What someone says to us right before they leave often contains important information about the time until they return!

As we approach the end of the Easter feast and remember when Jesus ascended—not to be seen again until his Second Coming!—we turn our eyes to how Jesus prepared his followers for his departure.

In this week's text: He’s leaving, preparing a place for us, and then coming back to take us there so that we can be with him forever. And until he comes back, we who believe in him continue his work, supported in that task by his promise to do what we ask of him in prayer.

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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

Suffering for the sake of the gospel is good not because of some abstract spiritual principle, but because such suffering means we're following in the footsteps of the one who suffered for us, in order that we would know God's love. 

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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

One essential concept that our confirmands learn that ties together biblical literacy, Scripture memorization, and the grammar of the faith is the distinction between the Law and the Gospel. We use an acronym to help teach this: “S.O.S.”

What does God’s Law do? It Shows Our Sin.

And what about God’s Gospel? It Shows Our Savior.

This morning’s first reading, from Acts 2, offers an opportunity for us all to see the Law and the Gospel in action.

Whether catechized by St. Peter himself or at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, rightly distinguishing Law and Gospel is crucial to knowing the love of God in Jesus 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

What does Jesus' resurrection mean for us today? In the history of the Church this is actually developed to a great degree. St. Peter saw the Resurrected Lord with his own eyes. Reflecting on all he'd seen, heard, and experienced, St. Peter wrote that the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus secure these things for us: 

1. the hope of your eternal inheritance that’s beyond the reach of change and decay;
2. the joy that lets you weather the grievous trials of this life without giving into despair;
3. the promise of our faith’s legitimacy despite never having seen or touched the Resurrected One.

All these things are backed by the death and resurrection of Jesus. For shorthand, we say "Jesus died and rose again for you."

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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

Psalm 146 sums up everything that Judah's kings (from 2 Chronicles, where we've been for all of Lent) were not. 

Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Uzziah, Josiah, Hezekiah. 

None of them had what it took to be a good king. None of them were God; none were eternal, the creator, faithful to all their promises, perfectly just, powerful to heal our diseases, and all the rest. 

King Jesus, on the other hand ... well, he's the real deal. Push your imagination as far as it'll go in imagining the perfect king, and you still can't touch the reality of King Jesus' glory, power, and love. He loves you, gave his life for you, and now lives forever so that you might live with him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness. 

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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 is what we've been building to all through Lent: These kings of Judah, heirs to David's throne, all point forward to God's chosen servant, who would rule over God's people forever. This Son of David will not be succeeded by any other king. This Son of David, though he gives up his life for the world, will take his life back up again to live forever and be lifted to the highest place.

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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

Manasseh's cruelty and wickedness was the tipping point in Judah's history; God said that because of Manasseh, such terrible horrors would come upon Judah that peoples' ears would tingle with fear when they heard of it. The innocent blood that Manasseh wickedly shed in Jerusalem cried out to God, demanding justice.

The innocent blood of Jesus, shed in Jerusalem to satisfy God's wrath against sin, also makes a demand of God: "Justice is satisfied! Their sins are atoned for! It is finished!" Now the gospel message goes out: because of Jesus, such amazing love is extended to the world that peoples' ears tingle with joy when they hear it. Jesus' kindness and righteousness is the tipping point in the world's history.

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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

Hezekiah was a good king because he invited all God's people to come and receive grace from God by observing the Passover feast, remembering God's covenant with them. Many rebelled and refused the invitation, but to those who did, God was gracious and merciful just as he had promised. 

The Son of Hezekiah, our Lord Jesus, surpasses this by instituting a new and better covenant and consecrating it with his own blood so that all people everywhere might receive the full forgiveness of their sins if they but come, eat & drink, and believe in the words "given and shed for you."

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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

Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to the cheers and acclamations of the crowds who would make him their king. And little do they know, later that week he will be crowned and enthroned as "King of the Judeans." 

Except his crown will be made of thorns, and his throne will be the cross. And the very crowds who called out "Hosanna in the highest" will call for his death, saying "Crucify him!"

Jesus went up to Jerusalem to die for you and thus begin his reign over sin, death, and the devil. And so two thousand years later we call out with the same words as the crowds, except for we understand the true meaning: "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"

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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

Josiah's purification of the temple and the revival of true religion founded upon the rediscovery of God's Word within the temple prefigures Christ, the Word made flesh who was found within the temple himself — who indeed was the true Temple! — and came to inaugurate true religion that leads to God and his gifts. ‌

Where Josiah’s religious reforms culminated in a reinstitution of the Passover, Jesus’ ministry culminated with him instituting the Lord's Supper — the true and better Passover. After this, he then committed his spirit to God and died as "King of the Jews."

But unlike Josiah, Jesus didn't leave the people without a successor. Jesus, the hope of the world, rose from the grave and succeeded himself as king; not just king of the Jews, but King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

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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