That potential promotion at work. The third date, which will signal if there is real potential in this relationship. The test this Friday, which will determine if you make honor roll or not. The game on Sunday with the playoffs on the line. So many things that compete for our attention! It’s easy to think of religion as just another of many activities to cram into our schedules. Sometimes, perhaps, the schedule is just too crowded.

So, Jesus lovingly whispers into our ear, “Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.” Those are the words spoken as a dead body is planted in the ground. The reality is that our time in this world is so short. After comes eternity, spent in one of two very different places. Jesus wants us to grasp that somber truth so we rethink where he should fall among all our priorities. Death can come at any time. So now is the time to cling to Christ in true repentance. Not later. Now. There is no higher priority.

The Bible reading for this message is Joel 2:12-19.

Video for this message can be found here.

This is the first in our Lenten worship series: Rethinking Religion.

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Remember your Savior Jesus loves you! May he bless you with his grace!

At his baptism, Jesus heard his Father’s glorious voice: “You are my Son, whom I love” (Mark 1:11). From that day, in word and deed, Jesus began to reveal more about himself. He demonstrated the extent of his authority and power and love. Along the way, we had an epiphany. Jesus has to be the very Son of God! Yet, Jesus looked so normal, like an ordinary carpenter or your average rabbi or just another prophet. Until today. We have traveled from the river to the mountain. Today, on the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus gives us a glimpse of his true glory. As we see him in his dazzling brilliance, the Father speaks again, this time to us: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

The Bible reading for this message is 2 Corinthians 4:3-6.

Video for this message can be found here.

This is the final installment in our Epiphany worship series: Know Jesus, Know Joy.

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Remember your Savior Jesus loves you! May he bless you with his grace!

During this season of Epiphany, we have seen Christ’s divinity, his authority, and his power. Yet as Jesus has revealed himself, one aspect of his character shines through again and again—his care as our Savior. Time and again, we have seen Jesus’s care for sinful individuals, who are struggling with illness or fear or the power of a demon. Today we will see Jesus reveal himself as the Savior who cares for ordinary, hurting, broken, sinful people just like us. In doing so, we see his care was not just for the hurting in one location, but for all of us everywhere. Praise God that we have a Savior who cares for us!

The Bible reading for this message is Mark 1:29-39.

Video for this message can be found here.

This is the fourth message in our Epiphany worship series: Know Jesus, Know Joy.

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Remember your Savior Jesus loves you! May he bless you with his grace!

Authority is the power to determine what happens, the ability to give direction or even commands. Authority is limited. Authority is limited in duration. Parents have authority over their children until they grow up and move out. Authority is limited in scope. A governor has authority over the people of his state only, not the neighboring state. Authority is limited by levels. A manager has authority over employees unless the company owner—a higher authority—demotes him. Authority is limited in duration and scope. It is limited by higher levels of authority. 

This week we see that there is one man—only one!—who has absolute authority. There is no one, not even the demons, who is outside his authority. As the Son of God there is no higher authority than Jesus. And his authority is everlasting. But here is the best part of this epiphany: Jesus graciously uses his absolute authority for our benefit and blessing. 

The Bible reading for this message is Mark 1:21-28.

Video for this message can be found here.

This is the third in our Epiphany worship series: Know Jesus, Know Joy.

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Remember your Savior Jesus loves you! May he bless you with his grace!

To whom does the work of salvation belong? Simple question. There is only one Savior. But this is how good Jesus is. So that our lives might have profound meaning and eternal purpose, he shares some of that work with us. He calls us not just to be followers, but to be follower-makers. Jesus asks some—prophets, apostles, pastors, missionaries, teachers—to do this full time. But ultimately Jesus asks all believers to serve as his ambassadors, sharing the gospel with whomever he brings into our sphere of influence. This lofty charge requires commitment—a willingness to abandon everything else should faithfulness require it. This is the life-changing revelation for this week. Jesus has committed us to a lofty charge: the privilege to play a role in his saving work.

The Bible reading for this message is 2 Corinthians 5:14-21.

Video for this message can be found here.

This is the second in our Epiphany worship series: Know Jesus, Know Joy.

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Messages from the King is produced by King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, FL.

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Remember your Savior Jesus loves you! May he bless you with his grace!

At his baptism in the Jordan River Jesus was publicly anointed with the Holy Spirit and designated by God the Father as his chosen Messiah. Thus, Jesus’ baptism was the beginning of his public ministry. Jesus’ baptism revealed that he was not just a nice guy who could make a sturdy table. He was God’s chosen servant, the one who had come to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. Jesus is the one willing to stand in our place as our substitute and Savior.

Jesus’ baptism reveals to us who he really is. Our own baptism does the same! Our baptism was the beginning of a new and better life—eternal life!—a gift graciously given to us by our truest friend. Jesus’ ministry and our eternity with him. It begins with baptism.

The Bible reading for this message is Romans 6:1-11.

Video for this message can be found here.

This is the first in our Epiphany worship series: Know Jesus, Know Joy.

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Messages from the King is produced by King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, FL.

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Remember your Savior Jesus loves you! May he bless you with his grace!

On Christmas Eve a choir of angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace, goodwill toward mankind.” So, where is this peace on earth? Between nations? There are always wars going on somewhere. In our country? Disagreements have only grown more contentious, one group screaming angrily at another group. We might not even have perfect peace in our homes! So, what were the angels singing about?

They were singing about peace between a holy God who hates sin and human beings who sin every day. Because of what Christ did as our Savior, there is no hostility between us and God, only peace and love. We have the peace of salvation in our hearts. As we draw near the end of life, like elderly Simeon or Anna, we have the peace of knowing of the glorious eternal life that is to come. As this peace with God fills our hearts, it moves us to live in peace with each other too.

The Bible reading for this message is Luke 2:22-40.

Video for this message can be found here.

This is the third in our Christmas worship series Good News of Great Joy.

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Remember your Savior Jesus loves you! May he bless you with his grace!

On Christmas Eve the angel told the shepherds, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10). One wonders if those words struck those Jewish shepherds as odd. For centuries, God had given special attention to one nation—Israel. There were Jewish religious leaders who taught that only members of that special people would be saved. Not according to the Christmas angel! The birth of the Savior was good news for all people.

Today we celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord. Epiphany comes from a Greek word meaning “reveal.” When the Savior was born, he was first revealed to Israelites: the shepherds, Simeon, Anna. But today, the Lord miraculously guides foreigners across countless miles, so the Savior could be revealed to them as well. How did the magi respond? “They were overjoyed” (Matthew 2:10). Epiphany is sometimes known as “The Gentiles’ Christmas.” We Gentiles (non-Jews) rejoice in the good news that this Jewish baby is not just the Savior of Jews. He is for all people—the Savior of the world.

The Bible reading for this message is Matthew 2:1-12.

Video for this message can be found here.

This is the fourth in our Christmas worship series Good News of Great Joy.

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Messages from the King is produced by King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, FL.

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Remember your Savior Jesus loves you! May he bless you with his grace!

We find lasting comfort in Jesus, who gives us confidence in his life, death, and resurrection. This message was preached for the Christian Victory Service of Garnet Haggerty on 10 December 2023 @ King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, FL.

The Bible reading for this message is 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Video of this worship service and message can be found here.

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Messages from the King is produced by King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, FL.

To find out more about King of Kings...

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Remember your Savior Jesus loves you! May he bless you with his grace!

Scriptures teach that King Jesus is the Son of God in flesh and the only hope for salvation. Jesus himself claimed that he is the only way into the glorious kingdom of heaven. You do not approach meeting someone like that casually or carelessly. You prepare meticulously. What does that mean? What does a life of readiness—ready to meet such a King—look like? In one word: repentance. If we insist on hanging onto our sins, how can we receive the One who came for the very purpose of taking those sins away?

Throughout history, God has raised up called servants—like John the Baptizer—to preach a message of repentance. This repentance is central to our preparation for the Lord’s coming. Without repentance, the King’s coming only terrifies. But all those who believe and repent look forward to the coming of the King and the consummation of his everlasting kingdom.

The Bible reading for this message is 2 Peter 3:8-14.

Video for this message can be found here.

This is the second in our Advent worship series The King Shall Come.

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Messages from the King is produced by King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, FL.

To find out more about King of Kings...

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Remember your Savior Jesus loves you! May he bless you with his grace!