Rock of Ages KCMO

Jesus warned that his disciples would be hated because of him, that they would be called before authorities, persecuted, and condemned for their loyalty to him and his message. But that shouldn't come as a surprise; that's what he experienced, too, as he walked the road to the cross. But just as his suffering and death led to his resurrection and our salvation, he promises us, "the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." That's the promise that Martin Luther trusted as he took his stand before pope and emperor, and that promise still stands for us today. When we face pressure and persecution and hatred because of Jesus, what will we do? Empowered by his promise and confident of his gift of salvation, we will stand firm, too.

Sermon Text: Matthew 10:16-23

Preacher: Pastor Nathan Strutz

Sunday, October 25, 2026 - The Festival of the Reformation

Rock of Ages Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Missouri

The Evangelist Luke was a man who chased down eyewitness testimony and traveled with missionaries around the world so that he could record and spread the good news of Jesus. He endured opposition, rejection, and danger (even a shipwreck!) to make sure the gospel would reach the ends of the earth. And why? Because he was absolutely certain about Jesus: that he was the fulfillment of God's plan, that he was the Savior from sin, and that he was for him and everyone in the world. He researched and traveled and wrote so that the same certainty that moved him to action might belong to us, too. So when we have such joyful certainty in Christ, how might it move us?

Sermon Text: Luke 1:1-4, 24:44-53

Preacher: Pastor Micah Plocher

Sunday, October 18, 2026 - The Festival of St. Luke, Evangelist

Rock of Ages Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Missouri

There are all kinds of things in this world that promise to fill our lives and satisfy our souls, but none of them can provide what we truly crave: righteousness--confidence that we are right before God and worthy of our place in the world. If we try to feast at this world's table, it always leads to shame at wasted effort and misplaced hopes. But in the gospel, God lays out a feast that will not leave us ashamed. He serves up Christ's righteousness--full and complete, a gift from him. It comes by his own power, as through the good news of Jesus he changes hearts and works the miracle of faith. Because this righteousness is the result of God's action and not our own striving, there is no possibility that it will not be enough, that it will come up short. All there is for us to do is believe it, receive it, enjoy it. So hear your God's invitation: "Come to the feast!"

Sermon Text: Romans 1:16-17

Preacher: Pastor Micah Plocher

Sunday, October 11, 2026 - The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 23A)

Rock of Ages Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Missouri

Christians live in an "already" and a "not yet." Already Jesus has done everything necessary to win eternal life for me. Already he has given me the forgiveness of sins. Already God considers me righteous for his sake. Already I am a member of his family, secure in his love. But not yet have I stood before his judgment throne. Not yet have I reached heaven. Not yet have I been resurrected and taken my place in the new creation. So what does the Christian life look like in the "already" and the "not yet"? Does the finished work of Christ allow us to relax and focus on other things until the Last Day? Paul's answer is a resounding, "No!" The Christian life is a life of striving, a life of straining, a life of pressing onward--not to earn God's favor, but because his love in Christ has filled us with new life, energy, and motivation to know him fully in our hearts and in our lives.

Sermon Text: Philippians 3:12-21

Preacher: Pastor Micah Plocher

Sunday, October 4, 2026 - The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 22A)

Rock of Ages Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Missouri

Human authority is primarily concerned with appearances. The priority of someone with this kind of authority is maintaining the appearance that they are worthy of authority. If they need to deny, obscure, or contradict what is true and good and right to do it, they won't hesitate. Heavenly authority, however, does not care about appearances; it's only concerned with the truth. Someone who speaks with God's authority is willing to break down facades and illusions in order to get to the heart of the matter - and the heart of a person. So which kind of authority will set the course for our lives? Heavenly or human? With a question and a parable, Jesus calls us to leave the false facades behind and live in the truth. When we do, we will find that God uses his authority to give us forgiveness and grace, and to win not just our appearance but our hearts by his love.

Sermon Text: Matthew 21:23-32

Preacher: Pastor Micah Plocher

Sunday, September 27, 2026 - The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 21A)

Rock of Ages Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Missouri

What is the central principle of God's kingdom, his way of dealing with people? Is he looking for a certain kind of person to bless? Is he waiting for people to do things that show what they're made of? Does he want people to impress him with their force of will and effort? Is he just really partial to people from certain families? God reveals to us that, in his kingdom, none of that makes any difference. He is the one who brings people into his kingdom, keeps them in his kingdom, and dispenses the blessings of the kingdom. It's all grace, never deserved. The thing that drives him and everything he does is and always has been mercy.

Sermon Text: Romans 9:6-16

Preacher: Pastor Micah Plocher

Sunday, September 20, 2026 - The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 20A)

Rock of Ages Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Missouri

When someone sins against us, what should we do? We could get even, pay them back evil for evil, trouble for trouble, anger for sin. But God teaches us, like Joseph, to see ourselves standing in his own place. He has been sinned against more than anyone - by us as well as by others - and he has the righteous authority to punish sinners. But what did he do instead? Sent his Son to take our place, and to pay back good for evil, life for death, and grace for sin. In undeserved love, he forgave us all our sins! So what should we do when we're standing in the place of God, with the chance to get even? Remember what God has done for us, and drawing from the depths of his love for us, forgive.

Sermon Text: Genesis 50:15-21

Preacher: Pastor Micah Plocher

Sunday, September 13, 2026 - The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 19A)

Rock of Ages Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Missouri

When we love someone, we're willing to do hard things for their benefit. We do what's best for them because we want what's best for them. So would you be willing to do what Jesus tells us here? "If your brother or sister sins, go and show them their fault." Jesus sends us to speak because he loves our wandering friends and family. His goal is that they find rest in the forgiveness he won for them on the cross. And so as we go to confront sin, we do so lovingly, with the same goal: that when they repent, we might have the joyous privilege of forgiving all their sins in the name of the Savior who sent us.

Sermon Text: Matthew 18:15-20

Preacher: Pastor Micah Plocher

Sunday, September 6, 2026 - The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 18A)

Rock of Ages Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Missouri

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me" (Matthew 17:26). We are eager to do what Jesus asks, to follow where he leads us. But the cross of self-denial gets heavy, we get weary, and our strength inevitably reaches its end. When we cry out to the Lord from the depths of disappointment and disillusionment, how does he respond? He calls us to deny our sinful nature's tendency to both self-righteousness and despair, and instead to believe his Word - trusting him for forgiveness, rescue, and the strength to carry our crosses well.

Sermon Text: Jeremiah 15:15-21

Preacher: Pastor Micah Plocher

Sunday, August 30, 2026 - The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 17A)

Rock of Ages Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Missouri

Do we have to raise ourselves up to God's level to be acceptable to him? Do we have to delve to the depths of the earth to prove how worthy we are of his blessing? Or does God come near to us all on his own to give us his gifts of forgiveness, grace, acceptance, and belonging? If it really is God's work - and not ours - that makes us righteous, and if he holds that completed work out to us in his Word, then how should we respond? Paul tells us the only thing that makes sense: "Confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, and you will be saved."

Sermon Text: Romans 10:5-13

Preacher: Pastor Micah Plocher

Sunday, August 23, 2026 - The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 16A)

Rock of Ages Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Missouri