The Twin Steeples Podcast

Hymn 769 - Lift High the Cross

This weekend we celebrate Pentecost, which is the fulfillment of the Savior's promise to send the Holy Spirit who would enable the followers of Jesus to serve as His witnesses. How fitting then, that we also incorporate Mission Festival. 

The hymns this weekend will all have themes related to our Christian mission as evangelists and witnesses of Jesus. One of those will be the English hymn, Lift High the Cross (WS 769). This is a very simple hymn, appropriate for teaching our children, but which also communicates the simplicity of the message of Christianity and the work that the Lord has given to His church on earth. 

While the name "Jesus" is never used in this hymn, He is described in various ways, as our "Captain," our "King victorious," the "Christ," the "Son of God," and "the Crucified." The hymn point to the cross as the summary and symbol of the Christian faith, and the means by which God accomplished mankind's salvation through Jesus. This is the banner that communicates what joins us together as Christians and what we motivates us as soldiers of Christ.

There is also a theme of "victory" and "triumph" in this hymn. The cross is the symbol of Christ's victory over sin and death for sinners, just as the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:57: "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Join us in our study of this hymn and its writer, and as we learn more about the Scriptural foundation and meaning of our hymns so that our use of them would be more beneficial as we gather in worship and use this hymn of praise.

May the LORD bless your witness of Him as the Savior of all the world this weekend, and always!

June 4, 2025

• Devotion
  • Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

 

• Announcements
  
  • Mission Festival this Weekend
  • Sunday Service at 9:00am
  • Ladies' Auxiliary
  • Evening Ambassadors
  • Ascension Day Service
  • Congregational Meeting
  • Midweek Bible Study starts Thursday
  • Men's Breakfast
  • Ladies Bible Study
  • Delegates' Conference
  • ERC Meeting
  • Voter's Meeting
  • Pastoral Conference
  • Christian Family Weekend

 

• Prayer List 
  • Pastor John Hein
  • Pastor Tim Wheaton
  • Jim Lien
  • Ethan Kranz
  • Mark Stelter
  • Minnesota Delegates
  • CLC Missionaries
  • Mission in Philippines

 

• Common Christian Q &A:
  • How do we know the books of the Bible are God’s Word if they were put together and selected by man? 

 

• Hymn: TLH 608 “Let Thoughtless Thousands Choose the Road” 

Sermon - June 1, 2025

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church on June 1, 2025. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.

Psalm 19:1-11

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2  Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3  There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. 4  Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, 5  Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race. 6  Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.  
7  The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; 
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 8  
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; 
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9  
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; 
The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 
10  More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11  Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. 

Theme: The Glory of God is Revealed
God's Glory is Revealed in Nature
The LORD's Glory is Revealed in His Word

Hymn 308 - Invited, Lord, By Boundless Grace

This weekend we come to the end of the Easter Season. We will also be celebrating the Lord's Supper in our service this weekend. As we do so, we will consider a communion hymn instead of an Easter hymn.

There are several words that we associate with the Lord's Supper. We call it a Sacrament, which is a holy act, instituted by Christ, has an earthly element connected to God's Word, and imparts a blessing from God, namely forgiveness of sin, life and salvation. We also refer to it as Holy Communion based on Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 10:16-17. Lutherans teach the Real Presence of the Lord's Supper, in contrast to the Roman Catholic teaching of Transubstantiation or the Reformed view of Representation. This is the clear teaching of Scripture based on 1 Corinthians 11:23-27, where Paul says that we receive Christ's body and His blood, but also receive with our mouths the earthly elements of bread and wine.

This hymn highlights several important truths about the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. First, it reinforces what the Sacrament is. The hymnwriter states: "As Host You spread no common food, here is Your body and Your blood" (verse 1), but also "this bread and cup my lips have pressed" (verse 2). This is the Real Presence.

He also tells us that the Lord's Supper is not an action of man, but of God. We receive the blessings that God gives in this Sacrament. "Where pardon, peace, and life are spent" and "You bless, and my soul is blessed" (verse 2). This blessing from God motivates us and strengthens us for lives of service to Him. "Now let me as Your guest depart... a new life may my offering be" (verse 3).

Our prayer is that God would work in us through His word and sacrament to keep us in the faith until He returns on the last day, when we "as Your heavenly guest, in anthems praise You with the blessed" (verse 4).

This hymn serves to remind us about why we come to the Lord's Table. It teaches us what it is. It assures us of what God offers through it. As such it encourages us to come to the Lord's Supper and receive His blessing for our eternal blessing.

May the LORD bless your worship this weekend, as well as Your reception of His precious sacrament!

 

he Lord's Day is a term found in Revelation, which referred to Sunday. The early Christians called the first day of the week the Lord's Day, because it was on that day that the Lord had risen from the dead. He was the victor! It was now HIS day!

This hymn by Julia Elliott does several creative things. First it uses the Biblical idea of light vs. darkness in each of the verses, tying this concept to three different historical events: The creation of Light, the resurrection of Jesus, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. With each verse she focuses on a different person of the Triune God. And in each verse she points out that we pray that our Triune God would continue His work of bringing light into our dark lives and world through the Gospel. 

Ephesians 5:13-17 serves as part of the basis for this beautiful hymn. There Paul writes: "But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."  

Join us in our study of this hymn and its writer, and as we learn more about the Scriptural foundation and meaning of our hymns so that our use of them would be more beneficial as we gather in worship and use this hymn of praise.

May the LORD bless you as He enlightens you through His word this weekend!

May 28, 2025

• Devotion
  • Ecclesiastes 3:10-15

 

• Announcements
  
  • No Sunday School and Bible Class
  • Sunday Service at 9:00am
  • Rummage Sale
  • Memorial Day Service
  • Ladies' Auxiliary
  • Evening Ambassadors
  • Ascension Day Service
  • Men's Breakfast
  • Ladies Bible Study
  • Congregational Meeting
  • Midweek Bible Study starts next Thursday
  • Delegates' Conference
  • Mission Festival

 

• Prayer List 
  • Pastor John Hein
  • Pastor Tim Wheaton
  • Jim Lien
  • Agnes Kopp
  • Ethan Kranz
  • Mark Stelter
  • Mark Schweim
  • Marilyn Timm
  • Professor Joel Gullerud
  • Members at a Distance
  • Mission in Nepal

 

• Common Christian Q &A: Does the Bible approve of slavery?

 

• Hymn: TLH 514 “God Moves in a Mysterious Way”