Rev. Peter Kelm

Luke 17:11-19

 

Jesus healed ten lepers.  Only one returned to thank Jesus.  Only one was commended for his faith.  Is there a connection?  Absolutely!  People with faith see the world differently, and that difference changes everything.

Rev. Carl Lehenbauer

Psalm 90

 

The psalms have a way of cutting to the heart, and psalm 90 is no exception.  The words of this ancient prayer humble us before our God; they show us how fragile we are and how short our lives are.  And then, once we have no choice but to admit our inability to help ourselves, this prayer points us to the only source of our salvation and meaning in our lives.

Zephaniah

Rev. Peter Kelm

 

During the election season we were bombarded with yard signs attempting to influence us as we chose our next president.  Our gracious God has posted signs for us as well, and the message of Zephaniah can be summarized by two very important signs: a message of warning and a message of grace.

Rev. Carl Lehenbauer

Matthew 25:1-13

 

Jesus said, "Keep watch."  And we are.  We're watching the news and the newspaper, our stock portfolios and day planners and mirrors.  But are we ready for His return?  Are we keeping watch for Christ's second coming?  When we are watching for Christ, we find the turmoil in our lives so much easier to cope with.

Rev. Carl Lehenbauer

Revelation 7:9-17

 

Rev. Carl Lehenbauer

John 18:28-40

 

Where do Christians stand when it comes to controversial social issues such as the death penalty, Roe v. Wade, the definition of marriage, and the role of Christians in times of war?  Followers of Christ may find themselves caught in an internal struggle between the love and forgiveness that are the mark of Christian living and the need to keep the peace by electing rulers who will uphold God-pleasing laws.  Martin Luther approached this struggle with an understanding called "the two kingdoms", a perspective that has much to offer to Christians of the twenty-first century.

Rev. Peter Kelm

Philippians 2:1-11

 

Jesus came to set us free from bondage to sin and death.  In Christ we are truly free!  And yet Jesus also called His people to follow His example of living the life of a servant.  How do Christians live with this two-fold identity as people who are both servants and free men?

Rev. Carl Lehenbauer

Isaiah 5:1-7, John 15:5

 

What good is a garden that doesn't produce a harvest?  No good at all, unless the gardener can somehow revive the plants and cause them to produce good fruit.  What good does it do for God to have called a people for Himself if they don't produce a harvest of righteousness?  None at all, unless He grafts them into the righteousness of His Son.

Rev. Peter Kelm

 

"Don't tell me.  Show me.",  "I'll believe it when I see it." , "A picture is worth a thousand words."  We are inundated by a constant stream of words, when the reality is, what we really want to see is action and power.  Then we come to church to worship the God who parted the Red Sea, made the sun stand still, and breathed life into dead bodies, a God of action and power, and all we receive is more words.  Or is it?