Ada Presbyterian Church Pulpit Podcast

Sunday - The King Rises From the Dead - Mark 16

We're so used to the Easter story ending on a happy note, that it's hard for us to make sense of the ending of Mark's gospel--he ends by telling us the women who discovered the empty tomb were afraid.  Why end on a note of fear?  What is Mark trying to communicate?  Join us for today's Easter Sunday message.

Friday - The King Dies for His People - Mark 15

On Good Friday, we sometimes ask:  why did Jesus have to die?  The short answer is that he died for our sins.  Author and priest Fleming Rutledge poses a follow-up question:  why did Jesus have to die by crucifixion?  Jesus didn't just die any old death; he died one of the cruelest ways possible.  Join us today as we explore this question in our Lenten series on Holy Week.

Thursday - The King Hosts a Meal - Mark 14

One of the practices held in common by all Christians is communion.  Call it the Lord's Supper, the Eucharist, or Holy Communion - we all believe something deeply significant happened when Jesus broke bread with his disciples on Thursday of Holy Week.  Join us for today's message to witness history being made and to learn about the significances of this meal.

Wednesday - The King Is Not Impressed - Mark 12

In the middle of Holy Week, Jesus holds up two models of discipleship: one is rooted in showmanship and status updates.  Jesus is not impressed with this group.  The other is embodied in the widow, who brought her two small coins.  She comes and lays down her life; she is the model disciple.  Join us for our Lenten series as we explore this important contrast.

Tuesday - The King Meets a Rebellion

As Jesus enters the dog days of Holy Week, he is met with resistance.  In response, he tells the parable of the vineyard to show how shocking and offensive it is to resist the son of God.  We often speak of the benefits of receiving Jesus, and to be sure, there are many.  But we also need to realize that when we reject him, we are not taking a neutral stance, we are opposing the thrust of God's activity in the world.

Monday - The King Cleans House

The stage is set for Holy Week.  Jesus entered Jerusalem as its king.  He is about to overthrow the tables of the moneychangers in the temple.  But on the way, he stops to curse a fig tree.  Some complain that Jesus was being petty.  Like so many things in the Bible, there's more going on beneath the surface.  Join us this week for our Lenten Series on the days of Holy Week.

Sunday--The King Comes Home - Mark 11:1-11

Our Lenten Series kicks off today with a deep dive into the days of Holy Week.  As we get close to Easter, we start to see articles and news pieces exploring the identity of Jesus -- who is this guy who changed the world?  Today, as the crowds line the road to Jerusalem, and see Jesus ride in on a donkey, we learn he is the King Coming Home.

Deut 30 - A God Within Reach

When you're on the run, you can sometimes feel like you've run right off the edge of the earth.  Nobody sees you; nobody knows you, or cares.  But when we run from God, we find that he is never so far away that we can't come back.  In fact he invites and empowers us to come back to him.  Join us today as we wrap up our series on Deuteronomy.

Deut 28 - Blessings and Curses

Some people describe themselves as cursed.  They have wandered very far from God, and they feel as if they're in spiritual exile with no way back.  It is true that when we follow God's law we are more likely to find blessing than not.  But it'a also true that God has provided a way out of our sin-cursed lives through the gracious work of Jesus. 

Deut 24 - See The Poor

The 8th commandment tells us not to steal.  Many of us think we're pretty good at keeping that one, but when we look at Moses' expanded version of this command, we find that it also touches on issues of economic justice.  Do we promote the welfare of the poor?  Do we see them as people?  Do we care about those trafficked?  Once again, Deuteronomy strengthens the law and surprises us with its modern relevance.