Sermon Title: Rest and Restoration – Part 2 (Mark 2:23–3:6)
Preacher: Brian Moore

This sermon opens by drawing attention to the book of Leviticus, reminding us that even difficult and unfamiliar passages reveal the heart of the gospel. Leviticus exposes the depth and seriousness of sin and explains why sacrifices were necessary for God to dwell with his people. In this light, common Christian phrases such as “Jesus died for my sins” gain substance and clarity. Christ fulfills every offering once and for all, showing that God’s ultimate goal has always been relationship, not mere moral improvement. The holy God comes near and calls his people to come to him.

The sermon then turns to Deuteronomy 6 and the purpose of God’s law. The law functions as a mirror that reveals who we truly are, a restraint that keeps us close to God, and a blessing that shows the good path of life as God intended it. Listeners are urged to examine themselves honestly, to recognize where they have ignored God’s word, fled from his presence, or rejected the blessings he offers. True repentance is presented not as fear-driven obedience, but as a return to the God who desires to dwell with his people.

At the center stands Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of both law and sacrifice. The assurance from 1 Peter declares that Christ bore every sin in his body, intentional and unintentional alike, so that we might live in righteousness and have restored access to God. The reflection on the Sabbath in Mark 2 points to true rest found not in rule-keeping, but in the lordship of Christ himself. This hope is made tangible in Communion, where God’s people taste and see the cost of redemption and rest together in Christ’s finished work