“The Joy of Being of the Same Mind, the Mind of Christ” (Philippians 2) Today is the second in our four-week series on St. Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians. We’re going chapter by chapter through the four chapters of this … Continue reading
“A Joyful Gospel Partnership” (Philippians 1) Today we start a four-week series of readings and sermons–and Bible classes, as well–on St. Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians. The official Epistle readings from the lectionary have big chunks of each of the … Continue reading
“The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant” (Matthew 18:21-35) Forgiveness doesn’t count. Oh, don’t get me wrong! I don’t mean that it doesn’t matter of that it’s not important. By no means. No, forgiveness counts for a lot in that respect. … Continue reading
“Dealing Drastically with Sin” (Matthew 18:1-20) How seriously do we take the matter of sin? Our own sin? The sin of others? I think that is the theme running through the teachings of Jesus today in the Holy Gospel from … Continue reading
“How to Understand–and Do–Christian Exhortations” (Romans 12:9-21) Take a look again at the Epistle reading for today, as printed on your Scripture insert. It’s Romans 12:9-21, and it starts out as follows: “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; … Continue reading
“Who Is This Man?” (Matthew 16:13-20) “Who is this man?” Who is this man Jesus? This is the most important question that has ever been asked. How will you answer it? The question comes up in the Holy Gospel for … Continue reading
“Jesus and the Canaanite Woman” (Matthew 15:21-28) What kind of faith do you have, in what kind of God? That is the question that our text today will help us to answer. For what we will see in our text … Continue reading
“The Last Enemy to Be Destroyed Is Death” (1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 51-57) Over 25 years as a pastor, I have had a number of World War II veterans as members of the congregations I have served. Homer Rouggly was one … Continue reading
“The Word Is Near You, in Your Mouth and in Your Heart” (Romans 10:5-17) There is a wealthy author and art dealer in New Mexico by the name of Forrest Fenn. A lover of adventure, Mr. Fenn decided to fill … Continue reading
“Come and Be Satisfied!” (Isaiah 55:1-5) Today the Lord is extending an invitation to you. He is saying to each one of us today: “Come and eat!” “Come and drink!” “Come and Be Satisfied!” “Come and be satisfied!” This is … Continue reading
“Inseparable!” (Romans 8:28-39) Do you ever worry that God has given up on you? That he’s finally had enough and is ready to kick you to the curb? It’s like God is thinking: “Oh, my goodness! There he goes again! … Continue reading
“Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest” (Matthew 11:25-30; Romans 7:14-25a) “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Here in this verse from today’s Gospel, Matthew 11:28, Jesus issues … Continue reading
“A Sword, a Cross, and a Life” (Matthew 10:34-42) Today Jesus tells us that he came to bring us three things: “A Sword, a Cross, and a Life.” Are you sure you want these things? Let’s find out. Our text … Continue reading
“Confessing the Faith with the Augsburg Confessors” (Psalm 119:46) Today Lutheran churches around the world are celebrating the 487th anniversary of the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession. On June 25, 1530, in the city of Augsburg, Germany, a group of … Continue reading
“A Kingdom of Priests” (Exodus 19:2-8) “You shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” What did this mean for … Continue reading
“Created, Redeemed, and Sanctified by the Triune God” (Apostles’ Creed) Bob, Karen, Michele, friends and family of our dear sister Dottie: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. A Christian funeral service is … Continue reading
This year, the 500th anniversary year of the Lutheran Reformation (1517), the commemoration of the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession (1530), June 25, falls on a Sunday. Here is a hymn I wrote that is appropriate for the occasion (or … Continue reading
“The Athanasian Creed: Incomprehensible?” Today is Trinity Sunday–or, more properly called, the Feast of the Holy Trinity–and as such, this is the one day in the year when we confess the Athanasian Creed. Actually, we believe, teach, and confess the … Continue reading
“From Tabernacles to Pentecost” (John 7:37-39) Today is the Feast of Pentecost, a major festival in the Christian church year. Today we celebrate the giving of the Holy Spirit, whom our ascended Lord Jesus Christ poured out on his church, … Continue reading
“Our Anxieties and God’s Care” (1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:6-11; John 17:1-11) What are your anxieties? What are you worried about? Anxiety is really another way to say worry. They pretty much mean the same thing. To be anxious, to be … Continue reading
“Ascension Day, the Forgotten Festival” (Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:1-11) Welcome to the Forgotten Festival! Today is Ascension Day, or, as it’s more properly called, the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord. But there is reason to call it, as … Continue reading
“A Living, Loving Family” (John 14:15-21) Christ establishes his church to be “A Living, Loving Family.” And you are a part of it. A living, loving family. Now how do you hear that? Do you hear it as heavy demand, … Continue reading
“Hope for the Future and a Present Priesthood” (John 14:1-14; 1 Peter 2:2-10) You gotta have hope. Hope is faith facing the future. You and I, we need something to look forward to. Otherwise, we lose heart, we get depressed, … Continue reading
“The Good Shepherd Gives Gifts to His Sheep” (John 10:1-18, 22-30) “The forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.” So we just said we believe when we confessed the Apostles’ Creed. This is the faith … Continue reading
“The Good Shepherd for Straying and Suffering Sheep” (1 Peter 2:19-25) I’m guessing by now you’ve picked up on the theme of the day. You’ve heard it throughout the service so far. For example, in the Introit, the words of … Continue reading