Epikos Church Sermons

In this message from Mark 9:14–29, we encounter a father caught between belief and doubt, desperation and hope. Coming down from the mountaintop of the Transfiguration, Jesus steps into the chaos of a broken world and meets a man who prays one of the most honest prayers in all of Scripture: “I believe; help my unbelief.” This passage reminds us that faith is not the absence of doubt, but the coura...

On the mountain of transfiguration, Jesus is revealed not merely as another prophet, but as the beloved Son of God—radiant with glory and affirmed by the Father’s voice: “Listen to him.” In this message from Mark 9, we’re invited to slow down and truly hear what Jesus is saying about who He is and what it means to follow Him. Surrounded by Moses and Elijah, Jesus stands alone as greater than all w...

"Join us today as we explore the question that Jesus asks His disciples in Mark 8: “Who do you say I am?” What feels like faith quickly reveals our instinct to shape Jesus into something manageable, something aligned with our expectations rather than God’s redemptive plan. Today's scripture confronts us with a defining choice: will we cling to our own version of life, or entrust ourselves fully to...

Whether you’re joining us from home after Christmas or stepping into the new year with us for the first time, we’re so glad you’re here. This special at-home gathering invites our Epikos family into a long-form conversation centered on Advent—not as a season that ends in December, but as a way of living all year long. Together, our leaders reflect on what it means to wait with hope, faith, joy, an...

"Celebrate Christmas through the lens of Matthew 1 as we step into Joseph’s story and see the quiet strength of faithful obedience in the middle of chaos. This message reminds us that the arrival of Jesus didn’t remove uncertainty—it revealed character, trust, and the steady presence of God at work behind the scenes. At Christmas, we don’t just remember a moment in history; we proclaim a living re...

Christmas is more than a season of traditions—it’s a holy disruption that reminds us who is in control. In this message, Pastor Mark invites us to name the chaos we live in, from personal anxiety to cultural disorder, and to see how the promise of Christmas meets us right there. Drawing from Isaiah 8–9, we’re reminded that the light of Christ doesn’t ignore the darkness; it enters it, bringing cal...

In Mark 8, Jesus encounters two groups who both misunderstand Him—the Pharisees and the disciples. Though they respond differently, each brings preconceived ideas about who the Messiah should be. The Pharisees demand a sign but refuse to trust what’s already been revealed. The disciples, while confused and distracted, remain with Jesus and are willing to keep learning. At the heart of this passage...

Join us for reading Mark 7:1-8:10

Join Epikos as we our journey through the Gospel of Mark, exploring the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000. In this message, we learn how Jesus shows deep compassion—for the disciples, for the crowd, and for each of us today. Discover what true, active compassion looks like and how we are called to live it out in our daily lives. Be encouraged, challenged, and reminded of God’s abundant provision...

In Mark 6, we see both the beauty and the cost of following Jesus. As Jesus is rejected in His hometown and sends His disciples out with nothing but faith and purpose, we’re reminded that the gospel invites us into a life of trust, mission, and perseverance. Even in the face of rejection, God calls us to share the good news with compassion and clarity. Through the story of John the Baptist and the...

This message invites us into Mark 5, where we see Jesus step into desperate and impossible situations with authority, compassion, and life-giving power. Through the intertwined stories of a hurting father, a woman who has suffered for years, and a young girl restored, we’re reminded that even mustard-seed faith is enough when placed in the hands of a powerful Savior. No matter our background or bu...

In this message, we look at Mark 5 and the powerful moment when Jesus meets a man bound by darkness. Through this encounter, we see that the spiritual realm is real—but so is Jesus’ authority and compassion. He brings freedom where there’s bondage, light where there’s despair, and purpose where there was once shame. This story reminds us that when Jesus transforms our lives, He also calls us to sh...

In this sermon, Pastor Mark explores the story of Jesus calming the storm from Mark's Gospel, using it to address how believers can find peace amid life's turbulent circumstances. The message delves into the historical context of the Sea of Galilee and first-century fishing boats to help us understand the disciples' fear during the violent storm. Pastor Mark emphasizes that the disciples misunders...

This message unpacks Jesus's parable of the sower from Mark 4, exploring why some seeds take root while others don't. Pator Tommy explains how Jesus uses this story to show what responses we can expect when sharing the gospel: some have it snatched away, some walk away during hard times, some are seduced by worldly things, and some fall on good soil where faith takes deep root and multiplies. Thre...

This message tackles one of the most misunderstood passages in Mark 3—the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit—by using the literary structure of a "Markan sandwich" to reveal the text's true focus. While addressing concerns about the unforgivable sin (explaining it as either denying Christ until death or the scribes' specific accusation that Jesus worked by Satan's power), pastor Mark shows how these ver...

This message explores what true rest looks like through Jesus's claim to be Lord of the Sabbath in Mark 2. While Pastor Mark acknowledges that physical rest—sleep, vacations, time off—is important and necessary, he challenges the assumption that these forms of rejuvenation are enough. Drawing on research about seven types of rest, he argues that Jesus offers something deeper: restoration that come...

This message examines Jesus's conflict with the Pharisees in Mark 2, exploring how Jesus confronted religious legalism by eating with tax collectors and redefining fasting practices. Pastor Mark Deering uses the analogy of a trellis to illustrate how spiritual rhythms (like Bible reading, prayer, and worship) should support our relationship with God rather than become rigid religious obligations....

This message explores the healing of the paralytic in Mark 2:1–12, challenging viewers to consider which miracle truly matters in the story. While four friends dramatically lower their paralyzed companion through a roof to reach Jesus, the focus shifts from physical healing to spiritual forgiveness. Pastor Jacob Michalski explains that Jesus uses the physical healing to demonstrate his divine auth...

This message launches a new series exploring who Jesus truly is through the Gospel of Mark. Pastor Mark Deering explains how the apostle Mark wrote with urgency for a persecuted church, wanting them to understand Jesus as the promised Messiah. Through Jesus's baptism, temptation, and calling of the disciples in Mark 1, he shows how Christ invites us to "drop our nets" and follow him completely. Th...

In the second week of the "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" series, Pastor Mark Deering shares a personal story about his family's relationship with their neighbor Ray—a struggling man his teenage self couldn't understand why his father would help. Through Ray's story and the parable of the Good Samaritan, this message explores how God places specific neighbors in our lives for us to reach, not as proje...

In this message from the "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" series, Pastor Mark explores what it truly means to love our neighbor in today's world. While we cerebrally know that our neighbor is everyone we encounter, do our lives actually reflect this truth? Drawing from Luke 10 and our church's mission to "reach every neighborhood," this sermon challenges common excuses (being too comfortable, busy, afr...

This sermon concludes the Revelation series by exploring the final vision of God's ultimate victory and eternal kingdom in chapters 21–22. Pastor Anthony Caples describes how the story ends with a "new heaven and new earth" where God dwells directly with His people, eliminating all chaos, fear, and suffering—moving into "the land of no more" where there will be no more death, pain, tears, or separ...

This sermon examines two faithful churches from Revelation 2–3 (Smyrna and Philadelphia) to show what it looks like to "follow the lamb" rather than compromise with spiritual opposition. Pastor Mark Deering draws three key lessons: first, we can follow Christ without fear because Jesus has conquered death and offers eternal life—He has the "collateral" to back up His promises since He died and ros...

This sermon explores Jesus's messages to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, emphasizing that these were real churches on a known route in ancient Turkey who received prophetic warnings about compromise and complacency. Rather than getting lost in the specific details of each church's problems, Pastor Mark Deering focuses on the big picture: Jesus is warning all churches against spi...

This sermon explores the climactic battle between "Team Lamb" (followers of Jesus) and "Team Dragon" (Satan's forces) from Revelation 19-20, focusing on the ultimate victory of Christ as the white rider who defeats evil once and for all. Rather than getting caught up in theological debates about the millennium, multiple battles, or the exact nature of hell, Pastor Tommy Hutchison emphasizes that J...