Podcasts about Divine Service

This is Wade's sermon at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, WI for the third Advent Vespers. The text is Luke 2:22-38. We'd love to have you join us sometime at Resurrection for the Divine Service on Sundays at 9am. As always, if you are enjoying the show, please subscribe, rate, and review us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, or TuneIn Radio. You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.  And, of course, share us with a friend or two! If you'd like to contact us we can be reached at podcast@LetTheBirdFly.com, or visit our website at www.LetTheBirdFly.com. Thanks for listening!

Hymn “On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry” LW 14, TLH 63 Divine Service I, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal Gloria in Excelsis Deo is omitted Readings: Malachi 3:1-6, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, St. Matthew 11:2-10 Hymn of the Day “The Only Son from Heaven” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #3, LW72) Sermon Offertory: “Create in Me…”         p.18 General Prayer………                    p.19-20 Hymn: “O Lord, We Praise You” LW 238, TLH 313 Exhortation                                    p.21 Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship) Communion Hymns:  “Comfort, Comfort These My People” LW 28, TLH 61 “When All the World Was Cursed” LW 187, TLH 272 “Hail to the Lord's Anointed” LW 82, TLH 59 “Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding” LW 18, TLH 60 –Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL). Service Bulletin: Advent-Three-Cover-12-14-2025-Online.pdf https://vimeo.com/1144288735?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci Picture: Illustrated German Bible of 1483 (I:16, Genesis 6-9), Noah's Ark and the Flood

Rev. Peter C. Bender

The King and His Kingdom Matthew 3:1-12 | John the Baptist Prepares the Way Isaiah foretold that a King would rise as “a shoot from the stump of Jesse.” Long before that, Jacob prophesied that this royal branch would come through the line of Judah and that the “scepter would not depart” until the true ruler appeared. This is why Jacob blessed Judah as a lion, and why the apostle John later identifies Jesus as the “Lion of the tribe of Judah.” Yet this Lion is also the Lamb. John the Baptist points and proclaims, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” In Revelation, Jesus is revealed as both the conquering Lion and the sacrificial Lamb. He is the King of kings who comes not to be served but to serve. He reigns not by force but by forgiveness. His throne is a cross, His crown is made of thorns, and His victory is the salvation He wins for sinners. John the Baptist prepares the way by calling all people to repentance, not to frighten but to free—to make room for the King who brings mercy. His kingdom is made up of those who believe, those who receive the forgiveness, life, and peace He gives. The Lion is the Lamb. And His kingdom, grounded in grace, will have no end. ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Rev. Peter C. Bender

Hymn “Rise, My Soul, to Watch and Pray” LW 302 Divine Service I, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal Gloria in Excelsis Deo is omitted Readings: Micah 4:1-7, Romans 15:4-13, St. Luke 21:25-36 Hymn of the Day “The Day is Surely Drawing Near” (insert from Augustana #2, LW462s4, TLH 611s7) Sermon Offertory: “Create in Me…”         p.18 General Prayer………                    p.19-20 Hymn: “Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior” LW 237, TLH 311 Exhortation                                    p.21 Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship) Communion Hymns: “O People, Rise and Labor” LW 25 “Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord” LW 33, TLH 91 “Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending” HS98 802 –Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL). Service Bulletin: Advent-Two-Cover-12-7-2025-Online.pdf https://vimeo.com/1144265659?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci Picture:  Illustrated German Bible of 1483 (I:14, Genesis 4), The Sacrifices of Cain and Abel, the Murder of Abel and the Expulsion of Cain

Rev. Peter C. Bender

The King is Coming. Get Off the Throne! Matthew 21:1–11 | The Triumphant Entry Advent begins with a stunning announcement. The King is coming. Get off your throne. Like Humpty Dumpty, we love to sit on thrones that are not ours, trying to rule our own lives. And like Humpty, we fall. Sin is more than bad behavior. It is the pride of self-rule, the illusion that we are in control, the stubborn belief that we answer to no one. And once we shatter, we cannot put ourselves back together again. Yet Advent begins with hope. The true King comes to restore the broken. In the Collect of the Day we pray, “Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come.” We confess that we cannot save ourselves from the perils of our sins. We ask God to come into our darkness, pride, and fractured lives. And He does. Not by calling us upward, but by coming downward in His Son. Jesus enters Jerusalem on a humble donkey. He comes not with force but with mercy, not to be served but to save. His throne will be a cross. His crown will be thorns. His victory will be His death and resurrection. This is the King who answers our Advent prayer with His suffering and with His life-giving triumph. Christ continues to come to His people even now. In His Word, in Holy Baptism, and in His Supper He gathers the fallen and makes them whole. At His altar, the King gives His own body and blood for forgiveness and strength. The King is coming. Let every heart prepare Him room. ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Rev. Peter C. Bender

Rev. Peter C. Bender

Order a hymnal for your home Upcoming Events Wednesday, 7:00 pm: Advent & Christmas hymn sing Saturday, 10:30 am: Choir practice Sunday, 10:00 am: Divine Service with Holy Communion 11:20 am: Sunday school Wednesday, December 10, 7:00 pm: Christmas caroling Thursday, December 11: WMF Christmas party Sunday, December 14, 10:00 am: Sunday school Christmas program 12:30 pm: Youth group girls Christmas party Monday, December 15, 6:30 pm: Deacons meeting 7:00 pm: Council meeting Wednesday, December 24, 4:00 pm: Christmas Eve Service

Hymn “Hosanna Now Through Advent” LW 16 Divine Service I, p.7  The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal Introit (insert), then Kyrie  p.10 (Gloria in Excelsis Deo is omitted) Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-18, Romans 13:11-14, St. Matthew 21:1-9 Hymn of the Day: “Savior of the Heathen, Come” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #1, LW 13, TLH 95) Sermon Offertory: “Create in Me…”         p.18 General Prayer………                    p.19-20 Hymn: “Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior” LW 236, TLH 311 Exhortation                                    p.21 Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship) Communion Hymns: “Come, O Precious Ransom” LW 34, TLH 55 “O Bride of Christ, Rejoice” LW 20, TLH 57 “Lift Up Your Heads, You Mighty Gates” LW 24 –Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL). Service Bulletin: Advent-One-Cover-12-1-2024-Online.pdf Picture:  Illustrated German Bible of 1483 (I:13, Genesis 3), The Fall of Adam and Eve and their Expulsion from the Garden. https://vimeo.com/1139824634?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

How does the Divine Service form Christians and church workers? Rev. Sean Daenzer, LCMS Director of Worship and LCMS International Center Chaplain, joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about how the Lord guided him to become a pastor, how his love for church music and worship developed, who has most shaped his understanding and love of worship, how the Divine Service formed him as a Christian and pastor, and the importance of the Divine Service in forming church workers. This program originally aired on May 24, 2024. Christ's church will continue until He returns, and that church will continue to need church workers. Set Apart to Serve (SAS) is an initiative of the LCMS to recruit church workers. Together, we pray for workers for the Kingdom of God and encourage children to consider church work vocations. Here are three easy ways you can participate in SAS: 1. Pray with your children for God to provide church workers. 2. Talk to your children about becoming church workers. 3. Thank God for the people who work in your congregation. To learn more about Set Apart to Serve, visit lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

The superscription of Psalm 100 identifies its purpose: to lead us into thanksgiving of the one true God. We join our voices to all creation when we make a joyful noise to the LORD, not only in our daily vocations, but especially in the Divine Service. We sing to Him because He has created us and saved us as our Good Shepherd. All of the LORD's work for us comes from the reality that He is good, and His steadfast love and faithfulness endure to all generations.  Rev. Tim Storck, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Chesterfield, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 100.  "Psalms of Thanksgiving” is a series on Sharper Iron that looks to several psalms to help us give thanks to God. The LORD gives blessings to His whole creation, even all evil people. As we pray the psalms, He teaches us to receive all His gifts with thanksgiving, knowing that He is good and His steadfast love endures forever.  This episode originally aired on November 19, 2024. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Jesus Remembered Him, and He Remembers You Luke 23:27–43. The Crucifixion The worst feeling is not loneliness. It is being forgotten. When you are lonely, you still know you exist. You still feel the ache of wanting someone near. But when you are forgotten, it feels as though you never mattered at all. It is as if every moment you shared with others has faded away, leaving you unseen and unheard while the world keeps moving on without you. This is why the criminal beside Jesus prays the way he does. He does not ask for release, or relief, or one last miracle. He asks for something far greater. “Jesus, remember me, when You come into Your kingdom.” In that moment of repentance and faith, he entrusts everything to the One who will not forget him. And Jesus does remember him. He remembers him as He takes him with Him through death and into eternal life. The first person ever to enter paradise after the crucifixion is a sinner who simply asked to be remembered by the Savior who came to remember the forgotten. Jesus remembered him. And He remembers you. He remembers your name. He remembers your sorrows. He remembers your sins and takes them as His own. He remembers His promises to you, and He keeps them. Even when the world forgets you or you fear you have slipped through the cracks, Christ does not forget. You are held in His heart and His hands, now and forever. ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Rev. Peter C. Bender

Order of Divine Service, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal Hymn “Evening and Morning” LW 419 Readings:  Isaiah 65:17-25, 1 Thess 5:1-11, Matthew 25:1-13 Hymn of the Day: “The Bridegroom Soon Will Call Us” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #65, LW 176, TLH 67) Sermon Offertory: “Create in Me…”         p.18 Prayer: The Close of the Church Year Hymn: “Lord Jesus Christ, We Humbly Pray” LW 250, TLH 314 Exhortation                                    p.229 Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship) Communion Hymns: “Rejoice, the Lord is King” LW 179 “The Son of God Goes Forth to War” LW 304 “Wake Awake for Night is Flying” (Choir, LW #177, TLH 609) –Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL). Service Bulletin: Last-Sunday-Cover-11-23-2025-Online.pdf https://vimeo.com/1137444464?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci Picture:  Ottheinrich Bible 1430 (III:64b), Jesus Is Crucified in Luke 23:33-49

The Lord is Faithful. The Church Will Go On Luke 21:5–28. Jesus Foretells the Destruction of the Temple Empires fall. Kingdoms crumble. Civilizations fade into dust. Yet the Church still stands. Christ's Bride endures because she is not founded on marble or money or men, but on the living Word of Christ who says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” Every generation has believed it lived in the Last Days. The early martyrs believed it. Luther in the Reformation believed it. Our parents during the Cold War believed it too. Jesus reminds us that no one knows the day or the hour. Instead of fear, He calls us to faith and watchful hope. St. Paul gives the same comfort. “The Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” Though nations rage and the earth trembles, God's promises stand firm. “Not a hair of your head will perish.” “The Lord will keep your life.” Christ Himself died yet did not pass away. He rose again, conquering death for us all. And when our final day comes, we do not simply pass away. We pass through death into life in Him. History bears witness. When Jerusalem fell in A.D. 70, the Church went on. When Trinity Lutheran Church in Milwaukee burned to the ground, the congregation still gathered among the ashes to sing and hear God's Word. They rebuilt. They endured. Because the Lord is faithful, His Word endures, and the Church goes on. So too here at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sheboygan. For 172 years, Christ has sustained this congregation through every joy and every trial, preserving His people by His Word and Sacraments. The world may change. Christ remains. His mercy abides. Lift up your heads and do not fear. The Lord is faithful. The Church will go on. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Rev. Peter C. Bender

Order of Divine Service, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal Hymn “Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones” LW 308 Readings:  Isaiah 40:9-11, 2 Peter 3:3-14 or 2 Thess. 1:3-10, Matthew 25:31-46 Hymn of the Day: “Now Thank We All Our God” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #64, LW 443, TLH 36) Sermon Offertory: "Create in Me…"         p.18 General Prayer………                    p.19-20 Hymn: “Your Table I Approach” LW 249, TLH 310 Exhortation                                    p.21 Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship) Communion Hymns: “Jerusalem, O City Fair and High” LW 306 “May God Embrace Us with His Grace” LW 288, TLH 500 “Jerusalem, My Happy Home” LW 307, TLH 618 “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” LW 295 --Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL). Service Bulletin: Second-Last-Sunday-Cover-11-16-2025-Online.pdf https://vimeo.com/1135823217?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci Picture:  Ottheinrich Bible 1430 (III:63b), Jesus is Sent to Cross in Luke 23:26-32

Rev. Peter C. Bender

Order of Divine Service, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal Readings:  Hebrews 7:23-27, St. Luke 11:33-36 Hymn of the Day: “Farewell I Gladly Bid Thee” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #109) --Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL). Service Bulletin: November-11-St-Martin-of-Tours-Bishop-and-Confessor-Insert-2025.pdf https://vimeo.com/1135087037?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

The God of the Living | Luke 20:27–40 | Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection Is this world all there is? That's what the Sadducees thought. They didn't believe in the resurrection. To them, death was the end. But Jesus says otherwise. We confess that we believe in “the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting,” yet so often we live like this life is all there is. We chase comfort, success, and pleasure as if heaven were only a dream. But Jesus calls out that lie: “You are wrong.” There is more—more to this life, and more life after this life. This world will end, that is true. But that's not the end. Jesus proved it when He took our “this life is all there is” sins to the cross, died with them, and rose without them. His resurrection is not just His story—it's ours. He gives us a life that not even death can end, a life grounded in forgiveness, hope, and eternity. In Christ, you can live now like there is a tomorrow—because there is. Not just one tomorrow, but an eternity of them, in Him. ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Rev. Peter C. Bender

The Big Picture | Rev. 7:9–17 | A Great Multitude from Every Nation All Saints' Day calls us to see “the big picture” of what God is building—a communion of saints gathered forever around the Lamb. Like the builders of the great Cathedral of Chartres, who labored their whole lives without seeing the completed church, Christians often see only a small part of God's grand design. Yet faith looks beyond the dust and struggle to the finished work of Christ. John's vision in Revelation 7 shows a great multitude from every nation standing before the throne—those who have come out of great tribulation and been washed in the blood of the Lamb. These saints did not live easy lives, but through faith in Christ they now rest in His peace. The Beatitudes remind us that true blessing is not found in worldly comfort or success, but in belonging to Jesus, even amid suffering. The hymn For All the Saints proclaims this comfort: the saints are not gone, but at home with the Lord, awaiting the resurrection. The goal of faith is not a “blessed life,” but a blessed death—dying in Christ's forgiveness and rising to everlasting life. Through Baptism, Absolution, and the Holy Supper, we are already joined to that victory. Here on earth, the Church militant struggles, but it is never alone. At the altar, heaven and earth meet; the saints and angels worship with us in one eternal song: “This is the feast of victory for our God!” Like Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel, we see only pieces of the picture now. But when Christ returns and the scaffolding of this world falls away, we will see the masterpiece complete—the redemption of all God's people. Then we, too, will join the countless host singing, “Alleluia, Alleluia!” ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Bitterness, when leveraged effectively, can be a powerful motivator in Divine Service.

Fear is everywhere—war, disaster, division, disease, loss. But the greatest fear is living without God, because without Him, every other fear is final. Psalm 46 proclaims, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Martin Luther knew fear well. He once trembled before God's judgment, trying to earn His favor. But when he discovered the Gospel in Romans 3—“all have sinned and are justified by His grace as a gift”—his fear turned to faith. The God who could condemn instead gives Himself to save. That's the heart of the Reformation: God doesn't just give blessings; He gives Himself—Christ crucified and risen for you. Through Word and Sacrament, this same Christ gives Himself still. In Baptism He claims you. In Absolution He forgives you. In the Supper He feeds you with His own Body and Blood. In the Divine Service, God serves His people, driving out fear and filling hearts with peace. The angel's cry in Revelation 14—“Fear God and give Him glory”—is not a threat but comfort. It announces the fall of Satan and the victory of the Lamb. True worship is not what we do for God, but what we receive from Him in faith. Luther's hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God confesses the same truth: the devil rages, the world trembles, but Christ's Word stands firm. Because Jesus has conquered death, we are free—free to live without fear. So when the world shakes, when judgment seems near, you can say with confidence: “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” No fear. Just faith. Just Jesus. ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Rev. Peter C. Bender

Fear is everywhere—war, disaster, division, disease, loss. But the greatest fear is living without God, because without Him, every other fear is final. Psalm 46 proclaims, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Martin Luther knew fear well. He once trembled before God's judgment, trying to earn His favor. But when he discovered the Gospel in Romans 3—“all have sinned and are justified by His grace as a gift”—his fear turned to faith. The God who could condemn instead gives Himself to save. That's the heart of the Reformation: God doesn't just give blessings; He gives Himself—Christ crucified and risen for you. Through Word and Sacrament, this same Christ gives Himself still. In Baptism He claims you. In Absolution He forgives you. In the Supper He feeds you with His own Body and Blood. In the Divine Service, God serves His people, driving out fear and filling hearts with peace. The angel's cry in Revelation 14—“Fear God and give Him glory”—is not a threat but comfort. It announces the fall of Satan and the victory of the Lamb. True worship is not what we do for God, but what we receive from Him in faith. Luther's hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God confesses the same truth: the devil rages, the world trembles, but Christ's Word stands firm. Because Jesus has conquered death, we are free—free to live without fear. So when the world shakes, when judgment seems near, you can say with confidence: “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” No fear. Just faith. Just Jesus. ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Fear is everywhere—war, disaster, division, disease, loss. But the greatest fear is living without God, because without Him, every other fear is final. Psalm 46 proclaims, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Martin Luther knew fear well. He once trembled before God's judgment, trying to earn His favor. But when he discovered the Gospel in Romans 3—“all have sinned and are justified by His grace as a gift”—his fear turned to faith. The God who could condemn instead gives Himself to save. That's the heart of the Reformation: God doesn't just give blessings; He gives Himself—Christ crucified and risen for you. Through Word and Sacrament, this same Christ gives Himself still. In Baptism He claims you. In Absolution He forgives you. In the Supper He feeds you with His own Body and Blood. In the Divine Service, God serves His people, driving out fear and filling hearts with peace. The angel's cry in Revelation 14—“Fear God and give Him glory”—is not a threat but comfort. It announces the fall of Satan and the victory of the Lamb. True worship is not what we do for God, but what we receive from Him in faith. Luther's hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God confesses the same truth: the devil rages, the world trembles, but Christ's Word stands firm. Because Jesus has conquered death, we are free—free to live without fear. So when the world shakes, when judgment seems near, you can say with confidence: “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” No fear. Just faith. Just Jesus. ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Rev. Peter C. Bender

The apostle Paul charges Timothy: “Preach the Word.” These are not casual words—they are commands. Timothy was under orders, and so are your pastors today. The pastor's duty is not to invent new ideas or follow the latest trends, but to proclaim the promise that Jesus is the Savior of sinners. Pastors discharge their calling when they baptize and absolve, when they feed sinners with Christ's body and blood according to His own words and command. These are not their words—they are the Lord's. These are not their gifts—they are the Lord's gifts, given through them. We are not saved by looking within, but by receiving what comes from outside of us: the preached Word, the water, the bread, and the wine. Through these, the Lord gives His forgiveness, life, and peace. Pastors are under orders to deliver what Christ has already accomplished—for you. You can trust the Word your pastors preach because it's from the Lord Himself. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

October 14, 2025Today's Reading: 2 Timothy 2:1-13Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 12:13-32; Matthew 12:38-50“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:8-13)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.It is very possible, even likely, that suffering will come your way because of your faith. Now, it may not look like it did for St. Paul. There is a high probability that you will not be locked up in prison for your faith or eventually martyred as he was. But… you may have (and probably already have) some tense moments. Turning down an invitation to do something because it's happening on Sunday morning, right smack dab in the middle of Divine Service time. Witnessing to a friend or classmate when pressed that, no, this is what Christians believe about _____, and you might have had to find another table at which to eat lunch. Big or small, earth-shattering or just kind of annoying, all Christians are going to suffer for their faith in some way. St. Paul knew this full well, and so he was very careful to pass on to Timothy that this would be the case.But what is the point, really? Why should we even bother with it? Why should we even care? St. Paul tells us, beloved in the LORD. This matters for the state of your soul, this matters for the forgiveness of sins, this matters for eternal life. You have already died with Jesus in the waters of Baptism, and so you are raised with him to live too. It doesn't matter what the world says about it or you.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Let us gladly die with Jesus. Since by death He conquered death, He will free us from destruction, Give to us immortal breath. Let us mortify all passion That would lead us into sin; And the grave that shuts us in Shall but prove the gate to heaven. Jesus, here with You I die, There to live with You on high. (LSB 685:3)Rev. Jonathan Lackey, Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius's life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.

Rev. Peter C. Bender

Ten men were healed that day—but only one turned back. The Samaritan leper fell at Jesus' feet in gratitude, and Jesus said, “Your faith has made you well.” Yet the focus is not on the strength of the man's faith, but on the One in whom that faith rested. We often turn faith into something we do—as though believing itself earns salvation. But faith saves only because of Christ, who is completely faithful. As Pastor Christopher Esget writes, “Faith doesn't work if the objective of faith is unreliable.” Doctors fail. Coaches fail. People fail. But Jesus never does. He is faithful when we are not. His words never falter, His promises never break. What He says, He does—every single time. On the cross and in the means of grace, He continues to heal, forgive, and restore. Because even when we are faithless, He remains faithful—for He cannot deny Himself. ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Rev. Peter C. Bender

Three Little Words | Luke 17:1-10 | Unworthy Servants A little boy once broke his sister's toy. After whispering, “I'm sorry,” he waited as she thought, then finally replied, “I forgive you.” Those three little words stunned the world when the video went viral. Why? Because forgiveness is rare. Jesus teaches that forgiveness is not a medal we earn but a gift we pass on. We are not “worthy servants” stacking up good works—we are unworthy servants who still hurt and provoke others. Yet Christ forgives us. On the cross He tore sin out by the roots and cast it into the sea. In Baptism, Absolution, and His Supper, He keeps doing this for you. Forgiveness is not our accomplishment. It is the Gospel in action. By the Spirit, we guard and share this treasure: three little words that change everything—“I forgive you.” Which is simply another way of saying, “I love you.” ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

In episode THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY-THREE, Mike, Wade, and Jason discuss the value of preparing for/reflecting on the prayers, readings, and hymns for the Divine Service each week. What are propers? How can we use them individually and as families to gladly hear and learn God's Word and cultivate our ability to pray and ponder? The guys discuss stuff like this and more. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of Psalms by Chad Bird Remembering Your Baptism: A 40-Day Devotional by Kathryn Morales Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley More from the hosts Michael Berg @ 1517 Wade Johnston @ 1517 Let the Bird Fly! website Thanks for listening! Attributions for Music and Image used in this Episode: “The Last One” by Jahzzar is licensed under an Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 International License. “Gib laut” by Dirk Becker is licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License. “Whistling Down the Road” by Silent Partner.

Rev. Peter C. Bender

Looks Can Be Deceiving | Luke 16:19–31 | The Rich Man and Lazarus Looks can be deceiving. By all appearances, the rich man in Jesus' story was “blessed.” He had everything he wanted, lived in luxury, and was admired by others. It seemed as though God approved of his life. Meanwhile, Lazarus appeared “cursed”—homeless, sick, hungry, and ignored. Yet appearances were not the truth. In the end, the one who looked blessed was cursed, and the one who looked cursed was blessed. So how do we know who is truly blessed? Not by what our eyes see or by the world's opinions, but by what our ears hear. God's Word tells us the truth. It reveals who we are in Christ—despite appearances, feelings, or the judgments of others. The question is: will we believe what the Word of God says? ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Rev. Peter C. Bender

God's Absurd Generosity! | Luke 16:1–13 | The Parable of the Dishonest Manager Here's the heart of it all: God Himself is the absurd master. Faced with the tragedy of our sin, He didn't clutch His wealth. He didn't demand repayment. He gave His only begotten Son into the flesh to save us from sin, death, and damnation. Jesus is the true steward who didn't just cut our debts, He paid them in full with His blood. He didn't just ease our burden; He bore it all. He didn't just lower our balance; He stamped across the ledger: “It is finished.” The cross is the most absurd act in history. God's own Son dies for sinners. The guilty go free. The dishonest, the greedy, the selfish, the prayerless, the vain—all forgiven. Absurd. Crazy. Wonderful. Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. ----- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Rev. Peter C. Bender

Jesus Has Broad Shoulders | Luke 15:1–10 | The Parable of the Lost Sheep Someone with “broad shoulders” is strong enough to carry the burdens of others. In today's Gospel, Jesus shows us that He is the Good Shepherd with the broadest shoulders of all. He carries the weight of our sin, the responsibility of our salvation, and He never abandons His sheep. In the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1–10), we see His heart for each of us: when we stray, He seeks us out, lifts us up, and carries us home. You are not just a number to Him—you are known by name, and you belong to His flock.

How Much Does It Cost? | Luke 14:25–35 Jesus tells His disciples to count the cost of following Him. At first, His words may sound discouraging—but in truth, they are meant to make us think about what truly matters in life. We build careers, families, and dreams like towers, but are we able to complete them? What happens if our plans fall short? Even more, can we construct a life that lasts forever and overcomes death? The truth is that discipleship comes with a cost—but so does not following Jesus. Our Lord counted the cost of saving us, and it cost Him His life. He paid it willingly because you are worth it to Him. This Sunday we'll reflect on what it means to count the cost and to rejoice that Christ has already paid the ultimate price for our salvation. Share your thoughts in the comments—how has Christ helped you see what really matters in life? Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this livestream with others. Worship Times – Trinity Lutheran Church, Sheboygan Sunday – 8:00 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. ----- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Pastor Peter C. Bender

When Higher is Lower…and Vice Versa | Luke 14:1–14 Pride isn't only arrogance. It can be the quiet voice of comparison, frustration, or resentment when others don't notice us. It whispers while we scroll through social media, envious of someone else's vacations or successes. Pride resists “messes,” but life is messy—like coffee spilled on clean carpet or a child getting sick before guests arrive. Yet Jesus enters our messes, just as He healed the man with dropsy at the Pharisee's house. Jesus warns us against seeking the places of honor. The world says moving up means status, salary, or likes, but in His kingdom, moving up often looks like moving down—caring for aging parents, changing diapers at night, or sitting quietly with a suffering friend. These humble acts, done in love, reflect His own humility. The Gospel is clear: Jesus humbled Himself to death on a cross to raise us up. Like a wedding guest expecting to sit near the kitchen but finding their name at the head table, we are welcomed to Christ's feast—not as outsiders, but as honored guests. Here at His Table, He feeds us with forgiveness and eternal life. The Church is not a showroom for the successful but a hospital for sinners. Like an ER that never turns away the sick, Jesus welcomes the broken. And He promises that when He returns, He will seat us at the eternal wedding banquet—a family reunion that never ends, never fractures, never fades. That is the joy set before us: where higher is lower, and lower is lifted forever in Christ. Worship Times: Trinity Lutheran Church, Sheboygan Sunday: 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday: 6:30 p.m. Website: trinitysheboygan.org Facebook: facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. ---- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Dr. John Bombaro of St. James Lutheran-Lafayette, IN Our Most Subversive Song The post The Memorial Acclamation in the Divine Service – Dr. John Bombaro, 8/27/25 (2393) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

In episode THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FOUR, Jason, Mike and Wade the danger of treating God as an idea. We have one God in three Persons, not a big idea, and when we forget that it undermines preaching, teaching, the Divine Service, and the Christian life. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: Preorder Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi More from the hosts Michael Berg @ 1517 Wade Johnston @ 1517 Let the Bird Fly! website Thanks for listening! Attributions for Music and Image used in this Episode: “The Last One” by Jahzzar is licensed under an Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 International License. “Gib laut” by Dirk Becker is licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License. “Whistling Down the Road” by Silent Partner.

In episode THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-THREE, Jason, Mike and Wade begin a new (second) series on the divine service. What is the divine service? What should call it? Why does it matter? The guys discuss all this and more. Look for new session in this series to come as we walk through the divine service and the Western Rite. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: Preorder Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi More from the hosts Michael Berg @ 1517 Wade Johnston @ 1517 Let the Bird Fly! website Thanks for listening! Attributions for Music and Image used in this Episode: “The Last One” by Jahzzar is licensed under an Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 International License. “Gib laut” by Dirk Becker is licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License. “Whistling Down the Road” by Silent Partner.