Stirring Things Up
December 7, 2025 – Second Sunday in Advent
Rev. Scott Zeckzer
It is time for decorations and baking. There will be a lot of stirring up. God stirs things up to get us ready for His coming.
Sermon Text: Matthew 3:3
Readings: Psalm 105:4-8; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12
Featured Choirs: Zion (Bull Rapids) Lutheran Church Choir, Woodburn, Ind.; Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Antwerp, Ohio; Concordia Lutheran High School A Cappella Choir, Fort Wayne, Ind.; The Kapelle of Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill.
Featured Art and Architecture: Emanuel Lutheran Church, New Haven, Ind.
Lord, Give Us Patience
December 14, 2025 – Third Sunday in Advent
Rev. Dr. Walter Maier III
John the Baptist asked Jesus if He was the Messiah because earlier John had preached that the Messiah would come in judgment. John did not see this happening in Jesus’ ministry. In response, Jesus indicates that He is indeed the Messiah and that John should be patient. In this account, God also teaches us about patience.
Sermon Text: Matthew 11:2-10
Readings: Psalm 146:1-10; James 5:7-11; Matthew 11:2-10
Featured Choirs: St. John Adult Choir, Indianapolis, Ind.; Holy Cross Men’s Chorus, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind.
The Word Became Flesh
December 21, 2025 – Christmas Day (observed)
Rev. Shayne Jonker
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14a ESV). The Son of God came in humility that we might be glorified. He came in poverty that we might be rich. He came to die that we might live. He came to dwell with us that we might dwell with Him, His Father, and the Spirit.
Sermon Text: John 1:14
Readings: Psalm 2; Isaiah 52:7-10; John 1:1-14
Featured Choirs: The Kapelle of Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill.; St. Paul Choristers, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Concordia Lutheran High School A Cappella Choir, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: Trinity Lutheran Church, Detroit, Mich.
Christmas Can’t Be Stolen
December 24, 2025 – Nativity of Our Lord; Christmas Candlelight
Rev. Paul Shoemaker
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas was not successful because he did not realize the true meaning of Christmas was not in things. We know the true meaning of Christmas is to be found in Jesus. This world’s Grinch, Satan, still tries to steal Christmas joy from us. Let’s focus on Jesus, the Reason for the season.
Sermon Text: Luke 2:1-14
Readings: Psalm 96; Isaiah 9:2-7; Luke 2:1-14
Featured Choirs: The Kapelle of Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill.; Holy Cross Men’s Chorus, Fort Wayne, Ind.; St. Peter’s Junior Choir, Fort Wayne, Ind.; St. Paul Choristers, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Concordia Choir of Concordia University, Irvine, Calif.; Concordia Lutheran High School A Cappella Choir, Fort Wayne, Ind.; St. Paul Preble Adult Choir, Decatur, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Save the Child!
December 28, 2025 – First Sunday after Christmas
Rev. William Mueller
Aside from the fact that the text tells us about the not-any-older than 2-year-old Jesus, this Gospel reading seems so out of place in the Christmas season. Yet, there is an important truth to be discovered and a searching question to be asked.
Sermon Text: Matthew 2:13-23
Readings: Psalm 111; Isaiah 63:7-14; Matthew 2:13-23
Featured Choirs: The Kapelle of Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill.; Holy Cross Treble Choir, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: Lutheran Life Villages (North Anthony), Fort Wayne, Ind.
Where’s Jesus?
January 4, 2026 – Second Sunday after Christmas
Rev. Scott Zeckzer
The season of Christmas is coming to an end. The Christmas decorations are put away but don’t put Jesus away. Jesus is still present, but where?
Sermon Text: Luke 2:46
Readings: Psalm 119:97-104; 1 Kings 3:14-15; Luke 2:40-52
Featured Choirs: St. Paul Lutheran High School Choir, Concordia, Mo.; St. Paul Lutheran School Choir, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Lincoln Lutheran High School Choir, Lincoln, Neb.
Featured Art and Architecture: Emmanuel Lutheran Church, New Haven, Ind.
The Baptism of Jesus
January 11, 2026 – The Baptism of Our Lord
Rev. Dr. Walter Maier III
At the Baptism of Jesus there was clear, powerful evidence that He was not only a man but also God—the Son of God. Christ had to be human and divine in order to be the Savior of the world. As the Savior, Jesus closely identified with the human race, and that is why He submitted to being baptized with John. This is wonderful, good news for us today.
Sermon Text: Matthew 3:13-17
Readings: Psalm 29:1-4; Isaiah 42:1-4; Matthew 3:13-17
Featured Choir: St. Paul Lutheran School Choir, Munster, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Muncie, Ind.
Who Is “The Real Jesus”?
January 18, 2026 – Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Rev. Dr. Thomas Ahlersmeyer
What are people’s first and lasting impressions of Jesus? Who do you think that He is? Will the “real Jesus” please stand up?
Sermon Text: John 1:29
Readings: Psalm 40:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42a
Featured Choirs: Holy Cross Lutheran Men’s Chorus, Fort Wayne, Ind.; St. Paul Lutheran School Choir , Fort Wayne, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: Emanuel Lutheran Church, Tipton, Ind.
Fishers of Men
January 25, 2026 – Third Sunday after the Epiphany
Rev. Shayne Jonker
Formerly, the disciples fished for fish. Now, they would fish for men, catching men for the kingdom, dropping the dragnet of Jesus’ own sacrificial death and resurrection into the sea of this world and dragging whatever they caught onto the shore and into the church.
Sermon Text: Matthew 4:19
Readings: Psalm 27:1-9; Isaiah 9:1-4; Matthew 4:12-25
Featured Choirs: St. Peter’s Lutheran School Choir, Fort Wayne, Ind.; St. John Lutheran Church Choir, Indianapolis, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: Faith Lutheran Church, Roanoke, Ind.
The Power of God
February 1, 2026 – Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Rev. Paul Shoemaker
In the early church, Christians were being challenged by people who said the Christian faith was foolish. Today, the faith of Christians is still challenged as foolish. We know the “word of the cross ... is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV
Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Readings: Psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12
Featured Choir: LWML Indiana District Choir
Featured Art and Architecture: Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Arcadia, Ind.
Salty Christians
February 8, 2026 – Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Rev. William Mueller
In His “Sermon on the Mount”, Jesus pulls us deeper into an understanding of our relationship with Him. He uses the metaphor of salt and light. Just a little bit of salt brings some great flavor. In complete darkness, even a small light will change everything. Yet in all this, Jesus still has a surprise for us!
Sermon Text: Matthew 5:13-20
Readings: Psalm 112:1-9; Isaiah 58:3-9a; Matthew 5:13-20
Featured Choir: St. Paul Lutheran Church, Decatur, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: Zion Lutheran Church, Decatur, Ind.
The Wrong Mountain
February 15, 2026 – The Transfiguration of Our Lord
Rev. Scott Zeckzer
There are times in our lives where we have “mountain top experiences.” The problem is that they do not last; they are forgotten. There is one “mountain top experience” that changed everything. Tune in to “Worship Anew” to find the right mountain.
Sermon Text: Matthew 17:1-9
Readings: Psalm 2:6-12; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9
Featured Choirs: Choir of the Council of Presidents of the LCMS; St. Paul Lutheran School, Munster, Ind.; St. Michael Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Mason City, Iowa
The Great Exchange
February 18, 2026 – Ash Wednesday
Guest Pastor - Rev. Joe Hoem
Lent isn’t about improving ourselves but about seeing what Christ has done for us. The One who knew no sin became sin in our place, bearing our guilt on the cross. In Him, we are made righteous, forgiven, and free to live as God’s beloved.
Sermon Text: 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
Readings: Psalm 51:1-13; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Featured Choirs: Lincoln Lutheran High School, Lincoln, Neb.; St. Paul’s Lutheran School, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Christ Our Rock Lutheran High School, Centralia, Ill.; St. John Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Jesus Also Was Tempted
February 22, 2026 – First Sunday in Lent
Rev. Dr. Walter Maier III
The bad news is that we will be tempted by Satan throughout our earthly lives. The good news is that Jesus also was tempted by the devil in all the ways that we are, yet He never once sinned. He defeated Satan for us and now helps us overcome temptations of the devil.
Sermon Text: Matthew 4:1-11
Readings: Psalm 32:1-7; Genesis 3:1-13; Matthew 4:1-11
Featured Choir: Concordia Lutheran High School A Cappella Choir, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: Emmanuel Lutheran Church (Soest), Fort Wayne, Ind.