Come To The Table

Jesus’ time of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane weighed heavily on Him. Think of your most guilty moment, a moment when you realized you had done something terrible and regretted it so deeply that it hurt. Now, take that feeling and multiply it exponentially--then you may come close to what Jesus experienced. But to tell the truth, we will never be able to fathom it. In this teaching, Pastor Mar...

We have full access to God and His truth through the revelation of His word. There’s a reason the Bible is a source of division for many. It is not just a book; It’s one of the primary ways that God exists among us now. He speaks to us and changes lives through it. In this teaching, Pastor Mark warns believers that they will be rejected by the world. Don’t expect to be embraced in a world that has...

If you’ve ever saved something, like an animal or even a person from harm, you may have an understanding—albeit a small one—of how God feels when He looks at His kids. As Pastor Mark will discuss in this teaching, we’ve inherited a heart for rescue from our loving Heavenly Father.

We can barely begin to fathom the scope of what God has done for us in Jesus. We are incapable of not sinning, and our good works and sacrifices have never been enough to make up for the evil in our hearts. Our sin requires atonement, and that is where Jesus comes in. The perfect lamb of God willingly offered Himself as a sacrifice for our redemption. As Pastor Mark examines the prayer Jesus offer...

While many of us are familiar with the Lord’s Prayer, the men of God that pieced the books of the Bible together with chapter breaks, verses, titles, and headers could have named it the Believer’s Prayer. When Jesus prayed it, He did so as an example of how we should pray to God. Jesus does have His own prayer, however, that He prays as God’s son. In this teaching, Pastor Mark examines this prayer...

How do you react when you face trials or persecution? Do you get angry with God and question why He would allow such things? Sadly, many Christians struggle with those feelings. The truth of the matter is God is not to blame when we go through suffering. Suffering is the result of living in a fallen world that hates God. When you find yourself in the midst of suffering, take heart. The hope you ha...

Looking at the relationship between a loving parent and a child is the closest thing we can get to understanding the relationship dynamic between us and God. Most parents, as imperfect as they are, look at their kids with a love and affection that no one else will. They like their children simply for existing—there are no conditions that need to be met. So it is with God. He likes you, not for wha...

God doesn’t want to be the enemy of our world, but that’s what the unsaved world has made Him out to be. His sovereignty directly contradicts the fleshly desire to serve ourselves and our momentary pleasures. When you become a part of His kingdom, however, your perspective on life will completely change. As a follower of Jesus, you’re going to be pushing upstream, going against the current of our...

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.