By Chris Chambers
Pastor, Brush Creek Baptist Church, Brush Creek

Focal Passage: Mark 10:35-45

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Jesus came as a servant. He did not come the first time to be exalted or worshiped. He came to serve. Hebrews 2:9 says we “see Jesus — made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God’s grace he might taste death for everyone.” Philippians 2:7 says He “emptied Himself by assuming the form of a servant.” What does someone who serves look like? They look like Jesus. [Read more…]

By Chris Chambers
Pastor, Brush Creek Baptist Church, Brush Creek

Focal Passage: Mark 15:27-39

When I see the word “saves” I think of the ninth inning of a baseball game. If the game is close by one or two runs, the team in the lead will typically bring in their closer to try and get the “save.” The closer is in the game to save, or preserve the lead.

Jesus does so much more than that. We are not in the lead when He saves us. We are not even close to being in the lead. Ephesians 2:1 says, “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins.” [Read more…]

By Chris Chambers
Pastor, Brush Creek Baptist Church, Brush Creek 

Focal Passage: Mark 9:14-27

In Mark 9:14-18, we see the obedience of a demon commanded by Jesus to come out of a man’s son who had sought Jesus but, initially found only his disciples. The disciples could do nothing with the demon. Jesus, however, commanded the demon to come out and it did. 

This is always the result when Jesus confronts demons. He commands and they obey — no questions asked. He even commands them at times to remain silent about who he is, and they do. They never resist Jesus or hesitate to obey his commands.  [Read more…]

By Chris Chambers
Pastor, Brush Creek Baptist Church, Brush Creek

Focal Passage: Mark 7:25-37

In the episode recorded in Mark 7:24-30, Jesus encounters a Gentile woman who asks Jesus to cast out a demon from her daughter. Jesus seems to hesitate. His initial response to her seems to indicate the Jews were to take precedence over, and may even be better than, other peoples.

She asks for the “crumbs” from the Jews. Her faith in Jesus and His power, that just a crumb, would be sufficient, shows more faith than many of the Jews had. Jesus replies that her daughter is freed from the demon’s possession. While it may seem Gentiles, that is most of us, are second class citizens to God, we have actually been included in God’s plan from the beginning. [Read more…]

By Chris Chambers
Pastor, Brush Creek Baptist Church, Brush Creek

Focal Passage: Mark 6:7-13; 30-32

“Sends” is a verb. It implies action. This is something Jesus did with the 12 disciples in order for them to grow. This was a way to disciple the disciples. When Jesus sent His disciples to the villages in Israel, He sent them with a mission. They were to take His message with them and He sent them with His authority that included power over unclean spirits and also gave them the power to heal. [Read more…]