Jesus’ Death – Good News
April 3, 2026 – Good Friday
Guest Pastor – Rev. Douglas Punke
It’s Good Friday, but do you feel good about it? Or on Good Friday, do you feel bad for what Jesus suffered and why that was necessary? Jesus suffered and died for you – for your salvation, but He died and rose again for your everlasting good.
Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 15:3; Isaiah 53:5
Readings: Psalm 31; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; John 19:17-30
Featured Choir: Concordia Lutheran High School, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: Zion Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Easter Is About Life!
April 5, 2026 – Easter: The Resurrection of Our Lord
Rev. Dr. Walter Maier III
Death is the reality confronting all of us because we are sinners. But Easter is about life! Because Jesus lives, we shall also live!
Sermon Text: Matthew 28:1-10
Readings: Psalm 16; Colossians 3:1-4; Matthew 28:1-10
Featured Choirs: St. Michael Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind.; LWML Indiana District Choir
Featured Art and Architecture: St. Peter Lutheran Church, Dahlonega, Ga.
A Living Hope
April 12, 2026 – Second Sunday of Easter
Rev. Dr. Thomas Ahlersmeyer
Wishful thinking or rock-solid certainty? The Christian understanding of “hope” differs radically from that of the unbeliever. A blood-stained cross and an empty tomb create an eternity-changing hope, “A Living Hope.”
Sermon Text: 1 Peter 1:3-9
Readings: Psalm 148; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31
Featured Choirs: St. John Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, Ind; Indiana District LWML Choir
Featured Art and Architecture: Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church, Alpharetta, Ga.
Opened Eyes
April 19, 2026 – Third Sunday of Easter
Rev. Shayne Jonker
Two disciples walked with Jesus and their hearts burned. The Emmaus road teaches us that Jesus walks with us and talks with us in the Scriptures. Do you want to have an Emmaus walk with Jesus? Then take God’s Word and read. Come to the church and hear. Take a stroll through the Scriptures searching for Jesus’ death and resurrection, and your slow, sad hearts will burn too.
Sermon Text: Luke 24:35
Readings: Psalm 116:1-14; Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Luke 24:13-35
Featured Choir: St. Paul Lutheran School, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: All Saints Lutheran Church, Blairsville, Ga.
The Perfect Shepherd
April 26, 2026 – Fourth Sunday of Easter
Rev. Paul Shoemaker
One of our favorite images of Jesus is that of the Good Shepherd. This Good Shepherd guides us, His sheep, to the glory and majesty of heaven. It cost Him dearly to do so. That is because He loves us so.
Sermon Text: John 10:1-10
Readings: Psalm 23; Acts 2:42-47; John 10:1-10
Featured Choirs: LWML Indiana District Choir; Concordia Lutheran High School, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind.
You Are Chosen!
May 3, 2026 – Fifth Sunday of Easter
Rev. William Mueller
We live in a world where everyone wants to be special; everyone wants to receive a trophy. As the redeemed people of God in Jesus Christ, we are so much more than special. We receive so much more than a trophy! We are chosen and “mercied, ” and Christ has given us a glorious mission!
Sermon Text: 1 Peter 2:2-10
Readings: Psalm 146; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14
Featured Choirs: St. Paul Lutheran School, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: Emmaus Lutheran Church, Wauseon, Ohio
Keep on Keeping
May 10, 2026 – Sixth Sunday of Easter
Rev. Scott Zeckzer
Keepsakes – we all have them – those special things that remind us of special people, places, or events in our lives. God has given you keepsakes to remind you of what He’s done for you. He also has sent the Holy Spirit to help us to “Keep on Keeping.”
Sermon Text: John 14:21
Readings: Psalm 119:89-93, 105; 1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21
Featured Choirs: St. Paul Lutheran School, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Holy Cross Lutheran School, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: Redeemer Lutheran Church, Convoy, Ohio
Lifted to a Higher Reality
May 17, 2026 – Ascension of Our Lord (observed)
Rev. Dr. Walter Maier III
Why celebrate Christ’s ascension? He visibly left this earth, and we cannot see Him! There are wonderful reasons to celebrate this event. Christ’s ascension lifts us to a higher reality.
Sermon Text: Luke 24:44-53
Readings: Psalm 47; Acts 1:1-11; Luke 24:44-53
Featured Choir: St. Paul Lutheran Church, Decatur, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: St. James Lutheran Church, Archbold, Ohio
Living Water
May 24, 2026 – Pentecost
Guest Pastor – Rev. Thomas Eggold
People who think they are healthy don’t go to the doctor, and those who are satisfied in themselves can’t accept a Savior. But to those whose sin has left them desolate — to the one whose life is dry and whose spirit is wilting; to the one who is cracked and broken by their sin; to the one who finds no fulfillment in this world; to the one who rightly despises his own skill and wisdom and sees the futility of his own efforts at salvation; to the one who hungers and thirsts for righteousness — these words mean everything!
Sermon Text: John 7:38
Readings: Psalm 25; Acts 2:1-21; John 7:37-39
Featured Choir: Indiana District LWML Choir
Featured Art and Architecture: Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Let God Be God!
May 31, 2026 – The Holy Trinity
Rev. Dr. Thomas Ahlersmeyer
Christians across the world gather today to worship the Triune God. In Jesus Christ, we encounter the true God — One who challenges our expectations, yet gracefully comes to us with purpose and promise. The invitation given to us is simple and profound: Let God Be God!
Sermon Text: Matthew 28:19
Readings: Psalm 8; Acts 2:14a, 22-36; Matthew 28:16-20
Featured Choir: Holy Cross Lutheran School, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: Trinity Lutheran Church, Auburn, Ind.
Insiders and Outsiders
June 7, 2026 – Second Sunday after Pentecost
Rev. Shayne Jonker
Imagine a doctor who didn’t want to be around sick people. The doctor comes into the waiting room, he looks at all those runny noses and itchy eyes, hears all the coughing and sneezing, and he covers his mouth and nose and runs out of the room as fast as he can. Not much of a doctor, is he? Nor would Jesus be much of a Savior if He didn’t care for the company of sinners. That was Jesus’ mission – His purpose for coming into the world – to seek and to save the lost, to become lost in our death in order than we might be found in Him.
Sermon Text: Matthew 9:13
Readings: Psalm 119:65-72; Hosea 5:15-6:6; Matthew 9:9-13
Featured Choirs: Lincoln Lutheran High School, Lincoln, Neb.; St. Paul Lutheran Church, Decatur, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: St. John Amelith Lutheran Church, Bay City, Mich.
Our New Heritage
June 14, 2026 – Third Sunday after Pentecost
Rev. Paul Shoemaker
Our family’s heritage is precious to us. We not only have a physical heritage, tracked throughout the years, but we also have a spiritual heritage. That new heritage connects us to Jesus and the blessings He comes to bring.
Sermon Text: Romans 5:6-15
Readings: Psalm 100; Romans 5:6-15; Matthew 9:35-10:8
Featured Choirs: Concordia Lutheran High School Choir, Fort Wayne, Ind.; St. Paul Lutheran School, Munster, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: Zion Lutheran Church, Bay City, Mich.
Be a Tool
June 21, 2026 – Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Rev. William Mueller
We celebrate the truth that we are, at one and the same time, a sinner who deserves nothing but God’s wrath. But, we are forgiven by God and declared innocent of sin because of Jesus Christ. How do we live that truth out in our lives? Do we freely and willingly sin because we know we are forgiven? Do we struggle and beat ourselves up as we try to become better people? Or do we simply consider ourselves a tool?
Sermon Text: Romans 6:12-23
Readings: Psalm 91:1-10; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:5a, 21-33
Featured Choir: Holy Cross Lutheran School Junior Choir, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Featured Art and Architecture: Immanuel Lutheran Church, Bay City, Mich.
The Elephant in the Room
June 28, 2026 – Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Rev. Scott Zeckzer
The Lord calls us to follow Him. This is difficult in a world that is against Christ. Yet, in Jesus, we have peace with Him in a hostile world.
Sermon Text: Jeremiah 28:5-9
Readings: Psalm 119:153-160; Jeremiah 28:5-9; Matthew 10:34-42
Featured Choirs: Holy Cross Lutheran School, Fort Wayne, Ind.; St. John Lutheran School, Plymouth, Wis.; Indiana District LWML Choir
Featured Art and Architecture: Trinity Lutheran Church, Rochester, Minn.