Sermons

Reformed sermons preached at our church.

They All Said Likewise

How far are you willing to follow someone?  Are you willing to follow someone, even to your death?  Who you are going to follow, and when it is fool hearty to give up your life, and when it is noble, isn’t always so easy to tell.  This tension is behind our passage for today in Mark.  The disciples will be instantly confronted with a choice.  How far are they willing to follow Jesus?  By this point, Jesus had repeatedly told them that his future held suffering and death.  At this point, that suffering and death is imminent.  It will be that very night that Jesus is betrayed by Judas.  The next day he will be convicted, beaten, and hung on the cross to his death.  That was Jesus’ imminent future.  Would they stand by Jesus at that time?  Would they faithfully follow Jesus all the way to the end?  What the disciples thought isn’t what Jesus knew would happen.  In this sermon we’ll see how the loving Shepherd takes care of his wayward sheep.

Passage: Mark 14:27-31
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 01/25/2009 in Novato, CA.

Manuscript: They All Said Likewise

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Share

The Blood of the Covenant

We live in a world very concerned about legal matters.  Breach of contract is a very serious thing.  And that is fitting.  People who enter into contracts should plan to keep the promises that they are making.

In our passage for today, Jesus talks about something kind of like contracts.  He talks about covenants.  But he talks about covenants in the context of instituting the Lord’s Supper.  He speaks of his blood being the blood of the new covenant.  Let’s look what the Lord’s Supper has to do about the creating of a new covenant.

Passage: Mark 14:22-26
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 01/18/2009 in Novato, CA.

Manuscript: The Blood of the Covenant

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Share

Surely Not I?

Have you ever been betrayed?  In our passage for today, Jesus predicts his own betrayal.  One of his closest friends would betray him to his death.  That is amazing: that Jesus knowingly entrusted himself to someone who would break that trust.  Why?  Why does Jesus allow himself to be betrayed?  And why he is telling this to the twelve here?  Let’s study this passage to find out.

Passage: Mark 14:12-21
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 01/11/2009 in Novato, CA.

Click here for the manuscript.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Share

As a Memorial

In our society we have all sorts of memorials (presidential libraries, gravestones at cemeteries, statues, monuments, etc).  And of course our lives, and the things we do, can leave a lasting memorial or legacy.  And that’s why I bring this up today.  You see, as we look at this passage, we find Jesus in verse 9 talking about how this woman’s actions would be memorialized.  This woman’s actions would leave a legacy.  And as we think about this woman’s legacy, I believe this passage calls us to consider our own lives.  Will we leave a legacy to be remembered?  If so, what will that look like?  Jesus shows us in this passage how to live so as to leave a legacy.

Passage: Mark 14:1-11
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 01/04/2009 in Novato, CA.

Click here for the manuscript.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Share