1. I’ve experienced firsthand the promise that God never leaves a congregation empty-handed.
  2. In the tumultuous sea of information, opinions, and ideologies that break over us each day, we hold fast to the anchor of our faith—Jesus, the true prophet.
  3. A pastor is sent to proclaim the unconditional grace of God, reminding us again and again that it is our Heavenly Father who reaches out to us in love through his Christ-won forgiveness, and not the other way around.
  4. Chains may have restricted Paul, but nothing can restrict the gospel.
  5. We may not all be mass-murdering Nazis. But we all have the same root sin that causes the most egregious criminal activity on the face of the earth. We all have the desire to be our own God.
  6. If Jesus did not rise, then religion is just religion — a mere anthropological phenomenon.
  7. It was meant to be Karlstadt’s moment to shine, but all anyone remembered was Luther.
  8. The resurrection of Jesus encompasses the total and comprehensive glorification of a human being, not merely his restoration.
  9. As Luther said, “Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection not in books alone, but in every leaf of spring.”
  10. Everything in Scripture is God revealing himself to his people, you and me.
  11. Christ Jesus brings his word and presence to where you are and he is even willing to do so through the likes of your personally present pastor.