If you’re a Christian, there’s a point in time when you made a decision to follow the Lord. You were dead in your sins, and then instantly you were saved. This is the miracle of Christianity and the outcome of Jesus’ death on the cross for you. You had no way to save yourself, and so God made a way! Today, Pastor Mark encourages you that being broken before the Lord is essential for empathy. If you haven’t embraced your need for a Savior and the reality that you’re a sinner, how can you share the Gospel with any conviction? You need to embrace the depth of your need, then you will be a powerful example to others.  

It’s hard to sit by and watch the evil that reigns in this world. Wicked men hold seats of power, while the righteous are disenfranchised and pushed to the margins. When you take a stand for the truth, compassion, and love of Christ, you can expect to be oppressed from all sides. When will this wicked age come to an end and our Savior return to bring us home? As Pastor Mark will encourage us in today’s message, while the darkness we're living through will get worse before it gets better, we have hope in the promises of Christ. The wicked may rule in this world, but this is just a blink of an eye in the scope of eternity.  

We don’t like to take responsibility or bear the consequences of our own actions. We use our God-given creativity to come up with some whoppers of excuses and justifications for behavior that is blatantly rebellious against God’s design for us. And then when the pain and suffering come, we still have the nerve to question how a loving God could allow these things to happen.  As Pastor Mark will point out in today’s message, while we all endure the pain of living in a broken world, most of us can find a lot of good in the lives God’s blessed us with. He shows us grace in ways we often can’t see until we’re looking back years later.

Respect is a cornerstone; without it, things crumble. Today, Pastor Mark points to a troubling sign in America, echoing Israel’s past. A nation straying from God shows it when even children disrespect those in authority, like parents or elders. God takes this seriously, making it one of His Ten Commandments. When children are cursing adults, it signals a deeper rebellion under God’s judgment. Restoring respect starts with turning back to Him. God can renew a heart or a nation that honors what He values. It’s a call to rebuild what’s been lost. How can you foster respect in your life to reflect God’s values?

Living righteously is like tending a garden; it takes effort to nurture what’s good. Today, Pastor Mark delivers a bold call from Isaiah’s message: Repent. America, its leaders, pastors, and each of us must turn from sin. Straying from God’s Word demands a return to righteousness. Repentance isn’t just regret; it’s action. Learning to do good, seek justice, stand against oppressors, defend the fatherless, and plead for the widow. God can restore when you choose His path. This call echoes from Isaiah’s start to finish. Turning back means caring for the vulnerable and doing what’s right.

What does it look like when a nation faces God’s judgment? In today’s message, Pastor Mark draws parallels between Isaiah’s time and America today. Just as Israel faced consequences for straying, America may be entering a season of divine judgment. These signs aren’t hidden; they stand out clearly. God’s judgment isn’t about destruction but a call to turn back to Him. His correction aims to restore, not condemn. God can guide a nation or a heart back to righteousness. Facing judgment means facing His love, too. Staying faithful in such times keeps you anchored. How do you hold onto faith when judgment is near?

Sharing faith can be like planting seeds in a garden you may never see bloom. In today’s message, Pastor Mark reminds us that people coming to the Lord isn’t a simple process. It could be years of prayers, conversations, and seeds planted by many. One plants, another waters, and someone else reaps the harvest.  When you share the gospel, you might plant a seed, water it, or see someone ready to receive the Lord. That’s God’s call, not yours. God can work through your efforts when they’re guided by the Holy Spirit. Your job is to share and trust Him with the outcome. How do you stay faithful in planting seeds of faith?

Understanding Jesus is like piecing together a mosaic; every part matters. Today, Pastor Mark emphasizes that the Old Testament reveals the fullness of Jesus in the New Testament. You need the whole Bible to be a whole Christian. Leaving out any part of Scripture is like leaving out part of Jesus Himself. Some might say they doubt portions of the Bible, but that’s questioning Jesus, the living Word. Every page points to Him, shaping a complete faith. God can open your eyes to see Jesus across all Scripture, not just the parts with His physical body. Choosing the whole Bible means choosing all of Jesus.

What can grow from the ashes of a shattered life? In today’s message, Pastor Mark shares how God turned an island’s ruin from a volcanic explosion into beauty. Your life might feel like it’s exploded, leaving nothing but destruction. But God can take those very ashes and transform them into something amazing. You may think there’s no way for restoration. But the ruin you see isn’t the end; it’s where God’s work can begin. Like a master artist, He reshapes brokenness into beauty beyond your imagination. Trusting Him turns despair into hope. Do you see God working through your life’s ruins to create something new?

Faith is like an anchor holding steady in a blinding storm. Today, Pastor Mark paints a vivid picture of Paul’s ordeal, lost in a storm so fierce it blocked sight for 14 days. Panic set in; they tossed essential gear just to survive, fearing for their lives. Yet, even in that chaos, Paul was in the safest place - God’s will. When you’re where God calls you, no storm can destroy you. God can keep you secure, even when fear screams otherwise. It’s not about calm seas but trusting His purpose in the tempest. His plan holds you through the worst. How do you find peace in God’s will when life’s storms rage around you?