Happy Father’s Day! Here’s what I think dads really need: Encouragement. Life deflates us. We need to be filled up. Fathers need to be filled up. To be encouraged. Today, instead of telling you what you need to do, I want you to hear what God your Father has done for you. Your Father, right now, is working out all things for your good. Your Father, from before the beginning of time, has chosen you to be his own. Your Father, the almighty God, is with you, no matter what you have to face. Your Father gave up his own Son so that you could be the forgiven, saved, loved child of God. Who can separate you from his love? Nothing. I hope you can be filled up by this Father’s Day sermon: “Our Father in Heaven.” Jesus loves you!

God loves you sincerely! Do you believe that? It’s true! Jesus died for you. Jesus washed away your sins in baptism. Jesus makes you holy and blameless. Jesus loves you sincerely. That love from Jesus is what leads Christians to love others–even our enemies. Jesus’ love empowers Christians to overcome evil with good. When it’s hard to fit in… Overcome evil with good. When criticism comes… Overcome evil with good. When you feel rejected or worthless… Overcome evil with good. When the ones you love the most hurt you the most… Overcome evil with good. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Overcome Evil with Good.” Jesus loves you!

Our God is the God of the broken. The God of the crushed. The God who called darkness into light. The God who formed man from dust. The God who sent his own Son. The God of unfailing love. How can we broken, sinful creatures, make it through today? Only by the unfailing love of God. How can we make it through tomorrow? Only by the unfailing love of God. The Christian prays to the Lord, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:7-14). God’s unfailing love uncrushes the crushed. God’s unfailing love unbreaks the broken. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “I Am a Broken Creature Who Trusts in God’s Unfailing Love.” Jesus loves you!

You are a Spirit-filled Christian. Do you think about that? God wants you to! As we watch God pour out his Holy Spirit on his people on Pentecost, we learn three amazing things that God the Holy Spirit does for God’s people. First, the Holy Spirit takes cowards and makes them courageous. He turned Peter from a denier of Jesus into a bold proclaimer of the Gospel. Second, the Holy Spirit gives different gifts to every Christian, like speaking in tongues or giving generously or serving selflessly. Finally, the Holy Spirit focuses our hearts on Jesus, for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21). I hope you can listen to this Pentecost sermon about the work of the Holy Spirit: “Spirit-Filled.” God bless you!

Solomon was a young man who had just reached a big milestone in his life. For Solomon, it wasn’t Confirmation Day. He had just become the king of Israel! The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you” (1 Kings 3:5). What would you have asked for? Money? A pickup truck? Success? Young Solomon asked for something totally different: “Give your servant a discerning heart” (1 Kings 3:9). Solomon asked for a heart that listened to the Lord. What could be better? May God give Christian young people who are being confirmed–and all of us–a listening heart that always hears his Word. I hope you can listen to this Confirmation Day Sermon: “A Listening Heart.” God bless you!

It’s a blessing to be a mother. The Bible wants to convince us of that. It was just announced this spring that the birthrate in the United States is the lowest it has ever been. For some reason, being a mother doesn’t sound as good as it used to. The story of Hannah in the Bible shows us a totally different attitude. Hannah prayed fervently to the Lord for a son, and when she was finally blessed with a son, she gave that son back to the Lord. God values motherhood, and there is nothing more beautiful than a mother who loves her children and puts her hope in the Lord. I hope you can listen to this Mother’s Day sermon: “The Blessing of Motherhood.” Jesus loves you!

“Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). Nothing good comes from inside us. All good comes from outside us–“from the Father of the heavenly lights.” The more you believe that, the more that trust in God fills your heart, the more peace will fill your life. Forgiveness and eternal life. That’s God’s gift to you from above! Peace with God. That’s God’s gift to you from above! If God has given you those things through Jesus, do you think he can take care of the rest? Food? Health? Money? Clothing? Yes, he can. I hope you can listen to this sermon about God’s grace to you and me: “Every Good Gift Is from Above.” Jesus loves you!

There are aliens on earth. There are living beings on earth from out-of-this world. Do you know whom I’m talking about? You! You are an alien! I hope that doesn’t sound mean. If you’re a Christian, the Bible calls you “foreigners and exiles.” When Jesus talked about Christians, he said, “They are not of this world, even as I am not of it” (John 17:16). If we are not of this world, what are we? Aliens! The book of Hebrews says believers are “foreigners and strangers on earth” who are “longing for a better country—a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:13,16). If you’re a Christian, this world is not your home. Where is your home? In heaven! What does that make you? An alien! I hope you can listen to this sermon about God’s plan for us aliens here on earth: “Good Aliens.” God bless you!

When your heart feels restless, return to your Shepherd. He’s the only One who can truly calm it. When your heart is guilty, return to your Shepherd. It might feel like you’re 20,000 miles away from God, but you’re not. He is right here with you. He already bore your sins in his body on the cross. Jesus has forgiven you! When you feel overwhelmed with everything, like you have to carry the burdens of life alone, Jesus says, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Jesus wants to carry you. He wants to carry you all the way home. Return to your Shepherd! I hope you can listen to this sermon for Good Shepherd Sunday: “Return to Your Shepherd.” Jesus loves you!

“He descended into hell.” We say that every time we confess the words of the Apostles Creed. Have you ever wondered what those words mean? Whenever we say, “He descended into hell,” think, “Jesus won!” After he rose from the dead, Jesus descended into hell to proclaim his victory over his enemies. The devil is defeated. The enemies of God can’t win. There is vindication for God’s people. It might seem like the devil and his forces of evil are winning in our world today, but one day you’ll see the truth. Believe in what you cannot see: Jesus won! I hope you can listen to this sermon: “He Descended into Hell.” Jesus loves you!