Text: Luke 24:13-35

Series: Jump in the River!

In Christian circles you often hear the phrase "God's Word" thrown around. But what exactly do we mean by it? Pastor Matt's answer in this sermon may surprise you, because as Lutherans we think of it a bit differently than some. As we reflect on the story of two disciples encountering the resurrected Jesus on the road, we recognize how we too encounter the Word of God, made flesh, every Sunday in worship. 

Text: John 20:19-31

In this week's special episode, Bishop Dave Nagler of our Pacifica Synod brings us a message based on the text that gives "Doubting" Thomas his unfortunate nickname. In doing so, Bishop Dave brings us an important message about what it really means to have faith. Listen and explore what it means to move from intellectual belief toward life-changing trust. 

Text: Matthew 20:1-10

When the women went to see Jesus’ tomb early on that first Easter morning, we read that “suddenly there was a great earthquake.” Not surprisingly, in the ancient world earthquakes were associated with divine action. God had certainly acted! It was the most important event in history. Where death had reigned, now there is new life! It seems we could use some earth-shaking today. Jesus points these early disciples to the place of divine action now: sharing the good news of Jesus in community. That may not seem earth-shaking, but the message of Jesus has the power to shake open the human heart - and even to shake our world.

Texts: John 18-19, Psalm 22, Hebrews 4:14-16

We spend a lot of time "lifting up" God in praise. But sometimes we need a God who is lower. A God for whom despair is not foreign. We need to know a God who is with us at our depths, in our suffering. That's the God we find in Good Friday. No matter how low we go, Christ is lower still. In this sermon from last week's Good Friday service, Pastor Matt invites us to fall into his grace. 

The song at the end of the podcast is titled "Christ is Lower Still," by Dominique Jones, Isaac Wardell, Kate Bluett, and Matt Maher, originally recorded on the album Sanctuary Songs by the Porter's Gate. This live recording was led on Good Friday at Community Lutheran Church by Pastor Matt Anderson (vocals, guitar) and Sara Lehman (piano, vocals). 

Texts: Luke 19:29-48, Zechariah 9:9-10, Psalm 118:1-2,19-29; Philippians 2:5-11

How is true peace achieved in a world bent on violence? On Palm Sunday we see Jesus triumphantly entering Jerusalem as King. Except, is it really very triumphant, on a donkey? And he’s not technically king either. It turns out this is exactly the paradox Jesus wanted. True strength comes not through grasping power for oneself, but through submitting to the way of love, of giving oneself to lift others. As we enter the paradox of Holy Week, we join the ragtag bunch of disciples glorifying Jesus as King days before his humiliating death on a cross, in faith that against all odds, this is where true peace and wholeness is found. 

Text: John 11:1-45

Series: Together By Grace

Have you ever felt like God was absent when you needed Him most? In a powerful exploration of John 11, Pastor Matt delves into the story of Lazarus's resurrection, revealing it as the culminating miracle among seven signs in John's Gospel. Through the raw emotions of Martha and Mary—their grief, frustration, and even anger at Jesus's delayed arrival—we discover that questioning God can actually be an expression of deep faith. Pastor Matt illuminates how Jesus, despite knowing He would raise Lazarus, still wept with the mourners, demonstrating a God who doesn't stand distant from our pain but enters fully into it. The sermon reaches its crescendo with the parallel between God's creative word in Genesis and Jesus's life-giving command, "Lazarus, come out!" But perhaps most striking is the communal aspect of restoration—Jesus instructing others to unbind Lazarus, showing that our spiritual renewal is intimately connected to community. As the church, we are drawn together by the Holy Spirit not just for individual transformation, but to participate in each other's journey from death to new life.

Text: John 9:13-42

Series: Together By Grace

In this episode we hear part two of join us for part two of the story of Jesus and the woman at the well. Their conversation takes a surprising turn. Jesus' statement to her that the Father "is looking for those who will worship him in spirit and truth” calls us back to the heart. The heart of what it means to worship, the heart of a life with God. God is not looking for you to fulfill a set of requirements. God wants your heart.

Text: John 4:5-15

Series: Together By Grace

"Give me this water!" That's the Samaritan woman's reaction when Jesus tells her he has water that would quench her thirst permanently, so that she would never have to go back to the well again. Her desperation speaks to a universal human desire for contentment that we can never attain on our own. But the security Jesus' love provides us allows us to cross boundaries with him to share that love. The resulting community is a big part of the abundant life he desires for us! Listen for some great insights to this familiar story. 

Texts: John 3:1-17, Genesis 12:1-3

Series: Together By Grace

God's promises are always bigger than we imagine. The story of Nicodemus in John's gospel begins with a humorous misunderstanding. But as his conversation with Jesus continues, we see Nic's preconceptions about God's mercy getting blown apart. In this fascinating story of a religious leader who met Jesus under cover of darkness, we discover how our own preconceptions might be limiting our view of God's expansive grace for all creation. 

Text: Matthew 4:1-11

Series: Together by Grace

We don't like limits. We often think they restrict our freedom. But what if boundaries actually enable us to thrive, and our relationships to flourish? This sermon explores how Jesus conquered the temptation humanity couldn't in Eden, showing us a better way.  Rather than fighting against our inherent limitations, Pastor Matt challenges us to embrace them as opportunities for deepening our trust in God's care. True freedom is found in submission to divine wisdom that draws us into community with God and one another. Will we choose trust over control, accepting our limits as gifts that draw us closer to God and one another?