September 17, 2017. Martin Luther underwent a conversion, from his earlier idea that the debt he owed God for all his sins was unachievable, to the realization that God was willing to forgive his sins due to his love of him and the world, and the sacrifice of Jesus. The understanding of this gift caused Martin Luther to begin to make changes in his life, focusing on the community and the needs of the world around him. Pastor Keith's sermon today is about the importance of this forgiveness and justice, and how instead of holding back the love we've been given, we can share it with others. *** [Keywords: 2017 Christ Lutheran Church Forgiveness With All Debt With God Day Galilee God covered it all God was willing to pay In the name of Jesus I bless you I forgive you I release you Jerusalem Jesus Jesus anticipated Jesus taught us to live by Jesus was willing to suffer Judah Lord's Prayer Luther's Small Catechism Martin Luther: The Idea That Changed the World Matthew 18:21-35 May McCarthy Old English Original Sin PBS film Pastor Keith Holste Reid Bartek accept the challenge angry another understanding about God anyone from my past as we forgive those baptized at font baptized ourselves bear a grudge before go to bed bestowed on us binds us blame ourselves both sides burden lifted called by a king can't get our heart to go there church complete forgiveness by God concept of community chest confessed nearly perpetually confessional conversion could never do enough could never pay it day of our baptism debt to God for sins deception dejected demands repayment of small debt didn't sleep well different role of God discipline do good badly doesn't work like that down drinking poison easier to serve ourselves eats at us equivalent to 150 years worth of wages eternal waterfall expecting other person to die faith fall asleep peacefully focus for our own health for the last time forgive hardly forgive one another forgive us our trespasses forgiven slave forgiven the debt forgiveness forth give free to experience free to forgive others fully graceful life generosity get to the point gets into your heart your soul gifts had come to him good and great gift good of all those struggling grace grandfather Pastor Jim grow into the promise gushing over us harbor unforgiving thoughts hard for us to live with good news hard to forgive hard to forgive ourselves harming people hatred haunt us help others his son Jesus hold back our love huge debt hurt his health i do so now i need to forgive image of being in cascading waterfall importance of forgiveness impossible to forgive in my present injury instead of looking up just keeps coming justice keeping people apart kept him up at night key to our life together kind learning experience let go life live their own lives live with sin living out the life looked around sideways lost sleep love for him love for world loved on main points make changes in his life make up for his sins mantra minor things money of community more difficulty need to forgive me neighbor never-ending no assurance of salvation no longer had debt no one could ever pay that much no reason to be selfish old style old way one more thing one understanding about God order of things other person in mind our feelings out of reach over and over again overwhelmingly overwhelms us payback payoff to God people around him place for forgiveness place for justice pleased with him plentiful promised pure before God reach out to other person repetitions resentment resist restored relationships retribution riled up role for forgiveness role for justice sacrifice of Jesus saying out loud scenes see needs of world self cleansing sermon servant in Parable sets us back sharing love sign of generosity silently sinful small matter of hurt feelings someone close to him spirit stepped away strong words struggle stuck study of Scripture takes away teaching way terrific promise thankful thanksgiving those who sin against us through the love of Jesus time out chair to see God to the end topic intersects treat others unachievable unbounding love understand unforgivable very short prayer warnings waters from above coming down we hurt ourselves we know better welcomed into Kingdom of God whatever way is best whether i remember them or not who trespass against us will take time willing to forgive wiped out worldly scale]

September 3, 2017. We don't want to hear bad news, especially if it involves sacrifice. In today's Gospel, Jesus had bad news for his disciples. Peter did not understand and became a stumbling block to Jesus' mission. But Peter's true identity had yet to be revealed. What should our identity be? Pastor Penny challenges us to reexamine deeply held values and swallow our pride. As our self-made identity becomes whittled away by tragedy and our experiences, we discover our true identity, given to us by God. *** [Keywords: 1 in 1000 year storm 2017 Christ Lutheran Church Christian Ferguson Foster Friess GOP mega donor God created us God has given us God is not happy God is with us God would put in place Gospel Gospel reminds us Greek Hurricane Ida Jesus Jesus asked a question Jesus did Jesus makes promise Jesus recreated us Jesus' right hand man Kingdom of God Pastor Penny Holste Peter believed that Return to Civility campaign Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal TV Three Passion Predictions ability to care for people advertisement approval of God arranged to meet avoid be raised belief in forgiveness black Democrat build in flood plain built there anyway call each other friend called Peter Satan can't buy our lives cars child children of God claimed to be the Messiah comfortable being single confused about what we should strive for in life conqueror controversial counselor create real Kingdom of God created and molded ourselves deeply held opinions destiny didn't understand Jesus' mission disciples discover something don't want to hear bad news don't want to lose our lives drive out Romans from Israel every fifteen years everything is moving experience tragedies experiences flew into St. Louis flood flood gates forces molding it found common bond friends gave his life getting ill getting older gives us power to work with him go against popular opionon go away hair hard and long has been there all the time identity image in flux independence innate value job knowledge lawns leaders learned listened looked up losing someone you love lost her husband loving other people meeting in church military leader mold our lives to meet those expectations multi millionaire narrowly missed Houston never find out who we really are new temporal kingdom not brought on by God not easy to follow Jesus not ever taken away from us not if it requires sacrifice not someone who died other was friend others before ourselves our identity outer appearance outside of the world part of God's kingdom peel away outer image of ourselves people around us personal interest in Messiahship pick up on signals political figure political views professed protect our identity raise money reexamine deeply held values reflected understanding of society rock rocks in our lives same person you were same words to Peter as with Satan scolded Jesus sea walls seawalls second look self giving Savior self made identity selfies sense of freedom sermon shaped and worked so hard on social media something to hang onto spiritual leader spouse stores story strength to carry it out strive to make it happen stumbling block success suffer and kill him suffer the consequences swallow our pride talked tempting those who lose their life for my sake will find it took Peter aside tragedies true identity true identity is safe values warning went out to lunch what we look like what will you give in return for your life? white Republican whittled away wilderness wrong kind of Messiah you're not ready]

August 20, 2017. In Matthew 15:10-28, Jesus tells the crowds that what goes into people's mouths does not defile them, but what comes out is what defiles them. Pastor Keith preaches on this text, and challenges us to examine how we deal with those around us who may be different from us. How can we seek commonality and begin to bridge the gaps with others in our communities? *** [Keywords: 2017 Abraham Lincoln Alton Illinois Bible scholars Canaanite women Christ Lutheran Church Confederate statues Crucial Conversations book DNA in common DNA test Father forgive them for they know not what they do Gettysburg Golgotha Gospel Harriet Tubman Jesus died Jesus hung on the cross Jewish rule Matthew 15 Pastor Bill Pyatt Pastor Keith Holste Pastor Mary Hellwig Penny Phoenicia Rahab Rosa Parks Ruth Sidon Susan B. Anthony Tamar Tyre Virginia about 2000 years ago abuzz accentuate differences acts affirmed against odds agree with me and with one another approach approaches toward others arguing as a person as he died authenticity bad portrait based on my history be the people Jesus called us to be better able bite my lip both cried bothering him bridging the gaps bring unity calling came to blows can be learned centuries challenges changed him chapters children's food church council civics comes forward coming from communicate completely ignored her confrontationally congresswomen context costly enterprise crumbs cultures darkness of three hours day when the earth turned dark death dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal deference to Jesus defied laws of the day demonstrations different differently colored skin disciples distance away doesn't come easily doesn't qualify done authentically during that darkness eclipse encounter work enemies evil eye facebook family makeup fears fellow human level female senators finding commonality for our inadequacies foreigner forlorn frenetic gathering gender genealogy give up previous unwillingness goal goes dark goes out of his way great is your faith group ourselves hard fights healed healing of relations heart his blood Canaanite too hold my tongue home hope for yourselves how to avoid how we love with one another how would you describe yourself how you speak with your mouth humble terms hung out in our own skin inclined to forget intense polarity interpret issues not new to our day just to get started kids kneels later times learning curve leaves the area less than three minutes life circumstances lights come back lights turned off like-minded people live and do creative things together live in a time longer look folks in their eyes looked down upon made us one with him making peace master's table meetings mercy mercy on daughter modern human view more open mother nationality negotiate neighbors on my block north not easy to achieve not enemies not friends not like the others not particularly skilled offended offending Pharisees on my street our oneness parted from her parts of the world pays no attention whatsoever peace with ourselves perceive their hearts persistence personality plaintive cry politics praises her faith prescientific times priority pugnacious pulled Jesus aside put on a cross racial sensitivity reach out reach out to others reflects religion respect and appreciation restorative justice risk sake of her daughter scares me scene of many deaths seek commonality self righteous send her away sent to house of Israel separate sermon shoo her away shouting socially engage others society somewhere from there speak stereotype stop to ask each other structured conversation surprised tape my own big mouth shut teasing woman along tell me in your own words tenderly explored terrible incident territory testing her faith that we might be forgiven think and feel those people throw it to the dogs tormented by demon touch his heart truce try to understand unclean uncomfortable in their own skin understanding urge values that are similar views wanted to be neighbors we are all equal week later what they're feeling what you desire what you put in your mouth what you're saying who you are wider national experience willing to learn willingness work work on myself yes you are you are the people you say you are]

August 6, 2017. Pastor Penny preaches today on the Gospel story of Jesus feeding the multitude. His disciples saw only a deserted place, but Jesus saw something different. He had compassion on the people, wanted to give them the good life. What do we see when we look at the less prosperous areas in our communities? Can we see these places like Jesus did, as opportunities for sharing the good life? *** [Keywords: 1500 people 1970s 2017 A Place Worth Saving Barnes Bread for the World Central West End Christ Lutheran Church Ferguson Fullerton NE God has blessed these people too Gospel Jesus Jesus' power Jewish Matthew Nebraska Pastor Penny Holste Roman government Second Presbyterian St. Louis Wash U Washington University Medical Center all were fed appearances ask ourselves banded together beloved children of God bleak bless boarded houses bread and fish came from crowd bring for healing built buy clothes buy food cared enough to ask Jesus to die carried miles challenging us chance to live forgiven children choices choose to believe miracle church every Sunday churches clean it up closest town 40 miles away comforts compassion on them contrast core of caring people created in image of God crime cross state line cut back dark death dedicated grandmother deserted place determined worker didn't believe didn't know director David Beckmann disciples documentary don't think drive through poorest parts ease emboldened empowered even more important experience fame fears feed themselves filled filling their pews first attempt food stamps get food for themselves get to his job getting involved going places good equals wealth got to know people grandchildren great strides greater than that grew up in city had the power then has the power now have to believe help ourselves help rejuvinate community helping hand hopeful hospitality was the norm hospitals hours on bus human rights issues illnesses interesting thing to say into their hearts knowledge lecture series on world hunger left-over food listen to our politicians little bit of food little help from us live there again looked at that crowd looked so falling apart lot of need love love too much made it a point medical attention members miracle more than 5000 people motley group moved west national budget no doctor no health spa no movie theaters no prosperity open their baskets outcome of miracle people can help themselves people took care of each other perfect world possibilities poverty power power to give life pretty dismal provide raise him to life relieve them religious institutions relocated right and left safe place saw something different scholars send these people away sermon share should they stay or move sign so little to work with split the congregation started in decline starving in Africa stayed story about sharing strength take situation taught them thanking God the good life they will heal themselves thriving community through eyes too happy took a vote transition truly two grocery stores two restaurants two very oppressive institutions values of city values of their world very good place to raise children vices voted to leave voted to stay walk the streets wanted to feed them we don't see we have nothing what really is the good life? what they do have with a little help with some help words disciples used]