Most Certainly True Podcast

Jesus Conquers Satan. The old evil foe means deadly woe. We know his power. Beginning with his confrontation in the wilderness and ending with his triumph on the cross, Jesus destroyed the devil’s power. We, too, will conquer! Prayer: Lord our strength, the battle of good and evil rages within and around us, and our ancient foe tempts us with his deceits and empty promises. Keep us steadfast in yo...

It’s not as easy as you think, to smoothly end a podcast episode.  Here’s the story, Pastors Strong and Hackmann were so enamored with the glory of who our God is that they forgot how to end the show.  Listen to this episode and praise our God who reveals himself to us in his holy Word. Explore the glory in everything that we know about our Triune God and then laugh with our pastors (not at them,...

Ash Wednesday:  Remembering that We are Dust Christians gather to begin the somber season of Lent – a 40 day period of repentance, reflection, and sorrow over sin.    The name Ash Wednesday, comes from Genesis 3:19 and the reminder that we are given there about our sinful mortal state.  After the Fall into sin, God declares to Adam and Eve:  “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until...

Jesus appears in glory as the Son of God. Shortly before he began his journey to Jerusalem to suffer and die, Jesus took three of his disciples to a high mountain and showed them the divine reality that existed within his humble appearance: the Suffering Servant is truly the Son of God. We see this same sight through the eyes of faith as we prepare to follow the Savior to the cross during Lent. Pr...

A gift is only worthwhile if it is used and used in the proper way.  God’s Word is an enormous gift to mankind, yet it doesn’t come without God’s instructions on how to use it!  In this latest episode, Pastors Huebner and Hackmann discuss the Proper Use of the Bible.  Four rules of biblical interpretation are explored and put into practice.   The discussion ends with the need for and purpose of cr...

Live a holy life. How does God want us to live? How do we define “obedience” from God’s point of view? Jesus has the answer. Prayer: Lord God, in mercy receive the prayers of your people. Grant them the wisdom to know the things that please you and the grace and power always to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forev...

Pastors Hackmann and Huebner sit down to discuss chapter 3 of Grace Abounds and 4 characteristics of  the Bible – that it is Inerrant, efficacious, sufficient, and clear.  Ironically the podcast will be almost none of those things (hopefully still efficacious), because a setting was not properly enabled and the laptop microphone took over again! (Argh!!)   We’ve tried our best to make it the best...

Be salt and light. How do we live our lives among the people we know and love? Jesus’ answer is critical for the happiness and contentment of others. Prayer: Almighty God, you sent your one and only Son as the Word of life for our eyes to see and our ears to hear. Help us believe what the Scriptures proclaim about him and do the things that are pleasing in your sight; through Jesus Christ, your So...

The B-I-B-L-E is the topic of Chapter 2 of Grace Abounds.   Pastors Hackmann and Strong chat about the importance of the Bible and how it is God’s revealing to us who he is, who we are, and how much he loves us.  The doctrine of inspiration is discussed and how it is a guarantee for us that what we have before us in our home Bibles is clearly and truly the Word of God.

We are blessed as we live humbly with God. How do we find genuine and lasting happiness and contentment? Jesus’ answers may surprise us. Prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, look with mercy on us in all our dangers and needs and stretch out the right hand of your majesty to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, no...

By nature we ask questions that have supernatural or religious significance.  We yearn to know: Why am I here? Where have I come from? Where has everything around me come from and why does it exist? Where am I going?  What is the point and purpose of life, of joy, of suffering, of death?  What happens after death? Is there a God out there? Am I acocuntable to him?...Religions exist to deal with an...

By nature we ask questions that have supernatural or religious significance.  We yearn to know: Why am I here? Where have I come from? Where has everything around me come from and why does it exist? Where am I going?  What is the point and purpose of life, of joy, of suffering, of death?  What happens after death? Is there a God out there? Am I acocuntable to him?...Religions exist to deal with an...

Jesus is the Light amid the darkness. The sensations of light and darkness are not as acute in our world as they were in a world which knew only torches and candles. We must imagine night without light. But the darkness of confusion, doubt, and sadness are real enough for us, and we rejoice with the ancients who saw Jesus as the Light of the world. Sermon on Matthew 4:12-23 preached at Grace Ev. L...

Join us in a reading challenge as we behold the Splendor of Christian Doctrine.  We as a church are beginning a journey through a doctrine book called Grace Abounds and we encourage you to join us on the journey.  We'll see what God's Word says to us and how we can apply those truths to our lives.   Find the reading schedule at: http://www.gracedowntown.org/media/1881/grace-abounds-readi...

Jesus Is the Lamb of God In today’s world, spiritual advice comes from a variety of sources. But because the Son of God came as a Lamb of sacrifice for our sins, we look to him alone as the source of every spiritual blessing. Sermon on Colossians 2:6-15 preached at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church by Pastor Jim Huebner. Prayer: Almighty God, you gave your one and only Son to be the light of the world. Gr...

Jesus is the Anointed One At his baptism Jesus bowed to the will of his heavenly Father and took up the task of freeing the world from the horror of sin. Sermon on Acts 10:34-38 preached at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church by Pastor Brian Hackmann. Prayer: Father in heaven, at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan you proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit. Keep us who a...

The Son of God Shows Us the Father Do you want to know what God is like? Of course! Why else would you gather with fellow Christians for worship? It is our life’s goal to know and understand our God better so that we can appreciate his love for us all the more. To know God, who he is and what he has done for us, look no farther than his Son. The Son reveals the Father to us. Sermon on Ephesians 1:...

God’s grace in Christ, the Word made flesh to save the world. They also recall his encouragement to plan their lives carefully and wisely for his glory.  Sermon on Psalm 90 preached at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church by Pastor Phil Huebner. Prayer: Eternal Father, before whom all generations rise and fall, teach us to think earnestly on the brevity of our lives and on the immensity of your goodness. Hel...

The Lord Preserved His Son to Redeem His People The promise had been fulfilled! The Savior is born! But Satan was going to do everything possible to derail God's plan and rob us of the gift of God's love. Oh, the depths of the love of the heavenly Father that he countered the devil's wiles and will by preserving his Son to redeem us. Sermon on Matthew 2:13-23 preached at Grace Ev. L...

Christ the Savior is Born! Sermon on Titus 2:11-14 preached at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church by Pastor Aaron Strong. Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, eternal Word of the Father, when you became flesh and made your home among us, the heavens were glad and the earth rejoiced. In hope and love we await your return. Help us to proclaim your glory to those who do not know you, until the whole earth sings a new so...

The King Is Coming: Recognize Who He Is He asked his followers, “Who do people say I am?” Peter had it right, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” There is no better way to prepare for Christmas in this Advent season that to sharpen our focus on the reason for the season—who the Messiah is and what he came to do. Sermon on Matthew 1:18-25 preached at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church by Pasto...

The King Is Coming: Repent John the Baptist urges believers to repent: to turn from sin with tears and to trust God’s promises with joy. Sermon on Isaiah 11:1-10 preached at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church by Pastor Brian Hackmann. Prayer: Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way for your only Son. By his coming give us strength in our conflicts and shed light on our path through the darkness of t...

The King Is Coming: Rejoice The First Sunday in Advent marks the beginning of a new church year. As the crowds on Palm Sunday welcomed Jesus as their King and glorified God for sending peace to earth, we welcome the King who came to us at his Incarnation, comes to us in Word and Sacraments, and will come again at his return at the end of time. Sermon on Matthew 21:1-11 preached at Grace Ev. Luther...

Trust That the Lord Is Bringing Final Deliverance This universe will one day end. What is our attitude toward the coming of The End? Knowing that we will be face to face with God and our eternal destiny, what attitude fills our hearts—fear? dread? anxiety? How about faith! Our worship today focuses on trust that he builds in our hearts as we look to his final deliverance. Sermon on Revelation 22:6...

Brace Yourself for the Dreadful Days of the End of Time  Jesus warns us that the days that precede the end of time will not be easy for believers. Our faith in Christ readies us for these difficult days and gives us confident joy as we look forward to our Savior’s return. Sermon on Luke 21:5-19 preached at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church by Pastor Aaron Strong. Prayer: Lord God Almighty, so rule and gover...