Sermons & Worship links - Redeemer Lutheran
399 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago -Redeemer Lutheran Church, 8845 N Silverbell Rd, Tucson, AZ 85743
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Episodes
7/21/2024 Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
July 19, 2024 20:13MEANINGFUL MINISTRY “Ministry” is one of those churchy words that is often used, yet perhaps not fully understood. Ministry comes from the Latin word for “service.” Ministry involves serving others with love, compassion, and empathy. Helping someone with physical needs is sometimes called “compassion ministry.” Helping someone with their spiritual needs, sharing the good news of Christ, is generally called “gospel ministry.” We misunderstand ministry if we think of it as something only min...
7/14/2024 Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
July 12, 2024 15:37MEANINGFUL MINISTRY “Ministry” is one of those churchy words that is often used, yet perhaps not fully understood. Ministry comes from the Latin word for “service.” Ministry involves serving others with love, compassion, and empathy. Helping someone with physical needs is sometimes called “compassion ministry.” Helping someone with their spiritual needs, sharing the good news of Christ, is generally called “gospel ministry.” We misunderstand ministry if we think of it as something only min...
7/7/2024 Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
July 05, 2024 16:55MEANINGFUL MINISTRY “Ministry” is one of those churchy words that is often used, yet perhaps not fully understood. Ministry comes from the Latin word for “service.” Ministry involves serving others with love, compassion, and empathy. Helping someone with physical needs is sometimes called “compassion ministry.” Helping someone with their spiritual needs, sharing the good news of Christ, is generally called “gospel ministry.” We misunderstand ministry if we think of it as something only min...
6/30/2024 Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
July 02, 2024 17:08A TOP-DOWN FAITH We have entered the second half of the Church Year, the half that focuses on the teachings of the Christian faith. We will see that Christianity is very much a top-down faith. Christian teachings come “from the top down,” but not in the sense that those teachings are oppressively imposed on us. When we call Christianity a “top-down faith,” we mean that it tells us things about God that are so beautiful and good—teachings that couldn’t possibly have originated from human ...
6/23/2024 Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
June 14, 2024 16:15A TOP-DOWN FAITH We have entered the second half of the Church Year, the half that focuses on the teachings of the Christian faith. We will see that Christianity is very much a top-down faith. Christian teachings come “from the top down,” but not in the sense that those teachings are oppressively imposed on us. When we call Christianity a “top-down faith,” we mean that it tells us things about God that are so beautiful and good—teachings that couldn’t possibly have originated from human ...
6/16/2024 Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
June 13, 2024 14:59A TOP-DOWN FAITH We have entered the second half of the Church Year, the half that focuses on the teachings of the Christian faith. We will see that Christianity is very much a top-down faith. Christian teachings come “from the top down,” but not in the sense that those teachings are oppressively imposed on us. When we call Christianity a “top-down faith,” we mean that it tells us things about God that are so beautiful and good—teachings that couldn’t possibly have originated from human ...
6/9/2024 Third Sunday after Pentecost
June 03, 2024 16:14A TOP-DOWN FAITH We have entered the second half of the Church Year, the half that focuses on the teachings of the Christian faith. We will see that Christianity is very much a top-down faith. Christian teachings come “from the top down,” but not in the sense that those teachings are oppressively imposed on us. When we call Christianity a “top-down faith,” we mean that it tells us things about God that are so beautiful and good—teachings that couldn’t possibly have originated from human ...
6/2/2024 Second Sunday after Pentecost
May 31, 2024 16:29A TOP-DOWN FAITH We have entered the second half of the Church Year, the half that focuses on the teachings of the Christian faith. We will see that Christianity is very much a top-down faith. Christian teachings come “from the top down,” but not in the sense that those teachings are oppressively imposed on us. When we call Christianity a “top-down faith,” we mean that it tells us things about God that are so beautiful and good—teachings that couldn’t possibly have originated from human ...
5/26/2024 Trinity Sunday
May 24, 2024 00:26A TOP-DOWN FAITH We have entered the second half of the Church Year, the half that focuses on the teachings of the Christian faith. We will see that Christianity is very much a top-down faith. Christian teachings come “from the top down,” but not in the sense that those teachings are oppressively imposed on us. When we call Christianity a “top-down faith,” we mean that it tells us things about God that are so beautiful and good—teachings that couldn’t possibly have originated from human ...
5/19/2024 The Festival of Pentecost & Confirmation Sunday
May 16, 2024 22:34DAY OF PENTECOST: CHRIST HAS NOT LEFT US ALONE Jesus told his disciples that, though he was going to ascend into heaven, he wasn’t going to leave them alone. He was going to send “the Advocate,” a title for the Holy Spirit. But Jesus wasn’t sending the Spirit just to keep us company. Jesus would have the Advocate give us spiritual power so that we might participate in Christ’s saving work. Here is the final resurrection reality. The Spirit gives us the ability to raise the spiritually d...
5/12/2024 Seventh Sunday of Easter - Mother's Day
May 10, 2024 18:33RESURRECTION REALITY St. Paul writes, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Big word: Indeed! Paul is stressing that we must not think of Jesus’ resurrection like a happy ending to another epic fable. The resurrection is not legend. It really happened. Easter is not just a holiday. Easter is history. On time’s infinite line, Jesus’ resurrection is the punctiliar moment that defines reality for us all. If Christ remained dead, he is a fraud and failure. But C...
5/9/2023: Ascension of our Lord
May 06, 2024 19:52RESURRECTION REALITY St. Paul writes, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Big word: Indeed! Paul is stressing that we must not think of Jesus’ resurrection like a happy ending to another epic fable. The resurrection is not legend. It really happened. Easter is not just a holiday. Easter is history. On time’s infinite line, Jesus’ resurrection is the punctiliar moment that defines reality for us all. If Christ remained dead, he is a fraud and failure. But C...
5/5/2024 Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 02, 2024 17:55RESURRECTION REALITY St. Paul writes, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Big word: Indeed! Paul is stressing that we must not think of Jesus’ resurrection like a happy ending to another epic fable. The resurrection is not legend. It really happened. Easter is not just a holiday. Easter is history. On time’s infinite line, Jesus’ resurrection is the punctiliar moment that defines reality for us all. If Christ remained dead, he is a fraud and failure. But C...
4/28/2024 Fifth Sunday of Easter
April 26, 2024 17:42RESURRECTION REALITY St. Paul writes, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Big word: Indeed! Paul is stressing that we must not think of Jesus’ resurrection like a happy ending to another epic fable. The resurrection is not legend. It really happened. Easter is not just a holiday. Easter is history. On time’s infinite line, Jesus’ resurrection is the punctiliar moment that defines reality for us all. If Christ remained dead, he is a fraud and failure. But C...
4/21/2024 Good Shepherd Sunday
April 19, 2024 17:17RESURRECTION REALITY St. Paul writes, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Big word: Indeed! Paul is stressing that we must not think of Jesus’ resurrection like a happy ending to another epic fable. The resurrection is not legend. It really happened. Easter is not just a holiday. Easter is history. On time’s infinite line, Jesus’ resurrection is the punctiliar moment that defines reality for us all. If Christ remained dead, he is a fraud and failure. But C...
4/14/2024 Third Sunday of Easter
April 12, 2024 19:02RESURRECTION REALITY St. Paul writes, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Big word: Indeed! Paul is stressing that we must not think of Jesus’ resurrection like a happy ending to another epic fable. The resurrection is not legend. It really happened. Easter is not just a holiday. Easter is history. On time’s infinite line, Jesus’ resurrection is the punctiliar moment that defines reality for us all. If Christ remained dead, he is a fraud and failure. But C...
4/7/2024 Second Sunday of Easter
April 05, 2024 17:46RESURRECTION REALITY St. Paul writes, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Big word: Indeed! Paul is stressing that we must not think of Jesus’ resurrection like a happy ending to another epic fable. The resurrection is not legend. It really happened. Easter is not just a holiday. Easter is history. On time’s infinite line, Jesus’ resurrection is the punctiliar moment that defines reality for us all. If Christ remained dead, he is a fraud and failure. But C...
3/31/24: Easter Festival (8:00 & 10:45 a.m.)
March 28, 2024 16:27RESURRECTION REALITY St. Paul writes, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Big word: Indeed! Paul is stressing that we must not think of Jesus’ resurrection like a happy ending to another epic fable. The resurrection is not legend. It really happened. Easter is not just a holiday. Easter is history. On time’s infinite line, Jesus’ resurrection is the punctiliar moment that defines reality for us all. If Christ remained dead, he is a fraud and failure. But Ch...
3/31/24: Easter Dawn (6:00 a.m.)
March 25, 2024 19:27THE EASTER SEASON After forty days of repentance and prayer, the Church bursts forth in jubilant praise at the Resurrection of our Lord. The alleluias and glorias which were muted for Lent ring out again as the Bride of Christ welcomes her Bridegroom back from the dead. Easter is the pinnacle of the Church Year, the oldest festival and season celebrated by the worshipping Church. For a full week-of-weeks (49 days) the Church celebrates the resurrection of Christ on the Sundays of Easter ...
3/29/24: Good Friday: Tenebrae
March 22, 2024 16:31SERVICE NOTES FOR TENEBRAE The Day: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter commemorate the central events of the Christian Church. Good Friday is the solemn celebration of the Lord’s suffering and death on the cross. Our remembrance of Jesus’ death, while solemn, is not a message of gloom, but a service of adoration of the Son of God as he gives up his life. We gather here today to celebrate the sacrifice of the cross. So we remember his passion, but do so with a triu...
3/29/24: Good Friday: Devotional
March 22, 2024 16:26SERVICE OF SEVEN WORDS The service of seven words is designed to be used between noon and 3pm on Good Friday afternoon. During those three hours, Jesus hung on the cross to suffer and die for the sins of the world. Throughout those three hours, Jesus spoke seven times. Each lesson recounts Jesus’ words from the cross in a greater context. Interspersed between each lesson is a hymn or song designed to impress upon our souls the depth of Jesus’ love for us on Good Friday. The seven words...
3/28/24: Holy Thursday
March 21, 2024 15:57TRIDUUM - THREE SERVICES AS ONE The Three Holy Days (Triduum) are celebrated by the Church on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. The Triduum is really one service, with three parts. At conclusion of each part, the congregation leaves and reassembles the next night for the following part of the Service of the Three Holy Days. THE DAY: Just as Ash Wednesday begins Lent, so Holy Thursday marks the end of Lent proper and the beginning of the Three Holy Days of Christendom (the ...
3/24/2024 Palm Sunday
March 21, 2024 15:48HOLY WEEK Every year, the sixth Sunday of Lent celebrates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Better known as "Palm Sunday," Jesus' fateful entry into the capital city happens four days before his institution of Holy Communion, five days before his crucifixion, and seven days before his resurrection. Together, the week beginning on Palm Sunday and lasting through Easter is referred to as "Holy Week." PALM SUNDAY: RETHINKING REAL STRENGTH Most religions believe in a powerful God. I...
3/20/24: Midweek Lent 6
March 14, 2024 17:30GOD ON TRIAL The unbelieving world has always insisted on putting God on trial. As our society becomes more secular, we Christians are increasingly aware of the many ways in which God—and his people—are judged. Temptations are many in this environment: treating unbelievers as enemies, retreating from the world, even questioning God ourselves. How do we live as people of God in this hostile world? We find our model—and our motivation—in Jesus. This series takes us back to the moments when Go...
3/17/2024 Fifth Sunday in Lent
March 14, 2024 17:22RETHINKING RELIGION Everyone has assumptions about God. Likewise, everyone has assumptions about religion. Increasingly, those assumptions are negative. Americans are walking away from Christianity in breathtaking numbers. It raises the question. How do those people know if their assumptions about religion are correct? Do they really understand Christianity at all? Do we? Do we truly understand this religion? In the season of Lent, as much as any other, Jesus teaches things that turns th...
3/13/24: Midweek Lent 5
March 08, 2024 16:03GOD ON TRIAL The unbelieving world has always insisted on putting God on trial. As our society becomes more secular, we Christians are increasingly aware of the many ways in which God—and his people—are judged. Temptations are many in this environment: treating unbelievers as enemies, retreating from the world, even questioning God ourselves. How do we live as people of God in this hostile world? We find our model—and our motivation—in Jesus. This series takes us back to the moments when Go...
3/10/2024 Fourth Sunday in Lent
March 08, 2024 16:02RETHINKING RELIGION Everyone has assumptions about God. Likewise, everyone has assumptions about religion. Increasingly, those assumptions are negative. Americans are walking away from Christianity in breathtaking numbers. It raises the question. How do those people know if their assumptions about religion are correct? Do they really understand Christianity at all? Do we? Do we truly understand this religion? In the season of Lent, as much as any other, Jesus teaches things that turns th...
3/6/24: Midweek Lent 4
March 01, 2024 15:43GOD ON TRIAL The unbelieving world has always insisted on putting God on trial. As our society becomes more secular, we Christians are increasingly aware of the many ways in which God—and his people—are judged. Temptations are many in this environment: treating unbelievers as enemies, retreating from the world, even questioning God ourselves. How do we live as people of God in this hostile world? We find our model—and our motivation—in Jesus. This series takes us back to the moments when Go...
3/3/2024 Third Sunday in Lent
March 01, 2024 15:42RETHINKING RELIGION Everyone has assumptions about God. Likewise, everyone has assumptions about religion. Increasingly, those assumptions are negative. Americans are walking away from Christianity in breathtaking numbers. It raises the question. How do those people know if their assumptions about religion are correct? Do they really understand Christianity at all? Do we? Do we truly understand this religion? In the season of Lent, as much as any other, Jesus teaches things that turns th...
2/28/24: Midweek Lent 3
February 22, 2024 21:55GOD ON TRIAL The unbelieving world has always insisted on putting God on trial. As our society becomes more secular, we Christians are increasingly aware of the many ways in which God—and his people—are judged. Temptations are many in this environment: treating unbelievers as enemies, retreating from the world, even questioning God ourselves. How do we live as people of God in this hostile world? We find our model—and our motivation—in Jesus. This series takes us back to the moments when Go...
2/25/2024 Second Sunday in Lent
February 22, 2024 21:53RETHINKING RELIGION Everyone has assumptions about God. Likewise, everyone has assumptions about religion. Increasingly, those assumptions are negative. Americans are walking away from Christianity in breathtaking numbers. It raises the question. How do those people know if their assumptions about religion are correct? Do they really understand Christianity at all? Do we? Do we truly understand this religion? In the season of Lent, as much as any other, Jesus teaches things that turns th...
2/21/24: Midweek Lent 2
February 16, 2024 19:36GOD ON TRIAL The unbelieving world has always insisted on putting God on trial. As our society becomes more secular, we Christians are increasingly aware of the many ways in which God—and his people—are judged. Temptations are many in this environment: treating unbelievers as enemies, retreating from the world, even questioning God ourselves. How do we live as people of God in this hostile world? We find our model—and our motivation—in Jesus. This series takes us back to the moments when Go...
2/18/2024 First Sunday in Lent
February 16, 2024 18:52RETHINKING RELIGION Everyone has assumptions about God. Likewise, everyone has assumptions about religion. Increasingly, those assumptions are negative. Americans are walking away from Christianity in breathtaking numbers. It raises the question. How do those people know if their assumptions about religion are correct? Do they really understand Christianity at all? Do we? Do we truly understand this religion? In the season of Lent, as much as any other, Jesus teaches things that turns th...
2/14/24: Ash Wednesday
February 09, 2024 15:13ASH WEDNESDAY Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the Christian’s 40-day journey with the Lord to the cross and tomb, preparing for the proclamation of Easter. The 40 days are reminiscent of several biblical events: Jesus’ 40-day fast at the beginning of his ministry, Moses’ stay on Mount Sinai at the giving of the Ten Commandments, Elijah’s fast on his way to the mountain of God. Ash Wednesday begins the Christian’s Lenten journey with a reminder of our mortality and a call to repe...
2/11/2024 Ministry Sunday - Transfiguration of Our Lord
February 08, 2024 17:24The Festival of the Transfiguration of our Lord Twice during Jesus’ ministry God the Father audibly spoke from heaven in approval, “This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased.” That happened first at Jesus’ baptism, his inauguration into public ministry where the Holy Spirit anointed him prophet, priest and king. Human in every way, Jesus’ divine glory was hidden from sight. During epiphany, we have repeatedly glimpsed Jesus’ glory through his ministry: teaching and preachin...
2/4/2024 Third Sunday after Epiphany
February 02, 2024 21:06FROM THE RIVER TO THE MOUNTAIN “Epiphany” comes from a Greek word that means “reveal.” Today, if someone says, “I had an epiphany,” he means he had some extremely important, life-changing revelation. Within the Church Year, that is the purpose of the season of Epiphany—to reveal important truths about Jesus Christ, truths that will indeed change your life. For most of his adult life, Jesus was known simply as Mary’s son. He followed his adoptive father, Joseph, into the carpentry busi...
1/28/2024 Compassion Sunday
January 25, 2024 22:37SPECIAL MINISTRIES: COMPASSION SUNDAY As you page through the New Testament, one of the most consistent themes is Jesus showing compassion to people. Consider all the interactions he had with people where he healed a disease or sickness, raised someone from the dead or helped people out at challenging times in their lives. Jesus helped those with pain, illness and physical limitations, but he was especially moved to compassion for those who were suffering spiritually. When he saw the cro...
1/21/2024 Third Sunday after Epiphany
January 19, 2024 19:18FROM THE RIVER TO THE MOUNTAIN “Epiphany” comes from a Greek word that means “reveal.” Today, if someone says, “I had an epiphany,” he means he had some extremely important, life-changing revelation. Within the Church Year, that is the purpose of the season of Epiphany—to reveal important truths about Jesus Christ, truths that will indeed change your life. For most of his adult life, Jesus was known simply as Mary’s son. He followed his adoptive father, Joseph, into the carpentry busi...
1/14/2024 The Baptism of Our Lord
January 11, 2024 20:38FROM THE RIVER TO THE MOUNTAIN “Epiphany” comes from a Greek word that means “reveal.” Today, if someone says, “I had an epiphany,” he means he had some extremely important, life-changing revelation. Within the Church Year, that is the purpose of the season of Epiphany—to reveal important truths about Jesus Christ, truths that will indeed change your life. For most of his adult life, Jesus was known simply as Mary’s son. He followed his adoptive father, Joseph, into the carpentry busi...
1/7/2024 Epiphany of Our Lord
January 05, 2024 00:57Jesus is Revealed as the Savior of All Nations Following the Twelve Days of Christmas, the festival of the Epiphany of Our Lord reveals to us that this brother of ours is our Savior. To many, this truth is hidden. He appears as a usurper to Harold, as no one of consequence to the religious scholars, but as God sent to earth to the wise men. A promise was given through Balaam to foreigners of a star out of Jacob, a ruler out of Israel. In the Gospel, seeing his star, the Magi see the child...
12/31/2023 First Sunday after Christmas
December 29, 2023 17:04GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY: Peace on Earth On Christmas Eve a choir of angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 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 peac...
12/25/2023 Christmas Day Festival
December 21, 2023 19:47CHRISTMAS DAY God sent his Son to make us sons of God (Second Reading). The importance of the truths proclaimed today cannot be overstated. This is not the trite and trivial Christmas celebration our society observes. Our Gospel brings us from creation’s majesty to humble human flesh. Micah honors Bethlehem Ephrathah for the peace the eternal God brings through the birth that happens there (First Reading). The unseeable God is seen in the manger. God became our human brother. Joy to the wo...
12/24/2023 Christmas Eve by Candlelight
December 19, 2023 21:05NATIVITY OF OUR LORD - CHRISTMAS EVE For over a thousand years the Christian world has marked the passing of time from the year of Jesus' birth. Recognizing his coming into the world as the central event in the story of humankind, Christians count the years before his birth as B.C. (Before Christ) and the years after his birth as A.D. (Anno Domini, in the Year of Our Lord). Our worship tonight is an adaptation of “The Festival of Lessons and Carols” service traditionally held at King's C...
12/24/2023 Christmas Eve Morning
December 19, 2023 20:19A Children’s Service of Songs & Readings The fourth Sunday in Advent is typically dedicated to themes of prophecy and fulfillment, especially themes that suggest that the coming Messiah would be a descendant of King David. Those promises were first given to David nearly 1,000 years before Christ came, but were repeated and affirmed in greater detail about 700 BC during the ministry of the prophets Isaiah and Micah. The specifics of God’s plans to save the world were hidden for ages. E...
12/17/2023 Third Sunday in Advent
December 15, 2023 17:01THE KING SHALL COME The Church Year begins with the season of Advent, which means “coming.” When someone is coming over, what do you do? It depends on who is coming and why they are coming. If it’s a good friend popping in for a quick visit, you don’t worry too much about how the house looks or serving a meal. But imagine the governor is coming over for an evening to give you some sort of citizen’s award. That’s a big deal. There is work to be done: deep cleaning, planning a menu, getting t...
12/13/2023 Midweek Advent Song Service
December 08, 2023 17:45Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord The Advent Wreath is a combination of two very common symbols: light and the fir tree. From the early centuries of Christianity it has been the practice to represent Christ by a burning candle. The fir tree has a long history of religious use. No doubt the Advent Wreath was suggested by the Christmas tree. It seems that the Advent Wreath originated a few hundred years ago among the Lutherans of eastern Germany. A wreath of evergreens, made in various sizes...
12/10/2023 Second Sunday in Advent
December 08, 2023 17:39THE KING SHALL COME The Church Year begins with the season of Advent, which means “coming.” When someone is coming over, what do you do? It depends on who is coming and why they are coming. If it’s a good friend popping in for a quick visit, you don’t worry too much about how the house looks or serving a meal. But imagine the governor is coming over for an evening to give you some sort of citizen’s award. That’s a big deal. There is work to be done: deep cleaning, planning a menu, getting t...
12/3/2023 First Sunday in Advent
December 01, 2023 20:40THE KING SHALL COME The Church Year begins with the season of Advent, which means “coming.” When someone is coming over, what do you do? It depends on who is coming and why they are coming. If it’s a good friend popping in for a quick visit, you don’t worry too much about how the house looks or serving a meal. But imagine the governor is coming over for an evening to give you some sort of citizen’s award. That’s a big deal. There is work to be done: deep cleaning, planning a menu, getting t...
11/26/2023 Christ the King Sunday
November 21, 2023 20:35THE CHRISTIAN WAITS In his gospel, Matthew has a fivefold emphasis on the world not knowing when the Son of Man will come again (Matthew 24:36, 42, 44, 50; 25:13). The Christian waits for the second coming with eager anticipation and with knowledge that informs our life in the end time. JOYFUL IN OUR KING Lord, keep us joyful in Christ our King! On this final Sunday of the church year, we rejoice in the fulfillment of God's plan for our salvation through Christ our King. We rejoice becaus...
11/22/2023 Thanksgiving Eve
November 21, 2023 18:42Thanksgiving Historically, Thanksgiving has been celebrated as a secular festival. Originally suggested by George Washington, it was sporadically celebrated until Abraham Lincoln set aside the fourth Thursday in November to be dedicated to giving thanks. Christians make a point of being thankful all year long. Thanksgiving often zeroes in on the harvest, food and abundance elements of being thankful. Christians realize that every good gift comes from our heavenly Father. The plentiful ...