Messages from the King
279 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago -Sermons from King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, FL - For more information, visit VisitKoK.com. #ConnectWithTheKing
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Episodes
1.28.24 - Know Jesus, Know Joy: Know Whom You're Following (Mark 1:21-28)
March 06, 2024 16:00 - 13 minutes - 9.63 MBAuthority is the power to determine what happens, the ability to give direction or even commands. Authority is limited. Authority is limited in duration. Parents have authority over their children until they grow up and move out. Authority is limited in scope. A governor has authority over the people of his state only, not the neighboring state. Authority is limited by levels. A manager has authority over employees unless the company owner—a higher authority—demotes him. Authority is limited...
1.21.24 - Know Jesus, Know Joy: Motivated by Christ's Love (2 Corinthians 5:14-21)
January 31, 2024 15:00 - 14 minutes - 10.3 MBTo whom does the work of salvation belong? Simple question. There is only one Savior. But this is how good Jesus is. So that our lives might have profound meaning and eternal purpose, he shares some of that work with us. He calls us not just to be followers, but to be follower-makers. Jesus asks some—prophets, apostles, pastors, missionaries, teachers—to do this full time. But ultimately Jesus asks all believers to serve as his ambassadors, sharing the gospel with whomever he brings into our...
1.14.24 - Know Jesus, Know Joy: Baptized into a New Life in Christ (Romans 6:1-11)
January 31, 2024 14:00 - 18 minutes - 12.5 MBAt his baptism in the Jordan River Jesus was publicly anointed with the Holy Spirit and designated by God the Father as his chosen Messiah. Thus, Jesus’ baptism was the beginning of his public ministry. Jesus’ baptism revealed that he was not just a nice guy who could make a sturdy table. He was God’s chosen servant, the one who had come to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. Jesus is the one willing to stand in our place as our substitute and Savior. Jesus’ baptism reveals to us who ...
1.7.24 - Good News of Great Joy: The Light of the World Shines Brightly (Matthew 2:1-12)
January 29, 2024 15:00 - 14 minutes - 10.1 MBOn Christmas Eve the angel told the shepherds, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10). One wonders if those words struck those Jewish shepherds as odd. For centuries, God had given special attention to one nation—Israel. There were Jewish religious leaders who taught that only members of that special people would be saved. Not according to the Christmas angel! The birth of the Savior was good news for all people. Today we celebrate the Epiphany of ...
12.31.23 - Good News of Great Joy: Sing a New Song in the New Year! (Luke 2:22-40)
January 29, 2024 15:00 - 16 minutes - 11.5 MBOn Christmas Eve a choir of angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace, goodwill toward mankind.” So, where is this peace on earth? Between nations? There are always wars going on somewhere. In our country? Disagreements have only grown more contentious, one group screaming angrily at another group. We might not even have perfect peace in our homes! So, what were the angels singing about? They were singing about peace between a holy God who hates sin and human bein...
12.10.23 - Confident in Christ Forever (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
January 18, 2024 15:00 - 13 minutes - 9.07 MBWe find lasting comfort in Jesus, who gives us confidence in his life, death, and resurrection. This message was preached for the Christian Victory Service of Garnet Haggerty on 10 December 2023 @ King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, FL. The Bible reading for this message is 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Video of this worship service and message can be found here. Support the show Messages from the King is produced by King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, FL. To find out more about ...
12.10.23 - The King Shall Come: Expect the Unexpected (2 Peter 3:8-14)
January 14, 2024 01:00 - 16 minutes - 11.4 MBScriptures teach that King Jesus is the Son of God in flesh and the only hope for salvation. Jesus himself claimed that he is the only way into the glorious kingdom of heaven. You do not approach meeting someone like that casually or carelessly. You prepare meticulously. What does that mean? What does a life of readiness—ready to meet such a King—look like? In one word: repentance. If we insist on hanging onto our sins, how can we receive the One who came for the very purpose of taking those...
12.3.23 - The King Shall Come: Hosanna to the Coming King! (Mark 11:1-10)
January 06, 2024 19:00 - 14 minutes - 10.2 MBRulers plan and administrate and govern. They typically do not save. If your house is on fire, it will not be the mayor who shows up to save you from the flames. If America were attacked, the President would serve as the commander in chief of the armed forces. The President would not pick up a weapon, go to the front lines, and fight to save you from the enemy. Jesus is different. He is both infinitely greater than all other rulers, yet also infinitely humbler. He does not consider it benea...
12.17.23 - The King Shall Come: The King Comes to Give Gifts of Joy (Isaiah 61:1-3, 10-11)
January 06, 2024 19:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBThe historic Christian Church gave Latin titles to each Sunday. They titled the Third Sunday in Advent “Gaudete,” which means “Rejoice!” As we reach the midway point of Advent, we remember that when the King shall come, he will bring us perfect and everlasting joy. Joy is not the same thing as happiness. Happiness is an emotion. Joyfulness is a condition. Happiness comes from your circumstances. Joyfulness comes from your King entering into your heart and assuring you of his abiding love a...
11.26.23 - The Time in Between: What a Day It Will Be! (Matthew 25:31-46)
December 09, 2023 21:00 - 16 minutes - 11.3 MBConsider the Christian man whose body aches from both the cancer and the chemo. Look at that faithful old woman, back arched by time, fingers twisted by arthritis, eyes close to blindness. These believers may pray for death, precisely because they know that for the children of God, death is not the end of life. Death is the end of sorrow and pain. They yearn for the end of those things, and the beginning of their perfect eternity with Jesus. We have come to the end of the Church Year. It is...
11.19.23 - The Time in Between: Faithfully Serving (Romans 12:1-8)
December 02, 2023 16:00 - 16 minutes - 11.1 MBAs we wait for Christ to return, we are not to be sedentary. The reason Christ has not yet returned is that there is still work to be done. And Christ carries out his good work through us, his Church. So, until Christ comes again and says, “Stop!” believers will be busy with faithful service. Christ has given every believer gifts and talents. And when Christ entrusts us with those gifts and talents, he calls us to use them all for his glory. In the time between Christ’s first and second comi...
11.12.23 - The Time in Between: Watching and Waiting (Matthew 25:1-13)
December 02, 2023 15:00 - 16 minutes - 11.1 MBImagine you are planning to take the family out to dinner. You all have to wait on someone to get ready. Minute after minute passes. What can happen in that situation? It is easy to focus on something else and completely forget the original goal. When that family member is finally ready, you’ve become immersed in a movie. Or perhaps, as you were waiting, you grew drowsy and fell asleep. As we wait for Christ to return, as day after day passes, it can be easy to get distracted, to lose vigi...
11.5.23 - The Time in Between: Safe at Last (Revelation 7:9-17)
November 18, 2023 20:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBChildbearing is an excruciating process. Yet each day countless women, wanting a baby, willingly become pregnant. This shows that pain can be endured if we know it is temporary and that happier times come immediately after. Likewise, the time in between Christ’s first and second coming are going to be full of hardship, especially for believers. How do we bear it? We remember that this is temporary. Happier times are coming! That truth is made crystal clear on this Festival of All Saints. To...
10.29.23 - In Christ Alone Our Hope Is Found (Daniel 6:10-12, 16-23)
November 11, 2023 19:00 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MBThroughout the history of the church, the story of faithfulness to the Word of God has always been the story of persecution. After all, Jesus promised that it would happen! So where will we find hope? Ourselves? Others? Political rulers who lean our way? Cultural movements? All of these will fail us, even ourselves. Instead, by faith, we look to Christ our Savior, who is our help, our life, our hope. What comfort that was for Martin Luther and the Reformers as they faced persecution, reject...
10.22.23 - When the Lord Provides the Opportunity (Acts 8:26-39)
November 04, 2023 19:00 - 16 minutes - 11.1 MBFor the past few weeks, Jesus has told us stories about his kingdom, about following him, about life with him. Yet what will we tell others about him? When Jesus told that trio of stories, he did so on the Tuesday of Holy Week. Mere days later, Jesus would give his life on a cross. Three days after that, he would take that life back up again by rising from the dead. Why did Jesus do all that? Why come into our world in the first place? Why live a perfect life in a world so opposed to him? Wh...
10.15.23 - Tell Us a Story: You Are Invited (Matthew 22:1-14)
November 04, 2023 19:00 - 16 minutes - 11.1 MBThere are invitations we might be tempted to reject: an invitation to an event you are not interested in, an invitation to a party that takes place at the same time as something else you want to do. There are other invitations which people would say you’ve lost your mind to reject: an invitation to go on a free tropical vacation, an invitation to go backstage and meet your favorite musical group, an invitation to the Super Bowl. We get so many invitations. Some we accept; others we reject. ...
10.08.23 - Tell Us a Story: God's Patient Love (Matthew 21:33-43)
October 28, 2023 21:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MBPatience is a virtue. But can too much patience be a vice? If you are too patient, waiting to see if that pain in your stomach goes away with time, you might make a problem worse. If you are too patient with an incompetent employee, you will lose productivity before the inevitable—his firing—occurs anyway. Too much patience would seem not to be a virtue, but reckless behavior. Yet that is exactly what God demonstrates to a rebellious human race—reckless patience. Through a story Jesus teac...
10.01.23 - Tell Us a Story: Let's Be Real (Matthew 21:23-32)
October 27, 2023 00:00 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MBYou have maybe heard the accusation or perhaps even made it yourself: “He’s so fake!” That charge claims someone’s friendliness or kindness is a sham. Such insincerity bothers us. We would generally rather someone be honest about how they feel about us than be fake. Through a story Jesus teaches us that God feels the same. God doesn’t want us to simply go through religious motions like some sort of show. He sees right through that. God’s desire is that our repentance would demonstrate since...
9.24.23 - God's Love Isn't Fair (Jonah 3:10-4:11)
October 15, 2023 02:00 - 16 minutes - 11.6 MBWhen you look at the world around us, it’s easy to think that life isn’t fair. Some suffer though they seem to have no reason or explanation for it. Others have to deal with the consequences of the actions or decisions of others. Still others do not receive the justice they deserve. We all have an incredibly strong sense of fairness. That is why it can be so perplexing when we see how God dispenses blessing and grace. We see people who mock God who are more prosperous than believers. We see ...
9.17.23 - The Church God Wants - Am I in the Place of God? (Genesis 50:15-21)
October 07, 2023 20:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MB“Pay it forward.” That phrase means that when someone does something for you, instead of paying that person back directly, you pass along kindness to another person instead. Doing something kind for someone else is a way of thanking the person who originally did something kind for you. Today God applies that concept to forgiveness. God forgave our countless sins. He was willing to pay an incomprehensible price—the death of his Son. Obviously, we will never have occasion do the same for God....
9.10.23 - The Church God Wants - For the Sake of My Brother's Soul (Galatians 2:11-16)
September 29, 2023 18:00 - 18 minutes - 12.4 MBImagine, late one night, you notice the house across the street is on fire. You see no activity inside. You say to yourself, “Pounding on the door in the middle of the night might scare the family. I’m sure they’ll realize what’s going on eventually.” Ridiculous! You would never do that! To let a family sleep while flames surround them would be cruel. Your inaction would make you a killer. The truth is you would pound on their door at 3 am, screaming. You would throw a brick through their fr...
9.3.23 - The Church God Wants - Christians Don't Get What They Deserve (Jeremiah 15:15-21)
September 23, 2023 19:00 - 15 minutes - 10.9 MBSome churches teach that if one follows God, God responds by granting prosperity and peace. Today Jesus teaches that is nonsense. The Son of God tells us that if we are his disciple, if we are part of his Church, we will have to bear crosses. Believers will suffer in this world, oftentimes for no other reason than they are believers. It is painful to struggle against the temptations and priorities of this world. It can be agonizing to face the same scorn and ridicule Jesus faced. Why bothe...
8.27.23 - The Church God Wants - Proclaiming the Name of Jesus (Exodus 34:5-9)
September 16, 2023 16:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBJesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” Make no mistake. That is the most important question in the world. And it is a question every human must answer. A complimentary answer can still be dead wrong. Some in Jesus’ day thought he was John the Baptist or the prophet Elijah come back from the dead. Complimentary, but dead wrong. Today plenty of people believe Jesus existed. They believe he was a wise teacher or a role model for love. Complimentary, but dead wrong if missing the main point. ...
8.25.23 - Build Your Marriage on the Best Foundation (Matthew 7:24-27)
September 15, 2023 16:00 - 11 minutes - 7.65 MBHow do you start a marriage off right? Build it on Christ! This message was preached for the Christian Marriage of Lauren Mittiga and Tom Faber on 25 August 2023 @ King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, FL. The Bible reading for this message is Matthew 7:24-27. Support the show Messages from the King is produced by King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, FL. To find out more about King of Kings... Please visit VisitKoK.com Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/visitkok) ...
8.20.23 - The Church God Wants - Brought Together by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:13-22)
September 15, 2023 16:00 - 18 minutes - 13.1 MB“All are welcome!” Is that true at our church? Historically, it rarely is true. In the gospels, the average Jewish person would have thought it odd, even offensive, if someone who wasn’t an Israelite walked into their place of worship. Taking it a step further, some of the Jewish religious leaders would imply that church was meant for those who zealously followed religious customs and traditions. Those were “good church folk.” So church was meant for people of the right heritage and who beha...
8.13.23 - Define: Christian - Keep Your Eyes on Me! (Matthew 14:22-33)
September 09, 2023 20:00 - 17 minutes - 11.8 MBWherever faith clings to the promises of God, doubt is always lingering in the back of our mind, constantly asking the serpent’s garden question, “Did God really say?” How striking to think that one must have faith in God before it is even possible to doubt him! It is not uncommon that, in times of aversity, doubt rears its ugly head—doubts about God’s care, God’s promises, God’s providence. In those times, the true answer to doubt is not found in some great miracle that removes adversity,...
8.6.23 - Define: Christian - With Jesus There are Always Leftovers (Matthew 14:13-21)
September 08, 2023 18:00 - 18 minutes - 12.4 MBThe hardest times to trust in God are the times we need him most. It’s easy to trust God when your job is great, your health is fine, your relationships are strong, your family is well. It’s easy to trust God when the sun is shining, but what happens when your life is suddenly overshadowed by dark days? When tragedy or conflict affect us, we may wonder if God continues to care and provide for us. At those times the Christian focuses on certain foundational facts. The Christian was chosen, ...
7.30.23 - Define: Christian - How to Identify a Believer (Psalm 63)
September 02, 2023 18:00 - 19 minutes - 13.3 MBWhat do you consider your life’s priorities? If you made a list, what would be near the top? Faith, family, and friends would probably head the lists of many. Financial security and health would be right up there. Reputation and recreation would likely make the cut. But perhaps a more interesting question than “What do you consider your life’s priorities?” is “Which of the items on that list would you be willing to sacrifice to save your top priority?” What if you had to give up the whole li...
7.23.23 - Define: Christian - The Christian Lives as Wheat Among Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)
August 27, 2023 01:00 - 16 minutes - 11.4 MBThe wheat that grows in the Middle East is a variety that looks much like wild grass or weeds. It is difficult to tell wheat and weeds apart until shortly before harvest time, when the wheat stalks develop a head containing the kernels of grain. Try and pull the weeds out of a wheat field and you will likely pull up a fair amount of wheat accidentally. So you need to wait for the harvest to separate wheat from weeds. This week Jesus uses that image to illustrate life this side of heaven. C...
7.15.23 - Home with Jesus (John 14:1-7)
August 11, 2023 15:00 - 12 minutes - 8.44 MBWe find lasting comfort in Jesus, who has prepared a heavenly home for us. This message was preached for the Christian Victory Service of Sharon Coombs on 15 July 2023 @ King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, FL. The Bible reading for this message is John 14:1-7. Video of this worship service and message can be found here. Support the show Messages from the King is produced by King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, FL. To find out more about King of Kings... Please visit VisitKoK...
7.16.23 - Define: Christian - The Christian is Planted by the Word (Matthew 13:1-9 18-23)
August 11, 2023 15:00 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MBPlanting seed by hand can seem magical. In your hand the seed looks insignificant and lifeless. Yet you put the seed into the soil, and the natural process of life begins. All by itself, the seed germinates and sprouts and reaches to the sun. Except when it doesn’t! Plant multiple seeds and often only some, perhaps just a small amount, will sprout. As these few sprouts grow, birds and pests and weeds and weather attack. The reality is that once the seed leaves your hand, you are at the mercy...
7.16.23 - Define: Christian - The Christian is Planted by the Word (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23)
August 11, 2023 15:00 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MBPlanting seed by hand can seem magical. In your hand the seed looks insignificant and lifeless. Yet you put the seed into the soil, and the natural process of life begins. All by itself, the seed germinates and sprouts and reaches to the sun. Except when it doesn’t! Plant multiple seeds and often only some, perhaps just a small amount, will sprout. As these few sprouts grow, birds and pests and weeds and weather attack. The reality is that once the seed leaves your hand, you are at the mercy...
7.9.23 - Define: Christian - The Christian Finds Rest In Jesus (Matthew 11:25-30)
August 05, 2023 19:00 - 18 minutes - 13.1 MBWithout rest, we suffer. Studies show that after 36 hours without sleep, most people will experience extreme fatigue and hormonal imbalances, resulting in decreased attention, poor decisions, and even speech impairment. Other studies show if someone takes no breaks during their workday, their productivity is lower than those who do take periodic breaks. We need rest. Christians know they need more than sleep or breaks. We need more than physical rest. We need spiritual rest. The Christian ...
6.25.23 - The Holy Ministry: Our Joyful Partnership in the Gospel (Philippians 1:3-11)
July 28, 2023 21:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBJune 25 marks the day in 1530 when God-fearing leaders took their stand for the gospel and presented their confession of faith before Emperor Charles V in Augsburg, Germany. Even more than October 31, this day marks the birth of the Lutheran Church. Centered in Christ and focused on the free gift of salvation by grace through faith, the Augsburg Confession continues to shape what we believe, teach, and confess today. The Bible reading for this message is Philippians 1:3-11. This is Part ...
6.18.23 - The Holy Ministry: A Savior's Love Sees and Sends (Matthew 9:35-10:8)
July 22, 2023 19:00 - 17 minutes - 12.1 MB“When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them” (Matthew 9:36). The Greek word translated “compassion” refers to a type of love that almost overwhelms one’s emotions. Imagine a father looking at his little girl lying in a hospital bed near death. The father’s heart aches. That father would allow the surgeon to cut any organ out of him, without anesthesia, and transplant it into his daughter, if that’s what it took to save his little girl’s life. That’s the idea behind the Greek word ...
6.11.23 - The Holy Ministry: Barnabas Was a Good Man (Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3)
July 15, 2023 21:00 - 20 minutes - 13.8 MBWhat does God provide to his ministers to carry out their work. While the Spirit gives different gifts to each individual believer, only one gift changes hearts and strengthens faith—the gospel. That’s the reason why those who serve in the holy ministry are called “ministers of the gospel.” The gospel first gives life to those who serve in ministry, and then those ministers use the gospel in Word and Sacraments to change the lives of others. That gospel of the love of Christ encourages and c...
6.4.23 - Now What? (Matthew 28:16-20)
July 08, 2023 21:00 - 17 minutes - 11.8 MBIn the first half of the Church Year (Advent through Pentecost) we look at the life of Christ—his birth, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension, and the sending of the Holy Spirit. In the second half of the year, we look at the teachings of Christ. We begin by looking at one of the most mind-blowing truths: that God is triune. Already in the very first chapter of the Bible we read, “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image…” (Genesis 1:26). Note the singular “God” and the plural ...
5.28.23 - He Lives! - The Holy Spirit Gives Gifts to His Church (1 Corinthians 12:3-11)
June 22, 2023 21:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBFifty days after the Passover, God’s Old Testament people celebrated Pentecost (Greek for “fifty”). Pentecost commemorated the gathering of the harvest and was also used to remember the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai, the start of the Church of Israel. Christ chose Pentecost to be the birthday of his New Testament Church too. By pouring out his Holy Spirit, Christ empowered the Church to gather in the great harvest of souls won by the Son. Pentecost is the third great festival of the Church...
5.21.23 - He Lives! - Jesus Lives to Help Us Remember (Luke 24:44-53)
June 17, 2023 19:00 - 15 minutes - 7.01 MBWe understand why God became man in the person of Christ. The Savior needed to be able to suffer and die to atone for mankind’s sin. What is fascinating is that when the work of redemption was completed, the Son of God did not set aside his humanity. The God-man ascended into heaven. It is a human, our brother, who sits on heaven’s throne. The ascension marks the completion of Jesus’ earthly mission, but it does not signify the end of his work. While on earth, Jesus had set aside so much o...
5.14.23 - He Lives! - Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice! (John 14:15-21)
June 11, 2023 11:00 - 16 minutes - 11.5 MB“The LORD God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die’” (Genesis 2:16,17). In giving that command, God showed love to man by making it clear that it is lethal to live contrary to God’s will. In giving that command, God provided man with the ability to demonstrate love for God—through obedience. True love involves obedience. Jesus did not simply sa...
5.7.23 - He Lives! - Jesus Gives Us Exclusive Access (John 14:1-11)
June 08, 2023 02:00 - 16 minutes - 11.6 MBThe gospel is the most inclusive message in the world. The benefits of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are meant for every man, woman, and child who ever lived. The gospel is also the most exclusive message in the world, for it maintains that salvation can only be found in one place—the person of Jesus Christ. Just listen to how Jesus speaks: “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus doesn’t say, “I will show you the true way to eternal life.” The prophets and a...
4.30.23 - He Lives! - The Shepherd Is the Door (John 10:1-10)
June 06, 2023 02:00 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MBEvery culture has the concept of an ideal citizen, someone who typifies its values. For much of the United States’ history, the ideal citizen was the American farmer: hardworking, innovative, vital to our collective well-being. Even some of our first presidents were farmers. For the people of Israel, the farmer wasn’t their ideal citizen. It was the shepherd. Sheep were an invaluable source of clothing and food. But they were hard to keep in the Judean countryside. Its sparse grasslands ar...
4.23.23 - He Lives! - Jesus Restores Our Hope (Luke 24:13-35)
May 28, 2023 03:00 - 22 minutes - 15.2 MBImagine someone you love is near death. Their only hope of survival is a risky brain surgery, one so complicated only one surgeon in the state will attempt it. The surgery is scheduled. But as that doctor drives to the hospital, he is killed in a car accident. Any hope you had for your loved one’s salvation died along with that surgeon. That is how Jesus’ disciples felt after his death. “We hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel,” they said (Luke 24:19). Their hope for a b...
4.16.23 - He Lives! - Jesus Lives to Give Me Proof and Peace! (1 Peter 1:3-9)
May 13, 2023 18:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBThomas had been taught and trained by Christ himself. He heard Jesus predict his death and resurrection. Yet, even after hearing the eyewitness testimony of friends, who all saw the resurrected Jesus, Thomas had doubts: "Rising from the dead. That can’t be possible!" Today is a day of great comfort for any follower of Jesus who wrestles with doubt concerning Christ’s promises or doubts about God’s Word. Jesus does not come to rebuke Thomas’ weak faith. Jesus comes to strengthen Thomas’ fait...
4.9.23 - He Lives! - Jesus Lives for You! (Matthew 28:1-10)
May 10, 2023 17:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBA dead Jesus would do no one any good. But a resurrected Jesus? That would change everything; that would make Easter the most important event that has ever happened. Today God wants us to know with certainty that Jesus lives. If Jesus lives, then we will too! Christ is risen indeed! Mankind is redeemed! Jesus has removed the fear of eternal death. Jesus has transformed physical death. It is not punitive. For the believer, it is the pathway into Paradise. Jesus has made us spiritually alive ...
4.9.23 - He Lives! - It's Time to Rejoice! (Isaiah 12:1-6)
May 08, 2023 11:00 - 12 minutes - 8.62 MBChrist is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Today we no longer see a crucified and dying Savior. No, the tomb is empty, and we hear the angels joyfully proclaim, “He is not here; He has risen!” Christ has overcome death! Our Savior is alive! With our Easter celebrations today, we conclude the larger celebration of our deliverance in Christ that started on Thursday evening and continued through Good Friday. Rejoice! Sins are forgiven! Guilt is gone! Our relationship with God has now been m...
4.7.23 - Our Greatest Needs: The Perfect Sacrifice (Isaiah 53:5-6)
May 07, 2023 01:00 - 15 minutes - 11 MBSalvation requires a perfect savior. Though Jesus faced endless temptation, “He did not sin.” Jesus was the first and only human being who lived a perfect life. Therefore, he is the only person who did not deserve to die. Yet, today Jesus dies on a cross. “He was pierced for our transgressions,” Scripture says. Note the singular “he” and the plural “our.” If Jesus were just a perfect man, his sacrifice would only have been enough to pay for the sins of one sinful man. Yet Jesus is more than ...
4.6.23 Our Greatest Needs: A Heavenly Feast Given for You (1 Corinthians 11:23-28)
May 01, 2023 15:00 - 16 minutes - 11.2 MBWe often think of the word communion as a synonym for the Lord’s Supper. “I took communion” means “I received the Lord’s Supper.” Yet, the Latin word communionis means “community” or “association” or “sharing.” When people come together and share their lives with one another, the result is blessing—a blessed communion. When God comes to us and shares himself with us, the result is eternal life. Yet is that really possible? How can a holy God associate with people who sin every day? In a mi...
4.6.23 - Our Greatest Needs: A Heavenly Feast Given for You (1 Corinthians 11:23-28)
May 01, 2023 15:00 - 16 minutes - 11.2 MBWe often think of the word communion as a synonym for the Lord’s Supper. “I took communion” means “I received the Lord’s Supper.” Yet, the Latin word communionis means “community” or “association” or “sharing.” When people come together and share their lives with one another, the result is blessing—a blessed communion. When God comes to us and shares himself with us, the result is eternal life. Yet is that really possible? How can a holy God associate with people who sin every day? In a mi...
4.2.23 Our Greatest Needs: The King Who Brings Peace (Zechariah 9:9-12)
April 28, 2023 00:00 - 13 minutes - 9.59 MBJesus is the King of kings, God and man in one person. He knows you intimately. More! He is willing to do absolutely anything necessary to serve and protect you. We see that this Holy Week. It begins with Jesus riding a donkey colt into Jerusalem—as the prophet foretold. As this week nears its end, Jesus is given a crown of thorns. He carries a cross out of Jerusalem and is nailed to it. Placed on his cross was this sign: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The sign was partially right. J...