Webcasts

Worship Service Check-In: http://www.immanuelpalatine.org/checkin

Worship Service Check-In: http://www.immanuelpalatine.org/checkin

Worship Service Check-In: http://www.immanuelpalatine.org/checkin

Any gardener will admit they have seen certain plants flourish while others fail. The plants don’t get a choice in the matter. A plant cannot affect the amount of sunlight, moisture, or attention it receives. It simply grows the way it was designed to. You have been planted by the Lord in His garden. You have seen the light of His Gospel, been watered in Baptism, and been nourished by heaven’s food. You have been designed to flourish! A pear tree doesn’t grow pumpkins, and neither do the redeemed fall back into fear or slavery. You are the harvest of the Lord. We grow to His glory.[

Any gardener will admit they have seen certain plants flourish while others fail. The plants don’t get a choice in the matter. A plant cannot affect the amount of sunlight, moisture, or attention it receives. It simply grows the way it was designed to. You have been planted by the Lord in His garden. You have seen the light of His Gospel, been watered in Baptism, and been nourished by heaven’s food. You have been designed to flourish! A pear tree doesn’t grow pumpkins, and neither do the redeemed fall back into fear or slavery. You are the harvest of the Lord. We grow to His glory.

Any gardener will admit they have seen certain plants flourish while others fail. The plants don’t get a choice in the matter. A plant cannot affect the amount of sunlight, moisture, or attention it receives. It simply grows the way it was designed to. You have been planted by the Lord in His garden. You have seen the light of His Gospel, been watered in Baptism, and been nourished by heaven’s food. You have been designed to flourish! A pear tree doesn’t grow pumpkins, and neither do the redeemed fall back into fear or slavery. You are the harvest of the Lord. We grow to His glory.[

The secular calendar seems always to try to overshadow the Church Year. The rhythm of the church and her time cycles apart from such holidays. We do not ignore Independence Day weekend and yet we do not allow it to overwhelm the Good News of Christ that transcends all things. Today our Lord contrasts the wisdom of the world with the hidden wisdom of God—something a child can discern by faith. Because our Lord has accomplished all things for us and our salvation, we rejoice in His easy yoke. We wait upon the Lord, putting our trust neither in flesh and blood nor in princes or earthly powers but in Christ alone. This promise of rest in Christ is given not to the few but to all who come heavy laden with sin, guilt, shame, sorrow, and death. No wonder the little child understands! Thanks be to God.

The secular calendar seems always to try to overshadow the Church Year. The rhythm of the church and her time cycles apart from such holidays. We do not ignore Independence Day weekend and yet we do not allow it to overwhelm the Good News of Christ that transcends all things. Today our Lord contrasts the wisdom of the world with the hidden wisdom of God—something a child can discern by faith. Because our Lord has accomplished all things for us and our salvation, we rejoice in His easy yoke. We wait upon the Lord, putting our trust neither in flesh and blood nor in princes or earthly powers but in Christ alone. This promise of rest in Christ is given not to the few but to all who come heavy laden with sin, guilt, shame, sorrow, and death. No wonder the little child understands! Thanks be to God.

The secular calendar seems always to try to overshadow the Church Year. The rhythm of the church and her time cycles apart from such holidays. We do not ignore Independence Day weekend and yet we do not allow it to overwhelm the Good News of Christ that transcends all things. Today our Lord contrasts the wisdom of the world with the hidden wisdom of God—something a child can discern by faith. Because our Lord has accomplished all things for us and our salvation, we rejoice in His easy yoke. We wait upon the Lord, putting our trust neither in flesh and blood nor in princes or earthly powers but in Christ alone. This promise of rest in Christ is given not to the few but to all who come heavy laden with sin, guilt, shame, sorrow, and death. No wonder the little child understands! Thanks be to God.

Jesus has not come to calm the world but to lead us into battle. That battle is inside of us—the call to take up the cross, to deny self, and to follow Jesus. He has already won the victory over death and the devil, and now He works to sanctify us in this truth. While this might appear to be surrender, it is the only path to finding our lives and keeping them to everlasting life. We are bearers of this message to the world and accompanied with the promise that Christ is working in us and through us to make the Gospel known. Yet in the midst of this, we are encouraged that the smallest good work will not be overlooked by the Father, and those redeemed by Christ have a heavenly reward awaiting their faithful believing and living.

Jesus has not come to calm the world but to lead us into battle. That battle is inside of us—the call to take up the cross, to deny self, and to follow Jesus. He has already won the victory over death and the devil, and now He works to sanctify us in this truth. While this might appear to be surrender, it is the only path to finding our lives and keeping them to everlasting life. We are bearers of this message to the world and accompanied with the promise that Christ is working in us and through us to make the Gospel known. Yet in the midst of this, we are encouraged that the smallest good work will not be overlooked by the Father, and those redeemed by Christ have a heavenly reward awaiting their faithful believing and living.

Jesus has not come to calm the world but to lead us into battle. That battle is inside of us—the call to take up the cross, to deny self, and to follow Jesus. He has already won the victory over death and the devil, and now He works to sanctify us in this truth. While this might appear to be surrender, it is the only path to finding our lives and keeping them to everlasting life. We are bearers of this message to the world and accompanied with the promise that Christ is working in us and through us to make the Gospel known. Yet in the midst of this, we are encouraged that the smallest good work will not be overlooked by the Father, and those redeemed by Christ have a heavenly reward awaiting their faithful believing and living.

Polls tell us that many of us live in fear and struggle with depression. Jesus calls us not to be afraid—not because we have no enemies but because He is stronger than them all. God knows the score—from every bird that falls from the sky to every hair on our head. He has invested His love and mercy in us in Christ and will not turn away from us. This promise is sure. Because of this, we can surrender our fears of being known as His children. Everyone who confesses Him on earth, Christ will confess him before His Father in heaven. From this promise comes the strength to live the new life given to us in our Baptism and to make known what Christ has done by His death and resurrection—for us and for all the world. We are called to judge not by the times but by the promises of God. Neither will He disappoint us nor will He forsake us.

Polls tell us that many of us live in fear and struggle with depression. Jesus calls us not to be afraid—not because we have no enemies but because He is stronger than them all. God knows the score—from every bird that falls from the sky to every hair on our head. He has invested His love and mercy in us in Christ and will not turn away from us. This promise is sure. Because of this, we can surrender our fears of being known as His children. Everyone who confesses Him on earth, Christ will confess him before His Father in heaven. From this promise comes the strength to live the new life given to us in our Baptism and to make known what Christ has done by His death and resurrection—for us and for all the world. We are called to judge not by the times but by the promises of God. Neither will He disappoint us nor will He forsake us.

Polls tell us that many of us live in fear and struggle with depression. Jesus calls us not to be afraid—not because we have no enemies but because He is stronger than them all. God knows the score—from every bird that falls from the sky to every hair on our head. He has invested His love and mercy in us in Christ and will not turn away from us. This promise is sure. Because of this, we can surrender our fears of being known as His children. Everyone who confesses Him on earth, Christ will confess him before His Father in heaven. From this promise comes the strength to live the new life given to us in our Baptism and to make known what Christ has done by His death and resurrection—for us and for all the world. We are called to judge not by the times but by the promises of God. Neither will He disappoint us nor will He forsake us.