Sermons on Jonathan:

The Fork In The Road

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Dec 30, 2019

The “fork in the road” - decisions that we make - some of them seemingly insignificant and others monumental with lasting impact. Psalm 1 gives us two ways - one leads to destruction, the other to blessing, prosperity and righteousness. What is the path that leads to each?

Each day and throughout the day, we come to many forks in the road – decisions that we have to make. Many of those decisions are we might consider momentary. They won’t have a huge, long-lasting impact on our lives. But other forks are rather monumental because of the impact that they are going ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Fighting A Losing Battle Or Fighting A Battle Already Won?

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Dec 30, 2019

Do you feel like you’re fighting a losing battle? Maybe you feel that way as a Christian especially when you look at the world around you which seems to b growing more and more defiant of what we believe and what the Bible teaches. Are we fighting a losing battle?

Do you ever feel like your fighting a losing battle? Maybe it’s the battle with a diet that as hard as you try it just don’t seem be helping you to loose any weight. Maybe it’s the battle with a teenager, trying to get them to put their dishes INTO the dishwasher not just BY the dishwasher. Or ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Praise The Lord! What? How? When?

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Dec 30, 2019

What does praise look like? We attach the word "praise" to types of music, styles of worship, and certain actions. But what does the Bible actually say about praise and how God's people praise him?

When you think of “praise,” what comes to mind? You might think of something that takes place in a church or in a worship service. Maybe you might think of certain actions. Maybe you’ve heard the joke about the woman who in the middle of the sermon stood up, lifted up her hands and said, “Praise ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Right With God Through Faith In Jesus Series

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Dec 30, 2019

Are you good enough? Good enough parent? spouse? student? friend? How about in your relationship with God? Are you good enough? Discover the freeing truth of the gospel that proclaims that in Christ Jesus you are not just good enough, you're perfect!

Let’s see if you can finish this saying, “If at first you don’t succeed… try, try, try again.” Maybe you had a parent, a coach or a teacher that said something like to you, trying to encourage you not to give up on something that they thought you could or needed to learn to do – write your name, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Judgment Day Reveals The Righteousness Of God Series

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Dec 30, 2019

If the guilty go free we call it a travesty, an injustice, unfair. Yet, the Bible says that on Judgment Day the guilty will go free? How can God do that? Is that fair or right? It’s because of God’s righteousness that guilty sinners go free on Judgment Day.

It just didn’t seem right or fair. The evidence of guilt was overwhelming. The witnesses had poured in one after another recounting firsthand of destructive and damaging conversations and actions. Fingerprints were found everywhere that clearly connected the person standing before the judge to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:1-16

Denomination: Lutheran

Waiting And Ready For Heaven Series

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Dec 30, 2019

The dreaded waiting room - filled with anticipation and uncertainty. What if you could take away that uncertainty - knowing what the outcome was going to be? Great! That's what God does as we wait for heaven. He reveals the outcome and it's glorious!

Do you enjoy the waiting room? I’ve had a lot of experience in waiting rooms throughout the years. As nice and comfortable as hospitals and doctors’ offices attempt to make them, I don’t know of anyone who really looks forward to sitting in a waiting room. It is always a place filled with ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-30

Denomination: Lutheran

The King Keeps His People Safe Series

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Dec 30, 2019

How can you be sure? When it comes to heaven, how can you be sure that you’re going to make it? Christ the King gives us the sure confidence that heaven awaits us as he turns us to the power of his love in the past, present and future.

How can I be sure? You’re looking at the sign that says “Best Price Guaranteed” but how can you really be sure? So you pull out your phone and go to Amazon just to make sure that you’re really getting what you were promised. You stand there looking at a car or a new appliance. You want to make ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:31-39

Denomination: Lutheran

Give Thanks Always?

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Dec 30, 2019

When will you give thanks? Our thankfulness is so often dependent upon the circumstances of our lives. Find a continual source of gratefulness in God and what he has and continues to do for you in Christ Jesus.

What do you see? Is the glass half empty or is the glass half full? The answer is, “Yes” since both are true. But we sometimes use that expression to describe a person’s outlook on life. Are you a glass-half-full kind of person – the optimist, OR are you a glass-half-empty kind of person, the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Not What They Expected Series

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Dec 30, 2019

How much do you remember about John the Baptist? Camel hair clothing, locust diet, or loaner lifestyle? While those are memorable, John is arguably one of the most significant people in Jesus’ life and ministry. See how the unexpected surrounded John's birth.

While at the children’s hospital this summer in California, my wife Nikky and I were sitting in the atrium to the main entrance one day when I noticed a man in a black suit and an ear piece walking around. He was looking all over the place and talking to people. As I watched him I leaned over to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25, Luke 1:39-45, Luke 1:57-66, Luke 1:67-80

Denomination: Lutheran

Controversial Character Series

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Dec 30, 2019

John the Baptist's message of repentance is just as controversial today as it was in in his day. It was a message that caused people to think and evaluate what they were doing and why. It does the same today? Ready for some controversy?

Throughout history there have been many controversial characters: kings and queens, presidents and politicians, artists, actors and song writers, scientists and CEOs. What is it that made them so controversial? By what they did or said, they made people uncomfortable, forcing people to have to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12

Denomination: Lutheran

As Good As God Promised Series

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Dec 30, 2019

As John the Baptist sat in prison, staring at the end of his life, he started to wonder if Jesus was everything that he expected Jesus to be. See how Jesus answers that question and continues to answer our questions when we might doubt if God is really all that we hoped him to be.

Was it everything that you had expected? You ripped open the rapping paper on Christmas morning to unveil the toy that you had seen advertised so many times on TV. You had been sure to put it at the top of your Christmas list in great detail taking away any of the possible guess work as to which ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11

Denomination: Lutheran

God's Love - What? Why? How?

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Dec 30, 2019

What makes God's love so amazing is the who he loves, the why he loves and the how he loves. His is a love that is truly unparalleled throughout the world.

What does love look like? You might think of a couple on their wedding day committing themselves to one another for the remainder of their lives. Or the couple celebrating a milestone anniversary, reflecting upon the many experiences that they’ve shared with each other. That’s love. You might ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Lutheran

New Year's Reflection & Preparation

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Dec 30, 2019

As you consider the last 12 months, was it what you expected? Life is turbulent, but our God prepares us for it all. See how the words of Psalm 46 calm troubled hearts, give Godly perspective, and prepare us for the future.

I want you to think back to one year ago, December 29, 2018. At that point in time, what were you expecting or hoping 2019 would bring? Maybe you were hoping that it was going to be the year to lose a few of those unwanted pounds, to start exercising more, to eat healthier. Maybe you hoped that ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

When Thomas Spoke Up For Jesus

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 5, 2020

Thomas is mostly known for his doubts. Here he shows his determination to follow Jesus.

When Thomas Spoke Up for Jesus Introduction: When we think of the men Jesus called to be His disciples, we can forget, sometimes, that they were human beings just like us. Each one of them had the incredible opportunity to follow Jesus Christ, the Son of God, on His mission while He walked this ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

The Only Question Thomas Asked In Scripture

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 6, 2020

Thomas heard something he didn't understand. He asked Jesus to explain it.

Introduction Many of us think of Thomas as a disciple, or even a doubter, but we sometimes forget that he asked one of the greatest questions in Scripture. My personal opinion is that he was a very analytical type of individual, one who wanted to be sure before he made a decision. Too many people ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Denomination: Baptist