Love is . . . How would you finish that sentence? Or better yet, in how many different ways might you finish that sentence? Such an activity would be interesting, but even more interesting is how God himself defines love. We’re glad you’re with us today to seek a biblical definition of love, appreciate God’s love for us, and to ask his help in extending his love to others.
To receive 250-word devotions on 1 John 4:7-16 this week, Monday – Friday, go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
Airlines now proudly announce a "temporary change" to their food and beverage service. Some consultant advised them not to say, "We've canceled our food and beverage service," or, "We're not giving you anything." Why? Because our words matter. Nowhere is that truer than in the Bible. In the section of 1 John before us this weekend, John tells Christ-followers to test the spirits. How? In the first four verses of 1 John 4 he teaches us four words to help us do that. We’re so glad you’re with the people of God seeking the Holy Spirit's gift of faith through the words of God. If we can serve you in any other way, please let us know. May God bless your worship.
To receive 250-word devotions on 1 John 4:1-4 this week, Monday – Friday, go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
In a time of reason and relative morality, our hearts can sometimes lead us astray. Sometimes our hearts lead us into guilt and regret or the converse pride and arrogance. The one thing we can trust and believe with all our heart is the gospel. This week God reminds us through the apostle John that we are his and he is much greater than our understanding of him.
To receive 250-word devotions on 1 John 3:19-23 this week, Monday – Friday, go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
30,000 people were crucified the year Jesus was crucified. The heart of each person crucified stopped beating. Jesus’ heart stopped too. But there’s a difference. Three days after Jesus’ heart stopped, his heart began to beat again. That’s a difference you can live with. Join us to worship him on Good Friday and on Easter Sunday. Celebrate his heart for you.
30,000 people were crucified the year Jesus was crucified. The heart of each person crucified stopped beating. Jesus’ heart stopped too. But there’s a difference. Three days after Jesus’ heart stopped, his heart began to beat again. That’s a difference you can live with. Join us to worship him on Good Friday and on Easter Sunday. Celebrate his heart for you.
A Maundy Thursday devotion by Pastor Kelly Huet.
Today we begin our Holy Week journey to the cross and empty tomb. Jesus' passion begins with his ride into Jerusalem. As Jesus makes his triumphant entry, he teaches us about his heart for worship, which is then reflected in our worship of him.
A Lenten devotion by Staff Minister for Nurture Mark Kjenstad
I love my home. I love the ocean. I love my spouse. People use the word love for all kinds of things; sure, they're all loves. But what distinguishes Christian love? How do you know you know Christ's love? John gets us to the answer. Enjoy your time today with brothers and sisters; together we’re becoming more convinced of Christ's love and more able to love as he did.
To receive 250-word devotions on 1 John 3:11-18 this week, Monday – Friday, go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
This week the apostle John by God's direction starts getting into some deeply personal and introspective concepts that at the core ask, “Where do you find your identity?” You likely can offer a quick response, but John helps us see our need to confront and acknowledge where we've allowed our identity to slip, that we might fully live and abide with God.
To receive 250-word devotions on 1 John 3:4-10 this week, Monday – Friday, go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
A Lenten devotion by Pastor Kelly Huet.
Have you ever watched a dog chase a car and wondered, “What would he do if he caught it?” You know what he’d do. Nothing. He’d just walk away and go chasing after another car. Does your life ever feel that way to you? We chase after things or the next stage of life and either they elude us or they don’t satisfy us. Let the Spirit’s words through John show you a way off the hamster wheel. We’re glad you’re here to meet God in his Word and worship today.
To receive 250-word devotions on 1 John 2:28-3:3 this week, Monday – Friday, go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
A Lenten devotion by Pastor Steve Soukup from St. Andrew Lutheran Church
Drive carefully. We can wait.
That's a billboard outside Minneapolis for the Wilbert Company. They make burial vaults. You may call it tasteless advertising, but they're right. Certain truths are irreducible and universal. Death is one of them. What other truths would you put in the category of "core?" How about this: truth. Once again the saints of God have gathered in God's house to seek his truth, encourage one another and glorify him. Welcome to the party.
To receive 250-word devotions on 1 John 2:18-27 this week, Monday – Friday, go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
A Lenten devotion by Pastor Jon Bilitz from Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel.
When are you dogmatic? Never! That word almost always means something negative. To be dogmatic and uncompromising about your personal opinions and beliefs makes one hard to live with. You could be wrong. But John writes to the church of his day and our day that there is a time to be dogmatic, a time when there can be no compromise. The reason is not to make you hard to live with; but because you have eternal life.
To receive 250-word devotions on 1 John 2:18-27 this week, Monday – Friday, go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
A Lenten devotion by Pastor Randy Hunter.
How would you complete the phrase above? Would your answer change if the phrase was, "Stop loving . . ."? God turns our hearts toward himself as the apostle John, a grandpa who is concerned for his kids and grandkids, shares a powerful message of hope and life for those who are caught up in desires and loss which consume and destroy. God has a better life for us, and he uses John to help us see what it can be.
To receive 250-word devotions on 1 John 2:15-17 this week, Monday – Friday, go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
When we baptize babies at St. Andrew, we often sing "Borning Cry." The hymn tracks God's view of and love for a child from baptism through youth, middle age, and into old age. It's not only an accurate reflection of God's grace, but it reminds us how the Christian life goes, too: in stages. We all hope for growth. In this weekend's section of 1 John, the author demonstrates how the Christian life isn't stagnant. We all hope for growth. And you’ve come to the right place for it: God’s Word among God’s people.
To receive 250-word devotions on 1 John 2:12-14 this week, Monday – Friday, go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
In a press conference 19 years ago, then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said, "There are known knowns: things we know that we know. There are known unknowns: things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns: things we don't know we don't know." The Holy Spirit wants you to know you know God. But how? Hear his inspired word in 1 John 2:3-11 and evaluate your own knowledge of God. After all, that’s knowing him is why we’re here.
To receive 250-word devotions on 1 John 2:3-11 this week, Monday – Friday, go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
Listen to a reporter catch a coach on the way back onto the field after halftime: "Coach, what's your plan for the second half?" "Well, they scored more than we did until now, but if we can catch up and then score more than them in the second half, we'll be okay." It's always some variant of, "Here's the problem, and here's the solution." That formula frames our lives from "What shall we have for lunch?" to your current ailment. And even bigger things. Let the Spirit speak to you today in his inspired Word of 1 John 1:8 – 2:2 and answer the questions, "What's the problem? What's the solution?"
To receive 250-word devotions on 1 John 1:8 – 2:2 this week, Monday – Friday, go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
The greatest teachers are those who take deep, hard to understand truths and put them in simple, understandable language and examples we can understand. This is a gift God gave to the Apostle John. He uses the contrast of walking in the light and walking in the darkness, two concepts that are easy to understand, especially at this time of year. The example is easy to understand, but the truth behind it is going to challenge us and confront some truths and mistruths in our own lives.
To receive 250-word devotions on 1 John 1:5-7 this week, Monday – Friday, go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
John's letters teach us about Jesus’ love so that we can love Jesus and one another. John reminds us what truly matters—that we know who Jesus is and what he has done for us, that we embrace Jesus’ love for us, and that we share that love with others. The word fellowship sums it all up and describes what we are about as God’s family. Every verse of these short books is packed full of truth about love, life, and God. Some of it is hard truth and some of it is easy truth, but it's all true. May the Spirit bless as he speaks to you through the letters of John.
To receive 250-word devotions on 1 John 1:1-4, the introduction to John’s letters, this week,
Monday – Friday, go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
Until this year, most of us associated 2020 with excellent vision. But no one envisioned that 2020 would unravel as it did. That's the way it is with the future. "What's next?" This year that question prompts fewer vision statements and much less certainty than it did a year ago. That's not a bad thing. Uncertain times have a way of helping us appreciate what is certain. What is certain is God's Word and promise. We’re glad you’ve gathered around them with us today.
Let God the Spirit show you your future. Because of Jesus: it’s a good thing.
To receive 250-word devotions on Daniel 7:13-14, the heavenly courtroom, this week,
Monday – Friday, go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.
Salvation prepared for all people
It was in the midst of a worldwide census, political and social upheavals, and the din of Temple worship that the Lord of creation quietly entered his Temple. There was no fanfare or ceremony. He entered humbly, carried by his teenage mother and unnoticed by all except one who had been waiting. We hear the words of the only one to notice the LORD of Glory entering his Temple, who announces peace and salvation for all.
To receive 250-word devotions on “The World’s Greatest ADVENTure: The Promotion” this week, Monday – Friday, go to st-andrew-online.org/devotions.