Come To The Table

Life is like a marathon and not a sprint. There's plenty of road to travel that's filled with highs and lows, smooth spots and rough patches, high walls, and high temptations. Most of us start off well but need help to finish. It's easy for any of us to go off-road and then it gets really bad! OK, enough road metaphors. Here's the bottom line: Faith and trust in Jesus Christ are not only required...

If someone gave you a million dollars, would that make you feel happy and satisfied? Absolutely! For a short time, you'd be extremely happy. However, those feelings would wane and the truth of our nature would come out. The people or the things of this world never truly satisfy. We'll hear about a woman that Jesus met at a well. She had been seeking satisfaction through husbands and that thirst wa...

Most of us can relate to having some dessert, and it was so good, that you went back for more. You just couldn't resist. You even put limits on how much you would have but kept eating more anyway! No, this isn't a teaching on weight loss or even a loss of control. This is about satisfaction. There are some things in life that can only be satisfied by God. When it comes to where we place our hope f...

Someone's background or ethnicity did not determine if Jesus would talk with them. He shared the truth and the truth of Himself with anyone who had "ears to hear." What a good example He has set for us when the opportunity to share the gospel presents itself! Jesus had to stretch the disciples to get to this point, and He wants to stretch you to become open and willing to be His witness with those...

If you've ever compared your gifts and talents to others around you, maybe it came with the question "why isn't God using me more?" Does it seem that one is more spirit-filled than the other? Perhaps all good questions to ask, but the one Pastor Mark will pose today is: "Is there sin in my life that is hindering the work of God's Holy Spirit?" Such a hindrance would definitely answer the other que...

All of us are susceptible to becoming jealous of other people's talents or the success of their ministries because it's in our nature to be competitive and comparative.  It shouldn't be about who's doing a better job serving God, but everyone working toward the same goal.  Pastor Mark will remind you today that the goal is to be faithful in whatever God has called you to do and to be happy for the...

As light represents the truth and exposes sin in your life, so darkness represents evil and tries to keep sin hidden. There's a pull for many people to love the darkness instead of living in the light of truth. Living a lifestyle of sin will often lead people toward hatred of the truth, and ultimately, hatred of Jesus. Pastor Mark will explain that Jesus came to bring light into this dark world fo...

When sharing Jesus with someone, do you find yourself pressuring them to believe or even getting angry because they don't believe? Remember Jesus didn't force Himself on anyone. He simply shared the truth and left it up to the person if they wanted to follow Him or not. That's really the best way because yelling and screaming at someone in an effort to make them understand is only going to make ma...

It's hard to understand how some Christians can believe that Jesus is their Savior, but don't believe in the Bible as God wrote it. They create their own meaning for passages they deem too difficult to understand. They'll try to explain things with science or an unbiblical rationale because the Bible is just too far-fetched to be true. However, even Jesus used earthly things to explain spiritual t...

Some might think God is narrow-minded or even mean for allowing only one way to Heaven. Some still believe there is more than one way to Eternal Life. Pastor Mark will confirm that it doesn't matter how many religious acts you do or do good works...nothing...no one...no where...no way...is having their sins forgiven and being reunited with the Father except by way of Jesus. It was hard to understa...

Many have said they don't like going to church because all the church wants is their money. While it's sadly true that some churches take advantage of people, God doesn't want your money, God wants your heart. Where your heart goes, there your money and your time and your devotion will follow. This is true in life, let alone the church. The religious leaders were definitely taking advantage of the...

To see Jesus angry, flipping over tables and using a whip to drive out the self-serving from a sacrificial temple must have been a sight to see! However, some have used this account to say that Jesus couldn't have done that and not sinned! The Bible does say not to sin in your anger, but we end up sinning in our anger because our anger is selfish. Pastor Mark will explain why Jesus did not sin, as...

The statistics from research bear out what we know spiritually: Wealth or fame without God coming first will leave us unfulfilled and even depressed. Most think having lots of money or accolades would satisfy, but it never will. Most who do have lots of wealth or fame end up asking if this is all there is. Maybe thinking if I just had a little more wealth or fame, THEN I would be happy. The truth...

Whether it's the Pharisees of Jesus' day or today, people make up their own set of ritualistic regulations to appear religious. However if anyone promotes a rule that's not found in the Bible, then it's from man and not from God. Pastor Mark will warn us to watch out for people who are adding to God's Word. Just because someone says Christians should (fill in the blank), doesn't mean it's Biblical...

A marital relationship that keeps God at the center, is like a rope made of 3 cords. Neither one is not easy to break. There's no greater thing in a marriage than having your hearts set on Jesus and putting your hope in Him together. He'll greatly bless you, as long as you keep Him in the middle of your relationship. It's not guaranteed to be easy, but God will always be there to lean on and place...

Most don't realize that God's design for marriage is in part to provide an earthly representation of a spiritual union between Jesus and the church. Pastor Mark will go over the marriage relationship between man and woman and how it connects to the marriage relationship between Christ and the church. The goal is two hearts coming together as one, longing to grow in their relationship with God firs...

When Jesus began His earthly ministry, He called the disciples to leave what they were doing and follow Him. He extends the same call to you today. Jesus even let His disciples do what they loved, just in a different way. To the fishermen, He said to become fishers of men. What do you love to do that you could use to God's glory and point people to Him? Are you using the skills and talents God has...

When Jesus began His earthly ministry, He called the disciples to leave what they were doing and follow Him. He extends the same call to you today. Maybe the call isn't quitting your current job and entering into ministry full time, but maybe it's serving at your church or some way in your community. Either way, when He gives you a particular concern in your heart for ministry and couples that wit...

While God desires for everyone to surrender their life to Jesus to be their Lord and Savior, what is YOUR desire for surrendering your life to Christ? If you're deciding to live for Him, is it for the right purpose? John the Baptist knew God in an intimate way, and that intimacy motivated him to live for Jesus, declare Jesus and not hold back. Is your motivation for living a Christian life born ou...

One of the benefits of being trained by God in the wilderness was John the Baptist knew his source of strength was God, his hope was in God, so he was able to always give God the glory. Pastor Mark will share the same message today, and remind you God wants to declare Him with your actions and your words. Are you so confident in your faith, that you're willing to go out and talk to everyone you ca...

The religious leaders of Jesus' day were focused on the flesh, emphasized rituals, and put themselves in a position of lordship over the people. From the midst of this spiritual death comes a guy straight out of the wilderness, trained by God to be unafraid of these religious leaders, so that he could lead the people to Jesus, the one who brings everlasting life. See the wisdom of God in how He tr...

John The Baptist was trained by God in the Wilderness for a special type of witness. God would use John to call out and convict the religious leaders of his day, who were more focused on the practice of their religion instead of a relationship with a forgiving God. The news that John preached is still the same for anyone lost today: Turn from your sin and turn to Jesus. Let's find out how God used...

A true witness that's living totally surrendered to God will leave no one to wonder where their hope is, and they'll share with anyone how they can have that same hope. Pastor Mark will remind you that it's not just by our actions but by our words that you'll bear witness to Jesus and His goodness. God moves in amazing ways through His kids, and He wants to use you to show them, that HOPE is free,...

Once you've made the decision to accept Jesus as your Savior and follow Him as your Lord, He wants you to share this good news, because there's a lot of hurting people who desperately need what you now know. But knowing this is only the first part. Living by example and living by sharing go hand in hand. This is demonstrated in John the baptist as we continue exploring our message entitled "Jesus...

When you hear the Gospel message, you're left with a choice to either accept it and follow the path God has provided, or ignore it and choose your own path. Pastor Mark will remind you today that this choice is not a one-time event, but a life of continual choices to abide in Him and live out His will for our lives.