Luther’s Notes on the Gospel: Second Sunday in Advent – Watchfulness
Populus Zion Luke 21:25-36 New King James Version 25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the…
Populus Zion Luke 21:25-36 New King James Version 25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the…
Brothers of John the Steadfast is pleased to announce the availability of a devotional, Cause for Great Joy, from Steadfast in the Parish!…
Jerusalem is the seat of power in the land of Canaan. Herod resides there. Pilate has his quarters there. The Sanhedrin gather there. The temple with her priests are there in its midst. Whoever controls Jerusalem controls Canaan. Whoever controls Canaan controls the trade routes. As with all things where there is money to be had there is power to be exercised. Power and money govern Jerusalem, her temple and her people. And power and money require more power and money to maintain themselves. There is always someone vying for more of each. Herod, Pilate, the Sanhedrin, the Herodians, the scribes, priests, zealots, the pilgrims all struggle against each other each looking for an advantage against the others, each plotting, planning, maneuvering, manipulating. Wherever there is power there is conflict and struggle. And wherever there is conflict and struggle there is fear and anxiety.
We have often reported of the horrid conditions that many men find themselves in on Candidate status. Here is an opportunity for anyone…
“Blessed is the King Who Comes in the Name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:28-40) As you can tell from the change in the…
That portion of Holy Scripture that we shall read and consider, the Holy Spirit has caused to be recorded in Deuteronomy 8:1-10, reading…
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also…
The Gospel Notes for Advent 2 of the Historic One-Year Lectionary is now available. You may download the Color PDF, the Black and…
“Thanking God for This Good Land” (Deuteronomy 8:1-10) Today is the Day of National Thanksgiving. This is the day set aside for Americans…
Matthew 21:1-9 New King James Version 1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then…
November 30th, 2015 St. Andrew’s Day John 1:35-42 New King James Version 35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his…
“To make the way smoother for the unlearned—for only them do I serve—I shall set down the following two propositions concerning the freedom…
This conclusion to my experience with the Wiki15 conference is extremely delayed. One of the reasons is because I didn’t know where to…
The Gospel Notes for Advent 1 of the Historic One-Year Lectionary is now available. You may download the Color PDF or the Black…
Laymen: Would you like to be able to focus on the content of your pastor’s sermon without being distracted by the dozens of…
I have not seen nearly as much doctrinal leadership or supervision from the Harrison administration in the LCMS as I expected there would…
On a recent stop in St. Louis at the anchor store of Concordia Publishing House on Jefferson Avenue I was shocked to notice…
Tuesday with Luther this week covers the Eighth Commandment, You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor, and is titled “Our Pesky…
Here’s a submission from a Concerned Layman: Before I begin in earnest, let me say that I am not a pastor, nor am…
“Those days” in our text are the “end of days”, the “last days”, these days. For in many and various ways God spoke to His people of old by the prophets, but now in these “last days” He has spoken to us by His Son. The Bible teaches us that the end of days, the last days, are marked by God’s revelation, God’s speaking through His Son. Those days began 2000 years ago. The last days are these days. And because Jesus is speaking about “these days” He is speaking about “our days”. Nothing could be more important for us to hear these days than the Word of God’s Son in our text this morning.
When missionaries are selected by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Synod doesn’t hand them a bag full of cash and send them out…
Christian worship has always made significant use of the Psalms, which have always been meant to be sung. No matter what your approach…
Last Sunday of the Church Year Trinity 27 Heaven’s Eternal Joy: The Bride of Christ Matthew 25:1-13 New King James Version 25 “Then…
“Therefore Let Us Draw Near, Hold Fast, and Stir Up” (Hebrews 10:11-25) Last week we looked at Hebrews 9, where we are told…
Though most are unawares, it is a sad day in the midst of a holy week. While pilgrims stream through Zion’s gates in order to celebrate the coming Passover, Jesus departs. He leaves the city and her temple and in so doing leaves her desolate. For no matter how busy her priests, no matter how full her borders, no matter how pious and fervent her rituals, without Jesus, both the time and the space are empty. Without Jesus the city is but a gathering of clanging cymbals. There is much noise but there is no dirge – the Baptist calls no more. There is no dancing – Simeon’s song is but a faint memory. There is no sad song of repentance nor festal celebrations of God’s grace and mercy. Without Jesus all is meaningless.