Do Christians really randomly pick and choose what commandments to keep? Sometimes it seems so. A Lutheran pastor here illustrates a method to the sometimes apparent madness (or Biblical wisdom) of knowing which Word of God to apply first or in which circumstance when God’s commandments appear to contradict in a “rock-and-a-hard place” kind of way—Like a pandemic!
Stop Scrolling & Pray Psalm 38
Stop scrolling. Preachers, this one is for you: "…become like a man who does not hear and in whose mouth are no rebukes." Just wait. Read Psalm 38. Psalm 38:13-15, 21-22 (ESV) 13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,like a mute man who does not open his mouth.14 I have … Continue reading Stop Scrolling & Pray Psalm 38
Parents in the Household of Faith (Week Seven 11.1-7.2018)
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 Seven 11.1-7.2018)
A Pastors’ Conference Homily for My Brothers of the Wayne Circuit LCMS (9.4.2018)
Serving the Servants of the Lord: We kicked off a new year with new laborers sent from the Lord of the Harvest, in answer to the prayers of His blood-bought people. Here is a fit Word from the occasion of our Wayne Circuit LCMS Pastors' Conference held yesterday, September 4, 2018. Hear the full audio … Continue reading A Pastors’ Conference Homily for My Brothers of the Wayne Circuit LCMS (9.4.2018)
These Pleasant Places
"...we may be despising and rebelling against a divine ordering of things..." Below is an essay I wrote back in 2014, with one very slight edit of word order. Because a dear brother in Christ fondly recalled it and asked if he might use it in his Intro to Pastoral Theology course at Concordia Theological … Continue reading These Pleasant Places
Scattered by Wolves
The Good Pastor Jesus, your Good Shepherd, has taken up His life now to seek out, gather, tend and defend you... Hear the full audio of "Scattered by Wolves" A sermon on John 10:11-18 (ESV) Third Sunday of Easter / 15 April 2018 Ezekiel 34:11-16 (ESV) 11 “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I … Continue reading Scattered by Wolves
My Own Know Me
Hear the full audio of "My Own Know Me" A sermon on John 10:11-16 and Ezekiel 34:11-16 3rd Sunday of Easter / Good Shepherd Sunday Jesus is the one Good Pastor, the Good Shepherd. Our town, our country and world has exactly one Good Shepherd who tends all His flocks. All others pale in comparison, … Continue reading My Own Know Me