St. John Lutheran Church

https://www.sjlcmetro.com/ "Spiritual Rest in a Chaotic World," is the title of this message based on Matthew 11:25-30. Just as Jesus faced monumental opposition and struggles when He was on earth, so we too face struggles unique to our time in history; things like pandemics and rioting in our streets. When we are overwhelmed and don't know which way to turn, Jesus offers to share our burdens and provide rest so that we can carry on His mission of spreading the Gospel in today's world. Matthew 11:25-30 ESV Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest 25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.[a] 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

https://www.sjlcmetro.com/ This message is based on 1 John 3:1-11 and is entitled, "Learning How to Love Like Jesus." We pray you will listen in as we explore the importance and nature of the call to radical love which resounds all throughout Scripture and is perfectly embodied by the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 John 3:1-11 ESV 3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears[a] we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's[b] seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. Love One Another 11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

https://www.sjlcmetro.com/ In this message, entitled, "A Prescription for Persecution," based on Matthew 5a, 21-33, we deal with a very difficult topic. Jesus instructs His disciples before sending them out into ministry, telling them that they will encounter resistance and persecution in the same manner that He did. Our Lord and the Scriptures are brutally honest in order to prepare us for both the joys and the heartbreak of ministry. Rather than being caught by surprise, Jesus teaches us to expect persecution and to endure by relying on His strength. Matthew 10: 5, 21-33 ESV Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles 5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant[a] above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign[b] those of his household. Have No Fear 26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.[c] 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?[d] And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

https://www.sjlcmetro.com/ This message is part 2 of a sermon entitled, "The Marching Orders of Our Lord," based on Matthew 28:16-20. In this message we learn how the authority that Jesus gives the Church and His followers is to be used to build His kingdom on earth. Our mission to make disciples is ongoing and provides the foundation for all that we do in our homes and as a Church. Figuring out what this means in every culture and time provides an ongoing challenge for the Church until Jesus returns! Matthew 28:16-20 ESV The Great Commission 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

https://www.sjlcmetro.com/ This is the first of a two-part series on Jesus' final instructions to the Church based on Matthew 28:16-20. In the first part, we explore the nature of Jesus' Divine authority over all things and how that authority is given first to His disciples and then to all of His followers and the Church. Though some of the early followers doubted at first, they became convinced of Jesus' authority. Given the chaos we are experiencing in our nation and world today, the Church needs a reminder that we have been given the authority of our Lord, not to wield over others, but to bring peace amidst the chaos! Matthew 28:16-20 ESV The Great Commission 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

https://www.sjlcmetro.com/ In this Pentecost Day message entitled, "A Fresh Outpouring of the Holy Spirit," based on John 7:37-39, we remember how Jesus promised "living water" would flow from those who would believe in Him as a result of the working of the Holy Spirit. John 7:37-39 ESV Rivers of Living Water 37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as[a] the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

https://www.sjlcmetro.com/ In this message entitled, "The True Lord's Prayer," based on John 17:1-5, we are let in on the spiritual intimacy between Jesus and His Heavenly Father. This is the longest prayer of Jesus we have in Scripture as it includes all 26 verses of chapter 17 and it is Jesus' final act before being arrested and sent to His death. This prayer offers profound insight into the mind and heart of our Lord who prays for the disciples and all believers even as He is about to face the terrible suffering of the Cross. John 17:1-5 ESV The High Priestly Prayer 17 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

https://www.sjlcmetro.com/ In this message entitled, "What A Difference the Holy Spirit Makes," based on John 14:15-21, we examine the personal nature of the work of the Holy Spirit within us. Only when the Holy Spirit stirs our hearts to lift up Jesus as individuals and as a church community do we find ourselves capable of advancing the Gospel in the world. John 14:15-21 ESV Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,[a] to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be[b] in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”