Athey Creek: Audio Podcast

A lot is happening as Jesus journeys back and forth between Jerusalem and Bethany in Mark 10:31-11:33. As He travels, He tells His disciples exactly what will happen to Him, teaches them about humility, and fulfills prophecy as He borrows a donkey to ride into Jerusalem on a long-ago precisely determined day.

A blind man named Bartimaeus cries out to Jesus for healing from his affliction in Mark 10:46-52. As we look into his beautiful act of faith, we see a model of how to come to Jesus, what we can expect when we ask Him for help, and how our lives can be radically changed when we follow Him.

Marriage, divorce, children, and wealth are all extremely hot topics in our modern culture – but did you know they were also highly controversial and debated in Jesus’ day? As Jesus addresses these issues in Mark 10:1-30, we hear His paradoxical responses and learn how to view them biblically despite current views and narratives.

A rich young ruler comes to Jesus in Mark 10:17-27 asking what he must do to be saved. And the answer Jesus gives is astounding! As we hear what Jesus says, we see what the rich young ruler lacked, how various snares can keep us from Jesus, and why we should accept His free gift of salvation.

Jesus and three of His disciples ascend a mountain in Mark 9 and what happens next – known as the transfiguration – is a fascinating event that raises many questions. As we seek to break down what happened, we learn important information about Jesus’ kingdom, see the disciples' reactions, and hear what happened after they came down.

We join Jesus as He travels around the Decapolis region and makes more headlines by feeding 4,000 people, curbing the Pharisees' intrigues, and healing another blind man. As we study these events in Mark 8, we see Jesus as our provider, Messiah, and one worthy of following boldly.

After the disciples failed to help, a man with a demon-possessed son comes to Jesus in Mark 9:14-29 asking for healing and relief from the tormenting spirit. As Jesus addresses the situation, we see how demonic activity manifests in our day and how we – especially fathers – should respond.

After calling out the Pharisees on their vain traditions, Jesus has more to say about the condition of our hearts and what defiles us in Mark 7. Then we find Him traveling through the region, healing people to demonstrate His love and compassion for everyone, showing us how to minister to others, and doing all things well.

The Pharisees confront Jesus after finding fault in His disciples for violating their rules and question Him as to why they are not following their traditions. As Jesus answers in Mark 7:1-13, we learn how to think about traditions, if, when, and how we should cover or expose sins, and how the Word of God is always the authority on our actions.

Have you ever had a golden opportunity? Did you take advantage of it, or did you miss it? In Mark 6, we see people presented with opportunities to experience what Jesus has to offer in forgiveness, salvation, and healing. As we watch how they respond, may we be those who don’t miss out on the opportunity to know Jesus.

Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth in Mark 6:1-6 to a chilly reception and an outraged community that prevented Him from performing miracles there. As we learn why Jesus faced such rejection from His hometown, we find many of the same reasons people still reject Jesus today.

In a risky move, a religious leader falls before Jesus to ask Him to come heal his sick daughter. This request sets off a chain of events in Mark 5:21-43 that will show Jesus’ power over sickness and death, His compassion upon everyone, and that we can trust Him to keep His promises through delays and interruptions, despite ridicule and risk, and in the most extreme circumstances.

After years of suffering, pain, and failed medical treatments, a woman hears about Jesus and hatches a plan to touch the hem of His garment, hoping for healing from her condition. As she carries out her bold action in Mark 5:25-34, the woman not only receives the healing she needs but also serves as an example for us to come to Jesus for salvation and to seek Him first, no matter what we are facing.

Jesus’ ministry is in full swing in Mark 4:21-5:20 as He travels about teaching parables and demonstrating His power over demons. As we hear what He has to say and watch events unfold, we learn important lessons on compromise, caring for others, sharing the Word, and identifying good and bad seeds.

Jesus and His disciples are crossing the sea of Galilee in Mark 4:35-41 when a fierce storm threatens to swamp and sink their boat. As we watch Jesus calm the wind and waves, we learn how to face the storms we will all undoubtedly encounter by placing our trust in Jesus and the peace only He can provide.

Jesus shares the parable of the sower and the seeds in Mark 4:1-20, emphasizing the importance of listening to what He is saying with an ear to understand. As we try to do just that by digging into some underlying concepts, pictures, and theology, we see common threads that span the Bible and unlock essential truths about God’s plan for humanity and how we should live as Christians.

As Jesus gains notoriety, He begins to attract the attention of the public and the indignation of the religious leaders. As we watch how He interacts with both groups in Mark 3, we see Him respond to the crowds with compassion and love and to the religious leaders with logic and righteous anger as they accuse and criticize Him.

Jesus has assembled His team of 12 disciples in Mark 3:13-19 – but they aren’t exactly the dream team. So then, why did Jesus select these men? As we study, we see what Jesus saw in them, learn what it means to be chosen, and why we, too, are the perfect picks when we decide to follow Jesus.

As Jesus travels around the region preaching, healing, performing miracles, and associating with known sinners, He begins to gain fame among the crowds ­and draw the ire of the religious leaders. As we watch Jesus’ ministry unfold in Matthew 1:35-2:28, we see His model for prayer, how He interacted with sinners, and learn that love supersedes the law and tradition.

As Jesus preaches to a jam-packed house in Capernaum, four enterprising friends dig through the roof to lower a paralyzed man to Him for healing. As we watch the story unfold in Matthew 2:1-12, we see what the participants' perspectives teach us about friendship, faith, and forgiveness and how this scene serves as a model for the church today.