Sermons | Living Hope and Christ the King ELCA Lutheran Churches

It's Christ the King's turn to host our midweek Lenten worship, and tonight, our topic is "Community with Those on the Margins." We're looking at a strange story of Jesus casting a demon into a herd of pigs, and rejoicing that God's love crosses human boundaries to those the world overlooks or gives up on. Tonight's Scripture readings are Galatians 3:23-29 and Mark 5:1-...

Today's service includes some of the clearest presentations of Gospel (good news) in all of Scripture. Ephesians 2:8 declares that our salvation comes to us by grace through faith, as a gift from God, not the result of any good works we do. We are set free from the obligation to keep the law to achieve salvation! Likewise, John 3:16-17 tells us of God’s great love in sending Jesus not to conde...

This week and next week, we’re exploring the distinction between Law and Gospel, two ways God speaks to us in the Scriptures. Today, we hear the 10 Commandments, a clear example of law. What happens when we fall short of the law? We trust in God’s grace and forgiveness, revealed in Jesus Christ.  Today’s sermon Scripture reading is Exodus 20:1-17. Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church i...

During this season of Lent, a common thread running through our Sunday Scripture readings is the idea of “covenant.” Last week, Pastor Jon Jacobs spoke about the covenant God made with Noah and his descendants, a promise never to flood the earth again. This Sunday, we hear the story of Abraham and the covenant God makes with him to give him numerous descendants and make him the father of nations....

This week, we welcome Pastor Jon Jacobs to lead us in worship while Pastor Daniel is with some of our youth at the Quake event in Wisconsin Dells. Today's Scriptures Genesis 9:8-17 and Mark 1:9-15. Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukville, Wisconsin at  https://www.livinghopesaukville.org/  or  https://ctkport.org/ .

It's Valentine's Day...and Ash Wednesday! Tonight's sermon explores the common theme of love shared by these two holidays, proclaiming that God's ultimate love triumphs even over death. Our Scripture readings tonight are Psalm 51:1-17; 1 John 3:1-2, 14-24; and 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Sauk...

On this Transfiguration Sunday, imagine what it would have been like to be one of the disciples going up a mountain with Jesus, encountering some of the heroes of faith from Israel's history, and seeing God's glory shining through Jesus, affirming his true identity. A sermon on Mark 9:2-9. Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukv...

This Sunday's sermon explores how Jesus calls us to serve as disciples, through the lens of Mark 1:29-39 and 1 Corinthians 9:16-23. Most often, our call is to discipleship where we are, loving and serving our neighbors. We are set free in Christ to care for others not to gain a reward, but to share the joy of living a life of service in Jesus’ name. Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Ch...

This Sunday’s message focus on the seemingly obscure question of whether it is permissible for Christians to eat meat sacrificed to idols—a question illustrating surprisingly relevant topics for our lives today as followers of Jesus! Today’s Scripture reading is 1 Corinthians 8:1-13. Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukville, Wisconsi...

Welcome to worship! This morning, we are continuing the theme of Jesus calling disciples to come and follow him. Last week, we heard about Jesus seeing Nathanael under a tree. Initially skeptical ("Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"), Nathanael quickly realized Jesus was in fact the Messiah. This Sunday, we'll hear Jesus call four different fishermen, all of whom immediately leav...

Can anything good come from Nazareth? This Sunday, Nathanael learns a lesson about God working in unexpected people and places. In this week's sermon, Pastor Daniel Flucke digs into each of the three lines of Nathanael's conversation with Jesus. Today's Scripture readings are Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18, and John 1:43-51.  Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington an...

As we wrap up our series, “How Does a Weary World Rejoice?” our theme is, “We trust our belovedness.” Rejoicing comes when we recognize and trust God’s immeasurable love for us. Our identity as God’s beloved sustains us when we grow weary from everything going on in our world. Before Jesus’ public earthly ministry begins, his identity is confirmed in his baptism. As Jesus is baptized, the heavens...

Merry Christmas! On this final Sunday of 2023, we continue celebrating Christmas by hearing in worship the story of Mary and Joseph dedicating the baby Jesus in the temple. In that traditional ritual, something unexpected happens as a man named Simeon and a prophet named Anna each recognize who this child is. This child is not just a regular baby; he is God's plan for salvation. He is the Mess...

Christmas is about making room, because God has made room for us. Through this baby born at Christmas, God calls us to look beyond the weariness of this world, beyond the weariness of our lives, and with a thrill of hope, rejoice. Merry Christmas! Today's message focuses on Luke's account of the Christmas story in Luke 2:1-20. Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washin...

On this third Sunday of Advent, our worship themes are joy, wonder, and amazement. In the midst of a weary world, we allow ourselves to be amazed at the miracle of Christmas, the miracle of God choosing to come and dwell with us. As we notice what God is doing and celebrate God’s faithfulness, joy follows.  Today's message focuses on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, Psalm 126, and Luke 1:57-66. Learn...

This Sunday, our Advent journey continues with Elizabeth’s story, which quickly becomes intertwined with the more familiar story of Mary, a cousin of Elizabeth who receives her own visit from Gabriel and the promise of a miraculous pregnancy. We’ll look at how their connection helps give them strength to continue in their calling. In the midst of weariness, joy and rejoicing grow through connectio...

This week, we enter the season of Advent, the four weeks leading up to the celebration of Christmas. Our theme for this year’s Advent is the question, “How does a weary world rejoice?” That title comes from a line in the familiar Christmas hymn, “O Holy Night,” and over the next few weeks, we will explore through music, art, prayer, and devotions how we receive the joy of Christmas—the joy of Jesu...

This weekend, Christ the King Lutheran Church celebrates 60 years of ministry in Port Washington, Wisconsin. Today's message is from Rev. Paul Erickson, Bishop of the ELCA's Greater Milwaukee Synod. The Scripture readings for the day are Ephesians 1:15-23, read by former CTK pastor Rev. Marilyn Borchardt, and Matthew 25:31-46, read by former CTK pastor Rev. Alice Horton. Learn more about C...

This Sunday, we conclude our four week focus on stewardship with a call to intentional giving. Jesus tells a powerful story emphasizing the importance of being prepared. When we don’t know the day or the hour of what’s to come, it’s important to remain grounded in our faith, keeping perspective and remembering that God is in charge.  Today's Scripture readings are 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Psal...

In this All Saints Sunday worship service, Pastor Daniel Flucke looks at the question of what makes someone a saint. Is it how good of a person you are? Is it how much money you give to the church? Perhaps how many different community organizations you volunteer for? No, being a saint simply means being part of the body of Christ. As we hear in 1 John, we are God’s children. Because God loves you,...

This weekend, we commemorate Reformation Sunday by hearing again the good news Paul proclaims in Romans 3:28 “For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.” As we continue talking about stewardship over the next few weeks, remember that God’s love for you does not depend on what you give, or on anything you do. The good news of grace is that everything dep...

Give to the emperor what is the emperor's, and give to God what is God's—and what is not God's? Being made in God's image has implications for how we use the gifts God has trusted to us (stewardship), how we treat others, and even how we view ourselves. Today's scripture is from Genesis 1:26-31 and Matthew 22:15-22. Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washi...

Welcome to worship! This week, we're looking at connections between a fascinating parable from Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew and an ancient prophecy from Isaiah about a vineyard. In this story, we'll see how Jesus is calling us to a different path than the human desire for vengeance, a path he demonstrated by laying down his own life for us out of love. Today's Scripture readings are...

In this third week of our series "Practicing Faith" we're exploring our call to "Proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed."Today's Scripture readings are Joshua 4:19-24; Psalm 34:1-8; James 1:22-27, 2:14-17; and Matthew 5:13-16. We pray this message is a blessing for you today! Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Livi...

This is week two of our series "Practicing Faith" exploring the five promises of baptism. Today, we're looking at what it means to "Hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper" and our Scripture readings areJohn 1:1-5, 14-18; Psalm 119:9-16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; and Matthew 7:24-29. Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope L...