Category Archives: By Rob Woodrum

This Sunday we’ll be starting a short series to follow up on our study of the Gospel of Mark. When Mark finished, we were left with an open-ended command: Go and tell. Simple enough…but not that easy to carry out. We’re in a time and culture that isn’t all that open to historic Christianity; oftenContinue reading “Following Jesus Who’s Loose in the World”

I remember helping my mom plant gardens when I was a kid. She loved gardening, and every spring in Michigan we’d walk out in a freshly tilled plot of ground and start planting seeds down the rows. I can still remember looking at those seeds and asking her for the umpteenth time what plant itContinue reading “The Kingdom Kernel”

This Sunday we’ll be returning to our study in the gospel of Mark, we’ll be reading Mark 15:21-39. Ask almost any given Christian why Jesus died on the cross, and you’ll likely get a response of “Jesus died for my sins” – or something to that effect. That’s not a wrong answer – but I’d suggestContinue reading “The Curse Displayed and Cured”

Hey everyone! After taking a break over the holidays, we’re ready to get back into our study of the Gospel of Mark. This Sunday we’ll be reading Mark 14:53-72 – and the drama has really intensified. After being arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus is taken to the High Priest’s palace where he willContinue reading “What a Trial Reveals”

  We’re going to take a break from our study in Mark, since it’s the last Sunday before Christmas. We’ll be reading Luke 1:25-38, and looking at the account of Gabriel announcing to Mary that she will carry the Messiah into the world. We’ll pay close attention to the details and see what encouragements weContinue reading “Christmas is Around the Corner”

We’ll be continuing our study in Mark this Sunday – we’ll be reading Mark 14:26-52. This is the account of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane – but it is also another Markian Sandwich -Because Jesus’ warning to his disciples that they will abandon him and the account of them doing just that, brackets theContinue reading “Why Our Hope is in Jesus”

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. This Sunday we’ll be starting chapter 14 as we continue on in our study of the gospel of Mark. We’ll be reading the first 11 verses. This will be another Markian sandwich – where one event is tucked in between two other, connected events. In this case, it’sContinue reading “A Contrast of Loves”

Every time I watch a fireworks show, I’m always gearing up for the finale, aren’t you? I love them – they are more dramatic and powerful than the whole rest of the show.  Jesus will has been talking about a finale of sorts, in the chapter we’re reading in our study of Mark. This SundayContinue reading “Assurances in the Finale”

I remember when Robbie was expecting our first child. We had prepared as much as possible and gone over again and again just what we’d do when she went into labor. I also remember that neither one of us ever referenced all of the stuff we tried to learn ahead of time when the actualContinue reading “Birth Pangs of a New World”