The Twin Steeples Podcast

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

This weekend we are celebrating the Festival of Reformation. Reformation is almost synonymous with the name of Martin Luther. The Lutheran Reformation restored the true teachings of God's Word which had been lost or corrupted by the Roman Catholic Church, such as Justification by Grace, the Authority of God's Word, the Priesthood of All Believers, as well as the true teaching on the Lord's Supper. Luther loved music and believed that music was to be used to God's glory and in the instruction of the Christian faith. Because of this he wrote many hymns which were intended to teach the Christian faith to young and old alike. This weekend we will be singing several hymns which were written by Martin Luther. One of those was the hymn he wrote to teach the truths of the Lord's Supper. This is hymn 313 in The Lutheran Hymnal: O Lord, We Praise Thee. 

In contrast to the view of the Anabaptists and Reformed theologians, Luther upheld the Scripture's teaching of the Real Presence of Christ in the Sacrament. As Jesus clearly stated, Christ's body and blood are present in the Lord's Supper "in, with, and under" the bread and wine. This hymn clearly teaches Jesus words: “Take, eat; this is My body.”  and “This is My blood of the new covenant" (Matthew 26:26,28).

The opening verse proclaims: "Thou with Thy body and Thy blood didst nourish our weak souls that they may flourish."

Luther also teaches that the Lord's pours out His rich blessings to us through this Sacrament. "That Thy blood should bless and sustain me."

In the final verse Luther points to the strength which the Spirit imparts to the Christian through the Means of Grace to live lives that honor God and serve our neighbor. "May God bestow on us His grace and favor to please Him with our behavior and live as brethren here in love and union." This thought reflects the words of the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 2:24 - "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed."

Lord, bestow Your blessing of forgiveness on us as we receive Your Supper this weekend. Work in us through this Sacrament that we might live for you as the Apostle Paul prays in 2 Corinthians 13:11: "Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you." Amen!

Devotion

• Romans 11:11-24

Announcements

• Review
  • Trunk or Treat
  • College Bible Study
• Upcoming
  
  • Church Choir
  • Men’s Breakfast
  • Red Cross Blood Drive
  • Ladies Bible Study
  • Worship
    • Communion
    • Bible Class: James 2:24 and Matthew 16:19
    • Sunday School: Sodom and Gomorrah
  • Joint Reformation Service
  • Sophomore Expedition
  • Women's Book Club
  • Outreach Meeting
  • Immanuel Building Committee

Prayer List 

• Jim Lien - Hospice
• Lynette Roehl
• Kathy Greve’s Sister Becky - Uterine Cancer
• Marvin Schweim
• Austin and Kathryn Hanel - Charlotte Irene Hanel
• Reformation/All Saints Day
• Mission in Bangladesh

Hymn of the Day:

• TLH 266 “O God, Our Lord, Thy Holy Word”