St Marcus MKE Sermons

Based on Luke 2: 8-20. Everyone is afraid. For all the excitement that surrounds Christmas, we humans tend to use the time around the holiday as a distraction from our daily fears. The First Christmas was also surrounded in terror. However, take comfort because we are told to "not be afraid." We need to listen and trust what we have been told by God through His Word. On this Christmas Eve, we ponder the good news of the Word made Flesh, just as Mary did upon our Messiah's arrival.

Pastor Jeske concludes his Advent series "What Magnificent Advent Plan!" with his Bible study on Galatians 3:26 - 4:7 - "Perfect Timing". Paul gives his final contrast between God's people before Christ's coming and the position they enjoy now. Paul has been stressing the temporal nature of the change. At this point he dwells on their status, moving from being slaves to becoming sons and daughters of their heavenly Father. Although Israel prayed for the Messiah to come during its many terrible times of national crisis, God waited until the world was ready to receive His Son—when the message of the gospel could be carried to the ends of the earth.

This week we'll be studying Judges 16:23 - 31 under the theme "The Weakness of Samson." Samson is famous for his feats of strength, but is was actually spiritual weakness that characterized most of his life. Disobedience to God, breaking his vows, and serving other gods are what ultimately led to his death. But in that rock bottom moment, in repentance, he returned to the One who'd given him every good thing. Samson was constantly failing. But God's grace to him was relentlessly unfailing. In his death, Samson saved more than in his life. And in so many ways, he points us to someone even greater, who was strong in his weakness, and saved many in his death.

Pastor Leyrer concludes his Advent Series "To Us a Child Is Born!" reflecting on Isaiah 9:6 "He Will Be Called...Prince of Peace."

Pastor Jeske' continues his advent series "What a Magnificent Advent Plan!" discussing the "retroactive benefits" in Hebrews 11:8-19. These verses highlight the glorious outcome of a lifetime of faith. The author reminds his readers that people like Abraham did not, in this life, receive all that they had been promised. God promised Abraham a nation as numerous as the stars. But all that Abraham received, in this life, was Isaac. Abraham died not yet receiving his nation. This did not stop Abraham from pressing on in faith. His faith was not in the reward but the God of the reward.

This week we'll be studying Judges 11:29 - 40 under the theme "The Recklessness of Jephthah." Like all of us, Jephthah is a bit of a product of his environment. He was raised in a highly dysfunctional environment, became a violent gang leader, but was tremendously gifted in leadership and battle. Unfortunately, though he knew who the true God was, Jephthah approached the Lord God not similar to the way the pagans worshipped their gods. In other words, he couldn't conceive of a God of grace, and it led him into doing, and saying, some really dangerous things. In Jephthah, we're reminded that God can use anyone to accomplish his purposes, but also that God's people will not want to approach him like any God, but as the one true God of grace.

In week two of Pastor Leyrer's advent series, we look at Isaiah 9:6 with the focus on "He Will Be Called...Everlasting Father". The prophet gives four throne names for Jesus in this verse - one being "Everlasting Father". He will be an enduring, compassionate provider and protector.

This morning, pastor Jeske brings part 2 of his Advent Series: WHAT A MAGNIFICENT ADVENT PLAN! Diving into Jeremiah 30:4-10, we learn God will do far more than bring the Jewish exiles back to rebuild Jerusalem. He will give them the new covenant, enable them to live with him forever and without sin, and provide a new David—the Messiah—to be their king. This implies that the return from exile is only the first step in God’s much greater work.

This week we'll be studying Judges 7:1-25 - under the theme "The Unlikely Leadership of Gideon." Gideon didn't actually have a lot going for him...from a worldly perspective. He's relatively poor, timid, and has no real connections. But when God flexes his muscles, he often uses such individuals, so that the glory is obviously his. We're going to see how, despite Gideon's constant need for reassurance, God ushers in a Kingdom victory against the Midianites through this broken vessel.

Pastor Leyrer's 3 week Advent series "To Us a Child Is Born!" starts by looking at Isaiah 9:2-7. Focusing on verse 6 - He Will Be Called ... Wonderful. As Wonderful Counselor, the coming Son of David will carry out a royal program that will cause all the world to marvel.

Pastor Jeske's Advent series, "What a Magnificent Plan", kicks off with a study on the "Meticulous Genealogy" in Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-37. Jews kept extensive genealogies as records of family descendants to establish a person’s heritage, inheritance, legitimacy, and rights. Matthew gives Jesus’ ancestry through Joseph’s line to demonstrate that Jesus is the legal heir to the covenant promises linked to David’s throne and the legal heir to the covenant promises linked to Abraham’s heirs and land. Comparing Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew (Mt 1:1–16) with the one found in Luke, Matthew begins with Abraham and works forward to David and then to Jesus, whereas Luke works back from Jesus beyond Abraham to Adam as the son of God. Each connection allows a point to be made about who Jesus is and whom he is qualified to serve. The connection to David establishes his rights as regal heir; Jesus can be king of Israel. “Son of God” in this sense involves the right to rule as the Promised One, the Son of David. It is important to appreciate the uniqueness of this list. We all have genealogies, but none of them qualifies us to be God’s chosen Son. We receive our role in God’s family through him. In a sense the only genealogy that counts for us is the one that connects us to Jesus, for his work makes our biological roots less relevant. He makes his children out of Jews and Gentiles, males and females.

We're taking a 1-week break from our Judges series, and this week we'll be meditating on our aim as grateful pilgrims in this world as we study from 1 Peter 1:3-8.

On this Thanksgiving Day worship, pastor Jeske's bible study, SAY YOUR THANKS NOT ONLY AT MEALTIMES, dives into the verses of Psalm 136. This psalm records a worship leader tracing God’s covenant love through the high points, verses that are devoted to the creation story, verses that retell the exodus, and a call to grateful worship.

Christ is Your King! Christ is Your Friend! This week's message is based on Colossians 1:15-23.

This week we'll be studying Judges 4:1-24 - under the theme "The Bravery of Deborah." God, who designed humans as male and female, has always had a better way of perceiving gender and sexuality than the fallen world. Cultures tend to vacillate between overly restrictive traditionalist viewpoints to progressive viewpoints that contain no guidance or parameters. But everything that is created has design and intention. And God created us male and female. The narrative of Deborah, Barak, and Jael are something of a brilliant microcosm of Scripture's teaching about gender roles, spiritual gifts, and faithfulness.

Based on Daniel 12:1-3. REMEMBER YOUR RESURRECTION! I. When Trouble II. Gives Way to Triumph Saints Triumphant Sunday points us to believers in heaven. The older we get, the more we look forward to living in glory. We peek into heaven through God’s Word and see Christian loved ones who have already been transferred from the church militant to the church triumphant. As much as we might miss them now, our hearts leap at the reminder that one day we will join them because their Savior is our Savior too.

Today's theme focuses on the Last Judgment with Pastor Jeske's bible study on Revelation 6:9-17 - What Will You Be Doing on Judgment Day? At the end of the world, Jesus will come back in glory to judge both the living and the dead. Those who believe in him receive a verdict of “not-guilty.” Those who do not believe stand condemned to the eternal suffering of hell. How wonderful it is to know our verdict ahead of time! “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

SERIES SUMMARY: The Book of Judges bridges the period between the exodus of the Israelites in Egypt and wandering in the wilderness, to the time of the Kingdom of Israel. God's people have settled in Canaan, but they didn't drive out all the people's God commanded them to. As a result, they continually fell into worshipping foreign gods (i.e. idols). To chastise them, God would allow one of these neighboring nations to oppress them. The Israelites would cry to God for help. And God would then send them a deliverer, a savior, a "judge" to deliver them militarily. When peace were restored, things went well, Israel got spiritually lazy, and the cycle would repeat. In this book, we find a recurring metaphor for apathy in God's people, and yet, God's zealous love for his people seems to increase even as our failures remain. This week we'll be studying Judges 3:12-20 - under the theme "The Dirty Work of Ehud." Ehud is an unlikely hero, an apparently disabled man, whom God uses to shame the proud King Eglon of Moab. The victory always belongs to the Lord. The question is whether we're willing to go the dirty places and do the messy work that God calls us to.

Today, we celebrate The Festival of the Lutheran Reformation looking at the question, "How Can I Be Sure about My Salvation?". Pastor Jeske's bible study dives into II Peter 1:12-21. The Festival of the Lutheran Reformation of the Church emphasizes the true Church’s unfailing reliance on the Word of God and unflinching testimony to it in the face of persecution. Jesus promised to pour out his Spirit on the Church that we might be God’s mouthpiece even before kings. Today the Church prays that the Lord gives us the strength to be faithful and the peace of knowing our lives are safe in his hands.

In this, our final week of the series, we'll be studying 1 Peter 5:5-7 - under the theme "HUMILITY (in Conversation) - RULE 9 - "Assume the person you're listening to might know something you don't." Jordan Peterson, as a clinical psychologist, knows that psychotherapy is more than just giving professional advice. It's engaged conversation, with an emphasis on listening. Humans need to be listened to in order to survive, but that requires humility on the part of the listener - a willingness to care about someone, and even reconsider your position based on their input. Listening is HARD. But it's a powerful expression of grace that can actually provide healing to the hurting.

This morning, Pastor Jeske finishes his bible study on "All You Need Is Love" by diving into the concept of "Love Your Church" as laid out in 1 Peter 2:17 - Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

This week we'll be studying Acts 5:1-11 - under the theme "HONESTY - RULE 8 - "Tell the truth - or, at least, don't lie." Honesty is the best policy...or so they say. "Best" in what regard? Honesty can certainly get us into trouble. It can certainly hurt feelings. Honesty can condemn. But it's also the only way forward. Whether we're talking about "telling lies" or "living lies" (i.e. denial), truth alone can set people free. Truth can create order, whereas deception breeds chaos. In our text this week, God establishes very early in the Church that he would not tolerate his people pretending to be something they were not.

Today's message follows the theme "Love Your Neighbor" continuing Pastor Jeske's series on "All you Need Is Love". The service includes a presentation on the Central Africa Medical Mission, a 60-year legacy of healthcare in Zambia and Malawi. The volunteers and national staff see many faces and have been a light of Jesus to many people.

This week we'll be studying Romans 12:1- under the theme "SACRIFICE - RULE 7 - "Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient)." Modern people often look at the ancients, and their practice of things like "sacrifices" as primitive and unscientific. Jordan Peterson, however, would argue that the concept of sacrificing something good in the present in order to bless the future in an even more substantial way is the single most important revelation in human history. The Bible, too, says a great deal about the sacrifice that Jesus made for us, and how we are to offer our lives as "living sacrifices" in response.

Today, seminarian Silas Dose shares a message on Numbers 11:16, 24-29 with the theme "All God's People Proclaim".

This week we'll be studying James 4:11-12 under the theme "CRITICISM - RULE 6 - "Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world." While creating something meaningful is hard work, tearing something down takes very little effort. This is perhaps most evident in our words. And while there are many ways to cause destruction with our words, stander/criticism might be THE most difficult for many of us Christians to resist. This week, we'll find out how criticism from our mouths is directly related to forgetting the gospel in our heads and hearts.

Today's bible study is part 2 in the series, "All You Need is Love". Today, Pastor Jeske focuses on the theme "Love Yourself". Diving into I Corinthians 1:4-9, Paul expresses thanks to God for the Christians in Corinth. God had been very kind to them, and he had done wonderful things in their lives. Most Christians in Corinth were not wealthy (1:26), but they lacked nothing in their relationship with God. God had made them able to speak for him. God had given them the knowledge that they needed. God had given them his Holy Spirit, and there was evidence of that fact in their lives.

This week we'll be studying Hebrews 12:7-11 under the theme "PARENTING - RULE 5 - "Don't let kids do anything that makes you dislike them." The fact that God uses the term "Father" as a way for us to describe his relationship with us is fascinating and fairly unique to Christianity. As a loving father, however, the assumption of the writer to the Hebrews is that this means God will discipline us through hardship in life. Many Christians don't like to hear this, just like many parents don't like to hear the necessity of discipline for the development of their child. But God designed us. He loves us and knows what we need for human flourishing. This includes discipline.

Pastor Jeske launches a new series "All You Need is Love". Today's message focuses on loving God. God calls us to know and love him. Here’s the heart of what God wants from us. First: to understand who God is. Second: God wants our devotion, loyalty, and love. Develop habits that help you know and love so you don’t forget. To know and love God means that we take repeated action to integrate that knowledge and love into every part of our lives: private, family, and public.

This week we'll be studying 2 Corinthians 10:12-18 under the theme "COMPARISON - RULE 4 - "Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today." If you don't find your identity in the gift of Christ's righteousness, you're going to look for it comparing some aspect of your life against the lives of others, just the way the rest of the world establishes identity. This week, Paul teaches us something about self-image as he contrasts his ministry with that of a group who considered themselves "Super Apostles."

With the theme of teaching your children, Pastor Jeske's bible study today focuses on the first 8 verses of Psalm 78. The psalm was apparently written by Asaph, who was a Levite and a music leader in the service of King David. People who do not orient their lives on the testimony of God in Scripture cannot know what is good for them or for their children. They may have strong opinions about what is right or helpful, but those opinions will be based on what feels good or on some cultural pressure or on some human tradition or authority less than God. But the Scripture says that God has established a testimony; he has appointed a law. And Jesus Christ has won our confidence and for his sake we believe the revelation of God in the law and the testimony. We have a God-given compass that keeps us from being lost in the forest of modern-day confusion, the compass of God’s law and his testimony in Scripture.

WHO IS EQUAL TO SUCH A TASK? I. You Are! You Have Words Blessed by Christ. II. You Are! You Are People Sent by God. Based on 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

Pastor Jeske completes his series on the songs and poems of the Divine Service with his study on the Agnus Dei. Turning again to the Revelation to St. John, at one point John sees a scroll in the right hand of the One who was sitting on the throne. A “strong angel” puts forth the challenge, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” Then, between the throne and the elders, the Lamb comes into view. Undoubtedly the most significant feature in John's description of this Lamb is that it is a lamb who appears to have been slain.

This week we'll be studying 1 Samuel 18:1-4 & 2 Samuel 1:26 under the theme "FRIENDSHIP - RULE 3 - Make friends with people who want the best for you." In the middle of paradise, God said that it was not good for man to be alone. If humans cannot survive Eden without friends, why would we think we can survive this place without believing friends? We'll take a look at the relationship between David and Jonathan to see what genuine friendship looks like, and how it is ultimately born out of friendship with Jesus.

Pastor Jeske continues his series on The Divine Service with a bible study on the Sanctus: Holy is the Lord God. If any part of the service has been recognized as providing a glimpse of heaven, it's the Sanctus: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth, heaven and earth are full of your glory.” This is the eternal song of the angels who hover over the throne of God in the vision of heaven that was given to Isaiah (Is. 6:1-4). Such was the splendor of their song that the very foundations of the threshold of the temple trembled at the sound.

This week we'll be studying Psalm 139:1-6, 13-16 under the theme "STEWARDSHIP OF SELF - RULE 2 - Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping." An apparent problem with modern western culture is the narcissistic obsession with self. With the rise of social media in the 2010s, every youth became a brand ambassador. It's killing self-image, community, expectations, and healthy relationships. There is an opposing danger that Christians might be less aware of though - poor self-care, i.e. a lack of stewarding self. This week, we'll look at the idea of treating ourselves the way God treats us.

When we pray, we’re often hesitant. Hesitant to believe that our small voices will be heard by the sovereign God reigning in heaven. Hesitant to think we even have the right words to say. But Jesus gave His disciples—and us—the Lord’s Prayer as a guide in our prayer life. This prayer contains words of confession, thanks, recognition, need, and praise; it’s the perfect prayer model from our perfect role model.

This week we'll be studying 2 Kings 6:8-23 under the theme "CONFIDENCE - RULE 1 "Stand up straight with your shoulders back." Humans, like animals, all fit into an invisible social structure called a dominance hierarchy that impacts our health, wealth, and and overall wellness. Much of this is based on confidence and aptitude. But is there a way to find healthy confidence without slipping into arrogance? Is there a way to be strong without dominating others? The promises of a gracious God offer exactly that. SERIES SUMMARY: Once a year we build a worship series around my favorite book, Christian or secular, from the past year :) This year we're structuring that series around Jordan B. Peterson's "12 RULES FOR LIFE: An Antidote to Chaos." Peterson has been labeled by NY Times as "The most influential public intellectual in the Western world right now." Though not a Christian himself, he is a clinical psychologist who certainly challenges many of the secular assumptions of modern America. We'll deconstruct some of his points, find how many of them have Scriptural roots, and demonstrate how an even greater wisdom and beauty is offered in the person of Christ.

Pastor Jeske continues his series on the parts of the Divine Service with today's study on the Nicene Creed. We use two creeds in our worship services from week to week: The Apostles' Creed and The Nicene Creed. Because the wording of the Apostles’ Creed developed over several hundred years, its authorship is unknown. It is clear that the apostles did not write the creed. Rather, the creed expresses the biblical teachings of the apostles. The Apostles’ Creed offers a simple summary of the Christian faith. For that reason, it has a long history of being associated with Baptism and instruction in God’s word. The Nicene Creed was the result of a church council that met in Nicea in 325 A.D. The Second Article of the Creed is much longer than that of the Apostles’ Creed because the council was addressing false doctrines about the person of Jesus Christ.

This week we'll be studying Luke 9:23 under the theme "Biblical Discipleship." Biblical Discipleship is the 3rd of our St. Marcus Core Values. We often talk about discipleship as allowing ourselves to be mentored by a Christian more seasoned than us and then helping mentor someone who is perhaps a step or two behind us. This is clearly God's design for the development of his Church. Furthermore, for the Church to grow in Christ-likeness, it requires believers to take up their own personal crosses to follow Jesus. In other words, the development of the Church requires personal sacrifice. But it works. And that's proven by the sacrifice Jesus made for us on his cross.

Settings of the Gloria in Excelsis find their origin in the song of the heavenly host to the shepherds near Bethlehem (Luke 2). Today's service focuses on the meaning and importance of the Gloria in Excelsis Christians across the world use in their liturgies. It is a heavenly song that the angels sing, one similar to the songs of heaven found throughout Revelation; for example: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing" (Revelation 5:12). That evening some two thousand years ago, heaven met earth as the Son of God was born of the Virgin Mary, sent forth from His Father's throne to do the work of salvation. What a blessing it is to join Christians around the world who have for centuries before us sung this song of praise to our God.

This week we'll be studying Ephesians 6:10-24 under the theme "Spiritual Warfare." As a deceiver and accuser, Satan's primary methodology is to trick us into think something that's not the real problem is the real problem. He convinces us to believe that our struggle in life is against flesh & blood - people, organizations, ideologies. In reality, the real struggle is spiritual. And if we don't demonize the actual demons, then we'll demonize others. Paul reminds us that Jesus won the cosmic war with an ultimate victory at the cross. This encourages to get up and fight the (right) battles daily.

Pastor Jeske's sermon series on the Divine Service begins with a message on 'Kyrie,' the ancient Greek contraction of the phrase "Lord, Have Mercy on Us." The focus of this morning's study is based on Luke 18:35-43.

This week we'll be studying Ephesians 6:1-9 under the theme "The Ministry of Authority." Americans have an interesting, sometimes unfortunate history with authority. We're a nation born out of revolution. While authorities do, in fact, need to be held accountable, they are nonetheless an establishment of God to bring peace and protection into our lives. Whether we're talking about parent/child relationships, or employer/employee relationships, or others, this lesson gives us unique resources to navigate admittedly flawed institutional authorities.

This week we'll be studying Ephesians 5:21-33 under the theme "The Ministry of Marriage." The first human relationship, and the most fundamental relationship for society, by God's design, is marriage. When it's ungodly, there's arguably nothing on earth closer to hell. When it's godly, there's perhaps nothing on earth closer to heaven. God ministers to us powerfully through marriage partners. And every believer, as the Bride of Christ (Church), will ultimately be married to Christ. This lesson therefore teaches each of us something important about our relationships.

Today's theme is "Rest in the Lord". Pastor' Leyrer's study "On Vacation with Jesus" dives into Mark 6:30-34. I. When Physical Rest Disappoints II. His Rest Always Delivers.

This week we'll be studying Ephesians 5:3-20 under the theme "Guided by the Spirit." Paul is starting to get very specific in his applications of the gospel in the lives of believers. This week, he addresses two major issues for believers - sexual immorality and drunkenness. For instance "How far is too far?" in our dating relationships? What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit rather than being filled with alcohol? Where do we find the motivation to resist common pleasure outlets in a fallen world? Paul will tells us how the Spirit guides us.

This week we'll be studying Ephesians 4:17-5:2 under the theme "The Christian Lifestyle." After the Apostle Paul told us the basis of our salvation by God's grace in chapters 1-3, he's now giving us the details of what it looks like to apply that salvation to our daily lives. In this text, he tells us to "put off the old self" that consists of worldly values, and "put on the new self" by aiming for honesty, calm, hard work, positive talk, and forgiveness. These new behaviors do not contribute to a new status, but flow out of the new status that has been gifted to us, as "dearly loved children of God."

This message is based on John 15:1-8.

This week we'll be studying Ephesians 4:1-16 under the theme "A Gifted Body: Principles of the Christian Walk." This week, we shift into the second half of Ephesians, which gives us careful instruction for our walk with Christ in this life. Specifically, we'll be looking at God's desire for unity amongst Christians, the reality of the Church's giftedness, and our capacity to mature, transform, and develop as his body.