Serving Jesus Christ

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:   Hope in a World That Feels Hopeless We live in a world where hope feels like a rare commodity. Every headline seems to scream despair—wars, moral collapse, division in our communities, sickness, and uncertainty about the future. And yet, Scripture insists that followers of Christ have something the world can't offer: a blessed hope . Not a fragile optimism...

September 29, 2025 Let me ask you—what would change if you really believed that God was upholding you with His righteous right hand? Would you approach today's challenges differently? Would you sleep more peacefully tonight, knowing your life is not hanging by a thread but held in His grip? This verse ultimately points us forward to Christ. Jesus Himself said, "No one will snatch them out of My ha...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:   A Lesson On Eternity The passage we're looking at today is one of Jesus' most sobering stories: Luke 16:19–31, the account of the rich man and Lazarus. Some passages in Scripture wrap us in comfort like a warm blanket on a cold night. Others shake us awake like an alarm clock you didn't want to hear. This one somehow does both. It comforts us with the real...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:   Why Am I A Christian? Today's message carries a personal title: "Why Am I a Christian?" It's not a trick question. It's a heart question. Many of us quietly ask it when we suffer, or when we're tempted, or when a friend challenges our faith. Why am I a Christian? Let me explain where we're going. We'll drop our anchor in John 6:66–69 , where Simon Peter an...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:   God's Pursuit of the Lost Today, we're diving into Luke 15:1-10, the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin. These vivid stories unveil God's relentless pursuit of the lost and the uncontainable joy in heaven when one soul repents. Written around AD 60-62 to Theophilus, a Gentile believer, Luke's Gospel portrays Jesus as the Savior for all—tax collec...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:  Counting The Cost Welcome to "Serving Jesus Christ," the podcast from Our Savior's Free Lutheran Church in Argyle, Minnesota. I'm Pastor Warren Swanson, and today we're diving deep into Luke 14:25-35. This passage is a gut-check for anyone who claims to follow Jesus. It's not about casual faith or half-hearted commitment—it's about giving everything to Him....

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:  Discernment In A Distracted Age Today we're digging into a message that feels urgent for our times. Our sermon, "Discernment in a Distracted Age: Truth Over Trends," is rooted in Proverbs 4:25-27, where Solomon calls us to fix our eyes straight ahead and guard our paths from evil. In an era overwhelmed by social media noise, shifting cultural fads, and mora...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: Striving For The Narrow Door In this powerful passage, Jesus is on His journey toward Jerusalem, and He addresses a profound question about salvation, urging us all to strive diligently to enter through the narrow door that leads to God's eternal kingdom. We're going to take a deep dive into the historical backdrop of Jesus' ministry at this pivotal time, as...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: Trust In God's Sovereignty Today, we're diving into Psalm 33:12–22, a passage that radiates praise for God's unshakable sovereignty, His steadfast love, and His watchful care over His people. This psalm is like a beacon in the fog, guiding us through life's uncertainties—whether it's personal struggles like financial stress, family challenges, or the broader...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: Trusting In God's Provision Today we're diving into Luke 12:22-34. This passage hits home in our busy world, where worry about finances, health, and the future often consumes us. Jesus speaks directly to His disciples, urging them not to fret over food or clothing, pointing to birds and flowers as examples of God's care. He reminds us that life is more than...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: Being Rich Toward God Today, we're diving into Luke 12:13-21. This passage hits hard on greed and what really matters in life. Jesus gets pulled into a family squabble over inheritance, but He turns it into a powerful lesson: beware of all forms of greed because life isn't about piling up stuff. He shares the parable of the rich fool who hoards his wealth, p...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: Rooted and Built Up in Christ I'm Pastor Warren Swanson, and today we're diving into Colossians 2:6-15, a passage that's like a roadmap for a faith that stands strong. Paul wrote this letter around 60 AD to a young church in Colossae, a city buzzing with ideas—Greek philosophy, Jewish rules, pagan mysticism—all trying to pull believers away from Jesus. Sound...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: Reconciled and Proclaiming Christ Friends, Colossians 1:21-29 is a roadmap for transformed living. Jesus reconciled us to God, so we live with gratitude, thanking Him for His grace that made us holy and blameless. He gives us the hope of the gospel, so we stand firm, anchoring ourselves in His Word and promises, no matter what storms come our way. And He dwe...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: The Good Samaritan What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself? In our tight-knit community, we understand the beauty of lending a hand—whether it's helping a neighbor clear snow or sharing a meal during harvest season. Yet, Jesus' teaching in Luke 10:25-37, the parable of the Good Samaritan, stretches our understanding of neighborly love far beyond...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: The Authority of Scripture This episode is all about the authority of Scripture, rooted in the powerful words of 2 Timothy 3:16-17, where Paul declares that all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for every facet of our lives. We're going to unpack three practical, life-changing ways the Bible shapes us: 1.       It teaches us God's unchanging truth, 2.    ...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: Trusting God's Plan We're about to dive into a message that speaks directly to the heart of every believer: trusting God's plan, rooted in the powerful promise of Jeremiah 29:11. Life can feel like a rollercoaster—full of unexpected twists, turns, and moments that leave us questioning what's next. But God's Word assures us He has a purpose for every step, ev...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: Children of God Today, I guided us through the profound truths of Galatians 3:23–4:7, revealing how we're liberated from the burden of the law and embraced as God's beloved children through faith in Christ. This passage isn't just theology—it's a call to live differently, to embrace our identity as sons and daughters of God with boldness, purpose, and love....

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: The Majesty and Mercy of God Psalm 8, penned by David, is a masterpiece—a song that captures the wonder of God's creation and the astonishing truth that He cares deeply for us. Picture David, the shepherd-king, lying under a vast night sky, stars twinkling above, his heart overflowing with awe. In just nine verses, he weaves together praise for God's glory a...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: Salvation Through Faith Today, we're embarking on a journey through one of the most profound verses in all of Scripture, John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." This verse is the heartbeat of the Gospel, a radiant beacon that reveals God's love, His sacrif...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: A Glimpse of Glory In this message, we are diving into Revelation 22:1-20, the final chapter of the Bible—a passage that's like a radiant sunrise, illuminating the glory of God's eternal kingdom and His urgent call to live faithfully now. This is no ordinary text; it's a vivid vision of heaven's beauty, a reminder of Christ's imminent return, and an invitati...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: God's Call - Our Response Acts 16:9-15 is a beautiful picture of how God works. He called Paul to Macedonia, prepared a humble riverside in Philippi, and opened Lydia's heart to spark a church. That same God is working in Argyle today. He's calling you to follow, preparing places for you to serve, and opening hearts around you. Here's the thing: You don't ne...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: A New Heaven - A New Earth Imagine driving through the countryside around Argyle, Minnesota, under a vibrant sunset, the horizon glowing with promise. Now, picture God unveiling a new world, infinitely more glorious—a new heaven and new earth, untouched by sin, sorrow, or death. That's the vision John shares in Revelation 21:1-8. This isn't a fairy tale or a...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: A Faithful Shepherd! Here's the thing: God is your Shepherd, and He's enough. He's providing for you, even when the pantry feels bare or the bank account looks grim. He's protecting you, even when the shadows of fear or loss loom large in life's darkest valleys. He's guiding you, even when you're tempted to wander off on your own path. His goodness and love...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: Transformed By Grace! Today, we're stepping into one of the most dramatic stories in the Bible-Acts 9:1-18. It's the moment when Saul, a man who despised Jesus and hunted His followers, meets the risen Christ and becomes Paul, the greatest missionary the world has ever known. Here's the thing: this isn't just a history lesson. This story is about transformat...

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: I Just Don't Know! In today's episode, we're exploring a sermon titled "I Just Don't Know," based on John 20:19–31. We'll unpack the story of Thomas, often called Doubting Thomas, and discover how his struggle with doubt led to a powerful confession of faith.  This message reminds us that occasional doubts are a normal part of the Christian journey, but they...