Evergreen Church - Bloomington Messages

Sermon in a sentence: "Growth starts with grace, not grit."Action Step: Start with who you are, not what you do.

Today we are continuing our look ahead to MTOC which is our annual local mission trip that we do as a church. And in preparation for that we wanted to have a few conversations centered around outreach and sharing our faith. And so joining us for this to help us get ready for this is Pastor Rob. Today will be the second in a two part conversation where we first looked at 10 lies that people believe that prevent them from sharing their faith which was last week’s episode. This week we will go practical and discuss how to go about sharing your faith and the methods we have used as a church.

Today we are continuing our look ahead to MTOC which is our annual local mission trip that we do as a church. And in preparation for that we wanted to have a few conversations centered around outreach and sharing our faith. And so joining us for the next couple of weeks to help us get ready for this is Pastor Rob. Today will be the first in a two part conversation where we first look at 10 lies that people believe that prevent them from sharing their faith.

About two months ago, we sent a team to Milan, Italy to work alongside our mission partners at Le Refugio church led by Pastor Frank Apisa and his wife Pam as well as missionaries, Justin and Amanda Lehtonen, who moved to Milan several years ago to help build the church and bring the gospel to the people of Italy. This week, we have assembled all 9 members from that trip to share some reflections and lessons learned from our time in Italy. 04:33 Mike Langlois12:19 Danielle Jacobsen22:56 Zelphia Brown41:26 Noah Brown54:06 Kitt Guerrier01:02:20 Micah Metzger01:19:12 Jennifer Hoffman01:28:17 Ethan Hasz01:38:21 Jesse Roskamp

Sermon in a Sentence:"Jesus’s priority was always people."Application:Prioritize the mission and make room for MTOC. (hometownchurch.com/mtoc)

This week we continue with Mark Chapter 16. Last week, we read about the death of Jesus, his trial before Pilate, the suffering he endured on the cross and his final moments as he offered up his life as a sacrifice for our sins. This week we reach the good news and we finish the gospel of Mark and discuss the strange ending to the story.

Sermon in a sentence: "Jesus does not need your resume, but your willingness."Action step: Please view the video linked below about how to start sharing the gospel.

This week we continue with Mark Chapter 15. Last week, we read about Jesus’ final moments before being arrested as he taught his disciplines about the meaning of his death through the symbolism of Passover, prayed in the garden in agony, was betrayed and abandoned by his disciples and eventual arrested and handed over to the Jewish council for an unjust trial. This week reached the hardest moments of Jesus’ life as he is beaten mocked and crucified.

Sermon in a sentence: "Jesus calls you to the current, but His grace holds your course.Action Steps:- Define the Line.- Let Grace Empower You- Be Influential without Imitation- Remember Who You Belong To.

This week we continue with chapter 14 of the Gospel of Mark. As Jesus reaches the final hours of his life, he's has an interaction with a woman who wants to give him a generous gift, he teaches his disciples about the meaning of his death through the symbolism of the passover meal and is betrayed and abandoned by all of his disciples as he is arrested and taken before the Jewish council.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:How has your past influenced how you deal with conflict?How have you struggled as a couple with unresolved conflict in your marriage? What is currently unresolved? Looking at I Peter 3, what are you learning that might help?

Sermon in a sentence: "Truth stands—so should you."Action Steps:Culture is always teaching—make sure your kids are learning truth from you.

This week we continue with Mark Chapter 13. We find ourselves right in the middle of Holy week. Jesus has made his way to Jerusalem for the Passover and has been spending the days leading up to the feast speaking in the temple being challenged by Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians and an many others trying to get him to slip up so that they can arrest him. Now as he and his disciples make their way out of the city, Jesus takes the opportunity in private to reveal to his followers things that are yet to come.

Sermon in a Sentence: "In a world where everyone has an opinion, don’t follow your heart. Follow your Savior."Application:Will you keep walking the road that feels right to you? Will you listen for the voice of God saying, “This is the way—walk in it”?     

This week we continue with Mark Chapter 12. Jesus has made his way to Jerusalem for the big showdown with the those in positions of authority. And last week he made his presence felt as he rode into town on the back of a donkey fulfilling prophecy, cleared out the temple courts and challenged the Pharisees as they tried to test him on his authority. This week Jesus continues to be tested in a variety of ways as he takes on challenges from every direction during the Passover week.

Sermon in a sentence: "Fix your eyes on what is eternal!"Action Steps/Application:1. Acceptance of what God has given you 2. Gratitude for we know God is using it all and bringing us to our eternal home  

This week we continue with Mark Chapter 11. And here we reach the beginning of the end of the story as Jesus and his disciples reach Jerusalem. The first 7 chapters we focus on Jesus and his ministry in the region of Galilee as he proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom of God slowly revealing himself as the Messiah along the way. Then in chapters 8 through 10 we transitioned as Jesus began his journey south towards Jerusalem and began to unpack what that meant, what his mission truly was and what it means to follow him. Now pivot again as Jesus makes his triumphant entry into Jerusalem for the Passover week ready to confront the religious, political and most importantly spiritual powers of the world.

Sermon in a Sentence: "Whatever feeds you leads you."Application: Check your soil.1. What are you planted in?2. What’s feeding you?3. What’s planted next to you?