Ascension Lutheran Church Pgh: Recent Episodes
Ascension Lutheran Church Pgh
Located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA, Ascension Lutheran Church is a Christ-centered community where we connect, learn, and serve. Here you will find a community of enthusiastic Christians in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Our worship is Christ-centered and our preaching is faithful to God’s Word.
In this episode we discuss how to speak the truth of God's Word and approach those who struggle with LGBTQ+ issues with compassion. The same compassion that God shows us in forgiving our sins.
In this episode we conclude or discussion on life issues with addressing end of life care and forgiveness after having an abortion or contributing to the decision of having an abortion. We began our next topic of discussion related to gender and sexuality and what the guidelines and context we get from the Bible on addressing them.
In this episode we discuss specific questions regarding life issues that we may face. We covered things related to moral culpability based on voting, abortion in cases of rape, incest, and when the life of the mother is threatened by her pregnancy.
In this episode we begin to talk about life issues such as end of life care, pre-born life, and other ways the Scriptures establish God's principles about human life and worth.
In this episode we finish our discussion on the barriers of individualism and consumerism. The end of this episode cuts off mid-sentence, but it was the end of the class and no new issues were discussed.
In this episode we begin to cover two of the most common barriers to faithful discipleship in America today: individualism and consumerism.
In this episode we discuss how we are to faithfully engage socially and politically as followers of Jesus in our earthly society.
In this class we discussed the results of the meditation and prayer from the last two weeks. We also went into greater depth on the practice of Christian meditation on God’s Word.
In the lesson we discussed the need for training as disciples. We start with some scenarios where we would normally suspect training such as sports, starting a new job, or learning a new skill. Disciples of Jesus need training as well. Our discussion focused on doing a self-assessment of the two main avenues for inner discipleship disciplines: meditation on God's Word and prayer.
Lesson Discussing our tendency to separate out our life of faith from our "real" life. We discussed how the Bible doesn't make such separations and how we can naturally live as disciples within the vocations and relationships that God has placed us. Introduced the need for being equipped as disciples to set up for next week's lesson.
In our second class we answer the question of "What is Discipleship?" and then discuss what the Bible has to say about whether or not we need to be together in person to be disciples in our digital age.
In the first class of our new study on being a faithful disciple in today's world, we begin our discussion by focusing on answering the question, "What is a disciple?" Our answer to this question will inform how we approach all the different topics we will be addressing in future classes.
Beginning of the study on the book of Philippians with the context and historical information of the book. We look through the first part of chapter 1 through verse 11.
Further discussion on the theology of the Lord's Supper according to the Lutheran Confession of the Christian faith.
We resume our bible study from the spring and focus on the second major part of the Divine Service, the Service of the Sacrament.
The third of 3 discussion sessions on Gene Edward Veith's "The Spirituality of the Cross." This session coverschapters5 and 6.
The second of 3 discussion sessions on Gene Edward Veith's "The Spirituality of the Cross." This session covers chapters 3 and 4.
The first of 3 discussion session on Gene Edward Veith's "The Spirituality of the Cross." This session covers the introduction through chapter 2.
The first of our three discussions on Gene Veith's book, "The Spirituality of the Cross: The Way of the First Evangelicals." It covers the introduction and first chapter.
I this episode we conclude our discussion of the Service of the Word and focus on the history of its development starting in the Jewish synagogues of the Diaspora. We look at where the structure of readings comes from and why it is organized the way it is.
Read by Elder Kurt Dolph/ Written by Pastor Barry Keurulainen, Ascension Lutheran Church
In this session we discuss and learn about the Service of the Word. It is one of the two key components to our Theology of Divine Service that has been present since the beginning of the church and even before that. In this session we focus on the place of the Word of God in the Divine Service and the place it occupies in the life of the Christian. It will show how central this is to the creation of our faith, the sustaining of our faith, and our ability to share it with other people. Our next session will focus on the history of the Service of the Word beginning all the way back in the Jewish Synagogue.
In this episode we discuss the history and basis for the development of the Entrance Rite. This contains the Kyrie, Hymn of Praise and the Collect prayer.
In this episode we discuss the next part of the service of preparation, Confession and Absolution. We have not yet even entered into worship, because we have one last thing to address in our preparation, our sin. As Christians, we know that God knows our sin and so when we are coming into his presence in the Divine Service, we confess it. God has given us a great gift in the church in the Office of the Keys so that the pastor (or messenger of the king) can speak with the authority of Jesus to forgive your sins.
In this episode we discuss the term liturgy. It is a term that has come to mean many different things to different people; in this session, we get on the same page about it. We also begin to discuss the first part of our worship service and the Sacrament that is tied to it--the gift of Holy Baptism.
What is worship? An important question for each Christian to ask. By looking at the Scriptures and the history of the Church we will see how there are two main perspectives to Christian Worship. There is the view from below-our view-and the view from above-God's view. As Lutherans, the Word of God is the guide for the norm and practice of the Christian life; that includes our worship. So the real question is, how does our God want to be worshipped? Let's find out as we begin to look at our Lutheran Theology of Worship! This first session is a general introduction to the theology of worship we confess in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
Text: Matthew 17:1-9
Summary: Have you ever been in a conversation where the other person just wants to talk and won’t listen? Peter displays this sinful human failing in our gospel reading on the mount of Transfiguration. He speaks when he should be listening and receiving the teachings of Jesus. We should do the same.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
In our final session for the New Members class, we finish up our discussion of the Divine Service. The final parts of the Service of the Sacrament and the conclusion of the Divine Service in the name of God. We also covered the questions that each new member will be asked when they make their public confession to become a member of the congregation.
Text: Matthew 5:21-37
Summary: The question asked in the garden of Eden by the devil “Did God actually say…?” is answered by Jesus in Matthew’s gospel. Jesus reveals God’s true intention with the Torah (Law of God) that had been softened by our impulse to soften or relax God’s law to something we can manage. Why does Jesus do this? He wants us to turn from ourselves and our doing and instead turn to Him and his doing. That is where our salvation is found.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Matthew 5:13-20
Summary: Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount continues. We have entered through the “door” of the Beatitudes to discover that because Jesus’ brought us the thing we lacked, we are now the salt and light of the world. Because of what Jesus has done for us, what we do actually means something now! Not for our own salvation, but so that others may receive the thing they lack from Jesus too!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
In this session, we begin to talk about the next major piece of the worship service, the Service of the Sacrament. In it, our Lord is bringing to Hi people the gift of His very body and blood to eat and drink. We begin to look at what that means, why we don't give communion to anyone who walks in off the street and what is being given in this wondrous divine gift!
In this session we cover essence of worship in the Lutheran Confession of the Christian faith and the transitional part of the Divine Service that bridges the Service of the Word and leads us into the Service of the Sacrament. We look at some of the history of the practice of the Offering and discuss the theology of tithing or giving a tenth back to God.
Text: Matthew 5:1-12
Summary: The Beatitudes function as the doorway into the sermon on the mount. In it, Jesus describes who the kingdom of heaven has come for and what it will do to them and for them. It describes who the disciple of Jesus is and what their new life in Christ is all about. If we cannot hear and understand what He says here, then we won’t understand what comes next in his teaching from the mountain. The disciple of Jesus is the poor in spirit, the unable, and lowly. The disciples is in a state of objective need, but the kingdom of heaven is at hand! Jesus has come to give his disciples the thing that they lack!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
What does it really mean to be in God's Word? Why should I read it? How often should I read it? What does reading God's Word really do? We look at all these questions in today's new member lesson. Come listen in an learn why it is a core part of the Christian life to be in God's Word!
Text: John 1:29-42a
Summary: Behold is a word used to draw our attention to something important. In the season of Epiphany our attention is being drawn to the great revelation of God in Jesus. That God has come in the flesh to save us from our sins. Like John the Baptist, we meditate on how our lives can be lives that cause others to “Behold!" Jesus and the gospel of salvation He brings.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Matthew 11:2-15
Summary: Are you the One? This is the question John the Baptist sends his disciples to ask Jesus while he is in prison. He had heard about Jesus’ ministry and works, but it wasn’t exactly what He had pictured. God’s plans often surprise us and perhaps the most surprising one of all is sending Jesus to be born as a human baby to be a sacrifice for sinners. That is what we anticipate this Advent season and in order to not be fooled by our own thinking about what God is going to do, we must focus on His Word. Jesus directed John’s disciples to Isaiah and so He also directs us to look for Him in His Word to prepare for His arrival on Christmas and His return in glory.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
In this class we look at one of the two great gifts our God brings to us in the Divine Service each week: His Word. We spend some time talking about the rhythm of the Service of the Word and the history of where it comes from in Christian worship. We also talk about how it is essential for us to regularly hear it read and preached. This understanding helps us to hear it and respond with "Thanks be to God!"
In this episode of our Catechesis class, we are doing a brief review of the Confession and Absolution teaching and going over the doctrine known as "The Office of the Keys." This doctrine explains why the ordained and called pastor is able to say to the congregation on Sunday that, "in the stead of, and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."
Text: Matthew 24:36-44
Summary: Have you ever marked a day in your calendar and waiting for it with anticipation? Maybe a big day like a wedding or reunion? During the season of Advent all Christians await with eagerness the arrival or advent of our king and savior. Advent prepared us for both a celebration of our King’s first coming in Bethlehem and his second advent when He will return in glory. We need to stay awake until that time and await the day with eager anticipation!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 23:27-43
Summary: Do you not fear God? The condemned criminal hanging on the cross next to Jesus asks the other criminal who is joining in the mocking of Jesus as the King of the Jews. A good question for us to meditate on as well for the Last Sunday of the Church year. This question brings us to the cross where we see God’s just wrath poured out against the sinner and His mercy in that Jesus, the innocent Son of God, is the one bearing that wrath in our place. As we await our Lord’s return we cling to the cross!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 21:5-28
Summary: Be prepared is the motto of the Scouts. A valuable truth that applies to all of life. Does it apply to the life of faith? As we focus on the return of Christ on the Second to Last Sunday of the Church Year, Jesus teaches us that “Be prepared.” applies to our life of faith as well. Let’s learn from Luke 21 how we can be prepared for what is to come when our Lord returns!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Our second new member class focuses on an introduction to the Christian life. In this episode we are looking at the first thing we say in the Divine Service each Sunday, the Invocation. The Invocation brings up many key points of Christian theology; most notably, it addresses the importance of the name of God, the Sacrament of Baptism, and the overall rhythm of the Divine Service.
Text: Matthew 5:1-12, Revelation 7
Summary: On All Saints Sunday we mourn and celebrate. Sadness and joy at the same time is a hard state of mind for a non-believer to understand, but we have hope in the face of death! Jesus taught in Matthew 5 the poor in spirit are blessed because the kingdom of God belongs to them. That is you, me, and all the saints in glory. Revelation 7 gives us the glorious picture of the victory celebration we anticipate when our Lord returns. Until then we hope in that certain future!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
This is the first lesson of Ascension’s new member class in 2022. It contains introductions of the members of the class and an introduction from Pastor Thompson regarding what the class will cover.
Text: Romans 3:19-28
Summary: Are you good enough? A dangerous question we ask ourselves. Luther asks himself this question too! In the Reformation God revealed to Luther and to us that God doesn’t ask us this question. In fact, He doesn’t expect us to be good enough. That is why he sent Jesus!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 18:9-17
Summary: Jesus continues to prepare His disciples by teaching them how they are to pray. They are to pray humbly and, recognizing that they have no righteousness, to appeal to God’s mercy. This is how the unrighteous will be justified; they are justified through God’s mercy!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 18:1-10
Summary: Are you persistent in prayer or do you grow weary? I think if we are honest, we grow weary. What is the longest time you have prayed for something daily? In Luke 18 our Lord encourages his disciples and us to pray to him continually and regularly. In the parable he commends persistence alone, but with Him we have even more to encourage us to pray.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 17:11-19
Summary: Jesus encounter with the 10 lepers on his way to Jerusalem is a small glimpse of the radical nature of the generous and gracious love of the new kingdom of God that He will establish. It has a lot to teach us about why the life of a Christian is fueled by a gospel fueled gratitude about what Jesus has done for us. Just like the Samaritan leper, he has cleansed us from our own illness, sin! Praise His Holy Name!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 17:1-10
Summary: How exactly are disciples of Jesus meant to live together with one another and with the world? Jesus answers this question in the gospel reading in Luke 17. He knows that when you follow Him that the problems of the sinful flesh and the fallen world persist. Yet, He has given us all we need in faith to live as He calls us!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 16:19-31
Title: The Rich Man and Lazarus
Summary: Jesus tells the story of a rich man and Lazarus and boy do we learn! In this teaching of Jesus we focus on three things in the sermon. One, the focus of the story is Lazarus; the guy the world ignores! Two, God measures righteousness by faith and not by worldly measures. Three, you have been given everything you need to receive the faith!
Elder Leader Cooper Blake / Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 16:1-15
Summary: Perhaps one of the most confusing stories Jesus tells, the Dishonest Steward, is told to teach his disciples about shrewdness. We will wrestle with this text to see that God is helping his disciples learn how to be shrewd not for unrighteous wealth (wealth of the world), but to be shrewd as His disciples for the kingdom of God.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 15:1-10
Summary: In response to the Pharisees grumbling about who Jesus associates with, Jesus tells a couple of parables describing how God and all of heaven feels when one sinner who is lost, repents and is rescued by Jesus. Did you know that God feels that way about you? God and all of heaven rejoices when we, who are lost, are rescued by God through the Word and Sacrament gifts of Jesus! How amazing is that!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 14:1-14
Summary: Have you ever been invited to a truly spectacular banquet? A banquet that made you look around and think, “How did I ever end up here?” Well, Jesus is inviting you to one such banquet each Sunday. It is an amazing heavenly banquet, but he doesn’t invite the people you would expect. Jesus invites you!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 13:22-30
Summary: In Luke 13 Jesus responds to the question, “Lord, are those being saved few?” by warning us to be on guard. Rather than ask this question about others, Jesus teaches us to reflect on it personally by asking, “Am I saved?” The answer to that in Jesus is yes! However, Jesus also warns us about not becoming entitled in our salvation. He reminds us that it isn’t through any other person or thing that we enter into the marriage feast. It is only through Jesus and his work for us, that we enter through the narrow door.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 12:49-56
Summary: When we think of Jesus, we typically focus on the things we like. That He forgives us, He loves us, and that He brings peace. Yet, today in our gospel reading, Jesus himself, tells us that he has not come to bring peace on earth, but division. How do we make sense of Jesus bring both peace and division?
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 12:22-34
Summary: It is easy to say, “Do not be anxious.” but it is much harder to get rid of your anxiety. Does Jesus not understand that? Jesus does! He really knows about anxiety; He took all of our fear and worry on Himself. Here in Luke, Jesus is teaching his disciples another way to live. It is a way that brings us an unfading and everlasting treasure. A treasure that guards us from worry and anxiety. What is this treasure?
Elder Leader Dave Dille / Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
In this class, we go through the confessional questions that the pastor asks each new members upon joining the Lutheran Church and include some explanation of what each is really asking.
Text: Luke 12:13-21
Summary: What does your life consist of? Is it as it often feels—a rush to get stuff done and accumulate things—or is it more? In Luke 12, Jesus teaches that our lives consist of much more than we often think. We can get wrapped up in earning, striving, and doing to attain earthly possessions. Yet, when we die, “whose will they be?” Jesus provides another way of living, one that shows us that our lives consist of so much more than our earthly pursuits.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 11:1-13
Summary: This is the passage in Luke where Jesus gives his disciples the Lord’s Prayer. In Luke the focus of this section of verses is Jesus’ instruction on the proper posture for prayer. It turns out that when we pray we aren’t the focus of the prayer, but our gracious and loving heavenly Father is! We don’t host him, but He is our gracious host; inviting us to pray to him about all our needs in this life and the life to come.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Matthew 14:22-33
Summary: This past week at VBS we learned that we can make waves in the world. The account of Jesus walking on water highlights how first we are rescued by Jesus and then through His work in our lives we become instruments of God to make waves in the world. Only by fixing our eyes on Jesus and having faith in Him can we make waves!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 10:25-37
Summary: The Good Samaritan story is one of the more famous accounts of Scripture. Often it is misinterpreted to be about how we should love our neighbors as ourselves. It is actually about how Christ is the one who perfectly fulfills the law that demands that we “love the Lord your God with all our heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” See how Jesus tells this story to get rid of our self-justification that we can fulfill this law.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 10:1-20
Summary: Are you nervous about God sending you as his people into the world? Well you aren’t alone. In our gospel reading today Jesus sends out the 72. When he does this he has them rely on Him to take care of all their needs. It can be tough to trust in that sometimes, but our God is faithful and he does provide. After all, He is doing the heavy lifting. We simply speak the words He has given us.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 9:51-62
Summary: In Luke 9:51 Jesus “sets his face to go to Jerusalem.” Now everything changes to move in that direction, including those who follow Jesus. This section of verses is often referred to as “The Cost of Discipleship.” We don’t get to invite Jesus into our lives on our own terms. He has resolved to completely save us and make us into a new creation. Sometimes that means sacrifice and suffering for His sake. What does this mean for us today?
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 8:26-39
Summary: Jesus is powerful! As fallen human beings we have different reactions to power. It excites us but it also terrifies us. Jesus heals a man possessed by man demons and cleanses him of all that made him unclean. He is grateful to Jesus, but the people of the city who witness this are terrified and they ask Jesus to leave. What caused the different reactions to the power of Jesus?
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: John 8:48-59
Summary: What do you do when you don’t know how to answer or explain a question? Today, we see how people respond to Jesus’ difficult words in two unhelpful ways. Jesus offers us a third faithful response and a call to believe the unbelievable.
Pastor Jared Townley, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: John 14:23-31
Summary: Do I love God? Why are we asking this question on Pentecost? Well it is the birth of the Church and the primary work of the church is to remain faithful to Christ or to love Christ and share His word, through the power of the Holy Spirit, with the world. Jesus says, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word…” The Holy Spirit is the key to how all this works. Happy Pentecost!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: John 17:20-26
Summary: Did you know that Jesus prayed for you? He did. In what we call “The High Priestly Prayer” of Jesus in John 17:20, Jesus says that he isn’t only praying for his apostles but all those who will believe because of their word. That is you and me! Jesus wanted you to hear about him and learn what He taught his disciples. Confirmation is a part of that in our church, but it isn’t ever complete. We keep learning our whole lives by listening to the words of the apostles.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: John 16:23-33
Summary: Have you ever wondered how it is that you, a sinful human, can speak directly to God, the Father Almighty? Jesus explains how this is possible and why we should do it when He speaks to his disciples in John 16. Listen in to find out how prayer works!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: John 16:12-22
Summary: In this life we tend to focus on the negative over the positive, the sorrow over the joy. Jesus doesn’t pretend there is no sorrow in this life. He openly confronts that reality, but He doesn’t leave us in our sorrow without hope or joy. He came to change things so that we can have joy amid our sorrows. Not a joy that merely evens the odds, but a joy so great that once it is fully realized our current suffering will melt away and be forgotten! How is this possible? Well, He is risen!
Pastor Adam Thompson Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: John 10:22-30
Summary: In John 10 we have the “I am the Good Shepherd.” statement from Jesus. But in these particular verses Jesus is actually not talking to his sheep about the flock but the wolves who seek to harm it. A good shepherd is not only loving and gentle with the sheep, but mighty and fierce in His protection of them from the wolves. In John 10:22-30 we see our Good Shepherd confront the wolves and fiercely promising them that “no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Praise God for our Good Shepherd!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: John 21:1-19
Summary: This text from the gospel of John gives us a beautiful picture of how Jesus, even after being glorified in the resurrection, serves us with what we need. When the disciples are fishing and laboring on their own, their nets come up empty. Just like without Christ our labors are in vain. Yet Jesus is standing on the shore and point out where they should direct their labor. Now it bears fruit! Not only does he help us bear fruit by giving us gifts and directing where they should be used, but He serves us the nourishment we need in order to be people who see Him and believe. “Come and have some breakfast” Jesus says. Today He still serves us and invites us to receive the work of His hands to our salvation!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: John 20:19-31
Summary - What sign would you demand from God in order to believe in Him? Thomas didn’t see Jesus appear to his disciples and He doesn’t believe them when they tell him “We have seen the Lord!” Jesus, in mercy, gives Thomas exactly what He demands. But Jesus can’t appear to you and me, at least not in that same way. If we can’t touch the wounds in his hands and the put our hand in His side, then how can we believe? Jesus gives His disciples and through them the Church an extraordinary gift that makes your faith possible! So we can join in the chorus of witnesses saying, “I have seen the Lord.”
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: John 12:20-43
Summary - After Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, there is excitement buzzing in the air. Even the gentile proselytes know something is special about Jesus. Things are getting to a boiling point between Jesus and his enemies. He is too popular with the people. Despite all that, none of the people really know, including His own disciples, how big the work of Jesus will be in Jerusalem! Something amazing is about to happen! Welcome to Holy Week!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: John 20:9-20
Summary - The Parable of the Wicked Tenants is a humbling one to hear from Jesus. He was aiming this at the religious leader of his day, but it carries application for us as well. It wasn’t just their sin, that required Jesus to die on the cross, but ours too. This text reminds of our own wickedness, but even more it demonstrated the unconditional love, patience and mercy of our God.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Summary - This is one of the most, if not the most, famous parables of Jesus. Yet, did you know it is all about God’s rules for whom he welcomes to his table of fellowship. Throughout Scripture important events between God and his people are marked by meals. Listen to how the audience of Jesus would have understood the interaction between the loving father and his two sons. Perhaps it may breathe some new life into a text you have heard about before.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 13:1-9
Summary - We can be tempted to alleviate our own guilt by comparing ourselves to others and thinking that they are worse than us. This happened to them because they did the extra bad sin or, at least I am not like that person. Yet, Jesus teaches that unless we repent, we will all likewise perish.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Jeremiah 26:8-15, Luke 13:31-35
Summary: During Lent, this gospel text reminds us that we have a God who desires to gather us to himself. Despite our sin and rejection of His word He still gathers us to Himself. Sometimes His Word is one a rebuke which is hard to hear, but Luke 13 reminds us that we have a Savior who knowingly went to Jerusalem and the cross because of His desire to gather His children back to Himself. How is God’s Word calling you back to Him? He who has ears, let him hear!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 4:1-13
Summary - In Luke 4 Jesus endured temptation from the devil in the desert. In much the same way as Adam and Eve, Jesus is tempted directly by the devil to deviate from God’s Word. But where Adam and Eve failed to resist the temptation, Jesus succeeds and remains perfect. Through his perfect and innocent sacrifice we have been redeemed! We are no longer children of the first Adam, but we have been made children of the second Adam, Jesus!
Ascension Lutheran Church, Pastor Adam Thompson
Text: Luke 9:28-36
Summary - Peter often behaves like a cartoon character. His foolishness is extravagant and yet we can relate to Him. On the mountain of Jesus’ transfiguration Peter still tries to call the shots even when Jesus in all His glory is standing right there. How often do we do this same thing? How often do we try to enlist Jesus in our plans rather than submit to His?
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 6:28-36
Summary: The text of our gospel this week focuses on what Christ calls his disciples--that’s us—to do. The focus isn’t on us to do these things in order to be saved, but rather because we are saved Christ calls us to live the same seemingly inverted life that Jesus puts on display for us. Let’s take a look at the 16 imperatives that Jesus commands his disciples in this text and what they mean for us who have also been saved and called by Christ.
Ascension Lutheran Church, Pastor Adam Thompson
Text: Luke 5:1-11
How can we know that our work as the church is not in vain? In Luke 5 we see how God’s Word transforms the fruitless toil of the soon-to-be disciples fishing into the biggest catch of fish they have ever made! Jesus, using that same Word, calls them, and the church established through them, to catch mankind with the gospel. Because God’s Word is in it, the labor is not done in vain!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 4:31-44
Jesus is teaching in the synagogue again and this time people are astonished at “his word” because it “possesses authority.” What kind of authority does Jesus’s word posses and why does it matter for us?
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 4:16-30
One of the signs of the Messiah was that he would restore sight to the blind. This doesn’t just mean healing physical blindness, but more importantly healing spiritual blindness. In Luke 4 the people are spiritually blind. Am I spiritually blind? Jesus has come to heal the sight of the blind and He has!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: John 2:1-11
At a wedding in Cana Jesus, the Son of God, turns water into wine. A famous, but if you think about it, odd miracle. What can we learn about who Jesus is and what He has come to do from this wedding feast wine-making miracle? Jesus is here to meet our needs large and small and He has come to make us pure and clean.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Matthew 2:1-20
Does Herod and the evil and violence he brings, belong in the manger? He does! Herod reminds us that Jesus came into the world, our world, one that is filled with violence and terror as it was in Herod's day. Into the darkness of our world and into the darkness of our own hearts, Christ came with the light of hope, love, joy and peace that the darkness cannot extinguish.
Pastor Barry Keurulainen, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 2:41-52
Using the Gospel message from Luke 2, we look at Jesus as a twelve-year-old boy in the temple. However, we focus on the humanity side of Jesus Christ and see just how Jesus is fully human even though he is also fully God.
Elder Dave Dille, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Luke 7:18-28
Is Jesus the one we have been waiting for? John the Baptist sends his followers to ask Jesus this question. Then Jesus asks the crowds questions about John. "What did you go out into the wilderness to see?” He asks them. We ought to consider these two questions as well, especially as we near Christmas. What am I waiting for? What am I looking for?
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Revelation 7:9-17
On All Saints Day we remember those who have died in the faith. Yet it isn’t about death. It is rather a celebration of abundant life that has swallowed up death in victory! In Revelation 7 we are presented with the image of where our loved ones and all the saints who have died in the faith now live. They live among a multitude of people no one can number from every tribe, language, and place; they are all gathered around the throne of God freed from pain, sin, and sorrow. When our time comes or our Lord returns, we will join them in eternal splendor in the presence of our God!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Romans 3:19-28 and John 8:31-36
In celebration of the Protestant Reformation, we are reminded of Martin Luther’s great rediscovery of the freedom found in God’s Word. Salvation isn’t something we earn or accomplish nor is God’s love. Each are a gift of grace through the works of Jesus Christ. Jesus satisfied the Law and on the cross exchanged our sin stained lives with His perfect righteousness. The righteous do indeed live by faith in the gospel! To God be the glory!
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Key Verse: John 15:12
Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples before His passion begins is “Love one another as I have loved you.” What does this have to do with Stewardship? Love is the centering principle that drives the spirit of Christian Stewardship. God’s love for you and the command He places on us, His disciples, to reflect that love to others. That includes our use of His blessings of our time, our abilities, and the possessions He has entrusted us with. This love is not found in us, but only in Christ. So we must remain connected to Christ in order to love one another through our faithful stewardship.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Key Verse: Luke 17:15-16
In our second sermon of our Stewardship Series, we focus on thanksgiving. A steward is called not to simply be thankful, but to give thanks for what God has done. Jesus teaches this in Luke 17 when one Samaritan returns to give thanks to God when Jesus heals 10 men with leprosy.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Key Verses: Luke 15: 12-13
So often we don’t see the many blessings God has given us. Like the prodigal son, we think these blessings belong to us and that we are free to use them however we wish. But what is the real situation regarding the blessings we receive from God?
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Key Verses: Mark 9:42-48
Jesus uses some really strong language here to describe how serious a problem sin really is. Jesus really means what He says here and makes a demand we cannot hope to meet, but the news is not hopeless. Christ meets this demand in our place and frees us from this harsh penalty of sin.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Key Verse: Mark 9:34-35
Description: Our fallen human temptation is to elevate those who do amazing and fantastic deeds to greatness. Extraordinary athletes, scientists, leaders, etc. are all elevated to greatness because they do more things or better things than others. In Mark 9, Jesus redefines greatness for His disciples. Jesus turns our understanding of the term upside down.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Key Verse: Matthew 28:19-20
Description: Our Lord Jesus has commanded us to make disciples. There is often a lot of focus on going and baptizing, but less on teaching. God has given us the gift of His Word so that we might know Him. He has also given us two institutions which teach us "to observe all that I have commanded you” and that is the family and the Church.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Key Verse: Mark 7:34
Summary: God’s Word does what it says. Yet, like the witnesses in Mark 7, we sometimes think we know better. Sometimes we disobey direct commands from God to do things in ways that we think are better, yet God’s Word works! We should obey God’s word.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Noah's Ark, and God's hope for us through baptism
Pastor Brian Bocian, Ascension Lutheran Church
VBS Sermon 2021 Theme: Our Great Almighty God
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Topic: Sacrifice
Readings: Amos 7:7–15, Mark 6:14–29 - John the Baptist's beheading
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh, PA
Text: Mark 6:1-13
Themes: Rejection, Great Commission, Tell the Story
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Reading: Mark 5:21–43 - Jesus heals Jarius' daughter
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Reading: Mark 4:35-41 - Jesus calms the storm
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Topic: Martin Luther's storm that led him to dedicate his life to God
Text: Mark 4:26-34 - The kingdom of God is like a seed
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: Mark 3:20-35 - Who are my mother and my brothers?
Pastor Adam Thompson Ascension Lutheran Church
Text for the sermon: John 15:9-17
God has chosen you – did you know that? What’s so special about you? What is your list of accomplishments that entitles you to this great honor? The truth is, it’s not about what you’ve done or whether you deserve it. God has chosen you – the good and the not so good aspects of you. The things you’d put on your LinkedIn page and the things you hesitate to admit even to yourself. It’s not about you – it’s about God. It’s all Him. He chose the imperfect you – that’s how big and immense His love is for you.
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church
Text: 1 John 4:1–21
Being loved and loving another are subjects of some of the most famous authors, musicians and artists in history. It a subject that we humans never get tired of hearing and telling. Their works cover the many different meanings of “love” because the word “love” can be used in so many ways: “I love chocolate”, “I love you”, “I love my friends”, “I love puzzles”, “I love my sister” and “I love my life”. God wrote about love a lot too in his book: The Bible. 1 John 4:1-21 is one of the greatest “love” chapters in the Bible. What sort of love is highlighted in 1 John?
Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church