Pastor Dan's sermon calls us to “hold on” to God’s trustworthy Word and “head out” with its message. Jesus delays judgment so more people can repent. While the world keeps sinning, believers keep serving. Because Christ brings his reward, we cherish Scripture, remain faithful, and share the gospel urgently before he returns.

Jesus provides clear assurance that we can be certain of eternal life, even when faced with skepticism like that of the Sadducees. These religious leaders challenged Jesus about resurrection, but their doubt stemmed from limiting God's power to what they could physically see. Jesus pointed to Scripture, specifically God's present-tense declaration to Moses about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, proving that the faithful continue to exist after death. Worthiness for eternal life isn't based on our performance but on being washed clean by Jesus' blood. In heaven, we'll experience perfect relationships with everyone, no more death, and be permanent residents as God's children.

God promises believers a new heaven and new earth where all pain, sorrow, and death will be eliminated forever. This isn't a cloudy afterlife but a real, physical world where we'll have meaningful work, perfect relationships, and complete harmony with others. Unlike our current world filled with suffering and frustration, this new creation will offer purposeful activities without any wasted effort or conflict. Jesus has already secured this future through his sacrifice on the cross, making this promise absolutely certain for all who trust in him.

This message invites you to wake up—to the truth about your sin and the even greater truth about your Savior. Like Neo in The Matrix, we’re offered a choice: stay trapped in comforting illusion or see reality through Jesus’ eyes. From John 8, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Discover real freedom—not in doing whatever feels right, but in being anchored to God’s Word and released by his grace. Recorded at Mt. Calvary Lutheran, Flagstaff, AZ.

This sermon, celebrating the Wisconsin Synod's 175th anniversary, uses the story of Jesus calling Peter and the miraculous catch of fish from Luke 5 to illustrate our calling as 'fishers of people.' Pastor Habben emphasizes that Jesus sometimes asks us to do things that don't make sense, like Peter fishing in deep water during the day, but obedience to Christ's word brings unexpected blessings. Despite our sinfulness, Jesus doesn't turn away from us but instead calls us to partner with him in the great mission of sharing the Gospel.

The message challenges believers to trust Jesus even when his commands seem counterintuitive, particularly in areas like faithful stewardship and evangelism. Just as Peter experienced an overwhelming catch of fish when he obeyed Jesus' seemingly illogical fishing instructions, we too can trust that God's promises are reliable.