Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church – Flagstaff, Arizona - Sermons

Why does Jesus sometimes seem to delay? This sermon explores that question through the story of Lazarus and shows that even in painful moments, Jesus is working for God’s glory and our good. He walks with his people through every hardship and gives the sure hope of eternal life.

At Jacob’s well, Jesus turns a simple request for water into a life-changing conversation. The Samaritan woman discovers the Messiah and receives the water of life. This sermon reminds us that Jesus seeks us out, forgives our sins, and sends us to tell others the good news.

Faith is not blind optimism or wishful thinking. In Genesis 12, Abram shows us that faith begins with God’s initiative, rests on divine promises, and moves believers into action. Even at seventy-five, Abram trusted and went. Discover how God still drives, sustains, and strengthens faith today.

One man’s disobedience brought sin and death into the world. One man’s obedience brought forgiveness and life. Romans 5 shows the contrast between Adam and Jesus—and the hope we have because of Christ. Your future doesn’t rest on your effort, but on his finished work.

What does real glory look like? Not a medal. Not applause. A shining Savior who went from the mountain to Mount Calvary — for you. See why the path to eternal glory begins with looking at Jesus and listening to him.

“You call this worship?” God’s question in Isaiah 58 still echoes today. This sermon contrasts surface-level devotion with Christ-centered worship that is constant, selfless, and life-giving. Because Jesus goes before us and guards behind us, worship becomes a joyful calling, not a burdensome obligation.

Baptism is more than a beginning—it is a burial. United with Christ’s death, our sins are truly canceled and our old self loses its power. This message from Colossians shows why baptism frees us from fear, guilt, and slavery to sin, and anchors our life in Christ alone.

A firefighter escapes a firestorm by diving into a river. Peter proclaims a far greater rescue in Acts 2. This sermon shows why baptism is a “better bath”—washing sins away, delivering the Holy Spirit, and resting entirely on God’s promise, not human effort.

Money promises security but delivers anxiety. Baptism offers something better. God removes our old identity, drenches us with the Holy Spirit, and names us heirs of eternal life. This bequest doesn’t run out, get contested, or disappear—it lasts forever.

We can’t choose our first birth—but God gives us a better one. In baptism, the Holy Spirit creates faith, forgives sin, and declares us God’s children. Born of water and the Spirit, we receive a new identity and a verdict of “not guilty.”