A synopsis of Sunday’s Message- Encountering an Outcast – Mark 1:40-45

In this text we will be gleaning from Jesus’ encounter with a societal outcast – someone who has been pushed to the edge of a stable life in the city.

Listen to this unusual story:

Mark 1:40-45
⁴⁰ ¶ And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” ⁴¹ Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” ⁴² And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. ⁴³ And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, ⁴⁴ and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” ⁴⁵ But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter. Read more »

Thoughts on the “Already, Not Yet” Kingdom of Jesus

1. Already a Kingdom in which the King offers redemption through his death and resurrection; not yet a kingdom in which redemption is applied to all of creation.
2. Already a Kingdom which one sees and enters through repentance and faith (John 3:3-5); not yet a kingdom which one sees with the physical eye.
3. Already a spiritual kingdom in which the King rules over the hearts and lives of his subjects, not yet, a geo-political kingdom in which all the universe is in subjection to His righteous rule.
4. Already a kingdom in which the subjects of the King are learning to love one another and live in unity; not yet a kingdom in which the subjects of the King perfectly love another and live in unity.
5. Already a kingdom in which its subjects hold title to an eternal inheritance; not yet a kingdom in which the subjects are in full enjoyment of the inheritance.
6. Already a kingdom in which its subjects are granted the New Heavens and Earth; not yet a kingdom in which they possess the New Heavens and Earth.
7. Already a kingdom which is in conflict with the powers of darkness; not yet a kingdom which is fully triumphant over the powers of darkness.
8. Already a kingdom in which the power of the King over death, disease, and the devil is evident; not yet a kingdom in which death, disease, and the devil are banished forever.
9. Already a kingdom growing mysteriously and gradually (Matt 13); not yet a kingdom manifested in power and glory.

Ministry Licensing of John Leone

The Public Reading of Scripture

The following is excerpted from our time of Scripture reading at tonight’s worship service of Grace Church:

The Holy Spirit, through the apostle Paul, urges us to “devote [ourselves] to the public reading of Scripture” (1 Tim. 4:13, ESV).

At Grace Church, we don’t include the reading of Scripture in the order of service just to fill some time and space in our worship.

We don’t include it for the purpose of giving you a cute little anecdote, or something interesting to think about.

We include it so that it may overwhelm and transform your life.

We believe that the Word has infinite power and purpose when it goes forth.

It has power to save and to transform even the vilest sinner, the one that everyone else has given up on and forsaken. Read more »

An Example of Gospel-Centered Worship

At Grace Church of Philly, our desire is to be gospel- and Christ-centered in our gathered worship on Sundays. Our structure is intentionally framed within ancient practices of Christian worship down throughout the centuries.

Each week we strive to incorporate various elements into the following worship structure [1]:

Adoration > Confession > Assurance > Thanksgiving > Petition/Intercession > Instruction in the Word > Communion/Fellowship [2] > Charge and Blessing (Benediction) Read more »

Mark 1:1-8 – Who Says That Jesus is Greater Than I Am?

 

Who Says That Jesus is Greater Than I Am? by Dr. John Davis

Mark 1:1 (ESV) The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  ² As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way,  ³ the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”  ⁴ John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  ⁵ And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.  ⁶ Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.  ⁷ And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.  ⁸ I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

[Painting is "St. John the Baptist" by Valentin De Boulogne (1628-30)] Read more »

Introductory Notes on the Gospel of Mark

Getting to Know Jesus Better!

Introduction to the Series by Dr. John Davis

In the coming weeks at Grace Church of Philly, we will be looking at the gospel of Mark so that we may get to know Jesus better. Mark 1:1 tells us at the beginning that his letter is about – The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark wants to share with his readers the good news about Jesus Christ that they may get to know him better and in some way act upon that knowledge.

Mark gives no genealogical record as do Matthew and Luke, or like John who traces Jesus before creation with His Father, but the absence of a genealogy isn’t necessarily a hindrance to getting to know and trust someone.

I confess out the outset that I do not merely want you to know him better, but I pray and hope that you will follow Jesus as your Savior and Lord.

We will follow multiple paths through the Gospel of Mark in getting to know Jesus better. We will move from path to path as we travel through the Gospel. On one path, we will listen to what others say about Jesus and probe our own hearts to see if we agree or disagree and want to follow this Jesus. On another path, we will look at what happens when Jesus encounters specific people and ask ourselves if this is the Jesus we want to follow. Then on a third path, we will listen to what Jesus says on a number of topics and ask ourselves if we are willing to follow this Jesus and live by His teaching.

So here is how we will attempt to get to know him better:

What do others say about Him? Do we agree with what they say?

What happens when others encounter Him? Do we like what happens?

What does He say? Are we willing to follow His teaching?