Countryside Vineyard Church
Mark - The Kind of Person Called
  • Beautiful One
  • Goodness Of God
  • Give Us Clean Hands
  • Forever Chorus
  • Gratitude

      • Mark 1:16-18ESV

      • Mark 1:19-20ESV

  • Good morning, Countryside Vineyard. Go ahead and open your Bibles to Mark chapter 1, verses 14 and 15.

    Introduction: Setting the Scene

    (Scripture: Mark 1:14–15)
    “After John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe the good news.’”
    Mark packs more theology into those two verses than some books do in whole chapters. These verses are the hinge of the story.
    He’s giving us Jesus’ message before His ministry, because this message defines everything that follows.
    Mark skips almost a full year between verses 13 and 14. Between the temptation and John’s arrest, there’s a whole section of ministry you’ll find in John’s Gospel. So Mark isn’t giving us a timeline—he’s giving us a revelation. He wants us to see who Jesus is and what He came to do.
    Next week we’ll see Him call His first disciples, but that actually takes us back in time about a year. This week, Mark wants to anchor us in the message that drives everything else.
    “After John was arrested”—that’s not a throwaway line. That’s a theological marker. John’s ministry—the ministry of preparation—is over. The forerunner has done his job. The old era of promise has ended; the new era of fulfillment has begun. God’s redemptive clock just struck the hour.
    The baton has passed. The stage is cleared. The King Himself has stepped into history.
    That’s where we are in verses 14 and 15.
    So today I want to answer two fundamental questions:
    Why is this good news?
    How do we become part of it?
    Let’s pray...

    ✴️ Point 1 — Why This Is Good News ?

    After John was put into prison (literally handed over) Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, saying the time is fulfilled, the Kingdom of God has come near.
    The first thing we notice is that this news is good because it’s God’s news.

    A. It’s God’s Gospel — Planned from the Beginning

    Because this is God’s good news, it was never a plan B. The incarnation, the cross, and the resurrection were written into the story before the story began.
    (Scripture: Ephesians 1:4-10) — “He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world…” (Scripture: 1 Peter 1:20) — “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in these last times.” (Scripture: Acts 2:23) — Jesus was delivered up “according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.”
    Before there was sin, there was already a Savior. Before the world fell, redemption was ready. That means God has never once been caught off guard by evil—He’s been out-planning it since eternity past.
    But why did he go ahead with the plan?
    Because he wanted you. He want ed a people who would choose him, not mindless robots. Yeah those people wouldn’t be perfect and they would break his heart and eventually break his body, but he chose to create, to plan, to experience our frailty and weakness, and redeem us.
    This is the greatest love story ever told.

    B. The Time Is Fulfilled — Prophecy Converges

    When Jesus says, “The time is fulfilled,” He’s saying, everything promised has ripened at once.
    (Scripture: Galatians 4:4-5) — “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son…”
    From Genesis 3:15 onward, every covenant, every prophet, every sacrifice pointed here: – Abraham promised a Seed. – Moses showed the Passover Lamb. – David was promised an everlasting throne. – Isaiah saw the suffering Servant. – Daniel (9:25) predicted Messiah’s arrival to the very season.
    All of it funnels into Jesus stepping onto the scene saying, “The waiting’s over—God’s reign is breaking in.”
    This is why Mark focuses in on “After John was handed over.”
    John - last OT prophet.
    Zebulun and Naphtali = Galilee
    Those in darkness have seen a great light. - first to fall - first to receive the new King
    Even further back and when Jacob and Moses bless these two tribes both will be the gateway to the Nations hinting at Jesus’ mission to not just Israel but to whole world.

    C. The King Has Come — The Kingdom Breaks In

    Now the king is here.
    Jesus says the time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is near or at hand
    That is because the King is here!
    And His kingdom is about restoration
    God planted a garden in the east of Eden God planed the man in the garden to take care of it, he gave him dominion over every creature and in fact all of creation. Adam blew it. He couldn’t rule rightly. Then God cursed the creation on account of man’s rebellion, but promised to retore it through a coming king who would rule rightly and restore all things unto Himself.
    Now stands the king of kings declaring I am now here.
    and behold i am making all things new.
    When the King shows up, darkness starts losing its grip. In Mark’s next chapters we’ll see what that looks like: the sick healed, demons driven out, sinners forgiven, the lame made to walk, and the dead rise. That’s the kingdom invading enemy territory.
    From the garden of Genesis to the city of Revelation, God’s plan has always been restoration. The kingdom reverses everything wrong with the world. Evil doesn’t get the last word. Death doesn’t get the last word. Jesus does.
    But this kingdom is already and not yet. It’s breaking in now, but not finished yet. We still face trouble, persecution, and pain—but the King is on the throne, and His presence changes everything.
    We come boldly before the throne of grace and ask for healing—body, mind, finances, relationships. Sometimes He heals immediately; sometimes He strengthens us through weakness. Either way, His rule is good and His reign is sure.

    D. The Kingdom Restores Because the King Is Good

    (Slide: The Goodness of the King) Here’s the heartbeat of the good news: what kind of King this is. Every earthly ruler uses power to dominate; this King uses power to serve. Every other throne demands blood; this King sheds His own. He doesn’t rule from a palace but from a cross. He conquers by love.
    That’s why you’d want to be part of this Kingdom—because the King Himself is good.
    (Mark 10:45) “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
    So the good news is this: God’s rescue plan has always been in motion. The time is fulfilled. The King has come. And His kingdom—marked by healing, justice, mercy, and love—is breaking in.
    Now Jesus looks us in the eye and says,
    “Repent and believe the gospel.”
    That’s how we step into His kingdom.

    ✝️ Point 2 — How We Become Part of It

    A. Repentance is not fundamentally about sin management.

    (Slide: Repentance — Changing Worlds) We usually hear “repent” and think: stop doing bad things; start doing good things. But the Bible’s word—metanoia—literally means to change one’s mind; to turn around.
    It’s not just changing behavior; it’s changing worldview. It’s turning from one way of interpreting the world to another. From my kingdom come to Thy kingdom come.
    Examples:
    You stop viewing people as enemies to defeat and start seeing them as image-bearers to love.
    You stop chasing status and start seeking obedience.
    You stop asking, “How do I win?” and start asking, “How does Christ win through me?”
    That’s repentance.
    (Scripture: Romans 12:2) — “Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” When your thinking changes, your living follows.

    B. Repentance is turning from one allegiance to another.

    (Slide: Changing Allegiance) It’s not just “feeling sorry.” It’s changing citizenship. When you enter the Kingdom of God, you’re laying down the passport of self-rule and pledging loyalty to King Jesus.
    (Scripture: Colossians 1:13) — “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.”
    And let me get practical here.
    Repentance looks like:
    Forgiving someone who doesn’t deserve it.
    Confessing a hidden sin instead of protecting your reputation.
    Choosing generosity when your flesh says “hold back.”
    Speaking truth when silence feels safer.
    Turning off the outrage and turning on compassion.
    Those aren’t behaviors you add to your old life; they’re evidence of a new King on the throne of your heart.

    Repentance Is a Gift of Grace

    Now, before we go any further, let me make this clear— Even repentance is grace. It’s not something we can pull off by sheer willpower or moral effort. We act in repentance, but it’s God who gives us the ability and the desire to turn in the first place.
    (Scripture: Acts 11:18)
    “When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, ‘Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.’”
    Did you catch that? God granted repentance. Repentance is a gift, not a work.
    The same truth shows up again in 2 Timothy 2:25, where Paul says the Lord’s servant must correct opponents with gentleness,
    “that God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.”
    So yes—we repent. But behind our turning is God’s drawing. Behind our surrender is His mercy. He doesn’t just forgive repentance; He empowers it.

    Repentance That Grows

    And here’s the part that’s so good— Once God grants repentance, it doesn’t stop there. Repentance multiplies. It grows deeper and richer the more we walk with Him.
    Remember what Jesus said in the Parable of the Sower:
    (Scripture: Mark 4:24–25)
    “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
    That principle applies here. When we respond to God’s first nudge of conviction, He gives us more light. When we humble ourselves in one area, He opens our eyes in another. The more we yield, the more He reveals. The more we repent, the more repentance He grants.
    You could almost say repentance is both a response and a reward. It’s a grace that grows with use.

    🌾 Practical Example

    It’s like tending a garden. If you pull one weed, you’ll notice another. But instead of feeling condemned, you start to see God’s kindness in the process. Because every new weed He shows you is another place He wants to make the soil healthy. That’s how repentance works in a believer’s life—it’s not shame, it’s grace in motion.
    (Scripture: Romans 2:4)
    “Do you not know that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”
    Repentance is never God rubbing our face in guilt; it’s God inviting us into freedom again and again. He gives it, sustains it, and deepens it.

    Preachable Summary Line

    “Repentance starts with God, not with us. He grants it, we act on it, and when we do, He gives even more. The more we turn toward Him, the more He turns our hearts to see His glory.”

    Tie-In Back to Your Main Flow

    You could place this right after your section on “Repentance is turning from one allegiance to another” — before you transition into “Faith is the flip side.” It’ll keep the flow, but deepen the theology:
    Repentance is our response,
    but it’s also His gift,
    and the more we respond, the more He gives.

    C. Faith is the flip side of repentance.

    Faith is more than agreeing that Jesus exists. It’s trusting Him enough to follow Him. It’s transferring your weight from your own understanding to His word.
    Belief without repentance is just mental consent. Repentance without belief is despair. But together, they form new life.
    Faith says, “Jesus, I believe You are who You say You are—the Son of God, the rightful King—and I’m placing my life in Your hands.”
    (Scripture: John 1:12) — “To all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”
    When you repent and believe, you’re not just forgiven—you’re adopted. You become part of the family business—advancing the Father’s Kingdom.

    D. The ongoing rhythm of repentance and faith.

    Repentance isn’t just the front door of the Christian life—it’s the hallway we walk every day. Every time the Spirit convicts, we turn again. Every time we’re reminded of the gospel, we believe again.
    The mature Christian isn’t the one who needs less repentance; it’s the one who repents faster. Because the closer you walk with the King, the quicker you feel when your steps drift off course.
    So, the good news is that the kingdom has come. The invitation is to repent and believe. And the opportunity is now.

    Response — The King’s Invitation

    Maybe you’ve been living in your own little kingdom—making your own rules, defending your own throne. Jesus’ message is simple: lay down your crown. Because there’s only one King whose reign brings life.
    Repentance isn’t punishment; it’s mercy. It’s the open door of grace. So if the Spirit’s nudging you tonight—don’t say, “Tomorrow.” Say, “Now.” The King is here.
    Maybe you really do believe the message of God, and you’ve really been trying to get it right, but just keep falling down again. Can I just say? You haven’t truly repented. You feel bad and you know what you’re struggling with what breaks the heart of God, but you just keep messing up.
    True Repentance digs way deeper than this thing you’re struggling with it gets to the actual power behind this thing, and defeats it in the deepest level.
    See when we constantly war against something we give it credibility.
    We actually give strength to the thing we’re trying to defeat.
    Instead we need to focus our mind on the gospel.
    Try this get with someone in the church you trust. Confess your sins to one another and you will be healed (script?) After you confess then they should preach the gospel to you declaring that jesus has already won the battle.

    Communion Transition

    (Slide: Communion — The King’s Table)
    As we come to the Lord’s Table, we’re doing the most “kingdom” thing imaginable. We’re remembering the moment the King conquered by surrendering. At the cross, the rightful ruler of the universe wore a crown of thorns so we could wear a crown of life.
    So while the servers come and begin passing the bread and the cup, let’s stay in this posture of repentance and faith.
    (Pause — allow for movement)
    This meal tells the story we just heard:
    The time is fulfilled — the promise is kept.
    The kingdom has come near — God is with us.
    Repent and believe — our way into that kingdom.
    When you hold the bread, remember—this is the body of the King who entered our brokenness. When you hold the cup, remember—this is the blood of the covenant, poured out to make all things new.
    If you’re here today and you’ve never surrendered to Jesus as Lord, this meal is your invitation. You can repent and believe right now, in your seat, and then take that bread and cup as your first act of allegiance.

    Communion

    On the night He was betrayed, He took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said,
    “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”
    And in the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying,
    “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
    Every time we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. Until the kingdom that came near becomes the kingdom that fills the earth.
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