Messages
A collection of sermons and messages Mark has given over the years
New messages are added as they become available
Jan 19, 2025, 11:30 AM
God “has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3b, NIV84)! Were you a little disappointed that Paul didn’t mention any material blessings? Or were you overjoyed at the spiritual blessings he showed us? Paul’s not done calling us to a higher view of this life. Think of your prayer life. What do you typically ask God for, whether for yourself or others? Who do you usually pray for? According to his usual custom, Paul records how he prays for these saints. Let’s see what was most important to Paul, and what we can learn for ourselves. From Ephesians 1:15-23.
Jan 12, 2025, 11:30 AM
If you are a child of God, then you are a saint. On the one hand, that title terrifies us. On the other, it is the sign of God’s great favor toward you. Can you live the life of a God-pleasing saint or will you display the arrogant hypocrisy you fear? As mentioned last week, it depends on whether you recognize the gift you’ve been given or somehow think you’ve attained sainthood by your own efforts. To be sure, diligence is required, but to what end? To what purpose? Who do you glorify in your pursuit of this godliness? God, through Paul, shows us the way. From Ephesians 1:2-14.
Jan 5, 2025, 11:30 AM
Who are you? How do you introduce yourself? What do you want people to know about you? What is your identity? Our society has been talking a lot about identities in recent years. Do you wish you could be something other than what and who you are? As we start into Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, we’ll look at a couple of identities. Wouldn’t you love to be one or both of them? You can be, and it wouldn’t be weird or wrong. From Ephesians 1:1.
Dec 29, 2024, 11:30 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, 11:30 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, 11:30 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, 11:30 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.
Nov 24, 2024, 11:30 AM
Thanksgiving! Family and feasting and football! But is that all? Is that really what this day is about? We call it "thanksgiving" for a reason, but do we understand that reason? The founding fathers of this country had a far deeper understanding than we do today. For Christians, there is an even more significant history that should guide our Thanksgiving holiday. And it's not the Pilgrims. Let's see what our forefathers knew, and see where that leads us. Perhaps we can restore a proper glory to our Thanksgiving celebration. From Deuteronomy 8:10-20.
Nov 17, 2024, 11:30 AM
What are you devoted to? We're called to be devoted to God, but what does that look like? We have a clue in Paul's repeated command that believers to devoted to doing what is good. It comes up twice in this last chapter. We already have an idea what that looks like, but Paul fleshes it out even more in these few verses. Come see what he has to teach us, and check how you're doing in your devotion to God. From Titus 3:1-15.
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.