Living Vicariously
April 7, 2024 – Second Sunday of Easter
Rev. Dr. Thomas Ahlersmeyer
If the description of a favorite food makes your mouth water or if you feel someone else’s joy as if it is your own, then you have lived vicariously. In a much, much, much greater way, the Christian life is Living Vicariously through the perfect life, death, and resurrection of our beautiful Savior, Jesus Christ!
Sermon Text: 1 John 1:1-4
Readings: Psalm 148; 1 John 1:1-2:2; John 20:19-31
Resurrection Assurances
April 14, 2024 – Third Sunday of Easter
Rev. Dr. Walter Maier III
Because Jesus arose from the dead we have the greatest, the most important, assurances. These assurances give us tremendous peace.
Sermon Text: Luke 24:36-48
Readings: Psalm 4:1-8; 1 John 3:1-3; Luke 24:36-48
Our Good Shepherd
April 21, 2024 – Fourth Sunday of Easter
Rev. Thomas Eggold
Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd, came to call us by name. And He came to lay down His life for the sheep. And He came to seek and save the lost. And through the voice of our Good Shepherd we are brought back to the Father.
Sermon Text: John 10:14-15
Readings: Psalm 23; 1 John 3:16-24; John 10:11-18
Vine, Branches, and Fruit
April 28, 2024 – Fifth Sunday of Easter
Rev. Shayne Jonker
Jesus is the Vine, you are the branches, and the Father is the vinedresser. That is today’s picture of your union with Christ through faith from the Gospel according to St. John. Joined to Jesus in faith you are alive and fruitful, as living branches joined to a living vine. Apart from Jesus, you are dead and fruitless.
Sermon Text: John 15:5
Readings: Psalm 150; 1 John 4:1-21; John 15:1-8
When You Feel Overwhelmed
May 5, 2024 – Sixth Sunday of Easter
Rev. Paul Shoemaker
All of us have been overwhelmed by life’s circumstances beyond our control. St. John reminds us that we have “the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.” Celebrate that victory with us on Worship Anew.
Sermon Text: 1 John 5:1-8
Readings: Psalm 98; 1 John 5:1-8; John 15:9-17
Ascended but not Gone
May 12, 2024 – Ascension of Our Lord (Observed)
Rev. William Mueller
Ascension Day is an often forgotten church holiday. It really shouldn’t be. It is the culmination of all that our Lord Jesus came to earth to accomplish. Even though He is now ascended, He has not departed from us. In fact, He has given us a joy-filled mission to reach and share.
Sermon Text: Luke 24:44-53
Readings: Psalm 47; Acts 1:1-11; Luke 24:44-53
I Will
May 19, 2024 – Pentecost Sunday
Rev. Dr. Lawrence Rast, Jr.
Ezekiel 37 describes the human reality of being dried up and worn out. We experience this as individuals and even as churches. In this text God declares, “I Will.” God’s explicit promise to us this Pentecost day: “I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live.
Sermon Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Readings: Psalm 139:1-12; Ezekiel 37:1-14; John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
When the Darkness Hides God
May 26, 2024 – Holy Trinity Sunday Rev.
Dr. Thomas Ahlersmeyer
Do you experience those dark times when God seemingly fails to show up in our lives? Understanding the true identity of our great Triune God will bless us with right understanding, attitudes, and actions when the darkness hides God.
Sermon Text: Isaiah 6:1-8
Readings: Psalm 29; Isaiah 6:1-8; John 3:1-17
The Lord of the Sabbath
June 2, 2024 – Second Sunday after Pentecost
Rev. Dr. Walter Maier III
The Sabbath was a day of rest. Jesus says that he is the Lord of the Sabbath, because as God he gave the Sabbath law, and he came to fulfill perfectly this law. In fact, Jesus fulfilled all the commandments perfectly for all people. Therefore, come to the Lord of the Sabbath in faith and find blessed rest.
Sermon Text: Mark 2:23-28
Readings: Psalm 81:1-10; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Mark 2:23-28
All Sins Forgiven
June 9, 2024 – Third Sunday after Pentecost
Rev. Thomas Eggold
The Holy Spirit is still present, and the Holy Spirit is still active, and the place where the Holy Spirit works is in God’s Word, and the time when the Holy Spirit speaks is now. And so today, the Holy Spirit is here to save you in this Word of Christ: “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven...” (Mark 3:28).
Sermon Text: Mark 3:28
Readings: Psalm 130; Genesis 3:8-15; Mark 3:20-35
Scattered Seed
June 16, 2024 – Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Rev. Shayne Jonker
The seed of the Word of Christ grows and produces fruit in being scattered, in being preached, proclaimed, and spoken. It’s scattered when pastors preach and missionaries go out in mission. It’s also scattered when you are scattered in the vocations of your daily lives, with seed bags full of ripe, fruitful seed and God’s benediction.
Sermon Text: Mark 4:26
Readings: Psalm 1; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Mark 4:26-34
Who is This?
June 23, 2024 – Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Rev. Paul Shoemaker
Life’s challenges confront us all, even us Christians. When those calamitous life events occur we look to our God in confidence, knowing He is with us and will guide us through such challenges. In Him we have the ultimate victory over sin, death and the power of the devil.
Sermon Text: Mark 4:35-41
Readings: Psalm 124; Job 38:1-11; Mark 4:35-41
The Sparkle
June 30, 2024 – Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Rev. William Mueller
Mark 5:21-43 contains two wondrous miracles of Jesus: a woman with a constant discharge of blood is healed and the ruler of a synagogue’s daughter is raised from the dead. Two memorable miracles! Borrowing and adapting a retelling of this account by Christian author Max Lucado in his book, “Six Hours One Friday,” this message will tell in story form the joy of Jesus’ eternal love for sinners – even you and me!
Sermon Text: Mark 5:21-43
Readings: Psalm 30; Lamentations 3:22-33; Mark 5:21-43