As we near the end of summer, this week’s Scripture readings from Isaiah 58:9-14 and Luke 13:10-17 invite us to consider the importance of Sabbath rest time. God gives us the gift of Sabbath because we need rest. In the midst of life’s busyness, it’s important to take time to pause and reflect, to spend time in worship giving thanks for what God’s done. The prophet Isaiah makes it clear how much God values Sabbath, calling on God’s people to “refrain from trampling the Sabbath, from pursuing your own interests on my holy day.”

And yet, Sabbath rest cannot be allowed to become a legalistic excuse for us to avoid helping others. When Jesus sees a woman in need, he heals her, even though it’s a Sabbath. He’s willing to endure controversy and criticism for the sake of loving one of God’s children.

Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukville, Wisconsin at https://www.livinghopesaukville.org/ or https://ctkport.org/.

Our circumstances are constantly changing, but one thing that will never change is a God in heaven who loves us. Thank you to Christ the King member Fred Walls for sharing a sermon this Sunday while Pastor Daniel was on vacation. Our circumstances can change our view of God, yet in all situations, we are still called by Jesus to love God and love people.

Today's Scripture readings are Isaiah 40:1-10, Psalm 143, and Matthew 11:1-19.

Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukville, Wisconsin at https://www.livinghopesaukville.org/ or https://ctkport.org/.

This Sunday’s Psalm concludes with a prayer: “Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” (Psalm 33:22) Our hope as people of God is rooted in God’s steadfast love. Even as the world around us changes, even as yet another story gives evidence of the brokenness and suffering around us, we trust that God is still faithful. God is still at work. God is still good.

In our Gospel reading, Jesus tells us, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” The hope we cling to as Christians is not based on how much we have in this world, but on the promise that we are God’s children for all eternity. Sometimes that hope can be hard to see, but it is ultimately a deeper foundation for life than anything this world has to offer.

Today's Scripture readings are Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16; Psalm 33:12-22; and Luke 12:32-40. The text of this message is available at https://danielflucke.com/hope-faith-fear/.

Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukville, Wisconsin at https://www.livinghopesaukville.org/ or https://ctkport.org/.

Thank you to Rev. Jon Jacobs for leading worship and sharing an inspiring message on Jesus' "Parable of the Rich Fool" with us this morning while Pastor Daniel is at a Teens Encounter Christ retreat weekend. Today's Scripture readings are Psalm 49:1-12 and Luke 12:13-21.

Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukville, Wisconsin at https://www.livinghopesaukville.org/ or https://ctkport.org/.

This Sunday we gathered at Kolbach Park in Port Washington for a community worship service with Christ the King, Living Hope, First Congregational Church, and Grand Avenue United Methodist Church. While we were able to record Pastor Jim Schleif's sermon on Luke 11:1-13, even after enhancing the audio, it's still not great quality. But we had a great time worshiping outdoors with our neighbors and praying together!

Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukville, Wisconsin at https://www.livinghopesaukville.org/ or https://ctkport.org/.

Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the One who makes God known to us. God is not only the Creator of the cosmos; God is personal, knowable, and loving. Today's Scripture readings are Colossians 1:15-28 and the familiar story of Jesus' visit to Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42.

Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukville, Wisconsin at https://www.livinghopesaukville.org/ or https://ctkport.org/.

Thank you to Pastor Brian Halverson for leading worship and sharing a message on Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan while Pastor Daniel was in St. Louis on the Lighthouse Youth summer mission trip. Today's Scripture reading is Luke 10:25-37.

Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukville, Wisconsin at https://www.livinghopesaukville.org/ or https://ctkport.org/.

As followers of Jesus, we are people who are sent out into the world. In this Sunday's Gospel reading from Luke 10:1-11, Jesus instructs his disciples to travel light as they go from place to place proclaiming the good news of God's kingdom.

The mission is not easy–Jesus warns, "I'm sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves"–but the harvest is plentiful and the work has eternal significance. Unprepared, facing rejection, the disciples nonetheless proclaim, "The kingdom of God has come near." That's good news our world needs to hear–and it's good news trusted to us to proclaim.

Learn more about Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington and Living Hope Lutheran in Saukville, Wisconsin at https://www.livinghopesaukville.org/ or https://ctkport.org/. The text of the sermon is posted at https://danielflucke.com/travel-light-2025/.