Gesangbuch_korea.jpg' alt='Free Download Baptist Hymnal Software Programs' title='Free Download Baptist Hymnal Software Programs' />Sermons on Mark Brian Bill. Mark 1 1 The Message of Mark. Recently I shared a very interesting article that led to some great discussion during our staff team time called, Is Your Church a Cruise Ship or Aircraft Carrier You can find the post on the sermon extras tab on our website. Here are a few excerpts. Mark 11 The Message of Mark. Recently I shared a very interesting article that led to some great discussion during our staff team time called, Is Your Church a. Tyler Cowen on The Complacent Class EconTalk Episode with Tyler Cowen. People who attend cruise ship churches, much like cruise ship passengers, often come to be entertained and catered to by the staff. Very little is expected of these church attendees. In fact, they tend to rate the quality of their experience the music, the sermon and the way it made them feel much like cruise ship passengers rate their satisfaction with various aspects of their trip. Cruise ship churches tend to be internally focused on the needs of their regularly attending members. The main goal in these churches, as on a cruise ship, is to keep the customer happy and the complaints to a minimum. Leaders in a cruise ship church focus on the existing members rather than pursuing those far from God or encouraging others to do so. Very little of a churchs calendar, training or communication is spent on activities to reach the lost or help those in need outside the church. There are, however, churches that are more like aircraft carriers. These churches are designed to empower all members to find their God given purpose in life, to equip them and to send them on missions into the world to reach and serve those who dont know Jesus, much like the crew of an aircraft carrier is all about launching military planes and equipping them well to carry out successful missions. Did you know an aircraft carrier is the same size as many cruise ships, housing thousands of peopleBut what distinguishes an aircraft carrier ship isnt its size its the efficiency on the flight deck. The crew of an aircraft carrier can launch a plane every 2. The mission pervades every aspect of the ship. From the pilot to the person who restocks the ships vending machines, everyone on a carrier knows his or her particular role and how it supports the missionto equip, prepare, launch and receive aircraft back from their crucial assignments. An aircraft carrier church has a clear mission that stems from the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Coordination Studies Software on this page. Everyone in the church knows why their church exists and plays a role in the mission. I am so glad that Edgewood is an aircraft carrier churchInstead of meandering, you are living on mission Instead of just living for pleasure you are focused on your God given purpose. Instead of just cruising through life, you are committed to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. I believe Edgewood is the most generous church in the world. You tell your friends about Jesus and invite them to gather with us. You care about what the Bible says and strive to live by it, even when it is countercultural. Many of you are planning to participate in the Walk for Life this Saturday and others of you have already supported it financially. Im hoping that we have a great turnout from Edgewood. Just this past week, the Celebrate Recovery band played in the Labor Day parade, AWANA kicked off with a carnival on Wednesday and Second Winders and Entrusted with a Childs Heart started again on Thursday. Its a privilege to serve on the flight deck with the people of the U. S. S. Edgewood as we live on mission by gathering, growing, giving and going with the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to the glory of God BTW, let me be clear that Im not saying that going on a cruise is a bad thing. Ive heard that theyre a blastI just dont want our church to become one. Were beginning a brand new series this weekend called, The Gospel of Mark Servant and Savior. While Ive preached many sermons from the gospels, Ive never preached verse by verse through one of them. Its going to take us some time but well also be taking some breaks as well. Lord willing, well finish chapter two at the end of November. In December well camp in a series that will get us ready for Christmas and then well pick back up with. Mark 3 in January. Lets kick it off with the very first verse and then well look at some of the unique elements of Mark. Grab your Bibles and turn to Mark 1 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Its interesting that Mark starts with the launch of Jesus formal ministry, unlike Matthew and Luke who begin with the birth narratives. The word beginning can refer to the cause, or head of something. Jesus is before all things as John 1 1 says In the beginning was the word Beginning can also refer to the start of something, like a road. At a deeper level, Mark is telling us that He is about to begin something brand new, much like Genesis 1 1 In the beginningGospel literally means the good news that God has provided salvation for everyone through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The use of this word would have surprised his readers in at least two ways. For those with a Jewish background or an understanding of the Old Testament, they would have been stunned because they would have thought of a verse like Isaiah 5. God to a people who have been in exile How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns. For those from a Roman background they would associate gospel with some significant event that would change world history, like the birth of an heir to the Emperor. One historical inscription reads like this The birthday of Augustus was the beginning for the world of the good news that come to men through him. Not only was gospel a powerful word, it also came to be known as a literary genre. This chart put up on screen helps us see the different types of literature that make up the different sections of the Bible In the Old Testament we encounter Law, History, Poetry, the Major Prophets and the Minor Prophets. The New Testament contains the Gospels, Church History, Letters and Prophecy. We commonly say that there are four gospels but really, there is only one gospel of, and about, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Its better to say that we have four accounts of the good news. In that sense, its not really Marks gospel, its the good news of great joy about Jesus Christ. One paraphrase of verse 1 puts it like this The beginning of the preaching of the joyful tidings. Mark wastes little time by getting to the identity of his subject, using three names and titles. His Person Jesus is his given name, which in Hebrew is Yeshua, which means Yahweh is salvation. The angel of the Lord told Joseph in Matthew 1 2. Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. His name is descriptive of His mission. His Position Christ is the Greek title for Messiah, which means Anointed One. The question of Jesus identity is the hinge point of the book. Turn to Mark 8 2. And he asked them, But who do you say that I am Peter answered him, You are the Christ. Everything written before this confession of Christ focuses on Jesus as Servant and the verses that follow set the scene for his work as Savior. Its really the hinge of the book and the hinge of our lives. Peter confessed Jesus as Christ. Have you done that His Power The Son of God. This bold title conveys full divine status. Look at 1 1. 1 And a voice came from heaven, You are my beloved Son with you I am well pleased. Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, You are the Son of God. We also see this in the Centurion soldiers confession in Mark 1. If Peters confession is the hinge point of the book, this military mans declaration is the high point And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, Truly this man was the Son of GodThe Person of Mark. There has never been any serious question regarding the human author of this gospel.