St. Paul's Howards Grove Podcast St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, Howards Grove

This weekend thirteen young people are confirmed in the faith. Though Confirmation is not commanded in Scripture, the occasion serves several good purposes. It is a celebration of the Holy Spirit’s work in the hearts and lives of these teens, giving them faith and knowledge and growth in the Scriptures. It is also a public profession of faith by these young men and women, who are saved by God’s grace in Christ alone. Confirmation is furthermore an acknowledgment that they are able to examine themselves and are prepared to receive the Sacrament of Communion. Finally, Confirmation includes a promise of the faithfulness Jesus calls for in Revelation 2:10 – Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. Where else would we go? Jesus has the words of everlasting life. We are “Determined to Remain with the Lord”. Our sermon comes from John 6.

There are over 21,000 acres of cranberry marshes in the state of Wisconsin - more than any other state by far. That's a lot of fruit! Jesus says that anyone connected to him will bear much fruit. He was talking about the good works produced by believers that are deliciously sweet to God in heaven. On this 5th Sunday of the Easter season, Jesus teaches us about our new lives connected to him: "Living Branches Bear Much Fruit."

When people have a dog, they care for it much like a member of the family. They give it a name. They feed it. They take it on walks. They take it to the vet for shots. The dog is there for holidays and included in pictures and perhaps even goes along on vacations. Jesus reminds us today how much he cares for us as his sheep. He knows us, speaks to us, feeds us, and gives us rest. His love and care far surpass ours for a family pet. He was willing to lay down his life for us. We have the best Shepherd! “Our Risen Lord Shepherds Us.” Our sermon today comes from Acts 20.

When there are tornados touching down in our area, we take shelter. We go to an interior room with windows or to the basement and we hunker down. We know what it’s like to be confined and cowering. The disciples were gathered behind locked doors and terrified of persecution. No matter what fears have us feeling trapped, Jesus comes to us today and offers the message of forgiveness, proof of his presence, and the confidence of eternal life in him. “Our Risen Lord Calls Out Peace.” Today's sermon comes from John 20.

If you would have known the construction workers on night shift at the Key Bridge in Baltimore earlier this week, and if you would have known that the bridge would be hit by a cargo ship early Tuesday morning, what would you have said? What would you have done? There are so many things in life that we don’t know: what will happen tomorrow, whom we will meet throughout the rest of this year, when we will die. But we do know the most important thing. It brings certainty for us and hope for others and security for all time. It is this confidence in Christ that we join to celebrate today: “I Know that My Redeemer Lives.” Our sermon comes from Mark 16.