Holy Cross Lutheran Church

God’s people groan under the weight of suffering, injustice, and delayed deliverance. Habakkuk and Lamentations capture the cry of a wounded nation: “How long, O Lord?” Their grief reveals a burden deeper than circumstance—the ache of hopes deferred and prayers seemingly unheard. Yet God promises that the one who brings judgment will in turn be judged. Babylon will fall. Oppression will end. And t...

The story of the Judges confronts us with the weight of repeated failure. Israel falls into sin, cries out, is rescued—and then collapses again. These cycles reveal not merely bad habits but a deeper spiritual truth: left to ourselves, we return to the same sins, the same patterns, the same brokenness. Yet in every generation, God raises a deliverer—lifted up for a moment, empowered by His Spirit—...

The Law reveals the weight of sin with crushing clarity. When God speaks the commandments, Israel discovers not a path to moral improvement but a mirror reflecting the truth: we cannot keep God’s law, and we cannot save ourselves. Yet in the wilderness, God provides a surprising promise. When His people look upon the bronze serpent lifted high, He shows them the pattern of salvation—life through A...

The purpose of the Christian Life is walking toward the surprisingly better life with others; not only with other believers, but with those who are far from God. To be clear, walking with Jesus means walking into places and relationships that are often uncomfortable. And, to do so, means walking in patience and great humility while also requiring a deep trust in the powerful and transformative gos...

There are times when Jesus doesn’t pull punches - He just unloads with full force. When Jesus tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan - He is condemning those who are too busy to stop for others, too prideful to speak to the lowly, or too holy to interact with sinners. People matter. God’s desire is that all people would be in the Way of Jesus - walking toward the Surprisingly Better Life. And mor...

God is compassionate. This is affirmed by the scriptures over and over and over again. God is slow to anger, He is forgiving, and His love for us…is steadfast. Time and time again, in the biographies of Jesus, we read of Jesus’ compassion on the crowds - He joined them in the suffering of their bodies, minds and Spirits. And that compassion led Him to act. When we are discipled in the words and wa...

Theologians down through the centuries all agree - God is actively speaking to His people and His people are actively ignoring Him. In other words, it’s not a talking…but a listening problem. When Jesus tells us the Kingdom of God is at hand - He’s telling us that we can access God’s kingdom - if we simply pay attention, listen to what’s being said, and then by God’s spirit, walk in faith. When we...

At the end of the day, the command of Jesus for every disciple is to be a disciple-maker. As we walk toward the surprisingly better life, being shaped in the words and ways of Jesus, we are commanded to bring others along. Discipling other people isn’t difficult, but we won’t do it by accident. We are called to share the story of Jesus, to walk in His ways along side of others, in the places where...

The Christian life begins in the waters of baptism — It’s there that we are marked by Christ, the crucified. Yet, far too many Christians associate this life with the one that is to come - the one kept in heaven for us. When Jesus was baptized, it was to mark the beginning of His earthly ministry — His journey here on earth. The Christian life, the abundant life, is a life lived not only for heave...

In CS Lewis' The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, the Pevensie children stumble into a dark woods during an eternal winter. Yet, in the middle of that wood is a street lantern, aglow with light and warmth. That light is a beacon in that dark, cold wood. Today, we celebrate the Epiphany - when Magi from the east are enlightened by the Light of the Word. Jesus, like a street lantern in Lewis' wood...

When Christmas is barely over, the Church reminds us that Jesus entered not a safe world, but a dangerous one. From fleeing to Egypt to bearing our suffering on the cross, Christ walks a new Exodus to rescue us from sin and fear.

On a quiet night outside Bethlehem, God chose shepherds and a manger to announce the arrival of His Son, the King. Today, we slow down, step into the darkness with the shepherds, and see how God’s glory shows up in humility.  We awe in the good news that the child of Bethlehem still meets us in ordinary places, turning fear into joy and anticipation into praise.

Jesus is not far off—He keeps showing up in the most ordinary places: preached words, poured water, bread, and wine. These simple gifts are where the King meets us face to face, just as truly as in Bethlehem and just as surely as when He comes again.

The same King who came in humility and who comes even now will come again as Judge and Deliverer. Advent directs us to prepare in repentance and hope for the trumpet that will peel back the sky.

The last Sunday of the Church Year - is known as Christ the King Sunday. Yet, the texts associated with this day are often texts that feel…well, less than kingly. A crucified Jesus takes center stage, reminding us that kingly power and authority are characterized by humility and though the world feels broken…the King still rules.