As we come to the story of the birth of Jesus, we see a beautiful collision of faith and joy right alongside the difficulties that come with radical obedience. May the Lord renew and strengthen our faith in Him, as we embrace the precious things He entrusts into our hands as well.

In Luke chapter 1 we have the story of the angelic visitor Gabriel, delivering the news of the coming births of both John the Baptist and Jesus. This good news brings with it some very real challenges. Can Zechariah and Elizabeth hold on to hope after years of disappointment? Can Mary receive both the blessing and the incredible sacrifice that comes with the gift of being the mother of the Messiah? As we remember the good news of Jesus this season, may we be able to find fresh hope as we walk in the blessings of God, even in the midst of the great sacrifices that often accompany them.

This week, Jake explains that the Christmas story is really the story of God’s redemption that began long before Bethlehem. John teaches that Jesus, the Word, has always existed and is both fully God and the Creator of all things. He is the source of life, and His light continues to shine in the darkness. John the Baptist appears as the God-sent messenger whose purpose was to prepare people for the coming of Jesus, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy. Even though Jesus entered the world He made and came to His own people, many still did not receive Him. Yet those who do believe in Him are given the privilege of becoming children of God, born not through human effort but through the Spirit. In the end, the Word became flesh and lived among us, allowing us to see His glory, full of grace and truth, which is the heart of the true Christmas story.

As we conclude Mark’s Gospel today, may we respond to Jesus' call to live with Purpose, walk in Power, and share the Gospel by the grace of His Presence with us. The call to bring the Good News wasn’t specific to only the original disciples, but is the purpose of all those who believe. May we learn to rely upon the power of God and be sustained by His presence as we go into all the world.

In today’s message we are exploring the resurrection of Jesus and the reaction of his closest followers. Jesus’ resurrection, and our response to it, are of vital importance. Even before we explore all the implications of his death and resurrection and what it means for us, we must first just grapple with whether or not we believe this actually happened. May we all have faith to put our trust in Jesus and the boldness to share the gospel willingly with those around us.

In Mark 15, Jesus stands trial before Pilate, silently enduring false accusations and injustice as the true “King of the Jews.” While Pilate recognizes His innocence, he yields to the pressure of the crowd, releasing Barabbas, a guilty man, in place of the sinless Savior. Jesus is mocked, beaten, and crucified, fulfilling Psalm 22 with remarkable precision as He suffers rejection, scorn, and physical torment. His death is accompanied by divine signs, the tearing of the temple curtain and the confession of a Roman centurion who declares Jesus to be the Son of God. Amid widespread fear and betrayal, a few faithful followers, including Joseph of Arimathea and the women who had ministered to Jesus, demonstrate courage and devotion by caring for His body. This passage exposes the contrasting human responses to Jesus, fear, unbelief, and faith and invites reflection on how we respond to the crucified King.

In Mark 14:26–72 we follow Jesus from the Passover table to Gethsemane, the pressing place, where He faces the full weight of sorrow, betrayal, and denial. Despite the disciples’ confident words, their roots are shallow and they fall away under pressure. In the garden Jesus models both deep anguish and perfect surrender: “Abba, Father… not what I will, but what You will.” His obedience in the face of unanswered prayer becomes the foundation of our relationship with the Father. As Judas betrays Him, the disciples scatter, and Peter denies Him, the darkness deepens, but within it shines the steadfast love of God, who sent His Son to die for us while we were still sinners. In our own “pressing places,” we are invited to watch and pray, to strengthen our spirits through surrender, and to trust that God’s will, though costly, always leads to redemption.

In this week’s passage, Jesus and his closest friends gather around the table for two significant meals within just a few days of his trial and crucifixion. As we observe the various motives and conversations among Jesus’ friends and enemies during these two meals, let’s invite Jesus to reveal himself in a fresh way to us. May we be open to the Holy Spirit to convict and refine any broken motives in our own hearts, so that we too may worship Him with a heart like the woman from Bethany.

In today’s passage, we see Jesus spending time on the Mount of Olives with his inner circle of disciples. It’s an intimate conversation about the future and coming difficulties, yet Jesus encourages them to see beyond the coming struggle to His return and ultimate victory. Jesus gives a series of warnings so that no one leads us astray, and we don’t become alarmed when trouble comes. Instead, He calls us to stay awake, be on guard, and continue to learn and understand His Word, so that we may endure to the end.

In Mark chapter 12, the religious leaders are feeling threatened by Jesus' power and influence. So they conspired together to put him to the test, hoping to discredit him in the eyes of the people. However, it’s actually Jesus who flips this around and reveals truth by exposing their own broken thinking and flawed assumptions. If we surrender to him, Jesus will help us see our own places of brokenness and flawed thinking, living in the freedom of His truth and love.

In this week’s message (Mark 11:11-33), Jesus addresses the empty show of religion—like a fig tree with no fruit or a temple turned marketplace—and calls people back to prayer and real faith. His actions showed God’s authority and care, exposing what was false and opening the way to true life with Him. The question is simple: will we just nod in agreement, or truly give Him our allegiance and bear fruit?

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey, He was showing the world what kind of King He is. He came in humility and peace, fulfilling a prophecy spoken centuries earlier, while the crowds welcomed Him with shouts of “Hosanna!” from Psalm 118. What they didn’t realize was that this moment also lined up with the choosing of the Passover lamb—a picture of Jesus offering Himself as the sacrifice for our salvation. The triumphal entry reminds us that Jesus is both our King and our Lamb, and like the donkey that carried Him, we’re called to bring His presence into the lives of those around us and turn over control of our lives to him.

This passage tells the story of Bartimaeus, a blind beggar who recognized Jesus as the Messiah even before he received healing. Despite being silenced by the crowd, Bartimaeus cried out all the more, and Jesus stopped, called him near, and restored his sight. Jake highlighted that Jesus not only heals but brings complete wholeness (sozo): body, mind, and soul. Bartimaeus moved from sitting by the roadside to following Jesus on the way, a reminder that true faith both saves and transforms. As believers, we are called to encourage others to “take heart” and not become obstacles for those who are desperately trying to reach Jesus.

As Jesus is making his final approach to Jerusalem, He engages in some important conversation with his disciples. He prepares them with full transparency of his coming arrest, suffering, his death on the cross, and ultimately his resurrection. This sparks several conversations with the disciples regarding their own coming persecution, for some their martyrdom, and the need for patient endurance among his followers. Jesus reminds them that in His Kingdom, there is no grasping for power and control. Just as Jesus lays down his life for many as the servant of all, His followers are also called to lay down the pursuit of power and control and live as his bond-servants here on earth.

This sermon from Mark 10:17–31 shows us that while the rich young ruler came eagerly to Jesus, he was unwilling to surrender the “one thing” that held his heart: his wealth. Jesus reveals that every person has something they may cling to that threatens to take His place, whether it’s possessions, pride, control, or comfort. Out of love, Jesus calls us to let go of whatever holds us back and follow Him completely. Though surrender feels impossible in our own strength, God makes the impossible possible through His Spirit. True life and lasting riches are found not in holding tightly to temporary treasures, but in releasing them to embrace a real and eternal relationship with Jesus.

In Mark 9:30–50, Jesus redefines true greatness for His disciples. While they argued about power and position, Jesus pointed them instead toward humility, servanthood, and purity. He embraced a child as an example of receiving the least and warned His followers to take sin seriously, guarding both their own hearts and the influence they have on others. Greatness in God’s kingdom is not about prestige or control, but about sacrifice, holiness, and living at peace with one another. True greatness looks less like power and more like purity, as we live as salt in the world for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom.

In Mark 9:14–29, we encounter a desperate father, a suffering son, and a group of disciples unable to help. Jesus steps into the chaos and reminds us that the answer is always to bring our brokenness to Him. The father’s honest cry, “I believe; help my unbelief!”, is the kind of prayer Jesus honors; one that admits weakness yet trusts His power. Christ not only heals the son but restores the father’s shattered faith, showing us that prayer is not about our strength but about our reliance on His presence, compassion, and authority. True faith grows as we bring our doubts, struggles, and even our unbelief to Jesus in prayer, trusting Him to do what only He can do.

In Mark 9:1–13, we see Jesus transfigured before Peter, James, and John, giving them a breathtaking glimpse of His glory and confirming Him as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets through the appearance of Moses and Elijah. This passage reminds us that intimacy with Christ invites us into moments of revelation where His true majesty shines through, not to keep us on the mountaintop, but to strengthen us for the challenges of everyday life. Just as Jesus was transformed before His disciples, we too are called to be transformed—no longer conformed to the world, but renewed in mind and spirit, with unveiled faces reflecting His glory. In Christ, we dare to hope, believe, and live in the freedom of His Spirit, trusting that the light of His presence is far greater than anything this world offers.

In today’s sermon, we take a look at Jesus healing a man’s physical blindness, and we see Peter’s eyes opened to the reality of Jesus as the coming Messiah. The good news of Jesus' power and presence is essential for us, as we also learn the cost of following Him. The question for all of us is, who do we say that Jesus is? May we fix our gaze upon Jesus as he brings true sight to our eyes!

Jesus understands his purpose and has compassion on those in need. He has no patience for the pessimism, distraction, and attacks of his skeptics. As his disciples, will we learn to bring what we have in our hands and invite him to permeate our hearts? Or will we keep our eyes only on what we can see - like our limitations and our overwhelming challenges - and find our hearts hardened in the process?