Topic: Priorities
-
July 27, 2025
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Jonathan Bare
We tend to think of mission work as only being something “over there,” something done in a far-away place. Today we look at the work being done in foreign mission fields and support it with our prayers and offerings. However, something is off if we allow our appreciation for “over there” mission work to take our eyes off the mission that is right before us. In our various callings—parent or grandparent or sibling, friend or neighbor or coworker—God will provide one opportunity after another to serve as the witnesses Jesus has made us to be. So, let us continue to pray for and support “over there” mission work. Let us rejoice in gospel of peace and forgiveness in Christ that gives us mission here and around the world. We work in the mission field and pray for God to bless others working in the harvest.
-
November 3, 2024
Speaker: Pastor James Enderle
Topic: Amazed, Arrested, Christian, Cling, Confidence, Confronted, Courageous, End Times, Faith, Forever, forgiveness, Gospel, Hardship, Life, Live, Martin Luther, Prepared, Priorities, Questioned, Reformation, Ridiculed, Saint, Share, Sinner, Stadium, Temporary, Watchful, Witness, Witnesses, World
Live a life of Courageous Witness. Jesus repeatedly told His followers that living as His disciples would bring hardship. Living life according to God’s Law is going to make one appear odd in the eyes of the world, perhaps even evil. Sharing a message of mankind’s sin and God’s gracious salvation can cause offense. So why not just stay silent if that makes life easier? Why not keep our faith private? Answer: because we are going to live forever. In gratitude for Christ saving us and giving us eternal life, we share the Gospel with others, hoping that they will believe and be saved too. Since we know we are going to live forever in the perfection of heaven, we don’t worry if being a witness for Christ brings hardship or even death.
Martin Luther wanted to reform the false teaching of the church. He stood firm in the truth of the Gospel, knowing it might cost him his life. But Luther knew that, thanks to Christ, he would live forever. So will we. Therefore, like Luther, let us live a life of courageous witness.
-
October 13, 2024
Speaker: Pastor James Enderle
Topic: Afterlife, Answers, Christ, Christianity, Doubts, Eternal, Followers, Followership, God, Good, Hard, Heaven, Identity, Ironic, Jesus, Life, Listen, Loving, Maintain, Money, Need, People, Perfect, Priorities, Questions, Rich, Right, Savior, Seek, Stay, Struggle, Teacher, Understand, Wealthy, Worship
People think that establishing priorities is about ranking things in order of importance. But it is more than that. We do not have unlimited time and energy. So, establishing priorities enables us to say “no” to things which might be good yet not truly important. Without proper priorities, one inevitably will pursue that which is nice while downplaying that which is needed.
Throughout Scripture believers are urged to prioritize. It is the heart of the First Commandment: “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). Jesus calls for prioritization when He says, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Good news: followers of Christ maintain proper priorities. Even better news: followers of Christ receive His forgiveness for all the times their priorities have been improper.
-
March 3, 2024
Series: Rethinking Religion, Sundays in Lent
Speaker: Pastor James Enderle
Rethinking Religion: Rethinking the Worth of Worship. Person A never attends worship. He can’t see the point. Person B attends every week out of a slavish sense of obligation. Her mind wanders during the services, for she views the activities of worship merely as tasks for her to complete. Who is worse off? Rather than debating the point, let us just admit neither understand the true worth of worship. And that is exactly what Satan wants.
Many think worship is about what we do for God. It is the other way around. As we gather around Word and sacrament, the Spirit moves us to love and trust in God above all things. Moved by the cross of Christ, we bow down before our God. We commune with Him. And that’s exactly what God wants. -
October 22, 2023
Series: Our God..., Sundays after Pentecost
Speaker: Pastor Jerome Enderle
Topic: Excuses, Invited, Persists, Priorities, Rejected
Our God invites unworthy sinners to participate in His blessing. The Lord calls us to the heavenly banquet.
-
August 8, 2021
Series: Faith Responds
Speaker: Pastor Randy Ott
Topic: Faith, Priorities
Welcome to worship today at Morrison Zion Lutheran Church. We exist to glorify God. We… read more
-
Improbable Not Impossible
September 2, 2025 -
Is Faith All You Need?
August 29, 2025