St Andrew's Messages

The day that God himself was veiled in flesh in order to save sinners is worth every bit of celebration. From the beginning, the solution to sin was the flesh and blood of the God of the universe. God bless your celebration of Jesus' birth. May the God who made his dwelling among us remind you of his love.

Lord, remind us how reliable our God is when we doubt. Read 1 Peter 2:4-6 and be reminded of God's great promise to you. Then join brothers and sisters in Christ who are experiencing all sorts of doubts, anxieties, and fears. Together we'll be reminded of what our God has done for us.

Bad stuff happens in life. We all know it. We all experience it. This side of heaven, Jesus never tells us otherwise and actually makes it clear, "In this world you will have trouble" (John 16:33).  Despite this humbling reality, we rejoice this Christmas season and always that we have a God who loves us, who carries us, and who leads us forward in his holy name . . . even when bad things happen. What a blessing. What a truth!

Sometimes these little words are the most important and the most important to be reminded of. We can all put happy fronts on social media and Christmas cards. We can also do a pretty good job in person, but we all have moments of loneliness, and they can easily be exacerbated during this Advent season. When that happens, may the Holy Spirit guide us to pray, "Lord, remind me that you are with us."

Advent can get frenzied and full of anxiety. As we await Jesus' final return and anticipate the celebration of his first arrival in our world, we need him to remind us of his lordship in our lives. Exodus 34 gives us insights into what the name of the Lord communicates.   All rights reserved. Music used by permission under CCLI #1600166, OneLicense #A-709447, and Worshipflow.com. Pre-service music all rights reserved by Koine (koinemusic.com) & Michael Schroeder. Video music used by permission.

Throughout November, we have been thankful for the significant moments in our lives, for the people God puts in our lives, and for the fruits of faith seen around us. Now we thank our Creator for his grace. The God who provides daily bread and necessary weather patterns is the God who provides the salvation we need because of our sins.

It goes without saying that our God gives us so much to be thankful for. At the top of that list is the essence and power of the gospel message we hold so dear. Witnessing how this gospel equips us and others to serve his holy name is not, though, an opportunity to pat ourselves on the back and say, "well done." Instead, it's another opportunity to marvel at the timeless truth that "God is at hand" in our lives and in the lives of so many others.

Last weekend we pondered significant moments in our lives and God's hand for us in them. Today we consider specific individuals in our lives for whom we are thankful, joining in the apostle Paul's gratitude in Philippians 1:3-11.   All rights reserved. Music used by permission under CCLI #1600166, OneLicense #A-709447, and Worshipflow.com. Pre-service music all rights reserved by Koine (koinemusic.com) & Michael Schroeder. Video music used by permission from Pond5.

This weekend begins a four-part series leading up to Thanksgiving. We will take time to pause and acknowledge the countless blessings God pours into our lives each day. It's easy to get caught up in routines and overlook his hand at work. Through this series, we'll learn to see God's activity in every moment, person, and circumstance.   All rights reserved. Music used by permission under CCLI #1600166, OneLicense #A-709447, and Worshipflow.com. Pre-service music all rights reserved by Koine (koinemusic.com) & Michael Schroeder. Video music used by permission from Pond5.

Before us on Reformation weekend are more parables from Matthew 13! We all value things differently, but may we always put the highest value on God's Word, which tells us of our salvation in Christ alone.

Matthew 13 contains a number of parables in which Jesus teaches about the kingdom of God. He calls his own followers wheat and followers of the Evil One weeds. St. Andrew's mission is, and always has been, to gather wheat and continue to grow it.

When you communicate, is the message received always the message sent? Is the message received at all? What can influence these things? In Matthew 13, Jesus uses a story about agriculture to teach on different responses to his message. Which response are you?

The following is attributed to Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi: “There are three things that are important to every man in this locker room: his God, his family, and the Green Bay Packers, in that order.” Long before football existed, Jesus spoke about the importance of family in Matthew 12.

Have you ever looked for signs that something was right or true? In Matthew 12, Jesus' opponents demanded a sign, but Jesus had already been doing miracles. What do we consider a good sign? What should we consider a good sign? Let's hear from Jesus on the subject.

A loss of power changes everything and makes life much more difficult. How much more doesn't this hold true when it comes to our relationship with our Savior. For both eternity and for day-to-day life, it is of utmost importance to STAY CONNECTED TO JESUS. He is not only our power source when everything else stops working, he is also our guide, protector, and friend to lead us forward in his holy name.

Which is more important, the letter of the law or the spirit of the law? Is separating them ever legitimate? Jesus had something to say about that and more important things in Matthew 12.

We might go to our friends for support or fun, but when it comes to truth, we rely on what God reveals in his Word. Some of Jesus' words in Matthew 11:20-30 are not easy or pleasant, but they are true. And God is good, so Jesus doesn't leave it there; he tells us where we can find rest—in him alone.

How would you describe your life? While many answers could be offered, "chaos" is one that people use over and over again. That's not a new thing. Matthew 11 brings us into a chaotic time early in Christ's ministry, as John the Baptist and his followers look for clarification on who exactly this Jesus of Nazareth really was. As always, though, Christ brings "clarity amidst chaos." That's a promise for today. That's a promise for eternity. 

In the second half of Matthew 10, Jesus states that several actions or inactions make one unworthy of him. Are you in these categories? How do we become worthy of Jesus? He has a lot to say about our fear, our confession, and whom we receive, so we learn from Jesus to be his disciples.

Jesus does not send us out the exact same way he sent out his twelve apostles, but he does send us out, so we can learn a lot from his words in Matthew 9 and 10, including, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”

Jesus' miracles keep coming in Matthew 9. This time the Son of David gives sight and speech. He also gives these gifts to us, enabling us to see who he is and praise him for it.

Bad stuff happens in life.  That's true for everyone, though the struggles and hardships and issues may vary. And yet Jesus Christ reigns supreme. God's people gather around God's Word knowing that we have a Savior who rules in both life AND death. That gives us hope for today. It also gives us assurance for eternity. We're glad you're here to worship with us today.

Jesus issues a simple invitation to a tax collector. He issues the same invitation to all of us. In the tax collector's case, some objected that he was a sinner, but if Jesus had come to call the righteous, he would not have called anyone. By God's grace, we follow Jesus too.

Perhaps in ignorance or in youth, you have made a bold claim and declared yourself the best at something. Bold claims are easy to disprove if they are wrong, but in Matthew 9, Jesus made bold claims with his words and actions. Unlike us, Jesus can always back up his claims. All rights reserved. Music used by permission under CCLI #1600166, OneLicense #A-709447, and Worshipflow.com. Pre-service music all rights reserved by Koine (koinemusic.com) & Michael Schroeder. Video music used by permission from Pond5.

Matthew 8:28-34 is a disturbing account, but as Jesus continues to show who he is with his actions, we can find comfort in his power and in his priority. God's Word before us touches on demon possession, rejecting Jesus, and even the role of creatures with whom we share the planet.

Jesus' miracles in Matthew's Gospel continue, but what we especially notice today is Jesus' authority. In some ways, it is like the authority we see and would expect, but in some ways it is very different. It is unquestionably an authority to follow.

Are you worthy? At times we all think we are worthy of this or that, but God's Word is clear we are not. Today Jesus teaches about the only one who is worthy and what he has done for you. We're glad you're here.

What do you think of when you hear "untouchable"? John Stockton's record number of career assists in the NBA? The Bill of Rights? The skill level of a favorite musician? As we leave the Sermon on the Mount behind, Matthew 8 introduces us to an untouchable leper, but with God, all things are possible. We're glad you're here to marvel at how Jesus has touched our world and believe in his salvation.

Truth is better than untruth. As we pursue truth in God's Word, we notice that not everything we find is immediately appealing to us, but the truth being unlikeable does not make it untrue. Let's shape our hearts to embrace God's truth because God is good.

"Don't judge me!" has become a societal mantra, but we must not believe that all judging is bad because of phrases like "use good judgment." As we resume our study of Matthew, you will notice Jesus himself said "stop judging." Today we explore what he meant and what good judgment is.

Someone so admires you, he or she is watching you, learning from you and wants to imitate you. Maybe it's a friend or a coworker, or, if you're a parent, for better or for worse, it's your child. In a way, that makes him or her your disciple. You're watching someone and want to imitate someone, too. That makes you a disciple. In a much bigger and different way, Jesus makes us his disciples. We're glad you're with us today. May Jesus' words fill you with joy and confidence in being his disciple.

What do you worry about? At the risk of being simplistic, doesn't it seem that our worries are either about not getting what we want, getting what we want and then losing it, or getting what we don't want? Worry isn't always sinful, but some of it can be. Ancient Christians used the Latin, "deo volente" (God-willing) to temper their expectations and, thus, their worry about the future. That might help, but only if the phrase comes from the heart and is more than just a pious platitude. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us about worry. We're glad you're with us for this journey through the great Gospel according to Matthew. We're here to sort it out together. Please accept a blue Matthew study guide booklet as our gift.

If you could ask Jesus for anything at all, what would you ask him? His disciples once asked him, "Lord, teach us to pray." They must have noticed something about how he prayed and wanted to know more. So Jesus taught them what we call "The Lord's Prayer." St. Andrew is currently in a worship series on the Gospel of Matthew. Today we find ourselves in chapter 6 (page 45 in the study booklet) where Jesus gives us a model prayer. May the Spirit bless you with a growing appreciation for both the depth of this prayer and the privilege of prayer.

A Grow in Grace presentation by Aaron Wakeman

Commitment is an interesting concept. Although it means thorough dedication, we often speak of different levels of commitment. For example, you might be less committed to your exercise plan than to watching your favorite team on TV. When we think of commitment, we should first think of God. His commitment is not dependent or half-hearted. Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 on how our commitment comes from God's commitment. God's people at St. Andrew have committed to making our church a place of peace for more people, and part of that is a significant cost. Today is your opportunity to submit your pledge, your financial commitment to A Place of Peace.

Normally, it's not such a compliment to be called a sheep. Sheep aren't fierce, dominant, or self-sufficient. Sheep need help, protection, and guidance. But now you know why Jesus calls us sheep! More than that, the shepherd is the one who helps, feeds, protects, and guides the sheep. But now you  know why Jesus calls himself our Good Shepherd! Welcome to the sheep pen where we gather under the beautiful care and watchful eye of our Good Shepherd, Jesus.

The five-year-old squirrels away buttons, bows, shells and rocks in a box under his bed. It's his treasure. What's your treasure? We all treasure something, even if we can no longer fit it into a box under the bed. One of the most famous things Jesus said was, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." We're glad you're with us today. May Jesus open our eyes to our real treasure.

Do you remember intertwining the fingers of your hands and saying, "Here's the church. Here's the steeple. Open the doors, and see all the people!” It's a neat little reminder that in the Bible, the church is never a building, but it's always people—people Jesus lived and died for and brought to trust and love him. But maybe it's a little misleading, too, because where are all the people? Sure, they're in church, but they're also "out there" where God has called us to live, work, and play. This weekend, remember and celebrate that Jesus is alive. The tomb is empty. And he's with his people in church and out. He's with you. He's with us, St. Andrew, as we pursue his vision for our church.

What would you say has been a crucial time in your life? Was it a time when you made a decision about a career, a move, or marriage? Was it a time when someone else made a decision to reduce staff, offer you a job, or cause an accident? Those were crucial times. But think bigger. What would you say has been the most crucial hour in the history of the world? That distinction belongs to what took place 2,000 years ago. Jesus of Nazareth paid his last visit to Jerusalem and there determined the destiny of mankind. Never in all of history were the stakes so high or the results so far-reaching. This Holy Week, we'll examine the biblical record of Jesus in his most crucial hours. May the Holy Spirit bless you with a greater understanding and a deeper appreciation of who you are and what you have because of Jesus' crucial hours.

A Maundy Thursday devotion by Pastor Randy Hunter

We will be suspending our Matthew series until the end of May to accommodate Holy Week and our A Place of Peace series. So, this weekend it's . . . Matthew. Ha, but not where we were; we will skip ahead to chapter 21 where shouts of “save us now!” were heard on Palm Sunday. The question we need to ask is this: from what are we asking for salvation?

A Lenten devotion by Vicar Ronny Nguyen.

Turn the other cheek--that's probably one of Jesus' most famous statements. No one criticizes Jesus' command to "turn the other cheek" or to "love your enemy" because to do so would be vile or disgusting. Everyone agrees such actions would be lofty and admirable; but to do it is just impossible. Who can do that? Who wants to do that? Only those radically changed by the love of God in Christ can begin to see how it's possible. What would it look like in your life to "turn the other cheek" or to "love your enemy”? Gather with other radically altered brothers and sisters and seek God's answer in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:38-48.

A Lenten devotion by Minister for Nurture Mark Kjenstad

Have you ever been called a prude for the way you think about sex and marriage? Or maybe for not going along with the messages many movies and much music send about sex and marriage? The living Jesus has something to say to us about that. In the sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) Jesus offers us the most relevant, free, and attractive way to think about everything in life.

A Lenten devotion by Steve Pelischek

Everyone has standards. Some have double standards. Read Jesus' words in Matthew 5:17-26, and you'll know that the Son of God upholds standards and the penalties for not living up to them. He says something alarming in verse 20, but he also gives us a solution. Hint: it's not getting rid of all our standards.

A Lenten devotion by Pastor Clinton Kreuziger.

Everybody knows about salt and light, so they should make for easy spiritual comparisons, right? But when Jesus calls you the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16), the difficulty does not lie in understanding, but in embracing and responding. May our Lord and Savior enable and empower us to make everything salty and bright.

A Lenten devotion by Pastor Jon Bilitz from Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel.