Here we go again … another feeding, more fights with the Jewish leaders, and a lack of complete understanding by the disciples. Why does John Mark (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) include these events here in chapter eight? If we look carefully, we see the compassion of Jesus spreading as the disciples understand a little bit more. As for the Pharisees, they can’t see what’s right in front of their faces. Oh God, give us understanding of your Son Jesus so that we follow Him with our whole hearts!

A gentile mom had greater understanding of, and faith in, Jesus than the disciples. How did that happen? Simply – Jesus opened her heart to believe in Him. In our narrative today, we see that beautiful picture of the work of Jesus to open deaf ears and make speechless tongues to give praise to Him. This story brings the cohesive teaching of Mark 7 to a glorious conclusion – Jesus does all things well!

After the strong rebukes of Jesus to the religious leaders who operated from the outside in, we now meet and experience the faith of one who operates from the inside out. We meet a woman, a Gentile, a foreigner … all identities of which the Jews were dismissive. But not Jesus! His posture is one that welcomes genuine faith and rewards those who seek Him. Come meet this mother of faith.

Leading Theme is the Church of Antioch changed the world. They were Selfless with their leaders. They had an A-Team Church Planting Team and rather than keeping them, they sent out their best. We will talk about being a church that is constantly focused on being Selfless.

Easter reminds us that we have put our faith in one who predicted his own death and resurrection and pull it off! Jesus Christ is in fact God incarnate who paid the price of our sin and then conquered death. All this means those who trust him will live forever with God and his people. In light of this good news—we have to tell others! We must live on mission. This morning we’ll learn from the life of the great Apostle Paul: the GOAT of missionaries!

Who can you trust? The politicians and leaders of our day seem hardly the place to put our confidence. The entrepreneurs and marketers cleverly create and communicate that your needs and desires will be met in their products. But are you sure about that? There is a story, a true story, where promises were made and men and women wondered if and how they would be answered. It’s the grand story of the Bible. Simply put it is a story of Promises Kept. It is a sure and solid place to rest your mind and calm your heart. God the Father says ‘Yes’ to you, will you say ‘Yes’ to Him? And then never stop saying ‘Yes’!

Jesus despised external religion. The Law of Moses was a shadow that pointed to the substance yet to come, and Jesus was the substance who had come. That the Jewish religious leaders continued to operate out of the law, and press it onto others, was the source of much of Jesus’ corrective teaching. Here, He upends the idea that we live by an outside-in mentality and describes the Gospel mentality of living from the inside-out.

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day had used the Bible, and gone way beyond it with their traditions, to create a religion of scrupulous law-keeping. Jesus understood the Bible to be THE means of coming into and growing in a relationship with the living God. He also understood that to read it correctly, we need to see him at its very center.