Message delivered by Pastor Nate Winterhof.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him;

he took her as his wife.

Matthew 1:24

The story of Jesus’ birth is most often told following the version in Luke’s gospel.

In Luke, the angel Gabriel visits Mary and shares how God has chosen her to bear the Christ child.

In Matthew, the story focuses on Joseph.

In a dream, the angel shares the news about the Holy Spirit and Mary.

It seems that God was taking no chances!

Both Mary and Joseph got angelic visitations.

But Joseph is also important because his family lineage traced back to King David, from whom the Messiah would descend, according to prophesy.

Join us Sunday as we continue our Advent journey!

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him,

“Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:

Matthew 11:2–4

This Sunday’s gospel text again features John the Baptist.

Last week he was baptizing at the River Jordan and preparing people for the coming Messiah.

Here he is in prison, awaiting execution, wondering if Jesus is the one.

Jesus’s answer is quite instructive: look at what you see me doing and decide.

He healed the sick, brought sight to the blind, proclaimed good news to the poor, and so much more.

For some, this was more than enough evidence, but for others there would never be enough.

In the end, following Jesus is about faith.

With eyes of faith we can see God’s work all around us, without it we may miss it.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

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.