Mark Groen

How often do we make plans for next year, next month, or even tomorrow as if we have a guarantee of those days? James 4:13-17 provides a necessary corrective to our pride. This sermon explores the biblical doctrine of the brevity of life and the necessity of submitting all our earthly ambitions to the sovereign will of God. Listen in as we discuss why "knowing the right thing to do" and failing to do it is considered sin, and how to live with eternity in view.

"What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you?" James begins chapter 4 with a piercing question that targets the human heart. In this sermon, we discuss the "internal Civil War" that every believer faces—the conflict between the spirit and the flesh. We explore why "phantom limb" pains of our old nature still itch for sin and how we can find victory through the grace God gives to the humble.Learn why true peace with others begins with submission to God and a heart of genuine repentance.

"Who is wise and understanding among you?". James asks a question that hits closer to home than we might like to admit. This week, we dig into the difference between simply possessing information and walking in true, godly discernment.In this episode:Why we equate wisdom with being "the smartest person in the room".The warning against "unspiritual and demonic" wisdom.The essential starting point: The Fear of the Lord.Practical ways to create a "harvest of righteousness" in your home and workplace.Join us as we learn to let the Word of God shape our conduct and our hearts.

We often underestimate the power of a single sentence. This week, we dive into James 3 to discuss the "wildfire" in our mouths. We explore the strict judgment facing teachers, the inherent hypocrisy of praising God while slandering neighbors, and the ultimate hope found in Christ—the one who forgives our sins of the tongue and fills us with the "water of life" so we may speak truth in love.

What good is a lion if it's made of stone? In this episode, we dive into the second chapter of James to tackle one of the most provocative questions in the New Testament: Can a faith without works actually save you?We explore:Why "faith minus works" isn't faith at all.The difference between intellectual belief (which even demons have) and saving trust.How the "breath of Christ" turns a sedentary, "taxidermied" faith into a living mission.Practical ways to be ambassadors of the Gospel in our local communities.

Are you "kissing the hand that is slapping you"? This week, we examine James 2:1–13 and the tendency to faunt over the rich while marginalizing the poor. James argues that partiality isn't just being rude—it's a violation of the "royal law" to love your neighbor as yourself.Join us as we discuss:Why "minor" sins of favoritism shatter the whole law like a pane of glass.How Jesus fulfilled the law to give us a new "law of liberty".Why mercy must have the final word in our church community.Challenge yourself to move beyond loving neighbors in the abstract and begin truly knowing the brothers and sisters sitting right next to you.

Do you ever look in the mirror and immediately forget what you saw? James suggests that many Christians do the exact same thing with the Word of God.In this week's episode from First Reformed Church in Edgerton, MN, we dive into the second half of James chapter 1. We discuss why our anger doesn't produce the righteousness of God, how the "noise" of our own hearts can drown out the Gospel, and why the most blessed life is one of active obedience rather than mere intellectual assent. Listen in as we explore how to move from being a casual hearer to a faithful doer of the Word.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of many kinds." How is this possible? In this week's sermon from First Reformed Church in Edgerton, MN, we look at the internal work of the Holy Spirit during times of pressure. Using the biological reality of "stress wood," we learn how God uses the very things we want to escape to make us "perfect and complete, lacking in nothing".Key takeaway: Your trial is not a sign of God's absence, but a tool of His grace to anchor you in Christ.

What is the "chief end" of man? In this sermon, we explore why the answer to our modern identity crisis isn't found in a new algorithm, but in the historic truth that we were made to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. From the creation of the world to the bodily ascension of Jesus Christ, we see that God places a high status on humanity. Join us as we discuss how to reclaim our humanity in 2026 by prioritizing local relationships and embracing our creaturely limits.

What was Mary actually "pondering" in her heart?. It was more than just maternal feelings; it was a deep understanding of God's mercy and His sovereign reign. In this Christmas Day message, we conclude our series on the "Mothers of Jesus" by looking at the scandalous favor of Mary and her song of upheaval. Join us as we trace the faithfulness of God from the genealogies of the Old Testament to the humble feeding trough of the Messiah.

In our sin, we are all like the shepherds: "children of the dirt" with no ladder to climb to reach God. In this Christmas meditation, we look at the beauty of the Gospel that shines in the dark and lowly places of our lives. Discover why the announcement to the shepherds wasn't an accident, but a proclamation that the message of salvation is for all people.

In this sermon, we continue our series on the women in Jesus' genealogy by looking at "the wife of Uriah." We dive into the depth of David's sin, the bold confrontation by the prophet Nathan, and the beautiful way God restores Bathsheba's life through the birth of Solomon. If you've ever felt like your story is too messy for God to use, this message is a reminder that the Prince of Peace was born into a family line that knows exactly what you're going through.

This week's message reveals the ultimate purpose of the Book of Ruth: proving God's sovereign grace in securing the line of the Savior. Hear how bitterness (Mara) turns to blessing, how a Gentile widow becomes an ancestor of Christ, and how Boaz prefigures Jesus as the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer. A powerful study on redemption, loyalty, and God's surprising providence.

Rahab, the harlot of Jericho, is perhaps the most scandalous name in the genealogy of Jesus. In this sermon, we explore Joshua 2 and 6 to understand the nature of her justifying faith. Pastor Mark shows how Rahab's faith—born from hearing the reports of God's redemptive works—was immediately active and led her to salvation. Learn why the simple, visible scarlet thread in her window is a powerful foreshadowing of the blood of Christ and the inclusive, sovereign grace of God that defines the Christmas message.

The season of Advent begins with a deep dive into the messy and vital story of Tamar from Genesis 38. This sermon challenges our idealized view of Christmas, showing us that the lineage of Christ was anything but spotless. Listen as we trace the fulfillment of God's covenant promise through Judah's lineage and discover the glorious truth: God's stubborn grace prevails over human sin and brokenness. The persistence of Tamar's faith led to her being declared righteous, illustrating the profound reality that Jesus came into the dirt of our world to grant us His perfect purity.

Join us for this Thanksgiving Day message from First Reformed Church. Drawing from Psalm 65, we are called to move past the superficial checklist of the holiday—the shopping, the food, and the football—to focus on the proper priorities of biblical gratitude.The sermon highlights that true thankfulness begins with the acknowledgment of God's power and our sinfulness, leading us to the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ as our greatest blessing. Only by recognizing Christ's work can we truly praise God for His sovereign control over the world (the rain) and His loving provision of physical sustenance (the grain). We worship the mighty God who fills our plate and saves our souls.

Why does Revelation end with a promise of hope? In this sermon on Revelation 22, we explore the final vision of the New Jerusalem, focusing on the powerful imagery of the River and Tree of Life. This is a message about the ultimate reversal of the curse and the certainty of God's covenant promises. Learn how the assurance of eternal life should free us from anxiety and motivate us to live faithfully today.

Concluding our deep dive into the book of Revelation, we arrive at Chapter 21, where the New Covenant is fully realized. Pastor Mark explains why the "new heaven and new earth" means the curse is reversed and suffering is entirely abolished.This message focuses on the obsolescence of the Old Covenant. We explore the meaning of the New Jerusalem (the perfected Bride) and the profound statement: There is no Temple in the city! The Lamb is the Temple, the Light, and the guarantee of eternal access. Listen to find out why your final hope is not in a future geography, but in the permanent presence of Christ.

Even in the face of final judgment, believers can live with unshakable confidence. Revelation 20 reminds us that evil is defeated, God reigns, and our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.Listen as Pastor Mark Groen of First Reformed Church (EPC) in Edgerton, MN, preaches on the comfort, justice, and assurance found in Christ alone.

When the world feels chaotic, Revelation 20 reminds us that Satan is restrained and Christ reigns. Pastor Mark Groen helps us see that the leash of the enemy is in the Lord's hand and that believers share in the King's ongoing reign. Listen and be encouraged to stand firm in faith, trusting the sovereign hand of God.

Christ is the Faithful and True Judge whose coming brings peace, not fear, to those who belong to Him. On Reformation Sunday, Pastor Mark Groen preaches from Revelation 19 and Psalm 46, reminding us that our confidence rests not in our own strength but in “the right Man on our side—Christ Jesus, it is He.”

Everything around us fades—but God's covenant love endures forever.Pastor Mark Groen preaches from Psalm 103 and Romans 8 to show that our lives are anchored in the unchanging faithfulness of God. Because of Christ's work, we are secure in an everlasting covenant that can never be broken and never fade away.

God's covenant with Abraham came with a visible sign—a mark that identified His people and pointed to the promise of salvation in Christ. In this sermon, Pastor Mark Groen explains how that covenant sign finds its fulfillment in baptism and what it means for us to live as those marked by grace.

This week's sermon in the Everlasting Covenant series looks at Deuteronomy 7:6–9 and Hebrews 8:6–13. Pastor Mark shows that belonging to God's covenant community isn't like keeping up with a membership—it's God's gracious claim on His people in Christ. We are redeemed, united, and called to live as His treasured possession together.

Jeremiah 31:31–34; Luke 22:14–23God promises a new covenant that transforms the heart and ends the cycle of repeated sacrifices. In Christ's blood, the covenant is sealed—and God remembers our sins no more. This sermon traces Jeremiah's promise to the upper room and calls us to assurance, repentance, and a life shaped by covenant grace.

In Exodus 24, Israel hears God's covenant words and responds—but the covenant is more than spoken promises. It is confirmed with blood. This week's message shows how God seals His covenant with His people through His Word, by sacrifice, and ultimately through the perfect mediation of Jesus Christ. The blood of bulls and goats pointed forward to the once-for-all blood of the Lamb, securing forgiveness and eternal life for His people.

Discover how God shows himself as both covenant maker and covenant keeper in Genesis 15. Pastor Mark unpacks Abraham's doubts, God's unbreakable promises, and how Christ fulfills the covenant once and for all. A message of grace, assurance, and hope in Christ alone.

In the closing verses of Jude, believers are urged to remember the warnings of the apostles, remain in God's love, and rely on His power to keep us from stumbling. In this sermon, Kept in God's Love (Jude 17–25), Pastor Mark unpacks how Christians can stand firm in the face of scoffers, build themselves up in faith, and live with confidence that the God who saves us will also keep us to the end.

Jude calls us to “contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.” In this sermon on Jude 1–16, we consider why the gospel must be guarded, how false teaching creeps in unnoticed, and what it means to pass on the faith as our greatest legacy.

In this final message from 1 Peter, Grace for the Battle, we see Peter's call to shepherd God's flock, live in humility, resist the devil, and rest in the grace of God. Our struggles are real, but so is our hope—rooted in the God of all grace who will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish His people.

Fiery trials. Bold faith. Unshakable hope.In this sermon from 1 Peter 4:12–19, Pastor Mark shows us why suffering for Christ isn't a detour from the Christian life—it's part of it. Discover how to endure with joy, wear the name of Christ without shame, and entrust your soul to a faithful Creator.

We're not called to blend in—we're called to live differently because of what Christ has done. In this sermon on 1 Peter 4:1–11, Pastor Mark challenges us to reject aimless living, live with eternity in view, and glorify God through faithful, purposeful lives.Want more? Explore our devotionals here: https://edgertonfrc.org/blog/living-on-purpose-devotions

What does it look like to suffer well and speak of Christ while doing it? In this sermon from 1 Peter 3:8–22, Pastor Mark walks through the call to bless when reviled, to endure when wronged, and to be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us. This message is part of the Living Hope series through 1 Peter.

What does it mean to leave a legacy that truly lasts?In this sermon from Psalm 146, Pastor Mark Groen explores the contrast between the fading power of human leaders and the eternal reign of God. Our hope is not in princes, possessions, or programs, but in the Lord who reigns forever—to all generations. This message calls us to trust in God's covenant faithfulness and to labor faithfully in passing on the gospel.

In this sermon from our Living Hope series, we explore how the gospel transforms everyday relationships—especially within marriage. Peter calls believers to faithful, quiet witness through godly character, sacrificial love, and patient endurance. Whether you're married, single, or praying for someone who doesn't yet believe, this message encourages you to trust God and live out the long game of gospel faithfulness.

This week in our Living Hope series, Pastor Mark preaches from 1 Peter 2:13–25 on submission, suffering, and the example of Christ. What does it mean to live with honor and humility under imperfect authority? How do we respond when we are treated unfairly? Peter doesn't just give us commands—he gives us Christ. Tune in for a message that points us to the grace that enables endurance and the Savior who walks the road with us.

You are a living stone—chosen, called, and placed by God.In this episode of our Living Hope series, Pastor Mark Groen preaches from 1 Peter 2:1–12, showing how believers are built together into a spiritual house with Christ as the cornerstone. This passage reminds us that we've been called out of darkness and into light—not just individually, but as a people, united in purpose to proclaim God's glory.Watch and reflect on what it means to live out your calling with holiness, humility, and hope.

In this message from 1 Peter 1:13–25, Pastor Mark unpacks what it means to live a life that's truly set apart—marked by holiness, reverent fear, and deep, sacrificial love. Drawing from the imperishable Word of God and the hope of the gospel, this sermon invites you to consider what story defines your life. Listen to this sermon and be encouraged to walk in faith, grounded in grace.Find five days of short devotions on this sermon here.

This sermon from 1 Peter 1:1–12 explores the identity and confidence believers have as elect exiles in a broken world. Pastor Mark Groen unpacks what it means to be born into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The message highlights God's sovereign grace, the security of our inheritance, and the refining purpose of trials for those who belong to Christ.

On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came in power—not to create chaos, but to launch the church with clarity, order, and bold gospel proclamation. In this sermon, Pastor Mark Groen walks through Acts 2:1–21 and reminds us that the spark that started in Jerusalem still burns today.The signs and wonders of Pentecost weren't ends in themselves—they were meant to give authority to the message: that Jesus is Lord, the Spirit has been poured out, and the mission of the church is now in motion. From a fearful denier to a faithful preacher, Peter stands up to declare the gospel boldly. That same Spirit that empowered him empowers us.

The Ascension isn't the end of Jesus' ministry—it's the beginning of His reign. In this sermon, Pastor Mark unpacks Acts 1 and Psalm 110 to show how Christ's enthronement empowers the church's mission and anchors our hope. Jesus is not absent—He's reigning. The mission has begun.

In this sermon on Revelation 19:1–10, Pastor Mark Groen walks us through a powerful scene of heavenly rejoicing. Instead of mourning the end of the Old Covenant, heaven celebrates the fulfillment of God's promises in Christ. The imagery of a wedding—not a funeral—takes center stage as the redeemed gather for the marriage supper of the Lamb. This message reminds us that we've been invited, we've been clothed, and now we're called to live each day in grateful, joyful worship of Christ alone.

Jerusalem seemed untouchable—adorned with beauty, tradition, and religious power. But in Revelation 18, we witness its catastrophic fall as God's judgment exposes its unfaithfulness. Like the Titanic, what appeared secure was already sinking.This sermon explores the sobering collapse of a city that trusted in rituals and riches instead of the Lamb. Revelation 18 calls God's people to come out, to flee false hopes, and to find lasting security in Christ alone.

In this episode, Pastor Mark Groen unpacks Revelation 17, where we see a vivid vision of Jerusalem's fall—not just as a city, but as a people who placed their trust in outward appearance instead of true faithfulness. The message confronts the dangers of compromise, reveals God's sovereign hand even in judgment, and centers our hope on the victory of Christ, the Lamb who conquers.Main Points:The Seduction of CompromiseGod's Sovereignty Over JudgmentThe Security of Those Who Belong to ChristWe are a Confessional Presbyterian and Reformed church proclaiming Christ through faithful, biblical preaching.

How should we respond when we read of God's wrath in Scripture? Revelation 16 confronts us with the sobering reality of divine judgment, but it also reminds us of the matchless grace found in Christ.In this sermon, Pastor Mark walks us through the seven bowls of wrath in Revelation 16, highlighting their precision, their connections to the Old Testament, and the escalating call to repentance. God's judgment is never random or excessive—it is measured, just, and righteous. And in contrast to the hard-heartedness described in this passage, we are invited to humble ourselves before the Lord and find shelter in the grace of Jesus.

What does it mean to stand before the holiness of God and live? Revelation 15 offers a powerful glimpse into God's justice, His unchanging holiness, and His abundant mercy toward His people.In this message from Revelation 15, we consider the final preparations for God's judgment and the song of the redeemed who proclaim His greatness. We are reminded that while God's holiness demands perfect justice, those who are in Christ are shielded by His sacrifice. The verdict has been rendered, and the people of God are called to live lives of worship, gratitude, and faithful service in response.

What if the story of Jesus' resurrection ended with silence and fear? In this Resurrection Sunday meditation from Mark 16:1–8, Pastor Mark reflects on the abrupt ending of Mark's Gospel—where the women flee the empty tomb in fear—and challenges us with the question: What will you do with the empty tomb? The story is true. The tomb is empty. Now the urgency rests on us.

On the night Jesus was betrayed, He gave His disciples a new meal—a covenant meal that fulfilled the promise spoken through the prophet Jeremiah. In this Maundy Thursday message, Pastor Mark Groen explores Jeremiah 31:31–34 and Luke 22:7–20, highlighting God's promise to give His people new hearts and establish a new covenant through Christ. As we come to the Lord's Table, we come not only in remembrance, but as participants in the grace secured for us through the body and blood of our Savior.

Why does Jesus come into Jerusalem on a donkey? Why are the crowds waving palm branches and crying out “Hosanna”? And what happens when our assumptions about God collide with His greater plan?In this Palm Sunday message, Pastor Mark walks us through the familiar but profound moment in John 12:12–16. We explore how Jesus redefines kingship—not through political revolution but through suffering, sacrifice, and glory. This message will challenge you to consider the ways we reshape Jesus in our image and call you to receive the Savior as He truly is.

Is it really worth it to follow God when the wicked seem to win? In this powerful and hope-filled conclusion to the book of Malachi, we see that God is not blind to injustice nor forgetful of faithfulness. He promises that the Day of the Lord is coming—a day when the arrogant will face judgment, and the faithful will leap like calves set free. The same God who calls His people to remember and return also provides the mercy we so desperately need in Jesus Christ.This sermon unpacks the final words of the Old Testament, showing us how the story points forward to Christ, the true Sun of Righteousness, who brings healing in His wings.

Are you living as if God's blessings might run out? In "Test and See His Provision," Pastor Mark guides us through Malachi 3:6–12, reminding us that God is faithful even when we're not. This sermon encourages us to examine our hearts, highlighting that true obedience and generosity flow naturally from gratitude for God's overwhelming grace.In this message, you'll learn that God doesn't leave His people stuck in their mistakes. Instead, He graciously invites them—and us—to return to Him, promising blessings beyond our imagination. These promises are ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who has richly blessed us through His life, death, and resurrection. Our response to this profound generosity should be joyful stewardship of our whole lives.