The Twin Steeples Podcast

There are many ways that we could summarize the Christian faith. By His life and death, Jesus redeemed sinners from sin and made us His very own by faith. There are many implications of those truth of Christ's work for sinners. We are forgiven. We are heirs of eternal life. One of those implications is that we have been crucified with Christ, that we have been bought at a price that we we are not our own. 

This hymn, reminds us of those implications, based on Romans 12:1-2: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." 

The author of this hymn was Francis Havergal, and it was written when she was only 11 years old. It is a testament to to the fact that everything that we have is from Him, and that the many gifts that the Lord entrusts to us are for His glory. Take my LIFE, my MOMENTS and my DAYS. Take my HANDS and my FEET, my VOICE and my LIPS. Take my SILVER and GOLD, my INTELLECT, my WILL, and my HEART. Take my LOVE, and take MYSELF - all that I am, all that I have - and help me to use it for YOU, out of love for all You have done for me! 

"For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

The LORD bless your worship of Him this weekend, and give us willing and eager hearts to serve Him with all that He has given to us and ever bless us in our willing and eager service to Him!

Devotion

• Romans 11:33-36

Announcements

• Review
  • Immanuel Building Committee
  • MCCL presentation
• Upcoming
  
  • Youth Group
  • Church Choir
  • Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery Clean Up
  • Men’s Breakfast
  • Lisa Carroll Victory Service
  • Ladies Bible Study
  • Worship
    • Bible Class: Romans 13:1-7 and Matthew 24:36
    • Sunday School: Isaac’s Marriage to Rebekah
  • Ladies Auxiliary
  • Church Council

Prayer List 

• Jim Lien - Hospice
• Lynette Roehl
• Kathy Greve’s Sister Becky - Uterine Cancer
• Family of Lisa Carroll
• Bob Timm
• Marvin Schweim
• Ryleigh Hanel
• Board of Education
• Mission in Uganda

Hymn of the Day:

• TLH 384 “Oh, How Great Is Thy Compassion”

As we come to the end of the Trinity season, our thoughts begin to be focused on the end of the world and the return of Jesus. This weekend we will see glimpses of some of those themes, and primarily the reality of the frailty of life and the certainty of death because of sin. 

One of the hymns for this weekend clearly describes that truth. Written by Lutheran Pastor, Paul Gerhardt, this hymn is found in the Death and Burial section of our hymnal. It reminds us that we, like our fellow believers who have gone before us, are pilgrims and strangers on this earth. This is not our final or ultimate destination.

In this life, we will face many toils and trials, persecutions and afflictions, and those difficulties remind us that we are looking for something better. "But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." (Hebrews 11:16)

The hymn builds on the thoughts of Hebrews 11, and the many heroes of faith that are mentioned there. They suffered, but they endured because they were focused on Jesus and on the promises that God made to them in His work on the cross. They lived "in patience and in faith." (v.3)

Knowing that we have a home in heaven, we are moved to live in that light as Paul writes: "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better." (Philippians 1:21-23)

This is our confidence as well. We look to the heavenly Jerusalem, our happy home above, and live our lives with faith in God's rich promises in Christ!

The Lord bless your worship this weekend!

Devotion

• Romans 11:25-32

Announcements

• Review
  • Red Cross Blood Drive
  • Sophomore Expedition
  • Joint Reformation Worship
  • Outreach meeting postponed
• Upcoming
  
  • Immanuel Building Committee
  • Church Choir
  • Men’s Breakfast
  • Ladies Bible Study
  • Worship
    • Bible Class: “Righteous Lot”? And righteous lies?
    • Sunday School: Birth of Isaac & Abraham Offers Isaac
  • MCCL presentation
  • Board of Elders
  • Board of Property and Board of Education
  • Youth Group

Prayer List 

• Jim Lien - Hospice
• Lynette Roehl
• Kathy Greve’s Sister Becky - Uterine Cancer
• Family of Lisa Carroll
• Marvin Schweim
• Two Baptisms
• Board of Deacons
• Mission in Liberia

Hymn of the Day:

• TLH 40 “The God of Abraham Praise”

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on November 1, 2026. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.

 

Sermon Text: Ephesians 6:1-4 (NKJV)

Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!” 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”

 

Theme: Zeal for God's House

1. A Zeal That Rejects What Is False

2. A Zeal That Accepts Responsibility for Sin