Luke 7:36-50

Thanksgiving Service at Shepherd of the Hills

What are you most thankful for this year? Americans set aside the fourth Thursday in November every year as a special day to focus on being thankful. Depending on how your life is going on any given Thanksgiving, you may find it easier or harder to do that. When things are going great, it’s easy! When you feel lonely or have a tight budget, it’s maybe a little more difficult.

As Christians, we may struggle to be thankful at times. The world is full of sorrow, suffering, and sin, and these evils touch our lives. We might be tempted to despair and just hope for the future, but the truth is every day of our lives, even in the difficult time in between, is a time when we can be thankful for the many blessings our God has given us, most importantly, our salvation in Jesus!

Matthew 25:1-13

The third in a worship series looking at the "time in between," the end times in which we look forward to Christ's second coming.

It's all too easy even for Christians to get complacent as we wait for Jesus' return. Jesus uses the story of some bridesmaids who foolishly were found unprepared for their role in a wedding to warn us about the importance of staying alert and ready for his return. Thankfully, believers don't have to live the nightmare of being found unprepared!

Revelation 7:9-17

The second in a series in which we are looking at what God's Word says about life in our time: the time in between.

It's all too easy to get caught up in the moment, especially when the moment is full of challenges, heartbreaks, and suffering. Christians aren't left to simply take life moment by moment by moment or one day at a time. God gives us the example of the saints that have gone before us and a glimpse at judgment day to focus our hearts on the future glory promised for us. This focus can carry a believer through even the worst of tribulations!

Daniel 6:10-12, 16-23

The first sermon in a worship series looking at what God says about living in the "time in between," the time between Jesus' first and second comings.

For believers in the time in between, steadfast faith is an absolute necessity. The devil, the world, and the sinful flesh constantly attack and try to destroy faith. By God's grace, believers can follow the examples of Martin Luther and Daniel, and stand firm despite these attacks.

Romans 13:1-7

As citizens of the United States, we don’t support the government because those we voted for were elected or because we approve of the current tax policy or even because freedom of religion is enshrined in the First Amendment. We support our government simply because it was instituted by God. Jesus himself taught that we owe respect and obedience to our government, even when it doesn’t align with our political preferences. 

Christians sometimes struggle with this. We see that government and rulers can be evil. Certainly, if government asks us to sin, “we must obey God rather than human beings” (Acts 5:29). But the existence of corrupt government and evil rulers does not negate what Scripture says to be true. “There is no authority except that which God has established.” Therefore, when we talk about “godly government” we are not saying that the only legitimate governments are those who do what is perfectly godly. We are confessing our belief that the King of kings is in perfect control of all the governments of this world, and that he works in all things—including tyrants and dictators—for the eternal good of his dear children. 

Matthew 22:1-14

Some invitations would be crazy to accept: an invitation from your bully to hang out one on one under the bleachers after school, for example. Others would be crazy to reject: an opportunity to go to a dream destination for free. Whether an invitation is easy to accept or decline often depends on our personal interests and relationships.

Today Jesus tells us a parable that describes God's invitation, one that would be insane for absolutely anyone to reject!

Matthew 21:33-43

Jesus tells us a story about a landowner who is unbelievably patient with the least deserving tenants ever. What can we learn? God has patience for us that could fairly be called reckless. Without concern for the cost, he patiently reaches out in love to call us to repent and be his own.

Matthew 21:23-32

Jesus tells us a story to show how God desires sincere obedient faith, not simple lip service. God doesn’t want us to simply go through religious motions like some sort of show. He sees right through that. God’s desire is that our repentance would demonstrate sincere sorrow over sin. God wants us to see the grace and forgiveness he has shown us in Christ, and in response, to love him back deeply and sincerely. 

Matthew 20:1-16

Jesus tells us a story about generosity that just doesn't make sense. It's not fair! That's the point, though. God isn't fair when he deals with us. He's generous, and we wouldn't have it any other way!

Genesis 50:15-21

The fifth and final in a series of sermons in which we are asking "What kind of church does God want?" instead of "What kind of church do I want?"

How do you handle when someone has genuinely wronged you? Do you fantasize about getting even? Do you wait to forgive until they've made it up to you? Until your emotions have calmed?

God calls believers, his church, to be quick to forgive, just as he is. Rather than hanging onto guilt, or forcing others to live in guilt, as believers look at God's forgiveness for them, they can share the same forgiveness with others.

Sermon manuscript available at www.shepherdofthehillslutheran.net