Grace from Redeemer

Peter tells us over and over in I Peter 2: 4-10 who we are as Christians. He also tells what we do. 

No, that's not how the hymns goes. Or John 10. Spiritually we are lambs, sheep, helpless and small.  We need a shepherd. 

Easter is much more than just Jesus being dead and then coming alive again. And the difference has to do with us. Luke 24 is the Scripture. 

The resurrection of Jesus changes things. Scriptures: Acts 5:29-30; 1 Peter 3: 3-5 and John 20: 19-31. 

In this pandemic we've all been worried about cancelling Easter on April 12th. Turns out its impossible to do. You can't cancel Easter!

On Good Friday we see and hear the truth about God and ourselves. 

Strange to have Maundy Thursday without taking the Lord's Supper. But it is a good time to meditate on the words that tell us what this Supper means.    

Eternal life is not clouds and floating with wings on. It is this life only fulfilled and completed and restored. 

Ezekiel 37 tells a story about dry bones. Turns out they are us. 

John's Gospel promises that whoever believes in Jesus will not perish. Not perish: a strong promise in these days of death counts. This is the podcast version of last night's Lenten online worship message. Scriptures are Psalms 107 and John 3:16.

A man born blind and the coronavirus seem very different. But Jesus' response helps us to know God's gracious presence with us in difficult circumstances. 

... you are a corpse. Romans 4. Sermon for Second Sunday in Lent. 

It's called "The Temptation of Jesus". But maybe we should call it "The Testing of Jesus". Here is Pastor Alms' sermon for the first Sunday in Lent. 

In Matthew chapter five, Jesus comments on the Old Testament law: murder, adultery, divorce. What he says might surprise you. 

Somethings don't matter. Worship does. It ought to change us. We are salted and enlightened. Now we are salty and we shine. Isaiah 58: 3-9 and Matthew 5: 13-16. 

Simeon teaches us how to wait, how to trust in the promises of God. Wait like Simeon.   

A great light shines in Capernaum. Why? Jesus moves there. Where Christ is, there is light. Sermon on Matthew 4:12-25.

John points at the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. That's a real Christ for real sinners. 

God is happy with you. That is what he says to His son, Jesus, and to you in your baptism. 

Caesar Augustus seemed the most powerful most important person of all the world. But he wasn't. There was a small unknown baby born in the middle of nowhere. He turned out to be the most important of all. 

What God wants at Christmas is for us to have joy: real and lasting joy. A Sermon for Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m. 

The hymn, "O, Come, O Come, Emmanuel", describes our life as lonely exile. the Biblical echoes from Israel to Joseph fit us perfectly. The chorus calls us to joy, however, the joy of a God who comes into our exile to bring us home. 

John the Baptist wondered if Jesus was the one. Was it worth it, all John had gone through? We might wonder the same thing. Jesus answers. 

Sometimes it is hard to have hope. But Isaiah points to a time coming when strange wonderful things will happen. He points to Christ and invites us to hope. (Isaiah 11)

No one wants to be forgotten. We call out to God, "Don't forget about us!" Jesus answers us from the cross. Luke 23: 34-43.

When things end, what do you trust in, turn to? When the world ends, what will there be? We need things that really last.  

The story in Exodus 3 of the Lord coming to Moses in a burning bush teaches us about how God acts, a God who comes down, who comes to save us in Christ and in the places he appears to us now. 

God calls us his children. But we don't act like children of God and our lives don't feel like that is true. There in that distance between God's promise and our reality is where His love shines the greatest. Text: 1 John 3:1-3.

This is the question of the Reformation. Who is the star of your Christian life? You or Jesus? 

It is easy when God does answers our prayers. But what about when he doesn't? Latest sermon.

What did leprosy feel like? Not the itchiness but the distance, the isolation, the being apart. A sermon on Luke 17: 1-10.

The newest thing seems to be CBD stores. We always chase fads. What about the church? Does the church chase fads? 

We can't. Jesus can. We are sheep. He is the great shepherd. We won't. Jesus does. He promises "I will."

We think we build monuments and achieve our success. Congratulations, self! But none of us has life in himself. We do not construct our lives we receive them.

Jesus had great crowds following him. Very popular. Then he started saying things like "hate your family" and "get crucified". Luke 14:25-35.

Chick-fil-A restaurants can teach the church and pastors a thing or two. 

What I think about when I think about the flood. 

A guy wants to know how many will be saved. Jesus doesn't answer. He tells the guy (and us) to worry about our own salvation and the narrow door. 

What's so great about the Lord's Supper? It's a supper and it is the Lord's. 

We don't want to hear about sin. We want to ignore the dirty dishes in the sink. Some will help us and tell us only happy things. Not Jesus. He comes to bring fire to deal with our sin. 

God likes to make promises. He made huge promises to Abraham. He does the same with us. Faith responds with a joyful trust that receives what God promises.  

It haunts us and shapes us. It seeps in our bones. It ought to push us to church. 

Imagine every car you've owned. The happiness and the joy that new car gave. But it got old. Wore out. You had to spend money. You got a different car. Vanity, vanity, all is vanity, Things don't satisfy. Only God in Christ can.

Cashiers always ask us that. It is a profound question, actually. Have we? Where do we find what we are looking for?

Jesus teaches his followers how to pray. He gives them the Lord's prayer and tells them that our Father in heaven is kind and listens and hears and acts. 

We have a guest on today's episode: Martin Luther, back again! Martin tells us we are both Lord and slave at the same time. Listen to find out how that works. 

Martha is the church All Star, doing everything. Mary is just sitting around doing nothing. Jesus has something to say to each one.  

Come and eat! Go to church! Commands? Imperatives? Or a rescue, an invitation? 

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus tells a story where a foreigner and an enemy really loves his neighbor. We are called to love our neighbor whoever they may be. 

As a mother comforts her child so I will comfort you. in chapter 66, Isaiah uses a mother to picture God's love for us. We find that love in the church which the Bible calls our mother. 

7 little things I like at church. That's all. 7 things.