Sure Foundation Lutheran Church

Sure Foundation Lutheran Church
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  • Religion & Spirituality
  • Updated Weekly

This is a sermon podcast from Sure Foundation and Pastor Craig Wilke.

  1. Exodus 32:15-29 - Jesus Satisfies Both Justice & Mercy

    Jun 29

    Exodus 32:15-29 - Jesus Satisfies Both Justice & Mercy

    Exodus 32 gives us one of Scripture's most brutal and beautiful moments in the same passage — 3,000 men killed by their own brothers, and a mercy that kept the entire nation alive. In this episode, we dig into the text and ask the question the whole Bible is building toward: how can God be fully just and fully merciful at the same time? We trace the golden calf back to its Egyptian roots, sit with Aaron's stunning deflection, and follow Moses to the gate of the camp where he issues one of the most dramatic calls to decision in the Old Testament. Along the way, we look at the modern versions of the golden calf — the gods we quietly build out of politics, performance, and comfort — and why sin is better understood as betrayal than rule-breaking. Moses tried to stand in the gap. He couldn't. But someone did.

    24 min
  2. Jeremiah 20:7-13 - Faith Refusing to Pretend

    Jun 22

    Jeremiah 20:7-13 - Faith Refusing to Pretend

    "You are the hero of the story. Everything is going to work out in your favor." Triumphalism sounds inspiring — until the cancer comes back. Until the financial loss is met with more loss. Until the hard times just keep going. In this episode, we look honestly at the gap between the triumphalist outlook and the reality of life in a broken world. And we ask a question that might be more personal than it first appears: do you pray to God like a good friend or a bad friend? Because there's a difference between a relationship and a performance — and God is after the real thing. Our text is Jeremiah 20:7-13, one of Scripture's rawest prayers. Jeremiah has just been beaten and put in stocks by the chief temple officer. He is released, pronounces judgment, and then does something remarkable: he brings his unfiltered anguish straight to God. No performance. No curation. Just honest wrestling — and underneath it all, genuine faith. Because that's what lament is. Not faithlessness. Not despair. Faith refusing to pretend.

    24 min
  3. Matthew 9:35-10:8 - God Sends You Shepherds

    Jun 15

    Matthew 9:35-10:8 - God Sends You Shepherds

    What does it mean to serve God — and does it matter how you do it? In this sermon, we tackle a tension that quietly exists in many church communities: the relationship between the doctrine of vocation and the public ministry of the Gospel. Every calling matters. The nurse, the police officer, the parent — God works through all of them. But there is also something uniquely important about those called to preach, teach, and shepherd God's people. Drawing from Matthew 9, we explore why Jesus looked out at the crowds and felt compassion — not frustration — when he saw people who were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. That image hasn't aged a day. The world still has no shortage of false voices, empty promises, and people starving for the truth of the Gospel. And the harvest is still plentiful — but the workers are still few. This sermon unpacks what the public ministry is, why it matters deeply to God, and what you can do about it — whether you're called to the pulpit or the job site. You'll walk away with seven practical takeaways, from how to pray for your pastors, to why simply speaking highly of the ministry can change someone's life.

    26 min
  4. 1 Timothy 1:12-17 - A Billboard of God's Grace

    Jun 8

    1 Timothy 1:12-17 - A Billboard of God's Grace

    What do Wall Drug's famous billboards have to do with your faith? If you've ever driven through South Dakota, you know the signs. Hundreds of them, stretching across the plains, all pointing you to one little drugstore in the middle of nowhere. The Apostle Paul's life works the same way — as a billboard pointing people straight to the grace of God. Paul was no ordinary sinner. He mocked Christians, hunted them down, threw them in prison, and stood by approvingly while they were killed. By his own description: a blasphemer, a persecutor, a violent man. If anyone was beyond saving, it was Paul. And yet God's grace didn't trickle in — it flooded him. In this episode, we dig into 1 Timothy and what Paul's dramatic story means for anyone carrying a heavy past. But we also look at something Paul says that might surprise you — he doesn't describe himself as the worst of sinners in the past tense. He says it in the present. And understanding why he does that changes the way you see yourself, your sin, and your Savior. Here's what we unpack in this episode: Why the closer you grow to God, the more aware you become of your own sin — and why that's actually a good thing Why looking inward for strength and salvation is always the wrong move How your personal story of needing grace is more powerful than having all the right answers You don't need a perfect testimony. You just need an honest one. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst. — 1 Timothy 1:15 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear that grace is bigger than their worst.

    26 min
  5. 1 Corinthians 12:3-11 - The Holy Spirit's Signature

    Jun 3

    1 Corinthians 12:3-11 - The Holy Spirit's Signature

    Every person has gifts. The question is: what are those gifts for? In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 12, we explore Paul’s powerful teaching about spiritual gifts, the body of Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit in the church. In a culture that celebrates individual ability and personal recognition, this message reminds us that God never gives gifts for self-glory, but for serving others and building up His people. This sermon covers: What spiritual gifts are—and where they come from Why no Christian is unnecessary in the Church The danger of pride, comparison, and self-centeredness How the Holy Spirit uniquely equips every believer What it means to function together as the Body of Christ Whether you feel overlooked, uncertain about your purpose, or tempted to measure yourself against others, 1 Corinthians 12 points us back to this truth: every gift matters because every member belongs to Christ. “The body is not made up of one part but of many.” — 1 Corinthians 12:14

    21 min
  6. 2 Corinthians 13:14 - The Triune God For You

    Jun 2

    2 Corinthians 13:14 - The Triune God For You

    What happens when a good gift from God becomes the thing we trust most? Human intelligence is one of God’s incredible blessings. Through reason, discovery, science, medicine, and innovation, God has allowed humanity to accomplish amazing things. But Scripture also warns that even good gifts can become idols. In this sermon, we explore how the human mind—when separated from humility and faith—can tempt us toward self-sufficiency and away from dependence on God. From modern science to ancient philosophy, from the expanding universe to the mystery of the Trinity, this sermon examines the limits of human reason and the danger of believing that if we cannot fully understand God, He must not be true. Instead, we are called to trust the God who has revealed Himself in His Word—even when His greatness surpasses our understanding. Topics include: Intelligence as a gift from God When reason becomes an idol The limits of human understanding The doctrine of the Trinity Why mystery does not disprove God Faith, humility, and dependence on Christ “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5

    21 min
  7. 1 Peter 5:6-11 - Humble Before God, Strong Before Temptation

    May 18

    1 Peter 5:6-11 - Humble Before God, Strong Before Temptation

    In a culture that prizes independence and self-reliance, what does it actually mean to live by faith? In this sermon on 1 Peter 5:6–11, we explore the spiritual danger of self-sufficiency and the comfort of living with complete dependence on God. While our sinful nature wants to question God’s wisdom and rely on our own strength, Peter calls Christians to humble themselves under God’s mighty hand, cast every anxiety on him, and stand firm in the faith against the attacks of the devil. This message points us to Christ, who humbled himself to save us and was exalted in glory after completing his work of redemption. Because Jesus has secured our eternal future, we can trust God’s will even when it challenges us, bring our burdens to him first, and find true strength not in ourselves, but in the Lord who cares for us.

    20 min
  8. 1 Peter 3:13-22 - You've Beat Them, Don't Join Them

    May 11

    1 Peter 3:13-22 - You've Beat Them, Don't Join Them

    Why do the wicked seem to prosper while believers suffer? And when following Christ feels costly, is compromise really the easier path? In this sermon, we trace a thread through Scripture—from King Ahaz’s disastrous alliance with Assyria, to Asaph’s struggle in Psalm 73, to Noah enduring ridicule while building the ark, to persecuted Christians addressed by the Apostle Peter. Each faced the same temptation: If you can’t beat them, join them. But God’s Word gives a different perspective. Peter reminds suffering believers that Christ himself suffered—the righteous for the unrighteous—to bring us to God. His suffering was not defeat. His resurrection declared victory. And when Jesus descended into hell, he descended not to suffer, but to proclaim triumph over sin, death, and the devil. This episode explores: Why worldly success can tempt Christians toward compromise The honesty of Psalm 73 and Asaph’s envy of the wicked Noah’s perseverance in a hostile world How Christians are called to suffer with gentleness, hope, and confidence What Jesus’ descent into hell actually means How baptism connects believers to Christ’s victory and resurrection When suffering whispers that faithfulness is pointless, God points you to Christ—the crucified and risen Savior who has already won.

    25 min
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About

This is a sermon podcast from Sure Foundation and Pastor Craig Wilke.

Information

  • Creator
    Sure Foundation Lutheran Church
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Sure Foundation Lutheran Church