Redeemer Marquette Sermons

You’ve probably heard it before: “YOLO.” “You only live once.” This is what the religious leaders desperately wanted to be true about Jesus. But no matter how much they tried to cover His resurrection with their lies, their efforts proved futile. We celebrate the truth that Jesus’ resurrection means our resurrections. We will live more than once. We will live forever.

We celebrate the Risen Savior who gives us the victory over sin, death, and the devil. It is finished, it is done, and we continue to live the story of new life.

On Good Friday comes the ultimate sacrifice, that of Jesus. His body is broken and his blood is shed so that we might have life, so that we would not have to live in our sin any more!

On Maundy Thursday, Jesus introduces this holy meal of the Lord's Supper. We put a special focus on this remembrance meal of Jesus sacrifice and establishment of the new covenant.

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey knowing full well he would trigger the religious and political authorities. Jesus’ mission required him to demonstrate incredible courage regardless of the reactions of others. He is Lord, the absolute authority over all things. The question is, does he have all authority over you, too?

This week is based on the Parable of the Prodigal Son. A wayward son returns to the forgiving embrace of his father, who welcomes him home. The powerful message her is that we who have strayed can return again and again to the embrace of our Father, through the sacrifice of his Son.

The story of Lazarus teaches us that God seldom meets our expectations but instead fulfills our greatest hopes. His timing is not our timing nor are His ways our ways. But He is faithful always, He is worthy to be praised, and He is a safe place for us to put all our hope.

Today we study the parable of the workers in the vineyard. In this parable, all workers in a vineyard are given the same pay from the master, no matter how long they have labored which reminds us that all who have been called by the Master are blessed by the same reward in Christ.

Jesus heals a blind man starting him on a journey of discovery that will last for eternity. The Pharisees show themselves to be the blind ones, as they were well-versed in their scriptures and their laws but they were far from knowing the God of creation whose heart is full of love and light.

In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, a man beaten on the road gets help from an unlikely traveler. We who are often beaten down along the road of life encounter the healing of Christ through the cross.

The story of the Samaritan woman perfectly illustrates how God sent Jesus not to condemn the world but to save the world through him. Jesus humbles himself, engages the woman in conversation, and offers her living waters.

This week is based on the parable of the hidden treasure and the priceless pearl. In this parable, two men give all that they have to buy objects of great worth. We remember that we who are priceless to Christ receive him who gave all that he had to call us his own.

Those who are “born anew" lock their focus onto the crucified and resurrected Christ who now dwells in us by the Holy Spirit. Our life starts to look like the life of Jesus: we are daily crucified as we pick up our cross and follow him, but we are also daily resurrected with life, love, and joy.

Today we consider the parable of the sower and the seed. The seed that falls on fertile soil takes root and grows, while seeds in other soils fail. This parable helps us to remember that when we are open to receiving the Word, the Word of Christ flourishes within us.

Three times Jesus was tempted by the devil and three times Jesus came out on top. Overcoming temptation and hardships is possible in our lives because Jesus rewires our core and makes us new. Our lives become distinctive and intriguing as we overcome common hardships and temptations in a way that gives hope to others.

Welcome to a special Ash Wednesday service in the Parables of Lent series, based on the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. In this parable, the tax collector who repents goes home justified, while the proud Pharisee does not. The parable reminds us that we, too, who repent are justified through Christ.

Jesus saves us from sin and shallow religion. Jesus teaches about doing our acts of giving, praying, and fasting, in private, not in public to be seen by others. Why would doing these things in secret rather than out loud be important? Because God is building in us a solid core of self-giving love that is not addicted to the approval of others.

When life gets difficult, the best thing we can do is offer thanks to God! This reminds our souls that, ultimately, God’s blessings far outweigh this world’s trials and troubles.

There are two ways that people try to fill their souls: by their works or by God’s grace. The way of works never works! It only leaves people empty. The way of grace, however, provides the path our eternal souls are yearning for.

In order to be healthy, the soul must reach beyond itself to the eternal truths of God’s Word. The Word of God refreshes weary souls and forgives sinful souls.

Every person eventually has what St. John of the Cross once described as a “dark night of the soul.” When we are in a dark time in our lives, instead of being led by the emotions of our souls, we need to talk to our souls, and remind ourselves that our ultimate hope rests in God.

Most people think of the soul as a nebulous part of them that is mysteriously internal to them. The Bible, however, often uses to the word “soul” to describe the whole of who we are. The soul is what holds us together. When God creates the first man, who becomes a “living being” (verse 7), the Hebrew word behind this phrase is the word for “soul.” When any part of us is off – be it our emotions, o...

Christmas is often a time of nostalgia. A time when we love traditions and remembering fun times with family. Those things can be good, but they can also steal Christmas or make our celebrations feel empty. One week after Christmas, we refocus and continue to celebrate on what is just as new and fresh as it was that first Christmas: Jesus' birth.

What is Christmas all about? What is the true meaning of Christmas? Yes, it's Jesus, but more than that. This Christmas Eve we gain an appreciation for all that goes into the meaning of Christmas.

This final week of Advent on Christmas Eve Eve we take a moment to focus in on the Christ child we celebrate at Christmas.