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The Tension Builds

March 16, 2025

Sermon Series: The Final Hours

Aaron Buer — Senior Pastor
Senior Pastor:
Related Topics:Jesus

Pastor Aaron Buer begins our “The Final Hours” sermon series by exploring Mark's final chapters and Jesus's journey to the cross. We examine Jesus's unwavering commitment to God's plan amid mounting opposition, betrayal and sacrifice. Through powerful scenes—from the woman's extravagant worship to Jesus's final meal—we discover how following Jesus transforms our response to life's pressures and disappointments. We're challenged to surrender completely to Christ, trust God's control in chaos and follow Jesus wholeheartedly even when circumstances don't meet our expectations.

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More in this Series

  • The Final Hours

    Faithfulness and Failure

    Pastor Aaron Buer continues "The Final Hours" sermon series by examining Jesus's interactions with his disciples surrounding his arrest. We explore the contrast between human frailty and divine faithfulness as Jesus predicts his disciples' failure yet promises restoration. This powerful narrative challenges us to recognize our own vulnerability to unfaithfulness and embrace humility as the true posture of following Christ. We're invited to practice spiritual vigilance through prayer, find hope in Jesus's unwavering commitment to us despite our failures, and experience the transformative power of his forgiveness that makes something beautiful from our brokenness.

  • The Final Hours

    The Two Trials

    Pastor Jeff Manion continues our Final Hours series by examining the parallel trials of Jesus and Peter in Mark 14. We witness Jesus's unwavering courage before the religious leaders, contrasted with Peter's distant following and eventual denial. Through these contrasting responses, we discover the true nature of discipleship—not casual association but wholehearted commitment that embraces service, sacrifice and sometimes suffering. We're challenged to follow Jesus closely rather than at a distance, and find hope in the truth that our failures, like Peter's, aren't final but can lead to restoration and renewed purpose.

  • The Final Hours

    Different Kind of King

    Pastor Jeff Manion continues The Final Hours sermon series by examining Jesus's trial before Pilate and his path to crucifixion. We discover a king unlike any other—one who serves and suffers for his people. We see how Jesus's kingship challenges our expectations as he stands silent before accusations, becomes a substitute and demonstrates that true greatness comes through humble sacrifice. This powerful message invites us to recognize Jesus as more than a good teacher or moral example, but as the true king of our lives who calls us to follow his example of servanthood and sacrifice in our daily lives.

  • The Final Hours

    My King

    Pastor Jeff Manion concludes The Final Hours sermon series by examining Jesus's journey to the cross. We witness Jesus's ultimate sacrifice as he experiences abandonment, humiliation and death for our sake. We see that Jesus intimately knows our pain and chose not to save himself so that we could be saved. We are challenged to respond with deep gratitude, whole-hearted worship and a commitment to follow Christ's way of service and sacrifice in our daily relationships and decisions.

  • The Final Hours

    Easter 2025

    Pastor Aaron Buer explores the centrality of Christ's resurrection to our faith. We discover how the resurrection provides freedom from our sinful past, power for our present, and hope for our future. Through Paul's teachings to the Corinthians, we see that the resurrection is of "first importance" - the bedrock upon which our entire faith stands. We are challenged to consider how resurrection power transforms our lives today, just as it transformed the apostle Paul from persecutor to passionate witness. We're invited to embrace the life-changing truth that Jesus conquered death and offers us victory, both now and for eternity.

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Next Sermon in Series

Faithfulness and Failure

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