Living Savior Podcast

October 30, 2022 - (Pastor Kurbis) - Galatians 5:1-6

October 23, 2022 - (Pastor Zell) - Luke 18:18-30

October 16, 2022 - (Pastor Kurbis) - Micah 7:18-20

October 9, 2022 - (Vicar Ungemach) - Luke 18:1-8

October 2, 2022 - (Pastor Zell) - Luke 17:11-19

Isn't it easy to forget about spiritual dangers? You might normally think about danger when you're in a new place or a sticky situation. But far more frightening are the attacks that Satan and his angels wish to make against you. But do not fear. The Festival of St. Michael and All Angels celebrates God's protection for his people... both through his holy angels and with his almighty hand.

A lot can happen in 40 years. Ask the parents who see their “over-the-hill kid” blow out 40 candles. Ask the spouses who pull out the 40-year-old photo album filled with wedding memories. Or ask someone who has served in Gospel ministry in three schools and three churches in five different states over the last four decades. Yes, a lot can happen in 40 years. And if we could best encapsulate all th...

Throughout this series, "Wounds that Heal" we have seen that not all wounds are bad. The precise incision of a skilled surgeon wounds the patient, but only in order to cure him or her. In the same way, we often say that words cut us to the heart. Often, however, those sharp words can provide the healing wounds we need. Join us as we hear some of Jesus’ sharpest words for us – words that wound in o...

Jesus’ sharp words expose our desire to pursue comfort and avoid pain at all costs. He tells us that all those who follow him ought to count the inevitable cost we will incur. When we do so, however, we realize that whatever we might have to give up or put up with for Jesus will pale in comparison for what we gain through life with him. Counting the cost is especially pertinent on “GROW Sunday” wh...

How dangerous is the sin of pride? Holy Scripture says that even if you were to keep all of God’s other commands and yet stumble over his directive to be humble, God threatens “judgment without mercy” just for that one sin alone. Today the words from our Savior wound our arrogant hearts. Then the Great Physician cuts out our pride, removing our sin, healing our attitudes, and compelling us to rejo...

September 4, 2022 (Vicar Jacob Ungemach) Luke 14:1, 7-14 by Living Savior

Jesus’ sharp words remind us that the door to heaven is narrow. It’s easy to develop a false sense of security about our standing before God based on some superficial, external familiarity we have with him. Jesus warns, however, that many who think they are on the path to heaven will end up shut out. We must make every effort to enter through the narrow door, that is, through faith in him.

Jesus directs our attention on what it will take for us to reach the finish line. Following Jesus does not create a smooth and easy path for us. In fact, following Jesus and his Word will lead to division among people, even among people very close to one another. Thankfully, Jesus and his Word also unite us to a long list of runners who have finished the race and won the prize. We know where follo...

August 14, 2022 (Pastor Paul Zell) - Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 by Living Savior

As much as it is easy for us to get distracted by obsessing over the temporary, earthly resources with which God blesses us, it is easy to get distracted by neglecting the unseen, eternal reward God has in store for us. Jesus frees us from distraction by pointing us to the promises he has already kept in the lives of his faithful people and proclaiming the promises he wants us to cling to in faith...

This earthly life does not consist in accumulating a bunch of possessions and then losing everything when you die. So Jesus directs our attention away from all kinds of greed. Instead, we set our hearts and minds on things above and treasure the real life that we will enjoy with our Savior forever.

Jesus teaches us about the lines of communication. When we pray, we are talking to God. In God’s Word and only through God’s Word, God talks to us. We need both. But we must not confuse the direction this communication goes. So Jesus teaches us how to pray and tells us that our Father listens and loves us. Through Abraham’s prayers we see what fervent prayer is like. Our Father will never turn a d...

This past week we had the privilege of welcoming many children from our congregation and community to our first ever Youth Sports Camp. It was an awesome week for playing soccer, basketball, football, and other games; for meeting new friends; for having a lot of fun; and—most importantly—for learning about our good and gracious God. This year’s Sports Camp theme: “Our God is for us.” These words c...

The Holy Spirit’s life-giving Word removes the burden of trying to justify ourselves before God. We can’t do that. Yet we don’t have to, because Jesus Christ already has done that for us by his holy life and sacrificial death. Our deeds of love don’t make us right with God. Christ alone does that. In fact, now that a “not guilty” verdict in God’s courtroom is a certainty, we have been blessed with...

It’s hard to overstate the influence a pastor can have on a church. Will the flock be offended by his arrogance or dishonesty or greed? Will the church’s members be discouraged by his laziness or misled by his false teaching? It’s no wonder that the Chief Shepherd of the church sends forth pastors with a single-minded focus on serving his sheep with his Word, whether they listen to it or not. Afte...

God mercifully causes his life-giving Word to go forth from person to person and from place to place. While the gospel certainly spreads when specific individuals travel to the far corners of the globe, it also spreads when his people stay put. That happens when God gives each of us a station in life in which we are surrounded by people and from which we have opportunities to share the good news o...

The Word of Christ has the power to forgive our sins. Though this forgiveness and our changed status before God are invisible realities, Christ ties his powerful, forgiving Word to things that are visible. In baptism, his Word is joined to water to wash away our sins. That forgiveness then shows itself as his Word produces fruit in our lives as we honor him with our words and actions.

Series: Usually the more powerful something is, the harder it is to control. Not so with God. After Jesus returned to heaven, God unleashed his power in the world through his Holy Spirit. At the same time, he tied up that power to his Word so that we would always know where we can find it and how we can use it. Today: If God wanted to reach the lost, he could stretch out his hand and do it himself...

Series: Usually the more powerful something is, the harder it is to control. Not so with God. After Jesus returned to heaven, God unleashed his power in the world through his Holy Spirit. At the same time, he tied up that power to his Word so that we would always know where we can find it and how we can use it. Today: The more complicated something is, the more likely people are to avoid speaking...

June 5, 2022 - Pastor Kurbis - Genesis 11 - "From Confusion to Clarity" - Pentecost Sunday by Living Savior