What do we do with psalms of ascent like Psalm 122? What does it mean for us?

The catechism helps us be reminded of reasons to give thanks to God. 

How would you answer the question? What is King Jesus like? 

Jesus has saved us and Jesus is coming again, so what are God's redeemed people to do as we await His return? 

The Sadducees were trying to embarrass Jesus with their question. However Jesus turns the tables on them and gives and answer that not only answers the question, but gives us reason for hope. 

What does the Church look like? Probably not much like the family in this picture. 

What are we to make of the account of Jacob wrestling with God? 

Noami had a very difficult time. 

How can her story teach us in our out struggles or in helping those who are struggling? 

The book of Habakkuk helps us to learn to live by faith and trust that because of the Lord, in the end, all shall be well. 

What does the Bible tell us about angels? What comfort can we gain from the knowledge that there are angels around us? 

In the gospel reading, Jesus tells a parable that is difficult to understand, but by looking at the surrounding passages we can better understand what He was teaching. 

If you want the perfect pastor, Jesus is the only option. However, even though there have been terrible religious leaders throughout the history of God's people, Jesus still chooses to call and work through pastors.

Does this mean that pastors are perfect? Hardly.

"Blessed is the man" is how Psalm 1 begins. What does this mean for believers in Christ? 

The Pharisees made a habit of deciding who belonged at their table and who didn't, but Jesus makes it clear that He welcomes all kinds of people at His eternal table. 

When asked, "Will those who are saved be few?" Jesus responded by instructing those listening to strive to enter through the narrow door.

What is faith? What does it look like to live by faith?

Hebrews 11 gives us the answers to these questions!

In Colossians 2 we see that baptism is a very big deal! The book of Colossians hinges on baptism and so do the lives of Christians. 

Why was Paul willing to endure suffering for the sake of the gospel? Why didn't he take what appeared to be the easy path and simply deny Jesus, receive his freedom, and be brought back into a respectable place in society? 

Because Paul knew Jesus. 

In a world in which sin causes separation, the Church is given the task by Jesus to bring restoration.

As Americans we might think we know what freedom is all about, but we learn about true freedom from studying Galatians chapter 5. 

There's always a temptation to add our works to the work of Jesus, but in Galatians we learn why that's a bad idea. We also learn of the blessings of baptism! 

Christ as our Good Shepherd is a beautiful, comforting image that we often look to in difficult times, yet Christ calls us as His sheep to listen to Him and follow Him in all times. 

With this simple question, Jesus brings to mind past events and prepares His disciples to continue to trust Him in the future. 

The resurrection of Jesus is the most important event in the history of the world.  Today we explored why the resurrection of Jesus is good news for us. 

Christ is risen and that is good news for you!

The Nunc Dimittis (Song of Simeon) is truly an amazing song and it's message can bring us true comfort! 

The parable of the wicked tenants is challenging, but if we approach it with the right questions we can find what it means for us. 

Where does the Sanctus come from?  Why do we sing it?  What can we learn from it? 

The parable of the Prodigal Son is very well known, but it's familiarity can make it challenging for us to truly hear its message.  In this message we hear it again, but listening as if for the first time, we are able to hear something we might have previously missed. 

Why does Jesus willing come to be "the Lamb of God?" 

What does this mean for us?

Why do we sing of Jesus as the Lamb of God?

Luke 13:1-5 is a tough text in which Jesus tells us things we need to hear, but might not want to hear. Yet even with these tough words there is comfort to be found. 

Jerusalem is a city filled with memories, both good and bad.  What can we learn from those memories?  What do they tell us about Jesus? 

Why do we begin the service with the Invocation?  What can we learn about our lives from these 15 words? 

What do the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel readings for this day have to do with each other?  Is there a common thread and if there is, what does it lead us to do? 

The Transfiguration of Jesus can be best understood when we see the story God had been writing that led up to it. 

In the beatitudes (found in Luke 6) Jesus makes it clear that blessing is not measured by earthly material wealth, but is a present reality for rich or poor for all who trust in Him. 

God's holiness is enough to make us fear Him, so how can we approach Him? 

God's love should have a HUGE impact on how we view all human life!

The Bible is truly an amazing thing.  God has spoken to us and keeps speaking to us through His word even today!  

What determines who you are?

Is it what you do?  Is it what you accomplish?

Or is it something bigger?

What can we learn from nativity scenes that include the Wise Me (Magi) at the manger?  

As we enter into the new year, we remember that God has placed His name upon us! 

Colossians 3 teaches us what the life of a baptized believer can now look like because of who we are through Jesus! 

Christmas is about more than just remembering what happened long ago.  In this sermon we're reminded that Jesus is our real and present hope. 

When the long awaited Messiah finally came, the joy was overwhelming! 

Hebrews 6 provides us with some of the most comforting and encouraging words in the entire Bible.  In this sermon we hear why we can live with real hope for the future and real security right here and now. 

How could Paul have joy while locked in prison?

How can we have hope when things seem hopeless? 

The message of John the Baptist was stern, yet filled with hope and that hope led to major changes for those who believed John's message. 

If you're hurting or feeling lonely the message of Psalm 42 is exactly what you need to hear. 

This is the first in a series of sermons on Hope!

The little book of Jude helps us to understand what Jesus meant when He taught that we are to "stay awake" and how to do that. 

We (finally) finish chapter 1 of Colossians! 

What does the book of Hebrews teach us about worship?  How can it help us to understand why we worship the way that we do? 

What can we learn from a widow who put two tiny coins into an offering box? 

What a joy to hear the gospel proclaimed in English and Amharic in the same sermon! 

Have you ever been told that you look or act like your mom or dad?

Can it really be said that we look or act like our heavenly Father?

Find out why John was so filled with joy that he and all believers in Christ could be called, "children of God." 

The reading from Hebrews and the commemoration of Reformation Day both give us reason to rejoice in what Jesus has done for us! 

Is having wealth good or bad?

What are we to do with our wealth? With our lives?

Are possessions good or bad?

Solomon addresses such questions in Ecclesiastes 5 and helps us to answer these important questions, which ultimately find their answers when Christ is the keystone of our lives. 

What's the most important thing to you?  Really, what is #1 in your life? 

That's the question today's gospel reading causes us to consider as Jesus speaks with a rich young man. 

When the Pharisees brought a question about divorce to Jesus, He didn't answer in the way they had hoped, but instead He reminded everyone what God the Creator intended marriage to be in the first place. 

Who is the greatest?  The disciples posed the question, but Jesus gave the answer. 

Can a Christian struggle?

Can a Christian have doubts?

What does it look like to have genuine faith?

What is it that makes faith strong?

We talk about all of these questions and more in this sermon on Mark 9:14-29.

The Psalms can be a challenging book of the Bible, but they can also be very enlightening.  In this sermon we examine Psalm 146 and see how we can use it to enrich our prayer life. 

God has equipped His people with "the full armor of God."  It protects us against the attacks of Satan, but it also allows us to go on the attack against Satan and the forces of darkness. 

What difference does the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus make in marriages?  How about in every day life? 

God didn't say to Elijah, "I'll never give you more than you can handle"  However, when the journey was too much for Elijah, God gave him strength through a special meal; He does the same for us today. 

The people had received miraculous bread from the Lord, but they weren't content.  They wanted more/better/different things than what God was giving them and above all, they wanted actual food, not Jesus telling them that He's the true bread from heaven!

It's no wonder the word "sin" has "I" in the middle, because sin is all about selfishness.  In the account of Samson, it's easy to see his sin, but what you might miss is the way in which the Israelites also put themselves before the Lord.  In the end, it's a very messy story in which no one looks good, but that's really no different than today, is it? 

When we read about Gideon in Judges 7, it would be easy to think, "Now there's a person the Lord used in a powerful way! I don't think He could ever do that with me."  However the whole story of Gideon reveals that if the Lord could use Gideon, He can most certainly use you. 

How did the Israelites go from serving the Lord to not even knowing the Lord in such a short time?  How do we make sure it doesn't happen in our time? 

"Choose this day whom you will serve...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

These are well known verses in Christian circles, but what was Joshua really saying with these words? 

In Joshua 20, the Lord directs that certain cities be made "Cities of Refuge" for the protection of those who were guilty of accidentally causing the death of another person.

What does this text tell us of Jesus?  What does it mean for us? 

The end of Joshua 5 can be a perplexing text, unless it's understood through the lens of Christ. 

God not only knew that children would ask a lot of questions, but it's a part of His good plan.  Find out how God used a pile of stones and the curiosity of children as a teaching tool for His people (both then and now). 

Three times in Joshua 1, the Lord tells Joshua to be "strong and courageous."  Why could he be strong and courageous?  Why can we be strong and courageous? 

Isaiah suddenly found himself in the presence of the Holy One of Israel...the very Triune God.  How did this event impact Isaiah?  What can we learn from it? 

The ascension of Jesus is an event that can be difficult to understand, yet when it is understood it is truly good news. 

Revelation 20 is a challenging chapter, yet is filled with good news and the reminder that in the end, victory belongs to all who are in Christ! 

God went to great lengths to hammer home the point to Peter (as well as the whole church) that when Jesus said to make disciples of all nations, He really did mean all. 

Philip, probably wondered to himself, "what am I doing here?"  Yet, God knew what why Philip was where he was and it was all according to His plan.

The image of Christ as the Good Shepherd is well loved for good reason.

The Apostle John was a witness of many things, including the resurrected Jesus appearing to him and the other disciples as well as when Jesus showed Himself to Thomas (after Thomas had doubted).  What did John learn from these events? What can we learn from these events? 

The resurrection of Jesus is the most important event in the history of the world, but can we be confident that it really did happen?

Ours is a world with many false hopes and with problems that might lead people to lose hope, yet on Easter we are reminded that there is a sure and certain hope because of Jesus. 

What kind of God do we have?  One who would become human, suffer, and die all so that sinners may live. 

The love of Jesus was made tangible on Thursday of Holy Week and remains tangible for us even today. 

Do you wish to see Jesus?  Holy week offers you just the opportunity to do so.

Parents know the feeling of not really being listened to by their children, but it's not just children that have that issue.  In the gospel reading from Mark 10, James and John show that they really haven't been hearing what Jesus had to say and so they make an incredible request of Jesus.  But Jesus uses the opportunity to teach the sons of thunder, as well as the rest of the disciples, why He had come and what true greatness really looks like in His kingdom.