On Sunday, April 22nd,  Pastor Tony preached from the Gospel of Mark, focusing on Scripture text from Mark 11: 11-22; where Jesus uses a fig tree as a visual parable of Israel’s unbelief in order to encourage faith in His people.

8:30 am Early Worship Service
9:45 am Children’s Sunday School
10:00 am Youth and Adult Sunday School
11:00 am Late Worship Service
6:00 pm Evening Prayer & Study

Preaching: Rev. Tony Felich (Sermon Audio Page | Other Sermons)

Text: Mark 11:12-22

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 and he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple
15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 And when evening came they went out of the city.

The Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree
20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.

Worship Hymns:

Hymn of Adoration: #7 From All That Dwell below the Skies
Hymn or Spiritual Song: #528 My Faith Looks Up to Thee
Hymn of Response: #159 O Savior, Precious Savior
Dismissal Hymn: #311 Hail to the Lord’s Anointed (4)

Additional Readings: The Shorter Catechism Q/A’s 88-90

Q. 88. What are the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption?
A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption are, his ordinances, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.

Q. 89. How is the Word made effectual to salvation?
A. The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching, of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation.

Q. 90. How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?
A. That the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer; receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

Full Liturgy for April 22nd, 2012 (PDF)

Sermons from the Exposition of Mark
(click on the link for the sermon page with audio)