Sermon Messages from Ascension Lutheran Church

Speaker: Rev. Mark Mueller Scripture Focus: 2 Timothy 3:14–4:5 Service Summary: How shall we pray? That question is the focus of today’s Readings. With Jacob as a model, our prayer might seem to be a struggle with God’s will. And Jesus’ parable teaches that prayer is a long-term effort. But prayer is more than a monologue; the Epistle reminds us that God started the conversation with His Word. The Spirit has used Word and Sacrament to awaken and guide our faith. Within that relationship, prayer is a conversation begun by God and continued each day. In worship, we do that with our brothers and sisters in Christ, moving from individual concerns to those of the Body of Christ, the Church. And in worship, we take the time to listen as God accuses and then excuses us by grace for Jesus’ sake. So let us pray and worship together.

Speaker: Rev. Raleigh Sims Scripture Focus: Luke 17:11-19 Service Summary: We know a lot about some of the people in today’s Readings. We could write a typical biography of Ruth, for example, because we know her family’s names and even that she was an ancestor of Jesus. Last week we learned that Timothy, the addressee of today’s Epistle, had a Christian mother and grandmother, and is now a young pastor. But all that we know about the leper who thanked Jesus in today’s Gospel is that he was a Samaritan. Yet that is sufficient, for only through his faith in our Lord was he truly saved, not from leprosy only, but from his sins and his sinfulness. He was ready to live in thanks and praise of his Savior and ours. What’s the story of your life? We were dead in sins but now are alive in Christ Jesus. May God strengthen you to share His love as the story of your life continues to unfold.

Speaker: Rev. Mark Mueller Scripture Focus: Proverbs 3:1-10, Galatians 6:2-10, & Matthew 16:24-26 Service Summary: Our theme for this year reflects our response to who God is and what He has done for us. Generous giving is comprised of three components, all required to be fully realized. The third side of this triangle is “Giving In.” Giving in, as it relates to generous giving, is not about resignation, but about loving those who journey with you as Jesus’ followers. It is about supporting and sustaining our brothers and sisters in Christ for the benefit of both the individual as well as the whole group. Jesus describes it: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

Speaker: Rev. Mark Mueller Scripture Focus: Deuteronomy 24:17-22, Colossians 3:2-6, & Luke 19:1-10 Service Summary: Our theme for this year reflects our response to who God is and what He has done for us. Generous giving is comprised of three components, all required to be fully realized. The second side of this triangle is “Giving Out.” As a recipient of Jesus’ generous giving, I want to follow his lead to be an invitational missionary and connect people to Christ.