Finding Rest from My Burdens June 24-28
Every Christian, often with noble motives, has taken up stress-producing burdens that Jesus never asked us to carry, and we have had to learn to lay them down. In fact, the Christian life could be described as continually laying down unnecessary burdens at Christ’s feet, and daily seeking fresh mercy, relief, and rest in His…
The King’s Reward June 17-21
A man, described as the “rich young man”, asked Jesus, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus called him to sell his possessions and give to the poor so that he might have treasure in heaven and then to follow Him. Sadly, the man was unwilling to part with his riches…
The King’s Servant-Leaders June 10-14
Jesus radically recasts true leadership by modeling servant leadership. Jesus, rather than wielding power and authority for self-promotion, empowers and lifts up others. Jesus teaches, “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” In contrast to worldly leadership, Jesus’ followers lead…
The King’s People’s Pain June 3-7
In his book, The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” These words convey well the calling of Jesus that Mark recorded: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” Jesus wanted to make…
The King’s Pain May 27-31
For the first time Jesus plainly speaks about what no one expected. The Christ, prophesied to be Israel’s mighty and everlasting King, must suffer terrible things, be rejected by the elders, and be killed. But He will rise from the dead. A dead Christ? A condemned King? Dying and rising? Right in the center of…