Divine Savior Church-santa Rita Ranch Sermons

Pastor Apt shares a message for Christmas.Support the show

Have you ever asked God for a sign? Did he deliver? Today God tells us to ask for a sign - to test him? He tells us to pray: “Thy Kingdom come.” He wantsus to see the signs of his kingdom. The sign of his holy Word preserved through millennia The sign of water combined with that Word of God. The sign of the most fulfilling feast laid out upon his table. The signs that remind us that God remains "Immanuel" - with us. Support the show

A barren landscape bursts into vibrant blossoms. What an amazing sight to witness, but Isaiah speaks of the miraculous and instantaneous power of God. God's kingdom truly does bring joy; everlasting joy. He miraculously works it out of the chaos we see in the world and the chaos that churns inside our own hearts. We are all blind, dead, lame, and mute in our own ways. Jesus changes everything, Jesus' kingdom delivers real, lasting peace. Support the show

The season of Advent is a time to prepare our hearts to welcome their rightful king.  Jesus’ kingdom is one of righteousness, peace, hope, and joy.  Yet, we can often lose sight of such things as we fall into the rhythms and rhetoric of the world which surrounds us.  Rivals to Jesus' throne rise in our hearts. In this series we focus on prophecies from Isaiah that direct us to watch and wait for Jesus’ kingdom. We recite poetry as we reflect and rejoice in the importance of Jesus’ kingdom. We eagerly listen to this news that is far more than a recurring rhythm or righteous rhetoric - it is the true gospel proclamation that assures us the King, Jesus, came once as he promised and will come again. As God’s own people we confidently pray, “Thy Kingdom Come.”Support the show

Where do you turn when you need information and quick? Do you ask Siri, Alexa, Google?  Are "smart" producs on your Christmas lists?  Artificial intelligence as become more personal, more powerful - giving us an immediate place for questions and needs. What about the questions you can't ask your techie toys.  What about God’s kingdom and how it comes? Isaiah tells us where to turn – to the word of God.  Isaiah saw that God would establish his church to bring the world the word of truth and raise Jesus above all others. Support the show

After 4 weeks of looking at the source of wisdom and the principles of its design for our lives, this series now applies wisdom from the book of Proverbs to the everyday “complexities of life”.This week we focus on relationships. It’s easy to believe that relationships succeed (They’re so awesome!) or fail (They’re so miserable!) because of the “other” person. In contrast, the book of Proverbs teaches what’s in our heart determines the nature of the relationship. In the series this week learn what Proverbs has to say about the enemy of relationships, the source of healing for relationships, and path to restoration for relationshipsSupport the show

After 4 weeks of looking at the source of wisdom and the principles of its design for our lives, this series now applies wisdom from the book of Proverbs to the everyday “complexities of life”.This week we focus on heartache. We’ve all been there at some point in our lives. Loss of job, friend, family member, savings, health, leisure, or ability creates a void capable of destroying the human spirit. Left unchecked a person can experience physical, emotional, moral, existential, and philosophical effects long after the event has occurred. In the series this week learn what Proverbs has to say about the true nature of heartache and the only thing that will remove it.Support the show

After 4 weeks of looking at the source of wisdom and the principles of its design for our lives, this series now applies wisdom from the book of Proverbs to the everyday “complexities of life”.This week we focus on self-control. In a world with limitless possibilities, self-control seems elusive. Overeating, underbudgeting, binge-drinking, and living large are the norm. But if no one gets hurt, what’s the problem? In the series this week learn what Proverbs has to say about the need for self-control, the source of self-control, and how we learn to live with self-control. Support the show

This week we focus on pride. Pride is the conclusion in one’s thinking that a person, idea, or thing is better than another. This conclusion justifies any praise or humiliation in attitude or treatment that result from the thinking. It can be as quiet as a turned-up nose or as loud as derogatory comment. All of it is detrimental to everyone involved. In the series this week learn what Proverbs has to say about the source, the destruction, and the antidote for pride.  Support the show

After 4 weeks of looking at the source of wisdom and the principles of its design for our lives, this series now applies wisdom from the book of Proverbs to the everyday “complexities of life”.This week we focus on envy. Envy is the awful feeling you have when you know you should celebrate someone’s good fortune but think it really should have happened to you instead. Envy makes it hard to rejoice with others. Soon it becomes hard to rejoice at all. The result is a complaining spirit that’s difficult to be around. In the series this week learn what Proverbs has to say about envy, how we eliminate it, and what will happen when we do.Support the show

After 4 weeks of looking at the source of wisdom and the principles of its design for our lives, this series now applies wisdom from the book of Proverbs to the everyday “complexities of life”.This week we focus on money. The evil of pursuing money at all cost and the injustices caused by greed are obvious. And yet, commerce and economy are core to our society. How can you deal wisely with money without it consuming you. In the series this week learn what Proverbs has to teach about a godly understanding of money and generosity.Support the show

Everyone likes a guarantee. It makes us feel safe. Hesitation in the grey zone of “what if” causes doubt, worry, and fear. We prefer confirmation, a stamp of approval, and the proven process that gives confidence, a sense of security, and builds excitement for what’s to come. The book of Proverbs shows that God’s path of wisdom gives us the confidence we’re looking for because it’s different than every other pursuit of wisdom. This week in the series learn what the difference is, why it’s important, and how it makes it easy to pursue wisdom God’s way.Support the show

Everyone knows to get to the right destination you must start in the right place and head in the right direction. The same is true for wisdom. But whose way is right? Experts offer wisdom through short cuts, techniques, and formulas. Friends give advice from experience. Our own hearts lead with emotion. Artificial intelligence uses science and facts. But who’s right?Only Proverbs points to the right way by directing us to the One who is wisdom and designed the path on which to find it. This week in the series learn why pursuing the path God designed will lead to a correct understanding of reality and the wisdom to navigate it.Support the show

A godly pursuit of wisdom has an ultimate goal of living God’s way as outlined in the Bible. Unfortunately, life in a sinful world means our path is filled with distractions, deterrents, and delays. Often these roadblocks are even more alluring than annoying. They threaten to derail a godly pursuit of wisdom by encouraging us to settle for less than everything God has planned for us. Because of this, Proverbs tells us to “guard our heart above all else because it is the wellspring of life.” In the series this week learn what that means, how to put it into practice in our lives, and what happens when we don’t.Support the show

Wisdom is knowing the right thing to do at the right time for any given circumstance-especially when there’s no “right” answer. But how do you get wisdom? Like walking a path, pursuing wisdom begins with knowing where to start, where to go, and what to expect along the way. This week we begin the series on Proverbs by defining wisdom, showing where to find it, and learning how to grow in it. Support the show

Made solid by the undergirding promises of Jesus, the apostle Peter acted boldly and courageously. Sometimes this acting-before-thinking disciple pushed the envelope of courage to its border with foolishness, but Jesus was always there to pull him back.Support the show

Loved by his Lord, John expressed the same kind of love to his Lord and others. His writings in the Scriptures encourage followers of Jesus in that same love.Support the show

This tax collector turned apostle experienced firsthand the loving mercy of the Messiah, who came to save sinners. He turned around and wrote a lot about it in his gospel. Support the show

He vacillated between the twin towers of unshakeable confidence and wishy washy uncertainty. However, faith is as strong as the on whom it rests, and Jesus' loyalty and love bless this apostle with a new resurrection conviction.Support the show

Thaddaeus (also called Judas) asked Jesus, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the whole world?" Many ask this same question today, why some and not others? We marvel at God desiring all to be saved and his grace for all, and yet we see the sad reality that those who don’t know him, or who have rejected him won’t be saved. The attitude of Thaddaeus, "I want others to know," is the outward love for the world who do not yet know, the heart of God behind the great commission. This outward looking concern is mirrored in Jesus' answer based on the mystery of the Trinity. Here we see the doctrine of the Trinity unraveled into saving activity, and sought after by a disciple.Support the show