johncrallison

In the Mark 5:21–43, we see two dramatically different people with dramatically different situations approach Jesus in dramatically different ways. The encounters play out in a way that shows us a great deal about Jesus and how we can approach Him. Contrasting Characters: Jairus and the Woman The two characters at the center of these … Read more

Jesus’ Authority, the Unforgivable Sin, and Redefining Family in the Kingdom of God By the time we get to Mark 3:20-35, we see Jesus drawing great crowds and beginning to encounter opposition from unexpected places. His family tries to take Him home because they think He has lost His mind. Some religious leaders accusing Jesus … Read more

For the next few weeks, we are going to walk through the Gospel of Mark. As we go through this Gospel, I encourage you to read it like a story. We often study the Bible a few verses at a time – a great thing, to be sure! – but in doing so, we don’t … Read more

“Bitterness is a poison you swallow hoping someone else gets sick.” I don’t know who said this, but it’s true. When you hold onto hurt — when you refuse to forgive — you are the one you are hurting. This has been a spiritual truth for millennia. More recently it has become a scientifically demonstrated … Read more

On Trinity Sunday, we reflect on the profound mystery of the Holy Trinity — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The Athanasian Creed (typically used only on Trinity Sunday because of its length and philosophical wordiness) clearly defines what Christians mean when they say they believe in the Trinity. God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit … Read more

(Note: This is a summary of a sermon preached on Pentecost Sunday 2024) Pentecost, a term derived from the Greek word for fifty, marks a significant event in the Christian calendar. Originally known as the Feast of Weeks in the Old Testament, this Jewish festival was celebrated fifty days after Passover. It was a time … Read more

I was running after a turkey down a long red hallway with lights on both walls every so often. Every time I reached out my hands to grab the turkey, it eluded my grasp. As I ran, the hallway stretched longer and longer. The lights flashed by as I ran ever faster but never fast … Read more

Of course, life is a nuanced affair filled with infinite variety. But I think the journey from agnostic to Christian in the foundational sense is as simple as a two-rung ladder. If you step onto this ladder, two short steps will get you believing in and exploring the person and work of Jesus Christ. The … Read more