The Twin Steeples Podcast

January 21, 2025

Devotion

• Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

 

Announcements

• Annual Voters' Meeting Recap
• Women's Book Club
• Church Choir
• Men's Breakfast
• Whitewater Youth Camp
• No Ladies Bible Study
• Weekend Worship
  • Bible Class - The Ministry of Jesus
  • Sunday School - Joseph’s Brothers come to Egypt and Joseph Tests His Brothers
• Installation of Church Officers and Board Members
• Veteran's Memorial Bridge Closing
• Recessed Voters' Meeting
• Ash Wednesday - February 18

 

Prayer List 

• Pastor John Hein
• Pastor Tim Wheaton
• Jim Lien
• Becky
• Phyllis Brandt
• Whitewater Camp
• Alice Naumann Family
• Christian Persecution
• Political Unrest
• CLC Mission in Pakistan
• New Board Members

 

Hymn of the Day

• TLH 283 “God’s Word Is Our Great Heritage”

Sermon - January 18, 2026

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on January 18, 2026. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.

 

Sermon Text: John 1:43-51 (NKJV)

The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me." 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote-- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49 Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these." 51 And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

 

Theme: Prove It!

1. The Invitation: “Come and See”
2. The Affirmation: “I Saw You”
3. The Future Vision: “You Shall See”

Hymn 277 - I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say

As we continue in the Epiphany season we move to another theme in this season and that is Jesus' invitation to the world to come to Him. Just as the Wise Men were "invited" to come and see and worship Jesus, so this invitation is for all people. This weekend we will hear and read examples of that invitation which Jesus offers to the world of sinners. 

The hymn we are studying this weekend is 277 in The Lutheran Hymnal: "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say." This hymn was written by a Scottish pastor, Horatius Bonar, who was compelled to write hymns that children could understand. You will see in this hymn a very simple style and simple concepts drawn from three different statements and invitations of Jesus:  

• Matthew 11:28 - “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

The first verse is based on Jesus' invitation in Matthew, for rest which only He can give.

• John 4:14 - “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

The second verse is based on Jesus' words to the Woman of Samaria about the Life that He alone offers through His Word.

• John 8:12 - Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

The third verse is based on the words of Jesus in John 8 about the Light that He brings to the dark world because of sin and death.

Each of these invitations is followed by the Christian's response to that invitation, by God's grace, and describes what we receive from Him as a result of His life and death for us, and the gifts He offers us in His Word and Sacrament. 

Lord, lead us to listen to and respond to Your invitation of Grace, that we might receive Your rich blessings!

May the LORD bless your reflection on this truth this weekend.

January 14, 2026

Devotion

• Ecclesiastes 12:1-8

 

Announcements

• Special Voters' Meeting
• Board of Deacons Meeting
• Church Choir
• Church Council
• Men's Breakfast
• Ladies Bible Study
• Weekend Worship
  • Bible Class - The Birth of Jesus
  • Sunday School - Joseph Becomes Ruler of Egypt
• Annual Voters' Meetings
• Whitewater Youth Camp

 

Prayer List 

• Pastor John Hein
• Pastor Tim Wheaton
• Jim Lien
• Becky
• Eunice Mutzke
• Naumann Family
• Christian Persecution
• Political Unrest
• Men and Women Leaders at Immanuel
• CLC Mission in Myanmar

 

Hymn of the Day

• TLH 596 “This Body in the Grave We Lay”

Sermon - January 11, 2026

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on January 11, 2026. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.

 

Sermon Text: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 (NKJV)

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Theme: It's not the Container, it's the Contents!