Archival Post: Cast Your Nets Again

June 13, 2022 Nate Holdridge

One day, Jesus was taught the Word, using Peter's boat as his pulpit. Pushed off from the shore in the Sea of Galilee, Jesus spoke to his audience on the beach. Upon completion of his sermon, Jesus told Peter to go out and cast his nets. Peter said, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing, but at your word, I will let down the nets.” I know the Lord is asking some of you to step out in obedience to him, perhaps in areas where you've tried in the past, but seemingly to no avail.

Dealing With Chaotic Times (Mark 3:7-19)

June 1, 2022 Nate Holdridge

Many parts of this week’s passage are familiar to us. Jesus is presented as being famous far and wide. People from everywhere all come to see Jesus. We know why they are there—they want to see his miraculous power. Mark makes this clear: they came to him only after they heard all that he was doing. (12 Minute/3000 Words)

Jesus Has Authority Over All Spiritual Uncleanness (Mark 1:35-45)

March 23, 2022 Nate Holdridge

Mark doesn't refer often to Jesus' prayer life, but when he does Jesus is alone, and his ministry is in the balance. In the garden of Gethsemane, Mark presents Jesus praying to bolster his determination to get the kingdom through the means of his death on the cross (Mark 14:36). After feeding the 5,000, a time John tells us they wanted to take him by force and make him king, Jesus went up to the mountain to pray alone (Mark 6:45-52). (6 Minutes/1500 Words)

Jesus Has Authority Over All Natural Brokenness (Mark 1:29-34)

March 16, 2022 Nate Holdridge

On the same day he taught in the synagogue and delivered the man with the unclean spirit, Jesus went to the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Our modern equivalent would be going out to lunch or dinner after church services. And I imagine the disciples' minds were racing as they took Jesus to the house. Did that just happen? Did you guys see what I saw? What have we gotten ourselves into? (3 Minutes/900 Words)

You Are Called to Be His Disciple (Mark 1:16-20)

March 2, 2022 Nate Holdridge

Now we come to the location which the first half of Mark's book centers around, the Sea of Galilee. In those days, and sometimes in the Bible, it was also referred to as the Sea of Tiberias, the Lake or Sea of Gennesaret, or the Sea of Chinnereth. (10 Minutes/2900 Words)

Follow #48 -- Why Was Jesus Crucified? -- Mark 15:16-47

March 28, 2021 Nate Holdridge

In our passage today, we will observe "Jesus Christ and him crucified." It is a stunning event, one we will continue to mine at our Good Friday service -- and every gathering of our church until he returns. Christianity, you see, is not centered upon tenets or doctrines or beliefs or behaviors, but on the events of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Cast Your Nets Again (Luke 5:4-5)

February 8, 2021 Nate Holdridge

The Forward Focus of God (Genesis 17:5)

June 4, 2020 Nate Holdridge

forward focus.jpg — The Forward Focus of God

(Genesis 17:5)

God is a renamer. He doesn't hesitate to take your old person and make you new. All through Scripture, God exemplifies his heart of renewal by renaming people he loved. (2 Minutes/600 Words)

A Guide for the Climb - Chapter 11 - Learn to Cry and Then Wait for God (Psalm 130)

April 8, 2020 Nate Holdridge

Our next song deals with one of the more difficult practices of the disciple's life, waiting for God. Because of who God is — and who we are — there are bound to be various stresses in our relationship with Him. He will confuse us at times. We will be frustrated with Him at times. If God is infinite, flawless and perfect and I am finite, sinful and imperfect, then it stands to reason that I will become frustrated in my relationship with him at times. (14 Minutes/3600 Words)