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Messages from the King

295 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago -

Sermons from King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, FL - For more information, visit VisitKoK.com.

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Episodes

10.2.22 - Even the Wind and the Sea Obey Him (Mark 4:35-41; Jonah 2:1-9)

October 22, 2022 14:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MB

This weekend we were going to start our new worship series – “Lord, Increase Our Faith,” but the Lord had other plans. Hurricane Ian made a direct hit on the southwest side of our state and plowed its way northeast over our homes and communities here in Central Florida. Tremendous amounts of rain fell from the heavens, causing lakes and waterways to flood homes and communities. Relentless winds knocked down trees and weaker structures, leaving millions without power. Devastation lay in the w...

9.25.22 - Our God Is in the Saving Business (Micah 7:18-20)

October 18, 2022 17:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MB

“It’s just too much.” Maybe there are times when you feel like you’ve wronged someone just one time too many. Maybe there are times when feel like you’ve wandered from a close connection to Christ and his people for far too long. Maybe there are times when your guilt weighs on you that much heavier or your hurt cuts that much more deeply or you feel so broken that you can’t put the pieces back together anymore. In those times, in those seasons of life, we might think to ourselves, “It’s just...

9.23.22 - Psalm 73:23-26 - The Real Source of Gloria's Strength

October 14, 2022 17:00 - 14 minutes - 10 MB

We find lasting comfort in Christ Jesus, our strength and our portion forever. This message was preached for the Christian Victory Service of Gloria Guderyon on 23 September 2022 @ King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, FL. The Bible reading for this message is Psalm 73:23-26. Video of this worship service and message can be found here. Support the show

9.23.22 - The Real Source of Gloria's Strength (Psalm 73:23-26)

October 14, 2022 17:00 - 14 minutes - 10 MB

We find lasting comfort in Christ Jesus, our strength and our portion forever. This message was preached for the Christian Victory Service of Gloria Guderyon on 23 September 2022 @ King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, FL. The Bible reading for this message is Psalm 73:23-26. 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 ...

9.18.22 - Hard Truth: The Source of True Contentment (1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19)

October 08, 2022 20:00 - 18 minutes - 12.4 MB

There are more than 2,300 Bible passages that speak about money. Why? Money is a master Satan frequently tempts us to serve. And that evil foe knows how successful his efforts with money can be. Money provides us with a false comfort and a sense of security. It serves as a source of pride. It serves as a wonderful tool for a favorite pastime: justifying ourselves in our own eyes and the eyes of others. Jesus knows that serving money makes it impossible to serve God. The human heart is not bi...

9.11.22 - Hard Truth: Jesus Welcomes Sinners (Luke 15:1-10)

October 02, 2022 02:00 - 23 minutes - 16.2 MB

“He’s lost.” We use that term not only to refer to someone who is bewildered about where they are but also to refer to someone who is in a helpless, hopeless state. Mankind’s natural state is one of complete spiritual helplessness, a profound lostness. It manifests itself in countless ways. The one who simply wants God to leave him alone: lost. The one who feels she can handle life on her own: lost. The one who thinks he has the right to repent of his sins on his own timetable and on his own...

9.4.22 - Hard Truth: Serving the Lord—A Matter of Life or Death (Deuteronomy 30:15-20)

September 11, 2022 02:00 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MB

It is an unavoidable hard truth. Our relationship with Jesus will put us in situations where we must decide where love for him ranks compared to love for other people and things. And Jesus is not content to be one of many important things in our life; he wants to be first. He wants us to follow his Word unwaveringly, even when he asks us to do difficult things. As a result, following Jesus will force us to let go of things we love and embrace things we would naturally loath. Jesus is loving ...

8.28.22 - Hard Truth: Where Do I Sit? (Luke 14:1,7-14)

September 04, 2022 02:00 - 18 minutes - 12.4 MB

Everyone knows that humility is a positive trait and pride is a negative one. So, why bother talking about what we already know? Because in spite of that knowledge, we still helplessly fall into the trap of pride. We cannot help but think that our ascent to the exalted status we desire is our responsibility. We even take our exaltation into our own hands, either by treating poorly those we believe we can stand on top of or by showing favoritism to those we believe can provide us with upward ...

8.21.22 - Hard Truth: The Narrow Way Is the Only Way (Luke 13:22-30)

August 27, 2022 20:00 - 22 minutes - 15.5 MB

When it comes to the difficult and uncomfortable topic of who goes to heaven and who goes to hell, it is natural to want to avoid the issue. One way we do that is to direct our attention to theoretical questions. “What is heaven like?” “How old will we be there?” Today, someone asks Jesus, “Lord, are only a few going to be saved?” Jesus brushes these questions aside. Instead, he answers the question we should be asking. Rather than talking about how many will be saved, Jesus explains how to ...

8.14.22 - Hard Truth: Keep Going! (Hebrews 12:1-3)

August 21, 2022 00:00 - 22 minutes - 15.6 MB

We often divide humanity into groupings that are not really significant: this ethnic group versus that one, men versus women, wealthy versus the poor. Yet, every ethnic group is under God’s law. That law convicts both men and women of sin. Because of sin, the wealthy and the poor will both die. Only through faith in Christ is sin forgiven and the sting of death removed. God’s Word creates that saving faith, but not in everyone who hears it. Fallen man retains the awful power to resist the wo...

8.7.22 - Focused: Look Forward with Hope (Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16)

August 13, 2022 16:00 - 19 minutes - 13.2 MB

In our last message, Jesus warned us against overvaluing earthly wealth. This week Jesus warns against undervaluing heavenly treasure. Last week, Jesus exposed the folly of greed. This week, Jesus exposes the folly of worry, even when faced with the prospect of having a shortage of earthly wealth. This week might be the bigger challenge! When it seems we lack providence or protection for our daily lives, it can be hard to avoid worry. But Jesus focuses us. He points to creatures that do not ...

7.31.22 - Focused: Filled (Luke 12:13-21)

August 06, 2022 13:00 - 21 minutes - 15.1 MB

Jesus wants focused followers. However, one of the things that can most easily get in the way of our focus is our earthly possessions. It is no surprise, therefore, that Jesus’ words so frequently focus his followers on wealth. Jesus’ followers don’t reject earthly wealth or despise it. They can be grateful for every good gift that comes from the hand of God. However, Jesus’ followers value earthly wealth correctly. They understand what earthly wealth can and cannot do. They don’t give earth...

7.24.22 - Focused: Lord, Teach Us to Pray (Luke 11:1-13)

July 30, 2022 21:00 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MB

In a sense, prayer comes naturally to us. We want so we ask. We hurt so we cry out. We are frustrated so we vent. We are blessed so we give thanks. So we sometimes define prayer as “speaking to God from the heart.” Seems so easy. What does not come naturally, however, is the focused prayer God wants for us. We need focus when it comes to the basis of our prayers. Our prayers are based entirely on the unique and unearned relationship with have with God, our Father. We also need focus when it ...

7.17.22 - Focused: What Do I Need Most? (Luke 10:38-42)

July 23, 2022 18:00 - 22 minutes - 15.5 MB

We call worship a "service.” Which raises the question: who is serving whom? In answering that question, it is easy to focus on what we do in worship. “I set aside time in my week to come to church. I am singing praise to God. I brought him an offering. Clearly, I am serving him.” True enough. However, as God speaks this week, he clarifies our focus, letting us see that worship is primarily about him serving us. Through Word and sacrament, he delivers every spiritual gift he wants us to rece...

7.10.22 - Focused: Unexpected Love (Luke 10:25-37)

July 18, 2022 19:00 - 23 minutes - 16.3 MB

We tend to think of distraction and focus as opposites. If someone is focused, they are not easily distracted by random events and encounters. If someone is focused, every decision about how to spend time and resources is calculated. Apart from Christ that type of focus spells disaster for our neighbor. We may dismiss the needs of our neighbor, thinking, “If I spend time helping him, that will distract me from other things I should be focused on.” Today, Jesus teaches us that he has set us f...

7.03.22 - God's Words Possess God's Power: I Am Sending You Out (Luke 10:1-12, 16-20)

July 16, 2022 19:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MB

Christ has not only given us his powerful Word. In his grace, he gives us ministers who proclaim that Word to us in whatever ways we need at the time: words of comfort, words of instruction, or even words of rebuke. Those who are entrusted with the care of Jesus' flock are expected to shepherd that flock just as Jesus would. They humbly assume that privilege, not to proclaim their own ideas or opinions, but to speak Jesus’ own words. They share Christ’s words, not just when it is welcomed gl...

6.26.22 - God's Words Possess God's Power: Don’t Forget Your Coat! (1 Kings 19:19-21)

July 15, 2022 19:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MB

There’s the type of fan who follows his team if they make the playoffs. Then there’s the type of fan who, regardless of his team’s record, watches every game and knows the stats for every player. There are different types of followers: the half-hearted versus the committed. Jesus is uninterested in half-hearted followers who shoehorn him into their lives only when their other pursuits provide time for the Christ. Jesus wants followers who are all-in… who love him above all things… who would ...

6.19.22 - God's Words Possess God's Power: The Lord Will Rescue Me (Luke 8:26-39)

July 10, 2022 02:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MB

God’s words are so powerful! With only his words, Jesus cured illness and raised the dead. With his words, Jesus created the faith that receives his forgiveness. So we should not be surprised this week when we see that Jesus’ words also have the power to push back the spiritual forces of evil that are in the world. Jesus’ words expose idols as worthless and following idols as self-destructive evil. Jesus’ words are so compelling, even demons must obey them. It is not surprising that God’s wo...

6.12.22 - God's Words Possess God's Power: The Lord Bless You (Numbers 6:22-27)

July 02, 2022 12:00 - 19 minutes - 13.1 MB

The Scriptures never use the words “Trinity” or “triune.” They never even summarize in any single place the entirety of this doctrine. Instead, in the Word, God gives us hints and glimpses of his triune nature. Thus, the doctrine of the Trinity can seem very academic, even abstract. It may seem to have little relevance to our daily lives. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. As God provides those hints and glimpses, his primary focus is on the way in which his triune nature is a bles...

6.5.22 - Victorious: Through the Word (John 14:23-27)

June 05, 2022 21:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MB

How does God deal with mankind? By sending Jesus to be the Word made flesh, God changed the paradigm. Now Jesus has ascended into heaven to represent us before the Father, but what the victory march of the gospel? Has it halted because Jesus is no longer visibly among us? On the Day of Pentecost, Jesus answered that question by pouring out the Holy Spirit to be our constant companion until his return. Yet that begs another question: Where is the Holy Spirit to be found? Where do we go to hea...

5.29.22 - Victorious: To the Ends of the Earth (Acts 1:1-11; Luke 24:44-53)

May 29, 2022 17:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MB

When Jesus ascended into heaven, his work on earth was complete. Yet the ascension of Jesus also marks that his work is just beginning. Through the Church, Jesus now proclaims forgiveness throughout the world. The Church consists of people like us who are often weak and timid witnesses for Christ. For that reason, Jesus promised to send his Spirit to give us power that we might take the gospel to the ends of the earth. The Bible readings for this message are Acts 1:1-11 and Luke 24:44-53. ...

5.22.22 - Victorious: From Weeping Now to Joy Forever (Revelation 21:21-27)

May 22, 2022 16:00 - 22 minutes - 15.7 MB

Easter proves that God can take what normally causes people to weep and turn it into what causes people to rejoice. Sin, death, and shame went into Jesus' tomb. Forgiveness, life, and glory came out. Our risen Savior gives us a joy that remains constant in the highest of life's highs and the lowest of life's lows. It is a joy that can never be taken from us. The Bible reading for this message is Revelation 21:21-27. Video of this worship service and message can be found here. This messag...

5.15.22 - Victorious: From Selfish Glory to Selfless Love (John 13:31-35)

May 15, 2022 17:00 - 19 minutes - 13.8 MB

The disciples argued among themselves about who was "greatest" (Luke 22:24). We are not immune from such hubris. Sinful man is entirely self-focused. We often try and prove our goodness by comparing ourselves to others. You see this sense of superiority in the way we prioritize life, typically putting our wants ahead of others. Easter ends this focus on self. Right now, we know we have value, not because of the greatness of our actions, but because of the great things Christ did to save. We ...

5.8.22 - Victorious: From Empty Words to Fulfilled Works (John 10:22-30)

May 08, 2022 16:00 - 21 minutes - 14.5 MB

The world is full of talkers. There are plenty of people who say they care about you. Yet we are aware of what many of those people will do when it comes time to put those words into action. Jesus tells you in his Word that he cares for you dearly…that he would do anything for you. How do you know you can trust him? Jesus followed up his words with works. Jesus said he would suffer and die for you, so that you might enter Paradise. He fulfilled that promise. Jesus words are followed by works...

5.1.22 - Victorious: From Being Lost to Knowing the Way (John 14:1-14)

May 01, 2022 16:00 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MB

How do you get to heaven? Do you know the way? We all think we do, but by nature, we actually have no idea. Sin blinds every one of us and gets us so desperately lost that we cannot possibly find out way to eternal life, no matter how hard we try. Yet as we commemorate the apostles Philip and James the Younger, the risen Jesus reveals that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—the only way to his Father in heaven and eternal life with him. So with the faithful apostles, we follow Jesus on t...

4.24.22 - Victorious: From Silence to Witness (John 20:19-31)

April 24, 2022 16:00 - 22 minutes - 15.5 MB

The good news of the risen Christ is bigger than a single day. The Easter gospel will continue to march across centuries and continents. However, there will always be forces that try to slow that march and silence that good news. Those forces could be self-inflected fears and doubts. They could be various types of persecutions. Whatever the case, the good news of Easter will not be restrained. For it is not some myth or fable, not a hoax or conspiracy. The reality of Easter rests on the test...

4.17.22 - Victorious: From Death to Life (Luke 24:1-12)

April 18, 2022 16:00 - 19 minutes - 13.5 MB

Death hung like a suffocating shroud over us all. It was a constant source of sorrow and shame. Death doesn't just bring life to an end. The impending threat of death spoils every moment of life that leads up to it. The moment Christ emerged from the tomb, however, nothing would be the same. Life was unleashed on humanity and it will reign until death and its effects are no more. The salvation Christ brings is not just a rescue from a world gone bad but a resurrection to a world that will on...

4.17.22 - Victorious: From Grief to Joy (John 20:1-18)

April 17, 2022 23:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MB

Christ 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...

4.15.22 - A Savior Like No Other: A Victorious Savior (John 19:30)

April 16, 2022 00:00 - 11 minutes - 7.92 MB

Good Friday is very different than a funeral. At a funeral, we celebrate the blessings of someone's earthly life, but we also mourn the fact of their death. In the case of Jesus, his death is the very thing we gather to celebrate and remember. In fact, we prolong the remembrance. We dwell on the details. We even call this day "good." For we know why Jesus willingly endured the agony of the cross. It wasn't a tragic miscarriage of justice. Jesus suffered this punishment vicariously—in our pla...

4.14.22 - His Journey, Our Victory: His Food, Our Fill

April 15, 2022 01:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MB

As the sun set on Holy Thursday, the day marked the end of something old and the start of something new. The Old Covenant, which God had established through Moses, was two-sided. God's people would follow God's commands; God would bless his people. However, rather than providing God's people the opportunity to live up to God's demands, the Old Covenant only exposed their flaws. When God established his New Covenant, it was not a two-sided contract. It was more like a will, listing all the bl...

4.6.22 - A Savior Like No Other: A Confident Savior (Luke 23:46)

April 07, 2022 00:00 - 14 minutes - 9.93 MB

Jesus is a Savior like no other. We see this as Jesus confidently entrusts his spirit into the hands of his heaven Father with his dying breath. His work complete, Jesus gives his life for us. In doing so, he allows us to entrust our lives to our loving and forgiving Lord too. The Bible reading for this message is Luke 23:46. Video of this worship service and message can be found here. This message is Part 6 in our Lenten midweek series: A Savior Like No Other. Support the show (http://v...

4.3.22 - Crushed: Rejection Crushed (Philippians 3:4b-14)

April 03, 2022 16:00 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MB

People often look to the judgment of experts. That poses a problem when it comes to Christ. The world’s experts and culturally elite generally see little value in Christ or his Word. Today we learn to evaluate the world’s experts properly. They might see heaven’s greatest treasure as trash. Fine. That treasure remains ours for the taking through Christ our Savior!  The Bible reading for this message is Philippians 3:4b-14. Video of this worship service and message can be found here. This...

3.30.22 - A Savior Like No Other: Jesus Suffers for Us (John 19:28)

March 31, 2022 00:00 - 14 minutes - 9.81 MB

Jesus is a Savior like no other. We see this clearly as Jesus suffers spiritual and physical torment in the darkness. Yet amid his suffering, we see Jesus show unbelievable self-restraint and above all, we see Jesus cling to his task of fulfilling Scripture. He comes to us in our suffering and affliction and forgets us not. The Bible reading for this message is John 19:28. Video of this worship service and message can be found here. This message is Part 5 in our Lenten midweek series: A ...

3.27.22 - Crushed: Condemnation Crushed (Luke 15:1-2, 11-32)

March 27, 2022 16:00 - 23 minutes - 16.1 MB

We assume people get what they deserve. We assume what goes around comes around. We assume God helps those who helps themselves. And all those assumptions must be crushed. Got does not operate on the principle of merit but of grace. Like gravity, grace is a constant force at work in how God deals with us and how he wants us to deal with others. No one is beyond the reach of God's grace. God never turns it off. When the weight of our sin makes us fearful of God's condemnation, he reveals his ...

3.23.22 - A Savior Like No Other: A Forsaken Savior

March 24, 2022 00:00 - 15 minutes - 10.8 MB

Jesus is a Savior like no other. We see this clearly as Jesus suffers spiritual and physical torment in the darkness. Yet amid his suffering, we see Jesus show unbelievable self-restraint and above all, we see Jesus cling to his task of fulfilling Scripture. He comes to us in our suffering and affliction and forgets us not. The Bible reading for this message is Matthew 27:46. Video of this worship service and message can be found here. This message is Part 4 in our Lenten midweek series: ...

3.20.22 - Crushed: False Security Crushed (1 Corinthians 10:1-13)

March 20, 2022 19:00 - 26 minutes - 17.9 MB

Where is God? This is one of human beings' most frequently-asked and incorrectly-answered questions. We are tempted to believe that evidence of God's presence is found in outward circumstances. We equate good fortune with God's favor and bad fortune with his judgment. So, as long as nothing terrible is happening, God must not be too angry with us, right? We are free to go on sinning. Such foolish assumptions must be crushed. Therefore, God must constantly remind us where he intends to be fou...

3.16.22 - A Savior Like No Other: Jesus Gives Perfect Care (John 19:26-27)

March 17, 2022 00:00 - 13 minutes - 9.38 MB

On Lenten Wednesdays, we are spending quiet moments pondering the great depths of the seven statements our Savior spoke from the cross. What do these statements tell us about Jesus? He is a Savior like no other. We see this clearly as Jesus takes unbelievable care of his mother, even as he suffers agony on the cross. As the son of his mother and the Son of God, he provides for his mother Mary and perfectly obeys his heavenly Father. The Bible reading for this message is John 19:26-27. Thi...

3.13.22 - Crushed: We Can Accomplish Great Things Through Christ (Jeremiah 26:8-15)

March 13, 2022 19:00 - 28 minutes - 19.3 MB

We would all like a shortcut to glory. Yet to follow Jesus on a path where the cross comes before the crown, well, that puts us out of step with the world. Thankfully, the determination required to walk this path starts with Jesus and not us. Because of his determination, we are offered a glory far superior to anything the world can offer.  The Bible reading for this message is Jeremiah 26:8-15. Video of this worship service and message can be found here. This message is Part 2 in our Le...

3.6.22 - Crushed: Temptation Crushed (Hebrews 4:14-16)

March 06, 2022 17:00 - 19 minutes - 13.1 MB

Do you sometimes feel “crushed”? In a broken world, it is simply a matter of time before we all feel crushed. This is why we need Lent. Sin is the ultimate source of all the crushing moments we endure. Christ was even crushed for our sins. Yet on Easter morning, Jesus took up his life again and crushed sin, Satan, and death. Because Jesus fought the battle against our enemy, Satan, as one of us, Jesus won that battle for all of us. He is our perfect substitute. He is our great high priest w...

3.2.22 - A Savior Like No Other: A Forgiving Savior (Luke 23:33-34)

March 03, 2022 02:00 - 18 minutes - 12.5 MB

Starting on Ash Wednesday, we are spending quiet moments pondering the great depths of the seven statements our Savior spoke from the cross. What do these statements tell us about Jesus? He is a Savior like no other. In an amazing way, we see this Savior forgive his enemies as they curse and crucify him. What love! What compassion! What sacrifice! What an impact this has on our relationships here and our eternities in heaven! The Bible reading for this message is Luke 23:33-34. Video of th...

2.27.22 - Uncovered: The Sure Hope of Transfiguration (2 Corinthians 3:7-18)

February 28, 2022 00:00 - 18 minutes - 13 MB

Throughout Epiphany, we have seen that God must uncover for us the truths that could not be discovered by us. As this season ends, we are presented with a twist. For God's glory to be revealed, it actually must be covered. God's glory needed to be hidden in Christ. It is hidden in the gospel. This is how God enables sinful human beings to see his glory and, rather than turning away in fear, stare at it in wonder for as long as they want. The truth God uncovers for us today: when his glory is...

2.25.22 - This Isn't the End of the Story (John 11:20-27)

February 25, 2022 21:00 - 14 minutes - 9.71 MB

We find lasting comfort in Christ Jesus, who is our resurrection and life. This message was preached for the Christian Victory Service of Walter and Edith Prosek on 25 February 2022 @ King of Kings Lutheran church in Maitland, FL. The Bible reading for this message is John 11:20-27. Video of this worship service and message can be found here. Support the show (http://visitkok.com/donate)

2.13.22 - Uncovered: Cursed or Blessed (Jeremiah 17:5-8)

February 13, 2022 23:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MB

When someone is new to something, there is a period of orientation. The same goes for new disciples of Jesus. By nature, we assume that Jesus’ kingdom works the same way the world works. However, the principles on which Jesus’ kingdom runs are the exact opposite of the principles of this world. What the world considers to be a blessing can often be a curse. That which the world calls bad, God always uses for the good of those he loves. The Bible reading for this message is Jeremiah 17:5-8. ...

1.30.22 - Uncovered: Be Faithful to the Word! (2 Timothy 3:14-4:5)

January 30, 2022 23:00 - 13 minutes - 9.06 MB

There can be a temptation to alter the message we proclaim because of apparent success. If a church makes its central focus things like personal involvement, healing for the sick, or social justice, that church may draw a crowd. It just fails to carry out the agenda Christ has given his Church. The gospel of forgiveness is to be the center of all our preaching and teaching. The agenda for Christ’s Church is set. It’s the same agenda that was followed by the Church’s Christ. The Bible readi...

1.23.22 - God Wants You! (Matthew 28:18-20)

January 23, 2022 17:00 - 21 minutes - 14.5 MB

On a mountain in Galilee, the risen Jesus gave marching orders to his Church: “Make disciples of all nations!” “Baptize!” “Teach!” Since that time the Lord of the Church has raised up ministers of the gospel to carry out that mission and take that good news of Jesus to the ends of the earth. By God’s grace, he has provided pastors, teachers, staff ministers, and missionaries to carry out that work, but there is so much work to be done. There are so many souls still dying in the darkness of u...

1.16.22 - Uncovered: He Gives Undeserved Delight (Ephesians 3:14-21)

January 16, 2022 23:00 - 16 minutes - 11.2 MB

Are the pursuit of God and the pursuit of pleasure two separate paths? Many make that assumption—that life with Jesus is a boring, sterile experience. Yet their assumption is wrong. Jesus came to undo everything that is wrong with our world as a result of sin's curse. He also came to multiply our joy and deliver delight beyond our wildest dreams. Note that when Jesus begins to reveal his glory, it isn't by going to a hospital to cure every ailment. Instead, he starts at a local wedding, one ...

1.9.22 - Uncovered: He Anoints the Unexpected (Luke 3:15-17, 21-23)

January 09, 2022 17:00 - 18 minutes - 12.4 MB

Our sight tends to be the sense we trust most. We say we will believe something when we see it. That presents a problem when it comes to the work of God. So often what our eye sees differs from what God decrees. This is true of the life of Jesus. This is also true in the life of the Christian. To assure his children, God connects his grace, power, and blessing to something we can see--a visible sign: Baptism. The Bible reading for this message is Luke 3:15-17, 21-23. Video of this worship ...

1.2.22 - What Child Is This? A Light for All People (Acts 13:46-49)

January 02, 2022 19:00 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MB

The twelve days of Christmas are coming to an end with the celebration of the Epiphany of our Lord today, a celebration of the first time non-Jewish believers worshiped our Savior in the flesh. They were guided by a special light in the sky to a child who would be a light for all people. We live in a world where sin can divide people along so many lines. Yet the only dividing line Jesus cares about is the one that separated sinful mankind from a holy God. By his death and resurrection, he re...

12.31.21 - What Child Is This? The Good News We Need (1 Peter 1:22-25)

January 01, 2022 01:00 - 22 minutes - 15.4 MB

As 2021 comes to a close, we look back on a year full of blessings and challenges, joys and sorrows, life and death. All people are like grass, here today and gone tomorrow. Yet the Word of the Lord endures forever. Because it does, we can step into the new year with thanksgiving and hope. The Bible reading for this message is 1 Peter 1:22-25. Video of this worship service and message can be found here. This message is Part 4 in our Christmas series: What Child Is This? Support the show (...

12.26.21 - What Child Is This? A Child Who Looks Like Me (Hebrews 2:10-18)

December 26, 2021 17:00 - 19 minutes - 13.5 MB

Already as a child, Jesus’ saving work had begun. He served his entire life as our substitute, perfectly obeying God’s holy Law. Just think of how often we neglect the study of God’s Word. Then look at twelve-year-old Jesus, eager to be in the temple learning more about Scripture. However, he would need to do more than be our substitute. Eventually, he would lay down that perfect life as the sacrifice for our sin. The Bible reading for this message is Hebrews 2:10-18. Video of this worship...