St James Lutheran Church: Sermons and Worship

St James Lutheran Church: Sermons and Worship

By St James Lutheran Church - Glen Carbon IllinoisReligion & SpiritualityReligion
Download on the App Store

St James Lutheran Church: Sermons and Worship episodes

  • You Are a Living Miracle - Mar 22 - Fifth Sunday in Lent

    Life is a gift from God. The mere fact that we have breath in our lungs today is a biological miracle—but for the Christian, there is a miracle even more profound. In Romans 8, the Apostle Paul declares the most comforting words a sinner can hear: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

    In this service, we dive into the transition from death to life. By nature, we were captive to the "law of sin and death," unable to please God or save ourselves. But through the incarnation and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the "law of the Spirit of life" has set us free.

    You are more than a biological wonder; you are a child of God, redeemed by Christ, and sealed by the Spirit. You are a living miracle.

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

    Order of service:
    Fifth Sunday in Lent, Mar 22, 2026

    #sermon #gospel #Easter #Lenten #life #death #sin #judgment #resurrection #nocondemnation #justification #sanctification #livingmiracle #Romans8 #JonathanLange

    34 min
  • The Suffering Word - Mar 18 - Midweek Lent

    In this service, we meditate on the profound irony of the Fifth Word from the cross: “I thirst.” Drawing from John 19:28–29, this message explores the genuine human agony of our Savior, who—though He is the very Source and Fountain of Living Water—endured a parched throat and a bitter cup for our sake. By taking the suffering for our sins upon Himself, Jesus transforms our spiritual desert into a wellspring of grace, trading the bitterness of death for the “sweet, new wine” of His salvation.

    As we look to the cross, we find deep comfort for our own seasons of physical pain and spiritual thirst, knowing that Christ has gone before us in His suffering. Just as the soldiers tended to Jesus’ dying request, we are reminded of our high calling to tend to the needs of others in our midst. Join us as we reflect on “The Suffering Word” and the hope we have in the One who suffered all so that we might never thirst again.

    Liturgist and Preacher: Pastor Bill Engfehr

    Order of service:
    Midweek Lent, Mar 18, 2026

    #sermon #gospel #Easter #Lenten #suffering #compassion #thesufferingword #livingwater #atonement #humanityofJesus #faithinsuffering #thebittercup #John19 #BillEngfehr

    10 min
  • How Does Jesus Give Spiritual Sight? - Mar 15 - Fourth Sunday in Lent

    In John 9, we encounter a man blind from birth and a question that still haunts us today: "Who sinned?" Jesus shatters the assumption that suffering is always a calculation of personal iniquity, revealing instead that this man’s life is a canvas for the works of God.

    Drawing a parallel to the creation of Adam, the Master Potter uses mud and spit to re-create what was broken. He sends the man to the Pool of Siloam—the "Sent" water—mirroring the promise and power of Holy Baptism. While the man gains both physical and spiritual site, the religious elite remain trapped in the darkest form of blindness: the self-righteous belief that they can see clearly without the Light of the World. This narrative invites us to stop looking at our own "moral math" and instead look to the One who became "sin for us," washing us clean and making us children of the Light.

    Liturgist and Preacher: Rev. Tony Boos; Reader: Joe Rathert and Rev. Tony Boos

    Order of service:
    Fourth Sunday in Lent, Mar 15, 2026

    #sermon #gospel #Easter #Lenten #spiritual #sight #blind #mud #water #sin #light #baptism #creation #pharisees #sabbath #John9 #TonyBoos

    22 min
  • Jesus' Word to His Mother, John & You - Mar 11 - Midweek Lent

    As Jesus hung upon the cross, fulfilling the Father’s will for the salvation of the world, He spoke a deeply personal word to His mother and the "disciple whom He loved." In this moment of unfathomable agony, our Lord’s heart remained focused on the care of those He loved, establishing a new family bound not by blood, but by His own sacrifice. By entrusting Mary to John and John to Mary, Jesus demonstrates that even in the face of death, He provides for the earthly and spiritual needs of His people.

    Liturgist and Preacher: Pastor John Lukomski

    Order of service:
    Midweek Lent, Mar 11, 2026

    #sermon #gospel #Easter #Lenten #Mary #John #wordsfromcross #John19 #JohnLukomski

    15 min
  • Living Water - Mar 8 - Third Sunday in Lent

    Here is a summary tailored for your website and social media descriptions, designed to be both welcoming to newcomers and theologically grounded for your congregation.

    Liturgist and Preacher: Pastor Bill Engfehr; Reader: Nic Schatte and Pastor Bill Engfehr

    Order of service:
    Third Sunday in Lent, Mar 8, 2026

    #sermon #gospel #Easter #Lenten #grace #Jesus #Samaritan #livingwater #John4 #BillEngfehr

    14 min
  • The Most Beloved Passage - Mar 1 - Second Sunday in Lent
    All we need to do is mention John 3:16, and most people (even non-Christians) know exactly what we’re talking about. It is the summary of faith. But who was Jesus originally speaking to when he said these words? Whom was he referring to when he said, "God so loved the world"? What connection is there between these words and the Old Testament? And, most of all, what does it mean to "believe"?

    Liturgist and Preacher: Pastor John Lukomski; Reader: Joe Rathert and Pastor John Lukomski

    Order of service:
    Second Sunday in Lent, Mar 1, 2026

    #sermon #gospel #Easter #Lenten #Nicodemus #faith #world #John3 #JohnLukomski

    17 min
  • Jesus Speaks to You from the Cross - Feb 25 - Midweek Lent

    For our midweek Lenten services, we are reading Jesus’ seven words from the cross—words spoken to particular situations, but recorded in the Scriptures to speak to us.

    We begin with Jesus’ words to the crowd assembled at the cross, “Father, forgive them,” and His particular word to a thief, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” What is the connection between these two words? While they were spoken 2,000 years ago, what do they have to say to us today?

    Liturgist and Preacher: Pastor John Lukomski

    Order of service:
    Midweek Lent, Feb 25, 2026

    #sermon #gospel #Easter #Lenten #Cross #Jesus’SevenWords #forgiveness #thief #Luke23 #JohnLukomski

    13 min
  • What the Devil? - Feb 22 - First Sunday in Lent

    The temptation of Jesus give us three illustrations of how the tempter tempts us. This will help us to recognize his attacks. It also gives us three illustrations of how he can be overcome. But most importantly it tells the story of a God who loves us so much he is willing to take our place in that temptation. It is the story of how only Jesus can prevail over the devil for our sakes.

    Liturgist and Preacher: Pastor John Lukomski; Reader: William Ellington

    Order of service:
    First Sunday in Lent, Feb 22, 2026

    #sermon #gospel #Easter #Lenten #Devil #Satan #temptation #Scripture #Matthew4 #JohnLukomski

    17 min
  • Why Fast? - Feb 18 - Ash Wednesday

    Today, I want us to consider a Christian discipline or practice that I think most Christians know of but may not have experience with: “fasting”.

    How many of you have heard in your life “Hey, what are you ‘giving up’ for Lent?” I was asked that so many times in my life. Yet, I have to admit for me today, this discipline of giving up or fasting has not ever been where I think it should be or where God would it have it be in my life.

    Why is this? Why is it not universally practiced by Christians?

    Liturgist and Preacher: Rev. Tony Boos

    Order of service:
    Ash Wednesday, Feb 18, 2026

    #sermon #gospel #Easter #Lenten #fasting #discipline #repentance #Matthew6 #TonyBoos

    17 min
  • Looking Up - Feb 15 - The Transfiguration of Our Lord

    Every once in a while, it's good to look up or look forward, to see what lies ahead. Because life with your head down can be tiring and not good for your health, spiritually speaking. Peter, James and John had the opportunity to look beyond the present and actually saw what we all look forward to, seeing the glory of Jesus. Here's the thing though, the cross still had to come, suffering for Jesus and for us living now still has to happen. But, every once in awhile, we get a foretaste of what's to come! Jesus transfigured or transformed before us!!

    Liturgist and Preacher: Rev. Tony Boos; Reader: Joe Rathert

    Order of service:
    The Transfiguration of Our Lord, Feb 15, 2026

    #sermon #gospel #timeofChristmas #Epiphany #lookingup #transformed #transfigured #thecross #suffering #glory #Matthew17 #TonyBoos

    18 min

About St James Lutheran Church: Sermons and Worship

From the publisher's feed

Sermons and messages from St. James Lutheran Church.