Come To The Table

Don’t misinterpret Pastor Mark as saying that God enjoys our suffering. On the contrary, it deeply saddens God, much like it saddens the heart of human parents watching their kids suffer through consequence and trial. Holding on to hope in the midst of suffering requires great faith. Losing a loved one, enduring an illness, or facing hardship, makes it easy to point a finger at God and demand an a...

In our culture, science, reason, and logic, as well as our emotions, have all taken the place of the Bible as a foundation for life. We seek that which makes sense to us, those things that make us feel good, but this approach places far too much merit in our own capabilities, knowledge, and flesh. When we throw out the Bible, or even certain parts of it, because we disagree with it or feel challen...

No amount of study can fully reveal all the mysteries of the Bible. You could devote your entire life to dissecting this Book down to the letter and still completely miss what it’s really saying. The Bible tells of a God who is beyond the scope of human understanding and of the Kingdom He’ll bring which defies our reason. In this teaching, Pastor Mark explains that the only way to understand the B...

Far too often, Christians are experts at putting on a show. You may go to church, smile, and even sing loudly, when in reality, you are falling apart inside. It can easily become a habit to go through the motions of church, but in doing so, you will miss out on what God intends for His body of believers. In this teaching, Pastor Mark encourages us to spend time with fellow believers and go to chur...

Our world often labels God as cruel for daring to judge us for our sins, or they interpret God’s love to mean that He would never refuse or correct us. In this teaching, Pastor Mark points out that God’s love and justice require Him to correct us when we do wrong. He knows how destructive sin is. When He created Adam and Eve, they had untarnished intimacy with Him. When sin entered, He experienced...

At one point or another, we have all experienced what it means to be outside of God’s flock. In this teaching, Pastor Mark discusses Jesus’ desire to bring all sheep into his flock. You and I have an important part to play in growing God’s Kingdom. We are not on this earth to graze in green pastures and grow fat and complacent. God has called us to something higher. He has given us a mission to sh...

In modern society, most people have not encountered sheep, which means many of us might not know what it means to be a good shepherd. The dynamic between sheep and their shepherd can be compared to the relationship many of us have with our dogs. Our pets trust us. We invest time, energy, and resources into providing for them, and it saddens our hearts to see them in pain. In this teaching, Pastor...

Class of citizenship does not exist in God’s Kingdom. In God’s eyes, you are an equal with the apostles and with the likes of Billy Graham. They do not overshadow you. He gets immense joy watching you live a life focused on His glory, even if only one soul is brought to Him by your efforts. It is challenging to grasp this, but even before the world began, God knew you. He knew your heart, and He k...

Entrance into God’s family can only be attained one way. You cannot con or force your way in. The only way is to admit your weakness and come to Christ, who is the door. He stands in the way of any who would bring harm to His children and stands to warmly welcome all those who come to Him. In this teaching, Pastor Mark will discuss a metaphor that would have made complete sense to His audience. Th...

What drives you to learn more about God? Are you seeking to earn approval from Him? Are you trying to strengthen your argument in a debate? Both these motivators reflect a heart that has missed the point of the Christian walk. It is so important to approach your faith with humility and honesty. If you have been a believer for a long time, it is easy to put confidence in that and not in Jesus. In t...

We all struggle with vanity on some level. We want to look good in front of our friends. We want to be accepted and approved of. This desire has a tendency to get us into trouble. The fear of losing the approval of our peers can lead to a life of conformity and compromise. When we choose to follow Jesus, we are going to experience the world’s rejection. In the midst of this rejection, we must hold...

Religion places a burden on people that they cannot possibly bear. It requires an unattainable level of righteousness in order to reach God. In this teaching, Pastor Mark explains the relationship God has invited you into, free of all burdens. Jesus spent much of His ministry tearing down the religious walls that man had built. They had taken something God meant for our benefit and turned it into...

There is a massive difference between knowing about God and actually knowing Him. In this teaching, Pastor Mark points out that many religious people in Jesus’ day knew God’s Word better than the back of their hand. They picked it apart and analyzed it in a way that would put us to shame, yet they totally missed the Messiah it foretold. It is vital to keep your heart open to the work of God. You n...

Have you ever fallen into sin, but then returned to God in repentance? Most believers have been in this place. After experiencing the filth of sin, His Word is so refreshing. No matter how far you’ve strayed, reading the Bible brings rejuvenation to your spirit and joy to your soul. In this teaching, Pastor Mark will explain that just as the blind man in John chapter nine had a strong sense of urg...

Every one of us has been born into sin. We are also born in the image of God and have an innate sense of His existence and our need for Him. Before you hear about Jesus, you may struggle to pinpoint where your emptiness comes from, but nothing aside from Him can fill that space in a lasting way. Our God is a just God, and He gives everyone a chance to accept or reject His offer of salvation, but s...

God does not desire to be exclusionary. He didn’t send Jesus for a select few that He wants in Heaven. He sent His Son to walk in humble perfection and to die for all mankind to know Him and be redeemed by His work of grace. In this teaching, Pastor Mark will point out that although the Gospel is interpreted as intolerant in our culture, the beauty of salvation in Christ is that it’s simple. You d...

Jesus demonstrated leadership that completely contradicted the typical human model. Our CEOs, political leaders, and even some religious leaders are focused on puffing themselves up and serving their own purposes. Jesus, on the other hand, had every right to establish Himself as the sole ruler of this world, but instead submitted Himself to His Father’s plan. In this teaching, Pastor Mark addresse...

If you have placed your faith in Christ and received His gift of salvation, you’ve become a citizen of a vastly different kingdom than any here on earth. When you live in the grace that characterizes this kingdom, it is going to turn some heads. Some may be drawn in, but many will be driven away by their hard hearts. As Pastor Mark will explain, you cannot make these decisions for others. Sadly, m...

Jesus is often depicted as soft-spoken or reserved, timidly dealing with confrontation or even avoiding it, but in reality, He never shied away from conflict. Instead, He brought very hard truths to the Pharisees and religious elite. Jesus will be faithful to confront you and your sin, but not because he takes pleasure in condemning you. In this teaching, Pastor Mark will remind us that it is out...

When you are in bondage to sin, it is quite possible to be oblivious of your chains. You may not even recognize the given behavior as a sin, or you might not be willing to admit that it is controlling you. In this teaching, Pastor Mark reminds us that Christ came to set us free. He didn’t come to condemn or enslave us. He purchased our freedom. Still, it is your choice to accept His invitation int...

We have grown desensitized to sin in our world. The things we consider normal would have shocked people a mere fifteen or twenty years ago. The Bible tells us that if our right hand causes us to sin, we should cut it off. That is a harsh teaching. In this message, Pastor Mark will warn us to take a more serious view of our sin, as Jesus Himself does. Whatever steps must be taken to ensure freedom—...

God desires for all of us to be free from sin. He went to great lengths to break the bonds the enemy places on us. Sadly, many people, Christians included, remain in bondage to sin. In this teaching, Pastor Mark assures us that true freedom is possible. Sometimes, freedom from certain sins comes instantly when you place your faith in Christ, but oftentimes, freedom takes time. When sin has its gri...

The world holds many allures: fame, wealth, power, and pleasure, just to name a few. They all appeal to our God-given senses, but as Pastor Mark points out in this teaching, everything outside of God is fleeting. Without Christ, all of us are empty vessels, incomplete and dissatisfied with our lives, no matter how appealing they may seem from the outside.

Our world has seemingly infinite paths you can take. If you ask people about who Jesus is and how we get to heaven, you will get a lot of vague and less than satisfying answers. Jesus, however, left no room for error when He claimed to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life. As Pastor Mark will explain in this teaching, we desperately need light in our spiritual lives. The enemy loves to keep us in t...

As Jesus confronted the men aiming their stones at the adulteress woman, He spoke with astounding authority. According to their culture and the Law, these men held the right to take her life, but Jesus spoke the truth in power and opened their eyes to their own sinfulness. In this teaching, Pastor Mark reminds us that Jesus is not standing over you in condemnation but is actually standing up for y...