Dear Family at Christ Community, In preparation for His trial and crucifixion, Jesus shares His final Passover meal with the disciples in Mark 14:12-25. The meal serves as the fulfillment of God's redemptive promises displayed in the Old Testament feasts and festivals. It also inaugurates a new means of grace to declare to God's people His sacrificial love: the Lord...

Gracious and Merciful Father, We come before you to confess our sin as Your redeemed and beloved children. May Your Spirit alone convict us of our sin and remind us of our pardon in Christ through repentance. We confess that we often struggle to reflect Jesus's love for marginalized outsiders. (Mark 14:1-11) We confess these things before You because You are faithful to f...

Dear Baptized Ones, This Sunday we will get the opportunity to participate in the baptism of Elijah Blackman. Chris Blackman will have the great joy of baptizing his youngest son as part of our worship service in which we will celebrate the promised return of Christ from Mark 13:24-27. In preparation for this, please reflect on how baptism reflects both comings of Chri...

Gracious and Merciful Father, We come before you to confess our sin as Your redeemed and beloved children. May Your Spirit alone convict us of our sin and remind us of our pardon in Christ through repentance. We confess that we often struggle to have hope now based on Christ's promised return to gather Your people to Himself. (Mark 13:24-27) We confess these things before...

Dear Family at Christ Community, This Sunday we will continue in Jesus's Olivet Discourse in Mark 13. It serves as the prologue to Mark's Final Act. Despite the mysterious nature of many of Jesus's statements, He makes clear what He expects of His disciples as the shadow of the cross looms over them: they must remain faithful and obedient to Him despite the various histor...

Gracious and Merciful Father, We come before you to confess our sin as Your redeemed and beloved children. May Your Spirit alone convict us of our sin and remind us of our pardon in Christ through repentance. We confess that we often fail to maintain our faith in and obedience to Jesus as the Lord of history in times of historical turmoil. (Mark 13:14-23) We confess these...

Gracious and Merciful Father, We come before you to confess our sin as Your redeemed and beloved children. May Your Spirit alone convict us of our sin and remind us of our pardon in Christ through repentance. We confess that we are often unprepared to endure suffering on the way of the cross because we fail to guard our hearts by Your Word and Spirit. (Mark 13:1-13) We co...