Messages
A collection of sermons and messages Mark has given over the years
New messages are added as they become available
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.