We love stories with clear-cut villains—where it’s easy to point fingers and identify the good guys and the bad guys. But the storyline of the Bible compels us to see things differently. In an account about religious leaders and a man in need of healing, we uncover a deeper spiritual problem than we ever imagined: our own hearts are hard toward God. What can melt a hard heart?

Series: The Gospel of Mark
Speaker: Paul Stiver
Hope Community Church - North Lakes

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For more resources or to learn more about Hope North Lakes, visit hopecc.com/northlakes

Like someone obsessed with their lawn, we’re constantly looking outward—measuring our lives, our status, and our efforts against others. In this search for a sense of rightness, we often end up unloving, insecure, and exhausted. Rather than producing love, our striving for justification breeds comparison and contempt. What we need is a love, rest, and freedom that doesn’t come from us but to us—a grace that resets our hearts and shifts our gaze from outward striving to upward dependence.

Series: The Gospel of Mark
Speaker: Paul Stiver
Hope Community Church - North Lakes

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For more resources or to learn more about Hope North Lakes, visit hopecc.com/northlakes

Mark 2 paints a portrait of a man going from lifelong paralysis to joyful walking down the street. And this happens in an instant! How was he made well? By the words of Jesus. But it's what Jesus does first that confronts us with the true nature of grace. Grace won’t operate on our terms, or come from within us. Before the man is healed, he is forgiven by Jesus. This teaches us that our help comes from outside of us and that a transcendently greater reality–God’s kingdom–is breaking into our world. What might it look like for grace to get us on our feet?

Series: The Gospel of Mark
Speaker: Paul Stiver
Hope Community Church - North Lakes

Download Message Slides

For more resources or to learn more about Hope North Lakes, visit hopecc.com/northlakes