Mark Introduces Jesus and John

 Pastor’s Pen…

This Sunday, the first Sunday of the New Year, we begin our series of messages through “The Fast Food Gospel.” Did you figure out which one it is?

One of the biggest changes in our country over the last half-century has been a transformation in the eating habits of Americans. When I was growing up, most meals were eaten at home, with restaurant outings on rare occasions.

Then a man named Ray Kroc introduced a restaurant with golden arches out front, and McDonald’s, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, KFC and dozens of other fast food businesses began to proliferate. 

I’ve labeled the gospel of Mark the ‘fast food’ Gospel, and I believe it is ideally suited for 21st-century Christians. It was written to people in Rome, Gentiles, who were under pressure, facing persecution. Mark was the first Gospel to be written, and it contains a great deal of eyewitness detail.  The theme and outline of the book can be found in Mark 10:45; “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

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We appreciate those who help sanitize our facilities for services each Saturday morning in preparation for Sunday worship as well as those who make it possible for us to ‘live-stream’ on Facebook at 10:45 each Sunday morning, and to post each Sunday’s message on our website (www.fccwylie.org) on Sunday afternoons. 


If you haven't come out to worship with us recently, we sure love to have you! We continue to hold our Sunday services with all safety protocols and pre-service sanitizing in place. No Sunday school yet, and the nursery is not available.  We will continue following the protocols as outlined by GA-18 guidance.  Face masks, social distancing, no physical contact. We use bulletins printed untouched by human hands, with songs, etc. printed therein, and pre-packaged communion elements. Offering plates are located at the rear, or giving can be done online at www.fccwylie.org.


If you still feel uncomfortable attending, feel free to join our live stream on Facebook, at 10:45 AM, which includes communion and the worship hymns. Or the message is available each Sunday afternoon on our website. (www.fccwylie.org)




“Mark Introduces Jesus, and John”                                                                                   Mark 1:1-15   


  • The Person of whom Mark wrote (1)
    • Jesus (Savior)
    • Christ (Messiah)
    • Son of God (full deity)
  • The predecessor who paved the way (2-8)
    • The prediction in the Old Testament
    • The place: (wilderness)
    • The proclamation: (Repent!)
    • The person doing the preaching
    • The promise of Christ to come
  • Then preparation of Christ for public ministry (9-15)
    • His baptism
    • His temptation                                                                                


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Prayer items: 


Our country


Those who responded to the Christmas Hope broadcast 


Dennis and Kim and their family: Dennis’ mother, Kim’s health 


John Royal, Meniere’s disease, with vertigo, nausea, tinnitus


Kay Holley continues recovery following knee replacement surgery


Robbie now home, needs our prayers; Shirley’s brother


Bruce Moilan’s uncle in Alabama, still not doing well


Donna Hancock, recovering from spinal surgery 

John Hawkins, Suzi Hawkins and Rebecca Usher, all recovering from COVID 

Feel free to contact me with urgent prayer requests, and I will include them in my weekly ‘Pastor’s Pen’ texts

                                                             *******

RADIO THIS WEEKEND: During the fall the airwaves were saturated with advertising about Medicare.  Many people, especially those turning 65, have questions. Medicare authority Calvin Sulak of medicareplanzoffice.com joins Don Hawkins with practical answers to Medicare questions, this weekend on Encouragement Live.

Encouragement Live can be heard Saturday at 7:05 PM central time on American Family Radio (www.afr.net) and on theworshipchannel.org.  Re-broadcast Sunday 9 pm on The Worship Channel.

May our Savior’s grace and peace continue to encourage you as you trust in Him during these challenging  times.

Don Hawkins, D. Min.                                                                                                                          Interim Pastor

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