Sermons on Mark 23:33-39:

How To Watch For Christ’s Return - Mark 13:32-37 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Apr 23, 2024

Jesus told us to keep watch for his coming, but what does that mean? Were you keeping watch yesterday?

Mark 13:32 “But concerning that day or hour, no one knows. Not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Keep watch! Stay alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:32-37, Matthew 24:32-35, Luke 21:29-33

When You Lose Your Shepherd - Mark 14:25-28 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 4, 2024

What would you have done if you were following Jesus and one night a lynch mob shows up, arrests him, beats him to a pulp, and crucifies him? We know what the disciples did—what should they have done?

Mark 14:25 "I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God." 26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 "You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:29-32, Mark 14:25-28

Men Like Trees Walking - Mark 7:24-8:26 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Nov 6, 2023

Did Jesus have to try twice to heal the blind man? Or was the two-stage healing a profound lesson for how we understand God's Word?

Introduction: Perception The Mexican cave fish has eye sockets but no eyes. Where they live, it’s so dark, eyes are useless and so they lost them. Biologists have discovered that same species of fish who live in waters that have some light, and they do have eyes. Stay too long in the dark and your ...read more

Transfiguration Pt.3: Listen Exclusively - Mark 9:4-8 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Dec 24, 2023

If you are a believer, Jesus Christ is speaking to you every day. But whether his voice gets through depends on how you listen. These messages on the Transfiguration give insight into how to become a better listener.

Mark 9:1 And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power." 2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:4-8, Matthew 17:1-6, Luke 9:28-35

The Plan - Mark 3:11-15 (Luke 6:12-13) Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 4, 2023

Jesus never wrote anything that we know of. All the information we have came from the Apostles. Why?

Mark 3:7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. 8 When they heard all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. 9 Because of the crowd he told his disciples to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:11-15, Luke 6:12-13

How To Listen To God: The Good Soil - Mark 4:20-25 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 16, 2023

Why is Scripture hard and why so many different conclusions about Jesus? Because he hid the truth in hard sayings. Why make it so hard? This passage explains.

Mark 4:14 The sower sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. Immediately Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:20-25, Matthew 13:12, Luke 8:16-18

Jairus’ Daughter: Fear Vs. Faith - Mark 5:35-43 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Oct 2, 2023

Jesus turns death into sleep. Trust not only in God’s power but also his timing. Learn to read your circumstances like you read the Bible.

Mark 5:22-43 Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet 23 and pleaded earnestly with him, "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live." 24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:35-43, Matthew 9:18-26, Luke 8:40-56

Beginning Of Pains (Deceivers & Disasters) - Mark 13:5-8 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Apr 10, 2024

In times like ours, how does one keep from lying awake at night with anxiety over what we see in the news every day? In today’s passage, Jesus provides direct insight into how to read the news headlines in a way that brings peace, calm, and courage, rather than anxiety, fear, and cowardice.

Mark 13:5 Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Na-tion will rise against ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:5-8, Matthew 24:4-8, Luke 21:8-11

Beginning Of Pains (Persecution & Preaching) - Mark 13:9-13 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Apr 13, 2024

Jesus shows us how every time you are mistreated, it is a golden opportunity … if you read the situation through the lenses of spiritual insight.

Mark 13:9 "You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.11 Whenever you are arrested and brought ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:9-13, Luke 21:12-18

God Is Big Enough To See Me Through The Storm Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Oct 4, 2019

In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus reveals His power over the storms of life through 1) The Crisis (Mark 4:35–38a), 2) The Cry (Mark 4:38b) and 3) The Calm (Mark 4:39–41)

Mark 4:35-41 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Other

The End Is Near

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 30, 2017

1) The Destruction of the Temple (Mark 13:1-2), 2) The Deception of Many (Mark 13:4–6), and finally, 3) The Devastation of the Earth (Mark 13:7–8).

As we come to the end of 2017, the review of events over the past year show that, in many ways, nothing has changed. For example, lamenting “the winds of war” blowing around the world, Pope Francis in his traditional Christmas message on Monday called for a two-state solution to find peace in the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:1-8

Denomination: Other

The Triumphal Entry Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Mar 19, 2016

1) The Faithful Arrival (Mark 11: 1– 7), 2) The Faithless Approval (Mark 11: 8– 10), 3) The Faithful Appraisal (Mark 11:11)

Carved into a towering cliff in central Afghanistan stood two gigantic statues. Hewn out of the living sandstone rock, they were figures of the Buddha, dominating the Bamiyan Valley which they overlook. The statues stood on the ancient Silk Road, the old trade route which stretched through ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11

Denomination: Other

Shutting Down The Hypocrites, Especially Ourselves

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 30, 2024

Jesus, here in Mark’s Gospel, gives us a start on our understanding the proper response to hypocrisy.

Thirty-first Sunday in Course 2024 How could you get a hypocrite to shut up? They are called “Karens” these days, which to me is an disrespectful misuse of a woman’s name. Nonetheless, no matter what you call that kind of behavior, pharisaical people are just about as irritating as one can be. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34, Hebrews 7:23-28, Deuteronomy 6:2-6, Psalm 18:46

Denomination: Catholic

Who Are You Bringing To Jesus

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jul 11, 2019

In order to bring someone to Jesus, we ourselves must have certain characteristics and determinations. In Bringing someone to Jesus, we must: 1)Be Concerned (Mark 2:1) 2) Be Constant (Mark 2:2), 3) Be Co-operative (Mark 2:3), 4) Be Creative (Mark 2:4), 5) Be Confident (Mark 2:5).

Mark 2:1-5 [2:1] And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. [2] And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. [3] And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-5

Denomination: Other

The Distinctive Difference Of Jesus Our Lord Series

Contributed by Michael Milton on Sep 25, 2001

From Mark 1.1, this Introduction to the Gospel of Mark seeks to focus our eyes on the surprising Savior we come to know in Mark and to fire our souls with the reality of God with us.

INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES AND THE READING It was a day that would live in infamy. Not September 11th, 2001 or December 7th, 1941, but Summer of AD 64: The Great Fire of Rome. If you were alive during that time, it would have had the sort of shock value that we all experienced in our own national ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed