Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/11/20 — Thanksgiving
2022, November 20 @ 11:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/11/20 — Last Sunday
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/11/24 — Thanksgiving
2022, November 19 @ 10:30 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/11/20 — Last Sunday of the Church Year
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/11/20 — Last Sunday
2022, November 10 @ 3:50 PM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/11/13 — Second Last Sunday of the Church Year
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/11/13 — 2nd Last
2022, November 6 @ 11:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/11/06 — Last Judgment
2022, November 5 @ 10:00 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/11/06 — Third Last Sunday of the Church Year
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/11/06 — Last Judgment
2022, October 30 @ 11:40 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/10/23 — Reformation
2022, October 29 @ 11:30 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/10/30 — Fourth to Last Sunday of the Church Year
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/10/30 — Reformation
2022, October 23 @ 11:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/10/23 — Pentecost 20
Added 1920 x 1080 WELS Connection video to service date 2022/10/23 — Pentecost 20
2022, October 21 @ 6:20 PM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/10/23 — Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/10/23 — Pentecost 20
2022, October 16 @ 11:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/10/16 — Pentecost 19
2022, October 15 @ 10:30 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/10/16 — Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/10/16 — Pentecost 19
2022, October 9 @ 11:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/10/09 — Pentecost 18
2022, October 8 @ 10:50 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/10/09 — Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/10/09 — Pentecost 18
2022, October 2 @ 11:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/10/02 — Pentecost 17
2022, October 1 @ 10:30 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/10/02 — Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/10/02 — Pentecost 17
2022, September 25 @ 12:00 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/09/25 — Pentecost 16
Added 1920 x 1080 WELS Connection video to service date 2022/09/25 — Pentecost 16
2022, September 24 @ 9:30 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/09/25 — Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/09/25 — Pentecost 16
2022, September 18 @ 11:20 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/09/18 — Pentecost 15
2022, September 17 @ 10:00 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/09/18 — Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/09/18 — Pentecost 15
2022, September 11 @ 11:20 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/09/11 — Pentecost 14
2022, September 10 @ 11:30 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/09/11 — Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/09/11 — Pentecost 14
2022, September 4 @ 11:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/09/04 — Pentecost 13
2022, September 3 @ 10:10 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/09/04 — Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/09/04 — Pentecost 13
2022, August 28 @ 11:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/08/28 — Pentecost 12
Added 1920 x 1080 WELS Connection video to service date 2022/08/28 — Pentecost 12
2022, August 27 @ 10:10 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/08/28 — Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/08/28 — Pentecost 12
2022, August 21 @ 11:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/08/21 — Pentecost 11
2022, August 20 @ 10:10 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/08/21 — Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/08/21 — Pentecost 11
2022, August 14 @ 11:20 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/08/14 — Pentecost 10
2022, August 13 @ 10:20 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/08/14 — Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/08/14 — Pentecost 10
2022, August 7 @ 11:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/08/07 — Pentecost 9
2022, August 6 @ 10:30 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/08/07 — Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/08/07 — Pentecost 9
2022, July 31 @ 11:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/07/31 — Pentecost 8
Added 1920 x 1080 WELS Connection video to service date 2022/07/31 — Pentecost 8
2022, July 30 @ 9:45 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/07/31 — Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/07/31 — Pentecost 8
2022, July 24 @ 11:20 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/07/24 — Pentecost 7
2022, July 23 @ 10:50 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/07/24 — Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/07/24 — Pentecost 7
2022, July 17 @ 11:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/07/17 — Pentecost 6
2022, July 16 @ 10:10 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/07/17 — Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/07/17 — Pentecost 6
2022, July 10 @ 11:20 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/07/10 — Pentecost 5
2022, July 9 @ 11:10 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/07/10 — Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/07/10 — Pentecost 5
2022, July 3 @ 11:20 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/07/03 — Pentecost 4
2022, July 2 @ 11:20 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/07/03 — Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/07/03 — Pentecost 4
2022, June 26 @ 11:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/06/26 — Pentecost 3
Added 1920 x 1080 WELS Connection video to service date 2022/06/26 — Pentecost 3
2022, June 25 @ 12:30 PM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/06/26 — Third Sunday after Pentecost
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/06/26 — Pentecost 3
2022, June 19 @ 11:20 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/06/19 — Pentecost 2
2022, June 18 @ 10:30 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/06/19 — Second Sunday after Pentecost
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/06/19 — Pentecost 2
2022, June 12 @ 11:40 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/06/12 — Pentecost 1
2022, June 11 @ 1:30 PM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/06/12 — Pentecost 1
2022, June 11 @ 7:00 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/06/11 — Funeral for Carolyn Brunssen
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/06/12 — Pentecost 1
2022, June 5 @ 11:50 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/06/05 — Pentecost Day
2022, June 4 @ 10:20 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/06/05 — Day of Pentecost
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/06/05 — Pentecost Day
2022, May 29 @ 11:40 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/05/29 — Easter 7
Added 1920 x 1080 WELS Connection video to service date 2022/05/29 — Easter 7
2022, May 28 @ 12:30 PM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/05/29 — Seventh Sunday of Easter
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/05/29 — Easter 7
2022, May 22 @ 11:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/05/22 — Easter 6
2022, May 21 @ 10:40 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/05/22 — Sixth Sunday of Easter
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/05/22 — Easter 6
2022, May 15 @ 12:45 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/05/15 — Easter 5
2022, May 14 @ 1:10 PM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/05/15 — Fifth Sunday of Easter
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/05/15 — Easter 5
2022, May 8 @ 11:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/05/08 — Easter 4
2022, May 7 @ 1:30 PM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/05/08 — Fourth Sunday of Easter
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/05/08 — Easter 4
2022, May 1 @ 11:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/05/01 — Easter 3
2022, April 30 @ 12:40 PM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/05/01 — Third Sunday of Easter
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/05/01 — Easter 3
2022, April 24 @ 11:20 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/04/24 — Easter 2
Added 1920 x 1080 WELS Connection video to service date 2022/04/24 — Easter 2
2022, April 23 @ 12:40 PM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/04/24 — Second Sunday of Easter
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/04/24 — Easter 2
2022, April 17 @ 11:25 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/04/17 — Easter Sunday
2022, April 15 @ 9:25 PM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/04/17 — Easter Sunday
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/04/17 — Easter Sunday
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/04/15 — Good Friday
2022, April 15 @ 9:05 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/04/15 — Good Friday
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/04/14 — Maundy Thursday
2022, April 10 @ 2:10 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/04/15 — Good Friday
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/04/14 — Maundy Thursday
2022, April 10 @ 11:20 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/04/06 — Lent 6A
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/04/10 — Lent 6B
2022, April 9 @ 4:00 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/04/10 — Sixth Sunday in Lent
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/04/10 — Lent 6B
2022, April 4 @ 11:15 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/03/30 — Lent 5A
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/04/06 — Sixth Midweek Lenten Vespers
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/04/06 — Lent 6A
2022, April 3 @ 11:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/04/03 — Lent 5B
2022, April 2 @ 7:00 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/04/03 — Fifth Sunday in Lent
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/04/03 — Lent 5B
2022, March 30 @ 8:05 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/03/30 — Fifth Midweek Lenten Vespers
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/03/30 — Lent 5A
2022, March 27 @ 11:20 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/03/27 — Lent 4B
Added 1920 x 1080 WELS Connection video to service date 2022/03/27 — Lent 4B
2022, March 26 @ 2:00 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/03/23 — Lent 4A
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/03/20 — Lent 3B
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/03/16 — Lent 3A
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/03/27 — Fourth Sunday in Lent
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/03/27 — Lent 4B
2022, March 23 @ 9:15 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/03/23 — Fourth Midweek Lenten Vespers
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/03/23 — Lent 4A
2022, March 18 @ 3:20 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/03/20 — Third Sunday in Lent
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/03/20 — Lent 3B
2022, March 13 @ 11:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/03/13 — Lent 2B
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/03/09 — Lent 2A
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/03/16 — Third Midweek Lenten Vespers
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/03/16 — Lent 3A
2022, March 12 @ 9:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/03/13 — Second Sunday in Lent
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/03/13 — Lent 2B
2022, March 7 @ 9:10 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/03/09 — Second Midweek Lenten Vespers
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/03/09 — Lent 2A
2022, March 6 @ 12:20 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/03/06 — Lent 1B
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/03/02 — Ash Wednesday
2022, March 5 @ 1:30 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/03/06 — First Sunday in Lent
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/03/06 — Lent 1B
2022, March 1 @ 5:30 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/03/02 — Ash Wednesday
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/03/02 — Ash Wednesday
2022, February 27 @ 11:20 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/02/27 — Transfiguration
Added 1920 x 1080 WELS Connection video to service date 2022/02/27 — Transfiguration
2022, February 26 @ 7:30 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/02/27 — Transfiguration of Our Lord
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/02/27 — Transfiguration
2022, February 20 @ 11:50 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/02/20 — Epiphany 7
2022, February 19 @ 3:45 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/02/20 — Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/02/20 — Epiphany 7
2022, February 13 @ 12:40 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/02/13 — Epiphany 6
2022, February 12 @ 5:15 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/02/13 — Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/02/13 — Epiphany 6
2022, February 6 @ 11:20 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/02/06 — Epiphany 5
2022, February 5 @ 7:50 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/02/06 — Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/02/06 — Epiphany 5
2022/02/04 — James W Moore Memorial has been removed from our church website since it is for main services only, but is still available (and archived) on our YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/HdsHC9_SgKw
2022, February 3 @ 10:00 AM
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/02/04 — James W Moore Memorial
2022, January 30 @ 11:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/01/30 — Epiphany 4
Added 1920 x 1080 WELS Connection video to service date 2022/01/30 — Epiphany 4
2022, January 29 @ 3:20 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/01/30 — Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/01/30 — Epiphany 4
2022, January 25 @ 8:10 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/01/23 — Epiphany 3
2022, January 22 @ 1:00 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/01/23 — Third Sunday after the Epiphany
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/01/23 — Epiphany 3
2022, January 16 @ 11:30 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/01/16 — Epiphany 2
2022, January 15 @ 6:30 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/01/16 — Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/01/16 — Epiphany 2
2022, January 9 @ 8:00 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/01/09 — Epiphany 1
2022, January 8 @ 5:00 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/01/09 — First Sunday after the Epiphany
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/01/09 — Epiphany 1
2022, January 2 @ 11:20 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2022/01/02 — Christmas 2
2022, January 1 @ 12:05 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2022/01/02 — Second Sunday after Christmas
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2022/01/02 — Christmas 2
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2021/12/26 — First Sunday after Christmas
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2021/12/25 — Christmas Day
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2021/12/26 — Christmas 1
Added 1920 x 1080 WELS Connection video to service date 2021/12/26 — Christmas 1
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2021/12/25 — Christmas Day
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2021/12/24 — Christmas Eve
2021, December 20 @ 9:20 PM
Computer Problems: Sorry no video was recorded or streamed for the morning of Dec 19 (Advent 4)
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2021/12/24 — Christmas Eve
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2021/12/24 — Christmas Eve
2021, December 18 @ 9:50 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2021/12/19 — Fourth Sunday in Advent
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2021/12/19 — Advent 4
2021, December 12 @ 12:45 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2021/12/12 — Advent 3
2021, December 11 @ 6:35 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2021/12/12 — Third Sunday in Advent
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2021/12/12 — Advent 3
2021, December 5 @ 11:35 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2021/12/05 — Advent 2
2021, December 4 @ 8:15 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2021/12/05 — Second Sunday in Advent
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2021/12/05 — Advent 2
2021, November 28 @ 11:25 AM
Added 1920 x 1080 Sermon video to service date 2021/11/28 — Advent 1
Added 1920 x 1080 WELS Connection video to service date 2021/11/28 — Advent 1
2021, November 27 @ 5:40 PM
Added 1920 x 1080 Service video to service date 2021/11/28 — First Sunday in Advent
Updated top video to the 1280 x 720 video for service date 2021/11/28 — Advent 1
As we await Christ’s return, we want to avoid two extremes: impatience and indifference. We don’t despair that the deliverance doesn’t come as quickly as we’d like, and we also don’t doubt that the deliverance will indeed come. The key is looking to the Scriptures — to those wonderful promises our Savior has never gone back on and never will.
Certain days mean different things to different people. That will be most true on the Last Day. On his calendar, God has written in ink the day when Jesus will return to “judge the living and the dead.” In the final weeks of the church year it is natural for us to think about the Last Day and what it means. The Last Day will mean very different things to different people.
Lord, keep us mindful of the Judgment! He will come to judge the living and the dead. We confess it every Sunday, but often live like those are empty words. Number your days aright, and gain a heart of wisdom. Today the Church prays that God keep us ever mindful of the Last Judgment that we might be found in faith, fruitful in word and deed. Then there is no need to fear the judgment, but rather look forward to the day of our redemption.
What a treasure we have in the Reformation! The bright light of the “new covenant” with God that comes by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ penetrated the darkness of false doctrine to give freedom to the oppressed heart. As sons and daughters of the Reformation, may we remain in the truth of that saving Gospel.
When Jesus returns, will he find faith on the earth? In considering his question from last week, we might assume that lack of faith to be easy to spot in immorality and disdain for God. But often it’s not an obvious rejection of God and his Word. Often it’s something that claims to be faith but trusts in one’s own “obedience” and “good works”…
Even though prayer is a natural impulse in the heart of the believer, we have much to learn about prayers. We need Jesus to teach us to ask for those things our heavenly Father promises. We need to learn to claim in prayer what he wants for us more than what we want from him. What he wants for us will never change, and it will never fail.
There are two key factors which influence the intensity of gratitude. The first is “deservedness.” We may be less grateful when we feel we deserve (at least partially) some help or benefit. The second factor is generosity. We may be stunned when a gift seems way over the top. Applied to God: What does he owe us? And what has he done for us? When faith rightly answers both those questions, we overflow with gratitude.
Is it a duty or a privilege to serve? — Yes. But only faith that increases our duties leads us to delight in them. For through faith, we know we serve the One who first came to serve us. We consider it a privilege to imitate Christ in our service to others. Just as his service to us brought him great joy, so does our service to him and others.
Real wealth is found in heavenly treasure. Earthly riches are not a reward for doing good, but rather an opportunity to do good. What seems to help in life fails in death; what seems to fail in life helps in death.
Money is a master the devil often uses to tempt us. Jesus knows that serving money makes it impossible to serve God. The human heart is not big enough for both. So our Savior exposes the futility of serving money and also helps us see that the only one truly worth serving is our gracious, loving God.
Mankind’s natural state is one of complete spiritual helplessness, a profound lostness. Wandering around physically lost can lead to winding up in bad places. But wandering around spiritually lost puts you in the worst place of all. Fortunately, Jesus does not leave us alone in our lostness. He relentlessly seeks us. He involves the rest of His Church in seeking the lost and in rejoicing over the found.
Following Jesus involves making tough decisions. We have to decide which is more important — our love for him and his Word, or our love for other things. So Jesus invites us to count the cost of following him. Assessing what we have apart from Jesus to what we have in him, the outcome of the calculations is obvious. No matter what we lose following Jesus, it pales in comparison to what we gain.
Jesus (who was absolutely focused on doing all it took to save us eternally) gives us the focus we need for our lives. Often he does that by turning our faulty thinking around completely (“the first last and the last first”). Today he shows us the humble will be exalted and the exalted will be humbled. True and saving faith is always humble, because it always looks to Jesus instead of self.
The paths of eternity are twofold: total joy in heaven or utter destruction in hell. Every human being will find himself in one or the other for all eternity. The way to heaven is through the “narrow door” of Jesus Christ, trusting in him alone for salvation and abandoning the works of the law as a way to earn eternal life.
Earthly wealth is meaningless without God. The meaning of life cannot be found in the abundance of earthly possessions but in the abundance of heavenly blessings. The believer recognizes that everything the world seeks and offers is meaningless. Rather, he sets his heart on the treasure found in the fullness of Christ Jesus, our Savior.
Our readings today expose the foolishness of worry and fear. Jesus warns against giving too little attention to heavenly treasure. Only he provides the antidote. He holds before our eyes the loving Father we have through faith. The same Father who tells us to seek the kingdom he is pleased to give us and he promises to take care of everything else as well.
The journey from spiritual death to spiritual life begins with a recognition of guilt. We have sinned and fall short of fulfilling the Law of the Lord. Through contrition and repentance, God prepares the hearts to receive the gift of the Gospel. And the faith that results responds with “fruits” — our lives of faith and love.
In a certain sense, prayer is a natural impulse within the heart of creatures toward their Creator. What does not come naturally, however, is the focused prayer God wants for us. Our prayers are based on the unique and unearned relationship we have with God. Prayer is an opportunity to bring our will into conformity with his rather than the other way around.
The life of faith walks in step with the will of God and doesn’t follow the meandering ways of this world. Elijah’s response to the Lord’s call stands in contrast to the initially willing, but ultimately uncommitted “followers” of Jesus. Our Prayer of the Day says it well, “Pour into our hearts such love for you that, loving you above all things, we may obtain your promises…”
Is faithfulness to Christ worth the trouble it brings? The life of faith is lived in a godless world and is met with persecution. With our Savior, we bear his cross daily. Our Lord, however, uses even these sufferings to refine us. Strengthened through his means of grace, we boldly confess his name and trust his perfect plan.
We are so blessed to live in this great country. God has blessed our nation throughout its history, and has blessed us with its freedoms. But he gives the greatest freedom, the liberty that lasts forever, only through his Son.
Last Sunday we heard that faith trusts God’s power completely. This Sunday’s lessons sound the depth of that faith. Can our faith trust completely, even when faced with death itself? Facing our own mortality, or that of our loved ones, brings out the weakest parts of our character. And so, today the Church prays: Be gracious to us in our weakness and give us strength.
Faith trusts in God’s power completely. No matter how impossible the problem, faith believes that God can and will help. Faith like that, given by the Holy Spirit, is not reserved exclusively for the direct descendants of Abraham. Rather, the gift of faith comes to every heart in the spiritual House of Israel.
The Bible clearly teaches us that we have one undivided God. Yet there are three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are all fully God. In this God alone we find our beginning, our redemption, and our restoration to everlasting holiness.
Confirmation is a reminder of the blessings we have received from the Lord in our baptisms, in our Christian training, and in the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. We are reminded to always stay close to this caring and loving God by always staying close to his holy Word and Sacraments.
The season of Easter draws to a close as Jesus prays his “high-priestly prayer.” Now as then, our ascended Savior prays for Spirit-inspired unity between the Father and his church. With much anticipation, we look for the coming of the Holy Spirit, as we confidently live a new life of faith in our ascended Lord.
The infinite love of God is our motivation and power to love him and each other. Such love shows itself in listening to what God says in his Word, defending it from falsehood, and reaching out with it to others.
On “Good Shepherd Sunday” our attention is fixed on Jesus the Good Shepherd of the sheep. His care and concern are recognized by those whom he has called as his sheep. Even in suffering, his sheep know his care for them and follow him.
With his perfect life, innocent death and glorious resurrection, Christ paid for all our sins and won for us eternal life. Therefore, it is our privilege to share this good news with the rest of the world.
The fact of Jesus’ resurrection is our assurance that we have eternal life. Our faith, based on our risen Savior, gives us what we need for this life and for the life to come. Through his Word we receive our faith and the strength it needs. In our risen Savior, we have the victory and want to live like people who know that.
On this most holy of days, we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord. Connected by grace, through faith, to our risen Lord, we rejoice in the victory of the resurrection and in full confidence of our own resurrection from the dead.
Tonight the church remembers the crucifixion of our Lord. Our remembrance, while solemn, is not a message of gloom, but the awe-filled adoration of the Son of God as he offers up his life as the Lamb of God. Good Friday is part of the larger celebration of the mystery of salvation begun yesterday (Maundy Thursday) and culminating at the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord (Easter). Worship on Good Friday is not a funeral service for Jesus, but an austere time of reflection, intercession, adoration of the Lamb of God, and quiet meditation. We gather to celebrate the sacrifice of the cross.
Maundy Thursday ushers the believer into the “Three Holy Days” of Christendom. But something more than history is celebrated today: The holy sacrament that extends to the believer the very body and blood of the Savior and declares reconciliation through this most personal communion with Jesus. In him, with him, through him, believers are reconciled to God and to one another.
Here is the culmination of our Lenten journey. Here is the final preparation for the Paschal Mystery. Our hearts have been prepared to ponder anew the passion of our Lord and his glorious triumph over death. With repentant hearts, we join his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, confident in his everlasting rule, hailing him as our eternal King. Also we remember that he is our King because he is the Messiah, the promised Son sent as the sacrificial Lamb of God. Blessed is he!
On our journey to the cross and tomb: we have seen our Savior’s battle waged against temptation; we have found confidence in his resolution to carry out the Father’s plan; we have turned to him at his invitation to draw near with repentant hearts; we have rejoiced in his loving and forgiving embrace. In these last hours before Holy Week, we put our past ways behind us and strive for that for which Christ has laid hold of us.
At its heart, our Lenten journey must be one of Spirit-wrought repentance. Here is the Lenten invitation: turn from sin fully confident of the Lord’s deliverance.
The Son of God, full of grace and truth, came into our world to rescue us from slavery to sin and the devil. Through his life, sufferings, and death, he has set us free. Now we live in the freedom and light of the truth — the truth of salvation only by God’s grace and only through the work of Jesus Christ.
Each of us battles with temptations every day, and the results are too obvious to mention. Christ was no stranger to temptation, either. He battled, yet was without sin… for us and for our eternal righteousness. This message of victory gives us confidence as we journey through the wilderness of sin in true repentance.
Sinful people’s response is to try to minimize their sin. Such self-righteous thoughts lead to eternal death. We need the Spirit to give us repentant hearts. As we begin the season of Lent, we remember that death will one day reduce us to ashes — and our hearts need to be reduced to ashes in repentance now.
Jesus Christ, who humbled himself to come into this world to save us, never lost the glory he has as the Son of God. We see his glory shining in his saving message of salvation, and that glory reflects off us and shines to others as we share the Good News.
Jesus asks us to befriend our enemies, to love those who hate us, and to repay evil with good. Logic would say that is a recipe for being walked all over. Yet, have we not seen this tactic work? When we were Christ’s enemies, he loved us to the point of death. He repays our daily evil with the daily goodness of his mercy. In doing so, he has won us for himself. Following the strategy Jesus lays out is not a capitulation to evil. It is a means of conquering it.
In Jesus’ kingdom, everything seems upside down. But when we see life from the perspective Jesus’ kingdom affords, we are seeing life as it really is. As Martin Luther wrote, “A theology of glory calls evil good and good evil. A theology of the cross calls the thing what it actually is” (Heidelberg Disputation, Thesis 21).
Our sinful inclination is to listen without faith. This can only lead us to the brow of a cliff and throwing Jesus out of our lives. But the Savior of the nations comes with his gracious words of redemption and membership in his body. The Word of the Lord is proclaimed through the revelation of his Anointed One. In him faith is rooted, love flourishes, and salvation is known from generation to generation.
Jesus reveals himself as the Anointed One with the Father’s authority to proclaim himself as fulfillment of prophecy. The Word made flesh points to the Word and boldly proclaims, “Fulfillment.” This bold proclamation carries joy to the very heart of the body of Christ and emboldens its members to proclaim the same.
Jesus comes as the invited guest to reveal the splendor of his glory. As we behold his glory, we delight in our bridegroom. For he delights in us, bringing to us his righteous deliverance, the strength of his Spirit, and the divine dimensions of his immeasurable love.
The long-expected Christ has arrived; the waiting is over as the Son of David is anointed. The Father’s approval sounds from heaven and book-ends the season of Epiphany, when with the Holy Spirit and with power it thunders again on the Mount of Transfiguration as the Son is revealed in glory.
The Son of God came into this world to serve as our Substitute under the law of God. As our brother in humanity, Christ did what we cannot — he perfectly kept that law of God, and he freed us from the guilt and power of sin.
God’s Word for us this day raises us up above the cute and the trite and the trivial; for so many people that is all that Christmas is about. But there is nothing trite or trivial in what has happened today: The deepest lowliness is but the mask for the greatest glory, the glory of him who came to be our Savior!
“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Just as Mary, on the very first Christmas, we too meditate on the mystery of Christmas. Christ was born in order to live, die and rise from the grave for us! The Word became flesh and through faith we see his glory! Glory to God in the highest!
This last Sunday of Advent, we celebrate together the promise and fulfillment of the One born Immanuel, “God with us.” As we get closer and closer to Christmas, we ask God to prepare our hearts to receive the baby born in Bethlehem as his wonderful gift of salvation.
In this season of Advent (Coming) we focus on the three “comings” of Christ: his coming into this world as a baby to put himself in our place and to pay for our sins, his coming in glory at the last day to take us into the full enjoyment of our salvation, and his coming into our hearts through the power of his word which gives us faith and makes that salvation our own. And all three of these comings lead us to REJOICE....
Since Jesus’ coming is sure and so important, he sends out forerunners in the footsteps of John the Baptist who help us to make proper preparation for his coming. They do that with a message not their own. They do it with the message that he himself has given. Pay close attention to those heralds of the coming Lord, the prophets and apostles, and to the pastors and teachers in our midst who have succeeded them to get us ready for his coming.
Keep watch! The unexpectedness of Christ’s coming doesn’t change its certainty. We know he is coming with judgment on the unbelieving world and grace and rescue for his people. We are filled with hope, with love, and with light. With anticipation in our hearts, we long for the fulfillment. “Come, Lord Jesus! Amen!”
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