A Better Way – The Gospel of Mark

In this powerful continuation of our Gospel of Mark series, we explore what happens when Jesus confronts religion with something radically better—a brand new way of life in God’s Kingdom. In Mark 2:18–3:6, Jesus clashes with the religious leaders over fasting, Sabbath rules, and what it really means to follow God. His message? God doesn’t want your religious performance—He wants your presence.

📖 In this message, we’ll unpack:

Why fasting, Sabbath, and other spiritual practices can become burdens instead of blessings

How Jesus invites us into relationship, not rule-keeping

What it means to put new wine into new wineskins

How the Kingdom of God flips our assumptions about earning, approval, and “doing it right”

Why love—not duty—must be the lens for everything we do as followers of Jesus

Whether you’ve been burdened by religious expectations or are seeking a fresh experience of God's grace, this message will help you trade striving for abiding—and find that being with God is far greater than doing things for God.

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🕥 Sundays at 10:30am (in-person & online)
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TIME STAMPS:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:38] - Introduction to Mark 2
- [01:21] - Jesus' Response to Fasting
- [02:07] - New Wine in New Wineskins
- [03:37] - Spiritual Practices and Judgment
- [04:18] - The Role of Fasting
- [05:45] - Misunderstanding Spiritual Practices
- [07:15] - Doing for God vs. Being with God
- [08:47] - The Presence of God in Practices
- [10:24] - The Pharisees and the Sabbath
- [12:03] - Jesus' New Way
- [14:26] - The Disciples and the Grain Fields
- [17:13] - Understanding the Sabbath
- [19:14] - Jesus and David's Example
- [22:19] - The True Meaning of the Sabbath
- [26:10] - Love as the Fulfillment of the Law
- [29:11] - Healing on the Sabbath
- [32:29] - Conclusion: Being with God