Come To The Table

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...

In this teaching, Pastor Mark leads us through the story of a woman caught in the act of adultery. Adultery is not a minor sin; it was punishable by death in those days. Many of us would have been among the stone-throwers. Humans are quick to judge others without considering their own faults. Jesus did not come to condemn, however. He came to save. He alone held the right to throw the first stone,...

When Jesus enters your heart, you’ll know it, and so will people around you. As His love frees you and transforms your sinful nature to be more like His, you will begin to move upriver against the current of our culture. In this teaching, Pastor Mark will continue His study through John by reminding us that we are set apart in Christ. Jesus’ message was countercultural in His day, so much so that...

Our culture has strayed far from Christianity, but there is still a large portion of society who identify themselves as Christians, regardless of whether or not they have a personal relationship with Jesus. Many of them assume that by simply being “good enough” they will be accepted by God. In this teaching, Pastor Mark will address what taking the name of Christian means. Salvation only happens t...

Have you ever been asked the question: “Who are you to tell me Jesus is the only way?” We face this kind of skepticism often in our world. The world seems to be tolerant of everything but Christianity. A better question would be: “Who are we to question the Word of God?” The Creator of the Universe Himself called Jesus His Son and said that He was the only way to salvation. While the gospel is oft...

All of us have struggles in following Jesus. While you may intend to die to your sinful nature after you get saved, in practice, you will find that dying to yourself is a process, not an instant transformation. In God’s eyes, you have been made perfect, but your daily life will still be riddled with human temptation. In this teaching, Pastor Mark will discuss the times when we are called to loving...

Following Jesus is no popularity contest. Not that your goal should be to alienate yourself, but oftentimes, that is a natural byproduct of following the countercultural commands of our Savior. Your choice to follow Him will rub many people the wrong way. In this teaching, Pastor Mark challenges us to get off the fence when it comes to our spiritual commitment. It is natural to hesitate and hold b...

Are you afraid to put all your weight on God? You may look like you are trusting Him, but in reality, you are holding yourself up a bit. If this is the case, you will be challenged by this teaching to place yourself wholly in the hands of God. You can rest in the confidence that His plan is perfect and good for you.

Getting kids to eat their vegetables is usually a difficult task unless, of course, they have an appetite for veggies. In the same way, the gospel cannot be forced down people’s throats. They are given free will to choose what to believe. Some will be receptive; others will completely reject it. In this teaching, we are reminded that although we constantly change, the truth remains the same. Jesus...

Jesus didn’t come so He could meet all our personal needs. He came to save the lost. In this teaching, we’ll learn about people grumbling against Jesus for not behaving according to their desires. Pastor Mark will ask us to examine our own walk with God to see if we are guilty of having that same attitude.