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Articles by Mark Mitchell
What’s For Dinner?
Reading Time: 18 minutes Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash The wind slammed against Wayne’s back, pushing him toward the homestead. He ran at a frantic pace, slowed only by the constant looks behind him. He had a cloth wrapped around his head and he held one end over his mouth. Still sand got in everywhere. His nose, eyes, ears, and down his throat. The relentless wind would punish anyone foolish enough to venture out of doors. With pinwheeling limbs he willed himself on.
Have Yourself a Global Little Christmas
Introduction [The sermon began with a 30-second clip from the song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," performed by Michal Bublé.] I really like the song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." I don't know if they call it a carol, but it's one of my favorite Christmas songs because it presents a particular vision of Christmas. A cozy, familiar tight circle of friends and relatives who are near to us and who are dear to us and who have gathered around us.
Loss, Loyalty, & Lament
Introduction I've never been one to read romance novels, but lately I've been reading one. It's been a good one, too. Believe it or not, it's a book I found in the Bible—the Book of Ruth. Ruth may be the original romance novel, and the great thing about it is, it's just as appealing to men as it is to women. The other great thing about the Book of Ruth is that it's true. It happened at a real time and in a real place. The setting of Ruth is the Promised Land during the period of the judges.
When Life Crowds You Out
Introduction On the wall of a subway in New York City was an advertising poster that depicted a dignified older gentleman recommending a particular product. Someoneprobably a little boyattempted to deface the advertisement by drawing a balloon coming out of the gentleman's mouth and writing in it the dirtiest thing he could think of.
Body Life
Introduction That the church is the "body of Christ" is more than simply a figure of speech. The church is the chief means by which Christ works today; it is an extension of him. We all have a physical body; that's where Paul begins his teaching. "Just as the body is one and yet has many members," he says, "so also is Christ." In other, it is not only the church that is the body of Christ; the church and Christ together constitute the body of Christ.
Your Body: Under New Management
Introduction Sometimes when we read the Bible we fail to appreciate the way it was first experienced. For example, most of the New Testament books were originally written as letters. When Paul, Peter, John, and even Luke wrote their parts of the Bible, they wrote them as letters to real people who were part of churches much like ours. Usually a letter would be brought by hand to the leaders of a church in a particular city. They would then bring it to church and read it out loud.
Rediscovering the Sabbath
Introduction While I was leading some pastor training in the Philippines, I broke the pastors up into small groups and had them share various things about their lives. One of the questions I asked them had to do with what they enjoy doing in their spare time—what they do to relax. As I walked from group to group and listened to their responses, I kept hearing the same thing: "Spare time? I don't have any spare time." A lot of us feel that way, even little kids.
God's Anger and Mercy Toward Sin
Introduction If you want to know the three points that I'm going to walk through this morning, they are very simple. I want to talk about God's heaviness towards sin. God never, ever takes light sin in our life. God breaks, he aches over it. He's heavy over sin. The second point is God's heart toward sin and how he handles it. When he looks at your sin, how does he look at your sin and what does he do with your sin? The third point is God's hope in dealing with sin. How does he deal?
The Blessing of Presence
Introduction Christmas is nearly here. Even though it’s been in the shops a lot longer, we as believers in Jesus celebrate the most important day in history, when God had his first birthday! At a time of such darkness what a difference it makes that the Light of the World took on flesh, became an embryo, a tiny baby born in a very hostile and volatile place, still the most contested geography on earth.
Behold: Pursuit
Introduction Advent is a season of waiting, anticipating, and hoping. It’s a time when we plant our feet firmly in the land between two affirmations: Christ has come, and Christ will come again. I had a “behold” moment the other day. I was out on a run last Friday and I was on my favorite trail going up Mule Hill. It was a foggy day and a bit chilly.
Behold: Surrender
Introduction Welcome to our Advent series that we’re calling Behold. Remember, Advent is a season of waiting, anticipating, and hoping. It’s a time when we plant our feet firmly in the land between two affirmations: Christ has come, and Christ will come again. We’re going to learn how to live more faithfully in that liminal space. In early September of 1968, Paul McCartney recognized that The Beatles were having some major difficulties and sensed that the end was imminent.
Perennial Babel by Mark T. Mitchell
culture history View on the Return of a Diabolical & Meaningless Project Myths matter. They persist because they are carriers of truth. Of course, not all myths are simply made-up stories with a helpful moral. Some are based on actual events that, through their re-telling, have become condensed symbols that disclose features of the human condition.
Kingdom Allegiance: One Kingdom. Indivisible.
Introduction Things have been so heavy lately, so I want to have a little fun. Let me ask you a few questions. How many of you can’t stand it when the topic of politics is brought up at the dinner table, at work or with friends? How many of you love bringing it up!? How many of you have already made up your mind on who you will vote for in this year’s election? How many of you are simply praying for Jesus’ return?
Salt and Light
Alienation was originally a Marxist word and Karl Marx meant by it the alienation of the worker from the product of his labors. When what he produces is sold by the factory owner, he is alienated from the fruits of his earned work. But nowadays the word alienation has a much broader meaning for powerlessness. Whenever you feel politically or economically powerless, you are feeling alienated.
How God Brings Light into a Dark Situation
Introduction Today we will be looking at 1 Samuel 2:12-36, although we'll focus on verses 12-26. About a year ago now, the Arab Spring was just starting, and we've seen the impact of it in a whole range of different places. Even a year afterwards, the rumblings continue. Protestors are not just calling for reform. They're after revolution. They didn't simply want a change in leaders, to get rid of a particular individual, but a change in the whole political system.
God and Caesar
The story behind the sermon (by Dan Meyer) The personal backdrop The sermon "God and Caesar" reflects my longstanding curiosity about the proper relationship between piety and politics. This interest, I suppose, is a function of extended exposure to the topic. I grew up in a political family, the son of a state senator and nephew of a U.S. senator. I hold a political science degree from Yale and led its student government.
Complaining to God
Introduction Americans complain a lot. The Pilgrims and Puritans came over here because they were complaining about religious authority. We fought for our independence complaining about political authority. And not only is it in our history; it's our fundamental right to complain. John F. Kennedy first articulated our four basic consumer rights in a 1950 speech, and Congress went on to enact them in law. One of those rights is the right to complain. We don't just complain as individual consumers.
A Good Man in a Hard Place
Introduction God's servants are found in some of the most surprising places. Elijah served in a very dark time in the history of God's people. King Ahab and his wife Jezebel were in charge. They were worshippers of a god named Baal. This was a violent and degraded religion with everything from temple prostitutes to child sacrifice. The fiery prophet Elijah appeared out of nowhere and confronted the king on behalf of God. He announced there'd be no rain or dew in the land except by his word.
A Distraught Dad, His Demonized Boy, and a Faith that Moves Mountains
Author’s Introduction: If Mark 9:30-50 defies interpretation, as commentator Eugene Boring claims, the verses that immediately precede are only slightly less difficult for the preacher to navigate. Jesus’ exorcism of a demonized boy at the foot of the mountain where he was moments earlier transfigured appears in all three Synoptic Gospels (Matt. 17:14-21; Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-43). Only Matthew includes the line about a faith capable of moving mountains. Mark’s record is the longest.
A Lesson Wise Moms and Other Influential People Can Teach the Next Generation
From the editor: Mother's Day is just around the corner (May 9), and should you decide to offer a message for the occasion, Steve Mathewson's look at Proverbs 31 might provide some helpful direction for your own preaching. If you're not planning on preaching a sermon about mothers, motherhood, etc, I would still suggest filing this one away for your records. Steve offers some great thoughts for preaching on parenting in general! Click here to listen to the audio.
The Resurrection Matters-Really Matters!
Introduction Like many of you, this Easter, I celebrate a radical truth—that Jesus died and rose to pay the price for our failures and affirm he is in fact the Son of God. But this is a different Easter for me. My father died this past Monday night. After a few days in the hospital and a weekend in hospice care, his life on this earth ended. When you face death with family, you realize you are in a journey in some darkness and some mystery, lots of mystery.
What Does This Mean?
I hope the Book of Acts is easy for you to find because you’ve got your handy dandy Acts bookmark with you. This is not just a bookmark; it’s also a reminder of the great themes—we’ve called them the keys—to the Book of Acts. They’re listed here on the bookmark. I don’t know if you remember when you were a kid the special decoder rings. Remember those? I never got one, but I always wanted one. Well, this is like a decoder bookmark, a special decoder to the Book of Acts.
Preparing for the Gift
Introduction December is a month that raises all kinds of feelings for us. Some really look forward to this time. For others there are things that we dread going into December. One of the things I most look forward to is special time. Special time to worship, special time with family that I haven't had a chance to see very much, and special time with friends. I am one of those sorts of people, maybe it's my pessimism, but I have some things I dread during December.
Down Lower, Up Higher
Introduction There was no question he loved her. He was absolutely bedazzled by her. It was surprising, really, because she was quite plain. But then, he himself was a poor man who didn't even have two coins to rub together. Nor was he especially handsome. But he was a good and godly man, and he swept her off her feet and won her heart. What makes that ordinary story extraordinary is the rest of it.
A Disgraceful Christmas
Introduction I want to ask us a question: What words do you associate with Christmas? I did that exercise with myself and this is the list of words that came to me as I thought about Christmas. It was joy, decorations, parties, presents, Santa, trees, and cards. I think it's very telling that as your senior pastor none of these answers involve Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit, or the manger. It just goes to show what a worldly pastor I am. But I think these kind of resonate with a lot of us.
The Most Shocking Madonna Song Ever
Introduction Flipping through the radio dial you hear all kinds of Christmas music right now, and one of the songs that seems to be on the loop for most of the radio stations or in the stores that you go into is a song called "Santa Baby." It's not the most holy or reverent of all the Christmas songs that you can find, but it is sung by a woman who calls herself simply Madonna, no last name, just Madonna.
Oh Christmas Three
Introduction We have been reflecting on the birth of Jesus, and what we found in this season that we celebrate is that when God chose to enter his own creation it wasn't neat and tidy, everything wasn't ideal, so to speak. So today on Christmas Eve we want to focus on the story of the wise men who were called the Magi, from Matthew 2.
More Than a Baby
Introduction We find in Luke 1 the well-known story of the prophecy of the birth of Jesus that comes to Mary. Most of you could give me the details of the story right now, and you don't need me to even read it. But we're going to do it anyway, because like every famous or very popular passage in Scripture we miss things all the time. But before we go to Luke 1, let's read why we need Luke 1.
Light of the World
Introduction As we grow up, most of us learn the basics of life. One of those basics is that we have five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. While there are other things we sense—pain, temperature, hunger—most of those are related to the classic five senses that we usually learn. But there is a unique effect that sometimes occurs where the triggering of one sense leads to the involuntary triggering of another sense.
How Do I Escape the Christmas Traps?
Introduction Advent is about enjoying and admiring Jesus. It's a season we observe each year at this time, during which we endeavor to do something intentional: that is, in a very small way, we place ourselves in the Christmas story. So as it was for those at the first Christmas, it is for us a season of patient waiting, soul-searching, and hope-filled expectation! Personally, I have found that praying simple prayers anytime, anywhere throughout the day keep me in the Advent story.
Behold the Lamb of God
Introduction I hope you had a good Thanksgiving. Now we flip the page and enter the season on the church calendar known as Advent. Advent is different from Christmas. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Messiah, but Advent is re-entry into the story of waiting for his coming. Advent means arrival and it’s filled with tension. It’s a season that stands between two worlds—we look back at the first coming of Christ, and we look forward with anticipation to his second coming.
Hope for a Weary World
Introduction In the short story, later turned into a film, The Life of Walter Mitty, the main character has an overactive imagination. Living a commonplace life, he fantasizes about entering wildly adventurous storylines: as a wartime pilot, an emergency-room surgeon, and many others. Underlying that story is Mitty’s hopeful desire to experience “real life” in the midst of what seems like his less than interesting existence. Mitty wants to live a life story that is meaningful.
Waiting for Christmas
Introduction Isn’t it so hard to wait to open your gifts? I remember when I was around 9 years old, my brother and I wanted an electric race car set? Anyone remember those? My uncle promised to buy us it and we were so excited to open the big box under the tree.
‘Glory to the Newborn King’
Introduction I love singing Christmas carols and Christmas songs. Maybe you do too. A couple weeks ago I was at a Christmas party, and we sang a couple Christmas songs together and I noticed that as the songs got going people just lit up and joined right in. If you had to make a choice, what would you say is your favorite Christmas song or Christmas carol?
A Psalm for Giving Thanks
Introduction Psalm 100 reads: A psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
A Heartbeat from Disaster
Introduction In this particular passage of Scripture, the nation of Israel, to the north, has fallen so far from God's desire and purpose that he has given up on them, and they have been defeated and carried off into captivity. Judah, the southern kingdom, is following the same pattern. They have become more and more distant from God's desire. This portion of Scripture deals with Josiah, king of the southern kingdom. Josiah found the temple full of corruption.
Blessed to Rest
Introduction What if one of the most important things you could possibly do to live the blessed life, to have life in all fullness as Jesus promised, looks like the opposite of doing something? I’m talking about rest. Specifically, I’m talking about Sabbath. What I say about rest might be a challenge to what some of you have thought or believed. Talking about the Sabbath can be a point of tension. Nothing shook the Pharisees more than what Jesus did and said about the Sabbath.
People to Watch Out For
Introduction In Rolling Meadows, just a short drive from here, stands Harvest Bible Chapel. You’ve probably driven by it. The church started with 18 people, meeting in a high school, and grew to over 13,000 people, across seven campuses in our area. Harvest Bible soon made Outreach Magazine’s list of the largest churches in America and the fastest-growing churches in America. And James MacDonald, the pastor, became a household name, with a radio show on over 1,000 stations.
A Father's Words
Introduction In June 1992, Jim Davidson and Mike Price climbed Mt. Rainier. On the way down, the two climbers fell 80 feet through a snow bridge into a glacial crevasse: a pitch-black, ice-walled crack in the massive glacier that cover Mt. Rainier. Mike Price died. In his book The Ledge, Jim Davidson tells the story of his miraculous survival and courageous climb out of the crevasse.
Optical Pantoum - The Bookends Review
This letter concerns your long unused eyes: Be warned—while still seeing, you may vanish— quick as light slips past its closed door. Your sigh can’t kill darkness. Read these words now. You can think through them later, by lost, cool lamplight— Watch the letters with concerned eyes. Don’t use fingers on this page. Follow, strict, left to right, quick. Light fades behind that door. Sigh and you’ll miss them the way you miss slyly thrown balls— think later, swing now.
What’s Your Eau De Toilette?: An Extravagant Example for an Extraordinary God
Introduction If you had one opportunity to show Jesus how much you loved him, what would you do? What might you say? What offering might you bring? One of my favorite songs of all time is Mercy Me’s “I Can Only Imagine.” The song writer invites the listener to envision what it will be like when we first encounter Jesus face-to-face in eternity. We don’t have to wait for glory to free our imagination. Perhaps, you can do a little exercise now: Fill in the blank.
Your Questions about the Bible: Homosexuality
The story behind the sermon (by Rick McKinley) I hesitate using this sermon as the ultimate model for how to preach on this topic. I suppose it is because the topic of homosexuality is such a hot button issue in the church and in our culture, and no one sermon can say all that is needed or should be said on this topic.
Guidelines for a Constructive Church
Note from PreachingToday.com: We asked a handful of preachers the following question: What aspect of Dr. King's life and work has had the greatest impact on your role as a pastor and preacher? Read responses from Dr. George C. Waddles, Rev. Bryan Loritts, and Pastor John Ortberg here. The Story behind the Sermon (by Rev. Lawrence Aker III) Rev. Lawrence Aker III is the Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York.
‘What Child Is This?’
Introduction In the year 1865, William Chatterton Dix, who was a businessman in Glasgow, Scotland, suddenly came down with a serious illness. A near fatal illness robbed William of his strength and he was bedridden for many months. As he lay near death, William began to reflect upon the identity of Jesus and the relevance of the faith that he had grown up with.
Trusting the Sovereignty of God
Introduction We are in our Advent series called “Christmas with Joseph—when things don’t go as planned.” What we’re trying to do in this series is to learn what Joseph can teach us about how to prepare for and respond to life’s unexpected difficulties. In Boston Magazine, columnist Todd Plumber writes, “If 2020 has taught us anything it’s that we can never really know what the future holds.
How Can I Enjoy Christmas?
Introduction Christmas can be so chaotic, can't it? I mean, this whole season can be such a disconnect between what we expect and what we end up experiencing. That's why the question that always nags us during this time of year is this: "How we can possibly enjoy Christmas?" What we must do We all want to enjoy this time of year. We all want to enjoy family, friends, and each other. We all want to have moments of pleasure that remind us that this is a time like no other. So we grit our teeth.
Doing the Right Thing in the Right Way
Introduction Today marks the first Sunday of Advent in which Christians all across the world are preparing to celebrate the coming of Jesus. This year as we prepare our hearts for that celebration we’re going to be looking at the life of Joseph.
Christmas Presence
Introduction I invite you take a moment, in this busy season, to just breathe. Be present in this body, in this moment, in this place, with these people. I’m going to give you a moment of silence to reflect on this question: How are you feeling your human limitations? How are you frustrated by the things you aren’t able to fix? To control? To understand? Whatever is coming to mind, hold onto that for a moment, as uncomfortable as it may be. We’ll return to it later.
Two Key Women of Christmas
Introduction (Read Luke 1:39-56) On several occasions, King Abdullah II of Jordan has disguised himself and mingled with his subjects. He does this to better understand and serve his people. Taking the character of an ordinary old Arab man, he has appeared in public with a fake white beard, wearing the traditional Jordanian kufiah, and the Arabic white dress. In this disguise, the king walked around without security and was not noticed.
The ‘Fear Nots’ of Christmas
Introduction The rock star Sting, in a Rolling Stone interview, spoke of his growing awareness of his own mortality: "I'm 64. Most of my life has been lived already, and then, like most of us when a cultural icon dies, we're children.” (In recent years, his friends, David Bowie, Freddy Mercury, Lou Reed, and many others have died).
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