It's Time to be Certain - Pastor Nathan Moldenhauer

Who do you know that needs to hear their sins are forgiven? Who needs to hear that? “Your sins are forgiven.” And believe and trust it with absolute certainty.

You know what you did. You know what you said. You know who you hurt. And you know what a deep offense it is to God. Sin– all sin – is offensive to our holy God. Your sin and my sin. You know that and you feel that. Yes, you know and believe in Jesus as your Savior. You went to Sunday School. You attended Starting Point or confirmation class. You come to church every Sunday. You confess your sins with your fellow worshipers, and you listen as the pastor announces and proclaims the absolution. And yet you’re not so sure. You doubt it’s for you. Or at the very least, you lack certainty. Because you know what you did. You remember. Perhaps you even continue to struggle with that same sin. Is God’s forgiveness really for you? Is it true?

Dear friend of God, to whom will you be Luke? To whom will you say: I have carefully investigated. I believe and trust. Jesus Christ suffered and rose from the dead on the third day. Your sins are forgiven. It’s true and it’s for you. It’s time to be certain. Amen.

Time in God's Word with Pastor Moldenhauer!

It Is Time to Invite the Unworthy (Reverend Ross Henzi)

Every single one of us, on our own, are a mess. We are all sinful human beings. Every one of us is unworthy. Once you know that, once you understand that, once you know that by God’s grace the gospel is what brought you to Jesus, you begin to want that for everybody else.

Look at Jesus. Look at who he welcomed. He met with, talked to, and ate with sinners. Tax collectors. The poor and the sick. The outcasts. He went to the woman at the well (she was certainly unworthy), but once she heard the gospel, she immediately went and invited others to come and hear. Jesus went to Peter who denied him, Thomas who doubted him, and Paul who at that time was desperately trying to stop the gospel from being shared.

Jesus didn’t wait for any of them to become worthy. Jesus went to them, called them, forgave them, and restored them. Just as he has with you and me. And now he’s sending us. He’s sending us out to extend the gospel invitation to others who are unworthy.

This place here, this church here, wasn’t built to be a home for the few, the proud, the chosen. This place was built by and for unworthy sinners who have been rescued by grace.