2019 Summer Sermon Series, “Joy for our Journeys,” September 1, 2019
Paul’s missionary journeys mentioned in the Acts account centered on the message that he had to proclaim:
To the Jews, he referenced the Bible passages that described Jesus and spoke about Jesus as the Messiah
We have the same mission and the same message to proclaim. We will want to share the message whenever someone offers us the opportunity.
May God bless our missionary journeys wherever they take us.
Pastor Nathan Kassulke
2019 Summer Sermon Series, “Joy for our Journeys,” August 25, 2019
Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven
Jesus’ journey from earth to heaven is much more than a ride off into the sunset.
It ushered in a different stage in God’s plan, a different time for his Church.
Jesus rides off into the distance with the promise to return—-visibly—-once again.
And until he comes back, he has left us with work to do, with responsibilities to let our lights shine, to honor him, to tell others the same good news that we have come to know and to love.
Pastor Nathan Kassulke
2019 Summer Sermon Series, “Joy for our Journeys,” August 18, 2019
We all have to decide who we are going to trust—-how can we trust that Christianity is the real deal?
Even though it sounds impossible, Jesus truly rose from the dead just as God’s Word says.
But even more, Jesus’ resurrection is our guarantee that we can trust what God says is ours.
We are saved because of what Jesus did for us as prophesied and promised hundreds of years before he walked on earth.
We are thus forgiven and have the guarantee of eternal life.
And I pray that we keep our focus on Jesus and his journey from death to life so that we may never doubt what God says is ours. Amen
Pastor Tim Patoka
2019 Summer Sermon Series, “Joy for our Journeys,” August 11, 2019
On so many occasions, our words and our actions say that we don’t think Jesus has a right to claim to be our king, but he loves us anyway, and that love led him on his journey to live alongside of us in a sin filled world, and to suffer, and to die on that cross for us.
That love led him to go through everything that was predicted, everything that was prophesied concerning the Savior of the world.
That love led our king to die on behalf of his people.
We leave church with sorrow in our hearts over our sins, but we also leave with hope. We leave knowing that the tomb will not be the last place where we see our Savior and we leave thankful that Jesus Christ made the journey to the cross for us.
Amen
Pastor Nathan Kassulke
2019 Summer Sermon Series, “Joy for our Journeys,” August 4, 2019
This week, let us consider a journey we cannot relate to at all—-it is unlike any trip we could ever take.
It is the journey from Heaven to earth taken by God’s one and only Son, Jesus.
The great love God has for us is why Jesus set out on this journey. He conquered death and provided a promise: because I live, you also will live (John 14:19).
May the joy and wonder remain with you today and every day until you stand before the One who made a one-of-a kind journey from heaven to earth because he loved you.
Amen
Pastor Ron Koehler
2019 Summer Sermon Series, “Joy for our Journeys,” July 28, 2019
How many times has someone promised you somthing only to fall through on it?
How many times have you promised to do something and failed to deliver on it?
Well, God keeps His promises. If God has promised it, we can depend on it.
We can say “amen” at the end of all prayers, “yes, it shall be so,” knowing that God will keep all his promises.
May the Lord help us to always have this confidence.
Amen
Pastor Tim Patoka
2019 Summer Sermon Series, “Joy for our Journeys,” July 21, 2019
God promised Jacob to provide so that he could journey from the Promised Land worry free.
We journey worry free to our heavenly home, too. Our God has taken our sins away. He has promised to provide us with life’s necessities.
May we remember this and take it to heart so that, as we journey to our heavenly home, we may journey worry free.
Amen
Pastor Tim Patoka
2019 Summer Sermon Series, “Joy for our Journeys, July 14, 2019
When Abram began his journey to the Promised Land,he didn’t know where he was going. Instead, God instructed him to set out and God promised that he would show Abram where to go. And Abram listened.
Where are we going? Thanks to God’s great promises and God’s great power, we confidently continue our journey to our heavenly Promised Land. Amen.
Pastor Nathan Kassulke
2019 Summer Sermon Series, “Joy for our Journeys, July 7, 2019
Can you imagine what it would be like to live in a perfect world?
It is impossible for us to truly understand or even imagine what that was like in the Garden of Eden or what it will be like when we enjoy a perfect relationship with our God as we live with him forever in Heaven.
But the journey of our lives is on a path that leads to our eternal heavenly home. It is God’s guarantee and God’s promise to us.
And it will be better than anything we could imagine. Amen.
Pastor Nathan Kassulke
Vacation Bible School Closing Service, June 30, 2019
Devotion #1: Mark 4:35-41
Jesus Came to Save Sinners
Devotion #2: Genesis 39:2-12, 16-20
Your Word is a Lamp to My Feet
Devotion #3, Acts 9:32-42
Let Your Light Shine
Loving Father, let your Word be a lamp for our feet and a light to our path so that we and our children may understand what you would have us know and believe, as we walk on the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.
Pastor Tim Patoka
Second Sunday after Pentecost, June 23, 2019
Stories of Improbable and Rare Faith
A Roman Centurion’s faith: what was his faith like?
it moved him to love God’s people and others around him.
it moved him to love God’s house (he built a synagogue.)
He showed humility and deference as he did not want to inconvenience Jesus in any way.
He believed that Jesus had the power to give life to a dying man.
Yours and Mine: How do we develop a strong faith today?
Diligent use of God’s Word which is so accessible today: Bible apps, automatic email devotions, Bibles, Bible classes, Worship every single Sunday.
The Holy Spirit works through the Word to create a greater trust in Jesus our Savior and to help each day with our concerns.
Pastor Ron Koehler
First Sunday after Pentecost, June 16, 2019
It would be easy to strain and stress over the details of what it means that God is both one and three.
We marvel, we rejoice, we give thanks for his love.
We hold God by faith in mystery and awe—-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
May God grant that we always hold him in such fath and share the truth of the Trinity with others.
Pastor Nathan Kassulke
The Day of Pentecost, June 9, 2019
What does Pentecost mean?
It means that Jesus kept his promise to send the Holy Spirit and that the Holy Spirit remains powerfully active for us.
It means that he leads us to call on the name of the Lord and be saved.
Let us rejoice today in his work and let us pray that he would keep us strong through the gospel until we reach the incredible glory of heaven. Amen.
Pastor Nathan Kassulke
The Ascension of Our Lord, June 2, 2019
It was Jesus Christ who ascended into heaven because his work was done.:
Because the disciples witnessed Jesus ascending to heaven, they were assured that everything concerning the Promised Savior was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
All those Old Testament prophesies they learned growing up were completed before their very eyes.
He continues to bless all his repentant children with the forgiveness of all their sins.
All the person needs to do is confess and trust to receive this blessing.
It doesn’t depend on us—-we have a Savior; we have his forgiveness.
That’s assured to us by Jesus’ ascension. Amen.
Pastor Tim Patoka
Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 26, 2019
Think of Home School as the training and instruction that prepares you to one day live in your eternal home.
This is the schooling you receive during your days on this eath that lead you to God’s home in heaven, where you will live eternally.
Since this is learning that leads to eternal life, each of us needs to take this kind of schooling seriously.
Pastor Ronald Koehler
Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 19, 2019
“Just as I have loved you, so also you are to love one another.”
As we wait to follow our Savior home to heaven:
we rely on his love and we reflect his love to others..
Our home is in heave and our Savior who loves us promises to take us to be there with him.
In the meantime, we show that our heart is with him by loving those he puts in our lives.
Jesus has show us what love looks like. May he grant us to be more like him every day. Amen.
Pastor Nathan Kassulke
Fourth Sunday of Easter, May 12, 2019
The assured feeling that we are safe:
Because of who Jesus is
Because of what Jesus gives.
Jesus is the Christ as attested with his words and actions—-no one else can be our Savior or give us the assurance that we have salvation.
He appeared in power, to assure them of his presence and providence for what lay ahead..
The risen Lord still comes with power through Word and sacrament, assuring us of his forgiveness, promising his Spirit for lives of faithful service, and guaranteeing our resurrection to eternal life..
Pastor Timothy Patoka
Third Sunday of Easter, May 5, 2019
Another miraculous catch of fish brings the disciples scrambling to worship at the feet of their Savior.
He appeared in power, to assure them of his presence and providence for what lay ahead..
The risen Lord still comes with power through Word and sacrament, assuring us of his forgiveness, promising his Spirit for lives of faithful service, and guaranteeing our resurrection to eternal life..
Pastor Timothy Patoka
Second Sunday of Easter, April 28, 2019
What happens after Easter? Jesus offers comfort and assurances to his disciples. He gives them certainty of peace and forgiveness. He gives them the keys to heaven.
What happens after our celebration of Easter? We keep on celebrating by listening to our Savior and receiving from him his gracious gifts to us. He has given us the house keys to our home in heaven. They are ours to know and ours to share.
We and all who believe have life in his name.
Amen.
Pastor Nathan Kassulke
Easter Festival Service, April 21, 2019
What had happened?
Jesus rose to be our Savior
Leave the tomb in amazement!
Whenever you sin or fail to live as God demands, look to the cross and the empty tomb. It’s because of what Jesus did there that you have peace with God above.
Pastor Timothy Patoka