Today, we hear about a Jesus who doesn’t match what we usually think of Him. We see Jesus as our friend, even our buddy. We see him as a pleasant, smiling person who never confronts anyone but is always there to confirm whatever you may be doing. That’s the Jesus we want. That’s also the […]
The Wound of Apathy: Matthew 26:36-45
March 7, 2012 by
Jesus did not want to be alone as He wrestled in prayer that night. How often we forget that our blessed Lord was, and is, fully human! He needed the comfort of companionship. He needed encouragement from others. And so, as Jesus leaves the larger group of His disciples behind, He takes with Him His […]
Rejoice in Your Suffering: Romans 5:1-11
March 4, 2012 by
Note: This sermon has a quotation from the Apocrypha and treats that quotation from Sirach as Scripture. This is simply how our Confessions treat the Apocrypha. Ref: Ap XXI, 9: “We grant that angels pray for us. For there is a passage in Zechariah 1:12, where an angel prays, ‘O Lord of hosts, how long […]
The Wound of Betrayal: Matthew 26:20-25
February 29, 2012 by
The “sore abuse and scorn” that scourged our Lord’s head “with anguish” (LSB 450:2) began long before the physical abuse. It began with the actions of a friend, of one whom He loved. It began with a companion with whom He had traveled many miles and shared many meals. This was a wound that weighed […]
Mark 1:9-15: Jesus Faces Down the Tempter
February 26, 2012 by
The water from the Jordan River slowly trickled off our Lord’s wet hair. The hot, wilderness sand glued itself to His damp, walking feet. Behind Him, the well-known river snaked along. Before Him, the ancient serpent lay in wait. Still wet with baptismal water, Jesus boldly goes into the desert of temptation. This is when […]
Ash Wednesday: Joel 2:12-19
February 22, 2012 by
We heard it at the start of today’s liturgy: Dust you are, and to dust you will return. The ashes, which give this day its name, have nothing to do with Lenten fasting. Whether you have ashes on your forehead or not, they tell no one if you have been fasting. But the ashes do […]
Mark 9:2-9: Jesus’ Transfiguration
February 19, 2012 by
The time for Jesus’ earthly miracles was fading fast. And soon, His popularity would begin to wane, as well. For now, we find ourselves at the midpoint of Mark’s Gospel, where Jesus turns His face toward the task of dying and rising. Jesus begins to teach His disciples that He will have to suffer. He […]
Mark 1:40-45: Jesus Heals a Leper
February 12, 2012 by
Medically, leprosy was, and still is, a ghastly disease. It’s a systemic, bacterial infection that infects someone’s nerves and upper-respiratory tract. It permanently damages the skin, nerves, limbs, and eyes. Until 1941, there was no cure. Even today, in some areas, leprosy is still a significant, public-health problem. Socially, leprosy isolated someone from the community. […]
Mark 1:29-39: Why Jesus Came
February 5, 2012 by
Imagine if we had a Jesus in Kimberling City. Imagine that! What if we had a Jesus who would open His door each day, so people could see Him for healing? People could bring others who were sick for Jesus to heal them of their illnesses. If that were so, we wouldn’t need Skaggs at […]
Mark 1:21-28: The Purpose of Coming to Church
January 31, 2012 by
When we come to church, each of us seeks something. It’s like other areas in our lives. I go to Harter House to get groceries. I go to the gas station to get gas for my car. So, what do you expect to get when you come to Church? But specifically, what do you expect […]
