Ash Wednesday - Return to the Lord Your God

Return to the Lord! Ash Wednesday calls us to a forty-day journey of repentance and renewal. The ashes upon our heads testify: You are mortal; prepare to meet your God! Recognition of our sin leads us to cry for mercy and trust in God’s promised forgiveness. Note the sweet Gospel phrases that dominate the thought the readings and prayers: Return to the Lord, for he is gracious. Having obtained his pardon, we seek a renewal of our faith and life that we might live as baptized children of God.

Want to hear more?

Check out our sermon archive.

The Jesus We Need - A Holy and Powerful Savior

Is what we want always what we need? We know that's often not the case. How about when it comes to what kind of a hero we want at the center of our faith? Sometimes we find ourselves wanting a conquering hero with armies of angels. But the Bible's Jesus looks very different than that. Over the next weeks, we will find out just how this unlikely Jesus is exactly the kind of hero we need.

Today, we see Jesus appear in glory as the Son of God. Before he suffered as man’s substitute, Jesus gave his Church a glimpse of the glory that he set aside to be our Savior. See how much he loves us! The God of all glory became a man to suffer and die for us, just as Moses and the Prophets had foretold. He is exactly the Savior we need—a holy and powerful Savior!

Want to hear more?

Check out our sermon archive.

New Year, New You: Reconciled in Your Relationships

The new year is typically a time that we stop and resolve to become a better version of ourselves. We get back to the gym, we add more vegetables to the plate, or maybe we plan to open the Bible more often. At church we are going to look at a new worship series focused on the Gospel lessons in the season of Epiphany called “New Year, New You.” But instead of looking at ourselves and our inadequacies, we are going to look at Jesus to see how he makes us completely new. He gives us a new identity and even empowers us to live a different way. Thankfully, our success has nothing to do with our resolve to be better, and everything to with Jesus’ resolve to live a perfect life as our substitute.

Today, the Savior’s sermon to us: Live a holy life! Jesus came to free us from sin. He did not come to free us to sin. The commands in the lessons today remind us just how holy our God is, and their dire warnings remind us just how holy he wants us to be. After examining our lives, we must despair, but we are reminded to flee to Christ who has the words of life. He brings forgiveness for our failures and strengthen to both know and do what pleases him.

Want to hear more?

Check out our sermon archive.

New Year, New You: Let Your Light Shine!

The new year is typically a time that we stop and resolve to become a better version of ourselves. We get back to the gym, we add more vegetables to the plate, or maybe we plan to open the Bible more often. At church we are going to look at a new worship series focused on the Gospel lessons in the season of Epiphany called “New Year, New You.” But instead of looking at ourselves and our inadequacies, we are going to look at Jesus to see how he makes us completely new. He gives us a new identity and even empowers us to live a different way. Thankfully, our success has nothing to do with our resolve to be better, and everything to with Jesus’ resolve to live a perfect life as our substitute.  Today, we hear the encouragement: Let your light shine! Jesus tells us: You are…so be. You are the light of the world, so be light for the earth. You are the salt of the earth, so be salt for it. Our calling as sons of God means our lives will reflect our new status, and the world around us will be blessed by us.

Want to hear more?

Check out our sermon archive.

New Year, New You: Blessed in all Circumstances

The new year is typically a time that we stop and resolve to become a better version of ourselves. We get back to the gym, we add more vegetables to the plate, or maybe we plan to open the Bible more often. At church we are going to look at a new worship series focused on the Gospel lessons in the season of Epiphany called “New Year, New You.” But instead of looking at ourselves and our inadequacies, we are going to look at Jesus to see how he makes us completely new. He gives us a new identity and even empowers us to live a different way. Thankfully, our success has nothing to do with our resolve to be better, and everything to with Jesus’ resolve to live a perfect life as our substitute.  Today, we hear our Savior teach us to trust in God’s strength. As we look at the past acts of God’s grace and we will find many reasons to trust his strength in the face of adversity, persecution or sorrow. Then, in God’s strength, we will not only live as God’s children, we will see that we are blessed in all circumstances. 

Want to hear more?

Check out our sermon archive.

New Year, New You: Illuminated by the Light

The new year is typically a time that we stop and resolve to become a better version of ourselves. We get back to the gym, we add more vegetables to the plate, or maybe we plan to open the Bible more often. At church we are going to look at a new worship series focused on the Gospel lessons in the season of Epiphany called “New Year, New You.” But instead of looking at ourselves and our inadequacies, we are going to look at Jesus to see how he makes us completely new. He gives us a new identity and even empowers us to live a different way. Thankfully, our success has nothing to do with our resolve to be better, and everything to with Jesus’ resolve to live a perfect life as our substitute.

This morning, we see Jesus appear as the light that shines in the darkness. Sin and unbelief are described in Scripture as dark places and darkness. Jesus shines his light into these dark places through the preaching of repentance and the good news of the Gospel, and he invites us to follow him to a life illumined by him.

Want to hear more?

Check out our sermon archive.

New Year, New You: Redeemed by the Lamb

The new year is typically a time that we stop and resolve to become a better version of ourselves. We get back to the gym, we add more vegetables to the plate, or maybe we plan to open the Bible more often. At church we are going to look at a new worship series focused on the Gospel lessons in the season of Epiphany called “New Year, New You.” But instead of looking at ourselves and our inadequacies, we are going to look at Jesus to see how he makes us completely new. He gives us a new identity and even empowers us to live a different way. Thankfully, our success has nothing to do with our resolve to be better, and everything to with Jesus’ resolve to live a perfect life as our substitute.

Today, we hear that Jesus appears as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The hearts that see this Savior in faith cannot help but take news of this salvation to the ends of the earth.

Due to technical difficulties, there is no recording of this week’s sermon.

Want to hear more?

Check out our sermon archive.

New Year, New You: Empowered by Baptism

The new year is typically a time that we stop and resolve to become a better version of ourselves. We get back to the gym, we add more vegetables to the plate, or maybe we plan to open the Bible more often. At church we are going to look at a new worship series focused on the Gospel lessons in the season of Epiphany called “New Year, New You.” But instead of looking at ourselves and our inadequacies, we are going to look at Jesus to see how he makes us completely new. He gives us a new identity and even empowers us to live a different way. Thankfully, our success has nothing to do with our resolve to be better, and everything to with Jesus’ resolve to live a perfect life as our substitute. You are…empowered, redeemed, illuminated, blessed, set free, reconciled, and confident… through Jesus!

Want to hear more?

Check out our sermon archive.

Jesus is Obedient for His Brothers

How come so many people then and now miss the point of Christmas? The real Jesus reveals and gives himself only through his Word. The Word of God reveals that the Savior was to come from Bethlehem.  Jesus was born a real child, in a real city, and became our real brother in order to win our forgiveness and salvation.

Want to hear more?

Check out our sermon archive.

A Wonderful Adoption

In our rush to get to Christmas, we often don't stay there very long. This, the first Sunday after Christmas, is the sixth day of Christmas. The wonderful gift God gave us in the fullness of time deserves its full time for our consideration and celebration. Today we remember that not everything was joyful when the Savior was born. With Mary and Joseph, Jesus fled to Egypt to escape Herod's wrath. Voices of sorrow were raised for the martyrs at Bethlehem who did not escape Herod's rage. So we, as God's adopted children, recall His gift, the fulfillment of the prophet's word, and grief borne by some before the joy could be known by the many.

Want to hear more?

Check out our sermon archive.

Christmas Eve - God So Loved the World

Welcome to worship this Christmas Eve. We trust that God will bless you in this service of lessons and carols/hymns. Our focus, “God so loved the world,” is found in every lesson and song. Christmas is not about a sentimental, warm, and fuzzy kind of love—although these ways that we show love to each other, especially in families, are certainly important. But the heart of Christmas is about God’s redeeming love—God’s rescue plan for a humanity alienated from him despite all claims of reform, goodness, or morality. The human condition of sin separates us from God, and only his action could have solved that problem. The life, death, and resurrection of his Son has solved the problem. By trusting what Jesus has done for us, heaven awaits us and we live life this side of heaven in loyal thanks for rescue. Our opening hymn puts it this way: 

”But our eyes at last shall see him Through his own redeeming love, For that child, so dear and gentle, Is our Lord in heav’n above.”

Want to hear more?

Check out our sermon archive.

Arrival - A Sign!

Christmas is a time of anticipation. Looking forward to getting together with family, excellent meals, giving and receiving gifts. It was also a time of anticipation leading up to the birth of Christ. The coming of Jesus was prophesied for centuries until the moment that God finally sent Jesus to walk the earth. Now, we wait in anticipation of his glorious return. This week, we see again how God chooses to deal with us - He is patient. He is persistent. He has a plan. He promises and he fulfills. He does that which only God can do, using his power for our good!     

Want to hear more?

Check out our sermon archive.