 Most assuredly, we are witnessing a cultural shift in our society today—a movement from what is morally right in the sight of God to what is morally corrupt and wrong. If you live in diminished light long enough, you begin to believe that obscurity, ambiguity, and obtuseness are rather normal, but in time this deprivation will show its ugly face. For example, if you place a blooming plant which requires full sun into a heavily-shaded environment, you will soon observe the ill effects of it yielding fewer or no blooms and declining health. In like manner, God created man to walk with Him and bear fruit in the light through Jesus Christ, the Light and Life of the world. I can just hear multitudes saying to themselves, “There must be a better way”—and there emphatically IS! His name is JESUS! In Matthew 4:16, Matthew quotes from Isaiah 9:2, “The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light, and to those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a light dawned.” The light was JESUS. The book of Hebrews mentions the word “better” 13 times, all referring to Jesus—the better way, the better truth, and the better Life for those who walk in obedience to Him. Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download file.) 
Personal Testimonies: Prior to the morning's message, Pastor Mark opens the floor to life testimonies. It is great encouragement to hear how the Lord is working in each of our lives. Click the forward button below to play the personal testimonies of Pastor Mark and others and/or download file.)
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 For so many, the annual pilgrimage to church occurs on Easter Sunday, perhaps out of tradition or feelings of guilt if they do not attend. But what do the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ mean to you? What is the significance of the power of God to raise His Son from the dead, and is it relevant in your life today? Let’s visit what the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus meant to Paul in Philippians 3:10-11, “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Paul diligently sought to know Jesus—not intellectually, but experientially and intimately in his daily walk. He hungered for and pursued God for a flow of the Holy Spirit that the life of Jesus would be seen in him and witnessed by others. All his passion was due to the identification, ownership, and commitment he had to Jesus who had surrendered His life for him. How about you? Are you experiencing and encountering the resurrection power of Jesus Christ in your life today? Remember—He arose that you may live! Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download file.)
Hudson Taylor was an English missionary who served in China–51 years! He was constantly encouraging people to put the Lord first and spent his life sacrificing his comforts and his dreams to bring the word of truth to the lost. Even though he came from a Methodist and Baptist background, he developed his work as non-denominational welcoming all groups. He started the China Inland Mission which brought 800 missionaries to China, established 125 schools and directly resulted in over 18,000 conversions to Christ. He worked tirelessly against the opium trade there and became one of the most significant Europeans in China in the 19th century (1800’s). Mr. Taylor adopted wearing native Chinese clothing even though this was rare among missionaries at the time. [From Hudson Taylor’s (1832-1905), A Higher Calling–quotes in the public domain.] What about you? Do you have an “anything-goes” attitude toward serving God? Would you:
Follow along with the audio of the sermon to hear “…the rest of the story.” Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of message and/or download file. Message originally recorded on 2/15/12.)
Have you ever said to yourself, “Maybe someday,” (and I’m sure you have), “I’ll pursue more training and education, or eat a more healthy diet, and exercise.” The list can be exhaustive. But what about the weightier matters such as “maybe someday I’ll have peace in my heart,” or “I’ll finally forgive someone or be forgiven?” How about “maybe someday I’ll pursue a closer more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ,” or even better, “…take a leap of faith and accept Him as Lord and Savior of my life.” Paul wrote to the Galatians and said, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me; and the life which I NOW live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20 So powerful, the life which I NOW live! Not maybe someday, but NOW! Remember, “hope deferred (for a later time) makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12 Make your “maybe someday” be TODAY to live a life of faith in Jesus Christ, who is a very present help in time of need. See Psalm 46:1. Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download mp3 file.)
Personal Testimonies: Prior to the morning's message, Pastor Mark opens the floor to life testimonies. It is great encouragement to hear how the Lord is working in each of our lives. Click the forward button below to play the personal testimonies of Pastor Mark and others and/or download mp3 file.)
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