Athey Creek | Audio Podcast

Jesus has assembled His team of 12 disciples in Mark 3:13-19 – but they aren’t exactly the dream team. So then, why did Jesus select these men? As we study, we see what Jesus saw in them, learn what it means to be chosen, and why we, too, are the perfect picks when we decide to follow Jesus.

As Jesus travels around the region preaching, healing, performing miracles, and associating with known sinners, He begins to gain fame among the crowds ­and draw the ire of the religious leaders. As we watch Jesus’ ministry unfold in Matthew 1:35-2:28, we see His model for prayer, how He interacted with sinners, and learn that love supersedes the law and tradition.

As Jesus preaches to a jam-packed house in Capernaum, four enterprising friends dig through the roof to lower a paralyzed man to Him for healing. As we watch the story unfold in Matthew 2:1-12, we see what the participants' perspectives teach us about friendship, faith, and forgiveness and how this scene serves as a model for the church today.

We begin our study in the Book of Mark by being introduced to its author, identifying its unique characteristics, and learning the underlying themes and purpose. As we jump into the rapid-fire narrative in Mark 1:1-34, we see the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and how various witnesses validated it.

Jesus calls four men to leave everything behind to be His disciples in Mark 1:16-20. As we watch them walk away from their fishing nets, we learn what it costs to follow Jesus, what we will get out of it, and how to avoid falling away when we encounter tough times.

As we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we look to the empty tomb in Matthew 28:1-6 as we explore how Jesus conquered death. As we study, we learn how we respond will lead to everlasting life for those who confess their sin and believe in Him or eternal doom for those who reject His free gift of salvation.

It’s an astounding scene in Mathew 28 as a group of women find Jesus’ empty tomb and learn from an angel that He has risen, and they are to start spreading the news. As we wrap up the book of Matthew, we clear up controversies, rejoice in our risen Savior and Messiah, and receive our marching orders to tell others about Jesus.

In Matthew 28:1-8 we see a group of women arriving at Jesus’ tomb only to find it empty and an angel declaring that Jesus was no longer there because He had risen – just as He said He would. As we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, it is important to understand what this really means and why it matters so much to the Christian faith.

As we arrive at Jesus’ final moments of suffering on the cross in Matthew 27:39-66, we find a series of astonishing events, see various reactions from the witnesses, and watch as the religious leaders think they’ve put an end to Jesus once and for all. And while it may appear so for a moment, what seems to be the end is only the beginning.

As Jesus dies, some incredible phenomena occur in Matthew 27:50-54 including the thick veil of the temple being torn in half from top to bottom. And while it may initially just seem like an interesting side note, as we dig deeper into what this signifies, we find the deep theological implications of what Jesus’ death means for us.

After hemming and hawing, Pontius Pilate finally gives in to pressure from the mob and sentences Jesus to scourging and crucifixion. As we watch Jesus endure the cross in Matthew 27:15-43, we see what He willingly went through because of His love for us and desire that all may be saved.

Tucked away in Matthew 27:36 is a little verse about people sitting at the foot of the cross and watching Jesus die. We take a similar posture as we look upon the cross and pause to see just how much Jesus endured on our behalf so that we could obtain salvation through His amazing grace.

Jesus is shuffled through a series of pseudo-trials in Matthew 27:1-14 — complete with lying witnesses, disregard for actual law, and judges with minds already made up. As we watch Him face the accusations, we see numerous Old Testament prophecies fulfilled, how Jesus responded, and the horrifying demise of his betrayer, Judas Iscariot.

As Jesus is betrayed, arrested, and faces a sham trial, we find four key players with four very different mindsets within the narrative. As we watch these events unfold in Matthew 26:55-75, we see what these people were thinking about Jesus while we also examine our own minds, hearts, and motives concerning Him.

We find Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:31-54 in fervent, anguished prayer as He awaits His imminent betrayal, arrest, and what He knows will come after that. As we watch these events unfold, we see a beautiful model of how to face trials from Jesus, learn what not to do from the disciples, and discover how important knowing Scripture is as we put our trust and hope in Jesus Christ.

Poor Peter keeps making mistake after mistake in Matthew 26:31-58. As we study, we see where Peter went wrong and how we tend to fall into the same traps today. But most importantly, we learn how we can all receive the forgiveness of Jesus Christ when we trip up and turn away.

Things are escalating quickly as the religious leaders hatch a plot to kill Jesus — and find assistance in the betrayal of one of His very own disciples. As we watch the beginning of His journey to the cross in Matthew 26:1-30, we see Jesus preparing for this, instituting the act of Communion, and fulfilling numerous Old Testament prophecies.

Mary of Bethany performs a radical act of worship in Matthew 26:6-13 when she anoints Jesus with costly oil— but not everyone is on board with what she is doing. As we learn who Mary is, why she did this, and how others responded, we see how we can emulate Mary’s heart for Jesus and devote ourselves to worshipping Him.

Jesus tells parables in Matthew 25 that illustrate different behaviors and actions of people in the Last Days. As we study, we try to determine who these people may represent and what their conduct means and hear Jesus’ instructions on how to live as the end draws near.

Jesus tells a parable in Matthew 25:14-30 about a man who gave his three servants “talents” before departing on a journey and the outcome of what his servants did with them while he was away. As we look further into this parable, we learn who the master and servants are, what a talent is, and how we can use what has been given to us while we await Christ’s return.

Jesus gives us some details and parables in Matthew 24:32-51 that describe people in the End Times – but there is debate on exactly who and what He is talking about. As we look into the theories, we may not come up with a definitive answer, but we still gain valuable insight into End Times prophecy and how we should live in light of what Jesus is saying.

Jesus remarks in Matthew 24:36-39 that in the Last Days the world will look a lot like it did in the time of Noah. As we search the Scriptures, we piece together a picture of the world’s condition before the flood and see how the circumstances and behavior of the people in that time mirror what we see today.

In Matthew 24:15-31, Jesus tells about a coming time called the Tribulation when the world will experience great calamity, destruction, and turmoil like never before. As we hear what He has to say about this seven-year time of trouble, we learn what will take place and why it will be particularly brutal for the Jews.

Jesus tells us to be ready for His return in Matthew 24:44, and one of the main things we can do to prepare is to understand what is prophetically outlined in the Bible. As we study the End Times, we break down various views, define key concepts and events, examine timetables, and prepare to meet Him at any moment.

As Jesus begins His discourse on the End Times in Matthew 24:1-14, He lists a number of signs to look for that indicate the time is drawing near. So are we seeing these signs today, and if so, how should we respond?

As we prepare to embark on a study of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, it is essential to understand the context of this monologue and the concepts surrounding Bible Prophecy, The Second Coming, and the End Times. We begin in Matthew 24:1-3 by examining the disciples' question to Jesus and investigating key terms, ideas, and events that factor into what Jesus will tell us about the End Times.

Jesus has some harsh, and even shocking, words for the religious leaders in Matthew 23 that seem to be a striking departure from His regular gracious and kind speech. However, through these stern words of truth, He was actually showing great love and His desire to keep them — and us — away from sinful behaviors that ultimately lead to destruction.

While it may initially seem peculiar, Jesus comparing Himself to a mother hen protecting her young paints a beautiful picture of the type of relationship He wishes to have with us. As we learn what it means to be under His wings in Matthew 23:37-38, may we willingly choose to come under this covering and accept His protection, love, and salvation.

After racking their brains for the ultimate trap question, the religious leaders hold one final Q&A with Jesus in Matthew 22. But it does not go how they had planned and they are instead silenced by Jesus’ responses. Meanwhile, through His answers, we gain valuable insight into how God wants us to live, who Jesus really is, and how we can accept His invitation to receive eternal life.

One of the Pharisees thinks he has finally come up with the ultimate question to trap Jesus when he asks which commandment is the most important. As Jesus answers this question in Matthew 22:34-40, we see the importance of love and why choosing to love God is the biggest and best decision we will ever make.

Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem in Matthew 20:20-21:46 proves to be quite eventful as He navigates naïve requests from his disciples, performs miracles, fulfills prophecy, overturns temple tables, and even teaches a few object lessons and parables along the way. As we unpack everything that happened on this eventful day, we see how it is all leading up to His death on the cross, resurrection, and, ultimately, our salvation.

While Jesus and His disciples journey to Jerusalem in Matthew 20:17-19, He clearly tells them what will happen to Him in the future. As we listen to Jesus perfectly predict His death and resurrection, we learn why this is so radically important to our faith, undeniably accurate, and how it opens the door to salvation.

Our thoughts and feelings about certain things often differ significantly from what Jesus illustrates. As we watch Him interact with children, a rich young ruler, and share a parable about laborers in Matthew 19:13-20:16, we see how His ways are not our ways, learn His plan for salvation, and explore the paradox that the last shall be first.

A rich young ruler comes to Jesus in Matthew 19:16-23 asking how he may obtain eternal life. As Jesus tells the young man what he must do, we learn who can be saved, what we must do to receive salvation, and how to ensure the condition of our hearts isn’t keeping us away from Jesus.