Solid Food

Confusion...befuddlement...thinking the worst...These states of being are all very much a part of the Easter story, when Jesus' disciples were unprepared for the reality of resurrection. In this thought-provoking sermon, Pastor Julie McCain of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California, talks about those "messy" parts of the story, and about how Jesus comes to them -- and us -- even in the midst of such times. There are new ways to see. Find out how.

Find out why the Reverend Dr. Timothy Delkeskamp says "I don't want normal; I want Easter" in this sermon on Easter Sunday during the pandemic.

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases..." So the Bible says in Lamentations Chapter 3, and so notes Pastor Steve Herder in this comforting and energizing sermon at the beginning of Holy Week. "The church is not a building" declares Pastor Steve. It's people, and faith, and people of faith helping others in their communities near and far. It's worship, in ways familiar and in new ways. It's God's love in the midst of scary times. Find out more by listening to Pastor Steve of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California. 

We all know the story of Lazarus -- and how Jesus brought him back to life. But have you taken time to understand the deeper meaning of this story? Reverend Dr. Timothy Delkeskamp of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California talks about caves -- not only Lazarus' cave, but the metaphorical caves of those around him, the darkness meaning death. Today, we find ourselves in a cave of sorts. But hope is bright. Listen and understand. 

Early Christians were certainly no strangers to plagues. In this powerful and inspiring sermon, Reverend Dr. Timothy Delkeskamp of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California, finds guidance for these times in the Christian answer to from Paul and others. 

You might have heard it before. It is just a story about some guys that go from “fishers of fish” to becoming “fishers of people.” But there is so much more. Why do we need to know that it happens in the land of Zebulon and Naphtali? What exactly is a “fisher of people?” And… here is the real kicker: can we really be expected to believe that they just dropped their nets and immediately followed? Somehow it all works, and very importantly, God is trying to speak to us through this story. Learn about it in this inspiring sermon from Reverend Dr. Timothy Delkeskamp, senior pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California.

You are blessed. Even if you don't think you are. Even if you don't feel like you are. Even if your circumstances might indicate that you are not. This was an important message of Jesus that is conveyed so beautifully and clearly in the "beatitudes" section of his "Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew Chapter 5 that Pastor Steve Herder of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California preaches about in this sermon.

"I am the vine; you are the branches," said Jesus Christ. "If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." What does it mean to abide in Jesus? It means joy. It means to spend some deep, relationship-building time with Him. And it means sharing the Good News of his resurrection. In this sermon, Pastor Julie McCain of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California, talks about what it means to be a "come and see" kind of person. What does it mean to share our faith? To experience what we have as people who abide in him, and his words in us? Come and see.

Are you yearning for something? Empty? In need of comfort? What do you turn to in times of need, asks the Reverend Dr. Timothy Delkeskamp in this thought-provoking sermon. People try to fill that space inside with everything from wealth and power to sports, but what we really, really want and need is a deep connection with the Almighty.  French author, mathematician, physicist, author and theologian Blaise Pascal said that there is a God-shaped hole inside each of us that nothing else will satisfy. Here, Pastor Tim gets to the heart of our hearts' deepest desire.

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." These words from the Gospel of John bring comfort to a struggling world. In this sermon, Pastor Steve Herder of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California, talks about God's gifts of love and hope and the abundant evidence thereof. God came down...God always comes down, he says. Hear more.

Here is Pastor Julie McCain's sermon from the 5 PM Christmas Eve worship service with a special emphasis for families with children.

Our Bishop talks about God giving the growth, whether garden seeds or bringing help to those in need near and far.

Are you free? According to Jesus, if we “continue in His word” we will “know the truth” and “the truth will set us free.” Martin Luther was set free from his paralyzing guilt and it led to the Lutheran Reformation. The Apostle Paul was set free from his need to be perfect and most of the New Testament was written. Pastor Tim Delkeskamp of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California says he knows people who have been freed from addictions, shame, bad habits, etc. and they received new life. So what do you need to be set free from? And what will you do with your freedom?  In this sermon, Pastor Tim talks about all these important questions.

When is the last time God surprised you? Pastor Julie McCain of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California, shows in this sermon how God works in surprising ways. It reminds us to keep our eyes open and be looking for God all around us. God can use anyone and anything. God can be anywhere, even where we least expect him to be.  

Can you think of a time when someone has really seen you?  A time when they’ve looked you in the eyes when you really needed it, or seen the child of God in you when you were struggling to see it yourself?  In this sermon, Pastor Julie McCain of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California, considers our call to really see each other.

Jesus' words about faith as a mustard seed are familiar, but a closer look reveals surprises. Do you need God to meet you and help you in your faith today? There is a simple path. In this sermon, Pastor Steve Herder of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California, talks about that path and finds fresh meaning in the time-honored gospel lessons. 

shrewd /SHroÍžod/ adjective having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute. Did you know that Jesus calls us to be shrewd?  We are supposed to use the gifts that He’s given us, supposed to be creative. The good news about this?  He has equipped us to do so, and He is with us as we try.  This is the subject of the parable Pastor Tim Delkeskamp looks at in this sermon at Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, Californioa. Known as one of the strangest of Jesus’ parables, the parable of the shrewd manager is, says Pastor Tim, "also one of the most delightful ones, too." Listen and see what the Holy Spirit does! 

Humble leaders channel their ambitions and drives towards the greatest good. They have the desire to help other people become great, instead of themselves. Jesus talks about this in the Gospel of Luke, the fourteenth chapter, where he also addresses the idea of true hospitality. “Hospitality, Jesus style” includes offering hospitality to the stranger, the poor, the infirm, and prisoners reminds Pastor Steve Herder of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California, in this absorbing sermon. Pastor Steve delves into the riches found in Jesus’ parable of the great banquet, and asks, as followers of Christ, are our thoughts and actions different from the world’s? Yes, and the world is watching.

So often, people focus on the "Thou Shalt Nots" of the 10 Commandments and the Bible in general. But when we focus on the "Thou Shalts" we get a picture of what God wants us to do for the greater good. Pastor Ron Cox gets to the heart of the matter in this inspiring sermon at Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California. Thou Shalt...love the Lord your God with all your might...love your neighbor as yourself...help the widow...the poor...the stranger. These are, indeed, words to live by.

Youth at Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California, went on a service tour this summer, heading north in in our big, color splashed bus. It included serving at a homeless shelter, toiling under the sun in a community garden, and experiencing the Holy Spirit at work. Here, they talk about this memorable trip. 

Pastor Jack Ledbetter preaches this sermon titled, “Who Are You Waiting For?” from the Gospel of Luke, 12:32-40. Jesus tells us to be ready, that the Son of Man will come when He is least expected.

Maybe you remember a commercial from a couple years ago, the one in which job seekers come in for an interview, only to learn that the position being offered is downright outlandish? It's one of the threads woven together in this uplifting sermon by Pastor Julie McCain of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California, spinning off the familiar words of Jesus about the good things we give our children -- and how God wants to give to us. 

Jesus' beautiful story of The Good Samaritan who helped a man who had been robbed and left in a ditch is brought forward into our lives today as Pastor Ken Caudill preaches at Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California. Pastor Ken takes us from the ancient encounter to his own moving story of an encounter with a homeless man in downtown Los Angeles. Listen and be inspired!

In this sermon, Pastor Steve Herder of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California, preaches on the familiar story of Mary and Martha from Luke 10:38-42. He reflects on “the Marthas and the Marvins of this world, probably many of us, myself included, and how to be like Mary." We only have so much time. Follow this Gospel wisdom in deciding how to spend yours.

In this compelling sermon, visiting Pastor Rick Ertel recounts a Chinese proverb in which a mother who has lost her only child and is consumed with grief asks a holy man to bring her son back to life. She is sent on a quest to find a magical seed that will only be found in a house where no tragedy has occurred. This quest accomplished multiple purposes, which Pastor Rick delves into -- leading into Jesus' call for us to share each other's burdens. In fact, there is more to that sharing than than you might realize. Find out more. Listen.  

"Act in such a manner that you are living proof of a loving God." This is a key message of this sermon by Pastor Steve Herder of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California. Extrapolating from the scriptural story of Jesus casting demons out of a man (Luke 8:26-39), Pastor Steve talks about how we can share the transforming power and love of Christ today.

“The voice of God speaks to every living creature, tree, plant, mountain, river and valley, and we heard it before we were washed in the warm sweet darkness of our mother’s womb….The voice of God is the great gift of his creation, but we may not understand until we hear his voice, until we love -- until we find ourselves in every living thing.” In this sermon at Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California, Pastor, poet and professor emeritus Jack Ledbetter talks about the ineffable, impossible to understand yet undeniable voice of God and where we may hear it. Come…learn…and listen!

This Pentecost, we hear the story of the birth of the church and we celebrate the movement of the Holy Spirit. We remember that God is up to big wonderful things in this word in spite of the fact that we sometimes forget, lose hope, or miss the signs. Join Pastor Tim Delkeskamp of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California for this perspective restoring sermon.

In this sermon, Pastor Tim Delkeskamp of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California looks at the last few sentences of the last book of the Bible. It is a beautiful section of verses in Revelation where we hear from the “Alpha and the Omega” who calls “everyone who is thirsty” to come and “take the water of life as a gift.” Are we prepared to receive this invitation?  Do we know life changing joy that we can have just knowing that this invitation awaits us at the end of the story? Listen and explore!

In this sermon on John 14, Pastor Steve Herder of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California, reflects on the roles of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This gift from Jesus is here with us now!

This sermon focuses in on that beautiful vision in Revelation of a new heaven and a new earth, and God’s promise that he is already making all things new. Pastor Julie McCain of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California asks, "What evidence of God’s coming kingdom, of God’s newness bursting forth, do you see in your life?" Listen, have your awareness raised, and find your God-sighting vision renewed.

In this sermon, delivered on Mother's Day, the Reverend Dr. Timothy Delkeskamp of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California delves into Jesus' words, "My sheep hear my voice." Those words are all about the joy and harmony of a beautiful relationship -- like the way a relationship between a mother and child is supposed to be. Listen and be uplifted!

In this thoughtful sermon, Pastor Steve Herder of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California talks about Jesus' last words to Peter, which were "Follow me." Those two words were his first words to him too! In our John 21 reading, Jesus also says to Peter and to each of us: "Do you love me?.... Feed my sheep." What is the meaning behind these words? And what does it mean for all of us in verse 18, when Jesus  talks to Peter of his old age. Find out more, and learn about Senior Adult Ministries at Ascension.

Having faith doesn't automatically make us fearless, points out Pastor Julie McCain of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California. Indeed, Jesus' own disciples showed deep fear after the crucifixion. Even when word first reached them that Christ had risen, they were afraid. But when Jesus came to them, he did not rebuke them. He said, "Peace be with you." Imagine the relief they must have felt as those words soaked in, says Pastor Julie in this post-Easter sermon. She notes that even when we deny and disappoint Jesus, he doesn't give up on us. He finds a use for each and every one of us. Listen and be uplifted.  

It's Easter! Our Lord Jesus is risen! Join Pastor Tim Delkeskamp at Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California to revisit the greatest of stories -- it is the story that gives us perspective and hope and reminds us of our salvation given to us as a gift through our faith in Jesus Christ. He is risen indeed! 

How is your attention span these days?  If you are still reading this it may be longer than most people’s. No wonder our culture’s collective attention span has gotten shorter. We have so much information coming at us all the time. We have so many details to try to pay attention to that we can’t focus on anything for too long. The consequence is that with limited attention spans we may miss the things that God wants us to see.  So how can we pay attention to the right details? This Palm Sunday sermon by the Reverend Dr. Timothy Delkeskamp of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California, can help ground us in the truth and teach us how to pay “spiritual attention.”

“Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, 'Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.'” That is the sermon text from Deuteronomy at the core of this sermon by Pastor Steve Herder of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California, along with Denise Cortes, director of the new Harbor House social welfare organization. Looking for a place to find Jesus? There is an answer here.

The Prodigal Son. This is a story so famous that many people outside the Christian realm have heard it. But has it become too familiar?  So familiar that it’s lost its original power? In this sermon by the Reverend Dr. Timothy Delkeskamp of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California, the old story is told anew. So forget what you think you know about it and come and hear it again…for the first time.  And may you be moved by the beautiful grace it conveys.  

Sometimes, when traveling through life's dark valleys, it is hard to see the long view -- that God's purpose in all things is to bring us, as said in the 23rd Psalm, to green pastures. God's love is steadfast and sure. How to remember God's promise of abundant living no matter what is happening in life? This is the journey you can take with Pastor Julie McCain of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California. Share her vision of Jesus' feast! 

In this compelling sermon, the Reverend Dr. Tim Delkeskamp of Ascension Lutherna Church in Thousand Oaks, California talks about Jesus' Sermon on the Plain. Here, Jesus tells his disciples they must love their enemies. Really? Us? Today? Yes. But Pastor Tim points out that Christ does not say enable your enemies. Find out more.

Be inspired! Pastor Steve Herder of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California, talks about the light and life that we can bring to the world.

In this uplifting sermon, Pastor Julie McCain of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California talks about those negative influences that work on us, stealing from us our confidence and sense of well being. Devil inspired, yes. You can certainly find them out in the media, in social media. And maybe in yourself. Other voices around us are nourishing, and remind us we're beloved children of God. Bless yourself each day. Here's how.

Advent is here, the season of HOPE. In these turbulent, troubled times, having hope is an act of courage -- one our Lord Jesus Christ instructed us to take on. In this inspiring sermon, Pastor Tim Delkeskamp of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California talks about taking on a posture of defiant hope and light, and asks us to BE the candle of light in the darkness. 

Jack Schottel, a member of Ascension and our youth group, shares the inspiring story of his journey through injury, and the greatness of friendship and faith.

In the wake of the Borderline mass shooting and even as the fires continued to rage around us, Pastor Tim Delkeskamp had a message Sunday morning that many will never forget.

"In times of grief, God's heart breaks along with ours," says Pastor Julie McCain of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California. In her All Saints Sunday sermon, Pastor Julie uses the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead by Jesus to remind us of the one even death obeys. "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

In this thought-provoking sermon, the Reverend Dr. Timothy Delkeskamp, senior pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California, looks into the Gospel lesson of John 8:31-36. These words of Jesus' resonate perhaps more today than ever.

The Gospel story (Mark 10:17-31) of Jesus and the rich young man leaves some disheartened. The idea of giving away everything he had weighed heavily on the young man, who walked away sadly. But the story has a positive conclusion, in the view of Pastor Julie McCain of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California. And it relates to much more than posessions. Listen, and gain new insights. Jesus demands a lot from us, too. But only because He has already given us so much.  

Did you know that Psalm 145 is the only psalm of praise in the Psalms? In this uplifting sermon, the Reverend Dr. Timothy Delkeskamp of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California talks about this great exultation.