There is likely nothing more painful than the death of a loved one. I have conducted funerals for people I didn’t know, people I did know but had no special relationship with, friends who were very dear to me, and also my parents. E...

What does Christ's birth mean for us? He reveals God to us and He came to save every kind of sinner. We can now know God who is Spirit through Jesus. Sermon audio from the 2025 Christmas Eve service....

Big idea: Receive and enjoy life in Jesus—the Word became flesh. Grasp the realities of the incarnation. Jesus experienced all aspects of life without sin.Jesus suffered like all humans suffe...

Main idea: Celebrate Christmas by receiving the Word, the son of God who took on human flesh for our salvation. Eternal Word Community Distinct Deity Creator Life Light ...

Author’s note: I wrote this during an unexpected season of sorrow, grief, and even shame, before and around last Christmas. God reminded me that He is always faithful, and I wrote to offer hope and encouragement to my husband and myself. I b...

Main idea: Put your heart at rest in the safety of God and his covenant promises Remember God’s Calling and Deliverance (Genesis 15:7)Engage in the covenant relationship (Genesis 15:8-11)See who really ful...

Main idea: (Keep) open your heart to the true hope of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Foolish hearts Open hearts Burning hearts Automat...

To stay on course, remember the Lamb as you look forward to His return.  Refocus on the Deliverer in Passover.Re-orient the direction to Christ’s kingdom.Revisit the death of Christ. Reset the de...

Main Idea: Walk with God; His promises are sure. Respond appropriately to God’s Word (v. 4-9). Depend on God’s faithfulness to His own Word (v. 10-20). ...

Main idea: God is making a people for Himself, to love and rule through the Son by the Holy Spirit. Hope and fear the promises made. Victor: Genesis 3:15 Abraham: Genesis 17:7–8 Israel: Exodus 19:3�...

Main idea: Sing for joy – the Father has crushed the Son so that we could be His children. Jesus took all our sin – the pain, the sorrow, the sickness, the grief, the death, the sin itself, and the guilt… (...

Main idea: The victorious return of the King-priest commands a daily life reset. Hear the prophecy of His comingOffer your life freely(What) voluntary worship(When) at his return in power(How) in...

Main idea: Look to Christ in faith who is snatching victory out of the jaws of Satan Believe God’s Promise (Genesis 3:15)EnmityVictoryOut of DefeatLook to God’s Sign (Numbers 21:4-9)...

As a teenager growing up in a Lutheran church in Iowa, I enjoyed serving as an acolyte, which is a person who lights the candles at the front of the church as the service begins and extinguishes them at the end. It was a formal proces...

Main idea: God created everything! Worship the Creator God, who is Father, Son and Spirit, for His goodness and greatness. Worship the Creator God: He is great and good! (v. 1) Isaiah 45:7-8, 18...

Main idea: Set your heart today on the time Jesus will personally reign over every nation. ...

(Keep) Turning to God from Idols Wait for His Son Psalm 25:2, 5Titus 2:11-15From heavenPhilippians 3:18-21Whom God raised from the dead1 Corinthians 15:20-25...

Main Idea: Anticipate Christ’s return and serve His people, and you will be ready for your first face-to-face meeting with Him. Anticipate Christ’s return.Matthew 16:28 Serve His people as a st...

Main Idea: The resurrection fits us for the Kingdom and for a life of meaningful labor. The necessity of the resurrection for the Kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 15:50-51a, 53) The nature of Kingdom ...

Main idea: Re-ignite your hope and service; this body will be resurrected in a body suitable for eternal life with God.  Anticipate four realities of resurrected bodies: Fruitful for GodFit ...

Main idea: Let the truth of the resurrection message motivate you to fearlessly give up everything for Christ. The resurrection changes everything about your future (29). The resurrection changes everyth...

Main idea: Christ Rose from the dead so that the Father would be our all in all The Promise (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)Romans 8:11Romans 8:29The Plan (1 Corinthians 15:23-24a)The Purpose (1 Co...

1. Certain Resurrection: Be certain that you will be resurrected because Christ was raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:12-16). The Corinthians’ problemEvidence of Christ’s resurrection...

For I handed down to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures … and if Christ...

Main idea: Trust Christ who endured the most hateful outburst and humble childhood. ...

Daniel 7:13-14 Rejoice with Great Joy (Matthew 2:7-10)Humbly Worship (Matthew 2:11a )Give Generously (Matthew 2:11-12) Main idea: The wise rejoice and humbly worship Christ the eternal king ...

Main idea: Seek Jesus Christ to Worship Him Great responses to the Birth of ChristTerrible responses to the Birth of ChristImmediate Responses to the Birth of ChristMicah 5:2-5Ezekiel 34:23-34...

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 Hymn Story At the time of Christ’s birth, the...

Backstory of the Lord’s Supper: The Passover Meal (Exodus 12) Main idea: The Lord’s Supper is a meal that the church takes together to remember Christ, to renew our commitment to Him and each other, and to proclaim His death until He c...

1. The Peril of Puny Faith (Mark 9:14-19) 2. The Power of Puny Faith (Mark 9:20-27) 3. The Prescription for Puny Faith (Mark 9:28-29) Automated Transcription Note: this tran...

Keep trusting Christ because guilt and shame are defeated by the power of the resurrection. Search sorrowfully no more. See the risen Savior. Speak the news of Jesus’ exaltation. Introduction 1. Se...

About this time every year, I descend into the storage room in my basement in search of a box of plastic Easter eggs, many of them in two pieces, so that we can begin to assemble them for the grand Easter egg hunt to take place after worship on Ea...