Text: Isaiah 56:1, 6–8; Romans 11:1–2a, 13–15, 28–32; & Matthew 15:21–28 By her persistent prayer that Jesus would have mercy and help her (Matt. 15:22, 24), and even in the face of His initial silence and apparent rejection (Matt. 15:23–26), the Canaanite woman boldly confessed her faith in Him (Matt. 15:27–28). Her beautiful example encourages […]
Text: Romans 10:5-17 The Lord who “laid the foundation of the earth” (Job 38:4) is the Author and Giver of life who governs all things by His Word. His wisdom and power are beyond our understanding, except as He reveals Himself in the incarnate Word, Christ Jesus. He has “entered into the springs of the sea” and “walked in the […]
Text: Isaiah 55:1–5; Romans 9:1–5 (6–13); Matthew 14:13–21 By the Gospel of “the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever” (Rom. 9:5), we are “the children of God” (Rom. 9:8), “not because of works but because of him who calls” (Rom. 9:11). Therefore, “listen diligently” and “hear, that your soul may live.” By His […]
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 […]