St James Lutheran Church: Sermons and Worship

St James Lutheran Church: Sermons and Worship

By St James Lutheran Church - Glen Carbon IllinoisReligion & SpiritualityReligion
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St James Lutheran Church: Sermons and Worship episodes

  • Revealing the Unknowable God - May 10 - Sixth Sunday of Easter

    In the heart of Athens, the center of human philosophy and reason, St. Paul encountered a city filled with idols—including an altar to an "Unknown God." Despite their immense intellect, the Athenians were missing the one thing that truly matters: a relationship with their Creator. Paul’s message to them remains a challenge for us today: that God cannot be found through human logic or crafted by human hands.

    True knowledge of God is not a discovery we make, but a gift we receive. Because human reason is blinded by sin, God had to step into history to reveal His heart to us. He did this most clearly not in a lecture hall, but in the person of Jesus Christ. While the world may mock the "foolishness" of the Gospel, it is the only message that brings life to the lost.

    This week, we look at Acts 17 to see how the Resurrection of Jesus changes everything. We are called to turn away from the modern idols of self-reliance and vague spirituality, looking instead to the Risen Lord who has made the "Unknowable God" known to us by grace through faith.

    Liturgist and Preacher: Dr. George J Gude; Reader: William Ellington and Dr. George J Gude

    Order of service:
    Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 10, 2026

    #Sermon #Gospel #Easter #PaulinAthens #Areopagus #UnknownGod #RevelationvsReason #Resurrection #Repentance #Idolatry #MarsHill #Acts17 #GeorgeGude

    23 min
  • Finding Comfort and Hope in Difficult Times - May 3 - Fifth Sunday of Easter

    In these verses from John chapter 14, Jesus follows up on the challenging words he had just spoken to his disciples—that he would be leaving them soon and that they would not immediately be able to follow him. After predicting Peter’s denial of Jesus, he says to them, “Do not let your heart be troubled.”

    The disciples were about to face the most challenging experience of their lives, but Jesus is telling them not to worry. Why? Because God is faithful, we can trust our Father God, and we can trust Jesus, His Son.

    Jesus explains to them that a heavenly home awaits, and that they already know the way. Jesus explains to Thomas, Philip, and to us that He is not only the Way, but also the Truth and the Life.

    By trusting in Jesus, we have already found our way to the Father: Jesus is your way back to your pre-fallen state and your way forward to eternal life that will never end.

    In this message, we discover and rediscover that even in the most challenging circumstances of our lives, we can find true hope and comfort in Jesus, and in Him alone.

    Liturgist and Preacher: Pastor Jonathan Lange; Reader: William Ellington and Pastor Jonathan Lange

    Order of service:
    Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 3, 2026

    #sermon #gospel #Easter #hope #comfort #challenges #belief #faith #theWay #theTruth #theLife #heaven #reconciliation #John14 #JonathanLange

    29 min
  • The Good Shepherd - Apr 26 - Fourth Sunday of Easter

    In this week’s Gospel, we hear the comforting and definitive claim of our Lord: "I am the Good Shepherd." Jesus uses this familiar, pastoral imagery to describe the intimate, sacrificial relationship He maintains with His flock. He knows His sheep by name, and His sheep know His voice. However, our Lord’s mission extends beyond the immediate walls of the visible church. He declares, "I have other sheep that are not of this fold," pointing to the vast, global mission of the Gospel to gather all whom the Father has called.

    This raises a vital question for the Church today: How will those "other sheep" hear the voice of their Shepherd? While Jesus is the sole source of life and salvation, He chooses to speak through His Church. We explore our role as the Shepherd’s voice in the world, carrying the Word of God to the lost so that there may be one flock and one Shepherd. Join us as we meditate on the promise that Christ’s voice still rings out today through the faithful preaching of His Word.

    Liturgist and Preacher: Pastor Bill Engfehr; Reader: Larry Frey and Pastor Bill Engfehr

    Order of service:
    Fourth Sunday of Easter, Apr 26, 2026

    #sermon #gospel #Easter #Jesus #GoodShepherd #sheep #flock #John10 #BillEngfehr

    12 min
  • Think Outside the Tomb - Apr 19 - Third Sunday of Easter

    In a world of "soft targets," headlines of terror, and personal "kingdoms" that feel like they are crumbling, it is easy to find ourselves living as if Jesus were still in the grave. We call this "thinking inside the tomb"—a state of mind defined by fear, downcast eyes, and a past-tense hope.

    This week, we join two disciples on the Road to Emmaus as they journey from the despair of the road to the joy of the table. Drawing a clever parallel from a familiar slogan, we explore what it means to "Think Outside the Tomb." Discover how the resurrected Christ—who descended into hell to proclaim His victory—now opens our eyes through the Scriptures and the breaking of bread. When we stop living for our own kingdoms and start living for the risen King, our perspective shifts from the finality of death to the bold confidence of the Gospel.

    Join us as we move from "we had hoped" to the joyful realization that He is risen indeed!

    Liturgist and Preacher: Rev. Tony Boos; Reader: William Ellington and Rev. Tony Boos

    Order of service:
    Third Sunday of Easter, Apr 19, 2026

    #sermon #gospel #Easter #death #resurrection #tomb #following #scriptures #roadtoEmmaus #resurrectionhope #fearvsfaith #kingdomofGod #thinkoutsidethetomb #Luke24 #TonyBoos

    22 min
  • I Am Sending You - Apr 12 - Second Sunday of Easter

    What happens after the stone is rolled away and the tomb is empty? For the first disciples, the initial rush of Easter joy was likely met with a bit of "What now?" They may have assumed their journey with Jesus had reached its natural conclusion. But as we see in John 20, Easter was not the end—it was a commissioning.

    We will dive into the moment Jesus appeared to His huddled disciples and completely redefined their purpose. He didn't just offer them peace; He gave them a mandate: "As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you."

    Liturgist and Preacher: Pastor Bill Engfehr; Reader: Joe Rathert and Pastor Bill Engfehr

    Order of service:
    Second Sunday of Easter, Apr 12, 2026

    #sermon #gospel #Easter #mission #disciples #Thomas #John20 #BillEngfehr

    13 min
  • The Resurrection According to Matthew - Apr 5 - The Resurrection of Our Lord

    The resurrection of Jesus is one of the few Biblical events that is recorded by all four Gospels. However, there are some things only Matthew tells us about, things that are especially important to us today. Matthew records Jesus's greeting to both the women and us. It's actually a very common greeting but takes on a much greater meaning when spoken by one risen from the dead. Matthew also records the very important word Jesus uses to describe us and the disciples. A word which he never used of them before.

    Liturgist and Preacher: Pastor John Lukomski; Reader: David Moldenhauer and Pastor John Lukomski

    Order of service:
    The Resurrection of Our Lord, Apr 5, 2026

    #sermon #gospel #Easter #resurrection #greetings #brother #Matthew28 #JohnLukomski

    20 min
  • Seven Last Words of Jesus - Apr 3 - Good Friday

    The Hour of Darkness

    Good Friday is the day the world went dark so that we might live in the light. This service follows the ancient tradition of Tenebrae (shadows), moving from light into deep reflection as we listen to the final seven utterances of Jesus.

    These are more than just the dying thoughts of a man; they are the declarations of God’s plan of redemption being fulfilled. From the cry of abandonment to the shout of victory, "It is finished," we will explore how each word secures our justification and seals our eternal life. Come and behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

    Liturgist and Preacher: Rev. Tony Boos

    Order of service:
    Good Friday, Apr 3, 2026

    #sermon #gospel #Easter #HolyWeek #cross #death #forgiveness #separation #sins #eternallife #Tenebrae #justification #atonement #PassionofChrist #substitution #LambofGod #redemption #Luke23 #John19 #Matthew27 #TonyBoos

    32 min
  • The Remembering Word - Apr 2 - Holy Thursday

    “This is a day you are to commemorate... a lasting ordinance.”

    Our Lenten journey brings us to the Upper Room, but the story truly begins in the shadows of Egypt. As we gather for this Holy Thursday service, we look back to the first Passover—where the blood of a perfect lamb on the doorpost meant the difference between death and deliverance.

    In “The Remembering Word,” we explore how God’s command to the Israelites to "remember" was not just about a past event, but a living promise. We follow that promise to the night Jesus sat with His disciples, transforming the Passover meal into the New Covenant.

    Join us as we move from the blood of the Exodus lamb to the blood of the Lamb of God. We will dive into the Small Catechism’s focus on the Lord’s Supper.

    Liturgist and Preacher: Pastor Bill Engfehr

    Order of service:
    Holy Thursday, Apr 2, 2026

    #sermon #gospel #Easter #Lenten #Jesus #Passover #Lord'sSupper #remembrance #MaundyThursday #HolyWeek #sacramentoftheAltar #meansofgrace #redemption #forgivenessofsins #WordsfromtheCross #Covenant #Exodus12 #BillEngfehr

    13 min
  • Hosanna? - Mar 29 - Palm Sunday

    One of the church's special celebrations is Palm Sunday. The question is why?

    On this day everybody gets Jesus wrong - the Jewish leaders, the crowd, even the disciples. In the Gospel of John they call Jesus "the King of Israel." But isn't that a very limited and localized title for one who is to be Savior of the world? The question is, do we also get Jesus wrong in our daily lives? The greater question is what does Jesus do with people who get him wrong?

    Liturgist and Preacher: Pastor John Lukomski; Reader: Larry Frey and Pastor John Lukomski

    Order of service:
    Palm Sunday, Mar 29, 2026

    #sermon #gospel #Easter #Lenten #PalmSunday #KingofIsrael #Hosanna #John12 #JohnLukomski

    17 min
  • The Dying Word; The fulfilled Word - Mar 25 - Midweek Lent

    "It is finished." With this cry, the debt of sin is paid in full, and the Law’s demands are satisfied. In this midweek Lenten service, we meditate on the final breaths of our Savior. Drawing from the lament of Psalm 39 and the "stumbling stone" of Isaiah 8, we see Christ as our sole sanctuary. His final words—committing His spirit to the Father—become our own prayer of hope, knowing that because His work is finished, our life is hidden with God in Him.

    Liturgist and Preacher: Pastor Bill Engfehr

    Order of service:
    Midweek Lent, Mar 25, 2026

    #sermon #gospel #Easter #Lenten #vicarioussatisfaction #atonement #justification #itisfinished #intoyourhands #Luke23 #John19 #BillEngfehr

    12 min

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Sermons and messages from St. James Lutheran Church.