International Church Tübingen: Recent Episodes
International Church Tübingen
What is fundamentally important for faith in Jesus, for faith as a Christian in this world? It is fundamental that we follow Jesus wherever He goes and leads. The world around us that doesn’t know or follow Jesus says: “Just go your own way. Lead your life however you want, just keep on living like you are. If you follow somebody, then you’ll only be dependent on him, which is dangerous.” Let's go back to the basics again, because sometimes you need to hear what you’ve learned again because you’ll forget or neglect it otherwise and then you’ll make a very elementary mistake by forgetting something “very essential” that is important.
Bible reading from Mark 1: 14-20.
Sermon in German by Pastor James Kautt.
Click here for subtitles in English and German.
Having a "20/20 Vision" in our life, means having a clear sight, is essential to getting around safely and do all the things we want to, though we might need aids of one kind or another (glasses, microscope, telescope, sensors, etc.). The same is true with vision (sight) in the non-material sense–talking about our perception of ourselves, the world, and our plans and aspirations. We need to see clearly in the spiritual (invisible) realm too, and to do this also need requires help. How can we see what is unseen ahead, in the future, deep inside the heart? Do we actually have a clear "20/20 vision" to even make a clear "vision in 2020"?
Bible reading from Matthew 7: 1-6 & John 9: 35-41.
Sermon in English by Pastor James Kautt.
Click here for subtitle in English.
In Christmas day we met the baby Jesus. But how was He when he was a teenager? We all know, being a teenager is not easy. Through this bible passage we see a glimpse of Jesus's teenager days. Yet while reading we certainly have some thoughts or images, of how a good teenage boy supposed to behave, especially if we are parents. But the real Jesus, whom we read, contradicts our ideas completely, just like He even did those of His own earthly parents Mary and Joseph. Was Jesus not disobedient to His parents or even rebellious?
Bible reading from Luke 2: 41-52.
Sermon in German by Pastor James Kautt.
Click here for English and German subtitle.
Christmas is now over and the hopes and expectations as well, too, right? Not for everybody, though, because the special thing about Christmas is that it is about learning about the birth of Jesus. For some people, the search to find the meaning of Christmas continues, just like the wise men from the east. Why did they go far away from their country for this one baby? What was their motive? So, how great can the joy be about a totally unknown child in an unknown little village in a distant country? What did they find?
Bible reading from Matthew 2: 1-20.
Sermon in German by Pastor James Kautt.
Click here for English and German subtitle.
In Shakespeare’s famous play Romeo and Juliet, Juliet says: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.” Juliet is saying that she is not in love with the name “Montague”, but with the man who is called “Montague” and who he is. But it's different for some cases in the bible, for instance "Abraham". And how about Jesus? His name was not given by His earthly parents, but by God. What does His name mean? Does it say the purpose and destiny of His life?
Bible reading from Matthew 1:18-21.
Sermon in German by Pastor James Kautt.
Click here for English and German subtitles.
What kinds of things are bound up in the heart of a young person, in the heart of a young teenager? Fortunately, there are some teenagers here in the service today, but, the questions we ourselves also had once as teenagers still linger (remain) in us for years later.
“Am I pretty / handsome enough? Will anybody love me just as I am? Will I ever have a boyfriend or a girlfriend? Will other people accept me? What will my life be like in the future?”
The virgin Mary also perhaps had some of these questions in her heart before the message of our sermon text today completely changed her life.
Bible reading from Luke 1: 26-56.
Sermon in German by Pastor James Kautt.
Click here for English and German subtitles.
There's a saying, "the people we love, are those who can hurt us the most". We could all agree, that betrayal might be one of the worst things that can happen to us, especially if we're betrayed by the one we care the most. If we had the ability to see the future and know who's going to betray us, we'd never even get in touch with those people.
But let's step back a little bit and think about christmas.. Jesus knows, even before He came to earth, that He will be betrayed by his disciple. And this betrayal has actually been foreseen and written by the prophets hundreds of years before Jesus was born.
The child, the Immanuel, was born to be betrayed, yet he came to us nevertheless, to redeem us from our sins. What a great love.
Bible reading from Zachariah 9: 9-11.
Sermon in English by Dr. Harley Ihm.
Click here for German and English subtitles.
The word “Advent” means “arrival” and so we celebrate today at this time the fact that Jesus has already come to this world once at Christmas. But, actually, Advent is really about the fact that Jesus Christ is coming again to earth. Still, many people don’t know that He is coming again. But, if they don’t know Jesus, how can they prepare themselves for His arrival?
Many people deny that Jesus is coming again a second time. They may have already heard and believed that He is coming, but, in the meantime, they have given up on the idea that He is coming. They have fallen asleep or they are no longer waiting for Him at all.
Bible reading from Malachi 3: 1-5,13-18; then 4: 1-2, 5-6.
A sermon in German by Pastor Jim Kautt
Click here for English and German text.
It's 1st advent! In advent we normally busy with preparing gifts for christmas, decorations, or even celebrations, not only at church but also at our office or university. During these days an "extra hand" (a help) would mean a lot. We often measure “help” in deeds, real hard work, quantity, how much or how little you did, etc. Of course, we often need these kinds of “help” in life – with work, power, number, etc.
Yet, we still need more help with our lives, dealing with things and with situations in life that we alone cannot change. And that’s not even all. We need even more help than that! There is a kind of help that is more (greater) than help with work, with money, with a problem, or with a relationship. God’s help that He can give us is like this. “Then we’re really helped!”
Bible reading from Psalm 80: 1-20
A sermon in German by Pastor Jim Kautt
Click here for English and German text.
In the bible passage we read about the parable of the ten virgins with their lamps, waiting for the bridegroom to come. This is one of the hardest parables Jesus had taught. What does this parable tell us abot? Whom do those virgins represent? What about the oil, couldn't they have just shared it somehow? Were the smart virgins so egoistic that they couldn't share their oil?
Bible reading from Matthew 25:1-13.
Sermon in German by Pastor Jim Kautt.
Click here for English and German subtitle.
According to oxford dictonary, to take somebody/something for granted means "to be so used to somebody/something that you do not recognize their true value any more and do not show that you are grateful".
When was the last time we look at the night sky to enjoy its beauty? Or wake up in the morning and be grateful for the sunshine? In our fast paced world nowadays, we tend to pass the days with a hectic mind and unconsiously take things for granted. Unfortunately sometimes we then start to value things, when they're gone. The bible teaches us, that an attitude of gratitude is one of the key for a joyful life. But whom should we be thankful to?
Bible reading from Luke 17: 11-19.
Sermon by Pastor James Kautt.
Click here for english subtitle.
To believe in God and to trust God are two very different things. Sometimes it feels easier to say that we believe in God, yet in the reality it's even harder to trust our life in God's hand. This sermon invites us to contemplate about this topic. There are times in life, where everything went wrong despite all our effort to fight against it.. and the only thing we can do is to pray and surrender unto His hand. Then we can find our rest.
Bible reading from:
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2 Kings 18: 13, 17-25
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2 Kings 19: 14-19.35-36
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Psalm 46: 1-12
Sermon in German by Pastor James Kautt.
Click here for English and German subtitles.
Everyone of us wants to be happy, sometimes this could even become the main goal in our life, something we ultimately pursuit daily. But unfortunately there are times where we're sad and mourn. Why can't anyone be happy forever?
The sermon talks about the christian perspective on "happiness" and "joy". A joy that goes beyond our circumstances, anchored on a living God and His promises.
Bible reading from Matthew 5: 1-11.
Sermon by Pastor James Kautt.
Click here for English subtitle.