St. Mark Battle Creek

Identify the things in your life that are causing you to ignore (omission) or disobey (commission) his commands. What’s causing me to sin? WHY don’t you do what he says? What is the stimulus? For instance, if you swear AND you listen to 50 Cent, then delete his playlist from your Spotify. If you have a gambling addiction, then pay at the pump. If you are a glutton, then snooze food content on your Facebook feed.

How have I feared in the last year? What’s the primal fear beneath that? Notice how Jesus gives the OPPOSITE of the loss, isolation, worthlessness, pain, or death (Dr. Albrecht) you actually fear—he gives, he abides, he values, he heals, he makes alive.

As you stare into the future, God doesn’t just want to meet your needs, he wants to also shower you with your desires.

Doubt is not the absence of faith; it’s the evidence of faith. Doubt is not unbelief.

How does Easter Sunday answer my distinct pain?

Take a listen to the sermon from Maundy Thursday as Pastor Chris teaches us how to better understand what Christ has done for us.

In this sermon, Pastor Chris helps you prepare for Easter by asking the questions from the Good Friday account.

Reaching anyone begins with prayer because it’s the work of the Holy Spirit.

Inviting people to experience Jesus is easier than trying to answer all of their questions or objections.

Reaching anyone begins with adopting God’s heart that hurts at the thought of any perishing. But also, that God would see through the humanity and see the individual he loves.

Reaching anyone begins with adopting God’s heart that hurts at the thought of any perishing. But also, that God would see through the humanity and see the individual he loves.

The resurrection of Jesus gives me hope when people die.

When I am persecuted or when life is hard, I can find strength from other believers.

Distinguish the difference between persecution and hard times. You aren’t Job. Sometimes life is hard. But that’s different than losing your job or your life or your home because you refuse to renounce Jesus.

Exploring God’s Word, one verse at a time.

The Sabbath is God’s built–in pattern for us to combat anxiety.

Anxious people do stupid things. What choice would trust make?

I prayed, and I’m still anxious. Now what? This episode helps answer that question. 

Because his name is Chose One, we approach the manger with thanks.

Because his name is God, we approach the manger with worship.

Because his name is King, we approach the manger with submission. 

Overview of names in the Bible. Examples like the lineage of Adam reads: Man (is) appointed mortal sorrow; (but) the Blessed God shall come down teaching (that) His death shall bring the despairing comfort. Jacob becoming Israel, Abram becoming Abraham.

In week 3 of our series Four Healthy Churches, Pastor Chris Paavola talks about the importance of repentance for a healthy church and why it matters to you.

In week 2 of our series Four Healthy Churches, our Connections Director Grant Bowdish talks about how a healthy church has a shared heart for generosity.

In week 1 of our series Four Healthy Churches, Pastor Chris Paavola talks about how a healthy church is organized and why it matters to you.

Have you ever felt the need to speak up for Christian values but didn’t know how? Whether it was in a social media post or in a conversation with a family member, you wanted to stand up for the truth, but you didn’t want to lose the relationship. Or, you did speak up, and everyone ended up angry and further entrenched in their opinions. Join St. Mark this October for a 3–part series called Christian Witness in a Complicated World and learn how to have hard conversations with people different than you. Whether the topic is politics, religion, or someone’s moral choices, there are Biblical principles that simplify the conversation, let the person know you love them, and everyone walks away learning something new. It's not what you say, it’s why you say it. You can speak truth once, but you cannot show grace once.

Have you ever felt the need to speak up for Christian values but didn’t know how? Whether it was in a social media post or in a conversation with a family member, you wanted to stand up for the truth, but you didn’t want to lose the relationship. Or, you did speak up, and everyone ended up angry and further entrenched in their opinions. Join St. Mark this October for a 3–part series called Christian Witness in a Complicated World and learn how to have hard conversations with people different than you. Whether the topic is politics, religion, or someone’s moral choices, there are Biblical principles that simplify the conversation, let the person know you love them, and everyone walks away learning something new. It's not what you say, it’s why you say it. People are more interested in your ideas when they believe you’re interested in their ideas.

About the Series: Have you ever felt the need to speak up for Christian values but didn’t know how? Whether it was in a social media post or in a conversation with a family member, you wanted to stand up for the truth, but you didn’t want to lose the relationship. Or, you did speak up, and everyone ended up angry and further entrenched in their opinions. Join St. Mark this October for a 3–part series called Christian Witness in a Complicated World and learn how to have hard conversations with people different than you. Whether the topic is politics, religion, or someone’s moral choices, there are Biblical principles that simplify the conversation, let the person know you love them, and everyone walks away learning something new. It's not what you say, it’s why you say it.About the Episode:You should be more concerned with what someone thinks about the resurrection than with any other issue. You work to save America, you lose people. You work to save people, you save America.

Construction requires celebrating progress.

Construction requires consistency. A building can be built by 10,000 nails; it takes one nail at a time. In the same way, the Christian life is more about consistency than fits of passion. Sanctification is about discipline, not motivation. Success happens slowly, then all at once.

Sometimes construction has setbacks. When it comes to sanctification, we might stumble and make mistakes. But the important thing is to give ourselves the same grace Jesus gives us and try again.

Construction requires a plan. In the same way, becoming like Christ requires a big plan, a blueprint outlining who Christ is and what he’s done and what he’s said so we know who God is shaping us to be.

Construction requires a plan. In the same way, becoming like Christ requires a big plan, a blueprint outlining who Christ is and what he’s done and what he’s said, so we know who God is shaping us to be.

When you’re in a Small Group, you experience a depth of church you cannot experience on a Sunday morning.

When you’re in a Small Group you will grow in your understanding and knowledge of Scripture.

When you’re in a Small Group, you will help others.

ABOUT THE SERIES :As Summer travel wraps up and the school year winds up, your mind probably turns ahead to your schedule for the next 9 months. This fall, you’re invited to make a St. Mark Small Group part of your plans! Are you looking for new friendships? Personal growth? The power of God? Each week of the series, you’ll discover how the things you’re looking for are found in a St. Mark Small Group. ABOUT THE EPISODE:When you’re in a Small Group you will learn to pray for yourself and pray for others

ABOUT THE SERIES:Join St. Mark this summer for a sermon series on the remarkable life of a man in ancient Israel named Joseph, and discover the power faith holds for you when life doesn’t go as planned.ABOUT THE EPISODE:God is greater than your legacy.

ABOUT THE SERIES:Join St. Mark this summer for a sermon series on the remarkable life of a man in ancient Israel named Joseph, and discover the power faith holds for you when life doesn’t go as planned.ABOUT THE EPISODE:God is greater than your broken relationships. 

ABOUT THE SERIES:Join St. Mark this summer for a sermon series on the remarkable life of a man in ancient Israel named Joseph, and discover the power faith holds for you when life doesn’t go as planned.ABOUT THE EPISODE:God is greater than your opportunities.

ABOUT THE SERIES:Join St. Mark this summer for a sermon series on the remarkable life of a man in ancient Israel named Joseph, and discover the power faith holds for you when life doesn’t go as planned.ABOUT THE EPISODE:God is greater than my setbacks. 

ABOUT THE EPISODE:We celebrate a week of VBS where kids were guided on the ultimate Alaskan adventure where northern lights glow over majestic mountains, racing rivers, and glistening glaciers. As kids trekked the tundra, they explored how easy it is to lose sight of what’s true in our wild world today. Kids were pointed to Jesus, a faithful friend we can always trust. It’s hard to find your way in a world gone wild. But we have Jesus—our true north! 

ABOUT THE SERIES:Join St. Mark this summer for a sermon series on the remarkable life of a man in ancient Israel named Joseph, and discover the power faith holds for you when life doesn’t go as planned.ABOUT THE EPISODE:God is greater than my temptation. God rewards integrity with something greater than the compromise. 

ABOUT THE SERIES:Join St. Mark this summer for a sermon series on the remarkable life of a man in ancient Israel named Joseph, and discover the power faith holds for you when life doesn’t go as planned.ABOUT THE EPISODE:God is greater than my betrayers. When others betray me, God never will. 

ABOUT THE SERIES:Join St. Mark this summer for a sermon series on the remarkable life of a man in ancient Israel named Joseph, and discover the power faith holds for you when life doesn’t go as planned.ABOUT THE EPISODE:Chances are, you have smaller vision for your life than God has for your life. 

ABOUT THE SERIES:Sometimes, life can get so busy, we forget to take time to celebrate! As a result, we forget just how truly blessed we are!For the next three weeks, you’re invited to join St. Mark and read through the Psalms of celebration and take an inventory of all that God has done!You have so much to celebrate!ABOUT THE EPISODE:God is doing great things through you in our church. 

ABOUT THE SERIES:Sometimes, life can get so busy, we forget to take time to celebrate! As a result, we forget just how truly blessed we are!For the next three weeks, you’re invited to join St. Mark and read through the Psalms of celebration and take an inventory of all that God has done!You have so much to celebrate!ABOUT THE EPISODE:God is doing great things through you in our city.