Lake Wildwood Baptist Church

On this Thanksgiving Sunday, we look at the perils of ingratitude. It's a big deal. If left unchecked, this proceeds to a path than ends in all out idolatry.

"Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life". Well that plan includes self denial, and a cross. Today Jesus thins the crowd with a tough talk on the high cost of following Him. It seems that message has lost favor in today's 'mesenteric' society but it none the less stands.

Today we continue to follow Jesus in his ministry to a blind man. This account is only found in Mark but it is also the only healing that came in stages. What are we to make of that? Maybe several take a ways are available as we observe the timeline here. Most of these are encouraging in one way or another. Take a listen and see for yourself.

The disciples just didn't get it. How frustrating for Jesus. They still don't get who he is. They are...Slow Learners. And so are we.

This miracle is only recorded in Marks' account. In it we encounter and isolated, ignorant deaf man who was marked by his inability to help himself. Sound like someone you know? All of this highlights the sovereign goodness of the Servant King.

Jesus is needing rest so he hikes the 34 miles into enemy territory to find some. Instead, he finds a desperate mother in the demon dominated town of Tyre. What transpires is nothing short of baffling. Jesus seems aloof and almost rude yet she responds in great faith and Jesus grants her daughter freedom. We need that kind of mega faith and we've got a lot to learn from this determined Mom today.

No stranger to the Lake Wildwood pulpit, our friend Rev. Eric Freel finishes his high level overview of Ephesians in his wonderful 30k foot view of Paul's letter. He is 'Word Saturated" and skilled in communicating such powerful truths such as the centrality of the Church. Listen, Pray, Rejoice, Repent & love the Church like God does.

Jesus takes the gloves off with the visiting Pharisees when they complain that, while all of Galilee may be healed, His disciples weren't following the traditions of the elders. Jesus justly calls them a bunch of hypocrites and then uses a teachable moment to explain to the people where defilement actually comes from.

Disclosure: There is an audio issue in the back half of the recording.

The last section of Mark 6 maps our the last two months of Jesus' 2nd year of public ministry. He can no longer keep his fame at bay. Word is out and Jesus is swamped & surrounded...with the sick, lame, blind, & possessed. They come hopeless and leave hope filled. Saving Faith makes all the difference.

The disciples were exhausted, Jesus was beyond tired & the crowds were clueless. Sounds like ministry to me. Jesus sends his men away to sail back to the home base, dismisses the crowd that wants to forcibly make him King & hikes up a mountain to pray. All of this to show his guys the difficulty of obeying with out his help. We've much to learn as did the disciples.