Evergreen Church - Bloomington Messages

This week we continue with Mark Chapter 16. Last week, we read about the death of Jesus, his trial before Pilate, the suffering he endured on the cross and his final moments as he offered up his life as a sacrifice for our sins. This week we reach the good news and we finish the gospel of Mark and discuss the strange ending to the story.

Sermon in a sentence: "Jesus does not need your resume, but your willingness."Action step: Please view the video linked below about how to start sharing the gospel.

This week we continue with Mark Chapter 15. Last week, we read about Jesus’ final moments before being arrested as he taught his disciplines about the meaning of his death through the symbolism of Passover, prayed in the garden in agony, was betrayed and abandoned by his disciples and eventual arrested and handed over to the Jewish council for an unjust trial. This week reached the hardest moments of Jesus’ life as he is beaten mocked and crucified.

Sermon in a sentence: "Jesus calls you to the current, but His grace holds your course.Action Steps:- Define the Line.- Let Grace Empower You- Be Influential without Imitation- Remember Who You Belong To.

This week we continue with chapter 14 of the Gospel of Mark. As Jesus reaches the final hours of his life, he's has an interaction with a woman who wants to give him a generous gift, he teaches his disciples about the meaning of his death through the symbolism of the passover meal and is betrayed and abandoned by all of his disciples as he is arrested and taken before the Jewish council.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:How has your past influenced how you deal with conflict?How have you struggled as a couple with unresolved conflict in your marriage? What is currently unresolved? Looking at I Peter 3, what are you learning that might help?

Sermon in a sentence: "Truth stands—so should you."Action Steps:Culture is always teaching—make sure your kids are learning truth from you.

This week we continue with Mark Chapter 13. We find ourselves right in the middle of Holy week. Jesus has made his way to Jerusalem for the Passover and has been spending the days leading up to the feast speaking in the temple being challenged by Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians and an many others trying to get him to slip up so that they can arrest him. Now as he and his disciples make their way out of the city, Jesus takes the opportunity in private to reveal to his followers things that are yet to come.

Sermon in a Sentence: "In a world where everyone has an opinion, don’t follow your heart. Follow your Savior."Application:Will you keep walking the road that feels right to you? Will you listen for the voice of God saying, “This is the way—walk in it”?     

This week we continue with Mark Chapter 12. Jesus has made his way to Jerusalem for the big showdown with the those in positions of authority. And last week he made his presence felt as he rode into town on the back of a donkey fulfilling prophecy, cleared out the temple courts and challenged the Pharisees as they tried to test him on his authority. This week Jesus continues to be tested in a variety of ways as he takes on challenges from every direction during the Passover week.

Sermon in a sentence: "Fix your eyes on what is eternal!"Action Steps/Application:1. Acceptance of what God has given you 2. Gratitude for we know God is using it all and bringing us to our eternal home  

This week we continue with Mark Chapter 11. And here we reach the beginning of the end of the story as Jesus and his disciples reach Jerusalem. The first 7 chapters we focus on Jesus and his ministry in the region of Galilee as he proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom of God slowly revealing himself as the Messiah along the way. Then in chapters 8 through 10 we transitioned as Jesus began his journey south towards Jerusalem and began to unpack what that meant, what his mission truly was and what it means to follow him. Now pivot again as Jesus makes his triumphant entry into Jerusalem for the Passover week ready to confront the religious, political and most importantly spiritual powers of the world.

Sermon in a Sentence: "Whatever feeds you leads you."Application: Check your soil.1. What are you planted in?2. What’s feeding you?3. What’s planted next to you?

This week we continue with Mark Chapter 10. For the last couple chapters, Jesus has been traveling with his disciples on their way to Jerusalem for the Passover and ultimately for the big confrontation with the powers that will culminate in his death as he unpacks for his followers what it means for him to be the Messiah. Last week we covered the transfiguration, a story about Jesus healing a demon-possessed boy and a number of teachings from Jesus about the nature of the upside-down value system of the Kingdom. This week Jesus takes his last few steps before his triumphant entry into Jerusalem as he confronts more misconceptions about him and his kingdom from the Pharisees, a rich man, and his followers.

Sermon in a sentence: "You don’t fight for victory—you fight from victory, because Jesus has already won."What’s one lie you’re ready to surrender to Jesus today so you can walk in His truth?

This week we continue with Mark Chapter 9. Last week we hit a major transition moment in the story as Jesus took his ministry which had been primarily focused on the region of Galilee and began make his way south towards Jerusalem. The focus had been really on who Jesus is and what he was doing and how people were responding to him, but as we transition in the story, so does our focus go from who he is to what it means for him to be the Messiah. This week Jesus pulls back the curtain further to his disciples on who he is and what it means to follow him. 

Sermon in a sentence: "Faith isn’t the absence of fear—it’s stepping through fear by trusting that God will show up."Action steps: • Prioritize Prayer• Practice, Practice, Practice!

God hard-wired us to have a compelling purpose and mission for our lives. This is why we are attracted to epic movies about great quests. This is also why we feel empty with endless daily routines that lead nowhere. To live well, we need a compelling purpose that is much bigger than ourselves. Please join us as we discover how God invites us into the greatest purpose in the universe. His mission will infuse meaning into every day of our lives.

Why do Christmas cards often say “Peace on Earth”? Our world is anything but peaceful. There’s conflict between people and between nations. There are heated discussions at the dinner table and war in the news. If Jesus came to bring peace, where is it? Is it really possible or realistic to have harmony in this world? Peace with others, or even ourselves? In this series, we’ll turn down the noise and remember what it means to have “Peace on Earth”.December 3, Pastor Brent Knox, live at Hometown-Bloomington; on video at Hometowns-New Hope & Lakeville.December 10, Pastor Deacon Ales live, at Hometown-New Hope; on video at Hometowns-Lakeville & Bloomington.December 17, Pastor Spencer Bernard live, at Hometown-Lakeville; on video at Hometowns-New Hope & Bloomington.

How can we continue going deeper in our awe of God, now that “40 Days of Awe” is over? To grow in any area of life, we develop new practices for growth and progress. Experiencing deeper faith is no different. Spiritual disciplines are age-old habits to strengthen and magnify our daily lives with Jesus. Enjoy your journey through "40-Days of Awe"? Let's go deeper still!