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Sure, Jesus' temptation in the wilderness shows you how to defeat your own temtpations -- by refuting the devil with what's written in Scripture.
Just as importantly, this written account of Jesus' perfection shows you that Jesus is your perfect substitute for all the times you have given into Satan's temptations.
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Transfiguration Sunday gives us the opportunity to climb a couple mountains, check out the views from there, and see how they affect the way we view our lives going forward.
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Our fourth and final sermon in a series from 1 Corinthians wraps up two key themes from this letter's opening chapters -- wisdom and the cross. As we hear Paul's words, the Holy Spirit connects the dots and lets you in on God's secret.
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What makes for powerful public speaking doesn't necessarily make for powerful preaching. Paul tells us what does make for powerful preaching, whether for first century Corinth or twenty-first century Wind Lake.
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Would the world choose you according to the standards it celebrates? Even if it did, that neither gives you anything to boast about before God nor does it guarantee joy. Paul explains that when you see yourself according to God's choosing you in Jesus, you have true joy.
This is the second in a series of sermons from 1 Corinthians.
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In first century Corinth how can a deeply divided congregation with cliques and quarrels become united? In 21st century Wind Lake how can a congregation with members across backgrounds and ages and occupations be united? The answer is the same for both: Jesus Christ, who makes all Christians part of his family and who gives us his mindset.
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This is the first sermon in a series on the opening chapters of 1 Corinthians.
Description A stained glass window in our sanctuary depicts Jesus' baptism because it is key event in his life. After living a pretty private life for his first thrity years, Jesus' baptism marks the beginning of his public ministry.
More importantly, it tells us what kind of Savior we have.
Jesus Resolves the Mystery of Salvation for Every Generation
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A good mystery has a deep problem, an exciting twist, and a memorable solution. They mystery of God's salvation in Jesus Christ has all three. The Apostle Paul expains in our sermon text.
We thank Pastor Wayne Shevey, a campus pastor at Wisconsin Lutheran College, for sharing God's Word with us.
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If you feel like our culture tries to quickly move past Christmas, you should meet King Herod. As Herod tries to carry out a sinister plot against the Christ-child, we see a comforting truth that will take us into the new year and decade.
Divine Intervention Can Look Like Divine Interruption
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God is not shy about interrupting our lives and changing both our earthly plans and our spiritual state. In the moment, we may not know what is going on and may wonder why God seems to be so rude. But when we have the eyes of faith that Mary and Joseph had, we see how God doesn't so much rudely interrupt as he graciously intervenes.
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Are you full of the so-called "holiday spirit" yet? If not, don't worry. The Apostle Paul encourages you that you are filled with a different Spirit and all the gifts that come with him.
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On Christ the King Sunday, Jesus is pictured in prophecy as both a fierce lion and a peaceful ruler. Therefore, we live to praise him, not rouse him.
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Saints Triumphant is a Sunday that brings tremendous comfort because it shows us that our Christian loved ones who have fallen asleep in death are enjoying victory in heaven and that we will enjoy it, too, one day! Jesus' words bring us that comfort today, but they also might raise some deep questions for you, and the answers may blow your mind a bit.
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When troubles and suffering come our way because of our trust in Christ, it's easy for us to question if God is making the right judgment calls in our lives. Paul's words here comfort us with God's doubly righteous judgment: trouble for those who trouble us and relief for us who are troubled.
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In an age when movements come and go as fast as the news cycle changes, what has given the Lutheran Reformation its staying power? Its found in the words Jesus has given to his church and in the freedom he has won for all people.
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When the sermon's theme is "The Right Way to Live," Lutheran red flags might pop up in your head and heart. That's good. We must always beware that we don't rely on oursleves for eternal life. The Bible declares that we are right with God through faith in Jesus' righteousness, not because we ourselves have lived the right way. Through faith, you know and trust that your spiritual situation is right with God.
But when it feels like your earthly situation isn't going right, what do you do? A passionate dialogue between the prophet Habakkuk and the Lord point us to the right(eous) way to live in the face of violence and injustice.
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As if the 2020 presidential candidates weren't talking about the economy -- good and bad -- enough, enter the prophet Amos. What can this man from roughly 750 B.C. add to a conversation in 21st centurty capitalistc America? Plenty. And it has less to do with dollars and cents and more with hearts and souls.
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When was the last time something of yours was lost? What did you do about the situation? Jesus tells us about a lost-and-found episode then ends with joy for him, for angels, and for you.
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On the Christian church calendar, September 29 is the Festival of Saint Michael and All Angels where we praise and thank God for his gift of angels. While much of the world envisions angels as cute little chubby boys, John's vision here in Revelation pictures them as strong fighters. Watch intently, then, as Saint Michael and the holy angels fight against the devil and the fallen angels because this throwdown says something about your relationship with God.
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Lots of people think Jesus is just some life coach who gives you practical wisdom and to-do's for this life. If you think that, you miss Jesus' bigger point in Luke chapter 14. Jesus isn't concerned so much about where you sit at an earthly meal. He's concerned about where you will sit for all eternity.
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Promises made are supposed to be promises kept. But when it seems like a promise has failed or will fail, we feel anguish and sorrow. The Apostle Paul recalls how he felt anguish and sorrow about a promise and tells you why you should never feel anguish and sorrow about God's promises.
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Pictures of homes that Dorian devastated have been in the news lately, and those images help us better envision the spiritual truth Jesus teaches in the parable of a wise home builder and a foolish one. They help us better understand why it is so important that each of us get -- and continue in -- education about the Christian faith and God's Word.
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Christians recognize they are not their own masters; Jesus Christ is. And since Jesus is a good master who has served us and told us he will return at any moment, we are always ready to welcome him.
Our guest preacher is Seminarian Joshua Rathje, who has begun his final year at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. God willing, in May of 2020 Josh will be graduated and assigned to serve in the pastoral ministry. We pray for God's blessings on his school year!
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Is life meaningless? Does it at least feel that way sometimes? The Teacher of Ecclesiastes wrestled with that question and was led to a stark, yet wise, answer and encouragement.
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If someone walked up to you and asked you how to pray, would you know where to begin? Jesus did, and in twelve concise verses he teaches us Christians what we need to know about prayer.
The God of Living Water Quenches Our Spiritual Thirst
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When you're physically thirsty, what's go your go-to drink? How long does it do the trick? Now, when you have an inner thirst, where do you go to quench it. How long does it do the trick?
The final sermon in our series takes us to a window in our narthex gathering area and to a text from the New Testament. Both the window and this text comfort us that the God of Living Water quenches our spiritual thirst.
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Ever feel like God doesn't listen to your prayers or answer them? Our fourth window shows us that God does indeed answer his believers' prayers... just not always in the way we expect him to.
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Part three of our sermon series "The God of Living Water" takes us to the shore of the Red Sea. But not just to the Red Sea -- through it! As God led Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground, he leads us through this life of sin, weakness, and death on the sure ground of his strength and love.
The God of Living Water Keeps His Covenant Promise
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What do mortgages, an ark, a rainbow, the cross, a baptismal font, and the altar all have in common? They all involve some kind of covenant or promise. But that doesn't mean the agreements we find in this world are the same as the ones God makes with us. Part two of our sermon series "The God of Living Water" focuses on this truth: God keeps his covenant promise.
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This sermon begins a series on the Old Testament stained glass windows in our sanctuary. The series is entitled "The God of Living Water" because while these accounts have sinner-saints as characters in them, the accounts aren't really about them but about the God we worship. The scenes are happen around water but center on the triune God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Our first window emphasizes that God is the one created all things, but when he created us mankind, he did so in a unique way. You aren't an animal; you are a unique creation with a unique relationship to God and purpose in this life.
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A stained glass window in our sanctuary depicts Jesus' baptism because it is key event in his life. After living a pretty private life for his first thrity years, Jesus' baptism marks the beginning of his public ministry.
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