Grace Happens Here: Recent Episodes
Grace Lutheran Church
Grace Happens Here is the podcast of Grace Lutheran Church, Holts Summit, MO. In this podcast you will find weekly devotions, sermons, and other great content to spend time in God's Word!
This devotion is based on John 10:27-28. As Christians we rejoice in the wonderful truth that there is NOTHING that can separate us and snatch us out of our Lord's hands!
Today's devotion is based on Romans 6:11 and the change in circumstances that we have as Baptized children of God!
March is known for "March Madness", but in Christ we have peace and comfort in the midst of the madness and chaos of life.
This Lenten season we are doing a series of short devotions that we pray will be a blessing to you this Lenten season!
Today's devotion is based on Matthew 6:19-21.
During this season of Lent, we are putting out a series of devotions that we pray will be a blessing to you this season of Lent. Our series begins today with a devotion based on Romans 6:1-11
How do you know God loves you? Christmas is God's answer to you! Christ is born - for you! Christ is your Savior from sin, death, and the devil! The message of Christmas is clear - God loves you dearly! Merry Christmas!
Sermon from Wednesday, December 13th from the midweek Advent series, "Peace Came to Earth".
The devil loves to throw out all kinds of myths to lead us astray. So what do we do? How do we bust the devil's myths? We turn to God's Word of truth!
Sermon from Sunday, July 24, 2022. God gives us an amazing gift in prayer. He also gives us the two keys to prayer: His Word and His promises!
Sermon from Sunday, April 24, 2022. Our resurrected Lord and Savior brings us peace through His presence in our lives!
Sermon from our midweek Lenten series, "Witnesses to Christ". Wednesday night we met Barabbas. Like Barabbas we our guilty - we have sinned in thought, word, and deed. Thanks be to God - for we have been forgiven and freed by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
This Ash Wednesday, John the Baptist calls us to "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
Today we begin the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. Today's devotion focuses on Jesus' journey to Jerusalem. Jesus knew this journey would end with His death, but He went anyway. Why? To save you, me, and the entire world from sin, death, and the power of the devil!
Sermon from Sunday, February 6, 2022. The sermon is based on the Gospel text, Luke 5:1-11. In this text we find five "C's" that bring about change in our lives and purpose for living.
This Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus. In today's episode we focus on the word "Remember". The devil would love for us to remember our sins and failures, but God's Word calls for us to remember our Baptism into Christ!
Sermon from Sunday, December 19, 2021. Jesus is the greatest gift of all. But what good is a gift if it's not for you? Rejoice, for the angels tell us the good news that this gift - the greatest gift - is for you! No matter who you are or what you're going through - Jesus is for you!
Sermon from our midweek Advent series, "Wait Upon the Lord". This week we look at waiting upon the Lord with rejoicing as we look at Elizabeth and Mary in Luke 1.
Sermon from the first midweek Advent worship service with the theme of "Wait Upon the Lord". This sermon focused on waiting upon the Lord - with faith. Just as God was faithful to His promise to give a son to Abraham and Sarah, He is faithful to His promise to us to send a Savior - Jesus Christ!
Today we continue our devotional series, "Great Questions of the Bible". Today's question comes from Matthew 18:21 where Peter asks Jesus, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus' answer shows that we as Christians are to forgive without limits for that is the same forgiveness we have been given through Christ!
Sermon from the 25th Sunday after Pentecost - November 14, 2021. Sermon Text: Mark 13:1-13
Today we continue our devotional series, "Great Questions of the Bible". Today's question comes from Romans 8:31 where Paul writes, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Take heart - for God is with you, and God is for you!
Today we start a new devotional series called, "Great Questions of the Bible". Today we look at the rich young man's question to Jesus in Matthew 19:16, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?"
Today's episode is a Devotion based on 1 Kings 19. Elijah finds out that he can't do it alone. But the good news is that Elijah wasn't alone - and neither are you! God is with you and for you - no matter what you face!
Hope in Christ is sure and certain - even if it feels like you're hanging on by a thread! Sermon from June 27, 2021.
There are many people around the world who think, "It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you believe something." In this sermon from Trinity Sunday, May 30th, we hear about our doctrine of the Trinity and why what we believe truly matters!
Sermon for Good Shepherd Sunday - April 25th
Psalm 23 is often times thought to be a psalm for funerals. Psalms 23 is actually a Psalm for all of life as our Good Shepherd provides for all of our needs in this life and for all of eternity through His life, death, and resurrection!
In the great resurrection chapter, 1 Corinthians 15, Paul reminds us of the message of first importance - that Christ died and rose again! Because of the cross and the empty tomb - what you have done is forgiven, what the devil has done is defeated, and what Christ has done is eternal!
Just as Jesus came to His disciples in-person and gave them His peace, He does the same for us as His people today! Jesus gives us a peace that overcomes fear with the Good News that Christ is risen!
Paul tells us in Philippians 4:4 to rejoice always. But how can we rejoice always in the midst of a world filled with sin, death, and all sorts of problems? Is rejoicing always even possible? Find out how in this episode of the "Grace Happens Here" podcast!
Do you have a question or topic you'd like to hear covered on this podcast? E-mail graceholtssummitmo@gmail.com
As we enter Holy Week we see Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a beast of burden. By the end of Holy Week, we see Jesus leave Jerusalem as the beast of burden as He carries the sin of the world to the cross!
The sermon for the first week of Lent is focused on the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. Jesus is victorious over the devil's temptations and gives us the victory!
This Valentines Day as you look to tell your loved ones just how much you love and care for them, be reminded of the greatest love of all - God's love for you!
This week we celebrate National Lutheran School's Week with the theme of "Sent to Serve" based on Matthew 20:28, "even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."
If you have any questions or topics you would like to hear about on this podcast, please let us know! E-mail Pastor Diener at graceholtssummitmo@gmail.com
This week the Church celebrates the rock-solid confession of Peter who said of Jesus, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God". This rock-solid confession continues to be the foundation of the Church and of our lives as followers of Christ.
If you have any questions or topics that you would like to see covered on this podcast, let us know! E-mail graceholtssummitmo@gmail.com
Baptism is all about gifts - gifts from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ - given to you! This episode dives in to the blessing of Baptism and how through Baptism we are connected to Christ's death and resurrection!
If you have any questions or topics you would like to hear covered on this podcast in 2021, let us know! E-mail Pastor Diener at graceholtssummitmo@gmail.com
Christmas is over for another year...or is it? The prophet Isaiah gives us the Good News that Christmas is not a one day deal - but it is an everyday celebration of joy in the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Sermon from the Second Sunday in Advent. Today we hear about John the Baptist preparing the way of the Lord by preaching repentance and forgiveness. Repentance turns us in the right direction - toward our Savior, who gives us forgiveness, life, and salvation!
Today we began our mid-week series, "The Jesse Tree". Today's sermon is called, "Jesus, the Seed of Jesse's Tree".
What do you want for Christmas? This season of Advent directs our answer away from the temporal things of this world and to the eternal things found in Christ alone!
Listen to the sermon from the 24th Sunday after Pentecost. The text for this week's sermon is the parable of the talents from Matthew 25:14-30. Through this parable we learn the truth that knowing our Master makes all the difference in the world!
It's very easy to see the bad all around us - but even in the midst of difficult times God's grace still happens! God is faithful is taking care of His people - now and for all eternity!
Today, September 29th, is St Michael & All Angels Day - and National Coffee Day! What a wonderful blessing that God gives us in angels!
For the next two weeks in worship we are looking at forgiveness in a two-part series, "Looking through the Lens of Forgiveness". As Christ has forgiven us - so we too forgive others. Hard? Yes! Impossible? NO...for Christ has given and continually equips us with His grace and forgiveness and leads us to share these gifts with others!
Last week we saw Peter make the rock-solid confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God! This week, Jesus calls Peter the Adversary - Satan! What happened?!?!
Jesus said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." That rock-solid confession that was revealed to Peter has been revealed to us as well by the work of the Holy Spirit!
Today we take a look at the Lord's Prayer, petition by petition, and see how Jesus is the answer to the Lord's Prayer!
Pentecost 9 Sermon based on Matthew 14:13-21 - Jesus feeds the 5,000. Today's account refreshes our hearts with that wonderful truth: God provides!
Today we focus on Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 1:18, "For the Word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
In this special episode we are joined by Eric and Johanna Stinnett as they give us an update on their ministry in Ethiopia. Check out the amazing things God is doing in Ethiopia through Pastor Stinnett and his family!
Today we look at Colossians 3:1-4 and what it means to set our minds on Christ - especially in trying times like this!
Today is the National Day of Prayer. We thank God for the gift of prayer where we can take all our worries and anxieties to Him and know that He will hear and answer with what He knows to be for our very best!
In this Episode, Pastor Diener talks with Pastor Gerald Heinecke from Buffalo, Wyoming about the importance of family devotions. Family Devotions are especially important during this pandemic, but also something we want to be able to get into the habit of doing throughout our lives. Listen in for some helpful tips and suggestions for developing a strong devotional life in your family!
In this episode we look at the Old Testament book of Habakkuk and see that although it was written around 600 BC - it still applies very much to us today as we face this pandemic and its effects on our lives. Habakkuk means "embracer", and we see in this short book how God embraces His people and takes care of them - even in the midst of very difficult times!
Maundy Thursday could be summarized in one word - service. Jesus served us with His entire life and gives us the blessings that He won with His life, death, and resurrection!
Today we dive into the questions, "Are Christians Immune from the Coronavirus?" This question has been raised due to a news report where a woman exiting church was asked if she was concerned about getting Coronavirus and responded, "No, I'm covered by the blood of Jesus". Are Christians actually immune? How do we respond as God's people in these difficult times? Tune in to hear about the hope that we have in Christ in these times of pandemic and always!
Play ball! While we wait for those 2 great words to be spoken again, this episode talks about a baseball and how it relates to our Baptism. As an added bonus, Pastor Diener's daughter gives her own rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame!"
In this episode, Pastor Diener interviews his brother, Matthew Diener about his work with FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). The conversation goes into Christian character and what separates Christian character from the worldly definition. They also talk about how Christian character shows itself in the midst of difficult times such as now with the coronavirus.
Check out fca.org to learn more about the mission and ministry of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Check out Matthew Diener's podcast "The Impact Show 2.0" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
As we celebrate St. Patrick's day, his words help us deal with the coronavirus pandemic. St. Patrick helps us to realize that in Christ we have hope and confidence, even in the midst of difficult times such as these!
Today is Ash Wednesday - the beginning of the season of Lent. As we return to the Lord in repentance and remember that we are dust and to dust we shall return - we are left with an amazing truth...In God's hands dust lives! Have a blessed Lenten season!
In this episode Pastor Diener explains what it means when we say "Grace Happens Here"...
Grace to You is a weekly devotion from Grace Lutheran Church, Holts Summit, MO; written by Pastor Michael Diener.