St Andrew's Messages

It goes without saying that our God gives us so much to be thankful for. At the top of that list is the essence and power of the gospel message we hold so dear. Witnessing how this gospel equips us and others to serve his holy name is not, though, an opportunity to pat ourselves on the back and say, "well done." Instead, it's another opportunity to marvel at the timeless truth that "God is at hand" in our lives and in the lives of so many others.

Last weekend we pondered significant moments in our lives and God's hand for us in them. Today we consider specific individuals in our lives for whom we are thankful, joining in the apostle Paul's gratitude in Philippians 1:3-11.   All rights reserved. Music used by permission under CCLI #1600166, OneLicense #A-709447, and Worshipflow.com. Pre-service music all rights reserved by Koine (koinemusic.com) & Michael Schroeder. Video music used by permission from Pond5.

This weekend begins a four-part series leading up to Thanksgiving. We will take time to pause and acknowledge the countless blessings God pours into our lives each day. It's easy to get caught up in routines and overlook his hand at work. Through this series, we'll learn to see God's activity in every moment, person, and circumstance.   All rights reserved. Music used by permission under CCLI #1600166, OneLicense #A-709447, and Worshipflow.com. Pre-service music all rights reserved by Koine (koinemusic.com) & Michael Schroeder. Video music used by permission from Pond5.

Before us on Reformation weekend are more parables from Matthew 13! We all value things differently, but may we always put the highest value on God's Word, which tells us of our salvation in Christ alone.

Matthew 13 contains a number of parables in which Jesus teaches about the kingdom of God. He calls his own followers wheat and followers of the Evil One weeds. St. Andrew's mission is, and always has been, to gather wheat and continue to grow it.

When you communicate, is the message received always the message sent? Is the message received at all? What can influence these things? In Matthew 13, Jesus uses a story about agriculture to teach on different responses to his message. Which response are you?

The following is attributed to Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi: "There are three things that are important to every man in this locker room: his God, his family, and the Green Bay Packers, in that order." Long before football existed, Jesus spoke about the importance of family in Matthew 12.

Have you ever looked for signs that something was right or true? In Matthew 12, Jesus' opponents demanded a sign, but Jesus had already been doing miracles. What do we consider a good sign? What should we consider a good sign? Let's hear from Jesus on the subject.

A loss of power changes everything and makes life much more difficult. How much more doesn't this hold true when it comes to our relationship with our Savior. For both eternity and for day-to-day life, it is of utmost importance to STAY CONNECTED TO JESUS. He is not only our power source when everything else stops working, he is also our guide, protector, and friend to lead us forward in his holy name.

Which is more important, the letter of the law or the spirit of the law? Is separating them ever legitimate? Jesus had something to say about that and more important things in Matthew 12.

We might go to our friends for support or fun, but when it comes to truth, we rely on what God reveals in his Word. Some of Jesus' words in Matthew 11:20-30 are not easy or pleasant, but they are true. And God is good, so Jesus doesn't leave it there; he tells us where we can find rest—in him alone.

How would you describe your life? While many answers could be offered, "chaos" is one that people use over and over again. That's not a new thing. Matthew 11 brings us into a chaotic time early in Christ's ministry, as John the Baptist and his followers look for clarification on who exactly this Jesus of Nazareth really was. As always, though, Christ brings "clarity amidst chaos." That's a promise for today. That's a promise for eternity. 

In the second half of Matthew 10, Jesus states that several actions or inactions make one unworthy of him. Are you in these categories? How do we become worthy of Jesus? He has a lot to say about our fear, our confession, and whom we receive, so we learn from Jesus to be his disciples.

Jesus does not send us out the exact same way he sent out his twelve apostles, but he does send us out, so we can learn a lot from his words in Matthew 9 and 10, including, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few."

Jesus' miracles keep coming in Matthew 9. This time the Son of David gives sight and speech. He also gives these gifts to us, enabling us to see who he is and praise him for it.

Bad stuff happens in life.  That's true for everyone, though the struggles and hardships and issues may vary. And yet Jesus Christ reigns supreme. God's people gather around God's Word knowing that we have a Savior who rules in both life AND death. That gives us hope for today. It also gives us assurance for eternity. We're glad you're here to worship with us today.

Jesus issues a simple invitation to a tax collector. He issues the same invitation to all of us. In the tax collector's case, some objected that he was a sinner, but if Jesus had come to call the righteous, he would not have called anyone. By God's grace, we follow Jesus too.

Perhaps in ignorance or in youth, you have made a bold claim and declared yourself the best at something. Bold claims are easy to disprove if they are wrong, but in Matthew 9, Jesus made bold claims with his words and actions. Unlike us, Jesus can always back up his claims. All rights reserved. Music used by permission under CCLI #1600166, OneLicense #A-709447, and Worshipflow.com. Pre-service music all rights reserved by Koine (koinemusic.com) & Michael Schroeder. Video music used by permission from Pond5.

Matthew 8:28-34 is a disturbing account, but as Jesus continues to show who he is with his actions, we can find comfort in his power and in his priority. God's Word before us touches on demon possession, rejecting Jesus, and even the role of creatures with whom we share the planet.

Jesus' miracles in Matthew's Gospel continue, but what we especially notice today is Jesus' authority. In some ways, it is like the authority we see and would expect, but in some ways it is very different. It is unquestionably an authority to follow.