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.
Tag: Pastor von Hindenburg
Proclaim the Word in every way
I love the structure of the Lutheran service…not just today, but in every Divine Service. If one follows from the opening versicles all the way through to the Benediction, one can see a story unfold. And it’s a story that never fails to satisfy the hearer. There is always repentance, forgiveness and satisfaction. The satisfaction of being loved with a steadfast love, being shown mercy, with mercy that will endure forever….For more, click on the title above.
What are you doing here?
What an honor, what a privilege, what joy to be here today as my dear friend, Rev. James N.S. Kollie is installed as Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Liberia!
When I was asked if I would preach for this installation service, there was no hesitation. How could I say no to such an opportunity? Immediately, I asked Pastor Kollie if they had decided on a theme text for the installation. He told me “No…we’re going to let you pick it.” …For more, click on the title above.
We believe, teach and confess
We will begin this morning with some sure and certain premises:
1) Faith alone makes us Christians.
2) Confession alone marks us as Christians.
3) Only God can judge the heart, and
a. Only God can see what we really and truly believe.
Nobody but God can see our faith, but the whole world can hear our confession of the faith. Christians confess their faith. Let’s face it, the only real reason someone won’t confess his faith is because he has no faith to confess. …For more, click on the title above.
The Good Bloody Shepherd
If you haven’t figured it out yet from the name of this particular Sunday, Misericordias Domini, which translates to “the mercies of the Lord,” or from our Hymn of the Day, “The King of Love my Shepherd Is,” or the Hymn which will follow the Offertory, which we have noted as Good Shepherd Hymn, “The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want,” or from the Psalm appointed for this day, which is Psalm 23, or from the bulletin cover.….well, today is officially “Good Shepherd Sunday.” Our focus therefore will be on sheep and shepherds….For more, click on the title above
The Way
Today we have a Feast day to celebrate St. Philip and St. James – but what do we really know about these two called disciples of Jesus.
for the full Sermon click on the above title
The Doubt of Thomas
Dear brothers and sisters of our risen Lord Jesus Christ this morning’s question may seem quite
simple, but it is oh, so important. Ready?
What makes us Christians different than everyone else?
Click on the above title for the full Sermon
I know that my Redeemer lives
The message of Good Friday is that Jesus, the Incarnate Son of God died for the sins of the world. All transgressions have been paid for by Jesus, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. The message of Easter is of Life in the Resurrection of the crucified Son of the Living God.
This has been the hope that God’s people have always had, believed and confessed. …For more, click on the title above.
The blood of the Lamb
Thousands upon thousands of lambs—buckets upon buckets of blood—this is the history of the Passover. Long ago, in the land of Egypt, in a land of exile, in a land of slavery, the Israelites suffered under the iron fist of Pharaoh.
This line of pharaohs had forgotten the saving work of Joseph and how he had delivered Egypt from the devastating famine. They had enslaved the Hebrew people to do the pharaohs’ manual labor—to build their cities and erect their monuments. …For more, click on the title above.
Why Easter? To proclaim Christ crucified to forgive sin
We have heard three readings from Holy Scripture today, our Old Testament reading from Isaiah, the 2nd reading from the Book of Revelation, and the Passion reading from St. Luke. As we gather this day, it is appropriate that we focus on three points:
1. The betrayal of Jesus by his friend, Judas,
2. The vengeance that is yet to come upon the enemies of our Lord, and
3. To continue in our Lenten theme, “Why Easter?”
For more, click on the title above.