o.g.: tHE oRIGINAL gOSPEL

September 10, 2023 - June of 2024 

Mark represents the brilliant invention of a genre, taking apostolic teaching, passion narrative and individual traditions and connecting it all as a coherent whole, while editing it to create themes and structure. It was also the first Gospel written… the “O.G.”

DELIVER US FROM EVIL

The final portion of the Lord’s prayer is “deliver us from evil” or “deliver us from the evil one.” This is the mission of Jesus, and it culminates in the last week of his pre-resurrection life. Throughout this season of Lent, we will reflect on Jesus’ work of deliverance and study Mark’s account of Holy Week - which is one third of the entire Gospel of Mark!

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION

Mark 8 is the pivot point of the Gospel of Mark. Just as the disciples realize that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus begins to reveals what kind of Messiah he will be – and it is far from what they expected. Peter becomes the voice of temptation for Jesus, inviting him to be a Messiah who doesn’t have to suffer.

Give us… our daily bread

Throughout the season of Advent, we will reflect on asking for “Our Daily Bread.” Advent is the season where we prepare for the coming of Jesus and remember his first arrival - but in the in-between time, we rely on Christ for the manna for our hearts and souls.

Thy WILL BE DONE

One of the riskiest parts of the Lord’s Prayer is “Thy Will Be Done.”  Asking that God’s will be done means that mine might not be!  Often what God wants isn’t what we would pick for ourselves.

Thy kingdom come

This story is a battle for human hearts, with two clear sides arrayed against one another.  Jesus inaugurates his incoming kingdom by claiming new followers and expelling the spiritual forces arrayed against him.