Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 2/21/2021) I’ve heard it said that “the main thing is to keep the Main Thing the main thing.” How true that is! In today’s message, a scribe asks Jesus what the most important commandment is, and Jesus answers Him that we are to love the Lord with all our hearts,…

by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (2/14/2021) The Sadducees did not believe in the Resurrection or spirit world, and they came to Jesus in an effort to “trip Him up” with a hypothetical question that they felt He sure couldn’t answer. As Jesus was wont to do, He once again turned the matter around and taught…

Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 1/31/2021) The second attempt of the religious leaders to entrap Jesus ended in spectacular failure just like the first! They tried to bait Him into jumping into the political frays of the day, but Jesus would have none of it. As was His practice, He turned their question back upon…

by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 1/24/2021) In this sermon, we begin looking at four different episodes in the last week leading up to Calvary in which the religious leaders send people to question Jesus. Their questioning was NOT in good faith – rather, they were attempting to lay a trap for Him and try…

by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (01/17/2021) As Jesus was coming back into Jerusalem after His triumphal entry the day before, He came across a fig tree that looked really promising from afar. Its leaves were green and full, but upon closer inspection it had no figs – it was nothing but leaves, and Jesus cursed…

by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (1/3/2021) When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt, He wasn’t just using the most convenient manner of transportation! He was fulfilling prophecy in a very real and specific way. He was also preaching a gospel message in a symbolic way! Join us as we learn of the Scripture and…

by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor In this passage of Mark’s gospel, we read about Blind Bartimaeus, who called out to Jesus as He passed by on the road. And then we read an amazing statement: “And Jesus stood still.” Remember, this was the very Christ Whose face was set like a flint toward Calvary! How…

By Elder Chris McCool, Pastor The world’s theory of success can be summed up in the immortal (and false!) words of Ricky Bobby from the movie “Talladega Nights”: “If you’re not first, you’re last!” As many people do, he lived his life always promoting himself and putting others last. Jesus, on the other hand, taught…

by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor Up to this point, Jesus has been teaching his disciples gently about His true purpose in coming to earth, and walking beside them in the way. But here we read that He “went before them, and they were amazed,” and then He taught them in plain words about what He…

In the tenth chapter of the Gospel of Mark, a rich young man came running to Jesus with an urgent question: what must I do to inherit eternal life? Rather than rebuke him outright for his misunderstanding about how to get eternal life, Jesus answered him according to his way of thinking. In doing so,…

By Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (November 15, 2020) One of the primary implications of the Cross was the renewed emphasis on charity (love) instead of Law: legalism will destroy the Kingdom of God, whereas love will enrich it! Thus teaches Jesus in this passage, using the example of marriage and children in the Kingdom. Please…

By Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (November 1, 2020) In this message, Elder Chris McCool continues his exposition of Mark 9 as Jesus teaches some lessons to His disciples about the implications of His upcoming death, burial, and resurrection. While they did not fully grasp all that He was teaching them, nonetheless He showed them how…