Take a Listen: Revelation Series

Take a listen to the Easter series we had based on the book of Revelation.

Jesus rose from the dead. That is what Easter is all about. But what does that mean? What does that mean for you? This Easter season, join us as we study the book of Revelation together to see the Kingdom Jesus’ resurrection has made us a part of today and the heaven we will experience forever.


Because of Jesus’ victory over sin, death and the devil by his resurrection, he has been given the name above every name. He sits on the throne of heaven ruling all things for the benefit of those who trust in him. Let us today remember the power and authority of our Savior in heaven and on earth, especially when it seems evil rules. Jesus reigns for you today and forever.   

Do you feel alone in your struggle against sin and your fight to remain faithful to your Savior? Well, you are not alone! You are part of a great multitude of believers in heaven and on earth. You are one of the saints today, those made holy by the blood of Jesus. Together with them, you worship the Lamb who was slain and you will continue to worship him for all eternity. You are far from alone.

Do you feel that the world isn’t as it should be? When we experience sorrow beyond words, pain without healing, grief without reprieve, it is easy to think, “This isn’t right… this shouldn’t happen… I was not meant to go through this.” If that is how you feel, you are right! Our world is not as it should be. It is broken. But one day, it won’t be anymore. One day we will witness the creation of a new heaven and a new earth where there will be no sorrow, no pain, no grief… and God will dwell among his people as he did in the beginning.

Our world is a dark place. We see darkness all around and within us. It often feels like there is no light. Don’t be fooled! The darkness has been defeated. The Light lives again. He also lives in us by faith and powers us with hope today. And one day we will dwell in His city forever with no need for any other source of heat, light or life. You are powered by THE Light!

Have you forgotten what is coming? In the busyness of today, have you lost sight of what needs to happen before tomorrow? At any time, Jesus, the Beginning and the End, could return. When he does, this world will end and the time to turn to him will be over. Are we ready for that? Are our friends, neighbors, and family? Are we ready for the beginning of eternity? Let us prepare for the Beginning and the End.

Fourth of July 2019

Wow, it is here already! This week a lot of us will put on our red, white, and blue to go watch fireworks. We love the Fourth of July! This week we celebrate the good things about our nation, especially the many freedoms we enjoy. Freedom in America is great, but an even greater freedom is ours through the love of our God. Take a moment to read through the responsive prayer we will be using this coming Sunday to honor Independence Day. Ponder God’s grace to us. Rejoice for the freedom we have to know and share God’s love here in America. Pray for our nation, like all things this side of Heaven, it is imperfect.

Prayer of the Church

M: Redeemer of the World, you once came on a rescue mission to deliver the human race from bondage to sin, death, and the devil.

C: In you alone can true freedom be found.

M: Your blood bought our freedom. Our souls are no longer slaves to sin, and death is not our master. But you have not promised us an earthly life free from danger or oppression.

C: You have promised to give us the strength to overcome Satan and his allies.

You have assured us that the Crown of Life is waiting for all who put their trust in you.

M: And, Lord, you have added to this blessing. You have allowed us to live in a country that gives us the freedom to serve and worship you without hindrance. Our laws grant us personal freedoms that so many of the people of this world do not have. Our nation’s law enforcement officers and our nation’s military personnel stand behind those laws and defend those freedoms.

C: We thank you for these undeserved gifts, and we ask that you preserve these freedoms for our children, and their children’s children.

M: Do not let our indifference or negligence forfeit these gifts. Do not let us forget that these freedoms come not as the result of our wisdom or strength, but only from your gracious hand.

C: Jesus, you once said that those whom the Son makes free are free indeed.

Keep us in this freedom no matter what may be taking place in our life, or the world around us.

M: We thank you, Lord for our country. Hold it always in the palm of your hand.

C:  We thank you Lord for freedom. Amen.

 Source: WELS Commission on Special Ministries

https://csm.welsrc.net/download-csm/military-occasion-and-national-holiday-resources/?wpdmdl=3347&ind=10

Finding Freedom: A Sermon Series on Galatians

Being a Christian makes you an ex-convict. You were imprisoned by your sin, your death, and your jailer, the devil. But in Christ, you have been set free! He has exonerated you by suffering your punishment, paying for your crimes, and even taking your eternal death sentence. He has released you from your prison and set you free to live a free life!

The sad part is, we struggle to do that, live a free life. Even though we have been set free, we act, think and respond as if we were still a prisoner to our fears, our past record, our old master, what others think about us, our old habits, and our survival instincts. We act as if Jesus isn’t enough. We live as if we haven’t been saved!

Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, writes to ex-cons about how to live a free life after being prisoners to sin, death and the devil. Through Paul’s pen, our Savior is leading us to understand the amazing ramifications of our salvation and to embrace a new way to live our lives as free men and women. Only Jesus can give us true freedom.

Join us this Sunday as we delve into the book of Galatians to find freedom in Christ:

Series Topics/Scripture/Schedule

6/23 - Galatians 1:1-10 Finding Freedom From Uncertainty

6/30 - Galatians 1:11-24 Finding Freedom From the Past

7/7 - Galatians 2:11-21 Finding Freedom From Social Pressure

7/14 - Galatians 3:23-29 Finding Freedom In Opportunity

7/21 - Galatians 5:1, 13-25 Finding Freedom In Being Clean

7/28 - Galatians 6:1-10, 14-16 Finding Freedom In Service

Our Easter Sermon Series: The Kingdom of Heaven - Now and Forever

Jesus rose from the dead. That is what Easter is all about. But what does that mean? What does that mean for you? This Easter season, join us as we study the book of Revelation together to see the Kingdom Jesus’ resurrection has made us a part of today and the heaven we will experience forever.

May 5 – Revelation 5:11-14 – Before the Throne of God

Because of Jesus’ victory over sin, death and the devil by his resurrection, he has been given the name above every name. He sits on the throne of heaven ruling all things for the benefit of those who trust in him. Let us today remember the power and authority of our Savior in heaven and on earth, especially when it seems evil rules. Jesus reigns for you today and forever.   

May 12 – Revelation 7:9-17 – Among the Multitude of Saints

Do you feel alone in your struggle against sin and your fight to remain faithful to your Savior? Well, you are not alone! You are part of a great multitude of believers in heaven and on earth. You are one of the saints today, those made holy by the blood of Jesus. Together with them, you worship the Lamb who was slain and you will continue to worship him for all eternity. You are far from alone.

May 19 – Revelation 21:1-6 – Witnessing a New Beginning

Do you feel that the world isn’t as it should be? When we experience sorrow beyond words, pain without healing, grief without reprieve, it is easy to think, “This isn’t right… this shouldn’t happen… I was not meant to go through this.” If that is how you feel, you are right! Our world is not as it should be. It is broken. But one day, it won’t be anymore. One day we will witness the creation of a new heaven and a new earth where there will be no sorrow, no pain, no grief… and God will dwell among his people as he did in the beginning.

Break from Series: May 26 — Seminarian Nathan Schleef – Luke 15:1-10 – “What do we do with sinners?”

June 2 – Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23 – Powered by the Light

Our world is a dark place. We see darkness all around and within us. It often feels like there is no light. Don’t be fooled! The darkness has been defeated. The Light lives again. He also lives in us by faith and powers us with hope today. And one day we will dwell in His city forever with no need for any other source of heat, light or life. You are powered by THE Light!

June 9 – Revelation 22:12-17, 20 – Preparing for the Beginning and the End (The Festival of Pentecost)

Have you forgotten what is coming? In the busyness of today, have you lost sight of what needs to happen before tomorrow? At any time, Jesus, the Beginning and the End, could return. When he does, this world will end and the time to turn to him will be over. Are we ready for that? Are our friends, neighbors, and family? Are we ready for the beginning of eternity? Let us prepare for the Beginning and the End.

Confirmation of Melena Laack

During our worship time on May 12, 2019, we celebrated as Melena Laack was first examined and then confirmed in the Christian faith. This milestone comes as she has completed several years study of what God teaches us in His Word. The lessons were led by Pastor Titus I. Buelow, who led the confirmation rite. Please keep Melena and all young Christians in your prayers. We live in a culture that is contrary to God’s truth.

Lent Sunday Series: Fighting Temptation

We are all voluntary victims of Satan’s seductions. Look at your life and you’ll find far too many times of shame and sin when Satan successfully placed a temptation before you and you didn’t say no. You may wonder why you did it, but the truth is you did it. Satan knows our every weakness. He custom tailors temptations for individuals. This Lenten season, we examine some of those tailor-made temptations. We also examine how the Holy Spirit specifically equips us through Word and Sacrament, and by applying forgiveness and teaching sanctification, that we are able to fight those temptations.

Join us for the next six Sundays as we address these temptations: 

Lent 1: Joshua 7:16-26 Wanting only what you want

Each of us battles with temptation every day. God tells us “no.” We say “yes.” He tells us to stay away from something. We go directly toward that something. We want only what we want. Christ was no stranger to temptation, either. He battled, yet was without sin … for us and for our eternal righteousness. Christ is with us fighting temptation so that we want what He wants.

Lent 2: Jeremiah 26:8-15 Refusing to change

Jeremiah was rejected because he did not tell the people what they wanted to hear. We often reject God’s Word and God’s messengers because we are like the people who rejected God’s prophet. We refuse to listen and change. Despite our refusal to listen, the Lord keeps coming to preach sin and grace, Law and Gospel.

Lent 3: Numbers 16:23-40 - Grumbling against God

We aren’t satisfied with what God gives us. We aren’t pleased with what God tells us. We aren’t content with God’s expectations for us. So we grumble. We grumble against God. We grumble against God’s called workers. We grumble against God’s public servants. Yet in the midst of our grumbling, Jesus enters with warning and mercy.

Lent 4: Judges 10:6-16 - Continuing the cycle of sin

We sin. Things get difficult. We plead for mercy. God is merciful and things get better. We fall back into the same sin. Things become more difficult. We plead for mercy. God is merciful and things get better. And so it goes. God calls us today to repent and break the cycle of sin.

Lent 5: Isaiah 43:16-24 - Living with past guilt

We know that Jesus has taken away our sins. We think that is too easy. So we beat ourselves up over our past sins by carrying present guilt. Jesus wants it all – our sins and our guilt.

 Lent 6: Isaiah 45:22-25 - Not bowing the knee

Every year on Palm Sunday we celebrate Jesus entering Jerusalem as King. But what if we don’t want Him as King? What if we still want some say in our lives? What if we refuse to bow the knee to Jesus? The Lord promises that every knee will bow before Jesus – either in joy or in judgment. 

Christian Family Seminar

Thank you to all who came to the CAP one day seminar on the Christian Family. It was encouraging to see so many of you take the time on a Saturday to be here. A huge thank you to Dr. Olson for coming all the way out here for this event.

For more information on the Congregational Assistant Program (CAP) or about the one day seminars it runs, go to https://mlc-wels.edu/cap/upcoming-seminars-joint-courses/

2019 Church Council

At the January Voter’s Meeting the new Church Council was formally elected. The Council is meant to bring organization to the church by assigning specific areas to specific leaders. Having the Council also helps our Pastor be able to focus on what we have Called him to do. If you have an idea, question or concern for a certain area of the church, please talk to these people.

Jon Laack, Council Chairman

Dave Heup, Vice Chairman

Chad Dobbe, Council Secretary

Art Ebbinger, Treasurer

David Winkler, Financial Secretary

Austin Retzlaff, Education Coordinator

Chuck Schowalter, Evangelism Coordinator

Tom Ganster, Elder

David Schley, Elder

Dan Janz, Elder

Earl Fields, Trustee

Dustin Laabs, Trustee

Michael Tessmer, Trustee