Messages
A collection of sermons and messages Mark has given over the years
New messages are added as they become available
Jun 22, 2025, 10:30 AM
Last week, we looked at Paul’s main command to wives: to submit to your husbands. We saw that a wife’s submission to her husband was tied directly to her submission to Christ. She is supposed to submit to her husband as she submits to Christ, which hopefully is “right away, all the way and with a happy heart!” We also saw that that’s the same thing required of every believer in their relationship to Jesus Christ. Today we’re going to see some “whys” of her submission, and why a wife’s submission to her husband is not a temporary, cultural command, but one for all ages and peoples, at least on this side of eternity. From Ephesians 5:23-24, 33b.
Jun 15, 2025, 10:30 AM
“Submission.” We treat it like a dirty word. It’s OK if everyone has to submit to each other. Not so great when one group has to submit to another. So we’ve decided to fix that in our modern era. We’re discarding authority, thinking we’ve found a better way. But it’s no new way. It’s one that’s been around from the beginning. We’re actually falling into the trap of the devil, who refused to admit that God was over him, but insisted on making himself equal with God (Isaiah 14:12-14)—in stark contrast to Jesus, who actually is God (Philippians 2:5-8). In distorting these last 12 verses of Ephesians 5, we’re tearing down the fabric of society as God intended it. We’re only hurting everyone we think we’re freeing. ("Wifery" refers to the role and responsibilities of a wife.) From Ephesians 5:22.
Jun 1, 2025, 10:30 AM
Ephesians 5:15-21 is a summary and conclusion for the instructions that began at the beginning of Chapter 4. Verse 21 also acts as a springboard for what follows. There’s still more guidance to come! In the same way, there is still much for us to learn and practice. At the beginning of this chapter, we saw six behaviors that need to be removed from our lives and fellowship—and one behavior that should replace them. Next we saw how we have been made light to shine, exposing our own evil deeds, as well as those of our brothers and sisters—and of the world around us! That we all might repent and grow in the ways of Christ. For each other’s good, not condemnation. Here, Paul gives us several key summary points, both words of warning and words of clarification and instruction. From Ephesians 5:15-21.
May 25, 2025, 10:30 AM
Last week we saw how necessary it is for salvation that we submit to the Lord Jesus Christ and work with Him to conform ourselves to His likeness. We need to remove sexual immorality, impurity, covetousness, obscenity, moronic talk and coarse joking from our lives and from our fellowship—because these are the exact opposite of who God is, and so what His children are to be. And He is trying to work these things in us! We don’t want to resist Him, but work with Him. Today, we see that it’s not only for our own personal sake that we need to make these changes, but for everyone around us, to the ends of the earth! From Ephesians 5:8-14.
May 18, 2025, 10:30 AM
We’ve been learning a lot about what it looks like to imitate God. We’re seeing what the old self—which follows after the likeness of the devil—looks like, and what the new self is supposed to look like. That new self was created to be like God!—can you believe it?—in true righteousness and holiness. Changing our lives—the source and fruit of our lives—is not an optional add-on, an upgrade from the basic model. It is the natural state, desire and outcome of the kind of faith that saves to eternity. God loves us so much that He has another list for us, to guide us in our growth. Check yourselves for any of these characteristics, and make plans to remove what needs removing and strengthening what needs development. From Ephesians 5:3-7.
May 11, 2025, 10:30 AM
What does it mean to put off the old self and put on the new? Here’s a perfect illustration. A list of things we are supposed to remove from our hearts and lives. And a list of things we’re supposed to build in. The transformation God has worked in us and desires for us to catch up with, is like night and day. From hostility to love. If only we would take the time to honestly face ourselves, then go after these things like God desires, some of us would be entirely unrecognizable—in a good way! There is doubtless at least one thing each one of us should take home from these few verses, so perk up those ears that are intended to hear. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you, then go in His strength and make the necessary corrections. Here we go! From Ephesians 4:31-5:2.
May 10, 2025, 2:30 PM
Memorial message given at Vicki Mason's Celebration of Life, held at Noelridge Park Church, Cedar Rapids, IA, on May 10th, 2025. "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." (Psalm 116:15, NIV)
May 4, 2025, 10:30 AM
We Christians talk about eternal security. We talk about salvation by faith alone. But I do not think most of us have a good understanding of what that really means. Paul warns us not to grieve the Holy Spirit, but in the same breath he tells us we have been sealed by the Spirit for the day of redemption. If our salvation is secure, what do we have to worry about? Isn’t God forgiving? Isn’t the Holy Spirit also so patient and kind and forgiving? From Ephesians 4:30.
Apr 27, 2025, 10:30 AM
In the previous verse, which we looked at a couple weeks ago, we saw for the thief that putting off the old self and putting on the new was so clear and obvious. Paul has another bellwether of old-self versus new-self: The Tongue. Maybe stealing wasn’t a problem for us, but how about our speech? Yet is it fair for God to judge us for what comes out of our mouths? Can we really get control of our tongue or is Paul expecting too much from us? From Ephesians 4:29.
Apr 13, 2025, 10:30 AM
People sometimes ask, “What does it mean to ‘believe’?” And that is a very good question. So often we think it is just this internal thing, a heart thing, a mind thing. And it certainly includes that. True belief comes in through the ears or eyes, is processed in the mind, then settles in the heart. From there it flows outward, changing the true believer from the inside out. False belief stays in the head and never really reaches the heart, so nothing changes. There are many illustrations of true belief, and Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem—what we remember on Palm Sunday—provides a powerful one. But like every illustration, the real meaning can be missed or abused. From Luke 19:37-44 and 11-27.