Jesus is the Lamb of God
Pastor Jordan Ertl from Peace Lutheran in Sun Prairie lead us in Worship today.
Entries by Kristin
JESUS IS GOD ROLLING UP HIS SLEEVES!
The Lord many times comes to rescue his people. The entire Old Testament tells story after story of the Lord’s gracious and powerful intervention on behalf of his own. Perhaps the greatest and best-known story in the Old Testament of rescue is the story of how the Lord brought the nation of Israel out of slavery in Egypt.
Christmas is a Little Bit of Heaven
“Christmas is a little bit of heaven!” Have you ever heard anyone say something along those lines? Some people will say it because it is the time of year when the entire family is able to get together. Children may feel that way because it is a two week vacation from school and teachers may say it because it is a two week vacation from children. For some, maybe seeing the smiles of children make this time of year a little bit of heaven. Whatever it may be, people have their reasons for saying, “Christmas is a little bit of heaven.” But very few, if pressed, would say Christmas is LITERALLY a little bit of heaven.
Emmanuel Means God with Us
This Sunday Pastor Luke Werre is leading our worship service. He serves at Peace Lutheran in Sun Prairie.
Is Jesus the One?
Last week we heard about John the Baptist. We heard how John the Baptist came on the scene in the spirit and power of Elijah and preached repentance to the people. We heard how he baptized people for the forgiveness of sins in the Jordan River. We heard how he pointed people to the One coming after him, the One whose sandals John felt unworthy to untie.
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is Near!”
The people were waiting for a new king and a new kingdom. This hope and expectation had been borne in them by the sacred text of the Old Testament. Already in Genesis, aged Jacob had prophesied about the One who would come from Judah to whom the scepter belonged. (Genesis 49:10) Their hope of a future king and kingdom was further shaped by prophecies like Isaiah who spoke about the Child, the Son, who would have the government on his shoulders, whose government and reign would never end. (Isaiah 9:6-7) At the time of Daniel, the people were given the description of the one “like a son of man” who approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory, and sovereign power; all peoples, nations, and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14) Jewish hopes and expectations hung on a king and a new kingdom.
The Lord is Near!
To begin this morning, may I say to you that there are two ways we can approach the next few weeks in our culture. On the one hand, we can say, along with just about everyone, “Christmas is near!” And there is a way of saying those words that “detaches” them from real meaning and significance. The word “Christmas” used more like it’s a deadline. “Christmas is near! I gotta have the presents purchased, wrapped, in the mail or under the tree. I’ve gotta have the cookies made and the decorations up. I’ve gotta have the cards mailed, at least to the people who sent one to me! I gotta have the food ready for Christmas Day dinner. I’ve gotta have the guest room ready. Ahhhh! Christmas is near!” The sentence triggers anxiety.
Why Me?
You have all heard it said, or maybe even said it yourself: “Why me?” The common association with saying such a thing looks like this – a person is sitting alone, frustrated, demoralized. Their world is coming undone. Everything is going wrong. Their face is in their hands. They are at wits’ end. The only words that come are these, “Why me?” Can you relate?
Only One Truly Saw the King
The people stood watching. (v. 35) This is the first verse of our text this morning. That verse may seem rather insignificant. Yet it actually reveals something quite interesting. You see, the word used for “watching” is a word that means more than simply glancing at something. It is a word that means to carefully observe something. To concentrate on something. The people are watching and trying to discern the meaning of this strange crucifixion.
Yes, Sadducees, there is a Resurrection!
The matter before us today is that of the resurrection of the dead. The resurrection lies at the core of Christian teaching. Belief in the resurrection begins with the belief that Jesus himself rose from the dead and it ends with the resurrection of all the dead when Jesus returns. And we do not play word games with the word “resurrection.” We don’t say “resurrection” and mean some kind of metaphorical resurrection or metaphysical resurrection. By resurrection of the dead we mean that corpses will come to life again.
