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“When the Messiah Gives You a Makeover” (Isaiah 61:1-4, 10-11) Have you ever seen one of those makeover shows on TV? My daughter used to watch one. It was called “What Not to Wear.” The idea of the show was … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Isaiah
“Oh That You Would Rend the Heavens and Come Down” (Isaiah 64:1-9) The Old Testament Reading for today, from Isaiah 64, is an intense prayer. The prophet is begging God to intervene on behalf of his people. As such, it … Continue reading
“Invited to the Feast” (Isaiah 25:6-9) There’s a big feast coming, and Bob is invited! In fact, his seat is already guaranteed. There’s a big feast coming, and you are invited too. That’s what I want to tell you about … 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
“The Suffering, Sacrificing, Saving Servant” (Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12) “Behold, my servant,” says the Lord. Yes, behold him today. Behold the servant of the Lord serving in a most unexpected way: serving by suffering. Today on this Good Friday we … Continue reading
“You Are My Servant, Israel” (Isaiah 49:1-7) Two weeks ago, for the Baptism of Our Lord, the Old Testament reading was from Isaiah 42, the first of four so-called “Servant Songs” in the second half of Isaiah. “Behold my servant,” … Continue reading
“Behold My Servant” (Isaiah 42:1-9) “Behold my servant,” the Lord says to us today. Who is this servant, you ask? It’s Jesus, of course. The Christ, the Anointed One, baptized as the Lord’s servant, to do the will of the … Continue reading
“Arise, Shine, for Your Light Has Come” (Isaiah 60:1-6) “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.” “Arise and shine”? Are you kidding me? On a Friday night? In January? On … Continue reading
“And the Government Shall Be upon His Shoulder” (Isaiah 9:2-7) About 26 days from now, we’re going to have a change in our government. A new president will take the oath of office, and a new administration will take over. … Continue reading
[Note: Isaiah 7 is a reading both for the Fourth Sunday in Advent and for Christmas Eve. Since my congregation did not get to hear Sunday’s sermon due to weather, and since I’ve been doing a series on the Isaiah … Continue reading
“Isaiah’s Immanuel Prophecy” (Isaiah 7:10-17) Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel! There’s that word “Emmanuel.” And … Continue reading
“He Comes, We Come” (Isaiah 35:1-10) “You go, we go.” That’s what the Chicago Cubs told their centerfielder and leadoff man Dexter Fowler the last couple of years. “You go, we go.” In other words, “As you go, Dexter, so … Continue reading
“The Shoot and the Root of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1-10) Today we continue our series on “Isaiah’s Advent Prophecies.” Today’s prophecy comes from Isaiah 11, and it begins, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a … Continue reading
“The Mountain of the House of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:1-5) Today we’re beginning a series of sermons I’m calling “Isaiah’s Advent Prophecies.” We’re taking the Old Testament readings for this season of Advent, all taken from the prophet Isaiah, and … Continue reading
“When You Walk through Fire You Shall Not Be Burned” (Isaiah 43:1-7) “When you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” This is the Lord’s promise to his people. You heard it … Continue reading
“When You Pass through the Waters” (Isaiah 43:1-7) With the recent floods of late December and early January, we certainly witnessed the destructive impact those waters can have. Highways were shut down. A stretch of I-55 was closed for days. … Continue reading
Before next Sunday, we will once again celebrate that most significant of events in human history, the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the wonderful proclamation that for your sake, God came down from heaven, was incarnate by … Continue reading
“Taming the Tongue” (James 3:1-12; Isaiah 50:4-10) Maybe you’ve seen it in the news this past week: There are wildfires raging throughout California, burning out of control. Large stretches of forests are being destroyed; homes are being threatened. What started … Continue reading
“Eloi, Eloi, Lema Sabachthani?” (Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12; Psalm 22; Mark 15:1-47) “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” This is one of the seven words from the cross, that is, one of the seven times Jesus spoke during his crucifixion. “Eloi, Eloi, … Continue reading
“What Christmas Is All About: God Saving Us, in a Humble Way, to Be His People” (Luke 2:1-20; Titus 2:11-14; Isaiah 9:2-7) What is Christmas all about? How do people view Christmas and celebrate it? Why do they look forward … Continue reading
“The Great Christmas Gift Exchange” (Isaiah 61:1-4, 10-11) There is a game that is played at this time of year at Christmas parties all across the land. The game goes by several names, but I think most often it is … Continue reading
“Comfort, Comfort My People” (Isaiah 40:1-11) “Comfort, comfort my people.” Yes, comfort. A word so nice, they said it twice. Who did? Why, Isaiah did. Well, actually God said it, through his prophet Isaiah. You heard it at the start … Continue reading
“A Prayer to the God Who Acts” (Isaiah 64:1-9) Today is the First Sunday in Advent, the first day of a brand new church year. And this season of Advent is a time of waiting, a time of penitential preparation, … Continue reading
“Advent Trees” (Matthew 3:1-12; Isaiah 11:1-10) You’ve heard of Christmas trees. But have you heard of “Advent trees”? No? Well, I hadn’t either. In fact, I just made that term up as I was thinking about our lessons for today. … Continue reading
“Marriage and the Family: The Cultural Slide and the Christian Response” (Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 128:1-6; John 2:1-11) The readings for today–the Old Testament Reading, the Psalm, and the Holy Gospel–these readings are filled with references to marriage and the family. … Continue reading