Sure Foundation Lutheran Church

Biblically, truth and love are intimately connected. How do you react to the truth? In this Sermon, Vicar Little compares the ways Cain, the Pharisees, and a church leader named Diotrephes react to the truth to the ways we react to the truth. The way we react to truth makes us hard to love, and that makes it hard to love. Praise God that he has loved the hard-to-love.

When's the last time that you dug into the Bible's teaching on Predestination? If it has been a while, tune in to this sermon from Rev. Paul Kuckhahn. He clearly communicates the truths from Ephesians 1 and lets the amazing comfort of the doctrine of Predestination shine.

This Sunday, I mention someone named Diotrephes. Who is that? And why should you care? Watch this video to learn more about someone mentioned in the Bible and the lessons we can learn from John's interaction with him.

In 2009, a woman in Florida called 911 three times because McDonald’s ran out of chicken nuggets. 911 is a gift when your house is on fire, but it can’t fix your lunch. That’s not what it’s for. Government works the same way. In this sermon from Romans 13, we look at what God designed government to do and what it was never meant to do. Scripture teaches that governing authorities are established by God as His servants for our good. Their job is to administer justice, restrain evil, and keep peace and order. Good government is a real gift, part of the “daily bread” we pray for in the Lord’s Prayer. But we often ask government to be something it can’t be. Laws can’t change hearts. Punishment can’t answer for sin. A peaceful country can’t give peace to your soul. When we place that kind of hope in candidates and elections, it shows up as anxiety, anger, and more appetite for political news than for God’s Word. That is asking government to be God. Government can restrain evil, but only Christ forgives it. Government can declare you law-abiding, but only Christ can declare you righteous. Jesus submitted to the Father, to the law, and even to unjust rulers, all the way to the cross. Through all of it, He remained the sovereign Lord, carrying out His plan to save you. Now He is risen and exalted, and our hope rests in Him alone. From that confidence, we can honor our leaders, pray for them whether we agree with them or not, pay our taxes faithfully, and speak of them charitably. We do this because we trust God, not because we trust them. Leaders will come and go, but your Savior is on the throne. 📖 Scripture: Romans 13:1–7 (also 1 Peter 2:17; Philippians 2:9–11) 🔔 Subscribe for weekly sermons and devotionals, and share this with someone who’s weary of election season.

Do we believe in the Rapture? Will all Christians suddenly disappear years before Judgment Day? Find out in this week's Wednesday Devotion.

You're invited to the banquet! What's your reaction? What are you wearing? In this sermon, Vicar Little invites you to consider how we are like those who "pay no attention..." to the invitation of the king in the parable, and then asks you to consider what you're wearing to the banquet.

This sermon was preached on October 11th, 2026, by Vicar Little. Based on Matthew 22:1-14 and Romans 1:16-17.

[image of translation spectrum referenced in the devotion]

Ever picked up an NIV and an ESV and noticed they don't say things in quite the same words? Should that worry you? Not at all.

The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, so every English Bible is a translation. In this devotion, we walk through how translation actually works: why some words and idioms don't carry over neatly from one language to another (like the Hebrew habit of picturing the kidneys as the seat of deep emotion), and why translators have to make careful choices along the way.

We'll look at the spectrum of translation approaches, from formal equivalence (staying close to the original grammar) to dynamic equivalence (conveying the same thought in natural English) to paraphrase, using Colossians 3:12 as an example of how the KJV and NIV handle the same verse differently.

Takeaways:

✝️ God wants you to hear His Word in your own language

✝️ Major translations are made with great care, and you can trust that your English Bible is God's Word

✝️ Many translations don't discredit Christianity; they simply reflect how translation works

✝️ Pick a translation for a purpose: formal for close study, more readable for longer reading, family devotions, and new readers

✝️ Have a question about a translation difference? Ask your pastor!

God has revealed Himself to you in the Scriptures, which make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Cherish His Word and take every chance you can to read and hear it.

📖 Scripture referenced: Colossians 3:12; 2 Timothy 3:15; John 20:31

We have a habit of taking simple things and making them complicated, and our own salvation is no exception. In this message from Sure Foundation Lutheran, we look at Paul's plain summary of the gospel: confess that Jesus is Lord, believe that God raised him from the dead, and you will be saved.

We'll talk about the things we try to add to grace: cleaning ourselves up first, finishing what grace started, depending on feelings, or doubting that grace could cover our worst sins. We'll also talk about the cost behind it. Salvation is simple, but it wasn't easy. Finally, we'll look at what it means that believers "will never be put to shame," and why passing this message on doesn't require perfect words. It only requires telling others what Jesus has done for you.

Scripture: Romans 10:9–15

“Why will you die? … Repent and live!”

In Ezekiel 18, God speaks to His people who are struggling with the consequences of sin and wondering whether they are being treated fairly. But God turns their eyes away from blaming others and toward their own need for repentance.

The message of Ezekiel 18 is sobering. We are sinners who deserve judgment, and no amount of outward behavior, self-improvement, or worldly experience can cleanse us from our sin or give us a new heart. We cannot make ourselves righteous before God.

But God does what we can't.

He gives us a new heart and a new spirit. He cleanses us. He forgives us. He gives us life—not because we have earned it, but because He is the giver and we are the receivers.

That truth is beautifully pictured in the baptism of Mallory, where God gives what we could never earn: forgiveness, new life, and a place in His family. And that same gift continues to be given to us through God's Word, Absolution, the Lord's Supper, and the blessing.

God is the giver. We are the receivers.

So, dear Christian: repent and live. Not by trusting in your repentance or your own righteousness, but by clinging to Christ and receiving the righteousness He freely gives.

Some things you would never say out loud. You'd never admit you hate the grace of God. Jonah never said it either, but it was buried in his heart all the same.

In this sermon on Jonah 3-4, we look at why grace can feel so unfair. We walk through three stories: the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20), the Prodigal Son and his older brother (Luke 15), and Jonah's anger when Nineveh repented. Each shows how self-righteousness and unforgiveness make us resent grace for other people.

But there's good news. God's grace isn't fair, and that is the best news we could hear. We deserved punishment, and Jesus took it on the cross so forgiveness could be given freely. God cares for all people, including our enemies, and calls us to rejoice with the angels over every sinner who repents.

In this message:

Scripture: Jonah 3-4, Matthew 20:1-16, Luke 15:11-32

If this message encouraged you, like the video, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear about God's grace.