The Twin Steeples Podcast

Sermon - December 21, 2025

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on December 21, 2025. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.

Sermon Text: Matthew 1:19-25 (NKJV)

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

Theme: O Come, O Immanuel

Repost: Hymn 75 - Ye Sons of Men, Oh Hearken

This weekend we come to the last Sunday in Advent, which is a time of reflection on our sin and our need for a Savior. Just as John the Baptist prepared the way for the Savior through a preaching of "repentance for the remission of sins" (Luke 3:4), so we also prepare through repentance over our sin.

In the hymn "Ye Sons of Men, Oh, Hearken" we are reminded of the need for sinners to receive forgiveness through the work of Jesus. Without Jesus there can be no forgiveness, no hope of eternal life. God desires the salvation of every sinner, which is why He planned salvation through the incarnation and death of His own Son. He also sends His Spirit to work in our hearts to prepare us for receiving that gift, through true understanding of our sin, sorrow over it, and faith in Jesus' work for us. Through His Law and Gospel, this important work of preparation is carried out. "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:6).

With Valentinus Thilo, we join in praying:

"Prepare my heart, Lord Jesus,
Turn not from me aside, 
And grant that I receive Thee
This blessed Advent-tide.
From stall and manger low
Come Thou to dwell within me;
Loud praises will I sing Thee
And forth Thy glory show."

May the LORD prepare each of us through true repentance and faith in Jesus during this Advent season and always, and enable us to thank Him through the loud praises we offer Him in our worship and with our lives!

December 17, 2025

Devotion

• Ecclesiastes 10:16-20

 

Announcements

• Church Council
• ERC Presentation
• Kiwanis Lights
• Advent Service
• Ladies Auxiliary
• Board of Deacons
• Board of Elders
• Church Choir
• Men’s Breakfast
• Ladies Bible Study 
• 5th - 8th Christmas Party
• Weekend Worship
• Ladies Ugly Sweater Party
• Christmas Eve Practices
• Christmas Eve Children's Service
• Christmas Day Service

 

Prayer List 

• Pastor John Hein
• Pastor Tim Wheaton
• Jim Lien
• Becky
• Erin Breegeman
• Bob Heller
• Pastor Naumann's Call to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Phoenix, AZ
• High School Social Studies Teacher Ben Hanel
• 7th-8th Grade Teacher Julie Busch
• Mission in DR Congo CCLC and ECLSAFA

 

Common Christian Q&A

• If everyone in the world came from Adam and Eve then why are their people of different colors and ethnicities?

 

Hymn of the Day

• TLH 580 “To Thee, Our God, We Fly”

Sermon - December 14, 2025

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on December 14, 2025. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.

 

Sermon Text: Luke 1:76-79 (NKJV)

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, 77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; 79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Theme: O Come, O Dayspring

 

Hymn 343 - How Lovely Shines the Morning Star

Philipp Nicolai is the author and composer of what has been called the “King of Chorales” (“Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying”) and the “Queen of Chorales.” The Queen of Chorales, “How Lovely Shines the Morning Star” (TLH 343) is the hymn we are studying this week. It is an excellent hymn which teaches the love of Christ, and especially of our salvation in Him. 

Nilolai’s seven original German stanzas of “How Lovely Shines the Morning Star” are an acrostic tribute to his friend and former student in Waldeck. The first letters of those seven verses are W,E,G,V,H,Z,W, which stands for “Willhelm Ernst, Graf vnd Herr zu Waldeck” (William Ernest, count and lord in Waldeck).

Nicolai has wonderfully captured the Christian faith in this hymn as he shows Christ’s love for His Bride, the Church. He constantly makes both obvious and hidden allusions to the Lord’s Supper, which is Christ’s way of feeding and preserving all of us. Ultimately our greatest joy is in Christ, the First and Last, who will transport us to His happy home where we will be with Him forever in the greatest joy. Until that day, we look for His returning with deep and eager yearning. 

Oh Christian, rejoice in the salvation that is yours through Christ, your Morning Star. Sing praise to your Bridegroom, who feeds and nourishes your faith through Word and Sacrament. Proclaim the His praises, this weekend and throughout your life!