Sermons on Mark:

Prayer Keys - Fasting Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 22, 2011

Legalistic fasting is not a prayer key. It is just going hungry. Spiritual awareness that prompts us to pray may also prompt us to fast. May God make us more spiritually aware. May his spirit prompt us to pray, even to the point of forgetting to eat.

Prayer Keys - Fasting by Mark Stepherson “But when you fast, put oil on you head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:17-18 Did you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

Making Use Of The Messiah's Gifts Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Oct 26, 2011

The Lord has given gifts to each of us and expects us to make the maximum use of them until He comes.

Making Use of the Messiah's Gifts Text: Matt. 25:14-30 Introduction 1. Illustration: "Getting involved in your church by using your gifts will accelerate your spiritual growth immensely. God designed us that way. Don't head for the grandstands when you enter the kingdom of God. Head for the playing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Denomination: Methodist

Prayer Keys - Persistence Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 27, 2011

Please forgive me for stating the obvious, but persistent prayer is hard work. It drains us. It is hard, but it is eventually worth the effort.

Prayer Keys - Persistence “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Luke 18:1 Have you seen that cartoon with the pelican having a frog for dinner? His dinner is not agreeing with him. In fact, his dinner is violently ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Privacy Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Nov 3, 2011

This is the first time Jesus taught his first disciples about prayer. His first lesson was, “Spend time alone with the Father in prayer.” If we don’t follow his first lesson, we are not following the example or the command of Christ.

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:6 A little boy was saying his bedtime prayers when his mother passed by his room and stopped to listen. “Bless Mommy and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:6

Denomination: Baptist

Thanksgiving Or Complaining

Contributed by Travis Markes on Nov 8, 2011

Thanksgiving or complaining -- these words express two contrasting attitudes found in God’s children in regard to His dealings with them. The soul that gives thanks can find comfort in everything; the soul that complains can find comfort in nothing.

“Thanksgiving or Complaining!” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Thanksgiving or complaining -- these words express two contrasting attitudes found in God’s children in regard to His dealings with them. The soul that gives thanks can find comfort in everything; the soul that complains can ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Denomination: Baptist

The Messiah And The Great Separation Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Nov 10, 2011

At the Great Judgment, we will either be considered a sheep or a goat.

The Messiah and the Great Separation Text: Matt. 25:31-46 Introduction 1. Illustration: One of my all-time favorite movies is "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." In the movie the father in the story tells his daughter, "Tula, there are two kinds of people in the world; Greeks, and everyone that wish they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Methodist

Prayer Keys - Unity Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Nov 10, 2011

When we pray as the first church prayed, God will empower us as he empowered the first church and our altar calls will look like Peter’s altar call.

“They all joined together constantly in prayer...” Acts 1:14 “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day,” Acts 2:41 When he went to the Brooklyn Tabernacle, it was a ramshackle building with only a handful attending. They were ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Circle Maker 1: The Legend Of The Circle Maker Series

Contributed by Mark Batterson on Nov 15, 2011

A sermon about the power of prayer illustrated by a man drawing circles in the sand in faith.

Introduction It was the first century BC and a devastating drought threatened to destroy a generation, the generation before Jesus. The last of the Jewish prophets had died off nearly four centuries before. Miracles were such a distant memory that they seemed like a false memory. And God was ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 6:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Circle Maker 2: Dream Big Series

Contributed by Mark Batterson on Nov 15, 2011

What step of faith do you need to take? What decision do you need to make? On what promise do you need to put down a stake?

Introduction Before the first raindrop fell, Honi had to feel a little foolish. Standing inside a circle and demanding rain is a risky proposition. Vowing that you won’t leave the circle until it rains is even riskier. Honi didn’t draw a semi-circle. He drew a complete circle. There ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 11:1-35

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Circle Maker 3: Pray Hard Series

Contributed by Mark Batterson on Nov 15, 2011

The Bible is a promise book and a prayer book. And while reading is reactive, prayer is proactive. Reading is the way you get through the Bible. Prayer is the way you get the Bible through you.

Introduction In standardized math tests, Japanese children consistently score higher than their American counterparts. While some assume that a natural proclivity toward mathematics is the primary difference, researchers have discovered that it may have more to do with effort than ability. In one ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Circle Maker 4: Think Long Series

Contributed by Mark Batterson on Nov 15, 2011

We need to be willing to pray for as long as it takes. Pray that it will take long enough and be hard enough for God to receive all of the glory.

Introduction On the Swedish Island of Visingso, there is a mysterious forest of oak trees; mysterious because oak trees aren’t indigenous to the island and its origin was unknown for more than a century. Then in 1980, the Swedish Navy received a letter from the Forestry Department reporting ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 10:12-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Heart For The Lord

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Nov 16, 2011

Do the so called transparent barriers that we construct between ourselves and God’s word provide enough safety from God’s wrath?

A Heart for the Lord Readings: Matthew 15:1-20 15:1-20pp -- Mk 7:1-23 1 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!" 3 Jesus replied, "And why do you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Soldiers Faith

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Nov 16, 2011

Freedom is purchased by great sacrifice and maintained by those who stand ready to be sacrificed. Today we owe our freedom to men and women such as these and we pause to honor them and to remember and reflect on their sacrifices both past and present.

A Soldiers Faith Matthew 8:5-13 Luke 7:1-10 This week we mark Remembrance Day as a Nation. It is a day that holds a unique significance for each of us. For some it marks the Remembrance of a loved one who fell in service to their country or those who had been taken prisoner never to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:5-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

God's Greatness In Grandparents

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Nov 16, 2011

If you’re a Grandparent and a Christian then you need to know that God has put greatness within you to be lavished on your Grandchildren. You just might be sharing ice cream with one of the giants of our faith who just hasn’t grown up yet.

Gods Greatness in Grandparents 2 Timothy 1:1-14 If you’re a Grandparent and a Christian then you need to know that God has put greatness within you to be lavished on your Grandchildren. At a round-table discussion, various religious leaders tried to answer the question "When does life ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Pilgrims Thanksgiving

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Nov 16, 2011

For many of us today our world is a strange place that we find hard to navigate through just as if we were Pilgrims. In many ways it’s as if we have just landed and have no idea of where we are. With all the strange things we encounter it is hard to rec

A Pilgrims Thanksgiving Luke 24:1-35 A famous Presbyterian used the word Pilgrim in one of his movies and it became part of American movie legend. That movie legend was Marion Robert Morrison better known to you and me as John Wayne. “I know I'm gonna use good judgement. I haven't lost ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-35

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed