A lot of times in life, all we care about is our rights and what we can get or have. The Bible shows us that that is not the Christian way. God’s way is giving over receiving and serving over being served every single time. We’re called to put others before ourselves just as we saw Jesus do! In today’s message, Pastor Mark will invite you to start today by putting others before yourself! Learn to sacrifice your own comfort and time to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in your own job, family, church, and friend groups! To be a Christian means to serve others well and with a humble heart!

Today, Pastor Mark will be reminding you that the enemy is very active in this world, and unfortunately, very active in the church. Sadly, many have been burned by others in the church, and they chose to forsake the fellowship of the brethren. This is very dangerous because your robbing yourself of accountability and fellowship. The devil wants to kill, steal, and destroy; this is why it’s extremely important to go to church. The enemy roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. The easiest targets for lions are those who are the weak of the herd that are straggling behind. Stay in Church, and remain in prayer and in His Word.  

As Pastor Mark continues his teaching series through the book of 1 Thessalonians, he’ll be explaining the difference between loving the idea of Jesus and having an intimate relationship with Him. It’s not enough to recognize who Jesus is and like His character, but you must choose to make Him your Lord and Savior. Many people love the teaching of Jesus, and many love the positive impact Jesus has on people's lives, but they have not entered into that intimate relationship with Him. Jesus said many will come to Him on that Day and say “Lord, Lord”- and He will turn to them and say “depart from Me, I never knew you”. 

Today, Pastor Mark will be challenging you to be bold for the Lord, because what you're proclaiming to the world is the truth, and it’s the only truth that can set humanity free. After all, the Bible says the righteous are as bold as lions! Don’t allow the enemy to cause you to fear preaching the Gospel to the lost. Always remember that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives within you. It’s not you who should live in fear for preaching the truth; it’s the enemies of God who should fear dying without having their sins forgiven. When your heart becomes broken for the lost, it becomes easier to evangelize.  

Do you ever find yourself waiting? Perhaps you’ve had to sit around for an oil change. What about at the doctor’s office? Maybe you sent an important email that left you anticipating a response. Waiting is a natural part of life, and you will find yourself waiting for something daily. What does biblical waiting look like? In today’s message, Pastor Mark explains what it means to be waiting on the Lord and waiting for Jesus’s second coming. You will learn what it means to have patience and that you should seek the Lord in those times of waiting.

John 3:16 is one of the most quoted and loved verses in the bible. “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him…” …Whoever. That means your neighbor, prisoners, the opposing political party, and even you. Whoever believes in Him will be saved. Jesus set the foundation for today’s message when He died on the cross. Today, Pastor Mark teaches that God will accept anyone who accepts His Son, regardless of their past mistakes. When you follow Jesus, you become a new creation. If you haven’t made that decision today, what are you waiting for?

Do you have any favorite clothing or food brands? If so, the company likely used some celebrity to showcase why their product is great. For example, “Our sports drink gives you the energy to shoot consistent 3-pointers. Just ask Michael Jordan.” Having a good example helps drive sales for companies. Today, Pastor Mark will teach that you ought to be a good example for Christ. Preaching the Gospel is one thing, but living it out makes it that much more appealing to others. The world is watching your actions to see if they line up with your beliefs. Will they find a true believer? Or will they just find empty words?

The world is enamored with this idea of rebuilding from the rubble. Think about it. You’ve likely heard a song with the lyric, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” You’ve likely seen a movie where the main character loses everything but comes back stronger than before. The world is fascinated by endurance. In today’s message, Pastor Mark encourages you to stay diligent, stay strong, and stay faithful to Christ amid hardships and persecution. Your ability to rebuild from the rubble is a powerful testimony to unbelievers in the world, because they are watching to see if your faith is as strong as you claim it is. 

The study of cultures is integral to a successful mission trip. Missionaries must be aware of the stumbling blocks within a culture. For instance, a missionary to an Asian culture should expect to take their shoes off when visiting someone’s home, even if they are used to tracking mud through their own house. In today’s message, Pastor Mark will teach you the importance of worshipping God without causing others to stumble. Taking your shoes off in someone’s home isn’t a salvation issue, but doing so shows that you care about the person you are ministering to. How else can you minister to others by embracing their culture?

Have you ever ridden on a train? If so, you know how powerful they are. Around 1 billion people each day use a train. They are crucial to global economies and have a major impact on our history. Without the invention of the coal-powered engines used in trains throughout history, cars and planes would not exist.