St. Albert Alliance Church

Pastor Nathan focuses on the first part of Mark chapter 8. As Mark's gospel gets close to reaching its midway (and turning) point, it is becoming ever so clear that, while continuing to demonstrate the kingdom through many miracles, Jesus is still quite misunderstood - by those who are opposed to him and, interestingly, by those who are closest to him as well. What does he have to say to these various groups as they grapple with this rabbi who is like no other?

Pastor Jeremy focuses on the last section of Mark 7 in which we read about two very different encounters that Jesus has with two very different people - both leading to incredible demonstrations of His healing power. As we observe these two unique stories, is there something that we can learn about how we might approach Jesus for meeting our own needs as well?

Pastor Jeremy continues on in the Gospel of Mark, highlighting Jesus' explanation of what true dirtiness and cleanliness look like - ultimately pointing to the way that God was making that all humankind might be cleansed.

Step in, together, into this incredible adventure that is our shared journey as apprentices of Jesus with Pastor Nathan Carroll. We will be looking at a very interesting exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees in Mark chapter 7 in which Jesus cuts to the root issue behind the religious leaders' criticisms of Jesus' disciples. Ultimately, we get a glimpse at Jesus' view of the scriptures and how they are to play a central role in Kingdom living.

Life for Jesus' apprentices was the furthest thing from ordinary. They were witnessing some strange, strange things (from their lower story perspective, anyways) that would have inevitably left them wondering many things about Jesus. As Pastor Jeremy leads us through the passage that we will be focusing on this week is one of the most bizarre - Jesus, walking out to the disciples ON the water in the middle of the night... Jesus truly is an uncontrollable force, an unmanageable storm of a person - yet one whose heart is a heart of love and patience and grace. Who is he - really?

Pastor Lisa continues in the book of Mark - focusing on a somewhat familiar story in Mark 6:30-44. However, as familiar as the story might be (at least to those who grew up in the church), might there be depths of kingdom-understanding that we have yet to access in it? The revolution that Jesus is bringing about during his life is not necessarily what you might expect…

The focus of our scripture teaching will be on Mark 6:14-29 - a fascinating and brief departure from the story of Jesus in which we learn about John the Baptist and King Herod. Pastor Matt will be teaching specifically about the history surrounding King Herod, highlighting the inevitable clash that occurs when the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of man encounter one another.

Pastor Jeremy opens up the word as we look at Jesus' sending out of his disciples in Mark 6. Interestingly, Jesus' apprentices are still "works in progress" at this point - far from being what we would consider "super disciples" by any means. Yet, their entrustment is profound and it seems that Jesus is more concerned about forming them as they go out, rather than waiting until they have it all together beforehand. We are all invited to live as Jesus' apprentices - could the same be true for us? What is Jesus sending us out to do?

Join Pastor Nathan as he explores Mark 6:1-13. This passage begins with a fascinating account of Jesus, whose public ministry is in full-swing, returning to His hometown and being received quite differently than He has anywhere else. The passage then moves to Jesus sending out His faithful (but somewhat immature and ill-equipped) disciples. What might God want to say to us, as a church family, about our heart posture towards Him?

Join with Pastor Jeremy Peters, there is no occasion for the church family to gather and celebrate like Easter Sunday. CHRIST HAS RISEN! With his resurrection, Jesus paves a way for all of us to experience a resurrected life. He is the "firstborn from the dead" (Revelations 1:5) and the promise woven into the resurrection will be the focus of our celebration this weekend.

Pastor Jeremy continues to unpack Mark chapter 5, focusing on a story about two healings - both very unique. At the heart of Pastor Jeremy's message will be an examination of the work of spiritual formation that the two principle characters in the story undergo as they interact with Jesus. In particular, as they process seeming 'delays' in Jesus' work of restoring them. We all know what it's like to feel like God is delaying - to ask, "where are you?" Jesus obviously sees things differently than we do and it befits us to lean in to text such as this one in order to get a glimpse of what is going on from an 'upper story' perspective.

Join us as we learn from the Bible about the Kingdom of God as Pastor Nathan teaches us about... Jesus and His disciples make it to shore after a scary night on the stormy seas. As they arrive, they are met with an equally scary reception which leads to another incredible demonstration of Jesus' power. BUT - there is a bigger plot unfolding…even as the story ends with Jesus and His disciples being asked to leave…

Join us for a special Sunday morning in which we get to hear, in more detail, from Pastor Jeremy and Pastor Lisa about their recent trip with Compassion Canada to Ecuador. What was Jesus showing to them? What does the in-breaking of God's kingdom look like in that part of the world and how can that spur us on here in St. Albert? Jon Bauer led worship and shared about his travels with Compassion, and we will learn how as a church family, we can participate in the Kingdom work of this wonderful organization. In addition, we will hear from Pastor Pam about her recent teaching trip to Cuba.

This weekend Pastor Jeremy looks at the well-known story of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:35-41. The story closes with the disciples (worn-out and petrified from their experience) asking the question (regarding Jesus), 'Who is this man?'. There are some stirring truths that can be drawn from this story as to who Jesus was and is and it befits us to lean in that we might better realize who Jesus is in our lives - especially in the midst of 'storms' that we find ourselves in.

Join us as we enjoy a time of gathering dedicated to the work of taking the good news of the Kingdom to the nations! We don't want to be a church family with an out-of-sight out-of-mind mentality when it comes to the nations. This is why we are seeking to be exposed to global-focused Kingdom work in many forms - be it through Alliance International Workers, Compassion Canada or many other Christ-minded organizations. Our guest speaker Greg Musselman of Voice of the Martyrs Canada, speaks to us about Taking Up Your Cross.

Jesus never gave a straight-up definition of the Kingdom of God - it just wouldn't do. Instead He described it using parables or analogies to everyday things. On the heels of the Parable of the Sower (which we looked at last week), Jesus shares a series of short parables, each with their own angle at bringing to light what the Kingdom of God is like. Join us as we gather together to worship Jesus and learn from His words as Pastor Nathan Carroll teaches us about The Kingdom Illustrated.

Jesus told a number of parables during His life, but did you know that the parable of the sower in Mark 4 is described as the "first of all parables"? In verse 13, Jesus literally says that if we can't begin to get our head around this particular illustration of the Kingdom, that we will be lost in trying to comprehend all other parables, analogies and illustrations. It is this parable that Pastor Jeremy is digging into - driving towards the ultimate focus of what Jesus was communicating - the fact that true engagement with the Kingdom of God causes people to bear fruit. Give this text a read or two and be ready to be stretched, to learn and, ultimately (we pray) to be left in awe of Christ and His kingdom.

Pastor Jeremy leads us as we move through chapter 3 of the Gospel of Mark and as we've been seeing, Jesus is creating quite a reaction. Everyone has an opinion on Jesus and is trying to make sense of who he is and what he means by what he says! This particular occasion inspires Jesus to once again 'draw a line in the sand' as to who he considers his true family...

Curtis, one of our international workers in Central America, will be continuing to teach through Mark about the Kingdom of God - highlighting what the Kingdom looks like as it is being pursued by apprentices of Jesus both here and in Central America.

As Jesus continues to demonstrate the "new wineskin" of the Kingdom of God, it becomes more and more apparent that this new way of doing life is completely incompatible with the existing, established ways of doing life - even religious life. What about all the rules that people have sought to live by? Does Jesus not care about any of the rules? Join us as Pastor Jeremy shares from Mark 2:23-3:6, and as we seek to hear from Jesus as to what rules really matter and how they usher us deeper into life in the kingdom.