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“In the Presence of the Holy God” (Isaiah 6:1-8) What would it be like if you knew you were in the presence of the holy God? Try to imagine. Would it be cool, casual, awesome, inspiring, overwhelming? What would your … Continue reading
Pastor Charles Henrickson
“Tongues for Telling the Mighty Works of God” (Acts 2:1-21) It’s the Day of Pentecost. It’s nine o’clock in the morning. And the disciples are together in one place. It was true back then, and it is true today–yes, here, … Continue reading
“God’s Testimony: Eternal Life in His Son” (1 John 5:9-15) This week the Epistle reading once again is from First John. This has been the Epistle featured throughout this Easter season, and for good reason. The author, St. John, was … Continue reading
“The Ascension: Past, Present, and Future” (Ephesians 1:15-23) Today we’re having church on a Thursday. That’s because we’re celebrating the Ascension of Our Lord, a major festival in the church year that always falls on a Thursday. And that’s because … Continue reading
“The Spirit and the Water and the Blood” (1 John 5:1-8) Our Epistle today from First John includes a section that at first glance may seem a little puzzling. But when we look at it a little more closely, we’ll … Continue reading
“Abide in the Vine” (John 15:1-8) “Stay where you are!” “Don’t move!” These commands sound rather restrictive. These imperatives can sound oppressive and limiting, like we’re being told what to do, and it’s to not do anything. The idea of … Continue reading
Five hundred years ago today, on April 26, 1518, Martin Luther presented and defended a number of “theological paradoxes” in a debate at Heidelberg. Coming less than six months after the Ninety-five Theses, the Heidelberg Disputation was an important step … Continue reading
“The Love That Lays Down Its Life” (1 John 3:16-24) “The King of Love My Shepherd Is.” What a beautiful hymn to sing on this day in the church year known as “Good Shepherd Sunday”! How we need a good … Continue reading
“What We Are Now and What We Will Be” (1 John 3:1-7) Last week we began a series of six straight weeks of Epistle readings from 1 John. Our theme last week was “Fellowship through the Word of Life”: We … Continue reading
“Fellowship through the Word of Life” (1 John 1:1 – 2:2) Today on this Second Sunday of Easter, we begin six straight weeks of Epistle readings from First John. This is quite appropriate for the Easter season, since First John … Continue reading
“He Is Risen: No Fooling!” (Mark 16:1-8) Alleluia! Christ is risen! (He is risen indeed! Alleluia!) Yes, it’s true! This is no April Fools’ joke. Jesus really is risen from the dead! Just like he said he would. Just like … Continue reading
“It Is Finished” (John 19:17-30) “Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), ‘I thirst.’ A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop … Continue reading
“Love Received, Love to Give” (John 13:1-17, 31b-35) “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” Yes, Jesus did that. And he also tells his disciples: “A new commandment I give to you, … Continue reading
“Annunciation, Acclamation, Crucifixion” (Luke 1:30-33; Mark 11:1-10; 15:1-39) Today is a day in the church year that goes by two names, “Palm Sunday” and the “Sunday of the Passion.” This is Palm Sunday, the day when our Lord Jesus Christ … Continue reading
“The Real Jesus Is All You Really Need” (John 1:1-18; Ephesians 1:3-14) In Sunday morning Bible class, we’re doing a study based on the book, “Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? 12 False Christs.” And in these midweek Lenten … Continue reading
“Set Free to Serve” (Mark 10:32-45) I want to start out our message today with a little quiz. Multiple-choice. Which of these two statements is true: a) “A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none,” or … Continue reading
“It’s a Gift!” (Ephesians 2:1-10) You are a Christian. You are saved. You believe in Christ. You are heading for heaven. And in your Christian life, you do good works. Now the question arises: How did all this come about? … Continue reading
“The Gospel on a Pole” (John 3:14-21) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” That, of course, is John 3:16, a verse you … Continue reading
“One Option or the Only Way?” (John 14:1-6) We live in an age of religious pluralism. Religious pluralism is the belief that there are a plurality of religions, many religions, that can work. No one religion has a corner on … Continue reading
“Weak Power and Foolish Wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:18-31) Every so often an organization called the American Religious Identification Survey conducts a national survey to find out how Americans are identifying themselves by their religion. And so we have data to … Continue reading
“Who Is the Real Jesus?” (Matthew 16:13-23) In Bible class on Sunday mornings, we just started a study based on the book, “Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up?” In this book, the author discusses twelve false christs that are … Continue reading
“Passion Prediction, Passion Production” (Mark 8:27-38; Romans 5:1-11) Most of you probably remember a movie a few years back called “The Passion of the Christ.” It was about Jesus’ suffering and death. That’s what the word “Passion’ means in that … Continue reading
“Out of the Water, into the Wilderness” (Mark 1:9-15) Today is the First Sunday in Lent, which means that the Holy Gospel is an account of the temptation of our Lord. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record this episode that … Continue reading
“Hearts and Ashes” (Joel 2:12-19) Today is Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is a day for sending your love a box of candy and a Valentine’s card. Something like this: Roses are red, Violets are blue; Sugar is sweet, And so … Continue reading
“Where Is the Healing?” (Mark 1:29-39) Every year during the Epiphany season, we get Gospel readings in which Jesus is doing the activities of his public ministry. We see Jesus busy with things like preaching, teaching, and healing the sick. … Continue reading