Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, December 24, 2018

Light and darkness are polar opposites. Where one advances, the other must retreat.

Thus, they parallel the ultimate of polar opposites — good and evil, holiness and sin.

Ever since mankind fell into sin, God promised to send a great Light to pierce the darkness of sin and death.

• Let there be Light, from Genesis 1 and 3, Pastor Tim Patoka, Youth and Family Pastor

• Light has Come, from John 3, Jay Wiechmann, Financial Secretary

• Day of Darkness, from Joel 2, David Farley, Elder of Education

• A walk in the Light, from 1 John 1, Jason Watson, Elder of Member Ministry

• The Lord is my Light, Psalm 27, Jeff Weinstein, Trustee

• A Light has Dawned, from Isaiah 9, Pastor Nathan Kassulke, Tucson Lead Pastor

• The Birth of Christ, from Luke 2, Eric Hanson, Congregation President

Fourth Sunday of Advent: The Gift of Love: December 23, 2018

A Wondrous Sign Shows Wondrous Love

• Wondrous love is freely given

• Wondrous love is always given.

As we prepare to celebrate our Savior’s birth, let us remember Revelation’s words so that we may see the wondrous sign that shows God’s wondrous love. Amen.
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Pastor Tim Patoka

Mighty Messages from Micah: Third Midweek Advent Sermon, December 19, 2018

Christmas is about the Father sending his Son to save the world from sin and certain eternal death.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem just as Micah foretold, just as God had promised, just as God’s people trusted.

God the Father accepted his unblemished life and his blood shed at the cross as payment for our sins.

As our Mighty Ruler, Jesus brought us peace with the Holy God.

May God move you and me to share this Mighty Message of Micah so that others may come to know this Mighty Ruler who came from a Lowly Place—the Savior of all people Amen

Pastor Ron Koehler

Third Sunday of Advent: He Comes Bearing Gifts, December 16, 2018

Joy for people who wait expectantly:

• What we need to know.

• What we are to do as we wait.

Because of the faith we have by the power of the Holy Spirit, you and I hear John the Baptist’s preaching and we find that there is joy for people who wait expectantly for Jesus. May that joy be yours as you wait to celebrate the Savior’s coming at Christmas and as you wait for him to come again with your salvation! Amen.
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Pastor Ron Koehler

Mighty Messages from Micah: Second Midweek Advent Sermon, December 12, 2018

Wait for the LORD’s coming might.

Walk in the name of the LORD.

May the Lord grant us hearts that are both patient to wait for the wondrous second coming and to walk in the name of the LORD in the meantime. Amen

First Sunday of Advent: He Comes Bearing Gifts, December 9, 2018

Only the one who is prepared can have peace on the Last Day.

This peace requires preparation that comes by listening to God’s messengers and that comes by purifying our hearts of whatever may distract us from this peace.

May the Lord lead us to prepare so that we may always know that we are at peace because our Savior has come bearing the gift of peace. Amen
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Pastor Tim Patoka

Mighty Messages from Micah: First Midweek Advent Sermon, December 5, 2018

Many things have changed in the course of two thousand, seven hundred years.

But God’s promises have not changed.

We have a might message.

We have a mighty Shepherd.

Follow him.

First Sunday of Advent: He Comes Bearing Gifts, December 2, 2018

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Pastor Nathan Kassulke

Fourth Sunday of End Times: Christ the King, November 25, 2018

When does a king seem the most like a king?

While we live in this world we will continually be tempted to see Jesus from a worldly viewpoint.

But his kingdom is not of this world: he suffered and died in lowliness for you and for me.

He will return in glory to take us to be with him, we will welcome him as our king, and he will welcome us into his heavenly kingdom.

Pastor Nathan Kassulke

Come, You Thankful People, Come: Thanksgiving Eve Service, November 21, 2018

Sing a Song of Thanksgiving

Pastor Ryan Heiman

Third Sunday of End Time - Saints Triumphant, November 18, 2018

God’s Saints are Triumphant

• Over the end of death,

• Together for all time.

Let that promise of your coming triumph lift your spirits of what the future may bring, for what is to come is far better than anything this world can offer.

Amen

Pastor Tim Patoka

Christ will come again!

• Not to re-do what he has done, but to bring the salvation he has won.

• May it give you comfort and peace and a message to share.

Amen

Pastor Ron Koehler

Reformation Sunday 2018 - November 4, 2018, 4pm Area Service

Our Reformation Hope!

• The hope we have

• The hope we share

Pastor John Schmidt, Martin Luther College

Reformation Sunday 2018 - November 4, 2018, 10am Worship

Our Reformation Hope!

• The hope we have

• The hope we share

Pastor Timothy Patoka

Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost - October 28, 2018

See what Jesus does with suffering:

• He controls it yet allows it into our lives.

• He uses it to lead us to cry out to him.

• He uses it to lead us to see him as he is.

• He leads us to believe in him.

He leads us through suffering to eternal life without suffering.

To him be glory forever.

-Pastor Nathan Kassulke

Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost

Serve others with the Gospel:

• Be willing to put up with anything

• Be all to all to save some

Pastor Tim Patoka

Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost - October 14, 2018

How do I inherit eternal life?

• With man it is impossible.

• But with God it is a guarantee

  Knowing that eternal life depends on God and not ourselves, we can now look at the rules and things in the this world and use them to God’s glory. May the Lord ground us in His guarantee so that we may never doubt our inheritance that is eternal life. Amen

Pastor Tim Patoka

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost - October 7, 2018

What amazing joy and amazing beauty is there in God’s plan to marriage.

• The devil has done his best to destroy marriage, just as he has from the beginning with Adam and Eve.

• But God in his love continues to bless societies, families, and couples through this special gift of marriage.

Marriage is made by God; may we therefore honor and uphold it. Amen

Pastor Nathan Kassulke

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost - September , 2018

Because Jesus will always be our joy even when we struggle to keep our motives true in sharing Christ with others:

• Christ is our joy in all circumstances.

• Keep your motives worthy of rejoicing.

May the Lord grant us renewed hearts to treasure the joy that Christ always is and to keep our motives true to God so that we may rejoice in sharing Christ with all people. Amen

Pastor Tim Patoka

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost - September 16, 2018

As we apply the Word of God to our lives today:

• If we are honest before our Lord —- and we remember that he is our Savior —- a review like this list from James can encourage us to live for him and be a blessing to the people around us.

  • Are we: envious, selfishly ambitious, sinful boasting, ungodly, unspiritual, evil.

  • Are we: humble, pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, merciful, fruits of faith, impartial, sincere, peace-making.

• We have a Savior who was all these good things for us and did none of the sinful things.

May we go away from church today as God’s wise and righteous people, intent to live in a way that honors our Savior and serves others.. Amen

Pastor Ron Koehler