The Twin Steeples Podcast

Hymn 783 - Jesus, Shepherd of the Sheep

This weekend is the Second Sunday after Easter, which is known as "Good Shepherd Sunday." There are some beautiful and rich connections to Jesus the Good Shepherd and the Season of Easter. For example Jesus says: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. 17 Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18  No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” (John 10:11-18) 

During Lent we focused on the willingness of Jesus to "lay down His life" for His sheep. During Easter we focus on His power to "take it again." He is risen! He has power over sin, death and even Satan himself. With that confidence in Jesus' victory and power we proclaim “none can take us from Your hand” (783:2).

This hymn, which was written by Irish Presbyterian, Henry Cooke, also emphasizes that we are saved by God's grace, not our own doing. The phrases "By Your life salvation wrought" (v.3) and "Father, draw us to Your Son" (v.4) especially emphasize God's grace which saves us. We are the sheep of His pasture. It is His love, His power that redeems and calls us, and which protects us. Thanks be to our Good Shepherd!

May the LORD bless your worship this weekend, as we rejoice in the life that is ours because of Jesus, our Good Shepherd!

April 16, 2026

Devotion

• Romans 3:9-18

 

Announcements

• ILS Spring Concert
• Special Voters Meeting
• Outreach Meeting
• Youth Group Event
• Church Choir
• Men's Breakfast
• Ladies' Bible Study
• Cemetery Clean Up 
• Weekend Worship Services
  • Bible Class - Baptism
  • Sunday School - The Four Soils and the Workers in the Vineyard
• Quarterly Voters' Meeting
• Board of Deacons
• Women's Study Guild

 

Prayer List 

• Pastor Tim Wheaton
• Jim Lien
• Lynette Roehl
• Becky
• Mark Geiger
• Steve Groth
• Judy Becker
• Voters Meeting
• Senior Class Trip
• CLC Board and Coordinating Council Meetings
• Mission in Nigeria

 

Hymn of the Day

• TLH 289 “The Law Commands and Makes Us Know” 

Sermon - April 12, 2026

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on April 12, 2026. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.

Sermon Text: John 21:15-19 (NKJV)

15 When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, 
 “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” 
 “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I care about you.” 
  Jesus told him, “Feed my lambs.” 
16 A second time Jesus asked him, 
 “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” 
 He said, “Yes, Lord, you know that I care about you.” 
  Jesus told him, “Be a shepherd for my sheep.” 
17 He asked him the third time, 
 “Simon, son of John, do you care about me?” 
  Peter was grieved because Jesus asked him the third time, 
 “Do you care about me?” 
  He answered, “Lord, you know all things. You know that I care about you.” 
  “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said. 
18 “Amen, Amen, I tell you: When you were young, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will tie you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. After saying this, he told him, “Follow me.”

 

Theme: The Risen Lord gives His people Purpose 

1. With Three Probing Questions

2. With Three Practical Commissions

Hymn 735 - Long Before the World is Waking

This weekend we continue to bask in the truth of the resurrection of Jesus. We will be reviewing one of the resurrection accounts of Jesus to His disciples, this one at the Sea of Galilee. Our hymn study will focus on a hymn that was written as a paraphrase of that account. It was written by a modern English hymn writer, who was ordained as a pastor in the Church of England. Timothy Dudley-Smith had a powerful influence on English hymnody in the last 50 years. 

The hymn is based on John 21:1-19, as Jesus appears to seven of His disciples while they are fishing on the Sea of Galilee. It reflects the Lord's call of four of those disciples three years earlier. Luke tells us: "But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink." (Luke 5:5-7).

This miraculous catch mirrored that earlier catch, when Jesus called them away from their nets, to be "Fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). The hymn text points to the failures of the disciples of Jesus during the past weeks, the doubts, the denial, yet Jesus comes with love and forgiveness for them, calling them back to His service once more. 

The hymn concludes by connecting the promise and commissioning of Jesus in this resurrection account to you and me: 

Morning breaks, and Jesus meets us,
Feeds and comforts, pardons still;
As His faithful friends He greets us,
Partners of His work and will.
All our days, on ev’ry shore,
Christ is ours forevermore!

Yes, indeed! Thanks be to God!

May our risen Lord's resurrection assure you of forgiveness for your sins, and remind you that your life has purpose as He calls you: "Follow Me!"

April 8, 2026

Devotion

• Romans 3:1-8

 

Announcements

• Holy Week
• Easter Egg Hunt
• Church Council
• Preparing Phoebes
• Teaching Timothy's
• Women's Book Club
• Church Choir
• Men's Breakfast
• No Ladies' Bible Study
• Cemetery Clean Up 
• Hymnal Committee
• Weekend Worship Services
  • Bible Class - Fellowship
  • Sunday School - Calling Fishers of Men
• Sunday School Teachers Meeting
• ILS Spring Concert
• Special Voters' Meeting
• Outreach Meeting
• Board of Elders
• Board of Education
• Board of Property
• Youth Group Event

 

Prayer List 

• Pastor Tim Wheaton
• Jim Lien
• Lynette Roehl
• Becky
• Wilton Landon
• Sue Heise
• Mark Geiger
• Tonii Friedrichs
• Blessings on the hearing of the Word
• Thank God for the Land Purchase Finances and General Budget Needs
• CLC Board Meetings and Coordinating Council

 

Common Christian Q&A

• If God knows everything then what’s the point in praying or talking to him at all?

 

Hymn of the Day

• TLH 608 “Let Thoughtless Thousands Choose the Road”