'Words of Life' w/ Pastor Mark D. Ingram

Mark D. Ingram, Pastor
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Sermons and musical artists featured to extol JESUS CHRIST as the sole hope for the eternal souls of humanity.

  1. FEB 7

    Empathy - Can You Relate?

    Send us a text Within this week's 'Words of Life' broadcast / podcast, we examine why empathy is not a mood; it is a 'mandate' woven through Scripture and proven in history.  The opening scriptural text (Deuteronomy 10: 18-19) commands care for the fatherless, the widow, and the foreigner (wanderer, immigrant, refugee, oppressed, marginalized), grounding love in God’s character and Israel’s memory as former wandering slaves. Thus, empathy differs from sympathy by sharing another’s burden as one who remembers. The call is practical—feed, clothe, welcome—and theological, because every act toward “the least of these” is rendered unto Christ. When we forget mercy, we forget the mercy shown to us, and God’s will not ignore such willing oversight. We are to empathize with refugees and immigrants because they rarely move for comfort; they flee harm and hope for dignity accompanied by a better life. Jesus sharpens the stakes with a parable (Matthew 25), where nations are weighed by hospitality’s ordinary actions—water, bread, a visit, a welcome. Neglect is not neutral; it is a verdict against love. The church cannot baptize indifference with rhetoric. A tree is known by its fruit borne, and empathy bears such that strangers can taste. With nothing new under the sun, history echoes GOD's warning to those who have ears to hear. Revisited is a nation born by protesting distant rule with their denied rights soon displacing Native peoples and enslaved Africans. And yet, the same cycle of oppression and enslavement is repeated. Yet, the one who loves with mercy and compassion remembers our own deliverance and relies upon the same God who feeds us in our desert wanderings. We are therefore challenged by the symbolic fork in the road to preach what pierces: Jesus crucified and risen, the only way to the Father, the model of mercy expected to be extended to neighbors and nations.  Love because GOD first loved us. When we feed a family, when we visit the sick, when we welcome the stranger, we touch Christ.  Does our gospel message (or platform) choose mercy, practice empathy, and  preach a gospel that brings strangers home or are we indifferent to the plight of those GOD loves and will execute judgment concerning? Support the show In lieu of eternity, sermons and musical artists are featured to extol JESUS CHRIST as the sole hope for the eternal souls of humanity.

    1h 7m

  2. JAN 19

    CALLIN'

    Send us a text This week's message turns on a simple word: calling; and the theme centers on God’s persistent question to humanity, first voiced in Genesis 3: “Where are you?” The sermon frames 'a call' as an intentional summoning that expects a response and then sets the scene in the Garden of Eden. God’s command to Adam was clear, the serpent’s deception was targeted, and the result was tragic: broken fellowship, rising shame, and a reflex to hide. Yet even in judgment, the text shows pursuit. God initiates the conversation, not to discover information he lacks, but to bring accountability to light and invite honesty and restoration. We are urged to examine our own patterns in Adam’s excuses and to recognize the cost of sin on daily fellowship with God. A major insight lands on the difference between relationship and fellowship. Once secured by grace, the relationship stands; unconfessed sin, however, clouds the fellowship. Psalm 139 highlights the futility of hiding from an all-knowing God who already sees the thoughts before they form. That means our evasions—fear, shame, blame—do not keep us safe; they keep us stuck with guilt and shame. We witness Adam’s cascade of excuses, stressing our need for divine help to admit wrong and ask for cleansing. Accountability with God is non-negotiable, and truth is the doorway back into fellowship. Adam and Eve's disobedience does not end with God abandoning his image-bearers. Instead, we see garments of skin, a sign that a life was given to cover nakedness. The banishment from the garden, harsh as it reads, becomes protective love: cherubim guard the tree of life so humanity will not lock itself into eternal separation. This protection is paired with provision—covering now, promise later. A clear line to the cross is drawn, where Christ appears “once for all” to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. The symmetry is striking: once God blocked a 'tree' to spare us from eternal death; now GOD calls us to the 'tree' (the cross) to grant us eternal life.  Practical application flows from this revelation. When conviction pricks the conscience, the right move is not hiding but response. The Spirit’s nudge at 3 a.m., the unrest that won’t fade, the word that lands close—these are not random. They are invitations (calls) to confession, repair, and action. reconciles by his finished work. As God beckons, each call becomes personal and present. The ABCs of response—admit, believe, confess—offer a simple path for those not yet reconciled. For believers, the call might be a hard conversation, a confession made, or a task finally embraced. Either way, the phone is symbolically ringing. God, who covered Adam and Eve, still clothes our shame today so the question is not whether he is calling. The challenge is whether we will answer, step out from hiding, and walk toward the voice that knows us, names us, and makes us new—through the sacrificial love of His Son (Jesus), on our behalf. Support the show In lieu of eternity, sermons and musical artists are featured to extol JESUS CHRIST as the sole hope for the eternal souls of humanity.

    49 min

  3. 12/29/2025

    Noise

    Send us a text In this week's 'Words of Life' broadcast / podcast... We live in a time where volume is mistaken for value. The message unpacked within Pastor Mark's sermon centers on a single word—noise—and how it corrodes discernment, fractures community, and drowns out the gospel of Jesus Christ. Drawing from 1 John 4:1–3, we explore why testing spirits is not cynicism but obedience, and how guarding the heart is a spiritual discipline, not a lifestyle trend. Noise is any unwanted interference that disrupts peace, clarity, or truth. Noise agitates and disturbs the mind, elevates stress, and blurs our ability to hear God.  In our digital age, noise multiplies: negative news cycles, comment and dislike wars, platform branding, and even church politics. The answer is not retreat but discernment formed by Scripture and unconditional, unwavering love towards those within our circle of influence. The first pillar within the message is clear: God’s Word is the standard, not the speaker's vernacular. The Apostle John warns that many false prophets have gone out, and Jesus predicted impressive signs used to mislead. A compelling voice, large following, or flawless branding cannot authenticate truth. The Berean Christians modeled a better way: receive teaching eagerly, then examine the Scriptures daily to verify it. When we compare messages to the entire counsel of God, in context, the fog lifts. We stop chasing hot takes, cute colloquialisms, or posts to engage and start cultivating holy habits. Discernment grows when we slow down, turn down the volume, and let God's Word dwell richly within us. Next comes the fruit test. Not every voice that says “Lord, Lord” is known by Jesus. Examine lifestyle, motives, and message. Does the speaker prioritize Jesus crucified and risen, or do they elevate brand, denomination, agenda or ideology? Do their words cultivate love, repentance, and humility, or do they stoke envy, strife, and self-importance? False teachers are self-referential, while the Spirit points to Christ and pours out love for others. Real ministry may confront sin, but it does not dehumanize people. It carries the fragrance of the Spirit: patience, kindness, self-control. If the content from one's platform is mostly self-help, psychology, politics, or prosperity, with Christ used as garnish, it’s likely harmful, spiritual noise. Thus, guarding our heart is not avoidance; it’s stewardship. Proverbs 4:23 calls the heart the wellspring of life, a source that must be protected from contamination. This means carefully selecting our inputs: less doomscrolling, more Scripture; fewer divisive opinions and arguments, more prayer; fewer platform wars, more quiet obedience. Jesus’ call, “Whoever has ears, let them hear,” urges us to listen with spiritual attention, not just consume His words. If a message cannot confess Jesus as the only way to the Father and refuses to embody love, it fails the discernment test. The antichrist spirit is not always a monstrous one; it is often a polished, pragmatic, and popular one. Finally, we return to the priority which we will be held accountable for: elevate Jesus as the sole means of hope for humanity. Ministry exists to herald Christ, not personalities or agendas. The world does not need a louder church; it needs one with crystal-clear clarity. This week's challenge? Ask yourself... "Does this message line up with GOD's Word or have I wasted time infecting my heart, by listening to unproductive, harmful, spiritual 'noise?'" Support the show In lieu of eternity, sermons and musical artists are featured to extol JESUS CHRIST as the sole hope for the eternal souls of humanity.

    51 min

  4. 11/25/2025

    THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB OF GOD

    Send us a text In this week's 'Words of Life' message... We encounter God’s holiness as the blazing center of Scripture and the thread that ties Leviticus to the cross. When Pastor Mark reads, “You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy,” he isn’t offering a slogan; he is pointing to God’s essence. Holiness means absolute moral purity and perfection, the total absence of sin. By contrast, we are not just flawed; we are fallen and unable to bridge the gulf. Leviticus reveals God who desires to dwell with His people while still being perfectly holy. That tension drives the entire sacrificial system: if God is near, sin must be dealt with. Yet, Israel is set apart, not because they are better, but because God chose to make Himself known through them and required a way to approach Him without being consumed. The Old Testament way was sacrifice. Blood was not a superstition; it was a stark acknowledgment that sin brings death. The high priest entered the holiest place with blood, not opinions. Bells at his hem reminded everyone that approaching God on our own terms is fatal pride in self-confidence. Day after day, year after year, the altar ran red because the people kept sinning and the sacrifices could only cover, not cleanse. Our primary text, Leviticus 20:26, pulls the curtain back: holiness is not optional; it is demanded. Yet mercy shines through the smoke. God creates a path into His presence, teaching hearts to feel the weight of sin and the cost of forgiveness, preparing history for a better priest and a perfect Lamb. Hebrews announces what Leviticus anticipates: Jesus is the holy, innocent, undefiled High Priest who offered Himself once for all. He does not repeat sacrifices, because His blood actually removes sin rather than merely postponing judgment. Only a true human could represent us, and only the sinless Son could bear guilt without being crushed by His own. At the cross, justice and mercy meet. The penalty is paid, the curtain is torn, and Christ sits down because the work is finished. Where there is forgiveness through Him, there is no longer an offering for sin, which means no ladder of merit, no spiritual treadmill, and no priestly middleman can add a thing. Holiness still defines Christian life, but now as fruit of grace rather than a ladder to heaven. Peter’s call to be holy is not moralism; it is adoption language. If the One who called us is holy, our conduct must reflect our new family likeness. The Spirit applies Christ’s finished work by changing our desires and training our habits. We renounce sin, not to earn entrance, but because we belong to the God who loved us at infinite cost. Holiness moves from temple walls to human hearts. The question is painfully simple: are you prepared to meet God safely? There is no other name given among humanity by which we must be saved. Not sincerity, not spirituality, not tradition, not self-improvement. The blood of Jesus must not be treated indifferently, because it is the one thing that makes sinners safe in the presence of a holy God.  The door stands open, but not forever. The time to respond is while you have breath. Have you accepted GOD'S offer of receiving His perfect, sacrificial lamb (Jesus) who bore the iniquities that we deserved? Your answer (or lack thereof) determines your eternity - join us to discern how you are approaching God - now and eternally. Support the show In lieu of eternity, sermons and musical artists are featured to extol JESUS CHRIST as the sole hope for the eternal souls of humanity.

    36 min

  5. 11/02/2025

    One Way - The Praise and Worship Project (Preview)

    Send us a text What happens when a praise and worship project conveys the truth about our drama, proclivities, and mess and we still dare to dance while trusting in God's faithfulness to us?  We open the curtain on “One Way,” a 24-track, diverse songwriting journey (from Pastor Mark's pen) undergirded by scripture that moves from raw confession to steady comfort, from quiet surrender to joyful praise, and lands on a fearless gospel invitation. The heart of 'One Way' is simple and strong: there is one way to God through Jesus, and that way is open, merciful, and near to all who choose to accept His invitation. Across the preview, we face the honest lines we all know too well—drama, issues, the ache of tests of faith—and we keep hearing the counter-melody: you’re still called a child of the Only, Living God.  Shelter imagery grounds the middle stretch, with God as refuge, wings, and peace when shadows gather. A bilingual love song widens the circle, celebrating a love that stays constant in joy and grief, speaking to a global church in two tongues. Then resurrection language breaks through like morning: “Daughter, wake up,” a call that turns grave clothes into garments of hope and names into new beginnings. Surrender finds shape in the echo of Jesus' pain in the garden of Gethsemane—“thy will be done”— while praise finds rhythm in dance that refuses shame and pushes bad vibes aside. The project also celebrates the God who is able to do more than we dream, writing futures that outlast worldly rejection.  Once the invitation arrives, it’s a personal and clear one: acknowledge our need for salvation from God's approaching wrath, believe in the finished work of Jesus, and confess a new allegiance that becomes service to others. A surprise are the 5 bonus gems concluding the project that have been 'remixed or extended' for those who may like the same message but within various genres.  If you’re craving praise or worship that addresses doubt, honesty, hope, and does so in an introspective, direct manner, yet purposes to shift our focus vertically, we pray that God's Spirit ministers (personally) to your heart. If this 'One Way' (preview) project moves you, tap to follow or even share the pre-release preview with a friend who needs encouragement, prior to the official release date. The name of Pastor's songwriting project is entitled: 'One Way' (by mdi.period) or better known as Pastor Mark's full-name initials: MDI. 'One Way' becomes available for purchase on Tuesday, November 4, at any of your preferred digital retailers. Support the show In lieu of eternity, sermons and musical artists are featured to extol JESUS CHRIST as the sole hope for the eternal souls of humanity.

    48 min

  6. 09/28/2025

    You Are Wanted: The Divine Adoption Story

    Send us a text What does it mean to be adopted into God's family? Pastor Mark takes listeners on a transformative journey through Romans 8:15-17, revealing how spiritual adoption completely redefines our identity and relationship with God. The concept of adoption often carries connotations of abandonment, but Pastor Mark offers a radical reframing: being adopted by God means you are profoundly wanted. This isn't a reluctant acceptance but an intentional choosing that makes believers "co-heirs with Christ," granting the same rights and privileges as God's natural Son. Drawing from his personal journey, Pastor Mark shares how he moved beyond viewing God as a stern judge waiting to punish every misstep to embracing the intimate relationship captured in the term "Abba, Father." This shift from fear-based religiosity to confident sonship liberates believers from the bondage of performance-based acceptance. The message explores the fascinating metaphor of believers being "engrafted" into God's family tree—a permanent, secure joining that can never be undone. Through powerful scriptural insights from John, Ephesians, and Hosea, Pastor Mark builds a compelling case for adoption as one of scripture's most beautiful themes. For anyone who has ever felt unwanted, rejected, or like they don't belong, this message offers profound hope. Even if earthly parents desert their children, God holds His adopted ones close with an unbreakable embrace. The transformative understanding that we are wanted by our Creator changes everything about how we navigate life's challenges. Ready to experience the freedom of knowing you're not just forgiven but fully adopted? Listen now and discover your true identity as God's beloved child. Support the show In lieu of eternity, sermons and musical artists are featured to extol JESUS CHRIST as the sole hope for the eternal souls of humanity.

    40 min

  7. 08/16/2025

    The Law and One Command: Salvation Through Christ Alone

    Send us a text What happens when we face God's perfect moral law but fall short? Pastor Mark delivers a powerful message about the stark difference between natural laws and God's divine law—revealing how one has many penalties while the other carries a single, non-negotiable consequence: death. Through a careful examination of Romans 3:19-20, Pastor Mark illuminates how the Mosaic Law serves not as a pathway to salvation but as a mirror reflecting our inherent sinfulness and desperate need for a savior. The Ten Commandments aren't merely rules but expressions of God's holy character—a standard of perfection humanity could never achieve alone. At the heart of this message lies a profound truth: God has provided one command for our eternal security—approach Him solely through Jesus Christ. As Pastor Mark explains, "Don't approach me in your own goodness; you could never meet the demands of my perfection." Jesus stands as the only mediator between God and humanity, the perfect fulfillment of the law who offers us justification not through our works but through faith in His completed sacrifice. The question Pastor Mark challenges every listener with is powerfully simple: How are you entering eternity? Will you represent yourself before God's perfect standard, or will you accept Jesus as your advocate? This isn't about religious exclusivity but about God's sovereign provision of one perfect solution to our universal, inherent problem of sin. No Jesus - no God. Know Jesus - know God. Support the show In lieu of eternity, sermons and musical artists are featured to extol JESUS CHRIST as the sole hope for the eternal souls of humanity.

    50 min

  8. 05/15/2025

    The Divine Purpose of Our Gifts

    Send us a text The concept of spiritual gifts lies at the heart of Christian service and community building. In Pastor Mark's recent message, he draws a critical distinction between worldly charisma and spiritual charisma that every believer needs to understand. While today's definition of charisma typically describes someone who can draw attention to themselves, spiritual charisma (or spiritual gifts) serves an entirely different purpose in God's kingdom.Spiritual gifts, as explained in 1 Corinthians, are divine endowments given to every believer by the Holy Spirit. These gifts aren't meant to elevate the individual but rather to strengthen and build up the church body. Pastor Mark emphasizes that these gifts are expressions of God's grace—undeserved, unmerited favor that empowers believers to share in God's reconciliation work. The spotlight should never be on the gift-bearer but on Jesus Christ, whom we are called to glorify through our service.Drawing from 1 Corinthians 14, Pastor Mark illustrates how the early church struggled with this very issue. The Corinthian believers were using their spiritual gifts—particularly speaking in tongues—in ways that brought glory to themselves rather than edifying the church. Paul's instruction was clear: "Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church." This teaching remains profoundly relevant today when self-promotion often overshadows genuine service.A critical understanding emerges from this teaching: our spiritual gifts are not personal possessions to be paraded for attention but rather tools for ministry entrusted to us for the benefit of others. Just as a natural gift is something given without expectation of return and primarily benefits the recipient, our spiritual gifts should operate in the same manner. God's ultimate gift—sending Jesus—didn't benefit God but humanity. Similarly, our gifts aren't meant to benefit ourselves but others in the body of Christ.Pastor Mark offers three essential applications for believers. First, we must serve with our gifts. When we require an audience to give maximum effort, pride has elevated ourselves above Christ's example of humble service. Jesus himself said in Mark 10:45 that He "came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and give His life as a ransom for many." Second, we must cultivate our gifts through practice, development, and attention. Scripture instructs us not to neglect our spiritual gifts but to "stir them up" and "fan them into flame." Third, we must avoid maneuvering or positioning ourselves or others for personal gain through our gifts.True spiritual maturity is demonstrated not by showcasing our gifts but by using them to strengthen others without seeking recognition.As we reflect on how we're utilizing our spiritual gifts, Pastor Mark challenges us with four penetrating questions: Does my gift benefit me or others? Am I developing my gift routinely? Am I trying to maneuver myself into prominence rather than allowing God to promote me through humility? And fundamentally, do I even know what my spiritual gift or gifts are? In a world obsessed with self-promotion and personal branding, this countercultural message reminds us that our gifts find their true purpose not in drawing attention to ourselves but in fulfilling our divine calling as believers gifted to reconcile others to God through Jesus Christ. Tune in for this week's broadcast: 'The Divine Purpose of Our Gift(s)', with Pastor Mark D. Ingram. Support the show

    31 min
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Sermons and musical artists featured to extol JESUS CHRIST as the sole hope for the eternal souls of humanity.

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