922 Ministries - The CORE & St. Peter Lutheran

Are you parenting out of trust or control?,. In the kickoff of our new sermon series, "Bad Parents of the Bible," we take an honest look at the messy family dynamics of Isaac and Rebekah,,. Parenting is often an exhausting journey of investing and "pouring in," waiting for our children to finally "turn a corner" in their maturity,. But what happens when the pressure to succeed—or even a divine pro...

Why do millions of people—from the devoutly committed to the deeply skeptical—show up for Easter Sunday? In this message, we explore how Easter is much like Super Bowl Sunday: a massive cultural moment where people gather for vastly different reasons. Whether you are here out of curiosity, kindness to a loved one, or a deep commitment to your faith, there is a seat for you at this table. This serm...

Explore why the resurrection of Jesus is not just a philosophy or a collection of religious beliefs, but a life-altering historic event that changes everything for everyone. Whether you are stepping into a church for the first time, wrestling with deep-seated doubts, or have celebrated Easter for decades, this message is for you. In this sermon, we look at the Easter story through three lenses: *...

In this Good Friday message, we journey through the final 20 hours of Jesus’ life—from the agony of Gethsemane to the finality of the tomb. While we often focus on what Jesus did, this sermon explores the profound significance of what Jesus refused to do. Jesus was not a victim. He was a King setting aside His authority and refusing to use His power so that the mission of our salvation could be co...

In this unique Good Friday service, we gather to contemplate the "Seven Words" spoken by Jesus from the cross. Each word serves a divine purpose: to lift the specific burdens that weigh down our souls—burdens of guilt, despair, loneliness, abandonment, emptiness, striving, and even death. In this message, we explore the Seven Words of Jesus: * Word 1: The Burden of Guilt – "Father, forgive them......

What would you choose to eat to commemorate the greatest thing that has ever happened in human history?. While our holiday traditions often involve specific foods like Easter ham or St. Patrick’s Day corned beef to tell a story of our culture or history, the meal we celebrate on Maundy Thursday was divinely instituted to tell God's story of redemption. In this sermon, we explore why Holy Communion...

Does your faith depend on your circumstances, or is it built to last? In this Palm Sunday message, we explore the stark contrast between the joyful "Hosannas" of Sunday and the "Crucify him!" of Friday. Why did the same crowd that climbed trees and laid down cloaks for Jesus abandon Him just five days later? The answer lies in the "Palm Sunday Problem": the crowd focused on what Jesus could do for...

Are you waiting to get "around the corner" to finally find peace? In this Palm Sunday message, we explore the historical journey of the Jewish people—from the promises made to Abraham and the leadership of Moses to the golden age of King David and the long years of Roman occupation. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah, the crowds were shouting "Hosanna!...

Is grace actually fair? If we are honest, there is a part of us that bristles at the idea of a lifelong criminal receiving the same heavenly reward as a faithful, lifelong believer. In this midweek message, we explore the "offensive" nature of God’s grace through the lens of the criminal hanging on the cross next to Jesus. In this message, we unpack:  The Irony of the Cross: While the religious le...

Have you ever experienced a moment where you just missed out—on tickets, a sale, or even a "gold medal" moment in life? In this sermon, Pastor Jared Oldenberg explores the deep, often messy emotion of desperation and how it serves as the starting point for true faith. Drawing from Mark 5:21-43, Pastor Jared looks at two people at the end of their ropes: Jairus, a respected leader whose daughter wa...

In the fifth week of the "Truth Bombs" sermon series, we explore the explosive power of Jesus over our two greatest enemies: sickness and death. This message examines two intertwining stories from Luke chapter 8 that demonstrate Jesus' deep care for everyone, from the prominent leader to the forgotten "no one". In this sermon, you will discover: * The Unstoppable Power of Jesus: A woman who suffer...

In this powerful midweek message, we explore the profound meaning of sacrifice and the life-changing promises found at Calvary. Drawing from the heart-wrenching account of a Vietnam veteran at the 1986 Chicago Welcome Home Parade, we are reminded of the importance of never growing "dull" to the sacrifices made on our behalf,,. Tracing the Three Crosses Using Luke 23:32-43 as our guide, we look at...

Have you ever reached a point where you were just done—out of options, out of ideas, and at the end of your rope? Whether it is the grief of losing a loved one, the pain of a broken marriage, the stress of a job loss, or the weight of an addiction, we all face moments where hope feels gone and we feel completely stuck. In this message from our "Truth Bombs" series, we look at the explosive words a...

In this message from the "Truth Bombs" series, we explore the powerful moment death meets Jesus at the gates of a town called Nain. A funeral procession for the only son of a widow was moving out of the city, representing a trail of death that usually never stops. In that culture, this woman wasn't just losing her child; she was losing her protector, her social standing, and her economic security....

While we often think of prayer as a simple daily routine, Jesus demonstrates that it is a serious, costly, and life-and-death matter. As the sources explain, the name Gethsemane means "olive press," a fitting location for the immense pressure Jesus faced as He prayed in such agony that His sweat became like drops of blood. This message examines the "cup" Jesus asked the Father to remove—a cup repr...

Is it possible to amaze the Creator of the universe?. In the third installment of the "Truth Bombs" series, we dive into Luke 7:1–10 to witness a rare moment where a human being "steals the breath away" from Jesus. While love often makes amazement difficult due to rising expectations—what psychologists call the "hedonic treadmill"—the Gospel reveals that we can live with a faith that causes God hi...

What does it take to truly amaze the Creator of the universe?. While the Gospels are filled with accounts of crowds being astonished by Jesus’ power to calm storms and heal the sick, there is a rare, remarkable moment in Luke 7 where the roles are reversed and Jesus himself is the one expressed in amazement,. In this message, we examine the story of the Roman Centurion—a man of high rank, wealth,...

In this message, "What Makes You Great?", we dive into Luke 22, where even Jesus' inner circle of disciples fell victim to this "me-first" finger-pointing. As they argued over who among them was the greatest, Jesus provided a "truth bomb" that flipped the world’s definition of success upside down. While the world defines greatness through status, titles, and perks, Jesus reveals that in His kingdo...

"I did it my way." It’s a classic song, but it is also the functional anthem for how many of us choose to live our lives. Whether we realize it or not, we all have a "functional lord" that gets the last vote on how we behave, how we spend our money, and how we handle our relationships. In this message, we explore the concept of authority and the three paths people typically take to find it: * The...

Have you ever been living through an ordinary day when, suddenly, everything changes on a dime? Whether it’s a sudden silence in a classroom or a dog sensing an intruder in the shadows, we all know the feeling of being "thunderstruck"—that moment when adrenaline surges and the mundane becomes extraordinary. In this sermon, we explore Luke 4 and the moment Jesus entered Capernaum. While the people...

In this message of our "Truth Bombs" series, we tackle the human tendency to rebel against authority—especially when that authority requires something from us. Whether it’s grumbling at a referee from the sidelines or dismissing a doctor's tough advice, we often respect a title only until it challenges our own control. Drawing from Luke 20, we look at the moment religious leaders challenged Jesus’...

In this opening message of our series "Truth Bombs,” we confront the reality that no one who met the real Jesus was ever just ambivalent about him. On a scale of one to five, Jesus’ ratings were always ones or fives—people either loved and worshipped him or loathed and wanted to kill him. Drawing from Luke 4, we look at Jesus’ first sermon in his hometown of Nazareth. The service began with amazem...

In this first message of our new series, "Truth Bombs," we explore one of the most provocative and memorable moments in Jesus’ ministry: the clearing of the temple. While we often imagine Jesus flipping tables with righteous anger, the background of this event reveals a deeper issue of "drift" and "project creep". At the time, Jerusalem would swell to 250,000 people for Passover, and the temple’s...

In this Ash Wednesday message from our "Truth Bombs" series, we confront the one reality our culture works hardest to ignore: our own mortality. When we hear the words, "You are dust, and to dust you shall return," it isn't meant to terrify us, but to wake us up from the distractions and self-reliance we often use to keep death at arm's length. Whether death feels far away or is sitting close by w...

Is it possible to believe in the goodness of God and the victory of the cross while living in deep emotional darkness? In this sermon, we explore the disorienting reality of being a genuine Christian who battles the "mental arthritis" of depression. In this message, you’ll discover: • The Weight of History: The story of Charles Spurgeon, a world-renowned preacher who battled a "mental giant" of de...