Click on one of the following files to view the available options:
"Part of Something Bigger"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ephesians 2:11-22
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ephesians 2:11-22
Download
Description
There was a huge gap between Jews and Gentiles. The Jews were near to God, and the Gentiles, because they were pagans, were far from God. Yet Christ died for all and, through the Spirit's power, Gentiles who believed in Him were now one with those Jews who also believed in Him. The natural divide and hostility between those groups was broken down in Christ. The same can be true for us, who are divided by many things today: race, politics and even sex. Yet where natural divisions may be present in the world, those divisions should be overcome by our common faith in Christ as our Redeemer. Now being His Christians, we have a unity with each other that supercedes that which divides us. And if we can truly appreciate our connection by faith to one another, then our hostility toward each other based on lesser things can be mitigated and we can begin to appreciate our common humanity.
"Together in the Promise of Christ" Epiphany
Pastor Kenneth D. Lueke
Ephesians 3:1-12
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth D. Lueke
Ephesians 3:1-12
Download
Description
Who is Christianity for? People say that Christianity is only for certain types of people: the old, kids, the uneducated and superstitious, etc. In reality, there is only one group that Christianity is for: Sinners (and that's all of us). Epiphany reminds us that Christ came to save also the Gentiles along with Israel. He came to give His life for all people, whatever their station in this life, and by faith in Him, we are joined to each other in the promise of forgiveness, life and salvation through Christ.
"The Mystery Revealed" Epiphany
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ephesians 3:1-12
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ephesians 3:1-12
Download
Description
When explained, what once seemed to us mysterious now makes sense. What seemed mysterious to people of old, and even to modern fallen man now - that people of varying backgrounds and cultures could actually become one with each other - is made plain in Christ, who died for all.
"No Longer Mysterious" Epiphany Sunday
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ephesians 3:1-6
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ephesians 3:1-6
Download
Description
It was a mystery to Jews that God would want to save Gentiles. Yet, as the star led the wisement to Bethlehem, Christ was manifested to the Gentiles; the Gospel went out to them and many were joining the Church together with Jews who also believed in Christ. Yet, today we also find it mysterious that God would want to save certain people (usually those we don't like or who have done very bad things), yet Christ died for all. Ad because He died even for the "chief of sinners," that means He also died for us. That is truly the mystery - that He would redeem us, in spite of our sins. But thank God that He did, and we are now fellow heirs, partakers and members with one another and all who trust in Christ as their Redeemer.
"Together" Epiphany Sunday
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ephesians 3:1-6
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ephesians 3:1-6
Download
Description
The Gentile Magi came to worship Jesus, the One born "King of the Jews." Why? Because Christ came to redeem both Jew and Gentile. His Gospel calls both Jew and Gentile to Himself. Jesus breaks down the barriers between groups that otherwise would be divided. He makes us sharers together in the promise of the Gospel fulfilled in Christ. So, in our families, churches and even social media contacts, the things that can so easily divide us are overcome when we realize that, as fellow Christians, we are connected to one another, and have a responsibility to love and care for one another.
"Comprehending Christ's Love For You"
Pastor Gerald Heinecke
Ephesians 3:14-21
Pastor Gerald Heinecke
Ephesians 3:14-21
Download
Description
To be able to comprehend Christ's love for you as more than a sentimental feeling, you have to be "In Christ," that is, through faith in Him, you understand His love as an act of sacrifice for sinners, including you, that caused Him to lay down His life on the cross to bring about your forgiveness. Through Word and Sacrament, the Holy Spirit connects you to Christ's death and resurrection and, through faith in that, you can now truly comprehend the love that Christ has for you.
"Different Circumstances; Same Jesus"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ephesians 3:14-21
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ephesians 3:14-21
Download
Description
For the second time now the disciples are on the Sea of Gallilee and in trouble. Yet the circumstances are different: Before they were in danger of drowning; now they are just experiencing difficulty. Yet it was the same Jesus in control of it all, and the same Jesus they still didn't understand. Before, when He was in the boat sleeping peacefully, in fear they accuse Him of not caring if they drown. Here, in the darkest hour of the night as He walks to them on the water, they fear He is a ghost come to destroy them. We are no different from the disciples: In adversity we also accuse Jesus of not caring, or believe He is coming to do us harm. We, too, don't always understand that Jesus allows troubles to come our way to strengthen our reliance on Him and to increase our faith in His redeeming love and power. Without the "strong winds" buffeting us, we too easily can slip into a reliance on ourselves. But as we behold the cross of Christ, we know that He hasn't forsaken us or is treating us with evil intent. He is the One who, in love, gave Himself for us. We can take courage and not be afraid, for it is He who is with us in all things.
"Godly Resolutions" New Year's Eve
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ephesians 4: Selected Verses
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ephesians 4: Selected Verses
Download
Description
New Year's is a time of new beginnings. We hope the new year will be better than the old year, and we often make resolutions to improve ourselves. Most of those resolutions fall by the wayside shortly after. In Ephesians 4, St. Paul gives us some "Godly Resolutions" that will not be simply to improve us, but to be a blessing for others: Tell the truth, work to be able to help others, use speech that build up others, do not give in to anger and bitterness. And most importantly, to forgive one another. And the basis for all these Godly Resolutions, and why we would want to do these things: "as God in Christ forgave you." Indeed, it all originates in the Gospel, and is empowered by the Gospel. These kinds of resolutions really can make a positive change in us and those around us. Happy New Year!
Marriage Relations"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ephesians 5:22-33
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ephesians 5:22-33
Download
Description
"The True Battleground"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ephesians 6:10-18
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ephesians 6:10-18
Download
Description
The "Armor of God" is all about Jesus. His Gospel, His Righteousness, His Truth, His Salvation, and Faith in Him, are the means He provides to protect us against the devil's schemes to destroy us, and extenguishes the fiery darts that the devil shoots at us to undermine our faith. To despise or neglect the means of defense that Christ provides us renders us exposed and vulnerable. Christ is the one who fights for us and has obtained the victory already through His life, death and resurrection. We are called upon to make use of His gifts for our defense through Word and Sacrament so that we may stand firm in Him to the very end.
"Partaking of the Lamb" Maundy Thursday
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Exodus 12:1-14
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Exodus 12:1-14
Download
Description
God was ready to deliver His people, and to prepare them for their deliverance, and to protect them from the judgment and death coming upon Egypt, He gives them a meal of the lamb, whose blood would then be painted on the doorposts so the Angel of Death would pass over those homes. All of this serves to point us to Christ and to His Supper. Jesus is the fulfilment of all tha the Passover signified. He is The Lamb who takes away our sins. His blood causes the wrath of God for sin to "pass over" us, because we are forgiven in Jesus. It is Jesus' meal. He invites us; He is the Host; He is the Meal. We partake of it as He gives it to us; not as we think it should be. In it, we receive the very body and blood of our Savior "given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sin." We are cleansed by His blood and clothed with Christ. Through this Supper, we are nourished to live out our lives in Him as we pass though the wilderness of this world toward our true Promised Land in heaven. Indeed, in the Lord's Supper, we partake of the Lamb of God who gave Himself for us.
"From First-Born to All-Born" 1st Sun. After Christmas
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Exodus 13:1-3, 11-15
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Exodus 13:1-3, 11-15
Download
Description
When Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple to present Him to the Lord, they were fulfilling what God commanded through Moses that every firstborn male belongs to the Lord and should be consecrated to Him. This is because of God's mighty deliverance of the Israelites from captivity in Egypt, when the angel of death passed through killing all firstborn males unless they were in homes where the blood of the lamb had been painted on the doorframes. The ongoing dedication of the firstborn males points back to that event, and forward to the coming of God's only-begotten Son, who Himself would be the Lamb who would redeem humanity - All of us who are born in sin and under condemnation. Simeon saw that this Child was "the Lord's Christ," who would be for all people, Jews and Gentiles, and he praised God. Now in Holy Baptism, we all who are born in sin are reborn as God's dear children by faith in Christ our Redeemer.
"Panic Time?" Coronavirus
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Exodus 17:1-7
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Exodus 17:1-7
Download
Description
Israel was without water in the wilderness. They panicked. Forgetting all the blessings of God, they could only see their present adversity and questioned whether God was with them or not. He was, and He provided for them. What about us? Do we believe God is with us or not? During this Coronavirus outbreak people have been panic buying, hoarding, rushing to and fro and living in abject fear of this virus. Why? Is God not with us? He gave His Son for the sins of the world, so He will not abandon His Christians in the midst of a pandemic. While we listen to the authorities and practice love for our neighbor by caring for them, as well as ourselves to minimize infection, some us us may still get sick and others may die. Yet the Lord is with us in sickness and health, in life and in death. Because of all that Jesus has done for us, there is no need to panic. We will be just fine, no matter what happens.
"Is the Lord Among Us, or Not?"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Exodus 17:1-7
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Exodus 17:1-7
Download
Description
Is the Lord among us, or not? That's the question. And how do you know? If you base God's presence with you on your feelings or pleasant circumstances, what do you do when that changes negatively? Has God then departed from you? God has promised in His Word to be present with us in all things, good and bad. He sealed that promise to us in Christ's death and resurrection. God is present with us in the very concrete means of Word and Sacrament in all circumstances; not just in good feelings or good times.
"Good Intentions"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Exodus 19:2-8
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Exodus 19:2-8
Download
Description
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions." All too often we do not follow through on what we intend because we don't take into account our own weaknesses. Israel promised to follow through on all God's Commands; Peter and the other disciples promised to never abandon Jesus; we promised on our Confirmation Day to remain faithful and active in receiving God's Word and Sacraments throughout our lives. Yet, in all these cases, the sinful nature has a way of overcoming our good intentions. Yet, though we can be faithless at times, Christ continues to remain faithful to us. By staying connected to the Gospel, the Holy Spirit will give us greater resolve to follow through on our good intensions and increasingly overcome our weakness in keeping those intentions.
"The Feast of Life" Maundy Thurs.
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Exodus 24:3-11
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Exodus 24:3-11
Download
Description
God established His covenant with Israel of old, sealed by the blood of the sacrifice and celebrated through the leaders of Israel eating and drinking in God's presence. Jesus instituted the New Testament with His body and blood. He is the true sacrificial lamb that takes away the sin of the world. As we Christians gather around His Word and promise to us in Christ, we also gather to eat and drink in His presence. But, under the earthly elements of bread and wine, we truly partake of Christ's body and blood, "given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." Indeed, we partake of the true Feast of Life, which is Christ.
"Eating and Drinking With God" Holy Thursday
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Exodus 24:3-11
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Exodus 24:3-11
Download
Description
God came to Israel to establish His covenant with them by means of His Word, which they pledged to follow and keep, and God and the people were committed to each other through the sacrificial blood of the covenant. All the sacrificial blood over the centuries never took away sins, but pointed to both the immensity of sin and its deadly consequences, and to the perfect sacrifice for sin that would be made by the Son of God, Jesus Christ. When Jesus established His "new covenant," it was also by His Word and sealed with His blood. The meal He gave us - The Lord's Supper - is more than just remembering what He did; He gives us His very body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins. Indeed, like Israel of old, in the Lord's Supper we behold God and we eat and drink, and He doesn't lift up His hand against us because we eat and drink forgiveness.
"I Am Sent Me"
Pastor Lee Wenskay
Exodus 3:1-15
Loading the player...
Pastor Lee Wenskay
Exodus 3:1-15
Download
Description
As God came to Moses to bring deliverance from bondage and idolatry to His people, so He comes to us in Christ to bring deliverance from bondage and idolatry to us. He whose name is "I AM," because He was, is and always will be, heard the cry of His people and came to their rescue. Then, He rescued a particular people; now He has rescued the world through the life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the eternal Son who became Man and brought about our redemption. As such, even when death takes us, we are not truly dead. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. We depart this life and go to be with the Lord, His eternal promises for us in Christ are the promises not of death, but of Life.
"Personally Accountable"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ezekiel 18
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ezekiel 18
Download
Description
Sinful man is always looking for loopholes, and for reasons to accuse God of unfairness. The sins we commit are because of the way our parents raised us, therefore "It's not our fault." Or we want to brand the children of those with bad reputations as having the same bad traits. Yet, God judges each by their own actions, either out of faith in Christ, or out of unbelief. The faith of one generation cannot save an unbeliever of another generation, neither do the sins and unbelief of one generation condemn a believing child or grand child of another generation. God desires all to be saved, and has given His Son to be our Redeemer. Those who believe in Him will live; those who reject Him will not. That is ultimately fair.
"A Passing Shower"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ezekiel 2:1-5
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ezekiel 2:1-5
Download
Description
As Ezekiel was sent to, and was to live among a rebellious people who were living in rejection of God and under His judgment, so the Church today is as well. The message of Ezekiel was to be God's Word, not his own word. The people may listen, and they may not, but Ezekiel was still to be among them and proclaim that Word. So also with us as His Christians. We live among people who are under judgment for sin and unbelief, and we are to be faithful to confessing that Word in our words and lives. Some may, and some may not approve of our message. But like Ezekiel, whether or not the people responded positively to his message, they still had to admit "there was a prophet among us," so may those with whom we come in contact, whether or not they respond positively to us, still have to say: "There was a Christian among us."
"No Matter What"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ezekiel 2:1-5
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ezekiel 2:1-5
Download
Description
God continued to send His Word through Ezekiel to a rebellious nation. Maybe they would listen, or maybe not. But at least, by Ezekiel's presence and faithfulness in proclaiming God's Word, they would know that a prophet was among them. We, God's Christians, by being faithful in gathering as The Church, serve as witnesses to a rebellious culture of God's Word. If we are scattered, or no longer associate together, the world sees nothing that challenges it to repent. But together, as His "Faithful to the Word" people, even if the culture doesn't listen to us, it will still know that The Church is among them.
"Not Fair!"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ezekiel 33:7-20
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ezekiel 33:7-20
Download
Description
In this life, some sins are greater than others and deserve harsher punishments. It has to be this way. One doesn't give the same punishment to a jaywalker that he would a serial killer. But when it comes to eternal life, all sins are equally damnable in God's eyes. If a Christian forsakes the faith and returns to unbelief, he will receive eternal condemnation. If a wicked person is brought to repentance and trusts in Christ, he has eternal life. God does not judge on a sliding scale. We are all equally damned because of our sins, and are all equally saved by the atonement of Christ for sinners. It is through faith alone in Christ that we receive the benefits of His cross.
"The Spirit of Life" Pentecost
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Download
Description
"Can these bones live?" God asked Ezekiel. They had been dead, dry bleached bones for centuries, yet by God's Word through His Holy Spirit, those bones came back to life. It is only by the power and presence of the Spirit working through God's Word that any of us have spiritual life with God. The Holy Spirit testifies to us of Jesus our Redeemer. He enables us to believe in Christ and to have life in His name. It is the Holy Spirit who sustains true life in us through Word and Sacrament. Where these are, there the Holy Spirit is. To cut ourselves off from those Means of Grace is to cut ourselves off from the Spirit. Yet, the Holy Spirit continues to work through the proclamation of the Gospel to bring life, even to those dead in their tresspasses and sins.
"Can These Bones Live?" Day of Pentecost
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Download
Description
The Word of the Lord that Ezekiel proclaimed through the Spirit to those dry bones, which brought them back to life was a picture of God's action that would restore life to Israel in the Babylonian Captivity. What would be impossible for man is possible for God. He would put His Spirit in them again and they will live. So through the ages: God's Holy Spirit works through the Word of God, calling us "through the Gospel, enlightening us with His gifts, sanctifying and keeping us in the one true faith" which is in Jesus. Though the circumstances of these last couple of years have us feeling scattered and dead, God makes us alive again and will reconnect us to one another as His holy people.
"Can These Bones Live?" 5th Sun. in Lent
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Download
Description
For decades, Israel had been in captivity and lost all hope. Through the vision of the valley of dry bones, God promised the "impossible:" To have Ezekiel preach His word to make those bones live once more. And they did. God was showing Israel, and all His people down throught he ages that, not matter how far gone things seem to be, God can bring us back to life. Through the forgiveness of our sins won by Christ, and through God's Word of Law and Gospel preached to us, His Spirit can once more enter into us, revive us and give us hope and joy once more as we look toward entering our true Promised Land.
"Free in Christ: Bound to Christ"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Galatians 3:22-29
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Galatians 3:22-29
Download
Description
All mankind is bound by God's Law and, rather than being a way to save ourselves by keeping it, we stand condemned by it for not keeping it perfectly. So if we have any hope of being saved, it's not by our work, but by the work of Another for us. Irregardless of our station in life, we all are condemned by the Law, yet all can be saved through faith in Christ. In Baptism, we receive the righteousness of Christ and are set free from the Law's condemnation. And in Baptism we are bound to Christ: His life lived in our lives and our desire now is to please Him by living according to His commandments. And as more of His Christians live this way by faith, even those around us will be positively affected.
"Are You Growing as a Christian?"
Pastor Richard Wilson
Galatians 5
Loading the player...
Pastor Richard Wilson
Galatians 5
Download
Description
The mark of a growing Christian is love; first by the love of Christ for us that sent Him to the cross to redeem us from our sins and then, from that love to us we are enabled more and more to think less only of ourselves and more for our neighbor so that we take concrete steps to serve them in love.
"Living Out Our Freedom"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Galatians 5:1, 13-14-18
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Galatians 5:1, 13-14-18
Download
Description
By His death and resurrection, Christ has set our consciences free from guilt and fear of judgment. Having been set free, it is critical that we don't give in to the desires of our "Old Adam" that wishes to enslave us again under sin to engage in its works. Rather, free in Christ, the Holy Spirit works the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control. These fruits not only benefit us, but those around us as well. In this life, the struggle continues between the Holy Spirit and our flesh, yet connected to God's Word and Sacraments, even when we stumble and fall, we still have forgiveness from Christ, and our consciences are free to continue to live in Jesus as He lives our His life in us.
"Doing Good in Christ"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Galatians 6:1-10
Loading the player...
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Galatians 6:1-10
Download
Description
Many think that following principles or laws of Christian Living will make God then respond to them graciously. That was the problem with the Galatians: Saved by Grace, but believing that grace wasn't enough. They had to "work to stay saved." The reality is that God saves us, and is gracious to us in Christ long before we had done anything for Him. Our works in Christ are all a result of the forgiveness and life He first gave to us. We do good, not to be saved, but because salvation was given to us already as a gift. We are simply living out the life of Christ in us.
"Let There Be Light" Feast of the Holy Trinity
Pastor Lee Wenskay
Genesis 1 & 2
Loading the player...
Pastor Lee Wenskay
Genesis 1 & 2
Download
Description
God created light and it was good. Man brought back darkness through sin, so the Father sent the light of His Son, Jesus, into the world to redeem it by His blood. Yet it is only through the Holy Spirit that the darkness of unbelief can be truned into the light of faith. The entire
God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit has worked on our behalf so that we may, in spite of our sins, receive His good gifts and salvation to live with Him forever.
