God's Peace! This podcast is devoted to the faithful teaching of God's Word. We aim to teach the faith and help you understand why we believe what we believe. By Apostolic Lutherans for Apostolic Lutherans.
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Saint Athanasius Lutheran Church in Vienna, Virginia is a parish in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church and a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Worship at St. Athanasius is according to the history Liturgy of the Church. Services at St. Athanasius are not designed for entertainment or sensation, but to prepare broken repentant sinners to receive these gifts of Word and Sacrament, and to know the truth of the incomparable riches of the grace showered on us by our gracious ...
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Eastwood ALC in Negaunee, MI church sermons Pastor Dale Niskanen.
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Today, Jesus continues His program and teaching on the food that builds the Church. Bread that, as we heard today, one may eat of it and not die. The food that builds the church. But I think we're sometimes like the people in Jesus' day, who were thinking with their stomachs. Jesus said, this is the will of my Father, not that we have a good and co…
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It doesn't matter how old you are, whether you're a one-year old or ninety years old. Everyone gets hangry. You're not yourself. That's how important food is to us. Which God knew. And hangry is what the people of Israel became in the wilderness. They got irritable and bad-tempered. They grumbled and complained. But God didn't snap back at them. He…
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People often wonder what heaven will be like. The Bible tells us a little about that, but not much. I suspect because we wouldn't understand anyhow. There is a whole, big, glorious eternity waiting for us, when we, like Nancy receive our birthdays into heaven. Which is why even in the midst of tears and sadness today, there is joy.…
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So that day, right after feeding the 5,000, the disciples get into the boat to go to the other side. Business as usual. Jesus goes off by Himself to pray. Business as usual. the storm is calmed by Jesus. Business as usual. The crowds follow Jesus and He heals them. Business as usual. And even Jesus walking on the water, business as usual... for Jes…
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This episode of the podcast is sponsored by the Eastern Mission of the ALC. Find out what they are all about here: http://alcem.org You can find out more about the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America here: http://apostoliclutheran.org/ Nicholas is the pastor of the New York Mills Apostolic Lutheran Church. Their service is live streamed every morn…
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Who was in the crowd that day? Well, they are undoubtedly just like the group that has come here today. People struggling with issues in their lives. And when Jesus went ashore and saw them, that great crowd of people like that, He had compassion on them. Because when He looked out at that crowd, when He looks at you now, He doesn't see strugglers,…
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If John wanted to save his head, all he had to do was shut his mouth. Easy, but not good. To love your neighbor as yourself meant that John had to speak. But a glorious inheritance was waiting for John, as we heard in the reading from Ephesians today. What he did not receive on earth, he was given now in heaven. John knew this, was sure of it, that…
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It was supposed to be a day, it should have been a day, that left everyone feeling good. The whole town coming out, to see Jesus and listen to Him preach. But Jesus didn't say what they expected Him to say. So what did Jesus say? What did He say that was so offensive? We're not told here, in the reading we heard today, but Mark tells us earlier wha…
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There are three questions asked in the Holy Gospel we heard today. Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith? And, who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him? The disciples were still learning. They had seen Jesus do wonderful, marvelous things, but nothing like this. This was nature. Unco…
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The kingdom of God is unpredictable. From our perspective, anyway. Because that means I'm not in control. That's what Jesus is teaching in the parables we heard today. Sometimes you are surprised. Sometimes what you get is unexpected, and so unpredictable. The alternative, then, is to live by faith, not sight. But to live by faith is to admit and a…
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We do not lose heart. That's what Paul said today in the Epistle. Ever know someone like that? Someone who, no matter what's happening around them, no matter what's happening to them, they somehow remain confident, they don't give up, they don't give in to despair, they stay optimistic. And Paul knows. He knows the weight. But then that weight was …
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Proclamation: A sermon on Mark 3:20-35 by Pastor Dennis Hannu
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This episode of the podcast is sponsored by the Eastern Mission of the ALC. Find out what they are all about here: http://alcem.org You can find out more about the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America here: http://apostoliclutheran.org/ Dennis is the pastor of the Spruce Grove Apostolic Lutheran Church. Visit their website here:http://www.sprucegro…
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There are four words you never want to hear. Four words that cause a lot of heartache -- you're not good enough. That thought is all over the readings we heard today. Now, we confess that every week. But when we confess our sins at the beginning of the service each week, it isn't just this sin or that sin that you are confessing -- that you just me…
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The untrained eye misses a lot of things. This is true for ears, too. Now, look around. In the world. Even in this congregation. What do you see? What do you hear? What does God see? What does God hear? A valley of dry, dead bones. People who were full of life, but who sin has dried up and robbed of life. Which is really the true miracle of Penteco…
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Today we get to listen to Jesus pray. And when you pray, sometimes you pray a prepared prayer, like the Lord's Prayer. But sometimes you just pray what's on your heart. And then sometimes, we get to listen to someone else praying. And those times can be precious. So to get to hear Jesus pray... we shouldn't underestimate that.…
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The Ascension of Our Lord is both one of the most important -- and most forgotten -- days in the life of the church. It is the completion of the resurrection. Jesus ascends into heaven not for Himself, but for us, that we, too, ascend. To give you hope. The hope that we need. No life, no situation, is beyond hope or help. Because Jesus is on the th…
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Jesus wants you to bear fruit. This is not a new teaching of Jesus. He did not leave it up to us to figure out what a good work is and what it is not. He told us, in Ten Commandments. Ten Commandments which tells us not only what not to do, but also tells us those good works we are to do. So how's your fruit? God's original vine, Old Testament Isra…
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Do we even need a Good Shepherd anymore? Don't put me in your box... or your pasture. I'm free. Time to put the Good Shepherd out to pasture. But do sheep make good shepherds? Or are we being duped? Because that happens a lot these days, doesn't it? Maybe I could use some help. but not too much! I still want to be free! To do what I want. So, who t…
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A lot can change in two months. In the reading from Luke it was Easter evening, the disciples were afraid and hiding, and their hearts were troubled and doubting. But in the reading from Acts, approximately two months later, how different the disciples are! But what changed? The pure spiritual milk that caused them to grow up was the Law of Moses, …
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Jesus knew exactly what they needed. Those disciples who were consumed by guilt, confused, and afraid. They should have done more. What did the future now hold for them? Would they be stoned or crucified? But Jesus knew exactly what they needed. First is forgiveness for their guilt and shame. But still more they needed, Jesus knew. They needed inst…
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The women went to the tomb. They expected death. Of course they did. So when they get to the tomb and the stone is rolled away and dead is not there, they are confused, they are alarmed, they are scared. What happened to death? They hope, they want to hope, that the message of the angel might be true. That there might be life... Death is what we se…
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You have heard, O child of God, the story of your God this night. But these are not just the story of your God. These are your stories. Which is why we remember and celebrate Baptism this night. For Baptism is what makes these stories your stories. And baptized into Christ, you are baptized into HIs story, His history. But not only that -- this too…
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I don't know if you ever paid much attention to the first part of the first sentence of the Old Testament reading we heard tonight. We hear it every year, but like me, you maybe just skipped over it. Because what comes after it is so vivid, so striking. All that Jesus did. All that happened to Him. Oppressed, judged, and taken away. But it all star…
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At the Passover, it was all about the lamb. The lamb that was slain, the lamb whose blood was poured out and painted on their doors to protect them from the angel of death that passed through the land of Egypt that very night, and the lamb that was them eaten. Every year after that, God commanded the people of Israel to keep this feast. And so they…
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Who would you die for? A family member or loved one? Maybe. Someone who risked their life for you? Perhaps. A stranger? Probably not. Someone who hurt you or a loved one? Absolutely not! That's what makes tonight's Word of God and what Jesus did so incredible. Christ died for the weak, the ungodly, sinners, and enemies. To not only make us His own,…
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Many people want to make a name for themselves. They want people to remember them after they die. But we have seen in recent years how poor and fickle that can be. Those once considered heroic are now deemed shameful. Very few are those who will be able to survive such a purge. But we heard of such a one tonight. This woman who gave a flask of very…
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And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way Jesus breathed his last, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God! For now, God has highly exalted Him. God has bestowed on Him the name that is above every name. For He is not dead, but alive! Risen from the tomb in which Joseph laid him. So we do not confess with the centurion, …
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40 days and 40 nights Elijah walked, until he reached Horeb, the mount of God. The mount where God appeared to Moses in the burning bush. Now where God would speak to Elijah. A 40 day and 40 night trek for Elijah, from death to life. Elijah's story is important for us. He had just finished one of the greatest prophetic victories of all time, defeat…
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Has anyone ever broken a promise made to you? Have you ever broken a promise you made? I don't know of anyone who would say no to either of those questions. So maybe in our day and age, we should have a new saying to reflect the times. Promises, like the date on a gallon of milk, are meant to expire. But today we heard of our God who both makes and…
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40 for Life -- Jonah -- Repentance for Life
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40 days and 40 nights. That's how long Nineveh had. Forty days, Jonah cried out, and Nineveh will be overthrown. What would you have done? If you are given 40 days, what would you do? I think we would try to save our lives. That's what the people of Nineveh did. At the preaching of the Word of the Lord, Nineveh was transformed from a den of iniquit…
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The people of Israel were in trouble. Deep trouble. They were dying. So God had mercy on them and sent fiery serpents among them. Wait! What? The people were dying not because of the serpents, they were dying because of their unbelief. They were dead and dying in their trespasses and sins. Their unbelief was the problem. The serpents were the solut…
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40 for Life -- Israel -- God's Discipline for Life
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40 days and 40 nights. Actually, that sounds pretty good if you're Israel in the wilderness. They would have taken that in a heartbeat! What they got instead was 40 years. That's not how God planned it, of course. Of the twelve spies they sent into Canaan, to spy it out, to see how they might go in, ten of the twelve told them not to go. So the peo…
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What if I were to burst into a house and start tearing it apart as Jesus did? Well, it depends on whose house it is! Unless... it's MY house! Then I can do whatever I want to it. So when Jesus goes into the Temple that day, and begins overturning tables and driving out the animals, some thought He had not right to do so. But they were wrong. The Te…
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40 for Life -- Moses -- God's Presence for Life
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For 40 days and 40 nights Moses was on Mount Sinai. For 40 days and 40 nights the presence of the Lord and the glory of the Lord appeared like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain. For 40 days and 40 nights Moses was in the presence of God, in the cloud, listening. God had much to say. God spoke both Law and Gospel to Moses. Words of life.…
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Who do people say that I am? But who do you say that I am? I think that is usually the contrast that catches the attention of most people from the Holy Gospel that we heard this morning. The difference between what the crowds are saying about Jesus and what the disciples are confessing about Jesus. But I wonder if that's really the right contrast f…
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For 40 days and 40 nights the rains fell upon the earth. 40 days of death so that there could be new life. 40 days is a long time for us. If you're like me, it's hard to keep up your Lenten discipline for 40 days. Because like the earth in Noah's day, the sin of Adam and Eve has metastasized in me. I am the one who needs cleansing. Now, we are stil…
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God has a funny way of showing His love. One that might cause us to ask -- Uh, God, do you love me? This season of Lent is about struggle. Our struggle against sin. Our struggle against satan and his temptations. Abraham and his struggle was unique. But what does God want you to do? And what do you not want to do? Where is the struggle in your own …
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This is who you are (pointing to ash cross on my forehead). You are a Christian, marked with the sign of the cross in your baptism. But you are a dying Christian, a dust and ashes Christian, because you are a sinner. And the wages of sin is death. So unless Jesus returns first, you are going to die. People don't usually want to talk about that. We …
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Rabbi, it is good that we are here. That may be the understatement of the year! It is good to be here, with Jesus, in His glory. So Peter wants to stay. And notice... Jesus does not rebuke Peter. Yes! Peter got it right! Well... partially. You want to stay here, you want to be with Jesus in His glory, listen to Him. He will tell you, He will teach …
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Crossing the Finish Line from Time to Eternity
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It is said of great athletes -- truly great athletes -- that they have not only exceptional talents and abilities, but they also make others around them better. St. Paul in the Epistle today mentioned athletes and competing. He says that Christians should be like that -- and even more! For we're not competing for a perishable wreath, or crown, or t…
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Sometimes people can surprise you. Someone you thought was mean might do something nice. Or someone you thought nice suddenly does something really mean. And so it was that day in the synagogue in Capernaum. He looked like a regular teacher, but He surprised them. He wasn't. They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had au…
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Fishers of men, huh? Here's what my question would have been. Which men? 'Cuz don't send me to Nineveh, like you did Jonah! No way! Not those men! I'll fish for men, but not in that sea! 'Cuz that's what we do, isn't it? We pick and choose. This person is worth it, that person is not. But that's not how Jesus does things. Not how He thinks. So Jona…
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It started the same. It ended very, very different. People from all over were coming to John to be baptized. And just another man from Galilee, coming up out of the Jordan, after being baptized, was no big deal. Until it was. For then, it was seen and heard that this was, in fact, no ordinary man from Galilee. For on no other did the Spirit descend…
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Arise! Isaiah says. And the Wise Men did. They arose, they got up from their homes and went to Jerusalem. Then guided by the Scriptures they went to Bethlehem. And guided by the star, they found the one they were looking for. A child. The one born king of the Jews. They are a treasured part of the Christmas story, the visit of these men from the Ea…
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If your neighborhood is like mine, there have been lots of Christmas decorations lighting up the night these past few weeks. And if your neighborhood is like mine, then among those decorations have been some rather large inflatable figures. And if your neighborhood is like mine, those figures now lie dead on the ground, all the air, all the spirit,…
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The Word became flesh. The eternal God was born a man. Perfect God and perfect man in one person. Born to Joseph, born of Mary, in the little town of Bethlehem. He was given the name Jesus, the name chosen not by His earthly father or mother, but by His true Father, His heavenly Father. For the Word becoming flesh was not a lowering of God, but an …
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There was about to be a war. One enemy would have been enough, but now two had joined forces. The future was uncertain and seemed gloomy indeed. These were dark days. So the Lord sent his prophet, Isaiah, to the king, King Ahaz, to say to him -- do not be afraid. They will not win. And this is the sign the Lord will give you of this -- the virgin s…
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It just didn't seem right. God's house was a tent. It was a nice tent, to be sure. A special tent, not like the ones we sleep in and take camping. But it was still a tent. And that just didn't seem right to David. So as we heard in the Old Testament reading, David, bless his heart, says -- I'm going to fix this! I'm going to build God a house. Ther…
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The Night Will Soon Be Ending -- The Light that Has No End
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It's always darkest before the dawn, as the saying goes. Which is what Scripture tells us, too. That this world is not progressing toward utopia. This world is not getting better. But as we have been thinking about this Advent season, into this darkness God has shined His light. The light of His love. The light of His promise to give life to a dyin…
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It's now just about a week until Christmas. You might have your tree up already, and maybe there is even a gift already under it waiting to be opened in a week. But what if it doesn't have a tag? Then you have a problem. Then you have to try to figure it out. Investigate. Well, I submit to you today that's exactly what the Pharisees were doing with…
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