We often hear the story of Jesus and the ten lepers as a simple Thanksgiving lesson about gratitude. But Luke’s point is much deeper.
In this sermon, Pastor James Huenink unpacks why the Samaritan’s response reveals the heart of the Gospel—and why the others missed it.
Discover how Jesus shows us the hidden power of grace in Word and Sacrament, where forgiveness and peace are freely given.

📖 Text: Luke 17:11–19
🏛️ From: First Lutheran Church, El Cajon, CA
🌐 https://youhaveaplace.com

#Jesus #Faith #Lutheran #Gospel #Thanksgiving #Sermon

When life feels too heavy to carry, we cry out, “Lord, increase my faith.”
In this sermon, Pastor Roland Rossmiller explores Jesus’ response to that desperate prayer — showing that true faith is not about its size, but about its Savior.

Drawing on Mark 9 and Romans 8, Pastor Rossmiller reminds us that even a mustard seed of faith, rooted in Christ, is enough. Through Word and Sacrament, God strengthens weak hearts, forgives sin, and anchors us in His unshakable grace.

What does the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus really teach us about wealth, blessing, and eternal life? In this sermon, Pastor James Huenink explores Jesus’ powerful story from Luke 16, showing how God’s Word turns upside down our assumptions about money, success, and compassion.

Far from being a simple warning about riches, this parable challenges us to see our neighbors as people deeply loved by God—and calls us to use the gifts He’s given us for service, not selfishness. Pastor Huenink also connects this teaching to today’s struggles with prosperity thinking and how the Gospel of Jesus Christ frees us to live generously.

What is money really for? Jesus reminds us that money is never our master but God’s tool, given to us to serve others. In this sermon, Pastor James Huenink explores what Scripture teaches about wealth, stewardship, and trust:

• Why everything we have belongs to God

• How money fails when treated as an idol

• How Christians use money in daily life and vocation

• The freedom and forgiveness we have when we fail in stewardship

God doesn’t need your money—but your neighbor does. Learn how to see money the way Jesus teaches and use it for God’s purposes.

📖 Scripture: Luke 16:1–13
🙏 Sermon preached at First Lutheran Church, El Cajon

Have you ever felt lost—disoriented, panicked, unsure where to turn? Missing a flight may leave you stranded for a day, but being spiritually lost leaves us cut off from God. The good news is that we have a Shepherd who doesn’t wait for us to find Him—He comes seeking us.

In this sermon from First Lutheran Church, Pastor James Huenink unpacks God’s promise in Ezekiel 34, its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, and what it means for us today. Discover how the Good Shepherd relentlessly pursues His sheep, carries us when we fall, and rejoices when even one sinner is restored.

📖 Scripture: Ezekiel 34, John 10, Luke 15
✝️ Key message: You do not find God—He finds you.

Jesus said, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” What does that mean for us today?

In this sermon, Pastor James Huenink of First Lutheran Church explores Jesus’ call to discipleship in Luke 14 and shares powerful stories of Christians who gave up everything to follow Christ:

• Perpetua – a young mother in North Africa who refused to deny her faith

• The Salzburg Lutherans – who left their homes, land, and livelihood rather than abandon the Gospel

• The Malagasy Martyrs – believers in Madagascar who sang hymns as they faced death

• And above all, Jesus Himself, who bore the cross for our salvation

Discover what it means to count the cost, carry the cross, and find life in Christ alone.

📖 Scripture: Luke 14:25–35

We live in a world obsessed with climbing the social ladder—whether at work, online, or even at church. But Jesus turns it all upside down: “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11).

In this sermon, Pastor James Huenink unpacks Jesus’ teaching at a feast, showing how our exhausting pursuit of status leads nowhere. Instead, we look to Christ, who humbled Himself all the way to the cross—and was exalted to the highest place. Through His death and resurrection, He calls us to a life not of self-promotion, but of service, love, and eternal hope.

📖 Key Text: Luke 14:1–14
✝️ Theme: True humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.
🙌 In Christ, the humble are lifted up.

Jesus tells us in Luke 13:22-30, “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many… will not be able.” What does this mean for our salvation? In this sermon, Pastor James Huenink explores Jesus’ challenging words about the narrow door, the danger of relying on our own works, and the assurance of grace we have through Christ’s Word and Sacraments.

When we think of Jesus, we often picture peace, healing, and unity. But in Luke 12, Jesus says something shocking: “Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”

What does this mean? Why would the Prince of Peace speak about dividing families, friends, and even the church? In this sermon, Pastor James Huenink unpacks the difficult reality of how the Gospel both unites us in Christ and separates us from the world.

From JFK and the moon landing to Big Tech, Big Ag, and the “deep state,” conspiracy theories are everywhere. But what if there really is a shadowy group running the world—just not the one you think? In this sermon, Pastor James looks at the false “progress” story behind our obsession with conspiracies, why utopian dreams always fail, and the one true conspiracy revealed in Scripture: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit working all things for your good.

If you could have anything—a paid-off mortgage, perfect health, unlimited wealth, the perfect family, recognition for all your hard work—would it be enough? What if I told you that millions of people who have all of these things still lie awake at night feeling empty? There's something deeper going on here. Today we're tackling the question that determines everything: What is really enough? And the answer might surprise you—because it's not what the world is selling.

How does God’s plan interact with his promise to hear our prayer? Does God even listen to us? Why should we pray? This sermon looks at Jesus’ teaching on prayer in Luke 11 to answer our worries about prayer and God’s promises to us.

Are you busy, tired, or spiritually distracted? You're not alone. In this sermon, Pastor Roland Rossmiller explores the timeless story of Mary and Martha and how Jesus gently redirects our hearts toward the "better portion"—His Word.

Discover how Christ still speaks peace into our anxiety, invites us to rest at His feet, and gives us a hope that cannot be taken away. This message is for anyone caught between doing and being, service and stillness, striving and receiving.

What if the Good Samaritan isn’t about who you have to love—but about how you love like Jesus?
The lawyer asked, “Who is my neighbor?”—but Jesus flipped the question: “Who needs me?”
This parable isn’t a checklist—it’s a call to reflect the heart of Christ in a world broken by sin.

“The one who hears you hears Me… and the one who rejects you rejects Me.” – Luke 10:16 Why is it so hard to share the Gospel—and what if they don’t listen? In this sermon, Pastor James Huenink of First Lutheran Church (El Cajon, CA) explores Jesus' powerful words in Luke 10, where He sends out 72 disciples with authority and responsibility—and with comfort in the face of rejection.

In this powerful sermon from Luke 9, we explore the moment Jesus “set His face to go to Jerusalem”—and how His rejection by the Samaritans reveals a deep tension in the Christian life: the paradox of divine strength and cruciform weakness.

There is a real spiritual battle against the demons and spiritual forces of temptation. Only Jesus can defeat them and prevent them from having power over our lives. Listen to hear about Jesus’ power of the forces of Satan.

Do you ever feel like your daily work and struggles are meaningless? Like you're just grinding through the same problems over and over again? In this powerful sermon on 1 Corinthians 15:50-58, we explore Paul's promise that our "labor in the Lord is not in vain."

What is the Bible really about? Is it about being a good person? Leadership principles? Examples of living a faithful life? What if the Bible was really about one person, Jesus Christ, and the story that leads to the salvation of the world?

What does the final chapter of the Bible—Revelation 22—really say to us today? In this sermon, we explore the urgent and hopeful message of Jesus’ return: “Come quickly, Lord Jesus.” Far from being a book of fear, Revelation closes with an invitation—an open call to all who thirst for life, forgiveness, and redemption in Christ. Through vivid images of robes washed in the blood of the Lamb and the Tree of Life, this message reminds us that salvation is a free gift, not something we earn. Jesus is coming soon—and while we wait, we are called to share that good news with the world.