Upside-Down Savior - Pastor Nathan Nass: Recent Episodes
Nathan Nass
The incredible story of God's upside-down grace to us in Jesus Christ.
On this podcast, you'll hear inspirational sermons and devotions about God's grace to us in Jesus from Pastor Nathan Nass of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
There is nothing better than having your name written in God’s book of life in heaven. Whatever you daydream about, heaven is better. Do you believe that? Jesus wants you too! Winning a championship would be cool, but it’s nothing compared to having your name written in heaven. Having a dream retirement would be cool, but it’s nothing compared to having your name written in heaven. The greatest joy in life, and the greatest comfort in death, is to know that our names are written in the book of life in heaven through faith in Jesus our Savior. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Your Name Is Written in Heaven.” Jesus loves you!
“There is a time for everything” (Ecclesiastes 3:1), yet no matter how much you are able to enjoy and experience on earth, you will always be left wanting more. Death always leaves us with unfilled plans and unmet dreams. Have you noticed that? Why? Wise Solomon long ago explained: “God has set eternity in the human heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). How long do human hearts want to live? For eternity! Forever. Every heart longs for eternity, but there’s only one place to find it: In Jesus Christ our Savior. By God’s grace through faith in Jesus, at just the right time for each of us, God calls his people out of this world of tears into the joy of heaven. Our longing hearts find eternity in Jesus! I hope you can listen to this funeral sermon for a dear member of our congregation, Robert (Bob) Turk: “A Time for Everything.” Jesus loves you!
There is a battle going on, but it’s not a battle for the soul of this nation. The nation doesn’t have a soul. Know who has souls? People do! The battle that matters is for people’s souls. They don’t need a certain president. They need the one and only Savior—Jesus Christ. So put on the full armor of God. See how God’s righteousness and salvation protect your heart and your mind. Then go and fight for someone’s soul. So that one soul more can have the truth and righteousness and peace and faith and salvation that only come from Jesus. So there can be one more soul in heaven. And one more. And one more. That’s a battle worth fighting. All to the glory of God. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “The Armor of God.” Jesus loves you!
Jesus does everything well. Everything. He heals the deafand mute. He died for our sins. He opened heaven for us. He created you. He designed your life. He’s present with you every single moment. He loves you. I know it doesn’t always seem to be true, but even that hardship in your life is God doing everything well. Can you see that? It takes eyes of faith. God’s power and grace are made perfect in weakness. Whatever challenges you are facing today, trust that Jesus does everything well, and one day you’ll understand. I hope you can listen to this sermon about Jesus: “Jesus Does Everything Well.” Jesus loves you!
You are God’s treasured possession. Do you believe that?You are God’s treasured possession by God’s grace through faith in Jesus. You don’t need to do something great for God to accept you. He already has in Jesus. You don’t have to earn the favor of God. He already declared you righteous through faith in Jesus. Some of you feel alone. Some of you feel neglected. Some of you feel guilty. Some of you feel insignificant. That’s not the whole story. You are God’s treasured possession! How can you be sure? Look at the cross of Jesus. The words that Moses spoke to God’s people 3,500 years ago are true for you today: “the LORD has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised.” I hope you can listen to this sermon: “God’s Treasured Possession.” Jesus loves you!
There is always a temptation to be dishonest to get ahead. Greed lurks in our hearts, and our sinful natures want to convince us that we need to cheat to get ahead. Instead, Jesus encourages Christians to focus on Jesus and his kingdom and his grace and to trust that God will provide all that we need for life. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). Instead of running after wealth, run after the LORD. Seek him. And trust that he will provide. I hope you can listen to this sermon about being honest when it comes to money and business: “Honest Weights.” Jesus loves you!
God wants his people to remember. Remember you were lost, and God found you. Remember you were alone, and God loved you. Remember you were poor, and God made you rich with his grace. Remember you were sinful, and God forgave you. Remember you were a foreigner, and God made you a child of God. Remember you were… Remember what God has done… So that when you see a foreigner, you remember, “I am a foreigner here earth too. Heaven is my home.” When you see someone who is poor, you remember, “All I have is by the grace of God. What can I share?” When you see a sinner, you remember, “Jesus died to forgive him or her, just like he died to forgive me.” I hope you can listen to this sermon about God’s compassion and grace: “Remember You Were…” Jesus loves you!
A Christian marriage isn’t based on love or physicalattraction or feelings that can come and go… A Christian marriage is based on a commitment in Christ. As Christ has committed himself to me and to you, we commit ourselves to our spouses. How? Well, husbands love your wives like Christ loves us. How much does he loves us? Enough to die for us. Wives, submit to your husbands as we submit to Christ. In a Christian marriage, instead oflooking for a way out, a Christian asks, “How can I pour even more of myself into this? More love… More respect… More forgiveness.” I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Committed in Christ!” Jesus loves you!
There is just one place to worship God. Did you know that? It’s just that the one place of worship isn’t a physical place. It’s a person. It’s Jesus. He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). If you want God, what do you need? Jesus. His truth. His life and death for us. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “One Place of Worship.” Jesus loves you!
We always think we can do things on our own, but the Bible tells us that we are better together. The Christian Church isn’t meant to be filled with people going off and doing their own thing. Instead, God wants Christiansto work together, just like a human body. Some preach. Many share. All serve. Like Paul said, “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” Ihope you can listen to this sermon: “Better Together.” Jesus loves you!
The Bible has a lot to say about leadership. After celebrating the Fourth of July in an election year, it’s good for us to hear God’s advice for choosing a leader 3,500 years ago. God’s qualifications for a king are so different than what we see around us today: Not proud. Not lustful. Not greedy. Dedicated to God’s Word. A servant of all. That’s the right king! Wouldn’t it be great to have a leader like that? We do! It’s Jesus. “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). No matter what happens this year or in this election, we already have the right King: Jesus! He’s the King you’re longing for. I hope you can listen to this sermon about godly leadership: “The Right King.” Jesus loves you!
“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand” (Mark 3:24). That’s what Abraham Lincoln liked to say during the Civil War. Of course, President Lincoln didn’t come up with that on his own. Who said that? Jesus! Was he talking about the Civil War? No! Jesus was talking about an even bigger war: The war between God and Satan. In that war, you can’t play both sides. You can’t be on God’s side and on the devil’s side. The devil is active in so many ways today: Psychics, horoscopes, dark magic, good “luck”…. Watch out! A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. I hope you can listen to this sermon about the dangers of the occult and the good news of Jesus: “Undivided.” As Jesus is undivided in his love for us, may we be undivided in living for him. Jesus loves you!
There is something that Jesus wants to give you: Joy! Do you need more joy in your life? Here is what Jesus told his disciples on the night before he died: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). Jesus wants us to have complete joy in our lives. Where does that joy come from? There are two reasons why each Christian can be joyful every day: Jesus saved us. Jesus provides for us. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Complete Joy.” Jesus loves you!
Christians are called to faithfulness to the one true God. When you hear voices in our world calling out, “Let’s follow other gods,” like money or popularity or sports or sex or family, don’t listen! In fact, be willing to make changes in your life to cut away whatever is pulling you away from God. It’s not worth it! You can love sports, but do sports love you back? No. Only God does! You can love money, but does money love you back? No. Only God does! You can love people, but will people ever love you perfectly? No. But God does! Martin Luther said: “It is better to lose friends, brothers, saints, mighty ones, and everything than to lose God.” Isn’t that true? “It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.” I hope you can listen to this sermon, “Called to Faithfulness.” Jesus loves you!
Jesus ascended into heaven where he rules over all things. Do you know what that means for you and me? Who is King? Jesus. Who is our Lord? Jesus. Everything is just a footstool for his feet. Do you hear of wars and rumors of wars? They are under Jesus’ feet. Jesus is my Lord! Is your heart filled with frustrations and fears? They are under Jesus’ feet. Jesus is my Lord! Are you plagued by sin and guilt? Even those sins are under Jesus’ feet. Jesus is my Lord! Life on earth often doesn't make sense. The bad guys often seem to win. But you know the real story: Jesus won! Jesus came to earth to save us, and then he returned to heaven to rule for us. I hope you can listen to this Ascension Day sermon: “My Lord.” Jesus loves you!
If you want to make a list of “Important People Whom God Should Raise from the Dead,” the Bible says, “A single lady with no family.” We say, “Really?” Jesus says, “Absolutely. There is no one more important than her.” If you want to make a list of “Super Important Good Works that Give Glory to God,” the Bible says, “Sewing clothes for widows.” We say, “Really?” Jesus says, “Absolutely. There is nothing better that can be done in my name.” If you want to make a list of “Ways God Carries Out His Will in Our Lives,” the Bible says, “Letting us die.” We say, “Really?” Jesus says, “Absolutely, so that you can rise.” I hope you can listen to this sermon about how God raised Tabitha from the dead: “Pins and Needles.” Just like Tabitha, you matter to God. Your life matters to God. Jesus loves you!
There are a lot of things that Christian churches do. Have you noticed that? What should our church be focusing on? Doesn’t it seem complicated? It doesn’t have to be. Here’s what the first Christian church focused on: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). That doesn’t sound complicated, does it? It’s simple. Church is meant to be simple. That first Christian church devoted themselves to God’s Word and to caring for each other as a family in Christ. Isn’t that what we want for our churches? I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Simple Church.” Jesus loves you!
Every sheep needs a shepherd. At least, that’s what the Bible says. According to the Bible, every person is a sheep. Every person is following someone. It’s just a matter of whom you’re following. So, whom are you following? I hope it’s Jesus. He’s the Good Shepherd! In fact, he laid down his own life to save us. The Bible encourages pastors like me with these words, “Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). Every sheep needs a shepherd. I hope Jesus is your Good Shepherd, and I also hope you have a pastor who points you to Jesus. Here’s a Good Shepherd Sundaysermon: “Every Sheep Needs a Shepherd.” Jesus loves you!
We’re constantly surprised by how life goes, aren’t we? From the catastrophes in our world to the sin in our hearts to the unexpected miracles that God performs all around us, we’re constantly surprised by life. But we don’t have to be. When you trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection, you know that anything is possible, right? When you know and believe that God raises the dead, there aren’t surprises anymore. In fact, the reason we’re so often surprised is that we haven’t been paying attention to God’s Word. I hope you can listen to this message of hope based on Jesus’ resurrection and the promises of God’s Word: “Why Does This Surprise You?” Jesus loves you!
Because Jesus rose, you don’t have to be afraid. Because Jesus rose, your home is in heaven. Because Jesus rose, you are forgiven. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Not just for a day. Forever! God wants the Easter message of Jesus’ resurrection to change your life. Because of hope, everything is different. I hope you can listen to this sermon about the hope that Jesus resurrection gives us: “Because of Hope.” Jesus loves you!
“If it’s not a happy ending, it’s not the end.” Have you heard that before? For a Christian, it’s true! One day, because of Jesus, our dead bodies will rise. One day, because of Jesus, our heavy hearts are going to be filled with inexpressible joy. Until then, we have the sure promise of God’s Word. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Jesus died for you. Jesus rose for you. Because of Jesus, your sins are forgiven. Because of Jesus, you have a home in heaven. You can trust him! In every trial, in every heartache, even in the face of death, your risen Savior smiles at you and says, “If it’s not a happy ending, it’s not the end!” I hope you can listen to this Easter sermon. Jesus loves you!
The answer to sin isn’t people sacrificing something to God. The answer to sin is that God sacrificed himself for us. “He has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26-28). Jesus sacrificed himself for us once for all to do away with sin. By faith, your sins are forgiven. By faith, your salvation is complete. By faith, eternal life is yours. Want to know if you’re loved? Look at the cross! Want to know if you’re cared for? Look at the cross! Want to know you’re forgiven? Look at the cross! I hope you can read or watch this Good Friday sermon: “Once for All.” Jesus loves you!
There is great joy in seeing the face of someone who lovesyou. If she could talk, our baby daughter would tell you that. When she sees the face of someone who loves her, a big smile lights up her whole face. There is great joy in seeing the face of someone who loves you. That’s what Holy Week is all about: Seeing the face of the One who loves us. Jesus! This Holy Week, fix your eyes on Jesus. You won’t regret it! See his great love for you. Here’s theBible’s encouragement: “Let us run with perseverance therace marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2). I hope you can listen to this Palm Sunday sermon: “FixYour Eyes on Jesus.” Jesus loves you!
Food is a blessing from God, but you and I need more than food. Your soul is hungry too, so feed your soul. Self-control is so hard. I know it! Especially when it comes to food. But realize something: Often your cravings aren’t actually for food or drink. That’s why they don’t go away when you eat or drink something. You are craving something deeper. Something more. Your soul yearns to know that you are loved and special. Your heart longs to be filled with forgiveness and purpose. Your soul is craving the Bread of Life. If you feed your soul regularly, I bet you’ll find it easier not to over-indulge your body. I hope you can listen to this Lenten sermon: “The Seven Deadly Sins: Gluttony.” Jesus loves you!
God’s people often go through difficult times. Contrary to what we expect, being a believer in Jesus does not mean that life is easy. Instead, we get weighed down by the burdens of life, the guilt of sin, and the pressures that every new day brings. Are you going through one of those difficult times right now? Listen to God’s promise: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:1). No matter what you face, you are not alone. God is with you! You have a Savior—Jesus! He smiles and says: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” I hope you can listen to this sermon: “When You Pass Through the Waters…” Jesus loves you!
Just one little spark can start a wildfire that destroys a million acres. Once a fire gets started, it’s hard to put out. Like lust and adultery. One little spark can start a fire that devastates families and destroys marriage. That’s why the Bible warns: “Do not lust in your heart” (Proverbs 6:25). Do you? Sexual temptations are all around us. From pornography to sexually explicit TV shows and movies, our hearts are constantly exposed to temptation. Watch out! One little spark can set the world on fire and fill your life with shame. Yet, remember who would gather around Jesus to hear him? The tax collectors and the prostitutes. Why? Jesus promised forgiveness and cleansing for those who struggled with sexual sin. He offers those same blessings to you and me. I hope you can listen to this Lenten sermon: “The Seven Deadly Sins: Lust.” Jesus loves you!
A Super Bowl commercial has been getting a lot of attention among Christians. Do you know which one? “He Gets Us.” Did you see it? While it’s certainly true that God “gets” all of us, we need something more. We need God to save us from our sins! He has. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17). Jesus doesn’t just get us. Jesus saves us! I hope you can listen to this sermon about the heart of the God’s message: “He Saves Us.” Jesus loves you!
Isn’t it a blessing to be used by God? God didn’t make you a sloth. He made you with a purpose. He gave you gifts and abilities that other people need. He created you to live in service to God and others. Instead of thinking, “I wish I didn’t have to do anything today,” pray, “God, use me today. Give me opportunities today to serve others. May whatever I do give you glory.” Every day of your life has purpose and meaning, because Jesus gave it to you! So, “whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:22-25). I hope you can listen to this Lenten sermon: “The Seven Deadly Sins: Laziness.” Jesus loves you!
“Christianity is foolish.” Do you hear people say that? Howabout: “Believing in God is so old-fashioned. We’ve progressed beyond needing all those old religious beliefs.” Don’t be surprised. Here’s how the Bible talks about the “foolishness” of Jesus’ cross: “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). God purposefully saved the world in a way that was contrary to human wisdom. In a way that seems foolish. Because it’s not through wisdom that we’re saved. It’s through faith. It’s through believing in the message of the cross. If a being a fool means clinging to the cross of Christ, I’m a fool. I hope you are too! I hope you can listen to this sermon: “The Foolishness of the Cross.” Jesus loves you!
Anger is an awful thing, isn’t it? It consumes our thoughts. It clouds our minds. It leads to foolish actions. Anger is an awful thing. But Jesus offers us another way. Hopefully, you’re familiar with the idea of laying your sins at the foot of Jesus’ cross. Every day, we repent. We humbly lay our sins at the foot of Jesus’ cross and trust in Jesus’ forgiveness. Here’s what we need to learn: To lay other people’s sins at the foot of Jesus’ cross too. Whose sins did Jesus die for? Everybody’s. Instead of angrily carrying the burden of other people’s sins on your heart, lay them at the foot of Jesus’ cross. There you’ll find peace. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:25-32). I hope you can listen to this Lenten sermon about the deadly sin of anger and the forgiveness found in Jesus. God bless you!
There’s one word that we say to God more than any other word: “Why?” I bet you ask God that question. What are your “whys” today? “Why does it hurt? Why did the cancer come back? Why doesn’t she love me? Why do I feel this way? Why can’t I get a job? Why did he die?...” There’s a whole book in the Bible about that. The story of Job addresses this question: Why do believers in God suffer so much? Here’s what we learn: We don’t need to know the “why” to trust in God. When we understand God’s love to us in Jesus, we realize that God is good, all the time, even when his goodness is hidden in sorrow. God gives us the good and the bad. God gives us the glad and the sad. And God asks us to trust in him at all times, even through tears. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Why?” God bless you!
The life God has given you is the best life for you. Do you believe that? The life God has given you is the best life for you. It’s hard to be content, isn’t it? There’s always something more we want… We need! Whose life would you like to have? Watch out! Envy fills our hearts and robs our lives of joy. When you see Jesus die for you on the cross, God wants to convince you of something: The life God has given you is the very best life for you. The secret to joy in life isn’t having more. The secret to joy in life is gratitude for what God has given you in Jesus. “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). I hope you can listen to this Lenten sermon about the danger of envy and the gratitude that comes from Jesus. God bless you!
Do you ever feel like nothing? That’s an awful feeling, isn’t it? Jesus is so good and so powerful and so gracious that he’s able to take even nothing and turn it into something awesome. The end of Romans 8 is the best part of the Bible for anyone who feels like nothing. Since God is for us, who can be against us? Nothing! Since God gave his own Son for us, what will God fail to give us? Nothing! Since Jesus has forgiven you, what can people accuse you of? Nothing! What can separate you from God’s love for you in Jesus? Nothing! I hope you listen to this sermon: “Nothing.” When it feels like you have nothing, when it feels like you are nothing, nothing can separate you from Jesus’ love. God bless you!
Last century, the Christian writer C.S. Lewis wrote a famous book called “Mere Christianity.” In it, he has a chapter on pride. Know what the title of that chapter is? “The Great Sin.” On Ash Wednesday, we heard about the great danger of pride. Pride trusts in its own self-righteousness. Pride looks down on everyone else. Pride wars against God. Pride lives in every oneof us. It’s only the grace of God in Jesus that can disarm the pride in our hearts. Life isn’t a competition. You don’t have to make yourself look good. You are lovely, because you are loved by Jesus. In repentance, we turn to God and trust in his mercy: “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13). I hope you can listen to this Ash Wednesday sermon about the dangers of pride andthe comfort of Jesus’ forgiveness. God bless you!
This is how we live with hope: You know the rest of the story. When you believe in Jesus, when you trust in his death and resurrection for you, when you listen to his promises of eternal life in heaven, you know the rest of the story. You don’t know how long the pain will last, but you know when it will end: In heaven! You don’t know what twists and turns your life will take, but you know where it will end: In heaven! You don’t know what God has planned for the rest of your life on earth, but you know that one day every sin and tear and fear will be wiped away from your eyes: In heaven! I hope you can listen to this Transfiguration Day sermon: “The Rest of the Story.” God bless you!
The devil goes to church. Did you know that? Actually, the devil does some of his worst work at church. In our sermon this week, we heard how a demon-possessed man confronted Jesus at the synagogue in Capernaum. The devil goes to church to tempt God’s people to turn away from Jesus. But Jesus goes to church too. Jesus showed his power by driving the demon out of that man in Capernaum. In fact, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8). Life is filled with spiritual warfare. There are battles between good and evil going on in your heart and mind each day. But remember this:Jesus has won. Jesus has defeated the devil for us. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “When the Devil Goes to Church…” God bless you!
Jesus had a strange way of trying to attract followers. He told people to repent! As Jesus began preaching, his message was simple: “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15). Jesus fished for people’s souls by calling people to repent and believe in him for forgiveness and salvation. But he didn’t stop there. As he called people to follow him, he said, “Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people” (Mark 1:17). Just like Jesus cares about people’s souls, he sends Christians out to fish for people too, by calling them to repent and find forgiveness in Jesus. I hope you can listen to this sermon about Jesus the Fisherman and how he sends us out to fish for people. God bless you!
One of the simplest characteristics of a Christian is also one of the hardest: Listening. Are you a good listener? Listening is harder than it sounds. Isn’t it more satisfying to have others listen to us than to have to listen to them? But listening is vital for a Christian, because our faith is based on God’s Word, not on our words. In fact, faith itself comes from “hearing the message” (Romans 10:17). If we want to keep growing in our faith in Jesus, it’s important to set our opinions aside, close our mouths, and listen to Jesus speak to us in his Word. Like Samuel in the Bible, God wants us to learn to say, “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9). I hope you can listen to this sermon encouraging us to listen to God’s Word. God bless you!
Baptisms are surprisingly short. A person has water poured on them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. That’s it. If you were to time a baptism, it would take less than ten seconds. What good does that do? The Bible tells us, “Baptism now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God” (1 Peter 3:21). Do you know what God is able to do in the ten seconds of your baptism? Give you a clear conscience. That’s his pledge to you! When you were baptized, God washed away all your sins—past, present, and future. God put his Holy Spirit into your heart. God made you his child. I hope you can listen to this sermon about the blessings of baptism: “Baptism Now Saves You.” God bless you!
Who is wise? That’s a harder question than it sounds. Thereare lots of different ways to measure wisdom: IQ, college degrees, work experience, business success… Who is wise? Here’s what the Bible says: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). Want to be wise? It’s not about your education level or your work skills or your IQ. True wisdom is trusting in Jesus. Like the wise men long ago, learn to drop everything and seek Jesus where he is to be found. In his Word. In the Sacraments. Then you will be wise. Because “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” I hope you can read or watch this Epiphany sermon. God bless you!
I bet the first Christmas didn’t go according to Mary’s plan. She suddenly had to give birth to her first child far away from home and place him in a manger. Surprise! That’s not the type of birth any mother would wish for. Yet, Jesus’ birth wasn’t a surprise to God. In fact, the Bible says, “When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son” (Galatians 4:4). What seems like a surprise to us is not a surprise to God. Instead, it’s all part of God’s perfect plan for his children. If God over thousands of years perfectly planned out every detail of your salvation, do you think he has a plan for your life? Of course he does! When you see that Jesus was born for you and then lived for you and died for you, you realize that you can trust God’s plan. In everything. No matter what. I hope you can listen to this Christmas Day sermon: “(Not a) Surprise!” Merry Christmas!
“Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14). The Christmas bells are ringing. Can you hear them? “Peace, peace, peace…” There are still wars, but the bells are ringing… “Peace on earth.” Because you have peace with God. You are forgiven! There are still people who reject you, but the bells are ringing… “Peace on earth.” God loves you! He always will. There might be sickness changing all your plans, but the bells are ringing… “Peace on earth.” Nothing changes what Jesus has done for you. There might be worries about the future, about money or children or our country, but the bells are ringing… “Peace on earth.” You can trust the One who died for you. Are you looking for lasting peace this Christmas? I hope you can listen to this Christmas Eve sermon: “The Bells Are Ringing…” Merry Christmas!
On Christmas night, the angel proclaimed to the shepherds, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10). The Bible often uses a special word that means “good news.” Know what it is? The “gospel”! The Bible is filled with the “gospel”—the good news of Jesus our Savior. As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, this week’s sermon used the whole book of Romans in the New Testament to share what the good news of the Bible is for sinners like you and me. In a world filled with so much bad news, I hope you can read or watch this sermon about God’s good news: “My Gospel.” “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).
Jesus is our King. Know what that means? It might look everything is falling apart, but it’s actually all going according to Jesus’ plan. It might look like life is spinning out of control, but it’s actually all in Jesus’ hands. It might look like everyone is rising up against Jesus, but Jesus laughs. Jesus is not worried. He’s in perfect control. So you don’t need to worry either. Ever. I hope you can listen to this Advent devotion: “Jesus Our King: Blessed Are All Who Take Refuge in Him.” God bless you!
Are you poor? Brokenhearted? Captive? A prisoner? Mourning? Grieving? Ashes? Despair? Then here is what Jesus has done for you: He proclaims good news. He binds up the brokenhearted. He proclaims freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. He comforts all who mourn and provides for those who grieve. He turns funerals into weddings. I hope you can listen to this sermon about the true meaning of Jesus’ coming at Christmas: “Because He Came…” No matter what you’re facing, Jesus brings good news for the poor and hope for the brokenhearted. God bless you!
Jesus is our perfect Priest. We don’t talk about priests very much these days, but the fact that Jesus is our Priest is at the heart of the Bible’s message. Here’s what Jesus did: “He sacrificed for your sins once and for all when he offered himself” (Hebrews 9:27). Those words “once and for all” were written down for you. Every sin was paid for at the cross. Once and for all! Your sin was paid for at the cross. Once and for all! Jesus is our Priest who offered himself once and for all to take away the sins of the world. Can you feel the relief? Can you feel the peace of Jesus’ forgiveness? God wants you too. I hope you can read or watch this Advent devotion: “Jesus Our Priest: Once and For All.” God bless you!
As different as we all are, there is something that we all need: Comfort. What has weighed down your heart lately? Maybe a divorce. Or sickness. Or guilt for a sin. Or the death of a loved one. Or depression or anxiety. Life is hard, isn’t it? So here’s what God commanded his prophet Isaiah: “Comfort, comfort my people” (Isaiah 40:1). No matter what you’re facing, God wants to comfort you today. No matter what breaks your heart, God wants to give you hope today. Every suffering has an end date. Every sin has already been paid for at the cross of Christ. God has plans for you life that you can’t possibly imagine. I hope you can listen to this Advent sermon: “Comfort My People.” God bless you!
We’re all following somebody. We’re all listening to somebody. With YouTube and podcasts and blogs and constant news, we’re all turning to someone for the truth. Have you found it? Moses long ago told God’s people where to find the truth: “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him” (Deuteronomy 18:15). Who is the true Prophet who tells us the truth from God? Jesus! So, listen to him. With all the voices swirling around you, listen to Jesus who tells you the truth about God’s grace and forgiveness for sinners like you and me. I hope you can listen to this Advent devotion: “Jesus Is Our Prophet: Listen to Him!” God bless you!
The word “Advent” means coming. In Advent, we prepare our hearts for two different “comings” of Jesus. We prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birth at Christmas, and we prepare for Jesus to come again on Judgment Day. So here’s the big question: “When? When is Jesus coming back? When will the world end?” Here’s what Jesus says: “No one knows.” The date of Jesus’ return is hidden from us, so that every day matters to us. When is the day to repent and believe in Jesus? Today! When is the day to be prepared for Jesus to come back and judge the living and the dead? Today! I hope you can listen to this sermon about Jesus’ 2nd coming on Judgment Day: “No One Knows.” God bless you!
We human beings have very selective memories. It’s so much easier to remember the bad than the good. It’s so much easier to forget the good than the bad. That’s why the Bible encourages us, “Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2). That last phrase is so important: “Forget not all his benefits.” The solution to the discontentment that so often fills our hearts is gratitude for all of God’s blessings, from the food we eat to the salvation Jesus won for us on the cross. Every day is a dayfor us to thank God for all his blessings. I hope you can listen to this Thanksgiving sermon: “Forget Not All His Benefits.” God bless you!
Jesus wants us to be ready for the “Day of the LORD”—for Judgment Day. Every big day in life—whether good or bad—is meant to remind us that Jesus is coming back. When there is a catastrophe, when there is a great victory, remember that the day of the LORD is coming. It will be more terrifying than September 11th. But it will also be happier than your wedding day. We should be afraid of Judgment Day, but we don’t have to be, because Jesus died for us, and “everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved” (Joel 2:32). I hope you can listen to this sermon about Judgment Day: “The Day of the LORD.” There is nothing more important in life than to be ready for the dayof the LORD. God bless you!
The Bible says, “blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on” (Revelation 14:13). Death is scary. There are so many awful ways to die! But here’s what’s not scary: What happens when you die. A Christian who dies is blessed, because we go to paradise with Jesus. We know what we deserve for our sins—the worst. But we trust in what Jesus has done for us: Everything. Like the rebel on the cross next to Jesus, we pray, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Today You Will Be with Me in Paradise.” God bless you!
Grace alone. Faith alone. Scripture alone. That is the message of Bible. That is the heritage of the Lutheran Reformation. A Lutheran believes that was are saved by grace alone. By faith alone. By Scripture alone. So what does that look like? What does it look like to live life by faith? Today on Reformation Sunday, we heard one example: Daniel. Daniel lived by faith. Even when he was thrown into a den of lions, he trusted in God’s promises, and God rescued him, “because he had trusted in his God” (Daniel 6:23). I hope you can listen to this Reformation sermon: “By Faith.” God bless you!
Just like in America today, politics in ancient Israel were complicated and divisive. In fact, Jesus’ enemies tried to use politics to get Jesus to sin. Of course, it didn’t work. Even in the realm of politics, Jesus knew exactly what to say. When asked whether believers in God should pay taxes, he said, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (Matthew 22:21). When Jesus said those words, he was teaching that we live in two different kingdoms at the same time. We live in the kingdom of God by faith in Jesus our Savior. We also live in an earthly kingdom with an earthly government put in place byGod himself. As politics swirl around us, I hope you’ll listen to this sermon based on Jesus’ words: “Give to Caesar What Is Caesar’s and to God What Is God’s.” God bless you!
Weddings are a one-in-a-lifetime event, especially when they involve someone you love. If your son or daughter or grandchild is getting married, you’ll take off work, fly across the country, and do whatever is necessary to be part of their special day. You don’t want to miss the wedding of someone you love. So don’t miss God’s wedding invitation to you. The whole Bible is a love story whose grand conclusion is a wedding banquet with all expenses paid by God himself. God wants you to be at his wedding feast in heaven. The Bible says, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” (Revelation 19:9). I hope you can listen to this sermon about Jesus’ Parable of the Wedding Banquet: “The Wedding Planner.” God bless you!
God is patient. Incredibly patient. In fact, you could say that God is almost recklessly patient. He is patient with us beyond the limits of human patience. But even God’s reckless patience doesn’t last forever. He wants us to repent of our sins, trust in Jesus, and produce good fruits of faith in our lives. I hope you can listen to this sermon about one of Jesus’ parables: “Reckless Patience.” What will you do with God’s patience today? God bless you!
It’s easy to say we’re going to do something. Do you know what’s hard? Actually doing it. Would you agree? It’s easy to say we’re Christians. It’s easy to say we follow Jesus. Do you know what’s hard? Actually doing what Jesus says. So the Bible gives this encouragement: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). Jesus told a parable about that. He told a story to illustrate the importance of not just saying the right things, but actually doing them. Thankfully, in that same parable, Jesus reminds us what God wants most: For us to repent of our sins, believe in Jesus, and be saved. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “The Church Is Full of _______.” God bless you!
One of the hardest things for us to truly understand is God’s grace. Grace is God’s undeserved love for sinners. Why is that so hard to understand? Because we always think we do something to deserve it. “I’m better than she is because…” “God should love me because…” “If anybody’s going to make it into heaven, it’s me because…” So Jesus tells us a story—a parable. When you hear it, it’s probably going to drive you crazy, because it sounds like God isn’t fair. What Jesus teaches us is that if God doesn’t seem to be fair, it’s because he’s so gracious. “By grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). I hope you can listen to this sermon: “God’sNot Fair.” God bless you!
It’s hard to forgive. Would you agree? It’s easy to be bitter. It’s easy to harbor grudges in our hearts. It’s easy to be angry. It’s hard to forgive. At least it was for Peter. Peter once asked Jesus how many times he needed to forgive his neighbor. There’s got to be a limit, right? Instead, Jesus taught Peter that a Christian forgives every time. How? Well, because that’s how often Jesus has forgiven us. It’s Jesus’ forgiveness for us that empowers us to forgive others. Here’s how the Bible puts it: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Do You Know What’s Been Done for You?” God bless you!
God loves you so much that he tells you when you’re wrong. God cares about you so much that he’s willing to tell you, “No!” Contrary to the popular idea today that love accepts everything, that love praises everything, the Bible teaches us that true love means confronting sin, so that we and others can repent, turn to Jesus for forgiveness, and be saved. God says, “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11). I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Tough Love.” God bless you!
The cross proves that Jesus knows you, and he still loves you. Do you believe that? Jesus knows what you’ve done to him. Jesus knows what you’ve said about him. Jesus knows what you’re really like, and he still loves you! Jesus knows what you’ve done to others. Jesus knows what you’ve said about others. Jesus knows what your heart has wished against others. And he still loves you! God has seen you at your worst, and do you know what he did? He died for you. This is the heart of grace. Jesus knows you, and he still loves you. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Look on the One You Have Pierced.” God bless you!
Jesus does it all. Some days your heart is filled with guilt. Regret. Sin. Where can you turn? Jesus. He died for you. He’s your Priest! Other days your heart is filled with worry. Fear. Doubt. Where can you turn? Jesus. He reigns for you. He’s your King! The One who reigns over everything loves you enough to die for you. The One who loves you enough to die for you reigns over everything. The One who gave up everything for you has all power. The One who has all power gave up everything for you. Can you see how this works? The One who saves rules. The One who rules saves. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Christ the King-Priest.” God bless you!
It’s easy to feel discouraged and depressed. It’s easy to doubt God’s love and care for us. It’s easy to wonder if we’re all alone. If things will ever get better. Do you ever feel like that? God’s people often did in the Bible, especially in the days of the prophet Zechariah. So do you know what God did? He gave them one beautiful promise after another. You are not alone. You are loved. You are special. To God, you are “the apple of his eye” (Zechariah 2:8). I hope you can listen to this sermon from Zechariah 2: “The Apple of God’s Eye.” Jesus loves you!
Who is your shepherd? According to the Bible, all of us are sheep. Every one of us is following someone. Who is your shepherd? How much is your shepherd worth to you? According to the Bible, there are lots of false teachers in our world, who preach their own ideas for their own personal gain. They encourage us to build our lives on sand. But then there’s Jesus. He didn’t come to be served, but to serve us and save us by giving his life for us. He encourages us to build our lives on him—the Rock! I hope you can listen to this sermon from Zechariah 11: “The Price of Our Shepherd.” God bless you!
“He restores my soul” (Psalm 23:3). Isn’t that what all of us need? Restoration? Restoration for our hearts. Restoration for our souls. Restoration for our lives. Sin is like a tornado that leaves a trail of destruction both inside us and outside us. Jesus came to restore our souls. In fact, the Old Testament is filled with “restoration promises.” Beautiful promises that God will restore his people. I hope you can read or watch this sermon on Zechariah 8: “The Restoration.” May God and his promises restore your soul!
Does the food we eat impact our relationship with God? That’s a question that believers in God have asked over and over again. Do we need to fast (not eat for periods of time)? In the Old Testament, God gave his people a powerful answer: “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other’” (Zechariah 7:9-10). God wants his people to focus on mercy and compassion toward other people, not on fasting. Isn’t that what Jesus himself did when he came to save us? I hope you can read or watch this sermon: “Mercy over Fasting.” God bless you!
Our God is so big that he loves to make himself small for us. Like a baby in a manger. What’s smaller than a baby in a manger? Yet, that’s how God become one of us. Our God is so big that he loves to make himself small for us. Like at the cross. What’s more insignificant than a man being executed? Yet, that’s how God saved us. I know it might not look like God is doing anything in your life right now, but do you think God could be doing something that you can’t see? I’m sure he is! God is working in you in ways that you never could have expected. I hope you can read or watch this sermon: “The Day of Small Things.” Remember God’s promise: “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit” (Zechariah 4:14). God bless you!
You are no accident. You are no animal. You are not worthless. You are God’s special creation, whom he formed and created and redeemed and loved. “In the beginning God created…” It’s hard to think of more important words in the world. Whether you believe those five words will impact your entire perspective on life. And then add this: “And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in. That on the cross my burden gladly bearing he bled and died to take away my sin.” Your Creator is your Savior. The hands that made Jupiter were pierced for me, for you, for everyone in the world. I hope you can listen to this sermon about creation: “God Created.” God bless you!
It’s tempting for us to take credit for what God has done. To make it seem like at least part of our salvation depends on us. To make sure some of the glory goes to us for the good things in our lives. Do you know whom we’re forgetting? The Holy Spirit! The Bible says, “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3). Faith doesn’t come from our decision. It’s by the Holy Spirit. Good works don’t come from our strength. It’s by the Holy Spirit. We depend completely on the grace of God from beginning to end. It’s all by the Holy Spirit! I hope you can listen to this Pentecost sermon: “By the Holy Spirit.” God bless you!
We too often live our lives under the clouds. Life can seem so dark and gloomy. On Ascension Day, Jesus wants to give us a glimpse behind the clouds. God wants you to see the hand of Jesus ruling the world. God wants you to see the hand of Jesus ruling in his church. God wants you to see the hand of Jesus ruling in your life. Jesus wants us to see behind the clouds. It’s so much better! There you find the forgiveness of sins. Eternal life. Faith in Jesus. Don’t spend your timebuilding up earthly kingdoms. Focus on spreading the kingdom of God! I hope you can listen to this Ascension Day sermon: “Behind the Clouds…” God bless you!
This past Sunday was Mother’s Day. We all thought of ways to show our moms that we love them: Flowers, cards, brunch, phone calls… After all that our mothers have done for us, of course we want to show them our love. Isn’t it the same with Jesus? Jesus has done even more for us than our moms have, like dying on the cross for our sins and rising from the dead to give us eternal life. After all that Jesus has done, how do we show Jesus our love? It’s simple. Jesus tells us, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). We show our love for Jesus by keeping his commands. By living according to his Word. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Love Obeys.” God bless you!
There are so many different paths in life. So many decisions to make. So much uncertainty about the future. How can we know the way? Here’s what Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Jesus is the Way. It’s by believing in him that we have eternal life. It’s through his blood shed on the cross that we have forgiveness. It’s in his Word that we find the truth. In the midst of all the different voices of life, Jesus is the way and the truth and the life. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “The Way.” God bless you!
Listen to your Good Shepherd’s invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Isn’t that great tohear? When we go to people for help, how often don’t they point us in another direction? “Go to the doctor.” “Go see a specialist.” Not Jesus. What does he say? “Come to me.” The devil’s going to tell you to run. He’s going to tell you to hide from God. What a lie! It’s so much better with your Shepherd. No matter what you’ve done, no matter where you’re wandered, no matter how long you’ve been gone, Jesus hasn’t forgotten about you. Jesus loves you. Jesus searches for you. Listen to your Shepherd’s invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” I hope you can listen to this sermon: “The LORD Is My Shepherd.” God bless you!
Nothing lasts forever. Isn’t that the truth? Cars wear out. Money disappears. Health comes and goes. So many of the things we depend on in life let us down. So many of the things we focus on are so temporary. Do you want something more? Do you want something that really lasts? Listen to what the Bible says: “You have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:23). Jesus and his Word offer you blessings that truly last forever. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Imperishable.” God bless you!
There’s something that we all need every day: Hope. To know that today is leading to something better tomorrow. That’s hope! To believe that no matter what the present is like, you can look forward to the future. That’s hope. Do you need hope? God wants to give you a “living hope” through Jesus and his resurrection. “In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade” (1 Peter 1:3). If you’re looking for hope today, I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Living Hope.” God bless you!
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). This is the gospel: Jesus died for all your sins. Jesus rose after three days to give you eternal life in heaven. There is nothing more important in all the world. You can leave all your burdens at the empty tomb of Jesus. I hope you can listen to this Easter sermon: “By This Gospel You Are Saved!” God bless you!
At the heart of Good Friday is this verse: “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Why did Jesus die on the cross? For you. Every action. Every suffering. Every pain. For you. So you can say, “Jesus was pierced for my transgressions, he was crushed for my iniquities; the punishment that brought me peace was upon him, and by his wounds I am healed.” We need to hear this over and over. God the Father isn’t angry with you. You have already been healed in the most wonderful way. Your sins have been forgiven. You have peace with God. I hope you can read or watch this Good Friday sermon: “For You”. Jesus died for you!
The Lord’s Supper is the very best medicine. We have some powerful medicines in our world today. Medicines that God uses to heal diseases. But when you fill a prescription for a medication, it’s illegal to share that medicine with anyone else. Why? Isn’t medicine a good thing? Yes, but only when it’s used in the right way! The same medicine that saves your life could end the life of someone else. God speaks in a similar way about the Lord’s Supper. For the believer in Jesus who recognizes Jesus’ true body and blood, it’s a powerful blessing that gives us the forgiveness of sins. But for those who don’t believe—or who don’t discern the body of Christ—it doesn’t bring a blessing. It’s a serious thing to sin against Jesus’ body! I hope you’ll listen to this Maundy Thursday sermon about the Lord’s Supper and our church’s practice of closed communion: “The Best Medicine.” May Jesus’ body and blood be for your soul the highest good.
When you realize who Jesus is, you always have a reason to praise the Lord. I bet some of the people praising Jesus on Palm Sunday were poor. I bet some of them were sick. I bet some were depressed. Some were lonely. If they had waited until every aspect of their lives was perfect before they praised the Lord, they would have been sitting home that day. So why were they praising Jesus? For who he is. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Always our King. Always the Messiah—our Savior. I hope you can listen to this Palm Sunday sermon: “Praise the Lord!” God’s blessings on your Holy Week!
It’s almost time to celebrate Holy Week. Next Friday, we’ll remember how Jesus was crucified to save us from our sins. There’s a psalm for that. Did you know there’s a psalm in the Old Testament that’s all about Jesus’ crucifixion? It’s Psalm 22. In it, King David describes the agony of facing death. But as we read it, we realize that David isn’t just talking about himself. He’s prophesying about his great future descendent: Jesus and Jesus’ death on the cross. As you prepare for Holy Week, as you face death for yourself and your loved ones, I hope you can listen to this Lenten sermon: “A Song for a Heart Facing Death: He Has Done it!” God bless you!
Can you see? The easy answer is, “Yes, of course I can see! All I have to do is open my eyes…” That’s great. Physical sight is a tremendous blessing from God. But can you see spiritually? Can you see right and wrong? Good and evil? Can you discern between the truth from God and the lies of this world? That’s harder than it sounds. Spiritual blindness is a lot more common than we think. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “True Blindness and True Sight.” God’s Word convicts all of us of the blindness in our hearts and minds, but then God’s Word amazes us with God’s mercy and grace for those who humble themselves before the Lord and trust in Jesus. May Jesus give all of us true sight!
On March 24, 2023, I preached for the funeral of a dear Christian man from our congregation. I hope you can listen to the funeral sermon: “Chief of Sinners though I Be, Jesus Shed His Blood for Me.” No matter what your life has been like, you can have hope today, because “here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). “Chief of sinners though I be, Jesus shed his blood for me. Died that I might live on high. Lives that I might never die. As the branch is to the vine, I am his and he is mine.”
Does life frustrate you? Do you feel you have some pretty valid complaints against God? You’re not alone. There’s a song for that in the Bible: Psalm 73. In Psalm 73, a believer in God named Asaph presents all his complaints to God, just like you and I so often do. But in the middle of his frustrations, Asaph remembered the Lord and his promises. He reaches this powerful conclusion: “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:23-26). I hope you can listen to this Lenten sermon: “A Song for a Frustrated Heart: It Is Good To Be Near God.” God bless you!
Life so often doesn’t go the way we think it’s supposed to go. God allows little children to die. God allows people to recover from a stroke, only to get another stroke and die. Nothing hits us as hard as an unexpected death. But Jesus brings life from death. He proved it again and again in the Bible, and he makes us this promise, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25). If you or anyone you know is facing death, I hope you can listen to this sermon about the day when God used Elijah to raise a little boy from the dead. Jesus brings “Life from Death”! God bless you.
Accusations hurt. When you’ve been accused of something you didn’t do, those accusations cut right to your heart. Reputations are ruined. Lives are changed. Do you know what it’s like to be accused? There’s a song for that in the Bible: Psalm 17. Whatever you are accused of—false or true—Jesus took it to the cross. Jesus paid it all. So here’s what the Bible encourages an accused heart to do: Call on God! He’s the true Judge. Call on Jesus. He’s your true Defender. Pray: “Show me the wonders of your great love…. Keep me as the apple of your eye.… Hide me in the shadow of your wings.” I hope you can listen to this Lenten sermon: “A Song for an Accused Heart: I Call on You.” God bless you!
The LORD provides for us. From our daily bread to eternal salvation, from our physical need for food and water to our spiritual need for forgiveness, it all comes from our gracious God. The LORD provides! Sometimes he uses ravens. Other times, he uses widows. Usually, he uses jobs or parents. Can you see God’s hand behind it all? I hope you can listen to this sermon about how God provided for Elijah in some very difficult circumstances: “The LORD Provides.” God bless you!
It seems like there’s one thing that just about everyone can actually agree on: Americans are struggling with despair. Are you? You are not alone. So many of us struggle with despair, depression, and anxiety. I hope you don’t think you can’t talk about the struggles you face inside. Because you can. Because you matter. Because people in the Bible do. If you have a downcast heart, there is hope for you in Jesus: “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5). If you or someone you know is wrestling with despair, I hope you can listen to this Lenten sermon: “A Song for a Downcast Heart: Put Your Hope in God.” Jesus loves you!
“I have had enough, Lord. Take my life” (1 Kings 19:4). Can you imagine hearing your pastor pray that? The prophet Elijah did: “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life.” He was that discouraged. That hopeless. Do you ever feel that way? Like you’re the only one? Like your life isn’t worth living? If you do, I hope you can listen to this sermon: “When You’re the Only One…” In his lowest moment, God comforted Elijah by showing him that God was with him, God had a plan for his life, and there were lots of other believers in God ready to encourage him. That is true for you too. No matter what you’re going through, Jesus loves you, and we do too!
Have you ever been betrayed? It’s one of the worst feelings in the world. Betrayal crushes you. Betrayal in one relationship changes all your relationships. Suddenly, you look at every person differently. You look at every person waiting for them to let you down. What do you do when your heart is betrayed? There’s a psalm for that. In Psalm 55, King David poured out his anguished heart to God after being betrayed by a close friend. He learned to cast his cares on the LORD and trust in him. Every betrayal in life makes us trust all the more in the One who will never let us down: Jesus! I hope you can listen to this Lenten sermon: “A Song for a Betrayed Heart: I Trust in You.” God bless you!
The devil wants to divide your heart, so that it’s not all with Jesus. He wants you to ride the fence. To play both sides. God wants all of you. He wants all your heart and all your soul and all your mind. Long ago, the prophet Elijah asked God’s people: “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him” (1 Kings 18:21). How would you answer? When you see Christ’s commitment to you this Lenten season, may his grace lead you to throw off everything that hinders you and take up your cross and follow him. I hope you can listen to this sermon about Elijah and the prophets of Baal: “How Long Will You Waver?” God bless you!
When you confess your sins to Jesus, your sins are forgiven. Your sins are covered by Jesus’ blood. Your sins are so far gone that God will never count them against you. The Bible sings a song to every guilty heart: “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them” (Psalm 32:1-2). Our God is not someone to hide from. Our God is someone to hide in. I hope you can listen to this Ash Wednesday sermon about our sin and God’s forgiveness. God bless you!
You can’t understand God’s purpose for your life, unless you understand that the goal of your life is heaven. You can’t understand God’s love for you, unless you believe what’s waiting for you in heaven. You can’t face death with hope, unless you know that heaven is for real. Life only makes sense if heaven is for real. God wants to use his Word to convince you that heaven is for real, and it’s for you through faith in Jesus! I hope you can listen to this sermon about how God took Elijah straight to heaven without dying: “Heaven Is for Real.” God bless you!
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Those are hard words from Jesus. Know why? I don’t love my enemies. In fact, I don’t like them at all. I bet you don’t either. But Jesus does. Remember what he did on the cross? He prayed for his enemies: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Then, Jesus died for them and for you and me and for every person in the world. If you’ve been hurt, if you’re struggling to forgive the people who’ve wronged you, I hope you can listen to this sermon on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: “Love Your Enemies.” May Jesus’ grace for you fill you with grace for others, even your enemies.
If you’re a Christian, Jesus wants you to watch out for something. For a terrible disease that easily inflicts the hearts of people who claim to follow Jesus: Self-righteousness. Self-righteousness is looking good in your own eyes. Sadly, we Christians can be very good at that. “We’re better than…” “At least we’re not like…” In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus preached powerfully against self-righteousness. When it comes to sin, there is no one left out. We are all sinful! And when it comes to grace, there is no one left out. Jesus died for all! I hope you can listen to this sermon on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: “No One Left Out.” May Jesus drive the self-righteousness from our hearts and lead us to trust in his grace. God bless you!
Jesus gives Christians a unique purpose: To be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. To share law and gospel. To point out sin and point to Jesus. Jesus says, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden…. Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14,16). I hope you can listen to this sermon on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: “Let Your Light Shine!” God bless you!
Jesus takes our normal perspective on life and turns it upside-down. Listen: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Blessed are the poor? Really? Yes! Being poor in spirit means to be fall completely on God’s grace. If you are forced to depend on God for everything, do you know what you are? Blessed. Because that is the essence of faith. God’s kingdom doesn’t come to the rich or the powerful or the strong or the good or the beautiful. The kingdom of heaven is a gift to those who are poor in spirit. I hope you can listen to this sermon on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: “Jesus’ Upside-Down Perspective.” God bless you!
When you get anxious, stop trying to rule the world. God’s got this. God’s got you. You’re God’s chosen one! How can you be sure? Your baptism proves it. When water was put on your head in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, God put his Spirit into your heart. God claimed you as his child. God committed to be your Father. “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out” (Isaiah 42:3). There’s comfort for God’s people. You are God’s chosen one! I hope you can listen to this sermon: “God’s Chosen One.” God bless you!
How far would you go to see Jesus? The Wise Men traveled for months, while King Herod and the people of Jerusalem refused to go even a couple miles to Bethlehem. How far would you go to see Jesus? Before you answer, remember how far Jesus came for you. He left heaven. He became a human being. He died on a cross. All to save us! In this new year, have the same goal as the Wise Men had: Worship Jesus! You’ll never regret a trip you take to worship Jesus. I hope you can listen to this Epiphany sermon: “The Trip.” God bless you!
That Baby in the manger is true God and true Man, the perfect Savior for you and me! In all the superficiality of Christmas, don’t miss the profound truths of Jesus’ birth. Jesus is true God and has existed from eternity. But in a remarkable miracle, Jesus took on flesh at Christmas. He is true Man to live a perfect life in our place. He went through every temptation and struggle we face, and he died the death we deserve for our sins. He is true God to do it all perfectly and have his death pay for every person’s sins in the whole world. Before Christmas fades away this year, I hope you’ll listen to this Christmas Day sermon on who Jesus is: “True God and True Man.” God bless you!
On Christmas, God gave us two great gifts: The gift of Jesus Christ our Savior and the gift of faith in him. It’s not enough to know the facts of Jesus’ birth. I hope you believe that Jesus’ birth changes our lives. In your life, there will be dark nights and lonely days. Times when all you have is this: “A Savior has been born to you.” That’s God’s gift! One day, you will stare the deepest darkness in the face—death itself. Everything else will fall away. All power and strength will be gone. What will you have left? “A Savior has been born to you.” That’s God’s gift! I hope you can listen to this Christmas Eve sermon: “The Gift(s) of Christmas.” Just as God has blessed you with your Savior Jesus, may God bless you with faith in him.
Christmas night certainly wasn’t silent, but it was filled with Jesus’ peace, just like our lives.
The Bible calls Jesus the “Prince of Peace.” How can that be true, with all the division and bitterness we see in our world? Jesus himself explained: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). If you’re looking for peace this Christmas season, I hope you can listen to this Advent devotion: “Prince of Peace.” God bless you!
No matter what your family history is like, Jesus came to save all of us from our sins!
Jesus didn’t come down to show you the steps you have to take to get to heaven. Jesus is the steps to heaven. He’s not your role model. He is the Way! Jesus didn’t come to give you some pointers on avoiding sin in your life. Jesus came to take all your sins away by dying for you on the cross. He isn’t your coach. He’s your Savior! Jesus doesn’t sit back and see if you are naughty or nice. He comes to us even when we are bad and mad and sad to give us forgiveness and joy and peace. All of that is wrapped up in one special name: “Jesus.” I hope you can listen to this sermon on the name of Jesus. God bless you!
No matter what your earthly father has been like, good or bad, alive or dead, you still have a Father! You’re not alone. In those moments when you just need a hug, Jesus is there. In those moments when you just need someone to talk to, Jesus is there. “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him” (Psalm 103:13). I hope you can listen to this Advent devotion about Jesus, our “Everlasting Father.” God bless you!
Life usually isn’t a day at the beach. But even when your life feels like the driest, deadest desert, God can make deserts bloom. God can make deserts be glad. He has the power to heal and save here on earth, and, because of Jesus’ victory on the cross, he promises everlasting joy for you in heaven. So what is it you need to preach to your soul? “Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come” (Isaiah 35:3-4). I hope you can listen to this sermon, “The Desert Will Be Glad.” God bless you!
Jesus is our “Mighty God.” Do you believe that? That’s not always what we want. When we sin, we pretend that Jesus is small. That he doesn’t care. When the troubles of life overwhelm us, we think that Jesus is powerless. That he can’t help. But that’s not true! Jesus is the Mighty God that we need. More powerful than our sin. More powerful than any evil or danger or trial of life. When you see the Child in the manger, I hope you believe he’s the greatest superhero of all. I hope you can listen to this Advent sermon: “Mighty God.” God bless you!
Hope. Need some? God’s Word calls out to you a message of hope. You might feel in the depths. You might see your sins piling up. The devil is going to tell you to give up and give in. But there’s a voice that’s singing. “With God there is forgiveness. In his Word I put my hope. With God there is forgiveness. In his Word I put my hope.” The devil has tried, but he can never silence that song of hope. “I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope” (Psalm 130:5). I hope you can listen to this sermon, “I Wait for the LORD.” God bless you!
Jesus is our “Wonderful Counselor.” I need counseling. You do too. Did you know that? We need someone to sit us down and tell us the truth about ourselves. And, even more, we need someone to comfort us with God’s grace to us. Jesus does both. As you prepare your heart this Advent season, I hope you can listen to this Advent sermon about Jesus: “Wonderful Counselor.” God bless you!
As we enter Advent, I want you to notice something: We often treat Jesus like he’s still a baby, and it’s not a good thing. Sometimes, we ignore Jesus and his Word. He’s just a baby anyway, right? Other times, we doubt Jesus and his power. He’s just a baby anymore, right? No! At the end of the Bible, Jesus let his disciples John see him as he really is: Eyes like fire, a voice like rushing waters, a face like the sun. Jesus came as a baby to save us from our sins, but he isn’t a baby anymore. He is Christ the King! When you see Jesus as a baby in the manger this Christmas, remember this: “He is Christ the King!” I hope you can listen to this sermon. God bless you!
This Thanksgiving, remember this: “The Lord has let us live another day.” Do you realize that? Our Savior God has let us live another day by redeeming us through Jesus and providing absolutely everything we need and have by his grace. When you’re at your very best, remember, “The Lord has let me live another day.” When you feel like you have nothing, remember, “The Lord has let me live another day.” When you recognize that, do you know what you say? Thank you, Jesus! I hope you can listen to this Thanksgiving sermon: “The LORD Has Let Us Live Another Day.” God bless you!
“How long, O Lord?” Have you ever prayed that? I bet you have. I bet you have over and over again. “How long, O Lord? How long will I have to suffer? How long will life be so unfair? How long will you let all the wrong people be successful? How long will your people seem to be trampled and ignored? How long?” Did you know that Christians in heaven are praying that same prayer? “How long?” God comforted them by reminding them of Jesus’ forgiveness and encouraging them to wait a little longer until Judgment Day, when God will right every wrong. If you ever wonder, “How long?”, I hope you can listen to this sermon about Judgment Day. God bless you!
“How are you doing?” That’s probably the most commonly asked question. It’s also probably one of the hardest questions to answer. Do you ever tell the truth? “How are you doing?” What do we say? “Good. Pretty good. Okay.” There’s another option: “I’m blessed.” Can you say that with me? “I’m blessed.” That doesn’t mean everything’s going great. It means you know what Jesus has done for you at the cross. It means you know Jesus’ promise of heaven. So you don’t have to get stuck in what’s happening “now.” The outward circumstances of life don’t define us. God’s grace does. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Blessed.” God bless you!
What’s a Lutheran? I bet some of you ask that. I bet people ask you that. What do you say? “What’s a Lutheran?” October 31st is Reformation Day—the birthday of the Lutheran church. Lutherans confess, “The biggest problem in my life is my sin.” And Lutherans believe, “I am saved by grace alone, by faith alone, by Scripture alone, through Christ alone.” As a Lutheran pastor, I’m a little biased, but I think everyone should be a Lutheran. I hope you can listen to this Reformation Day sermon, “What’s a Lutheran?” God bless you!
There are no better stories than stories of lost and found. The Bible is full of them. Like Zacchaeus. Remember him? He’s the “wee little man” that the children’s song sings about. But he was lost. Lost in sin and doubt and fear. And Jesus rescued him. All by grace. “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Did you know that Jesus has done the same for you and me? He came to seek and to save you. Jesus knows your name. Jesus can pick you out of a crowd. Jesus loves you! When you feel lost or alone, there’s no better feeling than being found by Jesus. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Lost and Found.” God bless you!
There is something so impossible, a camel will fit through the eye of a needle before it happens. Do you know what it is? Save yourself. “Come on,” we say. “That doesn’t sound so hard. I’m a pretty good person. I try my best…” In our sermon this Sunday, we heard about a young man who did just that. He thought he was a pretty good person. He claimed he always tried his best. And he walked away from Jesus sad and devastated. Why? It’s impossible to save yourself. Who then can be saved? Here’s Jesus answer: “What is impossible with man is possible with God” (Luke 18:27). I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Mission Impossible.” God bless you!
When you’re anxious… When you’re thankful… When you’re alone… When you’re happy… When you’re worried about the future… When you’re grateful for today… In all of those moments, Jesus encourages you to do something: “Always pray and never give up” (Luke 18:1). On good days, it’s easy to think that we can handle life on our own. “I don’t need to pray!” On bad days, it’s easy to think that God doesn’t care. “Prayer won’t do any good!” On both days, Jesus teaches us to pray to God as boldly and confidently as little children talk to their loving parents. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Always Pray.” God bless you!
It’s tempting for us to think that faith in Jesus means going to church on Sundays—or once in a while. That couldn’t be further from the truth! Trust in Jesus as our Savior is meant to impact every area of life: “The righteous will live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). Jesus described three ways that faith in him impacts our daily live: A life of faith takes sin seriously. A life of faith always forgives. A life of faith serves others humbly without expecting a reward. Simple commands, but impossible for us unless faith in Jesus is powering our hearts and lives. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “A Life of Faith.” God bless you!