Posts by Pastor Mark

Affirming Jesus as Savior

John 12:12–16 12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young…

REflection on Redemption

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. In an age where personal liberty and freedom of choice…

Helping Others Learn and Live the Truth

2 Timothy 2:1–2 1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.  We’ve probably all been around people whose grasp of the Bible and theology are significant,…

Doing Good is Rewarding Hard Work

Galatians 6:9–10 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Why would anyone want to give up the effort to…

Idolatry is Alive and Well on Planet Earth

1 Corinthians 8:4–6 4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the…

The Fruit of the Word of Christ Richly Dwelling in You

Colossians 3:16–17 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through…

Speaking the Truth in Love

Ephesians 4:15–16 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up…

God’s Sovereign Authority Over Good and Evil

Lamentations 3:37–39 37 Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come? 39 Why should a living man complain, a man, about the punishment of his sins?  The content of the book of Lamentations is why Jeremiah is called “the…

When We are Weak, He is Strong

Hebrews 4:14–16 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as…