2026-07-12 Beware of Leaven

2026-07-12 Beware of Leaven
by Pastor Chris Berg
 
Scripture Reference: Mark 8:1-21
8 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”
4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”
5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied.
6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9 About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, 10 he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12 He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” 13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod
14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”
17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
“Twelve,” they replied.
20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
They answered, “Seven.”
21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”


Mandeville Bible Church   "Where God's Word is Our Foundation"
https://www.mandevillebiblechurch.org/
Come and see that God's Word is alive and at work right here in Mandeville.. and throughout the world!
All are welcome. 

217 Carroll Street, Mandeville, LA 70448
Church Office: (985) 626-3114
Sunday Service: 9:30AM
Adult Sunday School: 10:45-11:30AM

Nursery and Children's church available.

2026-07-05 A True Confession

2026-07-05 A True Confession
by Pastor Chris Berg
 
Scripture: Mark 7:31-37 
31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.
33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Mandeville Bible Church   "Where God's Word is Our Foundation"
https://www.mandevillebiblechurch.org/
Come and see that God's Word is alive and at work right here in Mandeville.. and throughout the world!
All are welcome. 
217 Carroll Street, Mandeville, LA 70448
Church Office: (985) 626-3114
Sunday Service: 9:30AM
Adult Sunday School: 10:45-11:30AM
Nursery and Children's church available.

2026-06-28 Even Dogs Eat Crumbs

2026-06-28 Even Dogs Eat Crumbs

by Pastor Chris Berg

Scripture Reference: Mark 7:24-30

24 Jesus got up and went away from there to the region of Tyre. And when He had entered a house, He wanted no one to know of it; yet He could not escape notice. 25 But after hearing of Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And He was saying to her, “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered and *said to Him, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.” 29 And He said to her, “Because of this answer go; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” 30 And going back to her home, she found the child lying on the bed, the demon having left.

Mandeville Bible Church   "Where God's Word is Our Foundation"

https://www.mandevillebiblechurch.org/

Come and see that God's Word is alive and at work right here in Mandeville.. and throughout the world!

All are welcome. 

217 Carroll Street, Mandeville, LA 70448

Church Office: (985) 626-3114

Sunday Service: 9:30AM

Adult Sunday School: 10:45-11:30AM

Nursery and Children's church available.

2026-06-14 The Need for Radical Purity

2026-06-14 The Need for Radical Purity
by Pastor Chris Berg

Scripture Reference: Mark 7:14-23

14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”

17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)

20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

Mandeville Bible Church   "Where God's Word is Our Foundation"
https://www.mandevillebiblechurch.org/

Come and see that God's Word is alive and at work right here in Mandeville.. and throughout the world!
All are welcome. 

217 Carroll Street, Mandeville, LA 70448
Church Office: (985) 626-3114
Sunday Service: 9:30AM
Adult Sunday School: 10:45-11:30AM
Nursery and Children's church available.

2026-06-07 Grow Where You've Been Planted

2026-06-07 Grow Where You've Been Planted
by Seth Carroll 
 
Scripture Reference: Jeremiah 29:1-11

29 This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 (This was after King Jehoiachin and the queen mother, the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the skilled workers and the artisans had gone into exile from Jerusalem.) 3 He entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It said:

4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.

10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.


Mandeville Bible Church   "Where God's Word is Our Foundation"
https://www.mandevillebiblechurch.org/

Come and see that God's Word is alive and at work right here in Mandeville.. and throughout the world!
All are welcome. 

217 Carroll Street, Mandeville, LA 70448
Church Office: (985) 626-3114
Sunday Service: 9:30AM
Adult Sunday School: 10:45-11:30AM
Nursery and Children's church available.

2026-05-31 Warning About Traditionalism

2026-05-31 Warning About Traditionalism
by Pastor Chris Berg
Scripture Reference: Mark 7:1-13

The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, 2 and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders; 4 and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots.) 5 The Pharisees and the scribes *asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?” 6 And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me.
7 ‘But in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’
8 Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”
9 He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, is to be put to death’; 11 but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ 12 you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; 13 thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”


Notes, outline and a summary from this sermon are made by Pocket AI and found here:
This sermon serves as a warning against traditionalism—the elevation of man-made customs over divine commandment.

Core Thesis

Traditionalism is the maintenance of tradition specifically to resist change or as a substitute for a relationship with God. While traditions can be useful tools, traditionalism acts as a "taskmaster" that chokes the Word of God, rendering worship worthless and distancing the heart from the Creator.

The Pharisaical Model: Hard-Hearted Soil

Pastor identifies the scribes and Pharisees as the primary examples of "hard-packed soil" from the Parable of the Sower. Their resistance to Jesus is rooted in three historical friction points:
• Authority: They accused Jesus of blasphemy when he forgave sins.

• Social Boundaries: They criticized his association with "sinners" and tax collectors.

• Legalism: They sought to discredit him over Sabbath observations and ceremonial washing.

Three Warnings Against Traditionalism

Traditionalism Encourages Hypocrisy
Adherence to tradition allows for an outward appearance of righteousness while the heart remains distant. Pastor cites Martin Luther’s observations of the Roman Church and the sale of indulgences as historical parallels where "going through the motions" replaced genuine repentance.

Traditionalism Results in Worthless Worship
Worship is not validated by its age, style (Gothic vs. Contemporary), or the use of specific instruments. Pastor argues that both the "Emerging Church" (laser lights/fog) and "Ancient-Future" movements (liturgical/incense) can fall into the same trap if the focus is on the experience rather than faithfulness to Scripture.
• The Goal: To be faithful, not "traditional" or "contemporary."

• The Authority: Sanctification comes through Truth (the Word), not tradition.

Traditionalism Elevates Man Over God
By prioritizing the "tradition of the elders" over the commandments of God, the Pharisees effectively claimed that man’s word is more authoritative than God’s. Pastor highlights the practice of "Corban" (Mark 7:11) as a manipulative use of religious tradition to avoid the biblical command to honor and support one's parents.

Proper Engagement with Tradition

To benefit from traditions without becoming a traditionalist, Pastor proposes two filters:
• Subservience to Scripture: If a tradition opposes the Word or becomes a heavy burden, it must be dropped. The Word of God is sufficient; tradition is optional.

• Prioritize the Goal: Ask why a tradition exists. If the purpose is no longer relevant (illustrated by the "cutting the ends off the ham" anecdote), the energy should be redirected toward the mission of the Great Commission.

Conclusion

The Pharisees missed the presence of the Eternal Creator because they were preoccupied with an argument over hand washing. The sermon concludes with a call to hold fast to the finished work of Christ rather than the "uncomfortable traditions" of men.

Mandeville Bible Church   "Where God's Word is Our Foundation"
https://www.mandevillebiblechurch.org/

Come and see that God's Word is alive and at work right here in Mandeville.. and throughout the world!
All are welcome. 

217 Carroll Street, Mandeville, LA 70448
Church Office: (985) 626-3114
Sunday Service: 9:30AM
Adult Sunday School: 10:45-11:30AM
Nursery and Children's church available.

2026-05-24 Remember His Compassion

2026-05-24 Remember His Compassion
by Pastor Chris Berg
 
Scripture Reference: Mark 6:30-56

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. 36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”

They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”

When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

Notes, outline and a summary from this sermon are made by Pocket AI and found here:

Sermon Summary: The Compassionate Shepherd (Mark 6:30–56)

Executive Brief This teaching examines five distinct actions of Jesus in Mark 6, arguing that they are unified by a single motivation: compassion. By analyzing these events through the lens of Old Testament typology—specifically the "Sheep and Shepherd" imagery in Ezekiel and Zechariah—the sermon establishes Jesus as the promised, singular Shepherd who provides rest, teaching, and security to his people.

Key Insights

• The Five Actions:

  1. Providing a Secluded Retreat: Jesus recognizes the disciples' need to decompress after ministry, emphasizing that rest is a necessary component of mission.
  2. Teaching the Crowd: Despite seeking solitude, Jesus is moved by compassion for the people who are "sheep without a shepherd" and prioritizes their spiritual hunger.
  3. Feeding the 5,000: Jesus demonstrates his authority and identity as the promised Messiah who feeds his flock, fulfilling the covenant of peace.
  4. Calming Fear (Walking on Water): The focus is not the miracle of walking on water, but Jesus’ intervention to alleviate the disciples' terror, revealing their hardened hearts and lack of understanding regarding his identity.
  5. Healing the Desperate: Jesus responds to the desperate pleas of those in Gennesaret, demonstrating his ongoing care for the physical and spiritual needs of his own.

• Theological Thesis: The disciples' failure to understand Jesus’ authority (as seen in their astonishment at his walking on water) stems from a "hardened heart" and a failure to apply the lessons of the loaves. True biblical worldview requires active application of Scripture; without it, understanding is lost.

Nuance & Friction

• The "Hard Heart" Warning: The sermon challenges the congregation to avoid the disciples' mistake of witnessing divine power without internalizing its significance. It warns that neglecting the Word of God leads to a loss of spiritual understanding.
• Dependence vs. Dignity: A core tension identified is the human desire for dignity over dependence. The sermon argues that true spiritual health requires acknowledging our need for the Shepherd, even when it feels undignified or desperate.
• The Reality of Trials: Addressing the "ain't nothing easy" nature of life, the sermon posits that trials are not evidence of abandonment but are the crucible for character, maturity, and completeness in Christ.

Mandeville Bible Church   "Where God's Word is Our Foundation"
https://www.mandevillebiblechurch.org/

Come and see that God's Word is alive and at work right here in Mandeville.. and throughout the world!
All are welcome. 

217 Carroll Street, Mandeville, LA 70448
Church Office: (985) 626-3114
Sunday Service: 9:30AM
Adult Sunday School: 10:45-11:30AM
Nursery and Children's church available.