On All Saints' Sunday, we think about all those faithful followers who have gone before us in the faith. As we look in the mirror and think about our lives, ourselves, our history, even our failures... God looks at us in the mirror and sees His Son, and because of that, He sees us as saints, even on earth, by grace through faith.
It has been over 500 years since the work of Martin Luther started what we know as the Reformation. A Reformation that is all about bringing God's people back to the heart of His Word: the life-changing, life-saving Good News of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection for our forgiveness and salvation. A work that is started by God and completed by Him on our behalf, without us doing anything to deserve it or earn it.
We give thanks to God for the 50 years of Peace Lutheran Church as a congregation of Lutheran Church-Canada. And we give thanks for God's love, grace, forgiveness, and death and resurrection for our salvation that has been the cornerstone of our faith.
In this third week of our 3-week series on Stewardship, we not only talk about the giving of our time, talents, and treasures, but we focus on the fourth part of stewardship: testimony. Not only are we managers to all that God has given to us, we are also witnesses to all that God has done in our life, and we can share that Good News with the world.
The Importance of Producing (The Grace of Giving) - Matthew 21:23-44 - Pastor Glenn by Pastor Brad & Pastor Glenn
In this first week of our 3-week series on Stewardship, we look at the difference between who we are as managers of God's creation, and who God is as the creator of all things. Do we love and serve God above all other things, or do we have other masters that we love more, and how does that play out with our time, talents, and treasures?
Here is what those in attendance at the National Youth Gathering have to share about what it means to live IN the world, but not OF the world.
What are you willing to do for that which you most treasure? And what it is exactly that you most treasure? As we consider our own willingness to the sacrifices we might make for that which we most treasure or love, we see Jesus who was willing to give everything for that which He most treasures and loves.
In the parable of the lost sheep, the shepherd will leave 99 sheep to go and find the 1 lost sheep. At some point in our lives, we're all like that sheep. We're all a little lost. We wander, we stray, we get lost, and sometimes we even want to stay lost, And that's why we need the Good Shepherd to find us, carry us on His shoulders, and bring us back home because we can't do it on our own. We can't find our way home, and we certainly can save ourselves from our lostness.
If you could choose between life or death, living a long life or no longer having a life, what would you choose? May seem like an easy answer, but it's not. That's because there's only one answer that we will choose in our sinful condition. And that's why we need God to come and choose the better/best option for us, on our behalf, and by choosing the best option for us, He also chooses the other option for Himself.
Hebrews tells us that by showing hospitality to strangers, some have entertained angels unaware. Angels appear many times throughout the Bible as messengers of God, and even to minister and strengthen. Are there angels still among us today? And if there are angels appearing as strangers, how should we treat them? And is it any different than how we would treat strangers who are not angels?
In His death, Abel's blood cries out to God from the ground. Abel's blood speaks. In Hebrews, we hear that the blood of Jesus speaks a better word than the blood of Abel's. Jesus' blood speaks. It doesn't speak out for vengeance, cry out against death, or call for justice, like Abel's. His blood speaks forgiveness and life, even in His death.
We continue looking at Hebrews and the heroes of the faith, focusing specifically on Abraham and Jephthah. Two stories deal with sacrifice, and each story has a different outcome. One leaves us asking why God does certain things at certain times for certain people, but not for others. We will look at how God interceded in each of these stories, what it means for us today, and what God does for each of us.
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Believing without seeing. In Hebrews, we see many people regarded as heroes of the faith, because they are commended for their beliefs and how they lived their lives. As we look at these examples, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah, we will see how their faith can be connected to our own lives today and to our faith as well.
We are called to set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth, storing up for ourselves treasures on earth. In this, we talk about stewardship, and we look at being managers of all that God (the true owner and master of all things) has given us. And so, the question becomes: how can we be good stewards of all that God has given us?
How far are you willing to go for the sake of others? In Genesis, we see Abraham talking with God about the number of righteous people in Sodom and how many it will take to save the city. Eventually, the number goes as low as 10. But no lower. Why didn't Abraham go any lower than 10? Maybe because there wouldn't even be 1 righteous person found in Sodom. As we think about our current condition, the question isn't how many righteous people will be found where we are, but how far is the (only) 1 r...
Sermon from NYG 2022 President: Rev. Timothy Teuscher.
Guest preacher Rev. Randy Heide talks about God's Mission.
Many people who were following Jesus were sent to go and proclaim the Word of God. In the Gospel reading, we see what can happen to those who hear the Word of God and believe and those who hear the Word of God and reject, and what it means for us today.
Many people have come along and wanted to follow Jesus. In the Gospel reading, as Jesus sets His sights on Jerusalem, He lets everyone know just what the cost of following Him means. What's the end result of those who wanted to follow Him? How does this impact us today?
A demon-possessed man is asked what his name is, and he responds with "Legion" for many demons had entered him. What is your name and what does it mean? Ultimately, Jesus frees the man of the demons who have possessed him. Jesus' name means "the Lord saves" or "God is salvation" because He came to save His people from their sins. Jesus came to save you. This is what He wants to do with you. Rescue you from sin, death, and the devil, and that is what He did in His death and resurrection.
We fuss getting ready for church. And right in the middle of the service, we get distracted. Thankfully, in the center of worship is our Triune God. Through Jesus, we are fully embraced and welcome.
We often celebrate Confirmation on Pentecost Sunday. In both of these events, the Holy Spirit is actively at work in the lives of God's people. The Holy Spirit who came that first Pentecost is with us in Baptism, in Confirmation, in the Lord's Supper, and in all parts of life. The Holy Spirit who creates faith in us sustains that faith, helps us lead a God-pleasing life, and tells others the Good News of Jesus, just like the disciples on the first Pentecost.
In Acts 1 the disciples need to replace Judas. They pray to God that He would show them who He had chosen to replace Judas. They cast lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. We had never heard of Matthias before and may have never heard of him had he not been chosen. Sometimes, God works through people who are lesser-known, who are nobody's, in order to accomplish His will.
Jesus said to His disciples, "In this world, you will have tribulation (trouble), but take heart I have overcome the world." What is tribulation or trouble? What did these words of Jesus mean for the disciples? What does it mean for us today?
Peter shares the Good News of Jesus with the Gentiles, and there were some who were none too pleased about this. Who are those who have been chosen and called by God to be His children and to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Jews? Gentiles? Me? You? ALL people?
There are many voices that we hear in our lifetime, and that speaks to us, many of which try to lead us away from God. Jesus tells us that "my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." Jesus, the Good Shepherd, speaks to us His sheep through His Word and Sacraments, and He lays down His life for His sheep to bring them forgiveness and salvation.
After the resurrection, Jesus has a conversation with Peter that we see as Jesus restoring Peter as a disciple. On the road to Damascus, Jesus appears to Saul, and he becomes the apostle Paul. Jesus changes people. How has he changed you?
On Easter Sunday, there are many things that happen that we read about in the next number of weeks. Jesus on the road to Emmaus; Jesus appears to His disciples when Thomas isn't there. When we look at Thomas, who is doubting Thomas and believing Thomas in the same reading, we can ask ourselves: Are we at all like Thomas? And what does it mean for us in our world today?
On Easter Sunday, come and step inside the empty tomb and see that Jesus is not dead, He is alive! The silence of His death on Good Friday is met with Angels and Alleluias on Easter Sunday. What does it all mean for us? And why do we need Jesus, on Easter Sunday?
