Tonight we conclude our meditation on Psalm 23 by focusing on the final verse. “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6). The end of our journey is the house of the Lord where we will be welcomed by the shepherd who has provided for us, led us, and comforted us every step of the way. Sermon preached by Pastor Mike Schmid at St. John's Lutheran Church in Napa, CA on April 9, 2025
He Welcomes Me (Psalm 23:6)
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He Welcomes Me (Psalm 23:6)

April 11, 2025 3:21 pm

Why did Jesus come to be our Savior? Why was He born? Why did He live His sinless life? Why did He set His face toward the cross? Why did He suffer and die? The answer is the heart of the Christian faith: Christ came for us, lived for us, died for us, rose for us. Our Lent Sunday series this year is entitled “For Us.” Each week we will focus on a different aspect of what Christ has done for us, and who He is for us. The parable of the wicked tenants presents an obvious parallel to God the Father sending His son to His unfaithful people. But unlike in the parable, God our Father knew what the reception would be. He sent Him anyhow, and the Son went willingly. Such is His love for His unworthy people, for you and me.
Dying For Us (Luke 20:9-20)
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Dying For Us (Luke 20:9-20)

April 8, 2025 5:31 pm

Psalm 23 has provided comfort and hope to the people of God for 3000 years. Our loving and faithful God is presented to us as the one who provides for us, leads us, refreshes us, comforts us, anoints us and welcomes. Jesus identified Himself as this gracious Savior. His loving service of His flock centers in His laying down His life for us on the cross, only to take it up again in the resurrection. This Lent we seek to grow as faithful followers of our good shepherds as we study the richness of Psalm 23. Tonight we consider verse 5. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5). When it seems as though the enemy is gaining the upper hand, and our path is hindered and obstructed, our Shepherd is still with us, blessing us even though we are surrounded by trouble. He anoints us with His blessing for every trial. Sermon preached by Pastor Mike Schmid at St. John's Lutheran Church in Napa, CA, on April 2, 2025
He Anoints Me
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He Anoints Me

April 3, 2025 5:29 pm

The parable of the prodigal son is really the parable of the waiting father. Despite being rejected by his son, and his son’s reckless squandering of the inheritance, the father patiently waits for his son’s return that he might heap grace upon him again. Such us our Father’s love for us. No matter how far we wander, how far we fall, or how seriously we have strayed, our Father lovingly, patiently waits for us, eager to show His grace upon us anew. Sermon preached by Pastor Mike Schmid at St. John's Lutheran Church in Napa, CA on March 30, 2025
Waiting For Us (Luke 15:11-32)
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Waiting For Us (Luke 15:11-32)

April 3, 2025 5:21 pm

Psalm 23 has provided comfort and hope to the people of God for 3000 years. Our loving and faithful God is presented to us as the one who provides for us, leads us, refreshes us, comforts us, anoints us and welcomes. Jesus identified Himself as this gracious Savior. His loving service of His flock centers in His laying down His life for us on the cross, only to take it up again in the resurrection. This Lent we seek to grow as faithful followers of our good shepherds as we study the richness of Psalm 23. Tonight we consider verse 4. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). When we find ourselves in troubling, difficult, or painful times, we may feel that our shepherd has abandoned us. But the truth is that He is still with us to comfort us and lead us through that dark valley. Sermon preached by Pastor Mike Schmid at St. John's Lutheran Church in Napa, CA on March 26,2025
He Comforts Me (Psalm 23:4)
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He Comforts Me (Psalm 23:4)

April 3, 2025 5:13 pm

Jesus persisted faithfully in His mission to be our Savior. Despite opposition from Herod and the rejection of the people of Jerusalem, He presses on because He is faithful in His love for us, and His desire to save us. Sermon preached by Pastor Mike at St. John's Lutheran Church in Napa, CA, on March 16, 2025
Faithful For Us (Luke 13:31-35)
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Faithful For Us (Luke 13:31-35)

March 18, 2025 4:47 pm

Psalm 23 has provided comfort and hope to the people of God for 3000 years. Our loving and faithful God is presented to us as the one who provides for us, leads us, refreshes us, comforts us, anoints us and welcomes. Jesus identified Himself as this gracious Savior. His loving service of His flock centers in His laying down His life for us on the cross, only to take it up again in the resurrection. This Lent we seek to grow as faithful followers of our good shepherds as we study the richness of Psalm 23. Tonight we consider verse 2 - “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters” (Psalm 23:2). Our Shepherd leads and guides in ways that are for our good, so that we are well fed and provided for. Sermon preached by Pastor Mike Schmid on March 12, 2025, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Napa, CA.
He Leads Me (Psalm 23:2)
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He Leads Me (Psalm 23:2)

March 18, 2025 4:43 pm

At the conclusion of Jesus’ time in the wilderness, Satan came to Him to tempt Him from His path. Jesus overcomes Satan’s temptations, not just as an example for us, but also to show us that He is the one who will crush the serpent’s head and win the victory for us. Sermon preached by Pastor Mike Schmid at St. John's Lutheran Church in Napa, CA on March 9, 2025
Victorious For Us (Luke 4:1-13)
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Victorious For Us (Luke 4:1-13)

March 18, 2025 4:41 pm

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing” (Psalm 23:1). Our shepherd provides for us, such that we can say that when we have Him, we lack no good thing. But the sin in us desires for more that what our Shepherd provides, On this Ash Wednesday, we repent of trusting elsewhere besides our Good Shepherd for all we need in life.
He Provides For Me (Psalm 23:1)
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He Provides For Me (Psalm 23:1)

March 7, 2025 12:40 pm

The point of transfiguration is the Father’s call to the disciples and to all of us to listen to Jesus. Are we listening? How can we listen better? Today we will look at practical ways to listen as we prepare for the season of Lent. Sermon preached by Pastor Mike Schmid at St. John's Lutheran Church in Napa, CA on March 2, 2025
Listen to Him (Luke 9:28-36)
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Listen to Him (Luke 9:28-36)

March 5, 2025 2:03 pm

Jesus’ call to love our enemies is one of the most striking and difficult of His ethical instructions. How can we love those who have hurt us, betrayed us or worse? But Jesus’ call to love the unlovely is a call to imitate the love of the Lord for each of us. Sermon preached by Pastor Mike Schmid at St. John's Lutheran Church in Napa, CA on February 23, 2025
Loving the Enemy (Luke 6:27-38)
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Loving the Enemy (Luke 6:27-38)

February 23, 2025 5:48 pm

Jeremiah 17:5-10 warns that the human heart is deceitful above all things and compares trust in human strength with trust in the Lord. When we rely on ourselves (which is often a very bad idea), we wither like a desert shrub, but those rooted in God flourish like a tree by the water. On Sunday we will look at how sin distorts our desires, how self-reliance leads to spiritual dryness, and how God alone transforms hearts, guiding us toward true faith and renewal. Today’s guest preacher is Rev. Paul Ferguson. Rev Ferguson serves as the California-Nevada-Hawaii District as Assistant to the President for Strategic Mission Leadership.
Heart Check: Trusting God or Trusting Yourself?
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Heart Check: Trusting God or Trusting Yourself?

February 18, 2025 10:20 pm

The foundation of our identity in Christ is God’s grace to us. We see God’s grace to Isaiah in our first reading, and to Peter in our gospel. But God’s grace to them is not just in forgiving sins, but also calling them, unworthy though they are, to by God’s witnesses to other. We, too, have received this grace upon grace, and are sent by our Lord as fishers like Peter. Sermon preached by Pastor Mike Schmid at St. John's Lutheran Church in Napa, CA on February 9, 2025
Grace Upon Grace (Luke 5:1-11)
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Grace Upon Grace (Luke 5:1-11)

February 10, 2025 8:28 pm

It really is a treat to sit back and listen to someone who truly knows their stuff. Imagine you were there for some of Jesus' early teaching sessions and He suddenly spoke like He knew everything about anything you've ever wondered, but He did so in a way that didn't come off as arrogant. The authority shown by Jesus was something the people had never experienced before and it was much more than just His words. Jesus shocked them with His teaching and continued to amaze them with His miraculous showings. Christ's authority is something that brought life into the people He encountered in Capernaum and breathes life into us even today! Sermon Preached by Kevin Mathison at St. John's Lutheran Church in Napa, CA, on February 2, 2025
UnBelievable Authority (Luke 4:31-44)
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UnBelievable Authority (Luke 4:31-44)

February 2, 2025 6:56 pm

All believers in Christ are gifted by the Spirit. Faith itself is a gift and is the chief gift of the Spirit in our lives. But the Holy Spirit gifts us beyond that for our life in the congregation and our witness to the world. How has the Holy Spirit gifted you? Sermon preached by Pastor Mike Schmid on January 19, 2025, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Napa, CA.
Gifted By the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)
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Gifted By the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)

January 21, 2025 12:59 pm

This Sunday celebrates the Baptism of Jesus, his ordination and installation into the Public Ministry for which he had come into the world. His Mission was to bring to light God’s offer of forgiveness, new life, and hope for all of eternity to all who receive by faith his Son. The celebration of Jesus’ Baptism is a good opportunity for us also to celebrate our own. Our Baptism joins us together with Jesus, calls us to walk with him by faith, bestows God’s forgiveness, new life here on earth, and hereafter in God’s new heaven and new earth. It also bestows God’s deposit of his Holy Spirit so we can already begin living that new life. Furthermore it “ordains” us for a special purpose in life . . . to join with Christ in letting the light of God’s grace shine out into the world, bringing hope to many! As has been our custom at St. John’s, we invite those who have been baptized in the last year to come forward and light their baptismal candles in remembrance of their baptism. It’s a good time for us all to remember our baptisms, thank God for his many gifts to us through this Sacrament, and recommit ourselves to letting our lights shine brightly! Sermon preached by Pastor Ted Zimmerman at St. John's Lutheran Church in Napa, CA, on January 14, 2025.
The Baptism of the Lord
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The Baptism of the Lord

January 14, 2025 12:04 pm

The coming of the magi to worship the child Jesus is a picture of the nations coming to faith in Savior. It is also a picture of the purpose of His coming and the goal of His mission. Jesus came not just for the Israelites, and not just for us who have come to faith. He came for all the world, for all nations, for all peoples. How is He calling us to participate in that mission today? Sermon preached by Pastor Mike Schmid at St. John's Lutheran Church in Napa, CA, on January 5, 2025.
Christ For All (Matthew 2:1-12)
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Christ For All (Matthew 2:1-12)

January 5, 2025 4:43 pm

Simeon had one item on his bucket list: To see the Messiah. As he held Jesus in his arms, he called out to the Lord that he was ready to depart. What are you living for? What makes a complete or good life? What does that mean as we head into a new year? Sermon preached by Pastor Mike Schmid on December 29, 2024, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Napa, CA.
Bucket List (Luke 2:22-40)
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Bucket List (Luke 2:22-40)

December 29, 2024 5:20 pm

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