Author: goodshepherd

As we continue our season of Grace Abounds, we will see God’s grace revealed in an unlikely place. Jesus is met by representatives of a Gentile Centurion who is concerned about his dear servant, requesting that Jesus bring healing and restoration. Jesus does answer this request, but in one of the most unique ways we find in the Gospels. Perhaps even more surprising, Jesus holds up this Gentile Centurion’s great faith for us to observe. But what makes the faith of the centurion so great? Join us as we discover why.

This week, as we celebrate Holy Trinity Sunday, we dive into John, chapter 8, where Jesus is in a serious argument with some Jewish leaders. Despite Jesus' authoritative teaching and his incredible miracles, they still question who Jesus claims to be. However, after a brief discussion about Abraham, Jesus "drops the mic" and makes his identity perfectly clear. Join us this Sunday as we look at two of the great imponderables - the Trinity and the Incarnation.

As we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, we will be looking at the account of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. Through this passage, we see a vivid example of mankind's tendency to try to make our way up to God. And while our towers today look very different, we all have that same natural tendency. Come and hear the good news that instead of us having to make our way up to God through our efforts, God came down to us.

This Sunday, we join Jesus and His disciples in the upper room, the evening before his crucifixion. And as Jesus concludes, He prays what is called His "High Priestly Prayer". He prays for Himself. He prays for His disciples. And he prays for all believers everywhere in all times. Come and hear about the unity that Jesus prays for and what that unity provides.

As you've gone through life, have you ever felt like a door has been slammed in your face? You felt like you had a good and wise plan, but for some reason, God seemed to stop it in its tracks. In our text this Sunday from the book of Acts, Paul and his companions experience this very thing. But, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that God was doing great things all along. And in the end, the Gospel goes exactly where it needed to go. Come and hear how God is the one who opens both doors and hearts.

Have you ever considered how Jesus loves you? In our sermon text this Sunday, Jesus tells his disciples that the time for The Son of Man to be glorified is at hand: the suffering and death of the Messiah on the cross. This Son of Man is God incarnate; he is fully God and fully man that Jesus loves us. It is through his sacrificial love that Jesus gives a new command to us: that we love as Jesus loves. When we consider how Jesus loves us in his sacrificial death, which makes us right with God, we are empowered to follow Christ’s example of love.

This Sunday, as we look at a passage from John 10, Jesus is cornered by some Jewish leaders who demand that he plainly tell them whether he is the Christ or not. However, in Jesus' response, we find out that the problem is not that Jesus hasn't been clear about who he is. The problem is that they don't believe. And they don't believe because they are not his sheep. Come be reminded of the blessings of being sheep who have a Good Shepherd.

This Sunday we will be hearing the Law and the Gospel proclaimed by our Confirmation students. They will be covering the five main areas they have been studying for the last two years: the BIble, the 10 Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Sacraments. Come be encouraged and be an encouragement as we are reminded of the foundations of our faith.

This Sunday we continue to celebrate the Resurrection and our risen Savior. We also will be celebrating the ordination of Joel Erickson as our newest Elder at Good Shepherd. Dr. Eugene Boe will be both officiating the ordination and sharing a message from Acts 20.