As we think about the kind of culture we want at Redeemer around the Scriptures, we come first to consider how Jesus handled the Scriptures. His method of teaching, along with the nature of the inerrant Word of God, become the central basis for how we teach and preach. Our commitment to verse-by-verse exposition with a careful eye on Christ in all the Scriptures is what we believe fuels a deep and abiding love for God.

The Reformation. A massive turning point in history. A major set of truths recovered for the Gospel. It is the Word of God alone, that teaches salvation by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone, to the Glory of God alone. A message we want all our kids to know, love, and live. We look back to move forward!

In this message, we explore the nature of Christian worship and why congregational singing is central to the life of the church. Drawing from Colossians 3, we unpack a helpful framework — worship has one author and object, two contexts, and three audiences — that reveals how singing together is far more than an emotional warm-up, but a formational practice that shapes our identity, stirs our imaginations, and roots us in the gospel story. We also look at why we are so prone to forget God's goodness, and how singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs is one of the key means God has given us to let the Word of Christ dwell richly among us.

Jesus in this text addresses weary people who were burdened by the pressures of the law and a legalistic system enforced by the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus provides us with one of the most comforting phrases in all of the Bible: "Come to me... and I will give you rest." In Christ, believers are able to find true soul rest, freedom from burdens, and peace for weary hearts.

We never stop following Jesus. That means we never stop laying down our lives for the sake of finding our greatest satisfaction in being a servant of the King. Jesus not only modeled being a Servant, but He also went to the cross as the Suffering-Servant and rose the Servant-King. We do not follow in the footsteps of Jesus, rather in our weakness we worship Jesus confident of what He has done to ransom us from sin’s curse. When our hearts are captured by the beauty of Jesus, we then find our ultimate purpose in knowing Him and making Him known. Let’s go disciple – Live out your identity, and let’s go disciple – Laying down our lives to see others follow Him.

The cross is not the end of the story. If it were, the messianic movement would have dissolved, the disciples dispersed, and the Gospel defeated. But, with all the human elements of authenticity, God declares the tomb empty and Jesus risen. The women-witnesses did not expect it and were shocked to hear of it. Then the Gospel of Mark abruptly closes, reminding us that the only appropriate response to this resurrection event beyond human comprehension is fear and awe - an emotion that ought to characterize the life and mission of every disciple of Jesus Christ.

Supernatural events mixed with deeply human suffering mark the cup Jesus embraced drinking from the Father. In these events the whole message of the Gospel, from Genesis to Revelation unfolds – the curse of sin, the wrath of God, the sacrifice of the Son, and the varied responses of human hearts. Come consider the significance of the contents of the cup.

With a torrent of mockery, Jesus endures the shaming of the soldiers and the crowd as he is tortured and crucified. The One who came to save those very individuals from their life of sin, now humiliate Him with their words and actions. Their historical actions betray the real motivations and behaviors of every human heart. But Jesus, bearing our guilt and absorbing our shame, stands ready to put His royal robe on all who trust Him, putting the power of shame to death once and for all.