The Church Door

Introduction: A question worth asking By Family Minister, Dr. Brandon Steenbock It’s the perfect “gotcha” question for Christians....

By Family Minister, Dr. Brandon Steenbock Why do we exist? This question has plagued philosophers, abstract thinkers, and moody teenagers...

By Family Minister, Dr. Brandon Steenbock Sharing your faith is your mission as a believer. Jesus gave his first disciples the direction to...

By Pastor Ben Workentine In today’s interconnected world, we find ourselves citizens of not just our physical nations, but also of a...

By Family Minister, Dr. Brandon Steenbock Jesus said to Jairus: “Don’t be afraid. Just believe.” Jairus’s daughter was sick, and he...

By Family Minister, Dr. Brandon Steenbock This article was adapted from a sermon preached for Trinity Sunday 2024.  If you haven’t...

By Family Minister, Dr. Brandon Steenbock “What should I think about what’s happening in Israel?” I get this question almost weekly....

By Family Minister Brandon Steenbock When I was about 18 or 19, I got frustrated with the complexity of life. I know. A young single guy...

By Family Minister Brandon Steenbock Why do the Gospel writers make note of the grave clothes being folded neatly in the tomb? What is the...

by Alexis Waack He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! Hallelujah! Holy Week is one of my favorite parts of the church year. It is a week to see...

by Alexis Waack Have you ever had to confess something? When I think of the word confess, I get a negative feeling. I remember times I had...

by Alexis Waack Have you ever been speechless? God’s beautiful creation often leaves me without words. It might be a stunning sunrise,...

by Alexis Waack   A name is a remarkable thing. When you were born, your parents looked at you and decided your name was perfect for...

by Alexis Waack Do you ever struggle to be obedient? To do what God says the way he says to do it? For example, God says, ‘Honor your...

by Alexis Waack Have you ever gone camping? My family did when I was a little girl. Camping brings back some wonderful memories of...

by Alexis Waack Palm Sunday was filled with shouts and cheers. Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna to the Son of David! Can you imagine what...

by Alexis Waack Have you ever been told you have an attitude problem? As a teenager, I had a bit of an attitude problem. I was moody. I was...

Written by Staff Minister Brandon Steenbock “Jesus wept.” Two simple words. Incredible message. If you don’t know the story, go read...

Written by: Pastor Ben Workentine There’s a funeral this week at church. I’m going. My family will be there, too, including my...

Written by St. Mark Staff Minister, Brandon Steenbock: What is the difference between a Pastor and a Staff Minister? We get this question a...

Lessons From Israel What comes to mind when you think about visiting Israel? Is it biblical sites and a spiritual experience? Do you...

Dear sister, I truly hope that your Christmas season has been filled with light and joy and a sense of hopeful anticipation. But I’m...

Christmas isn’t the same as it was when you were a kid. I don’t know about your Christmases, but when I was a boy, Christmas was...

“After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied” Isaiah 53:11a  While they were wondering about this, suddenly...

It must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones. (Exodus 12:46)  He protects all...

By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the...

Because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for...

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was...

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers...

And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of...

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a...

By Staff Minister Brandon Steenbock Years ago at a church in Minnesota I was in charge of an annual Live Nativity event. We had a massive...

By: Staff Minister Brandon Steenbock If you’re a Christmas celebrating disciple of Jesus, chances are you have been told that the...

  By Tim Babler  I was never much of a fan of the phrase, “Hindsight is 20/20”. Of course it is! It’s so much easier to look...

January 1, 2021 By Tim Babler “New Year, New Me!” This is a phrase that seems to be the most popular hashtag and social media post of...

Written by Staff Minister Michael Hennig Dear college students, It’s just a matter of time before we reach Christmas of 2020, and I know...

Written by Young Adult Staff Minister Brandon Steenbock In a world that’s always winter and never Christmas, the appearance of Father...

Written by Family Minister Dr. Brandon Steenbock The day after Thanksgiving, my family and I drove to a tree farm, rode a wagon over the...

Written by Young Adult Staff Minister Brandon Steenbock It happens every year at Christmas time. Amid the joy and laughter, the quiet...

By Dr. John Parlow People will sometimes ask if there are degrees of glory in heaven. In other words, are there different “levels” in...

By Dr. John Parlow Where is heaven? That’s a question that’s often asked not only by children, but also by adults.  The Bible...

By Dr. John Parlow “Do they know?” This is  the question people sometimes ask about their loved ones who have died and gone to...

Devotion 3: Are You For Us or Our Enemies? It was the eve of the first battle that would lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land....

Devotion 2:  Where is Your Confidence? Imagine for a moment waking up on November 4th, the day after Election Day. You’re opening the...

Devotion 1: Your vote doesn’t matter. Written by: St. Mark Staff Minister, Brandon Steenbock “Your vote doesn’t matter. The idea that...

Do I have to be baptized to come to your church? Written by: Pastor Ben Workentine That’s a great question, and the short answer is no....

Written by Pastor Ben Workentine First off, I just want to say thank you for asking a really good question. I have to admit that christian...

Written by Pastor Ben Workentine When you see churches as you drive around, you might see things like “First Baptist” or...

Forgiveness – When It’s Not Easy  by Phil Boileau “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” Psalm...

We’ve all seen it. Acts of unbelievable proportions. Our friend does a back-flip on the trampoline. The half-court, backwards lob...

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and...

By Pastor Chris Johnson As many of you know, my wife and I have four boys. They are more connected to the internet and their friends than I...