Messages
A collection of sermons and messages Mark has given over the years
New messages are added as they become available
Dec 29, 2024, 10:30 AM
From the exile to the Christ, that intervening 500 and some years, is incredibly chaotic. Little is known of the men listed in Jesus' genealogy between Jeconiah and Himself. But much is known of the history of those centuries. Somehow, through the chaos, not only would God preserve His people, but He would bring His Messiah in fulfillment of promises that grow more inconceivable as the generations pass. God laid out His plans in remarkable detail, but would anyone be listening? Would anyone be watching? His plans for Christ's second Advent are similarly revealed. Is anyone paying attention? From Matthew 1:12-25.
Dec 22, 2024, 10:30 AM
The kings in Jesus' lineage have not finished teaching us. On this third Sunday of Advent, we'll consider the proclamation of joy. For so many of us, we think that the only joy from the birth of Jesus is the forgiveness of sins and assurance of eternity with God. But God has so much more joy to offer us than something gained in the past and hoped for in the future. We can know a daily joy, if we will learn the lessons God has tucked away in the lives of these remaining sons of David. From Matthew 1:6-11.
Dec 8, 2024, 10:30 AM
Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, praises God and speaks of the Christ coming to lead us into the path of peace. We're not led through a doorway to peace, but onto a pathway upon which we're supposed to walk. Peace is not merely an emotion we're to enjoy or a state of existence with God. It defines a lifestyle we're called to live. David and his royal descendants illustrate with their lives the right ways that belong to the path of peace, and the wrong ways that can derail us. From Matthew 1:6-11.
Dec 1, 2024, 10:30 AM
"For God so loved the world..." John 3:16 tells us. Matthew's genealogy of Jesus proves it! Just looking from Abraham to David, we're blown away by the mercy and grace of God for people who in no way deserve His kindness. We find ourselves in Jesus' family tree. Our hearts are also challenged by it. We have much work to do. From Matthew 1:1-6a.
Sep 8, 2024, 10:30 AM
The angels joyously announced the birth of Jesus; the angels rejoice over the resurrection of Jesus! The resurrection seals the whole testimony of God. The resurrection proves Jesus is all He claimed to be. The resurrection changes everything! It frees us from all our fears and sets our lives on God's intended course. There is only one right response to the resurrection of Jesus Christ! From Matthew 28:1-20.
Sep 1, 2024, 10:30 AM
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, 10:30 AM
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.
Aug 18, 2024, 10:30 AM
Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin, by the people and even by Pilate—against his better judgment. Can this really be God's desire for His only Son? We know it is, but do we realize that in suffering all these things, He was leaving us an example that we should follow in His steps? But Jesus is not the only one who is condemned in this passage. Not only is His stand before His unjust judges a lesson for us, but the actions of those around Him are warnings to us. How desperately we need to search our own hearts and lives to make sure we are learning and submitting to the will of God in Christ Jesus for us! From Matthew 27:1-26.
Aug 11, 2024, 10:30 AM
Both Peter and Jesus are on trial here. You can see the difference between the One who submitted Himself to the Father's will, even to the point of death, and the one who gave in to his flesh. Jesus knows when to remain silent and when to answer, all in honor of His Father. Jesus practices true meekness. Peter is still enslaved to the wishes of his flesh. But before we come down too hard on Peter, we should consider where we stand in comparison to these two men. How will we respond when our lives are at stake? Jesus' success and Peter's failure still have much to teach us. From Matthew 26:57-75.
Aug 4, 2024, 10:30 AM
How do you handle the most terrifying diagnosis? How do you handle tragedy befalling a loved one? How do you respond to a spouse who fails you in one way or another? How do you respond to a car breaking down by the side of the road or a printer that won't do what it's supposed to? We constantly face little tests and sometimes face the worst of tests. How can we face them and pass the test? How can we respond well, as Jesus wants us to, as we want us to? Jesus has been there. And He shows what we need if we're going to honor Him in the big and little trials of life. From Matthew 26:31-56.