Jesus saw Simon and Andrew casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” What is Jesus calling you to do with your life? What is holding you down and keeping you back from following Jesus?

Have you heard the good news about Jesus Christ? Mark wants us to know that the gospel is all about Jesus. He is the one who comes with comfort and power and glory and grace and truth. Clear the debris from your heart and prepare the way for Jesus to come to you as Shepherd and King and Savior.

For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that you should love one another. Not like Cain who was from the evil one and cut the throat of his brother. And why did he cut his throat? Because his works were evil, but the works of his brother were righteous.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

God is light, so we must walk in the light. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.

God, the personal-infinite, sovereign creator and savior demonstrated extraordinary unmerited affection towards sinners from every tribe and language and people and nation that he freely gave his one true son as the atoning sacrifice for sins so that any sinner who trusts in him will not perish but possess eternal fellowship with God.

Like Adam and Eve, each and every one of us has been deceived by the serpent. Like the Israelites each and every one of us has been snake-bitten. Like Nicodemus we are exiles outside the kingdom. Apart from Christ we are doomed to die in our trespasses and sins. What must we do? We must look to the Christ who was lifted up on the cross, lifted up from the grave, and lifted up into heaven.

Regeneration is monergistic. It is the gracious work of God alone. "Regeneration is a mysterious work of God in which he imparts new spiritual life to us by giving us a new heart and new spirit" (Wayne Grudem).

Reformation Day. My “secret agenda” was and is and always will be to preach the gospel of God’s grace -- for the glory of God and the good of God’s people. I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is God’s saving power for everyone who believes.

Do you know what time it is? It is time for you to wake up from your sleep; it is time for you to cast aside your dark deeds; it is time for you to put on the weapons of light; it is time for you to walk orderly and decently; it is time for you to put on Christ; it is time for you to prepare for war.