St Marcus MKE Sermons

This week we'll be studying Mark 10:1-12 under the theme of "God & Intimacy." Challenged by the Pharisees, Jesus gives a very candid response to a question about divorce, going back to God's design at Creation. Asking what God  designs  as opposed to what God  permits  is a very different aim. So, we return to God's design for marriage & singleness to see what leads to human prospering. 

After Jesus was struck by one of the Jewish leaders, he said, "If I said something wrong...testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?" By our inherent sinful nature, we are also guilty of striking Jesus in the face. We tearfully answer Jesus' question with a question of our own:  "Jesus, why did you take it?" He willingly absorbed every offense that we bestowed u...

RSVP: Your presence is requested! God has invited YOU to the Great Banquet. That's exciting news - but that's not all! He's tasked us with handing out more invitations. By leading with the Gospel, we can ensure that there is room at the table that awaits all believers. Check "yes" to God's grand invitation, and bring your friends too!

This week we'll be studying Mark 9:42-50 under the theme of "Sensitivity to Sin." You've perhaps noticed that "sin" is not exactly a word that gets much usage in modern society. That's largely because our culture no longer fully believes in the basic concept. But Jesus takes sin and hell very seriously. Furthermore, he's not only concerned about our personal purity, but the influence our lives hav...

We continue our Lenten Vespers series "Questions of the Passion." Every step of the way, Jesus showed Judas nothing but grace. What would lead Judas to this betrayal? Why would God pick such a weak and flawed character to be the catalyst of our Savior's demise? We see our own sin in this story, and this is a beautiful time to repent of our own weaknesses and betrayals. Jesus suffered every injusti...

Today's study comes from Matthew 21: 28-32, The Parable of the Two Sons. As sinners, we are fighting a constant battle against Satan and his whisperings of denial. Customizing our own personal "gods" and ignoring the One God who matters is a trap that we fall prone to daily. As Christians, it is important to recognize these shortfalls and confess our need for a Savior. This Lenten season, we sorro...

This week we'll be studying Mark 9:14-29 under the theme of "Dependent on God."  Last week, we mentioned the spiritually self-aware statement of a man who exclaimed,   " I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)   This week we look at his larger story, including the disciples' failure to drive out his son's demon, because they weren't dependent enough on God.  Self-sufficiency, a no...

"Questions of the Passion" is the series for our devotions during Lent. Before his arrest, Jesus asked his disciples "Could You Not Keep Watch for One Hour?" while he prayed to God the Father in Gethsemane. He needed the spiritual support of his closest friends as the crushing weight of his impending death drew near.  We face the same enemy as Jesus, the one who wants to destroy us and enslave our...

In fulfilling the Will of God, He followed the Word of God. Today's teaching comes from Luke 4:1-13, the account of Jesus being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. However, it wasn't just this one time that Satan tried to tempt Him - but every single day of His earthly life. Satan tempts us by making us think that he can make our lives easier and more pleasant, and once we dive into that belief, i...

This week we'll be studying Mark 8:22-33 under the theme of "Seeing Life Clearly." In our text we'll be looking at an absolutely unique miracle, one only recorded for us in Mark's Gospel, where Jesus cures a blind man  in stages . This is not because his first attempt at a miracle didn't take, but because Jesus was teaching a visual parable. Did the disciples understand? Do you? Embedded in the st...

Throughout the Bible, God chose to unveil his glory to his people in different ways. He showed only a fraction of His glory to Moses and through the Law, which would eventually fade away. Jesus displayed his glory on the Mount of Transfiguration to three of His disciples. Just as Moses and Jesus were transfigured, we, His people, are also transformed by His Light and His Word and seek to reflect t...

This week we'll be studying Mark 7:1-23 under the theme of "Jesus & Religion." Human nature has a sinful tendency toward self-righteousness. It's a subtle, deadly rejection of Christ alone as the righteousness necessary for salvation. We add little manmade commands, bind consciences by them, and assume that if we keep them, we're closer to God based on something other than the merits of Jesus. Thi...

Pastor Jeske continues the series EPIPHANY SIGNS AND WONDERS with #4: Jesus' power over death. Today's study comes from the Gospel of Luke 8:49-56, where Jesus raises a dead girl back to life. Just like Jairus' daughter, we too, will one day fall "asleep," putting aside all earthly sorrows, pains, and strife. This sleep is only temporary. When we awake at Jesus' side, we shall live again in eterna...

This week we'll be studying  Mark  6:14-29 under the theme of "Beheading the Prophet." According to Jesus himself, John the Baptist was amongst the greatest humans ever born. So, why does he have to get imprisoned and executed...for doing the right thing? Jesus, of course, was perfect, but was crucified to pay for our sins. But does his cross not take our smaller crosses away? Why does following h...

This week we'll be studying Mark 5:21-43 under the theme of "Expressing Faith." This text contains a fascinating story within a story, with wonderful parallels between them. Faith includes not only trust that God  can  help us, and  loves  to help us, but also that his timeline for helping us is better than ours. Here we are encouraged by several humble individuals who are rewarded for placing the...

Pastor Jeske continues the series EPIPHANY SIGNS AND WONDERS with #3: Jesus' power over the animal world.  The bible study highlights Jesus’ knowledge and power over creation. Jesus used the fishing miracle recorded in Luke 5:1–11 to illustrate a great spiritual truth.  The devil is a fisher of people just like Jesus is a fisher of people. The devil has his hooks out and is trying to hook people,...

This week we'll be studying Mark 4:21-34 under the theme of "3 More Parables." These parables all come on the heels of a more famous parable, "The Sower and the Seeds" (4:1-20). In these 3 subsequent parables, Jesus teaches powerful truths about the privatization of faith, the rationalization of faith, and the underestimation of faith. And in the final of the three, he brilliantly explains the gos...

Pastor Jeske continues his bible study series, “Epiphany Signs and Wonders”, with #2: “Jesus’s power over human disease”.  Matthew 8:5-13 is an astounding account of Jesus healing a person from a distance.  The centurion displays great faith in Jesus, recognizing Jesus to be the Messianic deliverer who can heal on the authority of his word alone.

This week we'll be studying Mark 3:7-19 under the theme of "Made Disciples by Jesus." Many were attracted to Jesus due to what he could offer. Far fewer were willing to follow him on a path to discipleship. This path requires intimacy with Christ, growing in Christian community, going where God sends you, fueled by a New Name you've been given.

Pastor Jeske launches a new message series on “Epiphany Signs and Wonders”.  Today’s study “#1: Jesus' power over nature” dives into Joshua 10:1-14 and Mark 4:35-41 where accounts are given when God displays His power over nature.  In Mark’s gospel, the disciples are on a journey toward faith. We, as Mark’s readers, not only are watching this journey but are also drawn into the same experience of...

This week we'll be studying Mark 2:18-2 under the theme of "New Wineskins." Jesus continues to explain to the Pharisees why his gospel ministry  CANNOT  be patched onto their ministry of self-righteousness. And he uses some really helpful analogies about bridegrooms, clothing patches, and new wineskins in which he embeds some timeless wisdom.  We'll learn how this affects the form and spirit of Ch...

Pastor Jeske’s bible study is on Exodus 1:6-22: “Fight Dehumanization!”. In the opening chapter of Exodus, the lack of humanity is displayed by the Egyptian Kings in their ruthless oppression over the Israelites. Some of the Israelites were put to work in the fields, while many others were assigned construction projects. As their numbers continued to grow, Pharaoh embarked on a path of ethnic clea...

This week we'll be studying Mark 2:13-17 under the theme of "Jesus is TOO GOOD for None and All." This text briefly covers the calling of Matthew, the tax collector, to become one of Jesus' disciples. The text also shares how the self-righteous Jewish religious leaders reacted to such a selection. Finally, Jesus explains that sin functions like a sickness that needs not only medicine but a loving...

Today's bible study looks at Jesus' Baptism and what God gives us through it. Diving into Titus 3:4-7, it shows the three persons of the Godhead in close collaboration for the sake of believers, with special emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit. God our Savior sent Jesus Christ our Savior, who saved us and justified us by his grace. God, through Christ, then poured out his Spirit on believers t...

This week we'll be studying Mark 1:21-28 under the theme of "Jesus' Medicinal Teaching." In this text, Jesus preaches in a synagogue, revealing his authority, and then demonstrates his authority over a man possessed by a demon. This reveals the truth that Jesus is the ULTIMATE Authority over the physical & spiritual realm. But it also raises interesting questions about what level of authority Jesu...