Topic: Share
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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.
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July 6, 2025
Speaker: Pastor David Ruddat
In recent weeks we learned that everyone who has seen the grace of God will, whenever the opportunity arises, serve as a witness for Christ. However, Scripture teaches that there is also a need for individuals for whom gospel proclamation is their full-time focus. There are many different terms for these workers: shepherds, pastors, teachers, ministers, missionaries, etc. These workers are called by God himself through the Church to proclaim law and gospel in some public capacity. Called workers carry out their calling, not because of what they might gain from the flock, but because of what the flock might gain from Jesus through public ministry. Jesus taught there will always be a want for such workers. “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few” (Luke 10:2). So, this is a topic worthy of our undivided attention.
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June 22, 2025
Speaker: Pastor James Enderle
We tend to think of mission work as being “over there,” something done in a far-away place. It is good and right to support foreign mission work 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. Here is the two-fold reality worthy of our undivided attention this week. First, if we have seen the grace of God, we will serve as witnesses for Christ. Second, we need not cross the ocean to share the gospel. We can simply cross the street. 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. But let us also give our undivided attention to the mission that God had placed right before each of us.
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June 1, 2025
Series: Ascension, Because He Lives
Speaker: Pastor James Enderle
When the Church gathers, it regularly remembers Christ’s ascension. The words “He ascended into heaven” are found in the three ecumenical creeds Christians use to confess their faith. In addition, the Church sets aside a day each year to focus on Christ’s ascension. This is for good reason. Jesus’ ascension marked the fact that his work was complete, in one sense. Never again will a sacrifice for sins need to be made. However, Jesus’ ascension also marks that, in another sense, his work is just beginning. Through the Church, Jesus now proclaims forgiveness of sins throughout the world.
The Church consists of people like us who are often weak and timid witnesses for Christ. So, Jesus promised to send us his Spirit to give us power from heaven, that we might take the gospel to the ends of the earth. More, he ascended into heaven and sat down on the throne of God. He lives and reigns over everything for the benefit of his Church.
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April 27, 2025
Series: Because He Lives, Sundays of Easter
Speaker: Pastor James Enderle
If Jesus remained dead, all He would provide is an example of a beautiful life. Therefore, if Jesus remained dead, the mission of His followers would simply be to share advice. “Here is how Jesus would want us to love one another. Or “Jesus would want us to think about money like this.” Or “This is how Jesus would pray.” But because He lives, His followers now have a meaningful mission. It is not to share advice, but to testify to what we have seen and know to be true. Christ has risen! Thus, Jesus is not a standard, but our Savior. Jesus is not primarily an example for this life, but the doorway into eternal life. His resurrection to glory will be the resurrection of all who put their faith in Him. Sharing that good news—that’s our mission.
The Sunday after Easter can seem like a bit of a letdown. Chances are the church isn’t quite as full. There might not be a choir or special instruments to go along with our hymns. Even the lilies have begun to wilt. It might feel like the fun is all over. Wrong! The adventure has just begun. Because He lives! Therefore, we have a meaningful mission. Let us open our eyes to the privilege and the opportunity.
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February 9, 2025
Series: Epiphany Moments, Sundays after Epiphany
Speaker: Pastor James Enderle
Imagine you need heart bypass surgery. When meeting with the surgeon, you ask, “How many of these have you done?” He responds, “You get the honor of being my very first patient!” You probably feel more anxious than honored. With important jobs, we understand it is crucial that the person doing that job is well-qualified.
There is no more important job than sharing the good news of salvation with others. So, you would expect Jesus would only give that job to those most qualified, like the angels. Nope. The least qualified are the first sent. In love, Jesus prepares and equips us to speak on his behalf. How? He draws unworthy sinners into his presence to provide us with the free gift of holiness that we lack. Once cleansed, we jump at the opportunity to be the ones through whom God does the same for others. Here is this week’s epiphany moment. Let this be a crucial epiphany moment! You might think you are unqualified to share the gospel with those Christ brings into your sphere of influence. But the least qualified are the first sent.
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December 31, 2024
Series: New Year's Eve, The Gift of God
Speaker: Pastor James Enderle
On this Eve of a New Year, we are gathered together to meditate on the goodness of our God during the past year and to pray for his grace for the future. As most years of our lives, this past one has likely been a year of joys and a year of sadness. There have been days when all has worked out well and days when it seems nothing could go right. We have laughed at times, cried at times, contemplated at times, and sometimes just sat back in wonder at life. Such is life in this imperfect world.
Yet in the midst of uncertainty we have turned again and again to the Lord our God who does not change. His Word has been our fortress and our Rock of refuge in all times. So as we approach the New Year tonight, we turn again to that Word – to its revelation and its promises. It helps us to know God better. It will direct our prayers. It will fill us with hope. It will remind us of the forgiveness which we have in Jesus for our failures. May the Lord bless our meditation and grant us a blessed New Year – connected with Jesus Christ, our Savior.
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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.
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July 17, 2024
Speaker: Pastor James Enderle
When a child asks a sibling to do something, there isn’t much certainty as to the results. The sibling might simply ignore the request. However, if that same child goes to a brother or sister with “Dad said so,” it’s a very different story! Now the father’s authority is behind the child’s request.
As believers carry out gospel ministry, encouraging others to turn to Christ in repentance, people might push back. “What gives you the right?” Maybe we ask that question ourselves. “I’m far from perfect. So, what gives me the right to talk about things like sin?” This week we are given the answer to that question. “Dad said so.” When our God calls us to do ministry, he also gives us authority. In calling us to ministry, God isn’t asking us to share our advice or our opinion or even our values. We are sharing God’s own authoritative Word. Gospel ministry is conducted by believers but with God’s own authority behind the effort.
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Improbable Not Impossible
September 2, 2025 -
Is Faith All You Need?
August 29, 2025