St Marcus Mke Sermons

The final parable we study this Lenten season is the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. By sending us a Savior, God has showered us in His unconditional love. As Christians, it is our responsibility to allow that same mercy to flow through us and to distribute love to our neighbors and to "those who have sinned against us." Mercy heals.

This week we'll be studying Mark 10:17-31 under the theme of "Faith and the End of Self-Sufficiency." We're reminded that we're called to die to self. Jesus died to save us from sins and save us to eternal life. But he didn't die so that we wouldn't die at all. We physically die, of course. And we die to selves daily in a process called "Discipleship." It's impossible to become our best, most Christ-like selves unless we let go of our old selves. It's impossible to grasp eternal life without setting down this life. 

Had Jesus' trial taken place in more modern times, it undoubtedly would have been labeled as "The Trial of Century." His trial was illegal, yet it fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament. Jesus testified of His divinity as the Son of God. The evidence was laid out before the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law, yet they judged Him faithlessly. How will you judge Jesus?   Recorded March 23, 2022.

Jesus' parable of the barren fig tree (Luke 13:1-9) reflects the repentance we need to show for our sins, the high expectations of the heavenly Father, and the patience He has for His people. 

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 upon him so that a world full of sinners could be saved. 

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 have on impressionable "little ones" in our midst. The bigger caring for the smaller has always been the pattern of a God of grace. 

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 injustice in our place. Stand in adoration of His surrender!

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 sorrowfully lay down our idols, pride, and guilt at the foot of the cross. Let Jesus speak His words of healing and mercy to you. Serve Him joyfully in His vineyard, and do the work He has graciously designed for you - all for His glory. 

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 noble-sounding demonic lie, is the enemy of spiritual health. 

"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 souls for eternity. Jesus asked for another way out, yet He submitted to His Father's will. We too are strengthened by the Father's promises.  Look to Christ, our substitute. Stay anchored in His Word. Be confident in His forgiveness. Keep watch this Lenten season.

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, it only brings about destruction and misery. To live our best life means to go God's way. Wield the ultimate weapon that is the Word of God, to defend against that old evil foe.

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 story is a powerful teaching about ongoing conversion. 

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 that light in our daily lives.

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. This is the sin of the Pharisees, manmade religion, and unfortunately can creep into Christian churches as well. For the self-righteous person, life becomes a constant "washing" trying to rid ourselves of our feelings of inadequacy rather than resting in the righteousness of Christ.

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 eternal gladness.

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 him even add a cross to our lives? This week's lesson gets to the heart of how the Christian life is not merely about bringing immediate results, but about glorifying the Father in discipleship by walking a path similar to that of the Son. 

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 their faith in Jesus. 

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, and he does. He hooks them on drugs. He hooks them on alcohol. He hooks them on lust. But Jesus is in a great fishing enterprise also. Jesus wants to use us as His partners in the fishing enterprise to catch people alive, to win men and women to salvation and to service.