1/25/2026 Midtown Church -Elk Grove Campus
“Practicing Presence”
Pastor Efrem Smith
Main Text: Mark 2:13-17 (NIV)
Other Texts: Mark 2:18-28, Mark 3:1-6, John 15:5
Biblical Foundation:
- The Gospel of Mark and how Christ hangs out with humanity.
- Christ got in trouble with religious leaders for hanging out with people and the types of people He hung out with.
- The Gospel of Mark puts attention on Christ’s activity with people. This should shape how we as Christians are active in the world.
Big Question of the Series:
Will Our Following of Christ Truly Influence How We Live?
1. God Is Present With the Least, the Lost, and the Left Out
Mark 2:13-17
2. God is Not Distant From Us
Mark 2:18-22
3. God Shows Up On Our Day Off
Mark 2:23-28
Final Thought: God, When Opposed, Still Looks for Opportunities
Mark 3:1-6
