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"Babel On No More" Pentecost
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 11:1-9
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 11:1-9
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What man breaks because of sin, thus bringing God's judgment, God can fix in His mercy. The people building the Tower of Babel were unified in their language and in their rebellion against God and His Word. They were building the tower to their own glory and in defiance of God. Thus, God in judgment confused their language so they would be scattered over the face of all the earth. And from those different peoples and languages would come the different "races" of people as well. Yet in God's mercy, He visited His people again in Christ, to bring about the redemption of the whole world. And in visiting His people in the person of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, those peoples of many languages gathered in Jerusalem heard the Gospel in their own languages. Though of many languages, they heard the unifying message of the Gospel and of God's love and forgiveness in Christ. Sin separates; but in Christ "the dividing wall of hostility" between men is broken down and through faith we are unified as The Body of Christ.
"False Unity vs. True Unity" Pentecost
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 11:1-9
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 11:1-9
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When sinners seek to unify, it's usually in opposition to God's Word and Will. It is a false unity that, like the Tower of Babel, is doomed to fail, and God will scatter and divide us in His judgment. Yet, mercifully, Christ came and bore our sins and judgment on Himself. Though we are divided by language, color, nationality, etc., yet all whom the Holy Spirit brings to faith in Jesus are united with, and to each other. Though perfect unity is not apparent in this life, we will see our true unity with one another in the Life of the World to Come.
"What Kind of Faith?" 2nd Sun. in Lent
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 12:1-9
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 12:1-9
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Abraham had faith and trust in God's word and promise to him. He would see the beinning of the family God promised, but he wouldn't see how large that family would become. He traveled through the land God promised to give his decendants, but he himself would not possess the land. Yet, he believed God and rejoiced at the promise. We weren't there when they crucified our Lord, yet we believe Jesus' death on the cross is for us. We haven't yet seen the resurrection of the body and the life of the world to come, yet we believe it's still true nonetheless and look forward to its fulfillment. That's the kind of faith Abraham had. We can too.
"For the Sake of the One"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 18:22-33
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 18:22-33
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God wants us to pray, and He promises to hear our prayers for the sake of Christ. We can, like Abraham, pray with a "humble boldness" because we know that God is both loving and just and will do the right thing. While God does not always grant the things for which we pray, He does always answer our prayers according to His will.
"One to Two - Two to One"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 2:18-24
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 2:18-24
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We live in a toxic time where various groups and individuals are divided against one another. Sadly, we are seeing this toxic divisiveness between men and women. Suspicion, rejection, even hatred between the sexes seems to be the order of the day. Yet, when we look back to God's creative action, we see a wonderful design in the creation of male and female. From Adam's side, God made Adam's bride, Eve. She was to be a companion, a counterpart suitable for a relationship with Adam. Though the first woman came from man, all people now come from women. And the Second Adam, Jesus Christ, as He hung upon the cross dying for our sins, from the side that was pierced by a Roman spear, flowed water and blood. From Christ's side His bride, the Church is created by the water of Holy Baptism and sustained by His body and blood given us in Holy Communion. Headship and Subordination in Christian marriage simply is to reflect the relationship Christ has with His Bride, the Church. There is nothing denigrating about this. For each role is lived out, not in power over the other, but in service to each other in love. Knowing God's intent with His creation becomes the antidote to the toxic divisiveness we see today.
"The Way It Once Was"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 2:18-25
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 2:18-25
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"Seeing the Big Picture"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 22:1-18
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 22:1-18
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While God sends times of testing our way to bring us closer to Him and to strengthen our faith, few of us would have to face the test of Abraham: "Sacrifice your only son, whom you love." Yet, because Abraham trusted God's promises, he believed that, even if he did sacrifice Isaac, God would raise him from the dead. But Abraham didn't have to sacrifice his son. But God used this episode to point us to His own sacrifice of His only-begotten Son, whom He loves: Jesus Christ. Jesus was the Lamb that God provided to take away the sins of the world. Our own times of testing need to be seen, through faith, in the light of that one, holy Sacrifice for all sinners for all time. By seeing God's sacrificial love for us in Christ, we can deal with our own times of testing with peace, knowing that God is reconciled to us in Christ.
"Symbol/Reality" 1st Sun. in Lent
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 22:1-8
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 22:1-8
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The account of Abraham being asked to sacrifice Isaac is indeed a demonstration of remarkable faith in God's Word and promise, demonstrated by both Abraham and Isaac, it really points to God the Father and His Son, Jesus. God did provide the lamb for the sacrifice in place of Isaac. God did provide the Lamb for the sacrifice in our place - Jesus. What God asked of Abraham as a test symbolized what The Father actually did for us in sacrificing His own Son on the cross. The account of Abraham and Isaac is a symbol of the greater reality of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
"You Can't Hide" 1st Sun. in Lent
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 3:1-12
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 3:1-12
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Where Adam and Eve failed to resist Satan's temptations resulting in the fall and putting of all mankind under a curse resulting in death, Jesus succeeded, thus fulfilling the promise of a Savior. He resisted Satan's temptations and went to the cross to bear the world's sin. Adam and Eve, in their sin and shame, tried to hide from God and could not, but that doesn't have to be the same for us. Rather than hiding from God because of our sin, because of Christ, we can flee to God for forgiveness and restoration.
"Vague Promises vs. Real Promise" 1st Sun in Lent
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 3:1-21
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 3:1-21
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The devil's "Temptation Playbook" is always the same: Question God's Word and Goodness; appeal to our lusts and desire to get for ourselves; and to drive a wedge between us and God. But where Adam and Eve failed when tempted, Jesus succeeded on our behalf. Even as God's judgment came to Adam and Eve because of their sin, God promises One who would save them, and all of us from sin. Jesus took our place, bore our sin on the cross, and crushed Satan's head. Now, instead of hiding from God because of our sin, we can flee to Him for forgiveness because of Christ our Redeemer.
"Naked and Afraid" 2nd Sun. After Pentecost
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 3:8-15
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 3:8-15
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As Adam and Eve hid themselves from God after their rebellion and loss of innocence, because they were "naked and afraid," so fallen man of all times ries to cover our sin and hide from God. We hide by avoiding church, prayer, Bible reading and anything else that would expose us. We hid in the things of this world. When God confronts us, we blame everyone else for our sin and, thus, prolong the time it would take to receive the forgiveness of God. Yet, even with the curse that God pronounced on Adam and Eve, and creation itself, He promised a Savior who would come from the woman's seed and crush the serpent's head (i.e. the Devil) by giving his life for ours. It is in Christ that the nakedness of our sin is covered in His righteousness and we will stand before God, not naked and afraid, but clothed and joyful.
"God Behind the Scenes"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 45:3-8
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Genesis 45:3-8
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Many of us suffer afflictions at the hands of others. The natural response to that is anger and revenge. But by keeping our trust in the goodness and providence of God who "works all things together for good for those who love Him," we instead will pray for our tormenters and do good to them. This is how Jesus has treated us, who because of our sins, sent Him to the cross to redeem us and make us His own. Perhaps through the things we suffer, like Joseph, God is behind the scenes putting us in a position to where we can be of benefit and encouragement to others in a way we never could if we did not experience those afflictions.
"Why?"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Habakkuk 1&2
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Habakkuk 1&2
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When we see evildoers and the wicked abound, seemingly unchecked, we begin to think God is indifferent, or is powerless to stop it. But He is far from indifferent. He will judge the wicked and bring an end to evil in His own time. But He has also done something about evil in that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into this world to die for sinners. Christ took our judgment into Himself, reconciling us to God. Each day judgment holds off is a day of mercy calling sinners to repentance. Experience will only cause doubt. Loving by faith in God's Word and promise fulfilled in Christ brings peace.
"Wait in Faith"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4
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Like the prophet Habakkuk, we also are often confused as to why God delays bringing us needed help and doing something about the wickedness and violence in this world. Yet, God assured him - and assures us - that He will act at the proper time for judgment and for salvation. Just as He waited for "the fullness of time" to send forth Christ to redeem mankind, so in His mercy He delays the ultimate judgment on sin to give more people time to repent and be saved. While we may not always understand His ways, we do understand His mercy to us in Christ and so we wait in faith for His ultimate deliverance of His people.
"The Christian's Dilemma"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4
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Habakkuk asks God why He doesn't do something about all the violence and evil in the world. We ask the same questions. Yet, God assures him (and us) that He will act at the appropriate time. Toa ct too soon would cause some who would be saved to be lost forever. Meanwhile, Habakkuk ( and we, the Church) are not to hide but, as we live by faith inChrist our Redeemer, we are to make plain to those around us God's call to repent and receive forgiveness in Christ. Failing to do so leaves this world in it's darkness. Doing so may yet bring His light to many and actually make things better around us.
"Who Is This Baby?" Christmas Eve
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 1: Selected Verses
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 1: Selected Verses
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It's easy to get caught up in the baby born in Bethlehem. In his tiny innocence, we rarely ponder the mystery of God becoming human in this little baby. But when we consider that this is "the Son of the Most High God" dwelling humbly among us to bear our sins, we can't help but wonder in awe at the marvelous love of God for us.
"The Angels Worship Him. Do We?" Christmas Eve
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 1:1-6
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 1:1-6
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At the Incarnation of Christ, the Father called upon all His angels to worship Jesus. They still do. Do we? The mystery of Christmas - God sending His own Son into our flesh and nature to redeem us from our sin by His holy life and innocent suffering and death - is not something to dispense with once the gifts are opened and the wrapping paper is in the trash. To worship Jesus is to receive regularly His gifts by faith, and to live them out in our daily lives.
"The City of God"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 11:1-16
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 11:1-16
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Faith that has the conviction that God's promises are sure will always be forward looking. We know that this present life is passing away and, if all we are dedicated to is this present world, we will be sadly disappointed. But the Christian understands that our present dwelling is temporary, but we have a permanent dwelling place in our heavenly country - the City of God. Christ has made this possible by suffering and dying for us, and then rising again. Because of this, our faith is anchored on Him rather than just what we see and experience now.
"Our City - The City of God"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 11:1-16
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 11:1-16
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By directing us to the faith of those who have gone before us, Hebrews Chapter 11 serves as an encouragement to us to imitate those saints of old by remaining in true faith in our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and living out that faith in our lives. By faith we gather together in church to receive God's gifts. By faith we trust that Jesus' death brings about our forgiveness no matter how we have sinned. By faith we know that, when a loved one in Christ dies - or when we faith our own impending death - we will see each other again and our bodies will be raised to life because Jesus has been raised to life. This kind of faith is possible as the Holy Spirit works through God's Word. Remaining connected to that Word enlivens and sustains true and proper faith and keeps us as God's children. Because of faith in Christ, God is not ashamed to be called our God, and He is preparing for us an eternal City where we will dwell with Him forever.
"From a Distance"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 11:13-16
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 11:13-16
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Like the "heroes of the Faith" in Hebrews 11, we also live by faith in the Word and Promise of Christ. Many of those promises we will not see fulfilled in our lifetimes, but see and welcome them "from a distance." Yet, we trust that they are true nonetheless, because of the One who makes those promises to us, and who has redeemed us through the ultimate Fulfilled Promise in Christ. So, as we currently live, as God's Christians, in our present Babylon that is this world, we look in faith for His return to take us to our true home - our heavenly country.
"Persevering by Faith"
Pastor Kenneth D. Lueke
Hebrews 12:1-3
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Pastor Kenneth D. Lueke
Hebrews 12:1-3
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The examples of God's faithful believers in times past serve as encouragements to us to persevere in faith no matter how difficult things may be.
"Turning Tragedy Into Triumph" Day of National Tragedy
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 12:2-3, 11-15
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 12:2-3, 11-15
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Fires, floods, hurricanes, shootings. What's going on? What's God doing? In tragic and stressful times, those are normal questions that oftentimes have no direct answers. But we know from Scripture that God uses these events to discipline/train us in faith and to cause us to consider our relationship to Him, and to our neighbor. While never pleasant, God's discipline is ultimately for our good. And when we become discouraged, we look again to Christ, who endured tremendous opposition, and died for us and for all to bring about our forgiveness. And in His death and resurrection, He has brought Triumph out of Tragedy.
"Heart Problems"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 3:12-19
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 3:12-19
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As physical heart problems can diminish one's quality of life, or even cause death, so to have spiritual heart problems can lead to spiritual death. The author of Hebrews warns Christians against having "an evil, unbelieving heart" and being captivated by "the deceitfulness of sin." This is a very real danger that, when God speaks to us in His Word, we disregard His voice to listen to our own corrupt hearts. When that happens over a long enough period of time, we might fall away completely from God and never "enter His rest." So God calls us again to repentance and faith in Christ. It is only through Him that our "heart problems" are healed and we find rest for our souls.
"A Needed Warning"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 3:12-19
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 3:12-19
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The first generation of those Israelites that God made as His own and brought out of Egypt never made it to the Promised Land because of their rebellion and rejection of God and His gifts. The writer of Hebrews uses that example as a needed warning to God's Christians to be careful to continue to hear and believe God's Word, and not let sin's deceitfulness cause us to fall away from Him and be lost. It is a warning that all Christians should heed.
"Don't Fall For It"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 3:12-19
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 3:12-19
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Description
Many of the Israelites who had been delivered from slavery in Egypt never entered God's rest in the Promised Land. It was because of their unbelief and rebellion. The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews uses that as an example to us to make sure we are not hiding "evil, unbelieving hearts" which would allow sin's deceitfulness to harden us to God and His Word to the point where we, too, will not enter God's eternal rest.
"The Perfect Son" 5th Sun. in Lent
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 5:1-10
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 5:1-10
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Obedience when it is comfortable or in keeping with our own desires is easy. But we truly lean the nature of being obedient to another when it entails challenge and sacrifice. In His humanity, Jesus submitted to His heavenly Father's will for our salvation even though it was extremely costly to Him. Because Jesus went to the cross and accomplished everything, He is the perfect source of eternal salvation to all who "obey" Him, which simply is the obedience of faith that trusts in Christ alone and follows in His way. The Perfect Son makes us children of God by faith.
"Once For All"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 9:23-28
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hebrews 9:23-28
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"Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" 2nd Sun. a. Pentecost
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hosea 5:15-6:6
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Hosea 5:15-6:6
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When a nation goes astray, God's judgments can come like a lion, tearing and dragging it away. Worse, God will then remove Himself from it, leaving it to its own destruction. Yet, this is all done to try and awake repentance and a return to God with all our hearts. Ultimately, God seeks our restoration by bringing us back to Christ. Some respond to God's judgments in true repentance, trusting alone in their Redeemer, Jesus. Others may "repent" only so long as the pressure is on and, when things get back to normal, slide away once more even though they still may give the appearance of faith. But God seeks not outward appearances, but a true change of heart.
"Creation Restored in Christ"
Pastor Kenneth D. Lueke
Isaiah 11:1-10
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Pastor Kenneth D. Lueke
Isaiah 11:1-10
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Creation is broken. Yet, we still long to connect to it without all the danger and death that is part of this fallen world. Isaiah looks to the time when the Savior comes to restore all things - not just temporarily, as in the mistaken notion of a 1000 year reign of Christ on a throne in Jerusalem, but permanently. The restoration of sinners to their God was accomplished when Christ died for our sins and rose again, and the full restoration of the creation itself will occur at His glorious return at the Last Day.
"The Death of Death" Easter Sunday
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Isaiah 25:6-8
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Isaiah 25:6-8
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You are invited to a funeral dinner - for Death. When Christ rose from the grave, Death itself began to die and, when Christ returns in His glory for the "resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come," Death will be swallowed up forever. So the Lord is preparing this feast for all those who are His. But it isn't just a funeral dinner for the death of Death; it is also a wedding feast as the Bridegroom, Christ, is united to His Bride, the Church forever. And that feast is also The Feast of Victory for our God. So come, won't you?
