Weekly Message
Welcome to our weekly message page! 
Click on a title to read or on the video button to watch one of our recent messages.
 
May 28, 2023 Pentecost The Holy Spirit places the spotlight on Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of the world. Through Word and Sacrament the Spirit works faith and forgiveness. The Spirit works quietly, but oh so powerfully in human hearts!
May 21, 2023 Asecension/ Confirmation Jesus ascended to his position of authority. Jesus rules over everything for the good of his church. Jesus is present everywhere and fills everything. Jesus promised to remain with his church. Jesus’ ascension truly isn’t goodbye.
May 14, 2023 Easter 6 Mother's day It’s no wonder why a mother’s greatest gift for herself and for her children is Jesus and his Word. 
For you taught them who their Savior is.  You gave them the greatest gift: the one who gives us eternal life.
May 7, 2023 Easter 5 Human beings are rushing like a herd of lemmings to certain destruction. Only one person can save them from eternal disaster. His name is Jesus.
April 30, 2023 Easter 4 For you were like sheep going astray, but you are now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Then there are these comforting words of Jesus, Our Lord Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd. I give my life for my sheep."
April 23, 2023 Easter 3  People of God, you do not need to feel such hopelessness. You do not need to despair. Jesus lives to give you hope. The death and resurrection of Jesus give you hope.
In the hope that comes from Jesus, live as one who has hope. Do so by living in reverence to God. A person that has the hope of Jesus can live a full life now because he has confidence for eternity.
April 16, 2023 Easter 2 A reason to praise God for the Easter resurrection is that through it we have an inheritance, a gift from God. It’s an amazing inheritance. It is heaven itself.
April 9, 2023 Easter (Festival of Resurrection) Jesus’ resurrection. It’s true. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Eyewitnesses have seen him. But even more than that, God made it happen “in accordance with the Scriptures.” He promised, and he delivered.
April 9, 2023  Easter (Song Service -The Dawn of Resurrection) The resurrection of Jesus means a new day of grace. We are a new creation in Christ. We have a new life to live for him.
April 7, 2023  Good Friday Tenebrae (Service of Darkness) video only
April 7, 2023 Good Friday  (Service of the Cross)
 		 We see that Jesus is Our Great High Priest. The functions of the high priest pointed forward to what Jesus would do. Jesus did it in the greater way. Jesus worked to bring fallen humanity near God. He came to cross the divide.
 
April 6, 2023 Holy Thursday We get to proclaim who he is when we receive the Lord’s Supper. And we proclaim why he came. He came to die. He came to give us the benefit of his death. He came to give us forgiveness, life, and salvation in this Sacrament. That’s what Paul means when he says, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
April 2, 2023 Palm Sunday He hides behind a mask of humility, lowliness and poverty. But all God's power is on display, as Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey.
March 29, 2023 Midweek Lent 6 Mary knew what we must know. Jesus’ ministry was at the end. She was witnessing his final steps. Mary’s anointing of our Savior helped make this a dinner that signaled Jesus’ coming sacrifice. 
March 26, 2023 Lent 5 Brothers and sisters, let us now live with the confidence that we have eternal life. Let us selflessly give of ourselves to serve others. Let us restlessly serve those whom God has put in our lives. You have eternal rest in Jesus. With the confidence that we will live, even if we die let us use our lives on earth to serve others. You will live, even if you die for Jesus told you so and Jesus gave you evidence.
March 22, 2023 Midweek Lent 5 Viedo only.
Guest Pastor Jim Winterstein, Pilgrim, Mesa
March 19, 2023  Lent 4 But just as Jesus had a powerful influence in the lives of people, and just as Paul had a powerful influence in the lives of people, so also God wants you to be a powerful influence in the lives of people. Look at how Paul teaches us this. “Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord, and do not participate in fruitless deeds of darkness. Instead, expose them.”
March 15, 2023 Midweek Lent 4 Tonight Jesus’ final steps lead us to a fig tree. It seems an unlikely stop on the road to the cross, but here Jesus teaches an important lesson about the need for repentance and the power of prayer.
 
March 12, 2023 Lent 3 We all need water to live. We need the water of life from Jesus to live, to live eternally. So do others. He does not want us to write off anyone as though they either do not need the water of life or will not accept it and believe. It is up to us to bring and offer that water of life to other people. We cannot make them drink it and believe. But leave it to the Holy Spirit.
March 8, 2023 Midweek Lent 3 Video only. Guest Pastor Paul Schroeder,  King of Kings, Apache Junction
March 5, 2023 Lent 2 The world tries to divide us by emphasizing the differences between human beings. Holy Scriptures shows us that we have much more in common than things that are different. We have all sinned against God, and God has sent his one Son to save us all.
March 1, 2023 Midweek Lent 2 Video only. Guest PastorNicholas Guillaume, Crace, Casa Grande
February 26, 2023 Lent 1 Jesus lived perfectly under the law and took on the punishment of the law. The verdict of justification is that because of Christ, God declared people not guilty of their sins. They were clothed in the obedience, or righteousness, of Jesus. As it is written, “A man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.” (Romans 3:28) Those who receive this gift of righteousness reign in life with Christ. This is the victory and confidence in the Greatest Man, Jesus.
February 22, 2023 Ash Wednesday And Jesus took those final steps for you and for me. He took those steps for our faith. We need his words, “I am the resurrection and the life.” We need to hear Jesus’ shout, “Lazarus, come out!” We need to see the man who had been dead for four days come out of the grave.
February 19, 2023 Transfiguration We visit two mountains on this Transfiguration Sunday. On one mountain God thunders with his law. On the other God beams brightly with his grace revealed in the face of Christ.
February 12, 2023 Epiph\any 6  My friends, when sin has grabbed our lives, the Lord knows. God sees everything. We may deceive others. We may even deceive ourselves. But we cannot deceive the Lord. The Lord knows. God sees everything.
But it is the Lord who does something about that sin.  He leads us to see that we have sinned against him. So we cry, “Against you, you only, have I sinned.”
February 5, 203 Epiphany 5/Christian Education Sunday Christian education is a lifelong process for children and adults alike. It’s about getting to know Jesus better—knowing his heart of love and cherishing his forgiveness.
January 29, 2023 Epiphany 4 What is most important to us is Jesus and what he has prepared for us. So, Jesus teaches us how we operate in this world. He changes our minds to see how we are truly blessed and why that is so. And we can trust what he says.
 
January 22, 2023 Epiphany 3 In speaking about Christian living John gave the why which is the power, namely the gospel. Jesus is your Savior. Then, John gives the how, the law as a guide. Live as Jesus lived; this is perfect. Ultimately, John instructed believers to walk in the light because they know the Light.
January 15, 2023 Epiphany 2 Jesus did this in your place. Jesus, also, showed perfect love for people of all skin colors, cultures, and ethnicities by taking on the punishment that they all deserved, which is death. He did this to save all people. Pay attention, Jesus came for all.
January 8, 2023 Baptism of Our Lord Life is a long journey that unfolds step by step, and Satan attacks us every step of the way. But we are baptized children of God, and God equips us for the journey with all the blessings he gives us in our baptism.
January 6, 2023 Epiphany Video Only
January 1, 2023 Christmas 1 Have you given thought to your special position before God?  If you close your eyes and meditate upon it, you will be filled with awe. You’re God’s child -- you are an heir of God. Ever feel inferior and worthless? Then remember your lofty position. Oh yes, on one hand you are a sinner.  But on the other hand, you are none other than a child of God, a precious blood bought soul, an heir of God, loved by God Himself. 
December 31, 2022 New Year's Eve In Christ Jesus, we have eternal life. We can look forward to one day when we are with our God in the new creation.
 
We also have this life now. We can now live without fear. We can live selflessly to love others.
 
 
December 25, 2022 Christmas  More than anything else we need a Savior. Jesus Christ is both true God and true man, and he is all the Savior we need.
December 24, 2022 Candlelight Service Video only
December 24, 2022 Lessons and Carols Video only
December 18, 2022 Advent 4 Let’s not get lost in the preparations for Christmas. Let’s remember that it’s always about the birth of Emmanuel—God with us—who came for one purpose: to save us from our sins.
December 14, 2022 Midweek Advent 3 We put up Christmas trees to remind us that life came into this world. Jesus was born to bring us life. And we need him, don’t we?
December 11, 2022 Advent 3 Where’s Jesus? He comes to you today. He came already to save you. He will come again.
December 7, 2022 Midweek Advent 2 Jesus brings light. He is that Dayspring. The darkness of night is over.
O come, O Dayspring, from on high, And cheer us by Your drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel.
(Hymn 327: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel)
December 4, 2022 Advent 2 He told the people: “Repent! Because the kingdom of heaven is near.” Here’s how you get ready for Judgment Day. Repent! Jesus is coming back as the great Judge of all. He is coming back as the perfect, almighty Judge who will make all things right. And the only way we can be ready for his return is by repenting.
November 30, 2022 Midweek Advent 1 If you have rejected the words of wisdom for the words of folly, it’s time to repent. If you have been careless about receiving the words of wisdom, it’s time to repent. If you have not yearned for the words of wisdom, it’s time to repent.
November 27, 2022 Advent 1 Keep a joyful spirit even in unhappy times! When Jesus comes, joy and happiness will be the same.
November 24, 2022 Thanksgiving  Therefore, let’s give thanks today and always. There are stresses in this life, but there are also blessings from God. Y You are surrounded by people who love God. God has also given to you, his Holy Spirit. He is with you always. God has blessed you in many ways. Focus on these in the face of the difficulties of this world. Ultimately, God has blessed you with eternal salvation. Thank him. O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good. His mercy endures forever.
November 20, 2022 Last Sunday of church year God has left us in this world because we are called to be the lights for the world. God wants us to be the voice of truth. If we, God’s people, stop shining or if we, God’s people, stop speaking, or if we, God’s people, stop caring, then there will be no hope for those who are opposed to God. They will never hear or know the truth.

 
November 13, 2022 Pentecost 23 When Jesus comes on the Last Day, he will raise the dead and take you, and all of God’s children, to live with him forever.  Be confident knowing this includes you. Jesus lived a perfect life for you. Jesus took your punishment on the cross. The Holy Spirit created faith in your heart to receive God’s grace. This current life shall come to pass, but you will live forever with God.
November 6, 2022 Saints Triumphant No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him! This is what the saints triumphant already taste, and this is what we will soon experience in Jesus.
October 30, 2022  East Area Reformation Service  @ 4pm Video only
October 30, 2022 Reformation As much as sin wants to take a hold on you and claim you as its slave, Jesus says, “You are MINE. I will not let you go. You are my family, God’s son, God’s daughter.” 
October 23, 2022 Pentecost 20 We can look like good, morally upstanding people but still be perishing in our sins. Jesus teaches us to let go of ourselves, all we've done, and all we have, so that with repentant hearts we cling to him alone for salvation.
October 16, 2022 Pentecost 19 Persistence in prayer comes from knowing who Jesus is and who you are in him. Does God have power, care, and love? You see all this in Jesus Christ. Out of God’s care and love for you, he sent his son to live and die for your sins. In Christ Jesus, God demonstrated his power by raising him from the grave and defeating your adversaries. The ultimate plea for justice against the adversary was answered on the cross in Christ Jesus. Sins were punished. You were saved.
October 9, 2022 Pentecost 18 Video only.  Guest Pastor Brad Bode, ALA Campus Pastor 
October 2, 2022 Pentecost 17 And Jesus’ response to you is: I have. I have given you such a faith. I have supplied you with the power to accomplish the difficult duty. That’s why it is so important for us to stay close to God’s Word.
September 25, 2022 Pentecsost 16 Money can be a powerful blessing from God, but when pursued greedily or used foolishly it can drag us straight to hell. Only Jesus' precious blood can wash away our sins of mishandling money.
September 18, 2022 Pentecost 15 This is why Jesus’ parable is so shocking. Jesus tells a story about an unrighteous man. Then Jesus doesn’t do the expected thing. Jesus doesn’t say do away with such people. Instead, Jesus says to look at the unrighteous man as an example. Jesus gives us a heavenly lesson learned from a worldly person. 
September 11, 2022 Pentecost 14 The good news is that your Good Shepherd wants that person brought back to repentance and faith and into His flock. He does not want that person to be lost. He continues to love that person. He does not have the ‘see if I care attitude.’ 
September 4, 2022 Pentecost 13 Now being a Christian is going to cost you everything. You are no longer your own person. You don’t belong to yourself anymore. You have been bought by the blood of the Lamb, and you belong to him. You are no longer a slave to sin; you are a slave to Christ, and in slavery to Jesus Christ you have found the ultimate freedom.
August 28, 2022 Pentecost  12

Do you see the interesting dual role we have as we go about our life with God?  We have every reason to be humble when we recall who we are and what we have done.  But at the same time, we can hold our heads high because of the honor God has given to us.  The smile on our face is not smugness but joy in the Lord’s pardoning love.
August 21, 2022 Penteost 11 The Bible makes exclusive claims. Only those who look to Jesus, who he is, and what he has done, will be saved. This is a wonderful message for us, those who have been brought to faith by the Holy Spirit. Now, this motivates us to go and share the Word about Jesus.
August 14, 2022 Pentecost 10 We fix our eyes on Jesus, who will come again in power to judge the living and the dead. We fix our eyes on Jesus and wait for the coming of his kingdom that will have no end.
August 7, 2022 Pentecost 9 So, when Jesus says “continue to seek the kingdom of God,” what does he want us to focus on? He wants us to focus our attention on his ruling and saving work of bringing more people into his kingdom and keeping people in his kingdom. That is what we are to continue to seek.
July 31, 2022 Pentecost 8 When we look at the parable of the rich fool, the problem wasn’t that he was prosperous. The problem wasn’t that this man had large barns. The problem wasn’t that this man had lots of possessions. The problem was unseen at first. The problem was with his heart, revealed through his words and actions at the parable's end.
July 24, 2022 Pentecost 7 "Will you do me a favor?" We approach God in that spirit through Jesus, and God responds by blessing us with his grace and favor. He gives us everything we need for our bodies, our lives, and our souls.
July 17, 2022 Pentecost 6 The very thing that Jesus was offering was something that would never be taken away. The promise that he will work out everything for our eternal good equips us to face difficult times. The gift of eternal life that he places upon us as we see the Son of God live and die among us keeps us focused on an eternal goal. And the promise that he is the Resurrection and the Life carries us through times of loss and heartache.
July 10, 2022 Pentecost 5 God who bids us to love our neighbor bids us to see the opportunities He has placed in our lives and to be Good Samaritans.
July 3, 2022 Pentecost 4 What does a good pastor look like? This is what the pastors do. They watch over God’s flock. They feed them with God’s Word and Sacrament. They protect them from the dangers of false teachers and sin. They do so willingly as ones called to serve God’s flock. They do so as examples in their Christian living. They do so with Jesus, the Good Shepherd, as their example.
June 26, 2022 Pentecost 3 It is not easy living as a Christian in this world. But the truth is it never has been easy.
But it’s worth it. It’s worth it. Your time is being fulfilled, it is approaching, when you will be with Jesus in full glory. What we hold on to by faith will become sight. Therefore, Jesus calls us to be fully committed to following him. He wants us all in because he knows what is in store for us.
June 19, 2022 Pentecost 2 Not only is God bigger than your bullies, but God defeated them in Christ Jesus. Jesus beats your bullies. Jesus gives you deliverance. Jesus sends out his preachers.
June 12, 2022 Holy Trinity “God in three persons, Blessed Trinity.” There are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each person is God and yet instead of three Gods, there is only one.
June 5, 2022 Pentecost If you know Jesus, you know peace. Where there is no Jesus there is no peace. This peace means peace with God, peace in our hearts, and peace with one another.
May 29, 2022 Ascension Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are links between our ascended Lord and a world that is dying to hear a life-changing message. And your role is not just inspiring, it is necessary. We as Christians are the only plan the Lord Jesus has in getting people connected to him.
May 22, 2022 Sixth Sunday after Easter You have this joy because Jesus lived a perfect life for you, Jesus died on the cross for your sins, and Jesus rose from the grave. The resurrected Jesus gives you joy. In a little while, you will experience this joy to the full. Because Jesus rose, you too will rise. Because Jesus lives, you live.
May 15, 2022 Fifth Sunday after Easter Do you see Jesus loving you with an undying love? It will never end. And it’s because of his love for us that he gives us his living trust. “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also you are to love one another. love for one another.”
The way you treat each other is a visible sign to the rest of the world that you follow Christ.
May 8, 2022 Fourth Sunday of Easter Although I know you know the voice of the shepherd, I do want to warn you to discern the voices you here. There are many voices speaking. Many claims being made. Be sure to be clear that what you listen to truly comes from your Shepherd. Yes, heed the warning your Shepherd gives, “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive even the elect, if it were possible.” (Matthew 24:24)
May 1, 2022 Third Sunday of Easter Jesus walked with Peter along the lake and gave him a special call. Jesus called Peter to follow him as his disciples and to feed and care for the lambs and sheep of Jesus' flock.
April 24, 2022 Second Sunday of Easter “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Oh, sure, it's not easy to believe that Jesus is alive and living and ruling over all things in this world when everything in the world tells you the opposite.
April 17, 2022 Easter  Sunrise Song Service When Mary came to the tomb, it was no longer blocking the path to Jesus’ dead body. So for Mary to see “that the stone had been taken away from the tomb” was the beginning of some clarity. Easter light was beginning to shine in some darkened souls.
April 17, 2022 Easter Festival of the Resurrecyion of Our Lord
Service		 Jesus lives! Those two words change everything. Those two little words embrace so much for us to celebrate.
April 15, 2022 Good Friday Jesus didn’t suffer for nothing. Jesus didn’t suffer to lose. In Jesus’ suffering and death, he had victory. The Lord’s servant would succeed. He would rise. He would be lifted up. He would be exalted. Jesus suffered, but he did not suffer a loss.
April 14, 2022 Maundy Thursday Communion - what a precious gift it is from God. Remember also the three communions whenever you receive communion.
1. The communion between the bread and the body of Christ, between the wine and the blood of Christ.
2. The communion between God and you.
3. The communion you have with those who are communing with you.
April 10, 2022 Sing Hosanna!
 
 		 “Hosanna! Save us!” the crowds cried out to Jesus. But “Save us” from what? Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem was to save us from our greatest foe and rescue us to be his forever.
April 6, 2022 A part of the whole? Video only.
April 3, 2022 Jesus is holding you

Paul only wanted one thing: to know Jesus Christ, his Lord. Paul said, “I have lost all things and consider them rubbish, so that I may gain Christ.” 
March 30, 2022 What to remember when you are seized with
remorse
 
 		 Video only.  Guest Pastor Jim Winterstein  
March 27, 2022 Lost and found You were freed by Christ. The Holy Spirit works within you. Now, you live by the Spirit.
March 23, 2022 The semblance of legality Video only.
The Crucial Hours: The semblance of legality
Annas and Caiaphas, the high priests. Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor. Herod, tetrarch of Galilee. You know the names. They held Jesus on trial. Yet even though they perpetrated the greatest injustice ever committed by sentencing the innocent Son of God to death, they still had to sleep at night. 
But the proceedings were still a farce and a sham. The innocent was handed over as substitute for the guilty. The righteous was put to death for the unrighteous to bring salvation to the world.
March 20, 2022 Us not them It’s so easy to compare ourselves to others. But Jesus says repentance is not about “them.” It’s about “us.”
March 16, 2022 They bound him Video only. 

The Crucial Hours: They bound him

Picture the irony: The eternal God, who is limitless, wraps himself in human flesh to become our brother in the human race. The eternal God, who is boundless, allows himself to be bound by human ropes or shackles and led away for trial. The eternal God, who is the judge of all, allows himself to be judged by a ridiculous court of sinful men. He before whom heaven and earth must bow receives mocking and blows, spit and flogging—and all to redeem with his blood the very sinners who revile and condemn him.

What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to lay aside his crown for my soul?

They bound Jesus and led him away to scorn and trial, to condemnation and death, so that he himself could break our bonds of sin, free us from the shackles of slavery, and liberate us to live forever.
March 13, 2022 Jesus was focused on finishing his mission
 

He holds the salvation of the world in his hand. He offers it freely and fully to all people. And yet so many people just push him aside. And that breaks his heart. 
May we have the same resiliency and resolve as our Savior Jesus who said, “I will reach my goal.”
March 6, 2022 Food that sustains
 		 The gospel— This is food that sustains. I hope you are hungry (for it) because we (the pastors) are here to feed you.
March 2, 2022 “I will celebrate the Passover”
 
 		 Video only. The Passover celebration was one of the high points of the year for every Jew. The Passover not only looked back; it also looked forward. He told his disciples, “I will keep the Passover.” Not only would Jesus eat the Passover lamb with his disciples, he would become the Passover Lamb for his disciples and for all people.
February 27, 2022 It is good for us to be here He told them that he must go to Jerusalem, to suffer, to die, and to rise again. It was necessary for him to do that. And then Jesus also taught his disciples what that would mean for them. He said that if they (if we) were to come after him, we must deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow him.
February 20, 2022 See where the right educations/Educator gets you! Video only.  Guest Pastor Dan Lindner, WELS Campus Ministry. 
February 13, 2022 Are you blessed? You are blessed for Jesus says, “Because Yours is the Kingdom of heaven.”
February 6, 2022 Christian education is valuable
 		 Christian Education is valuable. So, spread the word!
January 30, 2022 I must preach the good news of the
kingdom of God!		 The God who walked this earth and perfectly conducted ministry as my Substitute is the same God who still walks with us as we conduct our ministries. And he won’t leave us. He will guide us. He will direct us. He will bless us.
January 23, 2022 Who is this Jesus?
 		 As Jesus himself calls us, we repent and believe the good news of who he really is.
January 16, 2022 On-time delivery Our timetable might not fit with God's timetable, but when Jesus delivers it is always at the perfect time, and he always delivers the very best.
January 9, 2022 Jesus was baptized too Jesus revealed to John and to all of us who he is and what he came to this earth to do.  Both of those points – who he is and what he came to do – are clearly marked in the baptism that John gave to Jesus. But here’s one more surprise for you today. Jesus’ life becomes your life in your baptism. 
January 2, 2022 Your heavenly Father keeps his promises No matter the circumstance, God always keeps his promise to us and fulfills them.
Dectember 26, 2021 Q&A with Christ “In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Can you imagine what it would be like to sit down with Jesus and ask him a few questions? It would be an amazing experience!
December 25, 2021 That's it?
 
Be assured of these things. Because God gave us the gift of his Son, “how will he not also graciously give us all things along with him?” Today we realize that isn’t just lip service. God is true to his promises, and the manger proves it.
December 19, 2021 It makes you want to sing! God’s wonderful grace and his mighty acts of deliverance made Mary want to sing. We join her in praising God for his salvation!
December 15, 2021 From Bethlehem Today, through the message of Micah, you receive peace from the God who has the power to give it. Mary and Joseph finished their journey to Bethlehem and the Son of God was born. 
December 12, 2021 Rejoice in the Lord by being gentle If you really want to make a positive statement in our society, let’s try some gentleness. “Let your gentleness be known to everyone.” This is what God wants for our lives. He wants us as his people to be gentle. When we live this way, we are letting it be known that the Lord is in us.
December 8, 2021 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!

For Mary and Joseph the sight of Jerusalem was as spectacular as it was sad. The city meant sin and rebellion, sacrifice and atonement. Finally in this place Mary's son would become the final sacrifice, the ultimate payment for sin.
December 5, 2021 Listen, John's message is real So, Christmas is coming. What can you do to prepare? Look to the sky. Jesus will return soon. Look to the cross. Jesus has forgiven your sins. Listen to John’s real message. Amen.
December 1, 2021 The road to Bethlehem: Nazareth They needed to go back to the city of their roots.  Mary and Joseph were heading to Bethlehem because their roots were from the line of Jesse.  They were descendants of David.  They left Nazareth in the north to travel to Bethlehem in the south. They did that because they were law-abiding citizens.  Mary was nine months pregnant. But they left because of the law.
November 28, 2021 Just a promise At Advent we reflect, repent, and prepare for Jesus’ coming. Waiting for Jesus, we hold onto one thing that gives us certain hope and never-ending joy.
November 25, 2021 Jesus feeds us I can be the poorest person in the world, but if I have gratitude in my heart, my life becomes rich.
November 21, 2021 Our fantastic future with our King

Here is another set of two questions which have the same answer: 1) What’s the worse a believer will ever experience?  2) What’s the best an unbeliever will ever experience? The answer – this life.  For the believer – this short life is as bad as it gets; then comes the fantastic future of the glories and joys of heaven.  For the unbeliever life on earth is the best he will ever have it.
November 14, 2021 He sat down. Jesus sat down. That is a key element in these words that God has given to us. He sat down. His mission was complete. His task was done. He sat down.  
November 7, 2021 What is the verdict? People of Emmanuel, the last judgment is coming. Live in this knowledge. Live with the knowledge that because of Jesus, you have crossed over from death to life. Do not be afraid of that day; you know what the verdict is.  
October 31, 2021 Putty in God's Hands God is the Potter, we are the clay. We’re only putty in God’s hands, and that’s a very good place to be!  
October 24, 2021 Enter the holy throne room of God “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Enter the holy throne room of God. You have direct access. Jesus’ mercy and grace is there to help you in your time of need.  
October 17, 2021 Serving God wisely throguh your finances Our money isn’t our money—it’s God’s money and He entrusts us to be the managers of that money.  
October 10, 2021 God's people gather The Christian life to which we have been called is dangerous. It's messy. Christian love calls us out of our cocoons and comfort zones into the real world, where we engage and gather with real people.  
October 3, 2021 Eating with sinners As we invite others into our lives and our homes, God gives us opportunities to show Christian love and to share our love for them in Jesus.
Hospitality can be messy. It can be inconvenient. But it can also build relationships that show and share our Savior.		  
September 26, 2021 Proper perspective on self A proper perspective of self is to view yourself as below other people. It is to be humble.  
September 19,2021 Behold your suffering Savior The Messiah, your suffering Savior, tells us how he diligently listened to the Word of the Lord. He listened to the message that foretold what he came to do. The message that spoke of his soon-to-come suffering. The message that spoke of his eventual, gruesome death. Jesus knew this word, and he was not rebellious.  
September 12, 2021 Intense reflections on real religion What do we find when we gaze intently into the mirror of God’s Word? It’s time for some soul-searching and for considering some hard questions.  
September 5, 2021 Love each other more and more And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must love his brother” (1 John 4:19-21).  
August 29, 2021 We will serve the Lord Whom will you serve? Where will your devotions lie? In grace God has chosen you to follow his Son Jesus, to be a member of his family, and to inherit eternal life. Follow him with a living faith and full commitment to serving him!  
August 22, 2021 Stay sharp! When we take things for granted, things that are astounding and amazing can seem routine. Scripture reminds us that there are some things we cannot and dare not take for granted. We must always be astounded and amazed at what we have in Jesus.  
August 15, 2021 We all believe in one True God We believe in Jesus Christ and with believing in Him, we are saved.  
August 8, 2021 What are you looking for? To thirst or to hunger means you are lacking something in your life. You have a longing, a desire. Jesus has said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” How is Jesus the only one who can fill our longings, thirsts, hungers, or desires? How does he help us when we continue to have thirsts and longings in our lives. Let’s explore answers to those questions as Jesus says, “I am the bread of life.”  
August 1, 2021 We value God's Word In a God-lived life, we value God’s Word. There is a clear reason that we do so. This is because of what it does. God’s Word is powerful. God’s Word has the power to kill and make alive. This causes us to value God’s Word.  
July 25, 2021 Jesus gives nourishment We see that Jesus gives nourishment. He gives you rest. He feeds you with his Word.  
July 18, 2021 God comes calling The Lord’s call comes suddenly and unexpectedly, and interesting things happen when the Lord comes calling.  
July 11, 2021 Thorns can be blessings God’s answer to our prayers might be Yes, Not Now, In a different way, or No But. I am not going to remove the problem but I will give you the strength to endure. It will turn out to be a blessing for you and for the Lord’s Kingdom.   
July 4, 2021 Jesus set you free As Christians, we know that in freedom, we do not always choose what makes us happy. Instead, because we have been set free by Jesus, we are free to serve others in love.  
June 27, 2021 The Lord answers from the storm God comes to us and says, “Trust me. Trust my words. I declare that for you. And if I can declare that for you for your eternal salvation, then I most definitely know how to operate in this world to make all things work out for your eternal good.”  
June 20, 2021 How is your faith-sight? Many people may think that faith is blind, but that’s not true. Faith isn’t blind. Rather, it’s like the black light that sheds light on things so that we can see.  
June 13, 2021 Jesus silences slander Jesus silences slander with the Sword of the Spirit by teaching the Word of God.  
June 6, 2021 Rest For us New Testament believers, the Third Commandment is about spiritual rest from our sins. It is about our restored relationship with God through the redeeming work of Christ and receiving that blessing only through the Word of God. In this sermon you will hear of Rest, The rest God Offers and the rest we need.  
May 30,2021 Memorial to freedom Freedom is not free! It can only be achieved and preserved at enormous cost. God himself—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—bore the cost for our spiritual freedom and gave us the right to be children of God.  
May 23, 2021 God has poured his Spirit upon you. God has poured his Spirit upon you to convert you and to give you courage.  
May 16, 2021 God be with you in love As much as we say "God be with you" do we trust and realize that he is indeed with us?  
May 9, 2021 This is love What is love? God’s Word gives us a beautiful example and the perfect definition of what real love truly is.  
May 2, 2021 Life in Jesus leads to love for one another We love one another because we have life in Jesus. We are connected to him through faith.  He is the vine; we are the branches  
April 18, 2021 Get a grip on reality! Our Christian faith is based on real events in real history. We grasp the reality of Jesus, the reality of our sin, and the reality of God’s forgiveness in Christ.  
April 11, 2021 Showing our love for God The pastor then quoted the words of Jesus in John 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”     Notice that what Jesus said was a statement of fact, not a mandate to obey.    
April 4, 2021 Resurrection Song We spend a lot of time looking and searching. What we are really looking for is hope. Easter gives us certain hope in uncertain times.  
April 4, 2021 Festival of the Resurrection of Our Lord "Life is so uncertain. We may wish for things or hope for things, but precious little can actually be absolutely certain or guaranteed. However, Easter is a guarantee. The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ changes everything. That is certain."  
March 21, 2021 No backing out Don’t back out. What’s at stake if you back out? Backing out of serving and following Jesus is fatal. Jesus makes it clear that those who back out lose life, eternal life.  
March 14, 2021 Because he loves us  Why does God forgive me? How could God forgive me? Because he loves us.   
February 28, 2021 Trust me! "Trust me!" was the essence of Jesus  message. He invited people to repent of self reliance and to trust in him.  
February 21, 2021 We are super-conquerors in Jesus Jesus died for you, and even more than that. Jesus was raised to life guaranteeing that our sins are gone. Jesus is at the position of power and authority ruling over all things for our benefit.  
February 14, 2021  Who is this Jesus?
 
 		 When someone can cleanse lepers, heal the sick, give sight to the blind, raise the dead, and do so much more, it's only natural to ask, "Who is this person, and how can he do these things?" It's a question that demands an answer, and the answer has eternal consequences.  
February 7, 2021 Let the chidren come! Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me…" Those words of Jesus aren't just for Christian parents, they are for Christian congregations as we together sit at Jesus' feet.      
January 31, 2021 To eat, or not to eat - that is the question As New Testament Christians we are not bound by Mt. Sinai law codes, but if eating meat would cause a weaker Christian to be destroyed by our knowledge, Paul said it would be better to abstain than to cause him to fall.   
January 24, 2021 More than a fish story Jonah is often associated with the big fish that swallowed the prophet. But it’s about much more than that. Factor in a reluctant preacher, a desire for revenge, and God’s overwhelming mercy and compassion, and we have much more than a fish story.   
January 17, 2021 Help for the hurting Video only. Jesus revealed himself as the Messiah who had come to help God's people.  
January 10, 2021 That's my child With tender love the Father looks at you and with even greater joy than an earthly father and he says of you, "that's my child!"  
January 3, 2021 Little but important It told what Christmas is about. Jesus came from heaven above to earth below so that someday we can go from earth below to heaven above.  
December 27, 2020 Peace came to Earth God delivered his greatest gift to the world when he sent his Son. Jesus brought peace from God and established peace with God, so that we can have peace in ourselves.  
December 25, 2020 The greatest news What's the best news you could possibly hear in 2020? The greatest news we could hear this Christmas is the greatest news we heard last Christmas. And the one before . . .   
December 24, 2020 O Holy Night! O Holy Night, with a heavenly message. The holiness cannot come from earth. It must come from heaven. And from heaven it does. O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining, it is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.  
December 20, 2020 He shall reign forever Nothing lasts forever. Not even death will last forever. But Jesus's kingdom and victory endure forever. Because he lives and rules forever, you too shall live with him forever and ever.  
December 16, 2020 Emmanuel: God with us in the flesh You and I don’t see Jesus in the flesh right now. That’s okay. Mary and Joseph, Peter and John did that for us. We do believe in Jesus, and we know he is right beside us in the flesh, even though we cannot see him yet, because he has promised us he is.  
December 13, 2020 He comes to set us free! When we're crushed by financial debt we know how liberating it is to be debt-free. It's even greater when Jesus frees us from our debt to God and liberates us from the dungeon of sin and death.  
December 9, 2020 Emmanuel: God with us in Word and Sacrament Jesus still lives up to his name Emmanuel, which means "God with us,” as he come to us in his Word and sacraments.  
December 6, 2020 Keeping up with the times
 		 In a very real sense keeping up with the times means having the right attitude – the right attitude toward our sins, the attitude of love and respect for the Lord who forgives our sins – and one more thing – Really Looking Forward. But especially look forward to the time when the Lord shall return.  
December 2, 2020 Emmanuel: God with us in sinless perfection
 
 		 Adam and Eve knew perfection in Eden before they fell into sin. We look forward to paradise restored, when God will again live with us in perfection.  
November 29, 2020 Be busy watching
 		 It can be hard to stay awake, especially when we don't know how long we need to stay alert. While we wait for Jesus' return we want to keep busy watching.  
November 26, 2020 God makes it rain
 
 		 God makes it rain. He is the source of every blessing, both spiritual and physical.  
November 22, 2020 Christ is keeping a list In our eternity, there will be no more most wanted list. No more enemies, no more death. Just life. With our great God and Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, with God the Father, and with the Holy Spirit. We will live with God, who is all in all.  
November 15, 2020 Keep the lamp of faith burning brightly
 
 		 Jesus' parable of the ten virgins is directed to believers who are waiting for Jesus' return. Keep watch and be ready, because you do not know the day or hour when the Bridegroom will return!  
November 8,2020 The record of a lifetime The record of everything we have done is kept  by God to be revealed on the day of judgment. Do you want to stand on that record?  In Jesus we have a better record to call our own. The only thing that can expunge the record of our lifetime is the record of Jesus' lifetime.  
November 1, 2020 Stand firm in unchanging truth What can we do as the world and the times are changing? Nothing different than what Christians have always done-stand firm in and confess the unchanging truth of Jesus Christ and his Word.  
October 25, 2020 Rejoice! “Rejoice in the Lord always.” “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” If you would thank God everyday for something, your mind will dwell on blessings instead of only on difficulties in life.  
October 18,2020 Great expectations for the Lord's vineyard God's love for us is pictured in the patient care a vineyard owner gives to his vineyard. He waters, fertilizes, prunes and shapes his vines with great care and pride, so that he will reap a bountiful harvest of good fruit.  
October 11, 2020 Repent and believe The will of the Father is that all repent and believe. The goal of repentance is not to dwell on our sin in shame and regret. It's about resting in Jesus and his forgiveness.  
October 4, 2020 There is always a reason to rejoice 
 		 Even as a Christian, especially as a Christian, Paul still suffered difficulty and pain, both personal and professional. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” he once told fellow Christians. To other Christians he wrote, “It has been given to you, given as a gift for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in him but also to suffer for his sake.” So hardship and suffering are a part of every Christian’s life.  
September 27, 2020 What are we giving toward? May God be gracious to us and forgive our sins. May he give us generous hearts and the will to carry out the work we have set out to do together. Everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD.   
September 20, 2020 How can we give? We know the why of giving: God gave his own Son to be our Savior. We want to give in response to that. But how can we give?  
September 13, 2020 Why would I give? It was a small gift I gave that day to the God who gave me his Son, and through his Son, gave me eternal life.”  
September 6, 2020 What's in a name? “One of the greatest aspects of the name Lord is that it refers to Him making promises and covenants and also keeping them.  
August 30, 2020 Great Faith Even a crumb of God grace would be more than we deserve, but in his mercy he pours out every spiritual blessing through faith in Jesus Christ.   
August 23, 2020 When discouragement whimpers, God whispers
 
 		 Instead of whimpering with discouragement, listen to the whispers of God's promises and his assurances for you.  
August 16, 2020 The feast is ready! Come to the feast! In his Word God spreads a feast for our soul. His refreshing grace slakes our thirst, satisfies our appetite, and invites us to a banquet where we partake of all the riches of God.  
August 9, 2020 How much is it worth? How much is it worth? That's a questions Jesus has us ponder in today's parables from Matthew chapter 13. The kingdom of heaven-How much is it worth?  
August 2, 2020 God is praying for you One of the many blessings you have as a child of God is knowing that the Holy Spirit helps you and prays for you.  
July 26, 2020 It's monsoon season! Like rain and snow from heaven that water the parched desert, God's Word refreshes our hearts, revives our souls, and fills us with peace and joy.  
July 19, 2020 Rest for the weary Jesus gives rest to all who are weary and burdened-those with repentant hearts, hearts burdened by sin and hearts that long for the kind of rest that only Jesus gives.  
July 12, 2020 I’m dead to sin and alive to God "I'm dead to sin, I'm alive to God, I'm baptized into Christ"
 		  
July 5, 2020 Turn to the Lord Jeremiah had the unenviable task of speaking a message of judgment. He warned the people that God’s patience was nearing its end and destruction was at hand.
Jeremiah preached a message of repentance. He told people to turn from their sins. He told people to return to the Lord .		  
June 28, 2020 A heart for people To Jesus there are no unfamiliar faces or random people. Only real people with real needs.  
June 21, 2020 God's plan of salvation Imagine a perfect world. There is one. It is coming soon. After our brief life is over, there is the eternity of joy with our Savior in heaven.  
June 14, 2020 Take these words to heart
 
 		 It's time for all of us to take all God's words to heart.
 		  
June 6, 2020 The mission hasn't changed
 		 The Christian church of all ages has endured many things, and yet the mission Christ gave his church hasn’t changed!  
May 31, 2020 Come, Holy Spirit! Comfort your people The Holy Spirit walks with us, encourages us, counsels us, comforts us. He lives in us and makes our bodies his temple. He is the deposit guaranteeing our salvation. He comforts us in all our needs, as he guides us on the path to eternal life.  
May 24, 2020 Why witness? Jesus even prayed for his heavenly Father to forgive the men who were unjustly executing him. And forgiveness of sins is what Jesus wants preached in his name to this day and to the end of the world.  
May 17, 2020 Beyond our imagination The human heart imagines all sorts of false gods. No god of our own imagination could ever save us from sin. But the true God, beyond our imagination, has saved us by his Son Jesus Christ.   
May 10, 2020 The Word of the Lord stands forever Through the centuries the Word of the Lord has stood firm in the face of change. It has stood firm in the face of opposition. It will stand firm, as a rock-solid foundation for our hope and comfort, until the end of time and for all eternity.  
May 3, 2020 The risen Christ makes for confident
 Christians
 		 God grant us to live, to serve, to speak, and to die with the confidence that he granted Stephen. That is the power and the love of the risen Christ in our life. The risen Christ makes for confident Christians.   
April 26, 2020 You are a miracle Soon after the resurrection of Jesus the number of the small group of his followers grew from the hundreds into the thousands. It happened by the miraculous working of the Holy Spirit. That miraculous working of the Holy Spirit continues to this day. You are a miracle.  
April 19, 2020 Just as he said
 		 The proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection is a proclamation of peace. He was nailed to the cross according to God’s will and for our sins. He was raised to life for our justification.   
April 12, 2020 Elevated thinking There's no need to be gripped with panic or fear in the face of a pandmic or any threat to life or limb. Let your spirit soar! Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, and you are victorious in him!  
April 5, 2020 Things are not always as they seem Based on outward appearances, it seemed as though the road Jesus traveled into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday was the road to defeat. But things aren’t always as they seem. His path to the cross was the road to victory.  
March 29, 2020 Jesus weeps his way to a win Jesus didn’t come so much to laugh with us as he came to cry with us, and to do something about all the weeping that comes with this earthly life. He is the Resurrection and the Life.  
March 22, 2020  God is on our side As we experience many trials and suffer many things, we have the assurance that God is not working against us, but rather for us. Jesus suffered and so do we. Jesus came through victorious and in him, so do we. If God is for us, who can be against us? We are more than conquerors through him who loved us!   
March 15, 2020 Keep your lights on The Holy Spirit has enlightened you. When you were brought to faith in Jesus – and for most of us that was at our baptism – you became light.  
March 8, 2020 Resting on God's promises When God promises it is as good as done. To know where you stand with God, and to enjoy confidence, peace, joy and strength in this life, rest on God's promises!  
March 1, 2020 One man makes all the difference If the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!  
February 23, 2020 Pay attention! “And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”      
February 16, 2020 But Jesus tells you Followers of Jesus need to guard what goes on in their heart and gauge what comes out of their mouths. 
 		  
February 9, 2020 Salt and light It’s not by our own inherent quality that Jesus calls us the salt of the earth. We are salt, because by his grace he rescued us from a perishing world and from perishing in our own sin. It’s by his grace that he forgives every sin, every time our life and speech hasn’t been seasoned with salt. It’s that grace that makes us what we are and emboldens us to be the salt of the earth.
 		  
February 2, 2020 The heart of wisdom
 

We celebrate every opportunity to connect with Jesus, hear his Word and learn from him. When the Lord gives us a heart of wisdom we not only grow smarter. We gain wisdom for eternity.

  
January 26, 2020 Live in harmony with one another
 Living in harmony could be applied to our marriage, family, and work. But the writer Paul is applying this to congregational life.  It is God’s will that there be congregations and that His followers congregate. God wants the congregation to work well – He says, “Live in Harmony with One Another.”  
January 19, 2020 What have you done for me lately? We want things now. We want things fast. We want modern and relevant. And Jesus delivers!  
January 12, 2020 Christ came for all nations There’s no favoritism with God. Christ came for all nations. The good news is there is peace through Jesus. He is Lord of all. He paid the price of everyone’s sins.  
January 05, 2020 He dwells among us Where Christ’s Word is preached and where his grace is poured out abundantly through baptism and communion, here he is among us. Of all the places he could live, he dwells in the heart of every believer. He dwells among us. Amen.  
December 31, 2019 All you need I will surely give you Have no fear, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.  
December 29, 2019 God promised. God delivered. At the perfect time in history, when the stage was perfectly set for the coming of the Messiah, God delivered on his promise and sent his Son.  
December 25, 2019 The Word became flesh Today we explore a mystery that defies comprehension. How can God become a man? How can the infinite dwell within the finite? This is the beautiful truth of Christmas: "For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven."  
December 24, 2019 Unto us a child is born
 		 To us a child is born, to us a son is given. The child lying in the manger is more than just little baby. He is true God in human flesh, and he has been born for you!