"Arise! Shine!" with Pastor Glen Schlecht: Recent Episodes
Immanuel Loveland
Rev. Dr. Glen Schlecht is the Senior Pastor/Teacher at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Loveland, Colorado. These weekly Messages/Sermons are based upon Biblical texts and themes for personal spiritual formation and discipleship training.
Bringing Blessing! We’re starting our Advent series this year by thinking about Abram/Abraham and the covenant that God made with him in Genesis 12. What is God’s plan? What are His desires – not only for Abram but also for us today? What are the blessings in our lives? How can we share those blessings? How can we be a blessing? So many questions that we tried to share today as we enter the holy season of advent "waiting" upon the Lord. Begin the season of Advent by listening to this week's podcast and begin considering how Jesus is “born in us today.”
Christ IS King! We’ve come to the end of the Church Year and the last Sunday of the Church Year is always Christ the King Sunday. This Sunday, we pondered what it means for us that Jesus is our King and the ramifications of that reality for our lives today. It’s time to celebrate the joy and the confidence this reality brings to our lives and also to our world. Let's ponder and celebrate!
Watch Out… and Stand Firm! End Times can be a very confusing topic, and that’s why we’re tackling this topic! How do we handle all the craziness in our country and across the world? What do we say? Where do we look? How do we know what’s true and what’s not? In this podcast, we dig into this important topic for us as followers of Jesus.
Saints and Blessings. This Sunday, we celebrate All Saints Sunday, giving thanks to God for all His saints – both those living as well as those who have passed away. The actual date of All Saints is November 1st, which was on Tuesday this year, but it is such a significant part of our lives as followers of Jesus as well as of the life of the Church. This week, we take time to celebrate and observe this day filled with power and promise. You might start considering what it means to be a “saint” and also be thinking about the saints in your life, those faith-filled people who have passed on the faith in Jesus to you and who have helped shape and form your life in Christ.
Ever Reforming, Ever Transforming. In this podcast, we recall and celebrate the events that took place in the early 1500s that have shaped and transformed the Church for the past 500 years. We call this series of events the Reformation, which was spearheaded by Martin Luther. We have a natural transition from The Red Letter Challenge to our celebration of the Reformation, primarily when it comes to spending time in the Word. Martin Luther, through the time of the Reformation, not only brought God’s Word to the forefront (we celebrate the 500th anniversary of Luther translating the New Testament into German while he was in hiding in Wartburg Castle), he also highlighted God’s grace. We considered the historic “banners” of the Reformation – Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Scripture Alone, Christ Alone.
The Red Letter Challenge: Growing in Christ. We’re wrapping up The Red Letter Challenge series reflecting on what this series has been all about – ultimately Growing in Christ. We're honing in on a story that Jesus told about sowing seeds and relating that to growing in faith, as well as part of St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesian Christians and what he was inspired to write when it comes to what “growing” looks like. Let's grow together in Jesus.
The Red Letter Challenge: Going. This is Week 5 of The Red Letter Challenge, and it is all about another aspect of how we can experience the full and abundant life our Lord desires and offers to all (John 10:10). This week, we’re talking about Going– how that looks and what that means. It’s not as scary and daunting as you might think – really! I hope this encourages you to engage in the Lord’s mission for all of us.
The Red Letter Challenge: Giving. We’re in week 4 of The Red Letter Challenge, and we continue what we started talking about last week – how to live the full and abundant life that Jesus offers us. Last week we focused on Serving and how that is how God created us. In a similar fashion but with some additional and important considerations, we are thinking about how Giving plays into who we are, how we live as followers of Jesus, and the blessing it is.
The Red Letter Challenge: Serving. This is week 3 of The Red Letter Challenge and we’re talking about “Serving.” We’re not going to go into a lot of detail about how to serve as much as we’ll be thinking about why we serve and why this was such a big deal from Jesus’ perspective.
The Red Letter Challenge: Forgiving. As we continue on with The Red Letter Challenge, we’re dealing with a BIG one this week – Forgiveness. This particular topic could be the basis for a 10-week sermon series in and of itself! We’re going to hear from the Lord on this foundational gift the Lord offers to us and what it means for the day-to-day lives we lead.
The Red Letter Challenge: Being. We start with the first of the five main ideas that Jesus talks about – “Being.” This continues our new fall series, The Red Letter Challenge, which kicked off last week. This 40-day challenge is now in process, and we need to hear some powerful reminders of who our God is and why “being” with Him is so critical when it comes to living the lives we’ve been called to live and “being” the people we’ve been called to be.
The Red Letter Challenge. Today, we’re starting our new fall series, The Red Letter Challenge. This 40-day challenge kicks off on Sunday, and Pastor Glen laid the groundwork of what this is all about and why we’re doing it. We’ll hear compelling evidence from the mess our world is in and encouragement from our Lord in His Word as to what we can do to address it. We're doing this 40-day challenge as a congregational family...let's do this!
Our summer Nuggets of Truth series wraps up this Sunday and I can’t think of a more fitting way to end the summer. As we look primarily at the Old Testament reading from Deuteronomy 30, we hear the many options before us as we go about our day-to-day lives. And the urging we have from the Lord seems obvious – choose life! But is it really that obvious – or easy? Take a listen!
Humble Confidence. Are you a confident person? When I ask that, I’m not thinking arrogance but confidence – there’s a difference! In this message, we’re looking at what our Lord offers and provides for us when it comes to living life in this crazy world in this crazy time. We have a reason for confidence – hear how and why!
Keep Your Eyes on Jesus. In both the Old Testament reading and the Gospel reading for Sunday, we’re given some very harsh realities from the Lord. In Isaiah 5, we hear the disappointment He feels after giving us so much over and over again – and yet… His desire is to love us and forgive us. That’s what He wants to do! In Luke 12, Jesus talks about how tough it is to follow Him. It’s challenging. Yet… keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. The writer to the Hebrews in chapters 11 and 12 talks about what the Old Testament people of faith endured, and yet they didn’t give up – they had faith, even in the hardships of life, they kept their eyes fixed on the Promise, the Messiah, who we know to be Jesus. This is a message full of encouragement to not give up, especially in the face of the trials, challenges, and hardships of life.
Live By Faith. No one would debate that life these days is challenging. But as followers of Jesus, our calling – to live by faith. That sounds great but what exactly does that mean and how do we do it? That’s what we’ll explore this Sunday as we’re inspired by God’s people of old from the Bible’s great “Hall of Faith” chapter in Hebrews 11. Jesus adds another dimension to what living by faith looks like in the Gospel from Luke 12.
“Eat, Drink, and be Merry!” Yep, you read that right! Curious? “Eat, drink, and be merry” is undoubtedly a theme for life that many either strive for or hold to. But is that really what we’re called to do – to take life easy? Not according to Jesus and the story He told in the Gospel reading. We hear a similar sentiment from the writer of Ecclesiastes. St. Paul expounds more on this in Colossians 3 as far as where our hearts and where our minds should be. As always, our Lord and His Word (through St. Paul), speak so clearly to us when it comes to the lives we’ve been given and the lives we’ve been called to lead. Give it a listen!
You Only Need ONE Thing. Our Nuggets of Truth summer series continues as we focus on some of our Lord’s words in Colossians 1 and the account of Jesus in the home of Mary and Martha. What we hear has to do with some of the basics of life. We’ll have the opportunity to think about priorities and about Jesus. Don't miss this one!
Bear Fruit – It’s Not That Hard… The Lord tells us in the Old Testament reading from Deuteronomy 30 that the commands He’s given us are given out of His great love for us – the Word is very near us and His Word is not too hard for us! Paul writes in Colossians 1 how the Gospel is bearing fruit and so it is that we, too, are to be bearing fruit by every good work we do. Jesus puts this in very practical terms by way of telling the story of “The Good Samaritan.” This story is fruit-bearing exemplified!
Nuggets of Truth series - ""Who are You Trying to Please?" St. Paul speaks pretty clearly when it comes to who we should be trying to please regarding the lives we live – and why. Life isn’t about us. It’s not about doing what makes us happy. It’s not about following all the rules. It’s about Jesus. It’s about our relationship with Him and how that impacts our relationships with each other. In this week's message, Glen shares the practical implications for our lives in a powerful reading from Galatians 6.
On the eve of our nation’s celebration of independence, we hear from St. Paul in his letter to the Galatians about what real freedom is all about. We’re told in the first verse of chapter 5, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Then in verses 13-25, Paul goes on to explain in very practical terms what our freedom in Christ is all about. There’s some contrast and certainly some parallels as we think about the lives we lead and the freedoms we enjoy in the United States.
This week's message from Pastor Glen is another Nugget of Truth - "You Can’t Do It." Is “You Can’t Do It,” really a Nugget of Truth?? And if it is, it sure doesn’t sound very encouraging… What the Old Testament prophet Elijah experienced when it came to some highs and lows are some pretty relatable experiences. What’s interesting here is that no, the Lord wasn’t overly encouraging to Elijah – but what He reminded Elijah (and us), truly are some Nuggets of Truth that we can take home with us!
This Sunday, we began our new summer series, Nuggets of Truth. We’re going to lay the foundation for the summer by talking about what “truth” is, particularly as Jesus expressed it. The cool thing is that Jesus didn’t just talk about it but He provided some pretty powerful gifts to each one of us when it comes to Truth. We just don't know THE TRUTH as if it were a "thing," we know THE TRUTH because Jesus IS TRUTH! The truth isn't a what, but a who! Listen for a good foundation in knowing TRUTH in life!
Pentecost is all about the miracle of the Holy Spirit. Jesus had promised it before He went to the cross and the coming of the Spirit was dramatic! How is the Spirit continuing to breakthrough in our lives and in our world today? Jesus talked of what the Spirit would bring, and we’ll hone in on those elements from John 14 and Acts 2 as we consider the ongoing work of the Spirit today, breaking through hearts and lives with the Gospel.
Glen's message this week could almost be considered as information on a potential prison break rather than a “breakthrough.” Glen shares from the New Testament reading from Acts 16 with Paul and Silas being imprisoned for healing a slave girl who had been possessed by a demon that allowed her to tell fortunes. The owners were outraged that their “golden egg” had been taken from them and they had Paul and Silas imprisoned. What happened in that prison? We’ll be thinking about their attitude, their actions, their faith, their patience, taking the abuse they did without complaint, and ultimately where that led, for both them and the jailer and his family. Many amazing and powerful breakthroughs took place while Paul and Silas were imprisoned. This is what we're talking about - It’s amazing to see how God works in all circumstances!
Jesus’ miraculous healing of a man who had been crippled for 38 years is at the heart of what we’ll be looking at in this message. How Jesus approached this man is quite interesting. This breakthrough was a whole lot more than just a physical healing. What Jesus has to say cuts right at the heart of the lives we lead still today. Give it a listen!
Is life just a matter of hanging in there with all the old, broken, painful things of this life until we get to heaven? Breakthrough! It’s not! Yes, life is filled with sin, with broken things of all sorts, and it can be tough. But what we hear from our risen Savior today is what His resurrection to life has done to change and affect what life here and now can look like. Glen's message focuses primarily on the reading from Revelation 21, a powerful part of the vision the Lord gave to His disciple John. This is HOPE and NEW life that comes as a gift from Jesus for you!
As Glen continues the "Breakthrough" series of messages, he explores the Gospel reading for this Sunday where Jesus is asked directly if He’s the Christ. Jesus responds by saying that is exactly what He told them. Breakthrough! The problem is, they didn’t believe. Why? They’re not His sheep – they don’t listen to His voice. We’re His sheep and the promises Jesus gives come quickly and richly in John 10:27-30. Those promises can provide a “secondary” breakthrough, coupled with the Revelation reading – namely, that WE are the recipients of everything because Jesus is the Christ. We hear, we believe, we follow, we listen, we worship, we trust our shepherd.
As Glen continues with our Easter Breakthrough! series, we focus this week on one of the most miraculous breakthroughs to have ever occurred – Jesus’ appearance to Saul, who we now know as the apostle Paul. No one saw that coming, but what Jesus did serves to show us the power of the Gospel. The entire story is a fascinating display of the power and love of our Savior, the same power and love of our Savior that can break through hearts and minds still today.
In this Easter season series of messages entitled, "Breakthrough," Glen examines the story of "doubting" Thomas in John chapter 20. What are your greatest fears? Do you have doubts? Jesus meets you RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE and brings you His assurance, love, and PEACE!
Easter Message 2022! As Pastor Glen shares about the miraculous breakthrough of the resurrection, we celebrate and thank God for the gracious salvation promise given to us through the risen Jesus! This breakthrough can be our breakthrough as we experience the resurrected glory of God in our lives and hearts. Join us weekly for the continuation of the "Breakthroughs" series of messages that will continue for the coming weeks of the Easter season! Christ is risen! He is Risen indeed, alleluia!
In this final message in the "Know Your Enemy" series (during the Lenten season 2022), Glen shares about how we do "battle" with ourselves. We all have struggles with that part of who we are that goes contrary to the will and purposes of God. Discover more about how we have victory in Jesus to live as His people and to shine the light of Christ. Yes, the "enemy is us" but we have a BIG God who is full of grace to bring us the gift of forgiveness and empower us to be His transformed people!
In this message (the fourth in the "Know Your Enemy" series), Pastor Glen continues his Lenten sermon series by talking about the "perspectives" that we adopt that either bring us life or "death." There are promises in the Bible that there is a "life after death" life that a follower of Jesus can live NOW that brings us freedom from fear and empowerment from God. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 5, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" Listen for some good encouragement about what it really means to grow in the NEW LIFE that Jesus gives us as His gift of love, grace, and victory!
In this message (the third in the "Know Your Enemy" series), Pastor Glen continues his Lenten sermon series by talking about the "Useless things" that distract us from growing in Jesus, living as His Disciples, and being faithful to join Him in His mission. Our "enemy" is often ourselves...we get tempted, distracted, and are apt to spiritual wander. Listen for some good encouragement about what it really means to keep our eyes on Jesus.
This message is the second in our Lenten series entitled, "Know Your Enemy." A week ago we looked closely at the devil and his tactics. In this podcast, we scratch the surface of “the world,” and how and why we need to recognize “the world” as our enemy. The important clarity in understanding this is that it’s not this created world that is the enemy – it’s the “ways of the world,” or the messages we hear from “the world” that are contrary to what our Lord says to us in His Word. Listen for some good encouragement! The times in which we’re living are not times for us to sit in passively. It is a time to stand for Truth. So let’s be bold in these challenging times – bold for the Gospel!
Pastor Glen begins a new series of messages for Lent 2022. The season of Lent is often thought of as a season of spiritual disciplines – prayer, fasting, and serving others. It’s a 40-day journey with a focus on the cross, leading us to Holy Week and the ultimate victory celebration of Easter. Lent can also be seen as a time of battle – the enemy (the devil, Satan, Lucifer) is not just going to sit idly by while we engage in these spiritual disciplines, seeking to grow in our faith and to share the love and Good News of Jesus with others. This is a time when he’s going to engage in a big way to try to disrupt and create heartache and trouble. That’s why we’re calling our Lenten series, Know Your Enemy…, as we look not only at the devil but other enemies with whom we must contend in these spiritual battles.
Robin gives his final sermon as the pastor of Our Savior @ McCall and Shepherd of the Mountains @ Cascade. In this message, he outlines his feelings about this next chapter in life and shares some challenges on how we as disciples of Jesus can remain faithful in the midst of transition and change.
Robin shares on the vital importance of prayer reflecting on an important bible text from the book of Hebrews. Prayer is coming to God’s throne (for HE is able) of grace (we are forgiven) in confidence (because of Jesus, our High Priest). Let’s say it together, “I can’t but God can!”
Robin speaks about what it means to have a passion for God! In short, don't settle for ANYTHING less!
After making comments about a couple of popular "church" phrases, Robin shares about God's passion for the PEOPLE who follow Him as Disciples to see themselves as THE CHURCH. The church isn't a place...it is a people and we are called by God to take up the challenge of being "ON MISSION" for God in sharing His love with a world that so desperately needs to experience the grace of Jesus.
Robin talks about the mission of the church using three chairs...one that is symbolic of our participation, one that reminds us that we had someone who influenced our walk of faith, and the important, "third chair"...those people still to come! This message is a reminder of why we exist as a church! Important for all of us to remember the MAIN REASON we exist as a body of believers...to join Jesus in HIS mission.
Now that we have talked over several weeks about the "In" value (loving others and developing loving relationships), Robin shares about what it means to live an "out" value...in other words, what is the mission of God, why are we called to participate in that journey and what are the implications of God's call to each of our lives? Listen for a good challenge to your life in sharing the blessings God has given you! You have been blessed to be a blessing!