Buffalo City Church

Caleb Drahosh \ Although the world is full of opinions about Jesus, Peter makes the good confession: Jesus is the Christ. He is the One who came into the world to save His people from their sin. But this confession comes with a cost: your life.

Caleb Drahosh \ In his Gospel, Mark records Jesus healing many, but he gives some unique details in this instance. Jesus leads the blind man out of the town, spit on his eyes, and laid His hands on the man. At first the man's sight is only partially restored. Again Jesus laid His hands on the man and the man's sight was completely restored. Jesus performs this miracle for the benefit of His disciples, to show them that their sight, their understanding, does not come all at once, but Jesus chooses to reveal truth over time.

Caleb Drahosh \ In a similar fashion to the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus feeds four thousand. Afterwards, the Pharisees come seeking a sign, but Jesus refuses. He then offers His disciples a warning concerning the Pharisees and Herod, but the disciples are just looking to eat some food. Jesus' compassion for people doesn't dry up; we're given many chances to see and understand. Our needs –– as individuals and as a church –– are met in, through, and by Christ. But Jesus rarely meets our needs in the same way as He meets the needs of others.

Blaze Culliton \ Jesus removes an unclean spirit from the daughter of a woman who falls at His feet, acknowledging that Jesus is Lord and provides for all who believe. Jesus heals a deaf man with a speech impediment and those around are astonished beyond measure.

John Baumgartner \ The Scribes and Pharisees made rules to protect themselves from breaking God's laws, but in the end it only made them worse. Jesus points out the real problem isn't with the rules but with the human heart. No rules can keep a person from sinning because rules don't solve the heart problem. We need Jesus to give us understanding and soften our hard hearts so that we may follow Him.

Caleb Drahosh \ After Jesus feeds the five thousand, He goes up the mountain to pray, preparing Himself for the next wave of ministry. The disciples leave in a boat, and Jesus comes to them walking on the water. But the disciples do not understand; they're terrified, astounded, and their hearts are hardened. When they get to Gennesaret, the crowds bring all the sick to Jesus. Jesus continues to meet many needs, but even those who witness it all, struggle to trust Him.

Caleb Drahosh \ When the apostles return from their missions trip, Jesus invites them to come and rest. But it's short lived because the crowds saw them and sought them out. Jesus has compassion on the crowd and begins to teach. After some time, the disciples suggest that Jesus send the people away so they can find food. But Jesus tells the disciples to feed the people. He then multiplied the bread and fish. All who come to Christ receive all they need; there is no need to look elsewhere for satisfaction.

Caleb Drahosh \ The question "who is Jesus?" continues to stump people, including King Herod. Herod thinks Jesus is John the Baptist back from the dead. John was killed by Herod when he made a rash vow to his niece. Herod feared John the Baptist; John was righteous and holy. But Herodias hated John because he called out her sinful marriage to Herod. Sin has a cumulative effect; sin begets sin and generates fear in the hearts of those in whom it goes untreated. To those ones, truth becomes a terror.

John Baumgartner \ The people of Nazareth are astonished at Jesus and offended by Him. Jesus is astonished at the people and marvels at their unbelief. And we should be astonished too. Jesus has gone right through every obstacle, healed every disease, cast out every demon, even raised the dead. But when He meets with unbelief so severe in His own hometown, He departs never to return. Unbelief is the deadly disease that keeps a person from coming to the Great Physician.

Caleb Drahosh \ While Jesus was still speaking to the woman who had been healed, it was reported to Jairus that his daughter was dead. Jesus took Peter, James, and John and went to Jairus' house. Mourners were present, but Jesus told them the girl was only sleeping. They mocked Jesus. And so He left them outside and came into the room with only Jairus, Jairus' wife, and the three Jesus brought with Him. Jesus raises the girl from the dead. Jesus is stronger than the wind, waves, demons, disease, and death.

Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus is met by Jairus who asks Jesus to come make his dying daughter well. Jesus accompanies Jairus, but on the way, a woman with an issue of blood secretively approaches Jesus and touches His garment, believing that she will be made well. Her disease is immediately healed. Things seen and unseen are subject to Jesus' power. The gift of faith in this woman brings her peace; faith is what joins us to Christ and His saving power.

Caleb Drahosh \ When Jesus and His disciples get to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. There He encounters a demoniac, possessed by many demons. Jesus casts the demons out into their preferred host: a herd of two thousand pigs. The pigs run into the sea and drown. The people want Jesus to leave, but the ex-demoniac wants to come with Jesus. Jesus tells Him to make it known how much the Lord did for him. And it was a considerable amount.

Caleb Drahosh \ On the same day He spoke His first parables, Jesus and His disciples got into a boat to cross the sea. A windstorm came up and the disciples found themselves living a parable. In the parables, Jesus explained how small things bring about big results. Here Jesus' three simple words end a violent storm suddenly. But the disciples aren't relieved; they're terrified. They witness the absolute and immediate holiness of God.

Mark Reeves \ In this important parable, Jesus compares the effectiveness of the Word of God in the life of an individual to seed sown on different surfaces: The Path, Rocky Ground, Among Thorns, and Good Soil.

Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus' family came for Him. They stood outside and sent in a message; they think He's gone out of His mind. But the people who come to Jesus sit around Him and do His will. These ones are Jesus' true family. Bloodlines don't bring you into Jesus' family. It's those who are purchased by His blood. We must have no deeper allegiance than that which we have to Jesus.

John Baumgartner \ In this passage of Mark, we see two groups react improperly to Jesus because they don't know who they're dealing with. Jesus warns the scribes that they are in danger of committing an unforgivable sin. We mustn't reject Jesus after having seen who He is, the Son of God, the Saviour.

Blaze Culliton \ The crowd continues to grow around Jesus, people coming from all directions to receive His healing. The unclean spirits testify to Jesus' identity as the Son of God and are ordered not to make Him known. Jesus creates the twelve apostles, establishing His church, so that they might be with Him and He might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons (ministering spiritually to those around them).

Caleb Drahosh \ Two things happen in this passage: the disciples pluck heads of grain because they are hungry and Jesus heals a man with a withered hand. Both events take place on the Sabbath. The Pharisees challenge Jesus in both instances. But Jesus shows us that God's good gifts shouldn't be turned into a burden, rather they should point us to God's abundant grace. Jesus determines the intent of the Sabbath.

Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus came not to call the righteous, but sinners. The Pharisees and scribes relied on works of the law to be justified. The Pharisees demanded that Jesus' disciples fast, but Jesus challenges their attitudes. The Bridegroom had arrived; why mourn? Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, had arrived; why look for righteousness elsewhere? Self-righteous religion and Jesus simply don't mix.

John Baumgartner \ Jesus continues His mission to preach the gospel. Four faithful friends interrupt His preaching by lowering a paralytic right in front of Him. Jesus uses this as a sermon illustration to prove that He as the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. Jesus deals with everyone there: eager disciples, skeptical scribes, the four friends, and the paralytic. They all leave thunderstruck at Jesus, glorifying God for His healing of the paralytic.

Ray Delaurier \ After a long day of ministry Jesus is met with a multitude of people seeking healing from disease and freedom from demon possession. After a long night, Jesus departs early to a solitary place and prays to the Father. He is directed to leave the area and its needs to preach elsewhere. Sometime later Jesus is approached by a man with leprosy begging for healing. Jesus touches him, cleanses him, and changes a major traditional spiritual dynamic.

Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus begins His work after calling the first disciples by teaching, casting out demons, and healing the sick. Jesus' authority is a kind that has never been seen before. Unclean spirits and sickness obey Him. Both are spheres that cannot be touched by even the most authoritative in the world. Now is the time to rethink everything.

Caleb Drahosh \ With no hesitation, Mark tells us about Jesus' baptism, wilderness temptation, gospel proclamation, and call of the first disciples. The gospel carries urgency, but it is not frenetic. When God, who is three persons and One divine nature, stands to take action, the momentum builds quickly. And the call is clear. Jesus says: "Follow me."

Caleb Drahosh \ John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus. He proclaimed a baptism of repentance, looking ahead to One who would baptize not with water, but with the Holy Spirit. John knew a greater One was coming and his task was to lay the groundwork for the good news of Jesus Christ.

John Baumgartner \ We use our riches to avoid unpleasantness: unpleasant circumstances, unpleasant people, and pains. The richer we are, the less likely we are to be willing to give it up. But the Lord is so rich that he became poor for us. The Lord who is higher than the heavens and the earth is able and willing to—and did in fact—stoop down below everything else in order to raise us up.

Caleb Drahosh

Caleb Drahosh \ After the flight to Egypt and upon Herod's death, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph for the third time telling Joseph that he should take Mary and Jesus and return home. But learning of a new threat, Joseph moved his family to the region of Galilee and a town called Nazareth. Nazareth is not a well thought of place. But that's exactly how God works. He works His salvation for His people in unexpected ways.

Caleb Drahosh \ Joseph lived according to God's Word and therefore did not fear. Herod resisted God's Word and feared greatly. The fulfillment of God's promises in the coming Christ would threaten Herod's kingdom and his power. He sought to destroy the prospective usurper. But Herod plotted in vain. The Word of God would be fulfilled through Joseph and Mary's flight to Egypt and their return.

Caleb Drahosh \ Joseph was a man from the line of David. He was a just, or righteous, man. When his betrothed was found to be with child, he resolved to divorce her quietly. But the conception was a result of the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit as the angel would explain to him. This is a key indicator that the One Mary carried was the Christ. And Joseph, being just, acted according to the Word of the Lord.

John Baumgartner \ Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah spoken of by the prophets. He is the rightful heir to the kingship of David and the promised child of Abraham who will bless His people and all the earth. His claim to all these is as sure as His lineage shown by Matthew as the opening to His Gospel.

Caleb Drahosh \ Our pursuit of sound doctrinal understanding is meant to lead to doxology. Knowing God is the grounds of our boasting as Christians. As we grow in our understanding of the Scriptures we worship God individually and congregationally by going further up and further in.

Caleb Drahosh \ When the truth of the gospel is proclaimed, God works in the heart of the individual, bringing that one from death to life which results in faith and repentance. By faith these ones are declared righteous and their sin is removed. They are joined to Christ, receiving the adoption as sons and progressively growing in practical Christlikeness.

Caleb Drahosh \ From eternity past God planned to redeem a people for His possession. That plan is fully revealed in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the righteousness of God who God put forward as an atoning sacrifice for sins, justifying the ungodly while maintaining His perfect justice. In this way, Jesus accomplishes redemption for all the Father gives to Him.

Caleb Drahosh \ The crowning act of God's creative work is the creation of man. God created male and female and placed His image upon them. He charged them to be fruitful, multiply, and have dominion over all the created order. Nothing else in creation bears God's image. But sin entered the world through the disobedience of Adam and the image of God was marred in humanity. It is only through the God-man Jesus Christ and His sacrifice that we can be remade into God's image as new creations in Him.

Caleb Drahosh \ All theology is meant to lead to doxology. Knowing God is the grounds of our boasting as Christians. God is the Creator of everyone and everything and He freely makes Himself known in and to His creation. Humanity bears the image of God and is invited into relationship with God who reveals Himself through His Word.

Blaze Culliton \ The Psalmist provides a template for worship of a Holy God by telling them to praise the Lord and give thanks for His steadfast love and to remember His mercy. Recounted through the history of Israel, we see the mercy of the Lord for a people who forgot His works and did not wait for His counsel. Despite their forgetfulness, God remembers His covenant and saves His people through the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. May we rejoice in the steadfast love and mercy of our forever and ever. Praise the Lord!

Caleb Drahosh \ The Psalmist tells God's people to give thanks to, sing to, glory in, seek, and remember the works of the LORD. Why? Because the LORD remembers His covenant forever. As an example, God remembered His covenant to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He sent Joseph to Egypt to preserve His people in famine, and sent Moses to bring them out of slavery. Like Joseph, Jesus Christ was sent into the world, a foreign place not His home. And like Moses, He delivers His people out of slavery to sin through His perfect sacrifice. In these things, the LORD remembers His covenant forever.

Caleb Drahosh \ Paul planned to go to Corinth but postponed his visit because God had opened a wide door for effective work in Ephesus. Many were hearing the gospel in Ephesus and the harvest was coming in. But there were those that would disrupt the work, and Paul labored to protect the gospel fruit. God has charged Buffalo City Church with ministering the gospel in Jamestown. The fruit is ready to bring in and God gives strength for heavy lifting.

Caleb Drahosh \ Psalm 104 is a lengthier Psalm, outlining the act of creation according to the days God made each element. And at the end, the Psalmist prescribes rest for the individual, mirroring God's rest on the seventh day. The rest is shown to be an act of worship as his people rejoice in the works of the LORD. This Sabbath rest is made for man, and Jesus is the lord of the Sabbath.

John Baumgartner \ Grumbling is one of the most prevalent sins among God's own people. We forget what He's done for us and so we begin to grumble like Israel did so many times before us. Psalm 103 is the solution to our bad memories. We are to tell ourselves all that God has done for us, in detail. Grumbling dies away before the grateful heart that remembers God's goodness to us.

Caleb Drahosh \ The Psalmist pours out his complaint before the LORD. In his distress he approaches God and lets his plight be known. But the Psalm doesn't end there. The Psalmist is reminded that the LORD is enthroned forever. He resolves to let his complaint be heard, and treats it with truth, for the sake of future generations. Even as we suffer we point to Christ's suffering that secures our future dwelling place with the LORD.

Caleb Drahosh \ To whom should the people look for an example of how to live before the face of God? The King. David knew this was the king's role and so he made resolutions to walk in integrity of heart on the blameless way. Jesus Christ is King and exemplifies David's resolutions perfectly. Jesus sits on David's throne as King forever.

John Baumgartner \ What's wrong with the world? Mankind does not honor God or give Him thanks. This Psalm is an antidote to that thanklessness. Learn from the Psalmist how to thank God with a whole heart for all His kindness to us.

Caleb Drahosh // As redemptive history unfolds, the free gift of salvation is offered to all peoples. This Psalm works backwards, indicating that the Lord will be exalted over all the peoples, that His justice and righteousness is at work in Israel, and that His hand was upon them in the past. This is all due to His holiness, which punctuates the Psalm.

Kalen Heller \ All of creation is to sing a new song to the LORD for He has worked salvation for His people. The Lord shows his steadfast love and faithfulness through His deliverance of Israel, which is done in the sight of the nations. God has delivered for His people in the past, is delivering for them in the present, and will deliver for them in the future.

Caleb Drahosh \ The foundation of the throne of the LORD is righteousness and justice. When He issues His judgments, nothing in creation can stand. The wicked are put to shame, but the righteous rejoice and worship in reverence and awe, expressing gratitude that they receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

John Baumgartner \ David pitched a tent for God's worship on Mount Zion. He saw the blessings of God flow out from this worship tent. All the nations will be blessed through the true worship of God. David calls not just the people but every single thing that exists in all creation to the blessing that is found in true worship.

Caleb Drahosh \ The Psalmist invites God's people to worship Him recognizing both His heavenly might and His gentle leading. But there is also a warning: God's people must not faithlessly wonder if God is with them. Instead, God's people are to respond by trusting His Word. Jesus came offering the bread of life and living water and unbelieving hearts dismissed Him out of hand. But those who receive Christ by faith enter God's rest.

Blaze Culliton \ The Sabbath Song of Psalm 94 acknowledges the sin of the world through a call to God for vengeance. Creator God is almighty and His discipline is a promise that He will not forsake His people. Through Jesus Christ, the Lord is doing and will finish the righteous work of the end of sin and death.

Caleb Drahosh \ The Lord is dressed for action and there is no corner of creation where His strength diminishes in potency. The mightiest of earthly forces rage, but the Lord stands undisputed above them. When Jesus Christ came into the world, the waves and wind heard His voice and they knew it as belonging to the King sung of in Psalm 93.

John Baumgartner \ It is good to give thanks to the Lord. What separates the righteous from the wicked? The righteous want to praise God for His goodness. The wicked cannot see any reason to. The wicked cannot see how God works, but the righteous know that all things come from God's gracious hand. The righteous know how to sing for joy.