Third Sunday in Lent, March 15, 2020
The saving light of Jesus Christ has shined in a sin-darkened world. He has shined on you so that you may shine with the light of faith.
Jesus shines, and so do you because of him.
Shine with that light of faith in all you do:
in thankfulness to God
so that his name is praised
and to keep those who are still wandering in the darkness.
Pastor Ron Koehler
Third Midweek Lenten Service, March 11, 2020
The Son of God Goes Forth to War.
Hebrews 4:15: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin.
Jesus fought the war with Satan and the world’s temptations and won all the battles on our behalf. Praise be to Jesus, Our Savior.
Pastor Ryan Heiman
Second Sunday in Lent, March 8, 2020
Drink from Jesus’ Living Water:
To Quench Your Thirsty Soul
To Worship in Spirit and in Truth
Pastor Tim Patoka
Midweek 2: Lenten Service, March 4, 2020
Jesus as our Hidden Warrior
Jesus was like us except he was perfect for his entire lifetime even though he was surrounded by temptations and a sinful world.
He experienced normal human emotions like sorrow and joy. He wept at the death of his dear friend Lazarus.
But you also know that in our lives, we have cause sorrow around us.
We can look to our Savior Jesus to see the magnificent power that lies just below the surface in Jesus, who raised Lazarus to life, and has taken on the devil for us in order to save us from eternal condemnation.
Jesus, the king of the universe, creator of all things, came down to earth, and gave all that up, to take on the devil to save us.
Pastor David Parsons
First Sunday of Lent, March 1, 2020
People may be willing to help when it isn’t too much of an inconvenience, or as long as the needs of others fit in with our own needs and interests. We like the idea of all for one, as long as the one is me?
It is that very sort of sinful human thinking that underlies the very first sin, the sin of Adam and Eve in the garden. The eating of the forbidden fruit was a “me first” moment. But where the first Adam failed, the second succeeded.
Jesus did not give in. He did not set aside God’s command or intention for any reason whatsoever. Jesus relied on God’s Word; he trusted his Father to provide.
It was bad news when one sin brought sin and death to all, but it is amazing news when one sinless life and innocent sacrifice brings righteousness.
Pastor Nathan Kassulke
The Son of God Goes Forth to War
Ash Wednesday, February 26, 2020
The Lenten season is traditionally a time for us to think about our lives, to take on a fresh zeal toward repentance, toward sorrow over our sin, and to prepare for Holy Week.
The sin inside still plagues us. We are very aware that there are forces bigger than us that are at work underneath everything—-forces that would pull us down, pull us down to hell.
We need somebody who is real and bigger to fight for us.
This is a battle for our lives now and for eternity. Very real enemies are lined up against us. Some we can see, and many we cannot.
We can rejoice today that God promised a warrior to battle our enemies for us and to give us the victory over sin and death and hell. And we rejoice today that God always keeps his promises.
Pastor Nathan Kassulke
Installation of Pastor Frank Rose, Sunday, February 23, 2020
Installation of Pastor Frank Rose
Guest Pastor Bobby Oberg
Last Sunday after the Epiphany of Our Lord, Sunday, February 23, 2020
Jesus is God’s glorious son. While we don’t know everything about Jesus, we know he is God’s Son. He is much more than true man. He is also true God and, as such, has received majesty, honor, and glory from God the Father himself.
We have God’s trustworthy Word. We know Jesus is God’s son because God is the author of the Bible which is where he assures us that Jesus is God’s glorious Son and our glorious Savior.
The only place we find a light in this world today is in God’s Word. Pay attention to what it says. Never lose your conviction in who Jesus truly is.
Pastor Tim Patoka
Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany of Our Lord, Sunday, February 16, 2020
Live a holy life! Your sanctification is God’s will.
The encouragement that we receive throughout Scripture to be sanctified, to live holy lives, is never about earning our way to heaven or convincing God to love us. Both are impossible.
Instead, our sanctification that God wants so much for us comes because he has given us salvation and because he has already demonstrated his great love for us.
Living life in love for God and in service to my neighbor is our life’s goal. Help us to grow in this, day by day, Lord!
Pastor Nathan Kassulke
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany of Our Lord, Sunday, February 2, 2020
Arizona Lutheran Academy Sunday Worship
Thanks to Pastor Brad Bode, ALA Campus Pastor, for the sermon this day.
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany of Our Lord, Sunday, February 2, 2020
Let us focus on God’s Word, which forces us to think about our own attitudes and behaviors. What’s the object of your attention, your time, your loves, or your life? What is it that matters to you? Does everything revolve around what you want and what you like? What about when it comes to you and God? Is it all about you?..
Really, it is all about Jesus. There was nothing so great about you that made God love you. It was his grace.
So it is not about you and me at all:, it is all about Jesus.
Amen
Pastor Ron Koehler
Third Sunday after the Epiphany of Our Lord, Sunday, January 26, 2020
Go to the Bible to find Jesus’ light.
Darkness is commonly associated with not-so-great things; darkness is also associated to a life without Christ and no one can live ini complete darkness.
But for the person who rejects God’s Word or refuses to believe in Jesus the Light himself, they live in the complete darkness of sin.
Joyfully live in Jesus’ light
Jesus is the Light of the world; he shines upon those lost in sin’s darkness and enlightens us with his forgiveness..
Amen
Pastor Tim Patoka
Second Sunday after the Epiphany of Our Lord, Sunday, January 19, 2020
The essence of the job that John the Baptist did, as unique as it was, comes down to this: he pointed at Jesus and said, “Look! The Lamb of God!” John wanted everyone to know what he knew!
We have that same message: Jesus is the one individual to whom every promise and every prophesy of God had pointed; the one about whom all of the Scriptures testify.
Let us point to Jesus for our own sake and for the sake of others and say, “Look the Lamb of God, who takes away your sin and mine, who takes away the sin of the world.”
Amen
Pastor Nathan Kassulke
First Sunday after the Epiphany of Our Lord, Sunday, January 12, 2020
Jesus is The Anointed One
When we begin important things, we put a lot of thought into its beginning because it sets the tone for what is to follow.
Jesus’ baptism was the public start to his work on earth.
This is also when God presented Jesus as the Anointed One. No one else has this honor or can offer us the forgiveness he won for us on the cross.
His peace is for all people
God did not restrict his good news of peace to only certain groups of people.
He has opened it to all people of every nation so that whoever practices saving faith may have it in full measure.
Amen
Pastor Tim Patoka
Epiphany of Our Lord, Sunday, January 5, 2020
A star once led Wise Men to worship a newborn baby king.
The light of that star brought them to worship the light of the world.
Jesus is our light. He is our forgiveness; he is our salvation.
In the weeks to come, join us in hearing his Word, in praying in his name, and singing his praises as we come to worship him
Amen
Pastor Nate Kassulke
New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2019
PRAISE GOD FOR THE YEAR NOW PAST AND TRUST HIM FOR THE YEAR TO COME
The Lord made promises to be with those people long ago—even when things were difficult. He promised to be their Savior from sin and death and hell. He had not abandoned them in the past and he would continue to be there for them and with them in the future.
So trust God for the year to come. He has stuck with you despite your sin; he had blessed you in countless ways and has given you the GREATEST GIFT of faith in His Son Jesus.
He fights for you, defends you, blesses you, forgives you, and saves you.
That will not end in 2020.
Let that good news move you to sing praises to God and proclaim his name.
Amen
Pastor Ron Koehler
First Sunday after Christmas, December 29, 2019
Whether it was fulfilling the prophecy about coming from Egypt or being called a Nazarene or anything else, all the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus come to a head when we see Jesus nailed to a cross and under an inscription that again calls him a Nazarene.
It’s there he gave up his life to pay the price for our sins so that he could finally be our Savior who promises us freedom from guilt and sins.
And as the Old Testament prophesied elsewhere, Jesus rose from the dead, reclaimed full use of his divine powers as God, rules as our King forever and ever, and renews our deliverance from our sins by fulfilling his promise to forgive those who come to him in repentance.
Jesus has and will continue to fulfill everything that is written about him and for that, he is rightfully more famous and glorious than any other person in history.
It is for all this we give thanks to God for taking care of our Savior and, in so doing, assuring us of our salvation.
Amen
Pastor Tim Patoka
Christmas Day Service, December 25, 2019
The darkness of our world is at times all too apparent with wars, violence around the world, strife in our own families, and in my own heart, too.
To that darkness, the light of God incarnate (made flesh), the light of God-made-man came. He came to bring light and life. He came because of God’s great love in order to fix sin and dispel the darkness.
The God of the universe came to live under his own law. He was born as a baby and had to grow and learn and mature. He came to live and to die because that was the way to break the hold darkness had on us and on the world.
We have seen his glory. Let us live in the light of his Christmas love, now and forever.
Amen
Pastor Nathan Kassulke
Christmas Eve, December 24, 2019
John’s well-known verses from Chapter 3 allow us to look at God’s Christmas truths in a newly familiar way.
Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem is proof that God loves the world, including you.
It is because of God’s love for this sinful world that he sent his only-begotten Son in order to save us from our sins and to give us the promise of eternal life..
Amen.
Pastor Tim Patoka
Stories of the Promise Series December 22, 2019
Among other promises made by God to King Ahaz was this one—-this difficult one to grasp—-that the virgin would have a baby.
Christians believe that and it makes all the different in their lives and their eternal lives because that baby was the world’s Savior.
This promise made and fulfilled is the actual story of Christmas, of God sending the Savior into the world.
And remember: he is not just your Savior, he is the world’s Savior
We pray that the Holy Spirit would fill us so that we are eager to share that saving news.
Amen.
Pastor Ron Koehler