Living Church

No one wants to suffer, yet we need to acknowledge the expectation of it. Jesus said His followers would experience affliction in this world (John 16:33).

Suffering will feel more like a valley than a mountain peak, but there is good news even in the valley. The good news is you never walk through it alone. One of the places God’s presence is experienced is during suffering.

As we journey up the mountain, Mark unpacks the simple but needed truth that when His people suffer, God is there.

A.W. Tozer once said, “It is in silence that we begin to see and then hear the pulsating heart of God. All of the nervous activity of our culture hinders us from really getting to know God as He desires to reveal Himself. We must overcome this American mindset that says a moment of silence is a moment wasted. The discipline of silence is the price we pay to get to know God.”

As we journey up the mountain experiencing God's presence, Mark shows us from Scripture that one of the ways God makes His presence known is through moments of stillness, silence, solitude.

God speaks. You can hear the sound of His words. He has a voice. He has written a book. His voice is heard in the pages of that book.

Do you long to experience the presence of God in your life? God has revealed His presence through the pages of His book, the Bible.

If you long to experience the presence of God, seek Him in the presence of His Word, the Bible.

God’s Heart is for His people to experience His presence - to COME UP THE MOUNTAIN. But how do you know when you're experiencing the presence of God in your life? What are the indicators you're gaining altitude as you journey up the mountain? In this message we'll see what what it looks like when you come up the mountain and experience God's presence in your life.

When we read Scripture we see a God who visibly interrupts people's lives with His presence. God not only wants to be with you, but show you He is with you. He wants to manifest His presence to His people.

Like with Moses, His heart is for you to come up the mountain. Jesus has made it possible. When God gives us every opportunity to COME UP THE MOUNTAIN and experience His beautiful, breath-taking presence for ourselves have we as the church settled for looking at the pictures of someone else’s experience?

This morning we conclude our series in Matthew 13 looking at Jesus’ Parables. In His parables of the treasure and pearl Jesus reveals a treasure worth having, even if its all you have. It's that good.

Are you growing in your relationship with Jesus? Are you expecting to grow? Do you see evidence of the transforming presence of God's Spirit inside you? Just like with children or seeds there’s an expectation that Christ’s Kingdom and citizens of His Kingdom will grow. In today's message Mark unwraps Jesus' parables of the Mustard Seed and Leaven.

You ever wonder if following Jesus is worth it? If the battle to live loyal to King Jesus being obedient to Him is really worth it? Do you ever feel like even though the Church is doing her best to spread the love of Jesus and His message of hope that evil still ends up winning? Or no matter what you do that pesky sin still picks at you trying to defeat you? You ever feel these struggles? If so, you’re not alone. I think Jesus’ disciples felt it too.

If you’ve ever wanted answers to those questions, then hear Jesus in this Parable of the Weeds. In this story Jesus reminds us that when the battle is strong, when you wonder if following Him is worth it, when the enemy is hissing at you with fear, worry, lies, condemnation, pride, shame, and you long for victory, remember…

Brad Grosjean, Living Church's summer intern, brings a powerful message sharing principles for growing a desire for prayer.

Have you ever wondered at times if you’re really a Christian, really a disciple of Jesus? Or maybe you've wondered if that neighbor or coworker is really a Christian. So, how can you tell if someone is truly a follower of Jesus, a true citizen in Christ’s forever kingdom? In today's message Mark unpacks the answer to this question in one of Jesus' most popular parables.