Most Certainly True Podcast

Jesus Withstands Temptation, and Calls His First Followers --------------------------------- THE BOOK OF MATTHEW   We hope you are joining us on this devotional adventure through the Gospel of Matthew.  Read a chapter a day for your personal devotion and then grow even more by listening to the pastors at Grace discuss the highlights and background of each chapter.  Do you have questions about the...

Meet John the Baptist and Celebrate Jesus' Baptism --------------------------------- THE BOOK OF MATTHEW   We hope you are joining us on this devotional adventure through the Gospel of Matthew.  Read a chapter a day for your personal devotion and then grow even more by listening to the pastors at Grace discuss the highlights and background of each chapter.  Do you have questions about the Gos...

The Wise Men and the Holy Family's Trip to and from Egypt --------------------------------- THE BOOK OF MATTHEW   We hope you are joining us on this devotional adventure through the Gospel of Matthew.  Read a chapter a day for your personal devotion and then grow even more by listening to the pastors at Grace discuss the highlights and background of each chapter.   Do you have questions about...

The Genealogy of Jesus and Jesus' birth announced to Joseph --------------------------------- THE BOOK OF MATTHEW   We hope you are joining us on this devotional adventure through the Gospel of Matthew.  Read a chapter a day for your personal devotion and then grow even more by listening to the pastors at Grace discuss the highlights and background of each chapter.   Do you have questions abo...

Why do we need to remain attached to Jesus? Choices, choices. Every day in so many ways we make choices about what brings value to our lives. The Bread of Life sets before us the way of life with God and urges us to believe and live. Prayer of the Day Why do we need to remain attached to Jesus? Choices, choices. Every day in so many ways we make choices about what brings value to our lives. The Br...

What do we gain by relying on Jesus? Very different from the allures of life, Jesus’ spiritual menu offers bread for the soul which cleanses us from sin and gives us life with God that never ends. Prayer of the Day What do we gain by relying on Jesus? Very different from the allures of life, Jesus’ spiritual menu offers bread for the soul which cleanses us from sin and gives us life with God that...

Why is Jesus the only Way to life with God? We are surrounded by feasts that serve the flesh. We catch the scent of banquets that whet our appetites for what pleases our bodies and minds. Only Jesus offers spiritual food and nourishment that lasts. Prayer of the Day Merciful Father, you gave your Son Jesus as the heavenly bread of life. Grant us faith to feast on him in your Word and Sacraments th...

How does God protect us? Sometimes it’s hard to see God’s protecting care. In the throes of trouble God sometimes seems far away. But Jesus is always close by with his love and power and comes to our rescue at just the right time. Prayer of the Day Almighty and most merciful God, the protector of all who trust in you, strengthen our faith and give us courage to believe that in your love you will r...

How Does God Guide Us? Jesus promised, “I will be with you always,” but we wonder sometimes where he is when we need him most. Jesus helps us understand how he shepherds us and leads us to green pastures and quiet waters as we walk through life Prayer of the Day O God, the strength of all who trust in you, mercifully hear our prayers. Be gracious to us in our weakness and give us strength to keep...

How Can We Witness? When Jesus calls us to “go and make disciples of all nations,” he doesn’t leave us without procedures, policies, and promises. When he asks us to be his witnesses he supplies what we need to carry out our task. Prayer of the Day O Lord, you granted your prophets strength to resist the temptations of the devil and courage to proclaim repentance. Give us pure hearts and minds to...

Why should we speak? Some don’t care if we speak about Jesus. Some are angered when we speak about Jesus. Some make our lives difficult when we speak about Jesus. So what’s the point of it? Jesus knew all about the challenges to witnessing, and he knows how to answer our question. Prayer for Grace O God, you have called your servants to ventures of faith of which we cannot see the ending, by paths...

Sermon 2 Corinthians 4:7-15

Why does God do that? We know how God does great and powerful deeds; he is God and can do all things. We wonder sometimes what leads God to do what he does. Jesus displays power over nature to strengthen the confidence of his followers. Prayer of the Day O Lord our God, govern the nations on earth and direct the affairs of this world so that your Church may worship you in peace and joy; through yo...

How does the Church grow? Sometimes churches grow; sometimes churches shrink. Jesus helps us to understand how numerical and spiritual growth happens in the Church. Prayer of the Day Almighty God, we thank you for planting in us the seed of your Word. By your Holy Spirit help us to receive it with joy and to bring forth fruits in faith and hope and love; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, wh...

Should We Fear the Devil? Since the first days of history Satan has been the ultimate threat and menace to both the Church and its master. He is not invincible, however, and has been opposed and defeated by Jesus again and again. With Jesus as our champion, the devil cannot overtake us. PRAYER OF THE DAY Almighty and eternal God, your Son Jesus triumphed over the prince of demons and freed us from...

The risen Christ gives his Church confidence. Will we be able to face death with confidence as Stephen the martyr did? His story is in the First Lesson for this Sunday. It is never easy to think about dying, but Christians face death knowing that Christ has removed their sins and restored their relationship with God. More than that, Jesus represents us each day before the throne of God and provide...

Sermon John 15:9-17

God’s Providence Chapter 11 A short and sweet conclusion to the series on the book God’s Providence.   Chapter 11 wraps up the doctrine that we’ve been discussing for 10 weeks and leaves us with a pleasant reminder that we can trust in God and we can thank him each day for his loving care and providence. --------------------------------- GOD'S PROVIDENCE Join us as we embark on a journey toge...

Sermon John 15:1-8

The risen Christ gives his Church protection. Foes without and fears within—that’s how a poet once described the enemies that attack believers. Every day Christians face aggression and assaults that would destroy faith in the risen Christ. The same Good Shepherd who died to save his sheep provides pastors and leaders to guard the Church with the Word of God. Do you feel the heat? The risen Christ...

God’s Providence Chapter 9 We’ve been looking at what God’s Word teaches on the topic of God’s Providence for a couple of months now.  Chapter 9 is a chance to look at how those teachings are twisted and skewed to end up in places or with teachings that aren’t in line with Scripture.  The discussion (as does the chapter of the book) ends with the topic of God’s will and how we find out what that i...

The risen Christ gives his Church peace. Hopeless and confused—that’s how Jesus’ followers were feeling on the days after Easter. They knew Jesus had died and was buried, but there were rumors swirling around that he was alive. What to believe! Then Jesus appeared and ended the confusion and uncertainty. As his death had provided peace with God, so his life provided peace of mind and heart. In a w...

The risen Christ gives his Church understanding. Even after his resurrection, Jesus’ disciples had trouble gaining a clear vision of who Jesus was and what their task was to be. As he had done so many times before, Jesus reviewed the need for his suffering and death and urged them on to their assignment. When we struggle to know God’s will for our lives, we turn to the Savior’s word. He gives us a...

Prayer of the Day Almighty God, by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ you conquered death and opened the gate to eternal life. Grant that we, who have been raised with him through baptism, may walk in newness of life and ever rejoice in the hope of sharing his glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit be dominion and praise now and forever. Sermon...

PRAYER OF THE DAY Lord Jesus Christ, in the sacrament of Holy Communion you give us your true body and blood as a remembrance of your suffering and death on the cross. Grant us so firmly to believe your words and promise that we may always partake of this sacrament to our eternal good, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  SERMON TEXT Exodus 12:21-30