St Marcus MKE Sermons

Pastor Jeske continues his series on The Divine Service with a bible study on the Sanctus: Holy is the Lord God. If any part of the service has been recognized as providing a glimpse of heaven, it's the Sanctus: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth, heaven and earth are full of your glory.” This is the eternal song of the angels who hover over the throne of God in the vision of heaven that was given to Isaiah (Is. 6:1-4). Such was the splendor of their song that the very foundations of the threshold of the temple trembled at the sound.

This week we'll be studying Psalm 139:1-6, 13-16 under the theme "STEWARDSHIP OF SELF - RULE 2 - Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping." An apparent problem with modern western culture is the narcissistic obsession with self. With the rise of social media in the 2010s, every youth became a brand ambassador. It's killing self-image, community, expectations, and healthy relationships. There is an opposing danger that Christians might be less aware of though - poor self-care, i.e. a lack of stewarding self. This week, we'll look at the idea of treating ourselves the way God treats us.

When we pray, we’re often hesitant. Hesitant to believe that our small voices will be heard by the sovereign God reigning in heaven. Hesitant to think we even have the right words to say. But Jesus gave His disciples—and us—the Lord’s Prayer as a guide in our prayer life. This prayer contains words of confession, thanks, recognition, need, and praise; it’s the perfect prayer model from our perfect role model.

This week we'll be studying 2 Kings 6:8-23 under the theme "CONFIDENCE - RULE 1 "Stand up straight with your shoulders back." Humans, like animals, all fit into an invisible social structure called a dominance hierarchy that impacts our health, wealth, and and overall wellness. Much of this is based on confidence and aptitude. But is there a way to find healthy confidence without slipping into arrogance? Is there a way to be strong without dominating others? The promises of a gracious God offer exactly that. SERIES SUMMARY: Once a year we build a worship series around my favorite book, Christian or secular, from the past year :) This year we're structuring that series around Jordan B. Peterson's "12 RULES FOR LIFE: An Antidote to Chaos." Peterson has been labeled by NY Times as "The most influential public intellectual in the Western world right now." Though not a Christian himself, he is a clinical psychologist who certainly challenges many of the secular assumptions of modern America. We'll deconstruct some of his points, find how many of them have Scriptural roots, and demonstrate how an even greater wisdom and beauty is offered in the person of Christ.

Pastor Jeske continues his series on the parts of the Divine Service with today's study on the Nicene Creed. We use two creeds in our worship services from week to week: The Apostles' Creed and The Nicene Creed. Because the wording of the Apostles’ Creed developed over several hundred years, its authorship is unknown. It is clear that the apostles did not write the creed. Rather, the creed expresses the biblical teachings of the apostles. The Apostles’ Creed offers a simple summary of the Christian faith. For that reason, it has a long history of being associated with Baptism and instruction in God’s word. The Nicene Creed was the result of a church council that met in Nicea in 325 A.D. The Second Article of the Creed is much longer than that of the Apostles’ Creed because the council was addressing false doctrines about the person of Jesus Christ.

This week we'll be studying Luke 9:23 under the theme "Biblical Discipleship." Biblical Discipleship is the 3rd of our St. Marcus Core Values. We often talk about discipleship as allowing ourselves to be mentored by a Christian more seasoned than us and then helping mentor someone who is perhaps a step or two behind us. This is clearly God's design for the development of his Church. Furthermore, for the Church to grow in Christ-likeness, it requires believers to take up their own personal crosses to follow Jesus. In other words, the development of the Church requires personal sacrifice. But it works. And that's proven by the sacrifice Jesus made for us on his cross.

Settings of the Gloria in Excelsis find their origin in the song of the heavenly host to the shepherds near Bethlehem (Luke 2). Today's service focuses on the meaning and importance of the Gloria in Excelsis Christians across the world use in their liturgies. It is a heavenly song that the angels sing, one similar to the songs of heaven found throughout Revelation; for example: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing" (Revelation 5:12). That evening some two thousand years ago, heaven met earth as the Son of God was born of the Virgin Mary, sent forth from His Father's throne to do the work of salvation. What a blessing it is to join Christians around the world who have for centuries before us sung this song of praise to our God.

This week we'll be studying Ephesians 6:10-24 under the theme "Spiritual Warfare." As a deceiver and accuser, Satan's primary methodology is to trick us into think something that's not the real problem is the real problem. He convinces us to believe that our struggle in life is against flesh & blood - people, organizations, ideologies. In reality, the real struggle is spiritual. And if we don't demonize the actual demons, then we'll demonize others. Paul reminds us that Jesus won the cosmic war with an ultimate victory at the cross. This encourages to get up and fight the (right) battles daily.

Pastor Jeske's sermon series on the Divine Service begins with a message on 'Kyrie,' the ancient Greek contraction of the phrase "Lord, Have Mercy on Us." The focus of this morning's study is based on Luke 18:35-43.

This week we'll be studying Ephesians 6:1-9 under the theme "The Ministry of Authority." Americans have an interesting, sometimes unfortunate history with authority. We're a nation born out of revolution. While authorities do, in fact, need to be held accountable, they are nonetheless an establishment of God to bring peace and protection into our lives. Whether we're talking about parent/child relationships, or employer/employee relationships, or others, this lesson gives us unique resources to navigate admittedly flawed institutional authorities.

This week we'll be studying Ephesians 5:21-33 under the theme "The Ministry of Marriage." The first human relationship, and the most fundamental relationship for society, by God's design, is marriage. When it's ungodly, there's arguably nothing on earth closer to hell. When it's godly, there's perhaps nothing on earth closer to heaven. God ministers to us powerfully through marriage partners. And every believer, as the Bride of Christ (Church), will ultimately be married to Christ. This lesson therefore teaches each of us something important about our relationships.

Today's theme is "Rest in the Lord". Pastor' Leyrer's study "On Vacation with Jesus" dives into Mark 6:30-34. I. When Physical Rest Disappoints II. His Rest Always Delivers.

This week we'll be studying Ephesians 5:3-20 under the theme "Guided by the Spirit." Paul is starting to get very specific in his applications of the gospel in the lives of believers. This week, he addresses two major issues for believers - sexual immorality and drunkenness. For instance "How far is too far?" in our dating relationships? What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit rather than being filled with alcohol? Where do we find the motivation to resist common pleasure outlets in a fallen world? Paul will tells us how the Spirit guides us.

This week we'll be studying Ephesians 4:17-5:2 under the theme "The Christian Lifestyle." After the Apostle Paul told us the basis of our salvation by God's grace in chapters 1-3, he's now giving us the details of what it looks like to apply that salvation to our daily lives. In this text, he tells us to "put off the old self" that consists of worldly values, and "put on the new self" by aiming for honesty, calm, hard work, positive talk, and forgiveness. These new behaviors do not contribute to a new status, but flow out of the new status that has been gifted to us, as "dearly loved children of God."

This message is based on John 15:1-8.

This week we'll be studying Ephesians 4:1-16 under the theme "A Gifted Body: Principles of the Christian Walk." This week, we shift into the second half of Ephesians, which gives us careful instruction for our walk with Christ in this life. Specifically, we'll be looking at God's desire for unity amongst Christians, the reality of the Church's giftedness, and our capacity to mature, transform, and develop as his body.

As a follower of Jesus, our citizenship first is in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Our allegiance lies with His values, with His family, with His heart for the world, and with His commands. Being a Christian in America means that we can gather with the church freely, that we can speak and work for justice and truth, and that we can share my faith with others. We celebrate today recognizing that there is beauty in America, and there is also deep brokenness to which we move towards with faith, believing the Lord can and will redeem this nation to Himself. Pastor Jeske's bible study focuses on the theme Respect Your Government as he digs into Nehemiah 2:1-8.

This week we'll be studying Ephesians 3:14-21 under the theme "The Experience of Christ." In this text, Paul offers his second lengthy prayer of the letter. He's asking here that the believers in Ephesus would experientially come to grips the dimensions of God's love. He's articulating the distinction between knowing about Jesus, and knowing Jesus personally. For some, this seems like an arbitrary distinction, but we'll discuss this week the importance as well as strategies to keeping the relationship.

Pastor Jeske's bible study walks through I Timothy 6:17-19. Paul encourages his readers to know that there is great gain in godliness when it is combined with content­ment in the basic necessities of life (1 Tim. 6:6, 8). Our God is a God “who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Tim. 6:17).

This week we'll be studying Ephesians 3:1-13 under the theme "The Mystery of the Church." Paul has taught us in this letter that our salvation was God's plan executed by Jesus (Ch 1), and it's based on grace, which forms the basis of the Church (Ch 2). In Ch 3 he explains implications of grace in our relationships. Grace causes the Jew to love the Gentile and vice versa. Grace is an absolute "mystery" to the world and therefore the defining characteristic of Christ and his Church.

Today is the annual Juneteenth worship celebration. Pastor Jeske and Darlene Grams have been leading the annual celebration at St. Marcus since the 1990s. St. Marcus' Juneteenth celebration is a time honored tradition, an opportunity to include people in the central city who may not know about our Savior and a way to learn more about the African-American community through their story of freedom. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. But it was not until June 19, 1865, that all of the slaves in the former confederacy recognized that they had been freed. It is our Christian joy to evangelize our communities and tell people who groan in the slavery of their sins that they have already been freed by Jesus Christ, their Savior.

This week we'll be studying Ephesians 2:11-2 under the theme "Christian Unity." This lesson will clear up for so many of us why we see the divisions we see in the world. Spiritually speaking, sinful pride leads us to naturally create "dividing walls" that we deem lesser than us, to try to establish our own identity. But those of us who are "in Christ" are given unique resources to break down dividing walls of society as Jesus has broken down hostility for us.

Today's bible study is on Genesis 3:8-15 - Promise Instead of Punishment. Pastor Leyrer focuses on two points in his message: 1) We Hide from God because of Our Guilt. 2) God Seeks Us out because of His Grace.

This week we'll be studying Ephesians 2:1-10 under the theme "The Work of God." I've said many times in the past that while John 3:16 might be still the most famous verse in the Bible, the reason I ended up theologically in the place I did is as much due to this section from Ephesians 2 as anything. Paul here counters anyone who wants to plagiarize credit from God by making their conversion, their salvation, or their life about anything other than God's undeserved goodness and love. Our old identity is dead. Our new identity rises, by grace, in Christ Jesus.

Today, Pastor Jeske's Bible Study dives into the theme Men & Women in God’s Image. The scripture reading of Genesis 1:26-31 from the story of creation describes God's perfect design of men and women: "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." The Bible study on II Samuel 13:1-20 shows us the destruction that occurs when sin and human self-interest is put over following God's perfect design.

This week we'll be studying Ephesians 1:15-23 as we worship under the theme "A Prayer for the Church." About half of Ephesians is simply Paul's prayer. Here, Paul is asking that God help the Ephesians personally know, i.e. experience, the hope they have in his promises, and that they be used by God to unite everything under the headship of Jesus.

This week we'll be studying Ephesians 1:1-14 as we worship under the theme "God's Divine Plan - A New Identity IN CHRIST." The Triune God had a plan for us before time even began. He knew us. He loved us. He chose us. And this was not because we were already holy, but to make us holy. This comes when we allow the Spirit to lead us to live, not for an identity, but from our new identity in Christ.

Pastor Jeske's bible study on Ephesians 5:15-20 reminds us to be filled with the Spirit - "speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

This week we'll be studying Acts 28:1-10 as we worship under the theme "It Doesn't Get Easier. You Get Stronger." We've arrived at the end of the Book of Acts. And Paul gets bit by a poisonous snake. Why is life so tough on this missionary? And why is life so tough for us? The answer appears to be that God is not simply trying to make us comfortable. He's trying to make us great, instruments of divine strength that are useful to building his Kingdom. It's an honor to be redemptive agents that cary the truth and love of Jesus our Savior.

On the final Sunday of Easter, today's service celebrates the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. Pastor Jeske's bible study delves into The Great Commission recorded in Matthew 28:16-20. Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Koine's Brian Davison joins the Sunday Praise Band with music celebrating God's return to the throne in heaven and the call to Christians to spread the Gospel to all nations. Music includes Graham Kendrick's "Shine, Jesus, Shine", the seventh century text in "A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing", and Leon Patillo's "Go". The Gospel Choir presents "God Wants a Yes" and "Gates of Zion".

This week we'll be studying Acts 27:1-44 as we worship under the theme "Paul Face Shipwreck." In one of the longest, most action-packed accounts of Paul's ministry, we learn the secret of finding calm in the middle of the storms of life. Paul's hopeful testimony is encouraging to everyone else in the boat. And we learn how Christians today can be a source of otherworldly optimism in a turbulent world.

Happy Mother's Day! Pastor brings us a bible study on God’s Love Through Mothers. The modern holiday of Mother's Day was first celebrated in 1907, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. For those called to Motherhood and youth mentorship, may God bless you and keep you this Mother's Day and always. Thank you for your role in raising up the next generation of Christians, and for modeling what it means to fix our eyes on Jesus.

This week we'll be studying Acts 26:19​-31 as we worship under the theme "Paul's Testimony to the Roman Leaders." In our 3rd and final week on Christian testimony, Paul teaches us the art of Christian persuasion. While the credit of conversion belongs entirely to the Spirit of God, he works through very human concepts like language, logic, and personal appeals to accomplish his work. Paul here gives us a great example of how we can improve those communication components of Christian witnessing.

Pastor Jeske delivers a sermon based on Acts 8:1-8.

This week we'll be studying Acts 23:1-1 as we worship under the theme "Paul Upsets the Establishment." As we continue on in our several-week journey studying Paul's legal defense of the Christian gospel, this week we see Paul before the Jewish Sanhedrin. We learn the necessity of sometimes standing up to our earthly authorities, holding them accountable to their calling from God.

This week we'll be studying John 10:11​-18 as we worship under the theme "Jesus is the Good Shepherd."

This week we'll be studying Acts 22:1-22 as we worship under the theme "Paul's Testimony to the Jews." For 3 weeks, we're going to study Paul sharing his story of God's grace to him with 3 different people groups. This week, we're going to dig especially into finding out how Paul finds the courage, confidence, and composure to lovingly, truthfully, and respectfully address people who even want to hurt him.

The Third Sunday of Easter | Remember Who You Are

We continue in our series: O Church, Arise. Tonight we'll be examining selections from Acts 20 and breaking down what we expect from our shepherds in the church and from The Shepherd.

Pastor Hein kicks off St. Marcus' examination of the early Christian church with a message based on Acts 20:7-12.

Pastor Jeske delivers an Easter morning message based on Acts 2:22-32.

Pastor Hein delivers a message based on Mark 15:42-46 and Caravaggio's The Entombment of Christ for Easter Saturday.

Pastor Paul Steinberg delivers a Maundy Thursday message based on Mark 14:12-26.

Pastor Jeske presents a St. Patrick's Day message based on Acts 16:6-15.

Pastor Leyrer delivers a Good Friday message based on Matthew 27:45-54

This week we'll be studying Luke 12:35-46 as we worship under the theme "Ready For Christ." Palm Sunday weekend is typically associated with the start of Holy Week, which it is. But as Jesus is wrapping up his 1st Coming, the topic of much of his teaching during Holy Week is often actually about his 2nd Coming. He encourages watchfulness, faithfulness, and urgency - i.e. READINESS. What does it mean to live this life ready for Jesus to return?

Pastor Jeske delivers a Palm Sunday message based on Zechariah 9:9-12.

This week we'll be studying Luke 12:13​-21 as we worship under the theme "The Parable of the Rich Fool." We always instinctively think money will make our problems go away. In minor issues, it can. But it cannot solve the difficult issues of life. And it can also blind us to spiritual reality. Jesus teaches us here how foolish it can be to invest too much in this life.

"What do you do with that Man on the Cross?" is based on 1 Corinthians 1:22​-25.

This week we'll be studying Luke 11:14​-26 as we worship under the theme "Jesus, Lord Over Demons." While we understand certain supernatural elements to be requisite for Christianity - e.g. incarnation & resurrection - many of us operate without any substantial awareness of the spiritual forces of the world in our day-to-day lives. To what degree should we concern ourselves? This text addresses the necessity of spiritual awareness and the Spirit's occupancy in order to create lasting positive changes in life.