Sermon Text: Matthew 5:1-12 I remember a time a few years ago, while I was watching an episode of the CSI television program, when I heard this line, spoken by a criminal character on the show, explaining why he had perpetrated the notorious “signature” crime that he had committed: “I want something of me to…
Reformation Sunday – John 8:31-36 O God, our Lord, Your Holy Word was long a hidden treasure Til to its place it was, by grace, restored in fullest measure. For this today our thanks we say, and gladly glorify You. Your mercy show and grace bestow, on all who still deny You. This opening verse…
Funeral for Vicki Angstman – 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 As I was thinking about and preparing this message, I typed the words “Change is” into my Google search engine. In various places on the internet, those two words are finished off in lots of different ways. A few examples: Change is inevitable. Change is good. Change…
St. James of Jerusalem – Acts 15:12-22a On our church calendar, today is the commemoration of St. James of Jerusalem. The New Testament calls him a “brother” of Jesus. This probably means that he was a step-brother – a son of Joseph by a previous marriage. There is circumstantial evidence that James was older than…
Genesis 1:1-2:4 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” It’s not possible, in just a few minutes, to explore everything that is touched on in today’s text – the creation account from the Book of Genesis. But we can think together about some of the things that the creation account tells us…
Matthew 22:1-14 The parable that Jesus tells in today’s Gospel from St. Matthew, is one of the more important mission texts of our faith. It is also an important text about God’s justification of sinners. Through this parable, our Lord teaches us what the scope of the church’s outreach is to be – that is,…
Michaelmas 1 – Matthew 9:1-8 When we think of the harmful effects of sin, the first things that may come to mind are the many ways in which human sin ruins our relationship with God and our standing before God. Sin separates and alienates us from God, and invites God’s judgment and wrath. But sin…
Sermon Text: Mark 7:31-37 Sign language consists of certain gestures of the hands and body, which picture or symbolize specific words or thoughts. For those who are unable to hear or speak, sign language is an indispensable means of communication. But certain kinds of bodily gestures can be useful also to those who are able…
Sermon Text: Luke 18:9-14 The parable that Jesus tells in today’s text from St. Luke is about two noticeably religious men. They are both practicing their religious faith within the context of ancient Judaism. But at a level deeper than external form and ritual, did these two men actually adhere to the same religion? Jesus…
Sermon Text Luke 19:45-48