Concordia Sermons

Would you like to become a member of Concordia? https://concordia.churchcenter.com/registrations After a meal and some rest at the beginning of 1 Kings 19, Elijah travels to the same place Moses once received the Ten Commandments. This was a big moment in Israel’s history where God appeared with thunder and lightning. But in this moment, God appears as a whisper. In our weakest moment, we not only need a God who is big enough to help, but small enough to be gentle with us. The very gospel is the story of how God became small in Jesus. Will be become small for the sake of others who are hurting?

Interested in becoming a member of Concordia? https://concordia.churchcenter.com/registrations After a mountaintop moment for the prophet Elijah where he defeats false prophets of Baal with a miracle, Elijah spirals into a depression that is so deep that he wants to die. Yet, God meets Elijah and encourages him to rest and eat. When we struggle with big issues, we need to begin with the basics – things like resting and eating – to get us back on track.

Would you like to become a member of Concordia? https://concordia.churchcenter.com/registrations As Moses enters into the twilight of his ministry, God picks Joshua to be the next leader of Israel. Do we pour into the next generation so they can lead the Church forward?

Interested in becoming a member of Concordia? https://concordia.churchcenter.com/registrations When we do not listen, God can reach us in many ways – even through a donkey. God’s preferred way to speak to us, however, is through His Word. Do we listen, or do we, like Balaam, refuse to hear God’s guidance for our lives?

Would you like to become a member of Concordia? https://concordia.churchcenter.com/registrations Once again, the Israelites are grumbling. This time, God disciplines them with death by sending snakes on them. We, too, are disciplined for our sins with death. But, as Moses held up a snake on a pole to rescue the Israelites from their sentence, we have Savior held up on a cross to rescue us from our condemnation.

The Israelites grumble again against God. Moses responds to their grumbling with anger and loses the privilege of entering the Promised Land. Responding to the grumbling of others with anger of our own does not solve anything. Our call is to respond with patience and love.

God makes Aaron’s staff bud a sign that He has chosen Aaron’s tribe – the tribe of Levi – to serve as priests before Him. God makes us His priests, too, to serve before Him by making a place of death – a cross – bud with life.

The Israelites are commanded by God to enter the Promised Land and take possession of it. But a band of explorers who go on a reconnaissance mission of the land are scared of its current residents. Because they refuse to go in, Israel wanders the wilderness for forty years. Our anxiety, too, can exile us to a wilderness. How do we trust God, even when doing so feels frightening?

Moses’ siblings become jealous of Moses’ closeness with God. But instead of becoming jealous of it, they should have learned from it. Whose relationships with God can serve as models for us as we seek to deepen our own relationship with Him?

Throughout the book of Numbers, the Israelites struggle to trust in God to provide for their needs. We can have a similar struggle. Whether naturally or supernaturally, however, God takes care of us.

The book of Numbers is full of long genealogies that we might be tempted to skip over. And yet, behind each name is a story. Wisdom can be found in people of the past, which is why it is important we remember them. Their lives count just as much as ours!

The First Commandment reminds us that God is to be first. Yet, every one of us struggles with putting other things before God. We all struggle with idolatry. On Independence Day Weekend, we are reminded that nothing – no matter how good – is to come before God. He is our focus and our hope.

It can be so easy to look at others and judge them! We all struggle with self-righteousness. As Jesus reminds us, however, judgment starts with discerning our own sins rather than decrying the sins of others. When we jump to judging others, it can be very difficult to be for others.

It is so easy to try protect what we have. We can try to protect our finances, our health, and even our church. David stepped up to fight a giant when everyone else was simply trying not to be conquered by the giant. On Father’s Day Weekend, we are reminded how we can be brave in how we live for Christ!

One of the best ways we can show our faith to our world is by contributing to needs. In the early church, Tabitha was well known for serving others. Her death caused many to grieve, but her new life became a testimony of Jesus’ power. What do we want our lives to contribute to this world?

It can be so easy to become click-ish. We have our friends, our cultural sensibilities, and our faith community. The early church struggled with this, too. But Peter and James reminded the early church that the Church should not put up barriers to entry, for it is by grace that we are counted as God’s family.

After 70 years in exile, God allows the Israelites to return from where they are living in the kingdom of Persia to their homeland of Israel, thanks to a ruler named Cyrus. When they return to Israel, things are not as they have been. They have to rebuild Jerusalem – its walls and its temple. Some are upset that things are not as they have been (Ezra 3:12). In this time of new things, we can ask: what new things is God doing for us?

When we face a crisis, one of the best things we can do is take it to the Lord in prayer. Hezekiah does. God also gives Hezekiah a sign that his prayer has been answered. He turns back the sun in the sky (2 Kings 20:8-11). In what ways have our prayers been answered during this time? Have we thanked God for turning back this pandemic?

Before this pandemic, we felt safe. Now, our safe havens and presumptions have given way under the unforgiving reality of a worldwide disease. And it has caused us plenty of dis-ease. The Psalmist reminds us that in changing times, God is unchanging. And in shaky times, God is rock solid. We are invited, then, to put our faith in Him.

There is so much to do when we are homeschooling our kids, working from home, and trying to keep everything going. Martha knew that feeling as she prepared for a visit from Jesus. On Mother’s Day, we take a special look at the pressures mothers face during a crisis like this and explore what it means to sit at the feet of Jesus.