by Mark Opseth | Oct 5, 2023 | Church Life, Illustration, Wedding
We read in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep... 
by Mark Opseth | Aug 6, 2018 | Church Life, Illustration
This summer our sermon series is Incredible Encounters with God. Each week I’ve enlisted a congregational member to share their own incredible encounter/testimony. Dave emailed me with this message: I had mentioned to you about giving a testimony. If you... 
by Mark Opseth | Apr 4, 2016 | Illustration, Spiritual Life
I remember buying my first suit after graduating from college. I had suits prior to this, but my mom helped picked them out and paid for them. Now I was on my own. Oh, the pressure! A few hours later, I walked out of the mall satisfied with my purchase and my... 
by Mark Opseth | Jul 7, 2012 | Illustration, Wedding
As I was praying about this message for you two, God put on a heart a picture of the planet earth spinning. So I did a little research… In the Philippines, which is close to the Equator, the Earth is spinning at just over 1,000 mph. Here in MN, because we are closer... 
by Mark Opseth | Jun 23, 2012 | Illustration, Spiritual Life
Michelle and I had just pulled into the garage after I had performed a wedding. Our good friend, Kathy, was babysitting our six children. I opened the envelope the newlyweds had handed me and inside was a nice card and a hundred dollar bill. What a blessing!... 
by Mark Opseth | Jun 16, 2011 | Gospel, Illustration, Spiritual Life
Bill was a piano technician, a trade he had learned from his father. As I was praying about the message I would deliver at his memorial service, I got to thinking about how pianos are tuned. Bill had been to our home several times to tune our piano. Tuning takes time... 
by Mark Opseth | Jun 28, 2009 | Death, Gospel, Illustration
This weekend the world had to say goodbye to three people: Michael Jackson (June 25, 2009), Farrah Fawcett (June 25, 2009) and Al Hermiston, Stacy Ashley’s father who himself drown while trying to rescue youth from drowning in a local lake (June 28, 2009). Most... 
by Mark Opseth | Jan 31, 2006 | Illustration
After four boys, my wife and I were excited to bring our new daughter home from the hospital. Our six year old, Zachary, watched as we snipped the hospital bracelets off her tiny wrist and ankle. Knowing Zachary was hoping for a boy, I asked him, “What do you... 
by Mark Opseth | Jul 12, 2001 | Illustration, Scripture Memory
I recall this incident when God’s word was a life-saver! We were living in an apartment in Apple Valley (2001). I got on the elevator and it broke down. There I was, in the heat of the summer, stuck in a box with no phone and no air conditioning. After about...
