In this sermon from St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, Rev. Karl Grant warns us about the reality of false teachers who appear as harmless sheep but seek to lead us away from Christ.

As we navigate a world filled with deceptive influences, from social media to TV preachers, this message calls us to test teachings against Scripture, know the catechism deeply, and gather regularly in the church where Christ comes to us in Word and Sacrament. Discover how the Holy Spirit empowers us to discern truth, fostering lives of forgiveness, love, and service rooted in the cross.

Key Takeaways:
- False teachers blend in like wolves in sheep's clothing, but Jesus teaches us to identify them by their actions.
- True faith in Christ produces good fruit, such as loving others, forgiving as we've been forgiven, and giving sacrificially.
- We must avoid blindly trusting every "Christian" influence.
- Knowing God's Word and Luther's Small Catechism equips us to spot falsehoods and live under the cross in joyful assurance.
- As a flock gathered by grace, we're safer together in the church, where Christ guards us through His mighty power.
- Membership in the body of Christ involves faithful worship, partaking in the Lord's Supper, and supporting God's kingdom by His gifts.

Scripture References:
- Matthew 7:15-21 - Jesus warns of false prophets who come in sheep's clothing but are known by their fruit, emphasizing doing the Father's will.
- Acts 20:28-31 - Paul urges pastors to watch over the flock, as wolves will arise even from within to draw away disciples.
- 1 Peter 5:8 - Be alert, for the devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking to devour, countered by Christ's protection.
- 1 John 3:16-20 - True love is shown in actions, as Christ laid down His life for us, producing compassion and confidence before God.
- James 1:22 - Do not merely listen to the Word but do what it says, living out faith through deeds by grace.
- James 2:14-20 - Faith without works is dead; living faith, clinging to Christ, naturally bears good fruit.

------------------------

Links and Calls to Action:

Visit our website at https://splcgibbon.org for more sermons, service times, and ways to connect with our faith community in Gibbon, MN.

Subscribe to the podcast on BuzzSprout, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify to receive weekly Gospel-centered messages. Share this episode with someone grieving and invite them to find hope in Christ.

Support our ministry through donations at https://splcgibbon.org/give

Join us this Sunday at 9 AM for worship, where the Word and Sacraments offer a foretaste of heaven.

#GibbonChurch #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSinGibbon

In this funeral sermon for Fern Mae Hillman, Pastor Karl Grant explores how God's love in Christ triumphs over dementia, loss, and death.
------------------------
Takeaways

• God's love in Christ Jesus is unbreakable, overwhelming every trial through His victory on the cross.
• Even when dementia erases memories, the Lord never forgets His redeemed children.
• Faith clings to Jesus' gospel promises alone, not our intellect or works, much like an infant trusts its parents or the thief on the cross pleaded for paradise.
• Christ's death destroys death, leading us to paradise where all pain is forever banished.
• We grieve with hope, comforted by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament, knowing saints like Fern now dwell in perfect joy, awaiting the bodily resurrection.
• Jesus' scars eternally testify to His love, forgetting our sins but remembering us forever, calling us to live in gospel freedom and share this comfort with others.

------------------------
Scripture Index

• Romans 8:37-39 – Proclaims overwhelming victory in Christ, assuring nothing—neither death, life, fears, nor disease—can separate believers from God's love poured out through Jesus' sacrifice.
• Isaiah 49:15-16 – Illustrates God's unbreakable remembrance, contrasting a mother's possible forgetfulness with the Lord's eternal engraving of our names on His hands, pointing to the cross's scars.
• Luke 23:42-43 – Highlights the thief's plea for Jesus to remember him, receiving the promise of paradise today, emphasizing salvation by faith alone in Christ's kingdom despite apparent defeat.
• Psalm 23:4, 6 – Echoed in the assurance of walking through death's valley without fear, dwelling in the Lord's house forever with goodness and mercy following, fulfilled in Jesus.

------------------------

Links and Calls to Action:

Visit our website at https://splcgibbon.org for more sermons, service times, and ways to connect with our faith community in Gibbon, MN.

Subscribe to the podcast on BuzzSprout, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify to receive weekly Gospel-centered messages. Share this episode with someone grieving and invite them to find hope in Christ.

Support our ministry through donations at https://splcgibbon.org/give

Join us this Sunday at 9 AM for worship, where the Word and Sacraments offer a foretaste of heaven.

#GibbonChurch #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSinGibbon

Amid a hungry crowd in the wilderness, Jesus invites His disciples to offer what little they have (seven loaves and a few fish) and miraculously multiplies it to satisfy everyone, with leftovers to spare. This story reminds us that when we recognize overwhelming needs, like a church building project or even daily stewardship, Jesus doesn't leave us to solve them on our own. Instead, He calls us to give faithfully from what we have, and He stretches it abundantly for His kingdom's work.

Key Takeaways:

• Jesus invites us to offer what we have without explaining how He'll use it.
• Our small gifts, given in faith, are multiplied by Christ to meet needs far beyond our ability.
• Giving to Jesus results in no true loss; He promises full life now and eternally in heaven.
• Stewardship is about cheerful response to God's grace, not obligation.

Scripture References:

1. Mark 8:1-10 - Jesus feeds the 4,000 with seven loaves and fish, showing His compassion and miraculous provision through faithful giving.
2. Mark 7:24-30 - The Syrophoenician woman's faith highlights Jesus' mission extending to Gentiles, fulfilled in the crowd's feeding by grace alone.
3. John 10:10 - Christ came for abundant life, beginning now in faith and fully realized in eternity, free from sin and want.
4. Revelation 21:4 - Promises a new heaven and earth without mourning or pain, where God's riches are ours through Jesus' redemption.
5. Mark 10:29-30 - Those who give up for the Gospel receive much more in this life and the next, all by God's gracious promise.

------------------------

Links and Calls to Action:

Visit our website at https://splcgibbon.org for more sermons, service times, and ways to connect with our faith community in Gibbon, MN.

Subscribe to the podcast on BuzzSprout, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify to receive weekly Gospel-centered messages. Share this episode with someone grieving and invite them to find hope in Christ.

Support our ministry through donations at https://splcgibbon.org/give

Join us this Sunday at 9 AM for worship, where the Word and Sacraments offer a foretaste of heaven.

#GibbonChurch #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSinGibbon

In this sermon we explore how Christians relate to the Ten Commandments after being justified by faith in Jesus.

Key Takeaways:

• The law first accuses us of sin, showing we cannot justify ourselves before God, but points us to Christ as our only Savior.
• Justified by faith in Jesus' death and resurrection, we are freed from sin's power and receive His perfect righteousness as a gift.
• Christians now live under the law as a guide for righteous living, serving neighbors through ordinary vocations like family and work.
• Good works do not earn salvation but prove genuine faith, as the Holy Spirit empowers us to reflect God's restored image.
• The Small Catechism offers practical direction for daily life, helping us meditate on God's commands and rejoice in His promises.

Scripture References:

• Matthew 5:21-22 - Jesus teaches that anger and contempt in the heart violate God's law against murder, revealing our deep sinfulness and need for His forgiveness.
• Romans 8:3-4 - God sent His Son to fulfill the law's requirements for us, declaring an end to sin's control and enabling us to live by the Spirit in Christ.
• Titus 2:11-15 - God's grace brings salvation and instructs us to live righteously, as Jesus gave His life to make us His people committed to good deeds through faith.
• Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) - The law accuses sinners but, for the justified, serves as a blueprint for loving God and neighbor, restored through Christ's redemption.

------------------------

Links and Calls to Action:

Visit our website at https://splcgibbon.org for more sermons, service times, and ways to connect with our faith community in Gibbon, MN.

Subscribe to the podcast on BuzzSprout, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify to receive weekly Gospel-centered messages. Share this episode with someone grieving and invite them to find hope in Christ.

Support our ministry through donations at https://splcgibbon.org/give

Join us this Sunday at 9 AM for worship, where the Word and Sacraments offer a foretaste of heaven.

#GibbonChurch #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSinGibbon

This sermon for the 4th Sunday after Trinity proclaims the good news that all creation groans alongside us, eagerly awaiting freedom in the new heaven and earth. Our present sufferings pale in comparison to the redemption awaiting us. Through faith alone in Jesus, we receive the Holy Spirit as a foretaste of this glory, empowering us to support one another in the community of saints. Join us for a Christ-focused reminder that eternal joy is just around the corner.

Key Takeaways

• Endure Sufferings with Hope: Our trials are real but incomparable to the glory Christ will reveal, allowing us to weep yet persevere in faith.
• Live with Eternal Perspective: Time flies in this life, but eternity in Christ reorients our priorities, freeing us from sin's burdens through His redemptive work.
• Share Comfort in Community: The Holy Spirit unites us to encourage one another, reminding fellow believers that Jesus will make all things right.
• Anticipate Bodily Redemption: Our bodies will be raised imperishable by Christ's power, joining creation in freedom from decay and death.
• Rejoice in God's Faithfulness: Eternal joy increases forever in the new creation, grounded in God's promises fulfilled in Jesus.

Scripture References

1. Romans 8:18-23: Paul teaches that present sufferings are nothing compared to future glory, as creation groans with us, awaiting redemption through Christ.
2. 2 Peter 3:8-9: God is not slow in His promises; a day to Him is like a thousand years, assuring us of Christ's return and eternal life.
3. Revelation 21:4: In the new heaven and earth, God will wipe away every tear, with no more death or pain, all made possible by Jesus' sacrifice.
4. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44: Our bodies will be raised imperishable and glorious, clothed in immortality through Christ's resurrection victory.

------------------------

Links and Calls to Action:

Visit our website at https://splcgibbon.org for more sermons, service times, and ways to connect with our faith community in Gibbon, MN.

Subscribe to the podcast on BuzzSprout, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify to receive weekly Gospel-centered messages. Share this episode with someone grieving and invite them to find hope in Christ.

Support our ministry through donations at https://splcgibbon.org/give

Join us this Sunday at 9 AM for worship, where the Word and Sacraments offer a foretaste of heaven.

#GibbonChurch #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSinGibbon

Jayne's story reminds us that while our bodies fade like dust, our inner selves are daily renewed by grace alone, leading to eternal glory where sorrow gives way to joy in the presence of our Savior.

Listen to find encouragement in God's promises, as the Holy Spirit works through Word and Sacrament to sustain us until we see Jesus face to face. This episode points to the cross and empty tomb as the source of true peace, inviting all to rest in Christ's finished work.

Key Takeaways:

• The Gospel provides strength to the weary, renewing us inwardly even as our bodies weaken, through faith in Christ's promises.
• True hope endures all trials, rooted not in our efforts but in Jesus' death and resurrection for our salvation.
• We are all fragile like dust due to sin, but God offers eternal life as a free gift, turning our last breath into the first of glory.
• Fixing our eyes on unseen eternal realities, rather than temporary troubles, brings assurance of resurrection and reunion with the saints.
• Jayne's faith exemplifies how the Holy Spirit sustains believers through prayer, Scripture, and the Lord's Supper until heaven.
• Mourning with hope means trusting Jesus as the resurrection and the life, who guarantees our bodies will rise in glory.

Scripture References:

1. Isaiah 40:30-31 - Even youths grow weary, but those who wait on the Lord renew their strength, soaring on wings like eagles through God's grace.
2. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 - Though our outer self wastes away, our inner self is renewed day by day, focusing on eternal glory that outweighs all affliction, given by Christ.
3. John 11:25-26 - Jesus declares, "I am the resurrection and the life," promising that believers live eternally, even after death, through faith in Him alone.

------------------------

Links and Calls to Action:

Visit our website at https://splcgibbon.org for more sermons, service times, and ways to connect with our faith community in Gibbon, MN.

Subscribe to the podcast on BuzzSprout, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify to receive weekly Gospel-centered messages. Share this episode with someone grieving and invite them to find hope in Christ.

Support our ministry through donations at https://splcgibbon.org/give

Join us this Sunday at 9 AM for worship, where the Word and Sacraments offer a foretaste of heaven.

#GibbonChurch #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSinGibbon

The most familiar of Jesus' parables has never really been about the prodigal son at all. Every surprise rests on the Father who sprints into scandal, pleads with the self-righteous, and insists that joy fill the whole town.

TAKEAWAYS

• The Father absorbs our public shame and shields us in Christ’s cross.
• Prideful record-keeping isolates; grace gathers the community in shared joy.
• Absolution is the Father’s run toward you, spoken before your confession ends.
• The Lord’s Supper is the banquet the elder brother rejected but the Church receives with empty hands.

SCRIPTURE INDEX

• Luke 15:11–32 – the Father seeks both sons and calls the community to rejoice.
• Deuteronomy 21:18–21 – the law’s sentence on a rebellious son highlights the Father’s mercy.
• Galatians 3:13 – Christ becomes the curse, carrying our shame to the cross.
• Romans 8:16 – The Holy Spirit assures us we are children of God.
• Luke 15:1–7, 8–10 – lost sheep and lost coin set the pattern of shared celebration.

Location: St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Gibbon MN | Subscribe and walk with us in weekly gospel joy.

What happens when you're invited to the greatest banquet in history and you decline? This week's sermon is on Luke 14:15–24. We examine the hidden danger of respectable excuses, the joy reserved for "outsiders," and why when God calls us by the gospel, we all must accept His invitation!
---------------
Takeaways
- The banquet is God’s eternal plan, not a last-minute potluck; your seat was saved before you were born.
- Everyday blessings like property, work, or relationships become idols when they crowd out the Gospel’s welcome.
- Outsiders, broken people, and latecomers find places reserved for them; the gospel isn't for the worthy, it's for all!
- Each Divine Service offers a foretaste of heaven’s banquet, forming us to accept the invite and to bring others along.
- Baptism clothes you in the only dress-code-approved garment, the righteousness of Jesus.
---------------
Scripture Index
- Luke 14:15-24 – God’s lavish invitation and the guests’ excuses.
- Galatians 4:4 – The fullness of time when the feast was made ready.
- Ephesians 1:10 – All things united under Christ.
- Revelation 7:9-14 – White-robed saints washed in the Lamb’s blood.
- Matthew 22:11-13 – The danger of rejecting Christ’s wedding garment.
---------------
St. Peter's Lutheran Church, LCMS, Gibbon, Minnesota
Subscribe for Christ-centered, confessional preaching rooted in rural life.
---------------
#Lutheran #LCMS #Luke14 #WeddingBanquetParable #GospelInvitation #RuralChurch #GraceAlone #SermonPodcast #GibbonMN #FaithInChrist

------------------------

Links and Calls to Action:

Visit our website at https://splcgibbon.org for more sermons, service times, and ways to connect with our faith community in Gibbon, MN.

Subscribe to the podcast on BuzzSprout, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify to receive weekly Gospel-centered messages. Share this episode with someone grieving and invite them to find hope in Christ.

Support our ministry through donations at https://splcgibbon.org/give

Join us this Sunday at 9 AM for worship, where the Word and Sacraments offer a foretaste of heaven.

#GibbonChurch #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSinGibbon