Holy Trinity Ankeny

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

CHRIST, THE KING: NOV. 24, 2024 11/25/2024

CHRIST, THE KING: NOV. 24, 2024 To whom will we give our lives to? That is the question on the Festival of Christ the King. Will it be the kings, presidents, rulers, and powers of this world? Wall Street or Madison Avenue? Or will we serve the only one “who was, who is, and the one coming?” as the Book of Revelation names him? Will we trust the powers and people who will pass away or the one who is eternal? /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/34137541

BIRTH PANGS: NOV. 17, 2024 11/18/2024

BIRTH PANGS: NOV. 17, 2024 Whenever the Bible speaks of suffering, war, or cataclysm of any kind we tend to assume it is speaking of God’s punishment. Jesus does not do that. Referring to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, “war and rumors of war,” he calls them “birth pangs.” This does not minimize the suffering and pain. It reminds us, however, that the birth pangs are not the baby. In these days of uncertainty and chaos, it is easy to fear the world is ending. It is in way. But these are the birth pangs, not the reign of God that will make all things new. /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/33973732

MORE THAN JUST TWO COINS: NOV. 10, 2024 11/11/2024

MORE THAN JUST TWO COINS: NOV. 10, 2024 What does it mean to give everything when you don’t have enough to begin with? A widow’s offering of two small coins challenges everything we know about generosity, trust, and faith. In a world that devours us, how can we respond with faith that holds nothing back? What does it truly mean to offer our all? /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/33879297

“ALREADY” PEOPLE IN A “NOT YET” WORLD: NOV 3, 2024 11/04/2024

“ALREADY” PEOPLE IN A “NOT YET” WORLD: NOV 3, 2024 If you don’t know where you are headed, you’re probably lost. This world seems lost, unsure of where we are going or who will lead us. As followers of Jesus Christ, we know where the world is headed and what the end looks like. It is what he revealed in his life, death, and resurrection. The reign of God is not yet here, but it is already dawning, all around us. On All Saints Day we remember all the saints who have lived into God’s future by being “already” people in a “not yet” world. /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/33773707

EXPERIENCE GRACE: OCT. 27, 2024 10/28/2024

EXPERIENCE GRACE: OCT. 27, 2024 You are a beloved child of God. Know that you are accepted; you are loved by the one who made the universe. /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/33640287

WHY DOESN’T GOD DO SOMETHING? 10/22/2024

WHY DOESN’T GOD DO SOMETHING? It is common to look at the trouble of the world and ask why God does not do something about it all. But what if God has done something, and that something is you? Luke, the masterful storyteller, and evangelist offers some of the most beloved and memorable teachings of Jesus we know. In many of them, Jesus is not the miracle worker. Instead, after an encounter with the overwhelming love of God in Christ, miraculous things are done by people like you and me. /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/33567387

SELL EVERYTHING: OCT. 13, 2024 10/14/2024

SELL EVERYTHING: OCT. 13, 2024 For people who live in a culture so grounded in material possessions and having “stuff,” Jesus’ instruction to “sell everything and give to the poor. And then follow me…” (Mark 10), is challenging to say the least. Is Jesus serious? When what we possess gets in the way of our relationship with what truly matters, when we see faith as yet another possession, maybe this command is what saves us. /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/33448287

HOPE BEYOND THE STORM: OCT. 6, 2024 10/07/2024

HOPE BEYOND THE STORM: OCT. 6, 2024 Amid destruction and despair, Isaiah's words remind us that God's promise is both present and future—a hope that invites all to the table, where death is defeated and new life begins. Isaiah 25:6-9 | 1 Corinthians 11:20-26 | Luke 24:22-33 /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/33358242

ENTER LIFE: SEPT. 29, 2024 09/29/2024

ENTER LIFE: SEPT. 29, 2024 In today’s gospel, Jesus speaks of plucking out eyes and cutting off hands—but what if we’ve misunderstood? What if true wholeness comes from letting go? Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29 | James 5:13-20 | Mark 9:38-50 /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/33251907

K IS FOR CONFUSION: SEPT. 22, 2024 09/23/2024

K IS FOR CONFUSION: SEPT. 22, 2024 Ever felt lost in confusion, even when you're right in the middle of faith? You're not alone. Sometimes the greatest lessons come when we’re the most uncertain. In our confusion, Jesus reassures us that he will always be with us. Jeremiah 11:18-20 | James 3:13—4:3, 7-8a | Mark 9:30-37 /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/33168957

INCONCEIVABLE: SEPT. 15, 2024 09/16/2024

INCONCEIVABLE: SEPT. 15, 2024 Peter thought he had it all figured out. He had the right title, but completely missed the meaning. What happens when we try to make Jesus fit our expectations? Isaiah 50:4-9a | James 3:1-12 | Mark 8:27-38 /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/33071202

A TALE OF HEALING: SEPT. 8, 2024 09/09/2024

A TALE OF HEALING: SEPT. 8, 2024 Deacon Jodi Schuman visits Holy Trinity and preaches on Mark 7 this week. /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/32971352

DIRT, BLOOD, AND ANGUISH: SEPT. 1, 2024 09/03/2024

DIRT, BLOOD, AND ANGUISH: SEPT. 1, 2024 Jesus and the Pharisees clash again—this time over handwashing traditions. Ever wonder if the rituals you follow are drawing you closer to God—or pulling you away? Sometimes, it’s time to uncover the dirt in our spiritual lives. Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 | James 1:17-27 | Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/32876698

LORD BE WITH YOU: AUGUST 25, 2024 08/26/2024

LORD BE WITH YOU: AUGUST 25, 2024 There are words and phrases that everyone needs to hear in their life. Sometimes it is simply “I love you” or “I am proud of you.” Other times, when life is really hard and we cry out “God where are you,” someone in our life brings us the good news that God is with us and God is with you. It is the good news of Advent, the good news of Easter, and the good news of Pentecost. The Lord be with you. Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18 | Ephesians 6:10-20 | John 6:56-69 /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/32741297

INCARNATION AND INTIMACY: AUGUST 18, 2024 08/19/2024

INCARNATION AND INTIMACY: AUGUST 18, 2024 Imagine standing in a crowd of thousands, hungry for more than just bread. What if the bread you sought wasn’t just food, but a radical invitation? Proverbs 9:1-6 | Ephesians 5:15-20 | John 6:51-58 /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/32636972

MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS: AUGUST 11, 2024 08/12/2024

MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS: AUGUST 11, 2024 Have you ever felt like life is more valley than mountaintop? Elijah did too. He stood against kings, called down fire from heaven, and yet, he found himself alone, exhausted, and ready to give up. But it was in that dark valley, not on the mountaintop, where God met him with the most tender, sustaining grace. 1 Kings 19:4-8 | Ephesians 4:25—5:2 | John 6:35, 41-51 /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/32542157

WHEN DID YOU GET HERE? AUGUST 4, 2024 08/05/2024

WHEN DID YOU GET HERE? AUGUST 4, 2024 Have you ever felt the anxiety of not knowing where someone important is, especially after midnight? The crowd in John’s Gospel experienced a similar fear when they couldn’t find Jesus. But it just wasn’t that they couldn't find Jesus, it was that they had expectations that were not being met. Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 | Ephesians 4:1-16 | John 6:24-35 /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/32440807

LEFTOVERS: JULY 28, 2024 07/29/2024

LEFTOVERS: JULY 28, 2024 We all have that bucket of leftover parts sitting on a workbench. They are those extra bolts and screws that we just can't bring ourselves to toss in the garbage. In our Gospel lesson for today, Jesus tells the disciples to gather up the leftovers from the feeding of the multitude. There is good news for those of us who are left out and leftover. 2 Kings 4:42-44 | Ephesians 3:14-21 | John 6:1-21 /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/32330517

WHERE IS JESUS? JULY 21, 2024 07/23/2024

WHERE IS JESUS? JULY 21, 2024 Have you ever been so consumed by anger that it becomes a part of you, unnoticed by yourself but evident to everyone else? It is easy to get that way in our world today. We can be angry about pretty much anything. Staying angry is a lot of work. Being angry is exhausting. Jesus tells the disciples today to come away with him and rest -- something we all need to hear. Jeremiah 23:1-6 | Ephesians 2:11-22 | Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/32257917

THE PLUMB LINE: JULY 14, 2024 07/15/2024

THE PLUMB LINE: JULY 14, 2024 A plumb line measures whether things are vertical, straight, or up to snuff. Amos sees a plumb line measuring the nation of Israel and Israel is not plumb. They have tilted away from the ways of God, justice, and care for those in need. God will not let this stand forever. Either what is out of plumb must be straightened or it will fall. Christ is our plumb line revealing when we are out of sync with God’s reign. By grace, he can bring us back in line with the ways of God. /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/32138532

GRACE IS SUFFCIENT: July 7, 2024 07/08/2024

GRACE IS SUFFCIENT: July 7, 2024 In a world where we ridicule “losers,” demean failure, and look for the strong and successful, it is hard to remember that God specializes in weakness. Paul prays that a “thorn in his flesh” be taken from him because it makes him weak. God says, “My grace is sufficient for you. Power is made perfect in weakness.” God makes strong when we are weak. Look to the one who died on the cross for this truth. /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/32047837

REACH OUT: JUNE 30, 2024 07/01/2024

REACH OUT: JUNE 30, 2024 Mark’s Gospel moves swiftly, yet pauses with purpose to show us profound moments of healing and faith. Today we encounter a desperate father pleading for his dying daughter, and a woman, shunned by society for twelve long years, reaching out for a miracle. Lamentations 3:22-33 | 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 | Mark 5:21-43 /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/31960622

WHY, LORD? - JUNE 23, 2024 06/24/2024

WHY, LORD? - JUNE 23, 2024 In this world full of suffering and pain, we often ask God, “Why?” Some even assert that if there is suffering in the world it is proof that God does not exist unless a compelling answer can be given. What if “Why” is the wrong question? The message of the Book of Job offers no answer to Job’s asking God why. Instead, God is present to Job. When we suffer, the question to ask is, “Who?” and “Where?” Jesus is the embodiment of God’s answer. God is present in our suffering. /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/31864267

NEW CREATION: JUNE 16, 2024 06/17/2024

NEW CREATION: JUNE 16, 2024 When confronted with the troubles of the world or the decline of our personal life we can long for something new, something that fixes things, solves our problems. We tend to look for the quick fix, the silver bullet, the latest and greatest advice. Scripture tells us that the reign of God doesn’t work that way. Mustard seeds, growing seed, sprigs of a cedar tree are signs that God is at work. The new creation dawns slowly, patiently and often, as something we can only observe as God works. /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/31771317

THE THIEF - JUNE 9, 2024 06/10/2024

THE THIEF - JUNE 9, 2024 I grew up in a church that had an enormous sanctuary. It was filled with stained-glass windows. There was plenty of real estate for depictions of stories from the Bible. Not one inch was dedicated to depicting Jesus as a thief. In the Gospel today, Jesus tells a story about binding a strong man and plundering the house. Is Jesus the strongman or the thief? Genesis 3:8-15 | 2 Corinthians 4:13 - 5:1 | Mark 3:20-35 /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/31679062

GIVE IT A REST: JUNE 2, 2024 06/03/2024

GIVE IT A REST: JUNE 2, 2024 Keeping Sabbath is more than an outdated day off exemplified by the blue laws of a bygone age. The purpose of Sabbath is to rejoice and honor God’s creation and every creature. It is to proclaim freedom and assert that we are more than what we do, more than our accomplishments, more than economic cogs in the machinery. We are children of God! Jesus is himself the Sabbath bringing joy and peace to our lives. /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/31578052

IN THE SHADOWS: MAY 26, 2024 05/28/2024

IN THE SHADOWS: MAY 26, 2024 Nicodemus comes to Jesus in the middle of the night when the shadows are long and the places to hide are easy to find. Nicodemus is a Pharisee and coming to ask Jesus questions can be problematic for him. That fateful night Nicodemus brings all of his questions and seeks confirmation for what he already knows. If his story ended that night, he would be just a nice little footnote. But his story doesn’t end there. Isaiah 6:1-8 | Romans 8:12-17 | John 3:1-17 /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/31494047

DRY BONES: MAY 19, 2024 05/20/2024

DRY BONES: MAY 19, 2024 Ezekiel sees a valley full of bones that represent the people of God. Peter and the disciples see a world where God’s people are scattered, divided, and grieving the death of their Lord. Today, God’s people are a shrinking bunch, unsure of how to proceed in a world that thinks they are irrelevant. When we can’t imagine a way forward, the Spirit comes with power to create and a vision beyond our expectations. /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/31381652

ETERNAL LIFE: MAY 12, 2024 05/12/2024

ETERNAL LIFE: MAY 12, 2024 Eternal life is not the same thing as the resurrection of the dead, nor is it simply this life extended past death. Eternal life is not something we earn or build from our efforts to get rich, successful, or busy. Eternal life always was, will always be, and is present right now. You just have to look at Jesus to see what is and trust that he has given it to you. /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/31253512

WAITING FOR THE SPIRIT: MAY 5, 2024 05/06/2024

WAITING FOR THE SPIRIT: MAY 5, 2024 We can spend a lot of time waiting for God to do something about the brokenness of our world and the challenges of life. The Book of Acts, however, says that it is not our impatient waiting on the Spirit to act that is the problem. The Spirit has preceded us and plowed the ground already. The Spirit impatiently anoints even as we argue about who is worthy to be in the church. When we wonder what God wants us to do, is it possible we already know the answer? Has the Spirit already spoken and our preconceptions and biases, our resentments and self-justification, are just in the way of God’s grace and love in our lives? /episode/index/show/htlcankeny/id/31141893

Holy Trinity Ankeny

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