Series Title: “Faith in the Real World: The Call, Cost, and Joy of Discipleship”
This series follows Jesus; ministry through the Gospel of Mark (with a summer detour into John 6), exploring how faith is tested, deepened, and lived out amid real-world challenges—fear, rejection, hunger, and misunderstanding. It also shows how grace, healing, compassion, and truth sustain us.
June 8 - Welcome the Rev. Julianne Smith
Gospel: John 14:8-27
Supporting Texts: Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 2:1-21
Focus: Though the disciples struggle with Jesus; nature and identity, they receive the promise that they too will be identified with God and God's mission. Hough he must leave them now, Jesus promises the coming of the Advocate whom God will send to comfort and enlighten them.
June 15 - Welcome the Rev. Russ Adams
Gospel: John 16:12-15
Supporting Texts: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Romans 5:1-5
Focus: Jesus' ongoing presence with the disciples will be made known through the coming Spirit who will guide them and communicate to them Jesus' will and glory.
June 22 - “Faith Over Fear”
Gospel: Mark 4:35-41
Supporting Texts: Job 38:1-11; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32
Focus: Jesus calms storms—literal and metaphorical. Faith doesn't prevent storms but anchors us within them.
June 29 - “Healing Faith, Restored Lives”
Gospel: Mark 5:21-43
Supporting Texts: Lamentations 3:22-33; 2 Corinthians 8:7-15; Psalm 30
Focus: Jesus responds to deep desperation. Faith, even imperfect, brings life.
July 6 - “Rejection and the Call”
Gospel: Mark 6:1-13
Supporting Texts: Ezekiel 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 12:2-10; Psalm 123
Focus: Prophetic ministry means being misunderstood. Jesus sends us anyway.
July 13 - “The Cost of Courage”
Gospel: Mark 6:14-29
Supporting Texts: Amos 7:7-15; Ephesians 1:3-4; Psalm 85:8-13
Focus: Speaking truth has consequences. John the Baptist models faith under fire.
July 20 - “Compassion at the Core”
Gospel: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Supporting Texts: Jeremiah 23:1-6; Ephesians 2:11-22; Psalm 23
Focus: Ministry flows from compassion, not obligation. Jesus cares for the crows and the disciples.
July 27 - “More Than Enough”
Gospel: John 6:1-21
Supporting Texts: 2 Kings 4:42-44; Ephesians 3:14-21; Psalm 145:10-18
Focus: God's abundance stretches beyond our logic. Jesus feeds and sustains body and soul.
August 3 - “The Bread that Endures”
Gospel: John 6:24-35
Supporting Texts: Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15; Ephesians 4:1-16; Psalm 78:23-29
Focus: What are we really hungry for? Jesus offers food that doesn't spoil.
August 10 - “Drawn and Fed by God”
Gospel: John 6:35, 41-51
Supporting Texts: 1 Kings 19:4-8; Ephesians 4:25—5:2; Psalm 34:1-8
Focus: God draws us, feeds us, and strengthens us for the journey.
August 17 - “Feeding on Christ”
Gospel: John 6:51-58
Supporting Texts: Proverbs 9:1-6; Ephesians 5:15-20; Psalm 34:9-14
Focus: Communion is not just ritual but relationship—abiding in Christ.
August 24 - “Hard Teachings, Lasting Life”
Gospel: John 6:56-69
Supporting Texts: Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18; Ephesians 6:10-20; Psalm 84
Focus: Faithfulness means staying when things are hard. “Lord, to whom shall we go?”
August 31 - “Clean Hands or a Clean Heart?”
Gospel: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Supporting Texts: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9; James 1:17-27; Psalm 15
Focus: God desires inner transformation. Our hearts—not rituals—reflect our discipleship.
This series follows Jesus; ministry through the Gospel of Mark (with a summer detour into John 6), exploring how faith is tested, deepened, and lived out amid real-world challenges—fear, rejection, hunger, and misunderstanding. It also shows how grace, healing, compassion, and truth sustain us.
June 8 - Welcome the Rev. Julianne Smith
Gospel: John 14:8-27
Supporting Texts: Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 2:1-21
Focus: Though the disciples struggle with Jesus; nature and identity, they receive the promise that they too will be identified with God and God's mission. Hough he must leave them now, Jesus promises the coming of the Advocate whom God will send to comfort and enlighten them.
June 15 - Welcome the Rev. Russ Adams
Gospel: John 16:12-15
Supporting Texts: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Romans 5:1-5
Focus: Jesus' ongoing presence with the disciples will be made known through the coming Spirit who will guide them and communicate to them Jesus' will and glory.
June 22 - “Faith Over Fear”
Gospel: Mark 4:35-41
Supporting Texts: Job 38:1-11; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32
Focus: Jesus calms storms—literal and metaphorical. Faith doesn't prevent storms but anchors us within them.
June 29 - “Healing Faith, Restored Lives”
Gospel: Mark 5:21-43
Supporting Texts: Lamentations 3:22-33; 2 Corinthians 8:7-15; Psalm 30
Focus: Jesus responds to deep desperation. Faith, even imperfect, brings life.
July 6 - “Rejection and the Call”
Gospel: Mark 6:1-13
Supporting Texts: Ezekiel 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 12:2-10; Psalm 123
Focus: Prophetic ministry means being misunderstood. Jesus sends us anyway.
July 13 - “The Cost of Courage”
Gospel: Mark 6:14-29
Supporting Texts: Amos 7:7-15; Ephesians 1:3-4; Psalm 85:8-13
Focus: Speaking truth has consequences. John the Baptist models faith under fire.
July 20 - “Compassion at the Core”
Gospel: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Supporting Texts: Jeremiah 23:1-6; Ephesians 2:11-22; Psalm 23
Focus: Ministry flows from compassion, not obligation. Jesus cares for the crows and the disciples.
July 27 - “More Than Enough”
Gospel: John 6:1-21
Supporting Texts: 2 Kings 4:42-44; Ephesians 3:14-21; Psalm 145:10-18
Focus: God's abundance stretches beyond our logic. Jesus feeds and sustains body and soul.
August 3 - “The Bread that Endures”
Gospel: John 6:24-35
Supporting Texts: Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15; Ephesians 4:1-16; Psalm 78:23-29
Focus: What are we really hungry for? Jesus offers food that doesn't spoil.
August 10 - “Drawn and Fed by God”
Gospel: John 6:35, 41-51
Supporting Texts: 1 Kings 19:4-8; Ephesians 4:25—5:2; Psalm 34:1-8
Focus: God draws us, feeds us, and strengthens us for the journey.
August 17 - “Feeding on Christ”
Gospel: John 6:51-58
Supporting Texts: Proverbs 9:1-6; Ephesians 5:15-20; Psalm 34:9-14
Focus: Communion is not just ritual but relationship—abiding in Christ.
August 24 - “Hard Teachings, Lasting Life”
Gospel: John 6:56-69
Supporting Texts: Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18; Ephesians 6:10-20; Psalm 84
Focus: Faithfulness means staying when things are hard. “Lord, to whom shall we go?”
August 31 - “Clean Hands or a Clean Heart?”
Gospel: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Supporting Texts: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9; James 1:17-27; Psalm 15
Focus: God desires inner transformation. Our hearts—not rituals—reflect our discipleship.