"This message invites us into Mark 5, where we see Jesus step into desperate and impossible situations with authority, compassion, and life-giving power. Through the intertwined stories of a hurting father, a woman who has suffered for years, and a young girl restored, we’re reminded that even mustard-seed faith is enough when placed in the hands of a powerful Savior.

No matter our background or burdens, Jesus meets us personally—He sees us, knows us, and brings restoration to places we assumed were beyond hope. As we reflect on this passage and celebrate moments of new life across our campuses, we’re reminded that Jesus continues to bring healing, identity, and transformation to His people today."

In this message, we look at Mark 5 and the powerful moment when Jesus meets a man bound by darkness. Through this encounter, we see that the spiritual realm is real—but so is Jesus’ authority and compassion. He brings freedom where there’s bondage, light where there’s despair, and purpose where there was once shame. This story reminds us that when Jesus transforms our lives, He also calls us to share that story so others can experience His mercy too.

In this sermon, Pastor Mark explores the story of Jesus calming the storm from Mark's Gospel, using it to address how believers can find peace amid life's turbulent circumstances. The message delves into the historical context of the Sea of Galilee and first-century fishing boats to help us understand the disciples' fear during the violent storm. Pastor Mark emphasizes that the disciples misunderstood both Jesus's intentions and authority—moving from fear of the storm to an even greater fear (awe) of Jesus when He calmed the waters with just His words. He defines this "fear of the Lord" as being filled with awe when God's holiness and kindness outweigh everything else in the room. Through vivid descriptions of modern storms—financial anxiety, marital distance, chronic illness, and spiritual weariness—Pastor Mark challenges listeners to recognize that Jesus has already conquered the greatest storm: eternal separation from God. He concludes with three key principles: faith isn't denying the storm but defying its verdict, safety is found in a person (Jesus) not a place, and peace comes from the presence of God's Word rather than the absence of waves.

This message unpacks Jesus's parable of the sower from Mark 4, exploring why some seeds take root while others don't. Pator Tommy explains how Jesus uses this story to show what responses we can expect when sharing the gospel: some have it snatched away, some walk away during hard times, some are seduced by worldly things, and some fall on good soil where faith takes deep root and multiplies. Three additional parables clarify our role: we're meant to be light (not hide under a basket), we can't force growth (only cultivate conditions for it), and small beginnings lead to kingdom-wide impact (the mustard seed).

This message tackles one of the most misunderstood passages in Mark 3—the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit—by using the literary structure of a "Markan sandwich" to reveal the text's true focus. While addressing concerns about the unforgivable sin (explaining it as either denying Christ until death or the scribes' specific accusation that Jesus worked by Satan's power), pastor Mark shows how these verses actually answer a bigger question: Who's in the family of God? Jesus's powerful response—that He has bound the strong man (Satan) and is plundering his house—demonstrates His authority to free people from spiritual oppression. The surprising inclusion of Jesus's own family thinking He was "out of His mind" reminds us that even those closest to Jesus experienced doubt. The central invitation is clear: stop being merely a fan of Jesus and become part of His family through saving faith and obedience.

This message explores what true rest looks like through Jesus's claim to be Lord of the Sabbath in Mark 2. While Pastor Mark acknowledges that physical rest—sleep, vacations, time off—is important and necessary, he challenges the assumption that these forms of rejuvenation are enough. Drawing on research about seven types of rest, he argues that Jesus offers something deeper: restoration that comes not from cessation of work, but from participating in God's work. Rather than a temporary escape from weariness, Jesus provides a sustained rest within the midst of life's difficulties. The key insight is that true Sabbath rest comes through joining God in His work—serving the poor, feeding the hungry, caring for creation—not through attempting to merit God's approval through our own efforts. The central question becomes: Are you chasing temporary rest, or have you entered into the life-sustaining restoration that comes from participating in God's purposes?

This message examines Jesus's conflict with the Pharisees in Mark 2, exploring how Jesus confronted religious legalism by eating with tax collectors and redefining fasting practices. Pastor Mark Deering uses the analogy of a trellis to illustrate how spiritual rhythms (like Bible reading, prayer, and worship) should support our relationship with God rather than become rigid religious obligations. Three key principles emerge: we need healthy spiritual rhythms, those rhythms must be flexible for different life seasons, and we shouldn't use our rhythms to judge others. The central challenge is to let Jesus set the rhythm of our faith so we can live out of authentic relationship with Him rather than religious duty.

This message explores the healing of the paralytic in Mark 2:1–12, challenging viewers to consider which miracle truly matters in the story. While four friends dramatically lower their paralyzed companion through a roof to reach Jesus, the focus shifts from physical healing to spiritual forgiveness. Pastor Jacob Michalski explains that Jesus uses the physical healing to demonstrate his divine authority to forgive sins—the deeper healing we all desperately need. The key question posed is: Do we live like we've been forgiven? Even when physical healing doesn't come, we can experience the transformative miracle of forgiveness through faith in Christ.

This message launches a new series exploring who Jesus truly is through the Gospel of Mark. Pastor Mark Deering explains how the apostle Mark wrote with urgency for a persecuted church, wanting them to understand Jesus as the promised Messiah. Through Jesus's baptism, temptation, and calling of the disciples in Mark 1, he shows how Christ invites us to "drop our nets" and follow him completely. The key question posed is: what are you still holding onto that prevents you from fully following Jesus as your Messiah?

In the second week of the "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" series, Pastor Mark Deering shares a personal story about his family's relationship with their neighbor Ray—a struggling man his teenage self couldn't understand why his father would help. Through Ray's story and the parable of the Good Samaritan, this message explores how God places specific neighbors in our lives for us to reach, not as projects to fix, but as people to love regardless of whether they "add value" to our lives. The sermon addresses how recent events test whether our conversations truly model Christ's love for neighbors who disagree with us. Pastor Mark explains that we are equipped by God to move toward our neighbors through the Holy Spirit's gifts, and outlines a three-fold strategy of connect, grow, and serve. The message emphasizes that proximity changes perspectives—we must be willing to get close to people who think differently from us because behind every opposing viewpoint is a person who needs God's grace.