WORSHIP
First and Foremost. Worship: November 26, 2023
Christ the King ... a modern American tapestry
Too often we think about God’s being up in His heaven, looking down on us. Today’s Readings give us the correct perspective. Through Ezekiel, God announces that He is the One who will provide pasture for His people and that He will send them David to be their king. In the Psalm, we reflect that God is our maker. Christ is not only the first to rise from death, Paul explains in the Epistle; He is also the foremost, the One to subject all things under Him. And so His decisions when judging on the Last Day cannot be questioned. First and foremost, then, today is a day to let God’s Word give us a correct perspective. This last Sunday of the Church Year is an opportunity to “make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise” (Psalm 95:2).
In the Meantime. Worship: November 19, 2023
The Last Day may come soon, but in the meantime, many people are neglecting to use their abilities and opportunities for God’s purposes. Zephaniah writes that it will be a day of wrath and mourning. But for those who have realized God’s blessings over the years, as Psalm 90 recalls, though the times are mean, each day is an opportunity to “encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Today is an opportunity to hear God’s very gracious Word, “well done!” and be strengthened to respond by using the talents He has loaned to us.
In The Meantime. Worship: November 19, 2023
The Last Day may come soon, but in the meantime, many people are neglecting to use their abilities and opportunities for God’s purposes. Zephaniah writes that it will be a day of wrath and mourning. But for those who have realized God’s blessings over the years, as Psalm 90 recalls, though the times are mean, each day is an opportunity to “encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Today is an opportunity to hear God’s very gracious Word, “well done!” and be strengthened to respond by using the talents He has loaned to us.
THIS WEEKS AUDIO IS REPOSTED FROM November 14, 2021 Worship.
Jesus, the man who is God, and the God who is man speaks with authority and wisdom. He is the truest and most trustworthy of prophets. He knows what to tell us about the future and what not to tell us. Jesus, the Son of the Living God can the see the whole of the future. He can see us standing firm in the faith and hope. He can see God saving us from the hardest and most impossible things. He can see us celebrating with him the complete revealing of God’s Glory.
The Day of Our Lord. Worship: November 12, 2023
The Day of God. Paul Gauguin French 1894–95
It’s not a big surprise that no one has accurately predicted the end of the world—not that it hasn’t been attempted. From religious sects to cult leaders to apocalyptic predictions made when we entered a new millennium, a fascination grows around those who claim they have it all figured out. We are wise though to take the Lord at His word concerning the Last Day. From Amos in the Old Testament proclaiming the day of the Lord, to Paul writing the Thessalonians about Christ’s return, to Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins, the Lord does not give us a date or a time of the end of this world as we know it. What He continues to give us, though, are promises of His faithfulness, His continued care and providence, and His assurance that when that day comes, it will usher in a glorious blessedness in His perfect presence that will last forever.
This audio service is a rebroadcast from Jesus, The King. Worship, November 21, 2021.
When all is said and done Christ will stand in triumph over all things. He will make the wrongs and injustices right in the end. We put our faith not just in God’s love and mercy but also in His perfect judgment and His ability to fulfill and finish what He started. In the beginning God made a good and perfect world, He will restore it. By His victory Jesus is already our King. In the end we will see that Jesus Christ is truly King of Kings for all of time and eternity. Are you ready to celebrate?
Blessed Are You. Worship: November 5, 2023
Candles burn on All Saints' Day at the Central Cemetery in Szczecin, Poland (Marcin Bielecki/EPA-EFE/Rex)
Today is bittersweet. Bitter, because some of us will be remembering someone we love who died recently, and we are still grieving. Yet sweet, because that loved one was also loved by God, redeemed by Jesus, and lives in that place Jesus went ahead to prepare. We grieve, as Paul says, but not “as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). We also hear the words of Jesus in the Beatitudes, where Jesus blesses people not usually considered blessed: the poor in spirit, the mourning, the meek, peacemakers, the persecuted. The broken circumstances of your life do not define you entirely; Jesus defines you as blessed because He has taken hold of you in love and mercy and will never let you go. Blessed are you.
This week’s Audio Service is a rebroadcast from October 31, 2021. Please enjoy.
The word “Saint” is a pretty big word. We use it to talk about disciples, martyrs, and leaders of the Church throughout history. We use the word next to names from the pages of Scripture such as Peter, John, and Paul—the type of people we name churches after. On All Saints’ Day we use the word “Saint” as we remember those departed from us who are now with God in heaven. But most amazing of all is that God considers our lives holy and set apart because of Jesus’ sacrifice of His holiness for us. By His victory we are Saints by grace.
The Work Righteousness that Saves Us Worship: October 29, 2023
On this day when we observe and celebrate the Reformation, our Readings point us to remember the struggles and eventual insights of Martin Luther. God used these struggles and insights of one man in Germany to reshape the Church and let the true Gospel resound all over the world. Luther struggled as a young monk and professor because he had been taught that he, by his works of righteousness, might possibly then qualify to be loved by God. This teaching caused him nearly to despair entirely. But then he read Romans 3:23–24: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Struck by God’s Word here, Luther recognized that it is Christ’s work of righteousness—His dying and rising for sinners like Luther—that saves. Today is a celebration of what Christ has done for sinners like Luther and us.
Trusting Against all Odds. Worship: October 22, 2023
Leaflets with information on people believed to have been captured by Hamas during its Oct. 7 raid into Israel are displayed outside the Israeli military headquarters in Tel Aviv.
Credit...Avishag Shaar-Yashuv for The New York Times
The most profound comfort lies in the assurance that God is always working out His purpose no matter the circumstances or the people. God’s saving purpose cannot be thwarted. Isaiah lived in an age of bad news and despair, but he was confident that God could overcome them all. In the short term, this redemption came through an unlikely messianic figure named Cyrus. At the appointed time, however, the true Messiah would come and save Israel and all who trust in Him. God is in charge—not just of the ups and downs of this world’s good and bad news but for the sake of His saving work. Jesus’ power is greater than every other power, and His saving purpose will prevail. This is our comfort.
I’ve Got a Secret. Worship: October 15, 2023
Peace. Image from iStock.com
Living in the ups and downs of this mortal life, in a world opposed to Christ and His purposes, it may seem like peace is a secret that must be found to be enjoyed. There is no secret, as it were, but the peace that passes understanding is hidden—hidden in Christ. This peace is not some relative calm against the upset of the world but knowing Christ and living in His strength, comfort, forgiveness, joy, and peace amid every circumstance of life. This is not to be confused with happiness, which is hard to find and ever harder to define. No, this gift of peace means knowing with contentment the steadfast love and mercy of God given to us in Christ Jesus, His Son.
There will be no audio service this week. We look to resume audio services shortly.
Christ The Cornerstone. Worship: October 8, 2023
Like a building, we have a foundation stone on which we rest, a cornerstone on which we build, a capstone that holds it all together. Christ is each of those stones—the foundation on which our faith is established, the cornerstone on which our faith is built, and the capstone that holds us up. He is also a stone of stumbling. Those who reject His foundation, His cornerstone, and His capstone are broken into pieces in the day of judgment. All of this is revealed in the surprise of a parable about a master who built a vineyard, planted the vines, and set it out for tenants to produce the wine. Instead, they conspired to keep the vineyard as their own, rejected those whom the master sent, and killed his son. This is the story of Jesus and of the people of God that He had chosen and created to be His vineyard. It is a story of warning, but it is also a story of grace.
There will be no audio service this week.
The Image of God, the Firstborn over All Creation. Worship: October 1, 2023
The Holy Spirit is alive and active, lighting the way for us to see God in our midst. God is powerfully revealed in how we live our lives. We celebrate this today in the Holy Baptism of Walter Edward Birkholz. Together we rejoice in the Holy Spirit’s work through the ministry of Word and Sacrament. As Pastor Disney retires and Bethlehem prays for the next chapter of life together, we celebrate the faithfulness of God in giving us His Living Spirit so that we may see the Image of God, the Firstborn over All Creation.
The Audio service will be posted Friday 9.29.23