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Peace Lutheran Church is a church located in Aiken, South Carolina seeking to center the listener on Christ and Christ alone. He is real peace for real people.
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On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses. These theses rocked the religious, social, and political establishment of his day. He did not come to his reformation on his own. In fact, it wasn't even his reformation. It was God's reformation won from Luther's deep, heartfelt encounter with the Word of God. We believe that we need world-shaking encounters with the Word of God like that...again. In this podcast, two twins, who also happen to be Lutheran pastors, will take listeners ...
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His Ascension Draws Him Closer A SERMON BASED ON Ephesians 4:7-16 In many ways, the ascension of Jesus ties a boy on his earthly ministry. He had defeated sin, the devil and hell itself. But that doesn’t mean Jesus is done. He still has an agenda even as he sits at the right hand of God the Father. Hear about that agenda in this Sunday’s sermon.…
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But How Do I Do It? A SERMON BASED ON John 15:9-17 Even the most casual Christian understands a basic principle of Jesus’ teaching and the teaching of Scripture: love those around you. Rarely, the problem is not knowing if we should love our neighbor or our God. The problem is execution. So how do go from a place of understanding God’s call to love…
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Remain, Remain, Remain A SERMON BASED ON John 15:1-8 Your connection to Christ need not be tenuous. When he says, “Remain in me,” he isn’t calling on us to do the impossible. Instead, he is calling us to make use of the means that he has established to keep us near to him. In all of this, we understand a critical point: Jesus and Jesus alone is the…
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Don't Settle for the Hired Hand A SERMON BASED ON John 10:11-18 Paying someone to do a job usually works out. You give them a sum of money, sometimes a large sum of money, and they do their work well and on time. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes, the one motivated by simple money isn’t willing to sacrifice what it takes to get the job done…
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More Than A Slogan A SERMON BASED ON 1 John 1:5-2:2 Do we have something worthwhile to say? Or are the words that Christians speak just as relevant and useful as any common catchphrase of the world? The Apostle John delivers phrases that stick in our mind, but they carry more weight than anything the world offers. Why? Because they are rooted in tr…
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"Stop Doubting and Believe" A SERMON BASED ON John 20:19-31 When Jesus says “stop doubting,” we can’t help but notice an edge in his voice. In fact, he says that those who believe without seeing are blessed because they didn’t NEED to make God prove himself. When the doubts of life come our way, how should we react? Do we wallow in them and allow t…
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How Are You Doing? A SERMON BASED ON Job 19:23-27 The hymn I Know that My Redeemer Lives is based on the words of Job, uttered when he was in the depths of despair and was forced to still find his hope in a God who seemed to abandon him. The reason these words of Job and the song writer are so poignant is that in the midst of trouble, the resurrect…
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Real Sacrifice A SERMON BASED ON John 19:17-30 On Good Friday, Jesus isn’t beaten just to gain pity. He’s not nailed to a cross to score your sympathy. He doesn’t die for your tears. Here at the cross, we see these beautiful juxtapositions. At the same time, we see the wrath of God, the innocent helpless looking sacrifice, and the seeming defeat of…
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Unity Worth Preserving A SERMON BASED ON 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 Keeping a group of people together isn’t an easy thing to do. A church is no different. Personalities loom large. Opinions are stated (maybe overstated). Things fall apart. So how do we preserve and defend the unity in a church? At the Lord’s Supper, God gives us a rich opportunity to …
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Making A Strong Entrance A SERMON BASED ON Mark 11:1-11 Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem isn’t exactly understated. It is one of the few times that Jesus indulges the fanfare. The expectation of those in the city was that he would be this strong warrior on their behalf. They believed that he had the strength to answer their cries of “hosanna” which m…
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“You Are Mine” A SERMON BASED ON Isaiah 43:1-7 Many of the problems in life are created by us. We might not love admitting it, but it’s true. When we cause those problems, what does God say to us? Does he give up on us and let us wallow. Isaiah 43 answers that very question as God speaks to his people.…
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Sin - Solved A SERMON BASED ON Ephesians 2:1-10 How is the problem of sin solved? If you ask members of Christian churches around the world, you might get a variety of answers. But Scripture offers one answer. You are saved BY GRACE ALONE… but what does that mean?By Pastor Simeon Crass
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Worship Is Worth Our Time A SERMON BASED ON John 2:13-22 We live in a world in which everything is on-demand. You could order a blender today and it will be on your doorstep by the end of the day tomorrow. You can pay your mortgage on your phone from the couch. Everything is instant. Everything is convenient. Everything is done on your timeline. So…
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Bearing Our Crosses A SERMON BASED ON Romans 5:1-11 It doesn’t take long to realize that we have certain crosses to bear in this life as a result of our Christian faith. We deal with persecution and hatred. We are forced to make difficult decisions that others don’t have to make. It makes us ask the question: why? Why would God give us these crosse…
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Is This Some Kind of Joke to God? A SERMON BASED ON Genesis 22:1-18 When God asked Abraham to do the impossible, Abraham gathered his things and was determined to carry out exactly what he had been called to do. Abraham was willing to do whatever the Lord had called him to do for two reasons. Check out Abraham’s reasons and make them your reasons!…
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A Transfiguration Unlike Any Other A SERMON BASED ON Mark 9:2-9 As the Lord Jesus prepared to approach his suffering and death, he undergoes this transfiguration. It is one of those moments in which it seems that heaven connects with earth. Holiness and perfection are on miraculous display. Jesus is finally seen as he really is. But that still leav…
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An Unworthy Enemy A SERMON BASED ON 1 Peter 5:6-11 You might not like to think about it, but the devil does actually exist. He is our adversary and the adversary of the church of Jesus. I don’t think most of us wake up with that prowling lion on our minds, but that doesn’t mean that he isn’t hard at work. In our reading, Peter tells us that while t…
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Who’s in Charge Here? A SERMON BASED ON Mark 1:21-28 Can you be the boss of your own life? Can you control your destiny? You might think you can. But look back on the last few months of your life. Were you able to make all your problems go away? Probably not. So what do we do when we realize that we’re not actually in total control over our lives? …
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The Kindness in His Calling A SERMON BASED ON 1 Samuel 3:1-10 Our approach to God matters quite a bit. Whether it is in worship or in our daily study of his Word, the way we come before him matters. Will we come before him with pride in our hearts, thinking we know best. Or will we go before him humbly with nothing on our tongue other than: “Speak,…
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It Begins with Baptism A SERMON BASED ON Romans 6:1-11 “So, what does your church teach about baptism?” Romans offers our explanation for us! The simple truth found in God’s Word, that he is delivering on his promise of forgiveness, life and salvation in Baptism, is found in clear terms in Romans 6. If you have any questions about Peace’s teachings…
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Power and Grace A SERMON BASED ON Matthew 2:1-12 In our narrative about the 3 wisemen who came to visit Jesus after his birth, we learn 2 truths about how God reaches his people. He does so with power and he does so with grace. When God goes after someone, he REALLY goes after them.By Pastor Simeon Crass
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God’s Special Treasure A SERMON BASED ON Exodus 19:1-8 New year. New me. The beginning of the year is a time when people rebrand themselves. They try to form new habits and see themselves in a different light. They also try to make sure other people see them a certain way. Is that what we need? Do you need a rebranding in 2024? If you do, maybe sta…
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Here for YOU A SERMON BASED ON John 1:1-18 Why on earth did Jesus leave his throne in heaven? Why would he descend from perfection and enter a world that is full of pain and turmoil? Why would Jesus be willing to show up in this world and face ridicule and rejection? We answer all of these questions in our sermon on Christmas Day!…
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A Faith Found in Details A SERMON BASED ON Luke 1:26-38 When you watch someone fall short on their promises over and over again, you are likely to assume that they won’t break that pattern any time soon. Does it sometimes seem like we treat God that way? Do we treat him like a loved one who says nice things, but never comes through? Or do we treat …
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Joy > Happiness A SERMON BASED ON Isaiah 61:1-3,10-11 Does God care about your happiness? He cares about your salvation, he cares about your physical body, he cares about your mental state… how could he not care about your happiness, right? But what happens when the things that make you happy run contrary to what God wants for your life? Today at P…
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Prepare to Meet Him A SERMON BASED ON Isaiah 40:1-11 When preparing for guests over the holidays, you are likely meticulous in your preparation. Things don’t slip by you if the company coming to visit you is important or dear to you. When preparing for Christ to come, are we as meticulous? In a time when it seems like all our preparations are “buy …
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Sheep Don't Need to Be Told to Be Sheep A SERMON BASED ON Matthew 25:31-46 What do you think of when you hear the words “judgment day”? People think of all of the ominous pictures that come with those words. In fact many people, even Christians, are left feeling afraid when they think of judgment day. But can we look at it from a different angle? R…
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What Makes Service "Faithful"? A SERMON BASED ON Isaiah 1:10-18 In Isaiah, the people give God their best. However, it seems as if their best isn’t enough for God. In our sermon based on Isaiah, we’re going to talk about what exactly makes our service to God faithful. How can we know that we are living God pleasing lives? Isaiah gives us a path.…
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A New Job A SERMON BASED ON Luke 5:1-11 When you start a new job, there is almost always one moment in which you go, “I’m not sure I’m going to be able to do this.” That seems like it would have been an acceptable response if that’s what Peter said to Jesus. In our reading from Luke this week, we learn a little something about Peter’s new job. In t…
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“We Feebly Struggle… They in Glory Shine!” A SERMON BASED ON Revelation 7:9-17 Jesus says that his followers will endure tribulation. Paul tells us that Christians will put up with all sorts of hardships. In our reading from Revelation 7 for this Sunday, we see what the ending looks like. It might be difficult to see how all of this turns out okay……
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“I Know” Trounces “I Think” A SERMON BASED ON Romans 3:19-28 There are things that it is okay to be uncertain about, but your eternity isn’t one of them. Throughout Christianity, there are denominations whose teachings cause their followers to say, “I think my relationship with God is good.” But that’s not good enough. No, based on Scripture, we sh…
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God’s or Caesar’s? A SERMON BASED ON Matthew 22:15-22 “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” Great. Now all we have to do is figure out what is Caesar’s and what is God’s. As we look at the words of Jesus in their context and we look at what Paul has to say on the matter, we find out that although church is certainly not the pl…
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A Story of Insane Rejection A SERMON BASED ON Matthew 22:1-14 Who would say no? There are invitations we receive that are just too good to pass up. Who would say no to going on an all expenses paid vacation? Who would say no to a free meal at the finest restaurant in town? In fact, these offers likely seem too good to be true. Jesus tells us a stor…
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Shocking Patience A SERMON BASED ON Matthew 21:33-43 How long is God willing to deal with us? I hope we would ask that question in an effort to understand his mercy rather than to test it. God was willing to bear with his people for generations as he sent prophet after prophet to bring them back to him. Finally, he sent his Son who was rejected. Th…
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Spiritual Insincerity A SERMON BASED ON Matthew 21:23-32 No one wants to be a hypocrite. That word cuts people to the core simply because it is an attack on someone’s entire character. Being fake in your dealings with people is a mistake. Being fake in your spiritual dealings… that’s just dangerous. So how is it we can be spiritually sincere? What …
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The Insane Generosity of God A SERMON BASED ON Matthew 20:1-16 What do you deserve? It’s a complicated question. What do you deserve from your spouse? What do you deserve from your employer? What do you deserve from your neighbor? In this sermon, we are going to explore this question: “What do you DESERVE from God?”…
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A Church that’s Quick to Forgive A SERMON BASED ON Matthew 18:21-35 No one is confused: Jesus tells us to forgive those who repent. It isn’t so much that we don’t know if we should forgive our fellow brother or sister in the faith who wrongs us and asks for our forgiveness… it’s figuring out how to actually forgive when you’ve been hurt deeply. The…
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Why Say the Difficult Thing? A SERMON BASED ON Matthew 18:15-20 You can think of 1000 reasons not to talk about sin. Maybe the first reason on that list is that it’s just plain uncomfortable. So why would we do it? If there is a possibility of risking our relationship with a brother or sister in Christ, why would we bring a sin up? What is the bene…
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The Cross then the Crown A SERMON BASED ON Matthew 16:21-26 The crosses of our lives can be shockingly heavy. There are times in which it feels as if they’ll nearly crush us. In those moments, we are called to look at the one who carried our cross first. And because he won the crown, your crown is waiting for you!…
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A Church that REALLY Knows Jesus A SERMON BASED ON Exodus 34:5-10 Getting to know God is maybe the simplest yet seemingly difficult task for the Christian. We find ourselves asking, “What does God want me to know about him?” “How am I supposed to understand the great I AM?” The reality is, understanding God and the things he wants us to know about …
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Walls in God’s Church A SERMON BASED ON Ephesians 2:13-22 What barriers are tolerable in the Church of God? It would be insane to put up barriers based on what football team you support. No one would think to cause divisions in a church based on whether you drive an SUV or sedan. But what about worship style? What about politics? What about social …
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Wave Watching is Overrated A SERMON BASED ON Matthew 14:22-33 Will you let the doubts overcome you? There is no shortage of things that will cause doubt throughout our lives. The question is: should they? Do we ever have a “good reason” to doubt Jesus’ love, providence, and power? And if we find ourselves in a place of doubt, what’s the only way ou…
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Feast or Famine, Jesus is Still Lord A SERMON BASED ON Matthew 14:13-21 “What happens if…?” It’s a question that lurks in the back of most people’s minds. “What happens if I have to get a new car?” “What happens if I can’t pay for a new A/C unit?” The reality is, no one could predict the future and tell you exactly how that problem will be resolved…
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What Do You NEED From God? A SERMON BASED ON 1 Kings 3:5-15 King Solomon asked for wisdom when he could have asked for practically anything else from God. He asked for wisdom not to show off or to simply make his life easier. Instead, he asked for wisdom for the purpose of serving in the capacity to which he had been called. The question is: why co…
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The Believer in an Unbelieving World A SERMON BASED ON Romans 1:18-25 Talking about the wrath of God might make us uncomfortable. Because of his great power, it might make us nervous to think of him as a God who has the capacity for wrath. But it shouldn’t. In fact, we should be thankful that God doesn’t cozy up to sin. Instead, he pours out his wr…
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Planted By the Word A SERMON BASED ON Matthew 13:1-9,18-23 The parable of the Sower and the Seed shows us how recklessly God scatters the Word in his world. He is willing to share the Word with anyone and everyone. The outcome of that sharing, however, is not always what we would like it to be. This week, we examine why we can have confidence in th…
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Are You Tired of the Struggle? A SERMON BASED ON Romans 7:15-25a Paul was tired and he knew you would be too. When we talk about the struggles of life, often we find ourselves looking outside ourselves: health issues, financial problems or entities of this world trying to lead us into sin. But today, I submit to you that it is even more important t…
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Priorities A SERMON BASED ON Matthew 10:34-42 God pretty explicitly calls for the Christians priority list to go as follows: 1. God. 2. Everything else. It seems bold, especially when you consider all of the things and people that fall into second place on the list. Your spouse, your kids, your siblings, your friends… everyone. But instead of looki…
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Preach the Word A SERMON BASED ON Matthew 2 timothy 4:1-8 Preaching the Word isn’t easy. That’s not a new thing. Paul tells young pastor Timothy that preaching the Word is sometimes fun and exciting. At other times, it’s difficult. The words get stuck in the back of our throats and it feels like it’s easier to just say nothing. In our sermon, Paul …
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Describing the Indescribable A SERMON BASED ON Matthew 28:16-20 If I told you to describe the Holy Trinity, would you be able to? When we talk about the Trinity, we find our brains being twisted into knots… and for good reason! When we try to describe the indescribable God of the universe, there are going to be some moments when we throw our hands …
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