song.

46 God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present[b] help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Come, behold the works of the Lord,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Footnotes:
  1. Psalm 46:1Probably a musical or liturgical term
  2. Psalm 46:1Or well proved

Jonah 2 (ESV)

Jonah's Prayer

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying,

“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress,
    and he answered me;
out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
    and you heard my voice.
For you cast me into the deep,
    into the heart of the seas,
    and the flood surrounded me;
all your waves and your billows
    passed over me.
Then I said, ‘I am driven away
    from your sight;
yet I shall again look
    upon your holy temple.’
The waters closed in over me to take my life;
    the deep surrounded me;
weeds were wrapped about my head
    at the roots of the mountains.
I went down to the land
    whose bars closed upon me forever;
yet you brought up my life from the pit,
    O Lord my God.
When my life was fainting away,
    I remembered the Lord,
and my prayer came to you,
    into your holy temple.
Those who pay regard to vain idols
    forsake their hope of steadfast love.
But I with the voice of thanksgiving
    will sacrifice to you;
what I have vowed I will pay.
    Salvation belongs to the Lord!”

10 And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.


Audio for this teaching may be played above, and is included in the RENEW Church podcastsubscribe in iTunes here, or access the church podcast feed directly here.

This year we each of us are invited on an adventure to look up and love God first. What will be your plan to develop a new rhythm of seeking God each day? » Find some help here.

Here Comes the Hero (The Revelation)

We enter the Advent season by skipping ahead to the end of the Beginning and the beginning of the End. We’ve followed the Hero of God’s Epic Story from the Garden to the Cross, and now we see Him coming again in Glory.

The whole Bible is about Jesus and one day, on the best Day, we will trade this world and these bodies for a whole new world, the New City, where God will be our Light and there will no longer be any suffering, shame, pain, or destruction. All that God desires will become whole, beautiful; better than it’s original design. Jesus will wrap up the scroll of History to unfold the future of never-ending joy for all who know Him and trust in Him.

In this the sermon we consider the major themes, emphasis and visions in the book of Revelation (no small feat), and hopefully be overcome with theglory of Jesus our risen King. The King.

EPIC-wk39-Revelation-City_600x338

Message title: Here Comes the Hero (The Revelation)
Week 39 of EPIC: Following the Hero of God’s Story (final message in EPIC series)
Scriptures: The Revelation
Preacher: Jeff Patterson
Date: 12/7/14

Listen or download:

Scripture reading:

Revelation 1:1-20

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him beglory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, andhis voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Audio for this teaching may be played above, and is included in the RENEW Church podcastsubscribe in iTunes here, or access the church podcast feed directly here.

The Secret to a Happy Life (Romans 8:26-30)

The fifth message in a new adventure in the eighth chapter of the book of Romans. Super8: Supernatural Living for Natural People.

Christianity is meant to take shape in a relentless joy that rises above our present circumstances. The future glory gives perspective to our present sufferings, and we know based on Romans 8:28-30 that:

  1. God makes the bad things in our lives turn out for our good (v. 28);
  2. The good things cannot ever be lost (v. 29); and
  3. The best is yet to come (v. 30).

To the degree that we embrace these truths, our joy will be full (John 16:33). Because of these truths we should not be shocked or disappointed when bad things (difficult circumstances, brutal challenges) come our way. We put our hopes in God who promises us something more permanent than better circumstances. He promises a better life, with joy unending, forevermore.

super8_600

Message title: The Secret to a Happy Life: The Bad, the Good & the Glory
Week 5 of Super8: Supernatural Living for Natural People, a series on Romans 8
Scriptures: Romans 8:26-30
Preacher: Jeff Patterson
Date: 9/15/13

Listen or download:

Scripture: Romans 8:26-30

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saintsaccording to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work togetherfor good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

New City Catechism:

Q3: How many persons are there in God?
A: There are three persons in the one true and living God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

Commentary on this question:

NCC Q3: How many persons are there in God? from The Gospel Coalition