Pastor Otterstatter • September 1, 2024

Followers of Christ See the True Purpose of His Power

Power is neither inherently good nor bad. Fire is powerful. The chef uses fire to create meals. But the arsonist uses fire to destroy homes. Nuclear fission is a powerful force. The engineer harnesses it, producing abundant electricity. The tyrant harnesses it, threatening others with nuclear weapons. What matters is the purpose of the one who has that power.



Jesus has limitless power, as the numerous accounts of his miracles demonstrate. Those who witnessed those miracles understood that Jesus used his power for good. That doesn’t mean they all understood Jesus’ true purpose. Some thought Jesus’ purpose was to make this temporal life better. And while Jesus did that at times, his ultimate purpose was to save us from sin and give us the gift of eternal life. Followers of Christ see the true purpose of his power.

It’s Time to Focus on the Future

By Pastor Quinn • November 1, 2026
When we gather for public worship we call it a service – even Divine Service. Do you know why? Many think of what we do on Sunday mornings as coming together mainly to worship and praise God. We gather in service of the divine. It’s about our service to him. However, while that is certainly one aspect of what we do in worship, it’s not the primary purpose of our gatherings. The main service that happens every Sunday morning actually goes in the other direction – from God to us. This remarkable truth completely changes the way we view “going to church” on Sunday. God himself invites sinners like us to come into his house to enjoy nothing less than divine hospitality. Every single Sunday our Savior stoops down and rolls up his sleeves to serve us. In word and sacrament he washes us in his forgiveness and feeds us with a spiritual feast for our souls. He reminds us of his great love for us, renews our hope, and provides us with the peace that goes beyond understanding. Worship is where Christ serves us.

It’s Time to Stay Steadfast

By Pastor Quinn • October 25, 2026
Jesus told his followers, “You will be hated by everyone because of me” (Matthew 10:22). So, the time between Christ’s first and second coming is going to be perilous for believers. A good example:  Martin Luther. All that priest wanted was to share the pure gospel with the world. For trying to do just that, both political and religious leaders wanted to end his life. The Festival of the Reformationemphasizes our unfailing reliance on the Word of God. We give unflinching testimony to that Word even in the face of persecution. Today we pray that the Lord would keep us steadfast in the faith.

Enjoy God’s Gospel Rest

By Pastor Quinn • October 18, 2026
We need rest. Without rest, we suffer. Studies show that with too little rest, people experience fatigue and physical imbalances that result in decreased attention, poor decisions, and even speech impairment. People who take no breaks during the workday have lower productivity than those who take periodic breaks. Christians know they need more than sleep or breaks, more than physical rest. We need spiritual rest. The only place to find that type of rest is Jesus. Jesus provides more than a pause in work or enjoyable recreation. Jesus provides the removal of our sins, the cleansing of our guilty consciences, and a gentle new yoke of discipleship in the freedom of the gospel. After a long day of work there is nothing like coming home and finding your couch or your favorite chair or even your bed so you can finally get some physical rest. When we come home to worship each week we find Jesus. And in Jesus, Christians find rest right now from life’s biggest burdens and battles, and eventually eternal rest in heaven. Come home often and enjoy God’s gospel rest.
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