Real Rest and Refuge in Jesus

This summer is different. Many of the blissful things that make summer great are out of reach. Jesus’ promise to be our real and nurturing rest is perhaps more valuable to us now than ever before. His invitation to take our rest in him is a call to humility and gratitude. May God’s Spirit show you the abundance of God’s provision. In Jesus’ victory we have real and eternal things to rest in, even this very day.

The first and second hymn is LSB 743, “Jesus Priceless Treasure”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 684, “Come to Me You Weary”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

Our God is Strong to Save

Maybe you have spent a lifetime holding onto this most compelling piece of news: the battle has been fought and the price has been paid by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He has been triumphant over sin and all that is broken in all the world. Now we listen attentively as Jesus spoke to his disciples about the reality of facing the challenges of living in a broken world while holding onto the faith that God has been triumphant. As Jesus says, even as things we cherish are lost, our real and ever blessed life is found in Him.

The first and second hymn is LSB 687, “Thine Forever, God of Love”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 861, “Christ be my Leader”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

Set Free in the Triumph of Jesus

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 first and second hymn is LSB 475, “Good Christian Friends Rejoice and Sing”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 483, “With High Delight Let Us Unite”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

Treasured by Our Heavenly Father

 While they were camping under a mountain God tells his people on their Exodus they are His treasured children. Though they were on a hard journey that would take longer than any of them could imagine, God tells them He will carry them as on eagle’s wings. Much later, Jesus spoke this same sort of promise to Peter, Andrew, James, John, and the other disciples who would need to be brave and confident in the challenges they would face. “The Kingdom of Heaven is near,” Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give.”   

The first and second hymn is LSB 729, “I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 744, “Amazing Grace”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

The Holy Trinity, Our Great God, Three and One

We wonder at the mystery and majesty of the Trinity- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 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. 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 children of God. We have much to celebrate in our Great God, three and one.

The first and second hymn is LSB 507, “Holy Holy Holy”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 506, “Glory Be to God the Father”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

Pentecost, The Spirit of the Living God

God has fulfilled his ancient promise to “pour out His Spirit on all people.” As we celebrate the Day of Pentecost we welcome The Spirit of the Living God, the guiding and comforting Spirit of God is ours to call into this moment and this place.

The first and second hymn is LSB 496, “Holy Spirit Light Divine”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 503, “O Day Full of Grace”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

Triumphant Jesus Ascends into Heaven

When his disciples saw Jesus alive again after His Resurrection that let themselves hope for some small victory. As we go through life we hope for triumphs.  Jesus’ disciples, just before Christ was about to ascend to heaven asked Him, "Lord will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"  But God had a greater victory in mind.  Jesus’ ascension means His triumph is over all things, over all that is broken, over all that we fear. Jesus who was crucified, died, and risen, ascends to heaven taking His victory with Him to sit at God's right hand in power and majesty. He is triumphant over all things forever.  

The first and second hymn is LSB 493, “A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 495, “Look, Ye Saints, the Sight Is Glorious”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

Jesus Promises His Spirit Will Be With Us, The 6th Week of Easter

Jesus wants us to believe and take to heart 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.  In this Easter season, as we celebrate Jesus raised from the dead, we begin to celebrate that by the Holy Spirit, we have God’s abundant love among us in all the mercy and grace won for us in Jesus’ triumphant Resurrection.

The first and second hymn is LSB 475, “Good Christians Friends, Rejoice and Sing”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 527, “O Savior, Precious Savior”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

The Living Lord Jesus, 5th Sunday of Easter

It took Jesus’ personal revelation to his disciples to get them to see who He was, now glorified in Resurrection triumph. It is by God’s grace and love that we can see how Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer. He is the One promised on every page of God’s Word. Jesus is our eternal security, and our good and certain way.

The first and second hymn is LSB 687, “Thine Forever God of Love”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 861, “Christ Be My Leader”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

The Shepherd's Voice, the Fourth Week of Easter 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. As we continue our celebration of Easter, hearing about our Good Shepherd adds to our appreciation of His victorious triumph: the One who left his grave alive stands in careful watch over our lives.

The first and second hymn is LSB 710, “The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 709, “The King of Love My Shepherd Is”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.