4th Sunday after Epiphany, January 30, 2022

Epiphany Series: Uncovered

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, January 30, 2022

First Reading:  Jeremiah 4:1-10.  God chose to give Jeremiah a narrow agenda:  to share God’s Word with the people of Judah, regardless of what they wanted to hear.

Psalm 71: In you, LORD, I have taken refuge.

Second Reading:  2 Timothy 3:14-4:5.  A temptation for the Lord’s messengers is to say what ears want to hear.

Gospel:  Luke 4:38-44.  After preaching and doing miracles in the area around Capernaum, the people wanted Jesus to stay there permanently, but he had a different agenda:  to proclaim the gospel to many others.

Sermon:  2 Timothy 3:14-4:5.  The Christian’s Agenda:  Make Sinners Wise for Salvation.

Our Uncovered Worship series today looks at “agenda uncovered.”  Even though Jesus could have attracted crowds and he often did by healing and performing miracles, he focused on the main purpose of his ministry which is sharing the good news. And he wants us to share the good news, too.

Amen

Pastor Nathan Kassulke

3rd Sunday after Epiphany, January 23, 2022

Epiphany Series: Uncovered

Third Sunday after Epiphany

First Reading: Isaiah 61:1-6. The Lord allowed the Israelites to be conquered, but not forever.

Psalm of the Day, Psalm 146: The LORD is worthy of praise.

Second Reading:: Acts 4:23-31. The Apostles prayed for boldness to proclaim the Gospel

Gospel Reading: Luke 4:16-30. Jesus is rejected by his hometown when he revealed himself as the Annointed.

Sermon: Isaiah 61:1-6. The Annointed One Brings Good News.

Consider the Old Testament people who were exiled to Babylon. The people faced that fate because they had rejected God. And while some listened to amazing promises of salvation those who did were always a small remnant.

Many years later, Jesus used these promises to introduce himself to his hometown synagogue but in one of the saddest reactions, they not only left the good news behind, they tried to toss him off a cliff.

This needs to be a warning for us that the news in the verses can be taken for granted and dismissed when what we see doesn’t meet our expectations. The same sinful heart that has led so many to reject the good news resides in us.

Listen to the good news. Hold on to it. And share it with others.

Amen

Pastor Nathan Kassulke

2nd Sunday after Epiphany, January 16, 2022

Epiphany Series: Uncovered

Second Sunday after Epiphany

First Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5. The prophet Isaiah pictured the Church’s relationship with the Lord as an infinitely happy marriage.

Psalm of the Day, Psalm 145: The LORD is worthy of praise.

Second Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21. There is no limit of love that our God our Savior has for us.

Gospel Reading and Sermon Text. John 2:1-11

It is possible for us to have a heavenly focus even while enjoying God’s gifts to us in this life.

We pray that Jesus’ presence and miracle at the wedding in Cana, will help us to remember that our enjoyment of life can be pleasing to God, who gives us all things.

We pray also that we are able to set aside the idea that a life of following God is boring or somehow less than what life without Jesus can offer.

Amen

Pastor Ron Koehler

1st Sunday after Epiphany, January 9, 2022

Epiphany Series: Uncovered

First Sunday after Epiphany

Anointing Uncovered: What the eye sees differs from what God decrees.

First Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13. To the eyes of the average Israelite, the young boy David was not the best choice to be king, yet he was God’s choice: a man after God’s heart.

Psalm of the Day, Psalm 2: David describes the futile resistance of the world rulers to the kingdom of the Messiah.

Second Reading: Titus 3:4-7. Baptism is a second birth that bestows salvation and the Spirit.

Gospel Reading and Sermon Text. Luke 3:15-17, 21, 22.

God uncovers to us who the Christ is, the one anointed to save sinners from their sins. That person is Jesus alone as God decreed from long ago and publicly declared his baptism with his Triune presence.

There need be no question about who to look to for our Savior, for it is Jesus alone who is our Promised Savior.

Who is the Christ? It is Jesus my Savior.

Amen

Pastor Tim Patoka

The Epiphany of Our Lord, January 2, 2022

A Light for All People

First Sunday in Epiphany

First Reading: 1 Kings 10:1-9. The Queen of Sheba learns of God’s love for all people from King Solomon.

Second Reading and Sermon Text: Acts 13:46-49. God’s desire for salvation for the whole world for all time.

Gospel Reading. Matthew 2:1-12. God used a special light to lead foreigners to the Light of the World.

Sermon: Acts 13:46-49. A Light for All People.

We have a gracious God. We have spent weeks preparing for the most special child ever born. He is a Light for all people and that means that we get to partner with Paul and Barnabas in sharing that light with anyone and everyone. And we get to offer up treasures of our time and talents and money like the wise men did because we, too, have seen the light of the world who has brought salvation to us.

Amen

Pastor Nathan Kassulke

New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2021

New Year’s Eve Service: A Time for Everything

Psalm 90: We live, O Lord, within your grace; you are true God eternally

First Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. For everything, there is an appointed time.

Second Reading and Sermon Text: Hebrews 13:5-8, 14. God has said he will never leave you.

Gospel Reading. Matthew 25:1-13. Keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour the Lord will come.

Sermon: Hebrews 13: 5-8, 14. The Lord’s Help in Every Changing Time.

The Lord’s help is constant and unchanging. He will do what He said He will do even if we don’t see it in our lifetime. We can face our future unafraid because of His unchanging word.

We can be content with what God has given us, because what His greatest gift to us is for us to share the same outcome as all believers of all time who have gone ahead of us into eternal life with Him in heaven.

We can look forward to what is coming in our future.

Pastor Tim Patoka

1st Sunday after Christmas, December 26, 2021

What Child is This? Our Substitute and Sacrifice

First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9. While we have not always trusted God, Jesus demonstrated perfect obedience and trust, even when his Father asked him to be the sacrifice for our sin.

Second Reading and Sermon Text: Hebrews 2:10-18. Through his suffering and sacrifice, Jesus has made us holy. He now calls us his brothers and sisters.

Gospel Reading. Luke 2:41-52. Even as a boy, Jesus demonstrated obedience to the heavenly Father and respect for God’s holy Word.

Sermon: Hebrews 2:10-18. Freed By Our Brother and High Priest.

It is by being our brother that Jesus is our substitute. His perfect life, unjust sufferings and innocent death stand in for us. He doesn’t try to hide the fact that he is our brother.

Jesus work as our high priest frees us from the fear of death because we know what will be ours as Christians afterwards—-life in heaven with our loving Father, our brother Jesus, and every other Christian who has and is yet to come.

Pastor Tim Patoka

Christmas Day, December 25, 2021

First Reading and Meditation: Exodus 33:18-23, 34:5-7. God in the Flesh: The Overpowering Glory of God.

Second Reading and Meditation: Romans 8:31-32. God in the Flesh: The Gracious Gifts of God in Christ..

Gospel Reading and Meditation. John 1:1-18. God in the Flesh: The Gift Beneath the Wrapping.

Pastor Ron Koehler

Christmas Eve, December 24, 2021

First Lesson: Genesis 3:8-15. The Seed of the Woman.

Second Lesson: Isaiah 9:2-7. A Child is born to us who walk in Darkness. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Third Lesson: Psalm 96. Sing to the Lord a new song.

Fourth Lesson: 1 John 4:9-14. God’s Only-Begotten Son.

Fifth Lesson: Luke 2:1-7. The Son of Mary.

Sixth Lesson and Devotion: Luke 2:8-14. A Savior Born for You.

Over 2,000 years ago a child was born for you because you needed saving.

It’s hard to imagine as we see him in the manger that eventually we will see him on the cross. And it’s hard to imagine as we see him on the cross that we will one day see him in his glory.

There is no substitute for this good news. Glory to God in the highest.

Amen

Pastor Nathan Kassulke

4th Sunday of Advent, December 19, 2021

First Lesson: Micah 5:2-5. The humble, tiny town of Bethlehem would be exalted with the birth of our Savior who would bring spiritual peace to the ends of the earth.

Psalm 85. LORD, in your mercy heart my prayers.

Second Reading. Hebrews 10:5-10. We cannot do enough good works or offer enough sacrifices to raise ourselves up to God, so the Son of God obeyed the law for us and by his sacrifice has made us holy.

Gospel and Sermon Text. Luke 1:39-55. When the Lord Comes Near, He Lifts Up the Humbled.

The Lord lifts up the humbled from four particular angles: It’s in his promise, his purpose, his present, and his pledge.

God promised to lift up his humbled world through the offspring of a woman. In the womb of the Virgin Mary, God was coming near to keep that promise.

It was God’s purpose that his Son, Jesus, would come to save the whole world and for all time from our sin and sinfulness.

At the present time, he is coming near to his people in Word and sacrament.

God’s pledge: The Jesus who once dwelled in the womb of a virgin in order to accomplish your salvation—-he’s going to come back.

He will raise up, lift up, all who have been humbled by their sin to look to him for grace and mercy.

He will lift you up never to be humbled by sin or pain or sorrow ever again.

Amen

Pastor Nathan Kassulke

Angelic Announcement to Joseph: God Is With Us

Midweek Advent 3, Wednesday, December 15, 2021

First Lesson: Isaiah 7:10-17. Though King Ahaz refused to ask for a sign when God promised to give one, God still graciously spoke of the coming Savior. The miraculous sign would be a virgin giving birth to a child called Immanuel, which means “God with us.”.

The Gospel and Sermon Text: Matthew 1:18-25. The Announcement to Joseph.

The angel’s announcement to Joseph was as simple as it was strange to hear. Mary would have a baby, but he would be God’s son—-not Joseph’s or another man’s. He would be the One the prophets foretold—the Messiah who would save the people from their sins.

Advent calls us to look ahead with expectation for Christ’s return, when the voice of an angel will be heard again, as it announces that we will then be with God.

May we eagerly await that day!

Amen

Pastor Ron Koehler

When the Lord Comes Near, He Humbles His Enemies

3rd Sunday of Advent, December 12, 2021

First Lesson: Zephaniah 3:14-17. The prophet Zephaniah urges us to rejoice that the Lord has taken away our punishment.

Psalm 130: Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord…

Second Reading and Sermon. Philippians 4:4-7. Rejoice in the Lord always.

Gospel. Luke 3:7-18. John the Baptist urges those who came to hear him to repentance and that there is someone else coming who will baptize us with the Holy Spirit.

Sermon. Philippians 4:4-7. The Lord Will Come and Humble His Enemies.

The Lord’s coming brings Christians God’s unsurpassable peace. Because of our faith in what Jesus did for us when he came to this world, we have nothing to fear when he comes back to humble his enemies.

And because of what he has done for us, we nothing to fear when he comes again.

As we wait for that day, we fill our actions and attitudes with joy, gentleness, and thanksgiving. When we face hardships or injustices, we look forward to what the Lord will do when he comes back and we can rejoice, be gentle, and be thankful in our requests to God.

Amen

Pastor Tim Patoka

Angelic Announcements: God Does the Impossible

Midweek Advent 2, Wednesday, December 8, 2021

First Lesson: Genesis 18:10-15. Sarah considered God’s promise to give her and Abraham a son in their old age to be impossible. God reminded her and Abraham that for him nothing is impossible.

The Gospel and Sermon Text: Luke 1:26-38.. The Announcement to Mary.

When the angel told Mary about her special child, Jesus, he said that Jesus would do what seems impossible: He would sit on the throne of his ancestor David forever. He would have an endless kingdom, but to not be afraid.

Jesus did not come to battle against us as his enemies, He came to battle against our enemies and to make us His people.

He came to live for us, to live in our place and to set right all we have done wrong. He came to die for us and to make us His people forever.

Amen

Pastor Nate Kassulke

Advent 2 Sunday, December 5, 2021

When the Lord Comes Near, He Humbles His People (Luke 3:1-6)

Readings for Advent 2 Sunday, December 5, 2021

First Reading: Malachi 3:1-7. The Prophet Malachi sent a message from God to his people that someone would come to prepare us for the coming of the Lord Jesus.

Psalm 66. Let all the earth cry out with joy to the Lord.

Second Reading.: Philippians 1:3-11. The Apostle Paul issued prayers that the Christians in Philippi would endure to the Last Day.

The Gospel and Sermon Text: Luke 3:1-6.

Repentance is more than saying you are sorry to God. Repentance is:

1. to acknowledge that what I have done is considered sinful to God.

2. that I am sorry that I have offended God,

3. that I ask God to forgive me in Jesus and trust that he does,

4. and that I intend not to sin like this again because I want to please my Savior.

May we need the wake-up call of John the Baptist, to find humility—-the kind that repents before Christ, that realizes how precious his Word and Sacrament are, that looks to him for forgiveness and trusts him totally for eternal life.

Amen

Pastor Ron Koehler

Midweek Advent Service, Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Angelic Announcements: God Prepares His People (Luke 1:5-20)

As we hear of God’s impossible blessings of forgiveness, life, and salvation for sinners like ourselves, let us listen to what God has done for us with believing ears.

Pastor Tim Patoka

First Sunday of Advent, Sunday November 28, 2021

When the Lord Comes Near, He Humbles Himself

When Jesus returns, he will come in all his power and glory to be a judge.

And you will be ready for him because he humbled himself for you and because God led you to humbly receive his forgivenss

Pastor Nathan Kassulke

Thanksgiving Eve Service, Wednesday, November 24, 2021

God Meets Our Needs Throughout the Year

And my God will fully supply your every need, according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus

Philippians 4:19

Pastor Seth Scheuerlein

Season of End Times, Sunday, November 21, 2021

Christ the King Sunday

Readings for this Service: Season of End Times, #4

First Lesson: Daniel 7:13-14. The Prophet Daniel sees a vision of Jesus ruling as our eternal King.

Second Lesson and Sermon Text: Revelation 1:4-8. Of all the ways in which Christ could have shown his glory, he picked this one: to redeem us by his suffering and death so that we should live with him for all eternity.

Verse of the Day: Revelation 22:13. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Gospel: John 18:33-37. Pilate was confused when he heard that Jesus was a king. Jesus IS a king. In fact his kingdom is not of this world and his citizens are believers who listen to him.

The Sermon: Rejoice! Christ the King Is Coming! Revelation 1:4-8.

The verses tell us what we’ll see happening on the Last Day, but they also teach us some truths that are in effect now. One of those truths is how Jesus’ reign as Christ the King is timeless.

His reign is a saving reign that is timeless and almighty.

Look to Jesus as the Christ who freed you from your sins by the blood he shed on the cross.

Look to Jesus as the King who chiefly uses his almighty power to save you from your sins and to assure you of it.

Make good use of your time of grace to bring others to faith so that they too may rejoice with you whe Christ our King finally comes.

Amen

Pastor Tim Patoka

Season of End Times, Sunday, November 14, 2021

Saints Triumphant

Readings for this Service: Season of End Times, #3

First Lesson: and Sermon Text: Daniel 12:1-3. The God who protected his elect in this life will certainly not abandon them in death and on Judgment Day.

Second Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. The Apostle Paul addresses what happens on the Last Day for those who believe that Jesus died and rose again.

Verse of the Day: Revelation 7:15. They are in front of the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple..

Gospel: Mark 13:24-27. Jesus explains there will be distressing time in the last days..

The Sermon: The Shared Experience of the Saints: Daniel 12:1-3.

Distress, deliverance, and delight will be shared by those living in the end times.

Hell is real; it doesn’t matter whether people believe it or not. Because you trust in Christ for forgiveness and salvation, you are one of God’s holy ones. You can live eternally with him in heaven.

Look forward to that last day and live for that day when we will share that experience with each other and all the saints forever.

Pastor Ron Koehler

Season of End Times, Sunday, November 7, 2021

Last Judgment

Readings for this Service: Season of End Times, #2

First Lesson: Malachi 4:1-3. God’s Old Testament prophet speaks of terror for the wicked and joy for believers on the Last Day.

Second Lesson and Sermon Text: Hebrews 9:24-28. Christ will appear a second time. The key to our certainty of heaven is in the hands of our Great High Priest, Jesus.

Verse of the Day: Matthew 24:42. Be alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

Gospel: John 5:19-30.. Jesus assures us that we are ready for the final judgement when we hear the Lord speak and believe.

The Sermon: Christ Will Appear a Second Time, Hebrews 9:24-28.

For those who believe in Jesus as their Savior from sin, the end of the world is not a scary prospect. It is exactly what we wait for and exactly what we hope for.

We don’t know when that day will come. We don’t know when our last day will come. What we do know is that Jesus is our perfect Savior, our great high priest. He has taken away our sins, and he will return as judge. And that is a reason to rejoice in him.

Pastor Nathan Kassulke