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 […]
Text: Acts 17:16-31; 1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21 As Paul was in Athens he found many objects of worship, including an altar to an unknown God. As we remind ourselves of Peter’s words to always be prepared to make a defense of our faith, Paul takes the opportunity to tell the people of Athens about […]
Text: John 14:1-14 Jesus tells the disciples in the Gospel that He is going to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house. And He will come back and take them to be with Him. The same applies to us. Christ has prepared a place for us. Peter tells us that we are a […]