Satan, the world, and our own sinful flesh are bent on leading us astray. Their intent is to have us believe all sorts of lies about the God who created us and to thereby separate us eternally from him. But the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ...
As our Good Shepherd, Jesus showed how great the Father’s love for us is and how we are to model that love in our daily lives. This includes putting aside petty differences and avoiding jealousies that create division in interactions with others...
Even as Easter people, our sinful human nature still leads to brokenness and separation in our relationships with God and with one another. Our heavenly Father, in his overwhelming love for his children shown ultimately on the cross, restores those...
Our joyous celebration of the Resurrection continues! As we ponder this miraculous turning point in human history, we witness God’s power even in our own lives. Christ is risen among us and assures us of his Spirit and his peace. As Easter people...
“Alleluia! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!” That Easter greeting, proclaimed throughout the ages of the Church, takes root in our hearts so that we understand that the resurrected life is now our own. Jesus has wiped away all fears, all...
At the heart of the Good Friday liturgy is the passion according to John, which proclaims Jesus as a triumphant king who reigns from the cross. The ancient title for this day—The Triumph of the Cross—reminds us that the Church gathers not to mourn...
This is the last weekend in Lent and the beginning of Holy Week. With Christians around the world we begin the liturgy remembering Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and we join in the exuberant praise that the Church has echoed through the...
God promises the prophet Jeremiah that a “new covenant” will be made: a covenant that will allow all the people to know God by heart. The Church sees this promised fulfilled in Christ, who draws all people to himself when he is lifted up on the cross...
As we learn from all the Scripture readings today, those who look up to the bronze serpent/the Cross are saved. When we received the sign of that cross in baptism, that cross became the sign we can look up to in faith, for healing, for restored...
In today's Gospel reading Jesus vehemently exposes the sinful intent of the moneychangers in the temple. God's Law has a way of doing that-boldly showing us our sinful lives for what they really are. But the Cross of Christ bestows both the...
The season of Lent allows us to put a laser focus on the source of our hope-the Cross. The Cross tells us everything we need to know about the character of God and his presence in our lives. It is central to our life as a Christian, our faith, and our...
"And lead us not into temptation", Jesus taught us to pray. Martin Luther reminds us that in the Lord's Prayer "we ask that God would guard us against the devil, the world, and our sinful nature." So confident is Satan in his...
Sometimes, like for Abraham, the God of clear promises becomes a God who is hard to understand. We even find ourselves struggling with God's will. Abraham agonized over the command to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice. Just as the Lord provided the...
In this week's Gospel reading there are more stories of Jesus healing the sick, including Peter's mother-in-law. In an odd twist it's the demons who recognize who Jesus truly is. But Jesus will not let them speak. He is following a...
In this week's Gospel reading there are more stories of Jesus healing the sick, including Peter's mother-in-law. In an odd twist it's the demons who recognize who Jesus truly is. But Jesus will not let them speak. He is following a...
In Deuteronomy God promises to raise up a prophet like Moses, who will speak powerfully for God; in Psalm 111 God shows the people the power of his works. For the Church these are ways of pointing to the unique authority people sensed in Jesus...
In this weekend’s Gospel reading, we hear more stories of Jesus calling his disciples. What a strong, attracting message he had—calling people to a life, not of riches nor fame, but rather one of service. It is that same calling into which we have...
“Come and see!” Philip excitedly told Nathaniel after meeting Jesus. “Encounter the Christ for yourself!” Do you think you know Jesus? Come and listen these weeks of the Epiphany season as He is revealed to us once again. You may be surprised!
The word “epiphany” means “the sudden manifestation of the true essence of something.” During the weekends of this Epiphany season, the real Jesus is revealed in a variety of subtle ways. Today the visit of the Three Wise Men shows how remarkably...
New Year’s Eve & Day help us to remember God’s presence throughout our lives. While another year has passed, and we look forward to the coming of the year 2018, we recognize that in both our joys and in our sorrows, God has been, and will continue...
“Today…(a gift has been given to you)…a Savior…he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) In this season of gift giving we praise our God for his gifts of grace, and we grace one another with gifts small and lavish, heartfelt and fun. When we do...
The readings today all emanate a message of pure and eternal joy—deeply resonating feelings which fill our hearts and minds as we once again contemplate how God came to dwell among us in the person of Jesus Christ.
As we get closer to our celebration of Christmas, we sometimes lose sight of our Christmas preparations are all about and stress levels begin rising. Today, John the Baptism calls us back to the season of Advent with the words, “Repent, for the...
“Stir up your power and come!” We hear that plea in much of the Scripture for this day. We’re starting a new sermon series—"Advent Encounters”. In today’s message we recall one of the striking images of the book of Revelation, that of the new...
On this final weekend of the Church Year our Gospel reading is Jesus’ great story of judgment. In the end, the faithful are those who served Christ by ministering to those who are poor, hungry, naked, sick, or estranged. In the first reading God is...
As the church year begins to come to a close, we remember that Jesus is not only in our midst when we gather for worship, he is also coming again. In the mean time, we remain faithful, being watchful and joyfully, generously responding to his great...
As the church year begins to come to a close, we remember that Jesus is not only in our midst when we gather for worship, he is also coming again. In the mean time, we remain faithful, being watchful and joyfully, generously responding to his great...
“Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify your glorious name…” It is at that point in each communion service where we most identify ourselves in that long continuum of all the saints who ever were and...
The Reformation brought profound change to the institutional church. Simply stated, it restored the Gospel of Jesus Christ to its pre-eminent place. Then as now, this Gospel changes more than an institution, it changes people. We are transformed by...
We praise God for the mission we have to reach out with the Gospel of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Like the Thessalonians, we welcome the message of the Gospel with joy so that we are known for our faith in Christ and our outreach to others.
