Mark 8:27-35 What does it mean to be committed? As I thought about it—and, admittedly, it didn’t take very long—I concluded that this is a huge problem in society. People don’t understand what it means to be committed, nor do they have the integrity to remain so. Nowadays, being physically
English Sermons
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What Makes a Person Good or Bad?
By Pastor Seth Haakenson on September 4, 2021Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 What makes a person good or bad? I remember sitting on the other side of a thick windowpane talking to a man on the phone who was soon going to be deported. I knew this man quite well. He was a husband, a father—he was a
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The Difficulty of Believing What God Says
By Pastor Seth Haakenson on August 21, 2021John 6:51-58 If I were to ask you, as a believing Christian, “Who knows more? You or God?”, I have no doubt that all of you would answer, “God”. That is such a no-brainer for the Christian that even my youngest daughter, Eva, has it clear in her mind. She
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Jesus Still Sends Out His Messengers Even Today
By Pastor Seth Haakenson on July 17, 2021Mark 6:7-13 I did a Google search and discovered that there are 3,237 different names recorded in the Bible. Whether or not that number is accurate, I don’t know, nor do I even care that much because it doesn’t matter. The point is that there are a lot of different
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Don’t Let Familiarity Breed Contempt
By Pastor Seth Haakenson on July 10, 2021Mark 6:1-6 We are going to focus on verse 4 of this text because verse 4 is the heart of the story. Jesus quotes this proverb to the people of Nazareth: “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.” In other
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Only Believe!
By Pastor Seth Haakenson on July 3, 2021Mark 5:21-24a, 35-43 I can’t remember the person’s name, but I worked with him for a year during my time at seminary. He liked to get into theological discussions with those of us who were studying to be pastors. But he was one of those Christians who was all hyped
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Only Jesus Can Calm the Storm.
By Pastor Seth Haakenson on June 26, 2021Mark 4:35-41 A picture is worth a thousand words. I want to start by reading verse 37 from four different Bible translations. You will notice they all say the same thing just in slightly different ways. First the NIV: “A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the
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What difference has God made in your life?
By Pastor Seth Haakenson on June 19, 2021Mark 4:26-34 Green is the color of growth. That is why the liturgical color for the Sundays after Pentecost is green. The season of Pentecost focuses on the life of the church, and therefore, many of the appointed lessons have to do with growth. Sometimes the claim is made that
Sermones en español
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El Cristiano Comprometido
By Pastor Seth Haakenson on September 18, 2021Marcos 8:27-35 ¿Qué significa estar comprometido? Mientras pensaba en ello, llegué a la conclusión de que este es un gran problema en la sociedad. La gente no entiende lo que significa estar comprometida, ni tiene la integridad para seguir siéndolo. Hoy en día, tener intimidad física significa estar comprometido con
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¿Qué hace que una persona sea buena o mala?
By Pastor Seth Haakenson on September 4, 2021Marcos 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 ¿Qué hace que una persona sea buena o mala? Recuerdo estar sentado al otro lado del grueso cristal de una ventana hablando por teléfono con un hombre que pronto iba a ser deportado. Conocía a este hombre bien. Era un marido, un padre y un cristiano.
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La dificultad de creer lo que Dios dice
By Pastor Seth Haakenson on August 21, 2021Juan 6:51-58 Si te preguntara, como cristiano creyente, “¿Quién sabe más? ¿Tú o Dios?”, no tengo duda de que todos ustedes responderían: “Dios”. Eso es tan obvio para el cristiano que incluso mi hija menor, Eva, lo tiene claro. A menudo dice: “Dios lo sabe todo, incluso más que papá”.
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Jesús todavía envía a sus mensajeros incluso hoy
By Pastor Seth Haakenson on July 17, 2021Marcos 6:7-13 Hice una búsqueda en Google y descubrí que hay 3237 nombres diferentes registrados en la Biblia. Si ese número es exacto o no, no lo sé, ni siquiera me importa mucho, porque no importa. El punto es que hay muchas personas diferentes (personas reales) que tienen sus nombres
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Que la familiaridad no genere desprecio
By Pastor Seth Haakenson on July 10, 2021Marcos 6:1-6 Vamos a centrarnos en el versículo 4 de este texto porque es el corazón de la historia. Jesús cita este proverbio al pueblo de Nazaret: “En todas partes se honra a un profeta, menos en su tierra, entre sus familiares y en su propia casa.” En otras palabras,
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Solo Jesús puede calmar la tormenta.
By Pastor Seth Haakenson on June 26, 2021Marcos 4:35-41 Una imagen vale más que mil palabras. Quiero comenzar leyendo el versículo 37 de dos traducciones diferentes de la Biblia. Notarán que ambas dicen lo mismo solo de formas ligeramente diferentes. Primero la NVI: “Se desató entonces una fuerte tormenta, y las olas azotaban la barca, tanto que
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¿Qué diferencia ha hecho Dios en tu vida?
By Pastor Seth Haakenson on June 19, 2021Marcos 4:26-34 El verde es el color del crecimiento. Por eso el color litúrgico de los domingos después de Pentecostés es el verde. La temporada de Pentecostés se enfoca en la vida de la iglesia y, por lo tanto, muchas de las lecciones señaladas tienen que ver con el crecimiento.
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¿Dónde estás?
By Pastor Seth Haakenson on June 12, 2021Génesis 3:8-15 Las preguntas tienen una manera de llegar al meollo del asunto y, por supuesto, es por eso que las usamos. Recuerdo que mi madre me preguntaba: “¿Quieres una paliza?” La razón por la que preguntaba no era porque necesitaba mi permiso. Fue para darme la oportunidad de disculparme.
Pastors
Pastor Steven Radunzel
Assistant Pastor - Retired
Pastor Seth Haakenson
Lead Pastor
Team Members
Pastor Steven Radunzel
Assistant Pastor - RetiredGraduated from Norhtwestern College, in Watertown, WI and received a Divinity Degree from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, in Mequon, WI, in 1979. Pastor Radunzel has further earned a Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Psychology from the IL School of Professional Psychology in 1991. Pastor Radunzel has served at Immanuel since 1996.
Team Members
Pastor Seth Haakenson
Lead PastorAlthough Pastor Haakenson was born in Youngstown, Ohio, he grew up on the U.S. Mexican border in Douglas, Arizona. There he attended public schools until enrolling in Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota. Following his graduation in 2000, Pastor Haakenson went on to pursue his Masters of Divinity at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. While there, he served as a vicar in Puerto Rico where he became fluent in Spanish. Upon graduating from the seminary, Pastor Haakenson’s first public ministry assignment was as a missionary to the Dominican Republic. Later, he accepted a Divine Call to begin a Spanish-speaking ministry in Milwaukee, WI. In 2013 Pastor Haakenson switched gears somewhat and became the Campus Pastor of Nebraska Lutheran High School in Waco, Nebraska. That led him to where he currently serves his Savior, right here in Waukegan, IL at Immanuel Lutheran. It’s interesting to note that God has blessed Pastor Haakenson once again with the privilege of establishing a Spanish-speaking ministry alongside the already established congregation at Immanuel. He is also blessed to have his wife, Monica, and his four daughters (Anna, Natalia, Micaela, Eva) serve God alongside him.