Devotions: Not By Bread Alone
Devotions Mark Groen Devotions Mark Groen

Devotions: Not By Bread Alone

Day 1: The Bread that Sustains

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 8:1-3 

Reflection: Just as God provided manna to sustain the Israelites, He provides His Word to sustain us today. It’s not just about physical bread but about the spiritual nourishment that comes from every word from God’s mouth. Consider how you’ve been feeding your soul lately. Are you relying on God’s Word as your daily bread? 

Prayer: Lord, help me to see Your Word as my source of life. Give me a hunger for Your truth each day.

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September 29 Sermon: Not By Bread Alone
Sermon Mark Groen Sermon Mark Groen

September 29 Sermon: Not By Bread Alone

Imagine someone conducting a 30-day experiment that for an entire month, they decide to give up on all solid food and survive on nothing but water. At first, they might feel okay. Maybe they would be confident that they can handle this. They just need to get used to it. But as the days pass this person's body would start to weaken. Their energy levels would plummet because they're not only losing their fat stores but their muscles are wasting away. And by the end of the month they would barely be functioning.

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April 10 Sermon: From the Mouths of Infants
Mark Groen Mark Groen

April 10 Sermon: From the Mouths of Infants

There are some people who just know how to make an entrance. Whether it is someone walking into a room or an entertainer stepping on to the stage in a full arena some people can make their presence known. You can likely think of some elaborate entrance or presentation that you have been present for and when it happens an already excited crowd just pops and you know the person they’ve all been waiting for has arrived. The perfect example of this is a sporting event when they are announcing the starting lineups. The crowd has been anticipating the game for hours.

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Christmas Day Sermon: He Will Save His People
Mark Groen Mark Groen

Christmas Day Sermon: He Will Save His People

We’ve probably heard all heard the Andy Williams song it’s the most wonderful time of the year a dozen times just in the past few days. You can hardly walk into a store without the catchy little tune making its way into your ears. I’m not going to dispute the claim that it is the most wonderful time of the year at all. Who doesn’t like to hear kids jingle belling and everyone telling you to be of good cheer. It is always good to have loved ones nearby. I’m a little confused by the lyrics about being excited about parties for hosting, that seems like a lot of work. I’m also really confused about the line “marshmallows for toasting”. I think they just needed a line that rhymed with hosting because I’ve never toasted a marshmallow around Christmas, but hey, what do I really know about any of this.

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November 4 Sermon: Blessed
Mark Groen Mark Groen

November 4 Sermon: Blessed

Maybe you’ve never really stopped to ask this question, but my guess is that you know what it feels like. In my comings and goings, I spend time with people in interesting circumstances. At hospitals you can experience the joy of birth and the sorrow of death. You have the joy of family gathering together at baptisms and weddings, but we live with the knowledge that in a single moment that same family may have to gather together around a casket. Yet, in all of those circumstance we hear people speaking of how blessed they are. Naturally, we feel like being blessed is most tangible to us in the midst of joy but even in sorrow people will still speak of their blessings.

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