Epikos Church Milwaukee

In this message from Gospel of Mark 12:35–44, we step into the temple during the final week of Jesus' life and watch Him confront the religious leaders with a question they cannot answer. Quoting Psalms 110 and pointing back to the promise of 2 Samuel 7, Jesus asks how the Messiah can be both David's Son and David's Lord. The riddle exposes more than bad theology—it reveals hardened hearts. The scribes know the Scriptures inside and out, yet their love for recognition, status, and control proves they have missed the very One the Scriptures point to. This sermon unpacks that tension and reminds us: knowing who God is isn't about winning debates or looking spiritual—it's about lives transformed by the truth. The passage closes with a striking contrast at the temple treasury. As wealthy worshipers give from their abundance, a poor widow quietly offers two small copper coins—everything she had. Jesus declares her gift greater, not because of its size, but because of her surrender. Together, these scenes press one clear takeaway: knowing who God is shows up in how you live. From generosity to humility to daily obedience, our actions reveal what we truly believe. This message invites us to examine our own hearts—are we performing like the scribes, or trusting like the widow? And as we look to Jesus, the greater King who would soon give everything for us, we're called to respond with wholehearted faith.

In Gospel of Mark chapter 11, we encounter a King who refuses to fit our expectations. As Jesus rides into Jerusalem to shouts of “Hosanna,” the crowd waves palms and projects their hopes of political victory onto Him. But this is no campaign rally—this is a confrontation. From the fig tree with leaves but no fruit, to the temple full of activity but empty of prayer, Jesus exposes a surface-level faith that looks alive from a distance yet withers up close. The message is clear: religion without repentance is nothing but leaves. Trusting Jesus isn't meant to fit neatly into our routines, playlists, or Sunday schedules—it's meant to overturn tables in our hearts and transform us from the inside out. In this powerful teaching, we're reminded that what isn't rooted in Christ will ultimately wither away. Jesus invites us beyond performative faith into a life marked by real fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Prayer isn't about bending God to our will; it's about aligning our hearts with His. Mountains move not because we name and claim, but because we trust and surrender. The question before us is simple but searching: are we asking Jesus to fit our lives, or are we surrendering to let Him change them? May our faith be more than leaves. May it bear fruit that lasts.

In this message from Mark 9:14–29, we encounter a father caught between belief and doubt, desperation and hope. Coming down from the mountaintop of the Transfiguration, Jesus steps into the chaos of a broken world and meets a man who prays one of the most honest prayers in all of Scripture: “I believe; help my unbelief.” This passage reminds us that faith is not the absence of doubt, but the courageous decision to trust Jesus in the middle of it. As we reflect on what it means to follow Jesus off the mountain and into real life, we're invited to rethink faith—not as something we muster up, but as dependence on the One who is always enough. When our faith feels fragile, Jesus remains faithful. When our strength runs out, His power remains. Wherever you find yourself today, this story calls us to bring our doubts, our hopes, and our need for help honestly before Christ, trusting that He is more than able.

"Celebrate Christmas through the lens of Matthew 1 as we step into Joseph's story and see the quiet strength of faithful obedience in the middle of chaos. This message reminds us that the arrival of Jesus didn't remove uncertainty—it revealed character, trust, and the steady presence of God at work behind the scenes. At Christmas, we don't just remember a moment in history; we proclaim a living reality. Jesus is fully God and fully man, the God who saves and the God who is with us. Whatever season you're walking through, this story invites you to trust that God is near, faithful, and at work—even when life feels like an uncontrollable ride."

Join Epikos as we our journey through the Gospel of Mark, exploring the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000. In this message, we learn how Jesus shows deep compassion—for the disciples, for the crowd, and for each of us today. Discover what true, active compassion looks like and how we are called to live it out in our daily lives. Be encouraged, challenged, and reminded of God's abundant provision and love.

In the second week of the "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" series, Pastor Mark Deering shares a personal story about his family's relationship with their neighbor Ray—a struggling man his teenage self couldn't understand why his father would help. Through Ray's story and the parable of the Good Samaritan, this message explores how God places specific neighbors in our lives for us to reach, not as projects to fix, but as people to love regardless of whether they "add value" to our lives. The sermon addresses how recent events test whether our conversations truly model Christ's love for neighbors who disagree with us. Pastor Mark explains that we are equipped by God to move toward our neighbors through the Holy Spirit's gifts, and outlines a three-fold strategy of connect, grow, and serve. The message emphasizes that proximity changes perspectives—we must be willing to get close to people who think differently from us because behind every opposing viewpoint is a person who needs God's grace.

In this message from the "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" series, Pastor Mark explores what it truly means to love our neighbor in today's world. While we cerebrally know that our neighbor is everyone we encounter, do our lives actually reflect this truth? Drawing from Luke 10 and our church's mission to "reach every neighborhood," this sermon challenges common excuses (being too comfortable, busy, afraid, or proud) that prevent us from moving toward others. The message provides practical steps for identifying our neighborhoods (wherever God has placed us) and our neighbors (the people in those places), encouraging us to move beyond building walls around comfortable communities to actively inviting others in. This is a call to be known, present, involved, helpful, and open as we follow Christ's example of moving toward us first.

This sermon examines two faithful churches from Revelation 2–3 (Smyrna and Philadelphia) to show what it looks like to "follow the lamb" rather than compromise with spiritual opposition. Pastor Mark Deering draws three key lessons: first, we can follow Christ without fear because Jesus has conquered death and offers eternal life—He has the "collateral" to back up His promises since He died and rose again; second, we can live with confidence knowing that while we may face trials, we are spiritually secure for eternity; and third, we can live with anticipation rather than speculation about Christ's return, focusing on faithful witness and readiness rather than trying to decode timelines. The message emphasizes that Jesus uses ordinary believers as witnesses to hold open the door to His kingdom, encouraging listeners to live boldly for Christ knowing He's coming back—not in panic or fear, but with the excited anticipation of someone preparing their home for a loved one's return.

In this sermon, Pastor Mark Deering teaches on Revelation chapter 12, using a sports analogy to present it as a "scouting report" on Satan (identified as the dragon in the text). Pastor Mark analyzes the chapter through three sections that depict the woman representing God's people, the war in heaven resulting in Satan's expulsion to earth, and Satan's continued attacks on believers. He makes three key points: Satan is a master deceiver who misleads even faithful Christians through misconceptions about his power and nature, Satan has already decisively lost through Christ's cross victory and heavenly defeat, making believers victorious, and Satan actively targets Jesus' followers on earth. He concludes by urging us to recognize where we've been deceived, maintain a victorious rather than fearful posture, and remain aware of spiritual warfare while standing firm through prayer and community.