Sermons on Mark Twain:

Picky Picky - Mark 2:23-28 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 29, 2023

The Pharisees accuse the disciples of Sabbath breaking when they pick grain while traveling. Jesus responds by pointing to David eating the bread of the presence.

Mark 2:23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” 25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:23-28

The Wrath Of Christ - Mark 3:1-6 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Aug 5, 2023

The Pharisees came with the purpose of getting evidence against Jesus. He went out of his way to make a scene to challenge their attitudes.

Mark 3:1 Again he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 They were watching him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” 4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:1-6

Qualifying The Called - Mark 3:6-19 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 4, 2023

God made a lot of promises about the restoration of Israel after the exile. But most of them didn't happen when the Jews came back from Babylon after 70 years. Jesus reveals why.

Introduction The Promised Kingdom Before we pick up where we left off in Mark 3, I need to remind you of something. Do you remember back in ch.1 when Mark told us the topic of all Jesus’ preaching? Jesus preached about the arrival of the kingdom. Mark 1:15 "The time has come," he said. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:6-19

Family Ties - Mark 3:31-35 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 9, 2023

How is your brotherly relationship with Jesus going? And why is it important? Have you ever thought of Jesus as your son? Why does Jesus call Christian women his mothers 3 times in 2 verses? 1The answers are a huge encouragement! And you will find them in this study.

Mark 3:31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent for him, calling him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” 33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. 34 Then he looked at those seated in ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:31-35, Matthew 12:46-50, Luke 8:19-21

Mighty Mercy - Mark 5:14-20 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 23, 2023

Mercy is kindness shown to misery. Jesus finds the most miserable specimen of human misery and shows amazing mercy, restoring his humanity, dignity, and peace.

Introduction A story of Power We left off last time right in the middle of this epic confrontation between Jesus and Legion—this man with thousands of demons in him. The confrontation was epic, but the battle itself was anything but epic. It only lasted about one second, and the demons were sent ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:14-20, Matthew 8:28-34, Luke 8:26-39

Jesus’ Daughter - Mark 5:21-34 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Oct 2, 2023

Jesus stops in a long delay to draw attention to what happened, and to call this woman “daughter” to teach everyone that the intensity of emotion Jairus had for his daughter is the same way Jesus feels about this despised, unclean woman who trusts him.

Mark 5:21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 One of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet 23 and pleaded earnestly with him, "My little daughter is ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:21-34, Matthew 9:18-26, Luke 8:40-56

Agnostic Nazarenes - Mark 6:1-6 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Oct 19, 2023

In his hometown, the people didn’t believe Jesus because he was a local handyman. Such an irrational conclusion is due to living by feeling instead of fact. Agnosticism is an effort to justify ignorance.

Mark 6:1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him and such miraculous ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-6, Matthew 13:54-58, Luke 4:16-30

Sending The Twelve - Mark 6:7-13 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Oct 19, 2023

After many months of training, Jesus finally sends out the 12 to preach. He empowers them with the same miracles he did to show they were doing his work by his authority and power. Rejection of them meant forfeiting Jewishness.

Mark 6:7 Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits. 8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:7-13, Matthew 10:1-14, Luke 9:1-6

Following Jesus: Mark 6 (Part 2) Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Dec 19, 2022

Part 7 of 16: In this series, we follow Jesus chapter-by-chapter through the Gospel of Mark. This is Mark 6.

Following Jesus (7) Scott Bayles, pastor Scripture: Mark 6:30-44 Blooming Grove Christian Church: 2/12/2017 If you’ve been with us all this year, you know we began a sixteen-week journey that will take us from the banks of the Jordan River to an empty tomb on the outskirts of Jerusalem, and points ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-44

Denomination: Christian Church

The Unforgettable Perfume - Mark 14:1-8 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Apr 27, 2024

Is it really a good thing for this woman to spend a whole year’s wages on a single, momentary act of worship? And if so, why perfume? Wouldn’t there be some more practical gifts that could be given with that amount of money?

Mark 14:1 Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2 "But not during the Feast," they said, "or the people may riot." 3 While he was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:1-8, Matthew 26:6-13, John 12:1-8

Sleepy Judas - Mark 14:10-16 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Apr 28, 2024

Why did Judas sell out the man he had left everything to follow? Surely it must have been more than just the money, right? Jesus has been preparing us for the answer to that question throughout the whole book of Mark.

Mark 14:10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over. 12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:10-16, Matthew 26:14-19, Luke 22:3-13

Take And Eat - Mark 14:22-26 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 4, 2024

Why do some verses in the Bible make our relationship with God sound conditional, and other verses make it sound unconditional? The answer to that question is the key to understanding the gospel and having the closest, most intimate relationship with God possible.

Mark 14:22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body." 23 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 "This is my blood of the covenant, which is ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:22-26, Matthew 26:26-30, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Our Champion - Mark 15:16-20 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 22, 2024

One of the most painful emotions the human soul can carry is shame. What can you do when feelings of shame continue to press down on you even after you've repented of a sin?

Mark 15:16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called to-gether the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, "Hail, king of the Jews!" ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:16-20, Matthew 27:27-31

This Is Some Rescue - Mark 15:22-32 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 27, 2024

God promises to rescue us in times of trouble. But many times he lets the trouble go on. So how can we trust him to be our shelter, deliverer, and helper if our prayers for help often go unanswered?

Mark 15:21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was pass-ing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:22-32, Matthew 27:33-44, Luke 23:32-43

Jesus In The Dark - Mark 15:33-34 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 27, 2024

While Jesus was on the cross, darkness came upon the whole land for 3 hours. What happened in that darkness?

Mark 15:33 At the sixth hour darkness came upon the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Darkness God Has His Say We’re studying ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:33-34, Matthew 27:45-46, Luke 23:44-45