Glory of Christ Media

3rd Sunday of Easter

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:37:26 GMT

Sermon

Luke 24:13-35

“Here, the dead don’t stay dead!”

For the second week in a row doubt and unbelief hang heavy

over the disciples. Once again, the perfectly reasonable, yet false

belief... that the dead stay dead, cause these two disciples to doubt

and discard Jesus’ mighty promises that His death would end in life.

Unbelief is nothing more than self-delusion and blindness to the truth.

Jesus brings these disciples from the death of unbelief to the

life of faith. Jesus speaks harshly to them to kill and to make alive,

“O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” Jesus tells them

that they have every reason to believe from the Prophets, GOD’S WORD, the Old Testament...

that He is the redeemer of Israel and the whole world, that He is the Lamb of God who takes away

the sin of the world. That He is the one who conquered death by His death.

Service

2nd Sunday of Easter

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 19:34:38 GMT

Sermon

John 20:19-31

“Jesus even welcomes doubters, like Thomas.”

Ever since our first parents doubted God’s word, the human heart has

trusted in that which it should really doubt and doubted that which it

should really trust. We live in an age that idolizes trust in feelings and

glorifies doubt in the revelation of God’s Word. Thomas is the perfect

example of our own struggle in heeding God’s word over our own

feelings and experiences. Of course, Thomas didn’t believe that the

crucified, dead and buried Jesus was alive... Who would if they experienced Good Friday

firsthand? The story of Thomas is so telling because it’s so real! We can relate to Thomas’s

realistic and reasonable belief that the dead stay dead...That Jesus death ended in death. But

blessed are you, for you have not seem, but believe... Jesus died, but He’s NOT dead!

Service

The Resurrection of Our Lord 2026

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 17:02:42 GMT

Sermon

Matthew 28:1-10

“Easter isn’t only religion, It’s History!”

The historical, verifiable, undeniable, glorious fact is that Christ

has indeed been raised from the dead. And this fact is the

foundation of our faith. Because Christ is risen, we believe that

every single word and promise in the Bible is true, from cover to

cover. Jesus testified to the truthfulness of Scripture, and it would

be foolish to do anything other than believe the words of the one

who has defeated death. Because Christ is risen, we believe that we have been justified – that

is, declared not guilty, completely innocent and acceptable before God almighty maker of

heaven and earth. We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that every last one of our sins has

been paid for in full by the precious shed blood of God in the risen and living Christ.

Service

Maundy Thursday 2026

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:39:54 GMT

Sermon

IN PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP

Holy (Maundy) Thursday begins the celebration of the holy three days of Christ's

Passover, commonly known as the Triduum Sacrum (Latin for "sacred three days" --

Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday). The Service for Holy Thursday

culminates the Lenten period of preparation for Christ's Passion and Resurrection and

leads into His sacrifice on our behalf. As such, today's Service exhibits a mood of

restrained joy as the Church remembers with thanksgiving the sacrificial death and great

salvation of the Lamb of God.

The historic Gospel for this day (John 13) recounts the washing of the disciples'

feet by our Lord. Although this is an example of Christian love for the neighbor, the foot

washing is first and foremost a demonstration of the Lord's enduring love for His people

and a depiction of our return to Holy Baptism through contrition and faith where the Lord

washes us clean in those blessed baptismal waters. To emphasize the primacy of our

Savior's actions for us, the name "Holy Thursday" is commonly used in place of the well-

known "Maundy Thursday." Maundy (from Latin mandatum which means

"commandment") comes from the Lord's words in John 13:34: "A new commandment I

give to you, that you love one another." Receiving and celebrating both aspects of this

important day, the Service for Holy Thursday consists of four parts: 1) the Service of

Corporate Confession and Absolution, signaling the end of our Lenten preparation with

the absolution and peace of Christ; 2) the Service of the Word, focusing upon Christ's

sacrificial service to us; 3) the Service of the Sacrament, culminating the Service of Holy

Thursday with the Lord's ministry to His people through His true body and blood; and 4)

the Stripping of the Altar, demonstrating the depth of Christ's servanthood in preparation

for the Church's observance of Jesus' death on Good Friday.

The penitential discipline of Lent has brought us to this point, and Christ Jesus,

our Savior, loves us to the end. The dust and ashes of sin and death are washed away by

Jesus' word of Holy Absolution, and the One who humbled Himself, even to death, now

serves us in love with His own holy body and precious blood, exalting those who have

been humbled by the Law throughout this Lenten season.

Service

Sunday of the Passion

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 20:56:45 GMT

Sermon

John 12:12-19 & Matthew 27:11-66

“Jesus is the King we never knew we needed.”

Palm Sunday is about a King who brings life from death. Christ’s

entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday pointed to the restoration of

life that would far surpass the raising of Lazarus. Jesus’

resurrection signaled that He rules a Kingdom that has no death,

because it’s not of this world. He was looking to another “Palm

Sunday” for you and me as He rode into Jerusalem to shed his blood for our sins, After

this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation,

from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the

Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a

loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Service

5th Midweek Service in Lent

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 02:34:07 GMT

Sermon

Waiting

During Lent, we traditionally omit music before the service so that we may

use the time for silent prayer and reflection.

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him..." (Psalm 37:7)

Service

5th Sunday in Lent 2026

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 02:29:50 GMT

Sermon

John 11:1-45

“I am the resurrection and the life.”

When Jesus hears of Lazarus’ illness, he does not rush to

Bethany in a frantic attempt to save his life. No, Jesus

actually delays, fully aware that he will die. But Jesus is not

a slave to death’s timetable. He presses forward in his own

time, because death will not order his days. As he tells

Martha, He is the resurrection and the life; Jesus is calling

the shots here. So with only a word, he calls Lazarus out of

the grave and robs death of its victim.

Service

4th Midweek Service in Lent

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 02:24:05 GMT

Sermon

Crying (mercy)

During Lent, we traditionally omit music before the service so that we may

use the time for silent prayer and reflection.

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him..." (Psalm 37:7)

Service

4th Sunday in Lent

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 03:13:46 GMT

Sermon

John 9:1-41

Jesus operates by mercy, not fairness.

When they pass by a blind man, the disciples assume that this man’s

malady must be the result of someone’s sin, either his or his parents. If

someone loses their job, we want to know what they did. If a couple

gets divorced, we assume that there’s some history behind it. And if

someone comes down with a deadly illness, we want to know how they contracted it.

Cause and effect lets us believe that we live in a world that we can predict, a world that is

ultimately fair. Jesus operates by mercy, not fairness. He reveals the surprising purpose for

this man’s blindness—so that Jesus would demonstrate God’s power in him. In the end, it

wasn’t about this man’s sin or his parents’ sin. It was about the Man who could give sight

to the blind and blind those who say they can see.

Service

3rd Midweek Service in Lent

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 02:26:02 GMT

Sermon

During Lent, we traditionally omit music before the service so that we may

use the time for silent prayer and reflection.

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him..." (Psalm 37:7)

Service

3rd Sunday in Lent

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 03:51:35 GMT

Sermon

John 4:5-26

Jesus offers the waters of eternal life

Our Old Testament and our Gospel lessons both feature water

prominently. In Exodus 17, as the Israelites are trudging through the

wilderness, they grumble that they can't find anything to drink. It's not just

that they were thirsty. They were doubting whether or not God was really

with them. But the Lord had mercy on them, told Moses to go hit a rock, and

it gushed enough water for thousands upon thousands (millions perhaps) of Israelites to drink.

In John 4, Jesus bumps into a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well and asks her for a drink. But

even though he's asked her for a drink, Jesus says reveals that he is able to give her living water.

Still thinking about the stuff in the well, the woman basically says, “but you don't have a bucket.”

But Jesus isn't talking about the kind of water that came from the well or the rock, but the water of

eternal life.

Service

2nd Midweek Service in Lent

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 02:59:08 GMT

Sermon

Keeping

During Lent, we traditionally omit music before the service so that we may

use the time for silent prayer and reflection.

“Collects for Lenten Preparation” are available at the entrance of the sanctuary to

assist you.

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him..." (Psalm 37:7)

Service

2nd Sunday in Lent

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 01:14:06 GMT

Sermon

John 3:1-17

New birth happens here

Jesus reveals a profound mystery to Nicodemus: “unless one is born

from above he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus

understands Jesus to be saying that he should be born again, because

he asks how a man can be born a second time. But Jesus reveals that

he's talking about being born of water and the Spirit, that is, to be born from above. And

that's the only way we can enter into God's Kingdom. We need to start all over and be

born, not like Nicodemus thought, returning to our mother's womb, but to be born of God.

Service

1st Midweek Service in Lent

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 01:18:21 GMT

Sermon

Forgiving

During Lent, we traditionally omit music before the service so that we may

use the time for silent prayer and reflection.

“Collects for Lenten Preparation” are available at the entrance of the

sanctuary to assist you.

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him..." (Psalm 37:7)

Service

First Sunday in Lent

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 03:56:50 GMT

Sermon

Matthew 4:1-11

Satan Always Twists God’s Word

Never before had man won against satan, ever. But even in that first tragic

loss in Eden, God revealed an answer for sin and its curse of death. To the

serpent, the Lord God said, “He (That is the messiah, the savior the sin bearer,

Jesus) shall Crush- your head, and he shall bruise his heel.” Shortly after that

God removed them from Eden. They lived and died in this world of thorns and thistles. Yet

God’s promise remained of one who would come into this wilderness to crush the head of Satan.

In our Gospel text we find a little head bruising, a little grinding of the Savior’s heel on Satan’s

head. Never before had man won against Satan, ever. Thousands of years of experience were

behind the tempters’ actions and words in the wilderness. But, never before had Satan’s target

been this newly-baptized Son of God!

Service

Ash Wednesday

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 23:09:18 GMT

Sermon

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,”

You are encouraged to then respond boldly, “ Amen ”.

These words were first spoken to Adam after his fall into sin. We are

forcefully reminded of the words of the committal in the Christian Burial service, “...earth to

earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” Ashes also suggest cleansing and renewal. They were used as a

cleaning agent. Thus, ashes imposed in the shape of a cross symbolize both judgment and

baptismal cleansing.

Service

Transfiguration

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 03:44:06 GMT

Sermon

Matthew 17:1-9.

Lent is about suffering before glory

The Church has placed the Transfiguration of our Lord as the last

word that we hear before entering the season of Lent for good reason.

Over the course of the upcoming 40 days, we will follow our Lord to

Jerusalem, “where He must suffer many things from the elders and

chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised.”

For that brief time on the mountain, the three disciples experienced what it is like to live by

sight and not by faith. They “saw the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” They saw Jesus

just like Moses and Elijah and the angels and archangels and all the company of heaven see

Jesus all the time; just like we will see Him too.

Service

5th Sunday after Epiphany

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 04:25:53 GMT

Sermon

Matthew 5:13–20

Christians Look Like Christ

Jesus did not say, the earth needed sugar poured on it, but rather salt. As

any dentist will tell you, sugar promotes decay. Salt stops the decay. And

that’s what we have been blessed to do. And just what are we to do?

What does the ‘salty’ life look like? Simply put, it is to be what Jesus has

blessed you to be. You are ‘poor in spirit,’ ‘meek,’ hungry and thirsty for

righteousness,’ ‘merciful,’ ‘pure in heart,’ ‘peacemaker,’ and ‘persecuted

unjustly,’ and you rejoice in the fact that you are blessed by God.

You are blessed because you carry the life of Jesus inside you. Your ‘saltiness’ is not yours. It is

Jesus’. We have been blessed with His ‘poverty’ and His ‘meekness’, His righteousness, His

mercy and His pure heart and His peace, and yes, His persecution, His cross.

Service

4th Sunday after Epiphany

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 15:49:43 GMT

Sermon

Matthew 5:1-12

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.

There must have been many furrowed brows and puzzled looks

at Jesus preached the sermon on the mount, because Jesus

preached blessing to the apparently unblessed. The spiritually

bankrupt, the weepers, the peacemakers: by all outward

appearances, these were the outcasts, the back-of-the-line, and

the ones who weren’t living their best lives now. But Jesus says,

no declares them blessed.

Why? Because their lives are secretly virtuous? No. But because Jesus declares them to be

blessed. That’s how it works in the kingdom of God.

Service

3rd Sunday after Epiphany

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 04:10:59 GMT

Sermon

Matthew 4:12-25

The King calls. We follow.

When Jesus told Peter and Andrew, “follow me,” He spoke as a king, not a

salesman.

Jesus didn’t flash His credentials or give the disciples a pitch about how

much better their lives would be if they just got on His wagon. Jesus did

not make a tear-jerking emotional appeal or a carefully reasoned argument.

He simply said, “follow me,” and thereby called these men into His service.

The same applies to us. We have not been persuaded; we have been confiscated by Jesus. And

now we belong to him. We’re not His people because we signed up for it. He did it. And that’s

why our calling is sure.

Service

2nd Sunday after Epiphany

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 21:32:40 GMT

Sermon

1 John 1:29-42a

Who is Jesus? Come and see.

The Gospel today is all about people beginning to see who Jesus is. John

calls Jesus, “The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” He

says it again the next day, and two of John’s disciples split off and follow

Jesus. They call Him, “Rabbi.” One of these two disciples was Andrew,

who said to his brother, Peter, “We have found the Messiah.”

We, along with the disciples, will slowly have our eyes opened to Jesus as we witness his miracles,

his exorcisms, his preaching, and ultimately, his suffering and death. Flesh and blood cannot reveal

this to us, but only the Father can reveal Jesus to us through his words and the inimitable way He

uses them at the font and the table. This is the way that we too can come and see.

Service

The Baptism of Our Lord

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 15:59:46 GMT

Sermon

Matthew 3:13-17

Heaven’s door is open!

Baptism is the place where God’s eternal plan for the salvation for

sinners and the reconciliation of all things to Himself, meets you,

personally, individually, by name. Baptism is where the holy Son of

God meets sinners like you and me, one at a time, not to shake our

hand and pat us on the back or show us what we must do to bear our

awful load and make things right with God, but to carry out the great

and blessed exchange. He takes it all from you and bears it all for you. He becomes bone of

our bone and flesh of our flesh and makes us His holy bride, and dresses us in glory, and takes

us to live with Him in His Father’s house forever. It is just this simple: at the font, the door of

heaven is opened for us.

Service

2nd Sunday after Christmas

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 02:34:49 GMT

Sermon

Luke 2:40–52

Jesus is the temple and the sacrifice

The Law of Moses demanded that the firstborn be set apart for the Lord. In

memory of and thanksgiving for God’s sparing of Israel’s firstborn in the last

plague in Egypt, the first born were to be presented to the Lord in the temple.

The common offering was the sacrifice of a lamb. But for the poor, turtledoves or pigeons could

be substituted. We could say that Mary brings into the temple the offering of offerings, the

ultimate sacrificial lamb for you, for me, for the whole world! Jesus didn’t really need to be

presented to the LORD in His temple and to have sacrifices offered on His behalf. Jesus is the

LORD. Jesus Himself is the Temple! Jesus is the Sacrifice! Mary’s little lamb is really God’s

Lamb who takes away the sins of the world! Jesus didn’t need an offering to make Himself right

under the Law. Rather, Christ was born under the Law to redeem us, to fulfill the Law for us.

Service

1st Sunday after Christmas

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 03:28:27 GMT

Sermon

Matthew 2:13-23

The blood of Christ redeems the blood of the martyrs.

Today we celebrate the infants who were who were brutally

martyred by Herod for Christ’s sake. There is a certain irony here:

Christ is spared from death only so that he might day at the proper

time. Like the infants in Bethlehem, Jesus’ blood is also shed,

only not as a martyr but as a Savior, for them and for us. It is right

for us to weep with Rachel for her children. (Jeremiah 31:15) But that mourning gives

way to rejoicing, because they are not lost forever but will be raised again by the death

and resurrection of Mary’s infant son.

Service

Christmas Day

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 04:49:13 GMT

Sermon

John 1:1-18

Merry Christmas! God become man in Jesus!

“We believe, teach, and confess that the Son of God, although from

eternity He has been a particular, distinct, entire divine person, and thus,

with the Father and the Holy Ghost, true, essential, perfect God,

nevertheless, in the fulness of time assumed also human nature into the

unity of His person, not in such a way that there now are two persons or

two Christs, but that Christ Jesus is now in one person at the same time

true, eternal God, born of the Father from eternity, and a true man, born of the most blessed Virgin

Mary, as it is written Rom. 9:5: Of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all,

God blessed forever.”

-The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord, The Person of Christ.

Service

Christmas Eve - Lessons and Carols

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 04:42:46 GMT

Sermon

Service

4th Sunday in Advent

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 02:59:27 GMT

Sermon

Matthew 1:18–25

Faith in Christ is a Miracle!

We can take a lesson from Joseph, that we do not walk by sight or

reason or the best outward options, but by faith... given through the

hearing of God’s word. We too hear a word and message that can, at

times, go against the grain of our reason, senses, and logic. God does

not do this to trick us or make it difficult for us to understand, but He

does so to accomplish His will in such a wonderful, literally, down to

earth way.

We are to be like Joseph; Receiving God’s word knowing that it is for our good even

when it seems there are better more logical options for us to go with.

Service

3rd Sunday in Advent

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 03:35:20 GMT

Sermon

Matthew 11:2–15

Blessed is the one not offended by Me. -Jesus

The truth is God does not make you any promises of worry-free living or

miraculous healings of cancer or disease. This life will bring disappointment

and death. It did for John, who was one of the most dedicated and faithful

followers of Jesus. And this is, in part, why Jesus says, “And blessed is the

one who is not offended by me”. So often we wish for a miracle worker

messiah who will cure what ails us. And this is where the scandal of Jesus is

pressed into our minds by Satan. He wants us to think Jesus can’t really help you.

But Jesus has a refreshing word for you this day!

Jesus comes not just to give extended or healthy

or worry-free worldly life that will end, but He comes to grant an everlasting life that will put this

life to shame. Don’t be offended. Don’t look for another! Jesus is the real deal.

Service

2nd Sunday in Advent

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 18:56:36 GMT

Sermon

Matthew 3:1-12

Prepared to meet your Maker?

We do not like change. We confess that we are ‘sinful and unclean’ and

therefore not ‘holy’ as ‘God is holy.’ But that doesn’t mean we want to

be changed. We’ve learned to adapt to our environment and survive in

sub-standard world. So, when we hear that our maker is coming into this

world to change us and change this world, we wonder, ‘where’s the hope

in that?’ We think it would be a whole lot better and a whole lot easier if

the Lord would change and lower His expectations and accept reality.

The God of unchangeable justice is also the God of unchangeable grace. By confessing our sin and

trusting in His grace, we trust that “the God of hope will fill you with all joy and peace in

believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope”.

Service

1st Sunday in Advent

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 03:35:26 GMT

Sermon

Advent: Jesus the King comes to us!

Every Sunday before the Old Testament reading the particular

day of the church year is announced. Today it was said that it

is the First Sunday in Advent. This marks a new year that the

world knows nothing about or really cares about for that

matter. Advent is the season in which we prepare for the

coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, as the Holy Infant in the

manger, as the Giver of heavenly gifts in the Divine Service, and as the Triumphant King

who will come again in great glory on the Last Day. Soon we shall celebrate the blessed

birth of the Messiah, but not yet. For now, we patiently prepare and ponder.

Service

Last Sunday of the Church Year

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 01:18:51 GMT

Sermon

Saints of God are forgiven NOT perfect!

“It is also taught among us that saints should be kept in

remembrance so that our faith may be strengthened when we see

what grace they received and how they were sustained by faith.

Moreover, their good works are to be an example for us, each of

us in his own calling...”

The Augsburg Confession, Article XXI

Service

23rd Sunday after Pentecost

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 13:56:28 GMT

Sermon

Christ will come to judge the living and the dead

The day is surely drawing near when God's Son will return.

It will come like a thief in the night when we least expect it.

The dead will be raised, and each of us will stand before the

judgment seat. Thankfully, however, we will not be

concerned about the things we have done or left undone, for

the judge does not look at us. The judgment of God does not

fall upon us. Your judgment, my judgment was finished on the cross. The second coming

of Christ is therefore not a terror, but a blessed hope that we eagerly await.

Service

22nd Sunday after Pentecost

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 19:51:24 GMT

Sermon

God’s Kingdom comes without our prayer

The Sadducees were pretending to care about God’s Law, but they didn’t

believe what God was saying or really care for that matter. They thought

their example of seven brothers marrying the same women proved their

point about the resurrection being an irrational belief. They were tracking

the numbers, and it would be silly for a wife to live with seven husbands in

eternal life. We do the same. We often add up the numbers, and it may not always seem to us that

God’s Kingdom is coming. We shouldn’t measure God’s presence among us according to

decreasing or even increasing attendance, or budgets, or the number of church committees. That’s

our work, and our work can’t make God’s kingdom come. God’s kingdom comes in spite of our

efforts, solely because God gives it, and sustains it and according to His will, grows it.

Service

All Saints' Day

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 03:20:46 GMT

Faith leads us back to Jesus

The story of the ten lepers often gets reduced merely to a story about thankfulness.

And it is. But more, it’s a story about faith.

Don’t get too down on the first nine lepers. When Jesus told them to go and show

themselves to the priest, they were doing exactly what the book of Leviticus said to do.

Only the priests could verify that they had been healed of their leprosy. But it wasn’t the

word of the priest that made the difference; it was the word of Jesus. All the priests could

do was to certify that Christ had healed them with a word. But faith pointed the tenth

leper back to the true source of his salvation.

Faith led him back to Jesus.

Service

17th Sunday after Pentecost

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 21:13:09 GMT

Sermon

Christ’s forgiveness knows no limits

Jesus offers us a warning and a promise in our text for today. First, it is gravely serious to lead

another person into sin. In a world where we quickly absolve ourselves of any and every

wrongdoing, we often fail to see the profound impact our own actions have upon our

neighbor. Jesus is clear: it would be better for us to drown in the sea than to cause another

Christian to sin.

But on the flip side, the life of the disciple is not one with our sins hung like an albatross

around our necks. Jesus leads us in the way of profound mercy: when someone sins against

us, seven lies, seven thefts, seven punches, seven angry words, we forgive seven times. Our

Lord sets no upper limits on His forgiveness, and so neither do we.

Service

16th Sunday after Pentecost

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 02:31:30 GMT

Sermon

“We are Beggars Before God”

Why did the rich man go to hell? Because he thought the word of God was not enough. He

could not depend on what the Lord had spoken in the scriptures, and neither would his

brothers. There is a simple teaching for us when Abraham says, “they have Moses and the

Prophets.” The Gospel, the promise of salvation through the Messiah was present in the Old

Testament! The Old Testament, the Law and the Prophets, contain both Law and Gospel. The

scriptures are sufficient for the rich man’s brothers, just as the word of God is sufficient for us

today. The rich man claims that dependence on God’s word is not enough to stop his

brothers from joining him in hell. He desires a sign to be sent- someone being raised from

the dead that will do it! Abraham quickly replies, even with that they will still not believe.

Alleluia! Christ is Risen. He is Risen indeed! Alleluia.

Service

15th Sunday after Pentecost

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 02:25:47 GMT

Sermon

“Jesus is God’s Perfect Steward”

The manager in the parable today is not commended by the master for his dishonesty. What

was commended was the shrewd steward’s perception and insight that he recognized his

predicament. This crook facing a crisis is not praised because he is a crook. Rather, the

master’s point of praise is the steward’s wisdom in recognizing two things. First, it was in

correctly analyzing his own resources to meet the future. He had none! Second, it was in

correctly trusting His master’s undeserved and generous mercy for those whose debts he

reduced. He staked everything on the belief that his master would honor the words nullifying

a debt that he spoke in the master’s name. He trusted that the master would not go back on

the promise to the debtors, even though they were made dishonestly as he looked out for

himself. That’s the point! The mercy of the Lord even in the face of mismanagement!

Service

14th Sunday after Pentecost

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 16:03:44 GMT

Sermon

“Jesus is the Relentlessly Searching Shepherd”

In the Gospel lesson today, we have two lost items: the first is a sheep and the second is a

coin. The parables aren’t concerned with how they’re lost, but how they are found. The

shepherd and the woman are both obsessed with finding their treasures again, frantically

searching for them until they are found.

That, of course, is exactly how our Father feels about us. When we wander off and find

ourselves lost in the wasteland of our own sin, our Father desperately searches for us. And

when we are found and forgiven, heaven throws a party to celebrate our return. Why else

would we have so much singing every Sunday morning?

Service

13th Sunday after Pentecost

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 15:59:50 GMT

Sermon

“God Loves You In Christ”

In this age of tolerance and fledgling fake phony love, we must be clear that hate is

sometimes a beautiful gift of God. God, who is love, can and does hate! He hates evil, He

hates idolatry, He hates false worship. The hatred assigned to God in Scripture is not so

much an emotion as it is a rejection in will and deed. God’s people are also supposed to

lovingly hate as He does. The righteous are to hate what is false. To fear the Lord is to

hate evil. In the book of Romans Christians are to hate evil and love what is good.

You love what is good because love became incarnate and love has a name, Jesus. And

you hate what is evil because Jesus came to hate sin and take it into Himself. God

continues to speak beautiful words of hate towards sin and love

Service

12th Sunday after Pentecost

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 19:31:45 GMT

Sermon

Don’t expect to be repaid. That’s mercy.

In today's Gospel lesson, Jesus is dining with some Pharisees and we hear a series of snippets

from the dinner conversation.

It's the Sabbath, which means no work. Period.

But in walks a man with dropsy, and Jesus uses the opportunity to unveil their legalism. “Is it

lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” Of course, the Pharisees had previously objected to Jesus'

miracles on the Sabbath, classifying them as “work.” But who is truly Lord of the Sabbath?

Next Jesus gives them this odd bit of advice: always take the worst seat at the table. Jesus goes

even further: don't just take the worst seat, but invite people who couldn't possibly pay you back:

the poor and the crippled and the blind. These, of course, could not pay you back because they

could never afford to have a feast in the first place. This is Jesus' peculiar way of teaching us about

mercy—getting what you don't deserve. Just as we are given seats at Jesus' table that we don't

deserve, our life should be characterized by a similar generosity. Don't worry about getting paid

back. Jesus squares up everything at the resurrection of the dead. And if you are found in Christ,

you'll receive what you could never repay. That's how things work at Jesus' table.

Service

11th Sunday after Pentecost

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 21:16:16 GMT

Sermon

The last shall be first and the first shall be last

Even though we don’t want to admit it, we all have our own religious ranking systems,

much like the Pharisees. If we all had a dinner party with Jesus and we were in charge of

seating arrangements, you know who you would seat close to Jesus and who you would

put in the back corner. But that’s not how Jesus runs His kingdom. There are many people

you may not even like at the table, whereas some of the most “upstanding” folks you

know may not be invited. In the end, Christ himself is the narrow, in fact only door

through which we may enter His kingdom. But when He does the seating arrangements,

He’s not looking for those with good religious resumes. He puts us in seats that we don’t

deserve to be sitting in.

Service

10th Sunday after Pentecost

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 21:10:44 GMT

Sermon

We will not find peace until Jesus returns.

The Jesus in today’s Gospel lesson doesn’t sound much like the Jesus from our Bible story

books. With all his ominous talk about fire and division and judgment, you’d think that we

were listening to some angry, shouty street-preacher rather that the Jesus who talks about

how much God loves the world.

But love tells the truth. And the truth is that Christ has not come to bring peace here in

this age, but to save us from this present age. Of course Jesus wants everyone to believe in

him and be saved, but He knows that won’t happen. Whether we like it or not, many will not

believe, and so division between those who believe and don’t believe is simply inevitable.

Sadly, this division will even extend to families, between fathers and sons and brothers and

sisters. All too many of you know this firsthand.

But this tension will not be forever. When Jesus returns, His people will be gathered

together and all our sad divisions will cease, because we will be fully and completely united in

Christ. So we live today with an eye towards that day when there will finally be true peace.

Service

9th Sunday after Pentecost

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 19:43:56 GMT

Sermon

Anxious? Our Father knows our needs.

The world is filled with things to be anxious about, from the terrifying: mass shootings,

economic collapse, national unrest, to the mundane: remodeling decisions, compound fractions,

taxes. We fret and lose sleep, but Jesus says, "do not be anxious about your life."

Now Jesus isn't promoting a careless lifestyle where we just throw all caution to the wind, nor

is Jesus just peddling the power of positive thinking. His encouragement, "don't be anxious" is

rooted in our Heavenly Father's care for us. God feeds the ravens and clothes the lilies, and we're

certainly more dear to Him than birds and flowers. And if the Lord promises to provide for all our

needs (wants are another matter), then why be anxious?

Not only does the Lord promise to provide us with treasures that are here today and gone

tomorrow, but He also promises a treasure that will always be here tomorrow. "Fear not, little flock,

for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." The Lord's kingdom--His work of

salvation--cannot be touched by moth, rust, or even time. It's an eternal treasure that will never

fade away.

Service

8th Sunday after Pentecost

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 18:24:15 GMT

Sermon

Financial Tip: Be Rich Toward God.

Jesus became poor so we would become rich toward God. Jesus became so poor that He

depended on the hospitality of others as He traveled about proclaiming the Gospel while

Judas robbed from the common money bag. How poor did Jesus become? So poor that He

even had nowhere to lay His head. The creator of the world had no place in His own creation.

Jesus was found naked under the judgment of our sins on the tree of death, so He could

clothe you with His righteousness. God possessing us means Jesus, the risen lord of life is

your shepherd, and He will carry you forever.

Service

7th Sunday after Pentecost

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 20:45:24 GMT

Sermon

Jesus makes His Father OUR Father!

“Lord, teach us to pray” Jesus did not just show this humble disciple how to pray or

dispensed five easy steps to a healthier prayer life, but actually gave the gift of what to

pray. This question is something that only flows forth from receptive faith. It was the

perfect question from a sinner who struggles just like you and I to find the words to speak

to God. Christ gives us the very words to speak. We pray to Christ’s Father. And it is

Jesus who makes His Father your Father.

Service

6th Sunday after Pentecost

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 20:34:24 GMT

Sermon

Worship: Jesus serves us!

Mary had it right. While Martha frantically scurried around, preparing food for the body,

Mary was sitting at Jesus' feet, receiving food for her soul.

The world is a busy place, with unending to-do lists and a million distractions. But in the

middle of all this busyness, there is only one thing needful: to sit at Jesus feet and receive

what He gives us. “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life

as a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:28) We are still being served by Jesus. He puts His

words to in our attentive, receiving ears. He puts his flesh and blood into our mouths.

We sit at His feet with open hands, eager for whatever He will put into them.

Service

5th Sunday After Pentecost

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 02:38:28 GMT

Sermon

Jesus is our Good Smaritan!

The lawyer’s question was “And who is my neighbor?” that is, “Whom must I love?” Jesus’

answer is “Which of the three... proved to be neighbor to the man who fell among the

robbers?” or “Who has loved?” The answer is Jesus! Jesus has proved to be neighbor to

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 17:07:57 GMT

Sermon

Deliver us from evil.

It tells us a great deal that Jesus destroys neither the demons nor the man who was posessed

by them. No doubt, He had the power to do it. With the flick of His wrist, He could have rid

the world of one more evil man. But Jesus has not just come to clean house; He has come to

rescue the lost, not to destroy them. When the townspeople come by, they find the posessed

The 4th Sunday After Easter

Sun, 11 May 2025 01:46:00 GMT

Sermon

“Jesus Alone Grows His Church!”

Jesus had sent the disciples out to be fishers of men, and now, when they go out to fish, Jesus

teaches them what that will mean. They had fished all night, and their efforts had produced

nothing. But when Jesus tells them to throw the net on the other side of the boat, they land

such a large catch that they can’t even pull them all in. They catch nothing apart from Jesus.

When Jesus sends out pastors to be fishers of men, it will not be their own skill or cleverness

or power that will catch men. It will be Jesus alone who will fill their nets.

Service

Bible Study 5/4/25

Sun, 04 May 2025 17:28:34 GMT

Bible Study 5/4/25

The 3rd Sunday After Easter

Sun, 04 May 2025 02:30:31 GMT

Sermon

“Jesus Alone Grows His Church!”

Jesus had sent the disciples out to be fishers of men, and now, when they go out to fish, Jesus

teaches them what that will mean. They had fished all night, and their efforts had produced

nothing. But when Jesus tells them to throw the net on the other side of the boat, they land

such a large catch that they can’t even pull them all in. They catch nothing apart from Jesus.

When Jesus sends out pastors to be fishers of men, it will not be their own skill or cleverness

or power that will catch men. It will be Jesus alone who will fill their nets.

Service

The 2nd Sunday After Easter

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 22:38:38 GMT

Sermon

Forgiveness Happens Here

Jesus is both Lord and God

There’s a lot that goes on in the upper room.

Jesus appears to his disciples and extends peace to them with his own pierced hands and side.

Then Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit on them and sends them out as His deputies to forgive sins,

just as He did.

But Thomas wasn’t there the first go around, so Jesus returns the next week. But He doesn’t

come back to scold, but He comes back in mercy. He extends his resurrection peace to Thomas

too, despite his stubbornness. He invites Thomas to touch His now glorified wounds. In return,

Thomas makes one of the truest confessions of Christ: “My Lord and my God!”

Yes, Jesus is Lord, that is, our king, our master, our sovereign. And He is also our God, one with

The Sunday of the Passion

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 17:36:32 GMT

Sermon

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord

Today, we get to have our cake and eat it too. The service begins with Jesus' triumphal entry into

Jerusalem, but the Gospel lesson recounts the events of Good Friday. Although it may seem odd

to have both these readings, it gives us more opportunity to meditate on our Lord's passion. On

Maundy Thursday, we are usually occupied with the Last Supper and the Lord's Supper. On Good

Friday, we are usually focused specifically on Christ's final hours on the cross. But many of the

bits from Passion Week end up getting missed. So we read the passion of our Lord at length in

addition to the traditional Palm Sunday reading.

We will also be conducting what is usually called a “Gospel Processional.” Instead of reading

from the lectern as usual, the pastors will be carrying the scriptures into the center of the church

and reading the Gospel lesson from there. This both emphasizes the honor of God's Word as

well as demonstrates how the Gospel is to go out into the world (as it goes out into the

congregation). In the end, it is all for the praise of Christ and His words.

Service

Bible Study 4/13/25

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 17:22:02 GMT

Bible Study 4/6/25

Midweek Lenten Service

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 17:42:13 GMT

Service

Bible Study 4/6/25

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 17:20:49 GMT

Bible Study 4/6/25

The core of the study focuses on the contrasting responses to God's authority : the futile rebellion of earthly nations and the ultimate dominion of the Lord's Anointed King, Jesus, the Son of God. Key concepts explored include the meaning of "meditate" versus "plot," God's "laughter" at human defiance, and the profound implications of Jesus being "begotten" and the "cornerstone" . The session emphasizes the two ways of life —the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked—and culminates in an invitation to find "refuge" in the Son , despite the coming judgment.

5th Sunday in Lent

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 02:34:21 GMT

Sermon

Lent 5

Luke 20:9-20

Like most of them that Jesus tells, the parable of the leased vineyard is intentionally over-the-

top. We’re supposed to gasp when we see the caretaker farmers refuse the master and abuse the

servants and kill the son. It’s supposed to shock us. And all the violence and presumption by the

farmers stems from one basic fact: they didn’t understand who the vineyard really belongs to. It

doesn’t belong to them; it belongs to the lord.

The vineyard stands for the people of God, and so this parable was initially an indictment against

the religious leadership of Jesus’ day. But it also applies to the church today. For us, this parable

is both comfort and warning. On the one hand, we dare not act like the church ever belongs to

us. The church is always and ever His church, not ours. But this is also our comfort. We are always

His church. No matter how the caretakers of the Lord’s church may stray, they cannot ultimately

scuttle His church.

Take comfort in Jesus’ assurance, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one

will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28)

Service

Midweek Lenten Service 2

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 22:26:48 GMT

Service

4th Sunday in Lent

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 22:20:03 GMT

Sermon

“God Recklessly Loves Sinners!”

The problem was never the money or the sinful living. The problem was the broken relationship!

This the prodigal son couldn’t heal! This must be received freely as a gift from His Father. All

that he can offer to His Father is his sins- I am unworthy! What unexpected, enlivening, elevating

actions that follow! He is overwhelmed by grace from His Father. The forgiven son receives

grace upon grace as he is given the new robe of a son and the ring of family authority and the

shoes of a free man. The slaughter of the fattened calf indicates that the whole community is

invited to share and celebrate the reconciliation. This is a beautiful picture of the heavenly

Father’s love for you right now! He rejoices over the sinner who repents- over you!

Service

Bible Study 3/30/25

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 02:03:22 GMT

Bible Study

This study focuses on Psalm 141, exploring its themes of prayer, protection, and the struggle against sin . The pastor then delves into the Psalm's structure, highlighting how it moves from an earnest plea to God to hear prayer , likened to incense and evening sacrifice, to a request for protection from both internal sin and external evil . The study emphasizes the psalmist's recognition that the greatest danger often comes from one's own inclination to evil , while also seeking deliverance from wicked people. Ultimately, the Psalm serves as a powerful prayer for divine deliverance and guidance , providing a model for Christians to seek God's refuge amidst the challenges of temptation and corrupting influences.

Bible Study 3/23/25

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 01:16:46 GMT

Bible Study 3/23/25

This study delves into the profound meaning of Psalm 95, emphasizing its two distinct yet interconnected sections. The initial verses serve as a corporate invitation to worship and praise God as the Creator of all things , highlighting His universal dominion. The second part shifts to a stern warning against hardening one's heart , referencing historical instances where the Israelites tested God despite witnessing His power and provision. Ultimately, the sermon explains that while the Psalm progresses from praise to warning, in Christian worship, this order is often reversed, leading to confession before joyful praise , allowing believers to acknowledge their failures and then celebrate God's grace and their identity as His beloved "sheep."

3rd Sunday in Lent

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 01:06:09 GMT

Sermon

“The Way of the Wicked Will Perish. Ps. 5:4”

God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked and yet He did take pleasure in the death of

His holy Son. “The Lord was pleased to crush Him...as a guilt offering” the prophet Isaiah says.

Pilate’s mingling the blood of the Galileans with their sacrifice speaks this word to you: “unless

you repent you will all likewise perish.” Pilate’s shedding of the blood of another Galilean on the

altar of the cross speaks a different word to you. “His blood cleanses you from all sin”. Christ

became the barren fig tree for us for He became sin for us on the tree of the cross. He was cut

down in death and bore the best good fruit of resurrection for all of creation!

Sermon

Midweek Lenten Service

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 01:12:58 GMT

Service

2nd Sunday in Lent

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 23:29:59 GMT

Sermon

“God Comforts the Afflicted, Afflicts the Comfortable”

The sad story of our fallen human nature is that we would prefer to remain comfortable in our

sin and live the lie rather than be afflicted by the truth, turn from our sin, and be saved. We reject

the word that tells us that our ways are not God's ways. The prophet Jeremiah spoke every word

given to him to speak, "This house shall be like Shiloh." The prophet greater than Jeremiah, Jesus

Christ, speaks every word His Father has given Him to speak, "Behold, your house is forsaken."

Jeremiah was not killed for 'afflicting the comfortable.' But Jesus was. The disaster that God

promised He would bring against you if you will not repent and turn from your sin – has been

brought against Jesus. Jesus Christ is our Temple not built with human hands. He was torn down

in crucifixion, but three days later He was raised never to dies again!

Service

Bible Study 3/16/25

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 23:34:28 GMT

Bible Study 3/16/25

This bible study primarily focus on Psalm 1 , which presents a stark contrast between two distinct paths : the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. The speaker emphasizes that the blessed individual avoids the counsel of the ungodly, the path of sinners, and the company of scoffers , highlighting a progression from casual association to entrenched rejection of God. Instead, the righteous "delight" in and "meditate day and night" on God's "Torah" (law/instruction) , actively engaging with it vocally to fill their minds, a contrast to Eastern meditation's emphasis on emptying the mind. This meditation is likened to a tree "planted" by streams , thriving and bearing fruit in its season, signifying a life of spiritual prosperity and growth that is sustained by God. Conversely, the ungodly are depicted as "chaff" driven away by the wind , a stark and unsettling image of utter perishing, signifying a lack of substance and a definitive end. The sermon also touches on the Psalms as prayers to God that express the full range of human emotions , and how they often foreshadow Jesus or can be spoken by Jesus, further connecting the Old Testament text to Christian understanding.

Midweek Lenten Service

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 17:46:57 GMT

Service

Bible Study 3/9/25

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 23:33:30 GMT

Bible Study 3/9/25

The discussion on Psalms emphasizes its unique nature as the Bible's prayer book , highlighting how it directly addresses God and serves as a guide for prayer, mirroring the petitions of the Lord's Prayer. The study also explores the corporate nature of the Psalter , encouraging participants to pray even unfamiliar psalms on behalf of others in the global church. Additionally, the session analyzes Psalm 32, illustrating Hebrew poetry's use of parallelism to define blessedness as the forgiveness of sins, not material wealth, and demonstrating how unconfessed sin leads to inner turmoil, contrasting this with the relief and assurance found in confession and God's unwavering forgiveness.

1st Sunday in Lent

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 01:10:40 GMT

Sermon

“All Satan has is lies.”

Showing Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, Satan said, “All these I will give you

if you will fall down and worship me.” Satan’s offer appeared so innocent and simple for Jesus to

find relief from hunger and temptation. One bow and Satan would give Jesus the world. But the

world was what Jesus was already after. It is what He came to redeem. Christ was tempted in

every way we are. Satan offers Jesus immediate success without the cross. Now he held

prosperity and victory before His face without the pain of the cross. He was, however, offering

earthly kingdoms to Jesus, but Jesus came to give us a heavenly one.

Service

Ash Wednesday

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 14:33:13 GMT

Service

SPLHS Singing Saints

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 00:18:54 GMT

Concert

Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth will hosted a concert of the touring Singing Saints Choir of St. Paul Lutheran High School in Concordia, Missouri, on Monday, March 3rd at 7:00pm. The award-winning choir is under the direction of Dr. Jerrode Marsh. They performed a varied program that included classic German choral works by J.S. Bach and Hans Leo Hassler, as well as some hymns, anthems and spirituals. For more information about the school, visit www.splhs.org .

The Transfiguration of Our Lord

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 16:51:50 GMT

Sermon

Christ is Prepared to Die for Us

Moses represents the Law and Elijah the prophets. In Jesus one greater than Moses and Elijah

has come and all the law and the prophets speak of Him (Lk. 24:47). The Transfiguration is the

confirmation of the arrival of the Messianic kingdom on earth. It is where heaven and earth

meet. It is a glimpse beyond the veil into the glorious kingdom of Christ. But suffering must

precede glory. Moses and Elijah speak of Christ’s exodus. By this they refer to what must be

fulfilled in Jerusalem, the brutal agony of the cross.

Serv ice

Bible Study 3/2/25

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 01:20:10 GMT

Bible Study 3/2/25

A bible study session focusing on grief, death, and the Christian response to loss . It begins with a devotional opening, including prayers and a passage from Luther's Small Catechism on baptism, which is then connected to the story of Naaman's cleansing in 2 Kings, highlighting the themes of water, God's word, and divine cleansing/restoration . The core of the session then shifts to practical guidance on comforting those who mourn , emphasizing the importance of truthful, Christ-centered statements over unhelpful platitudes. Pastor also addresses the sensitive topic of scandalous deaths (like suicide), urging a focus on Christ's promise in baptism rather than speculating on the deceased's internal state. Throughout, the overarching message underscores that Christ's resurrection is the ultimate answer to death , providing genuine hope and comfort.

7th Sunday after Epiphany

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 23:31:36 GMT

Sermon

New Paragraph

Service

Bible Study 2/23/25

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 23:24:25 GMT

Bible Study

Bible Study 2/16/25

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 21:28:19 GMT

Bible Study

6th Sunday after Epiphany

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 21:03:12 GMT

Sermon

Blessed are the helpless and the hopeless

You have to wonder how popular of a preacher Jesus would have been today.

“Blessed are you…” Well, that’s a good start. But then Jesus goes on to say who is blessed: the poor, the hungry, the weeping, and those are hated for just being a Christian. Doesn’t sound like a winning sales pitch to me.

But here is the reality: we will have crosses as Christians. We may even be persecuted and hated by others. Christ doesn’t say that’s good, but He does say that we are blessed nevertheless. Because in the end, the Lord will use such hardships for our good, to strengthen and to mature us as His disciples.

Service

Bible Study 2/9/25

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 01:15:46 GMT

Bible Study

5th Sunday after Epiphany

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 01:12:07 GMT

Sermon

The church stands on Jesus’ authority

The disciples can do nothing without Jesus' authority.

He told these fishermen to throw out their nets in broad daylight, a terrible time to be fishing with highly-visible trammel nets. Peter even admits that he wouldn't have done it except on Jesus' word. But Jesus has authority over all creation, and they have a catch so large that their nets begin to break. But Jesus did not chose them to make them better fishermen. He chose to make them fishers of men. Just as they could catch fish in broad daylight under Jesus' command, so likewise they could call men into God's Kingdom by His authority.

Service

Bible Study 2/2/25

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 21:03:50 GMT

Bible Study

The Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Our Lord

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 18:26:44 GMT

Sermon

God comes to restore not destroy

Jesus did not come to destroy the man with the unclean spirit. In so doing Jesus would have destroyed the unclean spirit and the man who was held captive by it. God could very well destroy our whole body and life. He would be fully justified in doing so. It is in our sin that God could easily have nothing to do with us, as we so often want nothing to do with Him. But Jesus, in Holy baptism, comes not to destroy the whole us but to clean and restore us. Our one Baptism daily has a new man emerge and arise in us to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Service

Bible Study 1/26/25

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 21:00:43 GMT

Bible Study

3rd Sunday after Epiphany

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 03:17:05 GMT

Sermon

New Paragraph

Service

Perspectives: Death and Dying

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 02:03:52 GMT

Audio Only

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

2nd Sunday after Epiphany

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 01:39:21 GMT

Sermon

New Paragraph

Service

Baptism of Our Lord

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 01:26:34 GMT

Sermon

Jesus comes as a sinner to save sinners

Why does Jesus need to be baptized? After all, John's baptism (which is not the same as Christian baptism) is a baptism for sinners . Even John recognizes how strange Jesus' baptism is. He protests, “I need to be baptized by you , Jesus, not the other way around.” It's almost as if he says, “hey, I'm the sinner, not you!”

But Jesus comes as a sinner to save sinners. He steps down into the Jordan just like all the other offenders because he comes to take our place as an offender. This is the mission that His Father gave Him. If there's any question about that, just look and listen. The Spirit comes down on Him like a dove, and the Father speaks from heaven, voicing his approval. "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." So the Father makes clear on who this Jesus is and what He is here to do. He is God's beloved Son. And everything He does is precisely what the Father has asked of Him, … including the cross.

Service

Epiphany

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 03:47:14 GMT

Sermon

“Epiphany” means a sudden or great revelation, but it doesn't seem like the Magi or anyone else in the story has a clue. The Magi come to the wrong town, asking for directions. Herod is caught totally unawares of this new rival to his throne. And even though the religious leaders know where to find Jesus, they don't seem one bit excited by the Messiah's arrival. The festival of Epiphany seems more like an occasion for human confusion.

But the strangeness of it all only underscores the point; today is a divine epiphany. The way that God works in the world does not conform to our expectations. It should not be surprising that Herod, the religious leaders, and even the magi were confused. For God's work must be revealed to us. Our ways and expectations must be unlearned and conformed to His. And today is just the beginning.