January 29th Sermon – Pastor Roecker

Mark 1:21-28

 ²¹ They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.²² The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. ²³ Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil^[e] spirit cried out, ²⁴“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

   ²⁵ “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” ²⁶ The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

 ²⁷ The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.” ²⁸ News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

 Do you ever wonder why I am up here?  I mean, do you ever wonder why God would see to it that someone like me stands in front of a group of His people to speak on His behalf – not just me, but any pastor?  Why doesn’t God just speak to us directly?  I have heard many people say, “If God wants me to believe in Him He should just show Himself to me, come down and introduce Himself to me sometime.”  I hope I am not being insensitive when I say that those people have no idea what they are talking about.

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January 22 sermon – Pastor Roecker

Mark 1:14-20 

¹⁴ After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ¹⁵ “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

 ¹⁶ As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” ¹⁸ At once they left their nets and followed him.

 ¹⁹ When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. ²⁰ Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

It was a day none of them would ever forget.  They were simple fisherman who plied their trade on the Sea of Galilee.  They were followers of the true God.  They had come to believe that an upstart traveling preacher from Nazareth was the long-awaited Messiah – the One the LORD God had been promising for thousands of years.  They had first seen him way down south near the Jordan River, east of Jerusalem.  That is where some of them had been introduced to Him.  They had heard Him preach and teach.  Now, they were back home in Capernaum – back to their old way of life.   No doubt, they had plenty of time to think about what this Jesus had said as they spent long nights on the Sea casting their nets hoping for a catch.    Continue reading →

[Christmas Day Sermon- Pastor Fischer]

John 1:14     The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

Where do you find the glory of Christmas?  There are plenty of examples of that glory around us.  Walk through your neighborhood to see the lights gleaming in the darkness.  Walk indoors to discover the soft glow of Christmas lights.  Look under the tree to discover the bright colors of wrapping paper.  Gather around a decorated table with a freshly carved ham.  These are the pictures of Christmas glory presented to you through TV and radio, in books and in movies.  When these things are missing, something just doesn’t seem right.  Yet you know these things aren’t the real glory of Christmas.  That is why you are here this morning.  There is something more to the glory of Christmas.  As you look  at the Christmas accounts found in Matthew and Luke, you also see the glory of Christmas shine forth.  The angels appeared to the shepherds and the glory of the Lord shone around them.  They break forth in songs of jubilation and praise.  The shepherds are terrified, and then marvel over all they see and hear.  Continue reading →