In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Matthew 3:1–2

As we continue to journey in this season of Advent, a time of preparation, we encounter John the Baptist.

John’s ministry is akin to an Old Testament prophet, calling on people to repent and return to the ways of God.

His message was very powerful and effective as many came to him to be baptized, confess their sin, and bear “fruit worthy of repentance” (v. 8).

This message is for us too.

As we approach the coming of Christ are we prepared?

What can we do to align our lives with God?

Join us Sunday as we continue our Advent journey.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

Matthew 24:42

On Sunday we begin the season of Advent, a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord.

Jesus instructs us to “keep awake” because we must always be ready for the Lord to return.

The spiritual challenge of staying awake, believing and trusting God will return and make all things right,

if there are so many terrible and unjust things in this world it can overwhelm us.

Without faith, one could discern no evidence of God in the world.

By keeping awake, we hold fast to faith with the knowledge that God will return and make all things new.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying,

“If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”

There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

Luke 23:36–38

Sunday is Christ the King, the final Sunday of the church calendar.

On this day we proclaim Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords, with power and authority over all earthly powers.

This proclamation is already true even while it is not yet a reality.

Join us Sunday as we consider Christ the King and future reality of the Kingdom of God.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.

You will be hated by all because of my name.

But not a hair of your head will perish.

By your endurance you will gain your souls.

Luke 21:16–19

What a recruitment speech! Jesus’ words to his disciples did not exactly paint a rosy picture of their future.

Betrayal, hate, and death—not good.

But, Jesus also reassures them that by their endurance they will gain their souls.

It seems like many of the most important lessons in life are learned through hardship.

In those difficult times, Jesus invites us to trust him, hold fast, and not lose faith.

Easy to say, hard to do.

Join us Sunday as consider this aspect of spiritual growth.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.

Luke 20:38

Sunday’s gospel text features a confrontation between Jesus and a group of Sadducees.

The Sadducees were religious leaders who primarily worked in the Temple and did not believe in the resurrection.

They asked Jesus a gotcha question about the resurrection, which does not go according to their plan (no surprise to us).

God has the power to transcend all earthly boundaries and constraints and the resurrection life does not conform to our earthly understandings.

Join us Sunday as we consider to power and promise of the resurrection.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him,

so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints.

Ephesians 1:17–18

Sunday is All Saints Day, a rich and moving worship service which invites us to give thanks to God for the gift of loved ones, even as we mourn their passing.

In the passage from Ephesians, Paul offers the church (us) a prayer of wisdom and revelation to know the hope and promise of eternal life.

We need this!

On Sunday we will give thanks and remember the hope, peace, and promises of God given to us through Christ.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.

Romans 3:28

Sunday is Reformation Day, an occasion for Lutherans to remember and celebrate the remarkable contributions of Martin Luther and his fellow reformers made that continue to shape the church today.

Luther’s main theological insight centered around how salvation is achieved.

Luther found clarity about justification by grace through faith, apart from works of the law.

This continues to be good news for us all, that our relationship with God and the promise of salvation is entirely a gift of God’s grace and is not dependent on our actions.

Join us Sunday as we celebrate this good news!

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart…

“And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night?

Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them.

And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Luke 18:7–8

This Sunday our gospel text again features a parable of Jesus, sometimes called “the parable of the widow and the unjust judge.”

The above verses are the gospel writer Luke’s framing/interpretation of Jesus’ parable.

That in the midst of injustice, do not lose faith, do not give up, but persist in prayer and hope.

This is an important message for each of us to hear and live out.

Join us Sunday as we persist in God’s Word!

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?

Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Luke 17:17–18

Sunday’s gospel features Jesus healing ten lepers who ask Jesus to show mercy on them.

Jesus sends them to “go show yourselves to the priests” on their way they are all healed.

While nine of them continue on to see the priests, one turns back to give thanks and praise to Jesus.

The one who turned back and thank Jesus was a Samaritan (Luke has many challenging teachings on the Samaritans).

On one hand, this episode reminds us of the importance of being thankful for our blessings.

On the other hand, it also points us to the fully inclusive love of God that is not restricted to the boundaries of country or language or race.

Join us Sunday as we dig deeper!

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.