Sermons | Living Hope and Christ the King ELCA Lutheran Churches

Merry Christmas! On this final Sunday of 2023, we continue celebrating Christmas by hearing in worship the story of Mary and Joseph dedicating the baby Jesus in the temple. In that traditional ritual, something unexpected happens as a man named Simeon and a prophet named Anna each recognize who this child is. This child is not just a regular baby; he is God's plan for salvation. He is the Messiah, the long-awaited savior. As God's people, we follow Simeon & Anna's example and we worship our savior.

Today's message focuses on Luke 2:21-40.

Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukville, Wisconsin at https://www.livinghopesaukville.org/ or https://ctkport.org/.

Christmas is about making room, because God has made room for us. Through this baby born at Christmas, God calls us to look beyond the weariness of this world, beyond the weariness of our lives, and with a thrill of hope, rejoice. Merry Christmas!

Today's message focuses on Luke's account of the Christmas story in Luke 2:1-20.

Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukville, Wisconsin at https://www.livinghopesaukville.org/ or https://ctkport.org/.

On this third Sunday of Advent, our worship themes are joy, wonder, and amazement. In the midst of a weary world, we allow ourselves to be amazed at the miracle of Christmas, the miracle of God choosing to come and dwell with us. As we notice what God is doing and celebrate God’s faithfulness, joy follows. 

Today's message focuses on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, Psalm 126, and Luke 1:57-66.

Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukville, Wisconsin at https://www.livinghopesaukville.org/ or https://ctkport.org/.

This Sunday, our Advent journey continues with Elizabeth’s story, which quickly becomes intertwined with the more familiar story of Mary, a cousin of Elizabeth who receives her own visit from Gabriel and the promise of a miraculous pregnancy. We’ll look at how their connection helps give them strength to continue in their calling. In the midst of weariness, joy and rejoicing grow through connections and community.

Today's message focuses on Luke 1:24-45, 56.

Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukville, Wisconsin at https://www.livinghopesaukville.org/ or https://ctkport.org/.

This week, we enter the season of Advent, the four weeks leading up to the celebration of Christmas. Our theme for this year’s Advent is the question, “How does a weary world rejoice?”

That title comes from a line in the familiar Christmas hymn, “O Holy Night,” and over the next few weeks, we will explore through music, art, prayer, and devotions how we receive the joy of Christmas—the joy of Jesus’ birth, the joy of God coming into our world and dwelling with us—in the midst of all the brokenness and hurt in this weary world.

In this season, we will celebrate yet again the good news that no matter how weary we are, no matter how overwhelmed we might feel; even as we experience grief, grow older, and continue to wait, there is hope. Our waiting is not forever. God is at work, even as we wait. Our joy is rooted in the truth that we belong to God. In the midst of weariness, there is also reason to rejoice.

We begin this Sunday with the story of Zechariah, the wife of Elizabeth and father of John the Baptist. May God bless you with joy in this season of waiting and preparing.

Today's Scripture readings are Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; and Luke 1:1-23.

Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukville, Wisconsin at https://www.livinghopesaukville.org/ or https://ctkport.org/.

This weekend, Christ the King Lutheran Church celebrates 60 years of ministry in Port Washington, Wisconsin. Today's message is from Rev. Paul Erickson, Bishop of the ELCA's Greater Milwaukee Synod. The Scripture readings for the day are Ephesians 1:15-23, read by former CTK pastor Rev. Marilyn Borchardt, and Matthew 25:31-46, read by former CTK pastor Rev. Alice Horton.

Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukville, Wisconsin at https://www.livinghopesaukville.org/ or https://ctkport.org/.

This Sunday, we conclude our four week focus on stewardship with a call to intentional giving. Jesus tells a powerful story emphasizing the importance of being prepared. When we don’t know the day or the hour of what’s to come, it’s important to remain grounded in our faith, keeping perspective and remembering that God is in charge. 

Today's Scripture readings are 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Psalm 90:1-4, 10-12; and Matthew 25:1-13.

Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukville, Wisconsin at https://www.livinghopesaukville.org/ or https://ctkport.org/.

In this All Saints Sunday worship service, Pastor Daniel Flucke looks at the question of what makes someone a saint. Is it how good of a person you are? Is it how much money you give to the church? Perhaps how many different community organizations you volunteer for?

No, being a saint simply means being part of the body of Christ. As we hear in 1 John, we are God’s children. Because God loves you, God has claimed you and calls you beloved. And because you are already beloved, because your eternal future is secure, you can live and serve boldly and humbly in this world. Today's Scripture readings are 1 John 3:1-3, Psalm 43, and Matthew 23:1-12. 

Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukville, Wisconsin at https://www.livinghopesaukville.org/ or https://ctkport.org/.

This weekend, we commemorate Reformation Sunday by hearing again the good news Paul proclaims in Romans 3:28 “For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.”

As we continue talking about stewardship over the next few weeks, remember that God’s love for you does not depend on what you give, or on anything you do. The good news of grace is that everything depends on what God has done for you. Jesus has died for you. Your sins are forgiven, and it’s all a gift. You don’t need to earn it. Have faith and trust in God’s salvation and love for you!

In response to God’s incredible love and amazing grace, we follow what Jesus called the greatest commandment: Love the Lord your God with all that you are, and love your neighbor as yourself—the rest is all fine print. Our call is to share the love God has first given us.

Today's scripture readings are Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18; Psalm 90:1-6, 13-14; Romans 3:19-28a; and Matthew 22:34-36.

Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukville, Wisconsin at https://www.livinghopesaukville.org/ or https://ctkport.org/.

Give to the emperor what is the emperor's, and give to God what is God's—and what is not God's? Being made in God's image has implications for how we use the gifts God has trusted to us (stewardship), how we treat others, and even how we view ourselves.

Today's scripture is from Genesis 1:26-31 and Matthew 22:15-22.

Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukville, Wisconsin at https://www.livinghopesaukville.org/ or https://ctkport.org/.