Through the story of a family camping trip in a hailstorm, the sermon illustrates how the imperfect church, like a leaky tent, provides refuge through community in Christ and justification by faith.

The story of Ruth's faithfulness to her mother-in-law Naomi and her adopted people of Israel moves us towards deeper and enduring faithfulness to God.

God's word creates the faith needed for us to forgive, just as we are forgiven in Christ.

Drawing parallels to A Christmas Carol, the sermon warns that ignoring God's Law in Moses and the prophets leads to suffering, while living in trust in the risen Jesus Christ offers forgiveness of sins and salvation.

Jesus' Parable of the Dishonest Manager challenges Christians to shrewdly use earthly wealth for eternal purposes and serve God instead of wealth.

In the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination, the sermon explores Jesus' parables of the lost sheep and coin to emphasize God's pursuit of sinners and the true nature of repentance and salvation.

True discipleship embraces the costly path of following Christ, where death to self yields victory over sin through his resurrection.

Humility and mutual love in Christ are the path to true holiness and eternal reward.

This sermon was preached by Pastor Ted Carnahan for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost on Saturday, August 23, 2025.

Jesus brings division through truth and judgment, calling believers to prioritize faith over worldly pursuits like sports or family time, as emphasized by Luther's teachings on raising children in God's fear.

We can overcome anxiety by faith in God through Jesus Christ, who loves us like a father and provides for all our needs.

Wealth can become an idol. Christ calls us to put to death earthly desires while embracing a life of generosity rooted in His righteousness.

The Lord's Prayer serves as a framework for faithful prayer, through which God invites us to trust him and ask for what we need.

Christian service flows from resting in Jesus' forgiveness and leadership, not from anxious efforts to meet minimum requirements for salvation.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan shows that true discipleship involves full-hearted obedience for the sake of others, not minimal efforts to justify oneself.

True Christian freedom is not license to indulge in sinful desires but a call to live by the Spirit for the sake of God and neighbor.

Through Jesus' encounter with a demon-possessed man in Gerasene country, we are reminded of the spiritual dimension of life and our renewed identity through baptism into Christ.

God wants to be in a relationship with you, just as He is, as Father, Son, and Spirit, in and of himself.

The structure of Christian discipleship leads to spiritual growth and freedom under God's Holy Spirit.

It can be challenging to wait on God's timing, but the disciples' wait for the Holy Spirit shows us how we should practice active patience and bless God.