First Lutheran Church Canada: Recent Episodes
Pastor Keith Reisdorf
We welcome Gary Brucker for the second sermon in a 2-part series: He’s Alive. So What?! Part Two dives into its significance for our future.
Listen in as the Easter celebration continues at The Sanctuary!
Our friend Gary Brucker walks us through his series exploring the profound impact of Jesus’ resurrection on our daily lives!
Easter Sunday reveals the beautiful empty—the empty tomb that shows God was up to something greater, bringing new life, love, and purpose. Just as Jesus emptied Himself for us, we are called to let go of what holds us back, allowing Him to fill our emptiness with His grace.
Good Friday reveals that the beautiful sacrifice made by Jesus turned suffering, rejection, and ridicule into redemption, showing us the power of forgiveness and trust in God. Even in our hardest moments, He is at work—because while this is a good day, an even better day is coming.
Palm Sunday - the beautiful celebration of Jesus' arrival, as people cried, “Hosanna!” expecting an earthly king, not knowing the true salvation He came to bring. Instead of claiming a throne of power, He came to rule in our hearts with love, establishing a kingdom far greater than this world.
Ordinary Things: A Sponge | April 6, 2025
Just like a sponge, what we soak up in life is what we let out. There are many things that absorb our attention and steal our affection for God. Jesus absorbed all the pain of those around Him, but when he was wrung out, compassion, light, love, and healing came out - He took our sin, and we became His righteousness.
We all carry signs about who we believe ourselves to be (our identity), and often these are not positive. But Jesus has written a message on our hearts that reminds us of our new identity in Christ.
What is the significance of a coin today? Though it's the smallest value of currency, they can still add up to a lot. Just like a coin, individually our sins may not seem much, but we miss the mark at great cost. But even greater the cost to Christ, all the coins in the world could never add up to the value of Jesus' sacrifice for us all.
As we think about the bitterness of the wine vinegar offered to Jesus on the cross, we are reminded that our cups can be full of similarly bitter experiences. But, we are assured that Jesus drank the cup of God's judgement so that we would not have to.
Worship isn’t just about hearing. Jesus calls us to truly listen, respond, and be shaped by His presence...a life-changing encounter with God!
When you're deeply impressed by someone, have you ever "sung their praises"? What does that mean and how does it relate to worship? How does singing in worship differ from singing along to your favourite tunes in the car? Perhaps it's so much more.
We cannot control all of our circumstances. Accepting life's unpredictability - and our own - can be challenging. We find strength in Christ to help accept unpredictability and acknowledge our own shortcomings.
When the Old Testament character Job experiences suffering, he wishes he had never been born. His hopelessness is understandable. How do we trust God when we are suffering or feeling hopeless?
Grief is something we all encounter. Knowing how to support and acknowledge this part of life, and the mental health struggles it provokes, is important for all of us. How can we allow room and support for others to move through their grief in their own way, without a time limit?
January is often grey and depressing. Compassion for one another when we struggle with mental health begins by removing the stigma and shame attached to it. How does Jesus, as light of the world, bring hope and direction to our moments of struggle?
We reveal God’s love by encouraging and serving others. When we do so, our spiritual selves grow deeper in Christ who came as a servant to all. What does being encouraged mean or how does it feel to you?
From joy of Christmas to the fear of Herod, the nation is troubled. Wise men will follow a new dawning… new light in the darkness.