Devotions for Worship

In this sermon, Pastor Tritten explores St. Peter's message in his first epistle, 1 Peter 3:13-22, where Peter asks who will harm us for doing good. Well, the devil and world often resist Christians when we try to do good. How then should we respond?

This sermon is based on 1 Peter 2:19-25 where Peter urges Christians to endure suffering for Christ's sake. It was given on Confirmation Sunday when we ask our confirmands, "Do you intend to suffer all, even death, rather than turn away from this faith?" It's a hard word, but an important one, as we entrust ourselves into God's loving hands as we live our lives following Jesus' example trusting in His grace.

This sermon is based on 1 Peter 2:2-10. Pastor Tritten points out that we often look to exterior and interior sources to help us to understand our identity, but both fall short. Only Jesus can create our identity internally and externally. He changes who we are to become people of the kingdom of heaven.

This sermon for the 3rd Sunday of Easter, is part of a series on 1 Peter. Focused on 1 Peter 1:17-25, where Peter speaks of God having ransomed us, Pastor Tritten focuses on four prepositions to say we have been ransomed from, with, for, and by. Each preposition reveals another aspect of God's salvation in regard to having been ransomed.

This sermon, based on 1 Peter 1:3-9, reminds us that we are born again in Jesus’ resurrection. This new life changes your relationship with the world as you live in repentance and nourish your soul in God’s grace.

In 1 Corinthians 15, St. Paul tells us that he delivered the message of Jesus' death and resurrection as of "first importance." Pastor Tritten compared that statement to the lede (lead) in a newspaper article and urged the congregation to not bury the lede. However, the world, represented by four deities, resists the work of Jesus' resurrection-powered kingdom. Those deities are Santa Muerte (Death), Moloch (Politics), Eros (Desire/Love), and Mammon (Earthly Possessions). Jesus overcomes all of them and gives us life, mercy, love, and grace.

This is the Good Friday sermon. Pastor Tritten takes us back to Psalm 22 and encourages us to look to the cross, and particularly the man who died there, for our salvation.

In this sermon, Pastor Tritten talks about the Last Supper, drawing on Matthew 26:17-30, but he focuses on v. 29 where Jesus says he will not "drink again from the fruit of the vine." When does he next drink from the fruit of the vine? What does that mean for the kingdom of heaven? What does it mean for us?

This sermon is based on Isaiah 50:4-9 and focuses on the repeated line, "The Lord God helps me." The sermon looks at a couple questions. First, who is the "me" that the Lord God helps? And second, what does it mean for the Lord God to "help"?

Ezekiel 37 records the strange but famous vision of the Valley of Dry Bones. We usually think of this as a vision that God gave to Ezekiel, but in v. 11 it becomes clear this was Israel's vision of how they saw themselves and God is responding to it to pour hope and life upon those who are hopeless and dead in sin.

This sermon, based on Colossians 2:8-15, heeds St. Paul's warning to beware of thoughts, ideas, and behaviors that would take us captive and lead us away from the forgiveness Christ won for us on the cross.

This sermon, based on Isaiah 42, summarizes God's story of salvation in the Old Testament. Pastor Tritten has been working with the idea that the Bible is the story of creatures in rebellion against our Creator, and our God who is determined to save His people. In this sermon, Pastor Tritten speaks about ways that we are spiritually blind because of our sin and God's faithfulness to guide us to Himself in Christ.

In this Wednesday evening sermon from March 11, 2026, Pastor Tritten draws on Ephesians 2:11-22 to show us how God gives us peace through Jesus' cross.

In this sermon, based on Exodus 17:1-7, where God provides water from the rock, and John 4, where Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman at the well, Pastor Tritten points out that while we are fully known to God in our sin and rebellion, He continues to choose to make Himself known in Christ as the God who saves and redeems.

Pastor Tritten leads us to look at Galatians 6:11-16 where St. Paul takes up his pen to write with large letters about the gospel and the cross of Christ. He is clear of only boast is in the cross!

This sermon from March 1, 2026 is based on Genesis 12:1-9 and the calling of Abram, while it also draws from John 3's account of Jesus and Nicodemus. We, like Abram, and called to follow by faith, and by faith we receive Jesus' righteousness which He delivers to all who believe in Him as the one who was lifted up like the serpent in the wilderness.

In this sermon, based on 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Pastor Tritten talks about the cross as the strange place (from a worldly point of view) that God reveals His power to save His people.

This sermon starts focusing on Genesis 3 and the temptation and fall of the first man and woman. Pastor Tritten takes exception to the term "Fall" because of the choices that were made, but also points out that God responds with a promise of a savior. The sermon then focuses on Matthew 4:1-9 and the account of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness where He faces the same temptations, but in different form. In the end, holiness is restored to humanity by Jesus and He presses on to die and rise to save all people from sin and death.

This sermon, based on Luke 9:21-27, focuses our attention on the cross of Christ. The cross was (and is) central to Jesus' purpose. It was the tool He used to redeem us from sin and death. Jesus' cross is why we deny ourselves, take up our crosses daily, and follow Him.

Jesus' transfiguration in Matthew 17 is a true mountain top experience. As important and impressive as such moments are, Jesus didn't stay on the mountain top, but led His disciples back to the valley. It is tempting for modern Christians to seek out our own mountain top experience, but Jesus is still at work in the mundane parts of life, and it is our privilege now to look for where he is working in the lives of others to draw them to faith and salvation, too.

This sermon is based on Matthew 5:13-20. In it, Pastor Tritten talks about what God's Kingdom is, how it comes, and what it has to do with the law and the prophets. He also shows us a greater righteousness than the scribes' and Pharisees' through Jesus' death and resurrection.

Pastor Tritten continues our study of Paul's letter to the Colossians.

This sermon, based on Luke 2:40-52, discusses the importance of telling the story of Jesus' birth, life, death, and resurrection by focusing on Jesus' presence in His Father's ... house? .... business? .... things? Jesus wants to be where His Father is doing His Work, and He wants to be part of that work. He loves to bring salvation to sinners and bring us into His family. As adopted children of God, then, we love to be where our Father does His work and to be part of that work!

This sermon, based on Isaiah 52:7-10, calls on God's people to celebrate Jesus' birth as great news!

In this sermon, Pastor Tritten focuses our attention on the Christmas message of Isaiah 9:2-7. "Unto us a child is born!" Merry Christmas!

Pastor Tritten continues teaching on Colossians.

This sermon on Matthew 1:18-25 talks about the importance of pausing to soak in the good news of Jesus' birth and the names he received from His Father. Looking at the story of Jesus' birth through Joseph's experience gives a different perspective to the more well loved account from Luke 2.

Pastor Tritten continues teaching on Paul's letter to the Colossians.

Matthew 3:1-12 records John the Baptist's ministry baptizing at the Jordan River in the wilderness. He called his hearers to repentance and faith. He also confronted the sin of those who came to him. In particular he confronted graceless religion and beliefs that reject God's Word. These attitudes still tempt us today, so we do well to hear John's call to repentance as we look to the One who came after John for our cleansing and forgiveness.

Madeline L'Engle's Advent poem, First Coming, led Pastor Tritten into a meditation on Galatians 4:4-5, which says, "When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, ..." There is much that we wait for in this life, including Jesus' return. Still, there is plenty of oportunity to act because God took action to save us by Jesus' birth.

As we begin the season of Advent, Matthew 24:36-44 reminds us that no one knows when the last day will come. How should God's people live in the meantime? We watch and wait in faith.

In this sermon, Pastor Tritten draws from Moses's sermon in Deuteronomy 8:1-10 to remember all the good that God has done for us and to bless, that is, give thanks, to Him.

Pastor Tritten preaches on Malach 3:13-18 in which God gives His people a message of condemnation and a message of comfort. The condemnation confronts our sin, and the comfort reminds us that God says, "You are mine!"

Pastor Tritten continues his study of Colossians.

Pastor Tritten continues his study of Colossians.

Pastor Tritten continues his study of Colossians.

Pastor Tritten continues his study of Colossians.

Pastor Tritten preaches on Sunday, November 16, 2025

This sermon for the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost is based on the Gospel lesson: Luke 20:27-40. When the Sadducees tested Jesus regarding the resurrection, they were trying to trap Him, but He was prepared to blow their trap apart by proclaiming that the resurrection was real - a matter He would prove by His own resurrection ... and ours!

This is the first session of Pastor Tritten's study on St. Paul's letter to the Colossians. For the handout from the session go to https://lotrittens.blogspot.com/ and look for November 9 - Colossians

Joining Jesus on His Mission - 6 by Pastor Eric Tritten

This sermon is based on Luke 19:1-10, the story of Zacchaeus; particularly how Jesus' salvation came to him. Pastor Tritten's message points us to the salvation that has come to us in Christ and the hope we have with the saints who have gone before us. Jesus has won the victory and we are holy in God's sight because of him!

Joining Jesus on His Mission - 5 by Pastor Eric Tritten

This sermon is based on Luke 18:9-14, the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. This parable is an excellent text for Reformation Day since it points to justification by grace through faith as the heart of our relationship with God.

Pastor Tritten continues the study of Greg Finke's Joining Jesus on His Mission. In this session he talks about five missional practices.

In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus told a parable to the effect that his followers ought always to pray and not lose heart, which is a struggle we all face. He tells of an unrighteous judge who ends up doing the right thing because of a widow's persistence, and he reminds us that we are not dealing with an unrighteous judge, but a loving Father who created and saves us. In that we love, we are bold to pray!

In this sermon, Pastor Tritten tells the story of Naomi, which you can read about in the Old Testament Book of Ruth. Naomi experienced great sorrow and bitterness in her life, and while that challenged her faith in God, God remained faithful to her, used her life, blessed her and her daughter-in-law so greatly that they became essential to the birth of our savior.

This session includes a Bible Study on Ephesians 5:15-16, which says, "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." Pastor Tritten talks about the unique opportunities we are facing at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hudson. In addition, congregational president, Mike Korba presents the suggested budget for 2026 and takes questions. Mike refers to Pastor's A Weekly Word series called, "If I Had $1,000,000." You can see those videos here: God Doesn't Need Anything - https://youtu.be/L0gH744pfUA?si=htd_rb39vN2A5_qw Beyond Blessed - https://youtu.be/bHWwK1l-JW4?si=YXuweIlshbZaE221 What Would Your Church Do With $1,000,000? - https://youtu.be/fMdAyaoFEDI?si=w1vNr6CsO4i-zpvK

Pastor Tritten continues our study of Greg Finke's book Joining Jesus On His Mission. In this presentation we discuss the theology behind this statement: “The kingdom of God (that is, the redemptive presence and activity of God in human lives) has come into the world to work out the mission of God (the redeeming and restoring of human lives to the kingdom of God) through the people of God (the redemptive presence and activity of God made tangible to other human beings).” (Finke, p. 72)

This sermon is based on Jesus' challenging words in Luke 17:10 in which we are taught to hold to the attitude that we are unworthy servants and have only done our duty. We're not used to thinking of ourselves as servants. We see ourselves as people who are free. But what if that is not the full picture? What if we are naturally in bondage to sin and our first relationship with God is that He serves us to set us free?