St Marcus Mke Sermons

Inspired by the power of the Holy Spirit, the apostle John tells us that we are believers by looking at what God has done for us. We know we are Christians by the love that is motivated by Christ and by faith that can be only be worked by the Holy Spirit.

Week 4 of O Church Arise: Modern Lessons from the Story of the Early Christian Church. Without question, Scripture makes it clear that one of the factors of the explosive growth of the Early Church was the beauty of early Christian Community. The early believers actually lived like all of their possessions belonged to God, and they were simply managers here on earth for a while. This led them to show radical generosity to one another. We’re going to take a look at how generosity like that becomes possible when we study Acts 4:31-37, “The New Community.”

The apostle John gives us two tests before we trust that a spiritual message is actually a Christian message. The first test is "What is the message?" and the second test is "Who is the audience?"

  Week 3 of O Church Arise: Modern Lessons from the Story of the Early Christian Church. Last week, we saw a snapshot of what the Early Christian Church, filled with the Spirit, was doing. This week, we’re looking at the types of things the Early Christian Church was saying – what specifically was the message of their witnessing. We find that Peter and John were sharing their faith in a pluralistic world, much like Christians in the city today. What does it sound like to be a courageous witness? We’ll take a look at Acts 4:1-14 as we worship under the theme of “Peter Heals a Beggar and Defends His Faith.”

Week 2 of O Church Arise: Modern Lessons from the Story of the Early Christian Church. This week we’ll be looking at Acts 2:40-47, the implications of Pentecost. Dr. Luke, the author of the Book of Acts, gives us an amazing portrait of the Early Christian Church. It doesn’t look exactly like the American Church today. Should it? What fueled it to be so different? This week we’ll worship under the theme of “Pentecost and Its Meaning.”

We’re starting a new series this week called O Church Arise: Modern Lessons from the Story of the Early Christian Church. This week we’ll be looking at Acts 1:1-11, the story of The Ascension. The Ascension, along with Pentecost, are actually the events which give Christians (and the Church) their life’s purpose. Put differently, if you don’t understand Ascension and Pentecost, it’s going to be impossible for you, as a Christian, to ever understand the purpose and meaning of your life on earth. And that’s exactly what I find with A LOT of young adult Christians today – life goals nearly identical to that of a non-believing world. Submitting to the teaching of Ascension will completely refocus you.

This is our final week in the Gospel of Mark series. Our theme will be the Anointing of Jesus, as we watch Mary of Bethany worship Jesus in an extravagant, offensive (to the onlookers) way. Worship, by definition, is supposed to be inordinate. It’s supposed to be excessive from the world’s perspective. Mary has some amazing things to teach to an American Christianity that sometimes wants to worship in moderation. We’ll study Mark 14:1-11.

This week, in the Gospel of Mark, we’re looking at the theme of HUMILITY. The Greeks and Romans never saw humility as a virtue. I would argue America doesn’t either. In fact, I don’t even think we define it correctly. But Jesus says humble service is the road to glory in the Kingdom. We’ll investigate Mark 10:35-45.

This week as we look at Jesus’ “backwards” approach to glory. Not through thrones but through crosses. Received not by the wise and talented, but by the childlike. What does it mean that the Kingdom belongs to “such as these”? We’ll figure it out as we look through Mark 10:13-16.

This week in our series The Gospel of Mark: From Throne to Cross and Back, we’ll look at Jesus’ CROSS. That could be a little misleading though. Our focus this week is actually a bit more on figuring out what it means that to be Christ’s disciple, you must pick up YOUR CROSS to follow him? We’re going to discover that the cross is actually the foundation for the Christian’s identity as we look at Mark 8:34-38.

This week in our series The Gospel of Mark: From Throne to Cross and Back, we’ll look at Jesus’ SYMPATHY. The word “sympathy” literally means to “suffer with.” Jesus doesn’t promise to end all the storms of life, because a bunch of good stuff comes to us through them. But, he does promise he’ll 1) face the storms with us, 2) he’ll face the ultimate storm for us, and 3) one day these storms will come to an end. We’ll study another story of Jesus at Sea as we look at Mark 6:45-52.

This week in our series The Gospel of Mark: From Throne to Cross and Back, we’ll look at Jesus’ REJECTION. Familiarity sometimes breeds contempt. And it turns out Jesus’ hometown was really offended by him. Why? What could make Jesus so offensive? What could potentially make his followers so offensive? And what does Jesus rejection from this world do for us? We’ll get to the bottom of all of it Saturday evening as we dig into Mark 6:1-6.

We’re in our fourth week in the series The Gospel of Mark: From Throne to Cross and Back, working our way through the entire Gospel of Mark to do a character study of Jesus and his grace. This week, we gain insight into Jesus’ AUTHORITY. Wow. Occasionally God gives me a text to wrestle with in which his voice becomes so incredibly clear. Jesus demonstrating his authority over the storms of life couldn’t be more perfect for me right now. This week we’ll study Mark 4:35-41.

We’re in our third week in the series The Gospel of Mark: From Throne to Cross and Back, working our way through the entire Gospel of Mark to do a character study of Jesus and his grace. This week, we gain insight into Jesus’ PARABLES. This parable is the granddaddy of all parables, and I’ll explain why. It’s honestly one of the more fascinating insights for me on the nature of why someone does/does not receive the Word of God. Message based on Mark 4:1-20.

The Gospel of Mark: From Throne to Cross and Back. We’re working our way through the entire Gospel of Mark to do a character study of Jesus and his grace. This week, his grace is demonstrated in FAMILY. Jesus again says something incredibly provocative, that startles some people and deeply offends others. But if you submit to his teaching about family, it will make you tremendously optimistic about your family future, regardless of if you’re married or single, in a dysfunctional relationship or a healthy one. Messaged based on Mark 3:31-35.

 We’re working our way through the entire Gospel of Mark to do a character study of Jesus and his grace. This week, his grace is demonstrated in healing – but not in the way you might think, not initially. Jesus, as he often does, says something provocative and offensive to modern and ancient people alike, but profoundly liberating, to a crippled man. Mark 2:1-12.

Week 5 in our “FAITH BUILDERS” series, we’re going to be looking at The Sacraments. There is a significant level of division in the Christian Community regarding what Baptism and Holy Communion are, and what they accomplish. There is also some overlap and agreement of definitions. In our worship, we’ll start with that, and examine Scripture to guide us from there to determine whether Baptism and Communion are best considered “Sacraments” or “Sacrifices.”

Week 4 in our “FAITH BUILDERS” series, we’re going to be looking at The Revealed God. The way we best know God is how he revealed himself in the person of Jesus. Jesus, the God-Man, is IT. He’s the central character of the Bible. He’s the one who holds the universe together. He’s the one essential in your life. And meeting with his body is the axis of the believer’s week. I hope you don’t get tired of admiring Jesus, because that’s what we’ll be doing for all eternity. This week in worship, we’re going to briefly look at how the entire Old Testament prefigured Christ in the roles of Prophet, Priest, and King. Our message will be based on Acts 3:11-26.

Week 3 in our “FAITH BUILDERS” series, we’re going to be looking at The Mysterious God. Why would not being able to comprehend much about the working of God be an asset to our relationship with God, not a detriment? We’ll find out as we echo with the Apostle Paul some words of praise from Romans 11:33-36.