Holy Cross Lutheran Church

Sermon | "The Beautiful Shepherd" | June 30

Jesus is our BEAUTIFUL SHEPHERD.  The depth of meaning connected with the Bible's common image of a shepherd is hard for us to grasp in a day when most of us have never seen a frail newborn lamb or a shepherd leading his sheep in a desert place.  But all of us have experienced feeling vulnerable, misled, and in imminent danger.  In this message we will dig deep into the image of the shepherd and be invited to follow Him into the fields of abundance.

Sermon | "Repent" | June 16

Ever since the Garden of Eden, humanity has been forging their own path. Ultimately, this path leads NOT to life, but to death. Recalibration can only happen when there is an accurate diagnosis of the issue. Ever since the Garden of Eden, humanity's issue has been our desire to go at life on our own terms. But, this only leads to frustration, sorrow and ultimately to death. The third tactic for recalibration is REPENT.

Sermon | "Reflect" | June 9

One of the things Ancient Israel offers to the church today is the practice of telling the story. They were always telling the story - in their prayers, in their worship, even, as Moses says in Deuteronomy, when they rose, when they walked along the road, when they sat in their homes and when they went to bed. Israel was always telling the story of God's wonderful deeds; reflecting and recounting all that God had done for them. The second tactic for recalibration is REFLECT.

Sermon | "Rest" | June 2

There is a pretty powerful invitation from God...in only eight words. It's an invitation to stop - which, I guess, doesn't sound like much. But, if John Ortberg is correct and the greatest hurdle to Christian Discipleship is hurry, then a simple invitation to stop is actually quite difficult. If we are going to use this change of season for recalibration, then our first step must be to heed our Heavenly Father's invitation - stop. More than that, our Heavenly Father invites us not only to stop, but to REST in who He is. The first tactic for recalibration is REST.

Sermon | "Remember What's Been Done for You" | May 26

Tomorrow is Memorial day...a day to remember and honor all who have sacrificed so that we can enjoy the freedoms we enjoy in America.  Yet, today is Trinity Sunday...a day when we remember and honor the work of all 3 persons of our God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  For the same reasons that we celebrate Memorial Day, it's important that we celebrate our God in His fullness: that which is celebrated is valued, and that which is valued is shared.  While freedom in America is certainly a valuable gift, what our world longs for most is the freedom and wholeness that comes to us through our God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  To fully grasp and enjoy the whole of the good news, we need the whole picture of what's been done for us.

Sermon | "Worship: A Living Posture" | May 19

Surrender to the Lordship of Christ is not just a Sunday activity. Worship is NOT just for Sundays. In fact, St. Paul urges that we offer our whole selves in surrender to Christ... every ...single… moment. We have offered Jesus our whole lives, to do with it what He wills and pleases. When we offer Jesus our time, our money, our daily conversations around the dinner table, our interactions on the road, our frustrations at work - we surrender all to his Lordship, we worship.

Bible Study | May 12

Sermon | "Worship: A Communal Posture" | May 12

It seems odd, in one of the only times Jesus mentions the word "church" He is, geographically, as far away as possible from the temple. We know, have often sung cute songs as kids, that the church is more than a building - the church is a people. Worship, from the time Israel was rescued from the clutches of Egypt, has always been communal. Worship is a people who profess the lordship of Jesus, and surrender to His sovereignty...time and time again. In fact, a church that prioritizes worship will wreck the gates of hell.

Bible Study | May 5

Sermon | "Worship: Our Posture" | May 5

Surprisingly, Jesus doesn't mention the word worship very often. In fact, He uses the word in two narratives that have little to do with what we think about worship: namely, His temptation in the desert and conversing with a woman at a well. But, in both cases, Jesus is clear about worship as a posture. Worship begins with God's posture and continues in our posture toward Him. Worship is a posture of surrender - to who God is and what He has done.