In Mark 16:1–11, we follow the women to the tomb expecting death, only to find Jesus risen. This sermon offers steady hope for post-holiday heaviness, shows how God moves the stone ahead of us, and highlights grace that restores failures, “and Peter,” calling us to take the next step with the living Christ.

In a culture where public shaming feels like a sport, this sermon from Mark 15:16–32 traces the waves of mockery that crash over Jesus—from Roman soldiers and casual passersby to religious leaders and criminals on neighboring crosses. We see how their taunts accidentally tell the truth: “He saved others; he cannot save himself,” and how that one sentence captures the heart of the gospel. As we recognize ourselves in the crowd and at the foot of the cross, we’re invited to trust the King who stayed on the cross for us and to answer His call to take up our own cross and follow Him. The message concludes at the Lord’s Table, where the bread and cup remind us that Jesus saved others by refusing to save Himself.

From across the room, a fake plant looks alive; up close, it’s plastic. That image frames Mark 11:12–33, where Jesus curses a leafy fig tree with no fruit and clears the temple—exposing religion that performs but doesn’t produce what God wants. We trace Mark’s four scenes to show how appearances collapse without obedience, how Jesus reclaims the court of prayer, and how faith asks according to God’s will while forgiveness unclogs the heart. We also face the authority question in the temple: who defines real worship—us, or Jesus? You’ll get a simple ten-minute “prayer margin” plan to clear the noise, and we end at the Table, remembering the cross where Jesus bore the curse and opened the way so the Spirit can grow real fruit in real people. If you’re done maintaining leaves, come learn how to cultivate a living faith.

This sermon explores Jesus’ encounter with the demon-possessed man in Mark 5 to show that no one is beyond His reach. It challenges cultural extremes about spiritual evil and highlights Christ’s authority, compassion, and call to bear witness after deliverance.