The Twin Steeples Podcast

Hymn 196 - I Am Content! My Jesus Liveth Still

We continue in our celebration of the resurrection of Jesus again this weekend. One of the hymns we will be singing this weekend is a German hymn from the 1700's written by Johann Moller. 

This hymn weaves in many New Testament Bible passages and does a beautiful job of showing us what the resurrection of Jesus actually means for us. As we saw two weeks ago, this hymn also begins and ends each verse with the emphatic declaration: "I am content!" 

The death and resurrection of Jesus is able to give us greater contentment than the knowledge that He cares for our physical needs. He cares even more about our spiritual needs. To guarantee this Jesus "fulfilled the law of God for me" (v.1). In addition to His perfect life, Jesus also paid our sin debt through His own death on Calvary's cross. Then He rose from the dead, bringing death into subjection to Him and releasing believers from its power. 

Jesus is my Lord and is a good and gracious leader and ruler who desires and accomplishing "my soul's release" (v.3), and promises to bring us to Heaven. He is also the Light of the World, which offers sinners "sweet comfort, hope and peace" (v.4).

Finally we return to the topic of death. Through His own death, Jesus has sanctified death and the grave of His saints, and in the resurrection from the dead will destroy the power of death over His redeemed children. In the resurrection from death "we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Yes, "I am content!" The resurrection of Jesus gives the greatest hope and peace!   

Join us in our study of this hymn and as we join to sing this hymn in our worship this weekend. Christ's resurrection gives us the greatest contentment of all! 

May 14, 2025

• Devotion
  • Ecclesiastes 2:24-26

 

• Announcements
  
  • Sunday School and Bible Class
  • Board of Elders
  • Church Choir
  • Men's Breakfast
  • Graduation Service
  • Ladies Bible Study
  • Anchored in Hope
  • Recessed Voters' Meeting
  • Women's Study Guild
  • Rummage Sale
  • Memorial Day Service
  • Ascension Day Service
  • Delegates' Conference
  • Mission Festival

 

• Prayer List 
  • Pastor John Hein
  • Pastor Tim Wheaton
  • Jim Lien
  • Lilia Howley
  • Mark Stelter
  • Family of Nila Strege
  • Family of Mary Schierenbeck
  • Christian Parents
  • Mission in Congo

 

• Common Christian Q &A: Why is the Bible not organized chronologically?

 

• Hymn: LSB 854 “Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I Go”

Sermon - May 11, 2025

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church on May 11, 2025. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.

 

Matthew 9:14-17

14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?" 15  And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. 17  Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."

Theme: The Old is Incompatible with the New
The Old: Work-righteousness of men
The New: Salvation through Christ Jesus

Hymn 8 - Father, Who the Light This Day

The Third Sunday after Easter is known as "Jubilate" Sunday. Jubilate is a Latin word that means "rejoice." Certainly there is much rejoicing that happens during Easter. The Alleluia's have returned after the penitential season of Lent and there is much joy in our worship and singing. But the hymn that we are studying in preparation for our worship this weekend is not from the Easter section of our hymnal, but the "Lord's Day" section. The 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 7, 2025

• Devotion
  • Ecclesiastes 2:18-23

 

• Announcements
  
  • Sunday School and Bible Class
  • Time and Talents
  • Ladies' Auxiliary
  • Banquet
  • Voters Meeting
  • Church Choir
  • Men's Breakfast
  • Ladies Bible Study
  • Church Council
  • Adopt a Highway - May 10
  • K-8 Sings on Mother's Day
  • Anchored in Hope
  • Pool Adventure Day - May 11
  • Evening Ambassadors - May 12
  • Board of Education and Board of Property - May 13
  • Graduation Day - May 16
  • Recessed Voters' Meeting - May 19
  • Rummage Sale - May 24-25

 

• Prayer List 
  • Pastor John Hein
  • Pastor Tim Wheaton
  • Jim Lien
  • Lilia Howley
  • Mark Stelter
  • Family of Melvin Krueger
  • Family of Aubrielle Howley
  • Family of Robert Rehm
  • Zach Lien, Karl Friedrichs. Alan Olmanson, Doug Schaller, Craig Stelter
  • Mission in Kenya

 

• Hymn: TLH 624 “O Blessed Home Where Man and Wife”