Sure Foundation Lutheran Church

“Scripture was written for you, but not to you.” This powerful phrase anchors our exploration of Revelation and helps us faithfully interpret its message in context. In this sermon, we dive deep into one of the most vivid and hope-filled visions in Scripture: the Rider on the White Horse from Revelation 19. We begin by unpacking the importance of genre and historical context—understanding apocalyptic literature and the persecution of early Christians. Then, we walk verse-by-verse through John's vision to uncover what it tells us about Jesus: His justice, His omniscience, His authority, His name, and His ultimate victory.

About six months ago, a simple puzzle activity with my daughter sparked a deep reflection: life doesn't make much sense when you only see a few pieces. And that's exactly how the disciples must have felt during Holy Week. They knew Jesus was the Messiah, but they didn't yet have the full picture. In this sermon from John 16, we explore Jesus' words to His disciples in the Upper Room—the night before His crucifixion—where He says, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” Their confusion mirrors our own when we face grief, uncertainty, or even death. But here's the hope: Jesus' resurrection changes everything. Like the image on a puzzle box, it gives us clarity, context, and joy. What once looked like tragedy becomes triumph. Through Jesus' victory over the grave, we are given a perspective that transforms sorrow into joy and despair into confidence. And when the pieces still don't seem to fit, Jesus gives us something else—prayer. We can turn to our Heavenly Father in Jesus' name, trusting that He sees the full picture of our lives and is working all things for our good.

Have you ever known someone who's all talk and no action? In this sermon, we explore how Jesus was accused of just that—people wanted Him to “say it plainly” that He was the Messiah. But Jesus' actions, miracles, and teachings spoke louder than words. He didn't just claim to be the Savior—He proved it. Dive into John 10:22-30 as we unpack what it means to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd. From miraculous healings to divine teaching, Jesus gave overwhelming testimony to His identity as the promised Messiah. Still, unbelief persisted—not from lack of evidence, but from the blindness of sinful hearts. Discover how the voice of Jesus breaks through the noise of the world, leading us to faith, peace, and the promise of eternal life. In a world filled with distractions, whose voice are you really listening to?

Some things you don't want to see clearly—like your high school hairdo or a dirty floor in sunlight. Clarity can be uncomfortable. But when it comes to our spiritual lives, clarity is essential—even if it reveals things we'd rather not face. This sermon walks through the powerful moment of Saul's conversion and how his encounter with the risen Jesus gave him true clarity—about who Jesus is, who Saul was, and what God had truly called him to. Saul thought he was serving God by persecuting Christians, but he was spiritually blind. Only the grace of Jesus could open his eyes. Just like Saul, we too can live in a blurry, self-deceived view of life. But in Christ, we are given the clarity of truth, perspective, and purpose. This message explores: How clarity can both expose and heal Why God's grace—not our efforts—makes us right with Him How faith gives us spiritual vision to live with confidence, joy, and direction Whether you're new to faith or a lifelong Christian, this sermon will help you reflect on the miracle of spiritual sight and the ongoing journey of learning to truly see with the eyes of faith.

24 years ago, Shrek reminded us that "ogres are like onions"—they have layers. We do too. Emotions like shattered expectations, guilt, sadness, and fear often swirl together in us, just as they did for Jesus' disciples between Good Friday and Easter morning. But when Jesus appeared to them, everything changed with one powerful greeting: "Peace be with you." In this sermon, we discuss the layers of human emotion and the peace that the risen Christ brings to our hearts. We'll see how Jesus' resurrection changes not just our spiritual status, but the way we face fear, guilt, sadness, and danger today. And we'll be reminded that the peace we have with God compels us to share the good news boldly. Join us as we explore the transforming, peace-giving power of the risen Savior—and what that means for your life today.

The story of David and Goliath is one of the most well-known in the Bible, and it has even made its way into pop culture—used to describe underdog victories in sports, business, and life. But what if we've been misapplying this story all along? This battle was not just about courage, strength, or overcoming life's obstacles. It was about God's victory—not David's. David couldn't defeat Goliath by his own power, but God could and did. And just like David couldn't defeat Goliath on his own, we cannot defeat sin, death, and the devil on our own. But the descendant of David—Jesus Christ—did. Through His humble life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection, Jesus won the battle we never could. Join us as we explore the real meaning of David vs. Goliath and how it points us to the ultimate victory in Christ.

Some things in life are irreversible. Once an egg is broken, it can't be put back together. Once time has passed, you can't get it back. And once words are spoken, they can't be unsaid. King David learned this painful truth when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrated her husband Uriah's death. He couldn't undo his sins. He couldn't erase his guilt. He could only try to cope—until God sent the prophet Nathan to confront him. But here's the good news: while we can't reverse the past, God can reverse the irreversible. Through Jesus Christ, sin is forgiven, guilt is erased, and even death is conquered. Jesus took on our guilt, suffered in our place, and rose again so that we could hear the powerful words: "You are forgiven."

Moses and Elijah were two of the greatest figures in the Old Testament—Moses, the great lawgiver, and Elijah, the fearless prophet. Their lives were unique, filled with miraculous events and powerful encounters with God. But as great as they were, they were not the end of the story. In this sermon, we explore how the Old Covenant was glorious, yet fading—pointing ahead to something greater. The Law given to Moses revealed God's holiness but also our inability to keep it. The ministry of Elijah displayed God's power but also showed the people's deep need for redemption. When Jesus appeared in glory on the Mount of Transfiguration, standing between Moses and Elijah, it was a declaration: He is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. He is the New Covenant. A covenant not based on our ability to uphold it, but on God's grace alone. Join us as we dive into this powerful truth—how the Old Covenant pointed to the New, how Jesus transforms our lives by His grace, and how this New Covenant gives us life, hope, and everlasting glory.

How do you love those who make your life difficult? How do you bless those who mistreat you? Jesus' words in Luke 6:27-36 call us to a radical love—one that goes beyond fairness and justice to reflect God's mercy. Imagine hearing these words as a Jewish person living under Roman rule—facing oppression, heavy taxes, and the constant threat of violence. Loving your enemies wasn't just hard; it felt impossible. But Jesus wasn't asking for passive tolerance—He was calling for active love, blessing, and prayer even for those who wrong us. Join us as we explore what it truly means to love like Jesus—not just when it's easy, but when it costs us something. Can we really forgive? Can we really love like this? Only through the power of the One who first loved us.

In this thought-provoking sermon, we explore the them of resilience through life's challenges, drawing inspiration from biblical teachings and modern experiences. Pastor Mark Birkholz delves into 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10, examining Paul's thorn in the flesh as a metaphor for personal struggles. Church attendance in Sioux Falls has been declining. Perhaps there are many reasons for this like disappointment and misconceptions about Christian life. However the Bible speaks a lot about the challenges of life, showing big examples in the lives of Paul, Job, and David. There are parallels between biblical wisdom and social science research, for example many who endured the Korean and Vietnam War were able to find meaning in their difficult experiences. The Bible provides a fresh perspective on how adversity can shape and strengthen us, encouraging viewers to persevere through their own "school of hard knocks." Join us as we explore the transformative power of faith and resilience in the face of life's challenges.

Have you ever felt unqualified for a big task? Maybe it was your first time staying home alone, driving a car, or starting a new job. That feeling of doubt—Am I really ready for this?—is something we all experience. In this sermon, we look at the calling of Simon Peter and the disciples in Luke 5. Jesus asks them to follow Him and become "fishers of men." Peter, recognizing his own sinfulness, falls at Jesus' feet, overwhelmed by his inadequacy. But Jesus doesn't call the perfect—He qualifies the called. God uses weak vessels like us to share His Word, not because we are capable on our own, but because He works through us. You may doubt your ability to share the gospel, but Christ qualifies you. Join us as we explore how God calls ordinary, imperfect people to do extraordinary work for His kingdom.

History is filled with examples of people who ignored what they needed to hear in favor of what they wanted to hear - with devastating consequences. Napoleon Bonaparte believed his army was unstoppable, yet he ignored the warnings about invading Russia in winter. Blockbuster was at the top of the at-home entertainment industry but dismissed the rise of streaming. Both refused to hear the truth, and both faced ruin. But this isn't just a lesson from history - it's a spiritual reality. The Israelites in Jeremiah's time rejected God's warning and suffered exile. Jonah ran from God's command, prioritizing his desires over obedience. Even today, we are tempted to rationalize, minimize, or reject God's Word when it conflicts with what we want. Yet, in contrast to all who have chosen themselves over God's Word, Jesus showed perfect obedience in the Garden of Gethsemane. He prayed, "Not my will, but yours be done," submitting to the Father's plan to save us. Jesus did this his entire life - on our behalf, for us. So that he could give us his perfect obedience as a gift.

In this sermon, we explore the surprising truth that grace can offend. Jesus' hometown of Nazareth was initially excited to hear him proclaim himself as the fulfillment of Isaiah 61, but their joy quickly turned to anger. Why? Because the grace of God extended beyond their expectations—beyond their nationality, their status, and their assumptions of who "deserved" it. Grace, God's undeserved love for us, is free and unearned. It forgives the sinner, redeems the broken, and reaches those we often think unworthy. Yet, like the people of Nazareth, we can struggle with grace when it's extended to others we deem less deserving. In this message, you'll learn: The true meaning of grace. Why grace offended the people of Nazareth. How God's grace is for all, including the "real sinners." The challenge of showing grace to others as we've received it. Reflect on the depth of God's forgiveness and the call to share his grace with the world—even when it's uncomfortable.

What if you could glimpse into the childhood of Jesus? Imagine Him as a toddler, a boy, and a teenager—growing, learning, and experiencing life just like us, yet without sin. In this week's sermon, we reflect on the account from Luke 2, where 12-year-old Jesus stays behind in the temple, astonishing the teachers with His wisdom. Through this story, we see the profound mystery of Jesus' dual nature—fully God and fully man—perfectly obedient from birth, yet relatable in His humanity. This account isn't just a glimpse into Jesus' childhood—it's a reminder of the perfection He lived for us. From the moment He became flesh, Jesus perfectly fulfilled God's law, living a life of obedience that we never could. Whether helping in Joseph's carpentry shop or amazing the teachers at the temple, every moment of His life was part of His saving work. Jesus didn't just grow up—He grew into the role of our substitute, living and dying to secure our salvation. This story of young Jesus in the temple challenges us to reflect on our own relationship with God's Word. If even Jesus prioritized time in Scripture, how much more should we? "Christ for you" is not just a message of salvation—it's an invitation to respond with gratitude, seeking God through His Word and living it out daily. As we enter the New Year, let this truth inspire you to grow in faith, live in love, and become a person rooted in God's Word. If you are built up by this content, please SUBSCRIBE! This helps us to be seen by more people, so that more people might hear about Jesus! Thank you!

Awe is a difficult thing to describe, but you know it when you experience it. Awe is great and it is an experience that doesn't come around all the time. In fact, because awe can be killed by familiarity, awe is very rare. Our familiarity with anything can dull our sense of awe for things that are so beautiful or so vast or so important or so meaningful. How many times have you heard the Christmas account? It is a pretty familiar account. Has its familiarity dulled how awe-some this account is? There are some amazing details in this Christmas story! Tune in to this Christmas Eve sermon to hear some of these awe-inspiring details and more. And if you haven't already, please subscribe to our YouTube channel - this helps us to be seen by more people more often so that more people will hear about Jesus as their Savior. Thank you!

The Ark of the Covenant was cherished by the people, but also feared, because this was where the Holy God promised his presence. And the holy and the unholy just don't mix. That's a truth that Old Testament believer knew well. It was built into their worship life. And this is still true today. We have no right to stand before a perfectly holy God, nor could we. God made a plan to solve this and this plan is embedded in a conversation that God has with David (through the prophet Nathan) in 2 Samuel 7. In this conversation, we hear the promise of the Savior, who would be God in the flesh, who would come to save us from our sins. Jesus made his home with us to make us holy. The Holy Spirit makes his home in us through faith. And one day, we will be at home with Jesus forever in heaven, where we will be perfectly holy. If you are built up by this content, please SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss any content from Sure Foundation. This also helps us to be seen by more people, more often, so that more people may hear about Jesus as their Savior! Thank you!

There is a hopeless despair that comes when you are too far behind that you can't catch up. That is our state before the Lord, although many times we need convincing. We need convincing that our sins are serious and God takes them seriously. Jeremiah did his best to preach to the people and get them to take their sins seriously, but they did not repent. God wants us to take our sins seriously and when we do, we will realize that we are in the depths like the Psalmist says. We cry out to the Lord. He hears your cry for mercy and he freely gives us forgiveness through the work of Jesus, his Son. This gives us hope - real, true, certain hope. Hope that we will be with Jesus one day in heaven. Hope that when we stand before our Judge one day, we will do so with confidence and peace. The hope from God never fails. If you enjoy this gospel content from Sure Foundation, please SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss any content from Sure Foundation.

The evil that we perceive in this world can be overwhelming - natural disasters, wars, diseases, and the evil we do to one another. And that's just the evil that we can perceive. All of this is enough to leave us desperate for help. This Psalm calls us into that situation where we ask - "Where does my help come from?" The answer is quick and comforting - "My help comes from the Lord the Maker of heaven and earth." Our great helper has helped us in the greatest way and continues to help us. He is all-powerful, attentive, diligent, present, and he cares for all of you - body and soul. May we continue to come to worship to receive from the Lord what he has promised. And may we continue to be reminded of the promises that the Lord always keeps. If you are built up by these sermons, please SUBSCRIBE. This help us to be seen by more people, more often, so that more people might hear about Jesus as their Savior. Thank you!

It is a nice feeling that we get when we earn something, when we accomplish something. There is a certain sense of pride that we feel in using our gifts and abilities in this way. Yet, this pride can (all too often) get out of control. The Israelites were looking ahead to a time that was much different from the experience of their ancestors. Their ancestors experienced famines, suffering, and slavery, but this generation and those after would experience times of greater prosperity and abundance. Looking ahead to these times, Moses had a warning for the Israelites - Don't forget the Lord! Why is it that it is easier to remember the Lord when you are suffering than when you are blessed with abundance? Well, there is a certain pride that can well up in us when times are good. We begin to think that we are the cause of this good life and these many blessings. Yet, what the Lord graciously reminds us is that he is the one who provides for us. He even gives us our talents and abilities. The fact that we can produce an income is a gift from him. And what we learn from the Lord is that he saves us. These two truths give us every reason to give thanks! If you enjoy this content from Sure Foundation, be sure to hit the subscribe button so that you never miss a devotion or sermon! God's blessings!

All of us have an aversion to judgment. We don't like the thought of being judged by other people, so we typically don't go looking for it. In fact, we do everything that we can to avoid being judged by others. If we are that averse to judgment from classmates, co-workers, or family members, than how much more fear ought we have of Judgment Day, when God will judge the living and the dead? The Bible reveals to us a little bit about Judgment Day, enough that we can picture it - standing before Jesus, who has authority to judge. So, a worthwhile question to ask is: How does my Judge view me? Should I be terrified of this? On our own... Yes! Absolutely! But, you are not on your own. God sent his Son Jesus for this very purpose. Through faith in Jesus, you will be judged not on the basis of your own works, but on what Jesus has done FOR YOU! Knowing this allows us to say and mean, "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!" If you enjoy these sermons, please SUBSCRIBE! This causes others to have the opportunity to see this content. Thank you!

Humans are naturally drawn to what looks good on the outside. That, in and of itself, is not an issue. However, it can lead to a certain set of misconceptions because outward appearances tend to not be a great litmus test for what is true and what is false. Outward appearances only tell part of the story. Jesus warns about this in Mark. People in that day were drawn to the teaching of the teachers of the law, but more so because of how they dressed and acted and how they were perceived by the community. The warning was needed because although they looked good, their teaching was false and their actions toward the poorest in society reflected poor teaching. In today's sermon, we will dig into the applications from Jesus' warning and also why this is important for us today. We will also make the connection between part one of this text and part two which includes the widow's offering.

There is a shroud that hangs over all of mankind. It is this heavy blanket that casts darkness and obscures the glory and splendor of our God. This shroud is the shroud of death and it is there on account of sin. God sent his One and Only Son to suffer the result of sin - death - on our behalf. That through his death and through his resurrection, we may have life - eternal life, in heaven. Heaven... a place where the shroud of death has been removed. Heaven... a place where there is no more tears and no more pain. Heaven... a place where we will see God with our own eyes and we will join believers of all time in praising God. Heaven will be amazing! The belief in heaven doesn't just mean we are waiting around here on earth to enter heaven. The belief in heaven has a direct impact on your life here and now. Tune in to the sermon to hear how! If you enjoy this content from Sure Foundation, be sure to click the SUBSCRIBE button, so that you never miss any gospel content from Sure Foundation! Thank you!

The stories of fearless faith of others are powerful. But it is interesting that as you dig into the stories, that it is not something special about the person that allowed them to be fearless, it is what God has given them that equips them to be fearless. God, through the saving work of Jesus and through the powerful work of the Holy Spirit, gives fearless faith to people, who are then emboldened to stand firm in the face of difficult trials. Faith like this is desirable and faith like this comes from God's powerful Word - which creates/strengthens faith. Join us as we dig into the story of the first Lutheran Martyrs - Jan Van Essen and Hendrick Voes, as well as the well-known story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

If you have the right and if you have the freedom, why wouldn't you use it? That's an interesting question to ask. It seems sensible to use the rights and enjoy the freedoms given to us. But is there a situation where it would be wise to NOT use those rights and freedoms? The Apostle Paul says, "Yes!" If foregoing the use of your rights and freedoms allows other people to hear the gospel message, then this is the loving thing to do. The gospel message is that important! So, the question that we want to ask ourselves is this: how do you love others when their faith is on the line? We want to love someone in such a way that they are built up in their faith and grow in their connection to Christ. And we will be willing to serve and sacrifice in whatever way possible to love in this way. That is something that only the gospel can motivate. The gospel overcomes our inborn selfishness and the gospel forgives it. Thanks be to Jesus who saves us, who teaches us, and who continues to work in our hearts to love the gospel message enough to care about the faith of others. If you enjoy this gospel content, could you hit the SUBSCRIBE button? This allows us to be seen by more people, more often, that more people might hear about Jesus as their Savior. Thank you!

God cares about your companionship. He wants you to not experience loneliness. What a beautiful thing to know about God! From the very beginning, he made that clear. When he created Adam, he said that it was not a good thing for man to be alone. And after he created Eve, Adam responded in incredible thankfulness. This account is the last account we have of perfection. After this, sin entered into the world and sin has had massive effects on relationships. Yet, God, in his love, sent his one and only Son to restore our relationship with our Father. And also in his love, he provides companionship for us when we are lonely. For some that's a spouse, for others that's a friend, for still others that is the family of believers. What a blessing from God! If you enjoy this content, please subscribe so that you never miss any content from Sure Foundation.

"Idol" - that's a word that you'll here from the Bible and in church from time to time, but what does it mean? When we think of "idols," we tend to think about images made out of wood or stone that people treated as if they were gods. But an idol, is more than just a constructed image. An idol can be anything that takes the #1 spot in your heart. God wants that spot, but if you supplant God with someone or something, that person or thing becomes your idol. We see a man in our gospel reading that had an idol that is very common for mankind - money. He loved his wealth, more than he loved Jesus and Jesus exposed this in his heart - not to embarrass the man or berate him, but because he loved him. Jesus wants to be #1 in our hearts, not because he's vain, but because he deeply wants to save us and bless us. Join us as we dive into Mark 10:17-27. And if you enjoy the gospel content from Sure Foundation, be sure to subscribe so that you never miss any gospel content! Thank you!

There is a war happening and you don't even see it. This war is over your soul… you are wanted – by God and by the devil. You are important to both of them, but for different reasons. God fights for your soul because he loves you immensely and unconditionally. He fights for you because he is full of grace and mercy, because he desires your eternal good. The devil wants your soul for different purposes. You see the devil despises God and therefore, he despises everything and everyone that God loves. God loves you and God wants you to be in heaven, so the devil and his evil angels work tirelessly for your soul. The devil is the enemy, who only plots for destruction. Revelation 12 speaks about this war and it gives Christians immense comfort as well as a sober warning. If you enjoy this content from Sure Foundation, please SUBSCRIBE wherever you are listening to this. Thank you!

Is it wrong to have ambition? Is it wrong to want to be great? The disciples were arguing on the road to Capernaum about who was the greatest and Jesus asked them about it. But, it is interesting that Jesus doesn't rebuke the disciples for their ambition, for their desire to be great. Jesus does direct the disciples to where their ambition ought to be directed - in humble service. That's a difficult thing for any of us to grasp. We want to be great, we want to be first, we have ambition - but, by what means, for what purpose, and what motivates this ambition? Many times for us, it is selfish ambition and it is ambition for earthly things. Jesus saves us from our selfish ambition. He saved us by selflessly humbling himself to save us. Jesus ambition was for us! If you enjoy this content, could you please subscribe? This really helps us to get the Word of God in other people's ears. Thank you!

There is a battle going on around you that you can't see, but the Bible clues us in. The Bible tells us that the devil and his demons are on the attack. Yet, many don't believe this to be the truth proving the famous quote from Charles Boudelaire true, "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to convince us that he doesn't exist." The Bible warns us about this very real enemy. He is a liar; he is a tempter; he is an accuser. Do we know enough about him to prepare for battle against him? If we train and train and train, perhaps we can develop the discipline and strength to stand firm. But, we don't have that in us. The good news is - God doesn't expect us to. We are to put on the armor of GOD. He provides strength - truth, righteousness, gospel peace, faith, salvation, and the Word. Jesus showed that strength throughout his life. He perfectly withstood temptation, he remained obedient to the Father, and he fulfilled his work of saving us. If you enjoy this content please hit SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss any gospel content from Sure Foundation.

Grit, mental toughness, self-sufficiency - these are all seen as incredibly useful, positive things for our life. Different things are thrown at us all the time and the people with grit seem to handle it. We aspire to that because, if we are honest, a lot of things affect us. Well, Jesus has a message that goes against our self-sufficient culture. You cannot be spiritually self-sufficient. You can have the most intellect in the world, but you can't reason your way to God. You can be the strongest person to ever live, but you can't carry the burden of sin on your shoulders. It is impossible. You need someone to carry it for you. Jesus carried that weight. Not only that, Jesus invites you to cast all your burdens on him - to trust in him for salvation, preservation, and grace. And Jesus always delivers! If you are built up by this sermon, please SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss any gospel content from Sure Foundation.

What makes someone clean or unclean? That's the question at the center of the discussion in Mark 7. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law believed that their cleanliness was on the basis of the law. If they kept the law, this would make them clean in God's eyes. That's what they thought. Jesus said differently. He said that nothing outside of a person can defile a person by going into a person. This was a shocking statement for the Pharisees and the teachers of the law to hear. But Jesus made it clear that it is what comes from within you that defiles you. That is what the law reveals. It doesn't show anyone to be clean, it shows us to be defiled in God's eyes. But Jesus made us clean. He was righteous, perfect, and clean on our behalf. Through faith in him, we are clean!

Jesus spoke plainly to the people and an argument ensued. The Jewish people were arguing and we get this question as context: "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" But, Jesus isn't done yet. In verses 53-59, Jesus points more explicitly to himself as the Bread of Life, as the one who has been sent from God. The things that Jesus said were impossible to accept without eyes of faith. Eyes of faith are only possible by the work of the Holy Spirit. But the pushback on Jesus' statements isn't just from unbelievers, but even from his disciples. They recognized that this was a difficult statement that would be tough for people in that culture to accept. Can you relate? Aren't there plenty things from Scripture where you might think: this is a tough teaching, who can accept it? The truth is too important and Jesus doesn't shy away from it. It is the truth that saves - the truth that Jesus gave up his flesh on the cross, the truth that Jesus spilled his blood on the cross - so that we would be saved. So, what happens when God's Word, the truth, comes in conflict with my perception of the world or my perception of myself? Will I walk away from Jesus? Many did, many still do. Will I seek a watered-down Jesus that I can stomach? Many did, many still do. When the truth comes in conflict with my perception of the world or my perception of myself, the believe has an opportunity - an opportunity to approach the Father and the Word with humility; an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to shape and mold me. If you are built up by this content, could you do us a favor? Could you subscribe to our channel? This makes sure that you don't miss any content from Sure Foundation and it allows more people to access this gospel content. Thank you!

Jesus has just made a beautiful promise - those in him will never be hungry or thirsty again. But the lingering question from Jesus' statement in verse 35 is this: How do you come to Jesus? How do you believe in Jesus? Some believe that it takes a definitive act of your own will. Scripture rejects this again and again (1 Corinthians 2, John 6:44). So, how do we come to believe in Jesus? Jesus says that the Father needs to draw them. The Father draws people to believe through the Spirit that proceeds from him. The Spirit, doing the work of the Father, brings people to faith - not through a miraculous show, but through simple means of grace - his Word and Sacraments. The Holy Spirit brings people to faith in Jesus, who gave his life to save the world. Jesus accomplished this salvation by giving up his body on the cross, that those who believe in him (partake of him) will live eternally. If you enjoy this gospel content from Sure Foundation, hit the subscribe button so that 1) you never miss any content from Sure Foundation and 2) so that more people might engage with this content and hear about Jesus as their Savior from sin!

The buzzword of the year in 2020 was "authentic" or "authenticity." People gravitated toward this word because they were disillusioned by people that were superficial or insincere. People wanted what was real, true, and authentic - and they still do. In this section of Scripture a group of people come to Jesus following the Feeding of the Five Thousand. They are looking for bread from Jesus, but Jesus has a rebuke for this crowd. Don't come to me for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life. Join us in this sermon as we examine the difference between what is temporary and what is eternal; and as we find that what truly satisfies our deepest spiritual hunger is the bread that God has sent from heaven - Jesus, the Bread of Life. If you enjoy this gospel content from Sure Foundation, hit the subscribe button wherever you are listening to this podcast. This ensures that you never miss any content from Sure Foundation and it allows more people to connect with the vital message of the gospel. Thank you!

In this sermon, we dive into a lesser-known but powerful section of Scripture, exploring the conflict between Israel and the Arameans. Despite the Aramean King's efforts to capture Israel, they always seem one step ahead—leading him to believe there's a traitor in his ranks. However, the real source of Israel's success is the prophet Elisha, who can see beyond the physical realm. We discuss how the King of Aram, blinded to the true nature of his situation, mistakenly believes in treachery rather than recognizing God's intervention. This blindness is a metaphor for our own limited perceptions and the unseen spiritual forces at play in our lives. Elisha's servant, terrified when surrounded by the Aramean army, learns that there are more on their side than the enemy's. Elisha's confidence in God's protection is a lesson for us. If we could see all the spiritual battles and protections around us, we might be overwhelmed. But, just as Elisha trusted in God's unseen army, we can find comfort in knowing that God's protection is far greater than any threat we face. Join us as we uncover these profound truths and how they offer us confidence and peace in our own lives.

Our world is full of complex problems, so is our lives. Sometimes there is no clear solution to a complex problem. Other times the solution to the problem is just as complicated as the problem. But there has to be problems that have simple solutions. Elisha and his fellow prophets had a complex problem - famine. How were they going to find food? Well, a servant of Elisha's found food, but it wasn't any good. In fact, it was described as "death in the pot." But God through Elisha provided a solution. He cured the death in the pot with just some flour. Complicated problems have simple solutions with the Almighty God. God provided a simple solution to our complex problem - sin. The solution was Jesus. Jesus made the sacrifice for sin with his perfect life and innocent death. And the Apostle Peter says it simply... "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." There is so much power, even in a little Jesus. But don't let that make you want Jesus little. You have a source of unending love and goodness, fill up! If you were built up by this message, hit "subscribe" wherever you are listening to this podcast, this ensures that you never miss any content from Sure Foundation.

Anyone, no matter who they are or what they've done, can find themselves in need. That's jarring truth. We like to think that the way we live or the character that we develop somehow protects us from hard times. The problem is: we aren't accurate assessors of what we actually deserve. However, God doesn't give us what we deserve, instead he gave his own Son the punishment that we deserved so that we would be saved. In our section from Elisha, we learn two things: 1) God's promise to provide is a durable truth and 2) God is in control of how and when he provides. If you enjoy this content please hit "subscribe" so that you never miss any content from Sure Foundation.

We are helpless without a clean water supply. We need that water. It is essential. In fact, most people will say that you can only last about 3 day without water. Water sustains life and without it we are helpless. That's how the people of Jericho felt. They were under a curse - a curse that God placed on Jericho at the time of Joshua. That curse seemed to extend to their water - it was bad. And the people of Jericho were helpless to fix this curse, instead they were condemned to live under it. As hopeless as the people of Jericho felt, the curse they were living under was nothing compared to the curse that sin had cast over us all. The curse of sin was over all people of many generations and it led to death (Genesis 5 testifying to that truth). How helpless! But, just as the Lord cleansed the water supply in Jericho, so also has he cleansed us by his blood. His own Son, Jesus took the contamination of sin on his shoulders and suffered and died. He reversed the curse and purified us from all sin.

After all of the amazing things that God had done through Elijah, imagine being Elisha and thinking that you were going to follow Elijah as a prophet. How terrifying it must have been thinking that you would have to fill Elijah's shoes. Elijah would soon be leaving Elisha and Elisha was not fond of that thought. He loved and respected Elijah. And more than that, how could he possibly replace Elijah? Elijah held such a prominent place in Elisha's heart and mind. There is a danger in elevating the messenger above the message, loving the messenger more than the message. It can be easy to fall into this with pastors. To love a preaching style or a personality more than the message. This is dangerous for hearts. But, God teaches us that the power of the prophet and the power of the pastor is not the man, but the Holy Spirit that empowers them. It is this Spirit, working through the Word that creates and strengthens faith, moves you from death to life, and opens eternal life to you. So, give thanks for the messengers that God puts in your life. But always love the message more than the messenger. If you've been edified by Sure Foundation's content, please hit "subscribe" so that you never miss any gospel content from Sure Foundation.

Peter made a bold claim when speaking to Jesus, "I will even go to death for you." Not long after that statement, Peter denies Jesus three times. When faced with real threats, he succumbed to the fear of men. Would we be bolder and more courageous than Peter? Would we confess Christ if there was real danger facing us? We'd like to think so, but we also have sinful flesh. Sinful flesh that regularly gives into the temptations of the devil. Sinful flesh that is consumed with self, not with Christ. The truth is, our intentions may be as sincere as Peter's were, but our flesh is weak. In our stead stands the courageous one - Jesus. Jesus was perfectly courageous FOR US! Now, he acknowledges you before the Father saying, "That's my guy!" or "That's my girl!" "I washed them in my blood." That's the gospel. That's the truth. That's what Peter ended up dying for. That's what those courageous men in Augsburg were standing on. Give thanks for the confessions of the past that have preserved the truth of God's Word. May God continue to preserve the truth of his Word as we continue to confess Christ. If you enjoy this content, please hit the subscribe button so that you never miss any content from Sure Foundation. Come back next week for another sermon!

Helicopter parenting and snowplow parenting both have something in common - control. Parents that parent this way want to have control, specifically of how their kids turn out. Ultimately, what is at the root of that is a distrust that what their kids have been taught will bear fruit. When it comes to the Word of God, we can always trust that it will grow faith and produce fruit. Even if we cannot see it in the way that we expect to see it, we have a promise from God. God always keeps his promises. This gives us freedom from our desire for control because we can attend to the Word of God and then trust. We trust God's promise that God's Word is powerful and effective, as is the Holy Spirit that works through the Word. If you have been built up by this sermon, please hit "subscribe." This helps us in two ways: 1) it makes sure that you never miss any content from Sure Foundation 2) it helps more people hear the message of the gospel. Thank you!

The Book of Revelation is written in picture language. When you understand the context in which this was written, you begin to grasp just how comforting these pictures would have been for people at that time. The original recipients of this letter were heavily persecuted. Living in that environment, it may have been really easy to think that evil was winning and that the devil was getting his way. But, appearances are deceiving. These pictures in Revelation gave amazing comfort to the persecuted, suffering, or lonely Christian. God has not lost. Jesus was victorious. He chained the devil and one day, that devil would be thrown into a lake of sulphur. Despite how things look in our world, despite the persecutions that you may face, God never wants you to forget, he has been victorious. And his promises are true. You have been saved from hell and you will be with Jesus forever in heaven. This gives us strength to endure and this gives us hope. If you have grown in your faith on account of this content would you do us a favor? Could you hit the subscribe button, so that you never miss any content from Sure Foundation.

How should we view the Law? That is the question at the heart of this section from Mark 2. The Pharisees had a fundamentally different view of the law than what God intended. The Pharisees saw the law as a way to get to God, as ladder of sorts. So, when it came to the laws surrounding the Sabbath Day, they viewed this as a way to prove their holiness. They even took it further - they added laws on top of the laws. However, God's law never was meant to serve this purpose. God's law was meant to be a blessing to his people. For the Sabbath, it was a command, but it also brought blessing into peoples' lives - physical rest, spiritual nourishment. How does this apply to us today? Tune in to this week's sermon to hear how God gives his grace and blessing to his people. If this sermon built you up and grew your faith, please subscribe so that you never miss any gospel content from Sure Foundation!

On confirmation day, you make a promise before God and in front of a group of people. You make a confession of faith. You promise to remain faithful to God and his Word. After learning all that God has done for you, the promise is an easy one to make - the gospel motivates it. However, keeping that promise proves to be more difficult primarily because of three key factors: ❌ The influence of the world ❌ The temptations of the devil and his demons ❌ The weakness of our sinful flesh These enemies existed at the time of Joshua and they still exist today. These three enemies fight to nullify the promise that you made to God. The world doesn't care about God. The devil hates God. Our sinful nature desires to walk the path of the world and temptation. But, even when we are faithless, God is faithful. He is always faithful to his promises. He has promised forgiveness and life through his only Son, Jesus and he delivered. God will continue to make good on his promises to us throughout our lifetimes. God is ALWAYS faithful. If you have grown in your faith through this sermon, don't keep it a secret - share it with a friend! We want more people to grow in their faith and/or come to a knowledge of the truth for the first time. Thank you for your help in this effort.

One of the promises that we receive from Scripture is that if you seek to follow Jesus, you will face persecutions. Those persecutions may come in various shapes and forms. Just as God has warned us of these persecutions, he also promises that he is with us through them. Not only that, but he has left us his Word to cling onto during life's toughest times. God is so good that he doesn't even stop there. He assures us that through the power of his Word, those persecutions will be overcome - if not in this life, certainly in the next. Join Pastor David Maertz from Great Plains Lutheran High School as he shares this worthwhile and timely message.

When you want to share comfort with someone who is going through a tough time, how do you formulate your thoughts? You might think about the content of your message - what are you going to say? You might think about the emotion that you want to convey - how will you say it? But those situations are rarely easy. And really, the comfort that you can give is limited. Tragedies cannot be undone. Losses cannot be reversed. We are inadequate to provide real, true comfort. But the Resurrection Message is a message that provides real and true comfort because what we couldn't do, Jesus did. Jesus reversed death by his resurrection. Jesus made you whole in him. If you are built up by these messages, could you do us a favor? Could you hit "like" and "subscribe" wherever you are listening to this podcast? This helps us get the gospel message to more people so that more people hear about Jesus.

Doubts are common (even among believers). They are common because we have a sinful human flesh that is weak, we are assaulted with doubts by the devil, and the sinful world that we live in rejects the message of Scripture. If you have had doubts, you are not alone. And God cares deeply about those doubts because he cares about you. He wants you to have certainty, so he comes to you through his Word to speak to those doubts and even more than that, to call you by his powerful gospel. When you have doubts, run to his Word and let the Lord speak to those doubts. If you have enjoyed these sermons, hit "like" and "subscribe" so that you never miss any content from Sure Foundation.

There are plenty of things in life where the meaning matters... big time! If you don't know the meaning, you may think something to be impractical or irrelevant. But, once the meaning becomes clear, so does the relevance and so does the importance. Such is the case with the resurrection. So, in this sermon, let's look at the impact of the Risen Jesus on Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John, because that impact is still the impact of the Risen Jesus today. The Risen Jesus means: ✅ Jesus was who he said he was ✅ Jesus did what he said he'd do ✅ Everything Jesus has said was true ✅ Forgiveness has been won and death has been defeated Thanks for join us for this Easter sermon! If you grew in your faith because of this sermon, please share it with a friend! This is a really easy way to share the gospel with others. Lord's blessings to you!

With so much bad news in world, why take time to hear about a brutal execution? Add to that thought this: why would you come and listen about a execution that was your fault? Despite the answers to both of those questions, it is called Good Friday for a reason. The Son of God sacrificed himself for the sins of the whole world. He wasn't a victim of circumstances, but he orchestrated circumstances to save you. Take a few moments to focus your heart on the sacrifice of our Lord. And remember, Easter Sunday is coming! If you enjoy these messages, please hit the subscribe button so that you never miss a message from Sure Foundation!

The Passover was a big part of the life of the all the Israelites. It was a yearly celebration, where they remembered the great deliverance that God had worked for them from slavery in Egypt. This celebration was also a great opportunity to remember the Deliverer - the One True God. It is not coincidence that THE Passover Lamb, Jesus was sacrificed during the Passover festival. He was given as the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Through this Passover Lamb, an even greater deliverance was worked. The night before Jesus made the sacrifice, he instituted a meal called the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion. In this meal, the earthly elements of the bread and wine are joined together with the body and blood of Jesus in a miraculous way. These elements, when taken with a repentant heart, give the forgiveness of sins. What are some of the connections between the Passover and Lord's Supper? What is the relevance for us today? What encouragements can we walk away with? If you were built up by this sermon, please "like" and "subscribe." This makes sure that you never miss any content from Sure Foundation. It also helps more people hear the gospel message more often.

What sort of king were the people of Israel waiting for? It is pretty safe to say that they wanted a king to save them from the Romans, a king who would restore the kingdom of Israel to its former glory. That's likely the king that they believed that they were cheering on as Jesus rode into Jerusalem. However, Jesus came to be the king that humanity needed - a king who would humble himself and go to cross. Jesus rode into Jerusalem that Palm Sunday fully committed to what would happen that week. He did that all FOR YOU - so that you would be saved! If you grew in your faith this sermon, please comeback and hear more. Hit like and subscribe so that you never miss any content from Sure Foundation.