Texts: Mathew 16:13-20, Mark 8:27-38, Acts 4:8-13, and 2 Peter 1:1-15 Each Christian congregation is to be a living embodiment, in a particular place and time, of the Church of Jesus Christ. And that just makes sense. After all, don’t Christians believe that the Jesus in heaven is the same Jesus who rose from […]
Matthew 3:13-17: The Baptism of Our Lord
January 25, 2015 by
As Christians, we usually point to Jesus’ death on the cross and say, “That’s why I’m saved.” And, yet, we often miss that we could just as easily point to Jesus in the water of the Jordan River and say the same: “There is my salvation, forgiveness, and life!” But how can we say that? […]
Isaiah 60:1-6: Shined On By Christ
January 4, 2015 by
Have you ever looked out the window and marveled on one of those winter nights when a full moon lights up the entire sky? But no matter how brightly that moon may shine, it has no light of its own. If there were no sun, the moon would be dark, as dark as dark can […]
Romans 8:31-39: A Happy New Year in Christ Jesus!
December 31, 2014 by
The words on many of our lips today and tomorrow, even as some of you may be leaving the service tonight, will be this familiar greeting: Happy New Year! But what will make the new year, just a few hours away, happy? Will it be a big celebration tonight, watching the ball drop in Times […]
Matthew 2:13-18: Holy Innocents
December 28, 2014 by
See how bitterly and shamelessly Satan hates the newborn Son of God. He incites King Herod to massacre the infant boys of Bethlehem, in his bloody rage to cut down Jesus. But see even more the lengths to which God the Father will go to protect His Son. He tells Joseph to take Mary and […]
John 1:1-14: The Word Becomes Flesh, Even For Us Today
December 25, 2014 by
Caesar Augustus was emperor, and Quirinius was governor of Syria. Herod the Great was king in Jerusalem. Astrologers in Persia were gazing at the stars. Peace reigned throughout the world. But it was an uneasy peace, enforced by the power of Rome and the point of her sword. Joseph, the heir of King David eked […]
Wisdom 18:14-15, Luke 2:1-20: The Word of God Descended from Heaven’s Royal Throne
December 24, 2014 by
“It came upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old, from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold: ‘Peace on the earth, goodwill to all, from heaven’s all-gracious King!’ The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing” (LSB 366). Angels sang that night when Christ was born. […]
Viola Steward’s Funeral Sermon
December 21, 2014 by
Isaiah 26:14, 1 Corinthians 15:51-17, and John 14:3 Today, while we mourn the loss of Viola, that’s not the only reason we are here. Although we want to celebrate the life of Viola, that’s not the only reason we are here. We are feeling many emotions, but even they aren’t the only reasons we […]
John 1:19-28: Not the Messiah We are Expecting
December 21, 2014 by
Many folks like to talk about themselves, whether they will admit it or not. Such talk can even be a sign of our fallen nature having its way in our lives. Such talk reveals that life is about me–not others, not God, or not even about God for me. But John the Baptizer acted differently. […]
Micah 5:2-5a, Revelation 12:1-5a: The Bread of Life gives you His life in His Church, His House of Bread
December 18, 2014 by
Great is the mystery, worthy of all telling. The Word became Flesh and tabernacled among us. Who would have known it? Who would have done it that way? A virgin mother will give birth to a Son; the Creator will join His creatures. The Infinite will contain Himself within the finite. God will become Man–and […]
