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.
Land, Legacy, and Life!
March 1, 2026 – Second Sunday in Lent
Rev. Dr. Thomas Ahlersmeyer
God holds your entire world in His hands through three special gifts: Land, Legacy, and Life! Learn how these gifts, promised more than four thousand years ago to Abraham continue to share our past, present, and future.
Sermon Text: Genesis 12:1-3
Readings: Psalm 121; Genesis 12:1-9; John 3:1-17
Featured Choirs: Holy Cross Junior Choir, Fort Wayne, Ind.; St. John Lutheran Adult Choir, Indianapolis, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: Immanuel Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Living Water
March 8, 2026 – Third Sunday in Lent
Rev. Shayne Jonker
Our sin has left us parched and thirsty. No mere water can quench our thirst for God. Oh, how we try the alternatives. But, the polluted puddles of this world’s religions and spiritualities can’t quench the deep thirst we have for righteousness, for wholeness, for peace. Only God can provide that Living Water which flows freely like a stream. Only God in the flesh opens up that stream to us so that we may drink and live.
Sermon Text: John 4:10
Readings: Psalm 95:1-9; Exodus 17:1-7; John 4:5-26
Featured Choir: Lincoln Lutheran High School, Lincoln, Neb.
Featured Art and Architecture: Christ Lutheran Church, Woodburn, Ind.
Eyes That See
March 15, 2026 – Fourth Sunday in Lent
Rev. Paul Shoemaker
Jesus performs a miraculous sign, giving sight to a man born blind. What a tremendous gift! But the religious leaders, who were spiritually blind, refuse to see with the eyes of faith that the Man before them is the Christ. We thank God for spiritual sight and the opportunities we have to lead others to spiritual sight.
Sermon Text: John 9:1-7, 13-17, 34-39
Readings: Psalm 142; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-7, 13-17, 34-39
Featured Choirs: Christ Our Rock Lutheran High School, Centralia, Ill.; Indiana District LWML Choir
Featured Art and Architecture: Zion Lutheran Church, Woodburn, Ind.
Is, Not Was
March 22, 2026 – Fifth Sunday in Lent
Rev. William Mueller
John 11 brings us to one of the greatest miracles of Jesus: raising Lazarus from the dead. In this account, Jesus also teaches us two powerful truths. He shows what it means that He is the Resurrection and the Life, and He moves us to discover that believing this resurrection truth greatly impacts our life.
Sermon Text: John 11:17-27, 38-53
Readings: Psalm 130; Ezekiel 37:1-14; John 11:17-27, 38-53
Featured Choirs: Saint Paul Singing Saints, Concordia, Mo.; Lincoln Lutheran High School, Lincoln, Neb.
Featured Art and Architecture: Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Van Wert, Ohio
Do You Understand?
March 29, 2026 – Palm Sunday
Rev. Scott Zeckzer
We are told that the disciples did not understand what was going on during the first Palm Sunday. The crowds were excited about Jesus but were confused, too. What about you? Do you understand Palm Sunday?
Sermon Text: John 12:16
Readings: Psalm 118:19-29; Philippians 2:5-11; John 12:12-19
Featured Choirs: Holy Cross Angelis Choir, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Holy Cross Men’s Chorus, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: Emmanuel Lutheran Church, New Haven, Ind.