Are you frustrated with the gap between your belief in God's future promises and the daily challenges of life?

This exposition of Ephesians 4:1-6 explains why the shallow spirituality of "trying harder" will never solve the issue. Holy living comes as natural growth from baptismal union with Christ.

The challenge for listeners: examine whether your church participation reflects genuine eagerness or mere religious obligation amid competing demands on your time.

Main Takeaways

• Your conduct flows from your identity: you're an heir heading toward glory, so live accordingly (not like someone just keeping rules)!
• Church unity is founded on the Trinity itself, not in our ability to agree or naturally get along
• Growth in holiness happens through Word and Sacrament feeding you, not through willpower
• There's a difference between eager participation and dutiful attendance (one transforms you, the other just fills time)
• When the gospel isn't first priority, other "important" things quietly become idols without us realizing

Scripture Index

• Ephesians 2:4-7 - God loved us and made us alive with Jesus even though we were spiritually dead
• Ephesians 4:1-6 - Walk in a way that matches God's calling; be humble, gentle, and patient with each other
• Ephesians 1:18 - Paul prays we'd understand the hope God gives us
• Luke 14:11 - Don't act proud; God lifts up humble people
• Proverbs 25:6-7 - Don't push yourself to the front; let others honor you instead
• Ephesians 3:17 - Christ lives in your heart through faith and keeps you strong
• John 15:5 - We can't do anything good without staying connected to Jesus
• Ephesians 2:14 - Our unity cost Jesus everything

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship

When every other space in our lives sorts us by class, education, or insider/outsider status, what does it mean to really belong in Church?

In this sermon, Pastor Karl unpacks the radical inclusivity of the gospel and challenges the assumption that digital access can replace being physically present in the worshiping community. There's irreplaceable power in hearing Christ proclaimed by someone who knows your name.

Key Takeaways:

• God saves by grace alone; the Gospel says “done for you,” not “do this.”
• Salvation in Christ is for all (no distinctions or prerequisites to belong!)
• Faith is created where Christ is preached; therefore preachers are sent.
• Gathering matters: the Word is best received with your local congregation, where your pastor knows and loves you.

Scripture References:

1. Romans 10:11–17 — Everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved; faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ.
2. Isaiah 52:7 — “How beautiful are the feet” of those who bring good news; God sends preachers.
3. Matthew 28:18–20 — Jesus sends His Church to make disciples by baptizing and teaching, promising His abiding presence.
4. Luke 24:47 — Repentance and forgiveness are proclaimed in Jesus’ name to all nations.

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship

This world pulls our loyalties in all kinds of directions. Jesus knows this, and He calls us to choose the better Master and to rest from anxious striving. The comfort of Matthew 6:24–34 is that we can seek the kingdom of God first, because we have a good Father who cares for us and provides our needs.

Key Takeaways:

• You cannot maintain split loyalties. Jesus calls you to the better Master who gives peace, not anxiety.
• "Do not be anxious" is repeated 3x in this passage because the Father truly does provide; worry only multiplies itself.
• Seeking the kingdom first is about the priority and pursuit of our lives in light of our salvation; it's not about earning or discovering our salvation.
• You can start small: make the sign of the cross, confess the Creed, pray the Lord's Prayer, and open Scripture before turning to social media.
• Your eternity is secure, so take the long view and rest in the Father's care today.

Scripture References:

1. Matthew 6:24–34 — Jesus declares we cannot serve God and money and urges us three times, “Do not be anxious.” He directs our hearts to the Father’s care and calls us to seek first His kingdom.
2. 1 Kings 17:8–16 — The widow of Zarephath trusts the Lord’s word through Elijah; her flour and oil do not run out, a sign of God’s faithful provision.
3. John 14:6, 9 — Jesus is the Way, and to see Him is to see the Father; therefore, the Father’s care for your daily needs is sure.
4. Acts 11:26 (alluded to) — In Antioch the disciples are called “Christians,” a name believers bear with joy amid trials.

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship

On the Feast of St. Matthew, we hear how Jesus sees a despised tax collector, speaks “Follow me,” and creates a whole new allegiance by grace. From the booth no one wanted to sit in, Matthew is brought to a table no one expected to share, where “tax collectors and sinners” recline with Jesus.

Jesus answers the Pharisees’ objections with Hosea’s word, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” and with His mission: not to affirm the already-arrived, but to call sinners. He is the Good Physician for the truly sick, who brings us from hiding to hope, from self-justifying rituals to His mercy that seats us together.

Key Takeaways:

• Jesus initiates the call; sinners don’t find Him—He finds us.
• Grace raises us from our “tax booths” and leaves sin behind to follow Jesus.
• Christ’s mercy seats unlikely people together at His table of grace.
• God desires mercy from hearts He has forgiven, not performance religion.
• The Good Physician came to call sinners; bring Him your need.

Scripture References:

1. Matthew 9:9–13 — Jesus calls Matthew, dines with “tax collectors and sinners,” and declares, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” revealing His heart for the lost and His authority to call.
2. Hosea 6:6 — The Lord desires steadfast love and mercy, not bare sacrifice; rituals serve love, not the other way around.
3. Hebrews 9:22 (alluded to) — Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness; Christ’s blood fulfills what sacrifices pointed to.
4. Romans 6:23 (alluded to) — The wages of sin is death, but God gives life in Christ.
5. Luke 19:10 (alluded to) — The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship

When the world demands spectacle or sophistication, God gives the cross. In this Holy Cross Day sermon, we hear how Christ crucified is the true display of God’s power and wisdom. God's saving power and wisdom remain steady when our feelings fluctuate and they remain sufficient amid grief, outrage, and evil.

The Church bears the Word; civil authority bears the sword — so Christians pray, confess, and receive Christ’s gifts as we love our neighbors in our vocations.

Key Takeaways:

• Faith rests on God’s means of grace (the preached Word and the Sacraments) not on our feelings or experiences.
• The cross looks like weakness to the world, yet it is omnipotent love accomplishing salvation.
• The Church’s mission is Law and Gospel proclamation; the government’s calling is temporal justice (Romans 13).
• Resist outrage cycles; pray for enemies and entrust vengeance to the Lord.
• Boast only in the cross (Galatians 6:14); Christ is God’s power and wisdom for the called.
• Jesus delivers His victory to you personally in Baptism, preaching, and His true body and blood.

Scripture References:

1. 1 Corinthians 1:18–25 — The Word of the Cross: folly to the perishing, power of God to the saved; Christ the wisdom and power of God.
2. Galatians 6:14 — Boasting only in the cross, the world crucified to us and we to the world.
3. Romans 13:1–4 — Civil authority as God’s servant for good; distinct from the Church’s mission.
4. John 12:31–33 — The ruler of this world cast out; the crucified Christ drawing all to Himself.
5. Acts 17:18–32; Luke 23:35–37 — The cross judged “babble” and “weakness,” yet it is God’s saving wisdom.

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship

Jesus says “Βe opened,” and a deaf man instantly hears and speaks plainly. This sermon traces how Christ’s living Word still creates what it commands: He opens ears and looses tongues to confess, turning hearers into confessors in daily life.

On Kickoff Sunday, we rejoice that Jesus gives these gifts through Word and Sacrament: calling children into Sunday School, confirming youth for a lifetime of hearing and confessing, and inviting all to the Divine Service where He forgives, feeds, and sustains His Church.

Key Points:

• Jesus’ Word creates what it commands; when He says “be opened,” ears truly open and tongues are set free in faith.
• Hearing naturally bears fruit in speech: believers confess Christ plainly in ordinary, non-flashy ways at home, church, and community.
• Parents and grandparents place children under the Word; faith is kindled as Christ speaks.
• Confirmation is not graduation but the beginning of a lifelong pattern of hearing and confessing.
• Bible Study isn’t a burden; it’s “more Jesus,” time to learn how to say what you’ve heard.
• A little “rustle” is the sound of a living church that welcomes all ages to the Divine Service.

Scripture References:

• Mark 7:31–37 — Jesus opens deaf ears and looses a bound tongue; His Word does what it says.
• Isaiah 29:18 — The deaf shall hear “the words of a book”; Christ fulfills the promise in His ministry.
• Isaiah 35:5–6 — Messianic signs of opened ears and loosened tongues reveal the coming of God’s salvation.
• Romans 10:17 — “Faith comes from hearing,” underscoring preaching’s central role in creating and sustaining faith.

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship

In this sermon, we hear how humility doesn’t earn anything; it’s simply the empty hand that receives everything from Christ, who atoned for our sins with His own blood.

Key Takeaways:

• Humility is not a virtue that merits grace; it’s the posture that receives Christ’s atoning mercy by faith.
• The Pharisee’s self-trust leaves him unforgiven; the tax collector’s contrition is answered with God’s verdict: "justified!"
• Despair is pride in disguise; no sin outruns the cross, and you don’t have to feel forgiven to be forgiven.
• The temple imagery points to Christ’s sacrifice once for all; our prayers rise because we are forgiven people.
• The Divine Service catechizes humility: we confess, we are absolved, and we go home right with God.

Scripture References:

1. Luke 18:9–14 — The Pharisee and the tax collector; “whoever exalts himself will be humbled… whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
2. Psalm 141:2 — “Let my prayer rise before You as incense,” illuminating the temple-prayer context fulfilled in Christ.
3. Luke 23:48 — The crowds “beat their breasts” at the crucifixion, echoing the tax collector’s contrition and pointing to the cross.

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship

In this episode from St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, we meditate on Luke 19, where Jesus weeps over Jerusalem for missing the time of God's coming in Him. This sermon highlights the tragedy of forfeiture but proclaims the joyful Gospel: Christ still visits us in His Word and Sacraments, delivering forgiveness, life, and eternal hope by grace alone through faith.

Key Takeaways:

• Christ's visitation means His coming to earth to save us solely through His cross and resurrection, offering peace by grace.
• Rejecting Jesus leads to tragedy, as with Jerusalem, but the Gospel calls us to faith in His redeeming blood.
• Today, the Holy Spirit brings Christ's presence in Word and Sacraments, freely giving forgiveness and eternal life.
• Hang on Jesus' words to recognize His visitation, finding assurance in the Gospel's power for salvation.
• In worship, we touch eternity, receiving Christ's benefits that prepare us for heavenly joy.

Scripture References:

• Luke 19:41-44 - Jesus laments Jerusalem's failure to see God's visitation in Him, who brings salvation through His cross.
• Colossians 1:20 - Peace is made through Christ's blood on the cross, reconciling all to God by faith.
• Luke 1:68-79 (Benedictus) - God visits to redeem His people, fulfilled in Christ's coming for our salvation.
• Luke 2:14 (Gloria in Excelsis) - Angels declare peace on earth through Christ, whose work unites heaven and us.
• Isaiah 48:18 - Obeying God's Word brings peace.
• Colossians 3:3 - Our lives are hidden in Christ, assuring resurrection hope through baptismal grace.

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship