Category: Sermons
-
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…
-
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,…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Septuagesima
(About 70 Days to Easter) Readings: Exodus 17:1-7 | 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:5 | Matthew 20:1–16 Text: Matthew 20:1-16 The way of the world is based on merit. You get what you deserve, you don’t get what you don’t pay for. Years of service ought to be recognized and compensated. For example, in 2005, Delphi Automotive…
-
The Transfiguration of Our Lord
Readings: Exodus 34:29–35 | 2 Peter 1:16–21 | Matthew 17:1-9 Text: Matthew 17:1-9 There was a temptation for Peter, James, John, and the disciples to think of Jesus as merely human. True, they had seen His miracles, and heard Him call Himself the end-times “Son of Man.”[1] But they also knew His mother and family,…
-
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Text: Psalm 96 1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works…
-
Third Sunday after the Epiphany
Readings: 2 Kings 5:1–15a | Romans 12:16–21 | Matthew 8:1–13 Text: Matthew 8:1-13 “Our Father, who art in heaven” – The Small Catechism tells us, “With these words, God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father, and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence, we…