Sermon Video: Fasting: Jesus' disciples and the New Covenant - Mark 2:18-22

 In response to a question about why his disciples were not observing the Jewish custom of fasting, Jesus explains that his time with them is akin to a wedding celebration, a festive occasion for which fasting would be inappropriate.  What is fasting?  Abstaining from food, and sometimes also drink, for a period of time.  The Law of Moses required it for the Day of Atonement, other uses in the Hebrew Scriptures include as part of a person's repentance, in response to a calamity, or in preparation to communing with God (think Moses at Sinai).  These uses remain valid for Christians today, although some denominations emphasis fasting much more than others.  In addition, Jesus explains that what he is doing is both connected to the Covenant of Abraham, AND new enough that it won't fit into that definition without 'tearing' or 'bursting'.  The New Covenant will include Gentiles, have a new revelation of scripture, and the advent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

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Sermon Video: The False Hope of Legalistic Asceticism, Colossians 2:16-23

{Due to a technical glitch, this week's original sermon video was not recorded, this video is the audio from Sunday combined with the PowerPoint slides from the sermon; sorry for any inconvenience}...

What is the path to greater piety and devotion to God?  One attempted answer to this question that has been active throughout Church history has been the related methods of legalism and asceticism.  Legalism seeks to impose rules, as if becoming closer to God were a simple matter of following them, while asceticism seeks to deny biological impulses and needs (such as food, drink, sex), as if being biological they are somehow inherently unholy and opposed to the things of the spirit.  Church history has featured hermits and monks attempting to be holy along these paths, as much as their efforts were self-centered, and self-powered, they were doomed to failure.

Paul addresses this issue at the church at Colossae, where a mixture of Mosaic legalism and Greek philosophical asceticism had combined to tempt the believers there away from their trust in the all-sufficiency of Christ, a danger that Paul warns strongly against, reassuring them that the path of legalistic asceticism is doomed to failure because it has lost its connection with Christ, and thus the power of God, the only true source of spiritual growth.

To watch the video, click on the link below: