More Than Bread Dan Nold (Pastor of Calvary Church)

How do I gain momentum in my spiritual life? If you have never experienced a sense of being stuck in your spiritual life, this question may not interest you. On the other hand, if you have never felt stuck, someday you will. It happens to all of us. In those times how do we gain momentum back in our spiritual life? This episode will review Mark's gospel, but near the end, momentum is what I'm pondering. 

How do I stop living an in-between life? Now that's a bit of a strange question. You'll understand it a bit more as you listen to this episode. But the disciples in-between the cross and resurrection were living in the in-between; in-between hopeless and hopeful. For a time, they were stuck. When we feel stuck, how do we move forward. In this last section of Mark's gospel we gain some hope and some instruction for moving forward. Maybe it's time for you to take a step of faith. Maybe it's time to go back to Galilee...  

Do people see Jesus in me? The cross of Christ was a moment in history that defined history. A moment when God showed us His love, His power, His grace, and His presence in a deeply impactful way. But Paul would later describe a way of living that only the cross made possible. There is a way of living so intimately connected to Christ that we are crucified with Christ. And when that happens, when we did, Christ begins to live in us. That's when people see Jesus in me. If people don't see Jesus in me now, perhaps I need some cross in my life. What does that look like...listen in on this episode to join me in pondering that question.

Why the cross? Many people today who love Jesus, are offended by the cross. I've heard that question so many times, "why the cross?" It is disturbing that God the Father would send his Son to be crucified. It is disturbing that God would a price, such a price, would need to be paid for our redemption. There are many ways to look at the cross; it's mean is deep and mysterious. What was accomplished on the cross goes well beyond my ability to understand. But scripture is clear, there was a price to be paid. There was a battle to be won. And there was a love to be given. What I know beyond a shadow of a doubt is that the cross shows us how much we are loved by God the Father and his Son, Jesus. 

Does Jesus still love me when I fail? That's such an important question and one that at least some of us have wrestled with at times in our life. Can he still use me? Am I still on the team? Can Jesus still love me when I fail? We will find the answer in the heart that Jesus shows toward Peter after his greatest failure. With all my heart, I believe that Jesus looks at each of us with delight, not disappointment. That's the lesson of Peter for us!

Have I ever experienced a love-burst? AND What is the motivating passion of my life? These are the questions that we ponder as we read the first part of Mark 14.  And most of our time will be spent focusing on another story of extravagant generosity that touched the heart of Jesus. It was love-burst of a woman that in some ways points the way to the ultimate love-burst of God -- the cross.