Living Savior Podcast

A lot can happen in 40 years. Ask the parents who see their “over-the-hill kid” blow out 40 candles. Ask the spouses who pull out the 40-year-old photo album filled with wedding memories. Or ask someone who has served in Gospel ministry in three schools and three churches in five different states over the last four decades. Yes, a lot can happen in 40 years. And if we could best encapsulate all that happens over 40 years, we can use one word: grace. In his grace God has instituted the office of the pastoral ministry so that his eternal gospel would be proclaimed, his people would be built up, and his kingdom would grow in hearts and lives. God has blessed his church through the ministry of Pastor Paul Zell and the service of his family. Today we thank God for his grace to them and to countless others through 40 years of gospel ministry. God's grace abounds!

Throughout this series, "Wounds that Heal" we have seen that not all wounds are bad. The precise incision of a skilled surgeon wounds the patient, but only in order to cure him or her. In the same way, we often say that words cut us to the heart. Often, however, those sharp words can provide the healing wounds we need. Join us as we hear some of Jesus' sharpest words for us – words that wound in order to heal. Today's Focus: With a string of questions Jesus exposes the self-righteousness of our hearts. Self-righteousness is an attitude that causes us to be bitter and upset when those we judge unworthy are welcomed into Christ's presence to be seated at his table. In response, Jesus shows us the joy that exists in heaven whenever one such sinner repents – and invites us to know and experience that joy with him.

Jesus' sharp words expose our desire to pursue comfort and avoid pain at all costs. He tells us that all those who follow him ought to count the inevitable cost we will incur. When we do so, however, we realize that whatever we might have to give up or put up with for Jesus will pale in comparison for what we gain through life with him. Counting the cost is especially pertinent on “GROW Sunday” when we consider all that needs to be set aside as we pursue the eternal strength and everlasting peace of God in his Word.

How dangerous is the sin of pride? Holy Scripture says that even if you were to keep all of God's other commands and yet stumble over his directive to be humble, God threatens “judgment without mercy” just for that one sin alone. Today the words from our Savior wound our arrogant hearts. Then the Great Physician cuts out our pride, removing our sin, healing our attitudes, and compelling us to rejoice that, wherever Jesus is operating, “those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

September 4, 2022 (Vicar Jacob Ungemach) Luke 14:1, 7-14 by Living Savior

Jesus' sharp words remind us that the door to heaven is narrow. It's easy to develop a false sense of security about our standing before God based on some superficial, external familiarity we have with him. Jesus warns, however, that many who think they are on the path to heaven will end up shut out. We must make every effort to enter through the narrow door, that is, through faith in him.

Jesus directs our attention on what it will take for us to reach the finish line. Following Jesus does not create a smooth and easy path for us. In fact, following Jesus and his Word will lead to division among people, even among people very close to one another. Thankfully, Jesus and his Word also unite us to a long list of runners who have finished the race and won the prize. We know where following Jesus leads.

August 14, 2022 (Pastor Paul Zell) - Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 by Living Savior

As much as it is easy for us to get distracted by obsessing over the temporary, earthly resources with which God blesses us, it is easy to get distracted by neglecting the unseen, eternal reward God has in store for us. Jesus frees us from distraction by pointing us to the promises he has already kept in the lives of his faithful people and proclaiming the promises he wants us to cling to in faith.

This earthly life does not consist in accumulating a bunch of possessions and then losing everything when you die. So Jesus directs our attention away from all kinds of greed. Instead, we set our hearts and minds on things above and treasure the real life that we will enjoy with our Savior forever.

Jesus teaches us about the lines of communication. When we pray, we are talking to God. In God's Word and only through God's Word, God talks to us. We need both. But we must not confuse the direction this communication goes. So Jesus teaches us how to pray and tells us that our Father listens and loves us. Through Abraham's prayers we see what fervent prayer is like. Our Father will never turn a deaf ear because our Savior mediates for us to the Father who desires that all people be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth in his Word.

This past week we had the privilege of welcoming many children from our congregation and community to our first ever Youth Sports Camp. It was an awesome week for playing soccer, basketball, football, and other games; for meeting new friends; for having a lot of fun; and—most importantly—for learning about our good and gracious God. This year's Sports Camp theme: “Our God is for us.” These words come from a question asked in Romans 8 -- “If God is for us, who can be against us?” The answer provided by Holy Scripture is obvious, that if God is for us, no one and nothing more powerful can stand against us. So, this past week we talked about some of the things that threaten us, such as our own weaknesses, the evil threats of this world, the lies of the devil, even death itself. Our enemies are many, and they are strong. Thankfully, our God is for us. As a result, no enemy and no evil can stand up against him. Even death doesn't stand a chance! This morning we are honored to have some of the campers and their families with us to celebrate the conclusion of this wonderful week.

The Holy Spirit's life-giving Word removes the burden of trying to justify ourselves before God. We can't do that. Yet we don't have to, because Jesus Christ already has done that for us by his holy life and sacrificial death. Our deeds of love don't make us right with God. Christ alone does that. In fact, now that a “not guilty” verdict in God's courtroom is a certainty, we have been blessed with freedom. Freedom to produce the fruits of the Spirit. Freedom to love our neighbor.

It's hard to overstate the influence a pastor can have on a church. Will the flock be offended by his arrogance or dishonesty or greed? Will the church's members be discouraged by his laziness or misled by his false teaching? It's no wonder that the Chief Shepherd of the church sends forth pastors with a single-minded focus on serving his sheep with his Word, whether they listen to it or not. After all, it's only the Word of Christ that can lead his people to a heavenly victory over the powers of death and hell.

God mercifully causes his life-giving Word to go forth from person to person and from place to place. While the gospel certainly spreads when specific individuals travel to the far corners of the globe, it also spreads when his people stay put. That happens when God gives each of us a station in life in which we are surrounded by people and from which we have opportunities to share the good news of what God's Son Jesus has done for us.

The Word of Christ has the power to forgive our sins. Though this forgiveness and our changed status before God are invisible realities, Christ ties his powerful, forgiving Word to things that are visible. In baptism, his Word is joined to water to wash away our sins. That forgiveness then shows itself as his Word produces fruit in our lives as we honor him with our words and actions.

Series: Usually the more powerful something is, the harder it is to control. Not so with God. After Jesus returned to heaven, God unleashed his power in the world through his Holy Spirit. At the same time, he tied up that power to his Word so that we would always know where we can find it and how we can use it. Today: If God wanted to reach the lost, he could stretch out his hand and do it himself. Or his angels would be a good “Plan B.” Yet the Lord who has powerfully reached our hearts by the Spirit in the Word has given us that power to reach others. He gives us eyes to see the world around us as a ripe harvest field of souls. He gives us feet to go, hands to serve, and mouths to share his untethered power in the Word. In this way God accomplishes his gospel reach through us for the sake of many more.

Series: Usually the more powerful something is, the harder it is to control. Not so with God. After Jesus returned to heaven, God unleashed his power in the world through his Holy Spirit. At the same time, he tied up that power to his Word so that we would always know where we can find it and how we can use it. Today: The more complicated something is, the more likely people are to avoid speaking of it. Why try to explain astrophysics or computer software to a three-year-old? Yet the triune God does the exact opposite with his divine nature. In the Scriptures God clearly communicates the majesty and mystery of the Trinity. Why? Not so that we would comprehend it with complete understanding but so that we would apprehend it with hearts of faith. The one eternal God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- makes himself known to each of us in order to bless us and keep us now and forever.

June 5, 2022 - Pastor Kurbis - Genesis 11 - "From Confusion to Clarity" - Pentecost Sunday by Living Savior

May 29, 2022 (Pastor Zell) Ascension Sermon by Living Savior

May 22, 2022 (Pastor Caleb Kurbis) Revelation 21:21-27 by Living Savior

May 15, 2022 (Pastor Paul Zell) by Living Savior

May 1, 2022 (Pastor Caleb Kurbis) John 21:1-14 (Devotion) by Living Savior

May 1, 2022 (Vicar Justin Digman) Revelation 5:11-14 - Devotion by Living Savior

May 1, 2022 (Pastor Zell) Revelation 5:11-14 by Living Savior

April 24, 2022 (Pastor Kurbis) John 20:19-31 by Living Savior

April 17, 2022 (Pastor Kurbis) Easter Rolls Our Realities that Will Never Be Rolled Back by Living Savior

April 10, 2022 (Pastor Zell) - Luke 19:28–40 by Living Savior

March 27, 2022 (Pastor Caleb Kurbis) Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 "How Could He (the Father)" by Living Savior

March 20, 2022 (Pastor Zell) Luke 13:1-9 by Living Savior

March 13, 2022 (Pastor Zell) Philippians 3:17-4:1 - "No Detours Allowed" by Living Savior

March 6, 2022 (Pastor Kurbis) - "He gets you . . . and more..." by Living Savior

Februrary 27, 2022 (Pastor Zell) 2 Corinthians 3 by Living Savior

February 20, 2022 (Pastor Kurbis) 2 Corinthians 5 - "A better lens for our hearts" by Living Savior

February 13, 2022 (Vicar Justin Digman) Luke 4:38-44 by Living Savior

January 13, 2022 (Vicar Justin Digman) Luke 4:38-44 by Living Savior

February 6, 2022 (Pastor Zell) Luke 5:1-11 by Living Savior

January 30, 2022 (Pastor Caleb Kurbis) Acts 4:23-31 - "The Christians Responses to Rejection" by Living Savior

January 23, 2022 (Caleb Kurbis) John 2:1-11 - If Jesus Knows our "White or Red?" Questions... by Living Savior

January 23, 2022 (Pastor Paul Zell) Ephesians 3:14-21 by Living Savior

January 16, 2022 (Vicar Justin Digman) - Luke 3 sermon by Living Savior

January 9, 2022 (Pastor Kurbis) Matthew 2:1-12 - "Don't Pack Away These Treasures" by Living Savior

January 2, 2022 (Pastor Kurbis) 3 Devotions - Exodus 17, Galatians 4, & Luke 1 by Caleb Kurbis

January 2, 2022 (Pastor Zell) 3 Devotions - Exodus 17, Galatians 4, & Luke 1 by Caleb Kurbis

Christmas Day (Vicar Justin Digman) December 25, 2021 - Exodus 33 by Caleb Kurbis

Christmas Eve - Luke 2 - Second Devotion (Pastor Zell) December 24, 2021 by Caleb Kurbis

Christmas Eve - Luke 2 - First Devotion (Pastor Kurbis) December 24, 2021 by Caleb Kurbis

December 12, 2021 (Pastor Caleb Kurbis) Hebrews 10:5-10 by Caleb Kurbis

December 5, 2021 (Pastor Caleb Kurbis)Philippians 4:4-7 by Caleb Kurbis

December 5, 2021 (Pastor Paul Zell) Luke 3:7-18 by Caleb Kurbis

November 28, 2021 (Pastor Caleb Kurbis) Malachi 3 by Caleb Kurbis