This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at the Land Dedication Service of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota at Reserve Park on July 12, 2026. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.   Sermon Text: Numbers 13:17-33 (NKJV) Then Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way into the South, and go up to the mountains, 18 “and see what the land is like: whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, few or many; 19 “whether the land they dwell in is good or bad; whether the cities they inhabit are like camps or strongholds; 20 “whether the land is rich or poor; and whether there are forests there or not. Be of good courage. And bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes. 21 So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, near the entrance of Hamath. 22 And they went up through the South and came to Hebron; Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs. 24 The place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster which the men of Israel cut down there. 25 And they returned from spying out the land after forty days. 26 Now they departed and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 “Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 “The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.” 30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” 32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. 33 “There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”   Theme: This Land Is God's Land

Our hymn study this weekend is "Christ Is Our Corner-Stone" (TLH 465) which is an English translation of a Latin hymn from around 700AD. This hymn beautifully describes the nature of the salvation that Jesus has won for us, and, as a result of that salvation, the blessings that are ours now and in heaven. Psalm 118:19-25 serves as one of the foundation passages for this hymn: "Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the LORD. 20 This is the gate of the LORD, Through which the righteous shall enter. 21 I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation. 22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This was the LORD’S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. 26  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD." It points to Jesus as the Cornerstone of the church and the only foundation of the church. It also describes the blessings we receive in church through the reception of the Means of Grace. Finally, it describes the joy of singing the praises of God in heaven. Rejoice in the blessings that God imparts to you and for you at His house! Thanks be to God!

Devotion Romans 6:15-23   Announcements Preparing Pheobes and Teaching Timothys Communion Board of Deacons Men's Breakfast No Ladies' Bible Study Weekend Worship Services Dedication Service Board of Education  Board of Property Youth Group   Prayer List  Jim Lien Lynette Roehl Becky Sue Heise Merl Daryl Holzinger Mary Schweim Marv and Mary Schweim Anniversary Karen Stelter Aaron Salmon and Sophia Salter CLC Convention Parade and Dedication Service 17 men training in pastoral ministry New pastor for Living Hope, Appleton   Convention Review Committee #7: Elections   Hymn of the Day TLH 405 “I Gave My Life for Thee”

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on June 28, 2026. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.   Sermon Text: Lamentations 3:21-26 (NKJV) “This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. 26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD.”   Theme: Great Expectations of the LORD's Mercy

Devotion Romans 6:8-14   Announcements Women's Auxiliary Luncheon CLC Convention Youth Group Men's Breakfast Ladies' Bible Study Weekend Worship Services Summer Schedule 4th of July Preparing Pheobes and Teaching Timothys Outreach   Prayer List  Jim Lien Lynette Roehl Becky Sue Heise Merl Daryl Holzinger Mary Schweim   Convention Review Committee #4: Doctrine Committee #5: Finance   Hymn of the Day TLH 19 “All Praise to God, Who Reigns Above”

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on June 28, 2026. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.   Sermon Text: Matthew 5:13-16 (NKJV) “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”   Theme: The World Needs You!

Our hymn study this weekend is "How Blest are They Who Hear God's Word" (TLH 48) which is found in the Close of Service section of the hymnal. This hymn beautifully describes the rich blessings that God offers sinners in the banquet of His Word and Sacraments. The hymnwriter, Johan Brun, was a pastor in the Lutheran Church in Norway, and came to appreciate the power and importance of God's Word. In this hymn he includes images from all over Scripture which teach us about the Treasure of God's Word, such as: But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28) "The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb." (Psalm 19:9-10) “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32)   "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) "They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." (1 Peter 4:5) Yes, God's Word and His Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, are true treasures for the Christian, offering rich blessings that can be found no where else! Treasure those blessings! Feast on His Means of Grace, which He offers you freely! Thanks be to God!

Devotion Romans 6:1-7   Announcements Time and Talents Donuts with Dad Women's Auxiliary Luncheon CLC Convention No Men's Breakfast Ladies' Bible Study Weekend Worship Services Summer Schedule Youth Group   Prayer List  Jim Lien Lynette Roehl Becky Sue Heise Merl Gerhard Matzke Betty Wolle Daryl Holzinger LuAnn Friedrichs Bob Timm CLC Convention Mission in the Pakistan   Convention Preview Committees #6-7   Hymn of the Day TLH 298 “Baptized into Thy Name Most Holy”

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on June 21, 2026. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.   Sermon Text: Luke 15:11-32 (NKJV) “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24  ‘for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. 25 Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ 28 But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”   Theme: the “Prodigal Sons” and the Forgiving Father

This weekend our theme revolves around the gracious nature of our Heavenly Father, as seen in His love for us in Jesus. We will consider the truth that we were "lost," and "prodigal" from our heavenly Father. Yet in His love for us, He seeks us, redeems us to Himself and receives us eagerly to Himself in spite of our unworthiness. The title of the hymn comes from the words of the Apostle Paul where He writes:  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. (1 Timothy 1:15-16)  This hymn highlights first of all, our nature. We are sinful and unclean. We are ungodly and the enemies of God. It is only in understanding this reality that we can ever truly comprehend the nature of our God as Paul prays for the believers in Ephesus: "that you... may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge." (Ephesians 3:18) Only the True (Triune) God can offer such love in the person and work of Jesus, who "shed His blood for me." The love of Jesus, which we come to know through faith, is what offers "peace... from sin forgiv'n, joy that lifts the soul to heav'n." The prayer of the Christian is that the LORD would preserve us in the true faith through Word and Sacrament as we face the trials and burdens and temptations of the fallen world and our own sinful flesh, and lead us in repentance back to the open arms of our gracious Father in heaven!  May the LORD sustain us in the earthly strife while we await the heavenly life! Amen!