Read and listen to the most recent sermons http://www.nhlutheran.com During this Lenten Season we try to understand the things of Jesus and the suffering of Jesus as He approached persecution and death on the cross. In this lesson Jesus teaches His disciples and us about faith. http://www.nhlutheran.org/sermon_crumbs_of_the_word_to_the_dogs.htm The devil tempted Jesus throughout His ministry in the persons of Pharisees, scribes and finally Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to be killed in accordance with God’s plan. We all face temptation everyday. We all are human and all believers possess the Holy Spirit. Use this lesson of Jesus’ temptation to teach you how to defend yourself against the devil. Use God’s Word and beat him back. That’s what Paul instructs us to do. Help others who are tempted and know that our temptations will be within our capabilities to withstand. http://www.nhlutheran.org/sermon_the_clash_of_good_and_evil.htm Jesus was that Lamb. He knew He was entering Jerusalem for the slaughter. That was God’s plan. The innocent Lamb of God would be sacrificed, once, for all. That Lamb wants everyone to remember that He is the fulfillment of that verse written by the prophet Isaiah under inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke these words now, knowing they would not be understood, but they would be remembered, for example, after the resurrection. The women approached the tomb and the angels reminded them of what He said before His death. http://www.nhlutheran.org/sermon_jesus_heals_the_blind_beggar.htm Scripture is filled with symbolism. God intended it that way. Today we examine a parable which Jesus presents and interprets for the benefit of His disciples—the parable of the sower. Scripture is intended to interpret Scripture. All of God’s Word works together. The parable today is Jesus’ teaching His disciples by using the parable and the Old Testament writings. This lesson is included in three of the four Gospels so there is plenty of opportunity to grasp its lesson completely. But not everyone will grasp the lesson. Jesus makes it very clear that some will hear the Word and not understand. http://www.nhlutheran.org/sermon_parable_of_the_sower.htm Jesus' transfiguration on that mountain affected John, James, and Peter for the rest of their lives and it also affected Jesus—reminding Him of His real home in heaven. For those few moments on that mountain top Jesus was reminded that He was not alone. He could confide in Moses and Elijah—two men who God sent to save His people in the Old Testament. http://www.nhlutheran.org/sermon_the_transfiguration_of_our_lord.htm This is the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry. He was baptized, spent His 40 days in temptation by the devil and now He attends a wedding feast with His family and His disciples. Why is this wedding important to us as Christians? Jesus is participating in the wedding. This is a demonstration to us that the institution of marriage remains valid in the New Testament. What do we know of marriage in the Scriptures? http://www.nhlutheran.org/sermon_the_wedding_at_cana.htm The supposed wise men of God’s Law--the rabbis, Pharisees, and learned Scriptural scholars--had not recognized Jesus as the Christ when announced by the shepherds. So God sent these wise men from Arabia to fulfill Scriptural prophecy. Perhaps they would see God’s Son through the message of these foreigners. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet, which was read in every synagogue every week, spoke if this. http://www.nhlutheran.org/sermon_the_visit_of_the_wise_men_from_the_east.htm Here is a sample of the many Old Testament prophecies of the coming of the Christ. When God the Father sent His Son, the prophets had been silent for 400 years. This was a dark time in the history of God’s people and light was used to announce the birth of the Christ Child to the shepherds in the fields. Note the use of darkness and light in the announcement. Scripture is filled with symbolism and that symbolism is especially present here. The announcement of the birth of Christ comes at a time of darkness and the message is delivered by a glowing and very bright angel. http://www.nhlutheran.org/sermon_birth_of_christ_through_the_old_testament_prophesies.htm Jesus came as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes but He was no stranger to this world. He guided the Israelites as they escaped the bonds of Egypt. He guided God’s people through the wilderness for 40 years. He fed them and gave them drink. And now, in a manger in a strange stable in the middle of the night, He returned as a human to defeat the Law on man’s behalf. He would defeat death so all believers could have eternal life. http://www.nhlutheran.org/sermon_a_child_is_born_in_bethlehem.htm Our responsibility is no different than for John the Baptist. It is our responsibility to tell others how it is that they should repent and that they should seek the Kingdom of God. We are chosen just as John the Baptist was chosen. http://www.nhlutheran.org/sermon_john_the_baptist_the_elijah_promised.htm God sent the manna to give life to the Israelites, God’s chosen people. Now God sends the gift that gives everlasting life to all believers—heaven itself. How great is that? We cannot even describe it. The manna fed only the Jews for a few years. The Bread of Life, the Christ sent by God for us, feeds our souls for all eternity. http://www.nhlutheran.org/sermon_jesus_the_bread_of_life_20091206.htm In our text, Paul is talking about the fruits of our faith. He is speaking to Christians to remind them that they are different from the other men who are of this world who do not recognize Christ as their Savior. Paul wants to make sure the Christians understand who they are and what they have in their GIFT of salvation. http://www.nhlutheran.org/sermon_jesus_the_light_of_the_world_20091129.htm This incident teaches us that our Lord has power over death and life. We know that men must die. Men have been dying since Adam and Eve. Men will continue to die until judgment day. We know these bodies are temporary for this world. Paul even calls this body a tent--a temporary dwelling. http://www.nhlutheran.org/sermon_jesus_lord_over_death_20091122.htm Paul admonishes converted Jews who believed in salvation by the Law. Paul tells them to hold fast to the one true doctrine received from the beginning. We are not to be too confident of our own wisdom. We have no independent authority. We have only the authority given by Scripture. We must guard against pretenders who claim to have a superior doctrine. Paul knows these converted Jews and he wants them to understand true salvation. He warns them of the dangers in trusting in their ability to live according to the Law. http://www.nhlutheran.org/sermon_our_citizenship_is_in_heaven_20091115.htm The lesson: As long as we forgive we have grace. When we refuse to forgive our own forgiveness slips out of our grasp. Forgive your neighbor and God forgives you. http://www.nhlutheran.org/sermon_the_ungrateful_servant.htm For most of us, our faith starts out with a simple understanding in a Savior, not knowing much about how we are saved, but grasping the hope of our salvation. But it shouldn’t stay like that. It should grow and continue to grow until we are called home. Surely the nobleman was driven to learn more about Jesus after his son was healed, just as we must also continue to learn more about our Lord, continuously getting to know Him better by immersing ourselves in the Word of God. http://www.nhlutheran.org/sermon_jesus_heals_the_noblemans_son_20091101.htm Today we celebrate the anniversary of the Reformation of the Christian Church. As you study the early Church you will find how the Gospel was spread by the persecution of those early Christians. The Reformation caused a similar occurrence when religious persecution in Europe forced Christians to flee to America. God used circumstances of persecution to spread His Word. http://www.nhlutheran.org/sermon_our_identity_as_lutherans.htm