Come To The Table

Is the Holy Spirit comfortable in your life? Is He comfortable in your home? Sadly, with how desensitized many of us have become, the answer is probably no. The things that come up on our numerous screens are often very offensive to God, and it breaks His heart to see us allowing such destruction into our lives. If you’ve accepted salvation through Christ, your eternity is secure, but that doesn’t...

It’s amazing how the Holy Spirit works in and through those He indwells. As Pastor Mark pints out in this teaching, the Holy Spirit’s presence can be sensed by those around us, even if we never mention God. Still, we need to speak the Gospel, to verbalize our faith, in order to fulfill Christ’s commandments.

Speaking truth, no matter how loving and gracious you are, is going to create enemies. The very idea that you believe in an absolute truth will be treated with shock and opposition in our culture. In this teaching, Pastor Mark points out that early Christians faced a cultural backlash similar to what we are starting to see today. We should expect persecution as Christ-followers. We follow a Savior...

How often do you feel like you’re facing this life and its struggles all alone? For some, this past year with its social distancing and restrictions has only amplified that feeling. That loneliness is an attack of the enemy. God gave us His Holy Spirit so that you never have to face life alone. God created the church to be a body of believers, working together and serving in various ways to Him gl...

Do you know—I mean really know—that when you die you are going to heaven? If you’re answering yes, then how do you know? It can’t be because your parents took you to church or because you are a good person. That is not true salvation. Have you had a personal encounter with Jesus? Have you given your whole life to Him? Salvation occurs in that moment of true surrender.

If you love Jesus, then sin is not something you actively pursue. If you love Jesus, then you tell others about Him and about how He’s forgiven you. But guess what. The world isn’t going to like that. Pastor Mark has some news for you: You are going to be hated. The enemy of God, Satan, is going to do all he can to stop the truth from getting out and to pull people away from Jesus. As a believer,...

You don’t share your intimate secrets with just anyone. Most likely there are things you don’t want to broadcast to the world. With your friends, however, you can develop trust and intimacy. You can tell them the truth and know that they’ll keep the information safe. Did you know that God wants to have that kind of friendship with you? As you follow His Word and live in obedience, you’ll develop a...

If you’ve given your life to Jesus, you are saved! You belong to the Lord and your sins are forgiven. What a wonderful reason to get up each day! But is that where it ends for you? In this teaching, Pastor Mark will be sharing the difference between living as a servant of God and living as a friend of God. Put forth effort to get to know your Savior. Do what He asks of you and seek to grow in a de...

In this teaching, Pastor Mark discusses abiding in Christ. Not all Christians have learned to abide in their Savior. To abide is not a passive act; It is a choice to press in deeply to Jesus, clinging to the vine for our very breath. If we abide, we will begin to see fruit in our lives. It might not be noticeable to everyone at first, but just as a healthy vine eventually grows grapes, so we too w...

Too often we think we can bring about the results God is looking for. We think we have the strength and skills needed to do it on our own. God can take a break! But in all honesty, our efforts pale in comparison to God’s ability. In this teaching, Pastor Mark encourages us to truly and deeply understand that Jesus is the source of life. He is the provider of all our skills or talents we so often c...

We all want peace; people search for it in all kinds of ways, and sometimes, they are able to attain it temporarily. The problem is that feeling won’t stick around once difficult times come. The Bible, though, tells us that there is a source of peace that lasts, and if you’re a child of God, you have access to it. In this teaching, Pastor Mark encourages us to invite God’s lasting peace into our l...

There is a big difference between having a servant and having a friend. Both have a relationship with you, but each has their own motivations that lead to specific actions. A servant does things for you, but there is no personal or emotional reason for that action, no personal connection. A friend, on the other hand, often does things for you as well, but it is done voluntarily, as an act of love....

Everyone receives the Holy Spirit when they accept Jesus. He comes inside us and begins transforming us from the inside out. As Pastor Mark clarifies in this teaching, however, there is an extra work of the Spirit that comes after the initial work of salvation: Spiritual Baptism. This secondary work moves us from having an indwelling to an on-dwelling of His presence. Our soul is already seen as r...

You can’t have Jesus without His Holy Spirit. It’s that Spirit in us that brings about righteous behavior that would be impossible for our flesh. This transformation begins the moment you receive Christ, and it is only completed when you stand before Him in eternity. If you ever get to a point where you no longer sense the conviction and leading of the Holy Spirit, it is time for dedicated prayer...

What is the difference between condemnation and conviction? For starters, one comes from the enemy, while the other comes from the Holy Spirit. Conviction brings change and growth, but condemnation brings shame and fear. Our enemy is a talented deceiver. He pokes at the wounds created by our sin, bringing frustration and pain. When God uses His Spirit to touch our wounds and reveal our weaknesses,...

The Holy Spirit is Jesus in spirit form, He is not a substitute. The trinity is a concept we have a difficult time understanding. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one but still maintain individual identities. Although not with us in physical form, Jesus can be with us in the Spirit. His presence is not a feeling that you might get when you hear an emotional worship song. It’s much more than th...

Jesus’ life and ministry had such an amazing impact on His world and continues to have an impact on millions of lives. Still, He told His disciples that they would do an even greater work than he did. That’s hard to fathom, but Pastor Mark will help clarify this statement in this teaching.

Our planet is often referred to as “the land of the living,” but as Pastor Mark will point out in this teaching, our fallen world would be better described as “the land of the dying.” When you are in Christ and pass away, you enter into true life for all eternity, but even here on earth, believers can connect to His everlasting kingdom of life through prayer. God has offered us an amazing privileg...

Many people find it hard to accept that there is only one way into Heaven. This stubborn mentality can be directly traced to the sinful pride in each of our hearts. We want to be in control of our own destiny, and we don’t want to bow our knee to anyone or anything. As Pastor Mark stresses in today’s teaching, the fundamental truth of Jesus Christ is that He is the way, the truth, and the life; No...

For a young child, a loving father is one of the most trustworthy figures in their lives. They trust them to an unrealistic extent and often believe they’re capable of the impossible. This level of respect and love fades as they grow older and see their parents’ humanity, but for believers, it is necessary to return to that kind of trust as we look to our Heavenly Father. You and I can trust that...

The word “love” is overused in our world. In this teaching, Pastor Mark explains the different kinds of love described in the Bible. The word used to describe God’s love for man is “agape.” This is a love that transcends conditions. This love gives with no expectations and continues regardless of the response. God has agape love for you. It is not dependent on anything you do for Him. All you have...

In this teaching, Pastor Marks discusses the bewildering love of Christ. Our human perspective cannot make sense of it. Jesus exemplified a father-like love for the disciples as He led and taught them. He has that same love for us. When we sin, He doesn’t look on us with disgust or frustration but with love and sadness.

John—the “beloved” disciple of Jesus—was in a position of intimacy that allowed him to hear things the others did not. We can apply this example to our spiritual walk with Christ. As Pastor Mark points out in this teaching, the closer we draw to Jesus, the more aware we will become of His voice. Let’s put aside the distractions of this world and lean on Him. It is when we rest in Jesus that we’ll...

It’s hard to fathom how someone could walk with Jesus for three years, witnessing miracles, and still reject Him. Judas’ agenda was driven by his own reason and selfishness. Jesus didn’t fit the image that he and so many others had imagined of the Messiah. In a moment of greed and pride, he handed his Rabbi over to be arrested and executed.

Humbling ourselves to serve friends and family can be challenging. Even more challenging it is to serve someone who dislikes you or has even betrayed you. Jesus did exactly this. He knew what Judas was planning, yet still washed his feet along with the other disciples. Our hearts, which desire to get even when we are wronged, need to learn the sacrificial nature and servitude of Christ.