Closer to Christ
St Paul's Lutheran Church, Muskego WI
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Go Back to Christmas, Part 1: to see God Show Up to Save - Pastor Pete
The crowds outside Jerusalem identified Jesus as the one who comes—the Messiah they were waiting for, the Messiah they needed. And they had great expectations about what he would be and do for them. So, when they saw him riding into Jerusalem as king, they shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes!” And they pinned all their hopes on him. They were so excited because their king was showing up to save them. But isn’t it interesting that before the parade and the shouting and the hosannas, Jesus simply but miraculously reminded his believers who he really is. By predicting how the whole donkey scenario would play out, Jesus reminded us that he knows how everything is going to play out. When you really need Jesus to show up, remember that he does. He always has. He has always showed up to save his people. Not always in the way they were expecting, but in the best way, because he knows how it will all play out.
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Nov 26, 2023
Saints Triumphant: E3 Proves Total Victory - Pastor Nate
Since Death’s sudden appearance at the sin of Adam…since Death’s first victory with the bloody hands of Cain…Death has reigned undefeated. The genealogies of the Old Testament read like the results of battle after battle, or boxing match after boxing match. Another name is called, another man stands in the ring with death, but the verdict is always the same: “and then he died.” The referee raises the cold boxing glove of death in victory again and again. But a challenger arises. A challenger who systematically climbs through the ranks, defeating opponent after opponent. He defeats disease, blindness, deafness, disability, and chronic pain. He proves himself more powerful than death—he raises children, raises Lazarus. But he doesn’t stop there, he goes around death and fights the source—sin! He defeats the devil himself. He reigns as the ultimate champion. And now death stands in the ring fighting us. Fighting the undercard. It looks like death is still racking up victories, but death is shaking in his boots because even death knows one truth: “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” And when Christ comes again, Death will be forced to vacate all his victories and Jesus will lay his boxing gloves at the feet of the Father to show that the victory is won, and God is “all in all.”
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Nov 23, 2023
Thanksgiving 2023 - Pastor Kuehl
Don’t Be Foolish! Be rich toward God!
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Nov 20, 2023
Saints Triumphant: E3 Redefines Life and Death - Pastor Kuehl
See how thoroughly Endless Easter Encouragement has redefined life and death for the Christians in Thessalonica!
• They were concerned that those who had died would miss out, not on the things of this world and this life, but that they would miss out on Jesus’ glorious return at the end of the world.
• Death itself has been redefined as a sleep that we will wake from.
• Death is no longer a permanent separation, but a temporary separation. And the best reunification is that we will all be with the Lord.
• Always, and especially when we mourn those who have preceded us in death, we encourage one another with the death and resurrection of Jesus. Notice that his personal savior name is used here in connection to his death and resurrection.*
• All of the encouragement and anticipation of these words depends on Easter!
*(Interestingly enough, in all of 1 Thessalonians, the only three occurrences of the name Jesus without any other title such as Lord or Christ are in the immediate context of the death and resurrection—1:10 and the two occurrences here in 4:14. Every other time Paul uses the name Jesus in 1 Thessalonians it is accompanied by either Lord or Christ or both.)
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Nov 20, 2023
Saints Triumphant: E3 Redefines Life and Death - Pastor Nate
See how thoroughly Endless Easter Encouragement has redefined life and death for the Christians in Thessalonica!
• They were concerned that those who had died would miss out, not on the things of this world and this life, but that they would miss out on Jesus’ glorious return at the end of the world.
• Death itself has been redefined as a sleep that we will wake from.
• Death is no longer a permanent separation, but a temporary separation. And the best reunification is that we will all be with the Lord.
• Always, and especially when we mourn those who have preceded us in death, we encourage one another with the death and resurrection of Jesus. Notice that his personal savior name is used here in connection to his death and resurrection.*
• All of the encouragement and anticipation of these words depends on Easter!
*(Interestingly enough, in all of 1 Thessalonians, the only three occurrences of the name Jesus without any other title such as Lord or Christ are in the immediate context of the death and resurrection—1:10 and the two occurrences here in 4:14. Every other time Paul uses the name Jesus in 1 Thessalonians it is accompanied by either Lord or Christ or both.)
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Nov 13, 2023
Because iT Matters, Part 5: My Joy Matters - Pastor Pete
Giving brings joy to the giver, joy to the recipient, and joy to our God as he sees his children live and act like him. What gives you joy as you think about your commitment to Because iT Matters and as you pray about your initial gift on the December 3 Celebration Weekend?
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Nov 6, 2023
Because iT Matters, Part 4: My Surrender Matters - Pastor Pete
The Macedonian congregation presented the Corinthians and us with a role model of surrendered giving. They did not have much. Paul mentions their “extreme poverty.” What they did have was a “singleness of purpose.” They could only be truly generous if they surrendered their hopes and dreams to Christ and instead focused on the mission Christ had given them. The Macedonian response amazed Paul and encouraged the Corinthians. How might our surrender to God’s mission be evident in our response to Because iT Matters? How might our response encourage others today and in the future?
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Oct 30, 2023
Because iT Matters, Part 3: The Mission Matters - Pastor Pete
As we celebrate the Lutheran Reformation, we remember how much the cross and the mission of God’s church mattered to Martin Luther and the other reformers. They were willing to risk their lives for the mission. What would it look like if I were willing to risk my life (or livelihood) for the mission presented to us in Because iT Matters?
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Oct 23, 2023
Because iT Matters, Part 2: The Partnership Matters - Pastor Pete
God’s church is designed to be a partnership. What is your part in this partnership? What is your next step to strengthening our partnership? A commitment to regular worship? Participation in the “Following the Promise” Bible study? Joining a small group? Giving more consistently or starting a recurring gift online? Volunteering?
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Oct 16, 2023
Because iT Matters, Part 1: The Cross Matters - Pastor Pete
When did you have that defining moment, that life-changing encounter with the Savior? At your baptism? As an adult? Has it happened to you more than once? When did the cross matter to you more than anything else in the world? If you haven’t had that life-changing encounter, could today bring God’s invitation to you to bow before the cross?
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Oct 9, 2023
He Gets Us - Family Conflict, Part 2: They Don't Need to Be "Right" for Me to Love Them - Pastor Nate
When Jesus set out to create a church family, he didn’t go looking for people who were “right”. Case in point: Levi/Matthew the tax collector. There were many tax collectors and sinners who followed Jesus. Only Mark includes this detail. They didn’t need to be right for Jesus to love them. But once again Jesus is accused. Are there many “tax collectors and sinners” following us? Or do we fall into the same mistake the Pharisees did: “I’ll love them when they are right.” Romans 12:16 “Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” Humility is the path to real communication, to real relationship, to forgiveness. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. What a perfectly balanced proclamation of Law and Gospel, with the Gospel predominating!
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Oct 2, 2023
He Gets Us - Family Conflict, Part 1: I Don't Need to Be "Right" - Pastor Nate
Sometimes headings can be helpful. The NIV heading for this reading is: “Jesus accused by his family and by teachers of the law.” We might not catch it at first, but there are two accusations against Jesus: his family accused him of being insane, and the people who should have been his church family accused him of being demon possessed. I wonder which one hurt more, his biological family or church family? He does respond to them differently. Does it seem like Jesus disowned his family here? Or did he just not need to prove himself right? He didn’t feel the need to defend his sanity or his pride. He didn’t need to fight with people who loved him even though they were wrong (The “even though they were wrong” is a foreshadowing of next week!) But his ministry was important enough to defend. Not because it was about him, but because it was about the kingdom. It was about the eternal salvation of those who heard him. Jesus didn’t need to be right even though he was the only one who always was right. Instead, he displayed wisdom, patience and love, valuing reconciliation over being right.
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Sep 25, 2023
He Gets Us - Anxiety, Part 2: God Knows What We Need - Pastor Kuehl
From the “He Gets Us” sermon helps: “The Roman Stoic Philosopher Seneca is not wrong with this statement: ‘He suffers more than is necessary, who suffers before it is necessary.’”— Seneca Anxiety whispers, “What if? What if I won’t have what I need?” Jesus gets us—he knows what worries us. He speaks the beautiful and comforting words: “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” He also knows us better than that—he knows the quiet yearnings of our hearts. We are more complex creatures than just animals searching for food and shelter. We want to be loved. We want to be valued. Anxiety whispers: “What if? What if I’m not important? What if I’m not cared about?” God knows. Jesus answers by asking, “Are you not much more valuable than they?” “Will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?” Of course, you are valued. Of course, you are cared for. But he knows us even better than that. God knows that what we need more than anything els…
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Sep 25, 2023
He Gets Us - Anxiety, Part 2: God Knows What We Need - Pastor Pete
From the “He Gets Us” sermon helps: “The Roman Stoic Philosopher Seneca is not wrong with this statement: ‘He suffers more than is necessary, who suffers before it is necessary.’”— Seneca Anxiety whispers, “What if? What if I won’t have what I need?” Jesus gets us—he knows what worries us. He speaks the beautiful and comforting words: “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” He also knows us better than that—he knows the quiet yearnings of our hearts. We are more complex creatures than just animals searching for food and shelter. We want to be loved. We want to be valued. Anxiety whispers: “What if? What if I’m not important? What if I’m not cared about?” God knows. Jesus answers by asking, “Are you not much more valuable than they?” “Will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?” Of course, you are valued. Of course, you are cared for. But he knows us even better than that. God knows that what we need more than anything els…
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Sep 18, 2023
He Gets Us - Anxiety, Part 1: God Knows What We Don't - Pastor Pete
When we feel anxiety, we are often tempted to think that knowing what will happen would make us feel better. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus knew what was going to happen, but knowing didn’t relieve his anxiety. Knowing didn’t make it easier. Where did Jesus turn for relief? He confided in his believing friends. He told them he wasn’t OK and asked for their help. He turned to his Father and told God what God already knew—how he was feeling and what he was afraid of. Jesus understands anxiety. And more than anything else, Jesus trusted. He knew the future and he could do anything, but he trusted. The one who knew what we wish we could know, and could have done all the things we wish we could do, trusted instead. He earned righteousness for us as he contemplated his sacrifice for us. The best remedy for anxiety is not to know the future like God does, but to know that God knows and to trust him
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Sep 11, 2023
In Pursuit of Family Church, Part 4: Family Church Is Prayer - Pastor Pete
God has designed Family Church to be regular conversation with him--something we call prayer. Prayer is not something parents or friends just "model" for their children and for those in their functional family. Prayer is something that we "live" with our children and friends as God is the purpose and focus and true friend of our lives. "Can I pray for you?"
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Sep 4, 2023
In Pursuit of Family Church, Part 3: Family Church Is Preparedness - Pastor Kuehl
God has designed Family Church--the home or one’s functional family--to be a place of safety and security for its members. Family Church is also a place of preparation and training for the spiritual warfare awaiting us in this world. Just as parents teach their children to look both ways before crossing the street, or buy their child a helmet for riding his or her bike, so we outfit our children and those within our functional family with the armor of God for the journey home to heaven.
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Sep 4, 2023
In Pursuit of Family Church, Part 3: Family Church Is Preparedness - Pastor Nate
God has designed Family Church--the home or one’s functional family--to be a place of safety and security for its members. Family Church is also a place of preparation and training for the spiritual warfare awaiting us in this world. Just as parents teach their children to look both ways before crossing the street, or buy their child a helmet for riding his or her bike, so we outfit our children and those within our functional family with the armor of God for the journey home to heaven.
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Aug 28, 2023
In Pursuit of Family Church, Part 2: Family Church Is Service - Pastor Pete
God has designed Family Church to function well as each member carries out his or her role in service to the others, seeing it first as service to Christ. To serve is to submit. "Submit" is a welcomed word to the believer in Jesus. It is an approach to living that blessed and changed the world in the person of Jesus Christ. It is an approach to MY living that brings blessing every day to the people in my family and in my area of influence.
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Aug 21, 2023
In Pursuit of Family Church, Part 1: Family Church Is Personal - Pastor Pete
God has designed the Family Church with dad and mom in mind as spiritual shepherds of the family. To be a shepherd takes training and preparation. To be a spiritual shepherd takes training and guidance from God's Word. In other words, for dad and mom, Family Church is personal--it begins with ME and my relationship with Jesus, my Savior. Are you a mom or a dad? Are you an influencer in your functional family? Then Family Church is personal--between Jesus and you.
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Aug 21, 2023
In Pursuit of Family Church, Part 1: Family Church Is Personal - Pastor Nate
God has designed the Family Church with dad and mom in mind as spiritual shepherds of the family. To be a shepherd takes training and preparation. To be a spiritual shepherd takes training and guidance from God's Word. In other words, for dad and mom, Family Church is personal--it begins with ME and my relationship with Jesus, my Savior. Are you a mom or a dad? Are you an influencer in your functional family? Then Family Church is personal--between Jesus and you.
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Aug 17, 2023
In Pursuit of Family Church
A mission statement defines a company's business: whom it serves, what it does, its objectives, and its approach to reaching those objectives. A mission statement is prominent in an organization's daily work, keeping everyone on task and in pursuit of the mission. The Christian family is no different in its purposeful living. We want our family founded on Jesus and his forgiveness, focused on his example of love, with eyes fixed on the ultimate goal of heaven. This sermon series looks to the book of Ephesians to guide us in our missional pursuit of Family Church.
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Aug 14, 2023
Let's Go Camping, Part 5: You Can Get Lost Camping - Pastor Nate
Moses must be lost! Jerusalem was only 25 miles directly north of them. Yet, they were going on a couple of hundred mile detour through barren desert. Do you sometimes feel your God is lost? Is he leading you on this camping trip in a direction you don’t want to go? Is his path to the Promised Land impossible for you? In your suffering, look to the One who suffered for you. There you will find clarity. The way to the Promised Land is safe.
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Aug 7, 2023
Let's Go Camping, Part 4: Camping Can Be Frightening - Pastor Pete
“Is that a bear?” “No, mom. It is just a stump.” After seeing bear warning signs, all she could see were bears. That happened for the Israelites too. The spies came back with warning signs. The Canaanites were too big. The cities fortified. They wanted to give up and go home. What are the warning signs you see in your life? Does the future look frightening to you? Remember who is in the camp with us. Your fellow campers need to hear you say, “The LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”
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Jul 31, 2023
Let's Go Camping, Part 3: Camping is NOT a Spectator Sport - Pastor Nate
Camping is work! When one person thinks he or she has to do everything, it is easy to be overwhelmed and want to quit. Everyone on a camping trip has a something to do. When everyone understands their role, bitterness and jealousy disappear. What is your role as you journey through life to the Promised Land? Are you getting bitter? Perhaps you are trying to do too much. Are you getting jealous? Perhaps you don’t see the importance of your role for the blessing of all. God has gifted each of us to serve. Both leaders and followers need to understand that.
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Jul 24, 2023
Let's Go Camping, Part 2: Camping Produces Crises - Pastor Nate
If you have ever gone on a family camping trip, you have experienced crises. Complaints begin to surface. It’s too hot. It’s too cold. I’m tired. I don’t like the food. I’m doing more than my fair share. Moms and dads get to the breaking point too. How much more of this can they take? The Israelites experienced similar crises. It was too hard. The food was monotonous. Fortunately, the LORD was at the center of their camp. The crisis was overcome, but not without pain. A story was created that united the family for generations. What crises are you facing on your camping trip? Trust that, when the LORD is at the center of your camp, the crises will be overcome and a story of God’s faithfulness will be created.
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Jul 24, 2023
Let's Go Camping, Part 2: Camping Produces Crises - Pastor Kuehl
If you have ever gone on a family camping trip, you have experienced crises. Complaints begin to surface. It’s too hot. It’s too cold. I’m tired. I don’t like the food. I’m doing more than my fair share. Moms and dads get to the breaking point too. How much more of this can they take? The Israelites experienced similar crises. It was too hard. The food was monotonous. Fortunately, the LORD was at the center of their camp. The crisis was overcome, but not without pain. A story was created that united the family for generations. What crises are you facing on your camping trip? Trust that, when the LORD is at the center of your camp, the crises will be overcome and a story of God’s faithfulness will be created.
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Jul 17, 2023
Let's Go Camping, Part 1: Pack for the Camping Trip, Take the LORD Along - Pastor Nate
The Numbers camping trip starts with Moses counting noses. He counts noses again at the end of the trip. Then he explains the arrangement of the camp, everyone’s duties while camping, and the order in which they will hike. There are so many details in this part that we may lose sight of the most important thing – Who and what is at the center of the camp and at the center of their hike? It is the LORD. Isn’t that a lesson for us as we walk through life? What are we doing to make sure that the LORD is at the center of our family camping trip through life?
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Jul 10, 2023
Agape, Part 5: A Love Without End - Pastor Pete
We are used to temporary. “All good things must come to an…end.” Those are common words because they reflect our experience—even our experience of love. Conflicts end friendships. Through distance and time people drift apart. And even if the love goes the distance, death stands at the end. Or does it? Jesus speaks of a never-ending relationship. He will never lose or drive away his beloved people. And death certainly cannot separate us from him! Jesus has conquered death. He has power and authority over death. Listen, and recognize the boldness of Jesus’ words, words he repeats: “I will raise them up at the last day.” Only Jesus can say those words. He does so with the full power and authority of the Father behind him. Our God is eternal. He loved us before the world began and he will love us into eternity. He has given us eternal life. He will raise us up at the last day—and the last day will be only the beginning. “As I look for the seeds the king has sown to burst…
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Jul 3, 2023
Agape, Part 4: A Love Without Limit - Pastor Pete
To love without limit means to love all the way. No “if” at the beginning. No “if” in the middle. No “if” at the end. And that does not make sense to us. It might even be frightening to us. At some point don’t we get to stop? Isn’t there some kind of limit where love ends and hatred takes over? That kind of thinking shows how little we truly understand love, and how incapable of agape we truly are on our own. But Jesus loved without limit. Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist and did the work of the lowest servant. And not primarily to teach humility, but to teach love—to teach that love has no limits. Peter thought it should. He thought that love should be limited by social status and cultural norms. He thought it should be limited by deserving and worthiness. But Jesus simply loved. He even loved the man who had made himself unclean, who had made himself Jesus’ enemy. He washed Judas’ feet, even though the devil was already at work in him. Loving without limit…
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Jun 26, 2023
Agape, Part 3: A Love Without Expectation - Pastor Nate
To love without expectation means to keep loving. After hearing last week that loving without condition means that we love first, then we have expectations. In our minds, when we love first, then a time should come when we get what we want or need. “I loved first, so now you will”…fill in the blank. Love me back, support me, defer to me, give me what I want whatever that might be, and so on. But that isn’t a love without “if”. That just means we moved the “if” from the front to the middle. Loving without condition meant to love first. Loving without expectation means we keep loving. And that is what makes the parable of the tenants so shocking. Landowners have expectations of their tenants, and they should. That is the deal. So when the landowner sent servant after servant to the tenants and they mistreated them, why would he send his son? It makes no sense! It is because this isn’t just a business relationship. This parable represents the relationship between God and…
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Jun 19, 2023
Agape, Part 2: A Love Without Condition - Pastor Kuehl
To love without condition means to love first. That is hard for us. We would rather approach others more guardedly, with the idea, “I’ll love you when…” No matter what that “when” is, it reveals something about us: we place conditions on love. We put the “if” first. But any condition placed on love makes that condition the operating concept rather than love itself. That condition becomes the main thing rather than love being the main thing. And if love isn’t the main thing then it isn’t really there at all. The prodigal son thought his father would “love him when”. He would love him when he apologized well enough. He would love him when he groveled. He would love him when he proved himself. And the older brother agreed. There were all kinds of conditions that the younger brother should have met and didn’t, and the older brother had met those conditions, at least in his own mind. But the father didn’t want to hear any of that. He loved without condition, whic…
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Jun 12, 2023
Agape, Part 1: A Love Without Beginning - Pastor Nate
In all our earthly relationships love has a beginning. But in our relationship with God, his love has no beginning. He chose us before the creation of the world. In love, he predestined us to be his children. These words of Paul contain not only Paul’s rejoicing, but God’s own joy! Words like “lavished” and “freely” and “pleasure” show the character of our God’s love that depends not on us, but only on him. Can’t you see how much fun God is having? Can’t you see how excited he is to have us as his own? He has been planning this since before time began!
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Jun 5, 2023
Trinity - Pastor Pete
The Scriptures never use the words “Trinity” or “Triune.” They never even summarize in any single place the entirety of this doctrine. Instead, as we read God’s Word from the first verse of Genesis to the last verse of Revelation, he gives us hints and glimpses of his Triune nature. Thus, the doctrine of the Trinity can seem very academic, even abstract. It may seem to have little relevance to the Christian’s daily life. Nothing could be further from the truth. Instead, as God provides those hints and glimpses, his primary focus is on the way in which his Triune nature is a blessing to us. God shows us how we benefit from the fact he exists as Trinity. God dwells in a “majesty and mystery” (Prayer of the Day) that far exceeds our understanding. But here is what we can understand. Every time we gather in the name of the Lord, our Triune God, we receive indescribable blessings.
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May 29, 2023
Pentecost - Pastor Pete
Jesus ascended into heaven. That does not mean the gospel has ceased to march victorious around the world! Jesus promised to send another advocate to represent God to the world: the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the constant companion of believers in these Last Days. This raises an important question. If God now reveals himself by his Spirit, where is the Holy Spirit found? God has not left the answer to that question in doubt. When Jesus promised to send the Spirit, he indicated that his work would be connected to words, specifically God's Word. As a result, we need never wonder where we can find the Spirit. He marches victorious through the Word
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May 22, 2023
Our Next Steps, Part 3: We are Committed - Pastor Nate
“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away.” Can you imagine the disciples’ confusion? How could this be for their good? Jesus did so many wonderful things for them. Why would he leave? Jesus has also done wonderful things for us. By his death and resurrection he has given us forgiveness and eternal life. He has made us a community of convinced people. And he has another gift for us—something to be committed to. Conquering kings tend to take glory, advantage and benefits for themselves. In fact, all humans do. By nature, we try to build pyramid schemes with ourselves on top. Human nature uses the many to empower the few. But look at how differently Jesus arranges his kingdom. He alone is at the bottom, giving gifts—empowering more, like evangelists, pastors and teachers to work in his kingdom. And what is their purpose? To equip and empower more people, in fact, all of his people for service. The pyramid is upside down! Jesus’ vision for his church…
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May 15, 2023
Our Next Steps, Part 2: We are a Community - Pastor Pete
Today we recognize the importance of mothers in producing the sense of community we enjoy in God’s Church.
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May 8, 2023
Our Next Steps, Part 1: We are Convinced - Pastor Nate
“I am convinced!” quickly becomes, “We are convinced!” As God creates and strengthens faith in individual hearts, he also connects us with other believers. The conviction of one person encourages the faith of another. The support that they give each other enhances their ministry to serve more people with God’s Word in new and exciting ways. Jesus lives! And each time the Holy Spirit gives faith to an individual, he adds that person’s, “I am convinced!” to the ever-growing church that says, “We are convinced!”
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May 4, 2023
Our Next Steps
In our last series, “My Next Steps”, did you notice that all those steps brought you more and more into community and fellowship with others? That isn’t a coincidence. That’s how God designed it. As we grow stronger in our conviction, as we build our own family churches, as we express our commitment to Christ, all of those things bind us closer and closer to other Christians. Those steps bind us into gatherings, a congregation—our church!
When we live according to God’s plan, what we do as individuals and what we do as a church are very similar. God uses the same steps that move us forward and help us grow as individual Christians to make us a faithful and vibrant church. We are convinced! We are a community! We are committed! Praise God that he has accomplished this in our own hearts and in our church!
We are Convinced
We are a Community
We are Committed
www.stpaulmuskego.org
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May 1, 2023
My Next Steps, Part 3: Commitment - Pastor Pete
The martyrdom of Stephen was a display of commitment that God used to change the Christian church and the world. It was the watershed moment between a local religious group and a worldwide church. But that commitment didn’t just happen in a moment. And it didn’t come from just one man. Look at all the displays of commitment in this reading. The church was committed to serving the members of its family. The Apostles were committed to the ministry of the word. The deacons stood up and made a commitment to doing their duty. God didn’t have one committed follower, he had a committed church that cultivated and prepared a committed man. Then God gave him the opportunity to show the ultimate commitment. Every day we have opportunities, large and small, to live our commitment to Christ. Don’t underestimate the importance of the small commitments! Every small step you don’t take prepares you to not take the big step that could be coming. But in every small step you take God is trainin…
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Apr 24, 2023
My Next Steps, Part 2: Community - Pastor Kuehl
Doesn’t the description of the Jerusalem church sound wonderful? People eating together, sharing with each other, hanging out together, showing love and respect to each other—people outside the church love it too and want to be part of the group. Where does that kind of community come from? It comes from repentance—the whole process of repentance. The Jerusalem church had a vivid awareness of their sinfulness, and a joyful appreciation of the forgiveness they had because of the sacrifice of Jesus. Sin and grace, law and gospel—this is where their joy came from. And then they put it into practice. They met together. They spent time together. They ate together. They loved each other. And while they did all that they continued to praise God and pray and speak God’s wonderful rescue story to each other. It was a cycle of joy and encouragement and rejuvenation. A cycle that God is also working in us as we build our community.
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Apr 24, 2023
My Next Steps, Part 2: Community - Pastor Nate
Doesn’t the description of the Jerusalem church sound wonderful? People eating together, sharing with each other, hanging out together, showing love and respect to each other—people outside the church love it too and want to be part of the group. Where does that kind of community come from? It comes from repentance—the whole process of repentance. The Jerusalem church had a vivid awareness of their sinfulness, and a joyful appreciation of the forgiveness they had because of the sacrifice of Jesus. Sin and grace, law and gospel—this is where their joy came from. And then they put it into practice. They met together. They spent time together. They ate together. They loved each other. And while they did all that they continued to praise God and pray and speak God’s wonderful rescue story to each other. It was a cycle of joy and encouragement and rejuvenation. A cycle that God is also working in us as we build our community.
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Apr 17, 2023
My Next Steps, Part 1: Conviction - Pastor Pete
Peter was not content to merely know what he had seen. He repeatedly refers to other witnesses. He reviewed the testimony of the Old Testament. He was determined to not only know that Jesus rose, but to strengthen his conviction with proof after proof. Let us not be content with knowing that Jesus rose, or hearing about it once or twice. Instead let’s intentionally strengthen our conviction. How? By examining all the witnesses in scripture we can find. By talking about Jesus’ resurrection with fellow Christians. That is how the Holy Spirit works. That is how conviction grows stronger.
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Apr 13, 2023
My Next Steps
Jesus walked his earthly life with direction and purpose. Every step led to his final steps, carrying his cross, and our sins to Calvary. And then, on Easter morning, he breathed again, he stood up from the cold stone and took his first steps out of the tomb. We watched him take his final steps to the cross for us. We celebrated his resurrection, his life, his first steps out of the grave! So now what? What’s next? What are my next steps?
If you have ever heard about the amazing things Jesus has done and wondered, “So, what should I do?” this series is for you. You can take your cue from the first followers of Jesus. They took steps. Jesus’ work had an impact on them and their lives. It made a difference—an observable change in them and in their behaviors. You can take these next steps, too. You will strengthen your conviction, build a community, and live your commitment. These are not just stories or concepts. No, conviction, community and commitment are my next steps. Sermo…
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Apr 10, 2023
His First Steps Led Outside His Tomb - Pastor Pete
Together the witnesses shout to us, “Easter is real! The Lord’s gracious forgiveness of sins is real!” Jesus made that crystal clear when he sent Mary with a message for his “brothers.” Even the greeting was pure grace for those who had scattered like scared rabbits into the night outside Gethsemane only days before. There is the same pure grace for us too who sometimes get stuck in our Good Friday nightmares. Because, you see, the writer to the Hebrews assures us that the risen Lord is not ashamed to call us his “brothers” either (Hebrews 2:10-15). That is why he came. That’s why he took every one of his final steps to the center cross on Calvary. And that’s why his first steps led outside his tomb!
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Apr 10, 2023
His First Steps Led Outside His Tomb - Pastor Nate
Together the witnesses shout to us, “Easter is real! The Lord’s gracious forgiveness of sins is real!” Jesus made that crystal clear when he sent Mary with a message for his “brothers.” Even the greeting was pure grace for those who had scattered like scared rabbits into the night outside Gethsemane only days before. There is the same pure grace for us too who sometimes get stuck in our Good Friday nightmares. Because, you see, the writer to the Hebrews assures us that the risen Lord is not ashamed to call us his “brothers” either (Hebrews 2:10-15). That is why he came. That’s why he took every one of his final steps to the center cross on Calvary. And that’s why his first steps led outside his tomb!
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Apr 8, 2023
His Final Steps Led to the Place of the Skull - Pastor Kuehl
Tenebrae, which is a Latin word meaning "shadows," has been observed in the church of Jesus Christ since the fourth century. On this Good Friday we remember the death of Jesus and recall his seven last words on the cross. As we remember the last words, we extinguish the candles on the communion table, one by one. The gradual extinguishing of the candles is accompanied by prayers, hymns, choral anthems, and readings from Scripture. Following the final hymn, the Christ candle is removed briefly from the sanctuary to signify Christ's death. After a moment of silence, the Christ candle is brought back as a symbol of the resurrection hope that we will celebrate on Easter.
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Apr 7, 2023
His Final Steps Led to the Upper Room - Pastor Pete
Listen closely: “My time is near. I will observe the Passover with my disciples at your house” (Matthew 26:18). “My time is near.” The chosen time! The appointed time! The time our Lord had set from eternity itself was now at hand. The set time for all of our Savior’s final steps! To the upper room. To the garden. To Judas who betrayed him with a kiss. To the trials. To the scourgings. To the spitting. To the stone pavement and the trial before Pontius Pilate. To the Via Dolorosa—the road of sorrows. To the center cross on Golgotha, where God’s Lamb would forever finish the messy business of washing away the stench of humanity’s sin. Yours and mine included. “The teacher says . . . my time is near,” is the same Savior who hung on the cross, because he peered down the corridors of time to see us fall victim again and again to our sinful nature, to see how, especially when life is hard, we can get on each other’s nerves. We can get testy. We can get crabby. We can g…
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Apr 3, 2023
His Final Steps Led to a Donkey - Pastor Kuehl
Jesus' grand entrance into Jerusalem paved the way for our Savior’s final steps to his cross. And that was always the goal, because saving us was his mission. Saving us was his purpose. Saving us is what he did when he bowed his head and died, when he dragged down into his grave the most-deadly infection to ever plague our world! A cross-generational pandemic with a 100 percent fatality rate: sin (yours, mine, and everyone else’s too). Our fears and our worries right now: “What if there’s another pandemic? Will I get sick? What about the kids? And what about my investments and my retirement fund?” Our anger over our Father’s plans when they don’t seem to match our own. Our selfishness and self-centeredness that sometimes—especially when our life is threatened as it is now—come bubbling to the surface like so much raw sewage. Jesus answers the cry “Hosanna!” to show what kind of king he really is, precisely the kind of king broken people like you and me need—now…
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Apr 3, 2023
His Final Steps Led to a Donkey - Pastor Pete
Jesus' grand entrance into Jerusalem paved the way for our Savior’s final steps to his cross. And that was always the goal, because saving us was his mission. Saving us was his purpose. Saving us is what he did when he bowed his head and died, when he dragged down into his grave the most-deadly infection to ever plague our world! A cross-generational pandemic with a 100 percent fatality rate: sin (yours, mine, and everyone else’s too). Our fears and our worries right now: “What if there’s another pandemic? Will I get sick? What about the kids? And what about my investments and my retirement fund?” Our anger over our Father’s plans when they don’t seem to match our own. Our selfishness and self-centeredness that sometimes—especially when our life is threatened as it is now—come bubbling to the surface like so much raw sewage. Jesus answers the cry “Hosanna!” to show what kind of king he really is, precisely the kind of king broken people like you and me need—now…
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Mar 27, 2023
Dear Younger Me, Part 6: We Want to Rationalize It - Pastor Pete
When Paul was known as Saul, he was a famous enemy of the church. His zeal for persecuting the church made his conversion all the more shocking, and his testimony even more powerful. And Paul could have used those facts to rationalize away his regrets. This is perhaps the most common response to regret that pop-psychology can give. “You learned from your mistakes. Your experiences made you who you are. You have grown, and you shouldn’t regret the process that got you here.” That kind of thinking—who does it glorify? It glorifies the self. That kind of thinking calls our evil good because it turned out well. And that is a lie. If good things have come from regrettable actions; if you grew, if you gained wisdom, or a family, or the ability to empathize and be compassionate, don’t give the glory to yourself. Be like Paul and give it to God. This is how we balance repentance and thankfulness. This is how we love our lives and regret our sins at the same time. We remember the word…
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Mar 20, 2023
Dear Younger Me, Part 5: We Want to Soak in It - Pastor Nate
Fiction only resonates with us when it reflects fact. Think of our fictional heroes. Do you know what so many of them have in common? Regrets. So many of them have something in their past, some failing, some loss, something that they wish they could change. But even with their superpowers, they can’t. Batman’s parents are dead. Spiderman, his uncle Ben. Ironman had a whole history of arms dealing. Black Widow is obsessed with clearing the red from her ledger. Even Superman, the last of his people carries the weight of the destroyed planet Krypton on his shoulders. All these heroes are driven by these losses, these failings, these regrets. They soak in that regret because it gives their lives direction and meaning. This is a trap. We may think that holding on to our regret will motivate us to be better people, but this is really just another form of discontentment. What is regret other than thinking, “What I have is smaller than what I could have or should have had”? God is bigg…
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Mar 13, 2023
Dear Younger Me, Part 4: We Want to Hide It - Pastor Pete
As soon as we do something we regret, we want to hide it. Secret sins are a lie that began with the devil’s lie in the garden. As soon as Adam and Eve sinned they hid, they created a secret, something that “nobody knows.” What a silly lie! Nobody knows? No, everybody knows! Adam, Eve, God, the Devil—who else was there? And what good did hiding bring? Our hiding is no less silly but easier to rationalize. It’s not that everyone knows—there are plenty of people who don’t know. But it’s not really a secret. You know and you’re not going to forget it. Satan knows, and he will accuse you. God knows, and that is the most important relationship of all. His promise of forgiveness is real and trustworthy. Our sins impact us, God, and others, but that is no reason to hold on to regret by hiding. His promise gives us courage to face the consequences, and the strength to treat others with compassion. Nowhere in the Bible are Adam and Eve ever shamed for the Fall, even though it i…
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Mar 6, 2023
Dear Younger Me, Part 3: We Want to Fix It - Pastor Nate
In this second week, it is necessary to make a distinction between healthy and unhealthy regret. Healthy regret is essential to repentance—what we would call contrition. The proper response to contrition is to immediately take it to the cross and leave it there. As the theme song says: “You were never meant to carry this beyond the cross.” But that is not what we usually do. We stay there in the past ruminating and pounding on the brick wall of the past that we cannot change as if we will make an impact on the past. Our constant attempts to make up for it, compensate for it, change it have one primary effect—damage to ourselves. We pound on that brick wall and end up with nothing but bloody fists. How much better it is to experience the healthy sorrow that leaves no regret, and to live in the truth that we are forgiven! That our sins have been hurled into the depths of the sea! Rather than holding on to regret because we think we can fix it…We move forward in forgiveness.
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Feb 27, 2023
Dear Younger Me, Part 2: We Want to Be In Charge - Pastor Kuehl
The best thing for us is to move forward, and the primary thing preventing that is our own arrogance. The belief: “If I could go back, I’d do it differently!” grossly overestimates our ability, power, wisdom and goodness. Is the problem really that you didn’t know it was a bad idea in the first place? Have you ever made the same mistake twice? Being convicted of our sinful arrogance allows us to live in the present, as David did, accept the reality that our sins have brought, hold on to the forgiveness God has given, and recognize the blessings that God still has in store. Even though David was a king, he recognized that his goal was not to build his own kingdom, but rather to trust God to build God’s kingdom, even if that meant loss for himself. Rather than holding on to regret because we want to be in charge… We move forward in humility.
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Feb 27, 2023
Dear Younger Me, Part 2: We Want to Be In Charge - Pastor Nate
The best thing for us is to move forward, and the primary thing preventing that is our own arrogance. The belief: “If I could go back, I’d do it differently!” grossly overestimates our ability, power, wisdom and goodness. Is the problem really that you didn’t know it was a bad idea in the first place? Have you ever made the same mistake twice? Being convicted of our sinful arrogance allows us to live in the present, as David did, accept the reality that our sins have brought, hold on to the forgiveness God has given, and recognize the blessings that God still has in store. Even though David was a king, he recognized that his goal was not to build his own kingdom, but rather to trust God to build God’s kingdom, even if that meant loss for himself. Rather than holding on to regret because we want to be in charge… We move forward in humility.
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Feb 23, 2023
Dear Younger Me, Part 1: We Treat Regret Like a Virtue - Pastor Pete
As we seek to bring everyone in our area of influence closer to Christ, it is good to evaluate our own situation. How close to Christ am I? What does being close to Christ really look like? To the outside world, the Pharisee looked close to God. He certainly thought he was, and you could see it in his posture. He stood tall with no regrets, but that was a sham. The reality was he was about as far from God as possible. The Tax Collector stood at a distance, bowed down with regret. This is the proper response of a human being before the holy God, as we have been taught. But is this the intended posture of the Christian, bowed down with regret? Is regret the place where we are supposed to live? No. Rather than freezing the frame on the regretful Tax Collector, we remember that Jesus spoke these words with a purpose and a resolution. The purpose was to shake up those who are self-confident and look down on others, which, at times, is us. The resolution was that one of them went home justif…
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Feb 22, 2023
Dear Younger Me
As we seek to bring everyone in our area of influence closer to Christ, it is good to evaluate our own situation. How close to Christ am I? What does being close to Christ really look like?
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Jul 11, 2022
UNOFFENDABLE, Part 4: Throwing Gas on the Fires of Injustice (Work) - Pastor Nate
“Acting out of love, to show mercy, to correct injustices, to set things right...is beautiful. Love should be motivation enough to do the right thing. And not 'love' as a fuzzy abstraction, but love as a gutsy, willful decision to seek the best for others. What the world really needs, I think you’ll agree, is not a group of people patting themselves on the back for being angry. We need people who actually set things right.” —Brant Hansen
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Jul 4, 2022
UNOFFENDABLE, Part 3: Ain't You Tired? (Rest) - Dave Panitzke
“This gavel, the one I awarded myself—who knows why?—is really, really heavy. I can keep pronouncing everyone else guilty for the rest of my life, but I’m not sure why. I don’t want this anymore. Maybe you know what I mean. So let me ask you… Ain’t you tired?” ~Brant Hansen, Unoffendable, p. 61 Anger and rest are always at odds. You can’t have one without the other.
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Jul 4, 2022
UNOFFENDABLE, Part 3: Ain't You Tired? (Rest) - Pastor Kuehl
“This gavel, the one I awarded myself—who knows why?—is really, really heavy. I can keep pronouncing everyone else guilty for the rest of my life, but I’m not sure why. I don’t want this anymore. Maybe you know what I mean. So let me ask you… Ain’t you tired?” ~Brant Hansen, Unoffendable, p. 61 Anger and rest are always at odds. You can’t have one without the other.
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Jun 27, 2022
UNOFFENDABLE, Part 2: Everyone's an Idiot but Me (Mercy) - Pastor Kuehl
“When I was learning to drive, my grandparents' neighbor gave me some advice: "Always assume every other driver is an idiot." What he meant was that you can't assume other drivers are going to do the right thing, but could there be a problem with launching out into the world assuming everyone's an idiot but me? Can we even do Jesus work at all in the world with that outlook? Is there a better way, a more humble way?” Brant Hansen.
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Jun 27, 2022
UNOFFENDABLE, Part 2: Everyone's an Idiot but Me (Mercy) - Dave Panitzke
“When I was learning to drive, my grandparents' neighbor gave me some advice: "Always assume every other driver is an idiot." What he meant was that you can't assume other drivers are going to do the right thing, but could there be a problem with launching out into the world assuming everyone's an idiot but me? Can we even do Jesus work at all in the world with that outlook? Is there a better way, a more humble way?” Brant Hansen.
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Jun 20, 2022
UNOFFENDABLE, Part 1: Is That Even Possible?! (Humility) - Pastor Pete
This week we kick off a new series: "UNOFFENDABLE". It's inspired by Brant Hansen's excellent book by the same title, that challenges us to question the myth of "righteous anger" and learn to react to offenses with love, patience, and humility.
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