Messages
A collection of sermons and messages Mark has given over the years
New messages are added as they become available
Nov 10, 2024, 11:30 AM
To what do you look for the assurance of your salvation? A date? A prayer? A baptism? The grace of God came to bring us salvation, but do we understand that means? Whether we realize it or not, so many of us think that just means we're promised a seat in Heaven for eternity. We who believe in Christ are indeed assured a place in Heaven for all eternity, but that is far from the whole picture. God's purpose was so much greater than that, and it makes for an important test to see if we're "in the faith." From Titus 2:11-15.
Sep 1, 2024, 12:30 PM
Jesus is dead. The priests and Pharisees have won! They are so confident and clever. They anticipate the next and final deception and take steps to prevent it. Yet in truth, they have it all wrong. Not only do they overestimate Jesus' disciples, but they, like the disciples, believe they have succeeded. On the contrary, everything they have done has only served the purposes of God. They haven't won. Jesus did! But they, and the disciples, are still looking at things from a human point of view. What about you and me? Do we recognize the victory in this moment? From Matthew 27:51-66.
Aug 25, 2024, 12:30 PM
Now it's time to carry out the sentence of death against Jesus. You've heard it before; you've seen it in movies. It is brutal. And the worst thing we can do is become numb to it. Jesus Himself had the opportunity to take a concoction designed to ease His suffering and numb His pain. He refused. And that is a lesson for us: We need to face His suffering, as surely as He did. We need to see it; we need to feel it; we need to respond correctly to it. Why? Come find out. From Matthew 27:27-50.
Jul 21, 2024, 12:30 PM
Since explaining the timing of His return and the end of the age, Jesus has spoken several parables to urge His disciples to be ready. But what preparations should we be making? If we've been entrusted with other servants, we're supposed to lead them well and give them their food at the proper time. We need to be careful to be wise and bring enough oil to wait until the return of Christ. We need to make more "money" with the "money" we've been giving. But what does it all mean? What should we be doing? We finish off this chapter with not a parable, but a preview of the final judgment, and within it, we discover the kinds of things Jesus wants us to be doing. From Matthew 25:31-46.
Apr 14, 2024, 12:30 PM
How wise we think we are! How intelligent! So we have the boldness to deny the truth of things we don't like, even in God's Word! The Sadducees are not so different from us. They preferred to believe in what they could see and touch and test by the senses, so they denied the resurrection and the existence of angels and immortal spirits. What would possess someone to deny so great a hope? What advantage would there be in denying the resurrection? What if they're wrong? From Matthew 22:23-33.
Mar 24, 2024, 11:30 AM
Are you merely called or are you chosen? There is a difference. In the conclusion to this parable, Jesus tells us that "many are called, but few are chosen." The gospel goes out into all the world; daily people receive a call from God's servants. Some ignore it; they've got better things to do with their time. Others respond, but rightly have no assurance of salvation. Still others are chosen, and it is clear to all who are willing to see. Are you chosen? How can you know? There is a right way. From Matthew 22:1-14.
Jan 28, 2024, 11:30 AM
What do you look to for assurance that you will enter Christ's kingdom? Is there a one-off event or deed that you did to confirm your salvation? Do you depend on your continued good deeds to assure your place in Heaven? In this passage, a rich young man who apparently faithfully keeps the Law is still looking for assurance. Notice how Jesus answers him; it's a lesson for all of us. From Matthew 19:16-26.
Dec 17, 2023, 11:30 AM
There are many joys of Christmas: gatherings of family and friends, festivities, music and lights, food and fellowship, giving and receiving gifts. As wonderful as these are, the real joy of Christmas isn't any of these things. The real joy of Christmas is that babe born in Bethlehem two thousand years ago. Because He was no ordinary baby. He fulfilled the promises that gave us hope of victory over Satan, Death, Sin and our Hard Hearts. He was born to pay the price to make peace between us and God. If we don't understand that, we don't understand the real joy of Christmas. Do you know real joy? From Luke 2:15-37.
Dec 10, 2023, 11:30 PM
Over the centuries from the beginning of time, the Lord has sent promise after promise, prophecy after prophecy, of the Seed of the Woman who would deliver us from Satan, Death, Sin and Our Own Heart. In the fullness of time, a baby is born in Bethlehem, and the angels cannot contain themselves! "Glory to God in the highest! And on earth, peace to men on whom His favor rests!" (Luke 2:14) The promise of peace is finally here! But what is this peace? It has so many interpretations and iterations in our modern society. Are they all correct? Or does God have something more specific in mind? From Luke 2:1-14.
Dec 3, 2023, 11:30 AM
The first week of Advent focuses on the Hope that Christ brings. But hope for what? Why do we need hope? What are we hoping for? Interestingly enough, the first 6 chapters of the Bible reveal four of our chief enemies we face in this life. Peppered throughout Scripture are promises that give hope to the believer of victory over every one of these enemies. And these promises all point to a Son who's birth we will soon celebrate at Christmas.