Sandhills Lutheran Ministry Podcast Series

1 Kings 19:1–8 . The Lord graciously sustains Elijah during his unexpected sabbath. We may tell God, “I’ve had enough,” but Jesus comes to give us more than enough. 

Psalm 145:10-21. The Psalmist declares, “The Lord is near.” The new man whom God has raised up in Baptism will rejoice at the presence of God so near to us.  This psalm connects to the Old Testament Reading (Ex 16:2–15), in which God miraculously provides the manna from heaven out of the generosity of his hand. It is the Lord God who provides for the needs of his people. It also connects to the Go...

( II Corinthians 4:13-5:1)   The old building looks a little long in the tooth. I am passing away along with everything else. Mortality seems to cling to me heavily these days. Yet, God has made a promise and I turn my faith to things unseen, yet expected.

Mark 2:23-28 (See also the Old Testament reading for the second Sunday after the Pentecost: Deuteronomy 5:12-15). “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” God gave His people the Sabbath as a time of rest to remember the great things He has done for us. In receiving Word and Sacrament, we find true Sabbath rest—Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:14a, 22-36. Theme for Holy Trinity Sunday (May 26, 2024):  The Father, by raising Jesus from the dead, has revealed Jesus of Nazareth to be the Son of God and the LORD of all and that this same Lord Jesus has poured out the life-giving Spirit on us.

I John 5:9-15.  John wants to address that fearful person today who has doubts, “I feel like I am an imposter.” John’s answer is to believe the stronger testimony of God.

  I John 3:1-7 Theme: God has called us His children. And so we are. Our own eyes are still of this world and we struggle to see it ourselves. But the one who believes/hopes in this, is being made like that (purifying self).

John 20:19-31             Theme: The world loves the idea of peace, but most of the solutions which it offers are really just a form of coping with problems. Jesus bestows peace upon his disciples, real peace. And in the middle of that peace are the wounds of Christ and holy joy. 

Hebrews 5:1-10 Theme: Although the connection between God and humanity had been severed by sin, that connection is restored through Jesus, our humble priest.

 Ephesians 2:1-10 (11-22) Theme: There are good works which are ours to do right now. We are God’s workmanship with a purpose. Jesus wants to do something good right now. That means the Christian community, this Christian community is living and walking in the light of Christ, a different operating principle than the divisiveness, factionalism, or tribalism which is dominating the world in which w...

I Corinthians 1:18-31 Theme: God is only to be found in His Word made flesh, the one nailed to the cross. “How foolish! How impotent!”, all people, whatever their culture, think. But God’s children are determined to know nothing but Christ crucified.

Romans 5:1-11    Theme of the Day: Jesus, by losing all, gains all. That is imprinted upon our lives as well. Paul, in this reading, does a deep dive into just what that means. Sermon preached on February 25, 2024.

James 1:12-18 Theme: James says that God tempts no one. James is right. God may test my faith to show me what He has done, but he never leads me astray.  The following readings are also referenced in the sermon: Old Testament: Genesis 22:1-18 and Gospel: Mark 1:9-15.

2 Corinthians 3:12-18; 4:1-6       Theme of the Day: What inspires us to be bold, showing the face of Christ to everyone? Other readings for Transfiguration Sunday: Old Testament Reading: Exodus 34:29-35; Holy Gospel: Mark 9:2-9. The Feast of Transfiguration brings the season of Epiphany to a close. Once again, a voice from heaven declares Jesus to be the Son of God, the beloved. Today we see him...

I Corinthians 9:16-27 Theme: If I am all things to all people, do I have any integrity left? Who or what am I? Paul’s integrity and ours is the Gospel itself. 

 1 Corinthians 8:1-13     Theme of the Day: The one who loves is known by God. That is the knowledge that makes all the difference in the world.

I Corinthians 7:29-35 Theme of the Day:  I am just so busy! So many things demand my attention. This list never ends. Now Paul wants to extricate me from my anxiety, but who will silence all these demands?  God does.

I Corinthians 6:12-20. Theme of the Day: Jesus shed real blood for your real body. Your body today is a means for you to glorify God. He has made it important and sacred by sending his Holy Spirit into it in your baptism.

The Epistle reading and sermon text for the Baptism of Our Lord Sunday is Romans 6:1-11. The Gospel reading is Mark 1:4-11. Theme of the Day: Paul believes that sinners can change. We all have been baptized with Christ and that means the power of the Holy Spirit, the new life into which we have been raised, is truly ours. Considering baptism? Talk to a pastor. I recommend a Lutheran pastor serving...

Luke 2:22-40 Theme of the Day: Mary and Joseph bring two turtle doves because they were poor. Simeon is about to die. Anna was widowed for many years. Jesus came for them all. Our eyes have seen God’s salvation!

John 1:6-8, 19-28 Theme of the Day: John does not bring the Messiah nor do we bring Christ to the nations, but we point out the One who is right there. 

Sermon text: 2 Peter 3:8-14. Theme of the Day: Peter wants us to know just what a precious thing it is for us that God is patient and not coming today in wrath and power. The Lord is patient with you and me! How does that shape our lives? The texts for the second Sunday in Advent, December 10th are from Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 85, 2 Peter 3:8-14, Mark 1:1-8. 

1 Corinthians 1:3-9       Paul wants to bring the Corinthians and us from a language of poverty to one of wealth and plenty. We are enriched in knowledge and speech! Paul is eliciting the response from the Corinthians and from us the primary response which we associate with this season – repentance.

Matthew 25:31–46 Theme of the Day: Homeless Jesus is a bronze sculpture created in 2013 by Timothy Schmalz. Schmalz’s artwork lays the foundation for Christ’s parable about the sheep and the goats.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeless_Jesus

Matthew 25:14-30 Theme of the Day : You Had One Job. That’s a website featuring people who had one job and didn’t do it. In today’s parable, Jesus tells us, “You had one job.” What would that be?