Divine Savior Church-Sienna

The early church didn’t grow through programs or events alone, but through devoted relationships centered on the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. Jesus’ commission is lived out as ordinary believers walk together in authentic community—devoted to Christ and to one another. This is relational discipleship: not isolated faith or busy activity, but life-on-life investment where the Gospel is shared, believers are connected and trained in the Word, and disciples are released to multiply. God still builds His Church this way today—by grace, shared in friendships.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

The early church didn’t grow through programs or events alone, but through devoted relationships centered on the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. Jesus’ commission is lived out as ordinary believers walk together in authentic community—devoted to Christ and to one another. This is relational discipleship: not isolated faith or busy activity, but life-on-life investment where the Gospel is shared, believers are connected and trained in the Word, and disciples are released to multiply. God still builds His Church this way today—by grace, shared in friendships.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

Before this passage is about everyone, it is first about spiritual shepherds (elders, pastors). Paul writes to Timothy as a spiritual father encouraging him to raise up other faithful teachers who can shepherd God’s people. God’s work is never meant to rest on one leader or one generation. What Paul teaches Timothy shapes the whole Church: God grows His mission by entrusting people to entrust others. While not all are pastors, everyone lives within relationships where faith is passed on—at home, in the church, and in everyday life.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

Discipleship begins with a simple but life-altering invitation from Jesus: “Follow me.” Before the disciples understand everything, before they feel ready, Jesus calls them into relationship with Himself. A disciple is not defined by how much they know, but by who they follow. As we follow Jesus, He changes us—and He sends us into His mission. This call still shapes what it means to be a disciple today.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

Discipleship does not begin with self-improvement, moral effort, or religious sincerity—it begins with new birth. Jesus confronts Nicodemus with the truth that spiritual life cannot be achieved, inherited, or engineered. Apart from the Spirit’s work, we are spiritually dead, even when we appear religious, busy, or sincere. A clear view of who we are apart from Christ exposes our need for rescue and reorients us to the One who alone gives life. The Gospel is not advice for the alive; it is resurrection for the dead.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

The story of Jonah ends with a surprising twist: the prophet is angry. In this final message, we look at the struggle we all face when God is "too kind" to people we don't like. It’s easy to celebrate God’s mercy when it’s for us, but it’s much harder when that same mercy is shown to our enemies. We’ll explore the tension between our own ideas of fairness and God’s relentless love. The book ends with a searching question for all of us: Are we truly happy that God is gracious and merciful to everyone, or do we want Him to only favor people like us?Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

God is a specialist in second chances—not just for Jonah, but for everyone. In this message, we see how God uses even the most reluctant and flawed people to carry His message of hope. Despite Jonah’s past mistakes, God recommissions him to reach a city that seemed beyond saving. We’ll discover that God’s mercy doesn’t have borders; it reaches into the most unlikely places. It’s a powerful reminder that when God speaks, His words have the power to change everything, proving that no one is ever truly too far gone to be reached.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

When we hit rock bottom, it often feels like God has abandoned us. However, Jonah’s time in the "depths" shows us that the end of our rope is often the beginning of God’s rescue. What Jonah first saw as a dark prison actually became a place of protection—a space where he could finally let go of his pride and realize that only God can save. This message explores how God meets us in our lowest moments to give us a second chance, pointing us toward the ultimate hope found in the one who spent three days in the earth to bring us all back to life.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

We often think we can outrun God when His plans don't align with our own comfort or preferences. In this first message, we look at Jonah—a man who didn’t just reject a job, but tried to distance himself from the very Source of his life. Jonah’s journey reminds us that while we might try to sail away from God’s presence, He is too loving to let us go. Sometimes, God allows a "storm" in our lives not to punish us, but to rescue us from ourselves and bring us back to His mercy.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

At times, we might raise doubts about or throw accusations against God’s love. Suffering, injustice, and personal pain can cause confusion regarding God’s great love. John affirms that God is love. This is not sentiment. It is action—demonstrated supremely through the sending of his Son, Jesus Christ, to be the Savior of the world. This perfect love of God drives out fear. Our fear of judgment can be replaced with confidence and assurance. When we have received God’s love, we also reflect his love. As God’s children, we are empowered to love others with the same selfless, sacrificial love, becoming living testimonies of His grace. Encourage your people to allow God’s love to overflow into their relationships, leading others out of fear and into faith.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

Agape love—the selfless, sacrificial love modeled by Jesus and made possible through His resurrection carries unbelievable power. While friendship in the church is a blessing, God calls believers to something deeper: love that acts, gives, and sacrifices for fellow Christians. This love is not merely based on feelings or mutual benefit but is rooted in Christ’s example of laying down His life. We can challenge our people to express this love tangibly—through generosity, presence, and empathy. We can also reassure them that even when their hearts condemn them, God is greater and His love secures their identity and confidence before Him. We are and remain God’s children by his grace.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

This week we explore how being united with Christ through His resurrection gives believers eternal confidence and the power to live a fruitful life of authentic morality. Jesus’ victory over sin and the devil is not just historical—it’s personal and transformative. Believers are not merely labeled as children of God; they are truly adopted into His family. This identity shapes both our future hope and our present conduct. Authentic Christianity, according to John, is marked by doing what is right—not to earn God’s favor, but as a response to already being His children. As his children, we are called to live out this identity with moral clarity in a culture of confusion, continually renewed through repentance and grace.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

This week centers on the crisis of sin, embracing the power of Jesus’ resurrection, and living in fellowship with God. We must openly confront the reality of human darkness and separation from God, and allow God’s light to expose our sin. There is a solution to this crisis: Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection, which cleanse us from sin and restore our relationship with God. The resurrection is not only historical truth but a transformative power that grants forgiveness, eternal life, and a new identity rooted in Christ. We can “come alive” to this resurrection power and live in confident fellowship with God and others.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

Maybe you have thought of “religion” as trying hard to live up to the Bible’s teachings, and it has left you stuck and frustrated. You wish you were a better person. But you still lose control and make mistakes you're ashamed of. The good news of Jesus brings us joy, because Jesus, our King, lived the life we should have lived, died the death we should have died, and took our penalty for us so we can be part of God’s everlasting, unshakeable kingdom. With Jesus as our King! So let’s worship Him! Not to get on his good side. But to thank Him for giving us the perfect life!Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

Life is a race. We have to run it. And like any race, it has its difficulties and agonizing moments. How do we get through them? In a race, you keep your eyes on the finish line. In the race of life, we keep our eyes on Jesus. The sufferings God allows along the way will make us stronger. Our Heavenly Father wants what is best for us, and wants us to finish the race even more than we do! Jesus is the way! Jesus is our finish line! He finished everything for us by running his race to the cross for us. He made it possible for us to experience that joy with Him! Let’s fix our eyes on Jesus!Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

As the saying goes, there are only two things you can count on in life: death and taxes. No matter how well your life goes or how awful it goes, death is something we all face as human beings. Escape from pain in this life is only temporary. We need something better to look forward to. God is better than anything life gives us or death can take away from us. We have the one thing that can give us what we need: the resurrection of Jesus! Because He lives, we will live! Christianity gives us something more than a story! It gives us an actual person raised from the dead. And He, Jesus, gives us the certainty of resurrection! He is our resurrection!Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

Living the Christian life isn’t just about trying to be good or trying to do better. That will just lead to frustration. We have to understand how serious a problem we have. Guilt and shame are real, and without Jesus, we have no way to deal with guilt or shame. The only way to pay for guilt is with sacrifice. Forgiveness always costs… someone has to pay. The awesome thing about our God is that He doesn’t demand our blood but offers his own. Jesus offered his own life to sacrifice for us. Once and for all. A sacrifice made on our behalf is what makes us what to “be good and do better” to experience the joy in life God wants us to have! The only thing that will give us complete rest is knowing Jesus loved us enough to be our sacrifice!Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

Life can be a kind of “trial” in which you are trying to prove to others and yourself that you are good. We so desperately need to know what we look like and how we measure up when compared to others. That’s why we need an advocate, someone who can speak for us. Jesus is the advocate we need. He doesn’t plead our case to God. He demands justice for us from God because He already made the payment for us. Jesus gives you a completely new identity.  He removes all guilt from your life. He gives you a way to deal with discouragement and disappointment. And gives you a joy and courage to approach life with! If your advocate wins, you win! Because Jesus wins, we win!Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

We live in one of the most workaholic cultures in history. Technology makes it possible for us to work around the clock. We never escape our work. We get our identity, value, and worth from our work. It is hard for us to get real rest. Even when we take “vacations,” our focus and thoughts are on what we should be doing. God created us as human beings who need rest. Real rest is important. Real rest is a declaration of freedom from slavery. Real rest is being able to put something down because you are satisfied with it. Our sinful nature makes it impossible to have real rest. The only thing that can give us real rest is Jesus. In the same way a shepherd enables his sheep to rest, our Good Shepherd makes it possible for us to have true rest. Come to Him!Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

A brother is someone who will come and help you, even when it isn’t safe for him to do so. When life gets difficult, let’s fix our eyes on our greatest brother, Jesus. He is our brother who came to help us, even at the cost of his life. A brother stands in front of your bully for you, fights your fight for you, puts himself between you and your enemy, even puts his life on the line for you. Jesus did this as our brother! But even better, He defeated death for us! He rose again! He is the One who has our back! And He’s not ashamed to be called your “Brother.” He’s proud of it! No matter what you’ve done! It doesn’t matter what the world says about you. You have a brother who’s proud of you!Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

Life isn’t always easy. It’s like being on a difficult journey, looking forward to rest. Along the way, we need to know we aren’t alone. We need to know someone is with us. It is so helpful to hear someone’s voice… to know you aren’t alone. Jesus is how we know we aren’t alone. Jesus is how God lets us know He is with us. Jesus is how God speaks to us. He’s the first and last thing we need. The final Word from God. He isn’t like anything else that promises it can help us through this life. We can’t treat Him the same. Jesus is God talking to us. Jesus doesn’t tell us how to get to God. Jesus is the way to God. The resurrected, living, Word of God! The last word from God we’ll ever need.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

In this past week Jesus’ immense love for us has been made clearly known to us as we remembered the suffering and death he faced for our sins. Today Jesus’ immense power is made known to us as we remember how he rose from the grave in triumph and victory.We spend so much energy trying to squeeze everything out of this life—more success, more experiences, more meaning—hoping it will finally feel like enough. But “more” always runs out. The world feels fractured and loud, trust is thin, and we’re expected to curate a life that looks put-together even when it isn’t. Add sickness, loss, and the reality that life ends, and it’s easy to feel worn down and hopeless.But Easter interrupts all of that. Jesus’ resurrection means death doesn’t get the final word, and our lives aren’t measured by how much we managed to pack in. Because He lives, our future is secure—and that changes life right now. This is not the end. In Christ, it’s the beginning of a life that can’t be taken away.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

He didn’t whisper it. He didn’t sigh it. He declared it. “It is finished.” The final breath of Jesus wasn’t resignation—it was triumph. Every sin, every shame, every failure was dragged to the cross and buried in His body. He unplugs the lie that we need to earn grace. That we still have something to prove. That maybe we’re still not enough. On the cross, Jesus says, You are forgiven. It is finished.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

Before Jesus gave His life for the world, He gave His body and blood to His friends. In the Upper Room, He kneels. He washes. He serves. And He truly gives Himself—His body, His blood. He knows Judas will betray Him. Peter will deny Him. The rest will run. Still, He sets the table. Still, He calls them "friends." This isn’t a meal for the worthy—it’s for the weary. Jesus unplugs the myth that you have to clean yourself up before coming to Him. Come as you are. The table is set.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

The crowds wanted a conqueror. Jesus gave them a cross. He rides in—not on a warhorse, but on a donkey. Not with a sword, but with tears for the city. Jesus unplugs everything we think we know about victory. He enters not to take power but to give His life. Are you ready for a King who undoes your categories? Because He didn’t come to meet your expectations—He came to save your soul.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

On the night before He died, Jesus prayed for you. He didn’t just pray for His disciples—He prayed for all who would believe. That we would be one. In a world of division, tribalism, and outrage, Jesus unplugs our addiction to self and prays for a Church that looks like heaven—diverse, unified, and rooted in His truth.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

Jesus didn’t leave us alone—He filled us with Himself. When Jesus said He’d send the Helper, He wasn’t offering spiritual motivation. He was offering power—His own presence. In a distracted and discouraged world, Jesus unplugs our fear of not being enough and fills us with the Spirit who is more than enough.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

Everything was about to fall apart. So Jesus spoke peace. In a world of headlines, panic, and noise, Jesus speaks four words that echo across centuries: “Do not be troubled.” But this isn’t a shallow self-help mantra. It’s rooted in who He is: the Way, the Truth, the Life. Jesus unplugs fear and replaces it with confidence rooted in eternity.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

Jesus doesn’t ask us to love the easy ones. He commands us to love like Him. This isn’t soft love. It’s cross-shaped love. It's love that gets betrayed, abandoned, and still chooses to stay. Jesus unplugs our shallow notions of kindness and comfort and calls us to a love that costs—yet heals everything.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

Jesus doesn’t take the throne; He takes a towel. In a culture that worships charisma, platforms, and power, Jesus gets on His knees and washes feet. He rewrites greatness with humility and defines leadership as love. This week, Jesus unplugs our obsession with status and invites us into a kingdom where glory is found in stooping low.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

In a world filled with noise, Jesus speaks clearly. In a culture chasing power, He bends low to wash feet. In a world fraying at the seams, He prays that we would be one. And through it all, He speaks to us. Unplugged. Unfiltered. Life-changing.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

What we give to God is never lost — it’s invested in eternity. The treasures of this world fade, but the impact of a generous, surrendered life endures forever. As we close our Return to Sender series, we’ll celebrate that every time we give, serve, or love in Jesus’ name, we’re returning His gifts to Him — and He uses them to change lives for eternity.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

God doesn’t want our leftovers; He calls us to give our first and best as an act of trust and worship. In a world that tells us to hold tightly to what we have, giving back to the Giver reminds us who truly provides. This week, we’ll learn how generosity flows from gratitude — and how every gift is a way of saying, “Thank You, Lord.”Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

Everything we have — our time, talents, and treasures — ultimately belongs to God. We’re not owners, but managers of what He’s entrusted to us. When we understand that truth, it changes the way we handle everything in life. This week, we’ll see that faithful stewardship begins with recognizing God’s ownership and our joyful responsibility to care for what’s His.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

This week ties together the themes of spiritual growth and mission. It shows how the church equips believers to mature in faith and love, building up the body to reach the world. It emphasizes the collective pursuit of maturity and the church’s calling to impact others through a unified, growing community.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

This week focuses on the joy and longing for fellowship within the church community, reflecting Paul’s desire to see and strengthen the faith of believers. It connects to Baptism Sunday by celebrating the inclusion of new believers into the church family, emphasizing communal love and encouragement as newcomers begin their journey in faith.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

This week establishes the church as the body of Christ, where every member is uniquely placed by God to contribute to the whole. It emphasizes unity, diversity, and interdependence, highlighting why believers are “better together” in pursuing God’s purpose as a loving, life-changing family.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

After centuries of waiting, the night finally came - the Savior was born.  Angels announced the good news to shepherds, and their hearts were filled with joy as they hurried to see the child.  Christmas reminds us that God has prepared our hearts too - not with more busyness or stress, but with joy in Jesus, the one who has come for us all.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

The world feels upside down. So much noise. So many opinions. Everyone’s trying to find the way forward.How to raise our kids. How to find peace in the chaos. How to fix what feels broken.We’re all searching —For truth we can trust.For grace when we fall short.For light in the darkness.For hope that lasts.And all of that came... in a manger. Not in power or politics — But in a baby. Jesus.God with us. Not just showing us the way —But being the Way.This baby would grow to say, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”This Christmas, we remember:The Way has come.Truth has a name.Grace has a face.Hope is here.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

The world feels upside down. So much noise. So many opinions. Everyone’s trying to find the way forward.How to raise our kids. How to find peace in the chaos. How to fix what feels broken.We’re all searching —For truth we can trust.For grace when we fall short.For light in the darkness.For hope that lasts.And all of that came... in a manger. Not in power or politics — But in a baby. Jesus.God with us. Not just showing us the way —But being the Way.This baby would grow to say, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”This Christmas, we remember:The Way has come.Truth has a name.Grace has a face.Hope is here.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

John pointed to Jesus and said, “Look—the Lamb of God!” He pointed to the one who actually takes away guilt and gives real hope. Through Jesus, God brings forgiveness, peace, and a future we can trust. This Christmas, our hearts are made ready when we turn to him and discover the hope he offers—and like the first disciples, we’re invited to share that hope with others.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

Zechariah’s voice had been silent for months, yet when he finally spoke, he celebrated God’s faithfulness. God had kept his promises and was bringing salvation to the world. His song reminds us that we don’t have to face life’s uncertainties alone—God’s mercy and faithfulness give our hearts confidence as we wait for Christmas.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

Mary wasn’t rich, powerful, or famous. She was an ordinary young woman. Yet through her, God brought his Savior into the world—the one who would lift up the humble and bring hope to all people. Mary’s story reminds us that Christmas isn’t about what we do for God, but about what God has done—and is still doing—for the world.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

The Christmas season often leaves us feeling scattered and stretched thin. But what if the best preparation isn’t about doing more, but about coming home? John the Baptist’s birth was announced as part of God’s plan to turn people’s hearts back to him. This Advent begins with God inviting us home—to forgiveness, peace, and a fresh start.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

We come to the part of the story we have all been waiting for! It’s wedding bells for Boaz and Ruth. She is finally a bride and he is her redeemer. A redeemer is someone who does for us what we could not do ourselves. Pays a price we could not pay. So we could be redeemed. The marriage in this story gives us a beautiful picture of the relationship we have with our Redeemer… what He did for us to make us his Bride. It also shows how God worked this whole story out for that very purpose… so He could be our Redeemer.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

How often have you been willing to use others for your advantage? How often have you tried to manipulate events and situations to benefit yourself? Without caring how it will impact others? It can be too easy to do this. The real test of faithfulness is doing something that might not be desirable or easy to do because it’s the thing God wants you to do. Like Jesus did for us. Our character is tested when we do the right thing even when no one is looking. The faithfulness and character we display will point people to how beautiful our God is. Today’s message will give us much to think about concerning faithfulness and character.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

Today’s installment of our story is the heart-warming meeting of a girl and boy, Ruth and Boaz. God is bringing them together for a very important purpose. God has been bringing men and women together since the beginning of time… for very important purposes. God has a purpose for your marriage. For Ruth, not everything had been going very well. She had been through difficult circumstances. But would she let those circumstances define her? Or would she define her circumstances as obstacles and opportunities she would get through with God’s help? We can learn a lot from Boaz and Ruth in today’s message!Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

It’s a classic opening to a tragic short story… “It was a dark and stormy night.” That opening line usually leads to all the challenges and hardships that are making things “dark and stormy.” In the beginning of this story, death separates three marriages, all in one family. The widows have no place to live. No way to make a living. It’s a time of bitterness. Why did this happen? How does God see his people through situations this dark and stormy? Why does He allow it? This story will offer us an enormous amount of life lessons and faith lessons. Lessons about how following God is worth more than anything else.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

We’re told from every angle—school, work, even church—that our worth depends on how we perform. But this Reformation Sunday, we remember the truth that set the Church free: you are saved not by performance, but by grace. As we celebrate 175 years of God’s grace in the WELS, we’re not bragging on ourselves—we’re boasting in Christ alone.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

We all crave happiness—but what kind? The kind that fades the moment life gets hard? Or the kind that endures even in pain? This week, God challenges the popular belief that his highest goal is our short-term comfort. In Hebrews 11, we see an example of someone who could have chosen comfort, ease, and status—but instead chose something better. Through this, God shows us that true happiness isn’t found in chasing pleasure, but in walking with him toward something eternal.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna