The Baptizer came baptizing in the house of misery, which is what Bethania means, along the famous Jordan and this was strange. It was strange to those who came to him, even to those who knew chapter and verse of John’s famous quotation:
“I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘make straight the way of the LORD.’” And it is strange to us.
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Category: Sermons
Blood guilt
I have the privilege of directing our hearts and minds toward the Sacrament of the Altar, that ultimate gift of God given us Christians through the ultimate work of Christ in atoning for our sins. How bitter-sweet are the gifts of the Lord’s Table and the Lord’s Cup? You have heard proclaimed from this pulpit already two messages of hope, peace, joy and love. Our season of preparation comes to an end very soon. But as it has not yet ended we must ever remain watchful and filled with anticipation….For more, click on the title above.
Rejoice, for the mystery of the ages has been revealed
Rejoice! That is, “feel great joy, be glad, take delight! “ Those are what that word means in English today. You might think: “Why should I rejoice, Pastor?”
After all, our world continues suffering on account of increasing chaos that is wrought among humans because of Adam’s Fall long ago. What reason do you have to rejoice when a lot of bad news—in personal lives, in families, in our communities, in this State, nation, and world—appears to inundate our lives? Why should you, dear Christian, feel great joy in this fallen world?…for more, click on the title above.
The power and peace of Holy Absolution
So, what is this third Sacrament and how may it be used by us—by you? Today/tonight we will be exploring Holy Absolution. First, we should understand where this “sacrament” is found. Why is it called a sacrament? And finally, why do we need it or, how is it used?…For more, click on the title above.
Nevertheless, Amen
This week is the week of Peace: we’ve lit the second candle on our Advent wreath. But what do you hear from our Gospel reading today that gives you peace?
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God’s Beautiful Grace…
Sermon for Advent 1 Wednesday
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A season of hope, peace, joy and love for God’s people
Happy Holy Week! Today we celebrate Jesus’ Advent as the first half of this new Church Year begins again. All of you should know the season. It serves to prepare the Way for us to hear of, and rejoice in, the divine reasons the eternal Second Person of the Holy Trinity took on our flesh.
The rhythm of this season is used to return our thoughts and hearts to the Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love God showed for sinners. He did so that they, you, might have the blessings of eternal life in Christ even now. …For more, click on the title above.
The end is coming!
The End has come… the end of the Church Year that is!
God, in His grace and mercy for us sinners has brought you, the faithful, to hear again the set of readings that call all people who would be “in the Church,” to remain watchful for the Final Coming of our Bridegroom. He is Jesus, the One Who died while bearing the sins of His Bride—all those violations of God’s Holy Word inherited or committed by the members of His Church. He rose from the dead to present Her (that is, we who regularly gather around His Word and Sacraments) spotless and pure to Himself. …For more, click on the title above.
Whether we thank Him or not, Jesus offers healing to all
The nine lepers in our text today often get the short end of the preaching stick. Similarly to Thomas, it’s easy to pick on them, easy to cast them as the “bad guys” of the text to make a point, but, while they do have their issues, doing so skews the text. So, what does that have to do with today?…For more, click on the title above.