Peace in the Night | Psalm 4 | Dwell in the Word
Psalm 4 ends with these words: “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” In this episode of Dwell in the Word, Pastor Mark Groen unpacks this deep trust David has in God’s care, even when distress and danger surround him.
Dwell in the Word: Psalm 3
As we come now to Psalm chapter three, we are getting a little bit different taste than we had in Psalm one and two. In the first Psalm, we saw that there was the blessed one, and we saw how that pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then we saw the futility of opposing the anointed one of God. Now we are seeing that David is experiencing some very difficult situations, and he is calling out to God. We see here in the notes that this Psalm is about when David fled from Absalom. Well, that was a terrible situation. There was a lot of bad things going on in the life of David there, but what is his strength? What is he looking to? He is not looking to himself. He is seeing all that is going on around him, and he is realizing his hope is in God. And in fact, as we read this chapter, we see that there are so many foes that are coming after him, and they're scoffing him. They're saying there's no salvation for him and God. The idea here is that God does not seem to be on his side, that there is an opposition to David, and so he must not be the anointed one of God.
June 4 Sermon: Who Is Like the Lord?
There are some things that we find really hard to describe. The world is packed with all kind of things that can leave us speechless. We could struggle to find words because what we have witnessed is incredible and you struggle to believe what you have seen. Maybe it is because you feel that you can’t do what you have seen justice and so you stumble over your words in an attempt to plumb the depths of your vocabulary to get the right words. Or perhaps you can’t find the words because you and the person you are trying to explain it to don’t have categories to frame what you are trying to explain, and you just can’t get on the same page to really describe it well.
Dwell in the Word: Psalm 2
As we come to Psalm 2 today, it's important that we remember Psalm 1, this idea of the blessed one. We understood that the blessed one spoken of there is ultimately pointing us to Jesus, and he unlocks the Psalms for us. We can see that not only in Psalm one, we see that theme continuing here as we come to Psalm two. This Psalm starts out with a question, and it's a great question.
Why do the nation's rage in the people's plot in vain? In other words, why would the people set themselves up against God, against the blessed one, against the Messiah. Why would they go against Him? Why would people go up against God?
The Blessed Life Rooted in Christ | Psalm 1 | Dwell in the Word
We come to Psalm 1 today and begin our journey through the psalter, and we see this description of the blessed man, the one who walks not in the council of the wicked nor stands in the way of sinners and doesn't sit in the seat of scoffers. As we look at this and if we stopped at that first verse, our idea here would be that this blessed man is blessed because of what he avoids. Yes, that is absolutely true. We want to avoid the wicked and sinners, and we want to make sure that we are not those who scoff. But at the same time, there is an active element to this. The one who is blessed delights in the law of the Lord.
Wonders & Signs | Acts 2:1–21 | The Spirit for All Nations
On Pentecost, the church was born—but not through chaos. Acts 2 records the rushing wind, the tongues of fire, and the miracle of languages, but the heart of the event is found in Peter's sermon: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
In this sermon, Pastor Mark Groen takes us through Acts 2:1–21, showing how Pentecost is the fulfillment of Old Testament promises, the reversal of Babel, and the launch of God’s global mission. The signs at Pentecost weren't meant to be repeated—they were meant to validate the gospel. The real wonder is the Spirit-empowered proclamation of salvation by grace, now made available to people of every tribe, tongue, and nation.
Triumph | Acts 1:1–11 | Christ Ascended and Reigning
It's good when we arrive at a destination, isn't it? It's good to finally get where we're going. We're glad that we end up safely where we intend to be. Now, we don't dwell on a safe arrival with every arrival that we do because it's not that often that we travel in significant ways. I don't rejoice every time I have a safe journey to the post office or the grocery store. I don't get out of the car and go, I'm safe. I don't call my mom and say, I made it. I don't do that when I walk the some 350 odd steps over here to work every day. It's not a big deal. But when it's a long journey, it's a different story. First, there is that sense that you are done with the trip. That's the part of the arrival that we perhaps like the most. No worrying about whether or not there's a stop to our spot to stop to get food or do other things that you have to do on a trip.
May 14 Sermon: When You Pray
We believe in the power of prayer, don't we? We know that God hears us when we pray. We acknowledge this great truth. We have a confidence that because of the work of Jesus on our behalf, we know that he is interceding for us right now at the Father's right-hand. We hear the words of Scripture and we are convicted that all this stuff about prayer is in fact true, such as the prayer of a righteous person has great power. We see this as we look at James 5 16. This is a great truth. We believe this to be true. We even understand that even when we don't have the words to say, we know the scriptural truth that the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. We see this truth about prayer in Scripture. We know this, we understand this, we have a conviction about this. And yet, I'm guessing that many of you are like me.
Held By God
A while back, I needed to make two visits in Sioux Falls. One visit was to someone in the hospital in the morning and another visit to pray with someone before surgery. There was about a three hour window of time that I needed to fill. I went to a coffee shop, got a little caffeine, and did a little work on my tablet. Before I went to do the afternoon visit I decided to go to the mall to see if I could find a good price on some clothes that I was in need of. I parked near the food court entrance and spent roughly 30 minutes looking for a dress clothes. On the way out I was observing how little activity there was at the mall compared to times past. The handful of cars in the parking lot reflected how few people were moving around the interior of the mall. The activity in the mall was nothing like I knew when I was younger, even on a slow day.
Our Living Hope
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. - 1 Peter 1:3-5
What is Maundy Thursday?
Most of us have heard of Maundy Thursday. You likely know what it is, but I’m guessing that you have wondered what the word “Maundy” means.
God Has Spoken in His Son
Back in 2018 I decided that I was going to try a new approach to studying the Bible. I was going to pick a shorter book in the New Testament and read it every weekday from beginning to end. I would then read a chapter from a commentary that I have in my library. I have always enjoyed the book of Hebrews and it can be read in about 20 minutes and so, I decided that this would be a good book to start with.
Growing Spiritual Fruit
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:10
Contentment | Exodus 20:17 | The Cure for a Restless Heart
In a world that constantly tells us we need more to be satisfied, God's Word calls us to something better: contentment. In this sermon on the Tenth Commandment, we explore the heart of coveting, the deep dissatisfaction that often takes root unnoticed, and the joy that comes from trusting in God's provision. Discover how contentment leads us to a life of holiness and reflects the heart of the God who satisfies every need.
Speaking the Truth | Exodus 20:16 Living as Reflections of God's Character
We live in a world where falsehood seems rampant and truth is often questioned. In this sermon on the Ninth Commandment from Exodus 20:16, Pastor Mark Groen explores how speaking the truth is deeply rooted in the very character of God. Discover why truth matters not just for personal integrity, but for glorifying God in a world of deception. Learn how living as people of truth reflects the nature of the One who saved us.
God Provides | Exodus 20:15 | Contentment That Frees the Heart
What does it truly mean to obey "You shall not steal"? In this sermon on Exodus 20:15, Pastor Mark Groen unpacks the Eighth Commandment, showing how theft is not only an outward action but a heart issue rooted in discontentment and distrust of God's provision. From obvious sins like robbery to subtle ones like manipulation and envy, we are challenged to pursue godliness with contentment and to live generous and honest lives that glorify Christ.
Join us in reflecting on how God's abundant provision in Christ calls us to trust, to be content, and to seek heavenly treasures above earthly possessions.
God is Pure: Exodus 20:14 | Guarding the Covenant of Marriage
This sermon on the Seventh Commandment challenges us to think beyond physical adultery and consider purity of heart. Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount confront us with the depth of our need for grace while calling us to glorify God with our bodies. Pastor Mark unpacks how lust is not just a private sin—it damages our relationship with God, others, and even our own sense of identity.
God is Life: Exodus 20:13 | Honoring Life in Heart and Action
In this message on Exodus 20:13, Pastor Mark reveals how the sixth commandment extends beyond physical acts to the hidden anger and resentment in our hearts. Grounded in Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount, this sermon calls us to honor the image of God in others and to live lives marked by love, prayer, and gospel grace.
A Sacrificial Love
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. - Ephesians 5:25
The idea of love is always in front of us. Stop and think about how love is the primary theme in a lot of the content that we absorb in the popular culture. I am not aware of much popular music but I come across enough of it to know that the majority of songs talk about love. Most of the time television shows focus on some sort of romantic element. It is no wonder that Valentine's Day is such a big holiday. Romance is presented as the ideal and if you don't have this, well, then you better find it.
Honor: Exodus 20:1-12 | Authority, Obedience, and the Glory of God
We often think of the fifth commandment—“Honor your father and your mother”—as one meant for children. But in this sermon from Exodus 20:12, Pastor Mark shows us that this command reaches further and deeper than we may realize. It’s not just for kids, and it’s not just about our behavior—it’s about the posture of our hearts.
This commandment bridges our duty to God with our duty to others. In a culture that often disregards respect and elevates self over all, we are reminded that honoring authority—whether parents, elders, employers, or civic leaders—is a reflection of our submission to God’s ultimate authority. And as always, the law points us to our need for grace. Every one of us has failed to honor others perfectly, but Christ has perfectly obeyed and poured out mercy on those who trust in Him.