More Than Clean

Challenges in our lives demonstrate our need of a Savior and draw us to Christ. But what about when things are going well in our lives? What keeps us in need of Jesus? Today we learn the story of the grateful Samaritan and the surprising purpose of thanksgiving in the lives of authentic Christ-followers.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.

Narrow Wide Door

This sermon’s Scripture from Luke 13:22-30 is a sobering reminder to continuously examine our Christian walk to be certain of our salvation. Jesus tells us that not everyone who believes they are a Christ-follower really is one! How can we know for sure? And what about salvation… is it by God’s grace alone or must there be effort on our part? We will talk about the balance we need to know between God’s work on our behalf and what effort is needed from us.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download this PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.

Cost Counting - Part 2

Last Sunday we began a discussion about the costs of following Jesus. We know our salvation is offered freely to us by God’s grace. There is nothing we can do to earn it or deserve it. Yet Jesus also tells us that there will be costs to us if we follow Him. We consider 3 more costs to follow Jesus found in Luke 9:57-62.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.

Cost Counting - Part 1

We address a challenging teaching from Jesus. We know our salvation is offered freely to us by God’s grace. There is nothing we can do to earn it or deserve it. Yet Jesus also tells us that there will be costs to us if we follow Him. What are those costs? Today we consider 4 costs from Luke 9:18-27. Next week we’ll turn our attention to 3 more costs found in Luke 9:57-62.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download this PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline

How To Be Sure

We can know for sure that we are one of God's children. No doubts! This past weekend I offered 6 ways we can be assured of our salvation through Christ. From 1 John 3:19-24.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.

Live D.E.E.P.

Is your Christianity 3,000 miles wide but only 3 inches deep? Don’t wallow in the shallows. God is deep and His name will keep. In this sermon, written in collaboration with my brother Todd, I  consider 4 ways to live D.E.E.P. in God.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.

The Real Deal

How can I know if I am a real Christ-follower? How can I know if someone else is a Christ-follower? The first is the question of assurance. The second is the question of authenticity. In this past weekend's sermon I talk about what makes for a Real Deal Christian in our study of 1 John 2:3-6.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.

Foundational Christ

We love salvation stories in our books and movies. Many point back to THE salvation story found in God's Word. In this week's talk from 1 Peter 1, we discover that God's salvation was not a plan "B." He created mankind even knowing the sacrifice required of God's Son. Join me as we celebrate the greatest story ever told.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the fill-in-the-blank PDF outline.

#068: Winning With The Hand I'm Dealt

We start this week's podcast with an interview of Diana Devolder, the new Children's Ministry Director at Church Requel. Exciting news! We follow that up with Sunday's sermon, "Winning With The Hand I'm Dealt." Life is like a game of poker. You have to play with the hand you're dealt. We talk about 5 factors that make you who you are along with 5 winning choices.

The curriculum that Diana talks about is Live from Group.com.

Music on this week's podcast is "I Can Only Imagine" by Mercy Me.

11: Holding On To The Eternal Ticket

Happy Memorial Day!  Monday podcasts are always special here at Church Requel.  Here's what's included on this holiday edition of the Church Requel Podcast:

[8:45] Zach Lystedt is headstrong, according to The Daily.  Listen to the story of this brave young man who suffered a dibilitating concussion while playing football.  He has turned his personal tragedy into a benefit for thousands of others.

[13:36] Why Facebook'sIPO fizzled.  If you can get your hands on a hot new stock, you probably don't want it.

[18:12] Excerpt Interview of Mark by Len Edgerly from The Kindle Chronicles 198.

[22:04] The YouVersion Blog released big news about The Bible App!

[27:06] Check out the Instacast app - only if you love podcasts AND have an IOS device.

[31:06] 1 Star Ratings - Marco Arment and Dan Benjamin talk about 1 Star Ratings in their Build and Analyze Podcast 77.  Mark talks about his Christian lesson learned from Amazon when he thinks about giving a 1 star rating.

[48:00] The Right To Be Here - Pastor Mike Erre and Ken Coleman have a conversation on the Catalyst Podcast Episode 179 about Mike's son, Seth, who has Down Syndrome.  Mark follows up with his own story about Austen.

[59:38] Listen to the final sermon in The God Life series - "Holding On To The Eternal Ticket."

Music for this week's podcast is from Chicago: "I'm A Man," available on the Chicago Transit Authority Album (Remastered) - original from 1969.

God Saves Us

We learn about the 5 Links in God's Plan of Salvation.  We start with the simple children's sermon - simple but filled with truth! Then we put this into the theological language of Romans 8:29-30. Finally Pastor Mark answers 3 questions about God's unconditional election of Christ-followers.

The Importance of Baptism

Pastor Mark answers the 11 most frequently asked questions about baptism. Enjoy this second session of the Belong Class at Church Requel.

Becoming a Christ-follower

What does it mean to be a Christ-follower? Join Pastor Mark Pierce of Church Requel in this first Belong class session focused on our salvation.

Working Out Our Salvation

What does Paul have in mind when he writes, "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Join Pastor Mark Pierce of Church Requel as we consider 8 roadside signs of our salvation from Philippians 2:12-18.