This sermon for the 4th Sunday after Trinity proclaims the good news that all creation groans alongside us, eagerly awaiting freedom in the new heaven and earth. Our present sufferings pale in comparison to the redemption awaiting us. Through faith alone in Jesus, we receive the Holy Spirit as a foretaste of this glory, empowering us to support one another in the community of saints. Join us for a Christ-focused reminder that eternal joy is just around the corner.

Key Takeaways

• Endure Sufferings with Hope: Our trials are real but incomparable to the glory Christ will reveal, allowing us to weep yet persevere in faith.
• Live with Eternal Perspective: Time flies in this life, but eternity in Christ reorients our priorities, freeing us from sin's burdens through His redemptive work.
• Share Comfort in Community: The Holy Spirit unites us to encourage one another, reminding fellow believers that Jesus will make all things right.
• Anticipate Bodily Redemption: Our bodies will be raised imperishable by Christ's power, joining creation in freedom from decay and death.
• Rejoice in God's Faithfulness: Eternal joy increases forever in the new creation, grounded in God's promises fulfilled in Jesus.

Scripture References

1. Romans 8:18-23: Paul teaches that present sufferings are nothing compared to future glory, as creation groans with us, awaiting redemption through Christ.
2. 2 Peter 3:8-9: God is not slow in His promises; a day to Him is like a thousand years, assuring us of Christ's return and eternal life.
3. Revelation 21:4: In the new heaven and earth, God will wipe away every tear, with no more death or pain, all made possible by Jesus' sacrifice.
4. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44: Our bodies will be raised imperishable and glorious, clothed in immortality through Christ's resurrection victory.

Links and Calls to Action

• Church Website: Visit St. Peter's Lutheran Church for more sermons, service times, and ways to connect.
• Subscribe: Follow on your favorite podcast app to never miss an episode of Gospel-centered teaching.
• Support the Ministry: Donate securely at splcgibbon.org/give to help share the Good News.
• Join Us: We invite you to worship with us in Gibbon, Minnesota. Experience the sacraments and fellowship in Christ's forgiving community. Share this episode with a friend needing hope in Jesus!

Jayne's story reminds us that while our bodies fade like dust, our inner selves are daily renewed by grace alone, leading to eternal glory where sorrow gives way to joy in the presence of our Savior.

Listen to find encouragement in God's promises, as the Holy Spirit works through Word and Sacrament to sustain us until we see Jesus face to face. This episode points to the cross and empty tomb as the source of true peace, inviting all to rest in Christ's finished work.

Key Takeaways:

• The Gospel provides strength to the weary, renewing us inwardly even as our bodies weaken, through faith in Christ's promises.
• True hope endures all trials, rooted not in our efforts but in Jesus' death and resurrection for our salvation.
• We are all fragile like dust due to sin, but God offers eternal life as a free gift, turning our last breath into the first of glory.
• Fixing our eyes on unseen eternal realities, rather than temporary troubles, brings assurance of resurrection and reunion with the saints.
• Jayne's faith exemplifies how the Holy Spirit sustains believers through prayer, Scripture, and the Lord's Supper until heaven.
• Mourning with hope means trusting Jesus as the resurrection and the life, who guarantees our bodies will rise in glory.

Scripture References:

1. Isaiah 40:30-31 - Even youths grow weary, but those who wait on the Lord renew their strength, soaring on wings like eagles through God's grace.
2. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 - Though our outer self wastes away, our inner self is renewed day by day, focusing on eternal glory that outweighs all affliction, given by Christ.
3. John 11:25-26 - Jesus declares, "I am the resurrection and the life," promising that believers live eternally, even after death, through faith in Him alone.

Links and Calls to Action:

• Visit our website: St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Gibbon, MN for more sermons, events, and resources.
• Subscribe to the podcast on BuzzSprout, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform to never miss an episode of Gospel-centered teaching.
• Support the ministry: Donate securely at splcgibbon.org/give to help share the Good News.
• Join us in person! We invite you to worship with our faith community at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota—come experience the Means of Grace and fellowship in Christ. Share this episode with someone needing hope today!

The most familiar of Jesus' parables has never really been about the prodigal son at all. Every surprise rests on the Father who sprints into scandal, pleads with the self-righteous, and insists that joy fill the whole town.

TAKEAWAYS

• The Father absorbs our public shame and shields us in Christ’s cross.
• Prideful record-keeping isolates; grace gathers the community in shared joy.
• Absolution is the Father’s run toward you, spoken before your confession ends.
• The Lord’s Supper is the banquet the elder brother rejected but the Church receives with empty hands.

SCRIPTURE INDEX

• Luke 15:11–32 – the Father seeks both sons and calls the community to rejoice.
• Deuteronomy 21:18–21 – the law’s sentence on a rebellious son highlights the Father’s mercy.
• Galatians 3:13 – Christ becomes the curse, carrying our shame to the cross.
• Romans 8:16 – The Holy Spirit assures us we are children of God.
• Luke 15:1–7, 8–10 – lost sheep and lost coin set the pattern of shared celebration.

Location: St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Gibbon MN | Subscribe and walk with us in weekly gospel joy.