Speaker: Vince Medrano
It's been observed by many that at this point in Mark's gospel account it has become harder for the disciples to follow Jesus. As we see them shrink back from Jesus we see Jesus moving towards people, calling them to himself and lifting them up.
Speaker: Lorissa Medrano
In Mark's gospel he shares a story of an unusual healing - involving spit and a blind man who regains partial sight but still needs a second touch from Jesus for full healing. Could it be true in our own lives that we need multiple "touches" from Jesus to see him clearly? Will we step into the invitation to trust in the slow work of God in our lives?
Speaker: Vince Medrano
Peter believes that Jesus is the messiah but he's got a problem with how Jesus is approaching the days ahead. From his vantage point, Jesus is wrong to lay his life down and tells Jesus as much.
Speaker: Vince Medrano
Mark pairs together two stories of feasts. One is Herod's birthday party and the other is Jesus' feeding of the 5,000. In comparing both, we see wildly different ways to handle power.
Speaker: Lorissa Medrano
Mark 14:22-25. During Jesus' final meal before going to the cross, he offered his disciples bread and says, "Take if, for this is my body." Jesus offers himself as the Bread of Life. Will we take and ear, or have we so masked our hunger for Jesus with other things that don't leave us satisfied? The invitation today is to assess what is filling our lives, and to hear Jesus' offer to come and eat.
Speaker: Vince Medrano
Jesus tells a parable about hearing the voice of God that also captures the way people throughout Mark's gospel either embrace or reject the arrival of God's Kingdom.
Speaker: Vince Medrano
The book of Mark encourages us to recalibrate our understanding of Jesus in light of the cross, and invites us to be more like Jesus.
Speaker: Lorissa Medrano
Reflections from a letter inviting is to look at the forces shaping us, and reminding us of Jesus' ability to keep us from stumbling.
Speaker: Mark Slomka
Our dear friend, and Western District supervisor, Mark Slomka, brings the word.
Speaker: Vince Medrano
John the Elder is rejected and slandered by a leader of a local church community. But he remains relational and guides the church toward formation.
Speaker: Vince Medrano
The word of judgment against Edom highlights the brotherhood of their ancestor Esau and his relationship with Jacob. Where they should have been for each other, the have plundered one another.
Speaker: Vince Medrano
On the Sabbath, Jesus heals a woman oppressed by an ailment for 18 years. He initiated the interaction and brings the woman rest and restoration. In this moment we see our own invitation from Jesus into Sabbath rest.
Speaker: Kevin Dolbee
The Song of Simeon through the lens of emotional health.
Speaker: Vince Medrano
The glory of God arrives in the pasture of sheep, with an announcement of peace that isn't proclaimed to a palace but to shepherds.
Speaker: Brittany Girard
Zechariah's celebratory and hope-filled prayer in Luke 1 was birthed out of a period of silence, transformation, and faith-building wonder as he saw the Lord create a new pathway in his wilderness of loss and doubt. This story, too, invites us to wonder and come to the Lord in times of silence to see how he is at work in the midst of our doubt.
Speaker: Vince Medrano
Luke teaches us theology through the stories he weaves together. Baby John leaping, Elizabeth prophesying and Mary's prayer all show us how when the Holy Spirit falls upon a person much is made of Jesus, and the greatness of God is seen and better understood.
Speaker: Lorissa Medrano
What do you do when God calls you to something that is impossible? We see from Mary a pattern for our lives, her response of 'Let it be'!
Speaker: Vince Medrano
God returns Abraham back to when he first called him in this new call that will call for great trust. As Abraham listens to God's voice he sees the place God had promised him decades before.
Speaker: Vince Medrano
The collection of stories in Genesis 20 and 21 feels like a repeat of previous situations Abraham had walked through. God, in his faithfulness and grace, meets us in our life-long struggles. He does a work of transformation and ultimately moves us from conflict with a nation to a blessing.
Speaker: Lorissa Medrano
We have all made assumptions about God, and in Genesis 18 we see that Abraham is no different. He assumes God doesn't share his concern for justice while simultaneously underestimating God's mercy.
