It’s unsettling when you finally realize that you’ve haven’t had all the information you’ve needed. You go into a business transaction and make a lousy deal because you’ve only had part of the information. You live your life, working under certain presumptions, only later to find out that some of your presumptions were based on […]
Lester Haas’ Graveside Memorial Service Sermon
January 23, 2012 by
Lester Haas was buried in Pekin, Illinois on January 21st, 2012. His memorial service in Pekin was at the grave site during on a cold, winter day. So both the service and sermon were abbreviated. Here was the liturgy for such an abbreviated, combined memorial and committal service. Funeral Service (Memorial with Committal)–Lester Haas (19 […]
Lester Haas’ Funeral Sermon
January 23, 2012 by
This sermon was preached at Lester Haas’ funeral, which was on January 19th, 2012. Sermon Text:Isaiah 43:27-31 For some, no grander sight exists in the entire world than that of an eagle in flight. As they watch that majestic bird soar, strong and free, it lifts their spirits and emboldens their hearts. In our […]
God Saves You Body and Soul: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
January 15, 2012 by
“May God the Father, who created this body; may God the Son, who by His blood redeemed this body; may God the Holy Spirit, who by Holy Baptism sanctified this body to be His temple, keep these remains to the day of the resurrection of all flesh.” These are the words I speak at the […]
The Baptism of Jesus
January 8, 2012 by
The Bible begins with baptism. It starts out, “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). Over the ancient and chaotic creation, there was Spirit and water, water and Spirit. That’s baptism! Do you remember Jesus speaking to Nicodemus at night? What did He say? Jesus said, “I […]
Circumcision and Naming of Jesus
January 1, 2012 by
Genesis 17:9-14 Then God said to Abraham, “Now as for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants throughout their generations. Here is my covenant that you are to observe, between me and you and your descendants: Every male among you is to be circumcised. Circumcise the flesh of your foreskin. That will […]
New Year’s Eve: Joshua 23:14
December 31, 2011 by
Joshua 23:14: [Joshua said,] “I am now about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and being that none of the good promises the LORD your God made to you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. At the end of the year, […]
Christ’s Mass (Christmas) Day Sermon: Luke 2:20
December 25, 2011 by
“Oh, where shall joy be found? Where but on heavenly ground? Where the angels singing with all the saints unite, sweetest praises bringing in heavenly joy and light. Oh, that we were there! Oh, that we were there!” (LSB 386:4) Oh, that we were there! That about sums it up this Christmas morning. If we […]
Christmas Eve: Isaiah 7:14, “The Virgin will Conceive”
December 24, 2011 by
Christmas Eve–it’s finally here. After all the preparation, the hurry, and the scurry, whether you’ve finished buying presents or not, Christmas is here, for real, tonight. And soon it will be time for presents! But what if we didn’t get any presents this year? Would it still be Christmas? Of course, for, after all, our […]
St. Thomas: John 11:1-16, 14:1-7
December 21, 2011 by
If Advent is the pregnancy before the delivery at Christmas, then we’ve just about come full term. In only a few days, we will celebrate our Lord’s birth, born of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Yes, indeed, it’s nearly Christmas! Even after all these years, these centuries, what wonder and surprise Christmas still brings. But what […]
