Archived Sermon Videos
Epiphany 2020
In Matthew’s Gospel account, Jesus tells his His disciples, “You are the light of the world.” How much light have we shined lately, compared to the energy God invests in us? While that question may – should – make us squirm a little, God’s Word today is really good news. It doesn’t say we should be light, or we must shine brighter, or God will replace us. It says we are the light of the world. It helps us to see that we who follow Jesus also brighten up the world.
Forty days after Christmas, everything changes when Jesus comes to the temple for us.
It’s forty days after Christmas. In keeping with the Torah, Mary and Joseph have brought the forty-day-old Jesus to the temple to present Him to the Lord. Big things happen on this day — more than Ground Hog’s Day and more than Super Bowl Sunday. A man waits, even into old age, for a promise by the Holy Spirit to be fulfilled: Simeon — his life will be changed forever. And eighty-four-year-old widow who spent her life in the temple, “worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day (Luke 2:37): Anna — her life will be changed forever. And Mary and Joseph — their lives will surely be changed forever. So, for you and me, and for every Christian man, woman, and child, everything will change.
In this message, we learn more about our discipleship role of lifelong following and learning from Jesus as individuals within the context of a congregation.
As we head toward our Congregational Summit in February, we get together to gain a greater understanding of Redeemer’s purpose here in Charleston and to bring a renewed sense of the mission and ministry for which God has gifted us to do – over the next few weeks, we’ll explore what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
Christmas 2019
Ever hear of a “Praise Sandwich”? It’s a technique of offering criticism that’s intended to ‘soften the blow’ a bit. It’s a way to say things without being too blunt. It’s done by beginning and ending with something positive, sandwiching your critique between the two.
Advent 2019
This Sunday is the Third Sunday of Advent. Join us for the message, Eternal Light based on Daniel 12:3
We look forward to Jesus’ Second Advent, when we will be raised in glory to live in his presence and shine like stars forever. Come, Lord Jesus!
This Sunday is the Third Sunday of Advent. Join us for the message, Healing Light based on Malachi 4:2
With repentant joy we anticipate the birth of our Savior. We listen to his Word and live according to it until he comes again.
This Sunday is the Second Sunday of Advent. Join us for the message, Reflected Light based on Zechariah 9:14-17. During Advent we remember the birth of Jesus, the Light of the world. We reflect his light in our daily lives.
This Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent. Join us for the message, "Rising Light" based on Isaiah 60:1.Living in the light of Jesus, we prepare to celebrate his birth.Repenting of our sins, we put away the works of darkness and dress in the armor of light.
pentecost 2019
We know what God should be doing, right? He should be prospering us, blessing us, giving to us, helping us, making our life easy and punishing them! Does God know what He’s doing? For evil keeps advancing. Does God know what He’s doing? For I keep struggling. Does God know what He's doing? Because things don’t seem to be getting any better.
But what if Jesus was right? Maybe it’s we who don’t’ know what we’re doing…
Do you have such an eager heart for Jesus to come again? For the Last Day? Are you ready for that day? It’s hard, isn’t it? There’s so much to do and so little time. Our lives are complicated, and money is short There may even be times when you doubt God’s love because of what’s going on in your life and how things in this world perhaps seem so unjust.
Tune in to hear what Malachi had to say about this and how his prophesy ties to Elijah and then Jesus and how that impacts us today.
In this week’s Old Testament reading from Exodus, God calls Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. “Who Am I?” is the key question and leads to some of the most profound discoveries in the Old Testament — also, some of the most profound realizations about ourselves.
Blessed All Saints' Day! You're invited to hear what might be a different perspective on what it means to be a "saint" and what Jesus was really saying in His "Sermon on the Mount," specifically the Beatitudes. Join us as Pastor Ruffatto opens up the scripture and looks at the actual grammatical meaning and context of "Blessed are..."
Lutheran Christians have historically taken the last Sunday in October and set it aside to celebrate the Reformation of the Church which Martin Luther unleashed as he nailed his 95 Theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg. We do not engage in worshiping Dr. Luther or any of the other reformers who joined him some 502 years ago. Instead it is a time to thank God for using these reformers to bring back to light the truth of the Gospel. In this message, we hear how Jesus’ words to abide in him are formative, and re-formative.
From the Old Testament reading we hear the story of Jacob wrestling with a man all night, prevailing, be touched on the hip, and then given the name Israel by this man. What is this all about? Who is this mysterious wrestler? And what does it mean for us? The answers might not be what you are expecting. The answers are likely better than what you were expecting.
Paul in jail in his second letter to Timothy; Naomi in the book of Ruth; and the leper healed by Jesus — they all experience the Word of God, a Word that cannot be bound. Yet, we are bound to Jesus, THE Word. Learn how in this message as Pastor Frank unpacks these lessons.
In his second letter to Timothy, Paul has finished the instruction of details he outlined in his first letter and is encouraging Timothy – and you and me – to fan this live flame-- the torch we carry for Jesus -- because others needed – others now need – to be connected to our heavenly Father through the Gospel of His son Jesus.
In this message, we connect the mention God’s provision and protection by way of angels in the Old Testament (as mentioned by Daniel) to the angels of the New Testament in Jude and Revelation. The chief angel whom God mentions is Michael, who is called an archangel in the New Testament. It is through the service of His archangel Michael and all the other holy angels that God cares for and protects his people.
In this message, Pastor Ruffatto unpacks Jesus’ illustrations of salt and light and what they mean to church congregations today. Christians are challenged to create a thirst for Jesus and to be the light of Truth in a dark world.
What does an Old Testament prophecy have to say to us today? From Sunday’s Old Testament lesson: “And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.”
What does this mean for us today? We don’t live a pastoral, agrarian lifestyle. So, who is Ezekiel talking about, and who is he addressing? Is he actually speaking figuratively? What are the realities he’s talking about in his prophecy? Are the realities still pertinent to us today?
In our gospel lesson this week, Jesus says, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”And that’s not all. He goes on to say, “any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be My disciple.”
These are difficult words to hear from Jesus. Not much “safe space” in HIs words, are there? But is that really the case? There’s more hope there than may meet the eye.
How often do you think of God as being “high and far away”? Have you ever thought, “He is up in heaven,” “He is glorious and powerful, and we – well, are not!”?
At first glance, it seems rather unexpected that Yahweh, the God of Israel, would set out to gather the nations to Himself and save them. The Israelites, not the nations, were Yahweh’s chosen people, His “treasured possession,” a people whom He caringly gathered to Himself. And it seems even more unexpected that Yahweh would use “the nations” to save those nations.
The Gospel of Peace brings division.
Jesus gives us a peace that the world cannot give, a peace that passes all understanding. This is the peace between God and man. It’s a peace in believers’ hearts. It’s the peace of knowing that our sins are forgiven. Yet, some would like the Gospel to give world peace, a utopia on earth. But that will never happen. Because of sin, Jesus divides like nothing else – even more than politics! Some will believe, and some will refuse.
This week we look at a passage from Hebrews. We learn:
God Calls Us out of Nothing to Trust His Promises and Follow Him to the Promised Land,
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
- Psalm 100
Through the Work of Jesus, God Has Made Us His People So That We Can Know Him as God – A Way of Giving Thanks.
We’re not going to be talking about money in this message. The debt we’re talking about is the spiritual debt that sin loads onto our backs. In today’s text we are reminded of how our lives changed when Jesus paid the debt of our sin.
Jesus crucified and resurrected. This is the one thing necessary that always needs to be preached, because our attention can be so easily diverted away from Jesus. What are the things distracting you from the ONE NECESSARY THING?
Paul writes that we have been delivered “from the domain of darkness.” (Colossians 1:13) Eve’s sin and Adam’s fall have placed us in dire straits. The wages of our sin is death. We need rescuing. We need deliverance. “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24) asks Paul. Only one can. Only one has. Jesus Christ it is.
Given this Great News, what is our response what is the fruit borne from our rescue?
So why doesn’t God do something about this mess? Where is the power of God? Where is our hope and salvation? Is there any hope for the future?
God has a better plan that the ways and means and plans of this world, even among us His people. Yes, He must punish sin. Yes, we must know the consequences. But feeling some of the darkness only helps us appreciate the light.
Rejecting, Receiving, and Following Jesus focuses on Luke 9:51-62 and Jesus’ unsuccessful attempt to visit a village in Samaria. He was rejected because He was journeying to Jerusalem, and the Samaritans worship on Mount Gerizim, not in Jerusalem. They refused to receive Jesus.
Free to Live! Free to Tell! focuses on Jesus’ encounter with the Gerasene man possessed by demons.
We watch a liberator who sets people free! Jesus gives Himself to you as your liberator.
Then, we watch a Lord who gives you good news to tell! The Lord opens the door, you can speak in simple words of what Jesus has done for you and the truth He has revealed to you in His word. You’re free in all of this, since it is not your obligation to convince anybody, but simply to testify to what you know.
Free to Live! Free to Tell! is based on these scriptures:
Psalm 3
Isaiah 65:1-9
Galatians 3:23-4:7
Luke 8:26-39
Let Psalm 8 be the Lord’s invitation to a rich summer season when you get refreshed from both directions: from His creation and the merciful kindness He brings near to you in His Word. He is majestic in mercy! And, in fact, God’s vast creation makes His mercy toward us all the more majestic.
"Majestic in Mercy" is based on these scriptures:
Psalm 8;
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31;
Acts 2:14a, 22-36;
John 8:48-59
So, what does a good “counselor” do? More importantly, what does this Counselor, the Holy Spirit do for us – how does He do it? And how should we respond to His work?
Easter 2019
We know what God should be doing, right? He should be prospering us, blessing us, giving to us, helping us, making our life easy and punishing them! Does God know what He’s doing? For evil keeps advancing. Does God know what He’s doing? For I keep struggling. Does God know what He's doing? Because things don’t seem to be getting any better.
But what if Jesus was right? Maybe it’s we who don’t’ know what we’re doing…
Do you have such an eager heart for Jesus to come again? For the Last Day? Are you ready for that day? It’s hard, isn’t it? There’s so much to do and so little time. Our lives are complicated, and money is short There may even be times when you doubt God’s love because of what’s going on in your life and how things in this world perhaps seem so unjust.
Tune in to hear what Malachi had to say about this and how his prophesy ties to Elijah and then Jesus and how that impacts us today.
In this week’s Old Testament reading from Exodus, God calls Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. “Who Am I?” is the key question and leads to some of the most profound discoveries in the Old Testament — also, some of the most profound realizations about ourselves.
Blessed All Saints' Day! You're invited to hear what might be a different perspective on what it means to be a "saint" and what Jesus was really saying in His "Sermon on the Mount," specifically the Beatitudes. Join us as Pastor Ruffatto opens up the scripture and looks at the actual grammatical meaning and context of "Blessed are..."
Lutheran Christians have historically taken the last Sunday in October and set it aside to celebrate the Reformation of the Church which Martin Luther unleashed as he nailed his 95 Theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg. We do not engage in worshiping Dr. Luther or any of the other reformers who joined him some 502 years ago. Instead it is a time to thank God for using these reformers to bring back to light the truth of the Gospel. In this message, we hear how Jesus’ words to abide in him are formative, and re-formative.
From the Old Testament reading we hear the story of Jacob wrestling with a man all night, prevailing, be touched on the hip, and then given the name Israel by this man. What is this all about? Who is this mysterious wrestler? And what does it mean for us? The answers might not be what you are expecting. The answers are likely better than what you were expecting.
Paul in jail in his second letter to Timothy; Naomi in the book of Ruth; and the leper healed by Jesus — they all experience the Word of God, a Word that cannot be bound. Yet, we are bound to Jesus, THE Word. Learn how in this message as Pastor Frank unpacks these lessons.
In his second letter to Timothy, Paul has finished the instruction of details he outlined in his first letter and is encouraging Timothy – and you and me – to fan this live flame-- the torch we carry for Jesus -- because others needed – others now need – to be connected to our heavenly Father through the Gospel of His son Jesus.
In this message, we connect the mention God’s provision and protection by way of angels in the Old Testament (as mentioned by Daniel) to the angels of the New Testament in Jude and Revelation. The chief angel whom God mentions is Michael, who is called an archangel in the New Testament. It is through the service of His archangel Michael and all the other holy angels that God cares for and protects his people.
In this message, Pastor Ruffatto unpacks Jesus’ illustrations of salt and light and what they mean to church congregations today. Christians are challenged to create a thirst for Jesus and to be the light of Truth in a dark world.
What does an Old Testament prophecy have to say to us today? From Sunday’s Old Testament lesson: “And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.”
What does this mean for us today? We don’t live a pastoral, agrarian lifestyle. So, who is Ezekiel talking about, and who is he addressing? Is he actually speaking figuratively? What are the realities he’s talking about in his prophecy? Are the realities still pertinent to us today?
In our gospel lesson this week, Jesus says, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”And that’s not all. He goes on to say, “any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be My disciple.”
These are difficult words to hear from Jesus. Not much “safe space” in HIs words, are there? But is that really the case? There’s more hope there than may meet the eye.
How often do you think of God as being “high and far away”? Have you ever thought, “He is up in heaven,” “He is glorious and powerful, and we – well, are not!”?
At first glance, it seems rather unexpected that Yahweh, the God of Israel, would set out to gather the nations to Himself and save them. The Israelites, not the nations, were Yahweh’s chosen people, His “treasured possession,” a people whom He caringly gathered to Himself. And it seems even more unexpected that Yahweh would use “the nations” to save those nations.
The Gospel of Peace brings division.
Jesus gives us a peace that the world cannot give, a peace that passes all understanding. This is the peace between God and man. It’s a peace in believers’ hearts. It’s the peace of knowing that our sins are forgiven. Yet, some would like the Gospel to give world peace, a utopia on earth. But that will never happen. Because of sin, Jesus divides like nothing else – even more than politics! Some will believe, and some will refuse.
This week we look at a passage from Hebrews. We learn:
God Calls Us out of Nothing to Trust His Promises and Follow Him to the Promised Land,
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
- Psalm 100
Through the Work of Jesus, God Has Made Us His People So That We Can Know Him as God – A Way of Giving Thanks.
We’re not going to be talking about money in this message. The debt we’re talking about is the spiritual debt that sin loads onto our backs. In today’s text we are reminded of how our lives changed when Jesus paid the debt of our sin.
Jesus crucified and resurrected. This is the one thing necessary that always needs to be preached, because our attention can be so easily diverted away from Jesus. What are the things distracting you from the ONE NECESSARY THING?
Paul writes that we have been delivered “from the domain of darkness.” (Colossians 1:13) Eve’s sin and Adam’s fall have placed us in dire straits. The wages of our sin is death. We need rescuing. We need deliverance. “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24) asks Paul. Only one can. Only one has. Jesus Christ it is.
Given this Great News, what is our response what is the fruit borne from our rescue?
So why doesn’t God do something about this mess? Where is the power of God? Where is our hope and salvation? Is there any hope for the future?
God has a better plan that the ways and means and plans of this world, even among us His people. Yes, He must punish sin. Yes, we must know the consequences. But feeling some of the darkness only helps us appreciate the light.
Rejecting, Receiving, and Following Jesus focuses on Luke 9:51-62 and Jesus’ unsuccessful attempt to visit a village in Samaria. He was rejected because He was journeying to Jerusalem, and the Samaritans worship on Mount Gerizim, not in Jerusalem. They refused to receive Jesus.
Free to Live! Free to Tell! focuses on Jesus’ encounter with the Gerasene man possessed by demons.
We watch a liberator who sets people free! Jesus gives Himself to you as your liberator.
Then, we watch a Lord who gives you good news to tell! The Lord opens the door, you can speak in simple words of what Jesus has done for you and the truth He has revealed to you in His word. You’re free in all of this, since it is not your obligation to convince anybody, but simply to testify to what you know.
Free to Live! Free to Tell! is based on these scriptures:
Psalm 3
Isaiah 65:1-9
Galatians 3:23-4:7
Luke 8:26-39
Let Psalm 8 be the Lord’s invitation to a rich summer season when you get refreshed from both directions: from His creation and the merciful kindness He brings near to you in His Word. He is majestic in mercy! And, in fact, God’s vast creation makes His mercy toward us all the more majestic.
"Majestic in Mercy" is based on these scriptures:
Psalm 8;
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31;
Acts 2:14a, 22-36;
John 8:48-59
So, what does a good “counselor” do? More importantly, what does this Counselor, the Holy Spirit do for us – how does He do it? And how should we respond to His work?
Lent 2019
Based on Scripture Readings
Psalm 22
Exodus 24:3-11
Hebrews 9:11-22
Matthew 26:17-30
John 12:20-43
This sermon is based on
John 12:12-19
Psalm 118:19-29
Deuteronomy 32:36-39
Philippians 2:5-11
John 12:20-43
Based on Scripture Readings
Psalm 45:10-16
Isaiah 61:10 – 62:5
Revelation 19:7-9
Matthew 22:1-14
Based on Scripture Readings
Psalm 116: 17-19;
Acts 2:42-47;
1 Corinthians 10:14-22;
John 16: 20-24
Based on Scripture Readings
Psalm 47;
Exodus 16:1-15;
1 Corinthians 10:16-18;
John 6:27-35, 48-51
Epiphany 2019
Based on Scripture Readings
Psalm 103:1-13
Genesis 45:3-15
1 Corinthians 15:21-26, 30-42
Luke 6:27-38
Based on Scripture Readings
Psalm 71:1-6
Jeremiah 1:4-10
1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:13
Luke 4:31-44
Based on Scripture Readings
Psalm 19:1-14
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Luke 4:16-30
Christmas 2018
Based on Scripture Readings
Psalm 36:7-9
Isaiah 40:1-11
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
John 1:6-9, 15
Based on Scripture Readings
Psalm 36:7-9
Isaiah 40:1-11
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
John 1:6-9, 15
Advent 2018
Based on Scripture Readings
Psalm 36:7-9
Isaiah 40:1-11
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
John 1:6-9, 15
Based on Scripture Readings
Psalm 36:7-9
Isaiah 40:1-11
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
John 1:6-9, 15
Pentecost 2018
Based on Scripture Readings
Psalm 93
1 Timothy 6:17-19
2 Peter 3:8-13, 17-18
Matthew 6:19-21
Based on Scripture Readings
Psalm 104:27-35
1 Chronicles 29:1-3, 6, 9-18
2 Corinthians 8:1-7; 9:7-8
Luke 12:41-43
Based on Scripture Readings
Psalm 119:129-136
Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9
Ephesians 6:10-20
Mark 7:14-23
Based on Scripture Readings
Psalm 34: 1-8
1 Kings 19: 1-8
Ephesians 4: 17 - 5:2
John 6: 35-51
Based on Scripture Readings
Psalm 34: 1-8
1 Kings 19: 1-8
Ephesians 4: 17 - 5:2
John 6: 35-51
Based on Scripture Readings
Psalm 130
Lamentations 3:22-33
2 Corinthians 19:1-9, 13-15
Mark 5:21-43
Easter 2018
The Festival of the Transfiguration of Our Lord serves as a wonderful transition from Epiphany to Ash Wednesday and Lent.
The manifestation of the God-man at His Epiphany climaxes in majestic glory on Mount Sinai and the Mount of Transfiguration, which looks forward to the greater revelation of the Lord’s glory on the cross on Mount Calvary.