Concordia Sermons

Pastors Tucker and McIntosh answer your faith-related questions! 1. Are You Still Resurrected if You're Cremated? 2. Do People go to Heaven Immediately After Death? 3. How do we Maintain and Strengthen our Spiritual Life in this Evil World? 4. If a Woman Had an Abortion is She Still Forgiven? 5. Leviticus Says We Shouldn't Where Blended Fibers... Are We Sinning if We Do? 6. What Did Jesus Mean by, "Greater Works Than These" in John 14:12? 7. Why Did Old Testament Men Have Multiple Wives? 8. Is it OK to Rely on What God Tells Me Instead of the Bible? 9. How Do Lutherans View Right-to-Die Statutes? 10. Why is There Suffering if God Says He Doesn't Have Plans to Harm Us?

Everyone has doubts. Instead of avoiding the doubts of others, we are called to engage others in their doubts and share faithful and thoughtful answers to their doubts. Are you prepared to struggle through your own doubts and help others struggle through theirs? John 20:24-27 (NIV) John 20:26 Jude 1:22 (NIV) John 20:27 Matthew 5:29 Matthew 16:24 John 20:25 John 20:27-28 Luke 12:33 Matthew 19:5 Genesis 3:1

Central to the Christian faith is the doctrine of grace – that God gives us that which we don’t deserve. Instead of just talking about this doctrine, however, we are also called to live out this doctrine in how we treat others. 1 Timothy 4:16 Matthew 9:2 Genesis 3:8 Matthew 9:3 Matthew 9:4 Matthew 9:5-7 John 20:21-23 1 Timothy 1:15-16 Romans 5:20

An act of service to others can be a powerful testimony of the faith we have. Beyond being helpful to others, it also points people to Christ because, as will be revealed on the Last Day, our service is ultimately for Christ. 1 Timothy 4:16 Matthew 25:31-33 Psalm 23:1 John 10:14 Matthew 25:34-40 Matthew 25:35-36 Matthew 25:37-39 1 Corinthians 9:16 Matthew 25:40 Isaiah 52:13-14 Isaiah 53:5, 7

Our Scripture reading for today is from Leviticus 24. Leviticus 24 outlines what is known as “the law of retaliation,” which states that every punishment must fit the crime. Instead of increasing violence, God wants to limit it. Leviticus 26:3-6, 11-12 Leviticus 26:3 Job 1:1 Leviticus 26:18-20 Jeremiah 12:1 Matthew 5:45 Leviticus 26:11-12 Leviticus 26:31 Leviticus 22:18-19, 21 2 Corinthians 2:15 (NIV)

Our Scripture reading for today is from Leviticus 24. Leviticus 24 outlines what is known as “the law of retaliation,” which states that every punishment must fit the crime. Instead of increasing violence, God wants to limit it. Leviticus 24:17-22 Leviticus 24:20 Leviticus 24:22 Leviticus 24:10-11 Leviticus 24:11-12 Leviticus 24:23 Matthew 5:21 Leviticus 24:17 Matthew 5:22 Matthew 5:29-30 Leviticus 24:20 Matthew 5:38-42 Matthew 26:63-64 Daniel 7:13 Matthew 26:65 Matthew 26:66

Leviticus 23 outlines a bunch of parties that Israelites are supposed to have! Celebrations are important in any life, because they form refreshing rhythms for our daily lives. Leviticus 23:1-3 Leviticus 23:11 (NIV) Leviticus 23:5, 34 Matthew 26:26 1 Corinthians 15:20

In Leviticus 18, we learn that God did not want Israel to live or look like all the other nations around her. How should we look different from the culture around us? Leviticus 18:1-3 James 1:22 Leviticus 18:4 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Leviticus 19:1-3 Leviticus 19:28 Leviticus 19:18 Leviticus 19:33-34 Matthew 5:43-44

The story in Leviticus 16 focuses on the holiest day in ancient Israel: the Day of Atonement. Try as they might, the Israelites still sinned and needed forgiveness.

Leviticus 11 focuses on dietary restrictions in ancient Israel, many of which Jews still follow today under kosher laws. God give them detailed instructions that are meant to keep the Israelites from foods that could hurt them.

In Leviticus 10, it looks like God brings a big punishment on two people for a little mistake. What mistakes have you made in your life that seemed small at first, but proved to be big? Leviticus 10:1-3 Leviticus 16:12 Genesis 3:19 Numbers 20:8 Romans 1:29-30 Romans 7:19 Mark 15:38 1 Peter 2:5 Leviticus 10:3 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 Ephesians 5:1-2

Priests served as intermediaries between God and people so that people could relate to God. How do you relate to God?

The book of Leviticus opens by outlining a series of offerings the Israelites are to bring to God. As we go through this book, ask yourself: how much of what I have do I offer to God? Hebrews 10:19-25 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Lev. 26:11-13

Love ultimately calls for commitment. This is why couples speak vows at their weddings. This is why parents make promises to their children. To love Jesus, we must commit to following Him, even as Jesus has committed to dying for us. Matthew 4:18-20 Matthew 4:21-22 Matthew 9:13 Mark 12:7 Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Matthew 4:19 Matthew 28:19-20 John 13:34, 35

John writes, “Perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). Stephen was a man so convinced of God’s love for him in Christ that he was willing to face even martyrdom because he knew his eternity was secure. Acts 6:8-9 Acts 7:57-58 Acts 6:10-13 1 Corinthians 4:3-4 Acts 7:59-60

True love does not just affirm those the world would deem “lovable,” it befriends those others overlook. This is what Jesus does with a Samaritan woman in John 4. How can we love those the world overlooks? Ephesians 3:17-19 John 4:4-5 John 3:14 John 4:40-42 John 4:7-9 John 4:13-14 John 4:14 1 Peter 3:18, 21 Philippians 4:19 John 4:14 John 4:28-30 John 4:10

When you love someone, it can be difficult to watch them make foolish choices. And yet, sometimes love lets others learn from their mistakes because love wants to encourage people to take responsibility for their own actions. Jesus lets His disciples make mistakes not so He can condemn them, but so that He can grow them. Mark 9:14-18 Mark 6:7 Mark 9:21-22 Mark 9:22-23 Romans 3:23 1 John 1:8 Leviticus 6:2-5 Mark 9:25-27 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4 Mark 9:29

A big part of love is simply being present with someone. This is why God promises His people, over and over again, “I will be with you.” And yet, God is with us in a special and specific way – through His Son, Jesus Christ. It is only through Jesus that we can safely encounter God. This is what Jacob discovered as he wrestled with God one night. Genesis 27:18-19 Genesis 27:27-29 Genesis 27:41 Genesis 32:24-25 Genesis 32:26 Genesis 32:27 Genesis 27:18-19 Genesis 32:27-28 Isaiah 41:10 Jeremiah 15:20 Haggai 1:13 Genesis 3:9 Genesis 27:20 Genesis 32:25 Matthew 26:67 Genesis 32:30 2 Corinthians 4:6

Memorial Day is a time when we remember those who laid down their lives for our nation. Remembering is critical, both as we reflect on our loved ones, and on God's deeds. Remembering God's deeds of the past gives us hope for our futures.

Pastors Tucker and McIntosh answer your faith-related questions! 1. What does the bible say about cremation? 2. Do we struggle with demons today? If so, what's the difference between today's demons and biblical demons, if any? 3. When we die do we "go to sleep" until Jesus’ return, or do we go to heaven? 4. Is it ok to believe that God included the "Big Bang" and brought Earth through all its history (including what appears as evolution in the fossil record) in the Genesis description? 5. Why do we baptize babies but not adults? Jesus says to go into the world and baptize. 6. How do we know Job is the oldest book in the Bible and when in the biblical timeline does his story take place? 7. How do we know that the writers of the Bible didn’t alter the Bible from what God said to write? 8. How do you know when God is calling you to the next thing? 9. Is the Bible literal, figurative, or both? If both, how do we decipher each story? 10. Is there an unforgivable sin? Can you lose your salvation? 11. Doe