Mark - BridgeWay Christian Church

01 - Introduction: The Servant Of God

January 27, 2019 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

Written by Peter's personal confidant, the Gospel of MARK chronicles the ministry, sermons, and parables of Jesus Christ. It showcases Christ as the servant Messiah who, as the Son of God incarnate, was sent to suffer and serve in order to rescue and restore mankind. The shortest of the four Gospels, MARK is divided into two sections: The first eight chapters depict Christ's ministry in the north (Galilee) whereas the last eight chapters depict his ministry in the south (Judea). Culminating in the cross, Mark presents the death and resurrection of Christ as the supreme example of servanthood. Pastor Ronald H. Gann looks at the life of Christ through the eyes of John Mark in this thorough but concise sermons series.

02 - The Path Preparer

February 3, 2019 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

John the Baptist was sent by God to prepare the Jewish people for the arrival of Jesus Christ. But how, exactly, did he do that? In two ways: First, John prophetically announced to his countrymen that, although he was not the Messiah, the Messiah had indeed arrived. And, second, he baptized the penitent in water. Being baptized by John demonstrated a recognition of one's sin and a desire for spiritual cleansing. But why was such a ritual necessary to prepare the way for the Messiah? Pastor Ronald H. Gann looks at the life of Christ through the eyes of John Mark in this thorough but concise sermons series.

03 - Baptized For Battle

February 10, 2019 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

The place is the Jordan River, where John was baptizing. The scene is the baptism of Jesus Christ, over which John would preside. And the event is the coronation ceremony of the Messiah, to which John would later bear testimony. But Mark 1:9-13 contains much more than a mere baptism. After the Lord's coronation by water, he endured a 40-day battle at the hands of the devil as a test of his coronation. Did Jesus pass or fail? And what was at stake? Pastor Ronald H. Gann looks at the life of Christ through the eyes of John Mark in this thorough but concise sermons series.

04 - The Christ Who Calls

February 17, 2019 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

What does it mean when Jesus calls a person to follow him? Four nondescript fishermen (Peter, Andrew, James, and John) found out firsthand. To them the command was given directly from the lips of Christ. “Follow me,” (Mark 1:17). And immediately all four men abandoned their lives, their families, their sin, and their self to become fishers of men. But when God calls a person into His service is such an effectual response always guaranteed? What role does man’s so-called free-will play in the sovereign call of God? Pastor Ronald H. Gann looks at the life of Christ through the eyes of John Mark in this thorough but concise sermons series.

05 - The Christ Who Commands

February 24, 2019 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

It's one thing to turn water into wine, as Jesus did in John 2. It’s one thing to heal a royal official’s son simply by saying the word, as Jesus also did in John 4. Likewise, it’s one thing to perform sporadic healings here and there in and around Judea and Galilee, just as Jesus had done in John 5. But it’s another thing altogether to go toe-to-toe with the Prince of Darkness in a public forum and to bait incarnate evil to a fight. And that's exactly what Jesus did in Mark 1:21-28 where he encountered his first demoniac. Pastor Ronald H. Gann looks at the life of Christ through the eyes of John Mark in this thorough but concise sermons series.

06 - The Christ Who Cares

March 3, 2019 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

When was the last time you ever pulled an all-nighter caring for people you never met before? For Jesus, it was almost seemed to be a common occurrence. And it all started in Capernaum, in the home of Peter, on the very day he had performed his first exorcism in the synagogue, when masses of people came to him at night seeking his healing touch. Pastor Ronald H. Gann looks at the life of Christ through the eyes of John Mark in this thorough but concise sermons series.

07 - The Christ Who Cleanses

March 10, 2019 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

“Make me clean, make me clean.” Imagine the visual. A grown man comes out of nowhere in tattered rags and bows the knee to Jesus in total humility. The very fact that this man was willing to violate God’s Law for lepers, breach all societal rules of decorum, and approach Jesus told Jesus all that he needed to know about him. This man was desperate. In the clearest sense, leprosy in the Bible is a picture of man’s sinful condition. It’s destructive, pervasive, ugly, and incurable. Just as leprosy destroys physical health and makes a person an outcast with other men, so sin destroys our spiritual health and makes a person an outcast with God. Pastor Ronald H. Gann looks at the life of Christ through the eyes of John Mark in this thorough but concise sermons series.

08 - The Christ Who Cures

March 17, 2019 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

The second chapter of Mark opens with a story about forgiveness. Jesus healed a paralytic lowered down on a stretcher from the roof of Peter's home. But before Jesus made the man rise and walk, he first publicly forgave his sins for all those in attendance to hear. It was a provocative declaration that would overshadow the Lord's display of power. Pastor Ronald H. Gann looks at the life of Christ through the eyes of John Mark in this thorough but concise sermons series.

09 - The Christ Who Converts

March 24, 2019 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

In the first twelve verses in Mark 2, Mark recounted the story of the paralyzed man who was healed by Jesus in a house in Capernaum. That healing miracle validated the authority of Jesus to forgive sins. In vv. 13-17, Jesus now reveals the people to whom he extends that forgiveness—namely repentant sinners. The dramatic incident recorded in these verses illustrate the fact that no sinner is beyond the reach of God’s grace. Jesus was and is willing to save even the lowest of the low, even a hated tax collector Matthew (Levi). Pastor Ronald H. Gann looks at the life of Christ through the eyes of John Mark in this thorough but concise sermons series.

10 - Old Wineskins vs. New Wine

April 7, 2019 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

Is the Old Testament still relevant for Christians today? That is, are the old forms of Judaism applicable for today's church? Agreement over the purpose and priority of the Old Testament baffles many Christians. In Mark 2:18-22, Jesus indicates (by way of two parables) that Christianity is the “new wine” seemingly incompatible with the “old wineskins” of ritualistic Judaism. If that's true, does that mean, then, that the Old Testament is obsolete and no longer significant to Christians? Pastor Ronald H. Gann looks at the life of Christ through the eyes of John Mark in this thorough but concise sermons series.

11 - Lord Of The Sabbath (Part 1)

April 14, 2019 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

In Mark 2:23-28, Jesus and his disciples got caught red-handed doing the unthinkable -- violating the deeply-cherished man-made rules and rabbinic customs which had been imposed upon the Sabbath. To the point, they were caught picking grain on the Sabbath. However, instead of running from the Pharisees in fear, the Lord stood tall before them and declared himself not only innocent of breaking the Law of God but also the Lord of the Sabbath. It was a claim that all but sealed his death warrant. Pastor Ronald H. Gann looks at the life of Christ through the eyes of John Mark in this thorough but concise sermons series.

12 - Lord Of The Sabbath (Part 2)

April 28, 2019 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

Must a man stand by and watch his neighbor’s house burn down without lifting a finger to help just because it’s the Sabbath? Must a doctor refuse to administer aid to a child who has broken his leg just because it’s the Sabbath? Must a man stand on the bank and watch someone drown without lifting a finger just because it’s the Sabbath? Was that God’s plan for the Sabbath? Jesus double-downs on his claim to be Lord of the Sabbath, and does so by once again taking to task the Pharisees over their rabbinic traditions for the Sabbath. Pastor Ronald H. Gann looks at the life of Christ through the eyes of John Mark in this thorough but concise sermons series.

13 - The Christ Who Commissions

May 12, 2019 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

What sort of person does God like to use to make a significant impact for Jesus? What characteristics does one need to accomplish great things for the cause of Christ? If the calling and commissioning of the Twelve Disciples tell us anything it tells us that God delights Himself in using those whom the world classifies as NOBODIES to become SOMEBODIES who will tell EVERYBODY about SOMEBODY named Jesus Christ? Pastor Ronald H. Gann looks at the life of Christ through the eyes of John Mark in this thorough but concise sermons series.

14 - Jesus: Lunatic, Liar, or Lord?

May 19, 2019 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

A "trilemma" is simply a 3-part dilemma for which there is no easy answer. That said, one of the most popular trilemmas in Scripture concerns the person of Jesus Christ. As popularized by the late C.S. Lewis (1898-1863), Jesus was either a lunatic, a liar, or he was Lord. In Mark 3:20-35, we see all three positions brought to bear. What title do you ascribe to Jesus? How you answer that question is the difference between eternal life in heaven and an eternal existence in hell. Pastor Ronald H. Gann looks at the life of Christ through the eyes of John Mark in this thorough but concise sermons series.

15 - Parable Of The Sower

May 26, 2019 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

In the Parable of the Sower, we learn that there are four types of soils (or hearts) on which the seed (the Word of God) lands. Some will reject Jesus Christ outright (roadside soil). Others will demonstrate a superficial interest in Christ, (rocky soil). Still others will profess a divided love for both Christ and the world (thorny soil). Finally, some will genuinely receive Christ with faith and obedience (good soil). Regardless of the type of soil, only God can transform that which is cold, calloused, and dead into something vibrant, receptive, and full of life. Pastor Ronald H. Gann looks at the life of Christ through the eyes of John Mark in this thorough but concise sermons series.