Mariners Church Weekend Messages

Anchor Passage: (Matthew 26:36-46)In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus is filled with anguish, so much so that He sweats drops of blood. He’s overwhelmed by what’s in front of Him—His sacrifice on the cross—but He obeys the Father, crying out, “Not my will, but Yours.” Join us as we discover how His obedience becomes ours when we believe in Him!

Anchor Passage: (John 14-16, Acts 1:8)Jesus promises His disciples that even after He leaves them, they will never be alone: God will send the Holy Spirit, who will be with us forever. Jesus even insists it is better for us to have the Spirit within us than Jesus beside us. Join us as we see how the Spirit comforts, convicts, and sends us to reach every nation with the good news of Jesus!

Anchor Passage: (John 13:1-17)In the upper room, Jesus does the unthinkable—He washes His disciples’ feet. To His disciples, Jesus’ actions feel wrong, backward, and beneath Him in dignity. But Jesus insists the path to real greatness is found in serving others. Join us as we see how He serves us too and how we can respond in service to others around us!

Anchor Passage: (Mark 11:11, 15-18)We see the same Jesus who welcomes children fashion a whip and clear out God’s temple, turning over the shopkeepers’ tables. What seems to be a contradiction in His character is really the same passion—to see people encounter His grace. He wanted everything that got in the way of people encountering Him removed, everything that dishonored Him turned over. Join us as we discover how He wants to turn over tables in our lives today.

Anchor Passage: (Luke 19:28-44)On Palm Sunday, Jesus arrives in Jerusalem as the promised King—humble, riding on a donkey, just as the prophet Zechariah had predicted hundreds of years before. Even though the crowd celebrates His arrival, we see Jesus weep for the city, knowing they've missed His true purpose. Join us as we discover how Jesus is a very different King, the only One we really need!

A thoughtful look at biblical tensions around borders and immigration. Short history of migration and personal immigration stories set the scene. Scripture passages and Old Testament laws are surveyed. Three tensions are introduced to explain differing Christian views. Practical service opportunities and a call to humility, listening, and unity are offered.

Anchor Passage: (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Romans 12:1, Psalm 139:13-16)Gym memberships, tattoos, plastic surgery. Our Southern California culture is fixated on body image, looking young, and longevity of life. How should we view our bodies? What should we do with them? What wisdom does the Scripture offer us? Join us as we explore how God views our bodies and what it means to honor God with them!

Ed Stetzer, evangelical leader and pastor-scholar, walks through church history and personal denominational roots. He traces early splits, the Reformation, and modern Protestant diversity. He contrasts spiritual family unity with organizational divisions. He outlines reasons denominations form and calls for humility, patience, and practices that reveal unity in Christ.

Spiritual gifts are often divided into three categories: speaking, serving, and sign gifts. It is the sign gifts—gifts like tongues, prophecy, and healing—that are a source of debate. Some have wrongly made Christians feel incomplete if they don’t have these sign gifts, and others have wrongly made some Christians feel weird for using the sign gifts. Join us as we look at these gifts and see how we can all use our gifts to serve others!

Anchor Passage: (Acts 5:27-29, Romans 13:1-3)The apostle Paul instructed Christians in Rome to submit to all the governing authorities, and he wrote those words when Nero, an evil tyrant who killed his own mother and burned his own city, was the emperor. Yet there are other passages where God’s people refused to obey their earthly leaders. How do we know when to obey and when to disobey the leaders of our day and the leaders in the land? Join us as we look at the wisdom Scripture offers!