Resurrection Life Sunday Sermon

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SCRIPTURE: Judges 3:6-11.

Over the last several weeks, we’ve been exploring supporting cast members of the Old Testament. In this entry, we pick up our second episode, which we couldn't bring you earlier because of technical difficulties. We started in Numbers with a Seer named Balaam and his donkey. In our second episode, we moved to the Book of Judges, and our first Judge is Othniel. Have you heard of him? Perhaps you have heard a vague reference to him. Most Christians can list two or three judges before naming this relatively obscure one.

In studying this passage, I am once again amazed by the truth and brilliance of the entirety of God’s Word. The story of Othniel’s years of judging Israel is an Old Testament gospel story. It’s short, simple, straightforward, and Savior-focused. We sin. God provides a Savior. We experience peace. As we focus on this Old Testament story, I trust it will help us admire the old, old story of Jesus and his love.

In Christ, Pastor Mark

© 2026 Resurrection Life Church of Wake County; Sermon © 2026 Dr. Mark A. Knetsch; Production by Marty E. Miller of Ezra Studios.

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SCRIPTURE: Luke 23:32-33, 39-43

This week we welcome back to the podcast our very own Carl Dobrowolski, preaching from the Book of Luke. The conversation with the dying thief is remarkable indeed. It will be good for us to step away from Old Testament “crooked sticks” to focus on, well, a crook on a stick. This stick, of course, was intended for execution alongside Jesus our Lord. Carl examines God's great work in saving the most unlikely sinners by sheer grace, so that Christ gets all the glory and saved sinners get all the joy.

In Christ,

Pastor Mark

© 2026, Resurrection Life Church of Wake County. Sermon © 2026, Carl Dobrowolski; Theme Music provided by Celtic Worship; Production by Marty E. Miller

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SCRIPTURE: Judges 6:36-40

On Saturday, October 18, 2026, Resurrection Life Church celebrated its Twelfth Anniversary! This week, we celebrate by continuing through our sermon series called Straight Line, Crooked Sticks. We look at Gideon. He’s not the ideal leader, but God uses him anyway. He’s not the bravest. He has his doubts. He hesitates, and he tests God. He does a lot wrong, and yet God displays faithfulness to Gideon and to His Beloved tribe. So get out your fleece, not to test God, but to get comfortable with our cooler temperatures and hear about God's amazing grace despite our unbelief.

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SCRIPTURE: Judges 4 - 5.

This week, we focus on two dramatic scenes from Judges 4-5. These two chapters work in tandem, dramatically telling the same story through prose (ch. 4) and poetry (ch. 5).

The first scene consists of a complicated relationship between Deborah (the Judge) and Barak (the Commander). We will spend time focusing on their relationship and how God uses surprising means (and people!) to ensure the deliverance of His Beloved people from slavery.

The second scene consists of another complicated (to say the least) relationship between Jael (the Assassin) and Sisera (the Enemy Commander). Jael serves as God's weapon against the enemy with another dramatic assassination story. Again, God uses the most unexpected person—a Gentile woman—to kill the commanding officer of the enemy.

Our sermon series, "Straight lines, Crooked Sticks," takes on new meaning as we dive into this memorable story. The sermon really could build on that... "Straight line with a Straight Peg!" And if you don't know what I mean, listen closely, and you'll find out!

In Christ, Pastor Mark

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SCRIPTURE: Judges 3:12-30.

This week, our focus turns to Ehud. The Lord raised this famously crafty assassin to remove one of the more unfortunately named kings in the Bible: Eglon. This rich and descriptive passage is uniquely drama-filled. It has colorful imagery and powerful wordplay. It's hard to compare both its intensity and humor.

All that to say, it's been exceptionally fun to study this passage. It's also been interesting to see how the Lord proactively moves. He is very much active behind the scenes. There's a secret Ehud has to share that resonates today: The Lord is sovereign!

In Christ, Pastor Mark

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SCRIPTURE: Numbers 22.

This Sunday marked the beginning of a new chapter for ResLife. Felton Grove High School is our new worshiping home, so Sunday marked a new day for us. This move marks a transition to a new mission field. We want to be a blessing wherever the Lord leads us. Felton Grove High is embedded within several different communities with plenty of opportunities.

This week, we also begin a new sermon series called Straight Line, Crooked Sticks. We will be looking at a collection of Old Testament characters who play a role in God’s redemptive plan. But they aren’t major players. They are like the supporting cast. But we will see through their broken stories that God’s faithfulness plays out no matter what.

This week, we focus on the famous story of King Balak, Balaam, and a talking donkey found in Numbers 22. As entertaining as this story is, it ultimately points to God’s faithfulness. God’s promises to His people will remain despite all concerted effort. God used a very broken prophet to achieve His plan to bless Israel in the liminal space called Moab.

I’m very much looking forward to diving into this series! Please pray that the Lord will use this series for His glory as the Lord continues to use us—as His very own modern-day broken sticks—to ensure His plan of salvation continues to the end.

In Christ,

Pastor Mark

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SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 13:20-22.

Last Sunday marked Resurrection Life Church's final service at Apex Middle School and concluded a significant transition as we make a new worshiping home at Felton Grove High School.

Sunday also marked the end of our sermon series through the Book of Hebrews. We focus on a final prayer from Hebrews, a prayer we are able to carry with us wherever we go. It’s a prayer and a blessing all wrapped up in one, as an encouragement for us to live for Jesus wherever and whenever.

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SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 13:1-9

In this episode of the Resurrection Life Sunday Sermon we're doing a bit of catch-up as we go back to the sermon from Sunday, September 6th. Resurrection Church welcomed a guest minister, Reverend Eric Major to our Sunday Service to bring a message in our Hebrews sermon series, "From Shadow to Substance." Eric has been leading music for us on some Sundays but on this day he brought his message from Hebrews 13 "On What Remains."

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Resurrection Life Church is moving to the New Felton Grove High School!

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SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 12:4-11.

With today's podcast, we enter into the ending of the Book of Hebrews. The last two chapters are filled with practical steps towards living a faithful race of faith. We will learn about one way in which God shows His love to us from today's scripture. It’s certainly not the only way God shows us His love, but it does appear to be a common one. This is a difficult word for Christians. What does it mean that God chastises us? These words have punched me in the gut more than once over the years, as I’m sure it has for those of you who know them. Still, I look forward to working through these verses with you today as we consider God’s love and how God helps us grow as His sons and daughters.

In Christ, Pastor Mark