Welcome! Thank you for joining us for worship today. In our services we gather before our almighty God to receive his gifts and to offer him our worship and praise. Through God’s powerful Word and sacraments he renews our faith and strengthens us to serve in joy.

It is easy to think that the more people that like us, the more successful our lives must be. Likewise, it is easy to believe the more people like a church, the more successful that church is. So here is an important epiphany for both individuals and churches. Popularity is not proof of success.

Though there will be times when Christ’s gospel and those who proclaim it are popular, that popularity is never the goal. Nor does that popularity define success. If a church grows a crowd and grows in numbers, but fails to make the gospel of forgiveness in Jesus the center of its preaching and teaching, it hasn’t succeeded – it has failed. Success in the church and success for the church is found in one thing alone – Christ crucified for sinners.