The Twin Steeples Podcast

Our hymn study this weekend is one that has been considered the greatest in English hymnody. It was written by Augustus Toplady at the end of his life in 1776.  There are several qualities about this hymn that help us to evaluate what make a truly good hymn. Many songs that are and have been sung in Christian churches are without real substance. They might use words like "grace," and "Savior" but...

Devotion Romans 10:1-11   Announcements Review Worship Outreach Committee Upcoming Immanuel Building Committee Church Choir Church Council Men’s Breakfast Women Who Hike Worship this Weekend Pastoral Conference Teachers' Conference   Prayer List  Jim Lien Lynette Roehl Becky Blake Frank Family of Laura (Ude) Stutzman Tom and Diane Lentz - 40 year anniversary Teachers - Mr. Hanel, Mrs. Busch Missio...

This weekend we are going to sing two Lent hymns. That might seem strange in the middle of the Trinity season. But we are reflecting on how salvation seems impossible, but it isn't with God. These hymns point to the great price that God willingly paid in order to redeem sinful mankind to Himself: The sacrifice of His Son on the cross. The hymn is largely based on Isaiah 53, but also weaves in many...

Devotion Romans 9:25-33   Announcements Review ILS Brainstorming Meeting Time and Talent Offering Freshman Carnival Upcoming Church Choir Men’s Breakfast Ladies’ Bible Study Teaching Timothy’s and Preparing Phoebe’s (Saturday - 10am) Worship this Weekend Outreach Meeting Building Committee Church Council   Prayer List  Jim Lien Lynette Roehl Becky Mincey Wedding Nicholson Baptism Teachers - Mr. Sc...

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on September 27, 2026. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel .   Sermon Text: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 (NKJV) Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. 2...

God's people have worshiped Him from the very beginning. Able offered sacrifices to the LORD. Noah and Abraham built altars to worship the true God. Moses constructed the tabernacle for worship, and Solomon built the LORD a temple. God people gathered around humble altars, and glorious temples to worship. For what reason?  This hymn, and the Psalm that it is based on (Psalm 100) answers that quest...

Devotion Romans 9:14-24   Announcements Review Mission Festival Upcoming ILS Brainstorming Meeting Church Choir Board of Education Men’s Breakfast Ladies’ Bible Study Time and Talent Offering Worship this Weekend Freshman Carnival Board of Elders   Prayer List  Jim Lien Lynette Roehl Becky Nepal Flooding Sherri Collier Teachers - Mrs. Greve, Mr. Fischer Mission in Bangladesh     Hymn of the Day TL...

This weekend, for our Mission Festival, we will be singing a number of "Mission" hymns. Mission Festival is a reminder of the calling that the Christian, and the Christian Church, has to "preach the Gospel to all creation." As we consider "mission work" we often can think that it doesn't apply to us. "I'm not a missionary." "I'm not a pastor. I'm not good with words, or deeply knowledgeable about...

Devotion Romans 9:6-13   Announcements Review Adopt a Highway Ladies’ Auxiliary Sunday School and Bible Class  Church Council Upcoming 6-8th Doctrine Class Church Choir Men’s Breakfast Ladies’ Bible Study Mission Festival 3rd Weekend Communion Board of Education ILS Brainstorming Meeting   Prayer List  Jim Lien Lynette Roehl Becky Nepal Flooding Teachers - Mr. Wheaton, Mrs. Mayhew Mission in Pakis...

This weekend we consider a hymn from the "Lord's Day" section of the hymnal. The term "Lord's Day" was a term that was used by John in Revelation 1:10, and by the early Christian Church to refer to Sunday. Sunday was called the "Lord's Day" because it was Jesus' day, the Day He won the victory over death through His resurrection from the dead. It was for this reason that the early church began to...

Devotion Romans 9:1-5   Announcements Review Labor Day Upcoming 6-8th Doctrine Class Youth Group Church Choir Men’s Breakfast Ladies’ Bible Study Weekend Worship Board of Deacons Church Council   Prayer List  Jim Lien Lynette Roehl Becky Family of Pastor Del Maas Nepal Flooding Betty Wolle ISO Leaders Mission in Liberia     Hymn of the Day TLH 512 “O Christ, Our True and Only Light”

In our hymn for this weekend we study a hymn by the "Prince of Hymnwriters," Charles Wesley. Wesley wrote over 6,500 hymns and is probably second only to Isaac Watts in both the number of hymns written, as well as the mass use of those hymn in churches since that time.  We are studying his hymn: "Jesus, My Truth, My Way" (TLH 433) from the Trust section of our hymnal. His hymn is a beautiful depic...

Devotion Romans 8:31-39   Announcements Review Daryl Holzinger and Darlene Nelson victory services Immanuel Building Committee initial meeting Upcoming Board of Elders Men’s Breakfast Ladies’ Bible Study Weekend Worship No School Labor Day Outreach Committee Board of Education Board of Property Youth Group   Prayer List  Jim Lien Lynette Roehl Becky Family of Pastor Del Maas Mark Lentz Nepal Flood...

The hymn that we are studying this weekend is hymn 363 in The Lutheran Hymnal. This hymn is unique in a couple of ways. First, it was written by a female hymnwriter, and second it was written by a Baptist hymnwriter. When we compare this hymn to a hymn by Paul Gerhardt or Martin Luther, we will find some very striking differences. This hymn will reflect a fervent faith in Jesus, and a devotion to...

Devotion Romans 8:26-30   Announcements Review Long Term School Improvement/Growth Brainstorming Meeting  Upcoming Ladies' Auxiliary Daryl Holzinger Committal Service Men’s Breakfast Ladies’ Bible Study Darlene Nelson Victory Service Weekend Worship Immanuel Building Committee   Prayer List  Jim Lien Lynette Roehl Becky Family of Daryl Holzinger Family of Darlene Nelson Barb Pfeiffer Judy Mielke P...

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on August 23, 2026. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel .   Sermon Text: John 8:31-36 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make yo...

This weekend our service will close with the singing of a unique hymn. The hymn is "Dear Lord to Your True Servants Give" which was written for a seminary graduation and is usually saved for the ordination or installation of a pastor. While this is certainly appropriate, and highlights the prayers we should offer on behalf of our pastors, there is also a broader use of this hymn. The servant descr...

Devotion Romans 8:18-25   Announcements Review Back to School Night ILS Opening Service Church Council Upcoming Men’s Breakfast Ladies’ Bible Study Weekend Worship Board of Education Ladies' Auxiliary Prayer List  Jim Lien Lynette Roehl Becky Family of Daryl Holzinger Mary Schweim Immanuel Building Committee Pastor Raju in India     Hymn of the Day TLH 30 “Oh, that I Had a Thousand Voices”

The opening section of our hymnal contains hymns that are intended to prepare us for worship. Our hymn for this weekend, "God Himself Is Present" by Gerhard Tersteegen, is a hymn that helps us think about what worship is, a why we do it. Tersteegen reminds us that "God Himself is present" as we gather together to hear His word, receive His sacrament, and worship Him in response. What a blessing fo...

Devotion Romans 8:10-17   Announcements Review ILS Long Range Planning Session Upcoming Youth Group Back to School Night Men’s Breakfast Ladies’ Bible Study Weekend Worship School Begins Board of Deacons Church Council Prayer List  Jim Lien Lynette Roehl Becky Family of Daryl Holzinger Mary Schweim Vivian Elise Meger School Starts Mission in Pakistan     Hymn of the Day TLH 258 “Lord of Our Life a...

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on August 9, 2026. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel .   Sermon Text: Jeremiah 7:1-11 (NKJV) The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 “Stand in the gate of the LORD’S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD,...

This weekend we consider a hymn by Norwegian hymnwriter, Nicolai Grundtvig, "Built on the Rock the Church Doth Stand." This hymn echos themes from Matthew 7, 1 Peter 2 and 1 Corinthinans 6, which all describe the Christian Church, and the believer's connection to Christ and His Word.  Matthew 7:24-27 - “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man wh...

Devotion Romans 8:1-9   Announcements Recap VBS Youth Group Voters' Meeting Upcoming Board of Elders ILS Long Range Planning Session Men’s Breakfast Ladies’ Bible Study Weekend Worship Board of Education Board of Property Youth Group School Starts Prayer List  Jim Lien Lynette Roehl Becky Daryl Holzinger Marv and Mary Schweim Family of David Johnson Holly Overbeek Spokane Fires Budget Kentucky Pre...

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on August 2, 2026. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel .   Sermon Text: Psalm 119:161-164 (NKJV) Princes persecute me without a cause, But my heart stands in awe of Your word. 162 I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure. 163 I hate and abhor...

Our hymn for this weekend is a modern hymn, written by "Rusty" Edwards and published in 1987. It calls upon the Christian, and upon every sinner to "Praise the One who..." has done great things for us and for our salvation. This includes bring the light of the Gospel into our dark world; frees those who are imprisoned by sin, death and the devil; preaches the Good News of forgiveness of sin; heals...