St. Matthew Lutheran Church- Rocklin, California

To hold one accountable means that something matters. To want to be held accountable means that I agree that it matters. To walk with Jesus matters. To disciple others to walk with Jesus matters. I am convinced that one of the greatest ways we show love to each other is to, in love, hold one another accountable. Just ask any parent! Oh, and by the way, it is what Jesus does for us – and what He wo...

When I was in college, I did a paper on this new kind of knee surgery called Arthroscopic Surgery. It was so new that I had to use the research library in the hospital where my mom worked as a nurse. Of course, the advancement in caring for injured knees was amazing but one thing that came up again and again in the research papers was the absolute correlation between success and how many times the...

Every teacher will tell you; one of the most effective ways to learn and to grow – to put knowledge into action – is to have a peer model “what it looks like.” This is especially true with any kind of “movement” as any coach will tell you. To see what it looks like is powerful and helps us to learn to do it! Today, we focus how Jesus models for us what it looks like to make disciples so we can do...

In Matthew 28, Jesus gives His people their “marching orders.” He says, “Go and make disciples of all nations…..teaching them to OBEY everything I have commanded you.” When I got my California Teaching Credential, I remember we learned about various levels of learning. The lowest level was rote memorization with the highest level being the student internalizing it, making it part of who they were....

One out of two people in our society have no one to talk to. This is what sin does. It isolates us…both from God and from others. Adam ran away from God and “threw his wife under the bus”- “this woman that you gave me!” He was absolutely alone! To be a disciple is to live in relationship with Jesus. To live as a “disciple who makes disciples” one must forsake the notion that my life with God is ju...

I remember watching a World Series a number of years ago where a Yankee baserunner intentionally got in the way of a relay throw, much to the chagrin of the fans of the other team. Intentional. On purpose. Actions with a particular result in mind. The Yankee baserunner knew what he was trying to accomplish, and it directed his actions. So too with Jesus. He lived His life intentionally, certainly...

The very first creed of the very first followers of Jesus was this; “JESUS CHRIST IS LORD.” It was and is foundational! To follow Jesus is to receive Him as your Lord in every nook and cranny of your life. Where do you struggle with this? This is an important question, because if we are going to be about making disciples, about being used by God to grow others in following Jesus and growing in the...

Pastor Nathan Hausch, Executive Pastor Discipleship

Guest Pastor Pastor Ted Hartman

Have you ever heard the phrase, “something got lost in the translation?” I feel that way when we talk about the Hope that comes from Jesus as a gift. We tend to think of hope almost as a “wish”- “I hope that happens.” Biblical hope is absolute CERTAINTY! Where are you living with great doubts and uncertainty? And how’s that working for you? And where is there another in your life that is also expe...

Joy is more than, “Have a happy!” It goes beneath the surface to the soul, the essence of who one is. It is a transcendent happiness of the soul….which oozes into everything we are and do.. It also is a gift from Jesus to receive and to give away. Where is there a shadow over your soul? …an emptiness that cannot be filled? This day is for you…and for that other one who you bring as well.

Amid the cacophony - the noise – of life, where do you go to find a little peace? …and how’s that working for you? And how do you try to help another who is also looking for peace? And how’s that working? Peace is another gift that Jesus gives. Where do you need a little peace in your life? And where is there another who desperately needs someone like you to bring a little peace? Bring them with y...

Are you old enough to remember Mr. T? Do you remember the line he made famous?....”Pity the poor fool!” To be merciful is to be full of pity towards another. To give mercy is to act from this heart of pity (sympathetic sorrow and compassion) for another. God looks at you – and each of us in our brokenness and struggles and failures and weakness – with a heart full of mercy, a heart full of pity, a...

Grace. The word means undeserved love. Love that is not earned. Love that is given. Love that you can rest in because it does not depend on you and what you do but rather the heart of another. Where have you received grace in your life? Where do you need to receive it in your life right now? And where do you have the opportunity to give it to another? For this is a gift from God to you in Jesus an...

From Europe to China to South America to Rocklin, CA, Christians around the world are celebrating this Sunday as “Trinity Sunday” as they have for over a thousand years! Today we remember and celebrate who God is, who we are as His people, and the joy of what this means in our lives. Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music!

“Even youths grow tired and weary.” Is. 40:31 When is the last time you “ran out of steam” physically or emotionally or spiritually? And when have you felt alone in your powerlessness? The Easter reality is that we are never alone; And His power always goes with us! This is what today is about for each of us in Jesus!

When my children were still fairly young I read a book entitled, “The Blessing.” What it talked about is that the greatest thing a father can give his children – and this is doubly so for his sons – is the message that they “have what it takes” for life. It changed the way I parented. Before this is was about me “doing” - being the best I could be - as a Christian father. After this, it was about...

Purpose. Meaning. Mission. Reason for being. We are continually looking for these things in our lives, are we not? But how is this search working for you? Today is about these things given as a gift to us in Jesus!

In the last few weeks, we have had various couples show the Executive Pastor – Discipleship candidates around the area and just connect with them. In one case, a couple with young children took them to the “every Sunday dinner” that they have as a family at the Grandparent’s home. When I met with the pastor and his family the next morning, they shared with me how meaningful it was. Tell me, why do...

I had a great friend in High School and College. His name was Jim. I named one of my sons after him. I remember dropping by his house once to drop something off and they had just sat down to dinner. I tried to make a quick exit (feeling like I didn’t belong), but his dad saw me, immediately welcomed me warmly, pulled up another chair to the dinner table, and before I could open my mouth had a plat...

When one of my sons was young – I honestly can’t remember which one – I caught him red handed doing what he knew he should not be doing….And he looked so cute with those guilty eyes I couldn’t help but laugh out loud and love him even more. Oh, we talked about it….it was the right thing to do, but from the place of love, because it’s all I had at that moment. Can you relate? Tell me, do you think...

One. It can have many meanings. One penny….kind of worthless. One day…nice but it’s only one, not worth much. One meal….one of many, no great meaning. One Mona Lisa….priceless, a unique treasure. Tell me, how do you view yourself?...what kind of “one?” And more importantly, how do you think God views you?...And what difference does it make? It’s what we look at today in Jesus!

“There’s got to be more than this!” Has this thought, this feeling, this cry of the soul, ever come from you? “There’s got to be more than this!” We cry out because deep down, somehow, we know there is something more. Easter is God’s gentle, certain, overpowering message – reality - that there is. And it is a gift for you.

The Final Word From the Cross by St Matthew Rocklin

Tonight, on the night on which Jesus was betrayed and His final suffering began, on the night before we will remember His brutal death on the cross, Jesus ushers in a new era, a new reality, for us. Why? Because we are family. And we are never apart.