St. Paul's Onalaska Sermons

May 24, 2026

Pastor Dan Olson What Difference Does It Make? Life is full of either/or moments. Some of them are of little long-term consequence. Some of them matter more. One either/or moment is life-changing for every human being: either Jesus is still dead, or Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus claimed he would rise from the dead. “The Son of Man must suffer many things. . . be killed and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31). So if Jesus remains dead, he is both a failure and a fraud. If Christ has not been raised, we are still in our sin. But Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! It makes all the difference! He lives! He Lives to Pour Out His Spirit—When the disciples were distressed about Jesus ascending into heaven, he assured them, “It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7). That Advocate is the Holy Spirit. If Jesus had stayed in the grave, the Holy Spirit would have had no reason to enter the lives of disciples. But Jesus lives, and it makes a difference. The Spirit provides faith and purpose for life. Pentecost, the celebration of the special arrival of the Holy Spirit, is the third great festival of the Church, along with the Nativity and the Resurrection. Pentecost closes the fifty-day period after Easter and ends the festival half of the church year. The Church dresses in red on this day to commemorate the tongues of fire that marked the Spirit’s gift as well as the blood of the martyrs. What Difference Does It Make? He Lives to Pour Out His Spirit

May 17, 2026

Pastor Shane Krause What Difference Does It Make? Life is full of either/or moments. Some of them are of little long-term consequence. Some of them matter more. One either/or moment is life-changing for every human being: either Jesus is still dead, or Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus claimed he would rise from the dead. “The Son of Man must suffer many things. . . be killed and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31). So if Jesus remains dead, he is both a failure and a fraud. If Christ has not been raised, we are still in our sin. But Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! It makes all the difference! He lives! He Lives to Rule All Things for the Church—Without the resurrection of Jesus, we would have to wonder who oversees the world. At times the world seems so chaotic. People claim to be in charge but they have limited power and strange ideas. Many of the ideas are harmful for Christians. Leaders seem to lead without acknowledging Jesus. But he lives, and it makes a difference. Jesus is head over everything for the Church. At the time of Ascension, he takes his proper place. The Festival of the Ascension is one of the oldest and most joyful celebrations in the Christian Church. It will be observed by Christians until Christ returns to take us to be with him. What Difference Does It Make? He Lives to Rule All Things for the Church

May 10, 2026

Pastor Dan Olson What Difference Does It Make? Life is full of either/or moments. Some of them are of little long-term consequence. Some of them matter more. One either/or moment is life-changing for every human being: either Jesus is still dead, or Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus claimed he would rise from the dead. “The Son of Man must suffer many things. . . be killed and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31). So if Jesus remains dead, he is both a failure and a fraud. If Christ has not been raised, we are still in our sin. But Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! It makes all the difference! He lives! He Lives to Call Me to Live for Him— Without the resurrection of Jesus, I would be tempted to live only for myself. After all, I have to be in good shape before I can be of help to anyone else, right? I think I know what’s right for me, and I can identify when other people are standing in the way of my self-improvement. If Jesus is dead, I don’t have to worry about what he said or what he thinks. But he lives, and it makes a difference. He takes care of my basic needs. He promises to do more for me than I can imagine. He puts people into my life so I can help them. Now I live for him. What Difference Does It Make? He Lives to Call Me to Live for Him

May 3, 2026

Pastor Brett Ehlke What Difference Does It Make? Life is full of either/or moments. Some of them are of little long-term consequence. Some of them matter more. One either/or moment is life-changing for every human being: either Jesus is still dead, or Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus claimed he would rise from the dead. “The Son of Man must suffer many things. . . be killed and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31). So if Jesus remains dead, he is both a failure and a fraud. If Christ has not been raised, we are still in our sin. But Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! It makes all the difference! He lives! He Lives to Be the Only Way to Heaven—Without the resurrection of Jesus, I would have to wonder if he wasn’t just a human being. If my last view of him is a criminal crucified on a cross, he would look like someone to be rejected. He couldn’t even help himself, much less anyone else! But he lives, and it makes a difference. He is the only way to heaven. This gospel message is the most inclusive message in the world. The benefits of the resurrection of Jesus are meant for every man, woman, and child who has ever lived. What Difference Does It Make? He Lives to Be the Only Way to Heaven

April 26, 2026

Pastor Shane Krause What Difference Does It Make? Life is full of either/or moments. Some of them are of little long-term consequence. Some of them matter more. One either/or moment is life-changing for every human being: either Jesus is still dead, or Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus claimed he would rise from the dead. “The Son of Man must suffer many things. . . be killed and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31). So if Jesus remains dead, he is both a failure and a fraud. If Christ has not been raised, we are still in our sin. But Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! It makes all the difference! He lives! He Lives to Be My Good Shepherd—Without the resurrection of Jesus, I would have to choose my own direction in life. I would be terrible at it, because, like a sheep, I can generally see only what’s in front of me at the moment, and I get myself into trouble. It is especially difficult for me to look far into my future as planned by Jesus. If he had not risen from the dead, I would be on my own. But he lives, and it makes a difference. I have the reliable direction of the Good Shepherd. He feeds us with his Word. He protects us from the roaring lion, Satan. He is leading us into the green pastures of eternal life. For centuries, the Church has observed this Fourth Sunday of Easter to celebrate that Jesus lives to be our Good Shepherd. What Difference Does It Make? He Lives to Be My Good Shepherd