We have assurance in Christ in the midst of suffering. We have an eternal inheritance that will never fade, kept securely for us in heaven. In this life we may suffer, but God uses these trials to refine and purify our faith.

“Church A-B-C’s” is a year-long theme for our life together at Faith Lutheran Church. It is dedicated to understanding God’s calling upon His holy people – what it means to be a vibrant, mission-driven body of faith. We believe that God has called us to know Him and to make Him known to others in the world. We get to know Christ through His Word, shared in the church (the “temple”) in worship and Bible study. We get to know Christ through His Word shared around our dinner tables, with family, friends, and neighbors. We make Him known through our lives of service. 

Our summer series, “The Lion is on the Move,” is based on the Gospel of Mark. Of all the gospels, Mark is the shortest; and throughout the gospel, Jesus’ ministry advances rapidly. Transitional expressions such as “immediately,” “at once,” “that day” are found in abundance, especially in the first half of Mark. Jesus is clearly on a mission! Additionally, Mark’s gospel highlights the kingship of Jesus. Historically, the four gospels have been symbolized by the four living creatures described in Revelation 4:7 (a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle); and Mark’s gospel has been depicted as the lion, a symbol of royalty. (Jesus is elsewhere described as the “Lion of the tribe of Judah,” Revelation 5:5.)  

Thus, this series highlights the majesty and authority of Christ as He advances His Kingdom on earth through His earthly ministry, albeit in unexpected ways. Today we hear the Gospel story of Jesus calming a violent storm—the Creator of the universe demonstrates His power to control any situation. 

“Church A-B-C’s” is a year-long theme for our life together at Faith Lutheran Church. It is dedicated to understanding God’s calling upon His holy people – what it means to be a vibrant, mission-driven body of faith. We believe that God has called us to know Him and to make Him known to others in the world. We get to know Christ through His Word, shared in the church (the “temple”) in worship and Bible study. We get to know Christ through His Word shared around our dinner tables, with family, friends, and neighbors. We make Him known through our lives of service. 

Our summer series, “The Lion is on the Move,” is based on the Gospel of Mark. Of all the gospels, Mark is the shortest; and throughout the gospel, Jesus’ ministry advances rapidly. Transitional expressions such as “immediately,” “at once,” “that day” are found in abundance, especially in the first half of Mark. Jesus is clearly on a mission! Additionally, Mark’s gospel highlights the kingship of Jesus. Historically, the four gospels have been symbolized by the four living creatures described in Revelation 4:7 (a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle); and Mark’s gospel has been depicted as the lion, a symbol of royalty. (Jesus is elsewhere described as the “Lion of the tribe of Judah,” Revelation 5:5.)  

Thus, this series highlights the majesty and authority of Christ as He advances His Kingdom on earth through His earthly ministry, albeit in unexpected ways. Today we hear the Gospel story of Jesus rescuing a demon-possessed man, who up to this point, was an outcast and labeled too unfit to approach God. 

“Church A-B-C’s” is a year-long theme for our life together at Faith Lutheran Church. It is dedicated to understanding God’s calling upon His holy people – what it means to be a vibrant, mission-driven body of faith. We believe that God has called us to know Him and to make Him known to others in the world. We get to know Christ through His Word, shared in the church (the “temple”) in worship and Bible study. We get to know Christ through His Word shared around our dinner tables, with family, friends, and neighbors. We make Him known through our lives of service. 

Our summer series, “The Lion is on the Move,” is based on the Gospel of Mark. Of all the gospels, Mark is the shortest; and throughout the gospel, Jesus’ ministry advances rapidly. Transitional expressions such as “immediately,” “at once,” “that day” are found in abundance, especially in the first half of Mark. Jesus is clearly on a mission! Additionally, Mark’s gospel highlights the kingship of Jesus. Historically, the four gospels have been symbolized by the four living creatures described in Revelation 4:7 (a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle); and Mark’s gospel has been depicted as the lion, a symbol of royalty. (Jesus is elsewhere described as the “Lion of the tribe of Judah,” Revelation 5:5.)  

Thus, this series highlights the majesty and authority of Christ as He advances His Kingdom on earth through His earthly ministry, albeit in unexpected ways. Today we hear the Gospel story of Jesus rescuing a demon-possessed man, who up to this point, was an outcast and labeled too unfit to approach God. 

Today, they were covering 1 Peter 2 

We have assurance in Christ in the midst of suffering. We have an eternal inheritance that will never fade, kept securely for us in heaven. In this life we may suffer, but God uses these trials to refine and purify our faith.

“Church A-B-C’s” is a year-long theme for our life together at Faith Lutheran Church. It is dedicated to understanding God’s calling upon His holy people – what it means to be a vibrant, mission-driven body of faith. We believe that God has called us to know Him and to make Him known to others in the world. We get to know Christ through His Word, shared in the church (the “temple”) in worship and Bible study. We get to know Christ through His Word shared around our dinner tables, with family, friends, and neighbors. We make Him known through our lives of service. 

Our summer series, “The Lion is on the Move,” is based on the Gospel of Mark. Of all the gospels, Mark is the shortest; and throughout the gospel, Jesus’ ministry advances rapidly. Transitional expressions such as “immediately,” “at once,” “that day” are found in abundance, especially in the first half of Mark. Jesus is clearly on a mission! Additionally, Mark’s gospel highlights the kingship of Jesus. Historically, the four gospels have been symbolized by the four living creatures described in Revelation 4:7 (a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle); and Mark’s gospel has been depicted as the lion, a symbol of royalty. (Jesus is elsewhere described as the “Lion of the tribe of Judah,” Revelation 5:5.)  

Thus, this series highlights the majesty and authority of Christ as He advances His Kingdom on earth through His earthly ministry, albeit in unexpected ways. Today we hear the Gospel story of Jesus calming a violent storm—the Creator of the universe demonstrates His power to control any situation. 

“Church A-B-C’s” is a year-long theme for our life together at Faith Lutheran Church. It is dedicated to understanding God’s calling upon His holy people – what it means to be a vibrant, mission-driven body of faith. We believe that God has called us to know Him and to make Him known to others in the world. We get to know Christ through His Word, shared in the church (the “temple”) in worship and Bible study. We get to know Christ through His Word shared around our dinner tables, with family, friends, and neighbors. We make Him known through our lives of service. 

Our summer series, “The Lion is on the Move,” is based on the Gospel of Mark. Of all the gospels, Mark is the shortest; and throughout the gospel, Jesus’ ministry advances rapidly. Transitional expressions such as “immediately,” “at once,” “that day” are found in abundance, especially in the first half of Mark. Jesus is clearly on a mission! Additionally, Mark’s gospel highlights the kingship of Jesus. Historically, the four gospels have been symbolized by the four living creatures described in Revelation 4:7 (a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle); and Mark’s gospel has been depicted as the lion, a symbol of royalty. (Jesus is elsewhere described as the “Lion of the tribe of Judah,” Revelation 5:5.)  

“Church A-B-C’s” is a year-long theme for our life together at Faith Lutheran Church. It is dedicated to understanding God’s calling upon His holy people – what it means to be a vibrant, mission-driven body of faith. We believe that God has called us to know Him and to make Him known to others in the world. We get to know Christ through His Word, shared in the church (the “temple”) in worship and Bible study. We get to know Christ through His Word shared around our dinner tables, with family, friends, and neighbors. We make Him known through our lives of service. 

Our summer series, “The Lion is on the Move,” is based on the Gospel of Mark. Of all the gospels, Mark is the shortest; and throughout the gospel, Jesus’ ministry advances rapidly. Transitional expressions such as “immediately,” “at once,” “that day” are found in abundance, especially in the first half of Mark. Jesus is clearly on a mission! Additionally, Mark’s gospel highlights the kingship of Jesus. Historically, the four gospels have been symbolized by the four living creatures described in Revelation 4:7 (a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle); and Mark’s gospel has been depicted as the lion, a symbol of royalty. (Jesus is elsewhere described as the “Lion of the tribe of Judah,” Revelation 5:5.)  

On this day, Pastor Aaron covered the rest of 1 Peter 1.

Our worship today begins with a patriotic theme that stems from a long-standing tradition at Faith to celebrate our nation’s freedom and liberty along with thousands of other residents of the Fox Valley. In 1949, an Act of Congress signed by President Truman officially recognized June 14th as National Flag Day and the first Flag Day Parade in Appleton was held the following year. As we celebrate Flag Day in worship, let us do so always remembering that our first allegiance is to Jesus Christ, whose “kingdom is not of this world.”

Today, we also begin our summer sermon series called “Life in the Kingdom”. Each weekend we will explore the Gospel of Matthew, especially the portions that detail the teaching ministry of Jesus. If one was to read through the book of Matthew, one might notice how often Jesus speaks of “the kingdom of heaven”, a way of talking about the kingly reign of God. Throughout His life, Jesus encourages His listeners to live according to God’s will since we are ultimately under His authority and kingship.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus has a lot to say about life in the Kingdom of God. Throughout our “Life in the Kingdom” series, we will examine specific ways Jesus encourages us to live out our lives as His disciples. Today we will focus specifically on how we are called and sent into the world for “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:37).