“A Mighty Fortress is Our God”
A Reformation Sunday message exploring the textual foundation of Martin Luther’s great hymn. Psalm 46 reveals God as our comfort in calamity, our protection in persecution, and our hope in history (and beyond).
Message text: Psalm 46
Listen“Son of the Father: Life-Giver and Judge” (Gospel of John, 17)
After Jesus heals a lame man on the Sabbath, the religious leaders charge Him with blasphemy. He responds in a discourse that clarifies the significance of His ministry for all people in all times.
Message text: John 5:19-30
Listen“Healing and Hostility” (Gospel of John, 16)
In this drama of five scenes, Jesus’ healing of a lame man prompts hostility from religious leaders. We explore what this tells us about the trajectory of John’s gospel as well as about God’s greater redemptive purposes in history.
Message text: John 5:1-18
Listen“Jesus, Giver of Life” (Gospel of John, 15)
In his second miracle in Cana, Jesus shows that He is a giver of life when He heals a little boy at a distance. And the family’s response of faith is a model for all.
Message text: John 4:43-54
Listen“Savior of the World” (Gospel of John, 14)
The story of a Samaritan woman’s witness has much to teach us about discipleship and our missions mandate.
Message text: John 4:27-42
Listen“Man Meets Woman at Well: A Divine Engagement” (Gospel of John 13)
Jesus breaks social convention by speaking to a Samaritan woman by a well, and their conversation deals with much more than physical thirst.
Message text: John 4:1-30
Listen“From John to Jesus” (Gospel of John, 12)
John the Baptizer’s understanding of himself in relation to Jesus should be ours as well: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Message Text: John 3:22-36
Listen“Lifted Up in Death for Life” (Gospel of John, 10)
As Jesus continues His conversation with Nicodemus, we learn more about His origin, destiny, and message. And we learn how an episode from Old Testament history prepared the way for the New Testament message of salvation through Jesus.
Message Text: John 3:9-15
Listen“Nic at Night” (Gospel of John, 9)
When a ruler of the Jews comes to Jesus by night, we learn the nature of the ‘faith’ some are placing in Jesus because of His miracles. And we hear the challenge of what true faith in Jesus involves.
Message Text: John 2:23-3:8
Listen