Sermon preached by Rev. Kenneth Redmann
6th Sunday After Pentecost

In his sermon **“Build-A-God Workshop,” Rev. Kenneth Redmann explores the temptation to create a god that fits our own desires instead of trusting the one true God revealed in Scripture. Join us as we reflect on God’s Word and His saving grace through Jesus Christ.

If you are looking for a Bible-based church near Ybor City or a Traditional church Seminole Heights, we invite you to worship with us at Zion Lutheran Church.

Have you ever heard of Build-A-Bear Workshop? The idea is simple: choose a bear, stuff it, stitch it, fluff it, dress it, accessorize it, and finally give it a name. Through your own choices and preferences, you create something uniquely your own.

But what happens when we take that same idea and apply it to God?

In his sermon **“Build-A-God Workshop,” Rev. Kenneth Redmann explores the warning God gave through the prophet Isaiah. Long before the people of Israel were carried away into Babylonian captivity, they struggled with the temptation to create gods of their own making. Instead of trusting the one true God who had delivered them, they began crafting idols that reflected their own desires and imagination.

Through the prophet Isaiah, God declares:

“I am the first, and I am the last; besides me there is no god.” (Isaiah 44:6)

The Lord reminds His people that He alone is God. He is the Creator, the King of Israel, and the Redeemer who saves His people. Unlike the false gods formed by human hands, the true God does not need to be created, customized, or redesigned.

The Temptation to Create a God We Prefer

Rev. Redmann reminds us that Israel’s struggle with idols is not merely an ancient problem. The temptation continues today.

While we may not shape golden calves or carve wooden idols, our sinful nature still wants to create a god who fits our own preferences.

A god who agrees with everything we believe.

A god who approves of our choices.

A god who gives us what we want but never calls us to repentance.

A god who serves us instead of the other way around.

This is the danger of the “Build-A-God Workshop.” We begin with our own ideas and expectations and then create a god in our own image.

John Calvin described the human heart as a “perpetual forge of idols.” Martin Luther similarly taught that whatever we place our trust and hope in becomes our god.

The problem is that anything we create for ourselves cannot save us.

False Gods Leave Us Empty, But Christ Redeems Us

Through Isaiah, the Lord exposes the emptiness of idols. They cannot forgive sins. They cannot rescue us from death. They cannot defeat the devil.

The idols we create ultimately leave us with pain, emptiness, and hopelessness.

But the true God does something completely different.

He does not wait for us to build Him.

He comes to us.

The God who created the heavens and the earth sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem fallen humanity. Jesus came as our King and Redeemer. He suffered the punishment we deserved, conquered Satan, and defeated death through His resurrection.

The God revealed in Scripture is not a distant God who ignores our suffering. He is the God who entered into our suffering. Jesus knows our pain, carries our burdens, forgives our sins, and gives us the hope of eternal life.

Jesus is:

Our Redeemer.
Our Savior.
The First and the Last.
The Alpha and the Omega.

The True God Gives Us Life and Hope

The temptation to create our own god remains strong because our sinful hearts desire control. We want a god who fits our plans rather than trusting the God who created us.

But the Lord calls us away from empty idols and back to Himself.

The God of Scripture is not made in our image.

He is the God who made us in His image.

He has revealed Himself through His Word and through His Son, Jesus Christ. Through the cross and resurrection of Jesus, God has given us the forgiveness, hope, and salvation that no false god could ever provide.

As Rev. Redmann reminds us, we do not need a god of our own making. We need the God who loved us enough to send His Son to save us.

Worship With Us at Zion Lutheran Church

If you are looking for a Traditional church Seminole Heights where God’s Word is faithfully taught and Christ remains at the center of worship, we warmly invite you to join us at Zion Lutheran Church.

Zion Lutheran Church is a historic, traditional Lutheran congregation in Tampa committed to proclaiming the truth of Holy Scripture and the saving work of Jesus Christ. As a confessional Lutheran church within the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Zion continues its mission of sharing the Good News of Christ with the Tampa Bay community.

If you are searching for a Bible-based church near Ybor City, we invite you to learn more about Zion Lutheran Church and our commitment to faithful preaching, traditional worship, and Christ-centered teaching.

Whether you are seeking a traditional Lutheran church in Tampa, a Bible-based church near Ybor City, or a congregation where God’s Word is faithfully proclaimed, we welcome you to worship with us.

Be sure to download this week’s Worship Folder and listen to the full sermon as we continue growing together in God’s Word.

We would love to have you as part of our church family.

Zion Lutheran Church — A Christian Family Who Cares for You!

2901 N. Highland Avenue
Tampa, FL 33602