Posts by Mark Lautenschlager
For the week of July 11th
View Previous Weeks Welcome to Week 13 in our series from the gospel of Mark and to Mark chapter 13 where we continue to see the mission of Jesus unfold before us. This week’s chapter contains the Olivet Discourse, so named because Jesus taught his disciples on the Mount of Olives. It is primarily concerned with the future. Tribulation is coming, said Jesus, so don’t let…
Prepare for Worship (weekend of July 9th)
Hey Church! This verse was on my mind today: “…God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance…” (Rom. 2:4) It would be unusual to find an earthly boss, parent, or any other form of leader who led their people to do the right thing, not by a stern application of rules but by inexhaustible kindness. How strange would that be to us? But the fact that God leads…
For the week of July 4th
View Previous Weeks Welcome to Week 12 in our series from the gospel of Mark and to Mark chapter 12 where we continue to see the mission of Jesus unfold before us. There is a common thread running through all the stories from this week’s chapter. In each case, they have lost sight of something, either the claim God has to them or the infinite value of God. Look for those…
Prepare for Worship (weekend of July 2nd)
Hello Rio! When I was a kid, my dad was often amazed at how quickly his four sons destroyed new things. We routinely heard the line: “This is why we can’t have nice things.” One time, my brother Matt lost a new pair of shoes in the ditch behind our house after they were swallowed by the deep mud. For years to come, any question about the location of an object was met with…
For the week of June 27th
View Previous Weeks Welcome to week 11 of our study from the gospel of Mark and to Mark chapter 11 as well. Every part of this chapter contains a richness of truth that we could spend hours in, each day. But that’s not what Personal Worship is about. We want to spend about 15-20 minutes reading the word, considering its wisdom, reflecting on questions, and praying. So I…
Prepare for Worship (weekend of June 25th)
Hello Rio! How would you respond if I told you that the scientific and academic communities had discovered that a simple habit could provide you with stunning physical and mental health benefits? No injections required. No prescriptions necessary. This simple practice has existed for thousands of years. In the last few decades, several major universities, government…
For the week of June 20th
View Previous Weeks Welcome to week 10 of our study from the gospel of Mark and, rather handily, to Mark chapter 10. Every part of this chapter contains a richness of truth that we could spend hours in, each day. But that’s not what Personal Worship is about. We want to spend about 15-20 minutes reading the word, considering its wisdom, reflecting on questions, and…
Prepare for Worship (weekend of June 18th)
Hey, Church! This week I have been thinking a lot about gratitude. I need more of it in my life. Anxieties about the future? Yep, I’ve got plenty of those. Frustrations with present life circumstances? Check! A list of blessings a mile long? Well, I don’t think about that list quite as often. But the Spirit reminded me this week that that list is immeasurably longer and,…
For the week of June 13th
View Previous Weeks Welcome to Week 9 of our study in the Gospel of Mark, and the week in which we switch from seeking to understand the identity of Jesus to understanding his mission. What had Jesus come to do? What does he expect his followers to do? We are surveying all of chapter 9 this week and there are two things I’d like to say. First, there is simply no way in…
Prepare for Worship (weekend of June 11th)
Hey, Church! We will have the privilege and joy of sharing a communion meal this Sunday! To prepare our hearts and minds to receive the bread and wine (or, cracker and juice) with sincerity and faith, I thought it would be appropriate to focus this weekend’s meditation on the significance of that sacrament. To do that, I want to diverge from my usual talking points on the…