Trinity Lutheran Brillion

Time in God's Word with Pastor Moldenhauer!

"It’s Time to Focus on the Future" - Pastor Nathan Moldenhauer

“But we know that when Christ appears – this is judgment day – we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” On the last day, believers – children of God, body and soul together – will be transformed to be like him. As Christ is perfect, we will be perfect. As Christ is immortal, we will be immortal – we will live forever. As Christ does not sin, we will not sin. For we shall see him as he is. We will see Jesus, and unlike Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration we won’t need to look away and cover our faces. We will be like him. And we will see him as he is in all of his glory. That might be the best way to answer the question. What will heaven be like? We will see Jesus!

Dear Child of God, embrace the “now-but-not-yet” tension. Continue to look at the rubble only through heavenly glass. You received your identity as a saint and child of God in baptism, and you will experience the fullness of that identity for all eternity with Jesus. “We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” God grant it. Amen.

Time in God's Word with Pastor Moldenhauer!

What If They Had Kept Quiet? -Reverend Ross Henzi

But what if?  What if we keep quiet?  What if we keep the gospel to ourselves?  If we keep quiet, who will share the gospel with this generation?  Who will share it with the next?  If we don’t do it, who will?  Believe it or not, the gospel is only one generation away from extinction.

Our calling is to proclaim Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sins.  That message has been given to us to share, not to keep to ourselves.  Now, God doesn’t promise that every conversation will be easy.  He doesn’t guarantee that everyone will listen or that every objection will have a simple answer.  But he does promise that we do not stand alone.

Today we thank God that the disciples did not keep quiet.  We thank God that Martin Luther and the other reformers confessed the truth of his word.  We thank God for the faithful Christians who passed the gospel down to us.  And today we thank God for the privilege of sharing his gospel with this generation and the next.

The world around us may change.  The opposition may grow.  The cost of confessing Christ might become greater, but the gospel does not change.  Jesus is still the Savior of the world.  His cross still proclaims forgiveness.  His empty tomb still declares his victory.  His promises still give hope to the hopeless.

Thank God the disciples spoke.  Thank God the Reformation proclaimed the gospel.  Thank God the saving message of Jesus has reached you and me.  Now, by God’s grace, let us share it with those we love and those we meet.  

Time in God's Word with Pastor Moldenhauer!

It's Time to be Certain - Pastor Nathan Moldenhauer  

Who do you know that needs to hear their sins are forgiven? Who needs to hear that? “Your sins are forgiven.” And believe and trust it with absolute certainty.

You know what you did. You know what you said. You know who you hurt. And you know what a deep offense it is to God. Sin– all sin – is offensive to our holy God. Your sin and my sin. You know that and you feel that. Yes, you know and believe in Jesus as your Savior. You went to Sunday School. You attended Starting Point or confirmation class. You come to church every Sunday. You confess your sins with your fellow worshipers, and you listen as the pastor announces and proclaims the absolution. And yet you’re not so sure. You doubt it’s for you. Or at the very least, you lack certainty. Because you know what you did. You remember. Perhaps you even continue to struggle with that same sin. Is God’s forgiveness really for you? Is it true?

Dear friend of God, to whom will you be Luke? To whom will you say: I have carefully investigated. I believe and trust. Jesus Christ suffered and rose from the dead on the third day. Your sins are forgiven. It’s true and it’s for you. It’s time to be certain. Amen.

Time in God's Word with Pastor Moldenhauer!

It Is Time to Invite the Unworthy (Reverend Ross Henzi)

Every single one of us, on our own, are a mess.  We are all sinful human beings.  Every one of us is unworthy.  Once you know that, once you understand that, once you know that by God’s grace the gospel is what brought you to Jesus, you begin to want that for everybody else.

Look at Jesus.  Look at who he welcomed.  He met with, talked to, and ate with sinners.  Tax collectors.  The poor and the sick.  The outcasts.  He went to the woman at the well (she was certainly unworthy), but once she heard the gospel, she immediately went and invited others to come and hear.  Jesus went to Peter who denied him, Thomas who doubted him, and Paul who at that time was desperately trying to stop the gospel from being shared.

Jesus didn’t wait for any of them to become worthy.  Jesus went to them, called them, forgave them, and restored them.  Just as he has with you and me.  And now he’s sending us.  He’s sending us out to extend the gospel invitation to others who are unworthy.  

This place here, this church here, wasn’t built to be a home for the few, the proud, the chosen.  This place was built by and for unworthy sinners who have been rescued by grace.

Time in God's Word with Pastor Moldenhauer!

Speak Truth to Power (Reverend Ross Henzi)

Have you ever noticed; it is nearly impossible nowadays to get people to agree on something?  It doesn’t matter the topic.  You can say, “I think Strawberry is the best flavor of ice cream.”  Someone else will counter, “No way.  Chocolate, Blue Moon, even Vanilla is better than Strawberry.”  The same thing happens with politics, religion, science, or even pop culture.  For example, who is the best singer of all time, male or female?  Depending on your age bracket, you are going to get votes for Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston, or Taylor Swift - just to name a few.  Everyone has an opinion, and everyone’s opinion is just as important as someone else’s.

So, is there anything that is so compelling, so factual, that everyone would agree to?  In other words, is there absolute truth?  Is there something that is true all the time, in all places and for all people?  Actually yes.  2 + 2 = 4 anywhere in the world.  The sun always rises in the East.  Everyone dies.  These are examples of absolute truth.  No one can refute them.  They are true for everyone, everywhere.

Here is another absolute truth:  Jesus Christ came to this world once and one day he is going to come again.  We believe that.  Many do not.  However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.  The day is coming when everyone will bow and acknowledge Jesus as Lord.

We are currently living in that in-between time, the time between Christ’s first and second appearance on earth.  Each new day brings us closer to the end.

Today we begin a new sermon series entitled, The Beginning of the End.  In these days before Christ’s triumphant return, the Apostle Paul instructs us to speak the truth - absolute truth.  

 ·      There is a truth that does not change because culture changes.  

·       There is a truth that does not change because people reject it.  

·       There is a truth that does not change because the world mocks it.  

And that truth is this:  Jesus Christ is Lord.  The cross is still the answer.  Sin is still real.  Grace is still necessary.  The resurrection is still our hope.  And heaven is still our home.  That is the truth we need to hold onto.