How dangerous is the sin of pride? Holy Scripture says that even if you were to keep all of God’s other commands and yet stumble over his directive to be humble, God threatens “judgment without mercy” just for that one sin alone.

Today the words from our Savior wound our arrogant hearts. Then the Great Physician cuts out our pride, removing our sin, healing our attitudes, and compelling us to rejoice that, wherever Jesus is operating, “those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

September 4, 2022 (Vicar Jacob Ungemach) Luke 14:1, 7-14 by Living Savior

Jesus’ sharp words remind us that the door to heaven is narrow. It’s easy to develop a false sense of security about our standing before God based on some superficial, external familiarity we have with him. Jesus warns, however, that many who think they are on the path to heaven will end up shut out. We must make every effort to enter through the narrow door, that is, through faith in him.

Jesus directs our attention on what it will take for us to reach the finish line. Following Jesus does not create a smooth and easy path for us. In fact, following Jesus and his Word will lead to division among people, even among people very close to one another. Thankfully, Jesus and his Word also unite us to a long list of runners who have finished the race and won the prize. We know where following Jesus leads.

August 14, 2022 (Pastor Paul Zell) - Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 by Living Savior

As much as it is easy for us to get distracted by obsessing over the temporary, earthly resources with which God blesses us, it is easy to get distracted by neglecting the unseen, eternal reward God has in store for us. Jesus frees us from distraction by pointing us to the promises he has already kept in the lives of his faithful people and proclaiming the promises he wants us to cling to in faith.

This earthly life does not consist in accumulating a bunch of possessions and then losing everything when you die. So Jesus directs our attention away from all kinds of greed. Instead, we set our hearts and minds on things above and treasure the real life that we will enjoy with our Savior forever.

Jesus teaches us about the lines of communication. When we pray, we are talking to God. In God’s Word and only through God’s Word, God talks to us. We need both. But we must not confuse the direction this communication goes. So Jesus teaches us how to pray and tells us that our Father listens and loves us.

Through Abraham’s prayers we see what fervent prayer is like. Our Father will never turn a deaf ear because our Savior mediates for us to the Father who desires that all people be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth in his Word.

This past week we had the privilege of welcoming many children from our congregation and community to our first ever Youth Sports Camp. It was an awesome week for playing soccer, basketball, football, and other games; for meeting new friends; for having a lot of fun; and—most importantly—for learning about our good and gracious God.

This year’s Sports Camp theme: “Our God is for us.” These words come from a question asked in Romans 8 -- “If God is for us, who can be against us?” The answer provided by Holy Scripture is obvious, that if God is for us, no one and nothing more powerful can stand against us.

So, this past week we talked about some of the things that threaten us, such as our own weaknesses, the evil threats of this world, the lies of the devil, even death itself. Our enemies are many, and they are strong. Thankfully, our God is for us. As a result, no enemy and no evil can stand up against him. Even death doesn’t stand a chance!

This morning we are honored to have some of the campers and their families with us to celebrate the conclusion of this wonderful week.

The Holy Spirit’s life-giving Word removes the burden of trying to justify ourselves before God. We can’t do that. Yet we don’t have to, because Jesus Christ already has done that for us by his holy life and sacrificial death. Our deeds of love don’t make us right with God. Christ alone does that. In fact, now that a “not guilty” verdict in God’s courtroom is a certainty, we have been blessed with freedom. Freedom to produce the fruits of the Spirit. Freedom to love our neighbor.