Holy Cross Lutheran Church

Bible Study | September 19

Sermon | ”Welcoming Jesus” | September 19

Abiding with Jesus is no small task. Where does one begin? Thankfully Jesus doesn't expect His followers to just figure it out. He breaks it down into practical pieces. This week Jesus directs His followers to re-calibrate their perceptions of people. 'Stop considering who's the greatest and aim to serve everyone, especially the least.' For in welcoming the most vulnerable and overlooked, Jesus says we're welcoming (abiding with) Him.

Sermon | ”For the Long Haul” | September 12

When Jesus chose the disciples, He did so knowing they would need to be disciple-makers. Knowing He would return to the Father, Jesus had to teach and train, bless and release the disciples to the work of the kingdom. This teaching and training happened as Jesus and the disciples remained together over time. In order for us to become more than just disciples...to become disciple-makers, we too need to be taught and trained. We need to abide and remain with Jesus over time.

Sermon | Refreshing & Restored | September 5

It's hard for most to imagine the realities of a desert: a barren wasteland with very little life, a treacherous place to travel, and a place of extremes. Yet, for God's people, in both the Old and New Testaments, the desert was a very real place. In fact, it came to signify judgement and death. Shockingly, Isaiah prophesies that a time is coming when the desert valley will bloom and the parched land will overflow with refreshing pools. Today, Jesus steps into the lives of those who are experiencing a kind of desert. And He comes to bring refreshment and life.

Sermon | "Proximity is Power" | August 29

There is power in proximity! We have acquaintances, we have friends and we have intimate/close friends. Much of the distinction between these categories is proximity. How close we are - physically, emotionally or ideologically. The closer we are in proximity to one another is proportional to the depth of the relationship. BUT, the opposite is also true - when distance enters into a relationship - the relationship becomes more fragile or even forgotten. Jesus reminds the teachers of the day, that without a close relationship with God, we lose sight of what God is really after...the heart. We need the reminder too - God draws close to us in Christ - so that our heart can be whole. Proximity is power.

Sermon | "Receiving Life" | August 15

There is only one source for eternal life--Jesus, the Son of God. He was given life by the Father and now he offers it to us. However, he makes clear, it's an all or nothing deal. All of Jesus or nothing at all. Are there parts of Jesus that you're not so sure you want? "All" of Jesus has never been easy to swallow, but He is our life. What more could you want? What else can provide something better?

Sermon | "The Long Road" | August 8

In any kind of journey we bring provisions that will sustain us from beginning to end. But what happens when the road gets long? What happens when our provisions run short? What happens when we're too tired to keep going? If life is a journey, sometimes we feel like we can't keep going. In those moments, we have to look to God's miraculous provision, with eyes open to receive what He gives.

Sermon | "What's On the Menu" | August 1

Menus are filled with an array of food: appetizers, salads, main courses, and yes…the best part…desserts.  All of it is food, but not all of it is good for you.  Our bodies and minds are either fueled or poisoned by what we put into it. What we put into our body matters! Jesus reminds us that he is the Bread of Life and that He is the one who fuels and feeds us. In our spiritual journeys, we need to pay attention to “What’s on the Menu."

Sermon | "5 Loaves and 2 Fish" | July 18

"[God] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," Ephesians 3:20

King Jesus is a long-winded preacher to the crowds that showed up in the out-of-the-way place that He took His disciples to rest.  It gets late, and the disciples point out that everyone is going to need to eat.  What Jesus provides is more than just food for the huge crowd; He gives His disciples a front row seat to how He delights in using their inadequacy to highlight His infinite capacity.  Are you willing to consider what God could do with your "5 loaves and 2 fish"? Hint: it's more than you first think.

Sermon | "When Kings Clash" | July 11

The Gospel of Mark is a gospel of action. And make no mistake, it begins with a bang. Jesus notes, "the kingdom of God is at hand!" In other words, it's happening. Right. Now. While for most, the present kingdom of God is a welcome reality that brings peace, it is also an uncomfortable look at their broken and sinful lives. Both are necessary and both are good. As John the Baptist preached prophetically about the kingdom, it created opportunities for repentance. Today, we reflect on our own opportunities for repentance when we encounter the kingdom.