Resources

An archive of our podcast and blog items.

I Am Willing — Be Cleansed!

Passage: Mark 1:40-45
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 02/17/2008 in Novato, CA.
Other Scripture Readings: Leviticus 13:45-46; Hebrews 13:10-13

Have you ever felt like an outcast?  In our passage for today, we see a leper who would have surely been just that – an outcast.  Among Israel, according to the Old Testament Law, lepers had to live alone outside the camp, away from everyone else, and wherever they went they would have to cry out “Unclean! Unclean!” as a warning to any around them.  And as we look at this passage and see Jesus heal this leper, we’ll see how this beautifully shows forth the nature of the kingdom which Jesus was bringing.  And we’ll see how the cleansing of this leper look forwards to the cleansing that Jesus would bring on the cross for all of us – for we all are ultimately outcasts from God because of our sinful rebellion.

Click here for the manuscript.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Share

For this Purpose I Have Come Forth

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Passage: Mark 1:14-45
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 02/10/2008 in Novato, CA.

Jesus had a plan and purpose in his ministry.  And as we study this passage today, we get a great glimpse of that purpose.  Verse 38 records Jesus talking explicitly about his purpose for coming when he says, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.” This chapter introduces what Jesus’ purpose in ministry was, by illustrating what Jesus was typically doing in his ministry. This chapter also shows a danger and threat to Jesus ministry, and by looking at that we’ll also get a better idea of his purpose in ministry.

Click here for the manuscript.

Share