The Twin Steeples Podcast

Sermon - March 29, 2026

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on March 29, 2026. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.

 

Sermon Text: Zechariah 9:9-12 (NKJV)

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim And the horse from Jerusalem; The battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.’ 11 As for you also, Because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. 12 Return to the stronghold, You prisoners of hope.  Even today I declare That I will restore double to you.”

 

Theme: The Multi-sided Work of the Messiah

1. As Our Prophet

2. As Our Priest

3. As Our King

Hymn 161 - Hosanna, Loud Hosanna

This weekend is Palm Sunday, and marks the beginning of "Holy Week." These are the final days that lead to Jesus' death and resurrection for our salvation. Palm Sunday marks a significant change in the ministry of Jesus. Before this time He had told people not to tell others that He was the Messiah. But all that changes on Palm Sunday. The floodgates are released. Jesus allows and even encourages the people to announce this truth to the world!

All of this was in fulfillment of the Word of God in the Old Testament: 

The Prophet Zechariah declared: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zechariah 9:9) 

The Psalmist proclaimed: "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 23  This was the LORD’S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. 24  This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. 25  Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. 26  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD. 27  God is the LORD, And He has given us light; Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. 28  You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You. 29 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." (Psalm 118:22-29)

As we see the children joyfully proclaiming Jesus' praises, we reflect on what we are all called to do as redeemed children of God. We too, are to open our mouths to proclaim His praises!

May the LORD enable us, moved by the love of our Savior, to open our mouths to sing forth His praise! May the LORD bless your worship this weekend!

March 25, 2026

Devotion

• Romans 2:12-16

 

Announcements

• Music Call for 2026-2027
• School Cook and Aide
• Bumper Magnets
• Time and Talents
• Basketball Award Night
• Midweek Lenten Service
• Ladies' Auxiliary
• Church Choir
• Men's Breakfast
• Arts Camp
• Ladies' Bible Study
• Weekend Worship
  • Bible Class - Church and Churches
  • Sunday School - Jesus’ Crucifixion, Burial, and Resurrection
• Patty Stelter Victory Service
• Holy Week
• Resurrection Sunday

 

Prayer List 

• Pastor Tim Wheaton
• Jim Lien
• Lynette Roehl
• Becky
• Family of Patty Stelter
• Bev Menton
• Nelly Edwards
• Sue Heise
• Finances
• Mission to Kenya

 

Common Christian Q&A

• Does the Bible tell us how we should treat foreigners?

 

Hymn of the Day

• TLH 496 “Hark! The Voice of Jesus Crying”

Sermon - March 22, 2026

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on March 22, 2026. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.

 

Sermon Text: Numbers 21:4-9 (NKJV)

Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” 6 So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

Theme: A Deserved Punishment - A Needed Deliverance

1. For Israel
2. For Everyone

Hymn 380 - Thy Works, Not Mine, O Christ

Join us for a study of the Scottish hymn "Thy Works, Not Mine, O Christ" (Hymn 380 in The Lutheran Hymnal) by Horatius Bonar. This is a beautiful hymn on the doctrine of Justification the the person and work of Jesus for sinners. 

While this hymn is not strictly a "Lent" hymn, it fits nicely during the season of Lent. It points clearly to the suffering (verse 2) and death (verse 4) of Jesus at the cross (verse 3), and the necessity for it. Jesus, through His perfect life (verses 1 and 5), and His suffering and death, has done what no one else could. He accomplished what sinners desperately needed to be delivered from the curse of sin. We are powerless to save ourselves. Jesus alone is "the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6).

As you sing this hymn, reflect on your utter helplessness under the Law of God, and your desperate need for salvation. Thank God, that this need has been fulfilled by God in the person and work of Jesus. There is no salvation, anywhere else! There is no one, no thing, else we can to turn to for this salvation. Jesus alone is the Savior we need. Rejoice in that truth, and revel in the joy that truth brings!

As you sing this hymn, you are not only reveling in its truth, but you are also declaring this truth to others. It is an encouragement to your fellow Christians to hear you make this declaration!