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"Something More Sure" Transfiguration of Our Lord
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2 Peter 1:16-21
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2 Peter 1:16-21
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Eyewitness testimony is a powerful thing. Thirty years after it happened, Peter looks back to witnessing the glory of Christ's divinity at His Transfiguration, where the Father called Him His beloved Son. That was a foretaste of Christ's glorious return at the Last Day. Yet, as powerful as that exerience was, Peter points us to something more sure - the Scriptures themselves. All of the prophecies about Jesus was inspired, not by man's will, but by the Holy Spirit and so they are sure. It is through the Bible that we see our sin and our Savior. The Bible is all about Jesus for us. The Bible is our light in this dark world, and it enables us in times of joy or sorrow, in anxiety and fear, to look and see "Jesus only."
"Eyewitness (Good) News"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2 Peter 1:16-21
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2 Peter 1:16-21
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Description
When news programs break to Live footage of eyewitnesses to an event, we automatically pay closer attention. Peter, along with James and John were eyewitnesses of Christ's glorious transfiguration, where Christ's divinity shown through His humanity. As important as their eyewitness experience was, Peter still directs us to the testimony of the Holy Scriptures. For indeed they proclaim the fact that God's beloved Son would be the one who would save us from sin and death by His own death and resurrection for sinners.
"Out of Time" 2nd Sun. in Advent
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2 Peter 3:8-14
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2 Peter 3:8-14
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What happens when the world is out of time, and what does it mean for us now here in time? At Christ's return, this present universe and all things will be destroyed in fire. All the glories and possessions of man will coem to an end. So, rather than living only for those things temporal, we should enjoy them as gifts of God to us for a time while, keeping out hearts set on eternity, we live each day in time in holiness and godliness. For we do await God to create a new heavens and earth for us in which to dwell with our Redeemer.
"Living For His Arrival"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2 Peter 3:8-14
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2 Peter 3:8-14
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Advent is a season of reflection and repentance, as we live between two "poles:" Christ's first coming as the one "born of the virgin Mary who would suffer and died for the sins of the world; and Christ's glorious return at the Last Day. The Apostle Peter reminds us not to be caught in the skepticism of our times regarding Christ's delay in returning, but to see it as His mercy, giving more opportunity for folks to repent and embrace the Gospel. But the Day is coming when this present creation will be no more, but God will create a "new heaven and a new earth - the home of righteousness." As such, we should live out our lives in Christ, knowing that these things will come, as He has promised.
"Revelation Over Experience" Transfiguration Day
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2 Peter: 1:12-21
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2 Peter: 1:12-21
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Description
Much of what passes for Christianity today is focused on one's feelings and experiences. Churches will try to create a "mood," or emotional response as proof of the Holy Spirit's presence. But by themselves, feelings and experiences can be manipulated or just be flat out wrong. Peter did refer to his experience at Jesus' Transfiguration to counter the arguments of the false teachers, but his experience simply illustrated what the Scripture already pointed to. In fact, Peter encourages his readers to look to "the Word of the prophets made more certain." It is God's Word that clarifies our feelings and experiences, and helps us navigate when those things are leading us astray. And the promise of God's Word in Christ still stands, no matter what our feelings or experiences may tell us.
"You!"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2 Sam. 11:26-12:13
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2 Sam. 11:26-12:13
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When King David allowed his pride to overcome him, he fell hard - committing adultery and murder. Had David continued in this hardness of heart, he would have perished eternally. But God reclaimed him by sending Nathan to confront him for his sin, and the judgment that will befall him. That brought David to repentance so he could then hear the Gospel, "God has taken away your sin. You will not die." We, too, are sinners daily. We need God's Law to confront us in our sin and crush our hard hearts. But God does that so we may be ready to hear and receive the Gospel of forgiveness for our sin in Christ. Like David, we may have to live with the earthly consequences of our sins but, because of Christ, the eternal consequences are forgiven.
"We Have Christ!"
Pastor Kenneth D. Lueke
2 Thess 2:1-8, 13-17
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Pastor Kenneth D. Lueke
2 Thess 2:1-8, 13-17
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In the midst of false teachings and interpretations of the end of the world, St. Paul sets the record straight. He comforts and encourages us as we look, not to what we have, or haven't done, but to what Christ has done for us. In Him, there is no need to be anxious or fearful about that Last Day.
"Redeeming the Time"
Pastor Kenneth D. Lueke
2 Thess. 3:1-13
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Pastor Kenneth D. Lueke
2 Thess. 3:1-13
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Christ is surely coming and the end of all things will occur. As His Christians, what are we to do in the meantime? Do we just sit back and wait, mooching off of those around us? No, even if Jesus were coming back tomorrow, we are called to "plant an apple tree today."
"Remember"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2 Timothy 2:1-13
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2 Timothy 2:1-13
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When the fears and anxieties of life assail us, if we only see the grave looming before us, it's easy to become despondent and, in order to squeeze some little pleasure out of life before the end, give in to sin. St. Paul encourages Timothy (and us) to "remember Christ Jesus, raised from the dead." The resurrection is not just for our comfort, but for our courage to face these challenges, take risks, and to live as one who is forgiven, loved and has life in spite of our problems. To remember the resurrection is to live in Christ.
"Continue"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2 Timothy 3 & 4
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2 Timothy 3 & 4
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In this dark world of sin and death, the Bible shines the light of God's love to sinners through His Son, Jesus. All of us, young and old alike need the comfort of God's Word as we fight against the darkness of this world. Rather than hearing it occasionally, or not at all, we are to continue in it; learning it's teachings and, most importantly, seeing in its pages Jesus Christ crucified for our sins and raised for our eternal life. By continuing in the Word, we are continuing in Jesus.
"The Time is Here"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
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The Bible keeps us anchored to The Truth, which is Jesus our Savior and Redeemer. Apart from the Holy Scriptures, we are driven by our own fallen selves to embrace myths and lies that can only destroy us. We are in an age where people cannot tolerate sound teaching and our only remedy and protection from becoming like them is to be in God's Word - not just for moral guidance - but to be kept secure in the salvation Christ has won for us.
"Myth Busters"
Pastor Kenneth D. Lueke
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
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Pastor Kenneth D. Lueke
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
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Many believe the Bible is full of myths, whereas the opposite is true. Because of the death and bodily resurrection of Christ, the truthfulness of the Bible busts both sacred and secular myths giving us instead truth and life through the forgiveness of our sins won by Christ.
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St. Paul warned Timothy of the coming time when people will not tolerate sound teaching but turn aside to myths, and heaping up teachers who will affirm their passions rather than the truth. We live in a time like that where people want their sinful passions affirmed and embrace many myths instead of God's Truth. The antidote for Timothy and for us is remembering, and building upon the solid foundation of the Holy Scriptures which make us wise unto salvation through Jesus Christ. The entire Bible is the product, not of men's opinions and stories, but of the Holy Spirit who works through it to bring us to repentance over sin, faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sin, and to defend and protect us against the passions and myths of this world that would bring us to ruin.
"The Transformer" The Transfiguration of Our Lord
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2Corinthians 3:12-4:6
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2Corinthians 3:12-4:6
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As an assurance to His disciples as Jesus had set His face toward Jerusalem and the cross, He was transfigured before the eyes of Peter, James and John. His true divinity hidden beneath His true humanity, briefly burst forth. As we begin our Lenten journey to our Savior's cross, we also are being transformed by Word and Sacrament to have a glory that comes from our connection to Christ. Human eyes can't see that glory, hidden as it is beneath our own ordinariness, yet it is still there and will be revealed fully in heaven. Christ, through the Holy Spirit is transforming us day by day into His image to share in His glory.
"I Believe - That Christ Redeemed Me"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2nd Article of the Creed
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
2nd Article of the Creed
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The "Who" is Jesus, true God and true Man. The "What" is all He did to redeem us. The "Why" is what moved Him to do this for us "poor, miserable sinners." This sermon looks at Luther's Explanation to the 2nd Article of the Apostles' Creed in the Small Catechism, and explores some of the Scriptural support for the things we believe, teach and confess about our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
"I Believe - The Holy Spirit Calls and Gathers"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
3rd Article of the Apostles' Creed
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
3rd Article of the Apostles' Creed
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The Father has finished His work of creation. The Son has finished His work of redemption. But the Holy Spirit's work is ongoing this side of heaven. He calls the Church into being through faith in Christ. He uses the means of Word and Sacrament to bring us to faith, and to sustain faith in us until the resurrection. To separate ourselves from God's Church is to separate ourselves from the means the Holy Spirit uses to continue faith in us. What the Holy Spirit does for us personally, He does for all Christians, and thus we are connected to each other, and need each other.
"In the Cloud" Ascension Day
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 1:1-11
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 1:1-11
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After His resurrection, Jesus opened the minds of His disciples to understand the Scriptures that spoke about His suffering, death and resurrection for the redemption of lost mankind. This was the message that they, and the church throughout the ages would testify to. In ascending back to heaven, Jesus now fills all things and is head over the Church, which is His body. He has sent the Holy Spirit to empower His Christians to preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins in His name. In His ascension, He now is closer to all His people than He was in His bodily presence on earth two thousand years ago. He is present through His Word and Sacraments. He speaks to us in the Scriptures; He declares us forgiven through the lips of His called pastors; He feeds us on His very body and blood, under the humble elements of bread and wine. All this because He has ascended to the Father with all things now under His feet.
"In the Meantime . . ." Ascension Day
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 1:1-11
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 1:1-11
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When Jesus ascended into heaven, did He leave us until His return at the Last Day? No! Because He has ascended, He now fills all things in heaven and earth, so He is with His Christians always. But He promises to be with us in very specific places: His Word and Sacraments. We don't find Him in our feelings, in nature or any other places the world seeks Him. But in The Holy Scriptures, and in His Means of Grace: Holy Baptism, the Lord's Supper and the Holy Absolution, this is where we are certain to find Him because He promises to be with us in those things with His love, mercy, strength and forgiveness. Knowing that, why would anyone want to look for Him somewhere else?
"The Great Exchange" The Ascension of Our Lord
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 1:1-11
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 1:1-11
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The coronation of Charles as King of England was spectacular, but pales in comparison to the Ascension of Christ and His heavenly coronation. The glory He had as the 2nd Person of the Trinity is now the glory, according to His human nature He now posesses. Though He was taken from us according to His bodily presence of two thousand years ago, He is now present with His Church through the ages as He fills all things, and "is given as the head of the church, which is His own body." Now, according to His glorified state, Jesus is present with His Christians throughout the world and the ages.
"Gone, Yet Here"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 1:1-11
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 1:1-11
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The victorious Ascension of Jesus to heaven does not mean He has left us - abandoned us - and we are now without Him. It means that He who is true God and true Man now fills all things and as Head of the Church, His body, continues to be present with us through His Word and Sacraments. By means of the Holy Spirit He has sent, we as His Christians continue to be His witnesses throughout the world of the forgiveness, life and salvation that Christ has won for all.
"No Favorites, No Boundaries"
Pastor Joseph Liss
Acts 10:34-48
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Pastor Joseph Liss
Acts 10:34-48
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Human nature tends to favor those who appeal to us and to put up barriers to those who don't. Even when it comes to eternity, our sinful selves want to pick and choose whom we think is worthy of heaven, and to block out those we think are not. Yet, God does not show favoritism. All people are condemned sinners who are equally redeemed through Christ's blood and atoning death on the cross. This salvation is not dependent on who one is, or what status of life he has. Christ died for all, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
"Among a World of Idols"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 17:16 ff.
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 17:16 ff.
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An idol is anything or anyone that we fear, love and trust in above the true God. The world is full of them. As God's Christians, we have the wonderful privilege and challenge to reveal to those yet in the darkness of idolatry who this God really is, and what He has done for them, and for the world through His Son Jesus Christ. St. Paul's debate with the Greek philosophers at the Areopagus in Athens certainly can guide us as we share with others, in gentleness and with respect, the hope that we have within us because of Christ.
"Unknown No More"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 17:16-31
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 17:16-31
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Description
Fallen man knows there is a God. The creation, and even his own conscience makes that apparent. It is what we call the "Natural Knowledge" of God. The problem is that this Natural Knowledge cannot tell him who this God is, so he ends up creating a god or gods of his own. Thus he continues in the darkness of idolatry until he comes to know the True God through Holy Scripture. There God gives us the "revealed Knowledge" of who He is and what He has done for us and for our salvation. He has especially revealed Himself to the world in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. In Him are our sins forgiven. In Him can we know the Truth. In Him - Jesus - the blinders fall off and what was unknown to us before is unknown no more.
"The 'Athens-Spirit' Today" 6th Sun. of Easter
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 17:16-31
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 17:16-31
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Description
Whether in the ancient world or the world today, idolatry is all around us - and even in our hearts. Though the Athenians in Paul's day were excessive in their worship of idols, Paul regards them with humanity and respect as he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection, showing that the true God made everything, and was not fashioned be man's hands or skill. Nothing has changed. Idols are still empty things, no matter how devoted to them we are. Jesus and the resurrection still need to be proclaimed to all and believed by us. Adn when we have opportunity to tell others for the reason of the hope we have in Jesus, we speak thruthfully, boldly and with gentleness and respect, knowing Christ died for them as He did for us.
"Clarity Out of Chaos" Day of Pentecost
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 2: Selected Verses
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 2: Selected Verses
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The work of the Holy Spirit is to bring us to Jesus. In keeping with His promise, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit on His disciples to empower them to proclaim His Word. That same Word the Spirit still uses to bring us to faith and keep us in true faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit also empowers us to proclaim Christ so that "everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
"The Spirit's Work" Feast of Pentecost
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 2:1-11
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 2:1-11
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The waiting was over. The promised Holy Spirit came and empowered the Apostles, and the Church through the ages since, to proclaim the mighty works of God in the person of Jesus Christ. The salvation accomplished for all is now a message to be proclained to all. What Jesus has done, the Holy Spirit now proclaims through us.
"What Does This Mean?" Pentecost
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 2:1-22
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 2:1-22
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As Jesus accomplished His work of bringing about the redemption of sinners, He now sends His Holy Spirit to His followers to empower them to proclaim His saving work. It is through the Holy Spirit that we are brought to faith in Christ through Word and Sacrament, and it is also through Him that we are kept in the faith through those same means. The Spirit's work is not to give, or perform miraculous and extraordinary things for our entertainment, but to bring us to Jesus.
"All For One" Trinity Sunday
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 2:21-33
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 2:21-33
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The only true God is the Triune God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One God in three Persons. This strains human reason and goes counter to every other invention of God that sinful man conceives. The Trinity is to be proclaimed so that it can be believed, not explained so that human reason can be satisfied. The Trinity is God's revelation of Himself and we can rejoice that our God so loved the world that through the incarnation of His Son, Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we believe this and are saved.
"Three-fold Love" Trinity Sunday
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 2:22-36
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 2:22-36
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The Pentecost crowds in Jerusalem were stunned to find themselves culpable in the death by crucifixion of Jesus, whom God has made "both Lord and Christ." In their resistance and rejection of Jesus, they were guilty of rejecting God. Yet the crucifixion of Christ was part of the Holy Trinity's plan for the salvation of the world. As those devout Jews rightly confessed that there is only One God, now they were learning the nature of that One God consisting of three distinct Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. So even as the 2nd Person of the Trinity humbled Himself to take on human flesh and blood to die for us, so now He is exalted to the right hand of the Father and has poured out the Holy Spirit to us. Indeed, the three-fold love of God, the Trinity is seen clearly in Jesus.
"Holy God; Wholly God" Trinity Sunday
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 2:29-33
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Acts 2:29-33
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God did not create us because He was lonely in eternity and incomplete. As a Trinity; one God in three distinct, equal Persons, complete in perfect love and communion, each Person with the others. We were created to have fellowship with God and participate in this love and fellowship with the Trinity. Of course, understanding the nature of the Trinity - that there is only one God, yet "the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God, yet there are not three Gods but one God" is being human comprehension. It can't be explained to the satisfaction of fallen man. Yet this truth is not to be explained, but proclaimed. And this Triune God was invested not only in our creation and preservation, but also in our salvation. As the 2nd Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, became true Man, he suffered for our salvation and brought about forgiveness of sins and eternal life for all who believe in him. Though now we can't comprehend God fully, we can proclaim him joyfully and know that, when we see him face to face, it will all make perfect sense.
