What do you hope to get out of Christianity? What is the tangible, practical benefit of your faith?

Are you hoping that you'll be made into a better person? Are you hoping for life to be made a little bit easier for you?

Those are worthwhile prayers - and even promised blessings from our God! - but they're not the purpose for our faith or the best benefit God intends to give you.

Listen to this week's sermon to hear what God's purpose for your faith is.

Upwards of 100,000 people died, and every death was preventable. If you had been there, would you have been able to stand firm, or would you have fallen into sin and by the sword/plague/fire/earthquake like they did?

Hypothetical questions can help us see our spiritual danger, but it's the very real faithfulness of our God that gives us hope. Listen to this week's sermon to learn more about both.

Did you know that pastors cry? They do. They're real people. The question is, Why?

Is it because of the sorry state of the world today? Is it because of all the evil influence that's constantly around us? Yes, but more than that, it's because of the many who live like enemies of the cross of Christ.

Listen to this week's sermon to learn who those enemies are, and what you can do to keep from becoming one of them.

High horse. Holier than thou. Hypocrite. Condescending. Narcissist.

Who do you picture when you read those words? Is it that politician you can't stand right now? Is it the hockey player who was supposed to support his nation's team but gave a thumbs up to the other team instead? Is it that actor who gave the most self-righteous acceptance speech at the Oscars?

Truthfully, if you picture anyone other than yourself, you're likely making the same sinful mistake that the Pharisee did in Jesus' parable.

Listen to this week's sermon to hear about your inner Pharisee, but also how you can still go home justified before God.

What do caterpillars and Calvin and Hobbes have to do with Jesus? Amazing transformations (with equally amazing names).

What does Jesus' transformation so many years ago have to do with you today? Listen to this week's sermon to find out.

Would you have done it? Go back out fishing after a long night of trying (unsuccessfully), after having washed and stowed your tackle, before finding your family or your pillow when you're tired?

If our personal histories are any indication, the answer is probably a flat, "No thanks." There are just so many excuses.

Thankfully, we have a God who cuts through excuses, inspires faith, empowers action, and answers our fears with his generosity, power, and love.

Listen to this week's sermon to see how Jesus calls you to get out of your comfort zone and grow in your faith.

What if Jesus was your guest preacher? Would that change the way you come to hear God's Word? Would you be more excited than you would be on a normal Sunday? Should you?

I'm not convinced that if Jesus was our guest preacher there's much he'd say or do that's all that different than what we say and do every week.

God's Word hasn't changed since Jesus preached it 2,000 years ago, but that doesn't make it boring. Listen to this week's sermon to see how that repetition is a beautiful blessing.

What are your expectations of Jesus? Do you ever think too little of Jesus? Do you assume that Jesus doesn’t care, so you don't bother him with prayer? Or do you think too little of him this way - that you treat him as little more than a vending machine to go to on demand, or a life preserver to keep on standby?

Jesus is so much more than that, and his first miracle at the wedding at Cana raises our expectations to meet his reality.

Listen to this week's sermon to hear more about how we really can expect from Jesus immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.

Are you a New Years Resolution kind of guy or gal, or does it all seem kind of hokey to you? Do you look back on the year that was with pride or guilt? Do you look forward to the year ahead with anxiety or excitement? I suppose it depends on who you are, and - honestly - how comfortable you are with yourself.

Every transition period in life, including every New Year, gives us opportunity to think through important questions again: Who am I? Who should I be? Who do I want to be? Why am I not that person right now?

Thankfully God has an answer, and in Baptism he gives you the cure to whatever identity crisis you may be going through.

Do you ever feel like Charlie Brown at Christmas? Does it feel like joy is elusive, that your gentle parenting is failing, that your anxiety keeps rising?

God invites you to be joyful, gentle, and anxiety-free, and he reminds us that the power to be joyful, gentle, and anxiety-free is not something that comes from you or me. It comes from the Lord, because the Lord is near.

Listen to this week's sermon to hear how Jesus' nearness enables our joy.