Saint Athanasius Lutheran Church
Saint Athanasius Lutheran Church in Vienna, Virginia is a parish in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church and a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Worship at St. Athanasius is according to the history Liturgy of the Church. Services at St. Athanasius are not designed for entertainment or sensation, but to prepare broken repentant sinners to receive these gifts of Word and Sacrament, and to know the truth of the incomparable riches of the grace showered on us by our gracious and loving Heavenly Father. In this weekly podcast, we present the sermons preached by our pastor, Reverend James Douthwaite.
Episodes
July 16, 2025 • 18 mins
In today’s message, I reflected on Jesus sending out the seventy-two—ordinary people, sent with nothing but His Word, and yet they returned full of joy. Why? Because even the demons couldn’t stand against the power of Jesus’ name. That mission wasn’t just about then—it’s about now. Jesus still sends us out into a world full of wolves with the truth that changes everything: the cross. We might feel weak, like nothings, but the cross...
Mark as Played
July 16, 2025 • 12 mins
In this episode, I reflect on the life and faith of Carris, a beloved member of our church who recently joined that great multitude in heaven. Though his earthly life ended, Carris was prepared—clothed in Christ from baptism, praising God with his voice and life until the very end. What comfort and confidence we have knowing that, just as Jesus kept every promise to Carris, He will keep them for us too. Carris didn’t just believe i...
Mark as Played
July 16, 2025 • 17 mins
In today’s episode, I reflected on Peter and Paul—two unlikely men Jesus called to preach one powerful truth: it’s just Jesus. Not Jesus plus effort, law, or status. Just Jesus—who saves sinners like them, and like us. I talked about how humbling that truth is. We all want to believe we’re special or that we’ve earned something. But before God, we’re all the same: sinners in need of grace. And the amazing news? Jesus gives it—all o...
Mark as Played
July 16, 2025 • 16 mins
In today’s episode, I talked about the demons we can see—and the ones we can’t. Some show up in wild, obvious ways, like the possessed man in the tombs. But others hide behind comfort, respectability, or quiet resistance to Jesus. I asked myself: where do I push Jesus away in my own life? But the good news is, Jesus doesn’t walk away. He sees it all—every fear, every sin, every hidden struggle—and He comes to set us free. Through H...
Mark as Played
July 16, 2025 • 18 mins
In this episode, I reflected on how Jesus never walked away—even when it would’ve been easier. He endured rejection, insults, and death on a cross, not for His own glory, but to save us. That kind of love—real, sacrificial love—challenges me to live differently. Jesus is the eternal “I AM,” God in the flesh, who came to give us life, not death. And because of His word, His cross, and His victory, I know I won’t see death—I’ll see l...
Mark as Played
July 16, 2025 • 17 mins
This week, I reflect on the surprising and powerful gift Jesus promised before His ascension—being “clothed with power from on high.” At Pentecost, that power came not with fireworks, but with words—Spirit-filled, life-giving words that transformed lives then and still do today. The power of God isn’t about spectacle; it’s about salvation. It’s the Word that gathers, forgives, heals, and gives eternal life. So we pray: Come, Holy S...
Mark as Played
July 16, 2025 • 21 mins
In today’s message, I reflected on how Jesus prayed before doing anything else—before the cross, the resurrection, or the ascension. In His “high priestly prayer” from John’s Gospel, He intercedes for us, asking that we be one—not just united in name, but perfectly one through His death and resurrection. He prays that we be united with Him and the Father, a oneness made possible through His Word, His glory, and the gift of the Lord...
Mark as Played
July 16, 2025 • 19 mins
In Chapel this week, I told the kids that if I were Thomas, I probably wouldn’t have believed either. Seeing your friend die and then hearing He’s alive again? That’s hard to accept. But Jesus did say He’d rise. He even raised others from the dead. Still, when it’s you who dies—that feels final. But here’s the thing: death wasn’t part of God’s original plan. Jesus came to fix that, to take away sin—and with it, death. That’s what E...
Mark as Played
July 16, 2025 • 17 mins
If only you could see the world like we angels do—how different your worries would seem. Yes, there’s sin, pain, and my former brother, the devil, still prowls. But our Father is greater, and He is always working for your good, even when you can’t see it. I saw it that first Easter morning. I rolled the stone away, not to let Jesus out—He was already risen!—but so the women could see that death had lost. They came expecting death, ...
Mark as Played
July 16, 2025 • 6 mins
Tonight, I reflected on how stories shape who we are—our families, our country, and especially our faith. Just like people turn to ancestry sites to learn their roots, we as Christians turn to Scripture. The stories of Adam, Abraham, Israel, and more—they’re not just old tales; they’re our story. And through baptism, Jesus’ story becomes our own. His death, resurrection, and life are now part of our identity—we are baptized childre...
Mark as Played
July 16, 2025 • 11 mins
Since last Good Friday, death has touched so many lives—friends, family, strangers near and far. It’s a reminder that the wages of sin is death, and we all feel its sting. But tonight, we gather not in despair, but in hope. Because Jesus, the Unbroken Life, stepped into death to break it from the inside. He wasn’t a victim—He chose the cross to pay the full price of sin, once and for all. And when He said, “It is finished,” death w...
Mark as Played
July 16, 2025 • 10 mins
Tonight, I reflected on the true meaning of the Passover—how Jesus, knowing His death was near, became the final Passover Lamb for us all. Just like the first Passover in Egypt, there was blood and there was eating—but this time, it was His own body and blood, given for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus gave us this meal not just to remember, but to live. Every time I come to the Lord’s Supper, I’m not just looking back—I’m looking fo...
Mark as Played
July 16, 2025 • 5 mins
Today, I reflected on this truth: Jesus made us a kingdom. Not a place, but a people—freed by His blood, loved beyond measure. His wounds mark the cost of that love, and this week, I remember that sacrifice with thanks and praise. Holy Week isn’t just about mourning—it’s about celebrating our King who gave everything to make us His own.
Mark as Played
July 16, 2025 • 7 mins
This week, I was reminded that faith is a fight—a real battle, not a walk through a peaceful garden. Paul told Timothy to “fight the good fight of the faith,” and I feel that in my bones. We’re up against three fierce enemies: the devil, the world, and our own sinful nature. The devil wants to devour me, not just mess with me. The world pushes lies that sound comforting but pull me away from Christ. And my own heart? It’s often the...
Mark as Played
July 16, 2025 • 12 mins
This Palm Sunday, I reflected on Jesus’ so-called ‘triumphal entry’ into Jerusalem—a parade of praise that seemed like a celebration before the victory was actually won. It looked like triumph, but the real triumph was still to come. While the crowd praised Him, others were stirred to stop Him, setting the stage for His suffering and death. But that cross, that apparent defeat, would become His true moment of triumph—His ‘triumphal...
Mark as Played
July 16, 2025 • 17 mins
This week, I picked up where we left off with the Parable of the Prodigal Son, fusing it with another of Jesus’ parables to explore what might have happened next. What if the older brother never repented, but instead followed the same path of greed and rejection as the tenants in the vineyard? What if the younger brother returned—resurrected—and forgave him anyway? This story points us straight to Jesus: rejected, crucified, risen,...
Mark as Played
July 16, 2025 • 14 mins
In this episode, I take you deep into the Garden of Gethsemane—not the calm, peaceful scene often depicted in art, but the agonizing, heartbreaking reality of Jesus’ final hours before His arrest. As Judas sets His betrayal in motion, Jesus pours out His soul in prayer, facing the unbearable weight of the cross—not just the physical torment but the spiritual burden of bearing the sins of the world. I’ll walk you through His intense...
Mark as Played
July 16, 2025 • 17 mins
Today, we pause to hear the grumbling of the Pharisees—outraged that Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them. In response, Jesus tells a parable, not just about a wayward son who squandered everything but about a father who welcomes him home with open arms, taking on his shame and restoring him completely. But then comes the older son—resentful, bitter, convinced that grace should be earned. Yet this parable isn’t just about two ...
Mark as Played
July 16, 2025 • 15 mins
Over the past couple of weeks, you’ve heard me talk about the one I call the traitor—Satan, the devil. He turned against our Father, led others astray, and now he’s after you, too. He wants to sift you, pull you down, and make you just like him. Tonight, we saw how he went after Peter and Judas. He played on their fears, their pride, their doubts. Peter denied Jesus three times—just as the traitor wanted. But Peter turned back. Jud...
Mark as Played
July 16, 2025 • 15 mins
Today, I’m reflecting on something we rarely think about—our eyes. Ever notice how they’re designed to look outward, not inward? It’s almost like we were made to focus on others—their needs, their goodness, and the beauty of God’s creation. But too often, we get caught up in something else: seeing others’ faults instead of our own. In today’s episode, we wrestle with this tough reality and dive into Jesus’ words that turn the mirro...
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.
Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S. centering Latino stories, hosted by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Maria Hinojosa Every week, the Peabody winning team brings you revealing, in-depth stories about what’s in the hearts and minds of Latinos and their impact on the world. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peaks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. www.futuromediagroup.org/joinplus