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: Trinity
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.
Trinity 14_2025
Trinity 14
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The law kills; the Spirit gives life
The true love of God leads to steadfastness in His Word
For those numbered among the faithful in this place, especially you who attended both this past Wednesday’s Divine Service and one of the last Sunday’s Divine Services, two themes were repeated in the public proclamation of God’s Word. Wednesday’s sermon was guided by these words: the letters of the Law kill, and the Gospel is the means through which the Spirit sustains life. As last Sunday’s sermon was developed it brought forth this theme: God listens to our pleas. Today, we hear of the true love of God. In it we are led to steadfastness in His Word. Through God’s Word, the Holy Spirit leads Christians into acting in true love for the benefit of our neighbors….For more, click on the title above.
Trinity 13_2025
Trinity 13
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Deaf and mute
Throughout His incarnate earthly ministry, Jesus performs a wide variety of miracles for the people He comes across. Christ feeds many with a small amount of food, raises people from the dead, calms a raging storm and sea, fills nets with fish, casts out demons, and as we see in our Gospel reading for today, heals the ailments of those who are suffering. Today we hear that God listens to our pleas….For more, click on the title above.
Trinity 12_2025
Trinity 12
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A lesson in humility
Beautiful traditions: Helpful if they are received in true faith
On this Sunday of each Church Year, for centuries in the confessing Church, God’s people have heard of beautiful traditions. We are reminded by the readings of the day that those things which we have received from the ancient fathers of the Faith are helpful. That is, whenever they are received in true faith. That remains certain whether or not those things that have been faithfully handed on are the central focus of a given Sunday sermon.
Today, we have heard how Cain and Abel, the children of Adam and Eve, dealt with at least one of the traditions they had received from their father. Those would have been handed onto them after Adam’s fall into sin. We have again heard of the tradition of giving allegiance offerings to God. These the faithful participate in with thanksgiving for all His benefits to His highest creatures. …For more, click on the title above.