Messages from the King

11.15.20 - Ready for the End…Living a Life Given Back to Us (Matthew 25:14-30)

Jesus has ransomed us with his life. He has paid the price for our sins. He now gives us a tremendous responsibility until he returns. He entrusts our lives back to us that we might live for him. So what will you do with that responsibility? Will you see your life as a daily living sacrifice of thanksgiving for God’s mercy? Or will you bury the opportunity that Christ is giving you? God does not expect us to go through religious motions or self-righteous effort. Rather God wants us to live l...

11.8.20 - Ready for the End…Watching for Christ’s Coming (Matthew 25:1-13)

We do not know when Christ will return. God has set that day and hour, but he has not informed us when that will be. So what will we do in the meantime? How will we be ready? We patiently watch for Christ’s return. We long for the day when we will join our Savior and all his holy people at the marriage feast in heaven. Unfortunately, our vigilance slips and our hearts grow weary waiting for Christ’s return. Left to ourselves, we will be unprepared when Christ does come back. So today we hear...

11.1.20 - Ready for the End...as Blessed Saints of God! (Matthew 5:1-12)

What awaits saints weary from the struggles of cross and temptation? Jesus fills our hearts with hope and strength. He calls us blessed even in the face of suffering and persecution and mourning in our lives. Jesus can make such bold statements of blessing because he knows the eternity of his grace that awaits his faithful people in heaven. Like reading the last chapter of a book, Jesus takes the mystery out of a life filled with sorrow by showing us the end, the outcome of life lived trusti...

10.25.20 - Lord, Help Us to Stand Firm! (Matthew 10:16-23)

Throughout the history of the Christian church, the story of faithfulness to the Word of God has always been the story of persecution. After all, Jesus has promised it! Who would send defenseless sheep into a world of ravenous wolves? It makes no sense, yet that is precisely the plan that Jesus describes for his Church. It makes no sense—unless you are the Good Shepherd who wants his sheep to utterly depend on him. Our trust in Jesus doesn’t guarantee an absence of persecution, let alone an ...

10.18.20 - Luke’s Gospel is Our Gospel (Luke 1:1-4; 24:44-49)

In a world so focused on the here and now, we are frequently tempted to look at the gospel—the good news of Jesus—as something ancient and irrelevant for others. Yet today we are reminded through the gospel work of St. Luke, that the good news of Jesus that he recorded centuries ago is just as necessary and relevant for people today. In fact, Luke’s gospel is the same that we have been commissioned by Christ to take to people we know and love. May God richly bless you as the good news of Jes...

10.11.20 - Love in Action: Love Invites Everyone (Isaiah 25:6-9)

You don’t deserve to be here. Neither do I. In fact, none of us deserves to be here. Yet our heavenly Father in jaw-dropping love has brought us here in spite of who we are, what we have done, or what our background is. By grace, he has made each of us part of his family through faith in our Savior Jesus. Now there are many others who need to hear that call, many others whom the Lord wants to bring into his family. So the Lord calls every believer—every one of us—to share his good news with ...

10.4.20 - Love in Action: Love Is Patient (Matthew 21:33-43)

Would you consider yourself a patient person? Patience does not necessarily come easily to many of us. In fact, impatience seems to be a hallmark of the world around us. We get impatient with how fast our internet is running. We get impatient with the person in front of us at the store or on the highway. We get impatient with people who fail to do what we want when we want it. If we are so impatient, should God be impatient with us too? He has every right to be impatient. We disobey him and ...

9.27.20 - Love Is Humble (Philippians 2:1-11)

How quickly I forget who I really am! I think my opinion carries more importance and weight than that of others. In my own eyes, I consider myself superior to __________. Rather than build up, I tear down. Rather than encourage, I mock. Rather than seeking what is best for my neighbor, I seek to demonstrate superiority over them…or at least I think that in my mind. On his deathbed, Martin Luther wrote, “We are beggars. That is true.” Before God, I am nothing, but a selfish, sniveling, worthl...

9.27.20 - Love in Action: Love Is Humble (Philippians 2:1-11)

How quickly I forget who I really am! I think my opinion carries more importance and weight than that of others. In my own eyes, I consider myself superior to __________. Rather than build up, I tear down. Rather than encourage, I mock. Rather than seeking what is best for my neighbor, I seek to demonstrate superiority over them…or at least I think that in my mind. On his deathbed, Martin Luther wrote, “We are beggars. That is true.” Before God, I am nothing, but a selfish, sniveling, worthl...

9.20.20 - Love in Action: Love Isn’t Fair (Jonah 3:10-4:11)

When 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 cry out to the Lord that life isn’t fair. Yet the Lord does not give us what we deserve. If he did, we would be separated from him for all eternity. Instead, he does the most unjust thing possible. He forgives...

9.13.20 - Love in Action: Love Forgives (Matthew 18:21-35)

Christ’s love for us is demonstrated most clearly in his forgiveness of our sins. That cleansing of our sins came at a tremendous cost—the lifeblood of Christ our Savior. That forgiving love of Christ now motivates us to forgive others as Christ forgives, to put away anger and bitterness towards those who wrong us, to recognize that the forgiveness of others starts with me as my forgiveness started with Christ’s death on the cross. Forgiveness is hard, but possible when Christ’s love is in a...

9.6.20 - Love in Action: Love Holds Accountable (Matthew 18:15-20)

Christ’s love for us demonstrates itself in how he warns us in his Word about the dangers of our sin and our desperate need for a Savior. That love, then, shows itself when we gently, but firmly point out the sin that threatens the loved ones in our lives, including our fellow Christians. At the same time, it is necessary for us to remember to do that with a humble spirit, since we are no better and just as much need the forgiveness that comes through Christ’s blood and righteousness. Christ...

8.30.20 - Fearless: Following Jesus Beneath the Cross (Matthew 16:21-26)

Wouldn’t it be nice if life got easier once you became a Christian? Life would be full of joy, success, and victory, but Jesus makes clear that the life of a Christian is a life lived beneath the cross. Because we follow Christ, the reality is not so much continual joy, success, and victory, but rather seasons of hardship, difficulty, and even suffering for his sake. Such a reality could fill our hearts with fear, but fear not! Jesus is with us, and the cross precedes the crown of glory that...

8.23.20 - Fearless: God Will Work All Things for Good! (Romans 8:28-30)

We are tempted to think that faith is something we decided to do or that it comes from some virtue within ourselves. When we give ourselves credit for our faith, however, we are made more vulnerable to despair if we feel our faith weakening like Elijah and Peter did. Fearless faith comes from one thing: The promise God made to us in his Word. Everything is in his hand: God’s foreknowledge and choosing us in Christ before creation, the miracle that sparked our faith in Christ at first, the po...

8.16.20 - Fearless: Christ Is the Answer (Matthew 16:13-20)

In his Word, Christ reveals so much about himself. He is the promised Savior from sin, but do we boldly proclaim that fact. When the question comes up, “Who is Jesus?”, how do you answer? Do you go along with the crowds and everyone else in our world, or do you fearlessly proclaim that truth—that saving Name—to people in your life? So many live in fear. Only Christ can remove that fear from their hearts. The text for this message can be found here. Video of this worship service and sermon ...

8.9.20 - Fearless: Christ Builds His Church (Ephesians 2:13-22)

The love of our heavenly Father knows no bounds. The gospel knows no borders. Christ has died for all people everywhere no matter how far away or how different. Only in Christ do we all find healing for our souls and healing between us and others. As he builds his Church, as brings people from every culture and background together into his family, may God grant us hearts like his that fearlessly seek all the lost! The text for this message can be found here. Video of this worship service a...

8.9.20 - Christ Builds His Church (Ephesians 2:13-22)

The love of our heavenly Father knows no bounds. The gospel knows no borders. Christ has died for all people everywhere no matter how far away or how different. Only in Christ do we all find healing for our souls and healing between us and others. As he builds his Church, as brings people from every culture and background together into his family, may God grant us hearts like his that fearlessly seek all the lost! The text for this message can be found here. Video of this worship service a...

8.2.20 - Jesus Knows What You Need (Matthew 14:13-21)

Is God really paying attention? Does God really know what is going on in your life? Sometimes in our lives, we are tempted to think that God has his back turned, that his attention is directed away from us, that he really has no idea what is going on in our lives. Such thinking can leave us feeling lonely, isolated, helpless, or dependent only on ourselves. This time of pandemic and recession, turmoil and unrest has only made such thinking worse and more widespread. Jesus dispels such isolat...

7.26.20 - The Search for True Treasure (Matthew 13:44-46, 51-52)

What do you treasure most? Jesus teaches us to seek after spiritual treasure as he tells of two men who found great treasure. Although they valued what they previously owned, the discovery of new and great treasure led them to willingly give up all they had. The spiritual treasure of Christ’s ruling and saving activity through the gospel puts everything else into perspective. In Christ we find true treasure that leads us to value him and following him more than anything else! The text for t...

7.19.20 - The Lord Still Blesses His Seeds (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)

In his parable of the weeds among the wheat, Jesus shows that he will continue to bless the proclamation of the gospel by raising people to faith and growing them in their salvation. The devil and mankind’s sinful nature, however, are also at work in this world so within visible Christian churches there are also hypocrites, or false believers. This is a sad and troubling fact. God will deal with them in the future. But God keeps his true sons and daughters in his care and will bring them saf...

7.12.20 - When Saving Seed Is Sown (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23)

When the Word goes out through us, what do we expect? God’s Word has the power to change lives! We would love to see people welcome that message with open arms every time we share it, but how is it really received? Many reject that message, but others do welcome that good news with joy. Yet the Lord doesn’t call us to change lives. He calls us to sow the seed of his Word, while he works to change hearts and lives. The text for this message can be found here. Video of this worship service a...

7.5.20 - Through the Eyes of Jesus: Weary & Burdened—Needing Rest (Matthew 11:25-30)

Are you tired yet? Before the pandemic, we already lived in a culture that never paused or took time to rest, but how is it that we may feel even more exhausted when society is not yet running at full speed? Perhaps it is the constant changes about rules and recommendations that keep popping up. Perhaps it is the constant raging of the 24-hour news cycle where all we hear about is death and destruction, violence and hatred. Perhaps it is the uncertainty of what we can and cannot do, which se...

7.5.20 -Through the Eyes of Jesus: Weary & Burdened—Needing Rest (Matthew 11:25-30)

Are you tired yet? Before the pandemic, we already lived in a culture that never paused or took time to rest, but how is it that we may feel even more exhausted when society is not yet running at full speed? Perhaps it is the constant changes about rules and recommendations that keep popping up. Perhaps it is the constant raging of the 24-hour news cycle where all we hear about is death and destruction, violence and hatred. Perhaps it is the uncertainty of what we can and cannot do, which se...

6.28.20 - Through the Eyes of Jesus: Torn & Alone—Needing Love (Matthew 10:34-42)

Christ has made it clear. The Christian life is not easy, but is it really as hard as he describes it in Matthew 10? Jesus helps us see what a Christian can expect for remaining faithful to Christ and his Word. Through the eyes of Jesus, we see not peace, but division; not ease, but a cross. We find ourselves torn between love of family and love of Christ. He wants us to love our family, but not more than we love Jesus. Sadly, such faithful love for Jesus can leave us alone, if our family me...

6.21.20 - Through the Eyes of Jesus: Hated & Afraid - Needing a Father (Matthew 10:5a, 21-33)

We live in fearful times. The pandemic continues to cause uncertainty and remind us of the fragility of life. Racial turmoil and the varied and troubling responses to injustice force us to do some honest self-examination. Hostility and apathy towards God’s Word and the Christian church seem to only increase. Mix into that the difficulties that the followers of Christ face, whether that’s rejection, hostility, or even hatred—and a natural response to all that is fear. Yet Jesus urges us to lo...

6.14.20 - Through the Eyes of Jesus: Harassed and Helpless - Needing a Shepherd (Matthew 9:35-10:8)

Today we join Jesus early in his ministry. He is actively working—preaching, teaching and healing. Yet as Jesus looks out at the crowd he sees people who are “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” He sees ripe fields ready for harvest. What is Christ’s solution? Looking through his eyes, we see the need for the Good Shepherd to bring these sheep into his flock. We hear him speak of the need for workers in his harvest fields, so the Good Shepherd provides shepherds for his fl...

6.7.20 - God Bless You! (2 Corinthians 13:11-14)

The Scriptural teaching that our God is triune or three-in-one—one God, yet three persons—is a teaching that defies our limited human reason. No matter how hard we try, we cannot wrap our minds around this unfathomable concept. So how can we possibly believe this teaching? The Holy Spirit enables us by faith to understand how the Son has accomplished what the Father sent him to do. Because of the Father’s self-sacrificing love for undeserving sinners like us, the Son in grace gave his life f...

5.31.20 - The Day Church Was Different (Acts 2:1-21)

On May 30-31, King of Kings began offering in-person worship for the first time in 11 weeks. Below is the note shared with the congregation that day, which also happened to be the celebration of the church festival of Pentecost. Today is a wonderful day, but it is also a very different day. Seventy-seven days ago, we last gathered for in-person worship. Almost one-quarter of the year has passed since we last gathered here as a congregation. Yet things look different. Blue tape blocks off pe...

5.24.20 - The Victorious Hope of Easter: A Glorious Hope (Ephesians 1:15-23)

What kind of hope do you have? Is it an “I hope so” hope or an “I know so” hope? As we continue to celebrate Christ’s Easter victory, God’s Word helps us to see that we have a victorious hope through Jesus. In Ephesians 1, we see that having victorious hope in Christ means that even though Jesus gloriously ascends into heaven, we can be confident that we will see him again. We have no need for sadness because Christ has taken up his power to reign. His glorious rule for our sake knows no bou...

5.17.20 - The Victorious Hope of Easter: A Fearless Hope (1 Peter 3:13-22)

What kind of hope do you have? Is it an “I hope so” hope or an “I know so” hope? As we continue to celebrate Christ’s Easter victory, God’s Word helps us to see that we have a victorious hope through Jesus. In 1 Peter 3, we see that having victorious hope in Christ may result in suffering or hardship as followers of Christ whether from without or from within. Yet because we have that victorious hope, we have no reason to fear. Instead, we find strength and comfort in the One who saved us thr...

5.10.20 - The Victorious Hope of Easter: An Identifying Hope (1 Peter 2:4-10)

What kind of hope do you have? Is it an “I hope so” hope or an “I know so” hope? As we continue to celebrate Christ’s Easter victory, God’s Word helps us to see that we have a victorious hope through Jesus. In 1 Peter 2, we see that in Christ, we have a victorious hope that helps us find our identity in him. We live in a world very much confused about identity, yet as followers of Christ, we have a true identity embedded in Christ, an identity that impacts every aspect of our lives. The tex...

5.3.20 - The Victorious Hope of Easter: A Suffering Hope (1 Peter 2:19-25)

What kind of hope do you have? Is it an “I hope so” hope or an “I know so” hope? As we continue to celebrate Christ’s Easter victory, God’s Word helps us to see that we have a victorious hope through Jesus. In 1 Peter 2, we see that even amid suffering for the sake of Christ, we still have victorious hope in the Shepherd who suffered for us. The text for this message can be found here. Video of this worship service and sermon can be found here. This message is Part 3 of our Easter worship...

4.26.20 - The Victorious Hope of Easter: A Hope Restored (1 Peter 1:17-21)

What kind of hope do you have? Is it an “I hope so” hope or an “I know so” hope? As we continue to celebrate Christ’s Easter victory, God’s Word helps us to see that we have a victorious hope through Jesus. In 1 Peter 1, we see that that victorious hope is a hope restored to us through the work and love of our risen Savior. The text for this message can be found here. Video of this worship service and sermon can be found here. This message is Part 2 of our Easter worship series - The Vict...

4.19.20 - The Victorious Hope of Easter: A Living Hope (1 Peter 1:3-9)

Easter is not just a holiday on the calendar, but something that impacts every day of our lives as the resurrection victory of Jesus brings us forgiveness of sins, peace with God, and hearts filled with hope. The victorious hope of Easter is not an “I hope so” hope, but an “I know so” hope. in 1 Peter 1, we see that how that victorious hope of Easter is a living hope that looks to Jesus through eyes of faith now and through our own eyes in heaven someday. The text for this message can be fo...

4.12.2020 - Victorious (1 Corinthians 15:51-57)

4.12.20 - Victorious! (1 Corinthians 15:51-57)

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! On Easter, 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!” The Son of God has conquered death! The Son of Man is raised to life! He came to fix this broken world. He lived among us. He died for us. He rose from the dead in victory! Sins are forgiven! Guilt is gone! Our relationship with God is restored! Victory is ours! Alleluia! The text for this mes...

4.10.20 - The Jesus We Need: Someone to Die for Us (Isaiah 52:13-53:12)

Good Friday is not meant to be a funeral for Jesus. Rather Good Friday is part of the larger celebration of our salvation that began on Holy Thursday and concludes on Easter Sunday. Even amid the quiet solemnity of Good Friday as we meditate on the death of Jesus, here we still find the Jesus we need--the Jesus who dies for us not in some heroically impressive way, but as the necessary payment for all our sins. Jesus accepts death so the guilty can live. Grace overcomes guilt. The text for ...

4.10.2020 - The Jesus We Need: Someone to Die for Us (Isaiah 52:13-53:12)

4.9.2020 - The Jesus We Need: Someone to Forgive Us (1 Corinthians 11:23-28)

4.9.20 - The Jesus We Need: Someone to Forgive Us (1 Corinthians 11:23-28)

Holy Thursday is more than the day we remember how Jesus established the Lord's Supper. Rather on Holy Thursday, we begin a journey that takes us from Lent to Jesus’ Passion. There we find the Jesus we need--the Jesus who sacrifices himself for us all on the cross and pours out his holy blood for the sins of us all. Starting on Holy Thursday, we find the Jesus who forgives us of our sins. The text for this message can be found here. Video of this worship service and sermon can be found her...

4.5.20 - The Jesus We Need: Someone to Save Us (Matthew 21:1-11)

"Who is this?" The people wonder who was riding into Jerusalem that first Palm Sunday. Their praises reveal Jesus as God’s Messiah-King. Yet only days later, those same crowds would cry out, “Crucify!” This contrast is reflected as the joy of Christ’s triumphal entry gives way to the somber remembrance of his suffering and death. Jesus proves to be the Savior we need by accomplishing what needs to be done to save us. The text for this message can be found here. Video of this worship servic...

4.5.2020 - The Jesus We Need: Someone to Save Us (Matthew 21:1-11)

Bonus Message - The Son of God Goes Forth to War: The Warrior Faces Satan's Ally--The World (John 18:37-38)

This message is a bonus message that was going to be preached during our Midweek Lenten worship services. However, those services were canceled before this message was able to be preached at King of Kings. This message is intended for your devotional listening. The text for this message can be found here. This message was written as part of the Lenten midweek series - The Son of God Goes Forth to War. Support the show (http://visitkok.com/donate)

3.29.20 - The Jesus We Need: Someone to Defeat Death (John 11:17-27, 38-45)

In the midst of this pandemic, the possibility and reality of death has been an absolute that confronts us all. Even outside of this pandemic, when a loved one passes away, the reality of death confronts us. What does Jesus have to say about it? We see Jesus through the tear-filled eyes of grieving believers and through the resurrected eyes of a man named Lazarus. Jesus dries our tears today with words of divine comfort and a preview of his ultimate victory over death. Even in the shadow of ...

3.29.2020 - Someone to Defeat Death (John 11:17-27, 38-45)

3.22.20 - If God Himself Be for Me... (Romans 8:31-39)

§ Have you been feeling worried lately? Fearful? Uncertain? Anxious? Is the spread of COVID-19 leaving you with an empty pit in your stomach? Or is it something else? Guilt? Temptation? What’s happening now in your life with your job, your education, your future? Satan’s attacks are real and they happen daily in more ways than we can count. He seems to be ramping them up right now. His ultimate goal is that God condemns you for all eternity, but God in his love declares you not guilty becaus...

3.22.20 - The Jesus We Need: If God Himself Be for Me... (Romans 8:31-39)

Have you been feeling worried lately? Fearful? Uncertain? Anxious? Is the spread of COVID-19 leaving you with an empty pit in your stomach? Or is it something else? Guilt? Temptation? What’s happening now in your life with your job, your education, your future? Satan’s attacks are real and they happen daily in more ways than we can count. He seems to be ramping them up right now. His ultimate goal is that God condemns you for all eternity, but God in his love declares you not guilty because ...

3.15.20 - When Things Can't Get Any Worse... (Lamentations 3:22-33)

The following message was meant to be a timely and intentional break from our Sunday series - The Jesus We Need. By the time this sermon was preached, significant cancellations and closures had taken place across Florida and North America. People were panic buying. The stock market was swinging wildly, and life as we've lived it was changing rapidly. Yet there in the midst of fear and panic and darkness, we still find Jesus, whose faithful love never ends. Find comfort and peace in this mess...

3.11.20 - The Son of God Goes Forth to War: Skirmishes (Hebrews 4:15)

How do you picture Jesus? A gentle shepherd? A glorious king? Did you know that Scripture also pictures Jesus as a warrior against sin and death? In this message on Hebrews 4:15, we see the Son of God go into battle for us—not on a battlefield with armies clashing, but into skirmishes with the devil. Throughout Christ’s life, Satan attacked him with temptation after temptation, yet Jesus fended off every attack with the Word of God. Our Warrior-Savior lived his entire life without sin. Becau...

3.8.20 - The Jesus We Need: Someone to Trust (John 3:1-17)

People in Jesus’s time wanted the Messiah to be very different than who Jesus was. Still today, we often desire that the central figure of our faith isn’t like Jesus. We want a conquering hero arriving with his armies of angels. Instead, we find a willing, suffering servant. The Bible makes it clear that the Jesus we get is far greater than we could have ever designed. He meets all our greatest needs from forgiveness to peace in times of trouble to eternal life with him in heaven. In John 3...