Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany , February 7, 2021

Get to Know Jesus Series, Week 6.

Readings for this service

First Lesson: Job 7:1-7. Job’s experience of suffering is extreme but no means unique, but he continues to trust in God’s mercy in the face of such terrible suffering.

Verse of the Day: John 8:12. Alleluia. Jesus said, “I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Alleluia.

Second Lesson: Romans 8:28-30. All things work together for the good of those who love God.

Gospel and Sermon:  Mark 1:29-39. We all have unique circumstances and situations, but we praise God that we have this in common: Jesus is our Savior.

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany , February 7, 2021

Get to Know Jesus Series, Week 6

Readings for this service

First Lesson: Job 7:1-7. Job’s experience of suffering is extreme but no means unique, but he continues to trust in God’s mercy in the face of such terrible suffering.

Verse of the Day: John 8:12. Alleluia. Jesus said, “I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Alleluia.

Second Lesson: Romans 8:28-30. All things work together for the good of those who love God.

Gospel and Sermon:  Mark 1:29-39

We all have unique circumstances and situations, but we praise God that we have this in common: Jesus is our Savior.

We get to know Jesus as we recognize the work of sin and Satan and as we know the power Jesus has to help.

He has called us to trust in him, and we will continue to want to get to know him better and better day by day.

Amen

Pastor Nathan Kassulke

WELS musician Chris Driesbach leads service at Grace on January 31, 2021. See Chris’s website: https://www.chrisdriesbach.com/

Third Sunday after the Epiphany , January 17, 2021

Get to Know Jesus Series, Week 4

Readings for this service

First Lesson: 1 Kings 19:19-21. God calls Elisha

Verse of the Day: Matthew 4:23. Alleluia. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching, preaching, and healing every disease. Alleluia.

Second Lesson: Acts 13:1-5. God sets apart Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for work for which he called them.

Gospel and Sermon:  Mark 1:14-20

Jesus called his first 4 Disciples: Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John, who left their fishing boats and followed him immediately.

Jesus has called all of us Christians to follow him above all, too.

We can do this by: 1) genuinely confess our sins; 2) trust in God’s promise to forgive; and 3) live a life that tries to be free from those sins.

We can all serve our Lod wherever we are and however long we’ve been in the Christian faith.

And while there are competing influences out there that want us to do anything except follow our Lord, let us instead imitate the 4 men whom Jesus called to full-time apostleship and be willing to drop and overcome whatever necessary so that we may follow our Savior as he has called us.

Amen

Pastor Tim Patoka

Second Sunday after the Epiphany , January 17, 2021

Readings for this service

First Lesson: 1 Samuel 3:1-10. The Lord calls the boy Samuel and Samuel answers, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”.

Verse of the Day: Isaiah 49:3: Alleluia. He said to me, “You are my servant in whom i will display my glory.” Alleluia.

Second Lesson: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17. It is by God’s grace that you are saved who gives us encouragement and hope.

Gospel: John 1:43-51. Jesus calls Philip to be His disciple; Philip invites Nathanael to “come and see” the Lord Jesus.

Sermon:  Know the Power of Jesus’ Call (2 Thessalonians 2:13-17:

Give thanks to God for bringing you to faith. Because it is a challenge to follow our Savior in all we think, do, and say, we also go to the Lord for his sustaining power.

He does this when we hold his Word tight and close to our hearts and where he eternally encourages our hearts with his good hope of grace and agape love.

He also sustains us to follow Jesus through our Word-driven works and words.

It is through all this that we get to know the power our Lord works in us through Jesus’ call to faith in him and to follow him.

Amen

Pastor Tim Patoka

The Baptism of our Lord, January 10, 2021

Readings for this service

First Lesson: Isaiah 49:1-6:  With prophetic vision, Isaiah spoke of the coming of the Christ.

Psalm 148: All God created, including the heavens and earth and all living creatures are called to praise the Lord.

Second Lesson: Acts 16:25-34: After an earthquake, the jailer was terrified that all the prisoners had escaped; Paul and Silas reassured him they remained in their cells. They spoke to him of the Word of the Lord and to everyone in his house. The jailer rejoiced, because he and his whole household had come to believe in God

Gospel: Mark 1:4-11: John the Baptist baptizes the Lord.

Sermon:  The Son of God is Baptized for You (Mark 1:4-11)

John the Baptist called people to repent of their sins. The crowds all heard that they were sinners and needed forgiveness. He also preached that someone else was coming who outshone John and this was Jesus.

When Jesus, the sinless Son of God walked down to John, into the Jordan River, to be baptized, he was giving us a champion to fight the battle against your sins. He began his work and the ministry that will take him to his death on the cross, not because of his own sin, but because he is going where sinners need to go. He is going to the suffering and pain and torture of hell as a substitute for you and for the whole world.

Because of all he has done, your baptism has power to save.

Pastor Nathan Kassulke

The Epiphany of our Lord, January 3, 2021

Readings for this service

First Lesson and Sermon Text: Isaiah 60:1-6:  Isaiah allows us a glimpse of the glory that is Christ.  We see God’s great love for us.

Second Lesson: Ephesians 3:2-19:  Paul explains we have been sent to the ends of the world to make known to Jews and Gentiles of the salvation that comes from Jesus.

Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12:  In this account of the Magi visiting Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, God has revealed that Jesus has come for the poor and lowly without leaving out the wise and rich.

Sermon:  Ge to Know Jesus as the Savior of the World: Isaiah 60:1-6

Epiphany is the word used to recount the visit of the Magi to our Savior, Jesus Christ, the sun’s dawning Light, in Bethlehem.  Jesus’ light of salvation chases away the darkness of sin with his forgiveness and love.

Follow the example given to you by the Magi as you consider how to give your joyful gifts and praise to the Lord.

Let your gifts to the Lord of time, talents, and treasures be of first priority instead of what’s leftover because you failed to plan.

Everyone’s situation is different and may not be secure, but chances are, you can still be generous to God in your own way.

Let your giving be marked with cheerful hearts and a faith-driven motivation that comes from calling Jesus your Savior.

Pastor Tim Patoka.

New Year’s Eve Service, December 31, 2020

Readings for this service

First Lesson: Deuteronomy 11:18-21, 26-28: God promises that his Word is there to direct our lives.

Second Lesson:  1 Peter 1:17-25: All earthly things perish, but the word of the Lord endures forever.

Verse of the Day:  Psalm 119:105: Your words are a lamp for my feet and alight for my path.

Gospel and Sermon Text:  Matthew 7:24-29: The words from the Gospel for this sermon come from the very last portion of Jesus Sermon on the Mount. Jesus counsels us to build our life on the firm foundation that comes from belief in him. Listen to the amazing promises of God. Consider how he has led you where you hear his Word. Read it. Learn it. Study it. Meditate on it and make it a part of your life. And then put it into practice.

Let his Word lead you to repent of sins, some of which you don’t even realize you are doing.

Let it lead you to show love and care for your neighbors by supporting them in their need and encouraging them when they are fearful and comforting them when they are sad.

Love your neighbors by telling them about Jesus.

Pastor Nathan Kassulke

First Sunday after Christmas, December 27, 2020

Readings for this service

First Lesson: Isaiah 45:20-25:  The Lord wants all people to be saved.  In Jesus and in none other God will accomplish our salvation and the redemption of the world.

Second Lesson:  Colossians 3:12-17:  All Christians are urged to live with faith as we live with others and do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Verse of the Day:  Colossians 3:15a:  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.

Gospel and Sermon Text:  Luke 2:25-40: Like Simeon and Anna, two believers who saw the baby Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem sang:  not of their own merit or even of their faith; they sang and rejoiced that God had sent salvation to his people and had made it know to them.

We also find forgiveness in the One who was brought to the temple that day as a little child.  He lived and died for you, that he may be the center of your attention, to focus on Him, as you live thankful lives for him, and for eternity when you’ll live with him in Heaven.  Amen

Pastor Ron Koehler

Christmas Day Service, December 25, 2020

Readings for this Service

First Lesson: Isaiah 52:7-10: Hear the joy that God has brought us

Second Lesson: Hebrews 1:1-9: Hear how high and mighty God is and the salvation he brought us with providing us with Jesus our Savior.

Gospel and Sermon Text: John 1:1-14: “In the beginning…” is how God told us, through Moses in Genesis Chapter 1, that He created all things in six 24-hour days. As he bring our attention to creation, the Apostle John begins his Gospel with the famous words, “in the beginning.” He teaches us who this baby born in Bethlehem truly is.

He is the Word, Jesus Christ, truly God and truly man.

While we may be tempted to think that Jesus is less than the Word in the flesh or that his light is hopeless against sins’s darkness, that will never be: our Savior’s birth still stands and can never be undone.

Jesus’ birth in Bethlenem promises you the same as it always has—-your Savior has come to bring you God’s light of a forgiven and everlasting life.

Pastor Tim Patoka

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, December 24, 2020

Readings for this Service

First Lesson: Genesis 3:8-15: Humanity’s separation from God dates to the beginning of time: to the fall into sin by the first humans, Adam and Eve.  As tragic as this was, the account of it ends with God’s promise of rescue: that the woman’s offspring, Christ, would ultimately defeat Satan and the rebellion of sin.

Second Lesson: Isaiah 11:1-9: Striking symbolic language describes the gift more than 700 years before it was given.

Third Lesson: Micah 5:2-4: God wants there to be no doubt about his gift.  Through prophesy he reveals the exact tiny village where Jesus would be born.  The wonder of fulfilled prophesy continues to convince people about the validity of God’s gift even today.

Fourth Lesson:  Luke 1:26-38:  So many of God’s ways of intervening in our world are beyond our understanding.  We are blessed to receive God’s gift when, like Mary, we humbly accept God’s plan and marvel at it.

Fifth Lesson: Matthew 1:18-25:  The first lesson described the human race’s separation from God.  God’s gift to end this separation is his Son, Immanuel—“God with us.”

Sixth Lesson:  Luke 2:1-17:  In a fulfillment of the prophecy in tonight’s third lesson, God uses the mighty powers of this world to accomplish his will and to deliver his gift to an otherwise doomed world.

Seventh Lesson:  Luke 2:8-20:  The angels can’t help but celebrate God’s gift.  The shepherds eagerly spread the word of this gift as announced by the angels.  We join them, glorifying and praising God for all that we have come to know about God’s great gift.

Pastor Ron Koehler

Fourth Sunday in Advent, December 20, 2020

Scripture Readings for this week:

First Lesson:  2 Samuel 7:8-16:  Both Jesus’ coming in grace and his coming in judgment are events pre-figured in the promise to David.  What’s left for us to do?  Nothing!

Psalm 63:  This Psalm of David expresses a deep longing for God.

Second Lesson:  Romans 16:25-27: Jesus, the sum of all that God has to say to us, is about to descent once more to the lowly manger of our hearts! 

Verse of the Day: Matthew 1:23:  Alleluia.  The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son.  And they will name him Immanuel.  Alleluia.

Gospel and Sermon Text: Luke 1:26-38: Listen to the promise of the angel: the one to be born would be  true and complete God and true and complete man --- in one person.

What is so amazing about this promise it that it does not depend on you; it depends on God.  It depends on Jesus.

And that amazing and impossible promise deserves only one reaction:  it is to be received in faith.

May God bless these last days of Advent for all of us.  May he strengthen our faith to believe the impossible and the amazing news.  May he prepare us for life and for eternity through his greatest promise to us: the promise of Jesus.

Amen

Pastor Nathan Kassulke

Midweek Advent Service, December 16, 2020

Children of the Promise: Moses

Readings for the service:

First Lesson: Exodus 2:1-10

Psalm 27

Second Lesson:  2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Sermon:  God Protects and Delivers His People: Exodus 2:1-10

Pastor Ron Koehler

Third Sunday in Advent, December 13, 2020

Readings for this week:

First Lesson and Sermon Text:  Isaiah 61:1-3, 10-11:  It is an astonishing thing that so many are not satisfied with the salvation that God provides in the coming Christ. 

Psalm 63: In this Psalm of King David, we address God as a loved one, not as a stranger, and with an eagerness to be near him.

Second Lesson:  1 Thessalonians 5:16-24:  The message prepares you for the real Christmas and for the real joy that God wants you to have in Christmas.  Be filled with joy in knowing that God is faithful and will not leave us or forsake us no matter what happens to us in this life; for the Light of the world is on his way!

Verse of the Day:  Matthew 11:10:  Alleluia.  I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.  Alleluia.

Gospel:  John 1:6-8, 19-28:  John was God’s spokesman called to prepare the people for the Savior who comes in grace and judgment.  Bot those questioning him were not satisfied with him or with his message.

Sermon:  Isaiah 61:1-3, 10-11:  There’s no news better than our God’s news which promises us freedom and joy. Jesus is the Anointed who has come to preach the good news of forgiveness to all those afflicted by sin so they may be free from it. This forgiveness brings joy down to our very souls, in fact God will cause this joy to sprout before all nations with our acts of righteousness and praise as we continue to revel in the Anointed’s promises of freedom and joy to us.  Amen

Pastor Tim Patoka

Second Midweek Advent Service, December 9, 2020

Readings:

First Lesson and Sermon Text: Luke 1:29-45, 57-66

Psalm 66

Second Lesson: Colossians 1:1-12

Sermon: Luke 1:29-45, 57-66; Children of the Promise: John the Baptist

It was the for the joy of saving us that Jesus was born, treated on the cross like he was the one who was apathetic about the God --- instead of us. 

We are all capable of living a sinful life that is distant from Jesus, not joyful in his presence, and forgetting to bring our thoughts and concerns to God. 

We are not alone in life:  we have Jesus who endured the cross and  its shame for us, and who rose again and brought us close to him.  We can rejoice like Elizabeth and John the Baptist and Zachariah that Jesus was born---for us. 

 Pastor Frank Rose

Second Sunday in Advent, Sunday, December 6, 2020

Readings:

First Lesson and Sermon Text: Isaiah 40:1-11. The message of God’s messengers has not changed. It is a message that prepare us for his coming both at Christmas and on the Last Day. He comes to give life; his Word of grace and pardon that lasts forever.

Psalm 63: In this intimate prayer, we address God as a loved one, not as a stranger, and with an eagerness to be near him.

Second Lesson:  2 Peter 3:8-14. The messenger assures us that the promise of Jesus’ final coming also will be kept, just as surely as the promise of his first coming at Christmastime was kept.

Gospel: Luke 3:4,6. The message is powerful for it is one of forgiveness; a message that washes away sin and guilt in the Word and in the water, so that those who receive it will be fit for the only one who is great: our coming Savior King.

Sermon: Isaiah 40:1-11: God still loves us. We are still his people. We will be for eternity. I pray that this promise of comfort from the Lord encourages you and allows you to endure life’s challenges, as it did for God’s people long ago, when Isaiah first gave it to them. Amen.

Pastor Ron Koehler

Children of the Promise: Samuel

First Midweek Advent Service, Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Readings:

First Lesson and Sermon Text: 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Psalm 119b

Second Lesson:  2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

Sermon: 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Pastor Tim Patoka

First Sunday in Advent, Sunday, November 29, 2020

Readings for this week:

First Lesson and Sermon Text: Isaiah 63:16-17; 64:1-8:  Throughout history, God has promised to come in grace to rescue those who are ready and to come in judgment on those who could not be bothered with him.

Psalm 63:  This Psalm of David expresses a deep longing for God and for his temple.  In this intimate prayer, we address God as a loved one, not as a stranger, and with an eagerness to be near him.

Second Lesson:  1 Corinthians 1:3-9:  Since Jesus is most surely coming, how shall we watch and how shall we prepare, so that his coming to us will be in grace and not in judgment?

Verse of the Day: Revelation 22:20:  Alleluia.  The one who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”  Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! Alleluia.

Gospel:  Mark 13:32-37:  To prepare for Christ’s coming, we do well to turn our eyes away from the glitter and the clutter of the world and focus them on our need for his coming.

Sermon:  Isaiah 63:16-17; 64:1-8: 

How long does it take to keep a promise?  God can make a promise and he can keep it even if the making and the keeping of the promise are lifetimes apart. 

In the Old Testament, believers looked forward to the one that had been promised all the way back to Adam and Eve.

In the New Testament times, we now look back on how God sent his only-begotten Son to be the Savior of the world.

Advent reminds us that we live in a time between the fulfillments of these great promises of God.

How long will it be until our Savior returns and takes us to be with him?  Only God knows.  But he will come. And by his grace he has made us ready and will keep us ready.  He has promised it.

Pastor Nathan Kassulke

Thanksgiving Eve Service, November 25, 2020

Psalm 136: For His Mercy Endures Forever

God’s mercy has given us all we need. It has rescued us from our enemies; it has promised us that one day our suffering will end, our pain will cease, and our uncertainty will disappear.

God’s mercy has assured us that the perfect joy of heaven will never end. It has given us every reason to give thanks.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. For his mercy endures forever.”

Amen

Pastor Nathan Kassulke

Christ the King Sunday, November 22, 2020

Readings for this week:

First Lesson: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 23-24: Christ is our Shepherd King

Psalm 47: Praise the great King of all the earth.

Second Lesson and Sermon Text

1 Corinthians 15:20-28: Rejoice in Christ the King who will conquer all our enemies.

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

Gospel:  Matthew 27:27-31: How can we find joy in this reading? We have a King in Christ who left his heavenly throne and reigned from the wood of the cross. Rejoice in Christ the King who came as our sacrifice.

Sermon:  1 Corinthians 15:20-28: Our Victorious King

Jesus came to earth as King not only for the sake of this life. His life was perfect. His death was innocent. His holy, precious blood paid the price for every single human being ever. He sacrificed himself—-remember, he had the power to stop it. He sacrificed himself so that our sins could be dealt with and taken away.

Our King uses his power and his might and his love for us to make sure that nothing separates us, that nothing gets in the way of his plans and his purpose for us.

God assures us that while death is the final enemy to be defeated it is not the only enemy or threat. Do not fall into the trap of Satan when he says that your well-being, your safety, and your security is dependent on a doctor or a politician or a family member or a circumstance or a situation. Instead trust in the King who humbled himself to the point of ridicule and death because of his love for you and who rose from death victorious.

Amen

Pastor Nathan Kassulke