The Beautiful Crown of the Bible

"Every Eye Shall See" by Keith Clark

This passage from Matthew is no parable, but a description of the Final Judgement.
So, what does the text say about this judgement? Upon first hearing this story, it might seem that the judgement is based on a person’s good works. It is not.
First, when the text begins, after Christ sits on the Throne of His Glory, what does He do? He separates the people from one another as a shepherd separates sheep and goats. What happens next? He judges them. Their positions are already made clear before the judgement occurs, so you need not be afraid that you will not be counted among the sheep…For more, click on the title above.

Delivered for our sins and raised for our justification

The Creator of Man Who took on human flesh to be delivered for our sins and raised for our justification (that the faithful would believe, confess and know that we have been declared right with God) has brought us, once again, into the final division of the Trinity season. Its three weeks have been marked today with the special ways of proclaiming God’s Word that this congregation has used, for some time, to mark a seasonal change….for more, click on the title above.

Jesus reigns above all His enemies

Jesus reigns above all His enemies. That is good news for Jesus. That began for Him as He was suspended between heaven and earth—affixed to the wood of a cross long ago. It continued in His resurrection from the dead. That revealed that the last enemy of mankind, death, was then under His rule. Jesus’ reign was exalted above His enemies round about in His ascension to the position of all power, rule and authority over all things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. His rule will reach its eternal fulfillment when Jesus returns on the clouds with power and glory in order to establish His everlasting kingdom. …For more, click on the title above

Christ has authority to forgive sins

Healing of the Paralytic (Athos) icon

Our text for today’s sermon comes from the Gospel reading which you heard just moments ago, these words:
“Which is easier to say, ‘your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘arise and walk?’ But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—then He says to the paralytic, ‘rise, take up your mat, and go to your house.’ And having arisen, he went away to his house.”

Thus far our text. I will ask you the same question Christ asks the scribes in our reading. Which is easier to say? Your sins are forgiven, or arise and walk?
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The righteous man, Jesus, is your sure and certain hope

This year, today is the third Sunday in the fourth part of the Trinity season. The weekly readings continue be proclaimed in order to turn their hearers hearts and minds to their emphasis on the power Christians are given to endure as we live under the cross, that which comes to us through the Faith of Jesus. The texts reveal the power of God that gives you strength in your struggle against the temptations of the world. They lead you to hear and believe that our victory against all those who oppose us, on account of the Faith we rightly confess is assured through the death and resurrection of the only truly righteous Man, Jesus the Christ…For more, click on the title above.

The seven ‘Ones’

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Thus far our text. This text sounds familiar does it not? Even if you have never heard it before today, the things Paul says to the Church in Ephesus in our epistle reading certainly ring a bell. Indeed, before we sang the hymn of the day, we confessed the Nicene Creed. In that Creed we confess that there is one Father, one Lord, Our Savior Jesus Christ, and one Spirit. It seems that these verses could very well be an early creed of the ancient church…
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King of the Hill

Stained glass window fro Christ the King Lutheran Church, Redlands, California

King of the hill. I’m sure you’ve all heard of that game. My father was in the Air Force and we moved around a lot. Before I was 10 we lived in Newfoundland, Texas, Michigan, Ohio, Germany and Illinois. Everywhere we went we would end up playing this game and the rules never changed.
The object was to take the hill—even if you had to make little secret pacts with other kids (or even your brother)—to get to the top of the hill. …for more, click on the title above.