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Resurrection Reality

Rethinking Religion, Part 7: Rethinking Appetite - Pastor Kuehl

We use the word “appetite” to describe a powerful desire for something. So, what is it you crave the most? Where does your mind go in those quiet moments? What do you want? Power? What do you dream about? Prestige? For what do you hunger? Pleasure? Are our appetites healthy? A truly healthy appetite is one that aligns with our deepest needs: forgiveness, salvation, communion with God, loving relationships with others. The believer is ravenous for such things! And all of those blessings are on th...

Rethinking Religion, Part 6: Rethinking Real Strength - Pastor Pete

What does real strength look like? Is it exerting your will over another using any means necessary, including force. But this week we see Jesus Christ demonstrate a different kind of strength. Jesus assumes a position of weakness. To do what Christ did for us and our salvation took real strength.

Rethinking Religion, Part 5: Rethinking Commitment - Pastor Nate

Religious sociologists sometimes divide Christians into two groups: committed Christians and cultural Christians. The former are usually defined as those who are active in a congregation, who pray regularly, who read Scripture, etc. The latter are those individuals who call themselves Christian and perhaps have some Christian beliefs. Yet, they do not strive to live a Christian life. They are not interested in church involvement. Those definitions are interesting when trying to understand shifts...

Rethinking Religion, Part 4: Rethinking “Try Harder” - Pastor Pete

While not every religion uses the word “sin,” they all embrace the concept. Every religion acknowledges that mankind’s flawed attitudes or misguided actions are a source of pain, both now and potentially in eternity. So, every religion offers a solution: a set of laws, a moral code, a path to more enlightened behavior. What do they have in common? We are to solve sin through human effort. Be better! Try harder! This is the heart of every false religion. Those who correctly understand they will n...

Rethinking Religion, Part 3: The Why of Worship - Pastor Nate

Person A never attends worship. He can’t see the point. Person B attends every week out of a slavish sense of obligation. Her mind wanders during the services, for she views the activities of worship merely as tasks for her to complete. Who is worse off? Rather than debating the point, let us just admit neither understand the true why of worship. And that is exactly what Satan wants. Many think worship is about what we do for God. It is the other way around. As we gather around Word and sacramen...

Rethinking Religion, Part 2: What We Give Up for Lent - Pastor Pete

When Jesus told us to deny ourselves and take up our cross, he wasn’t talking about chocolate or sweets. And what is the cross Jesus mentioned? Is it sickness or pain or trouble? Even non-Christians experience those things, and they are imposed on us. We don’t take them up. No, our cross is to deny the bitterness, the anger, the doubt, the fear that sickness or pain or trouble causes. To deny ourselves is to say “no” to the sinful nature.

Rethinking Religion, Part 1: Trials, Tests and Temptations - Pastor Nate

“If God loves us, why doesn’t he remove all the trials and tests and temptations that we face?” That question demonstrates the religious assumption that those things are bad. They aren’t. In the hands of a loving God, they are tools by which he refines our faith. He uses tests to compel us to be less self-reliant, and instead trust in his strength. He uses trials to teach us that this broken world is not our true home. God even takes Satan’s temptations and uses them for our good. Trials, tests,...

Rethinking Religion

Meet the Man, Part 6: The One Whom the Father Loves - Pastor Pete

We began this worship series in the Jordan River. At his baptism, Jesus heard his Father’s glorious voice: “You are my Son, whom I love” (Mark 1:11). From that day, in word and deed, Jesus began to reveal more about himself. He demonstrated the extent of his authority and power and love. Along the way, we had an epiphany. Jesus has to be the very Son of God! Yet, Jesus looked so normal, like an ordinary carpenter or your average rabbi or just another prophet. Until today. Today, on the Mount of ...

Meet the Man, Part 5: The One Who Defied Demons for You - Pastor Kuehl

Martin Luther once said, “Where God built a church, there the devil would also build a chapel.” Satan and the other demons hate God. They demonstrate hatred by hurting those that God loves in any way they can. The epiphany Christ wants us to have is this: demons are real, they are plenteous, and they are dangerous. But Christ would also have us see that he is continually undoing the devil’s work. More, through his Word, Christ Jesus gives us the power to resist the devil and stand firm in the fa...

Meet the Man, Part 4: The One Who Is More Than a Man - Pastor Pete

Has there ever been a man who has had as great an influence on this world as this man named Jesus Christ? Thousands of years after his life and death his vision for life continues to haunt and challenge humanity. Everywhere we look we see how he has inspired movements in art, music science, government, medicine, and education. His lessons about dignity, compassion, forgiveness, and hope continue to influence humanity. His impact is more profound on the day-to-day lives of people--believers or no...

Meet the Man, Part 3: The One Who Gives You Purpose - Pastor Nate

To whom does the work of salvation belong? Simple question. There is only one Savior. But this is how good Jesus is. So that our lives might have profound meaning and eternal purpose, he shares some of that work with us. He calls us not just to be followers, but to be follower-makers. Jesus asks some— prophets, apostles, pastors, missionaries, teachers—to do this full time. But ultimately Jesus asks all believers to serve as his ambassadors, sharing the gospel with whomever he brings into our sp...

Meet the Man, Part 2: The One Who Knows You Better than You Know Yourself - Pastor Pete

We try to hide our faults and failures from others. We want people to see us at our best. Perhaps we assume that if people knew what we were really like, they would want nothing to do with us. There’s no hiding anything from God. He is all-seeing and all-knowing. Christ Jesus has witnessed our very worst, even the sins that only occurred in our heads. The psalmist says, “You perceive my thoughts from afar. You are familiar with all my ways” (139:2,3). Yet even though Jesus knows all our faults a...

Meet the Man, Part 1: The One Who Will Change Your Life in Your Own Baptism - Pastor Kuehl

At his baptism in the Jordan River Jesus was publicly anointed with the Holy Spirit and designated by God the Father as his chosen Messiah. Thus, Jesus’ baptism was the beginning of his public ministry. Jesus’ baptism revealed that he was not just a nice guy who could make a sturdy table. He was God’s chosen servant, the one who had come to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. Jesus is the one willing to stand in our place as our substitute and Savior. Jesus’ baptism reveals to us who he re...

Meet the Man, Part 1: The One Who Will Change Your Life in Your Own Baptism - Pastor Pete

At his baptism in the Jordan River Jesus was publicly anointed with the Holy Spirit and designated by God the Father as his chosen Messiah. Thus, Jesus’ baptism was the beginning of his public ministry. Jesus’ baptism revealed that he was not just a nice guy who could make a sturdy table. He was God’s chosen servant, the one who had come to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. Jesus is the one willing to stand in our place as our substitute and Savior. Jesus’ baptism reveals to us who he re...

New Years Eve 2023 - Pastor Pete

On Christmas Eve a choir of angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” So, where is this peace on earth? Between nations? There are always wars going on somewhere. In our country? Disagreements have only grown more contentious, one group screaming angrily at another group. We might not even have perfect peace in our homes! So, what were the angels singing about? They were singing about peace between a holy God who hates sin and human b...

Christmas 2023 - Pastor Pete

Christmas 2023 - Pastor Nate

Go Back to Christmas, Part 3: When You Don't Understand - Pastor Pete

Why would Mary be highly favored? The thought troubled her. How could she be the mother of the Messiah? Mary had certainly heard the words of Isaiah 7, but that didn’t mean she expected the Messiah to be born without a human father. And she was a virgin! Was she supposed to rush the wedding to Joseph? Very confusing! And then Gabriel gave her an answer, that could have easily created more questions than answers. How was she going to understand all this? When we want so badly to understand everyt...

Go Back to Christmas, Part 2: To Find your Purpose - Pastor Kuehl

Have you ever wondered why the Jewish leaders sent people to ask John who he was (vs19)? Why did they care? Why did they need more than public knowledge? Because John was great. He had crowds coming out to him, listening to him, obeying him. He had power and influence. He was great! But he was also confusing. Surely, he could have turned all this attention to his own benefit, but he didn’t. He just wore his hair shirt and ate bugs and honey. When the priests and Levites gave him all kinds of opp...

Go Back to Christmas, Part 2: To Find your Purpose - Pastor Nate

Have you ever wondered why the Jewish leaders sent people to ask John who he was (vs19)? Why did they care? Why did they need more than public knowledge? Because John was great. He had crowds coming out to him, listening to him, obeying him. He had power and influence. He was great! But he was also confusing. Surely, he could have turned all this attention to his own benefit, but he didn’t. He just wore his hair shirt and ate bugs and honey. When the priests and Levites gave him all kinds of opp...

Go Back to Christmas, Part 1: To See God Show Up to Save - Pastor Pete

The crowds outside Jerusalem identified Jesus as the one who comes—the Messiah they were waiting for, the Messiah they needed. And they had great expectations about what he would be and do for them. So, when they saw him riding into Jerusalem as king, they shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes!” And they pinned all their hopes on him. They were so excited because their king was showing up to save them. But isn’t it interesting that before the parade and the shouting and the hosannas, Jesus ...

Saints Triumphant: E3 Proves Total Victory - Pastor Nate

Since Death’s sudden appearance at the sin of Adam…since Death’s first victory with the bloody hands of Cain…Death has reigned undefeated. The genealogies of the Old Testament read like the results of battle after battle, or boxing match after boxing match. Another name is called, another man stands in the ring with death, but the verdict is always the same: “and then he died.” The referee raises the cold boxing glove of death in victory again and again. But a challenger arises. A challenger who...

Thanksgiving 2023 - Pastor Kuehl

Don’t Be Foolish! Be rich toward God!

Saints Triumphant: E3 Redefines Life and Death - Pastor Kuehl

See how thoroughly Endless Easter Encouragement has redefined life and death for the Christians in Thessalonica! • They were concerned that those who had died would miss out, not on the things of this world and this life, but that they would miss out on Jesus’ glorious return at the end of the world. • Death itself has been redefined as a sleep that we will wake from. • Death is no longer a permanent separation, but a temporary separation. And the best reunification is that we will all be with t...

Saints Triumphant: E3 Redefines Life and Death - Pastor Nate

See how thoroughly Endless Easter Encouragement has redefined life and death for the Christians in Thessalonica! • They were concerned that those who had died would miss out, not on the things of this world and this life, but that they would miss out on Jesus’ glorious return at the end of the world. • Death itself has been redefined as a sleep that we will wake from. • Death is no longer a permanent separation, but a temporary separation. And the best reunification is that we will all be with t...

Because iT Matters, Part 5: My Joy Matters - Pastor Pete

Giving brings joy to the giver, joy to the recipient, and joy to our God as he sees his children live and act like him. What gives you joy as you think about your commitment to Because iT Matters and as you pray about your initial gift on the December 3 Celebration Weekend?

Because iT Matters, Part 4: My Surrender Matters - Pastor Pete

The Macedonian congregation presented the Corinthians and us with a role model of surrendered giving. They did not have much. Paul mentions their “extreme poverty.” What they did have was a “singleness of purpose.” They could only be truly generous if they surrendered their hopes and dreams to Christ and instead focused on the mission Christ had given them. The Macedonian response amazed Paul and encouraged the Corinthians. How might our surrender to God’s mission be evident in our response to B...

Because iT Matters, Part 3: The Mission Matters - Pastor Pete

As we celebrate the Lutheran Reformation, we remember how much the cross and the mission of God’s church mattered to Martin Luther and the other reformers. They were willing to risk their lives for the mission. What would it look like if I were willing to risk my life (or livelihood) for the mission presented to us in Because iT Matters?