In this midweek Lenten sermon from Isaiah 50, we see that the Servant's willingness to endure beatings, humiliation, and disgrace is the posture of an obedient disciple who trusts completely in the God who sent Him.

But how do we actually handle suffering when it comes? The sermon explores two dead-end responses — panicking and wondering if God has abandoned us, or pretending we're too tough to be bothered — and then points to a better path.

This is the third in a series of midweek Lenten sermons walking through Isaiah's Servant Songs, and it sets up a question that will carry us into next week: just how close is God's salvation? Stay tuned for Isaiah 51.

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship

When Jesus heals a mute man by casting out a demon, some people accuse him of using Satan's power rather than God's. Jesus responds by explaining that He operates "by the finger of God" (the same divine power that brought plagues on Egypt!). The spiritual war between Christ and Satan continues today, and every baptized believer is caught up in it.

What we generally don't expect is for that war to look so ordinary. God's power doesn't usually look like dramatic exorcisms in our lives. Instead, it's present in the ordinary means of grace: Scripture, baptism, and the Lord's Supper. This is why Jesus warns against being a "swept house" that looks clean and respectable but remains empty of God's word. A tidy life without Christ dwelling in you through His Word is vulnerable to spiritual attack. The enemy is always prowling, looking to reclaim what he's lost.

Thankfully, Jesus calls "blessed" those who simply hear God's Word and keep it. Not those who chase after miracles or spectacular experiences, but those who faithfully receive what God gives in His means of grace. The kingdom of God has come upon us and the spiritual war is real, but Christ, the Stronger One, has already won the victory.

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship

Isaiah 49 introduces us to the Servant: God's chosen one, commissioned before birth and armed with God's word. It sounds like we're off to a good start, but then the Servant openly admits that his mission seems fruitless. "I have labored in vain," he confesses, "I have spent my strength for nothing."

This sermon explores how the Servant (whom we know to be Jesus) was always intended to bring light not just to Israel, but to peoples from afar (including us in rural Minnesota two thousand years later). The text addresses us directly as "coastlands" and "peoples from afar," reminding us that our inclusion in God's family was never an afterthought. When the weight of daily faithfulness feels exhausting and pointless, we're actually in the good company of the Servant himself.

What appears to be defeat is actually the means by which salvation reaches the world. God vindicates those who trust him, even when all evidence suggests otherwise. Join us for this second installment in our Lenten series walking through Isaiah's Servant Songs.

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship