The Twin Steeples Podcast

Sermon - June 21, 2026

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on June 21, 2026. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.

 

Sermon Text: Luke 15:11-32 (NKJV)

“A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24  ‘for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. 25 Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ 28 But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”

 

Theme: the “Prodigal Sons” and the Forgiving Father

Hymn 342 - Chief of Sinners Though I Be

This weekend our theme revolves around the gracious nature of our Heavenly Father, as seen in His love for us in Jesus. We will consider the truth that we were "lost," and "prodigal" from our heavenly Father. Yet in His love for us, He seeks us, redeems us to Himself and receives us eagerly to Himself in spite of our unworthiness. The title of the hymn comes from the words of the Apostle Paul where He writes: 

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. (1 Timothy 1:15-16) 

This hymn highlights first of all, our nature. We are sinful and unclean. We are ungodly and the enemies of God. It is only in understanding this reality that we can ever truly comprehend the nature of our God as Paul prays for the believers in Ephesus: "that you... may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge." (Ephesians 3:18)

Only the True (Triune) God can offer such love in the person and work of Jesus, who "shed His blood for me."

The love of Jesus, which we come to know through faith, is what offers "peace... from sin forgiv'n, joy that lifts the soul to heav'n."

The prayer of the Christian is that the LORD would preserve us in the true faith through Word and Sacrament as we face the trials and burdens and temptations of the fallen world and our own sinful flesh, and lead us in repentance back to the open arms of our gracious Father in heaven! 

May the LORD sustain us in the earthly strife while we await the heavenly life! Amen!

June 17, 2026

Devotion

• Romans 5:18-21

 

Announcements

• Adopt-a-Highway
• Thank you for Marie Casto
• Board of Elders
• Men's Breakfast
• Ladies' Bible Study
• Weekend Worship Services
  
  • Summer Schedule
  • Father's Day
  • Donuts with Dad
• Board of Education
• Women's Auxiliary Luncheon

 

Prayer List 

• Jim Lien
• Lynette Roehl
• Becky
• Sue Heise
• Merl
• Gerhard Matzke
• Larry and Joan Hartman
• Paul and Sara Nolting
• ILC Camp
• Adelaide Hanel
• LuAnn Friedrichs
• Fathers
• Mission in the Congo

 

Convention Preview

• Committees #3-5

 

Hymn of the Day

• TLH 297 “The Gospel Shows the Father’s Grace” 

Sermon - June 14, 2026

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on June 14, 2026. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.

 

Sermon Text: Matthew 9:9-13 (NKJV)

As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. 10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

 

Theme: Matthew's Testimonial

1. "I Was Sick with Sin"
2. "The Great Physician Healed Me"

Hymn 322 - And Wilt Thou Pardon, Lord

The hymn we are studying this week is an old one (sort of). The English hymn was written by John Neale, based (roughly) on a Greek hymn by St. Joseph the Hymnographer from the 800's. In essence it is a completely new hymn but is based on the idea of St. Joseph. 

The hymn we are studying this weekend is 322 in The Lutheran Hymnal: "And Wilt Thou Pardon, Lord." It does a beautiful job of presenting the Law, the Gospel and Christian Sanctification which flows from the Gospel. The hymnwriter, like the Psalmists of the Old Testament wrestle with the reality of sin and what we deserve because of them. It almost shows the incredulity of one who has been brought to know the depravity of his or her nature, that God could possibly forgive us or cleanse us from our sin. And that attitude is proper. Peter says: "For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1 Peter 4:17-18).

Knowing our sin, we turn to God and the work of Jesus for help. In Psalm 51 we confess with David: "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin... Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. 9  Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit."

What joy is our when we know the salvation that is ours, and the confidence that His Spirit is at work in us!

May the LORD bless your reflection on our depravity and His mercy to you this weekend.