“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial. For when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
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Category: Sermons
GOD SHOWS NO PARTIALITY IN ELECTING HIS PEOPLE
This is, as most of you know, the time of year which emphasizes endurance in the Faith. Behind that theme lies this Sunday’s Old Testament reading. It reveals the way God grants the Faith to people, and how He sustains them in the Faith. The Word for the day truly reveals that God shows no partiality in electing His people. Our short Old Testament reading is so divinely important that it, in the Greek language of the Scriptures, it is quoted directly, or strongly alluded to, fourteen times in the New Testament. The same Holy Spirit who inspired Moses to record our words from Deuteronomy moved Saints John, Luke, Mark, and Paul to quote it often.
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HOLDING TO THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OF PEACE
As some of us heard this past Sunday, Jesus Himself was ringed about by the Pharisees and Scribes who continued to try to trap Him in His Word. As they continued to do that, they were simply doing the will of their father. That is because the Father of Lies still wages battles against God’s people. Satan continues to do that even as he knows that Christ Jesus has won the war! On account of that, such clashes take place in each of us, in the Lord’s congregations, and in the Church at large. For those reasons, Jesus faced the full brunt of the forces of evil.
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Dining With the Pharisees
Our Savior took the plans of the prideful who attempted to honor themselves and brought them down, putting them to shame. At the same time, Christ took a man who was low and suffering and raised him up.
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THE REST OF THE STORY
“Those among us who attended either of last Sunday’s services, or this past Wednesday’s Divine Service, heard the first half of a large narrative. It concerned Elijah, a widow, and her son. We heard of God’s gracious provision of oil and flour for a small household in a time of great famine. This week’s Old Testament reading follows upon that. It is part of that which is called a short lectio continua. That indicates that it is the second half of a continuous reading. It was chosen long ago to be proclaimed in this season, for it helps focus the faithful upon enduring in the Faith. So, today have heard, as a famous radio personality used to say, “the rest of the story…”” Click on the title above for the full sermon
FREED FROM AXIOUSNESS IN CHRIST
” Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Suffiencient for the day is it’s evil.” Click on the Title above to hear the full sermon.
Freed in Christ to not be anxious
The life of sinful man is plagued by numerous conditions, struggles, and troubles. How widespread these different undesirable things are or how much of an issue they are may wax and wane like the moon in the night sky as the years and decades go by but nevertheless, they persist. …For more, click on the title above.
Jesus–The true Word
From tax collector to apostle and evangelist
With each successive generation the lack of affiliation with religion has grown. About 50 years ago, in 1973, 87 percent of U.S. adults identified with a Christian religion*, six percent were non-Christian or “other” religion, and five percent did not have a religious preference. Today, according to the most recent data, 68% identify with a Christian religion*, seven percent identify with a non-Christian religion, and 22 percent of Americans said they have no religious preference—or, no “religion” at all….For more, click on the title above.
Hold onto God’s Word, for though it the Holy Spirit gives life
Today, our Old Testament reading calls for any person who would be found faithful before God to hold onto God’s Word. It teaches that the faithful continue being called to hold onto God’s instruction; that He continues to reveal through rightly divided His Word.
It is through the proclaimed Word of God that the Holy Spirit wills to give salvation. At the end of a faithful person’s mortal life in the Faith, the Spirit, through the Word of God, will lead him or her into blessed eternal life. That is fitting for us to hear as Laurencetide’s theme of sanctification draws to a close for another year. …For more, click on the title above.