Most Certainly True Podcast

Look Forward to the Best Which is Yet to Come Faith cares little about the details of life in heaven with God but simply looks forward to the day when all believers will be with the Lord forever. Sermon on Isaiah 65:17-25 preached at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church by Pastor Brian Hackmann. Prayer: Living God, your almighty power is made known chiefly in showing mercy and pity. Grant us the fullness of...

Rely on Forgiveness in the Name of Jesus. At the heart of our relationship with God is his pardon and forgiveness to us through Jesus. We have every reason to celebrate that astounding news as the focus for worship today. Sermon on Romans 5:6-11 preached at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church by Pastor Jim Huebner. Prayer: Lord God, forgive the wrongdoing of your people and be gentle with us in our weakness...

Rejoice in the Freedom of the Gospel This is the truth: God forgives our sins for Jesus’ sake. This truth frees us from the impossible burden of trying to gain life with God on our own. In Christ we have freedom to live in joy and love one another. Sermon on John 8:31-36 preached at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church by Pastor Daniel Bondow. Prayer: Gracious Lord, our refuge and strength, pour out your Hol...

Persist in Seeking God’s Help How often can I go to God when I need his help? Does he ever tire of hearing me? Jesus teaches us that faith can always approach God and that he never tires of hearing our requests. Sermon on Luke 18:1-8 preached at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church by Pastor Jim Huebner. Prayer: God, our refuge and strength, have mercy on your Church as we come in prayer before you. Answer u...

Pastors Bondow and Hackmann discuss the first round of chapters as we grow in responding to people who ask: "Where is God when I'm hurting?" and "Why doesn't he answer my prayers?" We'll be reading Prepared to Answer using this downloadable PDF schedule . Guitar music by Troy Hergert, "Acoustic G, Getting There"

Live in Thanks for God’s Grace What moves us to thankfulness: obligation, propriety, common sense? Thankful living is born in the blessings God bestows on us. We love him because he first loved us. Sermon on Genesis 8:15-22 preached at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church by Pastor Daniel Bondow. Prayer: Grant, O merciful Lord, to your faithful people pardon and peace that they may be cleansed from all their...

This episode crosses state lines as Prof. Mark Paustian from Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN, provides background and explores the goals of his book, Prepared to Answer. Learn of past connections between Professor Paustian and Pastor Bondow along the way, but most importantly, grow in your confidence to engage others for the sake of sharing the Story with all people. We'll be reading Pre...

"10 for 10" People will invariably give beneath their ability when they fail to put the Bible’s teaching on firstfruits and proportionate giving into practice. Others give at their ability. This happens when people, confident in God’s blessing, prayerfully and thoughtfully practice firstfruits and proportional giving. Finally, one can even give beyond their ability. That’s the case when God...

One final bit of wisdom before we close out our Bible Reading Challenge year...the book of Job aims to take down every last resistance to faith and a living love for God, resistance that often comes when we suffer and "need" answers. How to respond to suffering? How to speak to others when they are crying out? This book serves as a powerful statement to let God be God and go long in his...

"10 for 10" This weekend, the Lord will open our minds to consider the magnitude of his blessings. Each of us has been blessed in different ways and at various levels. What should our thoughtful, prayerful response be to these blessings? That’s where the Bible’s teaching about proportionate giving is such a help. For some families with fewer resources, the practice of giving 10% of their...

Don't be afraid - both of the book of Revelation, but also because of its core message. Through terrifying sights and terrific sounds, incredible imagery and poetry in song, Revelation is a masterpiece of apocalyptic literature in which Jesus triumphantly shouts - "Hang in there, I've got this!" We discuss some helpful ways to outline and interpret this special book of Scriptur...

"10 for 10" Today we begin a three-week stewardship emphasis to lead us toward giving ten percent of our income for ten weeks. The word stewardship is often regarded as a dirty word—a gimmick to get people to dig deeper and “give ’til it hurts.” Nothing could be further from the truth! Instead, stewardship is a precious word that sums up the Christian life. It encourages us to be who we...

Keep Christ Jesus as Life’s Highest Priority.    The Christian life is all about setting priorities. Faith asks: what is most important in my walk with God? Faith answers: To make God and his message the highest priority of life. Sermon on Luke 14:25-35, preached at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church by Pastor Brian Hackmann.  O merciful Lord, you did not spare your only Son but delivered him up for us all...

At the right place and the right time, God used a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes to lead a remnant of his people back into his grace. We get to relive this wonderful history and breathtaking book where persecution is met with perseverance and tired, weak arms find their strength in the Lord and his faithfulness. Nehemiah may be the name of the book, but the ultimate goal of this story shows a differ...

Seek the way of humility.    Arrogance is a cancer that eats away at our relationship with God and our friends and neighbors. Faith grasps the danger of arrogance and strives to live in humility. Sermon on James 2:1-13, preached at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church by Pastor James Huebner.  O Lord of grace and mercy, teach us by your Holy Spirit to follow the example of your Son in true humility, that we...

The Door to Heaven Is Narrow.    Who will enter the gate that leads to eternal life with God? Jesus’ followers believe that only faith in their Savior will enable them to enter heaven. They also understand that many will be surprised and horrified at the end of time. Sermon on Luke 13:22-30 preached at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church by Pastor Aaron Strong.  Almighty and everlasting God, give us an incr...

...Grace Bible Study Days! What a thrill! These congregational growth nights of August mark a special time of year for our faith family. Listen in for a recap of the sessions offered, and to hear about some of the great blessings that come from an evening together in the Word in such a format. If you didn't make it this year, see you next August!

History-lovers, look no further: it's time to read the book of Daniel. God certainly equipped his people with foresight through the specific prophecies given to Daniel. The point is clear - hard days are ahead, but the Lord's eternal kingdom endures and an eternal inheritance is ours through his Anointed One. After some chit-chat, we're ready to soak in the bold comfort of God'...

Opposition to Christ Can Come Our Way. No one enjoys opposition to what they believe. No one usually looks forward to receiving flack. But the reality is that opposition to what we believe and know to be true from Holy Scripture will come. How do we handle that? God’s word and promise shift our attitude from fear of opposition to the recognition that we are blessed when we face opposition because...

Hold on to the promises of God. Life is full of surprises, some good and some bad. We place our lives in the hands of the man who stilled the waters, Jesus our Lord, knowing that he always has out eternal interest in mind. Sermon on Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 preached at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church by Pastor James Huebner.  Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, a...

Earthly wealth is passing. Where to find true happiness? Would you agree that many look for happiness in the material things of this world? Have you been down that road? The readings for our worship today remind us that everything of this world, including our money, is passing away. Seek the one treasure that will endure, and find it in Jesus who gives us the treasure of eternal life that can neve...

Different Gospel writer, but same gospel message. Listen in for discussion of a new Bible, some audio Bibles and the Gospel of John. This Gospel has a unique perspective of the life of Jesus (different from the "Synoptic Gospels" of Matthew, Mark, and Luke). He offers his readers (Jews and Gentiles = you!) many memorable statements and unique stories that showcase Christ's saving lo...

The Word of God is the one thing needful. Life is full of distractions, but followers of Jesus know how to balance busy lives with time spent in the Word, the source of life. Sermon on Genesis 18:1-14 preached at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church by Pastor Daniel Bondow.  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 fo...

Congrats in advance to the listener who makes it to the end of this podcast (and to the reader who finishes Ezekiel's 48 chapters!). MKE Downtown Workers Appreciation Week never had such an impact on a podcast until now. Grow in your own appreciation for Ezekiel's prophetic work that utilized a variety of genres (apocalyptic, poetry, parable) in order that people would "know that I...

The Word of God is the one thing needful. Life is full of distractions, but followers of Jesus know how to balance busy lives with time spent in the Word, the source of life. Sermon on Genesis 18:1-14 preached at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church by Pastor Daniel Bondow.  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 fo...