Open Door Policies

God's Surprising Strategies for Getting Sinners Back Home

When a wayward child wanders far from home, how does a loving parent pursue them without driving them further away? One thing that parent does is let the child know that there is an ongoing open-door policy. The child knows they will always be welcomed back home. Likewise, when we wander from God, he always keeps his door open for us. But God doesn’t just passively wait for us to return. He lovingly pursues sinners in ways that make them long for home.

In the Church Year, we have come to the season of Lent. The word Lent comes from an old English word for spring: “lengthen,” when the days grow longer. For over 1,400 years the Church has set aside the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter as a time of repentance and renewal. In this 40-day journey to the cross and tomb, we will see the surprising strategies our heavenly Father uses for getting sinners back home, close to him and the loving care he offers.

  • Ash Wednesday

    Whenever someone accuses us of doing wrong, it’s easy to get defensive. We make excuses. “I’m not that bad.” We try and balance the scales. “Okay, that was wrong. But look at all the good I do!” We play the comparison game. “At least I’m not like him!” With our defenses go up, repentance is impossible.

    God, however, has a strategy for lowing our defenses. He assures us that his door is open, and that his home is the place we don’t need to pretend to be something that we’re not—perfect. Our Father does not ask us to come to him and confess our sin so that he might know what we’ve done. He already knows. He asks us to repent so that we might fully know what we’ve done. Only when we grasp the true weight of our sin, will we call out to God for mercy. When we do, God is always quick to forgive.

    Gospel—Luke 18:9–14

    First Reading—2 Samuel 12:1–13

    Second Reading—2 Corinthians 5:20—6:2

    Psalm of the Day—Psalm 143

    Hymn of the Day—From Depths of Woe, Lord God, I Cry (CW 650)

    Service Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsz_kDgPJyMlw42BBikLZWNrKmuqN2-IH&si=ASzWNBBdKjfgkhEs

  • First Sunday in Lent

    Normally in a family everyone must do their part. . . pitch in. . . pull their weight. In God’s family, he assigns and accepts the work of one on behalf of all. In God’s house, God’s Son—our brother, Jesus—stands alone on the field of battle against our enemies in our place. He fights vicariously. He fights victoriously.

    This week we see one man, Jesus Christ, stand against Satan. We simply sit and watch with eyes full of wonder and repentant faith. Because Christ fought that battle as one of us, he won that battle for all of us. The door to heaven stands wide open for those who believe in him.

    Gospel—Luke 4:1–13

    First Reading—1 Samuel 17:4–11, 32–40, 45–49

    Second Reading—Hebrews 4:14–16

    Psalm of the Day—Psalm 91

    Hymn of the Day—A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (CW 864)

    Service Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsz_kDgPJyMn6Meb-GMn1A0XjiF2M0g6x&si=BGgFNzLXh_DPep7B

  • Second Sunday in Lent

    The door to God and the glory he has prepared for us stands wide open. However, he has mapped out a very specific pathway to that door. It is not an easy one. As it did with Jesus, this route takes us through opposition, suffering, and even death. While our human nature may cause us to want to take a detour around these things, Jesus own life shows us that no detour is allowed. His cross came before his crown. The same path lies ahead of us. However, at the end of it, through the open door, we are offered a reward far superior to anything the world can offer.

    Gospel—Luke 13:31–35

    First Reading—Jeremiah 26:8–15

    Second Reading—Philippians 3:17—4:1

    Psalm of the Day—Psalm 42

    Hymn of the Day—Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart (CW 817)

    Service Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsz_kDgPJyMnc9ThC7mBLRLysXIHf3J27&si=R4c8BIA8694zwXU4

  • Third Sunday in Lent

    The heavenly Father is always present in the lives of his children. He sees every sorrow we endure. He also sees every sin that we commit, even if it’s only in our thoughts. He is always present. Yet, he is also always patient. God does not snap at us the second we turn from him. He gives us time to see the error of our ways. He assures us that the door back to him remains always open. By giving us room to share our struggles and shortcomings, he works in us the very repentance he desires and saves us from the judgement that would otherwise be ours.

    Gospel—Luke 13:1–9

    First Reading—Exodus 3:1–15

    Second Reading—1 Corinthians 10:1–13

    Psalm of the Day—Psalm 85

    Hymn of the Day—Delay Not! Delay Not (CW 712)

    Service Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsz_kDgPJyMnfcP21RiNO6g18wkHuaRFy&si=FPepRNzxACpAnLxV

  • Fourth Sunday in Lent

    We assume people get what they deserve. We assume that what goes around comes around. We assume God helps those who help themselves. Those assumptions are false. God does not operate on the principle of merit but of grace. No one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. God never turns it off. At the entrance of God’s open door is not a Father looking to condemn us, but a Father who has eagerly longed for our return. When we do, he takes us in his loving arms and assures us we are still his child. When the weight of our sin makes us fearful of God’s condemnation, he reveals his grace yet again.

    Gospel—Luke 15:1–3, 11–32

    First Reading—Isaiah 12

    Second Reading—Romans 8:1–10

    Psalm of the Day—Psalm 32

    Hymn of the Day—Amazing Grace (CW 576)

    Service Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsz_kDgPJyMkY83o7ocRcLjs6KrAVyAJi&si=aWkozEzGSfWhM6U9

  • Fifth Sunday in Lent

    This week we see how our Father makes the treasures of his house available to any and all. He places them in the last place we’d expect—the trash. In God’s family, the things the world prizes and pursues are counted as worthless. Conversely, what the world rejects and discards is considered priceless and worth pursuing.

    The best example of this is Jesus Christ himself. The Father sent his greatest treasure—God the Son—to earth. And many considered Jesus to be a trash that needed to be taken out. . . a troublemaker that needed to be killed. In truth, Christ is the precious cornerstone that God used to build his house, the one with the open door.

    Gospel—Luke 20:9–19

    First Reading—Isaiah 43:16–21

    Second Reading—Philippians 3:4b–14

    Psalm of the Day—Psalm 73

    Hymn of the Day—O God, O Lord of Heaven and Earth

    Service Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsz_kDgPJyMkfZqlEBUHuBU-0mQ9PQuiv&si=YGw1tIaytEu4wUc_

Reflections on Repentance

Lent Midweek Series

“The Lord is not slow to do what he promised. . . . Instead, he is patient for your sakes, not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Luther began his famous debate theses noting that Scripture’s call to repentance is intended as a way of life. Using David’s great penitential Psalm 51, penned following his affair with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah, this series of Lenten reflections explores the depths of our sinful depravity, the brokenness of our relationship with God, our dire need for rescue, and the good news of forgiveness, cleansing, and rejoicing in our restored relationship with God and the promise of eternal life through Jesus our Savior.

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March 5, 12, 19 | Wonewoc Campus

March 26, April 2, 9 | Hillsboro Campus

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Upcoming Series

  • Lent | Holy Week | April 13–18

    We have come to the final stretch of Lent, known as “Holy Week.” In Holy Week, we see the impossible. The Son of God dies. The Lord of life enters the last place he belonged—the grave. But what we will see this week is that, when Jesus entered the tomb, he did not go alone. He buried all our baggage with him: sin, guilt, shame, condemnation, fear. Jesus will walk out of the tomb. But thanks to him, those things will all stay dead and buried.

  • Easter | April 20—June 8

    In this season of Easter, it is good we review the details: who, when, where. That reminds us that the resurrection of Christ is not fairytale or fable. It is a historical event . . . the historical event. However, we do ourselves a disservice if we simply recall the historic details of Easter without thinking long and hard about Easter’s significance. Jesus won. That means something! It is our privilege and pleasure to use the fifty days of Easter to discuss this fact: because he lives, not only is our eternity secure, but we have abundant resources to face the present.