Faith Lutheran Church

Faith Lutheran Church Welcome to Faith Lutheran Church. We exist to joyfully proclaim the gospel of free salvation through Christ alone locally and worldwide. Our 10:15 a.m.

Worship Services are Sundays at 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. services are livestreamed at faithlutheranchurch.sermon.net

Revelation 1:18 “18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of de...
09/05/2026

Revelation 1:18 “18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades”

I received two new keys this week — keys to open the doors at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. As I slid them onto my key ring, I paused for a moment and looked at the rest of the keys I carry. Each one matters. They open the doors to my house, my car, the church, my pole barn, even my son’s home. I know which key fits where. Without them, I’m locked out.

Keys are small things, but they carry real authority. They grant access. They allow entry. They let us into places we belong — and keep us out of places we shouldn’t be. And when we lose a key, even a single one, frustration rises quickly. Locked out. Stuck. Unable to enter what is ours.

That’s why the words of Jesus in Revelation 1:18 matter so deeply. He says He holds the keys — not just any keys, but the keys to death and Hades, the keys to life, the keys to heaven itself. The door to eternal life is not opened by our effort, our goodness, or our spiritual strength. It is opened by Christ alone. And unlike us, He never misplaces His keys. He never fumbles them. He never leaves them behind on the counter or drops them between the car seats.

Jesus holds the keys securely — eternally — and He has already used them to unlock heaven for us. The door stands open because He opened it. The way is clear because He cleared it. The entrance is ours because He purchased it.

So when you feel uncertain, unworthy, or spiritually “locked out,” remember: the One who holds the keys has already turned them. Heaven’s door is open. And it will never be shut to those who belong to Him.

2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likenes...
09/04/2026

2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Stepping into a sister congregation as an interim pastor brings a unique mixture of familiarity and newness. In Alma, I’ve met a handful of people I already knew — faces from earlier dinners, weddings, reunions, and shared celebrations. But most of the people I greet on Sunday mornings are new to me. New names. New stories. New histories of faith. I find myself studying faces, repeating names quietly to myself, trying to match each one to the right person. It’s a humbling process, this learning of God’s flock one face at a time.

Yet in all the newness, one truth stands out: every face I meet reflects the glory of the Lord. Not because of age or appearance. Not because of personality or background. Not because of how long they’ve been members or how active they are. But because they are believers — people redeemed by Christ, indwelt by His Spirit, and transformed by His grace.

2 Corinthians 3:18 that we “are being transformed into His image with ever increasing glory.” That means every believer carries a radiance that isn’t earned, but given. A light that doesn’t come from us, but from Christ shining through us. A glory that grows as we walk with Him.

When I look out at the congregation — whether in Alma or Mount Pleasant — I see more than faces. I see stories of redemption. I see people Christ has pursued, forgiven, and claimed as His own. I see the quiet glow of grace in ordinary lives. And even when I stumble over names or mix up faces, God never does. He knows each one intimately. He calls each one by name. He sees the glory He Himself has placed within them.

As you meet new people in your own life — neighbors, coworkers, strangers, fellow believers — remember this: you are looking at someone in whom God is at work. Someone reflecting His glory. Someone loved, known, and transformed by the same Savior who is shaping you. Let your heart recognize the glory before your memory catches the name.

Psalm 23:3 “he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” When I pulled into the p...
09/03/2026

Psalm 23:3 “he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

When I pulled into the parking lot of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Alma, I expected the usual quiet stillness of a summer morning. Instead, there on the asphalt — far from any pond or lake — strolled a flock of geese. Not a handful. Not a dozen. I counted forty. They looked strangely out of place, wandering across the blacktop as though they owned it. My vehicle startled them, and in a flurry of wings and honking, they lifted into the air.

There was something almost comical about it — geese marching around a church parking lot like they had lost their map. But as I watched them scatter into flight, I couldn’t help thinking how often we, too, find ourselves in places that feel out of place. Moments where life doesn’t look like what we expected. Times when our surroundings feel unfamiliar, uncomfortable, or even confusing.

Yet Psalm 23 reminds us that the Lord leads us — not randomly, not accidentally, but purposefully. Even when we feel like geese on asphalt, God is not surprised by where we stand. He knows the terrain. He knows the season. He knows the next step. And He knows how to guide us from the places that feel strange into the paths that are right and good.

Those geese didn’t stay in the parking lot. They took flight. And sometimes God uses the discomfort of an “out of place” moment to nudge us into movement — into growth, into trust, into obedience, into new callings we wouldn’t have chosen on our own.

If today finds you standing somewhere unexpected, take heart. You are not lost. You are not forgotten. The Shepherd who leads you knows exactly where you are — and exactly where He is taking you.

Philippians 2:15 “so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved gen...
09/02/2026

Philippians 2:15 “so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”

Last night, as twilight settled over the countryside, I drove past miles of corn, wheat, and bean fields. The world was slipping from gold to blue, that quiet hour when the day exhales. But then another spectacle appeared — hovering over the fields, drifting above the ditches, and even darting across the road ahead of me.
Fireflies. Too many to count. A living constellation dancing just above the earth.

For a moment I slowed down, caught off guard by the sheer number of them. It felt as though the fields themselves were breathing light. And right there, in the middle of an ordinary country road, God brought to mind how He describes His people: “You will shine… like stars in the sky.” Not in grand arenas. Not only in sanctuaries or special moments. But in the everyday places — the fields of our lives, the routines we travel, the roads we know by heart.

Those fireflies weren’t performing. They weren’t trying to impress. They simply glowed because that’s what they were made to do. Their light was small, but together it transformed the night.

God calls us to shine like that — quietly, faithfully, beautifully — in the ordinary spaces where He has placed us. In conversations at the grocery store. In the patience we show at home. In the kindness we offer at work. In the courage we carry into difficult relationships. Our glow may feel small, but in a world that is often dark and weary, even one spark of Christ’s love can change the landscape.

As twilight falls on your own journey, remember: you are not called to be brilliant, just faithful. Shine where you are. Shine in the fields and on the roadways. Shine because Christ shines in you.

Isaiah 55:11 “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desi...
09/01/2026

Isaiah 55:11 “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

The sky turned dark as billowing storm clouds rolled in from the west. I hurried to put away the things I didn’t want to get wet, then settled onto the porch, fully expecting the clouds to release the moisture they carried. The air grew heavy, the wind shifted, and everything pointed to rain. But nothing happened. The clouds passed overhead and drifted eastward, leaving the ground dry and the promise of rain unfulfilled. They looked impressive, but they delivered nothing.

Scripture uses that very image to describe false teachers—voices that appear full, powerful, and persuasive, yet offer no true nourishment for the soul. Jude writes of them as “clouds without rain, blown along by the wind” (Jude 1:12). They promise wisdom apart from God’s Word. They offer comfort without Christ. They speak confidently, but their words carry no life, no truth, no refreshment. They are clouds without rain.

But God is not like that. His Word is never empty. His promises never drift past without fulfilling what they were sent to do. When He speaks, He brings the rain our hearts need—the cleansing, restoring, life giving truth that reaches the deepest places within us.

The Lord says, “My word… will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” God’s Word is rain that always falls, always nourishes, always brings growth.

The world is full of voices that sound impressive but leave us dry. Only God’s voice satisfies. Only His promises refresh. Only His truth brings comfort that lasts.
Storm clouds may fail us. False teachers may mislead us. But the God who speaks from heaven never does. His Word is rain for the soul—and it always comes.

1 John 3:1 “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is w...
08/31/2026

1 John 3:1 “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him”

Just the other day, when I dropped my tractor off at a small family owned repair shop, I found myself standing in the middle of something quietly holy. The shop sits right on their farm, and as I was talking with the mechanic, the front door of the house burst open. Two children came flying out—full speed, full joy—darting across the lawn straight toward their dad. No hesitation. No shyness. Just pure excitement to be near him. It was awesome. And it stopped me.

I couldn’t help thinking: Oh, that I would have that kind of excitement when it comes to meeting with God—my Father in heaven. When it comes to worship, prayer, meditation, Scripture… what would it look like if my heart ran toward Him with that same unfiltered joy?

It is almost unfathomable, really. The Creator of all that is—the One who hung galaxies, carved mountains, and breathed life into dust—invites me into a close, personal relationship with Him. Not as a distant deity. Not as a stern judge. But as a Father who delights when His children run toward Him.

Those kids weren’t performing. They weren’t proving anything. They weren’t worried about being worthy. They simply knew their father loved them, and they wanted to be near him. God invites me into that same freedom. God invites you into that same freedom too.

1 John 3:1 says: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are.” Children of God. Welcomed. Wanted. Loved.

Standing there on that farm, watching those kids race across the lawn, I felt the gentle tug of the Spirit reminding me: Run to Him. Don’t hold back. Don’t hesitate. Your Father delights in you. May my heart learn to rush toward God with the same joy—every time He calls my name.

Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your...
08/29/2026

Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

There is a place every one of us will someday go, whether we like it or not. It comes to us because we are human. Sometimes it arrives quietly in old age. Sometimes it comes suddenly. And sometimes it comes in a hospital room, when doctors have done all they can and can no longer prevent the inevitable—death. Then what?

For many, that question carries fear. We imagine the valley of the shadow of death as a lonely place, a place where strength fails and human help can no longer reach. But Scripture paints a different picture—one filled not with abandonment, but with companionship.

David writes, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” Notice what he does not say. He does not say God waits for us on the other side. He does not say God watches from a distance. He says God is with us—in the valley, through the valley, every step of the valley. Death is not a hallway we walk alone. It is a passage where the Shepherd Himself takes our hand.

Doctors may reach their limits, but God does not. Family may not be able to go with us, but God does. Our strength may fade, but His does not. The valley may feel shadowed, but shadows only exist where there is light—and the Light of the World walks beside His children, guiding them safely home.

For those who belong to Christ, death is not the end. It is the moment the Shepherd who never leaves us leads us into the fullness of His presence. And in that promise, fear loses its power.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according...
08/28/2026

Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

My grandson set out with great determination to catch a minnow—or maybe even two—with a minnow trap he discovered in my shed. He followed my instructions carefully, placing a piece of bread inside and staking the trap along the shoreline. He was hopeful, but his face told the real story: he was convinced it wasn’t going to work.

Every thirty seconds he lifted the trap from the water, peering inside with a dejected frown. Nothing. He checked again. Still nothing. Doubt was doing what doubt does—whispering that waiting was pointless.

I told him to leave the trap alone while we went for a boat ride. When we returned, he lifted it once more—and this time his whole world changed. Not one, but two tiny fish flopped inside. He screamed with delight, celebrating what I already knew: the trap would work. He just needed to wait long enough to see it. We are not so different.

God gives us promises—strong, clear, dependable promises—and yet we often “peek” every few minutes, wondering if He’s really working. We pray and then check the trap. We trust and then check again. We believe, but doubt nudges us to lift the rope one more time, just to make sure.

But God’s promises do not depend on our confidence. They depend on His character.

Scripture assures us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.” Not might work. Not could work. He will work—always, faithfully, perfectly.

We can wait on Him with confidence. Even when we doubt, even when we peek, God is already at work beneath the surface, preparing blessings we will one day lift with joy and wonder.

08/27/2026

"The God Who Sees You"
Sermon from August 23, 2026
Genesis 16:1-14
View all of our livestreamed services in their entirety at: faithlutheranchurch.sermon.net

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes wi...
08/27/2026

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

It was my four year old granddaughter’s first fish—caught proudly on her little Minnie Mouse fishing pole. The moment she felt the tug, her whole face lit up. She reeled with determination, and when the fish finally broke the surface, she stood taller than her years. She was prouder than a peacock, holding her pole high so everyone could admire her accomplishment.

But pride and caution often walk hand in hand in a child’s world. As she lifted her pole, the fish swung a little too close for comfort. Suddenly her excitement collided with uncertainty. She squirmed, pushed the pole away, and when the fish came even closer, she dropped the pole and stepped back. Before I could capture the moment with a picture, she had retreated from the very thing she was celebrating.

I smiled—not at her fear, but at how familiar it felt. We often do the same. We pray for courage, and God gives us opportunities to grow. We ask for strength, and He places challenges in our hands. We long for boldness, and He leads us into moments that stretch us. And sometimes, when the “fish” gets too close, we step back. We drop the pole. We retreat from the very victory God helped us reel in. Yet God is gentle with us. He doesn’t scold our hesitation. He meets us in it.

Scripture says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid… for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s the presence of God in the middle of it. He celebrates our brave beginnings, steadies us when we wobble, and stays close as we grow. My granddaughter’s first fish was more than a milestone. It was a reminder that God delights in every step of our courage—even the shaky ones.

Address

1402 E Preston Road
Mount Pleasant, MI
48858

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+19897732629

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