Christ is risen!  He is risen, indeed!  Alleluia!  Our text for this morning’s sermon is taken from St. John’s gospel account the 16th chapter.  (John 16:23-30) Beloved in the Lord, You will have Trials and Tribulations Hearts are weak because hearts are broken.  Hearts are broken because sin has broken them, corrupted them, and depraved them.  Broken, corrupted and depraved hearts suffer and suffer our neighbors.  Broken, corrupted and depraved hearts hurt and harm even as they are hurt and harmed by others.   I have such a heart and so do you as do the disciples in our text.  Despite the pious veneer we manifest to the world, the depths   More…

Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN!  Our text for this morning’s sermon is taken from St. John’s gospel account the 16th chapter (St.John 16:12-22). Beloved in the Lord, The Savior has Words for the weak this morning.  He has much more to say, but His followers cannot bear them now.  They are weak.  They are burdened.  They are like us.  For this morning our Jesus speaks to those who suffer want and hardship, who are oppressed, harassed, persecuted and tormented in and by the world.  He speaks to   More…

In the Name of Jesus!  He is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed!  Alleluia!  Our text for this morning’s sermon is taken from St. John’s gospel account the  20th (John 20:19-31) chapter. Beloved in the Lord, there’s something strangely familiar about our text this morning.  It is evening, in the cool of the day and trembling sinners hunker down afraid they’ll be detected.  The only thing missing is a few fig leaves and we’d have full blowndeja vu.  There’s been rumors floating about, reports of scattered soldiers, and a missing body.   Several women claim to have seen an angel.  Two other disciples say they walked with Him to Emmaus. Earlier, Peter   More…

Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Our text for this morning’s sermon is taken from St. Luke’s gospel account the 24th chapter (Luke 24:1-12). Beloved in the Lord, Christ is risen, but the women in our text do not know. Christ is risen, but the men in the upper room do not believe. Christ is risen but the powers of appearance have overcome them. The death of Jesus has swallowed them. Only the tales of idols remains as Jesus was crucified. Zeus, Athena, Aphrodite and the whole host of mount Olympus press on with their storied legends. Christ is   More…

St. Mark 16:1-8 Christ is Risen!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!   Come you daughters of Eve and you sons of Adam.  Come to the tomb with the women.  Come and listen to Angel’s voice.  Come and do not be afraid for there are wondrous things afoot, heavenly things, real things, flesh and blood things, things you can see, and touch and taste and feel.  Yes beloved come out of the shadows and into the light.   Hasten your way, quicken your steps, set your heart like a flint and do not be deterred.  Come and see.  Come and listen.  The earth is shaking.  The old is going and the new is   More…

In the Name X of Jesus.  AMEN  (Luke 23:32-38) Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. (33) And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. (34) And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. (35) And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen   More…

(St. Luke 22:7-20) In the Name X of Jesus.  AMEN! Beloved in the Lord, Gathering in the Upper Room It is the day of unleavened bread.  The Lamb is to be sacrificed and the Passover is prepared for us to eat it.  Jerusalem is a buzz with expectation.  Pilate is anxious.  The betrayer’s heart, full of disappointment, covets gold and silver.  Jesus sups with him nonetheless.  Tonight, the deliverance of Holy Israel is manifested in a meal for all who have been named by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Our Redemption is at hand. Thus we are given to follow the man with the water and there make   More…

Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  AMEN!  Our text for this morning’s message is taken from St. Luke’s gospel account the 20th chapter (Luke 20:9-20).   Beloved in the Lord, Tenants, Israel, Us When Jesus speaks this morning the God who is for us speaks His divine Word against us, not to frighten us away nor to hurt and harm us forever.  But the Word spoken against us is spoken against our sin that the God who is for us may then bind up the wounds of our heart and   More…

Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN!  Our text for this morning’s sermon is taken from St. Luke’s gospel account the 15th (Luke 15:1-3, 11-32) chapter. Beloved in the Lord, He Eats with Sinners! He eats with sinners!  Oh, for shame!  “Shame, shame shame!  Everyone knows your name!”  go the hearts of the Pharisees even while fingers wave in the air.  “Shame! Shame!  Shame on you Jesus.  You should know better!  You should know who’s touching you, following you, pressing round about you.  You should know what’s being said about you . .. . you  . . . you scandalous   More…

Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN!  Our text for this morning’s sermon is taken from St. Luke’s gospel account (13:1-9) the 13th chapter. Beloved in the Lord, Asking Questions: “Why?” It’s good to ask questions.  Jesus wants us to ask questions.  He wants us to grow and learn and study and put the answers into practice through repentance and faith.  The problem is, we often ask the wrong questions, questions the Bible doesn’t answer.  And too often we ask questions supposing ourselves to already know the answer.  Such is the case this morning with our   More…

Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior X Jesus Christ.  AMEN!  Our text for this morning’s sermon is taken from St. Luke’s gospel account the 13th (Luke 13:31-35)chapter.   Beloved in the Lord, Pharisees seek Jesus’ departure The path is set and Jesus is walking it. The passion is begun.  Jesus is going to Jerusalem for you and me and for the world.  What was discussed with immortals at His transfiguration looms ahead as He marches south.  His face is set like a flint.  His eyes are fixed.  His heart is bound.  His soul is willing.  His feet take each stride with   More…

This is the sermon that was preached at the Saturday Divine Service at the BJS 2013 5th Annual Conference at Bethany Lutheran Church in Naperville, IL.   In Jesus’ Name.  AMEN! Beloved in the Lord, The glory of “now”, that’s what Satan offers.  The power of “now”, that’s how the Devil tempts.  Led by the Spirit, Jesus has been in the wilderness for forty days.  He’s hungry.  When a man is hungry he wants to eat . . . now.  “Turn these stones into bread . . . if you are the Son of God.”  The Devil tempts Jesus with   More…

The Transfiguration:  Shedding New Light on Jesus and the Crosses We Bear Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  AMEN!  Our text for this morning’s sermon is taken from St. Luke’s gospel account the 9th (Luke 9:28-36) chapter. Beloved in the Lord, Order in the Kingdom The scandal of the cross and the stumbling block of suffering is an affliction of the soul with which we all must wrestle. Peter, James, and John were no different.  It has been about 8 days since Peter made the great confession and then promptly stuck his foot in   More…

Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN!  Our text for this morning’s sermon is taken from St. Luke’s gospel account the 4th (Luke 4:31-44) chapter. Beloved in the LORD,   A Word in the midst of Death The love of the heart is made known by the words of one’s mouth.  The power and verity of those words are confirmed by the deeds done to love’s object.  Thus what the heart loves will be blessed with gracious words and kind deeds.  God is love and in His great love He has sent His   More…

Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN!  Our text for this morning’s sermon is taken from St. Luke’s gospel account the fourth chapter (Luke 4:16-30). Beloved in the Lord, The Fulfillment of Scripture Anointed for us and bearing the Father’s delight Jesus makes His way to Nazareth.  Thirsty souls await the good wine He has to give.   Hearts long for the gladness that comes with God’s presence and God’s Word and God’s mercy.  Thus going to Nazareth, Jesus goes to Synagogue for Jesus goes in order to   More…