Text: Deuteronomy 7:6–9; Romans 8:28–39; Matthew 13:44–52 Preaching: Rev. R. Beinert – The Lord our God has chosen us to be “his treasured possession,” not because of any strength in us, but solely “because the Lord loves” us (Deut. 7:6–8). He is faithful, and He “keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him […]
Text: Isaiah 44:6–8; Romans 8:18–27; Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43 The good Seed, which is “the Son of Man,” Jesus Himself (Matt. 13:37), brings forth a harvest of faith and bears good fruits in “the sons of the kingdom” (Matt. 13:38). Whatever is sown apart from His Word is of the devil, who plants the weeds of […]
Text: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 As “the rain and the snow come down from heaven” and “water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout” (Is. 55:10), so the Word of God accomplishes the purpose for which He speaks it, granting joy and peace through the forgiveness of sins and producing the fruits of faith and […]
Text: Matthew 11:25-30 – Rev. Harald Schoubye Though we have died with Christ in Holy Baptism, and we are raised to new life in Him, we find “another law waging war” in our body and life, that is, between our old Adam and the new man (Rom. 7:23). By the Spirit of Christ, we “desire […]
Text: Matthew 10:34–42 – Rev. Mark Smith False prophets preach what their hearers want to hear, promising peace even when the Lord has spoken “war, famine, and pestilence” (Jer. 28:8). But if “the Lord has truly sent the prophet,” he speaks what the Lord has spoken, and “the word of that prophet comes to pass” […]
Text: Romans 6:12-23 We sometimes hear (or say) that phrase “over my dead body” when someone is going to do something that someone else REALLY does not want them to do. Whether it’s because it’s dangerous, or because it is not a positive or beneficial thing to their life. As we hear Paul speak in […]
Text: Matthew 9:9-13 Matthew the tax collector is called to come and follow Jesus, and then they gather at Matthew’s house with other tax collectors, and sinners for a meal. The Pharisees see this and question the disciples of Jesus why Jesus would eat with tax collectors and sinners? Is Jesus doing this to show […]
Text: Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Acts 2:14a, 22-36; Matthew 28:16-20 On this Trinity Sunday we think about God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three persons, one God. In the beginning we see all three present, and that man is created in their image, the image of God. Much has happened since that time, and that begs […]
Text: Acts 2:1-21 As we celebrate the day of Pentecost, we know that many were baptized that day after they heard the Gospel of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The death and resurrection of Jesus is what we are baptized into. And in Baptism we receive forgiveness of sins, we are rescued from death […]
Text: John 17:1-11 When Jesus prays the High Priestly prayer on the night He was betrayed, He prays “this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Sometimes the question can come up of whether or not Jesus is saying that He is not God […]