Fourth Midweek Lent (March 10, 2021)

As we look at Jesus arrested and taken to the High Priest for his initial trial, we don’t actually see much of a trial but a sham. And one of the biggest shams that night was the High Priest himself. He was the spiritual leader of Israel who should have known pointed people to the Messiah. Instead, in hypocrisy, he tries in every way to find the Messiah guilty of whatever will give him the death penalty. Loving instead the religion of good works for salvation the Jewish religious leaders had stoked and grew so well among themselves and the people, the High Priest did not want to lose that. And so instead of rejoice at the Messiah, he stands in hypocrisy over this “trial.” But we know hypocrisy all to well. Not from the High Priest or the unbelieving world, but even amongst members of God’s church does hypocrisy reside. But more importantly is it forgiven in Christ, and we are made righteous before God!

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Fourth Sunday in Lent (March 14, 2021)

You turn the lights on so you can see what you're doing. But if you know and can see what you're doing, you don' need it. And if you don't want anyone to see what you're doing, you don't want it. Some people work very hard to conceal what they are really doing--their motives, their shameful actions, their guilt. If they keep these things to themselves and no one knows then nothing can happen. Right? Except one thing--You can't hide nothing from God.God sent the Light into the world not so he could see, but so we could see. So we could see our evil ways and the way to salvation! The sinner does not want to look at the Son of God on the cross as it exposes how horrible it is the sins they've committed. But God wants us to come to the light! Not out of fear of punishment, but so we can see clearly! So we can see what he has done and who we are now and how to live as a new person!

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Fifth Sunday in Lent (March 21, 2021)

Isn't it amazing how one seed can be planted and produce a multitude? One kernel of corn can produce an entire ear of kernels. a Couple of pumpkin or squash seeds can produce a giant vine sprawled out to produce many pumpkins or squash each filled with even more seeds.

Isn't it amazing how the death of one person can produce life for many? As Jesus headed to the cross, it was not going to look pleasant or be by any means a small or bearable experience. But therein lies the wisdom of God which is foolishness to men. As a single seed grows into many seeds and great plants, so the death of God's only begotten Son would produce life for many. The cross is anything but glorious, but the death of Christ is the glory of God. And in turn your glory, as you too shall pass from death to life with the body of glory won for you!

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Maundy Thursday Worship (April 1, 2021)

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Good Friday Worship (April 2, 2021)

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Easter Sunday Festival Worship (April 4, 2021)

There can be no doubt that people today are feeling uncertain. There seem to be even fewer things we can depend on than usual. In the middle of such uncertainty, people have a variety of hopes--things they wish would happen. There is no guarantee, however, that their wishes will come true.

Easter gives people something better. It gives us sure and certain hope to the things God has promised. Both his promises about this life and the next are dependent on Jesus' resurrection from the dead. This is why the truth of Easter is so important. It assures us that he can and will keep his promises. We don't need to swish. We can know!

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Second Sunday of Easter (April 11, 2021)

"I'll believe it when I see it!" When I see an elephant fly! When pigs fly! "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." There are some things that are just impossible to believe, so impossible that we think we'd more easily see pigs and elephants fly than what some people tell us. Christianity is founded on the most impossible thing to believe ever: Jesus Christ risen from the dead. Thomas didn't want to believe. He was only going to believe on his own terms. But we don't have to see to believe. We believe because God has recorded everything for us so that we have the truth! John writes in his gospel that his words are written that we may believe Jesus is the Christ and have life in his name! Having trouble believing because of what you're seeing? Hear Jesus talk to YOU when he says "Peace be with you" when he rises from the dead!

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Third Sunday of Easter (April 18, 2021)

Oh the knowledge that they learned that day! Oh the knowledge that Christians have! That you have! Maybe you can remember an “aha” moment in your coming to faith, maybe not. But at some point, even every Christian had to say “what?” The reason you come here to worship isn’t because you weighed the evidence, made a list of the pros and cons, compared the prophecies of the Old Testament with the New Testament fulfillments and decided that Christianity is right. No. Like the disciples, our minds have been opened.

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Fourth Sunday of Easter (April 25, 2021)

This is why we follow the good shepherd. Because it is Jesus who cares for us. It is Jesus who loves us. It is Jesus who knows us. It is Jesus who cares so much about us, his sheep, that he not only fights to protect us, but is the one who will (and did!) even die to save us. He binds us when we are weak every single day! He brings us peace and comfort in the gospel every single day! He gave his own life to fight off the wolves of Satan and the world to lead us to eternal green pastures! It is our good shepherd that we can trust! It is our good shepherd that we follow wherever he may lead! Because the good shepherd shall never abandon, but has laid down his life for you and me!

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Fifth Sunday of Easter (May 2, 2021)

Christ describes himself as a vine, the main part of a plant where the branches get their nutrients. And the branches? We are the branches, receiving nutrients from our Savior so that we abound in bearing fruit, the works which our God loves to see in his people! But if we are not connected to our Savior, we die. Anyone who thinks that they are a beautiful bearer of Christian fruit on their own without being connected to Christ is fooling themselves. Apart from Christ, we can do nothing. If we are not careful we may think we are connected to our vine but may be letting our faith slowly wither more and more.

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Sixth Sunday of Easter (May 9, 2021)

Christians are commanded to produce fruit, and every fruit the Christian produces flows from the vine which is Christ as that vine feeds us with love. The fruit we produce should then look like fruit from that vine, but what do we know about love? The world has a different standard of love. But Christ found joy in real love. Self-sacrificing love. Love that gave for those of us who had nothing desirable in us. Love like that, Jesus says. Looking out. Looking to what others need. Looking to their benefit and willing to lose for their gain. That’s love. That’s the love of Christ. That’s the love that brings him joy. That’s the love that brings us joy. There is no greater love than Christ’s love, and there is no greater joy than sharing it.

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Seventh Sunday of Easter (May 16, 2021)

You don't belong here. You never will. You are too different. Why? Because of one thing: Christ. The evil one will do all he can to hurt you and turn the world against you simply because of Christ. Notice how Jesus in the prayer above does not pray you be protected from the world, but from the evil one, the devil. The sinful world only works on his behalf, trying to haul you into submission by fear and trying to squash the truth with heresy that the sinful heart would gladly profess and hold tightly. But Christ works on your behalf. Satan may have blinded the world so they can't see the truth, leading them to hate you for the truth. But in the walls of the Holy Christian Church, we are spiritually united in safety behind the Word that Christ has armed us with. Let them hate us. We know the truth and we are safe in our God.

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Pentecost Sunday (May 23, 2021)

If you were to walk upon a pile of old, dry bones I would hope you didn't expect them to come together and stand up. A pile of old, dried up bones would be a place of death, not life. yet, see what the Lord does before Ezekiel. The Lord brings these bones together. And breathing into them the breath of life, there stands before Ezekiel a vast army of people! God breaths into us that same breath of life. That breath is none other than his Holy Spirit which works through his Word. As Ezekiel speaks the words of his Lord, so we hear the word of the Lord in his Scriptures and the Holy Spirit has brought us to life and raised us from the dust of death!

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Holy Trinity Sunday (May 30, 2021)

The Trinity--One indivisible God yet with three distinct persons. God is love (1 John 4:8). He doesn't know it. He IS it. Perfect love exists between each person of the Triune God. That love expressed itself for you when the Father loved you to plan your salvation, when the Son loved you enough to die for you, and the Holy Spirit loved you to work in your heart through the gospel (as he still does!). The mystery of the Trinity is impossible to understand, even for believers. But when God loved you so much he wanted to save you, he went all in. God has saved you. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have acted for you. You have eternal life.

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Second Sunday after Pentecost (June 6, 2021)

God takes his whole Word seriously, both he gospel and the law. As we read our text from the gospel of Mark today, we see hearts that think they are above the law of God. And Jesus gives them a stern warning. Jesus says that anyone who refuses to accept the reality of the law also has no need for the reality of the gospel. And to reject the working of the Holy Spirit to bring a desire for the gospel, Jesus says, is eternally dangerous.

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Third Sunday after Pentecost (June 13, 2021)

God's kingdom grows. Like seeds that grow without the farmer's power or a mustard seed that starts small and becomes great, it has nothing to do with the people in the Church. The message of the Church is power. The Word of God penetrates even the worst of sinners' hearts and helps its people endure the harshest of persecution. God's kingdom grows because God's power is in that Word. We don't have to help it. We don't have to strategize to make it more effective. You can't improve on God's power!

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Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (June 20, 2021)

The disciples and others were pretty sure they were on the verge of death as a great storm came upon their boats on the Sea of Galilee and they started filling up with water. And Jesus just slept? In their defense, they did have enough faith to realize that eventually Jesus was the one they needed to go to for help. But after seeing Jesus having already done and preach so many things, you’d think they would jump to Jesus. Instead they assumed he was ignoring all that was going on and thought they finally had to show him how bad things were! And Jesus’ response? “Really? You don’t get it yet?”

It’s a weak faith that thinks your God isn’t listening to you. It’s only a weak faith that thinks your God doesn’t care. But it isn’t that God doesn’t see you or doesn’t care. He wants to strengthen your faith. He allows things to happen to give us a chance to see how much we need him and how much he can do! How faithful he is to all his promises!

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Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (June 27, 2021)

In Mark 4, when Jesus calms the storm, we see that Jesus wants his people to come to him in faith in every disaster and trouble. But is it ever too late for God to act on his promises? Can it every be too late for God to help you? Can things ever be so bad that there's no point in bothering God with our pleas for help? Not according to Jesus. Even when it seemed there was nothing left for Jesus to do for Jairus, he simply wanted Jairus to believe.

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Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (July 4, 2021)

"Where did this man get these things?" the asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, amoung his relatives and in his own home." He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. (Mark 6:1-6)

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Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (July 11, 2021)

Gospel Lesson for today: Mark 6 7-13 Calling the 12 to him he began sending them out 2 by 2. Gave them authority over impure spirits. Teaching the people to repent and driving out many demons.

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Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (July 18, 2021)

This world certainly takes a physical and mental toll on us ever day. And we need to recuperate from that. But even more severely, this world can exhaust us spiritually. And we need to recuperate from that as well. We may take time off from work in this world, but never should we think we need time off from God and his Word. The spiritual rest God gives us is more important, more powerful, and more energizing for us to face the world than just physical rest can give us. Physical rest let's us work for some more hours, but spiritual rest gives us help in trial and hurt and lasts forever. And not just hopefully, but certainly!

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Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (July 25, 2021)

"Save us from Egypt!" the Israelites cried. "Why'd you take us away from Egypt?" they cried. Did the Israelites really know what they want? It doesn't really seem like it, does it? But, what we do know is they wanted. And it seems the Lord kept giving. Here, in Exodus, he gives them food when they needed it.

People want a lot of things in this world. And no matter what it is we want, it all has to come from the Lord. Sometimes he gives and sometimes he doesn't. It's easy to complain when he doesn't give, but it's also easy to complain when he does. Sometimes we might think he never gives good enough. But while God loves to provide, but providing tons of things in this world isn't his point. Because what he really wants us to have is not things for now, but bread that lasts forever--Jesus, the bread of our soul.

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Tenth Sunday after Pentecost (August 1, 2021)

There wasn't much more Paul could do waiting in prison for his impending death. But he was pretty optimistic. Though deserted by his friends and fellow mission workers at his first trial, Paul knew the crown of righteousness was his because the Lord was with him and never left. Because Jesus was going to bring him to the heavenly kingdom even in death. And while Paul had no witness at his first trial, Jesus would be his defense before God, and Paul would be given the crown of righteousness.

We don't all stand in Paul's circumstances. But we are all attacked from every side. By the world, by the devil, and even our own sinful flesh. And whether we feel hurt and alone in earthly trouble or feel as if our souls are under attack, Jesus is there. And those who have Jesus by their side can't lose. We are delivered--either for tomorrow or to enter into our heavenly home where the battle victory is ours and awaits our crowning of righteousness from God!

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Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (August 8, 2021)

Without an adequate amount sleep, our minds and bodies are unable to perform at their peak. The Lord gives his people rest in Exodus. Not sleep. But this rest does perform some similar functions. The rest that Gog gives his people in Exodus and his people in his Church today rejuvenates. It helps them grow and find relaxation as it recuperates. It helps the process things in a way the rest of the world cannot. What he gives the Israelites in Exodus he calls the Sabbath Day. Sabbath being the Hebrew word for “rest.” The Sabbath day was to be a day of rest for his people. He gave them the gift of the Sabbath not just for a day off, but so they could focus on, remember, think about, and worship the Savior who was promised to come who would feed their souls and give them rest from their sins. And while we may no longer be commanded to worship on Saturday, we, too, are commanded by God (nay, given the gift from God) to be able to focus on our spiritual care, our spiritual feeding and our spiritual rest, the rest found in God's Word, the rest Jesus offers when calling all wearied and burdened to come and find rest in him. Gather what you need for your daily bread, but don’t forget that great rest given you by the Lord.

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Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (August 15, 2021)

Wouldn't it be much easier to follow your God and Savior if you understood him better? Many people decide to follow false gods that are easier to follow or try to come up with their own ideas about God to make him easier to follow. But if Satan can get people to turn away from the hard truths Jesus teaches us in his Word, he's also getting us to turn away from what he has to offer us--the words of eternal life! Not everything God teaches or calls us to follow and endure in his Word is easy to understand or follow. But as the Holy Spirit calls us through the Gospel he strengthens our faith so we can understand what his real goal for us is and can follow all of his Word in faith, the trade off is worth it in the end for us thanks to the Bread of Life--the Christ!

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Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (August 22, 2021)

SECOND LESSON: Ephesians 4:30-5:2 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

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Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Worship in the Park August 29, 2021)

"It's what's on the inside that counts." Has anyone ever made you feel better by reminding you of that? You may not be the most popular or the best dressed or best looking person ever. But that isn't what makes you who you are, right? Don't you wish people would see you for who you are on the inside? Well, God does. Unfortunately, it's not pretty. And when God looks into our hearts, it really is what's inside that counts. Jesus points out that you can do whatever you want on the outside, but you can't fix the root of the problem: the sinful heart. All sin starts there. God wants more than just changes on the outside. He wants our hearts. He wants to hold the greatest place of value in everything. He wants to first and foremost love him above all things. Why? Because he can change our hearts. He can fix us. He can fix the root cause of our problem with sin and then our outward actions will mean something. Because then they will not only look good but flow from a heart brimming with the love of Christ!

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Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 5, 2021)

With a world that is so hard and has so many problems, sometimes people find it so hard to believe that they can have a personal relationship with God or that God wants a personal relationship with them. Believe it or not, even as he allows troubles to come into our lives, our God is a very personal God and wants a very personal relationship with you. Sometimes he does take your pains and afflictions away. But even when your troubles remain, he calls to you personally through his Word and his promises. Because not only can he help you and will if it is according to his will, but because he cares so much about you that he sent his Son to die on the cross for you! He took you and your eternal life that personally.

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Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 12, 2021)

Ephesians 6:10-18 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

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Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 19, 2021)

If you ask 100 different people for their opinion, you might get 100 different answers. This is one of the difficulties of a group of people coming together and trying to get things done. Working with other people in a group can do some great things, but can also do some damage if things are not kept under control. And the sinful nature is good at making sure things are not kept under control. Because the sinful nature has one goal: please itself! But James says that kind of thinking is unspiritual and demonic, that is, from the devil. Is that the kind of attitude we have when working as part of the church? This attitude even in church can lead to division, gossip, anger, resentment, etc. In other words, every evil practice. The wisdom that comes from heaven through understanding in faith doesn't worry about itself. It is pure, considerate, submissive, impartial and sincere as it works for others. It doesn't strive to achieve its own agenda, but strives to achieve the goal of Christ, working for the good of others and sharing the gospel in all it does!

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Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 26, 2021)

After the disciples were arguing about which of them was greater in God’s kingdom, Jesus had to tell them that being part of the kingdom of God is not about being great, but about humility, about becoming less and serving each other. He warns them of their attitudes and how such attitudes can lead people away from what they are to be preaching in the first place. He reminds them of the torments of hell and tells them, "Have salt among yourselves." In other words, don't forget your goal is to preserve the Word of God, to watch your life and doctrine so that you can lead people to the truth instead of always trying to be better than everyone else working for the kingdom of God! That is our goal, too. It is about Jesus. It is about sharing the gospel. It is about telling others what he has done. It is about declaring the terribleness of sin and hell but the greatness of the treasures of forgiveness!

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Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (October 3, 2021)

This section of Paul's letter to the Ephesians is fairly well known to many, but, unfortunately, it's also very misunderstood as people read about wives submitting and forget to read before and after. This has nothing to do with hating women. It has nothing to do with any inferiority or superiority between men and women. It's about love. Submitting out of love?! You bet! Paul says the relationship in a family is an illustration of the love between Christ and his church! The church submits to Christ because it loves him! The church submits to Christ, because Christ wants nothing but the best for her! The church submits to Christ because we want to humble ourselves before him to take care of us in all things! And Christ does all things for their good, just as he promises! And in the same way, God calls wives to submit to their husbands out of love! Not to be inferior, or be ordered around, or controlled, but because she loves to submit to him so that he, in turn, can love her in every way so that he can do what is best as he cares for her!

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Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (October 10, 2021)

To what or whom does your heart belong? If you were to choose between God and his will and the things of this world, which would you choose? The world certainly has a lot to offer. The wealthy can afford to get a lot of things, accomplish all of their dreams, and never have to worry about their needs in this life again! But if we're not careful, wealth and possessions do more harm than good. If we're not careful, they can cause us to misplace what is true wealth and happiness. Jesus reminds us that we need to be careful to not love things in this world too much, and to trade sinful greed for the love of God. Our heart needs first and foremost God on its throne. Because we need him for eternal life! And he wants us to have it!

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Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost (October 17, 2021)

Paul devoted his life to this as the Lord called him. Many of you know Paul’s history. He was not always well accepted. He was hated and stoned and chased out of town. Other times he was accepted well, and in those places he even stayed a while and did the work of a missionary AND picked up other work as a tent maker to pay for his journeys. Paul didn't have to pick up other work to support himself. He was definitely in the right to ask for a wage from his listeners. But we didn’t use this right, Paul says. Why? We put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. Paul was a man on a mission, and nothing was going to stop him.

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Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost (October 24, 2021)

Are you lukewarm? Do you take your salvation for granted? Do you have those moments where you can sit through an entire church service and not remember anything? Is church a goal or just a habit? If any of these or others has happened to you then this letter is for you, too. Jesus wants you to become hot again. He wants you to find that zeal again! Because in case you have forgotten, our condition is wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, naked. But Jesus fixes that! He offers the riches we need! He offers the clothes that cover our sin! He gives us the salve that opens our eyes to see how terrible we are but how victorious he is! And he won that place on his Father's throne so he could share it with you!

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Reformation Sunday (October 31, 2021)

Jesus makes it clear as he speaks to his disciples in the gospel of Mark that the end times are not going to be easy for his people. Taking the gospel to the ends of the earth is the love and goal of the Christian in this world. But the world doesn't want it. And the devil will use them and all at his disposal to bury the gospel so deep that no one will hear it again. He will do all within his power to halt Christians from sharing the gospel. Even if it means persecution, lost relationships, or loss of life. It can be frightening. It can disheartening. It can be downright sorrowful at times. So what keeps Christians going? Christians have more power behind them than Satan could ever muster with his worldly tools. When Christians must endure suffering and speak the gospel against all adversity, there is the Holy Spirit with them.

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Last Judgment (November 7, 2021)

When it comes to judgment, words don’t matter. Actions matter. Even a lawyer can do so much. It is a lawyer’s job to stand you before a judge and take all of the actions and events of someone and make the jury see them in a light that get his client found “not guilty”. But even greatest lawyer in the world can’t get you out of trouble when your actions are clearly in the wrong. Judge, jury, and everyone else will have their pointer fingers at the ready to call a clear verdict and point you out as a law breaker. God agrees. Words don’t matter, actions matter. Do and don’t do this and that and live. The same command going all the way back to Adam. “Don’t eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. If you do you will die.” God had created man in his image, people conforming to his will and his desires. Fortunately for us, God will judge us based on actions on Judgment Day, but they won't be our actions. They will be the actions of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

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Christ the King Sunday (November 21, 2021)

Jesus didn’t amass great wealth. He didn’t rule expansive empires and wage wars to expand them. He didn’t have people and soldiers around him at all times ready to defend him from his enemies who would try to take everything away from him. He didn’t have a crown on his head or even a place to stay which he could call his own. He stood before Pilate in our text today with nothing that would have said to Pilate that this man was a king and a threat. How ironic is it, though, that Jesus stood before Pilate accused of being a king (which would be a threat to the Romans as he might subvert their governing authority) when he is actually a greater king than they were actually looking for!

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