The Mount MKE - sermons: Recent Episodes
Mt. Lebanon Lutheran Church and School
We are the neighborhood church and school of the Hampton Heights Neighborhood. Our purpose is to transform lives, families and our community with the forgiveness and love of Christ. Thanks for listening in. We invite you to learn more about our mission and ministry at TheMountMKE.org.
In Genesis 28, as Jacob left home for fear of his life, God encountered him at Bethel. There, God assured Jacob that he was still his God, despite his sin, and would bring him back. Jacob set up a stone of remembrance there to remember and recall God's faithfulness.
On Pentecost, God, the Holy Spirit, came to the disciples just as Jesus had promised. On this festival day, we commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples by setting up a stone of remembrance to the God who still comes to meet us. Genesis 28:10-22
This Sunday, June 1, we conclude our series on Job with a look at Job 42. After wrestling with suffering and questioning God's justice, Job responds in humility and renewed faith. “I had heard of you,” he says, “but now my eyes have seen you.” Through suffering, Job moves from secondhand knowledge of God to personal encounter.
God responds with grace, calling Job “my servant” again and again—a powerful sign of forgiveness and restoration. Job is not only restored in his life but also in his relationship with God. He even forgives his friends and intercedes for them, becoming a Christ-like figure who prays on behalf of those who wronged him.
Job’s story reminds us that suffering isn’t wasted. It can draw us closer to God, deepen our faith, and reveal his grace in powerful ways. Join us as we reflect on the God who meets us in the ashes.
This Sunday at Mount Lebanon Church, we’re diving into Job 41 —God’s thunderous description of Leviathan, the untamable beast no human can defeat. But God? He isn’t threatened. He rules over Leviathan. This terrifying creature—symbol of chaos, evil, even the devil himself—may be too much for us, but not for God. Evil is not His rival. It is His servant. With a word, He can fell it. Whatever Leviathan looks like in your life—fear, sin, injustice— God has the final word. And that word brings not only power, but vindication for His people. A sermon on Job 41.
In Job 40, God speaks again—not to explain, but to reveal. He points Job to Behemoth, a creature so powerful that no human can control it. And yet, God does. This moment isn’t about answers—it’s about awe. Through His words, God shows Job that His authority extends over everything, even what we cannot understand or manage.
Behemoth stands as a reminder: what is impossible for us is fully governed by God. In our suffering, when life feels chaotic or out of control, we are invited to trust the One who holds even Behemoth in His hand. God doesn’t diminish Job—He draws him into wonder. And He does the same for us. The wild is not wild to God. He reigns over it all.
This sermon centers on the powerful moment when God answers Job—not with explanations, but with questions that reveal His greatness and Job’s smallness. Speaking from the storm, God draws Job into awe, not to belittle him, but to lift his eyes to the majesty of the Creator. As God recounts the wonders of creation, Job realizes that the Almighty who commands the cosmos also cares deeply for him. Job’s suffering is not meaningless—it’s refining. “When He has tested me, I will come forth as gold,” he declares. This same truth applies to us. God teaches, tests, and treasures His people. We are not forgotten. We are His masterpiece, His chosen ones, precious in His sight. In God’s vast universe, we are deeply known and infinitely valued. A sermon on Job 38-39.
In the span of a few days, Job lost everything. His prosperity was stolen from him and destroyed. His children lay buried in the dust. His own health was so destroyed that his friends could barely recognize him when they came to console him. But they were little help. Zophar was one of the worst. He came to Job in his grief and said to him, “You deserved this. In fact, it could have been worse. God has even forgotten some of your sin” (11:6). Some friends!
Yet, Zophar wasn’t all wrong. He asked a fundamental question of Job. “What can you know?” The wisdom, the mysteries, and the limits of God are all beyond our knowing. It is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.
Yet, there Zophar sat, daring to uncover the hidden mysteries of heaven to Job. Isn’t that what we try to do when we try to explain how God is working all things together for good (cf. Romans 8:28)? We say that and then we try to explain it. We sit with those who are suffering and try to explain to them how its good. We sit with our thoughts and try to reason out the things beyond our understanding.
We are better off if we stick with what we know. And what was it that Job knew, even in the dust and ashes? He knew that his Redeemer lived. He knew that he would live with him, too. Ah, how sweet this sentence is: I know that my Redeemer lives! Indeed, this is what we know. Job 11:7-9; Job 19:23-27
Satan comes for Job. This isn’t about some competition or bet between God and Satan, in which Job is the unfortunate pawn. Just like Satan has always been doing, he is coming for Job. That’s why he roams worldwide, prowling to and fro in it. He comes for Job. He thinks that if he takes the things of God away from God, Job will curse God. He believes that if he takes God's gifts away, Job will turn from him. But Job won’t. All he does is sing. All he does is hold on to God. In fact, instead of cursing God, he holds on to his God more tightly and even sings a song of praise.
Peter, too, sings a doxology. He even helps his readers to sing the same doxology because of what God is up to in their lives.
Everyone wants an explanation for suffering. We want to understand it. We want to make sense of it. We draw conclusions about God and about our lives based on our suffering. But this all comes from the assumption that suffering is bad. It comes from the belief that suffering is evil.
But notice how Job fights against this, even when the devil tempts him through his wife. In his agony, as he scrapes his wounds, he points her to the goodness of God.
But Job knows that it’s not because he has God. He knows that even if you take away the things of God, you have not and cannot take away God himself. Can you hear Psalm 73? “Whom have in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.” This is why Job sings. This is why we sing, too. Doxology is the way we send the devil packing – we don’t hear from him anymore in the book. This is why we sing! We have God himself, who has died and been raised again. Job 1:12-2:10
Wouldn’t it be nice to know what is going on in heaven? Wouldn’t it be nice to have God’s explanation for our lives? Wouldn’t it be nice to know what God thinks about us?
In the book of Job, we get to know things that not even Job knows. As his story unfolds, God pulls back the veil, allowing us to listen in and see what is happening there. We see God call Satan in to interrogate him. And what is he up to? He is roaming to and fro, prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. But then, look what God says; consider what God says about Job. He brags about him! He boasts of him. He is one proud Father. Hearing this conversation leads me to ask this question: What does God say about me? If we could pull back the veil and listen in to these heavenly conversations, what would God say about you? About me?
There’s no need to wonder. While we may not know the exact words that our Father speaks about us as he converses with his angels, we do know this. The Devil doesn’t get an audience there anymore. He has fallen from heaven like lightning (cf. Luke 10:18). Not only is the Devil under Jesus’ feet, but he is under our feet, too. And, wonder of wonders, beyond all of that, our names are written in heaven (cf. Luke 10:20).
Four times in the opening two chapters, God gives his verdict of Job. How many times has spoken his verdict over you? Yes, our resurrected Lord stands up before the Devil, who questions our faith in Jesus and says to him, “The Lord rebuke you! This is one whose sin I have removed. I have rescued them from the fire. They are mine!” Job 1:6-11
Our lives are full of “before and after” moments—what we were like before this and before that, what the world was like before this and after that. We can point to significant before/after moments in our own lives. We can see them clearly on the pages of Scripture. The wise man, Job, had a major before/after moment. In Job's account, we can see what Job was like before, during, and after his trial. Before his trial, he was the ideal man, fearing God, shunning evil, and anxious concerning the eternity of his children. He was ready for what was coming.
There is another before/after moment that prepares us for whatever comes. Knowing that this day was coming filled even Job with eternal hope (cf. Job 19:23-27). He counted on the ideal Man, Jesus, the Son of God. He counted on his coming. The Messiah would be (and he was!) truly blameless and upright; he feared God alone and shunned evil. Yet, he suffered unspeakable injustice and then became the sacrifice for all humanity. This is the One we see raised from the dead this day! His blood has paid the price. His resurrection assures us that the check cleared.
The Devil has no claim on him NOR US. This is our most important “after.” We live after the resurrection of Jesus and look forward to our own. And so, we’ll rise early each day, fearing the Lord, shunning evil, and being anxious for the eternity of the people in our lives.
There are many things that we see happening on Palm Sunday. Amidst the fray, we clearly see a battle. It is a battle between those who set themselves up against the Holy One. But will he just take it? And for how long? Take refuge him before he laughs in heaven and terrifies you in his wrath. On this Palm Sunday, we call pray a prayer for the One true King. We seek to serve him and lay down our palms of praise before him. A sermon on Psalm 2.
For the rest of the psalm, David preaches to his soul regarding the character and the nature of God. He alone is King and his throne is over all. So, what are we going to do about it? We’ll praise him together with everything else that has breath. A meditation on Psalm 103:19-22.
“I’ve got some questions, God! I’ve been looking at those people over there. I’ve been living my life over here. And I’ve got some questions.” That’s the posture of the psalmist in Psalm 73. He’s got questions and doubts. You too? Trying to make sense of God’s ways in the world when they seem to make no sense at all? Asaph too. Yet, it was the very process of praying his doubts and raising them up to the Lord, that brought Asaph to a place of certainty. “Ah yes, now I see what you’re doing.” Yes, when we learn to pray our doubts, God teaches us to trust him in him even when we can’t make sense of his ways. A sermon on Psalm 73.
For the rest of the psalm, David preaches to his soul regarding the character and the nature of God. Is it any surprise then, that God knows us and what we’re like? Frail. Dust. Weak. Yes, in love and grace, God deals with us according to our weakness. A sermon on Psalm 103:13-18.
Everyone suffers injustice. It comes in all kinds of forms and varying intensities. But everyone suffers from injustice; wrongs are committed against us. But what do we do when it happens? What about the anger the begins to burn inside? What do we with our anger, even our just anger? Bring it to the Lord. If there is anything the psalms teach us to do with our anger it is that. Bring it to the Lord and entrust the case and the cause to Him. A sermon on Psalm 43.
For the rest of the psalm, David preaches to his soul regarding the character and the nature of God and how he deals with us. Unlike anyone else, God does not deal with us according to our own actions, but rather according to his compassion. A meditation on Psalm 103:8-12.
The problem with wandering in the wilderness is immediately present: There isn’t as much food and water! This leaves us dray, wearing, worn, thirsty, and longing to God. Yet, even then there is sermon we must preach, a sermon our soul needs to hear, a sermon we need to preach to our own souls. “Hope in God!” Yes, no matter, will yet praise him, my Savior and my God! A sermon on Psalm 42.
For the rest of the psalm, David preaches to his soul regarding the character and the nature of God. He works righteousness and justice. Just consider what he did for Israel through Moses. A meditation on Psalm 103:6-7.
Grief and loss surround us on many days. We can easily make a list of the loss that each of us have experienced. We can just as easily make a list of the collective losses. Grief wells up in our hearts. Complaints rise up before the Lord. And God wants to hear it all! He wants to hear our prayers and cries. Even though we faint from our tears, we he is right to be our refuge in the night of our sorrow. A sermon on Psalm 142.
David starts with a song of praise and begins to numbers all of the benefits that we have as his children. Don’t miss this, however. This psalm is a sermon to my own heart. It’s so important to preach these sermons to our own hearts! Psalm 103:1-5
As we move into the wilderness and cry out to the Lord there, two realities face us. On the one hand, we can be sure that armies will encamp against us and wars will rise against us (v3). Yet, when we put a “my” in middle of our theology, we are confident. On the other hand, the LORD is my light and my salvation. This is the second truth that helps us prevail. We cry out as we wait for the LORD, confident in him. A sermon on Psalm 27.
David cries out and cries out for deliverance. But what is that weighs most heavily upon him? It isn’t the trouble that surrounds him. It isn’t the death that stalks him. It is the weight of his own sin and his terror before the Lord’s anger. On Ash Wednesday, we cry out as guilty sinners confident of his mercy and sure that the LORD has heard our prayers. A sermon on Psalm 6.
In this sermon, we are reminded that Jesus never walked alone. From the very beginning of his ministry, he invited others—his disciples—to journey with him, teaching and forming them every step of the way. Even in his most intimate moments, such as when he climbed the mountain to pray, he took three disciples with him so they could witness and learn from him. Jesus was always with his disciples, and they were always with him.
As we stand on the threshold of Lent, preparing to follow Jesus into Jerusalem, we too are invited to walk with him. But we don’t walk alone. We are connected by a shared faith, a common mission, and a desire that no one is lost. Together, we walk with Jesus, listening to his words, letting them shape us, and allowing them to transform our hearts and lives.
Even when we face the valleys and challenges of life, we are assured that Jesus walks with us. We are never alone. As we journey through Lent and beyond, let us remember that we are always in the presence of Christ, surrounded by each other, and guided by his transforming word. Let us take that word to heart, trusting that it will change us and draw us closer to the one who is with us always. A sermon on Luke 19:28-37.
This week, we’ll reflect on Levi, the tax collector, who was seen as one of the worst sinners of his time. Yet when Jesus called him to “come with,” Levi left everything to follow him. This demonstrates the transformative power of Jesus’s call. As followers, we are invited into a daily rhythm of repentance and renewal. Levi’s joy overflowed into a banquet for sinners, showing that new life in Christ always bears fruit. We’ll be looking at Luke 5:27-32.
This week, we're looking at Luke 5:17-26. We meet some friends who did whatever it took to bring their paralyzed companion to Jesus. When the crowd blocked their way, they dug through the roof of the house to lower him into Jesus’s presence. This story reminds us of the urgency of introducing others to Jesus. The need for faith, healing, and hope is as great today as it was then. What lengths will we go to so others can meet Jesus?
"Jesus, Wait!" (Luke 5:12-16)
In this sermon and text, we meet a leper who defied societal rejection to approach Jesus for healing. Though he had been isolated and excluded, he cried out in faith, “Jesus, wait.” In response, Jesus touched him and healed him, showing us the power of mercy and the importance of drawing close to him, even when we feel distant or unworthy.
Week 1: "Come With!" (Luke 5:1-11)
In this sermon, we’ll explore Jesus’s call to his first disciples. As Peter, Andrew, James, and John dropped their nets to follow him, their relationship with Jesus deepened. But this wasn’t an easy path. Peter’s initial excitement turned to fear as he cried, “Away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” Yet Jesus reassured him, saying, “Don’t be afraid.” Similarly, we may feel unworthy when we first encounter Jesus, but his call reminds us to trust him and embrace the journey.
The Heart of Wisdom (Proverbs 3:1-10) (TRUST)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. But what is its heart and core? The heart and core of wisdom is trust not in your own name, in your own ways, in your own wealth, in your own thinking or understanding. No, the heart of wisdom is not those things. The heartbeat of wisdom is trusting in the Lord. In this sermon, we’ll explore the reasons why so many other things and people are unworthy of our trust. At the same time, we’ll see why and how God is truly worthy of all our trust.
True wisdom from God has value for everything. This is true of Jesus, who is Wisdom from God. It is also true of the wisdom that the Spirit gives and works deeply in us. The writer urges us: Do not let this go! Do not let this out of your sight but hold it tightly. Wisdom is what the Teacher calls us to love and desire above all things. (Proverbs 3:11-24)
What is Wisdom? Why does it matter and how do we get it? This week we’ll begin to answer those questions this way: On the one hand, our Father calls out to us and urges us to tune our ears to wisdom and to seek it with all of our hearts. Yes, open up your ears to hear! And, at the same time, he reminds us that wisdom from him is truly a gift from him. Wisdom is a Spirit-worked, spiritual gut instinct that is truly a gift from our God. And so, we pray, “Lord, give me this wisdom!” Proverbs 2.
As we enter 2025, we hurry with the Wise Men to worship Jesus. Jesus himself walks beside the Sea of Galilee and calls us to follow him with a lively faith. But how? What does such a lively faith look like? Solomon has something to say about that. He calls us it “the Way of the Wise.” In this four week series, we’ll begin to learn to walk the way of the wise.
Today, we learn from Solomon that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 1:1-7
O Christ our Redeemer, Come.
The one who paid the price
With your life and death.
O Intercessor before the Father’s throne
To welcome us into our eternal home, come.
A sermon on Matthew 25:1-13
O God Among Us, Come. Great king, who gives the Law To gather nations nigh, O Lord our God, Redeemer, To save your children, come. A sermon on Isaiah 7:14
12/25 (Isaiah 28:16)
O King of Nations, come.
The hope and cornerstone
Who makes from many, one,
You fashioned us in Eden –
Your earthly vessels, save.
12/24 (Isaiah 9:2-7, especially 2)
O Glorious Dayspring, come.
The bright eternal light
And sun of righteousness,
On those who sit in darkness
And death’s dark shadow, shine.
We are now in the season of Advent. “Advent” means coming or arrival. This means that it is a season of anticipation, longing and hope. We look forward to and long for the coming of Christ even while we celebrate the fact that he came.
We sit right at the edge of our celebration of Christmas. It just a few days away now. It is so close we can almost taste it. Oh, how good it will be when he walks through the door and ushers us into eternity.
Today, Wisdom speaks to us through the Scriptures and tells us, “Blessed are those who wait at my door… for those who find me find life.”
12/18 (Revelation 3:7-13)
O Key of David, come.
Unlock what none shall bind,
And lock what none shall loose:
The captives in the darkness
Imprisoned, now set free.
The countdown is on. Each Sunday that passes in this season of Advent brings us one Sunday closer to our remembrance and celebration of Christmas. Hope begins to grow. Expectation and joy begin to increase. This only grows when we consider who Wisdom truly is: He is Christ, the Lord. The One who sits on heaven’s high throne. The One who gives all gifts for body and life, for soul and eternity. The One who is the eternal Son of God, truly God and truly human being, in one person. Today, we learn another thing. He was there at the very beginning, creating this world together with the Father and the Spirit, delighting in what was being created and finding joy in us, the crown of God’s creation. He is Wisdom, the one who is delighted with us.
Today we see that Wisdom was not only there before the world was created, but he was also there at creation. He was constantly at the Father’s side, rejoicing in his presence and delighting in humankind.
12/11 (Isaiah 11:1-10)
O Root of Jesse, come.
This ensign raised for all
To whom the nations pray,
Before whom kings keep silent:
To rescue quickly come
We are now in the season of Advent. “Advent” means coming or arrival. This means that it is a season of anticipation, longing and hope. We look forward to and long for the coming of Christ even while we celebrate the fact that he came.
Today, we meet John the Baptist who cries out, running ahead of Jesus, preparing the way for him. And what does he say? What does he tell us about Jesus, true Wisdom of God? He declare the greatness and eternity of Jesus, of Wisdom: “He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me” (John 1:15). That was his clear and loud testimony. “I am not worthy to stoop down to untie his sandals” (Luke 3:16).
12/4 (Exodus 3:1-14)
O Lord of Israel, come.
Through bushes breathing fire,
To Moses you gave Law;
O come, redeeming Ruler,
With arms outstretched to save.
This is about wisdom in the book of Proverbs, but not the practical, know-how kind of wisdom. This wisdom from God is his very own Son. As we end one church year and move into another, we call out for true wisdom from God (cf. 1 Corinthians 1) to come. Last week we learned that Christ is true wisdom. Today, we see that since Christ is wisdom on his throne, he comes with and gives gifts to meet all our needs. Proverbs 8:17-21.
This is about wisdom in the book of Proverbs, but not the practical, know-how kind of wisdom. This wisdom from God is his very own Son. As we end one church year and move into another, we call out for true wisdom from God (cf. 1 Corinthians 1) to come. In this first sermon Pastor Chris explores who Wisdom is and what that means for our lives. If Christ is true wisdom, he is the power behind all thrones since he is on heaven’s highest throne. Proverbs 8:12-16.
It’s such a beautiful letter. So, moving and touching. With a deep desire for so much forgiveness. Paul writes with such passion and love that he would even pay the debt in the place of the sinner. He told Philemon, “If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me” (18). Yes, like I said at the beginning, this is such a tender letter of love and a desire for reconciliation that both Philemon and Onesimus would fight for the family.
How can I say anything more than that? Our pastoral hearts beat with a desire that confessions would be made, forgiveness would be given, and God’s people would be restored to one another. How sweet would that be for our family here at Mount Lebanon and beyond if we would “fight for the family” and live together like this? How sweet would this be for our families at home and at work if we would “fight for the family?” If we would confess our sins to another when we have sinned against them? If we would forgive their sins when they have sinned against us (even if they don’t confess)?
What would that say to the community around us if we were known as the church that “fights for the family?” What if we were known as the church that, in love, confronts sin in others and among us – and then forgave it!?! What if we were known as the church that lives together like this?
Oh, dear people of God, “Refresh my heart in Christ” and let’s live together in love like this.
A sermon on Philemon.
During Advent and Christmas, we will cry out, “O Come!” The title of the series comes from the O Antiphons. These are short sentences and prayers that historically have accompanied the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from Dec 17-23. These sentences embody a a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative “Come!” embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.
Beginning on Christ the King Sunday (11/24, 12/1, 12/8, 12/15, 12/22)O Wisdom of our God Most High,
guiding creation with power and love:
come to teach us the path of knowledge!
12/4 (Exodus 3:1-14)
O Leader of the House of Israel,
giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come to rescue us with your mighty power!
12/11 (Isaiah 11:1-10)
O Root of Jesse’s stem,
sign of God’s love for all his people:
come to save us without delay!
12/18 (Revelation 4:1-8)
O Key of David,
opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom:
come and free the prisoners of darkness!
12/24 (Isaiah 9:2-7
O Radiant Dawn,
splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the
shadow of death.
12/25 (Isaiah 28:16)
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!
12/29 (Isaiah 7:14)
O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law:
come to save us, Lord our God!
Many scholars, even Christian scholars, agree that forgiveness includes a wrong that is committed. One writer states that “when an individual forgives, his resentment is overcome not by restraining themselves the right to the resentment, but by making an effort to view the transgressor with understanding, kindness, and compassion, while acknowledging that he has deliberately surrendered his right to them.” In this explanation, she admits that something is owed. Another notes that forgiveness is defined as “a willingness to abandon one’s right to resentment, negative judgment and indifferent behaviour toward one who unjustly injured us.” Again, he notes that a debt is owed to the one who ultimately forgives.
The question that none of them seems to answer is: Who pays the price? If a person were truly wronged and a debt (guilt) was incurred, then who pays for that? God teaches us this very thing when we sin against him. He does not sweep our sins under the rug. He does not tell us that it is okay. He doesn’t just “forgive” it and move on. Instead, he takes guilt from us and gives it to his Son. In this way, his Son pays the price for our sins. His Son pays dearly, with his own lifeblood. This our God did for us not because we deserved it. In fact, we deserved the very opposite. It is grace from his Father’s heart that led him to this. It is something that is given to us. Yet, the question remains: Who pays the price?
The answer to the question must first be found in the cross of Jesus. Further investigation into the lived experience of these participants shows how vital and meaningful his cross is to them in their lives. They found hope, comfort, and strength in his cross. Christ paid the price. He paid the price for every sin that was ever committed against God and every sin that was or will be committed against another human being. Christ paid the price for all of them at the cross. It was a costly thing for him.
It is also a costly thing for the forgiver. Even when a form of restitution is made after a transgression, the forgiver pays a price. When I forgive my friend for failing to pay back the $500 he borrowed from me, this means I no longer ask him to pay me back. But who paid the price in this scenario? I did. I absorbed the loss of the money I loaned him. My forgiveness turned that debt into a gift to him. This is a concrete way of imagining how the forgiver pays the price. I admit that this is clear, but that in other cases, it is much harder to quantify and describe. Yet, it seems clear that forgiveness is costly. A cost is always paid, first by Christ and then by the one offering forgiveness. This is what Paul calls us to offer up to each other. Finding strength in the cost paid by Christ. And, then, paying the price of forgiveness toward those who offend against me. Ephesians 4:31-5:1
The process of conflict reconciliation has both a vertical and horizontal dimension. It has a vertical direction because it deals with each person’s relationship and standing with God. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ in this vertical relationship. We have reconciliation with God because God has not counted sins against us but has, instead, counted our sins against Christ. And, instead of counting sins against us, he credits Christ’s righteousness to us. We’re good with God.
But there still remains reconciliation in my horizontal relationships. There still remains reconciliation in the relationship with the people who sinned against me. There still remains restoration in the relationship with the people against whom I have sinned.
No one understood this better than Joseph and his brothers. Try to imagine what this conflict was like and how long it lasted until their reconciliation. His brothers sinned against him when they sold him into slavery. It was seventeen years or more before he saw them again. It was even longer before they had any sense of forgiveness and reconciliation between them. It was undoubtedly painful for them. Two things had to happen to move toward forgiveness and reconciliation: Sin had to be brought out into the open and confronted. It also needed to be confessed, not just to God but to the person against whom the sin had been committed.
As we seek to learn how to work through conflict toward reconciliation, these two acts are vitally important. Sin must be gently confronted and corrected. Sin must also be confessed. As we dive into the story of Joseph and his brothers, we will deal with these two acts: Confrontation and Confession. Genesis 50:15-21.
When conflict has happened, we often think to ourselves that something must be done for peace to be achieved, realized, and experienced. In one dimension, this is true. When we stand next to, in front of, or even just around people with whom we have had a conflict, there can’t be peace until something happens. That’s what this whole series is about: pursuing peace and reconciliation after sin has happened between two people, or even between groups of people. Sin must be confessed. Forgiveness must be given and received. Restitution and other steps to restore the relationship must be taken. Reconciliation does require work on the side of both parties. As we stand before people, something has to be done for peace to be achieved.
This is true as we stand before people. This is also true as we stand before God. Something must be done. Something had to be done. But it was not our doing. It is not something we need to do. There is no box that we need to check. God doesn’t look at us to say, “I’ll forgive you after you…” No, the work is all God’s. The work is all Christ’s. He has done the work to forgive. We have peace with God. We stand in a position of grace and righteousness.
Standing in this position of “recipient of grace” sets our hearts at ease as we move toward reconciliation with people after a conflict. In fact, this standing in grace is absolutely essential before we move toward the other people involved in the conflict. You are at peace with God. You have received grace from him. You are justified. Just soak this in and experience the peace that comes from this truth. Romans 5:1-5
Often in conflict, we are quick to see the speck of sawdust in our neighbor’s eye, but slow to see the plank that is in our own eye. It’s true. We are prone to lean into the sin that our neighbors commit. He did this, or she did that. In fact, sometimes we even take it one step further - we’ll even use their sin as some way to measure our own sin. We might use their sin to justify our actions. We may use their sin to minimize our own sin. In all sorts of different ways, we are quick to pinpoint others as the cause of conflict.
But James, the brother of Jesus, has a different answer. First, he asks the question: “What causes fights and quarrels among you?” He wants to know. Why do we have such conflicts? Why do we fight like we do? He asks the question and then gives quite an unexpected answer. The root of the problem is the sinful desires that live inside of you. It’s the idols that we’ve fashioned in our hearts. It’s the price we’ll pay to keep those idols and protect them from destruction. Whether the conflict began with you or you just continued it, your idolatrous heart has played a big part in the conflict in which you are involved.
But God made the first move to resolve the conflict. He did not just leave you to stew in your own pride and arrogance. He does not leave you to your idolatrous heart. Instead, he confronts your idolatry and sin. Then, having confronted your sin, he forgives you and raises you up from the ashes of your repentance.
Yes, God has always made the first move in any conflict. He did that when he sought Adam and Eve in their sin and when he made the first promise about the snake-crusher. He did it when he sent his Son, Jesus, for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8).
The first move in reconciliation is God’s coming to us to confront us with our idolatry and to reconcile us to Himself through his Son. James 4:1-10
If we’re going to talk about reconciling with those who have sinned against us, we need to know who we are. It’s about our identity in Christ, as those who are loved by him. That is who we are. We are dearly loved children of God, who have been bought with the blood of Jesus.
We can’t start this series with “do it because you love ‘em,” because frankly we probably don’t love them at the moment. We may even come closer to hating and despising them during and even after the conflict. They have hurt us. We have likely also sinned against them in some way, whether by thought, word or deed. Conflict between two or more people causes pain, dislike, bitterness, hatred, fear, etc. All sorts of emotions run to the surface. Love for those with whom we are in conflict lies at the bottom of our heart if it is there at all.
That’s why we have to start here with the love of Christ constraining us, wrapping its arms around us, and controlling everything about us. We have to see that he died for us on the cross and, that there, we, with all of our sin and sinfulness, died to sin. Conflict must cause a sort of death in us. Crucifying the hatred and sin in us. Dying to sin together with Christ, so that we might also live for and with him. Rising to life together with him through his resurrection.
Spiritual growth in the area will not happen because we learn the right steps to take, but in knowing the love of God for us in Christ, in knowing in fuller, deeper, and higher ways what God has done with our sins and hearing how we are reconciled to God. He loves you dearly and deeply. This is true no matter how other people have treated you or what others have done to you. He does not count your sins against you. He has made you wholly new.
Knowing his love for us is the beginning of our journey. Who are you? You are a child of God who is loved by Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:11-21
Read Philemon 1 I’ll never forget the first time I tried to preach the book of Philemon. It hit me like a ton of bricks. It is such a personal letter and so endearing. It tugs at your heartstrings every step of the way. It is not surprising to me that CS Lewis called Philemon “the most beautiful and intensely human of all of St. Paul’s epistles, full of charm and beauty.”[1] I entered Paul’s letter to Philemon because I wanted to learn from God’s Word about living together as brothers and sisters in Christ. I wanted to learn from the Word and share it with God’s people. But the Holy Spirit did something in me that I did not expect. He led me to give thanks for my brothers and sisters in Christ. He led me to find refreshment in our bond as a family of believers. He led me to repent of the way I had used and abused God’s people. He led me to refreshment in Christ and to a desire to be a refreshing stream for them. I heard Paul speak to my heart when he said to me: ***“Refresh my heart in Christ.”******[2]***
It is no surprise that as we live together as a band of brothers and sisters in Christ, we sin against each other. I sin against you, and you sin against me. You sin against them, and they sin against you. We use and abuse each other. Sometimes unchristian people do it to us. Sometimes Christian people do it to each other. At times, we do it intentionally. At other times we do it without much thought at all. Yes, even in the church, and sometimes especially in the church, we wound each other, and conflict ensues. You have your stories, and I have mine. The story of how this pastor did that to you. The story of how that member did this to you. The story of how your spouse…your friend…your sibling…. The story of conflict might even be unfolding as you sit down to read this.
The stories of those conflicts likely sit on some shelf in your heart. From time to time, you pull that story down, read it, and even relive it like a soldier might a battle scene. You hear the words. You feel the wounds. Your heart weeps and shakes. You want to move on and be refreshed so that your heart will stop hurting. Sometimes, you continue to live the story out. The wounds and the conflict steep in your heart like a bag of tea leaves in hot water. Except, instead of becoming a refreshing hot beverage, this has become poison for your heart. You want to forgive. You want to stop hurting, to stop hating. You want the bitterness to go away. But how? Paul’s words are for you, too: “Refresh my heart in Christ.”
This little letter is from Pastor Paul to Philemon, his dear brother in the Lord. Paul loved Philemon. You can tell from the way he addresses him. He calls him a “dear friend and fellow worker” and “brother.”[3] Paul was writing about Onesimus, whom Paul also loved. Onesimus was formerly Philemon’s slave, but he had run away from his master. Details about the timing and the reason for the runaway are scarce. We cannot be sure about what caused the conflict, yet Paul loved Onesimus too. Onesimus, once a non-believer but now a believer in the Lord Jesus, was dear to Paul. Onesimus was Paul’s very heart.
Paul loved them both, but they were in conflict with each other. Onesimus had wronged Philemon, and not just by running away from his master. Formerly, he had been useless to his master. Paul wanted Onesimus and Philemon to be reconciled to each other. He did not just want them to resolve the conflict; he wanted them to be reconciled to one another. He wanted their relationship to be restored. Paul was sending Onesimus back to Philemon with that singular goal in his heart. It would have certainly been better for Paul to keep Onesimus around. But far more than having useful Onesimus around, Paul desired that Onesimus and Philemon be reconciled to each other. To that end, he urged Philemon: Refresh my heart in Christ.
I want that for you, too. I do not just want you to resolve the conflict. That is the way we most often speak about conflict. We talk about conflict resolution. We somehow want to resolve the material issues at hand. The divorcing couple wants to decide how to divide the assets and attend to their children. The wronged company or employee wants to decide how to proceed with this or that issue. We want to solve the problem. But, especially in the Church, we care less about the stuff of your life and more about the people in it. We don’t just want to resolve the conflict. We want reconciliation.[4] I want that for you. I want you to be reconciled to the people with whom you have had or are still having conflict. Moreover, I want you to be reconciled to God. I’m urging you now: Refresh my heart in Christ!
This little work is for you, dear child of God. It is for you out of a desire that you would be reconciled with God, walk with him, and have refreshment from him.It is for you out of a desire that would be reconciled with those with whom you have had or with whom you are having conflict. I want you to walk with them again and be refreshed with them. I have seen too many people walk away from God and the church because of conflict. Sadly, I have been the cause of that more than I would like to admit. My heart yearns for you that nothing would drive you from your God or separate you from his people. Refresh my heart in Christ.
The way toward reconciliation is hardly linear. It rarely follows a straight path. It is often up and down, forward, and then backward again. Yet at least the first time through this little work, I will encourage you to follow the path. I have tried to lay out a path toward reconciliation in an orderly way. This path toward reconciliation is not my own, but rather is God’s and has been organized carefully by Ambassadors of Reconciliation.[5] They have taken the truths of God’s Word regarding reconciliation and organized them into both vertical (relationship with God) and horizontal (relationship with people) dimensions. They offer a useful path to work in both directions. Each week of this series, we will cover one of the themes from this path. There will be three parts to each week’s path: 1) A sermon to explore the major theme of the week. 2) Five daily devotions and Bible readings. 3) Reflection questions to take your meditation on that theme a little bit deeper. My encouragement is this: Take your time. Make it as personal as you wish. Listen to this series and read these devotions with a specific conflict in mind. See how God will move you toward reconciliation.
What would happen if the church – if our church – were known as the place that reconciles people? What would happen if we cut off gossip at the knees and lovingly reconciled to one another in Christ? What would happen if we dug up bitterness at the roots and confessed sin to our God and to each other? What would happen if we refused to let sin and sinfulness separate us from each other and our God? What if?
I think you can already begin to imagine what it might be like if this were to happen. Let it begin with you. Let it begin now.
[1] Kuschel, Harlyn J. The People’s Bible: Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. Milwaukee, WI: Northwestern Publishing House, 2000.
[2] Philemon 1:20.
[3] Philemon 1:1, 7, 20.
[4] In “Reconciling under the Cross,” Ted Kober explains the goals of conflict resolution as compared with conflict reconciliation: “In conflict resolution, we address the material or substantive issues of conflict. Examples include issues involving money, property, roles, structure, and so forth. We identify the problems to be solved and negotiate to resolve them. In reconciliation, we seek to restore the relationship by addressing the relational or personal issues of the conflict… Relational issues are reconciled through confession and forgiveness” (emphasis authors) (20).
[5] Kober, Ted. Reconciling under the Cross: Resolving Conflict and Restoring Relationships Using the Bible. Billings, MT: Ambassadors of Reconciliation, 2023. To learn more about Ambassadors of Reconciliation visit their website: https://www.aorhope.org/.
It’s so easy to do. We so often measure our worth and our meaning by our “net worth.” The idea is grounded in the very word itself. You are worth whatever value your house. You are worth whatever money you have in your bank account. Our money, property, and possessions can quickly use these measures to define the value of a person. And so the lie creeps in – “I am what I have.”
But what happens when we lose those things like Job did? What happens in our hearts if we never have those things at all? And so, our hearts sink again.
But call out the lie! We are not what we have. We are so much more. We are worth the value of blood of God’s own Son who gave his life as the redemption price for us. We are totally competent and sufficient in Christ! We are nothing but beggars who are nothing but what we have received by grace! We are jars of clay so show that the all surpassing power is God’s and not ours. We are sent. One final practice in this series will help us combat these identity lies: Open hands. On the one hand, we are nothing but beggars who receive with open hands what comes graciously from God’s own hand. And on the other hand, we are nothing but generous kings and queens who give away with open hands what God has so carefully entrusted to us. 2 Corinthians 4:1-12
There is no one more influential in your life than you because no one else talks to you more than you do. As self-talkers, we have an incredible ability to talk ourselves up or down depending on how we feel at the moment. But what is that talk based on? It can be based on our own evaluation and measurement of a situation. We value and evaluate everything we do, everything we experience, and everything that happens. We measure our value and identity by our best moments. We do the same with our worst moment. “I am good,” or, “I am bad.” “I am successful,” or, “I am a failure.” These are the conversations we have internally. It the inner dialogue we are constantly having. No one talks to you more than you do.
There is another voice speaking life and breath into your hearts. It is the voice of our Father who says, “You are loved! You are loved apart from what you do and experience in your life.” It is the voice of our Savior who says, “You are loved! I gave myself for you that you might live with me for eternally. You are dearly and deeply loved.” It is the voice of his Spirit who whispers in your heart, “You are loved and sent. I have shaped you for service and have sent you into the world. Now, go!” The voice of our God rings out at our baptisms telling us that despite what our own inner dialogue says, we are loved. 2 Corinthians 3:4-5
Our lives are shaped by conflict: we fight with our families and friends, struggle to get along with difficult coworkers, and feel the strain of division and disagreement in our churches. We might enjoy conflict too much or avoid it altogether, but we all want to learn more faithful, biblical ways of addressing the inevitable conflicts in our lives. This series will not just show us how but will compel and drive us toward forgiveness and reconciliation. This is a series about the fight after the fight. The fight for family. The fight toward reconciliation and restoration. This series and the accompanying devotions will give us God’s guidance and help for seeking reconciliation and wholeness in our relationships.
There is another lie that threatens our confidence and causes our identity to sink: “I am what people think or say about me.” We can assign so much value to the opinions and words to the people that their words cause us to rise or sink. We can even begin identify ourselves by their words. Solomon is right, however, when he says, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe” (Prov 29:25). When we assign so much value to the opinions of people, we will only be caught in a trap. But trusting in the Lord and in his opinion of us only keeps us safe. This is God’s opinion of us in Christ: “You are my beloved child. I love you. And you are simply awesome. My masterpiece. Created in Christ Jesus to do good works that I have prepared in advance for you to do.” Yet, believing this and living by it is harder than we can imagine.
How can we live for an audience of One, who simple thinks that we’re awesome? We can live this way by entering places of vulnerability.
By opening ourselves up to our closest friends, what some call their “3 am friends,” and, by being truly transparent and vulnerable. As we enter these places of vulnerability, we will let our friends see all the way to the bottom of us (which isn’t always so beautiful). By being transparent and authentic with them, we can break through the idea that we have to put forward a façade that people will validate. But it’s not just that. The best friends will confront us with our sins to break us of any pride remaining. But more than that, our best friends will preach Christ to us, truly consoling and comforting us with the promises of our Savior God. Romans 1:1-13
The Devil lies to us about our identity. We can even begin to believe him and start to think, “I am what I do.” The measure of my worth and my identity is tied up to my work, what I do and how well I do it. This is especially true in a consumer world where we are taught that a person is meaningful because of what they can produce. In fact, a person only matters if they can produce. The Israelites were only valuable to Egypt because of what they could do and Pharaoh worked them to the bone; his brick-making quota never ended. But, “I am not what I do.” Instead, “I am what Jesus has done for me.”
Even after they left Egypt, Israel was left with the mindset of work matters. God gave his people the Sabbath as a protest against Pharaoh’s never-ending brick-making quota. He taught them trust in the Lord for provision. He taught them to remember God’s care for them. That’s what the intentional times of Sabbath are for us too. They are a protest against Pharaoh’s never-ending brick-making quota. Hebrews 4:1-11
There is a tendency, even and maybe especially for us, that we would start to find confidence in what we do or how things are going for us. We’re Christians; that’s why! God knew that this tendency and temptation existed for his people, the Israelites too. He knew that they might (even would) become self-confident. So, God reminded them: “Its not because of you! Its not because of your righteousness, or your size, or anything about you. Its because of me! I loved you. I am doing and giving this to you. And I have set you here so that you might live as my people in this world.”
Here are the two words for Christian life: Loved and Sent. Notice the passive. This is not something we do. It is something done to us and for us. God chooses to love us. God, then, in mercy sends us as his loved children into the world. Deuteronomy 7:7-11
“Armor up” urges us to take up the full armor of God, to put it on and be ready for the spiritual battle that Satan and his forces bring to our door day after day. We will consider carefully the words of Paul who says, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Eph 6:11). Today, we’ll consider the “helmet of salvation.” In our battle against the Evil One, we are protected. We hope in him for salvation from all trouble and an eternity with him.
“Armor up” urges us to take up the full armor of God, to put it on and be ready for the spiritual battle that Satan and his forces bring to our door day after day. We will consider carefully the words of Paul who says, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Eph 6:11). Today, we’ll consider the “shield of faith.” The Devil will throw his fiery darts at us; yet they will not hit their mark because we are shielded by “the faith” handed down to us in the Scriptures.
As we make our way through our lives, many questions arise. Why? What? When? How? Questions come and then doubts creep into our thoughts. We can begin to doubt God’s goodness, his love, even his promises. Peter and the other disciples certainly did. They wondered if Jesus even cared for them. Yet, Jesus answered their every doubt. And he does and will do the same for us, every time. Matthew 14:22-33
“Armor up” urges us to take up the full armor of God, to put it on and be ready for the spiritual battle that Satan and his forces bring to our door day after day. We will consider carefully the words of Paul who says, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Eph 6:11). Today, we’ll consider the “breastplate of righteousness.” The Devil can make his accusations and seek to condemn yes. Yet, he cannot because we stand righteous in Christ.
“Armor up” urges us to take up the full armor of God, to put it on and be ready for the spiritual battle that Satan and his forces bring to our door day after day. We will consider carefully the words of Paul who says, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Eph 6:11). Today, we’ll consider the “belt of truth.” We have God’s truth so that we can stand against the Devil’s lies.
A Pastor’s Prayer: Pastors have a call to care for their people. It isn’t always perfect. Your own pastors give plenty of evidence of that. But, we do have a care for you like a father for his son. Paul shows this kind of care in his interaction with Timothy. He teaches us much about the relationship that we truly desires to have with each other (2 Timothy 2:1-13).
Today, we’re continuing to look at our life “Under God.” We’ll specifically consider our family lives under his care and rule. Children, God has something to teach you about living under your parents whom God has given to you. Parents, God has something to teach you about your care for the children he has given you. To all of us, God has something to teach us about the spiritual practices we carry out.
We’re starting a new series today. Quite simply, it will be a series that looks at the kingdom of God. It will be a look at the kingdom of God and all the other kingdoms of this world. In short, it will be a look at the Second Petition. In this petition, we pray that God’s kingdom will come. It will also look at the Fourth Commandment. In this commandment, God calls us to honor our father and mother, i.e., to honor, obey, and respect all those who are in authority over us. He teaches us how to live in other kingdoms.
Under God is a series that calls us to live under God in his kingdom and under those He has placed over us. That’s what we’ll be looking at and considering over the next couple of weeks. Today, we want to consider the kingdom of God. To do that, we’ll learn to sing Psalm 72, at least in our hearts, as we cry out, “Long live the King!”
The testimony is clear. Jesus is the Son of God, and he has overcome the world. The Spirit also testifies about Jesus. That is what this entire letter has been all about: “So that you may know that you have eternal life” (5:13). We have the same desire as John. We want the world around us to know that they, too, have eternal life in God’s Son. What letter can we write with our words and actions so that others can have the same confidence? What can we do in our lives so that others will share in this confidence? In this way, like John, our joy will be complete.
This call to love is a difficult and tricky thing, How to do it is difficult to figure out in each given situation with each dear soul we encounter. It is likewise difficult because of our sinful nature and the pressures of the world. Yet, John refuses to call this love a burden. But how do we lift the load? How does the weight of this command get lifted from our shoulders so that “his command is not burdensome.” Today, we consider 1 John 5:1-5.
This Sunday, John teaches us to live with fearless love. We are, after all, at times, afraid to love. There are many reasons for this. We may be afraid that someone will take advantage of our love. We are afraid that our love may make us vulnerable. We are afraid that selfless, sacrificial love will leave us without enough. There are many reasons that we are afraid to love. “What if...” seems to be a repeated theme. Yet, John makes it clear: “Perfect love drives out fear....” Christ’s perfect and all-sufficient love for us drives out fear of God’s judgment and gives us security from God so that we will love others. 1 John 4:7-21.
“God is love” (1 John 4:10). Love is not just part of what God does. It is who God is at his very core. It is his essence. But how do we know? He showed his love among us by giving his Son (1 John 4:9)— Jesus, who is God in the flesh. We might say then that Jesus is “love with skin on.” He makes God known by putting on human flesh, wearing skin, and becoming fully human. The same might also be said about you and me. We are the body of Christ, the visible representation of Jesus in the world. Yes, just as much as Jesus is “love with skin on” so are we.
As we finish our look at John’s first letter, we want to shift our focus outward to those who do not yet know Jesus. What letter can we write with our words and actions so that others can have the same confidence in Christ that we have? Our welcome to those who are guests at Mount Lebanon is one way that we can be “love with skin on.” Our life in the world is another way. What does our letter say? What does our life show? God showed us his love by putting skin on it. May he help us do the same!
Mother’s Day - it comes with a lot of different emotions from both mothers and from women who desire to be mothers. There also deep emotions from all of us regarding our mothers. There is great joy because of the gift they were/are to us. There may also be great pain because the relationship is broken or severed. What does God have to say to us as we work through the emotions that Mother’s Day brings? We’ll be looking at 1 John 3:7- 20.
Ascension is a big deal. Over the years, I think we’ve forgotten about it. Or maybe we never really thought much about it. I won’t bother to speculate tonight why that might be. But I do want to start by simply saying: the Ascension of Jesus into heaven is a big deal. Let me just list some of the reasons. Let me briefly tell you why (and this will not be a complete list).
- It means that Jesus has taken his seat at God’s right hand.
- It means that Jesus sits and rules. All things are under his feet.
- It means that Jesus intercedes for us now before the Father.
- It means that Jesus is preparing a place for us with him for all eternity.
- It means that Jesus would send his Holy Spirit. Remember he told his disciples, “Unless I go, I will not send the Holy Spirit.”
- It means that Jesus is coming back for us.
John wants to fortify us in three ways: Our hearts, our homes, and our holiness. A look at 1 John 2:28-3:6.
We live in dangerous days. The danger I speak of is not necessarily the danger on the roads or streets. The greatest danger we face is the constant assaults against the truth. That assault has been happening since the Evil One rebelled and was thrown out of heaven. Yet, we have an anointing from the Holy One, and we know the truth. We know He who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Continue in him, and we will be unashamed before him when he comes. 1 John 2:18-27
Augustine, in “City of God,” writes about a rightly ordered love. He means that we have to get our love for things in the right order. We should love the things that are to be loved. We should not love the things that are not to be loved. John speaks more directly and clearly about what and who should be loved and not loved. It is an either/or love. You cannot love the world or anything in the world. It all passes away and will destroy you. We are called to love our Father in heaven. (1 John 2:15-17)
How do you know?
That is one of the questions that John wants to help answer for us and in our hearts in this letter. Ten times in this letter, he states: “This is how you know...” He wants us to be sure and to know that we are remaining in God and walking in the light.
Today, as Pastor Chris officially begins his ministry here, we apply some of John’s tests to our own hearts as we study 1 John 2:3-14.
We have been drawn into fellowship with God. At the same time, our fellowship with one another continues to deepen. But that can only happen when we walk in the light and not in the dark, i.e., when we live authentic and confessional lives. 1 John 1:5-2:2
John opens his first letter with two crucial things. First, he identifies himself as a first-hand witness of Jesus and all that he did. He saw him. He touched him. He heard him. All with his own eyes, ears and hands.
From then on, Jesus had made it John’s mission to declare the One who is Life and Light to the world. John did this so that we may have fellowship with each other and fellowship with our God. Here is John’s goal for this letter:
“I write this so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:4
The death of Jesus left a nasty scar on the hearts and minds of his followers. The scar tissue was so deep it was hard to believe that he had risen. Things happen in our lives that make it hard to believe that Jesus has conquered death and lives and rules eternally. The scar tissue runs thick and deep. One thing cuts through the tissue and helps us to see clearly. Luke 24:1-12.
When Jesus was dying and after he died, there were many different responses, just like there were a variety of responses to his entry into Jerusalem. Some mocked him. Some grieved, not understanding what was going on. Others saw this happen and believed in him. God, grant that we remember his death with faith and hope. Luke 23:39-56.
Labels are often nasty things, especially when other people label us. They label us as this or that. They characterize us as this or that. Jesus was labeled, too: “This is the King of the Jews.” He was labeled as the One who would take our sin, take our death, and take our punishment. So that we might have a new label: Forgiven! (Cf. also Colossians 2:13-15). We'll be looking at Luke 23:32-38.
He should have been crucified. He should have been hung on that cross. I’m talking about Barabbas, of course. He deserved every bit of the pain of that cross and more of God, in heaven. Yet, there was a substitute for him – Jesus! What a miscarriage of justice! What an improper use of power on Pilate’s part, making Jesus a pawn so that he might keep control of the people. Yet, Jesus stood in for Barabbas and us too! We deserved every bit of the pain of the cross and more! Yet, Jesus took our place! He stood in for. He was abandoned. He was rejected by God and the people. All this so that we will not be abandoned. All this so that we will not be rejected. Luke 23:13-25
I wonder how Jesus felt when his own people mocked him and rejected him. I wonder what he felt as people nailed him to the cross and rejected him. We ponder these things because we just don’t know how Jesus felt. But we do know how we feel when people mock and reject us. We do know how we feel when we are spurned and turned away by people. We also know this. Jesus was unafraid to step to the cross and endure its pain because he knew two things: 1) He knew that he was the Son of God. This had been affirmed to him (at least) twice before. 2) He knew that his rejection meant our acceptance by God. Our rejection by people will still hurt, yet we know that we are not and will not be rejected by our Father in heaven. (cf also Isaiah 53). Luke 22:63-71.
The Scriptures share countless stories of failure on the part of the followers of Jesus. Peter fell asleep. Judas betrayed him. The disciples ran when Jesus was arrested. Peter denied him. We aren’t so different. If we were to tell the stories of our failures, the list would be long. Our memories are often scarred by the memories of our sins. Yet, Jesus rises to meet the betrayer. Jesus rises to embrace the cross. He leans into it because he knows that his cross means that our record is clean and erased. As a result, we have a new name. Luke 22:47-62.
Luke 22:24-46 – The Weight of Responsibility
More was asked of Peter than he could possibly do. He was given a weight of responsibility – first for his brothers and then for Jesus himself. The weight was too much! Peter buckled under the pressure even as Jesus gave the command and made the request. Yet, Jesus did not leave Peter under the burden. Jesus carried Peter’s burden and ours, too.
A huge part of the Israelites' lives before the Lord, and their commitment to him grew out of their attention to the Lord. We cannot rally the family or set out on any journey together unless we are giving our full attention to the Lord and his Word. Our festival joy doesn’t just grow out of finishing projects, but from the Lord and in his Word, where we find that “the joy of the Lord is our strength.”
The Israelites had sinned. Some were taking advantage of each other. Nehemiah called them to live in the fear of the Lord. He also set the example of selfless generosity. As we live in the “fear of the Lord,” we will seek to do what pleases him, even live selflessly with one another and for him. This includes a life of generous offerings to the Lord. We’ll be looking at Nehemiah 5.
Nehemiah asked for a report, but then he went to see for himself what was going on and how things were going. He did it when no one else was looking or watching. He investigated, and then he gave his report to the people of Israel, to those who had returned from exile. We have a report to make to you about the life and health of Mount Lebanon. There is a report to be given to you about the life you get to live for God. There is a report to be given and a report to be heard. Then, after we’ve heard the report – what are we going to do about it? What will you do about it in your life of following Jesus? What will we do as we pursue a mission with him? We’ll be looking at Nehemiah 2.
Before we tackle anything, we have to know where we are and what is going on. Nehemiah first had to learn what was going on. He had to listen and ask questions. Then, before he could even attend to any work or plan, he begged God to attend to him. “Let your ears be attentive,” he prayed. This is true both in our daily lives and in our corporate lives. What is our baseline? Where is our base camp? This is the beginning of rallying the family. Nehemiah 1.
This is not my year. It is his. He is the Prince. The rule is on his shoulders. Isaiah 9:6
Patience. It is the endurance and perseverance that God develops in us so that we do something for a long time. We hope, waiting for what God has promised, patiently. We live enduring hardships as discipline; we live patiently. James calls us, yes, exhorts us to live patiently like farmers. To be patient like the prophets and like Job, trusting in the mercy, kindness, and overwhelming generosity of our King. We’ll look at James 5:7-11.
Hope is such an important thing. When hope fades, discouragement and despair creep in. When hope fades, our bodies themselves curl up. Yet, even when earthly wishes fade, we have hope that springs eternal. We have been given a new birth into a living hope. We’ll look at Romans 15:4-13.
There are a lot of emotions that come along around this time of year. Grief. Sadness. Loneliness. Anxiety. Fear. Joy. Hope. Excitement. Anticipation. Lots of emotions surface in preparation for Christmas. It has always been like that. As God’s people waited for the coming of Christ, for the coming of that first Christmas, they were filled with many emotions. This Advent, we will walk with God’s people we will see how they waited and wait with them in joy, hope, patience, and confidence. Philippians 4:4-7.
We’re in the last part of the last chapter of the gospel of Mark. It’s been quite a journey from “in the beginning” of Mark 1 to this ending. What we want to think about on Sunday is what the next chapter might look like. We have some sense of what the next chapter looked like for the disciples from the book of Acts.
We have some sense of what the next chapter looked like for Jesus as he ascended into heaven and took his seat at God’s right hand, far above all power and authority, King of kings and Lord of lords. We even have some sense of what our next chapter looks like. At least, we have a vision for it. That’s our simple goal on Sunday. I really hope to give you a vision for your tomorrow and what it can look like, even if we don’t know what the particulars of tomorrow will be. We’re considering Mark 16:9-20.
We see, experience, consider, discuss, and even be a part of the rule of the King. We are a part of his rule as a child is welcomed into his family through baptism. We celebrate his rule as we remember the saints who have gone to glory with him. And we celebrate the rule of the King and live under him in his kingdom. Mark 13:20-37.
When you’re living in exile, when your kings are getting hauled off to exile and executed before your eyes, when your city is destroyed and you are forcibly relocated, it’s hard to imagine a hopeful future. What are the odds that things will turn out well? God wants his people to have hope and a future, a certain expectation. The future belongs to the exiles. Jeremiah 52:31-34.
Today we celebrate the Festival of Reformation. And it will be more than a celebration. It will be a call to war, a call to sing, a call to celebrate even before the final victory. Yes, it’s true. We’re in the middle, between the not yet and the already of our salvation. Yet, we sing as those who are confident of the victory. God taught his people to sing and even gave them songs to sing even before they came home from exile. Jeremiah 51:54-64.
The king didn’t care much for Jeremiah or the word from God that Jeremiah presented to him. In fact, he showed so much disdain for this word that after reading a page, he cut it out of the scroll and used it to keep his fire burning. How offensive can you be? How could he? Yet are we so different in our handling of God’s Word. Picking and choosing the verses we want to apply, use, listen, and accept. Do we take it all to heart? Or do we cut corners off the Word of God? Either way, God will not let his Word be silenced or destroyed. The cry rings out: The Word of the Lord endures forever. May we ever read, learn, and take it to heart. Jeremiah 36:1-7, 20-24, 32.
The question is: how can we be so sure? Surely, Israel was asking that question. How can we be so sure that we’ll build houses back home again? How can we be so sure that the temple will be rebuilt? That’s the question we often ask. How can we be so sure about forgiveness? About God’s care and guiding of our lives? About any of God’s promises? Consider this. If you can break God’s covenant with the day and night, then you can break this one. How’s that for certainty? Jeremiah 33:14-26.
All the time we say, “We live by faith, not by sight.” But what exactly do we mean? What does it mean to look like to live by faith? It means that we’ll buy property when Nebuchadnezzar is coming to take over our homeland. It means that we’ll make our life in this world even though it is not our home. Next week, Jeremiah shows us through what it means to live by faith. Jeremiah 32:6-15.
What do you do when your girl cheats on you with another guy? What do you do when she breaks your heart? There are two dominant metaphors in these chapters of hope within Jeremiah. The metaphor of a father/son relationship. The metaphor of a husband/wife relationship. Last week, we considered the father/son relationship. This week, we see God’s husband heart. He does not discard his bride, whom he draws with cords of kindness. Again, he makes their relationship/covenant new. Jeremiah 31:2-6, 31-34
Israel has been given a deep wound because of their own rebellion. That’s why they were in Babylon. But Jeremiah wants them to know that the Lord was not trying to get his pound of flesh out of him. This was discipline, discipling, not punishment. He was calling out to them as a father through the exile. Can we start to see our own waywardness as we live in the fallen world? Can we start to see how we have lived farther and farther from God’s way? Can we sense the Lord’s discipling hand in our life? “Our wound is incurable” (Jeremiah 30:12), but the LORD “will restore you to health” (Jeremiah 30:17). A look at Jeremiah 30:10-17.
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As we make our way through Jeremiah, we’re moving into the counsel and advice that Jeremiah has for the exiles. Last week, the simple message of God was, “Surrender.” Surrender to the government that God has put over you. Surrender and submit to the people God has put over you in your life. Surrender to the circumstances in your life. At the end of the day, surrender your life to the God who has done so much for you. But the question is: What does that look like? What does a surrendered life look like? Today, Jeremiah tells us. He sends a letter to the exiles in Babylon and tells them all about that Babylonian life. This is an important message for all of us, and especially for you, young people. You’re on your way in this world. That Christian life here and now is yours to live. Jeremiah has something to say to you today. We’re looking at Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14.
We live in exile. We’re away from our home. Our home is in heaven. On top of that, it becomes increasingly clear that we are the outsiders here in our own homeland. Less and less do the laws of our country reflect what God’s Word says is good and right. More and more, there is a growing hostility toward those who faithfully hold to the Christian faith. We’re in exile. Away from home. In Babylon. But Jeremiah has a word. A word about faith. A word about submission and surrender. A word about living faithfully Christian lives. A word about hope. A word about our return home. It’s a powerful and important word that he has for us. The future belongs to us. Today, we get started in Jeremiah 27:1-15. It’s a difficult word, but an important one for us to consider - surrender! Or maybe the yoke is easy and the burden light. We'll see.
There they were again. Out in the lake. Straining against the wind. Fighting against the saves. Afraid of what they thought was a ghost. There they were again, tired and afraid.
Oh, our Savior is mighty. The sea grows stormy again. We get out of one stormy sea, and the winds find us again, only too soon. But here comes Jesus with his calming words. Words that calm our hearts and make our courage like steel: “Buck up! Don’t be afraid. It’s me, Jesus!” Those same powerful words force all things to bow and bend to his almighty will. Yes, his voice sets our hearts and rest; it brings all our lives under his control.
We’re wrapping up our series in Mark’s gospel, during which we have considered the miracles of Jesus. Mark 7:45-56.
In this sermon, we’ll meet two people who were desperate and at the end of their ropes. We’ll meet two people who began to think that Jesus was late, that he was slow in keeping his promises. But, come and hear. Jesus is not late. He never is. He is not slow in keeping his promises, as some understand slowness. He is always right on time with the right help.
Can you see yourself in these two desperate characters? Maybe not today, but at another time, perhaps. Praying for help that never seems to come? Seeking solutions that never seem to find answers? Wondering to yourself, “Where is Jesus now?” Yet, in your desperation, you can be sure: Jesus is never late. He is always right on time with the right help just for you. We're looking at Mark 5:21-43.
Whenever Jesus does something, whenever something happens, it is always an opportunity to learn. Whether it happens in the classroom, from the pulpit, or out on the lake, he is always seeking to take us deeper into the truth about God and into his Word. We're looking at Mark 4:35-41 and learning three lessons from the storm.
When Jesus came preaching and teaching, healing and performing all sorts of miracles, he made it known: “The kingdom of God is at hand!” And it was. Through his miracles, wonders, and works, he was giving people a glimpse of the rolled-back curse, a taste of the eternal kingdom that is surely to come. He was coming after the kingdom of darkness and exerting his rule over it. Through his preaching and teaching, he opened the eyes of people’s hearts to know the hope of their calling, their glorious share in the inheritance with Jesus and all the saints, and the great power of God who raised Jesus from the dead. God was indeed on the scene, and he was on the move.
Jesus wants us to understand more fully and more deeply what the kingdom of God is, how it works, and what it accomplishes. That’s he moved his Spirit to inspire Mark to record these parables that Jesus told. Yes, these parables in Mark 4 are meant to help us understand the kingdom of God, how it works, what it does, and even how we ought to respond to its coming. It’s an important chapter. It’s one of the few places in the gospel of Mark where he records the teachings of Christ.
We’re wrapping up this part of the book of Mark this week, and with Jesus as our teacher, we will ask the question: “What shall we say that the kingdom of God is like? What parable shall we use to describe it?” We’ll be considering Mark 4:30-34.
Mark isn’t often much concerned with the teachings of Jesus. He is most concerned with the deeds of Christ and his working out the kingdom of God. He isn’t much concerned with his teachings, but when he is focused on the teachings of Jesus, he does it with focus and purpose. He has gathered together these parables of Jesus here in Mark chapter 4 with the express purpose of teaching us about the way that the kingdom of God moves and works. The first parable teaches us generally about the kingdom and its movement and shows us that the life is in the seed. The second group of short little parables asks us the question: What will you do with the seed, i.e., the Word? Today, Jesus helps us to understand further the way in which the seed works. He teaches us how the kingdom grows. Next week, he will show us what the kingdom of God looks like. Jesus is a different sort of King with a different sort of kingdom. This series of parables is meant to help us understand the way that his kingdom works and moves more fully.
This is important stuff. Jesus is pulling his disciples aside to teach them and to give them insight into what they will do with him and with his Word. He wants the same to you. Jesus is the Sower who casts his seed recklessly into your ears so that you might here and believe.
This is important stuff. What are you going to do with it? That’s what Jesus wants you to think about next. Will you put it under a bowl and harden yourself to it so that it doesn’t enlighten you or anyone else? Will you be stingy with it? What will you do with Jesus and his Word?
We consider the next little parables in Mark 4, Jesus encourages us: “Consider carefully how you hear” (Mark 4:24). We’re looking at Mark 4:21-25.
This is one of the best-known parables of Jesus and is one of the few to which Jesus gives us the key and interpretation of the various characters within the parable. This is such a gift to us because it not only helps us understand this parable but also gives a key to unlock the other. The one who has ears, let them hear! Mark 4:1-9, 13-20.
Jesus is our Savior. He is also our Teacher. He often told short stories, aka parables, that taught us spiritual truths through an earthly story. We’re starting a five-week series this weekend (July 2). During this series, we will sit at the feet of Jesus and learn important truths from him about his Word and about the Kingdom of God. We’ll be looking at the parables in Mark 4.
Mark doesn’t include a lot of teaching moments during the life and ministry of Jesus, so this is a big deal. It will be good for us to pay attention. Each week you might even ask each week: Why did Mark include this one?
Our goal for this first sermon is to understand why: Why did Jesus tell parables? More directly, why did Jesus tell these parables here? Mark is tightly tying the context together for us. This weekend, we’ll skip ahead in Mark 4 to hear Jesus’ answer to the question: Why do you speak and live in parables?
In this sermon, we’ll remember how God has had mercy on us, and then we’ll go to tell the story. We’ll consider Mark 5:18-20.
That’s what they saw when the whole town ran out to see what had happened out there on the cliffs. Then, the story was told. Perhaps, they told the story with staggered sentences and short-word gasps. Demons. Pigs. Cliff. Sea of Galilee. Look!
How would you respond? What emotions or thoughts would rush through your mind as you gazed out at the pigs floating in the Sea and the man sitting there, dressed and in his right mind?
This man was a peace and just glad to be with Jesus. He would follow Jesus to the moon. But the rest of the people had other thoughts. They were afraid and wanted Jesus to go.
What about you? Jesus is God in the flesh. They saw his divinity peeking from beneath his skin, and it scared them.
Today, we’ll consider the various reactions to God-in-the-flesh and to Jesus-with-skin-on (the church). We draw near to him like beggars. A sermon Mark 5:14-20.
It’s easy for us to forget where we live. But I’m not talking about your address. I hope that you remember the location of the place where you lay your head at night. I’m talking about this world and what faces us in this world. It’s easy to forget that we live in a world where the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. He is up to mischief and harm and murder and lies. We are his desired victim.
It’s good for us to remember this, to remember where we live.
More than that, we should know and be aware of his schemes and deceits. And that is exactly what we’ll do this weekend as we keep on wrestling with Mark 5:1-20. The sermon will be a military brief about the Enemy - his character and his tactics. It will be about our strength (or lack thereof). It will be about our Captain, our Savior Jesus, the right Man who is on our side.
So much is going on all around us. Most of it is easy to explain as physical problems. But what if there were more going on than we can see? What if there was a spiritual component to everything? The apostle Paul assures us that there is a spiritual component to everything. He reminds us that “our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against… powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6.12). Sometimes those spiritual forces inhabit and possess a person. We see it clearly in the Scriptures, but does it still happen today? Over the next month, we’ll spend our time in Mark 5:1-20, considering demon possession and spiritual warfare. More than that, we will fix our eyes on Jesus, the stronger man who has tied up the strong man (cf. Mark 3:27). A sermon on Mark 5:1-13.
This weekend, as we listen to Jesus teach us about the kingdom of God, we’ll have the opportunity to consider the gift that the Spirit gives as he gives us such faith that trusts Jesus alone. We’ll be looking at Mark 10:17-31.
You can’t be a Christian and not carry a cross. It is a part and parcel of following Jesus. It’s part of going after him. It is an essential part of being a Christian. The cross is not just something that we believe. It is something that we carry. It is something we pick up as we follow Jesus day after day. That’s why we aren’t just Christians, we are Crosstians – because that’s what we do. We carry a cross. Yes, Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, that when Christ bids a person come and follow, he bids him come and die. It’s a cross-bearing thing to which he calls us. He calls us to come and die. But in dying to ourselves, we rise in him.
As we listen to Jesus teach us about following him, we’ll make some special application of carrying our cross to our mission and ministry here. We’ll be looking at Mark 8:27-38.
What would it be like to run, to really run? To just run without a care in the world. To fly like a bird set free from its cage. To leap and frolic like a calf set free from its pen. To roar like a muscle car in the salt flats. Yes, what would be like to run, to really run, in this life that God has given us? The disciples knew that life, and now we do too. It is life under Him in his kingdom, serving him in righteousness, purity, and innocence. An Ascension sermon on Mark 2:18-28.
Not only is Jesus our Savior, but he is also an insightful and perfect Teacher from God. He has important things to teach us about our life with him, for him, and our life with one another. Over the next month, we’ll look at five bite-sized sayings of Jesus that shape our lives. Today, as we unpack another of these short little sayings of Jesus, we’re going to unpack Jesus’ teaching about family. On Mother’s Day, we want to focus on Jesus’ interaction with his family and what Jesus teaches about the true nature of family. This week we’ll hear his word About Family (Mark 3:20-35).
People say a lot of things about children. One of the mantra’s I remember hearing about children is this: “Children should be seen and not heard.” My parents and grandparents were probably trying to get me to be quiet so that the adults could talk. I haven’t heard that saying in quite a while, but the idea still lurks around. Children can be seen as a nuisance, in the way of getting and doing what I really want to do, insignificant and even a hindrance. “These shouldn’t be here.”
But Jesus teaches a different way. As we begin a new series on the short little sayings of Jesus, Jesus teaches us to value children and to welcome them. And when we do that, when we care for children, when we welcome them in Jesus’ name, Jesus says something astounding to us: “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me!” Yes, when you welcome a child into your arms in the name of Jesus, you are welcoming Jesus into your lap.
Wow! That’s gives a whole new image to family devotions, to classroom devotions, to the work that parents do, to the work that Christian teachers do. We’re kicking off a new series on these short little sayings of Jesus. We’ll be looking at Mark 9:30-37.
Almost anytime it comes up in the Bible, there are lots of questions. I’m talking about the doctrine of election, the teaching about predestination. There are lots of questions about it, but the most important question is: How can I know if God picked me? Today, we’ll answer that question and look for evidence of our election. We’ll be looking at Romans 8:28-39.
We live in the days after Easter. That’s true for us historically. Jesus died and rose again on the third day over 2000 years ago. Hundreds of people saw him alive. All of them have fallen asleep. We live on the basis of their eyewitness testimony. We live in the days after Easter.
We also live in the days after Easter in another way. By our baptism, we, too, have been raised with Christ and have been seated with him in the heavenly places. We live after our own spiritual resurrection. We live after Easter and before eternity. And that presents us with tension, an after Easter and before a final Easter resurrection. It’s the already and not yet tension. We are already raised with Christ and we will later be raised again to eternal life. We are already perfect in Christ and not yet fully glorified. We are already redeemed, and yet we wait for the redemption of our bodies. We live between Easters.
Romans 8 means to help us maintain this tension. And this weekend, as we get into the second half of this great chapter, Paul is going to help us live in this tension by teaching us to rethink life. He’s going to help engage our minds and to think about what Easter means for our lives. He’s going to help us rethink life. We’re in Romans 8:18-30.
This is what Easter is all about: it is a detailing of the otherwise unbelievable love of God in the sacrifice of his own Son for the likes of us sinners. It is an unveiling of the incredible victory gained by Jesus over all our sins, even over death itself. God gave us his Son. His Son conquered the grave. His Spirit resurrected faith in our hearts. And we respond with overwhelming confidence! Come death, come angels or demons! Let the past haunt me and the present scare me, and the future terrifies me! It is all nothing; the love of God in Christ leaves me at peace and secure. In Romans 8, Paul shows us what life after Easter is like. More than that, he gives that post-Easter life to us.
This Sunday, we’ll be tackling Romans 8:12-17. And if there is one thing that Paul wants to give us there, it is Easter certainty. A life without doubts. A life without worries. A certain life. Life without the “if” in the middle (try spelling life without “if” sometime.).
We live after Easter. That is a fact. Jesus died and rose again, and we live after that fact. We also live after Easter in another way. We have had our own spiritual resurrection from death to life. We live after Easter in more ways than one. But we also live before the final resurrection. We live before Jesus returns to raise all the dead. We are in between resurrections. So, how do we live between resurrections? What is this after Easter life? Paul answers it for us. We begin a look at Romans chapter 8 today. We'll be looking at Romans 8:1-11.
A meditation on the Supper, the Address to the Lord's Prayer and the story of everything for Maundy Thursday.
Israel had bad kings. These kings abused their people and oppressed them. They fed their fat bellies and failed to care for the people. Instead of shepherding the people, they were wolves. Instead of ruling for the people, they ruled over the people for their own benefit. In Jeremiah 23, God has something to say to these kings. He has a word of “woe” for these fat kings. And his oppressed people were in the background, hearing what God said to the kings and what he promised to do for them, the scattered and oppressed sheep. Yes, there is a word for the oppressed people here too. Hear his Word from Jeremiah 23:1-8.
God set before his people a way of life and death. Babylon had laid siege to their city, and the walls were about to fall. How would they survive? To these threatened people, God laid out the way of life and death: Surrender. Surrender, and you will live. This week, we consider this way for our own lives and see how “surrender” is God’s way to life. Jeremiah 21:1-10.
There is a side of God that we don’t often see. There is a side of God that troubles us when we see it. It’s the image of God smashing pots in the kitchen. We’re not sure what to do when we see this in God. We’re making a turn in this series as we see God smashing pots. A sermon on Jeremiah 18:18-23, 19:1-2, 10-11.
There is no one like our God. He made the heavens and the earth and everything else in it. There is none who compares with him. So why did Israel take a stick of wood that God made and then worship it? Why do we turn to things or people whom he created and lean on them? It’s foolish! This week, Jeremiah uproots idolatry from our hearts, teaches us to mock the idols, and to lean on our incomparable God. A sermon on Jeremiah 10:1-16.
Israel’s worship had become meaningless movements through rites and rituals. It was false and fake. They had fallen into false security. God keep us from such worship. A sermon on Jeremiah 7:1-15
Imagine this. A husband or a wife walks into a courtroom, a divorce courtroom. They have charges to bring and multiple exhibits of their right to sue for a divorce. Their spouse has turned away from them to others. They are broken, saddened, spurned and even upset. Should they take their spouse back, even if they’re sorry?
Though the story above is all too common, we’re not going to be talking about marriage and divorce, not this week. This week, as we get back into Jeremiah, it is God who is bringing the suit and we who are being charged with unfaithfulness. It is God who is broken, saddened, spurned and even upset. Should he - will he - take us back, even if we’re sorry? Would he do that for Israel? We’ll be looking at selections from Jeremiah 2 and 3.
We're back to Jeremiah again. This time we get to see God at work. He works on us like a Gardener, uprooting and planting. He works on us like a Demolition Man, tearing down walls and rebuilding. He works on us even like an enemy. His only goal is to see that his Word is carried out and accomplished in our lives. A sermon on Jeremiah 1:9-12. (We apologies that there is not video of the speaker. We pray that the audio will be a blessing to you).
In the Garden: God’s Lenten Work
We’re back at Jeremiah again. Last time, we learned from Jeremiah, the model survivor. This time, we’re listening to him. Get out your hardhats and your life-preservers. Jeremiah has some demolition work to do on us. Listen up but be ready; his message is not for the faint of heart. But he only means to re-make and resurrect us through it.
The hymn asks the right question: What do you want us to see there that your close companions saw? Through the eye-witness accounts of Peter, James, and John, we get to take in this heavenly vision before the deepest darkness of Jesus’ passion, his suffering, and his death. But what are we to see there? What are we to take away? When Jesus was baptized, God spoke there, but that time he spoke for the sake of Jesus. He told him, “You are my Son…” (Mk 1:11). Here, Jesus is glorified, and the Father speaks once again, but, this time, for the sake of the disciples. He speaks to them (and through them to us): “This is my Son…Listen to him.” Today, once again, we become witnesses of his glory. Mark 9:2-9
We often read this story and consider Jesus’ interaction with the leper. But if we read this story from another perspective: the friends’ perspective. Why did they tear that roof apart? What kept them from sparing no effort or embarrassment just to let their friend down in front of Jesus? What did they hope he would do? Whatever it was, Jesus did more! What will you do for your friends to lower them down in front of Jesus? A sermon on Mark 2:1-12
If you were a leper, it didn’t just mean you were sick and had an incurable disease. It meant you were separated from God, ostracized from society, and an outcast, both physically and spiritually unclean. So, this request of this man is astounding. He dares to approach Jesus in his need and in his uncleanness. As he did so, he lived in the “perhaps” – he wasn’t sure what Jesus would do for him, but he held to the promise of cleansing from sin, and he waited to see what he would do about this disease. To what promises of God do you hold that make you bold and unashamed before your holy and mighty Savior? Mark 1:40-45
Disciple: Hope in the Book of Mark
We regularly find ourselves at the end of our ropes, despairing, helpless, and at the end of ourselves. What we find, however, is that when we are at the end of ourselves, God is at his beginning. In the Gospel of Mark, we meet many individuals who had nearly lost all hope – all hope except what they had in Jesus. In this three-week series, we’ll meet three of those who found in Jesus what they needed when they were at their end. Jesus was just getting started with them!
In our busy, helter-skelter world and life, it often seems like there isn’t time to pray. But could it be that the opposite is true? There isn’t time NOT to pray. Jesus had just spent his day – dawn until late into the night – serving people. He must have been exhausted. The next day would be more of the same. Yet, what do we find him doing? We see him on his knees, off on his own, praying. I don’t mean to minimize the work that Jesus or even that we do. But which will make a greater difference? Our own work? Or getting the God of the Universe involved in the work? I think you know the answer. Jesus prays, and we learn to pray for him. Mark 1:35-39
When Adam and Eve sinned, God cursed humankind and the whole earth along with it. Their sin begat death and every other curse. When Jesus came, he came to redeem and restore all things. He came to make all things new (not all new things!). While our hope is sure that Jesus will do this completely at the end, already now (and then), we see Jesus go after the curse of sin in tangible, life-healing ways. Mark 1:29-24
Martin Luther once said, “Where Christ builds a church, there the Devil builds a chapel.” It shouldn’t surprise us then that whenever Jesus stands up to speak, the Devil would try to silence or overwhelm those words. It shouldn’t surprise that we have a demon-possessed man right there in church interrupting Jesus’ sermon. Nor should we be surprised if the devil shows up among us. But here is the power. As we gather for worship, we gather for war. Not just out there but in here too. And each time, Jesus stands up: “Silence! Be Still.” And he must. The Devil must flee before the Word of God. A sermon on Mark 1:21-28.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said: “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” This is the life to which Jesus called the crowds and then his disciples when he began his ministry. First, he called them to faith. Then, he called them to vocation. Both calls require cross-bearing. Both calls require dying to self and rising in Christ to live. God help us drop our nets to follow him this year. (Mark 1:14-20)
The Gospel of Mark keeps moving from one thing to the next, from one activity to the next. It is an action-adventure. Mark’s favorite word is “immediately.” But sometimes, Mark slows the action down, and we stay in one place for a little bit. That’s what he does in the second half of chapter one. He slows down, and we follow Jesus for a day in his life. That’s what we’ll do as we kick off this new year; we’ll slow down and spend a day in the life of Jesus. It’s a day worth observing.
Series starts on 1/8/23
On the day we celebrate the naming of Jesus, we reflect on the way by which his name sets us free. Galatians 3:23-29.
A New Year’s Eve reflection on the benefits of confession and the blessing of the absolution. Absolution > Confession.
Things move quickly here in the Gospel of Mark. One thing and then another thing and then another thing. From time to time, Mark will slow things down, but here is not the time. We’re only twelve verses into the good news about Jesus, and he is already at war. There was a spiritual battle taking place that few could see or understand, but Jesus was in it to win it. The war has been won, but the battle rages on. Jesus remains in it to win us. Mark 1:12-13.
Last week we heard what Mark had to say about John. We heard what John had to say about Jesus. And that’s important. These are men who are speaking as God inspired and spurred them on to speak. But what is equally important if not even more important is that we listen to what God himself has to say about Jesus and even about us. His announcements carry far more weight. (Mark 1:9-11)
If you were going to write a story about Jesus and tell it faithfully and true, how would you start it? Maybe you’d start with a listing of his family tree, as Matthew did. Maybe you’d start with a claim to authentic research and a historically accurate account like Luke did. Maybe you’d start with a doxology of praise proclaiming his greatness like John did. Or maybe you’d start with John the Baptist, his story, and his work. That’s the way Mark starts his account, his good news about Jesus. We want to understand why he starts here. A sermon on Mark 1:1-8.
God is serious about our salvation. As obstinate and stiff-necked as his people were, God was even more so. He would not give up on his people - for twenty-three years! It’s good for us in preparation for him to hear him now. At the same time, it is also good for us to join the prophet in our own persistence with the word of the Lord. Shoulder the load - repeatedly. Persistently. - that’s what he did. God help us! A sermon on Jeremiah 25:1-7
The Word that God speaks is a mighty word. It does not compare at all the words and ideas of men. This word sets sinners free. This word calls things into being. This word kills. This word justifies. This word condemns. This word forgives. It builds up and tears down. It uproots and it plants. It is a mighty word. A sermon on Jeremiah 23:33-40.
Shaped for Survival - #1 – The Hands of the Potter Our life is, at times, a mess, but God has his hands on it. We are a big mess, but God has his hands on it. Whether we are walking with him or wandering from him, God has his hands on us to call us to repentance and to turn us back to himself. This is a central truth in Jeremiah’s life and in ours. God’s hands are on us for good and not for harm. A sermon on Jeremiah 18:1-10.
To this point in the series, we’ve mainly focused on the way that you fit, on your place in the body of Christ, and the freedom you have from God to serve God where you are with the gifts he’s given you. There is another component to this. How do you multiply ministers? How do you pass on a legacy of faith and service? At least part of the answer is this: You take them along, and you disciple them while you go. In this final sermon of the series, we’ll learn from Elijah as he passed on the mantel to Elisha. (1 Kings 19:19-21; 2 Kings 2:1-15)
In his great mercy, God has gathered together this group of people as a small tribe among his one holy people. We are his! We belong to him. We belong to each other. We belong to the whole church. We don’t just have a place here, we belong to one another, each of us shaped for a purpose toward one another. A sermon on Romans 12:1-8.
Now that we have set down our roots into Jesus. Now that we have confidence in our sufficiency and have seen our place in the church. Now, we’ll set our roots down one more time into another piece of our identify – each one of us a priest, a minister, a servant of God. This gives color to our vocations and our place in life. They are not just mundane moments, but moments in which we give holy service to our holy God. A sermon on 1 Peter 2:9-10.
Roots before fruit. Identity before purpose and possibility. Remember? Today, we will dig into another part of our identify. Last week, we regained our confidence because God counts us righteous. Today, we see that God is building each one of us – oblong and oddly shaped stones that we are – to be one holy temple. Each misfit fits in this building. A sermon on 1 Peter 2:4-8.
It’s true that at times we can feel like a misfit in the church. We’re not sure what our purpose is in the church or in the world; we may not be sure where we fit. But the truth is, the whole idea of misfits is really a misnomer. The truth we are justified in Christ, sufficient in him alone, erases pride, and raises us from any despair. We receive our sufficiency from him. There are no misfits. A sermon on 2 Corinthians 3:4-7
Worship. It’s a word that means many different things to so many different people. It is a word that conjures up our life experiences in places of worship, churches, where some sort of rite and ritual is carried out. It is a word that describes the thing that springs forth from awe-inspiring moments, like the birth of the child or a mountain sunrise. For some it means singing. For others it means dancing. For still others it means quiet meditation. The psalmist invites us to worship, but to what is exactly inviting us? Yes, he calls us to worship, but to do what? He calls us to it today. He calls us to it everyday.
Today, we're looking at a psalm that not only teaches us about the nature of worship, but calls us to it. We’ll be looking at Psalm 100. I can’t wait to open it up to you and to worship with you.
Your Father has forgiven all your sins and opened up his throne room to you. Your Father loves you and wants to hear from you. In this sermon, we’re tucking a verse about prayer into our hearts and ask God to make us more bold in our prayers. We’ll be considering 1 John 5:14-15.
What are WE doing HERE? As we open up God's Word to tuck it into our hearts, we'll see what Paul has to say to Timothy and to us about the truly great thing for our ministry and our lives. 2 Timothy 3:14-17
When people hurt us, attack us, and even cause and plan all kinds of evil against us, it’s hard to forgive and even harder to forget. Joseph had years to think about what his brothers had done and the damaging domino effect it brought into his life. And when he was reunited with his brothers in Egypt, he had the power to get back. Joseph is amazing in his faith walk and in the way he handles this moment when he is reunited with his brothers and when he has every opportunity to get even. He doesn’t get even; no, he forgives. A sermon on Genesis 50:15-26.
Our own sins have a way of haunting us and lingering in the backs of our minds. Our conscience has a good memory of what we’ve done to hurt others. Consciously or subconsciously, we think to ourselves that “what goes around comes around.” How do we and can we move forward in the peace that God’s forgiveness gives us when our past sins come back to haunt us? Though we may remember, God does not! A sermon on Genesis 42:18-28.
So much happens in our lives; it happens to us and on every side all the way around us. Joseph suffered more pain in his life unjustly than perhaps any except Job. And yet we never hear Joseph complain or even freak out because of what was going on. How? That’s not how we normally respond to react to adversity or interpret events in our life. Joseph knew that God was with him and that God was working in all these events, even if he couldn’t see it. God teaches us to react to the events of life and interpret them in view of his constant presence.
2 – Untangling Temptations (Read Genesis 39:1-23)
Following Jesus and obeying his word is a tall order. Our own sinful flesh is opposed to it naturally. But add to this the additional lure that the world draws us with. It is a test we daily face. Joseph faced it when he served in Potiphar’s house. God teaches us how to past the test and promises to help us in temptation. A sermon on Genesis 39
Garments have significance and meaning. For Joseph, having garments meant one thing and having those garments taken away, mean another. In this first sermon in the series, we’ll explore the meaning of garments and what garments we have and wear no matter our circumstances. A sermon on Genesis 37:1-11.
But what should we say? How should we say it? As everyday evangelists, we often get caught up in what we should say. We want it to matter. We want it to work. We want it to save them. In this final sermon, we hear Jesus’ counsel to the man out of whom he had just cast a legion of demons: “Go home! And tell how much God has done for you!” He tells us where to go. He tells us what to say. This is our simple strategy and our straightforward message. God will do the rest.
Jesus was accused of many things while he walked this earth. Among the many things that brought him the “stink eye” of those around him was those with whom he ate. They said all kinds of things about Jesus because of the people he ate with. But that was part of Jesus’ loving strategy. This was an act of love. He joined these sorts of people while he ate with them. This was an act of mission. He used this dinner time and the opportunities it provided to talk about the kingdom and God’s work in the world.
There are 24 hours in a day. We can’t make more of them. It is zero sum.
There are seven days in a week. We can’t extend the week. People have tried to create a ten day week to try to make more time. It didn’t work.
We can’t make more or less time, we can only use the time that we have in as wise a way as possible. Each moment, each hour, each week, even each month and year is a gift from our Sovereign Lord who has wisely and mightily ordered all things.
He has given us this time so that we might know him and so that we might share him. Yes, the Triune God holds all people and times in his hand. He is the Lord of time and eternity. He is the Lord of our lives and our time. He has given each us a certain amount of time during which we might serve him. We want to use that time wisely and well. And so, we’ll make the most of every opportunity, seizing every appointment that the Lord sets for us. This Sunday, as we continue to meditate on the mission of God of which we are a part, we will see how the Lord uses our time for the sake of the people whom God places in our path. A sermon on Ephesians 5:15-17.
The kingdom of God keeps pressing forward. It is not static or still. The Day of Pentecost is evidence of this. People from all over, from all walks of life, from multiple languages, cultures and ethnicities heard and went home with the gospel and so the kingdom went forward into all the world. This is still the case today. We have our own little “Pentecost” today and then we go out into our world with the Spirit empowering us to testify about our God and Lord. John 15:26-27
God's Book begins with God speaking and acting. It ends with the Church, with God’s people, speaking. Three times in the final verses of this closing chapter of the closing Word from God, the church speaks: “Come!” It’s such an interesting thing when the church commands God and dares to tell him what to do.
We’re considering this word from the Church as we call to our Savior, “Come!” We’ll be looking at Revelation 22:12-20.
Today, five young people will be confirmed and they will make a promise to be faithful. But what exactly does that mean and how do we do it? We'll consider how to measure faithfulness as we look at Revelation 2:8-11. A sermon by Pastor Nate.
What do you think the best part of heaven will be? When we get to that place which has been prepared for us since Jesus ascended into heaven, what will be the best part? I submit to you that the best part of heaven will be God’s constant presence with us. Along with that comes the absence of all evil, sin, and all that comes along with it. Along with that comes the eternal and ever-present reality of all the things promised. We were made to live with God; in heaven, this will be a perfect reality. This weekend we’ll be looking at Revelation 21:1-7.
This week, the vision continues to light up our hearts. We’ll continue to get a glimpse of the future. We’ll be looking at a vision with John and looking over his shoulder as he gazes at those around the throne. We’ll be looking at Revelation 7:9-14.
Everybody wants to know the future, especially when we’re going through some hardship or difficulty. We want to peer into the future. The risen and reigning Jesus not only knows what the future holds, but he holds the future in his hands. A sermon by Pastor Nate on Revelation 5.
We live by faith, not by sight. Jesus promises to be with us while we live in this veil of tears. A sermon on Revelation 1:4-18 by Pastor Paul.
Just before he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, likely, while he was still with Zacchaeus, Jesus told a parable to help the crowd understand the kingdom of God. What will you do with this teaching from Jesus? A sermon on Luke 19:11-40 by Pastor Nate Bourman.
Zacchaeus simply wanted to catch a glimpse of Jesus. He was a chief tax collector and was considered repulsive to so many. Yet, Jesus invited himself over for dinner at his house. And when he did, Zacchaeus practically fell out of the tree. His life was changed. Not only did he follow Jesus, but he responded with radical generosity and kindness. What will you do when Jesus invites himself over for dinner? That’s our question this week. We’ll be looking at Luke 19:1-10
A sermon on Luke 18:35-43. The blind man on the side of the road only heard that Jesus was passing by. He only heard, yet he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David have mercy on me.” What will you do when you hear of Jesus?
Finally! We get to some good news. After so many words of judgment and woe. After visions of fire and the knocking down of walls, we get a new vision. Amos has a vision of what God will do at the end when all nations are together under one tent. Amos has a vision of what God is doing now and what God will do at the end. This is a massive vision full of incredible hope. It makes all of our visions seem small. Here God drops the mic and leaves a final promise of hope. You won’t want to miss this final sermon from Amos. We’ll be looking at Amos 9:11-15.
This is a strange thing. So many words of judgment. Where is the relief? Where is the good news? We’ll turn the tables in this sermon and show how the judgment of one group, means relief and rescue for another. The downfall of the oppressors means rescue for the oppressed. This is good news for the oppressed! The LORD is just and does not overlook injustice. God’s judgment then is good news for them. The call of Moses is God’s answer to the oppression of Israel; God is determined to rescue his people from those who oppress them.
Amos notes that our worship life must translate out into our life in the world. We can’t go to church and then head out and live an unjust life. This is why he urges us to “let righteous roll on like a stream;” not a little bit of righteousness, but a rolling stream of it.
On Wednesday, Lent begins. For us, this means a special focus on the suffering of Jesus and his victory for us. Above all else, during this time, Jesus invites us to come. So, come! Come, dust and ashes that you are. Come, sinner that you are. Come, Jesus invites you. The weight of the world is on his shoulders. We begin with a look at Amos 5:1-14.
It's the transfiguration of Jesus and Luke takes us to the mountain where he was transfigured before them. It was a mountaintop experience for Peter, James, and John. So it is also for us. A sermon on Luke 9:28-36 (The text was read earlier in the service).
Amos is a difficult book. There is no way around that. He confronts Israel with many sins against the Lord and against people. In this sermon, we want to ask questions: How did it get so bad? And how can we keep far from this? In doing this, we will reclaim for ourselves a biblical understanding of our privilege as God’s chosen people who are dearly loved. We will also begin to see what this privilege of grace means for us as we step into the world.
The nation of Israel was shaken by the earthquake. This earthquake shook them to the core and awakened them to this Word that Amos had preached two years prior. In this sermon, we begin to see God’s hand in our lives, shaking us and awakening us to his Word. A sermon on Amos 1:1-2, 3:1-8
Why all this talk about physical, spiritual, emotional health? Why all this talk about living a resilient and healthy life? Because our life and the way we live it matters to the Lord. Paul tells us that our whole life, even the most mundane parts of it, are to be for the glory of God. More than that, he has called us to a mission, to fish for people, to tell as many people as possible about him until he returns. This reset matters to the Lord as we push forward in our mission of fishing for people.
Studies show that by the end of January and, most of the time, before the end of January, many of the plans and resolutions that people have made for the new year have fallen by the wayside. How can we reset our lives and stay on that path? First, let’s be clear that we will have setbacks along the way. We’re not going to be perfect in our resilient walk spiritually, emotionally, or physically no matter how disciplined we may be. Second, this means that each day can be a “Day 1” for us. But most importantly, we have to recognize the gift that God has given us in our Christian friendships and in our Christian congregation. We have people next to us in life who are chasing the same eternal goal as we are, who only want our best. The wise way to reset is in community with our friends and with those who share our faith.
The physical part of our lives is not often a conversation that we have in our worship services or even in our Bible studies. But it is a vital part of who we are. We are created by God and gifted physically by him. Our life and breath and all that we are his a gift from him. In fact, our bodies are temples for his Spirit. This means that God has something to say about the way that we care for our bodies and the way that we use them. It’s time for a reset of our physical lives.
Studies have shown that in the last two years, more and more people struggle with feelings of depression and anxiety. Suicides have significantly risen. Our inner, emotional life is in turmoil. What can we do about it? Let’s start here with a reset of our inner life. Let’s start by accepting our life as it comes at us, but by refusing to be defined by it. We may be crushed, but we are not destroyed. We may be overwhelmed, but we will not lose. Who are we? We are not victims. We are victors in Christ.
We’re looking at 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 and 10:5.
Listen to the end for the anthem, "All of our Tomorrows." Words and music by Dave Fournier and Ryan Foglesong © 2020 Sovereign Grace Worship/ASCAP, Sovereign Grace Praise/BMI (adm. worldwide at CapitolCMGPublishing.com, excluding the UK & Europe which is adm. by Integrity Music). Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace Churches. All rights reserved. CCLI #7167554
What was the hardest part of last year? What was the most difficult part of the last years? In many ways, our lack of control over much of our lives became much more evident. As a result, we often lacked peace and contentment. And so, as we reset our spiritual lives, we start with trust and leaning on the Lord more and more. He is worthy of our trust. A sermon on Isaiah 26:1-8.
Many things will get in the way of your worship. For the Magi, it was an insecure and murderous king. For us, it might be ignorance, busyness, or empty religion. But follow the light of God’s Word and you will get to Jesus. In the face of the One, you will see all that you need to give the best treasures that you have to offer. Matthew 2:1-12.
You might think a list of dozens of Jewish names is worth skimming or skipping. But don’t! Jesus’ family tree reminds us that the One came from a long line of sinners, and he came for a long line of sinners. So, if you stand in that line, look to the One! Matthew 1:1-17
This sermon focuses on the waiting of Zechariah along with all those who waited for the Lord's redemption. For him, it meant the freeing of his tongue to praise God. For him, for them, and for us, this means that we have been set free to serve him without fear. Luke 1:57-80.
A sermon on the waiting of Mary to whom the Lord had promised a Son. She, with all the saints of old, waited for the Lord's sure word to be upheld. Luke 1:26-56
Nobody likes to wait and it has only gotten worse. In this day when we can get just about anything on demand. If we want to watch a movie, go rent it from iTunes; go watch it on Netflix. If you want something, just get on Amazon and you can have just about anything that same day, without even leaving the comfort of your own home. We just pop some food in the microwave and voila, it’s done. Nobody likes to wait and its only gotten worse.
God had made a promise to Adam and Eve and they didn’t really want to wait either. In fact, some commentators think that when Eve gives birth to Cain (her first born son) she said, “I have begotten a man, the Lord.” She so believed God’s promise about a snake crusher that she expected God to give that snake crusher immediately, as the first fruit of her womb. They didn’t want to wait, but they were going to have to wait for nearly 4000 years before the promise of the Messiah would finally come to fruition.
The coming of John the Baptist was and remains a signal that the promise was coming true. This Sunday, the message and the person of John the Baptist is front and center for us. We’ll be looking at Luke 3:1-18.
Advent is a season of the church year during which we focus on the "in-between." We live in between the promise and the fullfillment. We live in between the first coming and the second coming. We live in-between. This series looks at four Bible characters and will help us to see what we already have and what is yet to be.
Waiting for Favor. We wait with Elizabeth and share her show as she sees how God has removed her shame and granted her his favor.
When a father and a mother have their child back in their arms after a surgery, joy, delight and quiet contemplation fill their hearts. When a husband embraces his wounded wife, such care fills his heart. When a soldier accomplishes his mission and sets the captive free, such relief overwhelms him. When God has his people back, joy, delight and comtemplation overwhelms him and so he sings. In this final sermon on Zephaniah, we start to see our lives from God's perspective and gain a view of his heart as he sings over us.
We learn from Paul to sing a song to God - in the bright, the grey and even in the dark days. A sermon on Romans 11:33-36
We the people of the United States of America hope for a better tomorrow, but is that a legitimate hope? Maybe. Can repentance and right action really change the future? Perhaps. Josiah led the people of Judah to repent, but could they hope that God would withhold his judgment? Maybe. In this second sermon on Zephaniah, we discover the people's hope. We claim that hope as our only hope.
As we make our way through Zephaniah and prepare for chapter two we want to take a closer look at Zephaniah one. We’ll look at its details and the message of it.
God has a hard word for his people. There is no good news in chapter one. There is only judgment. There is only weeping and wailing. No one can or will escape. God's hope that we will hear him, that we will fear him, and that we will accept his word of correction. This is God's hope. WIll you hear him? Will you turn to him and live? That is God's hope.
New series HOPE REMAINS has begun. It's on the book of Zephaniah. Listen in to find out who he is and why he matters.
TRUTH AT ALL COSTS Martin Luther once said, “Peace if possible; truth at all costs.” Why does the truth of God’s Word and true, biblical teaching matter so much that we would lose everything to keep it? In this series, we explore some of the things that Jesus said about truth and learn why it matters so much that we will die to hold it and give up all things in order to share it.
Truth and Light (John 9:1-7)
As we experience the ups and downs of life, we do not often interpret them properly. One of the common lies that people believe is that bad things happen because of something bad I did. I deserved this. The disciples wondered the same thing about a man who was born blind. They wondered who sinned. Jesus brought the light of his truth to their lives and helped them see that God was working for his glory and this man’s good.
TRUTH AT ALL COSTS Martin Luther once said, “Peace if possible; truth at all costs.” Why does the truth of God’s Word and true, biblical teaching matter so much that we would lose everything to keep it? In this series, we explore some of the things that Jesus said about truth, how to use it, how to balance it, and the blessings it brings. In so doing, we will learn why it matters so much that we will die to hold it and give up all things in order to share it.
WEEK #1: TRUTH AND GRACE (JOHN 8:1-11) As we seek to handle the truth we are often torn between loving people and loving the passage. If we love the people, we might have to give up some of the truth. If we love the truth, we might have to give up on people. But Jesus shows us another way. In a dramatic living out of his purpose, Jesus loved both the passage and the person. He showed that he truly had come from the Father full of truth and grace.
TRUTH AT ALL COSTSMartin Luther once said, “Peace if possible; truth at all costs.” Why does the truth of God’s Word and true, biblical teaching matter so much that we would lose everything to keep it? In this series, we explore some of the things that Jesus said about truth, how to use it, how to balance it, and the blessings it brings. In so doing, we will learn why it matters so much that we will die to hold it and give up all things in order to share it.
WEEK #1 (10/17): TRUTH AND GRACE (JOHN 8:1-11)As we seek to handle the truth we are often torn between loving people and loving the passage. If we love the people, we might have to give up some of the truth. If we love the truth, we might have to give up on people. But Jesus shows us another way. In a dramatic living out of his purpose, Jesus loved both the passage and the person. He showed that he truly had come from the Father full of truth and grace.
WEEK #2 (10/24) - TRUTH AND LIGHT (John 9:1-7)As we experience the ups and downs of life, we do not often interpret them properly. One of the common lies that people believe is that bad things happen because of something bad I did. I deserved this. The disciples wondered the same thing about a man who was born blind. They wondered who sinned. Jesus brought the light of his truth to their lives and helped them see that God was working for his glory and this man’s good.
WEEK #3 (10/31) - TRUTH AND FREEDOM (John 8:31-36)In the background of our minds and often subconsciously certain lies live. There are lies about God and how to be right with him. There are lies about the reason things happen in our lives. The lies must be exposed and, daily, we must hold to the truth Jesus gives us. Only there will we find and have true freedom. This is what Luther did for us in the Reformation. This is what we continue to do as we set forth the truth plainly.
WEEK #4 - (11/7) - TRUTH AND JUDGMENT (John 5:19-30)The resurrection of the dead is coming. Jesus proclaims it. The judgment of all people will follow right behind the resurrection. Jesus makes that clear. What will that day bring? What will that day be like? The truth of God not only teaches us about that day, but prepares us for it so that we will be able to stand before him confidently.
DNA
DNA is the code of life that defines who you are and what you do. Mount Lebanon has a DNA too! We are a community for the community with Jesus as our heartbeat. We share one faith and one ministry. We are one family with many parts. This is our DNA. This is who we are in Christ. And now, everything that we do as a church flows out of our DNA. In this sermon series, we want to explore five things that we will do together: Gathering, Growing, Connecting, Giving and Going. This is who we are. This is what we do.
Going
We are a community for the community with Jesus as our heartbeat. And we are going to keep on going with the gospel until the whole world hears. (We’ll be looking at Mark 1:29-39.)
DNA
DNA is the code of life that defines who you are and what you do. Mount Lebanon has a DNA too! We are a community for the community with Jesus as our heartbeat. We share one faith and one ministry. We are one family with many parts. This is our DNA. This is who we are in Christ. And now, everything that we do as a church flows out of our DNA. In this sermon series, we want to explore five things that we will do together: Gathering, Growing, Connecting, Giving and Going. This is who we are. This is what we do.
Giving
We are a community for the community with Jesus as our heartbeat. We give with our whole lives to the church, to our community and to each other as God has gifted each one of us. This weekend we’ll consider parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). It’s time for us to do good for those around us.
DNA
DNA is the code of life that defines who you are and what you do. Mount Lebanon has a DNA too! We are a community for the community with Jesus as our heartbeat. We share one faith and one ministry. We are one family with many parts. This is our DNA. This is who we are in Christ. And now, everything that we do as a church flows out of our DNA. In this sermon series, we want to explore five things that we will do together: Gathering, Growing, Connecting, Giving and Going. This is who we are. This is what we do.
GROWING - 9/26/21
We are a community for the community with Jesus as our heartbeat. We recognize that we are not where we want to be in our walk of faith and so we will grow in God’s Word personally and together with one another.
DNA is the code of life that defines who you are and what you do. Mount Lebanon has a DNA too! We are a community for the community with Jesus as our heartbeat. We share one faith and one ministry. We are one family with many parts. This is our DNA. This is who we are in Christ. And now, everything that we do as a church flows out of our DNA. In this sermon series, we want to explore five things that we will do together: Gathering, Growing, Connecting, Giving and Going. This is who we are. This is what we do.
CONNECTING
We are a community for the community with Jesus as our heartbeat. We are one family. This means that we will connect with one another as a family of faith. This weekend we’ll be looking at sections of Proverbs to study what the Bible says about friendship.
DNA is the code of life that defines who you are and what you do. Mount Lebanon has a DNA too! We are a community for the community with Jesus as our heartbeat. We share one faith and one ministry. We are one family with many parts. This is our DNA. This is who we are in Christ. And now, everything that we do as a church flows out of our DNA. In this sermon series, we want to explore five things that we will do together: Gathering, Growing, Connecting, Giving and Going. This is who we are. This is what we do.
GATHERING
We are a community for the community with Jesus as our heartbeat. We share one faith. The most important thing we do each week is gathering. We gather with each other and with our God for worship.
The Christian life is war. But that war is not most often with swords or weapons. It is a war against our sinful self. It is a war against evil spiritual forces. The Christian life is war. Yet, we are not unequipped for it. Nor are we alone. We march fearlessly forward with Christ on us, his Spirit interceding for us and his Church by our side. Buckle up! It’s time for war. This weekend we’re wrapping up our look at Ephesians by looking at Ephesians 6:10-20.
Why does Paul spend so much time talking about marriage? He spends more time on this topic than on almost any other topic in this book. Why? There is a mystery here that Paul unveils. Marriages and our families are reflections of Christ and of the church. And so, the adage proves truth that a healthy church helps to create a health home and a healthy home creates a healthy church. It’s vital that we bring the truth about the Christian home into the church.
Time is short. Each one of us only has one life to live. Each moment is there only for a moment so it’s vital that we think carefully about how we live in each moment. Paul calls us as the church to be thoughtful, reflective and intentional about the lives that we live.
We’re aliens. We’re strangers. We’re foreigners. As we sing in one of our hymns, “I’m but a stranger here.” There is a powerful and important gospel truth in that. In Christ, “we were created to be like God, in true righteousness.” This is who we are in Christ! It’s a powerful statement of Christian identity. Paul calls us to be like God as we live together and as we live as strangers in this world.
We pray for a full church, for the fullness of Christ in us. And then God answers. As each one of us speaks the truth in love to one another we grow up into Christ. We are the answer to our prayer. The church is God’s answer to our prayer for a full church. The church, then, is the training center for Christian formation and growth. What part will you play? This weekend we will be looking at Ephesians 4:1-16.
It is the goal of every church to grow. We want to fill up. Paul does too. Right in the middle of this letter, he pauses for a prayer for a full church and song of praise to the God who can do even more than we pray about. And so, we pray for a full church. But this doesn’t necessarily mean more butts in the pews. We’re praying that our hearts would swell with the fullness of Christ in them. This weekend, we learn from Paul to pray a new prayer for a full church. Ephesians 3:14-21
There is a movement of grace throughout all history and even into the future. It is a movement that moves steadily and intentionally toward us and now also between us creating the church, this one new humanity. A sermon on Ephesians 2:11-22.
As we look forward to snapping back and launching forward with our ministry, it’s good for us to understand what it means for us to be the church. There is no better place for us to learn that than in the book of Ephesians. Ephesians is all about the church. It is not about one of us, “just me.” It is about all of us. How we got here. Who we are. Where we are going. It is about all of us. And not just us. Jesus too! This is a series about Jesus and We.
This weekend, Paul pulls back the curtain and shows us how long this plan, this work of God, has been in the works. The church - and we as members of it - is not a new idea. It’s an idea that is older than the hills. Look at Ephesians 1:3-14 and you’ll see what I mean. I’ll see you this weekend.
The book of Ecclesiastes is tough book for a lot of reasons. As the table talk starts, Solomon wonders aloud what the meaning of life is. He investigates with us and keeps on asking, “What is the point of all this life under the sun?” The good and the bad, the righteous and the wicked, they all die in the end. We all suffer the same. People endure the same unbearable life under the sun that animals do. It’s a tough book because he pushes us to ask, “What’s the point?”
It’s also tough because you have to read the whole book before you really get the point. Solomon must have been a great joke teller because he saves the punch line for the very end. Oh, he leaves hints along the way, but he doesn’t really drop the mic, so-to-speak, until this last chapter.
I hope you’ve stuck around through this whole series and you’ve maybe even cracked open the book of Ecclesiastes to look at what we didn’t study together. I pray that it’s a book and a series that sticks with you the rest of your life and maybe even sticks you, as a goad with a sharp nail in the end of it.
Solomon has been doing something to us this whole time and it’s time we get to the bottom of what he’s doing. We’ll be looking at the final chapter of Ecclesiastes this weekend, chapter 12. It will help us live as God’s people in this country we call America.
This weekend, we want to return to our childish roots and see things from God’s perspective and from his point of view. We want to learn to live with a simple, childlike faith, that enjoys all of the things that God gives us in this life that we live under the sun. Let’s smile more and laugh louder. Let’s whistle while we work and enjoy some fun in the sun with our spouse and our kids. Let’s enjoy this life that God gives us because… “He’s got the whole world in his hands.” We’ll be looking at Ecclesiastes 9:1-12.
From the beginning of our life to our dying day, our Father makes sure that we are never alone. In our lives, he connects us to family and friends. In the church, he connects us to himself and to his body. In this way, we are never alone in this journey toward heaven. A sermon on Ecclesiastes 4:8-12.
Work: A Sacred Calling. Do you agree? Do you disagree? How exactly do you feel about the work that you do? And I’m not just talking about work you get paid for. I’m talking about your work as a mother or a father. I’m talking about the labor of the retiree. I’m talking about the toil of a teen and the chores of a child. All of us work even if we don’t get a paycheck for us.
Do you see your work as a sacred calling or is it more of a grind? Do you find yourself wondering if your work even matters? Do you find your work mundane or ordinary, without any sense of true meaning?
This weekend, we’ll be looking at Ecclesiastes 2:17-26. Here Solomon struggles with his own work and wonders what the point is. It seemed so meaningless to him. We want to reclaim what is special and sacred and holy about the work that God gives us to do.
I normally don’t like to do this and say something that I’ll say in a sermon before the sermon happens. But this time, I’m going to. I want to ponder this question: Where does God fit in your life? The way you answer this question matters. In fact, the way you think about this question; that matters as well. Where does God fit in your life?
Ecclesiastes is a wonderful little book that is going to force us to think about things that we may not think that often about. It is going to help us evaluate things that we may not evaluate that often. So, ask the question and think carefully, even deeply, about how you think about this question and how you answer this question. We’ll do it together during the sermon. (Also, read Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:11.).
“Meaningless, meaningless, everything is meaningless.” That’s how the Teacher starts his talk around the table. He says it and everyone nods. We do too. We nod because we have experienced the sorrow, the frustration, the pain, even the emptiness of life under the sun. This is how he starts his table talk, but this is not his end. The Teacher helps us live with a childlike faith to honestly face the quandaries of existence in this fallen world. We can enjoy life’s little pleasures as gifts from our gracious God. We can roll with the punches and look realistically at the problems of earthly life. We can even laugh in the face of such trouble. The faith inspired by the Teacher is resilient. Even death cannot shake us. We learn to live resiliently with the simple faith of a child.
This weekend we’ll be looking at Ecclesiastes 1:1-11. The sermon will, in a way, serve as an introduction the life of faith God calls us to live. What is this life? It is not a life under the sun. That is meaningless. It is, rather, a life above and beyond the sun that God invites us to live. Can’t wait! I won’t be empty or vanity or meaningless.
This young church in the book of Acts faced many challenges. They weren’t even a few years old and they faced the arrest of its leaders. They were still just getting started and there were mixed and even false motives among their members; you might even say that this early church was already full of hypocrites. They were just getting started and great persecutions were about to break out against them. This young church in the book of Acts faced many challenges.
This week as we continue our series in the book of Acts, we see that the church is at the same time resilient and wise as they faced these challenges. Racial tensions and divisions might have divided them. They could have ignored the problem and continued on as normal. They could have addressed the problem and created another. But the church did neither. They faced the problem and continue on aggressively with their God-given ministry.
Mount Lebanon is hardly a young church, but we still face many of the same challenges that this early church did. It’s good for us to see this church make its way through the mess and emerge resiliently and mission-focused. We’ll be looking at Acts 6:1-8.
There are certain texts that give us a loud wake-up call, that shout to us. This is one of those texts. The account of Ananias and Saphira calls God’s people then and now to fear the Lord and to live in faith.
You’re listening to a sermon from Mount Lebanon and Pastor Nate on Acts 5.
This is a big deal and we can’t skip right past it, though many do. It’s the first miracle that the church performs. And we can’t pass it by. Listen in and see what it means for us today. You’re listening to a sermon from Mount Lebanon and Pastor Nate on Acts 3:1-10.
How does the church respond to crisis? She stands. She trusts. She goes into the fray. A sermon by Pastor Nate on Acts 1:12-26.
There is so much at stake this Easter. There always is. It’s Easter. This is not just a day about bunnies and chocolate. This is a day we celebrate the bodily, physical resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It matters! There is so much at stake. The entirety of our salvation rests upon the truth of his resurrection and so does the hope for our lives. Listen in to this important message from Pastor Nate on Matthew 28:11-20.
Those who came to the tomb on Easter morning were running on empty. They were worn, tired, broken, afraid. But then Jesus came to them, showed them he was alive, and now they ran on a new sort of empty - the empty tomb.
In many ways, we too may be running on empty. God grant that we may run on a new sort of empty - the power and strength of the empty tomb.
You’re listening to a sermon from Mount Lebanon and Pastor Paul on Mark 16:1-8.
We spend our lives waiting and hoping for Easter, for release, for freedom to come. But does it? We spend a lot of time waiting for Easter to come. But today is Palm Sunday! And, today, Jesus invites us to a pre-Easter parade. So, there is no more waiting around to lay down the palms of our life. The King is coming! It’s Palm Sunday and Jesus invites us to a pre-Easter parade. Let’s join in the parade.
Listen in to learn more from this sermon Mark 11:1-10.
Sin is such a powerful thing. Temptation tugs at us every step of the way. Our fall into sin and a denial of Jesus isn’t a matter of if, but when. Through it all, however, Jesus is right with us. He is there during our temptation. He will receive He warned Peter before his denial. He is there afterward. He called Peter back his denial and overwhelming forgave his sin. He will not leave us. He will walk with us in our whole life and will receive us to his side on the last day. We will not be ashamed. This weekend Pastor Krueger takes us in Mark 14, examining the denial of Peter and the warnings and the comforts we receive there.
The charges come and Jesus is silent. Why? Why does he not respond? The question is asked about who he is. And Jesus is not silent any more. What does he say and why does it important?
Listen in to learn more from this sermon Mark 14:53-65.
The gospel writer, Mark, is an artist who paints with words. In the text before us this weekend (Mark 14:32-52), he paints a picture of a vivid and authentic conversation between the Son and the Father. They have a conversation about a cup. They have a conversation about wrath. They have a conversation about submission. They have a conversation about God’s will and our salvation. It is a vivid picture that Mark paints for us, and we get to look on in awe.
Sin has left us in ruin. It has ruined us spiritually, emotionally, physically, intellectually, relationally, and more. It is not something that you just get over. God, our Father, has provided a cure for the whole “us.” A sermon on Psalm 51:7-9.
“She’s doing what? She spent how much? To do what with it? Why would he allow this to happen? Jesus, don’t you understand?” Those are just a few of the thoughts that may have rushed through the disciples’ minds as they watched the events of Mark 14:1-11 unfold in front of them. But such a beautiful thing was happening, if only they had the eyes to see it and understand it. They could have learned so much from this woman as she anointed Jesus’ feet with oil.
This week as we continue in the “Ransom” series, we will see a woman anoint Jesus’ feet extravagantly with oil, and we’ll learn to be like her.
We come into this world sinners and sinful. David tells us so when he confesses, “Surely, I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:3). Throughout our lives, we continue our sinful way. We give ample evidence of our sin on one day alone. From the cradle to the grave we are sinful. We have no hope in us, but there is hope for us. We have just one plea: “Jesus Christ has died for me!”
A sermon on Psalm 51:3-5.
This series will look at Mark’s Gospel, examining the events that led up to the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. Mark took great lengths to communicate why the cross was necessary and what it accomplished for us. Namely, that the King of the Universe came to give himself as a ransom for a world that gathered to mock him so that they could become people who worship him. The entire book culminates in the declaration of the centurion from the foot of the cross, “Surely this man was the Son of God.”
The series begins by looking at Mark 10:32-45.
We come into this world sinners and sinful. David tells us so when he confesses, “Surely, I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:3). Throughout our lives, we continue our sinful way. We give ample evidence of our sin on one day alone. From the cradle to the grave we are sinful. We have no hope in us, but there is hope for us. We have just one plea: “Jesus Christ has died for me!”
This is an introduction to our study of prayer and an introduction to our prayer campaign which starts on Ash Wednesday 2021.
When you see the glory of God, it changes you. How can it not? When Moses saw the glory of God, his face glowed with a reflection of the glory of God until that glory faded. When the disciples saw the glory of God in the face of the transfigured Jesus, they were filled with boldness and shameless audacity when they finally understood what had happened. This weekend, we will see the glory of God in the face of Jesus and it will change us. How can it not?
This weekend we celebrate and remember the transfiguration of Jesus and as we do we will be transfigured too. Yes, “we all…are being transformed (transfigured!) into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).
I am prayerful that the words of the writer are yours: “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his” (Hebrews 4:9-10). Enjoy his rest, people of God.
A sermon on selections from Genesis 1 and 2.
“It’s not good for man to be alone.” That was God’s analysis of things after he had created Adam. He knew that Adam needed “a suitable helper.” He needed a support system and God gave it to him by creating Eve, by creating marriage, the family, and even the church. God has done the same for all of us. Whether married or unmarried, child or adult, we have a support system. Today, we learn to see God’s design for marriage, for the family and for the church as we study Genesis 2:15-22.
As we begin a new year there are some really important questions that we need to ask: Who am I? Why am I here? We want to know our identity. We want to know our purpose. Last week, we learned about our identity - through faith we are, once again, in the image of God. We have his Spirit powerfully working in us. This week, we learn to see our purpose and our place in this world. We’re looking at Genesis 1:28-30; 2:15 #allthingsnew
The challenges that face us in this new year are significant. The struggle is real. And it is not just a challenge coming at us from the outside, it is also rising up against us on the inside.
What power do we have against these challenges? What help do we have in this struggle?
This week, we gain a better understanding of who we are as human beings. We learn to see the power that is at our disposal. Genesis 1:26-27 #allthingsnew
As a new year begins, we had hoped for a new start. Yet, memes are already asking for a refund and cancelation of 2021.
How can we face this new year with optimism and hope? This week, we learn of our God who rules over it all and walks will with us in 2021. Genesis 1:1-5 #allthingsnew
Where is Jesus to be found? Where can you go where you will most certainly find him?
The angels told the shepherds that they would find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. The wise men followed the star that rose in the east and they followed it to the house where they were. Simeon and Anna followed the prompting of the Holy Spirit and found him in the temple where his parents had brought him. Jesus’ parents found him back in Jerusalem studying the Scriptures and learning from those who knew it best.
Where is Jesus to be found? He is precisely where God promises that he will be. He was found right where the angels told the Shepherds. He was right where the prophets had foretold. He was right where the Spirit had told them. He was right where God’s Word commanded him to be.
Where is Jesus to be found? He is right where God promises that he will be. He is exactly where God commanded him to be. We’ll be looking at Luke 2:41-52.
This is a sermon by Pastor Paul Krueger from Mount Lebanon on Isaiah 62:10-12. How do we have good Christmas?
A Christmas Eve sermon from Pastor Nate Bourman on Psalm 23:5-6. We live our lives as exiles in this world and Jesus is our way out.
God wants his people to be sure of his promises, to be sure of his love, to be sure of his rule. He has repeatedly given them signs so that they might be sure. That has always been the case. He left Noah a sign of the covenant in the sky, a rainbow to assure him and all people after him that God would never again destroy the world with a flood. God left Abraham and his descendants a sign in their flesh, circumcision to assure them that they were God’s people, and they were set apart to him and for him. He gave his people a sign of his presence as they left Egypt, a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. God offered to give Ahaz a sign that his Word was true and that their enemies would not destroy his people. Ahaz refused, but God in mercy gave a sign for us, a son born to a virgin. Repeatedly God has given his people signs so that they might be sure of his promises, sure of his love, sure of his rule.
God still wants that for us. He wants us to be sure of his promises, sure of his love, sure of his rule. He has left signs for us too. He has left us a sign in the manger, a boy born to a virgin, Immanuel! He has left us other signs of his love. They are quite ordinary, yet they are signs nonetheless. He has left us water together with the word as a sign and a declaration of sure promises that belong to us, a sign and a declaration of sins forgiven and love given. He has left us bread and wine together with his body and blood as a sign over the doorframes of our bodies so that death will pass us over. He has left us this holy meal so that we might have a sign and a declaration from him of sins forgiven and love given. We are not without signs of his love. We are not without signs of sure promises.
We’re looking at Isaiah 7:1-17. Take a listen.
As we walk through life we will walk through dark valleys. It is not an "if." It is a "when." And when we walk through those valleys we have certain assurance and a sure companion for that journey. This is a sermon from Pastor Nate Bourman on Psalm 23:4.
There are certain words that hold a message of hope for all who hear them. One such word is the little word “then.” The little word “then” looks to the future with longing. The little word “then” looks beyond the “when” and sees what is coming next on the horizon. “Then” imagines a day in the future. “Then” longs for a day still to come. Such is the day that Isaiah describes for us in Isaiah 35. He describes for us a day when the Lord will come to save and come to rescue. He describes for us a day when the Lord will come down. And then…
We’re looking at Isaiah 35:1-10. It is both a description of the ministry of Jesus and a description of the eternity we will enjoy with him. When he comes, then… It will be a hopeful time in God’s Word as we look to what is yet to come.
Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known and favorite psalms and for good reasons. It pictures for us a shepherd, and not just any shepherd, LORD who is our Shepherd. The God of free and faithful covenant love. The God of goodness and mercy. The Shepherd of tenderness and compassion. His rule and reigns, his might and mercy, his protection and leading, bring us to rest in him and his protection. And, yes, the storm my continue around us. Indeed, dangers may abound around us. But he is not stopped. His protection is not thwarted. Yes, we the sheep are safe under his protection and care. We lay down in safe places.
This Wednesday we continue our midweek series through this beloved Psalm. We will be considering Psalm 23:2-3.
WELCOME TO ADVENT at Mount Lebanon!
We are working to connect people to Jesus and to a caring Christian community.
We are the Mount. To learn more: TheMountMKE.com
This is a broadcast of worship from the Mount.
We worship in-person on Saturdays at 5:30 pm and on Sundays at 9:30 am. We also currently broadcast our service on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am.
For worship information: TheMountMKE.com/sermons
Please check-in with us here or to get more information: TheMountMKE.com/check-in
To give: TheMountMKE.com/give
Jesus has one more end-times teaching for us and it’s important. It is a word to his church about their lives together until he comes. It is a word to his church about their judgment when he comes. It is a word to his church about who we are to him now and into all eternity. We’re his family and he will vindicate us in the end.
We’re looking at Matthew 25:31-46. It is Jesus’ great teaching about Judgment Day. It is a word from Jesus of tremendous worth and great comfort to us.
WELCOME TO WORSHIP at Mount Lebanon!
We are working to connect people to Jesus and to a caring Christian community. We are the Mount.
To learn more: TheMountMKE.com
This is a broadcast of worship from the Mount. God bless your hearing of his Word!
We worship in-person on Saturdays at 5:30 pm and on Sundays at 9:30 am.
We also currently broadcast our service on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am.
To give: TheMountMKE.com/give
Music used in the service is used by permission under licenses from OneLicense and CCLI.
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The Mount Weekly
This Advent series takes a look at Psalm 23.
In a world filled with ever-changing and increasingly troubling headlines, the hope of God’s comfort and sustaining care is a balm for weary souls. God is true to his word! The believer can rest in the gentle care of their Good Shepherd, the one who walks with them and provides for them—mind, body, and soul—in the present and in the days to come.
Today we’re looking at Psalm 23:1.
MIDWEEK ADVENT SERVICES
Join us for a midweek devotion. Join us for God's Word and song. This is a wonderful time in the middle of the week to be refreshed by God's Word and to get a reset for the rest of the week. We'll be walking through Psalm 23.
This Advent series takes a look at Psalm 23.
In a world filled with ever-changing and increasingly troubling headlines, the hope of God’s comfort and sustaining care is a balm for weary souls. God is true to his word! The believer can rest in the gentle care of their Good Shepherd, the one who walks with them and provides for them—mind, body, and soul—in the present and in the days to come.
You will have two opportunities to gather each week: 12/2, 12/9, and 12/16
- Wednesdays at 4:45 pm.
- Wednesdays at 6:30 pm.
We will also stream the service at 6:30 pm.
We would love to have you.
They couldn’t wait. Ever since the Master had entrusted them with their bags of gold, their talents, they had been investing it As soon as their master left on his journey, they got to work. They couldn’t wait to do something with that which had been entrusted to them. They had been working hard. They had been working wisely. They had been working diligently. And so those two servants couldn’t wait. They had something to show their Master. They had done something and they couldn’t wait to show him. They were waiting on pins and needles, excited for his return, so that they could run up to him and say, “Look! Look at what we did with what you gave us!” They couldn’t wait for his return so they could bring their prizes to him.
Is that how you feel as you wait for Jesus? He has entrusted much to you. As you wait for him are you doing something with what he has entrusted to you? Are you excited, perhaps like a pre-schooler is, to show him what you’ve done while he was gone? “Look! Look what I’ve done!” Are you excited for his return to show him what you’ve done?
This weekend we’re looking at Matthew 25:14-30. It is traditionally called the parable of the talents. And I can’t wait to open up this parable to you. I can’t wait to show you the good Master so that you are excited to greet him so that you can’t wait to bring the fruits of your labors to show him. “Look! Look what I’ve done!”
Jesus is coming. He is coming soon. That remains a focal point in our worship as we begin a new church year and enter a season in the church which we call “Advent.” Advent means “coming.” During this time, we look forward to the coming of Jesus at the end of time. We also rejoice in his coming in a time previous, at his birth in Bethlehem. And for this reason too, I can’t wait for worship this weekend. I can’t wait to celebrate with eyes up for the coming of Jesus. I can’t wait to celebrate his first coming in Bethlehem. Will you join us?
We’re gathering in-person:
Saturday at 5:30 pm.
Sunday at 9:30 am.
You can also worship with us online on Sundays at 9:30 am. (YouTube.com/c/MtLebanonChurch)
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The Mount Weekly
WELCOME TO WORSHIP at Mount Lebanon! AND Happy Thanksgiving!
We are working to connect people to Jesus and to a caring Christian community.
This is a broadcast of worship from the Mount.
We worship in-person on Saturdays at 5:30 pm and on Sundays at 9:30 am. We also currently broadcast our service on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am.
Please check-in with us here or to get more information: TheMountMKE.com/check-in
To give: TheMountMKE.com/give