Hear the full audio of "Children of the Day" A sermon on 1 Thessalonians 5 Midweek Advent Service IV, 20 December 2017 By Baptism, God our Father gives us the life and new birth of water and the Spirit. We are called His "Children of the Day." That glorious title is given by grace to … Continue reading Children of the Day: The Sermon
Earthly Examples for Heavenly Citizens
Hear the full audio of "Earthly Examples for Heavenly Citizens" A sermon on Philippians 3:17-21 23rd Sunday after Trinity, 19 November 2017 The world just loves a good scandal, the chance to take the powerful and prominent down a notch or twelve. Yet people seem to hunger for real, worthy examples. We want and we … Continue reading Earthly Examples for Heavenly Citizens
Competent and Confident in Christ
Hear the full audio of "Confident and Competent in Christ" A sermon on 2 Corinthians 3:1-11 Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, 27 August 2017 The ministry of Moses was such that God's people couldn't stand to look Moses in the face as he spoke the Word of the Lord. The letter of the Law proclaimed condemnation … Continue reading Competent and Confident in Christ
First, Be Reconciled
Hear the full audio of "First, Be Reconciled"A sermon on Matthew 5:17-26Sixth Sunday after Trinity, 23 July 2017Christ does not envision his church as a place where people come to be fired up against their neighbors. Christ does not envision the Holy life of his Holy people as life marked by anger and accusations. Rather, … Continue reading First, Be Reconciled
We Will Fish Anyway, Lord…
Jesus asks the boat guys to lend a boat, move it out little. Jesus asks these tired fishermen to fish. Those nets they were mending, Jesus asks them to cast them out. These weren’t difficult, strange, or unfamiliar thing Christ bid them to do--until the Lord blessed it in spite of their failure and half-hearted … Continue reading We Will Fish Anyway, Lord…
The Prison Chapel Porter
I step out of the blinding, scorching summer heat and enter the second set of steel doors into the prison chapel. Takes a minute for my eyes to adjust enough to take in the room. There's a guy by the altar. His back was to me and he didn't look up, but then again the … Continue reading The Prison Chapel Porter
Excuses…Excuses…and the Lord’s Invitation
God loves to give good gifts and do good things for people. Some go to great lengths making excuses, always rationalizing why it's OK to refuse those gifts and reject this gracious Giver. Christ invited you to gather with the rest of us poor, crippled, blind and lame people as we receive His good gifts … Continue reading Excuses…Excuses…and the Lord’s Invitation
Faith Alone Works While Ruled by Grace
A contrast is drawn between the person living "under the Law" and the person "under grace." The person under the Law does good works from fear of punishment or with hope of gaining some reward or favor from God. The person under grace does good works freely and with a cheerful conscience, free of punishment … Continue reading Faith Alone Works While Ruled by Grace
Readings for Midweek Lent 5
Readings for Midweek Lent 5, 29 March 2017 "Faith Alone Works...While Ruled By Grace" From: The Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article VI "The Third Use of the Law," par. 15-18 [15] But in order that, as far as possible, all misunderstanding may be prevented, and the distinction between the works of the Law and … Continue reading Readings for Midweek Lent 5
Faith Alone Works…To Bear Much Fruit
See, the truly pure, good works of God don’t flow from your anxious conscience. Your worried conscience only twists them all up, because you’re not focused on Christ and His cross, but totally looking at yourself. The good works God bids you bring forth don’t come out of your guilty conscience. His Holy works don’t … Continue reading Faith Alone Works…To Bear Much Fruit
Isaiah 50:4 Blues 