Living Savior Podcast

So much of life is aimed at accumulating things that will end up in the trash or in someone else’s possession. To make such matters worse, nothing in this world can fill our hearts and provide security for our souls. So we listen closely to wise King Solomon’s warning about everything that is meaningless. We pay attention to the apostle Paul’s encouragement, “Set your heart on things above, not on...

So much of life is aimed at accumulating things that will end up in the trash or in someone else’s possession. To make such matters worse, nothing in this world can fill our hearts and provide security for our souls. So we listen closely to wise King Solomon’s warning about everything that is meaningless. We pay attention to the apostle Paul’s encouragement, “Set your heart on things above, not on...

Sunday’s Focus - Jesus has a way with stories, doesn’t he? An expert on the law approaches him, wanting to justify himself from a legal point of view. “What must I do?” he asks. Jesus repeats what God’s law of love demands. Then he tells an unforgettable story to show how hard it is to keep God’s law. Legally, it cannot be done! Yet Jesus’ story goes further. He earns God’s “not guilty” verdict fo...

Sunday’s Focus - Jesus has a way with stories, doesn’t he? An expert on the law approaches him, wanting to justify himself from a legal point of view. “What must I do?” he asks. Jesus repeats what God’s law of love demands. Then he tells an unforgettable story to show how hard it is to keep God’s law. Legally, it cannot be done! Yet Jesus’ story goes further. He earns God’s “not guilty” verdict fo...

Christianity can seem complicated. Each of us has a lot of questions about what the Bible teaches us to believe and do. Yet, when you start with the basics, the pieces start to fall into place. More than that, those basics are the essential truths for life and for eternity. Join us as we dig into the key components of the Christian faith.

Christianity can seem complicated. Each of us has a lot of questions about what the Bible teaches us to believe and do. Yet, when you start with the basics, the pieces start to fall into place. More than that, those basics are the essential truths for life and for eternity. Join us as we dig into the key components of the Christian faith.

The Lord isn’t done with us. Far from it! When our Savior rose from the dead and then ascended into heaven, he never intended that any of his followers would simply slip back into their old mundane routines. He has plans for us moving forward, that we would devote ourselves to serving others where we are and to sharing his message of eternal life. In ways we sometimes see and in ways we sometimes...

One man schemes in his heart to steal a “gift” from a generous believer. Another man quietly loves his riches more than he loves the Lord and goes home sad. In both instances, the Word of God cuts the heart open and lays everything bare. Since the selfish thoughts and attitudes of our hearts are exposed to our holy God and nothing is hidden from his sight, “who then can be saved”? Isn’t that impos...

One man schemes in his heart to steal a “gift” from a generous believer. Another man quietly loves his riches more than he loves the Lord and goes home sad. In both instances, the Word of God cuts the heart open and lays everything bare. Since the selfish thoughts and attitudes of our hearts are exposed to our holy God and nothing is hidden from his sight, “who then can be saved”? Isn’t that impos...

“Degenerate.” “Good-for-nothing.” “Outcast.” “One of those people.” When people are throwing labels at their fellow human beings, are you sure you know where Jesus stands? Yes, he hates every sin. Yet today we see how massive God’s forgiveness is. It’s big enough for each of us. It’s also big enough for “those people,” whoever they are and whatever they’ve done. For the Christian, that’s what’s ne...

“Degenerate.” “Good-for-nothing.” “Outcast.” “One of those people.” When people are throwing labels at their fellow human beings, are you sure you know where Jesus stands? Yes, he hates every sin. Yet today we see how massive God’s forgiveness is. It’s big enough for each of us. It’s also big enough for “those people,” whoever they are and whatever they’ve done. For the Christian, that’s what’s ne...

The apostle Paul calls the message he preached “foolish” (1 Corinthians 1 & 2). What he means is that human reason is offended and baffled by what he and the rest of Jesus’ ambassadors proclaimed. That is certainly the case with the most fundamental teaching of Scripture—the doctrine of God. The Bible teaches that the one true God exists as the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Each of these...

The Lord isn’t done with us. Far from it! When our Savior rose from the dead and then ascended into heaven, he never intended that any of his followers would simply slip back into their old mundane routines. He has plans for us moving forward, that we would devote ourselves to serving others where we are and to sharing his message of eternal life. In ways we sometimes see and in ways we sometimes...

Did Jesus’ first followers grieve when he left them and ascended into heaven? Should his followers today be sad that he is no longer with us in the flesh? No! Just the opposite is the case! The Ascension of Our Lord is one of the great celebrations of the Church. “He ascended into heaven,” we confess, “and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty” so that he might intercede for us si...

Jesus’ disciples lost him through the cross but then regained him through his glorious resurrection. With the culmination of his work, he brings them and all his followers unbridled and unending joy. How so? It all rests on this fact: Easter still stands! Jesus rose from the dead! Therefore, grief turns to joy just like a mother’s childbirth pain turns to elation. This kind of joy made a believing...

The evening before he went to the cross, Jesus is teaching about the relationship between the Father and the Son. What does that look like? Love. So when St. Paul describes what the members of the body of Christ look like, he is compelled to speak of the same thing: Love. We belong to the Father’s family because of the love of his Son, Jesus Christ. Now we get to love one another, powered by his l...

The Focus this week - The evening before he went to the cross, Jesus is teaching about the relationship between the Father and the Son. What does that look like? Love. So when St. Paul describes what the members of the body of Christ look like, he is compelled to speak of the same thing: Love. We belong to the Father’s family because of the love of his Son, Jesus Christ. Now we get to love one ano...

The Focus this week - A shameful death leads to a glorious life? How ludicrous! Robes once stained with sin and guilt are made white with the blood of a Lamb? How preposterous! That Lamb will prove to be the Good Shepherd? How absurd! Troubled individuals will listen to the voice of that Shepherd and find shelter and security at God’s throne? How ridiculous! What natural reason considers ludicrous...

A shameful death leads to a glorious life? How ludicrous! Robes once stained with sin and guilt are made white with the blood of a Lamb? How preposterous! That Lamb will prove to be the Good Shepherd? How absurd! Troubled individuals will listen to the voice of that Shepherd and find shelter and security at God’s throne? How ridiculous! What natural reason considers ludicrous and preposterous beco...

Saul of Tarsus was headed to another city, planning once again to arrest Christians and drag them back to Jerusalem in chains. In the meantime, Saul was wearing chains himself, shackled by his hatred for Christ and by his vindictive ignorance. Then the risen Redeemer spoke to him, cut away his chains, and commissioned him to proclaim his Name throughout the world. We who were once wearing the chai...

It’s kind of hard for us to accept the supernatural. Like Thomas, we find it difficult to believe something that goes beyond our understanding or transcends our reason. Yet we are drawn to those very things in entertainment, in our relationships, and in the world around us. We are attracted to superheroes, fantasy lands, and mystical plots. We want crazy love and strength from the people we rely o...

Easter isn’t just a day; it’s a season. Today is just the beginning of the resurrection comfort God has for you. Join us for “STILL STANDING,” our Easter series which continues through the next six weeks. The road of shame, suffering and sacrifice lead the cross. And since Jesus died for all and rose again, his life counts for all. The tomb is still empty. Therefore, no matter what happens . . . e...

The road of shame, suffering and sacrifice lead the cross. And since Jesus died for all and rose again, his life counts for all. The tomb is still empty. Therefore, no matter what happens . . . even if everything else collapses, God’s eternal promises are still standing.

Today we enter the home stretch with our Lord Jesus. Yes, we have been here before. There is something very familiar about the Palm Sunday celebration. But this final stretch is far from routine. It’s certainly not the time to travel on auto pilot, because behind the familiar palms and praises is the God-man who left his heavenly home to purposefully enter the city of his death. He did so for an e...

Today we enter the home stretch with our Lord Jesus. Yes, we have been here before. There is something very familiar about the Palm Sunday celebration. But this final stretch is far from routine. It’s certainly not the time to travel on auto pilot, because behind the familiar palms and praises is the God-man who left his heavenly home to purposefully enter the city of his death. He did so for an e...