You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Christianity is not a religion but a relationship.” Technically speaking, Christianity is a religion (if religion is defined as a belief in God and the service and worship of Him). In other words, religion lays out a certain way of life – “house rules” so to speak. For Christians, the God we worship is a God of love who would teach us and empower us to live a life of love. That’s where the idea of relationship comes in.

As we continue our series, “Lord, Teach Us...” this weekend's focus is on not worrying. We’ll hear Jesus’ familiar words about how the Father provides food for ravens and clothes wildflowers in such beauty so we can be certain that our Father knows how to take care of us. And who by worrying can add even a single hour to his or her life? As Martin Luther once said, “We should not be full of any other care for ourselves than this: not to be full of care for ourselves and thus to rob God of His care for us.” Yet we still worry.

This weekend, we'll continue our series titled, "Lord, Teach Us..." with an emphasis on how not to be obsessed with stuff. The key words are "obsessed" and "stuff." In other words, help us not to be so consumed by our desire for things that do not have eternal significance that we lose sight of the one thing needful: Having Christ and with Him the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation.

Have you ever heard stories of people who are not particularly religious calling out to God in desperation, “God, if You’re there, help!”?

Have you been watching the news reports of the terrible flooding that hit the Hill Country of Texas? As of this writing, the death toll has risen to 120 with 150 still missing. Much attention has been given to the number of young people from Camp Mystic who perished in the flood, as well as accounts of heroic efforts to save those caught in the rapidly rising water.

This weekend’s worship services will include Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 5 stating that we are the salt of the earth. In his book Daily Walk With God, Rev. Herman Gockel wrote in a devotion for July 4, “How desperately our nation needs the salt of Christian witness and action!”

One of the things we all have in common is our ability to make excuses in an effort either to get out of blame or doing something we really don’t want to do. Artificial intelligence is good at it as well. When one askes Google or Siri or Alexa, advice will be offered as to what constitutes a good believable excuse and what does not.

Have you ever heard the song, “The Impossible Dream” from the musical Man of La Mancha? Even if you have never heard the song or seen the musical, you probably can relate to the idea of having an impossible dream. You thought, “What if this or that would happen?” But then you stepped back and thought, “Nope. That’s impossible.” But then in the Scriptures we keep hearing reminders that with God all things are possible. Indeed they are. But it is also true that dreams are fulfilled when they are God’s dreams for us.

This Sunday on the Church Calendar is the observance of Holy Trinity when we especially contemplate the wonder of the Trinity: three distinct Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), yet one in essence as eternal God.

This weekend we are celebrating Pentecost. I would invite you to take some time to read through the account in Acts chapter 2 where you will hear that the “Baptism in the Spirit” that day included the sound of a rushing wind and what looked to be divided tongues of fire that rested on Jesus’ followers. What is more, they began speaking in other languages, declaring the good news of Jesus to those who were drawn by the wondrous signs. As you read the account, it is very clear that everyone was in complete control.

This weekend we are celebrating the ascension of our Lord which, according to Acts 1:3, happened forty days after Easter. Perhaps because the day always falls on a Thursday, or because it may seem anticlimactic after Easter, Ascension Day is often overlooked. Chances are that you did not receive any Ascension Day cards, or had many people wish you a blessed Ascension Day as would happen with Christmas or Easter. Yet it is mentioned in our Creeds as an important event in our Lord’s life, and, therefore, is important for us.

The American Bible Society’s annual State of the Bible report shared this encouraging information about Bible reading: Millennials saw a 29% increase in Bible use from 2024 to 2025 and men saw a 19% increase; among members of Gen Z, Scripture engagement rose from 11% in 2024 to 15% in 2025; and 51% told the American Bible Society they would like to read the Christian Scriptures more often. 

Have you ever used or heard the phrase “as the spirit moves me”? An AI generated definition says “as the spirit moves me” is a common idiom that means “when one feels like it” or “when the time is right.” It suggests acting on a feeling or impulse, rather than following a strict plan or schedule. It can also be used in a religious context, referring to the influence or prompting of the Holy Spirit. 

This weekend we will observe Good Shepherd Sunday. David declares in Psalm 23 that the Lord is his shepherd. Jesus declares in John 10 that He is the Good Shepherd. So what is the significance of having a Good Shepherd?

In this weekend’s Gospel reading, we’ll hear about the disciples having a miraculous catch of fish and Jesus telling them to bring the fish to Him. When it comes down to it, that’s what He wants from you and me.

During our Easter Sunday worship, we looked at three ways our view of Jesus is obstructed: 1) when life isn’t fair; 2) the loneliness of loss; and 3) anger when our worldview is challenged. This weekend we’ll look at three more things that obstruct our view of Jesus: 1) fear; 2) doubt; and 3) jealousy. The fact is, if we as believers might have our view of Jesus obstructed by these things, unbelievers will as well.