Author: Bethlehem Lutheran
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Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Readings: Jeremiah 28:5-9 | Romans 7:1-13 | Matthew 10:34-42 Text: Matthew 10:34-42 Jesus tells us in the Gospel today that He brings three things to those who follow Him: a sword, a cross, and a life. This is in the context of what Jesus told his apostles before sending them out, and those instructions and…
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Fourth Sunday after Pentecost Readings: Jeremiah 20:7-13 | Romans 6:12-23 | Matthew 10:5a, 21-33 Text: Romans 6:12-23 “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” These words are spoken during the Imposition of Ashes at the Ash Wednesday Divine Service as Lent begins. The words are drawn from Genesis 3:19 in which God said to Adam, “By…
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Third Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 6A) Readings: Exodus 19:2-8 | Romans 5:6-15 | Matthew 9:35-10:8 Text: Matthew 9:35-10:8 Three Sundays ago, we celebrated Pentecost—the day on which God sent the Holy Spirit upon the Eleven who then preached faith to three thousand souls. The purpose of the Pentecost season of the Church year is to continue in that theme of the…
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Second Sunday after Pentecost Readings: Hosea 5:15-6:6 | Romans 4:13-25 | Matthew 9:9-13 Text: Matthew 9:9-13 Main message: The call of the Apostle/Evangelist Matthew; Matthew throws a feast and invites tax collectors and sinners. This offends Pharisees, to which Jesus points out that these are the very ones in need of a “physician” because they recognize the illness of…
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Commemoration of the
Holy TrinityReadings: Genesis 1:1-2:4a | Acts 2:14a, 22-36 | Matthew 28:16-20 Text: Matthew 28:16-20 In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It is impossible to fully comprehend the mystery of the Trinity. It isn’t a math problem to be solved—three in one and one in three, or a puzzle to be unlocked. It’s an article of…
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The Day of Pentecost Readings: Numbers 11:24-30 | Acts 2:1-21 | John 7:37-39 Text: Numbers 11:24-30 It takes some background to better appreciate the Old Testament lesson from Numbers 11. If Exodus gives us the grand design of God rescuing His people from slavery in Egypt, leading, forgiving and eventually dwelling in their midst, Numbers is the day-to-day struggles…
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Seventh Sunday of Easter + Ascension Commemoration + Readings: Acts 1:12-26 | 1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:6-11 | John 17:1-11 Text: John 17:1-11 Jesus prays in today’s Gospel, “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” The Glory of God has been seen before this, most memorably…
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Sixth Sunday of Easter Readings: Acts 17:16-31 | 1 Peter 3:13-22 | John 14:15-21 Text: 1 Peter 3:13-22 St. Peter’s first epistle to the Church is beautifully appropriate and informative for the Church today. It was first written to the Christians who were scattered after persecution grew more severe, and it was clear just how at-odds the Christian Gospel…
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Fifth Sunday of Easter Readings: Acts 6:1-9; 7:2a, 51-60 | 1 Peter 2:2-10 | John 14:1-14 Text: John 14:1-14 When Stephen found himself compelled to preach to the stiff-necked Jews and became the object of their wrath. Stephen’s ministry was short and sweet. What does it look like when the Christian is compelled to confess the truth of God’s…
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Fourth Sunday of Easter Readings: Acts 2:42-47 | 1 Peter 2:19-25 | John 10:1-10 Text: Acts 2:42-47 “42And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44And all who believed were together…