Author: Bethlehem Lutheran
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Holy Saturday
Paschal Vigil Holy Baptism of Matthew, Alonna, and Wyatt Reeves Readings: The Creation – Genesis 1:1-2:3 | The Flood – Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13 | Israel’s Deliverance at the Red Sea – Exodus 14:10-15:1 | A New Heart and a New Spirit – Ezekiel 36:24-28 | Jonah Preaches to Nineveh – Jonah 3 |…
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Good Friday
Readings: Isaiah 52:13—53:12 | 2 Corinthians 5:14–21 | John 18-19 Text: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; John 19:30 “The Death of Jesus Changed How God Relates to the World” The Old Testament sure is bloody. People are dropping dead every other minute, it seems. Reading through the Old Testament, you will find that there are many manifest…
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Maundy Thursday
Readings: Exodus 12:1–14 | 1 Corinthians 11:23–32 | John 13:1–15 Text: John 13:1-17, 34-35 This Maundy Thursday, I want to address two things: The connection between the Lord’s Supper and the Passover, and why this night we read about Jesus washing the disciples’ feet and commanding them to love one another. In delivering His people…
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Palm Sunday
Readings: Zechariah 9:9–12 | Philippians 2:5–11 | Matthew 26:1-27:66 Text: John 12:12-19 Among the four Gospels, St. John’s provides a unique perspective. Matthew (Matt. 21:1-9), Mark (Mark 11:1-11), and Luke (Luke 19:28-40) all contribute to the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Yet, the Holy Spirit inspired John with additional commentary on events in the Lord’s…
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Fifth Sunday in Lent (Judica)
Readings: Genesis 22:1–14 | Hebrews 9:11–15 | John 8:42-59 Text: John 8:42-59 Jesus saw through their lip service. He had been teaching the Jews at the time of the Passover, the same one that was mentioned in last week’s Gospel from John 6. It all started out with Jesus saying to them, “I am the…
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Fourth Sunday in Lent (Laetare)
Readings: Exodus 16:2–21 | Galatians 4:21-31 | John 6:1-15 Text: John 6:1-15 The name, Laetare, comes from the first word of the Introit, “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; that you may nurse and be satisfied at her consoling breast.” It sounds great to invite people to rejoice,…
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Third Sunday in Lent (Oculi)
Readings: Jeremiah 26:1–15 | Ephesians 5:1-9 | Luke 11:14–28 Text: Ephesians 5:1-9 The art on the bulletin cover is unsettling. It’s disturbing to think of a demon possessing a person. It’s grotesque because that’s not what the human body was made for. The demon, whether it was visible or invisible—doesn’t belong there. Neither should it…
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Reminiscere (Second Sunday in Lent)
Text: Matthew 15:21-28 Last Sunday, we heard Jesus teach us about His victory over the Devil on our behalf, and how we draw comfort in our own temptations and weakness as the Devil assaults us. Today, He teaches us about prayer. When it comes to the great examples of prayer in the Bible, you might…
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Invocavit
~ First Sunday in Lent ~ Readings: Genesis 3:1–21 | Hebrews 4:14–16 | Matthew 4:1–11 Text: Matthew 4:1-11 The season of Lent is not a 6-week period of feeling bad for ourselves, bemoaning our inadequacy, or—God forbid!—feeling more pious than the rabble of the world. It is a time of teaching, of catechesis, that we…
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Quinquagesima
Readings: 1 Samuel 16:1–13 | 1 Corinthians 13:1–13 | Luke 18:31-43 Text: Luke 18:31-43 These two accounts in St. Luke’s Gospel are arranged very intentionally. The disciples are placed side by side with a blind beggar. The disciples are sighted, but blind to see who Jesus is. The beggar is blind, but has faithful eyes…