This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on July 19, 2026. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.

Sermon Text: 1 Timothy 6:6-12 (NKJV)

“Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Theme: The Truly Rich Life

This weekend our service theme focuses on true riches, and the danger of trusting in the "riches" of this life. Our hymn study this weekend is on "Consider How The Birds Above" (WS 789) by Lutheran pastor and hymnwriter, Stephen Starke. This hymn is based on the words of Jesus in Matthew 6, which use the creation as an illustration of God's love, concern and care for you and me. Jesus says:

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:25-34)

The hymn is a beautiful poetic retelling of those words of Jesus. The birds and the lilies teach us something about the nature of God, and assure us that He will also (even more) take care of us. 

The hymn also warns against the danger of greed, just as Jesus does, and Paul does in 1 Timothy 6. We live in a time and place which is extremely affluent, and as a result, what Paul describes is taking place before our eyes. "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:9-10)

How sad that so many who have been brought to know Christ are being led away from him because of the abundance they have in this world! How sad that many who have not come to know Christ are being prevented from knowing Him because they see no need for God or for a Savior in their life! May the LORD continue to keep us from falling into the trap of greed because of the blessings He bestows upon us or those around us.

LORD, help us to treasure the greater blessings of your Kingdom, blessing which cannot be lost or taken away from us, but are ours, through faith, for all eternity! Bless our worship of you with truly thankful hearts, this weekend, and every day of our lives!

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This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at the Land Dedication Service of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota at Reserve Park on July 12, 2026. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.

Sermon Text: Numbers 13:17-33 (NKJV)

Then Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way into the South, and go up to the mountains, 18 “and see what the land is like: whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, few or many; 19 “whether the land they dwell in is good or bad; whether the cities they inhabit are like camps or strongholds; 20 “whether the land is rich or poor; and whether there are forests there or not. Be of good courage. And bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes. 21 So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, near the entrance of Hamath. 22 And they went up through the South and came to Hebron; Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs. 24 The place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster which the men of Israel cut down there. 25 And they returned from spying out the land after forty days. 26 Now they departed and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 “Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 “The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.” 30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” 32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. 33 “There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

Theme: This Land Is God's Land

Our hymn study this weekend is "Christ Is Our Corner-Stone" (TLH 465) which is an English translation of a Latin hymn from around 700AD. This hymn beautifully describes the nature of the salvation that Jesus has won for us, and, as a result of that salvation, the blessings that are ours now and in heaven.

Psalm 118:19-25 serves as one of the foundation passages for this hymn: "Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the LORD. 20 This is the gate of the LORD, Through which the righteous shall enter. 21 I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation. 22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This was the LORD’S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. 26  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD."

It points to Jesus as the Cornerstone of the church and the only foundation of the church.

It also describes the blessings we receive in church through the reception of the Means of Grace.

Finally, it describes the joy of singing the praises of God in heaven.

Rejoice in the blessings that God imparts to you and for you at His house! Thanks be to God!

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This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on June 28, 2026. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.

Sermon Text: Lamentations 3:21-26 (NKJV)

“This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. 26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD.”

Theme: Great Expectations of the LORD's Mercy

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This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on June 28, 2026. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.

Sermon Text: Matthew 5:13-16 (NKJV)

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Theme: The World Needs You!

Our hymn study this weekend is "How Blest are They Who Hear God's Word" (TLH 48) which is found in the Close of Service section of the hymnal. This hymn beautifully describes the rich blessings that God offers sinners in the banquet of His Word and Sacraments. The hymnwriter, Johan Brun, was a pastor in the Lutheran Church in Norway, and came to appreciate the power and importance of God's Word. In this hymn he includes images from all over Scripture which teach us about the Treasure of God's Word, such as:

"The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb." (Psalm 19:9-10)

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32)

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

"They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." (1 Peter 4:5)

Yes, God's Word and His Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, are true treasures for the Christian, offering rich blessings that can be found no where else!

Treasure those blessings! Feast on His Means of Grace, which He offers you freely!

Thanks be to God!