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Weekly Sermons from St. Marcus Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Scattered, But Not Stopped | O Church Arise: Modern Lessons from the Early Christian Church

Apr 20, 202637 min

Proclaim the Easter Peace! | John 20:19-31

Apr 13, 202626 min

Believing is Seeing | Easter Sunday

Apr 6, 202620 min

The Anticipation of Death | Good Friday

Apr 5, 202610 min

Have You Eaten with Jesus? | Believing is Seeing | Holy Thursday

Apr 5, 202613 min

Unexpected Messiah | The Gospel of Mark: From Throne to Cross and Back

This week, we will be studying Mark 11:1-11 under the theme “Unexpected Messiah.” The annual message of Palm Sunday is a reminder that our life, redeemed by a Savior who loves us enough to endure the cross, is ruled by a Humble King who operates in unexpected, powerful, beautiful ways.Series Summary: Fast-paced, urgent, and relentlessly focused on Jesus, the Gospel of Mark shows us not just what Jesus said, but what he did. Written for a Roman world hungry for power, Mark introduces a surprising King - one who comes to serve, to suffer, and to give his life for many. Over the coming weeks, we’ll walk this road with Jesus, from the wilderness to the cross, discovering how the Servant-King’s actions reveal the true good news - and what it means to follow him as disciples who take up our own cross and trust him with our lives.Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you’d like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.

Mar 30, 202629 min

See-ers of Golgotha | Believing is Seeing

The greatest truth in history hung on a cross, yet those closest to it completely missed it because Jesus didn't meet their expectations of what a king should be. While soldiers mocked and religious leaders sneered, Jesus was accomplishing the ultimate act of grace by refusing to save himself so he could save us. Mark 15 challenges us not to overlook what's right in front of us: God's goodness often looks like weakness, and his greatest glory was displayed in what appeared to be his darkest moment.Series Summary: The religious leaders at the cross hurled a challenge at Jesus: “Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” They demanded proof before faith. But the Gospel of Mark, especially in its story of the Passion, invites us into a different reality: believing in order to see. From the anointing at Bethany to the silent emptiness of the tomb, Jesus’ journey subverts our expectations. The one hailed as king is crowned with thorns. The one with power to calm storms submits to arrest. The consistent, sure thread through the chaos is his Word. As the angel at the tomb reminded the trembling women, “He is going ahead of you…just as he told you.” As we study through Mark’s Passion, we are invited to follow Jesus—not by sight, but by faith in his sure and leading Word.Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you’d like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.

Mar 29, 202622 min

The Cost of Control | The Gospel of Mark: From Throne to Cross and Back

This week, we will be studying Mark 10:17-31 under the theme “The Cost of Control.” Here, we find a wealthy, moral man who runs to Jesus asking how to gain eternal life—but Jesus exposes the one thing he cannot let go. We discover salvation begins where our self-sufficiency ends, because what is impossible for us is possible with God.Series Summary: Fast-paced, urgent, and relentlessly focused on Jesus, the Gospel of Mark shows us not just what Jesus said, but what he did. Written for a Roman world hungry for power, Mark introduces a surprising King - one who comes to serve, to suffer, and to give his life for many. Over the coming weeks, we’ll walk this road with Jesus, from the wilderness to the cross, discovering how the Servant-King’s actions reveal the true good news - and what it means to follow him as disciples who take up our own cross and trust him with our lives.Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you’d like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.

Mar 23, 202636 min

The Only Verdict that Matters | Believing is Seeing

Jesus stood before the high priest and clearly confessed his identity as the Messiah, even though it would cost him his life. He promised a day when everyone would see with their own eyes that he is the Son of Man with divine authority. The righteous Judge took our place in the courtroom and accepted the verdict we deserved, so we could be declared innocent and freed from constantly trying to prove our worth.Series Summary: The religious leaders at the cross hurled a challenge at Jesus: “Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” They demanded proof before faith. But the Gospel of Mark, especially in its story of the Passion, invites us into a different reality: believing in order to see. From the anointing at Bethany to the silent emptiness of the tomb, Jesus’ journey subverts our expectations. The one hailed as king is crowned with thorns. The one with power to calm storms submits to arrest. The consistent, sure thread through the chaos is his Word. As the angel at the tomb reminded the trembling women, “He is going ahead of you…just as he told you.” As we study through Mark’s Passion, we are invited to follow Jesus—not by sight, but by faith in his sure and leading Word.Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you’d like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.

Mar 22, 202618 min

The Spiritual Truths We Learn from Little Ones | The Gospel of Mark: From Throne to Cross and Back

This week, we’ll be studying Mark 9:35-50 under the theme “The Spiritual Truths We Learn From Little Ones.” We find that Kingdom greatness doesn’t look like climbing over others—it looks like kneeling to serve them. In this passage, Jesus shows that true greatness is found in welcoming the “little ones,” embracing believers who aren’t just like us, and taking sin seriously.Series Summary: Fast-paced, urgent, and relentlessly focused on Jesus, the Gospel of Mark shows us not just what Jesus said, but what he did. Written for a Roman world hungry for power, Mark introduces a surprising King - one who comes to serve, to suffer, and to give his life for many. Over the coming weeks, we’ll walk this road with Jesus, from the wilderness to the cross, discovering how the Servant-King’s actions reveal the true good news - and what it means to follow him as disciples who take up our own cross and trust him with our lives.Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you’d like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.

Mar 16, 202632 min

God's Plan Comes True in Weakness | Believing is Seeing

God's most magnificent plan unfolds not through human power and strength, but through weakness—supremely demonstrated when Jesus willingly submitted to arrest and crucifixion in the Garden of Gethsemane. When we embrace our own weakness and dependence on Christ, we discover that God's power is made perfect in our vulnerability, transforming us into servants who reflect His upside-down kingdom values.Series Summary: The religious leaders at the cross hurled a challenge at Jesus: “Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” They demanded proof before faith. But the Gospel of Mark, especially in its story of the Passion, invites us into a different reality: believing in order to see. From the anointing at Bethany to the silent emptiness of the tomb, Jesus’ journey subverts our expectations. The one hailed as king is crowned with thorns. The one with power to calm storms submits to arrest. The consistent, sure thread through the chaos is his Word. As the angel at the tomb reminded the trembling women, “He is going ahead of you…just as he told you.” As we study through Mark’s Passion, we are invited to follow Jesus—not by sight, but by faith in his sure and leading Word.Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you’d like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.

Mar 15, 202618 min

A Death that Leads to Life | The Gospel of Mark: From Throne to Cross and Back

This week, we’ll study Mark 8:34–9:1 under the theme “A Death That Leads to Life. After Peter resists a suffering Messiah, Jesus makes it clear: you cannot follow him while trying to save yourself. The instinct to protect our plans, preserve our reputation, or maintain control when following him feels wise — but Jesus says it leads to loss. Only a crucified Messiah can show how losing your life could ever lead to finding it.Series Summary: Fast-paced, urgent, and relentlessly focused on Jesus, the Gospel of Mark shows us not just what Jesus said, but what he did. Written for a Roman world hungry for power, Mark introduces a surprising King - one who comes to serve, to suffer, and to give his life for many. Over the coming weeks, we’ll walk this road with Jesus, from the wilderness to the cross, discovering how the Servant-King’s actions reveal the true good news - and what it means to follow him as disciples who take up our own cross and trust him with our lives.Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you’d like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.

Mar 9, 202623 min

Seeing in the Dark | Believing is Seeing

Jesus's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane reveals how his honest struggle and faithful surrender show us how to navigate our darkest moments.  Through Jesus's example of prayer, patience, and trust in the Father's will, we learn that seeing in the dark means recognizing our weakness while trusting God's promises more than our current circumstances.Series Summary: The religious leaders at the cross hurled a challenge at Jesus: “Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” They demanded proof before faith. But the Gospel of Mark, especially in its story of the Passion, invites us into a different reality: believing in order to see. From the anointing at Bethany to the silent emptiness of the tomb, Jesus’ journey subverts our expectations. The one hailed as king is crowned with thorns. The one with power to calm storms submits to arrest. The consistent, sure thread through the chaos is his Word. As the angel at the tomb reminded the trembling women, “He is going ahead of you…just as he told you.” As we study through Mark’s Passion, we are invited to follow Jesus—not by sight, but by faith in his sure and leading Word.Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you’d like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.

Mar 8, 202621 min

This World’s Wrong Ideas | The Gospel of Mark: From Throne to Cross and Back

This week, we’ll be studying Mark 8:14-21 under the theme “This World’s Wrong Ideas.” Jesus warns the disciples about the “yeast” of the Pharisees and Herod — showing how the world’s wrong ideas quietly seep into our hearts and shrink our faith. If we’re not paying attention, we’ll worry about bread while the Bread of Life is sitting in the boat.Series Summary: Fast-paced, urgent, and relentlessly focused on Jesus, the Gospel of Mark shows us not just what Jesus said, but what he did. Written for a Roman world hungry for power, Mark introduces a surprising King - one who comes to serve, to suffer, and to give his life for many. Over the coming weeks, we’ll walk this road with Jesus, from the wilderness to the cross, discovering how the Servant-King’s actions reveal the true good news - and what it means to follow him as disciples who take up our own cross and trust him with our lives.Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you’d like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.

Mar 2, 202631 min

It's About Jesus, Not You | Believing is Seeing

Peter boldly declares he'll never abandon Jesus, even as Christ predicts his three-time denial. As we ponder our Savior's passion, we're confronted with a freeing truth: our salvation isn't about being stronger or more faithful than others, but about what Jesus accomplished on the cross and through His resurrection.Series Summary: The religious leaders at the cross hurled a challenge at Jesus: “Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” They demanded proof before faith. But the Gospel of Mark, especially in its story of the Passion, invites us into a different reality: believing in order to see. From the anointing at Bethany to the silent emptiness of the tomb, Jesus’ journey subverts our expectations. The one hailed as king is crowned with thorns. The one with power to calm storms submits to arrest. The consistent, sure thread through the chaos is his Word. As the angel at the tomb reminded the trembling women, “He is going ahead of you…just as he told you.” As we study through Mark’s Passion, we are invited to follow Jesus—not by sight, but by faith in his sure and leading Word.Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you’d like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.

Mar 1, 202616 min

Even Her | The Gospel of Mark: From Throne to Cross and Back

This week, we will be studying Mark 7:24-30 under the theme “Even Her.” We learn that God’s grace crashes through every barrier — race, religion, reputation. We see a Savior who draws out bold faith and proves that the good news of Jesus overcomes all boundaries.Series Summary: Fast-paced, urgent, and relentlessly focused on Jesus, the Gospel of Mark shows us not just what Jesus said, but what he did. Written for a Roman world hungry for power, Mark introduces a surprising King - one who comes to serve, to suffer, and to give his life for many. Over the coming weeks, we’ll walk this road with Jesus, from the wilderness to the cross, discovering how the Servant-King’s actions reveal the true good news - and what it means to follow him as disciples who take up our own cross and trust him with our lives.Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you’d like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.

Feb 23, 202627 min

Ash Wednesday | Believing is Seeing

In this Ash Wednesday devotion, we encounter a woman who poured out a year's wages in perfume on Jesus. It was an act others called wasteful, but Jesus called beautiful. As we begin Lent by confronting our mortality and sin with ashes, we're reminded that though we deserve dust, Jesus paid the ultimate cost so death wouldn't get the final word—He does.Series Summary: The religious leaders at the cross hurled a challenge at Jesus: “Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” They demanded proof before faith. But the Gospel of Mark, especially in its story of the Passion, invites us into a different reality: believing in order to see. From the anointing at Bethany to the silent emptiness of the tomb, Jesus’ journey subverts our expectations. The one hailed as king is crowned with thorns. The one with power to calm storms submits to arrest. The consistent, sure thread through the chaos is his Word. As the angel at the tomb reminded the trembling women, “He is going ahead of you…just as he told you.” As we study through Mark’s Passion, we are invited to follow Jesus—not by sight, but by faith in his sure and leading Word.Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you’d like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.

Feb 22, 202613 min

Head Above Water | The Gospel of Mark: From Throne to Cross and Back

We see Jesus revealed as the Lord over chaos, the great I AM who is far more powerful than our fears. Whether he calms the storm or walks with us through it, he meets us in our weakness and shows us grace that always arrives right on time.Series Summary: Fast-paced, urgent, and relentlessly focused on Jesus, the Gospel of Mark shows us not just what Jesus said, but what he did. Written for a Roman world hungry for power, Mark introduces a surprising King - one who comes to serve, to suffer, and to give his life for many. Over the coming weeks, we’ll walk this road with Jesus, from the wilderness to the cross, discovering how the Servant-King’s actions reveal the true good news - and what it means to follow him as disciples who take up our own cross and trust him with our lives.Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you’d like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.

Feb 16, 202629 min

The Offense of Jesus | The Gospel of Mark: From Throne to Cross and Back

Jesus is rejected in his hometown—not because he lacks power, but because their hearts are closed. People's unbelief doesn't change who Jesus is. Jesus is our Savior even when he's misunderstood. Our doubts or other people’s opinions don’t cancel Jesus’ authority or compassion. God doesn’t measure you by how others respond to you. Our job is not to control outcomes; it's to trust and obey. God loves working through everyday faithfulness.Series Summary: Fast-paced, urgent, and relentlessly focused on Jesus, the Gospel of Mark shows us not just what Jesus said, but what he did. Written for a Roman world hungry for power, Mark introduces a surprising King - one who comes to serve, to suffer, and to give his life for many. Over the coming weeks, we’ll walk this road with Jesus, from the wilderness to the cross, discovering how the Servant-King’s actions reveal the true good news - and what it means to follow him as disciples who take up our own cross and trust him with our lives.Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you’d like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.

Feb 9, 202632 min

Faith for Something Better | The Gospel of Mark: From Throne to Cross and Back

This week, we’ll study Mark 5:21-43 under the theme “Faith for Something Better.” When everything feels too late and too broken to fix, Jesus meets us in the chaos and calls us to trust him—not just for relief, but for something better.Series Summary: Fast-paced, urgent, and relentlessly focused on Jesus, the Gospel of Mark shows us not just what Jesus said, but what he did. Written for a Roman world hungry for power, Mark introduces a surprising King - one who comes to serve, to suffer, and to give his life for many. Over the coming weeks, we’ll walk this road with Jesus, from the wilderness to the cross, discovering how the Servant-King’s actions reveal the true good news - and what it means to follow him as disciples who take up our own cross and trust him with our lives.Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you’d like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.

Feb 2, 202632 min
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