Pastor Wayne Braun continues his teaching series "Called" with his message on 1/14/18 entitled, "Called to Live as God's Baptized Children!" What happens in baptism? Baptism means living in the confidence that God has written your name on His gifts. Baptism is not a loophole for sinning as much as you want. Living as God's baptized child is living in the "already" and the "not yet" of faith. Because of the "already" of faith you live spiritually debt free. The "not yet" of faith means that as a baptized child of God you are both saint and sinner. God has already determined that your whole life will be a life of daily dying and rising. "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." Romans 6:3-4
Pastor Wayne Braun's message on 1/7/18 was entitled, "Called to Shine!" from Isaiah 60:1-3. "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples, but the LORD will rise upon you and his glory will be seen upon you. And the nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising." God has called every one of us, "Come! Follow Me" but too often we respond by hitting the snooze button. God wants you and me to shine right where we are. God want people to see right through you so that they can see Jesus. God has not called you to reflect His light. He calls you to shine!
Pastor Allen Bauer concluded his teaching series, "Searching for the Perfect Present" with his message on December 31, 2017, entitled, "The Gift of Purpose". God made us and wants what is best for us. "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10b. How can we unwrap the gift of purpose? In Luke 2, the angels said that they brought good news of great joy for ALL people. God wants us to come and see the gift he has given us and to share the Good News with joy. "In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15 Go out in joy and praise God!
Pastor Allen Bauer continues his teaching series "Searching for the Perfect Gift" with his message on 12/17/17 entitled, "The Gift of Joy". There are things in our lives that are joy killers but God wants us to be joyful. "For the joy of the LORD is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10b. How can we unwrap the gift of joy? Remember that joy is NOT happiness. Recognize God as joyful. Remember Jesus' resurrection and remain close to Jesus.
Pastor Allen Bauer continues his sermon series, "Searching for the Perfect Gift" with his message on 12/10/17 "The Gift of Hope". How can we have hope? "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31. Hope goes beyond circumstances. "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1. How do we unwrap the gift of hope? Ask the Lord, Trust the Lord, Praise Him, and rely on His grace. The hope for this season is God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
What is patience? It has been defined as an inner calmness that comes from the knowledge that God is in control. Why is it difficult to have patience? We live by the clock. It is human nature and we are becoming an angry nation. "You need to have patience so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised." Hebrews 10:36
How can we unwrap the gift of patience? This gift comes from God - it is a fruit of the spirit. (Galatians 5:22) We must abide in Christ, slow down and wait on God. "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
Pastor Allen Bauer concludes his teaching series "Disciples Living as Grace-filled Stewards" with his message on 11/19/17, entitled, "Grace-filled Givers". Why do we give to the Lord? We give out of love, out of obedience, to support His work, to become more like Jesus. We give because we trust God and we want to establish the Lordship of Christ in our life. We give because of the abundance of blessings that He has given to us.
Pastor Allen Bauer begins his teaching series "Disciples Living as Grace-filled Stewards" with his message on 11/5/17, entitled, "Discipling Grace-filled Ambassadors". How do we live as Grace-filled ambassadors? Remain in Jesus. Live as Jesus did and be God's light in this world. Start where you are by doing simple things done in love. "In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15
Pastor Allen Bauer concludes his teaching series "Reformation" with his message on 10/29/17 Reformation Sunday, entitled, "Christ Alone" . What is it that drives us? For the World: it is DIY, power, money, etc. For the Christian: it is the Gospel, Christ, worship, love, and the world around us. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." Phillippians 2: 3-4
Pastor Allen Bauer continues his teaching series "Reformation" with his message on 10/22/17, entitled, "Faith Alone". What is faith? Faith is NOT about dreams or desires of a person. Faith is trust in god's promises. God has the power. God promises salvation through faith and God promises that we are a part of His family. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works." Ephesians 2:8-9a
Pastor Allen Bauer continues his teaching series on the Reformation with his message on 10/15/17, entitled, "Grace Alone". What is grace? It is a gift, paid by Christ, for our salvation. "For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people," Titus 2:11Grace is personal and is ongoing. "The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 1:14
Pastor Allen Bauer continues his teaching series "Reformation" with his message on 10/8/17 entitled, "Scripture Alone". Where does our authority come from? Jesus lived under God's authority. The scripture is our authority. "From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:15b-16 The Bible is a revelation from God and needs to be studied.
Pastor Allen Bauer continues his teaching series "The Teeter Totter of Life" with his message on 9/24/17, entitled, "Moving to Balance". Pastor asked 4 important questions. What will be the center of your life? "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength" Luke 10:27What will be the character of your life? "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus". Philippians 2:5What will be the contribution of your life? "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others." 1 Peter 4: 10a. What will be the communication of my life? "Your faith in God has become known everywhere." 1 Thessalonians 1:8b
Pastor Allen Bauer concludes his sermon series, "Living the Lord's Prayer" with his sermon, "Lead Us Not into Temptation; But Deliver Us from Evil". God does not tempt us. We are tempted by Satan and our own sinfulness. God may test us to bring us closer to him. We need to recognize that there is a battle going on for our eternal lives and we should not take the power of evil lightly. We need to ask for strength to resist and put on the full armor of God to take our stand against the devil's schemes. We are never alone is this battle but God is always with us.
Pastor J Brown, from Concordia University - Austin, gave the message on Sunday, September 10. This Sunday was Concordia University Sunday honoring all of the Concordia Universities in the country. Pastor Brown's message was "Christ, The Rock - A Foundation on Which We Can Rely". On Christ, the solid rock I stand; All other ground is sinking Sand.
Pastor Allen Bauer continues his teaching series "Living the Lord's Prayer" with his message on 9/3/17, entitled, "Forgive Us Our Trespasses". People don't like to talk about sin. However, "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" 1 John 1:9God is merciful. God gave to us Christ, who paid for our sins. We should respond to God's grace with grace. "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." 1 John 1:7
Pastor Allen Bauer is preaching a new series called "Living the Lord's Prayer. The message on August 6, 2017 was entitled, "Hallowed be Thy Name". Why is a name important? A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold" Proverbs 22:1
We can reverence God and worship Him by praying through the Names of God. Each of the names of God reveals some aspect of His character.
Elohim- The Mighty Creator- Gen. 1:1
Adoni- Lord or Master- Gen. 15
El Shaddai- Almighty- Gen. 17
El Elyon- Most High- Gen 14
El Roi- The Strong One- Gen 16
El Olam- Everlasting God- Gen 21
Yahweh- I Am Who I Am- Ex. 3
Yahweh Jireh- God our Provider- Gen. 22
Yahweh M’kaddesh- God who Sanctifies Lev. 20
Yahweh Nissi- Lord our Banner- Exodus 17
Yahweh Rohi- The Lord my Shepherd- Psalm 23
Yahweh Rophe- God who heals- Exodus 15
Yahweh Shalom- The God of Peace- Judges 6
Yahweh Shammah- The Lord is Here – Ezekiel 48
Yahweh Tsidkenu- The Lord our Righteousness – Jer. 23
Pastor Allen Bauer started a new teaching series "Everyone's Normal Until You Get to Know Them". He wrote out the messages while he is gone and this week his message was delivered by Lay Minister, Matt Dassow. "Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?". He answered, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." Genesis 3: 8-10How do we get out of hiding and build community? By 1) Repentance (repent so your sins may be wiped out); 2) Acceptance. Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone. and 3) Communication with God and with each other.