Our text for this Christmas Day sermon comes from our Gospel reading which you heard just moments ago, these words:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that was made… and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
Thus far our text. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Merry Christmas to you all….or more click on the title above.
Category: Sermons
The Savior remains Christ (the) Lord
Why did God bring you here tonight? Was it His intent that you would simply behold the beauty of this building’s decorations—those that may be seen in hues of gold and silver (Altar Table), blue and white (Angel Banners), red and green (Wreaths and Ponsettias), purple and rose (Advent Wreath), brass and wood (all about the Chancel and Nave)? Did God move you to be in this place just for you to give thanks to Him through your joining this congregation’s hymns and prayers for sending His only begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sins into death? All those things certainly may be beheld with our human senses in this place on this, one of most holy of nights of the year….For more, click on he title above.
Love, peace, hope and rejoicing
Three out of the four emotions, actions, verbs, meanings attributed to the candles of the Advent wreath are ones which we certainly strive for during our earthly lives, but always fall short of fulfilling—those three being love, peace and hope—those are all Divine gifts that our Lord and Savior provides to us and for us. Rejoicing, now that’s something we can and should do continually when we think about the grace and mercy shown to us by our heavenly Father….for more, click on the title above.
Proclamations of God’s love
Today is the Sunday in the Church Year that is especially set aside so that the members of Christ’s Body would be called to prepare the way of the Lord in their hearts, minds, and lives. That preparation the Holy Spirit works, as the faithful, you we pray, participate as fully as possible in that which is going on the Lord’s Service to us. I said, “as fully as possible,” because as humans still wrestling with sin—in the world and in ourselves—we do become distracted…
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Why are they rejoicing?
As we consider the two readings for today, it is clear that both of the people who originally uttered these songs are rejoicing. Our first reading is attributed to Hannah, the second to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptizer. Directly after the evening sermon, we will sing the Magnificat. This is yet another song of praise, first sung by Mary.
So, in the texts we have three Biblical figures, Hannah, Mary and Zechariah, singing songs to God and rejoicing.
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A history of forgiveness
While the prophets of old were directing people to look forward to the Messiah, John was pointing them to the actual Messiah who had come, the Lord Jesus Christ. John was baptizing people into the forgiveness of sins, preparing them for the more excellent and real Baptism into the death of Jesus Christ. It is our baptism into Christ that will save and bring regeneration. This is why our catechumens learn to call it, along with St. Paul, “a washing of regeneration and renewal.”…
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Zion’s salvation comes
Eventually Zion was meant to refer to all of God’s people and we still do that today. So, when the Bible uses the term Zion, which it does a lot, it’s not so much about geography or a specific hill. It’s using it as a reference to the people of God….
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Our God is a God of Hope
What is the “hope” that is in you? If your definition of hope goes something like this: “Wouldn’t it be nice, if…., or, “If only…” That’s NOT what the Scriptures mean by hope.
In today’s reading St. Paul called our God a “God of hope.” A God who fills His people with all joy and peace in believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit they may abound in hope. That’s not so they would abound in “wouldn’t it be nice,” or, “if only…”
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Ad te Domine Levavi: To You, I will lift up
Today we begin our 2022 Advent series. It is one that is being centered upon the Church’s more historic Introit Psalms. Those were long ago appointed for each of the four Sundays, and following weeks, of the Advent season. Each of those Sundays have received their names from Latin translations of the Introit appointed for each specific Advent week: Ad te levavi; Populus Zion; Gaudete; and Rorate coeli. Those names were derived from the first Latin language verse of the Introit given to the Church for hearing during each Advent week….For more, click on the title above
The triumphal advent of the King of peace
Today, the confessing Church throughout the world celebrates the Triumphal Advent of the King of Peace. Jesus is that King. We declare that for He is the One Who was heralded almost 2,000 years ago by crowds both following and leading His procession into Jerusalem.
That, and more, we have heard again from today’s readings. That is because this is the day that begins a new Church Year of our Lord. For centuries, its Gospel reading has been heard each year on this day. Yet, it is not the only time we hear today’s text in the Lord’s Services.
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