August 27, 2023 A Good Kind of Giving Mark 12:38-44; 14:1-11

Bethel CRC Lacombe

Today we welcome Chaplain Rick Mast to lead us in worship. We will focus on Mark 12:38-44; 14: 1-11, A Good Kind of Giving during our service today. The book of Mark concerns itself with addressing/answering this question: Is Jesus REALLY the new King, The Messiah? The people in his day were (sometimes literally) dying to know! Jesus surprises people. He challenges regular and accepted practices. Jesus does this in order to explain, herald and usher in God's new kingdom - a kingdom we would not be able to figure out on our own, with Jesus as the head of it all (fully human and fully God, a servant and a martyr). A widow's last two coins and another person's alabaster jar of very costly ointment. Two stories of giving, similar and different. Jesus acknowledges only one gift with great praise. Surprise! God's kingdom will continue to surprise...