Come To The Table

God always gives us the choice to love him or not. We weren't created as robots, programmed to always do God's will and love him with our whole being. He doesn't force himself on us. He doesn't want our mindless devotion. He wants our hearts. He wants us to choose. As Pastor Mark looks at the book of Matthew today, he shows us a sobering reality: one day, it will be too late to choose God. Even as...

Finishing well matters. You can run an entire marathon in the first place and lose it all in the last mile. The previous 25 miles will mean nothing! Anybody can have a great first day on the job, but will you continue to put in the effort, day in and day out? Can you finish as well as you started? God wants you to finish your Christian race well. He wants you to run every step with conviction unti...

There are lots of factors when it comes to planting and harvesting a crop. The amount of water, sun, temperature and the state of the soil all play a role in the seed growing as it should. If a crop fails, it's not because the seed itself failed. It's the result of an outside influence. Your heart is a field. Every day, the word of God is sown, but the success of the crop lies in the condition of...

Have you ever seen those reality TV shows, where they follow someone around with a camera 24/7? What if that was you? What if everything you ever said, and everything you've ever done, was recorded? In today's message, Pastor Mark tells us that one day every man, woman, and child will be held accountable for everything they've ever said. That is a scary thought! Think about your own life... Certai...

Are you the type of person that likes to push your limits? Do you want to see how far you can take things and still get away with them? Maybe you've got it all figured out, and you'll reign it right at the last second... But do you know when that last second is gonna be? In today's message, Pastor Mark warns us about walking that kind of line. He warns us that there's a point of no return, and onc...

Can you imagine a life where you have a checklist for everything? Wouldn't that be tedious? First thing in the morning... “Open eyes... Check... Roll over... Check... sit up... Check....” I'll spare you the rest of the day, but you get the idea.... you'd be so focused on checking boxes that you'd miss out entirely on life itself..... In today's Message, Pastor Mark teaches us how much Jesus cares...

You know, there are certain things in life that are worth fighting for, and then there are things that just need to be let go. Sometimes it's easy to blur the line between the two. Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in fighting over how we do things and forget why we do them. In pastor Mark's teaching today, we learn from the apostle Paul that it wasn't so important which day the church worships...

When was the last time you took a day off? Has it been a while? A few weeks? Months? Years? We all know the struggle of finding the time to rest, but when you do get that time to reboot, isn't it worth it? Doesn't it feel so good to give your batteries a little recharge? In today's Message, Pastor Mark teaches us about the Sabbath. What it is and isn't, and why we need it. God didn't just make up...

Do you remember the old song “Jesus loves me this I know...?” Have you ever thought much about it? Have you ever stopped to think about how much He loves you? Pastor Mark teaches us in Today's message, that one of the ways Jesus shows His love for us, in His active pursuit of us. We know that He created us. We know He came to earth and walked among us, and He died on the cross for our sins.... but...

Often we get to look at other people's influence and think of all the good they must be able to accomplish. “If only I had that kind of influence...” Or maybe you are shy and don't want that kind of attention and think, “What can I do at all?” In Today's Message, Pastor Mark teaches us that the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives matters. God used John the Baptist as the Holy Spirit came upon hi...

Have you ever had to readjust for unrealistic expectations? Like getting married or becoming a parent? You saw the best parts of other people's marriages or highlights of parenthood, but when your turn came, you realized how much work came with it. Pastor Mark teaches us that being a follower of Jesus isn't without its own share of difficulties in today's Message. Indeed, Jesus offers eternal life...

Everyone makes sacrifices in life. Some people give up tasty treats like ice cream and candy bars to keep a slim figure. Some people live without sleep because time is money. What sacrifices are you willing to make to follow Jesus? Pastor Mark teaches us in today's message that being a disciple of Jesus isn't easy. Following Jesus is more than checking a box on social media; it's a life-altering d...

Does it ever feel like you're being singled out? Do you feel like no matter what you say or do, you just seem to have a target on your back? You could be the most excellent person, have a great work ethic, and have a squeaky-clean reputation, but because you are a Christian... Now you're enemy number one! Pastor Mark Reminds us in Today's message that Jesus warned His disciples about this. Jesus t...

Purifying requires heat. It requires firing and melting and re-firing and remelting. Over and over, the metal is made purer the more it goes through the fire. We will be refined, too; like everything else, it takes the heat. It takes trials and testing to draw out the impurities and leave us refined. The heat that refines metal would kill a flower. The same trials that bring a believer closer to G...

The Bible clarifies that there will be trouble in this life on earth. We've all seen a glimpse of hardship, some more than others. No one has seen problems like the Jewish people, though. Enslaved, roaming in the wilderness, brought under captivity, and dominated by Hitler in World War 2. Can the Jewish people endure more? As we learn about the end times in the Bible, we know that the Jewish peopl...

Everybody likes good news. Can there be better news than finding out you landed that new job, having a good report from the doctor, or knowing your kids are coming home for Christmas? As impressive as all of those are, they don't compare to the good news you can find in the Bible. “Gospel” literally means good news. So what is the good news? Pastor Mark tells you today! You were dead in your sin,...

What is the impossible thing you can think of? Guessing a number your friend is thinking of? Trying to guess someone's name before meeting them? As daunting as those tasks may seem, being asked to imagine what someone dreamed of is way more complicated. It's impossible. But God specializes in the impossible. When the unthinkable happens, the only choice is to give God the glory. Today, Pastor Mark...

Have you ever had an imaginary argument with someone all in your own head? You think through every point they could come up with and try to decide what you will say to answer them. It can be exhausting! Not to mention stressful. What if there was a way to be prepared to answer without putting yourself through that stressful preparation? Pastor Mark reminds us today that in the Bible, God promises...

We often want to be on the front lines, leading the charge of advancing God's kingdom. We want to be the charismatic preacher with huge altar calls or the youth pastor all the kids adore. We want to start a movement, do something big, and make a huge impact. But what if the most significant effect is found when you kneel at your bed, alone, in prayer? A steady life spent in habits of reading the B...

Do you ever find yourself getting scared of sharing the Gospel? I know I have before. How do you get over that fear? In today’s message, Pastor Mark tells us that we don’t need to be afraid to share the Gospel if we pray for courage! God wants these people saved, just as much as you probably do, so ask for His help! Even if you don’t feel ready to share the Gospel with people yet, you can always s...

Have you ever had a “bad deal?” Maybe you pay too much for something that’s not worth it, or you trade away something important for something that’s not. In today’s message, Pastor Mark challenges us to examine our lives to ensure we’re not changing eternal life for something minuscule like earthly gain! Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, doesn’t that seem ridiculous? Even if silver was...

Do you ever see a need in your church? Maybe it needs a better youth program, or maybe you see it lacking in organization. What do you do about that? Do you just tell some of the church leaders and hope for the best? Or do you work with those leaders to make the changes you think the church needs? In today’s message, Pastor Mark speaks about how; when we see a need in the church, that’s God puttin...

Have you ever been in a “hopeless” situation? Most of us have before. In Christ though; we don’t need to feel hopeless! In today’s message, Pastor Mark speaks about when Jesus said to “make room” for him. That meant never letting hopelessness take all of the room in our hearts, we need room for Him! So how do we “make room” for Jesus in our hearts? Well, how do you make room in a stuffed closet? Y...

Do you remember your first time going to church? For some of us, we’ve been going our whole lives; not even thinking about it anymore. But try to put yourself in the position of someone who’s never been. Does church seem all that inviting? What can you do in your church to make it seem more welcoming? In today’s message, Pastor Mark reminds us that; while we can’t let sin into the church, it’s sup...

Have you ever had a prayer answered? Did anyone notice? Have you ever come close to feeling like it’s “thanks to you” that it happened? It’s a feeling that needs to be fought! In today’s message, Pastor Mike reminds us that God’s miracles are for His Glory! Too many quote-unquote “Christian” organizations today, and even throughout history; have tried to give the credit for these miracles to the p...