Pastor Otterstatter • July 3, 2022

Through the Word, the Lord Halts the Progress of Death

When sin entered the world, death entered with it. With sin, death marches forward from one generation to the next, so that the story of every human life ends the same way: “and then he died” (Genesis 5:5ff).


Death separates body and soul. It separates loved ones from each other. The shadow of death can make it hard to enjoy life. Picture any joyful activity. How joyful would that activity be if you knew that fifteen minutes into that activity, you would die? Well, it is simply a matter of timing. It might take a little longer than fifteen minutes, but in the end, death spares no one.


Today, we see what happens when death’s unstoppable march reaches the feet of Jesus. In the face of death, Jesus does not retreat. He is not moved. He demonstrates that his words have power even over this enemy of death. Christ’s love for us means death’s power over us has been drained. For the Christian, death is a shell of its former self.

Forgiveness Is For Me

By Pastor Quinn • September 6, 2026
Forgiveness does not come naturally to human beings. It is expected that humans will defend themselves, lash out when attacked, hold grudges, and bite back. So, when human beings hear that they are forgiven, they may even be suspicious or skeptical. Jesus tells a parable that contrasts the forgiveness of God with our own unforgiving sinful nature. God forgives our huge debt. Who can comprehend such unexpected mercy? Certainly not unmerciful servants, who refuse to forgive small debts. Have mercy on us, Lord, and teach us to forgive like you!

We Speak Truth To All

By Pastor Mueller • August 30, 2026
Forgiveness does not come naturally to human beings. It is expected that humans will defend themselves, lash out when attacked, hold grudges, and bite back. So, when human beings hear that they are forgiven, they may even be suspicious or skeptical. Jesus tells a parable that contrasts the forgiveness of God with our own unforgiving sinful nature. God forgives our huge debt. Who can comprehend such unexpected mercy? Certainly not unmerciful servants, who refuse to forgive small debts. Have mercy on us, Lord, and teach us to forgive like you!

Grace Is Amazing

By Pastor Quinn • August 23, 2026
Give a single bag of M&Ms to siblings in middle school and tell them to share. You will witness counting done with accounting-like precision. Each child will get an equal amount of candy because that is fair. That’s what’s expected! Human beings have an incredibly strong sense of fairness.  That is why it can be so amazing when we see how God unexpectedly dispenses blessing and grace. The prophet Jonah was perplexed when he saw God’s mercy on a nation that was an enemy to Jonah’s people. Like Jonah, we need to stop expecting God to be fair. He does not give us what we deserve. Instead, in his grace, he shows us mercy. That’s amazing!
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