Divine Savior Church-Santa Rita Ranch Sermons

Pastor Apt shares a message on Mark 9:14-29

Pastor Apt shares a message based on Mark 9:27-38

Pastor Apt shares a message on Mark 7:31-37

Pastor Apt shares a message based on Mark 7.

Pastor Apt shares a message for Ash Wednesday - the beginning of the Lenten season.

Pastor Apt shares a message for Transfiguration Sunday.

The coach observes his athletes, jots down his notes, compares the times, and then he speaks. He teaches. He gives important directions. Those with the humility to accept his instructions and encouragements will grow in their abilities. Those who think they know better will struggle and fail. Jesus is so much more than a coach. He is our God - our Savior! When he teaches and instructs us, it’s important we open our ears to listen to his Word and to put his words into practice. As Jesus instructs us with stories and illustrations, he asks us to listen. His Word will work. When we are patient, he brings about his own results from the words he speaks. 

All along the course the runners find distractions. Some in the crowd cheer you on, some in the crowd cheer on your opponents. Some praise your form and skill. Some accuse you of cheating. But you can’t get distracted. You need to stay focused on what is most important. Jesus faced many distractions in his ministry, but he always stayed focused on the most important thing - drawing more and more to be closer and closer to God. He drew his disciples, he drew crowds, and he showed them how outsiders can become part of the family of God; how sinners can become saints!  

What inspires you to get up each day?  What allows you to live with joy? With the hardships and struggles we experience in this world, we need something to encourage us and empower us to live well each day. Money, philosophy, and technology might be tools we use, but they aren’t the reason we live. Jesus uses tools to bring his incredible and miraculous grace into our hearts. That grace can inspire us each day. That grace gives us joy each day. Because of the power in Jesus’ words, you can live with joy; you can live with purpose; you can run on his forgiveness. 

Some athletes are simply incredible. When they compete, you can’t help but stare in awe and wonder at the strength they exert, the focus on their task, the abilities with which they have been blessed, and what they are able to accomplish. It tells you something about their origin, their work ethic, their determination, and you wonder what drives them so hard. You can’t help but stare in awe and wonder at Jesus’ miraculous power. It is amazing! As he is determined to use that amazing power to help people in need, he shows his determination to continue to help people with their greatest need. 

Every race has a start. As they prepare, and step up to the line, the competitors already have their minds and hearts on the finish line. They take their mark. There’s silence. The gun cracks and muscles instantly respond with action. The race is on! The eyes of the crowd are drawn in. Every race has a start, but it all began far before that moment. As did Jesus’ race to the cross. It began in time and history as God declared he would send a Savior. The preparations had been made, and now Mark describes how Jesus began his race, pulling us into it. Drawing us to follow this race, and even to run along with Jesus. Let’s go! 

Guest pastor Pastor Tom Unke shares a message on the Song of Simeon answering the question "When is a person really prepared?"

Pastor Apt shares a message for Christmas.

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. 

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. 

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.”

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. 

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 relationships

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.

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.