FIRST WORDS

Pastor Matt reflects on the first 12 chapters of Genesis to talk about how Scripture critiques the dangerous tendency humans have to organize in communities in such a way that they take for themselves at the expense and to the harm of others.

Pastor Matt reflects on Gensis 3 to show how the language of Adam and Eve taking the fruit is a template for thinking about all of scripture and our own lives.

Pastor Matt reflects on what it means when Jesus says he is the fulfillment of the Torah and the Prophets in Matthew chapter 5.

Pastor Matt reflects on the book of Micah with a focus on the sixth chapter.

Pastor Matt reflects on Matthew chapter 4 and the Kingdom of Heaven. This sermon is short because we had a special meeting after the service.

Pastor Matt reflects on the importance of lament in the life of faith.

Pastor Matt reflects on the baptism of Jesus. He pulls from all three texts this week reflecting on Isaiah 42, Matthew 3, and Romans 6.

Pastor Matt reflects on Psalm 119, the fulfillment of the Torah, and the desire that God has to be in relationship with his creation.

Our Christmas Eve service centered on John's Christmas message from John 1. The sermon begins with a comment about LSB 384, Of the Father's Love begotten. You can search LSB 384 and listen to it if you would like more context for the opening comments.

Pastor 1 reflects on the first chapter of Matthew's Gospel to unpack the identity of Jesus.

Pastor Matt reflects on James chapter 5.

Pastor Matt reflects on the words of Isaiah 11. In the sermon, Matt mentions the 2019 We Raise Leadership awards and a local story about an orphaned oil well in LA. Click here to see that video.

For the First Sunday of Advent, we had a long kids' chat to explain what the ornaments, called Chrismons, on our Christmas tree mean. Consequently, that made for a much shorter sermon reflecting on Matthew's genealogy of Jesus.

Pastor Matt reflects on the crucifixion story from Luke 23.

Pastor Matt reflects on Jesus' teaching from the temple mount in Luke 21.

After our worship service and the sermon "God Comes Down," Sarah Salzberg, who teaches Old Testament at Orange Lutheran High School, shared her reflections on the sermon and some of the dots she connected. If you'd be interested in having Sarah speak at a workshop, conference, retreat or facilitate a Bible Study, you can learn more at http://www.worddelivered.com

Pastor Matt reflects on God coming down in the Torah. This sermon moves quickly through some large stories including the tower of Babel in Genesis 11 and Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 18 and 19. If you want to learn more about those two stories, you can check out previous sermon recordings on Genesis 11 (posted 6/8/25) and Genesis 18/19 (posted 7/27/25 & 8/3/25). And Check out the God Comes Do...

Pastor Matt digs into Luke 18 and looks at the parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee.

Pastor Matt reflects on 2 Timothy and discuses the wisdom of Scripture.

This week, Pastor Matt takes a look at the militaristic language in 2 Timothy and uses the book of Ruth to present a picture of "fighting" for the Gospel.

Pastor Matt reflects on Habakkuk and how we trust in God even when God doesn't bring about justice as quickly or in the way we may desire.

Pastor Matt reflects on Psalm 146.

Pastor Matt works through Psalm 113.

Pastor Matt reflects on Ezekiel 34 and God's solidarity with creation.

Pastor Matt reflects on Paul's letter to Philemon. The episode also includes congregational reflections so there are sections of the audio that are not loud or clear due to our recording setup, but Matt tries to summarize what people share.