Jesus, Refuge of the Weary, July 9th Worship

Summer is a busy time. Especially in Minnesota, our motto for summer is “go for it, you can rest in winter!” But sooner rather than later we all need to address the question of what it is that truly gives us rest. Jesus invites us to find our real rest in Him. In His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection from the grave Jesus covers us in infinite and eternal rest. Even in the busyness of summer Jesus is our real rest. That is worth celebrating.

Our God is Strong to Save, July 2nd Worship

As we mark this 4th of July celebration we remember the many ways in which our lives have been made great by the efforts of others. As Christians we savor this all the more as we hold fast to the wonderful news that the battle has been fought and the price has been paid by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that we may have freedom from sin, eternal death, and the devil. Today we hear Jesus speak about the reality of what will bring us peace and freedom forever

Set Free by Faith, June 25th Worship

Jeremiah has been called the weeping or reluctant prophet. He felt like God had thrown too much at him. But again and again God inspired Jeremiah to be a man of integrity and conviction. “The Lord is with me like a mighty warrior,” he wrote. Jeremiah longed to see God bring justice. Along with the prophet each of us longs for these ultimate things that only God can provide. Our faith is that in Christ Jesus we have seen the person of God: goodness, and justice, grace and love, triumphs in His name.

The Father's Treasure, June 18th Worship

On Father’s Day we give thanks for our earthly dads, grandfathers, and other men who are special to us. This reminds us that every time we gather in the Lord’s house for worship, our time together can also be seen as a Father’s Day. As we are reminded in our Readings, God, our heavenly Father, has reconciled us to Himself through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. By our Father’s grace, we are made His “treasured possession.” We live in our Father’s house and we can approach Him directly and confidently as children do their loving Father. May your time in our Father’s house be eternally blessed this day.

The Perfect Three and One, Trinity Sunday Worship, June 11

Trinity Sunday is a day to bask in the wonder of knowing the triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who has been revealed to us in the Scriptures. We wonder at the mystery and majesty of the Trinity. We can start with the basics: the Father creates, the Son redeems, the Spirit sanctifies. God’s Word gives us the endless implications of this doctrine. Today, in the Old Testament Reading from Genesis, we see all three persons are present and active in the creation of the world. In our Reading from Acts, we see all three persons active in the salvation of the world. And in the Holy Gospel from Matthew, we see that all three persons are active in the new life we have as baptized children of God.

The Spirit of the Living God, Pentecost Worship, June 4th

“What does this mean?” This question might sound familiar to anyone who has spent time studying Luther’s Small Catechism. In it the question is asked again and again: “What does this mean?” This same question was asked by many in the crowd on the Day of Pentecost. As the people hear and see these miraculous events, they are amazed and perplexed, asking one another, “What does this mean?” In the verses that follow, Peter explains that God has fulfilled his ancient promise to “pour out His Spirit on all people.” The gift of the Holy Spirit has been given for all nations. As we celebrate the Day of Pentecost today, it’s time for each of us to ask, “What does this mean—for me?” The Spirit of the Living God is among us.

The Ascension of Our Lord, May 28th Worship

As we go through life we hope for a few little triumphs.  So it was for Jesus’ disciples just before Christ was about to ascend to heaven.  "Lord," they said, "will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"  But God had a greater blessing in mind.  Christ's ascension means His triumph is over all humankind, all nations, kingdoms, and powers.  He who was crucified, died, and risen, now takes His victory with Him to sit at God's right hand in power and majesty. He is triumphant over all things forever.  

God's Spirit of Love, May 21st Worship

In the creed we say, “I believe in the Holy Spirit, . . . who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified.” The Holy Spirit is worshiped because He is God, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. Even before His death, Jesus prepared His disciples for His departure. He would leave them by way of the cross. Then even though He rises from the dead, He will leave them again at His ascension. Yet He wants us to know and believe that He never really leaves us. He tells us that He will be with us always. He calls the Holy Spirit to embody His love among us. Though the Spirit is a person distinct from the Father and the Son, yet He is also the Spirit of Christ in the mystery of the Trinity. In this Easter season, as we celebrate Jesus raised from the dead, we begin to celebrate that by the Holy Spirit, we can live a whole new life, inspired by God’s abundant love among us.

The Certain Way, May 14th Worship

The Roman world of 2000 years ago worshiped many gods and had numerous official religions. By proclaiming Jesus as the only way, truth, and life, Christians set themselves apart. It took Jesus’ personal revelation to the disciples to get them to see who He was. After Easter Stephen and those who would follow him witnessed to our Lord not only with their words, but with their very lives. By the grace of God, they were able to see how He had been the hope embodied in all Scripture. And now it is our turn to speak of the security we know in Jesus, the certain way to the Eternal Father.

The Shepherd's Voice, May 7th Worship

Jesus uses a simple illustration to tell us something vitally important. His relationship to us is like a shepherd to his sheep. The shepherd knows each of his sheep and we know his voice when he calls.  Jesus also tells us that he is the gate of the sheep pen. He is the connection between earth and heaven. Jesus is the caretaker who promises to guard and care for us. He warns us about the thief who enters in a suspicious way and wants to steal us away. As we continue our celebration of Easter, hearing about our Good Shepherd adds to the good news: the One who left his grave alive stands in careful watch over our lives.