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Episodes
Thursday May 25, 2017
Thursday May 25, 2017
As we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus today, Pastors Nathanael Mayhew and Rob Sauers review and discuss the modern Ascension Day hymn, "Up Through Endless Ranks of Angels" (Hymn 737 in "Worship Supplement 2000"). The author of this hymn was a 20th Century Lutheran Hymn writer who is probably best known for writing "Go My Children with My Blessing" (Hymn 800 in "Worship Supplement 2000"). This hymn depicts the ascension of Jesus after completing the work of salvation for sinners and highlights beautifully the nature of Christ as true Man and as our acceptable sacrifice before God. It also brings out the Holy Spirit's work of Sanctification in our lives today as we await the return of our ascended Savior and look forward to the day when we will be with our Triune God for eternity.
Monday May 22, 2017
Monday May 22, 2017
In our Word of the Week, Pastor Mark Tiefel defines the word Ascension. On Thursday of this week the church celebrates Ascension Day, when after 40 day of appearing to His disciples after His resurrection, Jesus ascended back into heaven. The events of His ascension are recorded in Acts as well as Luke and Mark. It is also confessed in our Creeds when we say that Jesus has "ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father." Because Jesus has ascended into heaven, we have the confidence before the Father, because He serves as our Intercessor and Mediatior. Just as He ascended into heaven, so He will come again to judge the world and so we proclaim His word so that others may hear, believe and be prepared for that Day!
Friday May 19, 2017
Friday May 19, 2017
Today, Pastors Mark Tiefel and Nathanael Mayhew delve into the difficult New Testament letter of James. Who is the James the wrote this letter? What is the relationship between works and faith, and how can we reconcile what James write about works with what Paul writes about faith? How does this letter apply to our lives today and our calling as Christians? How are we to respond to sin in the our fellow believers and in the world around us? These are just a few of the questions that they will consider as they dig into this valuable letter. We hope that you will join us!
Monday May 15, 2017
Monday May 15, 2017
In our Word of the Week, Pastor Mark Tiefel takes a Biblical look at the topic of Motherhood. Through the Old and New Testaments, God gives us a beautiful picture of what He has designed motherhood to be. While our world continues to rebel against and even reject God's plan for motherhood, God's promise of blessing remains in the calling of mothers. He has designed the family in a very specific way, with fathers and mothers working together to bring up a new generation who will know and Him and the salvation He has accomplished in Jesus.
Monday May 08, 2017
Monday May 08, 2017
In our Word of the Week, Pastor Rob Sauers defines the word “hallow.” The word hallow is a synonym of the word saint. We see it in the word “Halloween” which is a shortened form of “All Hallows’ Eve” or “All Saint’s Eve.” We are probably most familiar with the word “hallow” when we’re praying the Lord’s Prayer. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word means to “set apart,” “devote,” “consecrate,” “make holy.” So the word is often used of people or things in connection with the worship of God (See Exodus 29:21 and Exodus 40:9). Everything that was used in the worship of God in the Old Testament was to be hallowed, sanctified, set apart – and this was meant, in part, to drive home the fact that God alone is holy.
When Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, he begins by saying, “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.” (Matthew 6:9). So how do we hallow God’s name? First of all, we hallow God’s name when we preach and teach what God’s Word says in all of it’s truth and purity. Secondly, we hallow God’s name by living a godly life. And so we pray that God would grant that we would hallow His name in all we say and do.
Tuesday May 02, 2017
Tuesday May 02, 2017
In this CPR episode, Pastors Neal Radichel and Mark Teifel discuss the topic of Christian stewardship. Stewardship is how we make use of the gifts and abilities that God gives to each one of us. God wants us to be good stewards or "caretakers" of all that He has given. These things are not ours, but the Lord's, and He has entrusted them to us for a time to be used to and for His glory. They will discuss stewarship in many areas of our lives and in using our time, talents and treasures.
Monday Apr 24, 2017
Monday Apr 24, 2017
Pastor Rob Sauers discusses the word "forgiveness" in our word of the week today. We often think of the emotional response of forgiveness, but the Biblical definition of forgiveness is about a restoration of a relationship through removal of sin. This is what God has done by sending away or blotting out our sins our transgressions. God is merciful, but also just. He cannot simply overlook our sin, His character must remove that sin through the punishing sin by death. It is in the person of Jesus that we receive that forgiveness as He paid our debt, and we have been restored in our relationship with God. God's forgiveness sets Christianity apart from the religions of the world. God has done all that was necessary to restore us to Himself through the death of Christ. Rejoice in the forgiveness of your sins through Jesus Christ.
Friday Apr 21, 2017
Friday Apr 21, 2017
This week Pastors Nathanael Mayhew and Mark Tiefel discuss Paul's letter to the Galatians in our Bible study episode. Only 6 chapters long, this short letter is full of application to our every day lives as Christians. God's Word has the ultimate purpose of pointing us to Jesus and the salvation He has won for us through His work of justification. Without this truth we are lost and condemned. So Paul defends the truth of God's Word and His salvation in Christ and warns of the danger of false teaching which undermines that truth. Why would we ever give up or set aside the only truth which is able to save us from sin and death? This truth sets of Jesus sets us free to serve God as a response for all that Christ has done for us. Join us as we journey through this valuable review of Christian freedom in Christ!
Monday Apr 17, 2017
Monday Apr 17, 2017
In the afterglow of the celebration of Jesus' victory over death we take a look at the word "resurrection" on this Easter Monday. The resurrection of Jesus, while denied and rejected by many, has a great deal of evidence to support it. 1) The resurrection is prophecied in the Old Testament and many places. Job (19:23-27) refers not only to the resurrection of Jesus, but also our resurrection on the last day. 2) Jesus Himself foretold His own resurrection (Luke 18:31-33) as well as our resurrection from death (John 14:19). 3) The tomb of Jesus was empty. If Jesus had not risen from the dead, the authorities simply would have had to produce the body of Jesus to remove all doubt. 4) The followers of Jesus boldly proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus, and many gave their lives for that truth. Who would give their life for a lie? 5) There are examples of other resurrections in the Old Testament (2 Kings 4:18-37), the Ministry of Jesus (Luke 7:11-16; Mark 5:35-42; and John 11), and in the ministry of the apostles (Acts 9:37-42; 20:9-12). God has given us plenty of evidence to see that the resurrection is true for Jesus, and for us. What hope and comfort is ours in the resurrection of Jesus who died for our sins and was raised for our justification!
Friday Apr 14, 2017
Friday Apr 14, 2017
On Good Friday in 2016, the movie Batman vs Superman was released and made quite a stir among Christians. Why was this movie released on Good Friday? Tune in to hear Pastors Nathanael Mayhew and Mark Tiefel discuss both the obvious and subtle religious and Christian themes throughout this movie. In the epic battle between good and evil, who makes the decisions about what is morally right and wrong? Are both characters presented to be of a Messianic type nature? What philisophical truths are being made in this film? Should the Christian even watch it? These are some of the questions that are tackled in this episode as we review the challenges the Christian faces with modern day messages in movies and medias today.