Faith in Daily Life

Text: John 20:19-31 The risen Jesus appeared to his disciples who were hiding behind locked doors in fear.  As we face those fears in our lives that hold us captive, Jesus comes to us as well with nail-scarred hands that bring hope and peace into our lives.  How will we show and tell of the One who makes such a difference in our lives? New to St. Andrew? Click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://standrewlu.org/...

The story of Jesus’ death and resurrection is the rescue story for each and every one of us! To experience this story more fully, we invite you to join us for each act of this three-act play that is Holy Week: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Come and be blessed by the “Rescue Story” that brings Christ’s victory over sin and death into our lives at Easter and every day! New to St....

Jesus brings us together to become one body, united through the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper. On Maundy Thursday (“commandment” Thursday), we remember the new commandment that Jesus gives us to love one another, and we celebrate Holy Communion along with our children who receive their First Communion. The “Rescue Story” of our salvation through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross begins h...

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week for Christians around the world. As our Sunday School children join us in worship with palm branches and shouts of “hosanna,” we hear together the story of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and we see how events will turn that lead Jesus toward the cross of Calvary- for us and for our salvation. Christians today still need to raise our voices in s...

Jonah is the ironic foil to every other human and non-human character in the book–all of whom obey God without question or protest. In Matt 8:23 -27, Jesus exemplifies peace 4 of 5 in the thick of disruption. Disruptions have a way of exposing things that are otherwise buried beneath the surface. The onset of a violent storm lays bare the disciples’ lack of trust. But it also simultaneously expose...

Part of our Lenten journey involves us looking with honesty at our own sin and our need for redemption. Before the events of Good Friday unfold, Peter is overcome by fear and denies knowing Jesus. How do our own fears get in the way us following Jesus? Is the cause of Jesus’ ministry a lost cause? Is Peter a lost cause? Are we a lost cause or are there perhaps events coming in the week ahead that...

In this world, all of us are unfinished. Every vocational responsibility we have– to our family, friends, neighbors, creation–represents an opportunity to grow in love, excellence, and faithfulness. We do not undertake that effort alone. God accompanies us, helping us each step of the way to see others as God does–to see Nineveh, not through the lens of spite and anger, but rather of compassion an...

Text: Luke 15:11 -31 In Jesus’ most famous and poignant parable, we see how a wayward son is welcomed home by a father who has never stopped waiting, watching, and loving. There is a place at the “welcome home” banquet for each of us as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper and remember Christ’s sacrifice: given and shed for you. New to St. Andrew? Click here: ⁠ https://standrewlu.org/about/visitors/ ⁠ V...

Luther’s theology of the cross teaches us to look for God in the midst of suffering–not only the suffering of Christ on the cross but also the suffering of God’s children in this world. God meets us with a word of hope in the fire (Daniel 3), in broken heartedness (Ps   34:18 ), and in death itself (Jonah 3). In these places we learn one of the most basic but crucial lessons of faith: to cry...

Text: Luke 15:8-10 Do we value ourselves and our neighbors properly? Jesus’ parable of the lost coin tells us that God sees each of us as a treasure and there’s nowhere that we can go where we will be separated from his love for us. New to St. Andrew? Click here: https://standrewlu.org/about/visitors/ Visit our website: https://standrewlu.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standrewlu Instagra...

Luther’s theology of the cross teaches us to look for God in the midst of suffering–not only the suffering of Christ on the cross but also the suffering of God’s children in this world. God meets us with a word of hope in the fire (Daniel 3), in broken heartedness (Ps   34:18 ), and in death itself (Jonah 3). In these places we learn one of the most basic but crucial lessons of faith: to cry...

Text: Luke 19:1-10 The story of Zaccheus the Tax Collector is one that shows us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s love and God’s redemptive purpose for us.  Randy Newman’s old song said that “short people got no reason to live…” but Jesus begs to differ! New to St. Andrew? Click here: https://standrewlu.org/about/visitors/ Visit our website: https://standrewlu.org/ Facebook: https://ww...

Jonah 1:17, Psalm 139:1-2, 7-10 Encounters with God often come in the form of disruptions to everyday life.  They take us off course and throw us off balance. But in many cases, disruptions have the potential to bring us into a sacred encounter with God and our neighbor in ways that we might not expect–or in ways that might show us something new about ourselves. The story of Jonah invites us...

Text: Luke 15:1-7 In the first of three parables from Luke 15, Jesus invites us to think about those persons who are outside of the fold.  How does this story inform the way we approach ministry and life as we encounter people who seem to be lost sheep?  How is God seeking us and calling us to repentance when we fail to see ourselves as lost sheep who are redeemed by the Good Shepherd? N...

Transfiguration Sunday bridges the gap between the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany cycle and the season of Lent which begins on Ash Wednesday.  Our services will feature inspiring music from the Canticle Choir and Josh Eidem at the 9 AM service and Elliana Meier and the Worship Band at the 10:30 AM service.  Come and bring a friend! New to St. Andrew? Click here: https://standrewlu.org/about/visitors/ V...

Luke 4:1-13 Perhaps our lives, every once in a while, would benefit from an audit.  How do we spend our time? Are we efficient?  Are we doing what we have been called to do?  How much of what we do is an old habit or the result of feeling like we’re stuck? The point this week will be: thinking about the things that we do or focus on that doesn’t bring joy and goodness into our lives...

When pressed to winnow down all the laws into only one Jesus said, “Got it. Love God. Love people.” The point – the people who love and serve God and – as a result – people who feel called and inspired to go love and serve other people in the name of Jesus. Just imagine a world where people are more concerned about someone other than him or herself. That in the world that God wants and envisions....

2 Corinthians 1:18-22 This is the topic so I can show a clip of the Jim Carrey movie: “Yes, Man.” Many times when people ask us to do something, even before they go for the ask, we are thinking of how we can say no. After all, we are all so busy as it is. There is simply no more time for doing one more thing. That is, unless the ask is about something that we love doing. The point of this focus is...

Jesus – the only perfect person the world has ever known – would often just off by himself and pray. Here he was – God in the flesh and he felt the need to go and ask for help. Simply put, if he needed help – we’re gonna need a whole lot of help – like – all day – every day! New to St. Andrew? Click here: https://standrewlu.org/about/visitors/ Visit our website: https://standrewlu.org/ Facebook: h...

By a certain age, many of us have formed quite strong thoughts, feelings, and opinions about most things and a lot of people. In all candor, it is best for us to, each and every day, enter the world with an open heart – giving all people a chance to surprise and impress us. Many times our preconceived notions about things and/or people adversely affect our live with others and the world at large....

A book just sitting on a shelf will not enter our hearts, minds, and souls. God’s holy word in the Bible is meant to be read, studied, questioned, analyzed, and then, live out in daily life. The fact of the matter is, the Bible is complex and sometimes just plain hard to understand. That should not make us afraid to crack it open and see what the Holy Spirit does with the Word of God. New to St. A...

The story of Christ’s birth is told through scripture readings and carols woven together and interspersed with devotional offerings from our pastors. New to St. Andrew? Click here: https://standrewlu.org/about/visitors/ Visit our website: https://standrewlu.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standrewlu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standrewlu/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/StAndrewLu To...

Merry Christmas! Enjoy this wonderful sermon by Pastor Lillejord, "Because We Can't" We do a lot to get ready for Christmas but what does John the Baptist mean when he says “Prepare the way for the Lord?” How can we carve out some time for spiritual practices in the midst of a busy season so that we experience more fully the coming of Christ at Christmas? New to St. Andrew? Click here: https://sta...

Text: Matthew 3:1-12 We do a lot to get ready for Christmas but what does John the Baptist mean when he says “Prepare the way for the Lord?” How can we carve out some time for spiritual practices in the midst of a busy season so that we experience more fully the coming of Christ at Christmas? New to St. Andrew? Click here: https://standrewlu.org/about/visitors/ Visit our website: https://standrewl...

Text: Matthew 3:1-12 We do a lot to get ready for Christmas but what does John the Baptist mean when he says “Prepare the way for the Lord?” How can we carve out some time for spiritual practices in the midst of a busy season so that we experience more fully the coming of Christ at Christmas? New to St. Andrew? Click here: https://standrewlu.org/about/visitors/ Visit our website: https://standrewl...