Our eternal life won for us on the Cross by our Savior Jesus Christ is precisely why we call this week holy. The many ways we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ all pour out from our own reality as those who are forgiven, redeemed, and future citizens of the Heavenly City. …For more, click on the title above.
Tag: Vicar Strawn
Jesus Is
Our text for today’s sermon comes from the Gospel reading which you heard just moments ago, these words:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
Thus far our text. These words are likely familiar to most of us. Jesus’ words here should be some of the most famous He ever said, yet strangely, the average person likely has never heard them. Why is that? Perhaps they just don’t have the same ring as “Judge not,” or “Turn the other cheek.” …For more, click on the title above.
Don’t be surprised when the Word of God works
There are many significant actions taken by the King of Nineveh in our reading that require a bit of background knowledge to understand. Ultimately, though, in the book of Jonah and indeed also in our reading from Luke, we hear of an abrupt repentance from a very unlikely source.
Going first to Jonah, what is the significance of Nineveh? Nineveh was the great capital city of the Assyrian Empire. In the time of Jonah, about 790 B.C., the Assyrian Empire was one of the most powerful kingdoms in the ancient world. …For more, click on the title above.
Hold God accountable to His promises
“And He said, ‘Let me go, for the day breaks.’ But [Jacob] said, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’”
Thus far our text. This text has always been one of fascination for me, and not just because of the mental picture of God and Jacob locked in a professional wrestling-style bout. Surely, there are a lot of “weird” things in the Old Testament. Balaam’s Donkey, Jonah and the Great Fish, Elisha and the she-bears, all of these seem quite strange at first glance. So also, with this story of Jacob who becomes Israel. How can anyone wrestle with God? …For more, click on the title above.
Who is the sower?
Conveniently, our dear Lord Jesus Christ has done some of the work for us this morning, in that He states the meaning of the parable plainly to His disciples and to you. The Parable of the Sower is quite well known, yet somehow the meaning of it gets muddled and confused, even though Jesus plainly says what it means. Let me elaborate on this….For more, click on the title above.
Listen to Him!
While in the presence of God, our Father gave Moses the Ten
Commandments, and those commandments carried with them the implicit command to listen to them…
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Where is God Dwelling?
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Wise men still seek Him
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day, Epiphany, we celebrate Christ’s revealing of Himself to the gentiles, the magi. The word “epiphany” literally means “reveal,” and we can see it used by people of all kinds with that meaning. Yet, today we focus our attention on the magi who visit our Lord….For more, click on the text above.
The Word is true, regardless
The command from God in Deuteronomy and the condemnation from Isaiah in our reading this evening stand as polar opposites, then and now. The people of Israel were/are supposed to treat God’s Word with reverence and teach it to their families. They were supposed to write it all over town, wherever they would see it most often. In our day, there are still communities that want Nativity scenes removed from public spaces. …For more, click on the title above
The meaning of Christmas is truly awesome
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.