Sandhills Lutheran Ministry Podcast Series

I John 5:9-15.  John wants to address that fearful person today who has doubts, “I feel like I am an imposter.” John’s answer is to believe the stronger testimony of God.

  I John 3:1-7 Theme: God has called us His children. And so we are. Our own eyes are still of this world and we struggle to see it ourselves. But the one who believes/hopes in this, is being made like that (purifying self).

John 20:19-31             Theme: The world loves the idea of peace, but most of the solutions which it offers are really just a form of coping with problems. Jesus bestows peace upon his disciples, real peace. And in the middle of that peace are the wounds of Christ and holy joy. 

Hebrews 5:1-10 Theme: Although the connection between God and humanity had been severed by sin, that connection is restored through Jesus, our humble priest.

 Ephesians 2:1-10 (11-22) Theme: There are good works which are ours to do right now. We are God’s workmanship with a purpose. Jesus wants to do something good right now. That means the Christian community, this Christian community is living and walking in the light of Christ, a different operating principle than the divisiveness, factionalism, or tribalism which is dominating the world in which w...

I Corinthians 1:18-31 Theme: God is only to be found in His Word made flesh, the one nailed to the cross. “How foolish! How impotent!”, all people, whatever their culture, think. But God’s children are determined to know nothing but Christ crucified.

Romans 5:1-11    Theme of the Day: Jesus, by losing all, gains all. That is imprinted upon our lives as well. Paul, in this reading, does a deep dive into just what that means. Sermon preached on February 25, 2024.

James 1:12-18 Theme: James says that God tempts no one. James is right. God may test my faith to show me what He has done, but he never leads me astray.  The following readings are also referenced in the sermon: Old Testament: Genesis 22:1-18 and Gospel: Mark 1:9-15.

2 Corinthians 3:12-18; 4:1-6       Theme of the Day: What inspires us to be bold, showing the face of Christ to everyone? Other readings for Transfiguration Sunday: Old Testament Reading: Exodus 34:29-35; Holy Gospel: Mark 9:2-9. The Feast of Transfiguration brings the season of Epiphany to a close. Once again, a voice from heaven declares Jesus to be the Son of God, the beloved. Today we see him...

I Corinthians 9:16-27 Theme: If I am all things to all people, do I have any integrity left? Who or what am I? Paul’s integrity and ours is the Gospel itself. 

 1 Corinthians 8:1-13     Theme of the Day: The one who loves is known by God. That is the knowledge that makes all the difference in the world.

I Corinthians 7:29-35 Theme of the Day:  I am just so busy! So many things demand my attention. This list never ends. Now Paul wants to extricate me from my anxiety, but who will silence all these demands?  God does.

I Corinthians 6:12-20. Theme of the Day: Jesus shed real blood for your real body. Your body today is a means for you to glorify God. He has made it important and sacred by sending his Holy Spirit into it in your baptism.

The Epistle reading and sermon text for the Baptism of Our Lord Sunday is Romans 6:1-11. The Gospel reading is Mark 1:4-11. Theme of the Day: Paul believes that sinners can change. We all have been baptized with Christ and that means the power of the Holy Spirit, the new life into which we have been raised, is truly ours. Considering baptism? Talk to a pastor. I recommend a Lutheran pastor serving...

Luke 2:22-40 Theme of the Day: Mary and Joseph bring two turtle doves because they were poor. Simeon is about to die. Anna was widowed for many years. Jesus came for them all. Our eyes have seen God’s salvation!

John 1:6-8, 19-28 Theme of the Day: John does not bring the Messiah nor do we bring Christ to the nations, but we point out the One who is right there. 

Sermon text: 2 Peter 3:8-14. Theme of the Day: Peter wants us to know just what a precious thing it is for us that God is patient and not coming today in wrath and power. The Lord is patient with you and me! How does that shape our lives? The texts for the second Sunday in Advent, December 10th are from Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 85, 2 Peter 3:8-14, Mark 1:1-8. 

1 Corinthians 1:3-9       Paul wants to bring the Corinthians and us from a language of poverty to one of wealth and plenty. We are enriched in knowledge and speech! Paul is eliciting the response from the Corinthians and from us the primary response which we associate with this season – repentance.

Matthew 25:31–46 Theme of the Day: Homeless Jesus is a bronze sculpture created in 2013 by Timothy Schmalz. Schmalz’s artwork lays the foundation for Christ’s parable about the sheep and the goats.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeless_Jesus

Matthew 25:14-30 Theme of the Day : You Had One Job. That’s a website featuring people who had one job and didn’t do it. In today’s parable, Jesus tells us, “You had one job.” What would that be?

Matthew 24:45–52 “Begin with the end in mind.” Stephen Covey said this. Jesus addresses this. We ask the Holy Spirit to help us live it out!

Isaiah 45:1-7                          October 22, 2023 May the hearer, beset by forces beyond his/her control, trust that God works the events of this world for the blessing of His people!

Revelation 14:6-7                     Oct. 29th, 2023 John sees this angel flying high – but who is he? It is true, in a dark time Martin Luther’s voice rang clear and true and called many to glorify God, fear Him, and worship Him who made all things. But it is an angel who proclaims this – and the word angel means messenger --someone who is sent. On this Reformation Day we are thinking about the...

 Isaiah 25:6-9              October 15th, 2023 Other readings for this Sunday: Psalm 23, Philippians 4:4-13 and Matthew 22:1-14. We confront what looks like incontrovertible truth in the death of loved ones and our own death. We see a world which fills us with sorrow and Satan wants us to believe that is the way it is and the way it will always be, that he has won. But it is not so. Jesus has rise...

Isaiah 5:1-7 God has filled our lives with blessings but we are quick to say that this is mine and the fruit of my labor. We fight and squabble and drive some away. We do not trust God like the Israelites who went out every morning to gather manna in the wilderness.  But God has one more card in his hand which He will play – He will send His Son.