Sermon: Sexagesima.2012

Sexagesima (Pre-Lent)
Luke 8.4-15
2.12.2012

In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Seed / is the Word of God.

Brethren, Lent is fast approaching. The Church has given us these three “Gesima” Sundays to ready our hearts, or at least our minds. And what a gift it is! / This is our tendency as humans / to overlook things. Lent should not be overlooked. The Church is waking us up, so that when the time comes (Ash Wednesday is just a week and a half away), when that day comes, / we will be ready for it. The Church offers that blessing, and you, this morning are hearing the wake-up call.

Sermon: Transfiguration.2012

Transfiguration
Matthew 17.1-9
1.29.2012

In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Father speaks His booming voice from heaven: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” This really goes without saying, though, right? After all, who is Jesus but the Word made flesh. And what do we do with words? We listen to them.

Sermon: Epiphany 2.2012

Epiphany 2
John 2.1-11
1.15.2012

In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In Cana of Galilee, Jesus began to manifest Himself in signs, / and His disciples began to believe in Him.

Before this incident at the wedding in Cana, Jesus' true divine identity was revealed by others. // At His birth, the angels announced to the Shepherds. / When He and Mary were presented in the Temple 40 days after His birth, it was Simeon who calls Him “Salvation,” and Anna “spoke of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” When He was only a bit older, while still in Bethlehem, the star in the east revealed Him to the Magi; and then the Magi themselves reveal Him as they brought gifts and worshiped Him. Later, when He was a young teenager, the teachers in the temple reveal Him to His parents as all were astonished of His wisdom. And on and on, throughout His childhood, probably many other instances that were not recorded in Sacred Scripture, Jesus was revealed / by others.

Sermon: Baptism of Our Lord.2012

Baptism of Our Lord
Matthew 3.13-17
1.8.2012

In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

When God is favorably disposed toward us, all is good.

And behold a voice from heaven saying, “This One is my beloved Son, in Him I am well pleased.”

Jesus was baptized so that our baptisms would work.

Sermon: Eve of Circumcision and Name of Jesus.2011

Eve of Name and Circumcision of Jesus (New Year's Eve)
Luke 2.21
12.31.2011

In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In Nomine Jesu. This is the Latin you find at the beginning of your worship bulletins. It means “In the Name of Jesus.” I'm sure you've heard this before, but if we're going to review anything, I suppose the last day of the calendar year would be about as good of time as any. Nothing like the last minute details, right?

Of course, for us liturgical-type Lutherans (not that there are any other type of Lutherans), but for us, our New Year began back on the first Sunday in Advent (November 27^th this year). And as much as we would hope that Christians would be more excited about the Church's calendar than about the secular (Gregorian) calendar, well, for the most part that's just not the case.

Sermon: Christmass Day.2011

Festival of Christmass
John 1.1-14
12.25.2011

In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Joy. Pure joy. Joy to the world—we've made it! The Holy Spirit has called and gathered us to the Great Feast of Christmas. Let all preparing cease. The hour is now. The children have led the way with Scripture and song. No more waiting. Open your eyes and your ears and your mouths. Behold, your redemption is near, He is at hand. Gaudete: rejoice! “Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!” “Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things!”

Sermon: Advent 4.2011

Advent 4 (Rorate Coeli)
John 1.19-28
12.18.2011

In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

There is an urgency to this last week of Advent. And I'm not necessarily talking about the anxiety of trying to pull together all the last-minute details of the Christmas Eve Children's service; although that certainly gives a tangibility to the urgency.

No, the urgency we experience this time of year has to do with something more important than the Children's service on Christmas Eve. Now don't get me wrong, that service is important, very important, in fact, especially in the life of this congregation. But that service has it's place. Christmas Eve is like John the Baptist, the Forerunner, the one who came before the most important One, Jesus. In fact, all of our Advent discipline and preparation comes to a climax as we listen to the children tell and sing of a certain Birth in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve.