Upside-Down Savior - Pastor Nathan Nass

The “image of God…” Do you understand that phrase? It’s vitally important in the Bible. Adam and Eve were made in the “image of God” (Genesis 1:27). Yet, when they sinned, they–and all humanity–lost the image of God. Instead, each of us is born in the sinful image of man (see Genesis 5:3). This is why Jesus came! Jesus came to give us back the image of God through the forgiveness and righteousness he gives to us at his cross. Now it’s the Holy Spirit’s job to remake us each day in the image of God as we daily “put off our old self, ... and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22,24). I hope you can listen to this sermon: “The Image of God.” Jesus loves you!

"God is faithful” (1 Corinthians 1:9). That is what you need to make it through today: God is faithful! That is what you need to make it through life: God is faithful! That is what you need to face the chaos of this world: God is faithful! That is what you need to face guilt: God is faithful! If life depended on our faithfulness, there would be no hope. But life depends on the faithfulness of our God, and God is faithful! I hope you can watch this sermon: “God Is Faithful!” Jesus loves you!

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2). You and I, with our lives, get to show people what Christianity really is. It’s not, “I’m better than you.” It’s, “I’m a sinner whose only hope is Jesus Christ.” What does that produce? Humility. Not, “I’m perfect,” but “I’m broken and saved completely by the grace and forgiveness found at Jesus’ cross.” What does that produce? Humility. I hope you can listen to this sermon about how God’s grace is meant to change our lives: “Be Completely Humble.” Jesus loves you!

God wants to take the “can’ts” out of our months. “God can’t make my marriage better.” God is able! “God can’t bring my children back to faith.” God is able! “God can’t make my health better.” God is able! “God can’t work the world’s chaos out for good.” God is able! Even if he doesn’t do what we imagine, he’s already done immeasurably more. “God can’t forgive my sins.” Yes, he did at Jesus’ cross! “God can’t love me.” Yes, he does, more than you can possibly imagine. “God can’t save me.” Yes, he has, by his grace through faith in Jesus. God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). I hope you can listen to this sermon about God’s love and power for you through Jesus: “God Is Able.” Jesus loves you!

Every day brings so many reasons to worry, but you don’t have to. Jesus says so. Jesus says you don’t have to worry, and he means it! Every day you can decide to live by your sinful nature or to live by the Spirit. I know it’s a struggle, but live by the Spirit! You can get all flustered by other people’s sins, or you can forgive them by God’s grace. You can wear yourself out trying to make yourself into something, or you can rest in what God has made you. You can worry about your money, or you can share it with others and feel your heart be refreshed. You can worry about your guilt, or you can take it daily to the foot of Jesus’ cross and trust in his forgiveness. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Live by the Spirit”. God bless you!

The Bible says a lot of things, but it really has just two messages in it. Can you remember two things? Yes, you can! They are the Law and the Gospel. The Law shows our sins. Think of the letters S.O.S. The Law shows our sins. The Law is any passage that commands us to be a certain way and shows that we’re not. The Gospel shows our Savior. S.O.S. again. The Gospel shows our Savior. The Gospel is every promise of what Jesus has done to save us. If you understand the Law and the Gospel, it unlocks the Bible’s message. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “The Law and the Gospel.” God bless you!

You can stop making deals with God. God’s real deal–the new covenant–is so much better! We say, “God, what do I need to do for you to bless me?” God says, “How about free?” We say, “God, if I shape up my life, will you forgive the sins of my past?” God says, “What sins? I don’t remember any sins.” We say, “God, if I try harder, will you love me?” God says, “I have loved you with an unfailing love from before you were born.” Do you know what that makes you? Confident. Not in yourself. In Christ! Competent. Not in yourself. In Christ! I hope you can listen to this sermon: “The New Covenant.” Jesus loves you!

“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). Every Christian has been given spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit. No one should say, “Not me. I’m not good at anything.” That’s not true! “To each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given.” All these gifts have a purpose: “For the common good.” Not our glory. The common good. The Holy Spirit has given you unique spiritual gifts for the common good. I hope you can listen to this sermon about the gifts of the Spirit and how God wants to use you as part of his vital rescue mission for the world: “Spiritual Gifts.” God bless you!

People like to say, “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” Here’s what we should learn to say: “God won’t give you more than you and he can handle.” Do you see the subtle little difference? How many times have you screamed out to God, “God, I can’t handle this!”? God says, “I know. I can. Come to me. Trust in me.” “God,” you scream, “I’m so close to falling.” God says, “I know. You need me. All the time.” It’s not your strength or your “handling” that gets you through trials and temptations. It is the grace of God. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “God Won’t Give You More than You and He Can Handle.” Jesus loves you!

You have lots of needs today. It probably seems like you don’t have enough. Listen to what Jesus invites you to do: “Bring them to me” (Matthew 14:18). Maybe it doesn’t seem like your finances are going to work out. Jesus says, “Bring them to me.” He provides in surprising ways. Maybe your body is causing you all sorts of pain. Jesus says, “Bring them to me.” He daily helps to carry our burdens. Maybe your soul is longing for peace, longing for more than this life. Jesus says, “Bring them to me.” When it comes to God and his salvation, all you need is nothing. He can take nothing and turn it into everything. I hope you can listen to this sermon about our God who always provides: “Bring Them to Me.” God bless you!

Our God is incomparable. In a world full of idols, there is no one and nothing like our God. Idols are always taking. Look at your life from time to time. What is it that’s always taking? A sport? Work? An expensive hobby? A relationship? Chances are one of those things is your idol. Idols are always taking. Our incomparable God? He gives. Forgiveness? It’s a gift through Jesus’ death on the cross. Eternal life? It’s a gift through faith in Jesus. Peace? It’s a gift to those who trust in him. Do you see the difference? Idols take. God gives. I hope you can listen to this sermon about the one true God: “Incomparable.” God bless you!

If you want to destroy something good, compare it with something else. Comparing often robs us of joy and peace. That’s certainly true in the Christian Church. Comparing churches and pastors causes conflict and divisions. At least, it did in Corinth long ago. So the apostle Paul reminded those Christians whom it really all depends on: Jesus! Who died for you to rescue you from all your sins? Jesus. Who gives you his eternal Word which is true and powerful and life-changing? Jesus. Who is always with you, no matter what? Jesus. I hope you can listen to this sermon about the foundation of the Christian Church: “God Gives the Growth.” Jesus loves you!

Christians can be the best citizens. Know why? You’re able to respect the government without worshipping it. To obey the government without trusting in it. To make this country a better place without putting your hope in it. How? You know the real King! So show respect, even for those who don’t deserve it. Pay your taxes. But trust in God. Put your hope in heaven. Thank God for the 250 years he’s given to our country. But know that every country ends, except one. Whose? Christ the King’s! I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” God bless you!

Happy Father’s Day! Here’s what I think dads really need: Encouragement. Life deflates us. We need to be filled up. Fathers need to be filled up. To be encouraged. Today, instead of telling you what you need to do, I want you to hear what God your Father has done for you. Your Father, right now, is working out all things for your good. Your Father, from before the beginning of time, has chosen you to be his own. Your Father, the almighty God, is with you, no matter what you have to face. Your Father gave up his own Son so that you could be the forgiven, saved, loved child of God. Who can separate you from his love? Nothing. I hope you can be filled up by this Father’s Day sermon: “Our Father in Heaven.” Jesus loves you!

God loves you sincerely! Do you believe that? It’s true! Jesus died for you. Jesus washed away your sins in baptism. Jesus makes you holy and blameless. Jesus loves you sincerely. That love from Jesus is what leads Christians to love others–even our enemies. Jesus’ love empowers Christians to overcome evil with good. When it’s hard to fit in… Overcome evil with good. When criticism comes… Overcome evil with good. When you feel rejected or worthless… Overcome evil with good. When the ones you love the most hurt you the most… Overcome evil with good. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Overcome Evil with Good.” Jesus loves you!

Our God is the God of the broken. The God of the crushed. The God who called darkness into light. The God who formed man from dust. The God who sent his own Son. The God of unfailing love. How can we broken, sinful creatures, make it through today? Only by the unfailing love of God. How can we make it through tomorrow? Only by the unfailing love of God. The Christian prays to the Lord, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:7-14). God’s unfailing love uncrushes the crushed. God’s unfailing love unbreaks the broken. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “I Am a Broken Creature Who Trusts in God’s Unfailing Love.” Jesus loves you!

You are a Spirit-filled Christian. Do you think about that? God wants you to! As we watch God pour out his Holy Spirit on his people on Pentecost, we learn three amazing things that God the Holy Spirit does for God’s people. First, the Holy Spirit takes cowards and makes them courageous. He turned Peter from a denier of Jesus into a bold proclaimer of the Gospel. Second, the Holy Spirit gives different gifts to every Christian, like speaking in tongues or giving generously or serving selflessly. Finally, the Holy Spirit focuses our hearts on Jesus, for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21). I hope you can listen to this Pentecost sermon about the work of the Holy Spirit: “Spirit-Filled.” God bless you!

Solomon was a young man who had just reached a big milestone in his life. For Solomon, it wasn’t Confirmation Day. He had just become the king of Israel! The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you” (1 Kings 3:5). What would you have asked for? Money? A pickup truck? Success? Young Solomon asked for something totally different: “Give your servant a discerning heart” (1 Kings 3:9). Solomon asked for a heart that listened to the Lord. What could be better? May God give Christian young people who are being confirmed–and all of us–a listening heart that always hears his Word. I hope you can listen to this Confirmation Day Sermon: “A Listening Heart.” God bless you!

It’s a blessing to be a mother. The Bible wants to convince us of that. It was just announced this spring that the birthrate in the United States is the lowest it has ever been. For some reason, being a mother doesn’t sound as good as it used to. The story of Hannah in the Bible shows us a totally different attitude. Hannah prayed fervently to the Lord for a son, and when she was finally blessed with a son, she gave that son back to the Lord. God values motherhood, and there is nothing more beautiful than a mother who loves her children and puts her hope in the Lord. I hope you can listen to this Mother’s Day sermon: “The Blessing of Motherhood.” Jesus loves you!

“Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). Nothing good comes from inside us. All good comes from outside us–“from the Father of the heavenly lights.” The more you believe that, the more that trust in God fills your heart, the more peace will fill your life. Forgiveness and eternal life. That’s God’s gift to you from above! Peace with God. That’s God’s gift to you from above! If God has given you those things through Jesus, do you think he can take care of the rest? Food? Health? Money? Clothing? Yes, he can. I hope you can listen to this sermon about God’s grace to you and me: “Every Good Gift Is from Above.” Jesus loves you!

There are aliens on earth. There are living beings on earth from out-of-this world. Do you know whom I’m talking about? You! You are an alien! I hope that doesn’t sound mean. If you’re a Christian, the Bible calls you “foreigners and exiles.” When Jesus talked about Christians, he said, “They are not of this world, even as I am not of it” (John 17:16). If we are not of this world, what are we? Aliens! The book of Hebrews says believers are “foreigners and strangers on earth” who are “longing for a better country—a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:13,16). If you’re a Christian, this world is not your home. Where is your home? In heaven! What does that make you? An alien! I hope you can listen to this sermon about God’s plan for us aliens here on earth: “Good Aliens.” God bless you!

When your heart feels restless, return to your Shepherd. He’s the only One who can truly calm it. When your heart is guilty, return to your Shepherd. It might feel like you’re 20,000 miles away from God, but you’re not. He is right here with you. He already bore your sins in his body on the cross. Jesus has forgiven you! When you feel overwhelmed with everything, like you have to carry the burdens of life alone, Jesus says, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Jesus wants to carry you. He wants to carry you all the way home. Return to your Shepherd! I hope you can listen to this sermon for Good Shepherd Sunday: “Return to Your Shepherd.” Jesus loves you!

“He descended into hell.” We say that every time we confess the words of the Apostles Creed. Have you ever wondered what those words mean? Whenever we say, “He descended into hell,” think, “Jesus won!” After he rose from the dead, Jesus descended into hell to proclaim his victory over his enemies. The devil is defeated. The enemies of God can’t win. There is vindication for God’s people. It might seem like the devil and his forces of evil are winning in our world today, but one day you’ll see the truth. Believe in what you cannot see: Jesus won! I hope you can listen to this sermon: “He Descended into Hell.” Jesus loves you!

How often in your heart is there a longing for more? More of everything. More time. More friends. More meaning. More purpose. More life. Life isn’t very fulfilling, is it? There is ingrained in our hearts a desire for more. There’s got to be more than this. There is! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!Death is not the end. Because Jesus rose, we will also rise. What you see isn’t all there is. No matter how fulfilling or unfulfilling your life on earth is, there is more! “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:19-20). I hope you can listen to this Easter sermon: “There’s More.” Jesus loves you!

Do you know where the word “excruciating” comes from? The little word “ex” is the Latin word for “from.” The next part is the key: What’s the “cruc” in “excruciating”? That’s the Latin word for “cross.” The word “excruciating” means “from the cross.” Have you ever made that connection? Every time you say or think the word “excruciating,” you’re referring to a cross. That’s what Jesus endured on Good Friday for you and me: The cross. The more you understand the depths of the sufferings and death of Jesus, the more you understand the wrath we deserve for our sins. And the more you understand the incredible love of God for sinners like you and me. I hope you can listen to this Good Friday sermon: “Excruciating Love.” Jesus loves you!

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). Your mindset matters. That’s what everybody says, right? If you change your mindset, you change your life. At least, that’s what we’re told. What if Christ were to change your mindset? What if you lived your life with your mind on the cross? You would be humble. It took the death of God’s own Son to save you from your sins. What if you lived your life with your eyes on Jesus’ empty tomb? You would be confident. Jesus has already won the victory over sin and death for you! This Holy Week, God wants to fill you with humble confidence through Jesus’ death and resurrection. I hope you can listen to this Palm Sunday sermon: “The Mindset of Christ.” Jesus loves you!

The old saying goes, “Stick and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Of course, that’s completely false. Words, especially someone else’s false words that accuse you or attack your reputation, can destroy your career and your marriage and your family. God knows. That’s why he gave the 8th Commandment: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). Nowhere do we see that commandment broken more clearly than at Jesus’ trial. The perfect One died for all the sinners. The innocent One was condemned, so that the guilty could go free. Through Jesus’ cross, God looks at us not as others see us but through his eyes of grace. I hope you can listen to this Lenten sermon on the 8th Commandment: “Guilty of the Truth.” Jesus loves you!

Sin is like sand at the beach. There’s a lot of it. It’s everywhere. And it sticks to you. Not to your body. Sin sticks to your conscience. You can look clean, but you still feel so dirty. You can try to leave that sin behind, but guilt rubs between your toes and grits between your teeth. You can’t get rid of it. Sin sticks to our consciences like sand sticks to your body. How can we get a clean conscience? Through Jesus! The blood of Jesus will “cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death” (Hebrews 9:14). Jesus’ blood does what nothing else can: It cleans our consciences with the free and full forgiveness he won on the cross. I hope you can listen to this sermon about Jesus’ sacrifice for you and me: “A Clean Conscience.” Jesus loves you!

God’s Word and promises are food for your soul. How long can you go without food for your stomach? A little while. As in, a couple hours. Then you get cranky. Hangry, right? So how long can you go without food for your soul? A little while, but not long. Soon your heart gets anxious and discouraged and guilty and tired. You’re hungry. So come and eat! Every church service. Every Bible study. Every devotion. Every time you read the Word, it’s like a big juicy steak. When your soul is discouraged, come and eat! When your heart feels guilty, come and eat! When you long to be loved, come and eat! “You who have no money, come, buy and eat!” (Isaiah 55:1). God wants to fill your soul. The best soul food is found in Christ. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Come and Eat!” Jesus loves you!

One of the first things Jesus preached was, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17). Repentance is at the heart of Christianity. What does it mean to repent?Here’s a Bible verse that explains: “Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon” (Isaiah 55:7).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about turning from our sins and trusting in God’s mercy.Jesus loves you!

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things” (Romans 8:32). If God was willing to give us his own Son… If Jesus was willing to give up his life for us on the cross… What do we need to worry about? Nothing. What do we need to covet? Nothing. Every time you want to curl up in a ball and cry about what you don’t have… Every time your sinful nature tells you that you need… Remind yourself: I have. I have in Jesus. Every day, God is good to you. Jesus’ cross kills coveting. I hope you can listen to this Lenten sermon on the 7th, 9th, and 10th Commandments: “Coveting Kills.” Jesus loves you!

Is it worth it to be a Christian? Following Jesus can be hard. Some days, the devil makes it seem like it isn’t worth it. Is it? Yes! You have what everybody else is looking for. Do you realize that? You have forgiveness for every sin. You have peace with God. You have hope. You have a future. You have life—life here on earth and forever in heaven. You have what everybody else is looking for! You have value. Jesus died for you! You have an identity—the blood-bought child of God. Is it worth it to be a Christian? Yes! It’s true that Jesus asks you to give up everything. But then he gives you so much more. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Take Up Your Cross.” Jesus loves you!

No commandment makes you and me feel more dirty than the 6th Commandment: “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). Lust, adultery, pornography… Do you struggle with any of those sins? Then no commandment better helps us picture the depths of Jesus’ forgiveness. There is forgiveness for lust. Jesus gave himself to make you clean! There is forgiveness for adultery. Jesus washed you with water through the word in your Baptism! There is forgiveness for guilt and shame. Jesus has made you radiant, without stain or wrinkle, but holy and blameless! I hope you can listen to this Lenten sermon about the 6th Commandment: “Adulterous Eyes.” Jesus loves you!

Who was the thief on the cross? You’re probably used to seeing three crosses, with Jesus in the middle. Two criminals were crucified with Jesus, and one of them even had a conversation with Jesus. Who was that thief on the cross?He probably wasn’t a thief. It’s more likely that he was a violent rebel, which makes Jesus’ words to him that much more amazing: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about the amazing grace that Jesus showed both to the insurrectionist next to him and to you and me.Jesus loves you!

God calls on Christians to have a different perspective on sex than the rest of the world. “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). How you control your body reflects on the faith in Jesus that’s in your heart. I hope you can listen to this sermon about God’s will for sex and the grace and forgiveness that he offers for all our sins in Jesus: “God’s Will for Sex.” Jesus loves you!

At first, the 5th Commandment might seem like the easiest: “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). But it’s not so simple. Jesus says that anger in God’s eyes is equal to murder (Matthew 5:22). After hearing Jesus’ words, the 5th Commandment might seem like the hardest! Here’s what it really is: The heart of the gospel message. God loves all people. He shouldn’t. We don’t deserve it! But God loves all people. That means that God loves you! God loves all people so much that he sent Jesus to forgive people. He sent Jesus to forgive you. Now God asks us to love people too. Not just with our hands, but also with our hearts. I hope you can listen to this Lenten sermon on the 5th Commandment: “Murderous Hearts.” Jesus loves you!

Why doesn’t God speak to me? Concerned people ask that. “I wait and I wait to hear God’s voice, but it never comes. Why doesn’t God speak to me?” Have you ever wondered that?Long ago, God told his people, “Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” (Jeremiah 23:28).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about how God speaks to you every time you read and hear his Word.God bless you!

Does it feel like you have nothing? Maybe even like you are nothing? As strange as it might sound, that’s all you need: Nothing. What do you need for God to love you? Nothing. What do you need to bring to the table for God to save you? Nothing. Because it’s all by God’s grace. In fact, it’s often only when a person has nothing that they finally see Jesus. God wants you to know his grace. Sometimes God takes everything else away, so that you stop trusting in your health or your money or your relationships. So that you have nothing. Why? So that you can see his grace to you in Jesus. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Having Nothing, Yet Possessing Everything.” Jesus loves you!

“Honor your father and mother” (Exodus 20:12). For some, the 4th Commandment seems like common sense. For others, the 4th Commandment seems downright impossible: “What if they don’t deserve it?” God wants all of us to see that honoring those in authority is simply an extension of honoring him. Long ago, David’s trust in God’s control and his patience with God’s plan led him to honor even wicked King Saul. David’s great descendent–Jesus–even allowed the wicked authorities of his day to put him to death, but it was all part of God’s plan to win salvation for us. How we treat those in authority is a direct reflection of what we think of God himself. I hope you can listen to this Lenten sermon on the 4th Commandment: “Honor Your Father and Mother.” God bless you!

What is Lent? Many Christians observe a 40-day season of repentance in the spring, leading up to Good Friday and Easter. Why? What is Lent?Lent is focused on this encouragement from the Bible: “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)I hope you can listen to this short devotion about the blessing of fixing our eyes on Jesus during the 40 days of Lent.God bless you!

What is Ash Wednesday? That’s a strange name for a day, isn’t it? What is Ash Wednesday about, and what does it have to do with ashes?Long ago, God told Adam in the Garden of Eden: “For dust you are and to dust you will return” (Genesis 3:19).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about why it’s good to think about dust and ashes and about what God is really looking for in our lives.Jesus loves you!

What is love? Picture Paul with a bag of candy hearts. One by one he reads them off: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:1-13). That’s love. Doesn’t that sound good? Don’t you want a love like that? You can only find it in one place: Jesus. I hope you can listen to this sermon about love: “Love Never Fails.” Jesus loves you!

What if I don’t feel loved? What if I don’t feel wanted or cherished? Isn’t it hard to look at everyone else’s relationships and feel left out? Alone? What if I don’t feel loved?God wants you to hear this: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about God’s everlasting and unfailing love for you. You are loved. You are cherished.Jesus loves you!

What if I don’t feel saved? What if I feel guilty and anxious and afraid? Do you struggle with that? Many Christians do. What if I don’t feel saved?The Bible has a beautiful answer: “If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything” (1 John 3:20).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about turning away from our hearts and finding peace in God and his sure salvation through faith in Jesus.God bless you!Pastor Nathan

Many of you feel pain today. Satan wants to use that pain to drive you away from God. God wants to use that pain to drive you to Jesus. Why? “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Some of you today are facing heartbreak in relationships. What someone has said or done feels like it’s ruining your life. Satan wants to use those thorns to drive you to despair. God wants to use those thorns to lead you to the cross. Why? There is One who was falsely accused for you, so that nothing can separate you from the love of God. All of us face troubles in life that make us feel powerless. Why? So that we take to heart God’s promise: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). I hope you can listen to this sermon about the thorns of life: “God’s Grace Is Sufficient.” Jesus loves you!

Are you sure? You might say, “About what?” About anything. Isn’t it hard to be sure about anything? We are trained to doubt everything. This is dangerous. Our culture of doubt is dangerous. Without being able to trust someone or something, everything is going to fall apart. Do you know who’s plan that is? Satan’s. He wants us to doubt everything, so that we eventually doubt God himself. But you can be sure about something: The Bible. “No prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:16-21). The Bible is the sure Word of God. I hope you can listen to this sermon about the Bible: “The Sure Word.” Jesus loves you!

Do you feel foolish, at least compared to other people? Great! Know why? “God chose the foolish things of this world to shame the wise” (1 Corinthians 1:27). Do you feel weak? In fact, do you see yourself becoming weaker? Know what? Great! “God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27). Do you feel lowly, maybe even despised? Do you feel like a nobody? You’re not, not to the One who matters most! “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” (1 Corinthians 1:28). It’s all God. It’s all grace. God loves using simple things. Like water. Like his Word. Like bread and wine. Through his Word and Sacraments, he says to you, “I chose you!” I hope you can listen to this sermon: “God Chose You.” Jesus loves you!

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1). God’s mercy changes you. God’s mercy leads you to want to offer your whole life to him. Not just an hour a week on Sundays. Every moment. Whether you’re working or going to school, offer yourself as a living sacrifice to God. Live for him! Whether you’re a mom or a bachelor or a widow, offer yourself as a living sacrifice to God. Live for him! Every single thing you do is your act of worship to God. As we begin a new year, I hope you can listen to this sermon: “A Living Sacrifice.” Jesus loves you!

When an old man named Simeon saw the Baby Jesus, he said some powerful words: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation” (Luke 2:28-29). When Simeon saw Jesus, he knew he was ready to die. That’s what seeing Jesus did for Simeon. He had seen God’s salvation. He knew that through that little Baby, all his sins would be forgiven, that he had peace with God, that he had eternal life waiting for him in heaven. This is at the heart of our Christian faith: If you have Jesus, you have everything you need. If you believe in Jesus, you’re ready to die. I hope you can listen to this funeral sermon for a dear old man who, like Simeon, saw God’s salvation: “Depart in Peace.” Jesus loves you!

People are searching for unity, but we often look for unity in the wrong places. The greatest unity isn’t found in skin color or language or culture or lifestyle. The greatest unity is found at the cross of Jesus. There every person has to confess their sin. There every person can find the grace of God for them. True Christian unity is being united by God’s grace through faith in Jesus. Like the shepherds and the wise men. They didn’t have much in common. Yet, they were united by falling to their knees in front of a Baby on whom all their hope depended. “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel” (Ephesians 3:6).  I hope you can listen to this Epiphany sermon: “Heirs Together.” Jesus loves you! 

Christmas is meant to be deep. Not just light and fluffy. At Christmas, it’s good to talk about deep truths. The meaning of Christmas isn’t just that a Baby was born. The Bible tells us who that Baby is: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:3). That Baby in the manger is the eternal Son of God who came to purify us from our sins and now sits at his throne at God’s right hand in heaven. At Christmas, it’s good to talk about deep truths. I hope you can listen to this Christmas Day sermon: “The Son of God.” Merry Christmas!

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people” (Titus 2:11). On Christmas night, grace appeared. You need someone to care about you. Jesus cares so much about you that he left his throne to live with us. Grace appeared! You need someone to take your regrets away. To change your past. Jesus redeemed you from all sin by his death on the cross. Your past is forgiven! Grace appeared! You need someone to give you hope for the future. There is no greater hope than the hope of eternal life in heaven. Grace appeared! You need someone to stand by you. Always. When you see that baby in the manger, you can know, “God is with me. Always!” Grace appeared! I hope you can listen to this Christmas Eve sermon: “Grace Appeared.” Merry Christmas!

Why was Jesus born in Bethlehem? Mary and Joseph didn’t live there. In fact, they lived on the opposite side of the country. So why was Jesus born in Bethlehem?Because God always keeps his promises! The prophet Micah had written, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel” (Micah 5:2).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about how Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem proves that God always keeps his promises and was willing to move heaven and earth to save us. Merry Christmas!

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). Rejoice always? Does that sound impossible? With all the heartache, the pain, the sadness, the stress… How could we possibly rejoice always? Don’t miss the rest of the verse: “In the Lord.” God wants to give you a joy that doesn’t depend on your outward circumstances. God wants to give you a joy that no one and nothing can ever take away. It all depends on Jesus who was laid in a manger and nailed to a cross and rose from the dead, all so that you and I can always have a reason to rejoice. Doesn’t that sound good? I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Rejoice the Lord Always.” Jesus loves you!

Is it right to celebrate Christmas? As we get close to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, there are some Christians who wonder whether it’s even right to celebrate Christmas. Is it?The New Testament clearly tells us that our faith in Jesus doesn’t depend on holy days (see Colossians 2:16-17 and Romans 14:5-6). Yet, there was one very important group that most definitely celebrated Jesus’ birth…I hope you can listen to this short devotion about our freedom to celebrate Christmas and who in the Bible gives us a great example of celebrating the birth of our Savior.Jesus loves you!

You need your rest. That’s what the 3rd Commandment is telling us: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (Exodus 20:8). You need your rest! Not on a certain day. Where? In Jesus. He has rest for you! Every time you’re anxious about something, you can find rest in Jesus. Every time you’re shaken by life, you can find rest in Jesus. Every time you feel guilt in your heart, you can find rest in Jesus. What does that look like? When an old man named Simeon first saw Jesus, he exclaimed, ”Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation” (Luke 2:29-30). I hope you can listen to this Advent sermon on the 3rd Commandment: “Rest in Jesus.” Jesus loves you!

What makes someone a good pastor? I bet you have your own opinions. Often, picking a favorite pastor can divide a congregation or even lead people to leave a church. Do you know what the Bible says about how Christians should regard their pastors? “This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed” (1 Corinthians 4:1-5). Pastors are “servants of Christ” who have been sent by God to share the mysteries of his Word, especially the mystery of how Jesus came to save sinners like you and me. In Advent, as we hear how John the Baptist prepared people’s hearts for Jesus’ coming, I hope you’ll listen to this sermon about what God says about pastors: “Servants of Christ.” Jesus loves you!

What’s a manger? One of the most well-known details in the Christmas story is that Jesus was placed in a manger (Luke 2:7). What’s a manger?If you’ve ever wondered that, I hope you can watch this short video devotion about what a manger is and how the manger shows us God’s amazing grace to us.God bless you!

We have a problem when it comes to using God’s name. Either we use God’s name flippantly—“Oh my God”—or we don’t use God’s name at all. Either we use God’s name over and over again for meaningless things, or we don’t speak about God at all. See the problem? It’s good for us to think about the 2nd Commandment at Christmastime, because the message of Jesus’ birth is filled with precious names that describe God’s grace to us. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). There is nothing more special than God’s name and all he has done for us. I hope you can listen to this Advent sermon: “Name Above All Names.” Jesus loves you!

God gives us hope. Do you need to hear that? I do. Life is filled with so much hopelessness. Sickness and pain. Conflict in relationships. Frustrated plans. Guilt and regrets. Do you go through each day filled with hope or weighed down with hopelessness? God gives us hope. How? Through his Word. The Bible says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). The Bible was written so that God’s people might have hope in Jesus our Savior. No matter what you are facing today, there is hope for you in Jesus! I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Hope for God’s People.” Jesus loves you!

Why did Jesus come at Christmas? Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Trees and lights and decorations are going up all over. But why? Why did Jesus come at Christmas?The Bible gives us a clear answer: “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about the very specific reason that Jesus came into our world at Christmas: To save us from our sins!God bless you!

It’s good for us to think about the 1st Commandment at Christmastime: “You shall have no other gods.” That is hard, isn’t it? To worship God alone? To rejoice in God alone? To long for God alone? There are so many distractions, so many idols and false gods, especially at Christmastime. Yet, I hope you realize that no one and nothing is greater than Jesus. Mary did. Jesus’ mother sang, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” The great things that God had done for her led her to rejoice in the Lord. This Christmas, don’t let anything take Jesus’ place. Instead, with Mary, say, “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” I hope you can listen to this Advent sermon. Jesus loves you!

Wake up! Christ the King is coming. All this world is going to pass away. When Christ the King comes, he will separate believers from unbelievers like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Believers will be welcomed to eternal life in heaven. Unbelievers will be condemned to eternity in hell. So the Bible encourages, “The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11). It’s easy to fall asleep in sin. It’s dangerous to fall asleep in sin. Christ the King is coming! I hope you can listen to this Advent sermon: “Wake Up!” Jesus loves you!

What is “grace”? That’s a word that gets thrown around a lot in the Christian church. But what does it mean? What is grace?Here’s a great Bible verse to illustrate God’s grace: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about God’s undeserved love for you and me.Jesus loves you!

“If I sin, do I lose my salvation?” We know that sin is bad. God hates sin. Yet, even as Christians, we still sin. Every time we sin, do we lose our salvation?Here’s the Bible’s answer: “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father–Jesus Christ the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about the good news that our salvation doesn’t depend on our sinlessness but on Jesus’ forgiveness and grace.Jesus loves you!

When you think about it, the Bible’s message really sounds foolish. The Bible calls all human beings sinful. Who wants to hear that? Then the Bible says that God himself came into our world and let himself be killed on a cross to save us from our sins. Doesn’t that sound crazy? On top of that, the Bible says that after three days, Jesus raised himself back to life and promises eternal life in heaven to all who believe in him. Doesn’t that sound foolish? But it’s true! “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). I hope you can listen to this funeral sermon for a very intelligent Christian woman who believed the foolish message of God’s salvation for her through Jesus Christ her Savior. Jesus loves you!

What’s a Lutheran? With all the different Christian denominations, that’s a fair question for people to ask. What’s a Lutheran?For centuries, Lutherans have summarized their biblical beliefs with three short phrases: By Grace Alone. By Faith Alone. By Scripture Alone.I hope you can listen to this short devotion about what a Lutheran is and how everything we believe and teach is based on God’s grace to us through Jesus. Jesus loves you!

The end of the world is coming. Can you sense that? Ever since Jesus died and rose for us, we have been living in the “End Times,” waiting for Jesus to come back to judge the living and the dead. Before his return, Jesus promised there would be wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes, and persecution of Christians. Do you see those things happening? Yes! The end of the world is coming. Yet, sadly, there are all sorts of false teachings associated with the end of the world. You’ve heard about the rapture and millennialism. Do you realize that neither of those is true? It’s vital for everyone to know the truth about the end of the world, and, thankfully, Jesus himself describes exactly what’s going to happen before the great day when he returns to take his people home to heaven. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “The End Times.” Jesus loves you!

What good can come from this? You’ve asked that. When trials and troubles come, our faith is tested, and we ask, “What good can come from this?”Here’s an answer from the Bible: “God comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:4).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about how God comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort others with the comfort we’ve received from God. God bless you!

God wants you to forever connect two things: A wedding and a funeral. At first, they might seem to have nothing to do with each other. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Each wedding gives us a taste of the wedding in heaven. Thankfully, you’re on the Jesus' guest list too! You’ve been washed in Jesus’ blood and clothed with his righteousness. Your groom, Jesus, just hasn’t come to pick you up yet. But he will, and God will wipe away every tear from your eyes. “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” (Revelation 19:9)

There’s a lot of focus on the government these days. That’s nothing new! Long ago, people came to Jesus with what they thought was a hard question: “Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not” (Matthew 22:17). Taxes? Government? What would Jesus say? His answer was brilliant: “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” As imperfect as our government is, God is using it to bring blessings to you and me. So is it right to pay taxes? Of course! “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s.” Yet, “give to God what is God’s.” Don’t ever think that the government is who provides for you or protects you or saves you. Who does all of that? The Lord. “Give to God what is God’s”—your heart. Your trust. Your confidence. Your hope. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Is It Right to Pay Taxes?” Jesus loves you!

When will Judgment Day be? We all realize that at some point, the world is going to end. One day, Jesus will judge the living and the dead. When? When will Judgment Day be?Jesus tells us, “About that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about how no one knows when Judgment Day will be and why that’s a good thing for us and our faith in Jesus.Jesus loves you!

Why do bad things happen to good people? Have you ever wondered that? Life seems so unfair. The wrong people seem to suffer. Why do bad things happen to good people?While the Bible doesn’t explain the reason behind every suffering in life, Paul understood this about his troubles: “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself…. This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:8-9).I hope you can listen to this short video devotion about how God uses everything–even troubles–to teach us to trust in him. God is with you!Pastor Nathan

Are you married? Are you thinking of getting married? Here are some words from God to keep in mind: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:12-14). I hope you can listen to this wedding sermon: “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” Jesus loves you!

There is hope for you in life and death! We all need to have hope. Hope for something gets you up every morning. Yet, hope so often goes unfulfilled. It doesn’t come. Things don’t change. Hope can feel hopeless. Yet, Jesus encourages you to never stop hoping in him. You never know when he will do the unexpected. He once proved that when he healed a long-suffering woman and raised a dead girl back to life on the same day. Even if you’ve been waiting for years, keep hoping in the Lord. Even if you’re facing death, keep hoping in the Lord. Learn to say, as Paul did, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:23). If you need hope in your life, I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Hope in Life and Death.” Jesus loves you!

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). As beautiful as those words are, they are a lot harder than they sound. Even in a marriage, it’s very easy for love to stop being an “is.” Do you know what it turns into? “Love is” easily turns into “Love was.” “We were in love…” That’s why every couple needs a love that comes from outside themselves–from Jesus! Jesus’ love for you always is. It’s always an “is”! I hope you can listen to this wedding sermon: “Love Is.” Jesus loves you!

Why do we want Jesus’ body and blood? When you think about it, it sounds awfully strange–maybe even wrong–to hear that Christians receive Jesus’ body and blood. Why?Because it’s the food our souls need. It was Jesus’ body and blood that won our forgiveness: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross” (1 Peter 2:24).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about how Jesus graciously gives us the very thing we need to be forgiven–his body and blood.Jesus loves you!

We can’t justify ourselves, but Jesus justifies us. Life is not about you and I looking up to heaven and saying, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people” (Luke 18:11). No. Life is about bowing our heads in repentance and saying, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13). And do you know what Jesus says? “I have!” “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24). What’s a Lutheran? A Lutheran is a Christian who has learned to trust that we are justified by grace alone. By faith alone. By Scripture alone. I hope you can listen to this sermon for the Lutheran Reformation: “Justified.” Jesus loves you!

Is the Lord’s Supper Jesus’ body and blood? A lot of Christian churches say, “No. It’s just bread and wine. It’s just a representation. Just a symbol.”But do you know what Jesus says? “Yes!” “Take and eat; this is my body” (Matthew 26:26). “This is my blood of the covenant” (Matthew 26:28).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about how Jesus gives us his true body and blood in the Lord’s Supper.God bless you!

Forgiveness is hard, isn’t it? There are people who have hurt you, sometimes over and over again. There are so many reasons not to forgive them: “They don’t deserve it!” “They are just going to sin again!” “It’s happened too many times.” So you can understand a question that Peter once asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive a brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” (Matthew 18:21). There has to be a limit on forgiveness! But do you know how Jesus responded? “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:22). In other words, “Forgive them every time!” God’s forgiveness to us is meant to impact our lives. The more we see Jesus’ forgiveness for our sins, the more we’ll be empowered to forgive the sins of others. I hope you can listen to this sermon about Jesus’ forgiveness: “Forgive Your Brother or Sister.” Jesus loves you!

It’s hard to believe what other people say, isn’t it? The sad reality is that we’ve learned not to trust anyone. We’ve been on the receiving end of lies and broken promises. It’s hard to believe what other people say. Thankfully, God is different! "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ" (2 Corinthians 1:20). God never lies. God never breaks his promises. Every word of God’s Word is true. We can trust in him! When God says he loves us, it’s true! When God says he forgives us, it’s true! When God says he’s with us, it’s true! I hope you can listen to this sermon about faith: “Taking Jesus at His Word.” Jesus loves you!

Am I forgiven? The devil loves to accuse us again and again of our sins. He places this constant doubt in our minds: Am I forgiven?When we look to ourselves, we don’t see anything good. But when we look outside ourselves, when we look to Jesus, we hear: “The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about how God assures us of his forgiveness through his Word and Sacraments. You are forgiven!Jesus loves you!

Can I forgive sins? Forgiveness is at the heart of Christianity. Jesus won forgiveness through his death on the cross. Can I actually tell someone that their sins are forgiven?Jesus gives a surprising answer: Yes! “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven” (John 20:23).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about how God gives you the awesome opportunity to declare Jesus’ forgiveness to others.God bless you!

Christianity is a religion of forgiveness. If you are a sinner, then this is the place for you. Jesus graciously looks sinners in the eye and says, “Take heart; your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2). Not “might be” forgiven.” Not “one day will be” forgiven. Your sins are forgiven in Jesus. I know that other people accuse you. I know that other people remember your sins and never forget them. I know that your conscience keeps attacking you. Let the voice of your Savior silence all the other voices with his forgiveness. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Your Sins Are Forgiven.” Jesus loves you!

Why did God let that person die so young? Death always troubles us, but it’s especially troubling when a young person dies seemingly long before he or she should. Why does God let people die young?This verse helps us understand: “The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.” (Isaiah 57:1-2)I hope you can listen to this short devotion about how God sometimes spares his people evil and sorrow by allowing them to come home to heaven at a young age.Jesus loves you!

Why do good people die? That question arises whenever a sudden tragedy claims the life of someone we wouldn’t expect. Why does God let good people die?The answer has two parts: 1) There are no good people. 2) God has something better planned for those who believe in him! The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about how death comes to all people and how eternal life is found in Jesus.Jesus loves you!

How can I live without fear? Fear and worry and anxiety so quickly cover our hearts and minds each day. With so many things to be worried about, how can I live without fear?Because God is with you. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about facing the darkest valleys without fear, because our God is with us.Jesus loves you!

God is able to do more than all we imagine. That’s the Bible’s promise: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory…” (Ephesians 3:20-21). Maybe your marriage seems broken and unfixable. God is able to do more than all we imagine. Maybe your sin seems too big and unforgiveable. God is able to do more than all we imagine. Look at the cross! Maybe you can’t imagine how this situation turns out well. God is able to do more than all we imagine. Maybe death seems like the inevitable end. God is able to do more than all we imagine. There’s hope for you today. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “More Than All We Imagine.” Jesus loves you!

We worry about everything, but Jesus came to take all those worries away. When you watch TV, you hear: “Worry! Worry! Worry!” But when you listen to Jesus, you hear: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27-28). When you scroll social media, you hear: “It’s hopeless. It’s a disaster. What is the world coming to?” But when you listen to Jesus, you hear: “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). I know everything seems to be falling apart, but when you look at Jesus, you’ll see he has a smile on his face. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Do Not Worry.” Jesus loves you!

Whom can I trust? All of us are asking that these days. With AI and social media influencers and sneaky politicians, it seems impossible. Whom can I trust?The Bible gives us some great advice: “Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings who cannot save…. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God” (Psalm 146:3,5).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about putting our trust and our hope in the Lord our God.God bless you!

For decades, we’ve been preaching to each other, “Just be kind.” How’s that been working? Things have gotten worse, haven’t they? It seems like the more that people talk about love, the more violence there is. The more that people preach kindness, the more hatred people show. This week proved it again. An assassination. A school shooting. A murder on a train. It’s as if saying, “Be kind” and “Love!” actually make things worse. We need something more! Jesus agrees. He used one of his most famous parables–the Parable of the Good Samaritan–to prove that our human love is always lacking. We need more than to try harder. To truly love others, we first need a Savior with perfect love who gave his life for us. As we witness the lack of love in us and around us, I hope you can listen to this sermon about where true love for neighbor is found: “The Good Samaritan.” Jesus loves you!

How can I face death? Sadly, that question is on a lot of our minds. We see assassinations and cancer and tragic accidents and… Death feels so close. How can I face death?The Bible has so much comfort for you and me. Like these verses: “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16). “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (John 11:25-26).I hope you can listen to this short video devotion about God’s comfort for us even in the face of death.Jesus loves you!

Jesus wants to give you true peace. In fact, when we live without peace, it makes Jesus weep. When the people of his day refused to find peace in him, Jesus wept and said: “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes” (Luke 19:42). Can you hear how much he loves us? Even if you are not rich in money, Jesus has made you rich with his forgiveness and grace. All your sins were forgiven at the cross. Know what that gives you? Peace! Even if the world—or our country—is like a mess, Jesus is with us always, to the very end of the age. Know what that gives you? Peace! Even if your relationships today are rocky, even if other people seem to be cutting you off, Jesus will never leave you or forsake you. Know what that gives you? Peace! I hope you can listen to this sermon: “True Peace.” Jesus loves you!

How should a Christian respond to tragedy? Tragedies in life often lead us to doubt God’s love or to assume that those who suffer are extra sinful. How should we respond to tragedy?Well, here’s what Jesus said when some in his day died in a tragedy: “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish” (Luke 13:1-3).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about how every tragedy is a call for us to repent and trust in Jesus.Jesus loves you!

“God won’t give you more than you can handle!” Have people said that to you? That’s one of the most common ways Christians try to comfort each other: “God won’t give you more than you can handle!”But there’s a problem: That’s not true! Here’s how Paul described his own life: “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself…. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:8-9).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about how God uses the difficulties of life to teach us to rely on him.Jesus loves you!

Jesus wants you to be a shrewd Christian. After telling the Parable of the Dishonest Servant, he said, “The people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:8-9). Jesus went on to explain what he meant: A shrewd Christian loves God over money. A shrewd Christian uses God’s money to gain friends for eternity. And a shrewd Christian trusts in salvation by faith in Jesus. I hope you can listen to this sermon about one of Jesus’ most surprising parables: “The Shrewd Christian.” Jesus loves you!

“God helps those who help themselves.” That’s one of the most common statements that people like to say. In other words, if you want God to help you, you better be doing something yourself!Is that true? Thankfully, no! Instead, the Bible says, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly…. God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6,8).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about God’s grace to undeserving sinners like you and me.God loves you!

Do you know what the most precious treasure in the world is? You! You are the most precious treasure in the world. Know why? Because God wants you. God wants you so much that he sent Jesus to die on the cross for you. But God isn’t the only one who wants you. Satan does too. Satan wants to tear your soul away from Jesus. Every day, there is a battle going on for your soul. Every day, Jesus seeks to pull you closer to him through his Word, while Satan seeks to pull you away from Jesus with false teachings. That’s why Jesus gives Christians this warning and encouragement: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matthew 7:15). I hope you can listen to this sermon: “The Battle for Your Soul.” Jesus loves you!

Was Jesus just a good teacher? That’s often how people today talk about Jesus: He was a “good teacher.” Is that really what Jesus came to do?We learn Jesus’ true purpose from his name. When an angel said what Jesus’ name would be, he explained: “He will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).I hope you can listen to this short video devotion about how Jesus is more than just a good teacher. He’s our perfect Savior!Jesus loves you!