Anthem Church

Our culture values big: Big results, big accomplishments, big venues, and big wins. Many times in our efforts to amplify our significance, we overlook the small things that God is doing that will ultimately produce fruit. Jesus challenged his followers to think small. Looking at two parables from the Gospel of Mark, this sermon asks us to begin small if we want to be part of something substantial.

If you're honest, there are quite a few things you measure out for yourself as you perceive them to be important to your life. People you count on, things you invest in, places you go to. While none of these are inherently wrong, much of the time we find them inproperly positioned in our lives. Whereby matter of default, we place the gospel where its purpose is least powerful. In the parable of the hidden lamp, Jesus catalyzes a discussion on the place, purpose, perception, and power of the gospel in our lives.

When hearing the gospel you fall under one of four different caregories of people. This sermon talks about The Parable of The Sower and how it relates to us today.

Family can be a fun topic for some and a touchy topic for others. Whether you have a great family situation, or a frustrating family situation, we can all admit that no family is perfect. This sermon talks about the fact that along with our birth families God has given us a church family. And what a blessing that is.

Today being a fan of something isn't that big of a deal. We are fans of our favorite sports teams, musicians, and celebrities. In Jesus' day however, the word fan had a different meaning. This sermon talks about what it meant to be a fan back when Jesus was on earth.

Being committed to Jesus is an exhausting life to live. This sermon talks about the difference between being committed in Jesus and being committed to him and how that affects us.

Every day we let feelings like fear, worry, and doubt distract us from the peace of the Lord. This sermon explores what the Bible says about the Sabbath, and what it means to find rest in the peace of God.

We spend millions of dollars a year trying to fix things in our lives through self help. Seeking advice on the best way to improve or to feel better, or to get richer. After a while these things will become a heavy burden. Legalistic religion only weighs us down. Mark records a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees concerning this very topic. This sermon explores Jesus posture of grace as opposed to the Pharisees posture of religious duty.

We are often so concerned about our circumstances, that we miss God's provision for us. Mark records the story of a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisee's. They wanted to know why Jesus disciples weren't fasting in hope of deliverance from Rome, but they didn't recognize God's deliverance was standing right in front of them. This sermon explores how we often miss what God has done and is doing for us, because it doesn't appear the way we thought it would.

We like deciding who is in and who is out. We like separating the sick from the healthy, the cool from the uncool, the holy people from the unholy ones. Mark records the Jesus invitation to a hated, rejected and despised tax collector named Levi Matthew, and the subsequent dinner party, to show us that Jesus preferred the company of the broken and the outcast to those who thought they had everything together. This sermon explores what Marks story means for us today.

At the new year, many of us make resolutions to better ourselves, to pursue a more fulfilling life, or to be more successful. We bring our plans and ideas to God and expect that if he really loves us he will give us what we want. But what we want may not be what we need. Mark records the story of a man who comes to Christ for what he thinks he needs, but gets what he actually needs. How will we approach the savior this year?

Why do we celebrate the birth of a man who lived and died over 2000 years ago? Is it simply a cultural tradition, or is Jesus more significant than that. According to Mark, Jesus is not simply a man, but the son of God, who demonstrates a new way of living through preaching and healing. How will we respond to this Christmas?

Jesus came bringing a new teaching with authority. Authority is something our modern day context has very little tolerance for. However, at the same time we long for something to address our physical and spiritual needs, which contemporary teachings fall short of doing. Come to find out, the Bible claims it is the very authority we spurn that our world actually longs for to satisfy its groaning (Romans 8:22).

We understand our roles in society. We know what it means to be a good employee, a good husband or wife, and a good citizen. We understand the expectations of our families and friends. But what does it mean to be a disciple? What does it involve, and what has to change in order to answer the call to discipleship? This sermon looks at the context in which Jesus called his first disciples to discover how we can respond to his call today.

Who am I really, and where do I fit? Why would someone who lived 2000 years ago matter in answering these questions? Mark introduces Jesus as the son of God. Appearing from the most obscure hometown, Jesus publicly declares his intention to follow the Spirit by being baptized by John. In that moment, God affirms Jesus identity, and reveals what our true identity can be if we come to follow Jesus.

The Gospel of Mark begins with the baptism of Jesus and ends with His resurrection. Mark is a story of action with a great deal of emphasis on the things Jesus did: • The sick and the lame are healed and restored • Dead men are raised • The blind are able to see • Leprosy is cured • Demons are driven from the oppressed • Nature is brought into submission • The laws of physics are defied Mark is the oldest of the gospels and the shortest. It is likely that Peter, to whom Mark was an assistant, is responisble for the content of this book. As such, it reflects the memories and the teachings of the apostle Peter. It's emphasis is on where Jesus went and what Jesus did. Mark is a sermon series at Anthem Church intended reveal the true nature of discipleship in the gospels, in turn, making us better disciples of Jesus. Join us Sunday mornings as we explore the First Book of Jesus.

Many anthropologists see enough significant connections between cultures that they have created lists of human universals. These lists include things like family relationships, work, creative expression, and celebration. This sermon uses the framework of human universals to think about what the culture of heaven. The Bible offers us glimpses of what a fully redeemed culture might be like. This sermon explores the questions like "what will we do in heaven," and "will we really reign with Christ?"

Many of us hope to be reunited with loved ones in heaven. Some aspire to meet their heroes. Will this be possible? Will human relationships continue on the new earth? What will they be like? The bible offers some concrete answers and hints at the possibility of a fully redeemed community. This is what has historical been called the communion of the saints. This sermon will explore what the scripture says about the fully redeemed community of heaven.

Many of us long for heaven for all the wrong reasons. We make heaven all about us, when really the point of heaven is being with God. As Paul writes, we will see "face to face" the one we have followed all of our life. The joy of heaven is in the intimacy we will experience with Christ. This sermon explores why we aren't overwhelmed by this reality, and what it might be like to experience this kind of intimacy with Christ.

We live in a culture obsessed with beauty, health, and youth. We try everything from diets to plastic surgery to slow or reverse the aging process. All of this expresses a deep desire to overcome the frailty, sickness, and death that are an inherent part of living in our bodies. This desire points to a greater reality that was demonstrated in Jesus resurrection and is promised to those in Christ. The resurrection of our bodies. This sermon explores the hope of resurrection, and how we should live in light of that promise.