Serving Jesus Christ

Pastor Warren Swanson
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Serving Jesus Christ is the podcast site of Pastor Warren Swanson of Our Savior's Free Lutheran in Argyle, MN. It includes a Daily Devotional and a Sermon Podcast.

  1. 2d ago

    June 14, 2026 Sermon - WHERE GRACE GOES WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING LEFT

    This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: WHERE GRACE GOES WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING LEFT! Today's message is called Where Grace Goes When You Have Nothing Left. We're spending time in one of the most breathtaking passages in all of the New Testament — Romans chapter 5, verses 6 through 15. And I have to tell you, when I sat down to prepare this message, I kept reading these verses over and over. Not because they were hard to understand. But because they are so almost unbelievably good. Here's what we're going to look at today. We're going to see that God didn't wait for us to get our lives together before He sent Jesus. He sent His Son while we were still helpless, while we were still sinners, while we were still enemies of God. Think about that. Grace didn't come after we cleaned ourselves up. Grace came while we were still a mess. In this message, we'll unpack three big ideas from this passage. First, we'll look at the timing of grace — why the words 'while we were yet' matter more than we might think. Second, we'll see the depth of love that drove God to send Christ for people who didn't deserve it and weren't asking for it. And third, we'll see the life-altering contrast between Adam and Christ — between what sin brought into the world and what grace brought in. There are three action points I want you to walk away with today. Number one — ask yourself honestly, are you still trying to earn something that has already been freely given? Number two — let the reality that God loved you at your worst reshape how you love the difficult people in your life. And number three — anchor your identity not in Adam's failure but in Christ's gift. That's the journey we're taking together today. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission.

    35 min

  2. Jun 5

    June 7, 2026 Sermon - Who Does He Think He's Eating With?

    This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: Who Does He Think He's Eating With? Today's message comes from Matthew chapter 9, verses 9 through 13. The title is "Who Does He Think He's Eating With?" — and honestly, that is the question that hangs in the air the moment Jesus sits down at a dinner table with a tax collector and a bunch of sinners. The religious leaders were scandalized. The neighbors were whispering. And Jesus? He just kept passing the bread. Here's what we're going to explore today: Why did Jesus call Matthew — a man most people despised — to follow Him? Why did Jesus deliberately go to a party filled with the wrong kind of people? And what does all of that have to say to us, right here, right now? In this message, we're going to look at three powerful truths that come out of this passage.  1.     First, that Jesus sees people everyone else has written off.  2.     Second, that Jesus pursues the broken, not the polished.  3.     And third, that following Jesus means going where He goes — even when it makes us uncomfortable. These are not soft, easy ideas. They are challenging. They push back against our natural tendency to stay comfortable, to sit with people just like us, and to keep our faith nice and tidy. But the gospel has never been neat. It has always been scandalous, beautiful grace. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission.

    27 min

  3. May 29

    May 31, 2026 Sermon - What Is Man?

    This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: Waiting On God With Whole Heart! Today's message comes from one of the most beloved poems ever written — Psalm 8. And I want you to hold on to that word: poem. Because that's what this is. King David didn't sit down with a theology textbook when he wrote Psalm 8. He stepped outside under the vast, star-splashed sky of the ancient Near East, and something deep inside him stirred. He looked up — and then he looked inward — and the result was this breathtaking song that asks one of the most honest questions any human being has ever asked: "What is man, that You take thought of him?" That question is just as alive today as it was three thousand years ago. In a world that sometimes tells you that you don't matter, that you're just a number, just a body, just a brief flash of existence in an indifferent universe — Psalm 8 thunders back with a different answer. A better answer. A truer answer. And it begins and ends not with us, but with God — with His majestic name, His sovereign glory, and His astonishing grace toward people like you and me. Here's what you can expect in today's message: We're going to walk through Psalm 8 carefully and prayerfully. We'll look at where this psalm came from, what it meant to its original audience, and why it matters enormously for how we live on a Tuesday in rural Minnesota. We'll talk about what it means that God's glory fills creation, why human dignity is not something we earn but something God gave, and how Jesus Christ Himself is the final and fullest answer to the question David asked. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission.

    29 min

  4. May 23

    May 24, 2026 Sermon - Waiting On God With Whole Heart

    This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: Waiting On God With Whole Heart! Today we're opening up Psalm 25, and I want to tell you right up front — this is one of those passages that feels like it was written yesterday. David wrote this psalm at a time when he was surrounded by enemies, weighed down by his own sin, and genuinely unsure which way to turn. And yet, instead of running away from God, he ran toward Him. He lifted his soul up like an open hand and said, "Lord, I'm trusting You. Teach me. Lead me. Forgive me." Sound familiar? It should. Because most of us are living in that same tension right now. In today's message — "Waiting on God with Whole Heart" — we're going to walk through three powerful truths. 1.     First, that real trust means surrendering your direction to God. 2.     Second, that God's guidance flows out of His deep, covenant love — what the Hebrew calls hesed. 3.     And third, that honest confession unlocks both God's forgiveness and His friendship. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission.

    29 min

  5. May 16

    May 17, 2026 Sermon - Trust God

    This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: Trust God! Today's message comes from 1 Peter 5:6–11, and we're calling it "Humble Yourself, Stand Firm, Trust God: Living in the Grip of God's Grace." This passage was written by the apostle Peter to Christians who were scattered across the ancient world, facing real suffering, real pressure, and real fear. And honestly, Peter's words feel like they were written for us today. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "My Jesus I Love Thee" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission.

    28 min

  6. May 9

    May 10, 2026 Sermon - The God You Don't Know — Yet

    This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: The God You Don't Know - Yet! In this episode, we're digging into one of the most remarkable scenes in the entire New Testament. We're heading to Athens, Greece — the intellectual capital of the ancient world — where the Apostle Paul stands in the middle of the Areopagus, the famous hill where the greatest thinkers of the day gathered to debate ideas. And Paul, without flinching, without apologizing, looks out at a city full of idols and says: "I see that you are very religious in all respects." And then he does something breathtaking. He takes their altar to AN UNKNOWN GOD and turns it into a declaration of the Gospel. Today's message is called The God You Don't Know — Yet. It comes from Acts 17:22–31, and it is one of the most relevant passages for the world we live in right now. We live in a culture that is, like Athens, very spiritual — but often worshiping in the wrong direction. People are searching. People are hungry. And the question Paul raises — and the question we're going to sit with today — is this: Do you know the God who made you? Do you know the God in whom you live and move and have your being? In this sermon, Pastor Swanson walks through four key movements in Paul's message: who God is, who we are, what God has done, and what God now calls us to do. We'll look at the historical backdrop of Paul's visit to Athens, the cultural moment we find ourselves in today, and the simple, beautiful, urgent call of the Gospel. Paul's message was not a timid suggestion. It was a proclamation — and it still is. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "My Jesus I Love Thee" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission.

    40 min

  7. May 1

    May 3, 2026 Sermon - You Are God's Own: Living as the Living Stones

    This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: You Are God's Own: Living as the Living Stones Today's message comes from one of the richest, most identity-shaping passages in the entire New Testament — 1 Peter 2:2–10. And I want to tell you right up front: this is not just theology for the seminary classroom. This is a living word for living people in a confusing world. Peter is writing to believers who are scattered, displaced, and struggling to know who they are when the culture around them keeps telling them they don't belong. Sound familiar? Because honestly, that sounds a lot like the church today. In this sermon, we're going to walk through three powerful realities that Peter lays out. First, we're going to talk about what it means to crave God's Word the way a newborn craves milk — urgently, instinctively, and constantly. Second, we're going to look at what it means to be built as living stones on the foundation of Jesus Christ — the Cornerstone the world rejected but God chose. And third, we're going to sit with the breathtaking identity God gives His people: a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession. Each of these realities carries with it a practical challenge for the week ahead. So grab your Bible, open it to 1 Peter 2, and let's dig in together. I believe God has something for you today. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission.

    32 min

  8. Apr 25

    April 26, 2026 Sermon - The Voice That You Can Trust!

    This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: The Voice That You Can Trust! You know what? We live in a world full of voices. Everywhere you turn, someone is telling you what to believe, how to live, what matters most. Some voices are loud. Some are persuasive. Some even sound spiritual. But here's the question we need to ask—which voice can you trust? Today we're going to look at John 10:1-10, where Jesus begins teaching about shepherds, sheep, and thieves. At first glance, it might seem like a simple illustration. But honestly, it is much more than that. Jesus is drawing a clear line between truth and deception, between those who come from God and those who do not. And here's the thing—this matters deeply for your life. Because if you follow the wrong voice, you will end up in the wrong place. But if you listen to the voice of Christ, you will find life, safety, and truth. In today's message, we're going to see three key truths: 1.     First, that there are false voices trying to lead people astray. 2.     Second, that Jesus alone is the true Shepherd. 3.     And third, that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. So wherever you are right now—driving, sitting at home, or taking a walk—I want to encourage you to listen carefully. Not just to me, but to the Word of God. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission.

    29 min
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About

Serving Jesus Christ is the podcast site of Pastor Warren Swanson of Our Savior's Free Lutheran in Argyle, MN. It includes a Daily Devotional and a Sermon Podcast.

Information

  • Creator
    Pastor Warren Swanson
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Warren Swanson
  • Show Website
    Serving Jesus Christ