Some of us grew up fearing that we might get coal in our stockings on Christmas morning. We may grow up fearing coal or seeing coal as a bad thing. Later on, we learn coal is an important fossil fuel with good benefits, such as heat and power. In today's Scripture, we see Isaiah in the presence of God, feeling unclean and unworthy. Like Isaiah, we cannot make ourselves clean. Isaiah's lips are made clean with one touch of a burning coal, which takes away his guilt and atones for his sins. We need Jesus to touch us with coal to make us clean and pure today.

Pastor David Moerbe shares this week's message from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gardendale, Ala.

No matter how hard your try, you cannot build a house of cards that will last, because it has no strong foundation. If we do not have a strong foundation in our lives, we will too will fall. In Matthew Chapter 7, Jesus describes two people who build houses, one on the rock, one on the sand. Like the house on sand, without a strong foundation, life's storms could knock us down. With Jesus as the strong foundation to our lives, we will be built to last, we will be strong, and we will not be crushed by the storms of this life. Pastor David Moerbe shares this week's message from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gardendale, Ala.

On this Mother's Day, we are reminded in Scripture to honor our mother and father, among others. God evens calls us to honor someone that we don't respect. What if we don't respect a parent, or a political leader or our boss? How can we honor someone if we can't respect them? There is a big difference between honoring someone and condoning disrespectful behavior. We honor God by being obedient to His commandments. Pastor Ed Brashier shares this week's message from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gardendale, Ala.

We have gathered on Sunday to be in the presence of Jesus to receive His gifts and to respond to His grace, but now what? What does Monday morning at the office look like? What does Tuesday on the softball field bring? How does Friday at the movies reflect a life of worship? How can Saturday get us ready for Sunday? Live Monday, and Tuesday, and every other day of the week just like it's Sunday, and be a daily living sacrifice for Jesus. Don't settle for mediocrity, pursue daily transformation in the Lord, and daily seek His will. Pastor David Moerbe shares this week's message from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gardendale, Ala.

When our car battery dies, we need a jumpstart to get us running again. Sometimes our worship lives need a jumpstart as well. At times, worship can seem boring, unengaged, lifeless or a waste of time. The purpose of worship is to be in the presence of God, so we can receive the gifts of grace and respond to those gifts. We can jumpstart our worship life by responding to those gifts of grace. When we praise Jesus, when we pray to Jesus, when we bring our gifts to Jesus, when we listen to Jesus, and when we serve Jesus, we can re-engage with our worship life once again. Pastor David Moerbe shares this week's message from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gardendale, Ala.

Everything has a purpose. When we take something and use it for a purpose it is not intended for, like throwing a can of hairspray into a fire, bad things can happen. As the Psalmists say, one day in the presence of God is better than a thousand days anywhere else. The purpose of worship is so that God's people can gather in the presence of Jesus, to receive His gifts and respond to His grace. Worship is not about what you or I want. Worship is not about just singing some songs or listening to a message, because we can do that anywhere we go. Worship is about gathering with people in the presence of Jesus and engaging in the work of the people. Our souls long for Jesus, our sun and our shield, and He will not withhold his good and gracious gifts! We are all forgetful people, try the Christian life is a life of remembering things. Worship is for coming to be with Jesus, not to learn something new, but to be reminded of things we forget. Pastor David Moerbe shares this week's message from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gardendale, Ala.

Just like a car accident, through mistakes we make, we can wreck our finances, our marriages, or our friendships. Similarly, we can wreck our worship life. God desires us to worship Him in spirit and in truth. When we fail to plan, when we fall out of the habit, when we miss the purpose, when our heart is distracted, or when we have hidden or unacknowledged sin, we can wreck our worship life. But if we acknowledge our "wreckage", let God fix the damage and learn from Him how to drive, we can find our worship lives once again. Pastor David Moerbe shares this week's message from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gardendale, Ala.

When we are in church, we are in the presence of God, and we should make a joyful noise with songs of praise whenever we are in the presence of God. In this new series, we want to learn how to worship God in this idol-driven world. When we receive an invitation to a wedding or a party, or something similar, we typically have one of three responses: I'm not going! I really should go but I don't want to. And, I can't WAIT to get there! Those responses are the result of three spirits: Rejection, obligation or joy. But what happens when the invitation we receive is from God Himself, to become a worshiper of Christ? How do we go from a spirit of rejection or obligation to a place of joyful excitement? God is real, God doesn't care about your past, and God gives you what you need. Pastor David Moerbe shares this week's message from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gardendale, Ala.

We celebrate Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But what would have happened if the stone hadn't been rolled away? What would life be like if Jesus was never resurrected? Our whole identity would change, our entire purpose for life would change, our life of second chances would not exist. There would be no Father waiting for us to come home. There would be no grace shown to us. There would be no hope.Thank God we have the resurrection! Thank God we have the hope! He is Risen Indeed! Pastor David Moerbe shares this Easter message from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gardendale, Ala.

We make a big deal when an worldly celebrity arrives. We roll out the red carpet when presidents, kings, rulers and dignitaries come to town. This is exactly what Palm Sunday is all about, as Jesus approached Jerusalem and crowds cheered, laid their cloaks and palm branches on the ground, and celebrated the arrival of the Son of Man. Hosanna in the highest! Pastor David Moerbe shares this Palm Sunday message from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gardendale, Ala.