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If I am a Father, Where Is My Honor?

Gary DeLashmutt
Malachi 1:6-14

God asks this question to Israel through the prophet Malachi, "If I am a Father, where is my honor?" Through this He is asking Israel where their hearts truly are in regards to their devotion to God, exposing that they are half-heartedly following Him. When we start to fall into this half-hearted devotion, serving God starts feels burdensome and we begin to try and cut corners. The key to regaining whole-hearted devotion is to see God's great mercy to us, which leads to our worship of Him!

Keywords

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The Gospel and the Nature of Faith

Jim Leffel
Mark 9:21-24

When Jesus calls a man to faith, he replies: "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief." Doubt is a normal experience, and challenges to faith can often strengthen it. There are four categories in which faith can be challenged and strengthened in this way: 1) in rationality; 2) individual experience; 3) values and the will; and 4) cultural factors.

Keywords

{"passage": "Mark 9:21-24","passageabreviated": "Mark 9:21-24","passagetiny": "Mark 9:21-24","teacher": "Jim Leffel","teachingDate": "06/...

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Inclusiveness of the Gospel

Jim Leffel
Mark 7:24-31

When the desperate Syrophoenician woman came to Jesus, his disciples were upset that a gentile woman would be so needy toward Christ. While Jesus gives a challenging word to her, the woman responds by admitting her need for an unmerited gift and a trust in God's mercy. Our attitude towards the gospel should line up with these two principles.

Keywords

{"passage": "Mark 7:24-31","passageabreviated": "Mark 7:24-31","passagetiny": "Mark 7:24-31","teacher": "Jim Leffel","teachingDate": "04/...

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Sufficiency of the Gospel

Jim Leffel
John 6:26-35

When Jesus feeds 5,000 men and their families, he teaches those around him about his answer to the real limits and real demands of people. He also teaches them three truths about discipleship: 1) it's not about you; 2) the energizing effect of participation; and 3) the abundant life that Jesus gives. He is able to abundantly meet the real spiritual hunger of anyone who believes in him.

Keywords

{"passage": "Mark 6:30-44","passageabreviated": "Mark 6:30-44","passagetiny": "Mark 6:30-44","teacher": "Jim Leffel","teachingDate": "03/...

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Fear of What People Can Do to You

Gary DeLashmutt
1 Peter 3:11-22

Paul reminds that good deeds usually promote good will but that Christians should not expect to avoid all mistreatment. He addresses fear of mistreatment by encouraging them to sanctify God as Lord in their hearts rather than fearing what people can do or say. This inevitably leads to Christians sharing their faith boldly and clearly.\r\n

Keywords

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The Reliability of Scripture

Ryan Lowery
2 Timothy 3:13-4:5

The Bible claims to be the owner's manual to the human soul, and a claim like that deserves to be scrutinized. Paul uses two different lines of reasoning to affirm this claim: 1) the Bible comes from God, and 2) it's effective when we follow it. We can be confident that the Bible comes from God because of the person of Jesus Christ. Second, we see that when we follow scripture, we realize that it makes sense; our experiences validate our confidence in the Bible as well.

Keywords

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The Gospel of Jesus

Jim Leffel
Mark 6:1-6

Jesus was a scandalous figure who subverted the expectations of people, demonstrated his power, and refused to fit their mold. As people today encounter Jesus, their expectations present unique barriers to belief.

Keywords

{"passage": "Mark 6:1-6","passageabreviated": "Mark 6:1-6","passagetiny": "Mark 6:1-6","teacher": "Jim Leffel","teachingDate": "03/01/2009"}

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Power of the Gospel (Part 2): Defeating Sickness and Death

Jim Leffel
Mark 5:21-53

Mark records Jesus healing two different people: the famous synagogue leader named Jairus and a bleeding woman. While Jairus was famous, esteemed, and spoke to Jesus directly, the woman was anonymous, rejected, and sneaky. In their desperation, both had the same faith in the person of Jesus. Jairus and the woman both received more healing and grace than they were expecting.

Keywords

{"passage": "Mark 5:21-53","passageabreviated": "Mark 5:21-53","passagetiny": "Mark 5:21-53","teacher": "Jim Leffel","teachingDate": "02/...

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The Attraction of the Gospel

Jim Leffel
Mark 1:14-28

When Jesus calls Simon and Andrew, he points to his unique authority as he calls them to a relationship and a life of purpose. Their response shows that discipleship involves surrender, that experience follows action, and that Jesus calls people as a community. Jesus' authoritative teaching and spiritual power also drew people to follow him.

Keywords

{"passage": "Mark 1:14-28","passageabreviated": "Mark 1:14-28","passagetiny": "Mark 1:14-28","teacher": "Jim Leffel","teachingDate": "12/...

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