Fusion: week of 4/26

FAMILY THEME: RETURN OF CHRIST

Mark 13:1-27

Jesus answered His disciples' questions about when He would

return to earth and what it would be like.

1.  The Return of Christ Will Be Preceded by False Teaching,

     Wars, and Natural Disasters

     (Mark 13:1-8)

     This triad of items heralding the approach of the actual end

     of time describes only the beginning of the end and not the

     end itself.

 
2.  The Return of Christ Will Be Preceded by Christians Being

     Persecuted

     (Mark 13:9-13)

     God's people have been persecuted since the beginning of

     time and most certainly will be up until the return of Christ.

     

3.  The Return of Christ Will Be Preceded by a Time of Terrible

     Tribulation

     (Mark 13:14-27)

     Even though tribulation has always existed, the Bible

     predicted a unique period of tribulation unlike any other

     within human history. Persecution, natural catastrophes,

     and even miracles will occur to an unprecedented degree

     shortly before the Second Coming of Christ.

Fusion: week of 4/19

FAMILY THEME: ASCENSION OF CHRIST

Luke 24:44-53

There were only 40 days between Jesus' resurrection on that first

Easter Sunday morning and His ascension back to the Father's 

right hand in Heaven.

1.  The Old Testament Scriptures Foretold Jesus' Death and

     Resurrection

     (Luke 24:44-46)

     The resurrected Jesus deliberately revealed the prophecies

     of His death and resurrection from the Old Testament Law,

     Psalms, and Prophets.

 
2.  Jesus Empowered His Followers to Proclaim the Gospel

     to All Peoples and Nations

     (Luke 24:47-49)

     The power of the gospel saves us. The power of the Holy

     Spirit guarantees an adequate means to deliver it.

     

3.  Jesus Ascended into Heaven, Having Completed His

     Earthly Ministry

     (Luke 24:50-53)

     Luke summarized his gospel account of the life of Christ

     as a transition to writing the Book of Acts.

Fusion: week of 4/12

FAMILY THEME: RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

Mark 15:16 - 16:8

We see the pain. We see the humiliation and injustice. But at the

cross of Jesus, if we do not also see the great love of a great

Savior, we have missed the point.

1.  Jesus Was Mocked and Nailed to a Cross for Our Salvation

     (Mark 15:16-32)

     With a thorny crown and scornful salutes, the soldiers

     pretended to give worship to the condemned prisoner.

     They took Jesus to Mount Calvary, and others joined 

     in their mockery.

 
2.  Jesus Died and Was Buried to Make Our Salvation Possible

     (Mark 15:33-47)

     Jesus' burial proved that He was unmistakably dead and

     removed Him from life in this world for three days.

     

3.  Jesus Was Raised From the Dead to Guarantee Our Salvation

     (Mark 16:1-8)

     On Sunday, everything changed. The stone was rolled

     away, the tomb was empty, and Jesus was risen!

Fusion: week of 4/5

FAMILY THEME: SUFFERING OF CHRIST

Mark 14:32-65

Christ was willing to suffer the rejection of His followers, the injustice

of His fellow citizens, the physical pain of death, and even the aban-

donment of His Father in order to purchase our salvation.

1.  Christ Suffered in Order to Accomplish God's Will

     (Mark 14:32-42)

     In the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ prayed that His Father

     would remove the "cup of suffering" from Him.

 
2.  Christ Suffered Because His Friends Betrayed and Abandoned Him

     (Mark 14:43-52)

     Even those who were closest to Jesus, His own disciples,

     fled when He was arrested by the Jewish rulers.

     

3.  Christ Suffered Because the World Hates the Truth

     (Mark 14:53-65)

     Though His accusers charged Him with blasphemy and

     condemned Him to death, Jesus spoke only the truth.