Sermons
The Holy Cross sermons are available in transcribed text or .mp3 audio format. Simply click on the “text” link to read the sermon or click on the “audio” link to listen and/or download the .mp3 audio file. Note: The sermons are listed by most recent. Typically, the text version is delayed by two months due to the transcription process.
March 29, 2026 – Palm Sunday – Pastor Piet Van Kampen
“Look! Your King Comes!” – Video: Audio:
Zechariah 9:9-10
9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
Look! Your King is coming to you. He is righteous and brings salvation.
He is humble and is riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem.
The battle bow will be taken away, and he will proclaim peace to the nations.
His kingdom will extend from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth.
March 22, 2026 – Fifth Sunday of Lent – Pastor Mark Bartels
“The Resurrection and the Life” – Video: Vimeo Audio: Google
John 11:17-27, 38-45
17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19 Many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, while Mary was sitting in the house.
21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha replied, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the Last Day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even if he dies. 26 And whoever lives and believes in me will never perish. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
38 Jesus was deeply moved again as he came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.
Martha, the dead man’s sister, told him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, because it has been four days.”
40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone.
Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
44 The man who had died came out with his feet and his hands bound with strips of linen and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus told them, “Loose him and let him go.”
45 Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary and saw what Jesus did believed in him.
March 18, 2026 – 5th Midweek Lent – Pastor Piet Van Kampen
“The Kingly Priest” – Video: Vimeo Audio: Google
Zechariah 6:9-13
9 The word of the LORD came to me:
10 Take an offering from the exiles—from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon—and on that very day go into the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. 11 Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and place it on the head of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest.
12 Tell him that this is what the LORD of Armies says:
There is a man whose name is the Branch, because he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD. 13 He is the one who will build the temple of the LORD. He will be clothed with majesty, and he will sit and rule on his throne. He will be a priest on his throne, and there will be peaceful relations between the two offices.
March 15, 2026 – Fourth Sunday of Lent – Pastor Piet Van Kampen
“Earnestly Seek the Lord!” – Video: Vimeo Audio: Google
Hosea 5:15-6:6
15 I will go. I will return to my place until they admit their guilt and seek my face.
In their distress they will earnestly seek me.
6:1 Come, let us return to the LORD.
For he has torn us to pieces, but he will heal us.
He has struck us, but he will bandage our wounds.
2 After two days he will revive us.
On the third day he will raise us up, so that we may live in his presence.
3 Let us acknowledge the LORD. Let us pursue knowledge of the LORD.
As surely as the sun rises, the LORD will appear.
He will come to us like a heavy rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth.
4 What am I going to do with you, Ephraim? What am I going to do with you, Judah?
For your faithfulness is like a morning mist, like early dew that disappears.
5 That is why I cut them to pieces by means of the prophets. I killed them with the words of my mouth.
The judgments against you go forth like the light.
6 For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God, rather than burnt offerings.
March 11, 2026 – 4th Midweek Lent – Pastor Gene Kock
“What’s He Worth to You?” – Video: Vimeo Audio: Google
Zechariah 11:7-13
7 So I shepherded the flock which is to be slaughtered, especially the most afflicted of the flock. I took two staffs for myself. One I called Favor and the other Union. Then I shepherded the flock. 8 I removed three shepherds in one month. I grew very impatient with the flock, and they really detested me. 9 So I said, “I will not shepherd you. Whatever is dying, let it die. Whatever is being destroyed, let it be destroyed. And let those who remain devour one another’s flesh.”
10 I took my staff, Favor, and I broke it in two, to cancel my covenant that I had made with all the peoples. 11 So it was cancelled on that day, and the most miserable of the flock, who were watching me, knew that this was the word of the LORD.
12 Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, pay me my wages. But if it does not, withhold them.” So they weighed out thirty pieces of silver as my wages.
13 Then the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter, this magnificent price at which they valued me.” So I took the thirty pieces of silver, and I threw them into the House of the LORD, to the potter.
March 8, 2026 – Third Sunday of Lent – Pastor Mark Bartels
“Live as Children of the Light” – Video: Vimeo Audio: Google
Ephesians 5:8-14
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, 9 for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. 10 Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord, 11 and do not participate in fruitless deeds of darkness. Instead, expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention the things that are done by people in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes things visible. 14 Therefore it is said, “Awake, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
March 4, 2026 – 3rd Midweek Lent – Pastor Piet VanKampen
“Scattered Sheep” – Video: Vimeo Audio: Google
Zechariah 13:7-9
7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,
and against the man who is my associate,
declares the LORD of Armies.
Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered,
and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
8 This will take place in the whole land, declares the LORD:
Two thirds of those who remain in it will be cut off and perish,
but one third will be left in it.
9 I will put that third into the fire,
and I will refine them as silver is refined,
and I will test them as gold is tested.
They will call on my name, and I will answer them.
I will say, “This is my people.”
And they will say, “The LORD is my God.”
March 1, 2026 – Mission Festival – Rev. Tom Heyn
“Give Them a Drink of Living Water” – Video: Vimeo Audio: Google
John 4:5-26
5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the piece of land Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there. Then Jesus, being tired from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (His disciples had gone into town to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” she said, “you don’t even have a bucket, and the well is deep. So where do you get this living water? 12 You are not greater than our father Jacob, are you? He gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his animals.”
13 Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I will give him will never be thirsty ever again. Rather, the water I will give him will become in him a spring of water, bubbling up to eternal life.”
15 “Sir, give me this water,” the woman said to him, “so I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
16 Jesus told her, “Go, call your husband, and come back here.”
17 “I have no husband,” the woman answered.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say, ‘I have no husband.’ 18 In fact, you have had five husbands, and the man you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true.”
19 “Sir,” the woman replied, “I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but you Jews insist that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
21 Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will not worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. 23 But a time is coming and now is here when the real worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for those are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (the one called Christ). “When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Jesus said to her, “I, the one speaking to you, am he.”
February 25, 2026 – 2nd Midweek Lent – Pastor Mark Bartels
“The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth” – Video: Vimeo Audio: Google
Zechariah 8:14-17
14 For this is what the Lord of Armies says. Just as I planned to bring disaster upon you when your fathers made me angry, says the Lord of Armies, so that I did not relent, 15 so in these days I plan to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah once again. Do not be afraid.
16 These are the things that you are to do: Speak the truth to one another. Render judgments that uphold truth, justice, and peace in your gates. 17 Do not plot evil in your hearts against each other. Do not love false oaths. Indeed I hate all these things, declares the Lord.
February 22, 2026 – First Sunday in Lent – Pastor Piet Van Kampen
“Facing the Tempter” – Video: Vimeo Audio: Google
Matthew 4:1-11
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. 2 After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The Tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.”
4 But Jesus answered, “It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.”
5 Then the Devil took him into the holy city. He placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and he said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you. And they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”
7 Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written: You shall not test the Lord your God.”
8 Again the Devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”
11 Then the Devil left him, and just then angels came and served him.
February 18, 2026 – Ash Wednesday – Pastor Piet Van Kampen
“Return to Me!” – Video: Vimeo (Sermon Only) Audio: Google (Sermon Only)
Zechariah 1:1-6
1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo.
2 The LORD was very angry with your forefathers. 3 Therefore, now you are to tell this people that this is what the LORD of Armies says to them.
Return to me, declares the LORD of Armies, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Armies. 4 Do not be like your forefathers, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed, “This is what the LORD of Armies says. Return, return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”
But our forefathers did not listen, nor did they pay attention to me, declares the LORD. 5 Your forefathers—where are they now? And those prophets—did they go on living indefinitely? 6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded to my servants the prophets, caught up with our forefathers, didn’t they?
Then they returned and said, “Because of our ways and our deeds, the LORD of Armies has done to us just as he planned to do to us.”
February 15, 2026 – Transfiguration Sunday – Pastor Mark Bartels
“Completely Reliable” – Video: Vimeo Audio: Google
2 Peter 1:16-21
16 To be sure, we were not following cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the powerful appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father, when the voice came to him from within the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We heard this voice, which came out of heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.
19 We also have the completely reliable prophetic word. You do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your hearts, 20 since we know this above all else: No prophecy of Scripture comes about from someone’s own interpretation. 21 In fact, no prophecy ever came by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were being carried along by the Holy Spirit.
February 8, 2026 – 5th Sunday after Epiphany – Pastor Piet Van Kampen
“See the Blessing You Are in Jesus” – Video: Vimeo Audio: Google
Matthew 5:13-20
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its flavor, how will it become salty again? Then it is no good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people. 14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket. No, they put it on a stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 In the same way let your light shine in people’s presence, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy them but to fulfill them. 18 Amen I tell you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not even the smallest letter, or even part of a letter, will in any way pass away from the Law until everything is fulfilled. 19 So whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 Indeed I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and experts in the law, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
February 1, 2026 – 4th Sunday after Epiphany – Pastor Mark Bartels
“Reason to Boast” – Video: Vimeo Audio: Google
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
26 For example, consider your call, brothers. Not many of you were wise from a human point of view, not many were powerful, and not many were born with high status. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world to put to shame the things that are strong, 28 and God chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things, and the things that are not, to do away with the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before God. 30 But because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us the wisdom from God, namely, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 31 God did this so that, just as it is written, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
January 25, 2026 – 3rd Sunday after Epiphany – Pastor Piet Van Kampen
“Jesus, the Light of the World” – Video: Vimeo Audio: Google
Matthew 4:12-23
12 When Jesus heard that John was put in prison, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 He did this to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
15 Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, along the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,
16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light,
and on those dwelling in the region and the shadow of death a light has dawned.
17 From that time, Jesus began to preach: “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near.”
18 As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen. 19 He said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
20 They immediately left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
23 Jesus traveled throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.
January 18, 2026 – 2nd Sunday after Epiphany – Pastor Mark Bartels
“God’s Chosen Servant to the Nations” – Video: Vimeo Audio: Google
Isaiah 49:1-6
1 Listen to me, you coastlands.
Pay attention, you faraway peoples!
The Lord called me from the womb.
When I was inside my mother, he mentioned my name.
2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword.
He hid me in the shadow of his hand.
He made me a polished arrow.
He concealed me in his quiver.
3 He said to me, “You are my servant Israel,
in whom I will display my glory.”
4 But I said to myself, “I have labored in vain.
I spent my strength and came up empty, with nothing.
Yet a just verdict for me rests with the Lord,
and my reward is with my God.”
5 But now the Lord,
who formed me from the womb to be his servant,
to turn Jacob back to him,
so that Israel might be gathered to him,
so that I will be honored in the eyes of the Lord,
because my God has been my strength—
6 the Lord said:
It is too small a thing that you should just be my servant
to raise up only the tribes of Jacob
and to restore the ones I have preserved in Israel,
so I will appoint you to be a light for the nations,
so that my salvation will be known to the end of the earth.
January 11, 2026 – 1st Sunday after Epiphany—The Baptism of Our Lord – Pastor Piet Van Kampen
“Jesus, Our Anointed Hero” – Video: Vimeo Audio: Google
Matthew 3:13-17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to be baptized by John at the Jordan. 14 But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”
15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, because it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John let him. 16 After Jesus was baptized, he immediately went up out of the water. Suddenly, the heavens were opened for him! He saw the Spirit of God, descending like a dove and landing on him, 17 and a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my Son, whom I love. I am well pleased with him.”
January 4, 2026 – Second Sunday after Christmas – Pastor Mark Bartels
“Pray for God’s People!” – Video: Vimeo Audio: Google
Ephesians 1:3-6,15-18
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
4 He did this when he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ. He did this in accordance with the good purpose of his will, 6 and for the praise of his glorious grace, which he has graciously given us in the one he loves.
15 This is why, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I never stop giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep praying that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, will give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowing Christ fully. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope to which he has called you, just how rich his glorious inheritance among the saints is.