This sermon, for Ad Te Levavi (the first Sunday in Advent), considers how Jesus' entry into Jerusalem from Matthew 21:1–9 tells us just what kind of King we have. 

Takeaways

• Advent starts the journey to the cross, with a major stop at the manger along the way (that is, Christmas!). 
• Worldly kings force obedience, but King Jesus wins our hearts by dying for us.
• Worldly kings take from their people, but King Jesus gives Himself for us.

Scripture Index

• Matthew 21:1–9 - King Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey (instead of a war horse!)
• Zechariah 9:9 - The prophet predicts that the King will come to His people humbly, riding on a donkey
• Jeremiah 23:5–8 - God promises to raise up a righteous one to save His people

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship

In this sermon we consider how Martin Luther's Small Catechism articulates the Christian duty to respond to God's provision and protection. Hint: it starts with thanking Him!

Takeaways

• God the Father provides for all our physical needs without us deserving any of it.
• Israel's 40 years in the wilderness taught them to rely ultimately on the God who provides, not just what is provided for them.
• Civil government is God's tool to protect us from evil and provide us a quiet, orderly life. 
• Thanksgiving looks past the blessings to worship the God who gives all good gifts.

Scripture Index

• Deuteronomy 8:2 - God humbled Israel for 40 years to prove that we all live by God's Word, not just bread. 
• 1 Timothy 2:3–4 - God wants good things for all people (He wants them to all be saved!) and He uses earthly authorities to maintain peace so that the gospel of salvation can spread to all people.
• Luke 17:11–19 - Jesus cleanses ten lepers, yet only one of them returns to glorify God for the mercy he received.

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship

Main Takeaways

• Just as we trust the sun to rise, we trust the Day of the Lord will dawn for believers.
• The world ignores the coming judgment, trusting in a fragile peace that will vanish like vapor.
• Endless scrolling and commercial promises create a "white noise" that lulls Christians into spiritual sleep.
• We guard our hearts against guilt and coldness by wearing the breastplate of faith and love.
• We are not destined for wrath! Like Noah's family, we are carried safely through the storm in the Ark of the Church.

Scripture Index

• 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11: The Apostle Paul contrasts the sudden destruction coming upon the world with the salvation promised to the children of light.
• John 2:1–11: Jesus’ first miracle at Cana reminds us that while we may enjoy earthly gifts, we must never become intoxicated by the world.
• Genesis 6–9: The account of Noah illustrates how God preserves the faithful remnant through judgment via the safety of the Ark.
• Isaiah 65: The Old Testament reading that points us toward the joy of the new heaven and new earth.

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship

Main Takeaways

• God forgave you a debt you could never pay (like owing $6 billion!)
• Christians must forgive each other without keeping count or setting 
• Forgiveness doesn't erase consequences; you can forgive and still call the police!
• Refusing to forgive others means rejecting the forgiveness God gave you.

Scripture Index (in order of appearance)

• Matthew 18:15-20 – Jesus teaches how to handle sin in the church: talk privately, bring witnesses, tell the church if needed.
• Matthew 18:21-35 – Peter asks how many times to forgive; Jesus says unlimited times and tells the parable of the unforgiving servant.
• Colossians 2:14 – The record of our debt was nailed to the cross through Jesus' hands.
• Romans 4:25 – Jesus was raised from the dead for our justification—proof our debt is paid.
• Matthew 6:12 (Lord's Prayer) – We ask God to forgive us as we forgive those who sin against us.

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship

Main Takeaways

• The Word of God accomplishes what it declares.
• Faith matures when tested, because we learn to rest on the Word alone, apart from visible reassurance.
• The royal official’s belief shows the model for faith lived out in the sacramental life: trusting God's Word to deliver what it promises. 
• The same Word that once created light now creates new life through preaching and the Sacraments.
• Christ’s Word sustains the believer until faith becomes sight.

Scripture Index

• Genesis 1:1–3 – God speaks creation into being, showing that His Word creates reality.
•  John 2:1–11 – Jesus' first miracle at Cana shows His divine power.
• John 4:46–54 – The second Cana event affirms that Christ's Word is the same divine speech that created the universe.
• Psalm 130 ("From Depths of Woe" LSB 607) – The sinner’s cry for mercy mirrors faith’s dependence on divine speech.
• Matthew 28:19–20; Luke 22:19–20; John 20:23 – Christ’s Words continue His creative power in Baptism, Communion, and Absolution.

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship

Main Takeaways

• God calls us His children right now, even when we don’t look like it.
• Baptism joins us to Jesus’ death and resurrection, saving both body and soul.
• Heaven is real, but it’s not the end of the story. Resurrection is.
• The saints rest in paradise, waiting for the day Jesus raises them.
• Nothing can un-adopt you from being God’s child in Christ.

Scripture Index

• 1 John 3:1–3 – We are God’s children now; when Christ appears, we’ll be like Him.
• Romans 5:8 – God showed His love when Christ died for sinners.
• John 3:3–5 – Jesus tells Nicodemus we must be born of water and Spirit.
• Romans 6:3–5 – Baptism unites us to Christ’s death and resurrection.
• Luke 23:43 – Jesus promises paradise to the repentant thief.
• Revelation 7:9–14 – A multitude in white robes washed in the Lamb’s blood.
• Romans 8:38–39 – Nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ.

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship

Main Takeaways

• The Christian life is a pilgrimage led by Christ, whose cross and resurrection redefine both "death" and "home."
• Heaven is not an abstract idea but a real place where Christ prepares a dwelling for each one of us. 
• Through sorrow and loss, the Church sings defiantly: "I'm but a stranger here; heaven is my home."

Scripture Index

• Job 19:25–27 – Job trusts his living Redeemer and looks forward to seeing God after death.
• Psalm 23 – The Lord is the Good Shepherd who guides and protects His people.
• Revelation 7:9–17 – Believers who die in faith now stand before God, washed in the Lamb’s blood.
• John 14:1–6 – Jesus prepares a place for His followers and declares Himself the only way to the Father.
• Revelation 3:20–21 – Christ calls His people into fellowship and gives victory to those who remain faithful.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (implied) – Christians grieve with hope, knowing death is not the end.

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship

This sermon for Reformation Sunday follows Jesus' words in John 8 that draw a distinction between apparent believers in Him and true disciples.

What makes the difference, according to Jesus?

Whether or not a person abides in His Word.

Main Takeaways
- To “abide” is to dwell permanently in Christ through Word and Sacrament.
- True discipleship involves daily remembrance and trust in Christ’s promises.
- Freedom in Christ is liberation from sin’s mastery, not absolute freedom to live however we feel.
- Word and Supper sustain abiding faith and secure true spiritual freedom.

Scripture Index

• John 8:31–36 — Christ contrasts apparent and authentic discipleship
• John 1:1 — The Word is Christ Himself, who calls us to abide in Him.
• John 14:6 — The Truth that sets us free is not abstract but personal: the Son of God.
• John 3:14–16 — The Son’s lifting up fulfills God’s redemptive design.
• Revelation 13:8 (allusion) — The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world reveals the cross was always the plan.

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship

This sermon unpacks how Jesus' dual nature (fully human, fully divine) is the master key that unlocks Scripture's central promise: his perfect obedience credited to us, opening the door our efforts could never breach. 

Main Takeaways

• The law shows us what's required but gives us no power to actually do it
• Jesus is both fully human and fully God—that's the key to understanding everything
• Christ fulfilled the law's demands perfectly in our place through his life and death
• Your acceptance before God depends on Jesus' obedience, not your own efforts
• The Christian life is walking through the door Christ opened, not trying to unlock it yourself

Scripture Index

• Matthew 22 (Gospel lesson) - Pharisees test Jesus about the greatest commandment; Jesus turns the question back on them about the Messiah's identity
• Deuteronomy 6:5 - The central confession of Israel: love God with all your heart, soul, and mind
• Leviticus 19:18 - The command to love your neighbor as yourself
• Psalm 110:1 - David calls the Messiah "my Lord," revealing the mystery that the Messiah is both David's descendant and David's superior
• Matthew 4 - Jesus in the wilderness, tempted by Satan, answering with Scripture from Deuteronomy and living out the law perfectly where Israel failed

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship

Are you frustrated with the gap between your belief in God's future promises and the daily challenges of life? 

This exposition of Ephesians 4:1-6 explains why the shallow spirituality of "trying harder" will never solve the issue. Holy living comes as natural growth from baptismal union with Christ. 

The challenge for listeners: examine whether your church participation reflects genuine eagerness or mere religious obligation amid competing demands on your time. 

Main Takeaways

• Your conduct flows from your identity: you're an heir heading toward glory, so live accordingly (not like someone just keeping rules)!
• Church unity is founded on the Trinity itself, not in our ability to agree or naturally get along
• Growth in holiness happens through Word and Sacrament feeding you, not through willpower
• There's a difference between eager participation and dutiful attendance (one transforms you, the other just fills time)
• When the gospel isn't first priority, other "important" things quietly become idols without us realizing

Scripture Index

• Ephesians 2:4-7 - God loved us and made us alive with Jesus even though we were spiritually dead
• Ephesians 4:1-6 - Walk in a way that matches God's calling; be humble, gentle, and patient with each other
• Ephesians 1:18 - Paul prays we'd understand the hope God gives us
• Luke 14:11 - Don't act proud; God lifts up humble people
• Proverbs 25:6-7 - Don't push yourself to the front; let others honor you instead
• Ephesians 3:17 - Christ lives in your heart through faith and keeps you strong
• John 15:5 - We can't do anything good without staying connected to Jesus
• Ephesians 2:14 - Our unity cost Jesus everything

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship