Tag: faith

The difference between superstition and faith

There’s a moment in Acts when the early church are caught on the hop by God’s ability to answer prayer. There are the believers, earnestly praying for Peter’s release from prison whilst Peter is knocking on the door because the prayer has been answered. Some of us, particularly from more western and conservative backgrounds can… Continue reading The difference between superstition and faith

Don’t miss it

We get really excited about that bit in Mark 11:22-25 which talks about having faith to move mountains. How many times have you heard it referenced in songs, prayers and sermons?  We’ve seen that in context, those words relate to Jesus having just cursed the fig tree.  Mark 11 is all about the authority that… Continue reading Don’t miss it

Cursed

The cursing of the fig tree seems like one of the most peculiar events in the Gospels. What was going on there? Did Jesus just lose it with an inanimate object in the same way that I get frustrated when the internet plays up or the TV refuses to respond to the instructions I send… Continue reading Cursed

I want to see (Mark 10:46-52)

Jesus is passing through Jericho with his disciples and there’s a blind man begging. It seems that his status is so lowly that he doesn’t even have a first name that he is known by. He is referred to by his surname “Bartimaeus” (Timaeus’ son).  Although his physical eyes are blind, he shows signs of… Continue reading I want to see (Mark 10:46-52)

How do we make sure that we are not spreading ourselves too thinly?

The morning, I preached on the feeding of the Five Thousand and I asked two questions. Do you trust God to satisfy and provide for you? Do you trust God to use you in his service. One important, practical question that came out of the sermon application was  “How do we know when to keep… Continue reading How do we make sure that we are not spreading ourselves too thinly?

In his name (Mark 9:38-41)

The disciples see someone who has been out and about working miracles, specifically they are casting out demons and it seems with good results.  It seems that this guy had at some point heard about Jesus, maybe witnessed him in action and maybe he had even encountered Christ’s healing power himself. Whatever had happened, it… Continue reading In his name (Mark 9:38-41)

I believe, help my unbelief (Mark 9:14-29)

As Jesus and the small group of disciples are coming down from the mountain after the transfiguration, they meet quite the scene.  A man has brought his son to Jesus who is oppressed by a demon that frequently throws him into convulsions. Fascinatingly, I’ve always pictured the son as a young lad but the man’s… Continue reading I believe, help my unbelief (Mark 9:14-29)

What do you need to see? (Mark 8:8-12)

Yesterday we saw Jesus willingness to repeat a sign to help his disciples get the point.  Today, we find him refusing to play the Pharisee’s game and meet their demands for a sign.  Are those two things in tension? Do they contradict each other? On the one hand, we’ve just said that Christ is more… Continue reading What do you need to see? (Mark 8:8-12)