Jesus teaches us to pray, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." Here the Lord speaks of the gracious generosity and merciful readiness with which we are to forgive others. He warns of serious spiritual consequence should we refuse to forgive them "from your heart." But what if the heart … Continue reading The Justice of Divine Mercy
Revelation Session Eight: Seven-fold Structure of Seven Letters
Personal self-examination is important. Here, Christ prepares His congregations for His corporate 'self-examination' with the seven letters to the seven churches. The Living Lord Jesus holds the keys of Death and Hades, but entrusts the keys of the kingdom of heaven to His Church. We revisit and conclude our conversation on the mission of the … Continue reading Revelation Session Eight: Seven-fold Structure of Seven Letters
An Eternal Gospel to Proclaim
The Gospel has no Expiration Date. God's grace in Christ always remains good for you. Hear the full audio of "An Eternal Gospel to Proclaim" A sermon on Revelation 14:6-7 / Reformation Day (Observed) / 27 October 2019
A Relaxing Summer by Grace Alone
It's tough to relax while you're nursing a grudge. There's no escape from an anger that goes wherever you do. Jesus would free us from fits of rage, seething pretense and feigned friendship. He bids us rather to be reconciled, forgiven and forgiving. His grace is sufficient to give us rest--together--in Christ. Hear the full … Continue reading A Relaxing Summer by Grace Alone
Not Condemning, But Forgiving
Forgiveness is not meant to be measured out by the teaspoon...but poured out freely through the lips, by the cup and welling up like living waters from the font! Hear the full audio of "Not Condemning, But Forgiving" A sermon on Luke 6:36-42 / Fourth Sunday after Trinity / 14 July 2019 What is Baptism? … Continue reading Not Condemning, But Forgiving
LORD of the Pigeons
A somewhat casual devotional thought on Mark 11:15-19... 15 And they came to Jerusalem. And [Jesus] entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16 And he would not … Continue reading LORD of the Pigeons
Called Out of Darkness into Light and Fellowship
Encouraging pretense and rationalizations, teaching one another to say "we have no sin" only drives us further into the darkness and lies we tell ourselves to hide sin. At the core of this Fellowship in His Word we find the freedom to live in light of God's truth, even the truth about our sins. Indeed, … Continue reading Called Out of Darkness into Light and Fellowship
Parents in the Household of Faith (week ending 02.06.2019)
Immanuel Lutheran Church invites parents of confirmation age children to learn and grow with their kids in the Christian faith. To encourage that continual learning and growth, each week of class we post a reading from the Large Catechism or other portions of our Lutheran Confession of the faith here especially for the mothers and fathers. These readings are directly … Continue reading Parents in the Household of Faith (week ending 02.06.2019)
For the Common Good
“For The Common good,” the apostle says, for your good and theirs God has given His gifts “to each,” a manifestation of the Spirit given to them for you. It was given to you, for them, too. They need you here. You need them. I need you in my life, too. God declares no less … Continue reading For the Common Good
You will See Clearly
In Mercy, Christ removes both a neighbor's irritating specks and your own blinding planks... Hear the full audio of "You will See Clearly" A sermon on Luke 6:36-42 (ESV) Fourth Sunday after Trinity / 24 June 2018 Genesis 50:15-21 (ESV) 15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that … Continue reading You will See Clearly
Isaiah 50:4 Blues 