Sermons from Ascension Lutheran Church, RPV

The sermon emphasizes the doctrine of "simul justus et peccator", meaning that every individual is simultaneously a saint and a sinner. It highlights the importance of recognizing our inherent flaws—described as being "naked," "wretched," and "fouled"—while also affirming that God loves and values us deeply, as demonstrated by Christ's sacrifice. This duality encourages compassion toward...

Guest Pastor John Bromhal, author of "Living Greatness - 28 Days to a Cruciform Life," emphasizes the importance of listening to Jesus and responding to God's call in our lives, as illustrated by his journey from a press mechanic to a pastor, highlighting the transformative power of obedience to God's voice. It discusses the significance of worshiping in spirit and truth, encouraging us to enter into God's ...

Our sermon for Ash Wednesday emphasizes the importance of repentance and the significance of wearing ashes as a sign of humility before God. It encourages us to reflect on our spiritual practices, avoiding hypocrisy by not using our faith as a means to elevate ourselves above others, as highlighted in the teachings from the Gospel of Matthew (e.g., fasting and praying in secret). The message also invites us to break our usual patte...

This sermon emphasizes the importance of breaking personal patterns during the season of Lent to foster spiritual growth and community. It introduces the concept of a "cruciform life," as presented in the book Living Greatness by John Bromhal, which involves understanding our vertical relationship with God through justification and our horizontal relationships with others through sanctification, highlighting that true tra...

This sermon emphasizes the importance of being generous and the gifts each individual possesses, highlighting that we are all called to serve and give as part of the body of Christ. Jesus is the ultimate giver, having selflessly given his life for humanity, and encourages us to emulate this generosity in our own lives.
We are called to practice generosity without hesitation, cultivating a mindset of giving freely and abundantly...

This week we focus on the spiritual gift of discernment.  While all Christians are called to have a discerning spirit, some possess a unique gift in this area. Discernment is a process of growth, learning to love what God loves and hate what God hates. There are two things God consistently opposes: idol worship (anything replacing God as the source of security) and the mistreatment of the poor.  God's nature welcomes those who...

This sermon focuses on the importance of spiritual gifts in the Christian life, emphasizing that these gifts are meant to serve others, not oneself. As stated in 1 Corinthians 12-14,  spiritual gifts should be used to build up the church and serve others. This week we focus on the gift of evangelism, and we are urged to share the Gospel as God provides the opportunities to pull others towards faith.

We would love to see you at worsh...

This week during our Youth Group led worship service, Grace Hawkins delivers a sermon emphasizing the importance of faith and light in overcoming life's challenges. She discusses how fear of the dark can be likened to life's difficulties, but assures that God's light, as described in the Bible, can dispel fear and guide us, encouraging us to stand up for righteousness, be kind, and share our faith stories. 

We would l...

This sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing and using individual spiritual gifts for the common good, highlighting that each person is uniquely wired by God to serve in specific ways within the body of Christ. It draws from 1 Corinthians 12, stressing that no gift is superior to another, and all are vital for the church to function as the living body of Christ in the world. We are encouraged to say “no” to roles we aren’t ...