diaconal ministry

All That She Had

People like to judge ourselves and others all the time.  Usually it comes from a self-centered desire to exalt ourselves over man.  We want others to praise us.  And yet it is God alone who deserves all praise, and it is Jesus alone who is the judge of all.

As we look at this passage we’ll see Jesus address these common human tendencies as we compare the scribes with this poor widow who gave everything she had.

Passage: Mark 12:38-44
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 12/14/2008 in Novato, CA.

Click here for the manuscript.

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You Give Them Something to Eat

This is a popular story.  It’s one of the few miracles that are recorded in all four gospel accounts, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  And as we look at Mark’s unique account of this miracle, we find that he has an emphasis on the twelve disciples.  Mark is bringing us into the spiritual journey of the twelve, helping us to see how they are, and are not, figuring out who Jesus is.  We’ll see that Jesus is also teaching them some important ministry lessons as well.  And so as we look at this miracle from the perspective of the disciples today, I’d like us to consider our own role in ministry.  How is God shaping us and our ministry through this passage?  And more importantly, how is he shaping our perspecitve of who Jesus is through this passage?

Passage: Mark 6:30-44
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 06/15/2008 in Novato, CA.

Click here for the manuscript.

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