Higher Things® Sermons FOR YOU

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

“You’ll know a good tree by the ‘I forgive you’ he preaches...” Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

Your faith is either in what your ears are hearing from Jesus, or your trust is in what your eyes are seeing around you. There’s no in-between. There’s either trust or doubt, faith or unfaith, ears on Jesus or not. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

You live as dual citizens of earth and heaven. You live in this temporary world but you have also be given the world to come. You have in Christ Jesus, every bit of righteousness that God demands. You have in Christ complete and full forgiveness, life and salvation. Thus, the kingdom of heaven is yours by gift and promise.  Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

"When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, 'Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.' But Simon answered and said to Him, 'Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.' And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking." Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

"Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

God's kingdom is not measured in stuff, but in His being near us. The 72 were sent to bring Jesus to sinners. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

Faith does not come getting or giving earthly gifts. Faith comes only by the Word of God. Faithful Abram believed when the Lord spoke. Lazarus heard the voice of the Lord by Moses and the Prophets and believed. Such Spirit-given faith holds fast even as we pray with the Psalmist "How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will you hide Your face from me?” Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

Text: John 3:1-15(16-17) Preacher: Pastor Brent Kuhlman, Trinity Lutheran Church, Murdock, NE Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

Preacher: Rev. Joel Fritsche, Missionary to the Dominican Republic Support Rev. Fritsche Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

The Spirit’s got one job. He’s the Paraclete, the Comforter, the Helper. He’s your Comforter, your Helper. That’s what He does for you, and He does it just like Jesus says, “He will testify about Me.” Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

Christian prayer is a wonderful gift. Jesus today promises that our Father hears our prayers for His sake. He tells how to pray, what to pray, and why to pray. And thus, prayer is His gift to us, so that with all boldness and confidence we may pray as dear children of our Heavenly Father. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

Sinful human beings don't really know what is good for us. However, Jesus does, and He gives us exactly what we need: He gives us the Holy Spirit and the Church. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

Text: John 16:16-22 (One Year) Preacher: Pastor Jacob Ehrhard, St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Chicago, Illinois Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

The world tempts us to measure it otherwise. By works. By wealth. We are sinners suffering in a painful world. We've told ourselves that if Christianity were true, we wouldn't be here like this. The truth is, if Christianity were true, Jesus would be. The good shepherd seeks out his sheep. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

For all that Thomas is, I thank God. Yes, for his pig-headedness, for his doubt, for his denial, for his dyed-in-the-wool skepticism — for all that, I thank God. Why? Because, as St. Gregory put it, "More does the doubt of Thomas help us to believe, than the faith of the disciples who believed." Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

Death. He’s your enemy. The enemy we’re all afraid of. No one wants to die. We’re not too afraid of the devil, we’re generally not too afraid of our sins either. We should be. But the fact that one second your here and the next your not, well, that’s just terrifying! Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

“How could this be the plan? Who’d make a plan like this? Who’d even do it!? It’s questionable at best. Really looking at it, it’s ridiculous, insane. You could almost say its demonic! That’s really the sort of plan it is. Is there another way to explain it?” Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

Maybe you have even lamented like your fathers, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full…” Life was so much better before? Ignorance was bliss? But you are not simply physically hungry, because there is a greater hunger and thirst. No amount of earthly bread or the loveliest spring water will satisfy the demands of the Law and death. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

Stress. Daily troubles. Tragedies. Sins. Death. Devil. Hell. In the midst of all that, in our own whirlwind of trouble, we’re broken, desolate, afflicted, all alone. Or so it seems. Sure, what we see is all the mess of this life. Just darkness. Just slavery. Just sin, death, devil, hell. The real question, though, isn’t what you see. The real question is what the Lord sees and what the Lord does. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

In dealing with the Canaanite Woman, Jesus shows the disciples the folly of their pride while the Woman keeps her eyes on the real and true Savior. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

Temptation. The devil's worst is when he uses God's own word, but inverts the command and the promise. Jesus, though, restores faith in the promise and overcomes the devil's temptation for you. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

Everything gifted? Yes, everything. All means all. Everything means everything. Nothing left out. All gift. Everything’s gift. Everything for life. Everything for godliness. Jesus gives. We receive. “Faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, love.” All these are a gift from the Lord. He gifts everything for life and godliness. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

Jesus has to die for sinners, but when we don't see that as the greatest expression of love, the religion seems pointless. The Holy Spirit reveals to us who the Son of David is and opens our mouth to beg for mercy, then to eat and drink it. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, shelters His tender shoot from the pecking of Satan's beak, from the suffering rays of the midday sun, and from the encroachment of the thorny cares of this world. This Word came forth from the Father's mouth to forgive, to give life, and to take you into eternal salvation. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

Only the Gospel and Christ's gifts can strengthen us to get on with the long, hard pull of a war that rages, that’s fought for our salvation. Only the Gospel and Christ's gifts can secure the victory. Only the Gospel and Christ's gifts keep us safe in the dirty, disagreeable business of fighting against sin, death, and hell. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

"And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light." Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

The Lord’s Word gets filled up. It gets fulfilled. It gets done. Laws cherished and obeyed. Promises kept, made good on. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

[Paul said to the Ephesian pastors,] “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has placed you as overseers in order to pastor the Church of God that He purchased with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28) Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

Old Adam would rather die by the law than live by grace, but God joins His word to water for sinners and for you. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

Although it does not seem to be that impressive, Jesus reveals that He is the Messiah with how He handles a shortage of wine. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

It was not necessary for Jesus to be baptized—not for Himself—but it was necessary for you. Jesus’ baptism is the other side of your baptism, the thing that makes it worthwhile. The baptism of Christ provides the gifts of your baptism. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

Sinners would rather look for Herod than Christ. We want power, but Christ comes in weakness to die for you. Epiphany. Your God took flesh to saves sinners by His death and resurrection. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

"And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him." Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

"And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”" Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

"And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”" Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

"Behold, daughter of salvation, your salvation IS coming to you and you WILL have gladness of heart. You will be safe. Your pain will be gone... and more than that, no more doubt! Your redemption is drawing near." Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.

"What the Lord says will happen—happens! If He says He’ll come, then He’ll come. Come exactly how He says He will. So this means that it’s not just the Lord who advents, but His Word advents, too. It comes to pass. It happens." Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.