Trinity Lutheran Brillion

BACK TO THE BASICS: BACK TO THE WORD (Reverend Ross Henzi)You and I are sinful human beings. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that we can do to contribute to or to earn our salvation. The only thing we deserve is death and damnation. Ah, but God the Father could not bear that thought. That’s why he sent his Son. Jesus came to do what we could not. He lived the perfect life God demands. He then gave up his life in payment for your sins and mine - for the sins of the entire world. Because of Jesus, all those who believe in him as their Lord and Savior have once more been made perfect in God’s sight. Because of Jesus, we now live with the confidence that one day, heaven will be our home.Keep it simple. When life feels overwhelming, when your faith feels crowded, when you’re not sure what matters most, come back to the basics. Come back into God’s word. Come back to Christ. Everything else in our lives is simply meaningless. And it has to go. May God enable us to see that and live it. In his name we pray, Amen.

Time in God's Word with Pastor Moldenhauer!

Bold for the Only Name that Saves~Pastor Nathan MoldenhauerWhat Jesus promised his disciples, he promises you. Whether it’s a trial before Jewish rulers and elders, or you feel like you’re on trial, God the Holy Spirit speaks through you – using the very Word and name that saved you.So, let’s try this again. You’re at that birthday party. You’re in the break room. You get coffee with your sister. “You still go to church?” “Aren’t all religions the same?” “Don’t I just need to be a good person?” You know what to say. And even better, you have the boldness to say it. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” “That name is Jesus.” God make you bold for the only name that saves! Amen.

Time in God's Word with Pastor Moldenhauer!

"The Making of a Bold and Confident Confession"Reverend Ross HenziTo you who are beginning your spiritual journey - as well as to those of you who have been on it for some time - keep holding onto your faith...keep living your faith...and keep sharing your faith. And when that journey proves to be tiresome or difficult (because it will), be that little engine that could. I think I can.      I know I can.     And I will.

Time in God's Word with Pastor Moldenhauer!

Friends, this is still how it works. Our living Jesus hides in plain sight and takes us from yearning to burning. From disappointment and despair to joy and peace. He doesn’t do it with a grand gesture. He doesn’t show up and perform a great miracle. He opens the Scriptures to us. Jesus leads us to see all he has won and accomplished at the cross and the empty tomb. He has redeemed us from sin and death. He has set us free from hell. He has crushed Satan’s head. And he still comes to us – right here. He strengthens us by Word and Sacrament. He causes us to believe and trust all he has done, and all he has promised. He promises to forgive sins. He promises life after death. He promises to be with us in suffering. He promises to strengthen us in trial. He promises to work all things for our eternal good.

Time in God's Word with Pastor Moldenhauer!

Time in God's Word with Pastor Moldenhauer!

Jesus Lives to Give You Proof and Peace - Pastor Nathan MoldenhauerWill even Christians, will even believers struggle and wrestle? Sure, sometimes. Yet because our living Jesus still shows up –still speaking peace, still providing proof – you are always blessed. Amen.“These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.” Amen.

Our Mourning and Fasting Gives Way to FeastingEaster Sunday Sermon: Reverend Ross Henzi

Time in God's Word with Pastor Moldenhauer!Maundy Thursday

Palm Sunday sermon by Pastor Nathan Moldenhauer.

We continue with our sermon series, Exactly What We Need, with this week's sermon by Reverend Ross Henzi. Exactly What We Need - SightWe are by nature spiritually blind.God is the One who leads us to see.

Weekly message from Pastor Moldenhauer!

Jesus Quenches Our Thirsty Souls with Living Water(Pastor Nathan Moldenhauer)Christian brothers and sisters, when our sin and guilt is out in the open, when we’re honest about it, when we’re done hiding it and trying to self-treat it, Jesus quenches our thirsty souls with living water. This is what it is “to worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth.” Jesus offers the Samaritan woman living water. Jesus cuts with the law to reveal her great need and thirst for it. Then when her sin is out there on the table, the answer and remedy isn’t to go through certain spiritual rituals or to worship on this mountain or that mountain. He doesn’t give her a to do list. He says: “Worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth.” “Worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth.” This is a life of repentance. An ongoing recognition and sorrow over our sin, a turning away from our sin and trusting in God for forgiveness. We’re honest about what’s going on with us, with our true need and thirst. This is the life to which Jesus now calls us. We confess our sins and drink up Jesus’ soul-quenching living water.And the truth is we will still have these problems. Sin and spiritual thirst are still part of our lives. We will face the same temptations, and at times we will give into them. But we no longer look to the wrong solution. We’re done grabbing for the spiritual sea water. As God’s forgiven children, we worship him in the Spirit and in truth. We go to Jesus, and he quenches our thirsty souls with living water. Amen.

A Plan Set in Motion (Reverend Ross Henzi)1. God gives promises2. Promises create faith3. Faith compels actionA long time ago, a plan was set in motion. God made plans to bring us exactly what we needed. His plan was to bring a Savior into the world. God used his people to carry out that plan. And now he’s using us. God is using us to tell others about the Savior who has come. May we be found up to the task, for the plan only ends when Jesus comes again.Amen.From this altar to the mission field beyond these walls, may we take the name of Jesus with us wherever we go. In his name we pray. Amen.

Time in God's Word  with Pastor Moldenhauer 2/19/26

Time in God's Word with Pastor Moldenhauer 2-12-26

Jesus Rewrites the Script by Pastor Nathan MoldenhauerDoes it ever feel like the script has already been written? Are you familiar with that phraseology and idea? “The script has already been written?” Your car breaks down. The garage tells you it is going to cost this much to fix. You go home and open your mail, and there is a check for that exact amount. You have your mind and heart set on a certain career path. This is what you have always wanted to do. But that door keeps closing, time after time. And the job you said you would never do, always seems to be available. You’re sitting in the coffee shop, and you suddenly know exactly what the person at the next table is going to say, what song will be on the radio and that the barista is about to drop a spoon. And it feels like the script has already been written. Is that true spiritually?Join us for this week's sermon....

Let’s explore the ancient words of the prophet Zechariah—words written hundreds of years before Jesus walked the earth, yet describing his final days with breathtaking accuracy.You'll be amazed at what you discover:How did Zechariah know about the thirty pieces of silver? The piercing on the cross? The disciples scattering in fear? The cleansing power of Jesus' sacrifice? As we read these prophecies side by side with the Gospel accounts, you'll see God's loving plan of rescue unfolding with stunning precision—a plan set in motion long before that first Easter morning.

It is Good for Us to Be Here! (Reverend Ross Henzi)1- To witness Jesus' glory2- To remember his mission3- To listen to his word

What Were You Made To Do?(Pastor Nathan Moldenhauer) Now to be clear, I’m not talking about your occupation or career. I’m not asking about a hobby you really enjoy, a sport you have always excelled at. I’m not even talking about being a mom or dad, a wife, husband, son, daughter, brother, sister, grandparent. Rather, you and I are Christians. We believe and trust in Jesus as our only Savior from sin, death, and hell. We are Jesus’ disciples. You are a Jesus follower. And if you are a guest today, or someone brought you along this morning and you’re not so sure you would call yourself that, you’re at least curious about what that means or what that would like for you. So what does that mean? What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? What is the fulfilling function or action of a Christian? Again, a guitar makes music; a lamp shines light. What were we made to do?You are salt and light because that is what Jesus has made you. You have his righteousness and perfection by your baptism and through faith. You will enter the kingdom of heaven because he is your righteousness. Now be who Jesus made you. Preserve. Shine. Let your good deeds point others to your Father’s glory. God grant it. Amen.

Oh, Teach Me, Lord, To Trust You! (Pastor Nathan Moldenhauer)Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things ~ and the things that are not ~ to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him."It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God ~ that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord."1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Letters to a Young Pastor (1 Timothy 6)You know what the “prosperity gospel” is, don’t you? You may have heard it in this form: “Whatever you conceive and believe, you can do.” It sounds great, right? Just dream—and if you want it enough, it can be yours. The problem is, it’s not true. In fact, it can be downright sinful. Paul urges Timothy to stay away from those who try to make money from preaching and have strayed from the sound teachings of the gospel. To them, religion is nothing more than a way to get rich. This attitude is detestable to God. The church exists to glorify God and to save souls with the message of Christ crucified. And it’s our duty to take this powerful message to the ends of the earth. 

Letters to a Young Pastor (1 Timothy)As members of a Christian congregation, we are family. In chapter five, Paul reminds Timothy what that means. He urges the young pastor to treat everyone with respect—to treat older men and women as fathers and mothers, and younger men and women as brothers and sisters. Ministry is all about service; God has a ministry for every believer to perform. We need to apply that lesson to ourselves. What can I do to serve others in the Trinity family? Discussion begins in the Commons at 9:15. Coffee and snacks are provided.

Letters to a Young Pastor (1 Timothy)As members of a Christian congregation, we are family. In chapter five, Paul reminds Timothy what that means. He urges the young pastor to treat everyone  with respect—to treat older men and women as fathers and mothers, and younger men and women as brothers and sisters. Ministry is all about service; God has a ministry for every believer to perform. We need to apply that lesson to ourselves. What can I do to serve others in the Trinity family? Discussion begins in the Commons at 9:15. Coffee and snacks are provided.

Letters to a Young PastorTo be a leader in the church is a heavy responsibility. You are dealing with more than just money, property, and livelihood; you’re dealing with souls. We must keep that in mind as we seek to call a new pastor and principal to serve our congregation. The church belongs to God. Church leaders should be elected, chosen, or called not because they are popular, but because they are faithful to him. Everything else takes second place. A called worker must be willing to serve and sometimes to suffer. For all these reasons, not everyone is qualified to serve in the public ministry. So, what are the qualifications for ministry? This week, we look at 1 Timothy 3.

Letters to a Young PastorHow do you organize a church? How do you manage its worship services, Bible classes, and leadership? How do you handle prayers for government officials when church members have differing political views? What about the roles of men and women? These questions may be difficult for us, but at least we have some precedent to go on. Imagine how difficult it must have been for a young pastor when the Christian church was still in its infancy. You want to lay a good foundation for the church you serve and do everything in the right way. But what if you start off on the wrong foot? Aiming off-course in the beginning can put you on a trajectory that leads far afield and undermines the gospel.

Letters to a Young PastorIt’s an exciting time. Sometime—hopefully soon—we will be welcoming a new pastor. He’ll be coming in “fresh,” without any prior experience among us. Especially if he’s a young man, he’s going to need help and guidance. What kind of training and experience will our new pastor have? Where will his strengths and weaknesses lie? What kind of challenges can we expect him to face? What can we do to help? The apostle Paul wrote two letters to a young pastor named Timothy. Over the next few weeks, we will be studying them with an eye to the ministry of a brand-new pastor in our own church.

What does God say about suicide?It’s difficult for Christians to talk about. What do you say to someone who has lost a loved one to suicide? It can be hard to find the right words, but that doesn’t mean we have nothing to say. “The elephant is in the room and we can’t pretend it doesn’t exist,” writes Prof. John Schuetze. “But then let’s allow the gospel to shine forth.” What causes a person to take their own life? What comfort does the gospel offer? We will reflect on how to speak with confidence and compassion.

Conflict in the Church?The church is holy, bought by Christ’s blood and cleansed in the waters of Baptism. Yet the church is also messy, filled with sinners and scarred by sin. We love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind. And yet the sinful flesh remains, and sometimes we experience conflict—even in the church. How should we handle it? This week, we’ll take a close look at the first church- wide meeting called to resolve a conflict, the Jerusalem council (Acts 15). 

Questions Skeptics AskHurting people need God. Your friend might be open to Christianity but has questions. Or you sit next to someone on an airplane who is questioning the existence of God. You’d like to think you’re ready to give an answer, but that’s easier said than done. It’s hard to know what to say when the question is, “Why would God allow this [fill in the blank] to happen to me?” How do you deal with questions like this? How do you address the underlying concerns? What can you say when you hear someone express their objections to the faith? We’ll take up questions like these and others in our Bible class this week. 

Does God Promise Never to Give Us More Than We Can Handle?"God will never give you more than you can handle." Have you ever heard anyone say that? It sounds great. But there are times when that saying collides with reality.We can't always handle our own troubles and tragedies. We can't always put an end to them or heal them or undo them. We can't always survive the loss or find the cure or fill the emptiness or dry the tear. God is good...and...he is love. Yet we still suffer heartache and pain.So, how should we view the common saying, "God will never give you more than you can handle?" What does the Bible really say? And what does this mean--practically speaking--for our lives?

Last week, we discussed what happened when the Southern Baptist Convention voted overwhelmingly to dismiss from its fellowship a congregation that is pushing for the ordination of women. Southern Baptist doctrine recognizes that only men are permitted to serve in the role of pastor. That position agrees with our own church’s position on the topic. If you were asked what the Bible says on this topic or why our church teaches what it does, how would you respond? Would you be able to say, “This is what the Bible clearly says?”

Baptists and the Ordination of WomenEarlier this month, delegates to the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting voted overwhelmingly to dismiss from its fellowship a congregation over its views on the ordination of women. First Baptist Church of Alexandria, Virginia insists that women can serve in any pastoral role, including senior pastor. Southern Baptist doctrine recognizes that only men are permitted to serve in the role of pastor. That agrees with our own church’s position on men and women. If you were asked what the Bible says on this topic or why our church teaches what it does, how would you respond? What does the Bible say?

Continuation: The Story of Seminex: The Missouri Synod 50 Years LaterPresident Matthew Harrison of the Missouri Synod says he was “a blissfully unaware 12-year-old” when the “Walkout” of all but five professors at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis occurred in 1974. It was a tumultuous time. Missouri Synod president Jacob Preus had authorized the production of a doctrinal statement to evaluate what the professors at the St. Louis seminary were teaching. At its 1973 convention, the LCMS adopted “A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles” as an official doctrinal statement. It still stands as a sound testimony against the trends of modern theology. This week, we’ll look at Harrison’s summary of that statement, identify several strains of teaching within the LCMS, and talk about the on-going “informal” talks between Missouri Synod and the WELS.

The Story of Seminex (50 Years Later)Throughout much of its history, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) was a rock of Lutheran doctrinal strength. During the 1950s and 60s, however, there were signs that things were beginning to change. The election of a liberal-leaning seminary president at its leading seminary in St. Louis set the stage for a dramatic walkout and the establishment of a “seminary in exile” (or “Seminex”) in 1974. That conflict shaped the LCMS for years and has left its imprint on the synod even now—50 years later. Where does the Missouri Synod stand today?

The Story of Seminex: The Missouri Synod 50 Years LaterThroughout much of its history, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) was a rock of Lutheran doctrinal strength. During the 1950s and 60s, however, there were signs that things were beginning to change. The election of a liberal-leaning seminary president at its leading seminary in St. Louis set the stage for a dramatic walkout and the establishment of a “seminary in exile” (or “Seminex”) in 1974. That conflict shaped the LCMS for years and has left its imprint on the synod even now—50 years later. Where does the Missouri Synod stand today? What is the state of the relationship between the WELS and the LCMS? Is there any hope for reconciliation between the two synods? 

Tattoos, Cremation, and Other Such Things: What does the Bible say?Years ago, Christians considered tattoos to be wrong. Nowadays it’s not uncommon for a church member to be decorated with body art. Churches once taught that no Christian should ever be cremated. Today, the cremation of a loved one is a growing trend, even among Christians. What’s happening? Has the Bible changed? Have people changed? We’ll investigate these questions and more in this podcast.

Christian denominations: What would Jesus think?At the beginning of the 20 th century there was a surge of optimism that the Christian church could finally be united under one umbrella. The World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh in 1910 is often seen as the birth of the modern ecumenical movement. But now, just over a century later, the church is as divided as ever. In his high priestly prayer, Jesus prayed for believers, “that all of them may be one” (John 17:21). What would he think about all the different Christian denominations? This week we’ll answer this question from a biblical viewpoint.

Jonah: God’s Reluctant ProphetThe book of Jonah is about a missionary who cares more about his own comfort than about someone else’s soul. As we open the final chapter, we find that Jonah still hates God’s enemies; he would just as soon see them destroyed. It is astonishing to us that one of the Lord’s own prophets should be so callous to the spiritual needs of someone else. But if we’re honest, we will admit that Jonah’s bias against those who are different from us and his hatred for the enemies of God live inside our hearts too. What’s the cure for that?

Have you ever wished that you could have a second chance? Jonah got that opportunity. At the beginning of chapter 3 the prophet finds himself right back where he started. God reassigns Jonah to the exact same task. Jonah hasn’t changed. He still dislikes theAssyrians and doesn’t really care if they are saved or not. But there is another thing thathasn’t changed. God still loves the Assyrian people. So he sends his wrong-way prophet to Nineveh once more to call its residents to repent. How will it all turn out?

The book of Jonah is more than a story of a man and a fish. It’s a beautiful story of God’slove for every lost sinner. From inside the fish, Jonah prays. His prayer is a beautiful piece of poetry, expressing terror in the face of death, profound loneliness, and deep humility before God. The wayward prophet finds comfort and security in God’s grace. It’s also worth noting: Jonah’s experience inside the fish and his rescue after three days foreshadow the death and resurrection of our Lord.

In the “Roaring 20s,” times were good. But then came the Great Depression, and in Europe dictators such as Hitler and Mussolini rose to power. The 1950s were a time of general peace and prosperity, but the turbulent 60s saw the assassinations of JFK and Martin Luther King, Jr. and a national debate over the war in Vietnam. The prophet Jonah served during the 8th century BC. In the Northern Kingdom of Israel it was a time of stability and prosperity, but as Bob Dylan once put it, the times, they were a-changin’. This week, we’ll examine God’s message through his prophets in the 8th century before Christ. We may find a surprising number of similarities to our own day.