This podcast is hosted by the three pastors at Trinity Lutheran in Brillion Wisconsin. Each episode takes a theological topic and discusses it in a short interview format.
Giants Must Fall: The Giant of Fear(Pastor Nathan Moldenhauer)Whatever you're afraid of – whatever form the giant of fear standing down in the valley takes – it can be paralyzing. And it almost seems to grow bigger day by day. Fear does this, because we so often think we're fighting this giant alone. I believe the lie that I'm alone, so maybe like King Saul I try to use tools and weapons, the things of man to combat my fear. I believe the lie that I'm alone, so maybe I convince myself I just need to have a stronger faith. If only I trust more and pray harder, because after all, this battle is ultimately mine and up to me.No. Remember, that's only a lie. You are not alone. You don't stand before the giant of fear naked. “For the battle is the Lord's.” Your fear doesn't stand a chance. It isn't you who fight, but the Lord. The battle is his. The victory is his. You stand before and come against the giant of fear in the name of the Lord Almighty. Your fears can taunt and mock no more. Jesus has already won the ultimate victory.
Giants Must Fall: The Giant of Anger (Genesis 4:1-16)Pastor Nathan MoldenhauerGod forgives you. Christ loved you and gave himself up on the cross for you. Even for the sins we committed in anger. This is how the giant of anger falls – the forgiving, pursuing, gracious work of our God. In the end, this reading from Genesis 4 isn't ultimately about Cain's anger. It's about the Lord's pursuit of sinners. The Lord continued to pursue Cain. And in Christ, God pursues and forgives you. Amen.
Back to the Basics: Back to Grace (Reverend Ross Henzi)God looked inside of you and me and saw that there was nothing we could do to save ourselves. There was absolutely no way we were ever going to be able to meet his demand for perfection. As a result, our eternal future didn't look very good. So, God did something about it. He took it upon himself. He sent his son. He had Jesus live the perfect life we never could. He then had his son give his life in payment for your sins and mine. As a result of Jesus' death and resurrection, the ransom has been paid. Our sins are gone! We are once more considered to be perfect in God's eyes. Again, we didn't have anything to do with it. God in his love and mercy worked out our salvation. He made it happen. That is Step 2 in the back to the basics. It is so very important that you understand both Step 1 (we are dead in sin) and Step 2 (God saved us).
Back to the Basics: Back to WorshipPastor Nathan Moldenhauer“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord!” God bless us as we continue to go back to the basics. God bless us as we both go back ourselves and invite others too to go back to worship. God grant it. Amen.
As we continue with our sermon series, Back to the Basics, we hear about an amazing gift we've all been given, but unfortunately it doesn't always get used, at least not the way it was intended. We don't mean that to be the case. We recognize its importance. We understand how amazing it is. But for some reason, it gets neglected more than we care to admit. The gift we've been given is prayer. It's an amazing gift! It's a wonderful gift! But can we say we put it to use as God intended? If you do - that's wonderful! Keep up the good work! But if your prayer life isn't what it could be - this is a time to go back to the basics. May God the Holy Spirit lead us to once again to appreciate the gift we've been given.
BACK TO THE BASICS: BACK TO THE WORD (Reverend Ross Henzi)You and I are sinful human beings. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that we can do to contribute to or to earn our salvation. The only thing we deserve is death and damnation. Ah, but God the Father could not bear that thought. That's why he sent his Son. Jesus came to do what we could not. He lived the perfect life God demands. He then gave up his life in payment for your sins and mine - for the sins of the entire world. Because of Jesus, all those who believe in him as their Lord and Savior have once more been made perfect in God's sight. Because of Jesus, we now live with the confidence that one day, heaven will be our home.Keep it simple. When life feels overwhelming, when your faith feels crowded, when you're not sure what matters most, come back to the basics. Come back into God's word. Come back to Christ. Everything else in our lives is simply meaningless. And it has to go. May God enable us to see that and live it. In his name we pray, Amen.
Bold for the Only Name that Saves~Pastor Nathan MoldenhauerWhat Jesus promised his disciples, he promises you. Whether it's a trial before Jewish rulers and elders, or you feel like you're on trial, God the Holy Spirit speaks through you – using the very Word and name that saved you.So, let's try this again. You're at that birthday party. You're in the break room. You get coffee with your sister. “You still go to church?” “Aren't all religions the same?” “Don't I just need to be a good person?” You know what to say. And even better, you have the boldness to say it. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” “That name is Jesus.” God make you bold for the only name that saves! Amen.
"The Making of a Bold and Confident Confession"Reverend Ross HenziTo you who are beginning your spiritual journey - as well as to those of you who have been on it for some time - keep holding onto your faith...keep living your faith...and keep sharing your faith. And when that journey proves to be tiresome or difficult (because it will), be that little engine that could. I think I can. I know I can. And I will.
Friends, this is still how it works. Our living Jesus hides in plain sight and takes us from yearning to burning. From disappointment and despair to joy and peace. He doesn't do it with a grand gesture. He doesn't show up and perform a great miracle. He opens the Scriptures to us. Jesus leads us to see all he has won and accomplished at the cross and the empty tomb. He has redeemed us from sin and death. He has set us free from hell. He has crushed Satan's head. And he still comes to us – right here. He strengthens us by Word and Sacrament. He causes us to believe and trust all he has done, and all he has promised. He promises to forgive sins. He promises life after death. He promises to be with us in suffering. He promises to strengthen us in trial. He promises to work all things for our eternal good.
Jesus Lives to Give You Proof and Peace - Pastor Nathan MoldenhauerWill even Christians, will even believers struggle and wrestle? Sure, sometimes. Yet because our living Jesus still shows up –still speaking peace, still providing proof – you are always blessed. Amen.“These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.” Amen.
Our Mourning and Fasting Gives Way to FeastingEaster Sunday Sermon: Reverend Ross Henzi
Time in God's Word with Pastor Moldenhauer!Maundy Thursday
Palm Sunday sermon by Pastor Nathan Moldenhauer.
We continue with our sermon series, Exactly What We Need, with this week's sermon by Reverend Ross Henzi. Exactly What We Need - SightWe are by nature spiritually blind.God is the One who leads us to see.
Jesus Quenches Our Thirsty Souls with Living Water(Pastor Nathan Moldenhauer)Christian brothers and sisters, when our sin and guilt is out in the open, when we're honest about it, when we're done hiding it and trying to self-treat it, Jesus quenches our thirsty souls with living water. This is what it is “to worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth.” Jesus offers the Samaritan woman living water. Jesus cuts with the law to reveal her great need and thirst for it. Then when her sin is out there on the table, the answer and remedy isn't to go through certain spiritual rituals or to worship on this mountain or that mountain. He doesn't give her a to do list. He says: “Worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth.” “Worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth.” This is a life of repentance. An ongoing recognition and sorrow over our sin, a turning away from our sin and trusting in God for forgiveness. We're honest about what's going on with us, with our true need and thirst. This is the life to which Jesus now calls us. We confess our sins and drink up Jesus' soul-quenching living water.And the truth is we will still have these problems. Sin and spiritual thirst are still part of our lives. We will face the same temptations, and at times we will give into them. But we no longer look to the wrong solution. We're done grabbing for the spiritual sea water. As God's forgiven children, we worship him in the Spirit and in truth. We go to Jesus, and he quenches our thirsty souls with living water. Amen.
A Plan Set in Motion (Reverend Ross Henzi)1. God gives promises2. Promises create faith3. Faith compels actionA long time ago, a plan was set in motion. God made plans to bring us exactly what we needed. His plan was to bring a Savior into the world. God used his people to carry out that plan. And now he's using us. God is using us to tell others about the Savior who has come. May we be found up to the task, for the plan only ends when Jesus comes again.Amen.From this altar to the mission field beyond these walls, may we take the name of Jesus with us wherever we go. In his name we pray. Amen.
Time in God's Word with Pastor Moldenhauer 2/19/26
Time in God's Word with Pastor Moldenhauer 2-12-26
Jesus Rewrites the Script by Pastor Nathan MoldenhauerDoes it ever feel like the script has already been written? Are you familiar with that phraseology and idea? “The script has already been written?” Your car breaks down. The garage tells you it is going to cost this much to fix. You go home and open your mail, and there is a check for that exact amount. You have your mind and heart set on a certain career path. This is what you have always wanted to do. But that door keeps closing, time after time. And the job you said you would never do, always seems to be available. You're sitting in the coffee shop, and you suddenly know exactly what the person at the next table is going to say, what song will be on the radio and that the barista is about to drop a spoon. And it feels like the script has already been written. Is that true spiritually?Join us for this week's sermon....
Let's explore the ancient words of the prophet Zechariah—words written hundreds of years before Jesus walked the earth, yet describing his final days with breathtaking accuracy.You'll be amazed at what you discover:How did Zechariah know about the thirty pieces of silver? The piercing on the cross? The disciples scattering in fear? The cleansing power of Jesus' sacrifice? As we read these prophecies side by side with the Gospel accounts, you'll see God's loving plan of rescue unfolding with stunning precision—a plan set in motion long before that first Easter morning.
It is Good for Us to Be Here! (Reverend Ross Henzi)1- To witness Jesus' glory2- To remember his mission3- To listen to his word
What Were You Made To Do?(Pastor Nathan Moldenhauer) Now to be clear, I'm not talking about your occupation or career. I'm not asking about a hobby you really enjoy, a sport you have always excelled at. I'm not even talking about being a mom or dad, a wife, husband, son, daughter, brother, sister, grandparent. Rather, you and I are Christians. We believe and trust in Jesus as our only Savior from sin, death, and hell. We are Jesus' disciples. You are a Jesus follower. And if you are a guest today, or someone brought you along this morning and you're not so sure you would call yourself that, you're at least curious about what that means or what that would like for you. So what does that mean? What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? What is the fulfilling function or action of a Christian? Again, a guitar makes music; a lamp shines light. What were we made to do?You are salt and light because that is what Jesus has made you. You have his righteousness and perfection by your baptism and through faith. You will enter the kingdom of heaven because he is your righteousness. Now be who Jesus made you. Preserve. Shine. Let your good deeds point others to your Father's glory. God grant it. Amen.
Oh, Teach Me, Lord, To Trust You! (Pastor Nathan Moldenhauer)Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things ~ and the things that are not ~ to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him."It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God ~ that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord."1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Letters to a Young Pastor (1 Timothy 6)You know what the “prosperity gospel” is, don't you? You may have heard it in this form: “Whatever you conceive and believe, you can do.” It sounds great, right? Just dream—and if you want it enough, it can be yours. The problem is, it's not true. In fact, it can be downright sinful. Paul urges Timothy to stay away from those who try to make money from preaching and have strayed from the sound teachings of the gospel. To them, religion is nothing more than a way to get rich. This attitude is detestable to God. The church exists to glorify God and to save souls with the message of Christ crucified. And it's our duty to take this powerful message to the ends of the earth.
Letters to a Young Pastor (1 Timothy)As members of a Christian congregation, we are family. In chapter five, Paul reminds Timothy what that means. He urges the young pastor to treat everyone with respect—to treat older men and women as fathers and mothers, and younger men and women as brothers and sisters. Ministry is all about service; God has a ministry for every believer to perform. We need to apply that lesson to ourselves. What can I do to serve others in the Trinity family? Discussion begins in the Commons at 9:15. Coffee and snacks are provided.
Letters to a Young Pastor (1 Timothy)As members of a Christian congregation, we are family. In chapter five, Paul reminds Timothy what that means. He urges the young pastor to treat everyone with respect—to treat older men and women as fathers and mothers, and younger men and women as brothers and sisters. Ministry is all about service; God has a ministry for every believer to perform. We need to apply that lesson to ourselves. What can I do to serve others in the Trinity family? Discussion begins in the Commons at 9:15. Coffee and snacks are provided.
Letters to a Young PastorTo be a leader in the church is a heavy responsibility. You are dealing with more than just money, property, and livelihood; you're dealing with souls. We must keep that in mind as we seek to call a new pastor and principal to serve our congregation. The church belongs to God. Church leaders should be elected, chosen, or called not because they are popular, but because they are faithful to him. Everything else takes second place. A called worker must be willing to serve and sometimes to suffer. For all these reasons, not everyone is qualified to serve in the public ministry. So, what are the qualifications for ministry? This week, we look at 1 Timothy 3.
Letters to a Young PastorHow do you organize a church? How do you manage its worship services, Bible classes, and leadership? How do you handle prayers for government officials when church members have differing political views? What about the roles of men and women? These questions may be difficult for us, but at least we have some precedent to go on. Imagine how difficult it must have been for a young pastor when the Christian church was still in its infancy. You want to lay a good foundation for the church you serve and do everything in the right way. But what if you start off on the wrong foot? Aiming off-course in the beginning can put you on a trajectory that leads far afield and undermines the gospel.
Letters to a Young PastorIt's an exciting time. Sometime—hopefully soon—we will be welcoming a new pastor. He'll be coming in “fresh,” without any prior experience among us. Especially if he's a young man, he's going to need help and guidance. What kind of training and experience will our new pastor have? Where will his strengths and weaknesses lie? What kind of challenges can we expect him to face? What can we do to help? The apostle Paul wrote two letters to a young pastor named Timothy. Over the next few weeks, we will be studying them with an eye to the ministry of a brand-new pastor in our own church.
What does God say about suicide?It's difficult for Christians to talk about. What do you say to someone who has lost a loved one to suicide? It can be hard to find the right words, but that doesn't mean we have nothing to say. “The elephant is in the room and we can't pretend it doesn't exist,” writes Prof. John Schuetze. “But then let's allow the gospel to shine forth.” What causes a person to take their own life? What comfort does the gospel offer? We will reflect on how to speak with confidence and compassion.
Conflict in the Church?The church is holy, bought by Christ's blood and cleansed in the waters of Baptism. Yet the church is also messy, filled with sinners and scarred by sin. We love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind. And yet the sinful flesh remains, and sometimes we experience conflict—even in the church. How should we handle it? This week, we'll take a close look at the first church- wide meeting called to resolve a conflict, the Jerusalem council (Acts 15).
Questions Skeptics AskHurting people need God. Your friend might be open to Christianity but has questions. Or you sit next to someone on an airplane who is questioning the existence of God. You'd like to think you're ready to give an answer, but that's easier said than done. It's hard to know what to say when the question is, “Why would God allow this [fill in the blank] to happen to me?” How do you deal with questions like this? How do you address the underlying concerns? What can you say when you hear someone express their objections to the faith? We'll take up questions like these and others in our Bible class this week.
Does God Promise Never to Give Us More Than We Can Handle?"God will never give you more than you can handle." Have you ever heard anyone say that? It sounds great. But there are times when that saying collides with reality.We can't always handle our own troubles and tragedies. We can't always put an end to them or heal them or undo them. We can't always survive the loss or find the cure or fill the emptiness or dry the tear. God is good...and...he is love. Yet we still suffer heartache and pain.So, how should we view the common saying, "God will never give you more than you can handle?" What does the Bible really say? And what does this mean--practically speaking--for our lives?
Last week, we discussed what happened when the Southern Baptist Convention voted overwhelmingly to dismiss from its fellowship a congregation that is pushing for the ordination of women. Southern Baptist doctrine recognizes that only men are permitted to serve in the role of pastor. That position agrees with our own church's position on the topic. If you were asked what the Bible says on this topic or why our church teaches what it does, how would you respond? Would you be able to say, “This is what the Bible clearly says?”
Baptists and the Ordination of WomenEarlier this month, delegates to the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting voted overwhelmingly to dismiss from its fellowship a congregation over its views on the ordination of women. First Baptist Church of Alexandria, Virginia insists that women can serve in any pastoral role, including senior pastor. Southern Baptist doctrine recognizes that only men are permitted to serve in the role of pastor. That agrees with our own church's position on men and women. If you were asked what the Bible says on this topic or why our church teaches what it does, how would you respond? What does the Bible say?
Continuation: The Story of Seminex: The Missouri Synod 50 Years LaterPresident Matthew Harrison of the Missouri Synod says he was “a blissfully unaware 12-year-old” when the “Walkout” of all but five professors at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis occurred in 1974. It was a tumultuous time. Missouri Synod president Jacob Preus had authorized the production of a doctrinal statement to evaluate what the professors at the St. Louis seminary were teaching. At its 1973 convention, the LCMS adopted “A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles” as an official doctrinal statement. It still stands as a sound testimony against the trends of modern theology. This week, we'll look at Harrison's summary of that statement, identify several strains of teaching within the LCMS, and talk about the on-going “informal” talks between Missouri Synod and the WELS.
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