One of the main purposes of a midterm exam is to chart the progress of the students. After weeks of readings, lectures, and assignments, a teacher may want to gauge how well the class is retaining, processing, and synthesizing the material presented. Are they getting it? Are they putting the pieces together? Are they learning? In the sixth chapter of his Gospel account, Mark describes a couple of exams taken by Jesus’s disciples. These twelve men are well into their “Ministry with the Messiah” s...
May 09, 2025•40 min•Season 9Ep. 18
Excerpt from April 27th 2025 Sunday service.
May 04, 2025•21 min•Season 9Ep. 17
Excerpt from 2025 Easter Sunday service.
Apr 28, 2025•36 min•Season 9Ep. 16
Excerpt from 2025 Good Friday Service.
Apr 27, 2025•13 min•Season 9Ep. 15
While the Old Testament promised that God would one day dwell again with his people, ruling them perfectly, justly, and eternally, Mark announces that that time has come. John the Baptist knew Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of this anticipation (1:7–8). His identity was affirmed by God at his baptism (1:11), confirmed by Satan in his temptations (1:13), and recognized by demons in his ministry (1:24; 3:11). Throughout this gospel account, Jesus’s royal authority is displayed in sickness healin...
Apr 18, 2025•43 min•Season 9Ep. 14
Though enduring unspeakable pain, Jesus did speak. From the cross he offered words of mercy for ignorant sinners (Luke 23:34), words of destiny to a dying criminal (Luke 23:43), and words of sympathy to his grieving mother (John 19:26–27). Following closely behind, came words of misery (Matt. 27:46), an agony so profound that its darkness defies human understanding. Then, with words of frailty (John 19:28), Christ’s vicarious suffering reached its pinnacle. This scene, as brutal as it is familia...
Apr 09, 2025•36 min•Season 9Ep. 13
In the incarnation, God the Son, having existed eternally as God and with God, added humanity to his divinity without diminishing or compromising either nature (John 1:1–3, 14). So, on the one hand, Jesus Christ is, was, and always will be truly God (e.g., John 20:28; Rom. 9:5; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 1:8). We can—and should —sing with full scriptural conviction, “Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see / Hail the incarnate Deity!” At the same time, from the moment of his conception, Jesus Christ is, and alway...
Apr 06, 2025•35 min•Season 9Ep. 12
“My, God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” There may be no sentence in all Scripture that is more difficult to explain than this one. It’s said that Martin Luther fasted and meditated for hours on this verse, and when he finally spoke, it was to declare, “God forsaken of God! Who can understand that ?” Indeed, to fully grasp our Lord’s meaning and experience in Matthew 27:46, we would have to fully grasp the mysteries of the Trinity—one God eternally existing in three equal but distinct person...
Mar 27, 2025•36 min•Season 9Ep. 11
It is a general truism that people die as they have lived. Those who come to the end of life with bitterness, regret, and harshness are often those who have lived lives characterized by those same qualities. Alternatively, those that approach their final years and months with faith, humility, and gratitude have likely exhibited those virtues in the decades prior. In the nineteenth chapter of John’s gospel, the Apostle details the events surrounding the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s a horr...
Mar 19, 2025•37 min•Season 9Ep. 10
As he neared the end of his life, Michelangelo, the famous Italian artist, wrote a reflective poem that opened with the following stanza: “The voyage of my life at last has reached, / across a stormy sea, in a fragile boat, / the common port all must pass through, to give / an accounting for every evil and pious deed.” With typical profundity and skill, Michelangelo captured the adventure of living, the delicacy of life, and the inescapability of the grave. The fact is, unless the Lord Jesus ret...
Mar 18, 2025•32 min•Season 9Ep. 9
Step into the awe-inspiring presence of the Lord as we delve into Psalm 99, a passage that echoes the majesty and holiness of God, just like Isaiah before the throne room of God. The earth trembles, the heavens are declaring His glory, and we stand before a holy and majestic King who is exalted above all. What does it mean to encounter a God who is holy, a God who is just, and a God who is worthy of all our worship? Come join us as we explore the profound truths of Psalm 99 as we draw deeper int...
Mar 18, 2025•47 min•Season 9Ep. 8
The final words of someone’s life can be meaningful and powerful. For example, it was just before they died that Joshua called for courage, Deborah prayed for justice, Hannah sang with gratitude, and Stephen invited repentance. It was at the end of their respective ministries that Peter said “guard the church,” Paul said, “preach the word,” and John said, “Come Lord Jesus.” Final words like these can make a big impact. And if that’s true of some of God’s people , how much more is that true of Go...
Feb 26, 2025•29 min•Season 9Ep. 7
Israel was hurting economically, sociologically, and spiritually. The questions they hurl at God throughout this book—questions to which he responds through the prophet, Malachi—are dripping with childishness, defensiveness, and rebelliousness (see 1:2, 6, 7; 2:14, 17; 3:7, 8). Blinded by sin and circumstances, the people had lost sight of the character and promises of “the Lord of hosts.” They saw no evidence of his love for them nor his faithfulness to them, and because of that, they were stru...
Feb 11, 2025•39 min•Season 9Ep. 6
As with most Old Testament prophets, Malachi was sent by God to confront, correct, and console his wayward people. When he arrived in post-exilic Judah, the remnant was doubting God’s love (1:1–5), dishonouring God’s name (1:6–2:9), profaning God’s promises (2:10–16), and wrestling with God’s justice (2:17–3:5). Israel had become frustrated with and fatigued by life, spiritually immature and covenantally insecure, hard-hearted and pig-headed. Their priests weren’t teaching them, their crops were...
Feb 10, 2025•37 min•Season 9Ep. 5
The Bible is clear: the God of the universe constantly, perfectly, and impartially does what is right and good. He is just . It was to God’s justice that Abraham appealed when interceding for the godly in Sodom: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” (Gen. 18:25). Moses sang of the Lord, “His work is perfect, for all his ways are just” (Deut. 32:4). The Psalms celebrate a God who “loves righteousness and justice” (33:5). God is just. But the fallen world in which we live isn’t and w...
Jan 29, 2025•28 min•Season 9Ep. 4
One of the many wonderful characteristics of God is his faithfulness. He is totally trustworthy, unwaveringly reliable, infallibly dependable, and completely incorruptible. So, it shouldn’t surprise that he expects his people to be faithful as he is faithful, to value fidelity as he values fidelity. Unfortunately, during the days of Malachi’s prophetic ministry, Israel had developed a pattern of un faithfulness. They’d started minimizing God’s covenants—the ultimate proofs of his trustworthiness...
Jan 22, 2025•40 min•Season 9Ep. 3
God’s people are a privileged people. Through faith in Christ, we receive perfect redemption and eternal salvation, forgiveness and access, belonging and cleansing, mercy and hope. It is beyond amazing! Yet, because these blessings are so permanent and secure, taking them for granted is an ever-present danger. We may forget our unworthiness in receiving them, the immense price paid to secure them, and the immeasurable greatness of the One who bestows them. Simply put, God’s people are always at ...
Jan 15, 2025•32 min•Season 9Ep. 2
Whether one is in the practice of making resolutions or not, there is something about the New Year that encourages reassessment and recalibration. Seeing a new number on the calendar can prompt thoughtful and goal-inspiring questions, such as, “Where do I want to be in twelve months?”, “What changes should I make?”, or “In what ways must I grow?” Similarly, God’s people may find this introspective and aspirational practice helpful, asking ourselves, “What kind of disciple does my Saviour want me...
Jan 08, 2025•34 min•Season 9Ep. 1
The theological introduction that the Apostle John provides to his account of the life, death, and resurrection of Messiah (John 1:1–18) is as deep as it is lofty, as commanding as it is inviting, and as mysterious as it is familiar. It draws readers close, not only with its infinitely-interesting Subject but with the reverent way it explains and extols him. Simply stated, this passage of Scripture is all about the Word, the person who was with God in eternity and is God eternally. It’s all abou...
Dec 24, 2024•32 min•Season 8Ep. 51
Light is an essential component of life. Without it, human beings would struggle to understand, explore, and interact with the world in which we live. Biologically, sunlight plays a significant role in managing our circadian rhythms and in the production of vitamin D and serotonin. Most dramatically, if the sun stops shining, plants stop growing which leads to stifled food and oxygen production, both of which are hard to live without! So, again, light is an essential component of life. If it is ...
Dec 24, 2024•22 min•Season 8Ep. 50
With the dawn of December comes the blooming of the Christmas season. Lights are hanging, carols are playing, classes are ending, and carts are filling! With all the decorations and pageants, gifts and music, activity and excitement, it’s easy to forget that, for some, this is anything but “the most wonderful time of the year.” Many people—including many Christians—will endure this otherwise-celebratory month with a very non-festive limp, burdened with pain and frustrations, sadness and worries,...
Dec 08, 2024•34 min•Season 8Ep. 49
Who is my God? This vital question challenges us to truly know the Creator—a God of infinite power, purpose, and relationship, revealed through the wonder of creation. Like Paul in Athens, who declared the "unknown God" to be the Creator of all and the One in whom we live and move and have our being, we are called to move beyond vague ideas and fully understand who God is. He is not distant or detached but deeply involved in His creation, longing for a relationship with us. Come and join us as w...
Dec 08, 2024•39 min•Season 8Ep. 48
It is a fact of history that a Jewish man named Jesus lived morally, taught powerfully, and died horrifically in the first century. Ancient literature is littered with attestations to his existence, reputation, popularity, teachings, and eventual execution (see, for example, the works of non-believing first-century historians like Thallus , Tacitus , and Josephus ). So, the question that any honest person must ask themselves isn’t so much “Did this really happen?” but, rather, “Since it did happ...
Nov 19, 2024•33 min•Season 8Ep. 47
Discover a joy that surpasses fleeting pleasures and temporary highs—a joy rooted not in circumstances but in the unshakable presence of God. In this sermon, we’ll explore the difference between a natural joy, which depends on external achievements and comforts, and spiritual joy, a deep, abiding gladness that comes from the Lord. Drawing from Scripture, we'll see how true joy flows from a relationship with Christ, empowering us to face trials with hope and live fully in God’s purpose. Come and ...
Nov 19, 2024•35 min•Season 8Ep. 46
Hebrews was written to a group of believers who had experienced affliction, temptation, and stagnation in their lives of faith and, because of that, were considering a departure from Jesus. It’s to these weak and confused Christians that the author writes this urgent and pointed letter, encouraging them to continue in sanctification for the simple fact that anything for which they leave Christ is deficient. Jesus Christ is the greatest revelation of God. He’s greater than the prophets and angels...
Nov 12, 2024•44 min•Season 8Ep. 45
To be a world-class runner takes more than going for the occasional jog. In reality, these athletes leave no stone of their lives unturned as they seek opportunities to improve and succeed. According to Hebrews, the Christian life is similar. When one places their faith in Jesus Christ and becomes a partaker of the New Covenant in his blood, they also become participants in a life-long race that weaves its way through the streets of this world toward the finish-line of spiritual maturity. The au...
Nov 06, 2024•40 min•Season 8Ep. 44
The New Covenant in Christ’s blood—with all of its sin-atoning blessings and guilt-washing benefits—is entered by faith in a moment and enjoyed by faith over a lifetime. God’s people are saved through faith and then commanded to walk by faith (Heb. 10:38), living lives as though God has told the truth about who they are in Christ, what they’ve been given by Christ, and what lays ahead for them because of Christ. When God’s people live by faith they will not give up, shrink back, or stay down whe...
Oct 27, 2024•40 min•Season 8Ep. 43
Students do homework to avoid failing fuelled by the hope of future employment. Athletes endure training to avoid losing inspired by the goal of winning. Militaries recruit soldiers to avoid invasion motivated by the ideals of freedom. People eat well to avoid illness because they want to live healthily. We all do certain things to avoid certain things fuelled by certain things. And what we’re willing to do and the urgency with which we’re willing to do it can depend on the terribleness of what ...
Oct 16, 2024•37 min•Season 8Ep. 42
To shrink back from Christianity (2:1–4; 3:12–13; 6:1–20) is to shrink back from Christ, the Son of God who, though greater than the angels (1:5–14), was made “for a little while lower than the angels” (2:9). He condescended himself to identify with humanity, be tortured by humanity, and die for humanity (2:10–18). And, because the Son was willing to suffer in this way, the Father designated him as a permanent high priest, one eclipsing and replacing all predecessors (5:1–11; 7:1–28). As a great...
Oct 12, 2024•36 min•Season 8Ep. 41
Why did Jesus have to die? Why did Christ’s blood have to be spilled? Why did our Lord have to give his life? Was there no other way to save sinners? If you have ever asked this question, you are not the first. The twelve men who were called by Jesus, followed Jesus, and learned from Jesus also struggled with the idea that his demise was unavoidable (Matt. 16:21–22). Similarly, Israel’s leaders, those who supposedly most anticipated the Messiah’s arrival, took Jesus’s death as proof that he was ...
Oct 06, 2024•39 min•Season 8Ep. 40
