December 29, 2019, The First Sunday after Christmas - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"You are an Heir" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Galatians 4:4-7
4But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son to be born of a woman, so that he would be born under the law, 5in order to redeem those under the law, so that we would be adopted as sons. 6And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts to shout, “Abba, Father!” 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son. And if you are a son, then you are also an heir of God through Christ.
December 22, 2019, The Fourth Day in Advent - Pastor Mark Bartels
"And They will call His Name Immanuel" - text or audio
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Matthew 1:18-25
18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. His mother, Mary, was pledged in marriage to Joseph. Before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her. So he decided to divorce her privately. 20But as he was considering these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22All this happened to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23“Look, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son. And they will name him Immanuel,” which means, “God with us.”
24When Joseph woke up from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him. He took Mary home as his wife, 25but he was not intimate with her until she gave birth to her
firstborn son. And he named him Jesus.
December 15, 2019, The Third Day in Advent - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"The Christ is Here!" - text or audio or video
Children's Christmas Program - video
Weekly Worship Guide
Matthew 11:2-11
2While John was in prison, he heard about the things Christ was doing. He sent two of his disciples 3to ask him, “Are you the Coming One or should we wait for someone else?”
4Jesus answered them, “Go, report to John what you hear and see: 5The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the gospel is preached to the poor. 6Blessed is the one who does not take offense at me.”
7As these two were leaving, Jesus began to talk to the crowds about John. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8What did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? No, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9So what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you! And he is much more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11Amen I tell you: Among those born of women there has not appeared anyone greater than John the Baptist. Yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
December 8, 2019, The Second Day in Advent - Pastor Mark Bartels
"Behold, a Branch is Growing!" - text soon or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Isaiah 11:1-10
A shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse,
and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.
2The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him:
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3He will be delighted with the fear of the Lord.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
nor will he render decisions based on what he hears with his ears,
4but with righteousness he will judge the poor,
and he will render fair decisions in favor of the oppressed on the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath from his lips he will put the wicked to death.
5Righteousness will be the belt around his waist,
and faithfulness the belt around his hips.
6The wolf will dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard will lie down with the young goat,
the calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together,
and a little child will lead them.
7The cow and the bear will graze together,
and their young ones will lie down together.
The lion will eat straw like the cattle.
8The nursing child will play near a cobra’s hole,
and the weaned child will put his hand into a viper’s den.
9They will not hurt or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord,
as the waters cover the sea.
10This is what will take place on that day. The peoples will seek the Root of Jesse, who will be standing like a banner for the peoples, and his resting place will be glorious.
December 1, 2019, The First Day in Advent - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"Unexpectedly" - audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Matthew 24:37-44
37“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be when the Son of Man returns. 38In fact, in the days before the flood people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the very day that Noah entered the ark. 39And they did not realize what was coming until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man returns.
40“At that time two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. 42So be alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43But understand this: If the master of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44You also need to be ready for this reason: The Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect him.”
November 24, 2019, Last Sunday of the Church Year - Pastor Mark Bartels
"Our King Reigns Supreme" - audio or video
Kids Singing - audio
No Children's Sermon
Weekly Worship Guide
Colossians 1:13-20
13The Father rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, 16for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and unseen, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17He is before all things, and all things hold together in him.
18He is also the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that in all things he might have the highest rank. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile all things to himself (whether things on earth or in heaven) by making peace through the blood of his cross.
November 17, 2019, Second to Last Sunday in the Church Year - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"Salvation has Come to this House" - text or audio
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Luke 19:1-10
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man named Zacchaeus was there. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3He was trying to see who Jesus was, but since he was short, he could not see because of the crowd. 4He ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Jesus, because he was about to pass by that way. 5When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6He came down quickly and welcomed Jesus joyfully. 7When the people saw it, they were all grumbling because he went to be a guest of a sinful man.
8Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I am going to give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone out of anything, I will pay back four times as much.”
9Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
November 10, 2019, Week of the Last Judgement - Pastor Mark Bartels
"Work While it is Day" - text or audio
Children's Sermon - audio
Senior Choir - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Luke 19:11-27
11 As they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12 So he said, “A man of noble birth traveled to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself and then to return. 13 He called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Conduct business until I return,’ he said to them.
14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to be king over us.’ 15 “When he returned after receiving the kingdom, he summoned the servants to whom he had given the money. He wanted to find out what they had gained by conducting business. 16 “The first one came to him and said, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten more minas.’ 17 “He said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you were faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities.’
18 “The second one came and said, ‘Master, your mina has produced five more minas.’ 19 “So he said to him, ‘You will be over five cities.’ 20 “And another one came and said, ‘Master, here is your mina that I laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 For I was afraid of you, since you are a demanding man. You take what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.’
22 “He said to him, ‘You wicked servant, I will judge you with your own words! You knew that I am a demanding man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23 Then why did you not put my money in the bank? Then, when I returned, I could have collected it with interest!’
24 “He said to those standing there, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 “But they said to him, ‘Master, he already has ten minas!’
26 “‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 27 Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them, bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”
November 3, 2019, All Saints Day - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"Stand Firm and Pray" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5
13But we are always obligated to thank God for you, brothers, loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation by the sanctifying work of the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14For this reason he also called you through our gospel so that you would obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15So then, brothers, stand firm and hold on to the teachings that were passed along to you, either by word of mouth or by a letter from us. 16May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and in his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17encourage your hearts and establish you in every good work and word.
3:1Finally, brothers, pray for us so that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be glorified just as it was among you. 2Pray also that we may be rescued from evil and wicked people. For not everyone has faith. 3Still, the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and protect you from the Evil One. 4We also have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we are telling you. 5May the Lord continue to direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s patient endurance.
October 27, 2019, Reformation Day - Pastor Mark Bartels
"Handling the Lutheran Heritage" - text soon or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Luke 12:48
From everyone to whom much was given, much will be expected. From the one who was entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
October 20, 2019, Mission Festival - Pastor Ivo Sildegs
"Eternal Hope" - audio or video
No Children's Sermon
Weekly Worship Guide
I Peter 1:3-9
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4into an inheritance that is undying, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 5Through faith you are being protected by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed at the end of time.
6Because of this you rejoice very much, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various kinds of trials 7so that the proven character of your faith—which is more valuable than gold, which passes away even though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
8Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not see him now, yet by believing in him, you are filled with a joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
October 13, 2019, The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Mark Bartels
"Worldly Wealth and the Gospel" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Luke 16: 1-13
Jesus also said to his disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager who was accused of wasting his possessions. 2The rich man called him in and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you can no longer be manager.’
3“The manager said to himself, ‘What will I do, since my master is taking away the management position from me? I am not strong enough to dig. I am ashamed to beg. 4I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from my position as manager, people will receive me into their houses.’
5“He called each one of his master’s debtors to him. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6He said, ‘Six hundred gallons of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write three hundred.’ 7Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ And he said, ‘Six hundred bushels of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill and write four hundred and eighty.’
8“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the children of the light are. 9I tell you, make friends for yourselves with unrighteous mammon, so that when it runs out, they will welcome you into the eternal dwellings. 10The person who is faithful with very little is also faithful with much. And the person who is unrighteous with very little is also unrighteous with much. 11So if you have not been faithful with unrighteous mammon who will entrust you with what is really valuable? 12If you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you something to be your own? 13No servant can serve two masters. Indeed, either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon.”
October 6, 2019, The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"You Have a Mediator" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Exodus 32:7-14
7The Lord spoke to Moses: “Hurry down, because your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves! 8They have quickly turned from the way which I commanded them. They have made a calf for themselves out of metal and have worshipped it. They have sacrificed to it and said, ‘This is your god, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.’”
9The Lord said to Moses, “I have seen these people, and they certainly are a stiff-necked people. 10So now leave me alone, so that my anger can burn hot against them, so that I may consume them and make you into a great nation.”
11Moses begged the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your anger burn against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12Why should the Egyptians say, ‘He brought them out for an evil purpose, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn back from your fierce anger and change your mind about inflicting disaster on your people. 13Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self. You said to them, ‘I will multiply your seed like the stars of the sky, and I will give all this land that I have spoken about to your seed, and they shall inherit it forever.’”
14Then the Lord changed his mind about the disaster which he said he would inflict on his people.
September 29, 2019, St. Michael and All Angels Day - Pastor Mark Bartels
"Let Your Holy Angel Be With Me" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Matthew 18:10-11
10 See to it that you do not look down on one of these little ones, because I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man came to save what was lost.
September 22, 2019, The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"Christian Exhortations" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Hebrews 13:1-8
"Continue to show brotherly love. 2Do not fail to show love to strangers, for by doing this some have welcomed angels without realizing it. 3Remember those in prison, as if you were fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated, as if you yourselves were also suffering bodily.
4Marriage is to be held in honor by all, and the marriage bed is to be kept undefiled, for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers. 5Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have. For God has said:
I will never leave you,
and I will never forsake you.
6So then we say with confidence:
The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid.
What will man do to me?
7Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Carefully consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
September 15, 2019, The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Mark Bartels
"Jesus and the Narrow Door" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Luke 13:22-30
22He went on his way from one town and village to another, teaching, and making his way to Jerusalem. 23Someone said to him, “Lord, are only a few going to be saved?” He said to them, 24“Strive to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. 25Once the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open for us!’ He will tell you in reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27And he will say, ‘I don’t know where you come from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’ 28There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown outside. 29People will come from east and west, from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. 30And note this: Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
September 8, 2019, The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"All is Not Easy in the Kingdom of Christ" - text soon or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Luke 12:49-53
“I came to throw fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already ignited. 50But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is finished! 51Do you think that I came to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52Yes, from now on there will be five divided in one household: three against two, and two against three. 53They will be divided: father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
September 1, 2019, The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Aaron Christie
"Do You Hear Singing? Sing of our Lamb. Sing of our Life." (ORGAN DEDICATION) - audio or video
No Children's Sermon
Weekly Worship Guide
Revelation 5:11-14
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
3 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
August 25, 2019, The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"All Earthly Things Are Meaningless" - audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:18-26
2“Nothing but vapor,” Ecclesiastes said. “Totally vapor. Everything is just vapor that vanishes.”
2:18I also hated all the results of my hard work, for which I worked so hard under the sun, since I must leave it all to the man who comes after me. 19And who knows—will he be wise, or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the results of my hard work, for which I worked so hard and so wisely, under the sun. This too is vapor that vanishes.
20So I changed my course, and my heart began to despair over all my hard work at which I worked so hard under the sun. 21Sure, there may be a man who has worked hard—wisely, aptly, and skillfully. But he must hand over whatever he accumulated by all his hard work to a man who has not worked hard for it. This too is vapor. It’s so unfair! 22For what does a man gain through all his hard work, through all the turmoil in his heart as he works so hard under the sun?
23Bah! Pain fills his days. His occupation is frustration. Even at night his heart does not rest. This too is vapor.
24There is nothing better for a man than to eat and to drink and to find joy in his work. This too, I saw, is from God’s hand. 25For who can eat or enjoy himself apart from him? 26Yes, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness to the man whom he considers good, but to the person who goes on sinning God gives the task of gathering and collecting, but only so that he can give it all to a person whom God considers good. This too is vapor, nothing but chasing wind.
August 18, 2019, The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Mark Bartels
"Telling the Next Generation!" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Psalm 78:1-8, EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
Give ear, O my people, to my instruction. Turn your ear to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth to share a lesson. I will speak about puzzling problems from long ago, 3 things we have heard and known, things our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their descendants. We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of theLord, his power, and the wonders that he has done. 5 He set up testimony for Jacob. In Israel he established the law. He commanded our fathers to make it known to their children. 6 Then the next generation would know it, even the children not yet born. They would rise up and tell their children. 7 Then they would put their confidence in God, and they would not forget the deeds of God, but they would keep his commands. 8 Then they would not be like their fathers, a stubborn, rebellious generation, a generation that did not keep their hearts steadfast, whose spirits were not faithful to God.
August 11, 2019, The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"One Thing is Needed" - audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Luke 10:38-42, EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
38As they went on their way, Jesus came into a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39She had a sister named Mary, who was sitting at the Lord’s feet and was listening to his word. 40But Martha was distracted with all her serving. She came over and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me.”
41The Lord answered and told her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42but one thing is needed. In fact, Mary has chosen that better part, which will not be taken away from her.”
August 4, 2019, The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Mark Bartels
"Prayer for a Godly Life!" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Psalm 25:1-11, selected verses/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
1 To you, O Lord, I will lift up my soul. 2 In you I have trusted, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame. Do not let my enemies triumph over me. 3 All who hope in you will never be put to shame, but those who are treacherous for no reason will be put to shame. 4 Make known to me your ways, O Lord.Teach me your paths. 5 Make me walk in your truth and teach me, because you are the God who saves me. In you I hope all day long. 6 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and your mercy, for they are from eternity. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways. According to your mercy remember me, because of your goodness, O Lord. 8 Good and upright is the Lord. Therefore, he instructs sinners in the right way. 9 He directs the humble to what is just, and he teaches the humble his way. 10 All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11 For the sake of your name, O Lord, you forgive my guilt, although it is great.
July 28, 2019, The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Mark Bartels
"Make His Praise Glorious!" - audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Psalm 66, selected verses/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
For the choir director. A song. A psalm.
1Shout praise to God, all the earth! 2Make music to the glory of his name! Make his praise glorious!
3Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!” Because of your great power your enemies must cower before you. 4All the earth bows down to you. They make music to you. They make music to your name. 5Come and see the works of God. How awesome his deeds for all people! 6He turned the sea into dry land. They crossed through the river on foot...8Bless our God, you peoples. Let the sound of his praise be heard. 9He is the one who has preserved our lives. He did not let our feet slip.
10Indeed, you tested us, God. You refined us as silver is refined...12You let men ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water, but you brought us out to a well-watered place...
16Come, listen, all you who fear God, and let me tell what he has done to save my life. 17To him I cried out with my mouth. High praise was on my tongue. 18If I had contemplated evil in my heart, the Lord would not have listened,19but God has surely listened. He has paid attention to the sound of my prayer. 20Blessed be God, who has not turned aside my prayer or turned aside his mercy from me!
July 21, 2019, The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"The Necessity of the Cross" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Galatians 5:1, 13-25/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not allow anyone to put the yoke of slavery on you again.
13After all, brothers, you were called to freedom. Only do not use your freedom as a starting point for your sinful flesh. Rather, serve one another through love. 14In fact, the whole law is summed up in this one statement: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
16What I am saying is this: Walk by the spirit, and you will not carry out what the sinful flesh desires. 17For the sinful flesh desires what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the sinful flesh. In fact, these two continually oppose one another, so that you do not continue to do these things you want to do. 18But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the control of the law.
19Now the works of the sinful flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, complete lack of restraint, 20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, discord, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, heresies, 21envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things similar to these. I warn you, just as I also warned you before, that those who continue to do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the spirit, let us also walk in step with it.
July 14, 2019, The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"The Necessity of the Cross" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Luke 9:18-24/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
18One time when Jesus was praying alone and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
19They answered, “‘John the Baptist,’ but others say, ‘Elijah,’ and others say ‘one of the ancient prophets come back to life.’”
20He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”
21He gave them a strict command not to tell this to anyone. 22He said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law. He must be killed and be raised on the third day.”
23Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
July 7, 2019, The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Mark Bartels
"Living Like a Christian" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Galatians 2:11-21/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
11But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly wrong. 12For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when those people came, he drew back and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision group. 13And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14But when I saw that they were not acting according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of all of them, “If you, a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, why do you compel the Gentiles to live like the Jews?”
15“We are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners. 16We know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. So we also believed in Christ Jesus that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. 17But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were also found to be sinners, then is Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not!
18“In fact, if I build up again those things that I destroyed, I bring on myself the judgment of being a lawbreaker. 19Indeed, through the law I died to the law that I might live for God. 20I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I am now living in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not regard the grace of God as nothing. As a matter of fact, if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!”
June 30, 2019, The Third Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"I Say To You, Get Up!" - text or video
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Luke 7:11-17/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
11Soon afterward Jesus went on his way to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd were traveling with him. 12As he was approaching the town gate, there was a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother. She was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not cry.” 14He went up to the open coffin, touched it, and the pallbearers stopped. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
16Fear gripped all of them, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us” and “God has visited his people!” 17This was reported about him in all of Judea and in all the surrounding countryside.
June 23, 2019, The Second Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Mark Bartels
"A Prayer for Help!" - text or audio soon or video
Children's Sermon - audio soon
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Psalm 142/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
A prayer of David
A maskil by David. When he was in the cave. A prayer.
1 With my voice I cry out to the Lord.
With my voice I call to the Lord for mercy.
2 I pour out my complaint before him.
I tell my distress before him.
3 When my spirit grows faint within me,
you are the one who knows my course.
On the path where I walk they have hidden a snare for me.
4 Look to my right and see.
There is no one who recognizes me.
There is no escape for me.
No one cares about my life.
5 I cry out to you, Lord.
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”
6 Pay attention to my loud cry,
because I am very weak.
Rescue me from those who pursue me,
because they are too strong for me.
7 Set me free from my prison,
so I can give thanks to your name.
Then the righteous will gather around me,
because you have accomplished your purpose for me.
June 16, 2019, Holy Trinity Sunday - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"Our Triune God Is an Awesome God!" - text soon or audio or video
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Proverbs 8:22-31/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.
23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, 29 when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, 30 then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, 31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.
June 9, 2019, Pentecost - Pastor Mark Bartels
"Create in Me a Clean Heart!" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
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Psalm 51:10-12/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
10Create in me a pure heart, O God. Renew an unwavering spirit within me. 11Do not cast me from your presence. Do not take your Holy Spirit from me. 12Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Sustain me with a willing spirit.
June 2, 2019, Ascension Day - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"The Ascension of Our Lord" - text or audio or video
Weekly Worship Guide
Luke 24:44-53/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
44He said to them, “These are my words, which I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.”
45Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46He said to them, “This is what is written and so it must be: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49Look, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
50He led them out as far as the vicinity of Bethany. He lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51And while he was blessing them, he parted from them and was taken up into heaven. 52So they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53They were continually in the temple courts, praising and blessing God. Amen.
May 26, 2019, Sixth Sunday of Easter and Confirmation - Pastor Mark Bartels
"This is Most Certainly True!" - text soon or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
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John 14:23-29/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
23Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will hold on to my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24The one who does not love me does not hold on to my words. The word that you are hearing is not mine, but it is from the Father who sent me.
25“I have told you these things while staying with you. 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I told you.
27“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not let it be afraid. 28You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.
29“I have told you now before it happens so that, when it does happen, you may believe.”
May 19, 2019, Fifth Sunday of Easter - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"Rejoice and Praise the Word of the Lord" - text or audio or video
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Acts 13:44-52/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
44On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of God. 45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with envy and began to contradict what Paul was saying by slandering him.
46Then Paul and Barnabas responded fearlessly, “It was necessary that God's word be spoken to you first. But since you reject it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, look: We are now turning to the Gentiles! 47For this is what the Lord has instructed us:
I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the end of the earth.”
48When the Gentiles heard this, they were rejoicing and praising the word of the Lord. All who had been appointed for eternal life believed.
49And the word of the Lord was being carried through the whole region. 50But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district. 51So they shook the dust off their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52The disciples continued to be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
May 12, 2019, Fourth Sunday of Easter - Pastor Mark Bartels
"The Shepherd's Voice" - text or audio or video
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John 10:22-30/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
22Then the Festival of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was walking in the temple area in Solomon’s Colonnade.
24So the Jews gathered around Jesus, asking, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25Jesus answered them, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I am doing in my Father’s name testify about me. 26But you do not believe, because you are not my sheep, as I said to you. 27My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”
May 5, 2019, Third Sunday of Easter - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"We Are His Witnesses" - text or audio or video
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Acts 9:1-19a/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he might bring them to Jerusalem as prisoners.
3As he went on his way and was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
5He asked, “Who are you, Lord?”
He replied, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you need to do.”
7The men traveling with him stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone.
8They raised Saul up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes, he could not see anything. They took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9For three days he could not see, and he did not eat or drink.
10There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
He answered, “Here I am, Lord.”
11The Lord told him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. In fact, at this very moment he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he can regain his sight.”
13Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man and how much harm he did to your saints in Jerusalem. 14And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15The Lord said to him, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. 16Indeed, I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17Ananias left and entered the house. Laying his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, whom you saw on your way here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized. 19And after taking some food, he regained his strength.
April 28, 2019, Second Sunday of Easter - Pastor Mark Bartels
"Stop Doubting and Believe!" - text or audio or video
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John 20:19-31/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
19On the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were together behind locked doors because of their fear of the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you!” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you! Just as the Father has sent me, I am also sending you.” 22After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23Whenever you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven. Whenever you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
24But Thomas, one of the Twelve, the one called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26After eight days, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Take your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue to doubt, but believe.”
28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
April 21, 2019, Easter Sunday - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"Victory!" - text or audio or video
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Exodus 15:1-11/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
1Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord. They said: I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has thrown into the sea. 2The Lord is my strength and song. 3The Lord is a warrior. The Lord is his name. 4He has cast Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea. His elite officers are drowned in the Red Sea. 5The deep waters covered them. They sank down to the depths like a stone. 6Lord, your right hand is glorious in power. Lord, your right hand has shattered the enemy. 7In your great majesty you overthrew those who opposed you. You sent out your burning anger. It consumed them like stubble. 8At the blast from your nostrils the waters piled up. The flowing waters stood up like a dam. The deep waters became solid in the heart of the sea. 9The enemy said, “I will pursue. I will overtake. I will divide the plunder. I will do whatever I want with them. I will draw my sword, and my hand will destroy them.” 10But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. 11Lord, who is like you among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, awesome in praise, working wonders?
April 14, 2019, Palm Sunday - Pastor Mark Bartels
"May It Never Be" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
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Luke 19:28-40/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
28After Jesus had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29As he came near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples ahead, 30saying, “Go to the village ahead of you. When you enter it, you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you will say this: ‘The Lord needs it.’”
32Those who were sent ahead went and found things just as he had told them. 33As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34They said, “The Lord needs it.”
35Then they brought the colt to Jesus. They threw their robes on the colt and set Jesus on it. 36As he went along, people spread their robes on the road. 37As he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began to praise God joyfully, with a loud voice, for all the miracles they had seen, 38saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39Some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40He replied, “I tell you, if these people would be silent, the stones would cry out.”
April 7, 2019, The Fifth Sunday in Lent - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"May It Never Be" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
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Luke 20:9-19/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
9He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to some tenant farmers, and went away on a journey for a long time. 10When it was the right time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenant farmers beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed. 11The man went ahead and sent yet another servant, but they also beat him, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12He then sent yet a third. They also wounded him and threw him out. 13The owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my son, whom I love. Perhaps they will respect him.’
14“But when the tenant farmers saw him, they talked it over with one another. They said, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him, so that the inheritance will be ours.’ 15They threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. So what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16He will come and destroy those tenant farmers and give the vineyard to others.”
When they heard this, they said, “May it never be!”
17But he looked at them and said, “Then what about this that is written:
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone?
18“Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush the one on whom it falls.”
19That very hour the chief priests and the experts in the law began looking for a way to lay hands on him, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
March 31, 2019, The Fourth Sunday in Lent - Pastor Mark Bartels
"The Prodigal Son Comes Home!" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
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Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
All the tax collectors and sinners were coming to Jesus to hear him. 2But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3He told them this parable:
“A certain man had two sons. 12The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all that he had and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted his wealth with reckless living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. 15He went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16He would have liked to fill his stomach with the carob pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, and I am dying from hunger! 18I will get up, go to my father, and tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
20“He got up and went to his father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, hugged his son, and kissed him. 21The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick, bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us eat and celebrate, 24because this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.
25“His older son was in the field. As he approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26He called one of the servants and asked what was going on. 27The servant told him, ‘Your brother is here! Your father killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28The older brother was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him.
29He answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I’ve been serving you, and I never disobeyed your command, but you never gave me even a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours arrived after wasting your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
31“The father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’”
March 24, 2019, The Third Sunday in Lent - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"Take Off Your Sandals" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
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Exodus 3:1-8, 10-15/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
Now Moses was shepherding the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, a priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2The Angel of the Lord appeared to him in blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire, but the bush was not burning up. 3So he said, “I will go over and look at this amazing sight—to find out why the bush is not burning up.”
4When the Lord saw that Moses had gone over to take a look, God called to him from the middle of the bush and said, “Moses! Moses!”
Moses said, “I am here.”
5The Lord said, “Do not come any closer. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6He then said, “I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
7The Lord said, “I have certainly seen the misery of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their cry for help because of their slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8So I have come down to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey.
10Come now, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”
11But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
12So he said, “I will certainly be with you. This will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will serve God on this mountain.”
13But Moses said to God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I say to them?”
14So God replied to Moses, “I am who I am.” He also said, “You will say this to the Israelites: I am has sent me to you.”
15God also told Moses, “Say this to the Israelites: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered from generation to generation’
March 17, 2019, The Second Sunday in Lent - Pastor Mark Bartels
"Stand Firm!" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
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Philippians 3:17-4:1/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
17Brothers, join together in imitating me and in paying attention to those who are walking according to the pattern we gave you. 18To be sure, many walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. I told you about them often, and now I am saying it while weeping. 19Their end is destruction, their god is their appetite, and their glory is in their shame. They are thinking only about earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven. We are eagerly waiting for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21By the power that enables him to subject all things to himself, he will transform our humble bodies to be like his glorious body.
4:1So then, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way keep standing firm in the Lord, my dear friends.
March 10, 2019, The First Sunday in Lent - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"Remember the Lord's Blessings" - text or audio or video
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Deuteronomy 26:5-10/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
5Then you will respond and say in the presence of the Lord your God, “My father was a wandering Aramean. He went down to Egypt and lived there as an alien with just a few people, but there he became a great, strong, and populous nation. 6The Egyptians mistreated and afflicted us. They imposed hard labor on us. 7We cried out to the Lord, the God of our fathers, and the Lord heard our voice, and he saw our affliction, our labor, and oppression. 8The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm and with great awe-inspiring acts and signs and wonders. 9He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10So now, look as I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you have given me, Lord.”
March 3, 2019, The Transfiguration of our Lord - Pastor Mark Bartels
"Let Light Shine Out of Darkness" - text or audio or video
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2 Corinthians 4:3-6/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
3But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled among those who are perishing. 4In the case of those people, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from clearly seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is God’s image.
5Indeed, we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6For the God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” is the same one who made light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the person of Jesus Christ.
February 24, 2019, The 7th Sunday after the Epiphany - Guest Pastor, Don Moldstad
"Heavenly Agents of God's Mercy" - audio or video
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Luke 6:32-36/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
32If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? To be sure, even the sinners love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even the sinners do the same thing. 34If you lend to those from whom you expect to be repaid, what credit is that to you? Even the sinners lend to sinners in order to be paid back in full. 35Instead, love your enemies, do good and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the unthankful and the evil. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
February 17, 2019, The 6th Sunday after the Epiphany - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"A First Look at Easter" - text or audio or video
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1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
12Now if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how is it that some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
16For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then it also follows that those who fell asleep in Christ perished. 19If our hope in Christ applies only to this life, we are the most pitiful people of all.
20But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
February 10, 2019, The 5th Sunday after the Epiphany - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"The Greatest Fishing Story Ever" - text or audio or video
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Luke 5:1-11/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
One time, while the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. 2He saw two boats there along the lakeshore. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3Jesus got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the shore. He sat down and began teaching the crowds from the boat. 4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.”
5Simon answered him, “Master, we worked hard all through the night and caught nothing. But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets were about to tear apart. 7They signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, because I am a sinful man, Lord.” 9For Peter and all those with him were amazed at the number of fish they had caught, 10and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, “Have no fear. From now on you will be catching people.”
11After they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.
February 3, 2019, The 4th Sunday after the Epiphany - Pastor Mark Bartels
"Listen with Faith!" - text or audio or video
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Luke 1:20-32/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
20He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
22They all spoke well of him and were impressed by the words of grace that came from his mouth. And they kept saying, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
23He told them, “Certainly you will quote this proverb to me, ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ Do here in your hometown everything we heard you did in Capernaum.” 24And he said, “Amen I tell you: No prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25But truly I tell you: There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three years and six months, while a great famine came over all the land. 26Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow of Zarephath, in Sidon. 27And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was healed except Naaman the Syrian.”
28All those who were in the synagogue were filled with rage when they heard these things. 29They got up and drove him out of the town. They led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30But he passed through the middle of them and went on his way.
31He went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbath. 32They were amazed by his teaching, because his message had authority.
January 27, 2019, The 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany - Pastor Mark Bartels
"Help Has Arrived!" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Luke 4:14-21/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
14Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through all the surrounding area. 15He was teaching in their synagogues and being honored by everyone.
16He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. As was his custom, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. 17The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
18The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free those who are oppressed,
19and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
20He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
January 20, 2019, The 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany - Pastor Bernt Tweit
"Spiritual Charismata" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
1 Corinthians 12:1-11/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2You know that when you were pagans, you were deceived and somehow led away to mute idols. 3Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by God’s Spirit says, “A curse be upon Jesus,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4There are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of ministries, and yet the same Lord. 6There are various kinds of activity, but the same God, who produces all of them in everyone.
7Each person is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8To one person a message of wisdom is given by the Spirit; to another, a message of knowledge, as the same Spirit provides it; 9by the same Spirit, faith is given to someone else; and to another, the same Spirit gives healing gifts. 10Another is given powers to do miracles; another, the gift of prophecy; another, the evaluating of spirits; someone else, different kinds of tongues; and another, the interpretation of tongues. 11One and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them to each one individually as he desires.
January 13, 2019, The Baptism of our Lord - Pastor Mark Bartels
"Baptized with the Holy Spirit" - text or audio or video
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
15The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ. 16John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But someone mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean out his threshing floor. He will gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
21When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. While he was praying, heaven was opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love. I am well pleased with you.”
January 6, 2019, The Epiphany of our Lord - Guest Preacher, Pastor Thomas Heyn
"See His Star and Worship Him" - audio
Children's Sermon - audio
Weekly Worship Guide
Matthew 2:1-12/EHV (Evangelical Heritage Version)
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, when Herod was king, Wise Men from the east came to Jerusalem. They asked, 2“Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3When King Herod heard this, he was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4He gathered together all the people’s chief priests and experts in the law. He asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, because this was written through the prophet:
6You, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are certainly not least among the rulers of Judah: because out of you will come a ruler, who will shepherd my people, Israel.”
7Then Herod secretly summoned the Wise Men and found out from them exactly when the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report to me, so that I may also go and worship him.”
9After listening to the king, they went on their way. Then the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them, until it stood still over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with overwhelming joy. 11After they went into the house and saw the child with Mary, his mother, they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12Since they had been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route.