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Heart of the Gospel

May 11
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Mark 10:42–45

42 So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

This is one of the passages of scripture that I first learned about in seminary.  It was described as one of the key passages in Mark, a passage that can help a reader understand the whole gospel of Mark.  The meaning is completely contained in verse 45, and that one verse is loaded with many things.  As some professors used to say, “Let me ‘unpack’ that verse.” (more…)

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Two Mustard Seeds

May 04
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Mark 4:30–32

30 He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

Who can predict the impact that any of us will have on others?  We are like the mustard seed that is spoken of in this parable.  As servants of Jesus in the kingdom of God we touch many, many lives.

Elna Hansen was a leader in the Sunday School at Trondhjem for many years at the “old” church.  A music leader too, she taught the children the song, “Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam.”  I was told yesterday by one of her pupils that the “naughty” children would substitute the word flash light for sunbeam, but they would make sure they said it softly, so that Elna would not hear.  Oh, for a simpler time.  Even though she has moved away, a couple of times a year Elna will worship at Trondhjem. (more…)

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Peter is an Example for Us

May 02
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Mark 14:26–31

26 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’  28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even though all become deserters, I will not.” 30 Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said vehemently, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And all of them said the same.

This will be Confirmation Sunday at Trondhjem.  A dozen of our young people will confirm their faith in Jesus Christ and will make promises to be loyal to Jesus and to God’s ways.  Like Peter, and like all the rest of us, at some time in their life they will likely not be as faithful as they intended on their confirmation day.  At some time in their life they are likely to have doubts. (more…)

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When Interruptions Occur

Apr 27
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Mark 6:30–34

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

If one of my children tries to get my attention, and to get it quickly, they will telephone me on my cell phone.  They know that if I am in a meeting or at dinner somewhere, I might not answer.  They will leave a message and know I will call them back.  They also know that if they call two or three times in quick succession in just a couple of minutes, I will realize this might be an emergency and will interrupt whatever I was doing to answer my telephone. (more…)

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Trick Questions and Relationships

Apr 19
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Mark 12:18–23

18 Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, saying, 19 Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; 21 and the second married the widow and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; 22 none of the seven left children. Last of all, the woman herself died. 23 In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her.”

Do you like trick questions?  I know I don’t.  A trick question is what the Sadducees were asking Jesus.  They were asking about the resurrection, even though they did not believe in it.  Jesus comes up with a good answer, but his good answer is not the direction I am going with this devotional.  Trick questions can injure relationships, whereas honest questions can build them up. (more…)

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Places of Prayer for All Nations

Mar 14
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Mark 11:15–19

15 Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; 16 and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 He was teaching and saying, “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 when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching. 19 And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

When we read this passage, we usually focus on Jesus’ anger, because it is so rare that we have an example of his anger.  We focus on the phrase, “den of robbers.”  We should also focus our attention on this sentence, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”  Where do we have places that our houses of prayer for all nations? (more…)

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Jesus and the Crowds

Feb 08
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Mark 3:7–10

7 Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; 8 hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon. 9 He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him; 10 for he had cured many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him.

Mark’s gospel focuses on Jesus’ ministry and his death on the Cross.  Here we see that by the third chapter of Mark’s gospel, Jesus is already attracting great crowds.  Because of the healings he had performed, the crowds were all coming to him.  They were beset by diseases then, and we are still beset by diseases today. (more…)

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Being Disciples for Jesus

Jan 25
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Mark 3:13–14

13 He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message.

The twelve disciples of Jesus are now to be called apostles.  A disciple was a learner and a follower.  An apostle was a messenger and an ambassador.  While I never want to equate us in this century with the apostles/disciples in the first century, we do need to understand ourselves as both disciples and apostles. (more…)

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Dr. Martin Luther King Day

Jan 16
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Mark 8:34–38

34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

This is the text for any day that is commemorating a martyr for the faith.  I chose it because of the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday, today.  I do consider him to be a martyr, killed because of his witness for justice and peace.  He was killed while in Memphis in support of a class of workers, sanitation workers, who are usually not regarded highly by the rest of society. (more…)

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Voice from Heaven and God’s Guiding Hand

Jan 09
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Mark 1:9–11

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Yesterday was the Sunday in the church calendar that focuses on Jesus’ baptism.  These three verses from Mark are part of the appointed gospel reading for yesterday.  They describe Jesus’ experience of his baptism and come very near the beginning of Mark’s gospel.  Mark does not provide us with a Christmas story.  There is no memory in Mark’s gospel of the “boy Jesus” in the temple.  Jesus arrives on the scene as one of the many coming to John to be baptized. (more…)

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