When his opponents try to trap Jesus in a high-stakes theological debate about divorce, he reframes both the question and the answer around God. The transformative news that God abandons no one is exactly what saves us from treating relationships — including our relationship with God — as consumers who simply trade up when something better comes along.

Series: The Gospel of Mark
Speaker: Paul Stiver
Hope Community Church - North Lakes

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Jesus uses the misguided actions of the disciples to dial up his teaching on discipleship and what it means to belong to him. He is the one who sets the terms on who is in and who is out - and what that looks like. Jesus demands nothing less than an exclusive allegiance and ultimate obedience. Amazingly, he expects that we will gladly give things up for the sake of belonging to him and by doing so, we will find life.

Series: The Gospel of Mark
Speaker: Paul Stiver
Hope Community Church - North Lakes

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At a time of arguing among the disciples, Jesus points to a child to redefine greatness. Only when we recognize our need and dependence do we begin to see how upside-down true greatness really is. Only when we understand how God receives us will we ever show kindness to those who can offer nothing in return.When we experience the freedom of grace, we become servants—people who no longer step on others, but serve them in life-giving ways.

Series: The Gospel of Mark
Speaker: Paul Stiver
Hope Community Church - North Lakes

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We live in a world focused on technique and optimization, but we aren’t immune to times of pain and failure when life feels out of control. In Mark 9, a father’s prayer in a moment of complete helplessness reveals the shape of true prayer and the nature of faith. Where do we look when life is out of control? The answer to that question has the power to sink us or transform us.

Series: The Gospel of Mark
Speaker: Paul Stiver
Hope Community Church - North Lakes

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The Transfiguration in Mark 9 is Jesus pulling back the curtain on his own glory, but he uses resurrection language that confuses the disciples. What does Jesus rising from the dead mean? What does it mean for you? Jesus rising from the dead means that goodbyes aren't forever, and our vindication comes not from within us, but from outside of us.

Series: The Gospel of Mark
Speaker: Paul Stiver
Hope Community Church - North Lakes

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For more resources or to learn more about Hope North Lakes, visit hopecc.com/northlakes

God loves and desires every part of us, not just the best parts. The gospel declares that it is the worst in us that draws God closer, and he longs to transform our ugliness to resemble his beauty. God wants all of us. Discipleship is a union with Christ that demands all of you, defines you most of all, and transforms you all the way.

Series: The Gospel of Mark
Speaker: Paul Stiver
Hope Community Church - North Lakes

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A simple argument about bread turns into a spiritual eye exam. By connecting the healing of a blind man with Peter’s confession, Mark reveals that true sight is a gift of grace—formed not by human reasoning, but by seeing Jesus rightly in his death for sinners.

Series: The Gospel of Mark
Speaker: Paul Stiver
Hope Community Church - North Lakes

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Why in the world did the very people who should have recognized Jesus so ardently reject him? Take a look at this week’s passage to see how an attitude of demandingness can lead you straight away from God.

Series: The Gospel of Mark
Speaker: Steve Treichler
Hope Community Church - North Lakes

For more resources or to learn more about Hope North Lakes, visit hopecc.com/northlakes