Maturity Profiled 07—The Mature Grow in Wisdom—James 3:13-18
Sunday Teaching: Maturity Profiled 07—The Mature Grow in Wisdom—James 3:13-18
Nate HoldridgeJune 30, 2024
What’s Wrong with Adding to the Gospel? Pt. 2 (Gal. 1:1-9)
Last week, we began studying the book of Galatians and heard Paul’s urgent message that adding to the gospel is dangerous — it is abandoning Jesus. A second reason adding…
Nate HoldridgeJune 27, 2024
What’s Wrong with Adding to the Gospel? Pt. 1 (Gal. 1:1-9)
The next book we’ll dive into, beginning today, is Galatians. The theme word for our study of *Galatians* is *"fly."* The end of Paul's letter to the Galatians describes a…
Nate HoldridgeJune 20, 2024
Maturity Profiled 06—The Mature Tame Their Speech—James 3:1-12
Sunday Teaching: Maturity Profiled 06—The Mature Tame Their Speech—James 3:1-12
Nate HoldridgeJune 15, 2024
Concluding the Book of Mark (Mark 16:17-20)
Let's be honest. This passage is likely why many wonder if this should be included in Mark's gospel (see my explanation about this disputed text in last week’s post). Many…
Nate HoldridgeJune 13, 2024
Maturity Profiled 05—Interlude: Faith Produces Maturity—James 2:14-26
Sunday Teaching: Maturity Profiled 05—Interlude: Faith Produces Maturity—James 2:14-26
Nate HoldridgeJune 9, 2024
Jesus’ Parting Words to the Disciples and Us (Mark 16:15-20)
Before we jump into our final text of Mark, we have to address the notation in many of our Bibles suggesting that the final twelve verses might not be in…
Nate HoldridgeJune 6, 2024
Before that fateful meeting in Jerusalem, I had not yet laid eyes on Paul. But his legend—a Pharisee and master teacher who had repented and followed Christ—had only grown with…
Nate HoldridgeJune 1, 2024
The Case for the Resurrection: Part 2 (Mark 16:1-14)
Last week, we began looking at seven clues that lead to the legitimacy of the claim that Jesus rose from the dead – he was supernaturally resurrected, which is the…
Nate HoldridgeMay 30, 2024
The Case for the Resurrection: Part 1 (Mark 16:1-14)
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event in human history. If it occurred, God is real, Jesus is him, the Bible is true, heaven and hell are…
Nate HoldridgeMay 23, 2024
3 (More) Reasons Jesus Was Crucified (Mark 15:16-47)
Last week, we studied three reasons from Mark 15 that Jesus was crucified: to fulfill God’s plan, to save us, and to consume our darkness. Today, we will continue looking…
Nate HoldridgeMay 16, 2024
3 Reasons Jesus Was Crucified (Mark 15:16-47)
In our passage today, we will observe "Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2), a stunning event. Christianity is not centered upon tenets, doctrines, beliefs, or behaviors but on…
Nate HoldridgeMay 9, 2024
God’s Plans Will Succeed (Mark 15:1-15)
In our final movement of Jesus’ trials by the Jews, the religious leaders had to pawn Jesus off on Pilate. Rome did not allow the Jews to execute people, so…
Nate HoldridgeMay 2, 2024
God Can Help Us Be Faithful (Mark 14:66-72)
This second movement of the events of the cross takes us back to Peter. Jesus had shown Peter a prophecy from Zechariah that indicated Peter would scatter from him that…
Nate HoldridgeApril 25, 2024
God Must Open Eyes (Mark 14:53-65)
Our previous passage led us to Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. All his disciples fled from him (50). Jesus was left with only his captors, and here we…
Nate HoldridgeApril 18, 2024
The Ineffective Disciples (Mark 14:27-52)
Last week, we saw how Jesus was the hero of this passage. We should also take note of the disciples. They were ineffective. The passage begins with them declaring they…
Nate HoldridgeApril 11, 2024
The Hero Christ (Mark 14:27-52)
In this passage, we have a determined Jesus and ineffective disciples. Let's look at both, starting with Jesus.
Nate HoldridgeApril 4, 2024
Christ’s Betrayal (Mark 14:27-52)
The passage before us is raw. It feels too intimate for our eyes to behold. We shouldn't get such an honest glimpse into Jesus, into God, or into the disciples,…
Nate HoldridgeMarch 28, 2024
Why Should We Take Communion? Part 2 (Mark 14:22-25)
Communion offers us so much as believers in Christ. Last week, we began looking at some of the many reasons taking communion blesses and benefits the church – it reminds…
Nate HoldridgeMarch 21, 2024
Why Should We Take Communion? Part 1 (Mark 14:22-25)
Mark tells us that Jesus and the disciples **were eating** the Passover meal when Jesus did something out of the ordinary (22). The customary Passover ceremony would have begun with…
Nate HoldridgeMarch 14, 2024
David’s Journal
This is a piece I wrote for our recent worship night at our church. It is a historical fiction, based on Scripture(2 Sam. 11-12, Psalms 32, 51). I tried to…
Nate HoldridgeMarch 13, 2024
The New Passover Meal (Mark 14:12-25)
In Exodus, God set Israel free from their Egyptian captivity with the Passover (Exodus 12). Though plague after plague had rained down on Egypt, Pharaoh would not surrender. With a…
Nate HoldridgeMarch 7, 2024
Micah: a Short Introduction
Note: We are starting Micah this week, so I thought I would talk a little about the book beforehard, especially for those leading small groups who would like to see…
Nate HoldridgeMarch 1, 2024
Mary, an Example of Devotion to Christ (Mark 14:1-11)
Jesus Christ is worthy of our devotion. There is nothing we can give him that would put him in our debt. Though we know this about Jesus, what the woman…
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 29, 2024
The Millennial Reign: Part 2 (Mark 13:24-37 & Rev. 20:1-6)
The fourth element of the millennium is that spiritual life will come to the nations. Israel won't be alone in its renewed spiritual life. The prophets clarified that the earth…
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 22, 2024
The Millennial Reign: Part 2 (Mark 13:24-37 & Rev. 20:1-6)
The fourth element of the millennium is that spiritual life will come to the nations. Israel won't be alone in its renewed spiritual life. The prophets clarified that the earth…
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 22, 2024
The Millennial Reign: Part 1 (Mark 13:24-37 & Rev. 20:1-6)
Today, we pick up in Mark 13 with Jesus teaching his disciples about the end times. Last week, we studied his second coming, which takes place before his millennial reign.…
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 15, 2024
The Millennial Reign: Part 1 (Mark 13:24-37 & Rev. 20:1-6)
Today, we pick up in Mark 13 with Jesus teaching his disciples about the end times. Last week, we studied his second coming, which takes place before his millennial reign.…
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 15, 2024
The Second Coming of Christ (Mark 13:24-27)
On the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem's temple, a few days before his crucifixion, Jesus explained the end times to his disciples.
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 8, 2024
The Great Tribulation: The End of the Age — Mark 13:15-23
All these exhortations Jesus gave during his teaching about the end of the age have a Jewish bent. Housetops were used in that region as a place for leisure in…
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 1, 2024
The Great Tribulation: The Abomination of Desolation & the Anti-Christ — Mark 13:14
On the Mount of Olives, overlooking the temple precincts, Jesus continued his teaching about the end of the age. Peter, John, James, and Andrew sat riveted as their Master explained…
Nate HoldridgeJanuary 25, 2024
The Great Tribulation: The Abomination of Desolation & the Anti-Christ — Mark 13:14
On the Mount of Olives, overlooking the temple precincts, Jesus continued his teaching about the end of the age. Peter, John, James, and Andrew sat riveted as their Master explained…
Nate HoldridgeJanuary 25, 2024
Jesus Prepared His Followers for Tribulation Through the Olivet Discourse (Mark 13:5-13)
Jesus began his teaching on the Mount of Olives warning about the tendency to be led astray (5). He knew some would come and lead many astray, so he sought…
Nate HoldridgeJanuary 18, 2024
Reasons the Olivet Discourse Points to Future Events (Mark 13:1-4)
As we enter Mark 13, we come to a passage of Scripture that is hotly debated. Some, like myself, believe it communicates the doctrine of future things. Others, many of…
Nate HoldridgeJanuary 11, 2024
What Jesus Treasures, Part 2 (Mark 12:41-44)
Previously, in Mark 12, we saw how Jesus was moved by the gift of the poor widow at the temple that day. He used her example to teach his disciples…
Nate HoldridgeJanuary 4, 2024
What Jesus Treasures, Part 1 (Mark 12:41-44)
In today's passage, Jesus lets his disciples in on a secret found in an anonymous woman's story.
Nate HoldridgeDecember 28, 2023
Six Marks of a Christ-Follower, Part 2 (Mark 12:35-40)
At the beginning of Mark's gospel, there is a familiar and beautiful episode. Jesus walked on the shore of Galilee and saw Peter, Andrew, James, and John engaged in fishermen’s…
Nate HoldridgeNovember 30, 2023
Six Marks of a Christ-Follower, Part 1 (Mark 12:35-40)
At the beginning of Mark's gospel, there is a familiar and beautiful episode. Jesus walked on the shore of Galilee and saw Peter, Andrew, James, and John engaged in fishermen’s…
Nate HoldridgeNovember 16, 2023
Jesus, the Son of David and the Son of God (Mark 12:35-37)
By this point in Mark, it is clear that Jesus is at odds with the religious leaders -- and they are certainly at odds with him! And, in our previous…
Nate HoldridgeNovember 9, 2023
The Second Most Important Thing in Life (Mark 12:31-34)
In the final week of Jesus' life before the cross, Jesus has just shared with an inquiring scribe that the greatest commandment is to love God. But there’s also a…
Nate HoldridgeNovember 2, 2023
Deciding—Not Only Desiring—To Be Strong in Him (Ephesians 6:10-20)
Today, my mind is on a particular insight in Paul's exhortations to the Ephesians about spiritual warfare (or, really, about life). He said we wrestle not against people but powers,…
Nate HoldridgeNovember 1, 2023
Commandment: Love Him (Mark 12:28-30)
Jesus said the greatest commandment begins with the God of Scripture -- and that we should "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul…
Nate HoldridgeOctober 26, 2023
The Most Important Thing in Life (Mark 12:28-30)
In the final week of Jesus' life before the cross, the religious leaders are attempting to build a case against him. Jesus has challenged them in the temple area, and…
Nate HoldridgeOctober 19, 2023
How Are Modern Progressive Christians Like the Sadducees? (Mark 12:18)
We recently considered the story of the Sadducees challenging Jesus in Mark 12 and saw how Jesus showed their error in neither knowing Scripture nor the power of God. I…
Nate HoldridgeOctober 12, 2023
Jesus Shows the Sadducees Why They Should Know the Word of God (Mark 12:18-27)
In our previous look at this passage, Jesus addressed why the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection or any life after death, were wrong in proposing this hypothetical…
Nate HoldridgeOctober 5, 2023
Jesus Shows the Sadducees Why They Should Believe in the Power of God (Mark 12:18-27)
The Sadducees were another religious group from that era, but they were opposed to the Pharisees in almost every way. Jesus had some views in common with the Pharisees, but…
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 28, 2023
Jesus Challenged about Government Oppression, Pt. 2 (Mark 12:13-17)
In part 1 of this article, we saw Herodians and Pharisees come together to challenge Jesus about Rome, about government oppression. They posed a question -- “Should we pay taxes…
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 21, 2023
Jesus Challenged about Government Oppression, Pt. 1 (Mark 12:13-17)
We find ourselves in a place in Mark's gospel where the hostility toward Jesus is reaching its peak. Soon, the religious leaders will conspire with the Roman authorities to put…
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 14, 2023
The Parable of the Vineyard, Pt. 2 (Mark 12:6-12)
Jesus continued the conversation with the religious leaders who had come to question him by speaking to them in parables. Mark includes one of them, and it was centered around…
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 7, 2023
The Parable of the Vineyard, Pt. 1 (Mark 12:1-5)
Jesus continued the conversation with the religious leaders who had come to question him by speaking to them in parables. Mark includes one of them, and it was centered around…
Nate HoldridgeAugust 31, 2023