Dead Faith Walking | James 2:14-26 | Faith That Works
In our latest sermon, "Dead Faith Walking," we confront the danger of a "museum-piece" faith. Drawing on the imagery of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia, we look at James 2:14-26 to see how the Holy Spirit breathes life into us, turning us from stationary statues into active ambassadors of God's grace. Watch as we discuss why a heart changed by the Gospel cannot help but move in love toward others.
Justice, Mercy, and the Triumph of Grace | James 2:1-13 | Faith That Works
Our latest sermon from the book of James is now available to watch. This week, we looked at James 2:1–13, focusing on how the Gospel levels the ground for all believers.
It is easy to let the world’s values of power and influence trickle into the church, leading us to make distinctions based on status or appearance. However, as those who were "poor and destitute in our sin" but "made rich by mercy," we are called to a different standard. We explore what it means to live under the law of liberty—a life where our works provide evidence of our faith and where we see others not as the world sees them, but as fellow heirs of the Kingdom of God.
Slow to Speak, Quick to Do | James 1:19-26 | Faith That Works
We live in a culture saturated with our own reflections—from mirrors to smartphone cameras—yet we often struggle to truly see our spiritual condition. In this message, we look at James’ challenge to be "doers of the word and not hearers only."
When Joy Meets Trial | James 1:1-18 | Faith That Works
In the 1980s, the Biosphere 2 project discovered that trees grown in a perfect environment—with no wind—eventually collapsed under their own weight. They lacked the "stress wood" that only comes through resistance.
In this sermon on James 1:1–18, we explore how God uses the "winds" of life to build that same structural integrity in our souls. Whether you are facing the "scorching heat" of financial loss, the pressure of persecution, or the internal struggle of temptation, James directs our eyes to the unchanging Father of Lights.
Mary: Pondering the Promise | Luke 1:26-55; 2:1-7 | Mothers of Jesus
Christmas often brings out our sentimental side. We find ourselves reminiscing about candlelight services, children in pajamas, and the warmth of family traditions . But the first Christmas was characterized by more than just "good feels"—it was a moment of revolutionary upheaval.
The Gospel for the Lowly | Luke 2:1-20 | Candlelight Meditation 2025
Sometimes we know the story of Christmas too well, and we miss just how radical it truly is. If a prince were born today, the news would be shared in palaces and centers of influence. But when the Lord Jesus Christ took on human flesh, the message went to men who didn't even own the land they were standing on.
Bathsheba: Mercy Gets the Last Word | 2 Samuel 12:1-25 | Mothers of Jesus
The story of David and Bathsheba is one of the most scandalous in Holy Scripture, marked by a heinous abuse of power and a tragic cover-up. While we often focus on David’s sin, the narrative also reveals the profound mercy shown to Bathsheba—the silent victim of this tragedy.
Ruth: From Mara to Messiah | Ruth 4:9-17 | Mothers of Jesus
In this message, we look at the incredible narrative of the Book of Ruth. It’s a story we know, but often miss its whole point: securing the lineage of the Messiah. We start at the end, with the birth of Obed, the grandfather of King David, and work backward to understand the journey of faith and providence that made it possible.
When we first meet Naomi, she is consumed by grief and insists on being called Mara, which means "bitterness." Her situation—and that of her daughter-in-law, Ruth, a foreign widow—is utterly hopeless. Yet, through the loyal commitment of Ruth and the faithful, legal, and costly love of Boaz, the Kinsman-Redeemer, God completely reverses their circumstances.
Discover how God uses the seemingly insignificant and the painfully bitter details of life to carry out His most valuable possession: the salvation found in Jesus Christ.
Rahab: The Scarlet Thread of Hope | Joshua 2:1-21; 6:20-23 | Mothers of Jesus
Our Advent series, "The Mothers of Jesus," continues with one of the most unexpected and powerful figures in the Bible: Rahab.
Her story, found in the book of Joshua, is a study in contrasts. Here is a woman—a Canaanite and a prostitute—who shows greater confidence in the covenant God of Israel than a generation of Israelites who witnessed His miracles firsthand.
Tamar: Scandalous Grace, Sovereign Plan | Genesis 38 | Mothers of Jesus
We often approach the Christmas season with a desire for the "clean, pure, pretty, idealistic, perfect snow"—a vision of a holiday sterilized from the dirt of the real world. Yet, as we begin our Advent series, Mothers of Jesus, we are immediately confronted with a story that shatters this idealism: the account of Tamar in Genesis 38.
Atonement, Rain, and Grain | Psalm 65 | Thanksgiving
The Proper Priorities of a Biblical Thanksgiving
On this Thanksgiving Day, it is easy for our attention to be pulled in a dozen different directions—from managing family gatherings to navigating Black Friday deals. The danger is that we treat this holiday as a mere checklist to be completed, racing right past the reason for our gathering.
In his sermon "Atonement, Rain, and Grain," based on Psalm 65, Pastor Mark refocuses our attention. He reminds us that a biblical understanding of gratitude must be properly prioritized, with the grace of God in Christ at the very top.
Paradise Regained | Revelation 22 | The Final Vision of Hope
The book of Revelation is often viewed through a lens of confusion, but its original purpose was far simpler: to provide hope and comfort to God's people during tribulation. As we land in the final chapter, Revelation 22, we are given a glorious, final vision that guarantees our eternal future.
In this message, we dive deep into the ultimate reversals of the curse—seeing the River of the Water of Life flowing from the Throne and the Tree of Life restored. This vision affirms that what was broken in the Garden has been restored through the work of the Lamb.
No More Tears | Revelation 21 | The Eternal Dwelling Place of God
This week, we continue our series in the Book of Revelation with the majestic and essential vision of Chapter 21:1-27.
Just as maps and film cameras have become obsolete, the New Covenant, fulfilled in Christ, has made the old way of relating to God obsolete.
Join Pastor Mark as he explores the climax of the biblical story, where God declares, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man." We find ultimate hope in the truth that the physical Temple is gone, the curse is reversed, and our eternal access to God is guaranteed by the completed work of the Lamb.
When the Books are Opened | Revelation 20:7-15 | Confidence Before the Throne
In Revelation 20, John records the sobering yet hope-filled vision of the final judgment. Satan’s last rebellion ends in defeat, Death and Hades are cast into the lake of fire, and the books are opened before the throne of God.
While this passage is heavy with eternal significance, it also offers deep assurance to the believer. Our hope doesn’t rest on speculation, good works, or human effort—it rests on the finished work of Jesus Christ. When your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, it isn’t written in pencil. It is secure forever in the righteousness of Christ.
Reigning with Christ | Revelation 20:1-6 | The Bound Enemy and the Reigning King
In Revelation 20, John sees two striking images: a bound enemy and a reigning King. Pastor Mark Groen unpacks this passage to show that Satan’s restraint and Christ’s reign are not future hopes but present realities. The leash of the enemy is in God’s hand, and the throne is occupied.
It Is He | Revelation 19:11-21 | Confidence in the Coming King
On Reformation Sunday, we turned again to the book of Revelation and came to one of its most vivid and hope-filled passages. In Revelation 19:11–21, heaven opens and Christ appears—not as a distant observer but as the Faithful and True Judge who rides forth in righteousness. His robe is dipped in His own blood, reminding us that the one who comes to judge is also the one who was judged in our place. For those who belong to Him, His coming is not cause for fear but for confidence.
Life in the Covenant | Psalm 103:15–18 & Romans 8:28–39 | Unfading Love in a Fading World
In a world where memories fade and everything we build eventually wears out, God’s covenant love endures forever.
This message from Pastor Mark Groen reminds us that life in the covenant is not about our grip on God, but about His unbreakable grip on us. From the frailty of life described in Psalm 103 to the assurance of salvation in Romans 8, we see the power of an everlasting promise — a love that cannot fade or fail.
The Covenant Sign | Genesis 17:1-14 & Colossians 2:11-12 | Marked by Grace
In this fifth message of our Everlasting Covenant series, Pastor Mark Groen preaches from Genesis 17:1–14 and Colossians 2:11–12, exploring how God marked His people under the old covenant and how that sign is fulfilled in Christ.
God commanded Abraham to circumcise his household as a visible sign that they belonged to Him. This sign pointed forward to the greater reality of salvation in Jesus Christ, who cuts away the sin of His people through His life, death, and resurrection.
The Covenant Community | Deuteronomy 7:6-9 & Hebrews 8:6-13 | United in Christ, Secured by Promise
When we think of memberships today, we often think of cards in our wallet or apps on our phone—things that can expire if we miss a payment or fail to keep up. But God’s covenant community is entirely different. Belonging to Him isn’t a subscription we manage or a benefit program we maintain. It is His gracious claim on us through Christ, an eternal promise written on our hearts.
The Covenant Fulfilled | Jeremiah 31:31-34 & Luke 22:14-23 | New Hearts, New Covenant
God’s promise of a new covenant goes deeper than new rules—it gives new hearts. In Jesus, the covenant is sealed by His blood, ending the cycle of repeated sacrifices and securing a once-for-all forgiveness. Because of Christ, God declares: “I will remember their sin no more.” This message connects Jeremiah’s promise to the Lord’s Supper and invites us to live with assurance, freedom, and holiness.