The Lutheran Church of Madison, Connecticut
9 Britton Lane, Madison, CT 06443; 203-245-4145
A congregation of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
Pastor Volker Heide
LCofMadison@aol.com
SUNDAY WORSHIP, 10:00 AM.
SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY, 9:00 AM.
YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL, 9:30 AM.
SATURDAY WORSHIP, 5:00 PM.
MAUNDY THURSDAY WORSHIP, 7:00 PM.
GOOD FRIDAY WORHIP, 7:00 PM.
EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE, MADISON EAST WHARF, 7:00 AM.
EASTER SUNDAY WORSHIP, 10:00 AM.
WORSHIP NIGHT, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 7:00 PM.
9 Britton Lane, Madison, CT 06443; 203-245-4145
A congregation of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
Pastor Volker Heide
LCofMadison@aol.com
SUNDAY WORSHIP, 10:00 AM.
SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY, 9:00 AM.
YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL, 9:30 AM.
SATURDAY WORSHIP, 5:00 PM.
MAUNDY THURSDAY WORSHIP, 7:00 PM.
GOOD FRIDAY WORHIP, 7:00 PM.
EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE, MADISON EAST WHARF, 7:00 AM.
EASTER SUNDAY WORSHIP, 10:00 AM.
WORSHIP NIGHT, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 7:00 PM.
“In The Cross of Christ I Glory”: A Sermon on John 3:15-16
A visitor to Sweden tells the story of a little country church located there. It is not a particularly beautiful church. There is nothing exceptional about it, except for one thing. When you go inside the church, you notice that there is a large, life-size crucifix hanging on the wall opposite the pulpit. The figure of our Lord is life-like, even to the use of real hair beneath the crown of thorns. How did such a huge crucifix happen to be in a Swedish Lutheran church?
Well, it seems that in the early 1700’s, the king of Sweden paid an unexpected visit to the church one Sunday morning. When the pastor saw the king in attendance, he was totally overwhelmed. Instead of preaching on the text for that Sunday, he gave a fawning tribute to the king. Soon afterward, the church received the crucifix from the king. With it came this command: “Hang this within the church so that whoever stands in the pulpit will always remember the words of St. Paul, ‘We preach Christ crucified.’”
Today, our eyes turn to the cross of our Lord Jesus. When we look at the cross of our Lord, we see suffering, pain and death. However, if we look again with the eyes of faith, we see something more. We see the love of God at work for our salvation. Jesus says, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
The cross of Jesus is a symbol of pain and suffering. That is true. However, at the same time, it is a symbol of joy and freedom. This is true because through the cross, we are set free from the bonds of sin and the chains of death. We are set free to be God’s people and to live in true joy and happiness. The cross of Jesus transforms everything it touches.
Such is the incredible power of the cross of Jesus. This power flows from the love of God. “For God so loved this fallen world that he gave his one and only Son to suffer and die on the cross for our sins.” God the Father loves this world, which he created. Even though we sinned and rebelled against our Creator, God still seeks our salvation. The Lord does not want us to be condemned and lost. He does not want us to perish in eternal damnation. He doesn’t want us to be separated from him any longer.
The Father gives us his Son. He gives us a way back home, a way out of sin and death, a way out of eternal condemnation and hell. Look again and see how much God loves you! Just as Moses lifted up the snake on the pole in the desert, so the Son of Man was lifted up on the cross, so that everyone who looks to him in faith might be rescued from the snakebite of sin and death. God provides a way of salvation. All we have to do is look and see.
When we look, we do see how the Son of God hangs upon that rough, wooden cross. We see the spikes driven through his hands and feet. We see the crown of thorns on his head. We see the incredible pain and suffering. We see the blood and the wounds. But look again and you will see the love of God revealed so clearly. You will see how the innocent One suffers for the guilty. You will see how the perfect One gives his life for the imperfect. You will see the Holy One of God bearing our burden and carrying our sins. Look to cross in faith and you will see Jesus.
He takes all of our sin and guilt upon himself and he carries it down into the depths of hell where it belongs. He dies for us on that cross. Then, he rises from the dead in glory and light. Jesus conquers death for our salvation. Christ now brings us into the bright sunshine of God’s love. Our Lord brings us into a new life of joy and freedom. This is why we rejoice in God’s gifts of grace. We praise our Lord and magnify his holy name. We sing our hymns with joy and gladness. We sing:
In the cross of Christ I glory,
Towering over the wrecks of time.
All the light of sacred story,
Gathers round its head sublime.
When the woes of life overtake me,
Hopes deceive and fears annoy.
Never shall the cross forsake me;
Lo, it glows with peace and joy.
The writer of this famous hymn was John Bowring. He wrote these words in the early 1800’s after he visited Macao on the South China Coast. Macao had just been struck by a massive typhoon. In the harbor were the wrecks of all the ships sunk by the powerful storm. On a hill, overlooking the harbor was a huge cathedral originally built by the early Portuguese colonists. This cathedral had been almost completely destroyed by the typhoon. Only one wall was still standing. On top of that wall was a huge bronze cross shining brightly in the morning sunlight.
John Bowring was so impressed by the shining cross standing tall and true after the terrible storm, he wrote the words to our hymn. These words remind us that even in the midst of the worst storms we may experience, the cross of Jesus stands tall and true. His love continues to shine forth even in the midst of our darkest woes.
God shines his light upon us and we remember once again that we are safe in God’s love. His love and grace will see us through. We can cope with whatever storm we are facing in our life right now. We can live in peace and joy. We can make it, if the cross goes before us. “When the woes of life overtake me, hopes deceive and fears annoy. Never shall the cross forsake me; Lo, it glows with peace and joy.” Always remember: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.” This makes all the difference in the world. This changes us forever. Consider the following story.
A young woman was riding on the subway. She was wearing a shiny gold cross on a chain. It was pretty and she considered it special. A man sitting across from her noticed her cross. He said sarcastically, “Young lady, I imagine you think Jesus died on the cross for you. If he really did, I don’t think that cross was shiny and pretty like the one you are wearing. It was an ugly wooden thing. The Romans used it to execute criminals. Frankly, I don’t understand why you would wear such a thing as a piece of jewelry. Would you wear a hangman’s noose or an electric chair around your neck?”
The young woman was stunned by his harsh words. She thought for a moment and then said, “Yes, it’s true, I believe that Jesus died for me on a cross. And I know that his cross was not as pretty as mine. But I also know what they told me in Sunday School.” “And what was that?” the man asked. She answered, “In Sunday School, my teacher told me that whatever Jesus touches, he changes. I think that is true for this cross. I know that it is true for me. I have been changed by the power of his love. That is what this cross means for me!”
Yes, that’s so true. The love of God is clearly revealed through the cross of Jesus. That love is powerful and effective. It changes us forever. It transforms all who believe in the Son of God. When Jesus touches your life, you are changed.
The cross means that God loves you. He wants for you to have life, and to have it to the full. That is why the Father gave his Son to die on the cross for you. That’s why he shines his light upon you. God wants for you to live each day in his sunlight. He wants for you to rejoice in the freedom he bestows. Receive his peace and blessing today. Live by the truth of God’s Word and come into his light.
Jesus says, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done by God.”
Look again and see how much God loves you! Behold the gift of God’s love in Christ. Let that love touch your life today and change your heart. In the cross of Christ, I glory! Amen!
A visitor to Sweden tells the story of a little country church located there. It is not a particularly beautiful church. There is nothing exceptional about it, except for one thing. When you go inside the church, you notice that there is a large, life-size crucifix hanging on the wall opposite the pulpit. The figure of our Lord is life-like, even to the use of real hair beneath the crown of thorns. How did such a huge crucifix happen to be in a Swedish Lutheran church?
Well, it seems that in the early 1700’s, the king of Sweden paid an unexpected visit to the church one Sunday morning. When the pastor saw the king in attendance, he was totally overwhelmed. Instead of preaching on the text for that Sunday, he gave a fawning tribute to the king. Soon afterward, the church received the crucifix from the king. With it came this command: “Hang this within the church so that whoever stands in the pulpit will always remember the words of St. Paul, ‘We preach Christ crucified.’”
Today, our eyes turn to the cross of our Lord Jesus. When we look at the cross of our Lord, we see suffering, pain and death. However, if we look again with the eyes of faith, we see something more. We see the love of God at work for our salvation. Jesus says, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
The cross of Jesus is a symbol of pain and suffering. That is true. However, at the same time, it is a symbol of joy and freedom. This is true because through the cross, we are set free from the bonds of sin and the chains of death. We are set free to be God’s people and to live in true joy and happiness. The cross of Jesus transforms everything it touches.
Such is the incredible power of the cross of Jesus. This power flows from the love of God. “For God so loved this fallen world that he gave his one and only Son to suffer and die on the cross for our sins.” God the Father loves this world, which he created. Even though we sinned and rebelled against our Creator, God still seeks our salvation. The Lord does not want us to be condemned and lost. He does not want us to perish in eternal damnation. He doesn’t want us to be separated from him any longer.
The Father gives us his Son. He gives us a way back home, a way out of sin and death, a way out of eternal condemnation and hell. Look again and see how much God loves you! Just as Moses lifted up the snake on the pole in the desert, so the Son of Man was lifted up on the cross, so that everyone who looks to him in faith might be rescued from the snakebite of sin and death. God provides a way of salvation. All we have to do is look and see.
When we look, we do see how the Son of God hangs upon that rough, wooden cross. We see the spikes driven through his hands and feet. We see the crown of thorns on his head. We see the incredible pain and suffering. We see the blood and the wounds. But look again and you will see the love of God revealed so clearly. You will see how the innocent One suffers for the guilty. You will see how the perfect One gives his life for the imperfect. You will see the Holy One of God bearing our burden and carrying our sins. Look to cross in faith and you will see Jesus.
He takes all of our sin and guilt upon himself and he carries it down into the depths of hell where it belongs. He dies for us on that cross. Then, he rises from the dead in glory and light. Jesus conquers death for our salvation. Christ now brings us into the bright sunshine of God’s love. Our Lord brings us into a new life of joy and freedom. This is why we rejoice in God’s gifts of grace. We praise our Lord and magnify his holy name. We sing our hymns with joy and gladness. We sing:
In the cross of Christ I glory,
Towering over the wrecks of time.
All the light of sacred story,
Gathers round its head sublime.
When the woes of life overtake me,
Hopes deceive and fears annoy.
Never shall the cross forsake me;
Lo, it glows with peace and joy.
The writer of this famous hymn was John Bowring. He wrote these words in the early 1800’s after he visited Macao on the South China Coast. Macao had just been struck by a massive typhoon. In the harbor were the wrecks of all the ships sunk by the powerful storm. On a hill, overlooking the harbor was a huge cathedral originally built by the early Portuguese colonists. This cathedral had been almost completely destroyed by the typhoon. Only one wall was still standing. On top of that wall was a huge bronze cross shining brightly in the morning sunlight.
John Bowring was so impressed by the shining cross standing tall and true after the terrible storm, he wrote the words to our hymn. These words remind us that even in the midst of the worst storms we may experience, the cross of Jesus stands tall and true. His love continues to shine forth even in the midst of our darkest woes.
God shines his light upon us and we remember once again that we are safe in God’s love. His love and grace will see us through. We can cope with whatever storm we are facing in our life right now. We can live in peace and joy. We can make it, if the cross goes before us. “When the woes of life overtake me, hopes deceive and fears annoy. Never shall the cross forsake me; Lo, it glows with peace and joy.” Always remember: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.” This makes all the difference in the world. This changes us forever. Consider the following story.
A young woman was riding on the subway. She was wearing a shiny gold cross on a chain. It was pretty and she considered it special. A man sitting across from her noticed her cross. He said sarcastically, “Young lady, I imagine you think Jesus died on the cross for you. If he really did, I don’t think that cross was shiny and pretty like the one you are wearing. It was an ugly wooden thing. The Romans used it to execute criminals. Frankly, I don’t understand why you would wear such a thing as a piece of jewelry. Would you wear a hangman’s noose or an electric chair around your neck?”
The young woman was stunned by his harsh words. She thought for a moment and then said, “Yes, it’s true, I believe that Jesus died for me on a cross. And I know that his cross was not as pretty as mine. But I also know what they told me in Sunday School.” “And what was that?” the man asked. She answered, “In Sunday School, my teacher told me that whatever Jesus touches, he changes. I think that is true for this cross. I know that it is true for me. I have been changed by the power of his love. That is what this cross means for me!”
Yes, that’s so true. The love of God is clearly revealed through the cross of Jesus. That love is powerful and effective. It changes us forever. It transforms all who believe in the Son of God. When Jesus touches your life, you are changed.
The cross means that God loves you. He wants for you to have life, and to have it to the full. That is why the Father gave his Son to die on the cross for you. That’s why he shines his light upon you. God wants for you to live each day in his sunlight. He wants for you to rejoice in the freedom he bestows. Receive his peace and blessing today. Live by the truth of God’s Word and come into his light.
Jesus says, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done by God.”
Look again and see how much God loves you! Behold the gift of God’s love in Christ. Let that love touch your life today and change your heart. In the cross of Christ, I glory! Amen!
The famous Prayer of St. Patrick powerfully expresses our comfort that the risen Christ is with us in our daily life. The Lord will protect us from evil and danger. St. Patrick was a real missionary to Ireland, and he encountered much danger, hardship, and persecution. Note his great emphasis on the power of the Holy Trinity.
THE PRAYER OF ST. PATRICK:
I bind to myself today: The power of the invocation of the Holy Trinity.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I bind to myself today: The strong name of the Trinity, by invocation of the same: The Three in One, and the One in Three.
The faith of the Trinity in Unity, and the Unity in Trinity.
The Maker of all things, of whom all nature has its being: Eternal Son, by whom all things were made: Holy Spirit of God, the Giver of all life: Eternal Father, Spirit and Word.
Praise be to the Lord of my salvation!
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of Christ.
May my salvation, O Lord, ever be with me!
I bind to myself today:
The Power of God to guide me.
The Might of God to uphold me.
The Wisdom of God to teach me.
The Eye of God to watch over me.
The Ear of God to hear me.
The Word of God to give me speech.
The Hand of God to protect me.
The Way of God to go before me.
The Shield of God to shelter me.
The Hosts of God to defend me:
Against the snares of demons.
Against the temptations of vices.
Against every sickness or injury.
Against every false prophet.
Against every power of darkness.
Against all deceits of idolatry.
I have set around me today, the strong power of the Holy Trinity.
Christ protect me today:
Christ with me, and Christ before me.
Christ behind me, and Christ within me.
Christ beneath me, and Christ above me.
Christ at my right, and Christ at my left.
Christ in the home, and Christ on the road.
Christ on the land, and Christ on the sea.
Christ in the heart of every person who thinks of me.
Christ in the eye of every person who sees me.
Christ in the ear of every person who hears of me.
Christ on the tongue of every person who speaks of me.
Praise be to the Lord of my salvation!
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of Christ.
May my salvation, O Lord, ever be with me! Amen!
THE PRAYER OF ST. PATRICK:
I bind to myself today: The power of the invocation of the Holy Trinity.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I bind to myself today: The strong name of the Trinity, by invocation of the same: The Three in One, and the One in Three.
The faith of the Trinity in Unity, and the Unity in Trinity.
The Maker of all things, of whom all nature has its being: Eternal Son, by whom all things were made: Holy Spirit of God, the Giver of all life: Eternal Father, Spirit and Word.
Praise be to the Lord of my salvation!
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of Christ.
May my salvation, O Lord, ever be with me!
I bind to myself today:
The Power of God to guide me.
The Might of God to uphold me.
The Wisdom of God to teach me.
The Eye of God to watch over me.
The Ear of God to hear me.
The Word of God to give me speech.
The Hand of God to protect me.
The Way of God to go before me.
The Shield of God to shelter me.
The Hosts of God to defend me:
Against the snares of demons.
Against the temptations of vices.
Against every sickness or injury.
Against every false prophet.
Against every power of darkness.
Against all deceits of idolatry.
I have set around me today, the strong power of the Holy Trinity.
Christ protect me today:
Christ with me, and Christ before me.
Christ behind me, and Christ within me.
Christ beneath me, and Christ above me.
Christ at my right, and Christ at my left.
Christ in the home, and Christ on the road.
Christ on the land, and Christ on the sea.
Christ in the heart of every person who thinks of me.
Christ in the eye of every person who sees me.
Christ in the ear of every person who hears of me.
Christ on the tongue of every person who speaks of me.
Praise be to the Lord of my salvation!
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of Christ.
May my salvation, O Lord, ever be with me! Amen!
If you have a question about our church or our upcoming schedule, please email us.
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OUR CHURCH HOME IS:
- A PLACE FOR WORSHIP: We meet together to worship Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We joyfully give Christ our praise, adoration and thanksgiving. We come to receive his blessing and gifts. Worship is a special time of spiritual refreshment and renewal. Join us this weekend! Receive God's peace in Christ.
- A PLACE FOR LEARNING: Studying the Bible is vital. We believe its message and accept it as God’s Word. The Bible is truthful, alive and relevant to life today. Learning the Scriptures together is a thrilling adventure. We offer several different Bible Studies every week to strengthen your spiritual life. (Contact us to find out our latest schedule.)
- A PLACE FOR ENRICHMENT: For every person at every age level, we offer a wealth of opportunities – special programs, service projects and events for children, youth and adults. You can be sure that in this kaleidoscope of activities there’s more than one place where you can be personally enriched.
- A PLACE FOR FRIENDSHIP: Nothing quite compares to the joy of Christian friendship. That’s why we make it a priority to build lasting bonds between the members of our church family – bonds of concern and genuine commitment to one another. Best of all, this circle of care is ever widening. We’d love for it to include you, too!
- A PLACE FOR SERVICE: Just as our Lord Jesus Christ came "not to be served, but to serve," we accept our calling to reach out to others in mercy and compassion. We seek to serve our Lord and our community. We are called to serve all people with love, mercy, and compassion. Join us as we work together to glorify God's name!
Pastor Heide posts Sermon and Bible Studies on his Substack.
Click the link below to check it out.
His blog is called, "Jesus Christ Is Alive."
Click the link below to check it out.
His blog is called, "Jesus Christ Is Alive."
Click the button below to check out Pastor Heide's Podcasts on BlogTalkRadio.Com
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