Do you feel alone right now? Perhaps you are navigating a divorce, living in a new place, or grieving a loved one. In today's message, Pastor Mark encourages you with the truth that you are never alone. If you're a follower of Jesus, then you have the Holy Spirit with you, bringing you His comfort and His presence. Jesus promises to be with you always. No matter what circumstance you are facing today, take comfort in knowing that you are not alone. The Lord is with you. The Holy Spirit is your ultimate advocate, helper, and friend. Spend time being aware of the Holy Spirit's presence and thanking God for the gift of His Spirit.

What’s your favorite TV show or movie with aliens? Is it E.T.? Perhaps the whimsical Doctor Who? Maybe you’re a fan of the Cold War era, classified Area 51-style aliens. Often, these aliens are in a place where they don’t belong. They stick out like a sore thumb, and usually just want to phone home. Today, Pastor Mark teaches that, even though you’re a lot better looking than those aliens, you actually have a lot in common. You see, if you’re a Christian, this world isn’t your home. You’re just here until the day Jesus returns and makes all things new. Don’t try to blend in… stand out and phone home. 

Do you ever get glares when you talk about Jesus in public? Maybe you’re praying over your meal or telling someone you like listening to Pastor Mark’s program, and they start acting awkward. Don’t worry… it has nothing to do with you. They are just uncomfortable with the thought of Jesus. Today, Pastor Mark teaches that when you face those awkward situations or even scenarios where people are hostile towards you because of your faith, it’s not because they hate you. It’s because they hate Jesus. You can either choose to retaliate, or respond like Jesus did to the crowd who yelled, “Crucify Him!”

What separates a pine tree, from an apple tree, from a lemon tree, from a Christmas tree? It’s not necessarily the color of the leaves or bark, is it? No… it’s the type of fruit or nut they produce, right? Some trees produce good fruits, and some, despite how pretty they may be, make no fruit. Today, Pastor Mark teaches that you’re not just here to stand in the corner and look pretty. God placed you on this earth to bear good fruit. He wants you to show the world what a healthy relationship with the Holy Spirit can bring into their lives. He wants you to plant seeds so other believers can grow.

A potter looks at his old work, even with all the cracks and chips, and adores his creation. He reflects back on the time he spent crafting the jar, and how the clay went from nothing to something truly special. In the same way, God the Potter looks at you as His special creation, perfectly formed by His hands. Today, Pastor Mark teaches that despite all of your cracks… all of your insecurities, flaws, and mistakes… you are still loved by the God of the universe. And, because He loves you so much, He sent His perfect Son to die on the cross so that, one day, all of those cracks would be made whole once again.

It’s easy to add things into your life. There’s always something else to buy (and then maintain). You can always find a new show to watch (and then you have to finish the whole season). It’s a lot harder to remove things than to add them. And so, your house, your mind, and your life just keep getting more and more stuff. But today, Pastor Mark shows that there’s hope! If you’re connected to God through Jesus, He promises to bear fruit through you. He also promises to trim away the useless clutter that’s sapping your vitality. He wants you to bear much fruit. And He’ll do that through a continual shaping of your life. 

Have you ever tried really hard to do better as a Christian? Maybe it’s something you’re not doing, like praying or reading your Bible. And you think, “If I just try harder, I’ll be able to accomplish this.” Or it could be something you’re trying to cut out of your life that you just can’t seem to ever get rid of. Today, Pastor Mark shows that it doesn’t really matter how hard you try. If you’re not connected to Jesus, anything you might accomplish would be only a human achievement. But if you want to see lasting fruit in your life, that only comes when the supply goes from God through the vine Jesus to you.

What would it be like if you could get hired by some really famous person that you admired? Even if it was just to mow his lawn or wash his car, you’d probably be so thrilled, you wouldn’t even ask how much it pays. But if you were given the choice to be his servant or to be his friend, which would you choose?

Suppose you went over to a friend’s house and saw some people working in the yard. And maybe it wasn’t clear whether they were family members or a hired lawn service. But after they finished, if they all went into the house, got cleaned up, got some food, and sat down in the living room, it would be pretty obvious. Today, Pastor Mark explains that Jesus didn’t call us primarily to be servants. Instead, He calls us first and foremost His friends, and His brothers and sisters. And He explains how you can accept that call. Where are you in your relationship with God? No relationship at all? Only a servant? Or a friend and family member?

There are a lot of things in this world that people feel empowered to say and do. In today’s message, Pastor Mark says we must be empowered by the Holy Spirit daily so we can be bold in God’s ways. God sent the Holy Spirit down to guide your every step. He wants you to lean on Him for safety and confidence within your life. The Holy Spirit is meant to guide you to be more like Jesus. When you trust in God, He gives you the Holy Spirit so you can be convicted and grow in your understanding of the Lord. Trust in God today! Allow the Holy Spirit to enter your life and follow Him. God loves you and wants to guide you to a life of hope.