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Holy Trinity Ankeny

281 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago - ★★★★ - 5 ratings

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

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Episodes

HOSANNA

March 25, 2024 13:19 - 16 minutes - 12.7 MB

I grew up thinking that the word hosanna meant something triumphant. Knowing that it means something else entirely changes how I see Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  Mark 11:1-11

MARCH 17, 2024: THE CROSS

March 18, 2024 13:07 - 22 minutes - 16.8 MB

The cross is the chief symbol of our faith, a sign of the saving work of Christ. What does it mean “to be saved?” Some would say it is assent to beliefs. Others point to a religious experience. Those are not, however, works of Christ. They are things we do. In John’s gospel, Christ’s work on the cross is bigger than forgiving sins. It is to judge the world, drive out the evil, and draw all people to himself.

GUEST PREACHER FROM MOSAIC

March 11, 2024 13:22 - 13 minutes - 10.8 MB

Pastor Twila Schock, Vice President for Church Relations and International Programming for Mosaic, one of our mission partners, is our guest preacher. Mosaic empowers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their unique pursuit of happiness.

THE LION, THE TABLES, AND THE WARDROBE

March 04, 2024 14:55 - 16 minutes - 12.3 MB

We often have an image in our head of what Jesus looks like and how Jesus should act. The Jesus of John’s gospel is not the safe, tame, domesticated Jesus of my childhood. A domesticated Jesus doesn’t have anything to say about how we live our lives and would never flip any tables. This Jesus is the undomesticated Jesus who isn’t afraid to flip the tables in our lives that get in the way of following Jesus.   Exodus 20:1-17 | 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 | John 2:13-22

GO YOUR OWN WAY

February 26, 2024 15:23 - 20 minutes - 15 MB

It seems like from the moment we enter the world the effort to find and follow our own way is what we are about. Every toddler at some point says “I do it myself!” To take up one’s cross and follow Jesus however, means not going our own way but following in the way of Jesus. Peter finds that out today as Jesus says, “Get behind me, Satan.”

THE WORDS WE NEED TO HEAR

February 21, 2024 17:52 - 15 minutes - 12.2 MB

In the swift narrative of Mark's Gospel, details may seem sparse, but depth and meaning abound. Baptized by John in the Jordan, Jesus hears the heavens tear open, affirming him as the beloved Son. Driven into the wilderness by the Spirit, Jesus faces real struggles. Mark, unlike Matthew and Luke, leaves the temptations ambiguous. Lent isn't about a triumphant superhero, but a vulnerable Jesus in our shared wilderness. In life's diverse wildernesses, Jesus guides us, proclaiming the Kingdom, ...

GLIMPSES OF GRACE

February 21, 2024 17:45 - 20 minutes - 15.7 MB

There is more to the world than meets the eye. By faith, we see things that others cannot. We see people and the world differently than others might. The Feast of the Transfiguration tells us how God pulled back the curtain of heaven to reveal radiance, glory, and grace in Jesus Christ. We get a glimpse of grace and see as God sees. It happens all the time. When we can see a person who suffers as a neighbor to love instead of a burden, we see through the eyes of faith. When we receive the br...

Finding God

January 02, 2024 14:57 - 15 minutes - 11.6 MB

The magi come from afar to seek the Christ child. They come seeking and find King Herod more worried about maintaining his power than seeking the newborn king. Herod doesn’t seek, the scribes and chief priests don’t seek either. It seems that God is determined to be found and it takes those who shouldn’t even be looking for the Christ child to find him.    Isaiah 60:1-6 | Ephesians 3:1-12 | Matthew 2:1-12

LOVE HAS COME

December 27, 2023 03:49 - 19 minutes - 14 MB

The vastness and immensity of the universe are held together and grounded in love. That love has come to us in Christ. Amidst the powers and rulers of this world, love has come in humility. Christ comes born in a manger, a baby crying as every other baby so we can know that love has come to us.

How Can This Be?

December 18, 2023 14:54 - 14 minutes - 10.2 MB

In today's Gospel, we delve into the Annunciation, a moment often overlooked in Protestant circles. Mary, a humble teenager from Nazareth, questions the angel Gabriel's surprising message. Yet, Gabriel points to God's unwavering faithfulness, echoing a history of divine promises fulfilled. 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 | Romans 16:25-27 | Luke 1:26-38

Lessons & Carols

December 11, 2023 14:27 - 52 minutes - 35.3 MB

Worship features readings of the season and music by the Adult Choir and a small chamber ensemble.

WOKE

December 04, 2023 14:31 - 18 minutes - 14.9 MB

The term “woke” has, for some reason, become polarizing. In this season of Advent, it is essential. To prepare for God’s salvation born in Christ, we must be “woke” to the brokenness of the word. We must be “woke” to the ways we participate in breaking the world. We must be “woke” to the fact that our attempts to fix the world are like lipstick on a pig – pointless. We cry out “Lord, tear open the heavens and come,” to call God to do new things in the broken places. We cry out, “Come, Emmanu...

THE RULE OF CHRIST

November 27, 2023 14:36 - 20 minutes - 14.6 MB

The vision of the “Sheep and Goats” in Matthew’s gospel is a perplexing bit of scripture. On the surface, it reduces inclusion in the reign of God to those who do good works—no room for grace. On the surface, it condemns the unrighteous to eternal damnation and the fires of hell. Neither notion jibes with the story of Jesus very well. So, what is Jesus trying to teach in this last teaching of Matthew’s gospel?  It is about grace and mercy, of course.

Choosing Our God: Grace or Fear?

November 20, 2023 14:01 - 15 minutes - 11.1 MB

We tend to create God in our own image. In today’s Gospel, Jesus talks about what happens when we do not know who God is.  Jesus tells the parable of the talents to show the transformative impact of shaping our lives by embracing a God of boundless grace, joy, and abundance, rather than succumbing to fear and self-imposed limitations.  

WAITING FOR JESUS

November 13, 2023 14:41 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MB

The Church’s basic posture is one of anticipation, of waiting. Waiting for the Day of the Lord, the return of Christ. The consummation of the reign of God is a tricky thing. It is easy to become distracted by many things, to lose sight of the end and goal of life in Christ. Stay alert, stay awake, and center yourself on Christ.

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?

November 06, 2023 14:19 - 18 minutes - 13.1 MB

In the Book of Revelation, we see a vision of the heavenly throne room with a myriad of worshippers dressed in white. A messenger asks, “Who are these people?” They are the saints. They are largely unknown because they worship one who is largely unknown. Who are the saints of God? It is a good and relevant question…

FREE INDEED

October 30, 2023 13:49 - 16 minutes - 11.6 MB

In a world where we constantly look back to the good ol’ days, we can become trapped by that nostalgia. It is easy to look back to our past, especially on Reformation Sunday, when we celebrate Martin Luther and the reformation he ignited, and get trapped with looking back. Christ calls us to be free and then sets us free to live and love and grieve in this world. Jeremiah 31:31-34 | Romans 3:19-28 | John 8:31-36

THE POLITICS OF FAITH

October 23, 2023 13:23 - 27 minutes - 19.5 MB

Faith and politics, it has been said by some, should never go together. The truth is that being faithful will lead us into political waters. Jesus says: “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21) - a very political statement. Paul calls on the name of the “Lord Jesus Christ” in direct opposition to the claim that “Caesar is Lord” in I Thessalonians 1:1 - Another political statement. How do we allow Jesus Christ to b...

THE KING'S INVITATION

October 16, 2023 14:00 - 12 minutes - 8.99 MB

'Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice.' In a world marked by turmoil and trials, the call to find joy may seem daunting. It might even seem as an empty platitude, but the Apostle Paul knows there is reason to rejoice – as Jesus explains it in our Gospel reading for today.   Isaiah 25:1-9 | Philippians 4:1-9 | Matthew 22:1-14

WILD GRAPES

October 09, 2023 13:58 - 17 minutes - 12.5 MB

Wild grapes are good for nothing. They are sour and inedible. You can’t make wine or jelly with them. Birds won’t even eat them. The prophet Isaiah declares that God planted God’s people to yield the grapes of justice, mercy, peace, and grace. Instead, they became wild grapes, producing nothing but violence, injustice, and cries for God’s help. We too receive God’s richest blessings but end up being wild grapes. What are we to do?  

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

October 02, 2023 13:44 - 18 minutes - 13.9 MB

Jesus comes to Jerusalem acting in ways that disrupt. The officials want to know who he thinks he is. He turns the question around on them. If they say they are faithful people of God, why do they not do the work he does? Knowing who we are determines how we live our lives.

Mercy within Mercy within Mercy

September 25, 2023 13:38 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MB

We all have a keen sense of fairness. It is ingrained in us. We don’t like when people get more than us, especially if we do the same amount of work. Jonah and Jesus show us today the generosity of God, and if we’re honest with ourselves, we don’t always like the generosity of God. Jonah 3:10--4:11, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16

FORGIVENESS AND RESURRECTION

September 18, 2023 14:03 - 17 minutes - 13 MB

Peter asks if forgiving someone seven times is sufficient. Since many of us find forgiving someone once a stretch, Peter was generous. Jesus, however, called for more. He says, “Seventy-seven times” or “Seven times seventy.” Given the symbolic nature of the number seven, the point is to forgive endlessly. Perhaps forgiveness is more than a duty or obligation. Just maybe forgiveness is the power of the resurrection raising dead relationships to new life.

I'M OFFENDED

September 10, 2023 17:27 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MB

There I am minding my own business, just trying to get through this thing called life, and I didn’t realize I was supposed to be offended – at least until someone told me that I should be offended.  Amidst all the offense, we realize that words matter and words have power. Today, Jesus tells us “for where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Those spoken words are powerful.

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

September 05, 2023 14:22 - 20 minutes - 14.3 MB

These are instructions from Jesus for all who wish to follow him. What does that look like? Putting to death all that keeps us from living as Christ in this world is also trusting in the new life Christ offers. Every day is full of countless crosses we must take up to become what God calls us to be.

WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?

August 28, 2023 13:09 - 15 minutes - 11 MB

Today Jesus asks his disciples a pointed question – "Who do you say that I am?" They have witnessed all the miracles and still wonder who this man they are following is. Jesus also asks us the same question. If we get the answer right, then we rightly know ourselves.

FEEDING THE DOGS

August 21, 2023 13:09 - 19 minutes - 14.3 MB

When Jesus encounters a Canaanite woman begging him to heal her daughter his response is, at best, curious. It seems offensive. He calls her a dog who is unworthy to eat at the table. To say this is out of character for Jesus seems obvious. But what if Jesus is not grumpy, but (as he is all the time in Matthew) in teaching mode? What if this story has a deep message that spoke to the disciples then and speaks to us today?

HAVE A LITTLE FAITH IN ME

August 14, 2023 13:59 - 22 minutes - 16.4 MB

“Being saved” in our age seems restricted to concern over where we go when we die. It is more than that, according to scripture. We’re so concerned about heaven because we are so afraid of death. Faith saves us from our fear and sets us free today, while we live, not just when we die. Elijah is saved from his fear, Peter walks on the water because fear is overcome. They are saved because God is as close as their lips and heart.

TABLES

August 07, 2023 13:34 - 19 minutes - 13.3 MB

Jesus retreats to the wilderness to be alone as he processes the death of John the Baptist. It was at a table that John’s execution was decided. A table full of death and chaos. It is a stark contrast to the feeding of the thousands that happen in today’s gospel reading. Here in the wilderness, Jesus feeds the people with five loaves and two fish. And they eat until they are full. A life-giving meal in a world that is so full of anything that isn’t life giving.

IF GOD IS FOR US

July 31, 2023 13:31 - 20 minutes - 14.8 MB

It seems we spend a lot of time assuming that the universe is set against us. Fear is the default posture of all of us who are always on defense against the next threat. What if, however, God is for us? That is Paul’s question. If God is for us, who (or what) can be against us? This leads to a life that overcomes fear and allows for joy. That is something more valuable than anything else, isn’t it?

WHEAT AND WEEDS

July 24, 2023 13:36 - 15 minutes - 11.6 MB

Jesus uses a parable about weeds and wheat to address the presence of good and evil in the world. What do we do about evil empires, bad church members, and sinful people (weeds)? Jesus says let them be because it is beyond our wisdom to know the difference between good and evil even in our own lives. So what is a person to do?

THE SOWER

July 17, 2023 13:54 - 15 minutes - 11.2 MB

It is easy to focus on the soil in today’s reading from the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower and then explains it. He talks about four different kinds of soil. Human nature is to focus on the different soil types and how they would describe ourselves or others. The good news here is that the parable is not about the soil, but about the sower.

VOICES

July 09, 2023 15:09 - 15 minutes - 10.9 MB

There are a lot of voices in our world that continually weigh us down. There are happenings in the world that can weigh heavily upon us. There are times when the burdens of this life get to be more than we can handle. Jesus has some good advice for those of us that have heavy burdens.

GOOD NEWS. BAD NEWS.

July 03, 2023 13:00 - 16 minutes - 12.2 MB

The Church is called to proclaim the Gospel – which means Good News. The paradox is that sometimes the good news can sound like bad news and vice versa. The prophet Jeremiah spent a lifetime declaring the good news, and it always sounded like bad news to the people who listened. He didn’t tell them what they wanted to hear. He declared that judgment was necessary if they were to become more and more God’s people. The same is true for us.

DEAD TO SIN. ALIVE TO GOD.

June 26, 2023 13:48 - 16 minutes - 12.1 MB

The Israelites were set free from slavery in Egypt by God’s grace. That was not the end of the story. In the wilderness they were formed by faith to be the people God called them to be. As Christians, we are set free from our slavery to the sin, evil, and darkness of this world. Paul says we die to those things in baptism. That is not the end of the story. We are raised from the waters of baptism to be formed by faith to be the people God made us to be. 

GO AND PROCLAIM

June 19, 2023 13:36 - 17 minutes - 12.7 MB

In today’s Gospel, Jesus has some challenging words for his followers. It can make us nervous when we read the list of things on our to-do list. Go and cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Go and touch. Go and heal. Go and resurrect. Go and make peace. Go and render believable the compassion of God. But we are not sent alone. Jesus promises us that we are not alone and the Spirit of God will be with us wherever we go.

MERCY

June 12, 2023 13:34 - 16 minutes - 11.5 MB

The Pharisees in today’s Gospel lesson ask Jesus’ disciples why he tolerates the presence of tax collectors and sinners at his table. In response, Jesus tells the Pharisees to learn what it this means, “‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.” And then Jesus proceeds to show them what mercy looks like.

OUT OF CHAOS

June 05, 2023 14:07 - 21 minutes - 15.5 MB

The world is a chaotic place. The God of love, the Holy Trinity, brought creation out of chaos and sustains that movement to this day. The God of love, the Holy Trinity, brought peace and joy out of the conflict and chaos of the congregation at Corinth. That same God is at work in the midst of the chaotic world we inhabit today.

COME, HOLY SPIRIT!

May 30, 2023 13:51 - 18 minutes - 13.3 MB

On this Day of Pentecost, we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit upon God’s people through the power of the resurrected Jesus. The Spirit comes in a mighty wind and flame of fire. It also comes as a word of peace and a breath. The Holy Spirit is the source of our life in Christ and it is persistent, powerful, and even pesky. Come Holy Spirit!

SUFFERING

May 22, 2023 14:58 - 20 minutes - 14.6 MB

The struggle to make sense of suffering – and to escape it – is woven into the fabric of human existence. We ask, “Where was God when I suffered?” or “I pray to God, and I still suffer. Why?” The truth is that suffering is unavoidable. Some suffering is of our own making. Some is part of our being. Some happens when we encounter the reality of chaos and death. In this last case, the cross and resurrection of Christ provides answers.

ABANDONED?

May 15, 2023 14:26 - 17 minutes - 12.4 MB

We go through life trying to find meaning and purpose, and we often try to find that in the things that ultimately will not give us meaning and purpose. We might ask the question "Is there more to life than this?" We might wonder if we are loved. 

LIVING STONES

May 08, 2023 13:55 - 17 minutes - 12.5 MB

The back wall of our chancel (the place of the altar) is made of limestone. Each stone is unique, stacked into a wall. If those stones could talk, what would they say? But they can’t talk – they are “dead” stones. First Peter says that we, the people of God, are “living stones” built into a temple that lives and breathes. What does that mean?

THE VOICE OF THE SHEPHERD

May 01, 2023 13:53 - 18 minutes - 13.2 MB

Jesus says that his “sheep” know his voice. There are, however, lots of other voices that compete for our attention. How do we know the voice of our Lord? He speaks the language of love.

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD

April 24, 2023 13:27 - 17 minutes - 12 MB

The disciples on the road to Emmaus fail to see Jesus when he is standing right in front of them. I want to think that I would recognize Jesus if he was standing in front of me, but the truth is that I would most likely be like the disciples. My expectations would blind me, or all the things of this world would blind me. Jesus helps them recognize him. He takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to all to eat. Just like he has done in the past and continues to do. Jesus walks with us...

GRIEVING, AFRAID, FULL OF DOUBT

April 17, 2023 13:56 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MB

Some might be surprised that a preacher feels the weight of grief, wrestles with fear, and sits in the dreary confines of doubt. You shouldn’t be. Preachers are all too human. Sometimes all a preacher can offer is a path into God’s Word where we find those who grieve, like Mary Magdalene; those who fear like the disciples; those who can’t believe like Thomas. Then together we can see what Jesus has to say to us.  

RAISED WITH CHRIST

April 09, 2023 22:31 - 21 minutes - 15.4 MB

Paul asserts that we “have been raised with Christ.” (Colossians 3:1). He does not say, “You shall be raised,” or “You might be raised.”  Resurrection is a present reality for us today. What does that look like?

Good Friday Sermon

April 08, 2023 01:31 - 12 minutes - 9.15 MB

The Good Friday sermon given by Pastor Travis Segar.

Maundy Thursday Sermon

April 08, 2023 01:23 - 15 minutes - 10.8 MB

The Maundy Thursday sermon given by Pastor Tim Olson.

PARADES

April 03, 2023 14:25 - 16 minutes - 12.1 MB

We all love a good parade. Today, we hear about Jesus’ parade into Jerusalem. At the same time as Jesus’ parade, there is another one occurring on the other side of the city. The Romans are marching in to ensure law and order are maintained during Passover. And just as then, we are faced with the choice of which parade to attend. Which parade do we join? Jesus’ or Pilate’s?  

CAN THESE BONES LIVE?

March 27, 2023 13:48 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MB

The prophet, Ezekiel, sees a valley of dry bones and God asks, “Can these bones live?” We may respond, “No. Life is hard and then you die.” Death seems to get the final word. Yet, God has something else in mind as dry bones become Spirit-filled people. Jesus raises Lazarus from death. In baptism, we die to sin, evil, and death to live as resurrection people.