4th Sunday in Advent – 2023
WHO IS JESUS? Prayer: O God, give us ears to hear Your Word and believe it, and eyes of faith to see that Jesus truly is Your Son and our Savior from sin and death. Amen. Sermon Text, St. Mark 12:35-37. 35 Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? 36 For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: ‘The Lord said…
3rd Sunday in Advent – 2023
Sermon Text: Mark 9:10-13 TREATED WITH CONTEMPT Prayer: Dear Lord: If we’re treated with contempt, mocked or mistreated because of our faithfulness, comfort us in knowing that John the Baptist and the saints endured this, but especially that You endured it for our salvation. Be with us in our suffering. Also let it touch our hearts so we’re more zealous for the salvation of all who do evil, and more serious for our own salvation. Amen! Sermon Text, St. Mark…
2nd Sunday in Advent-2023
JOHN CAME BAPTIZING AND PREACHING Prayer: Dear God of grace: During this season, we struggle to keep our minds on You, that is, on You O Christ, the God-in-human-flesh, and You, God our Father who sent Him. But don’t we also need the Holy Spirit? Isn’t true faith in short supply, and also godly living? Don’t we have pressures, sadnesses, and fears; and we need to be comforted? We need You, Holy Spirit! Show us that Advent is also about…
1st Sunday of Advent – 2023
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, we are embarking upon another church year. Help us to know what it’s all about the Gospel. Lord, we of all people should know the Gospel, for to know You is to know the Gospel and to know the Gospel is to know You. Let us know You through repenting of our sins and believing that You save us from these sins. Let this Gospel begin in us, and never end! Amen. The Text, St. Mark…
Last Sunday of the Church Year- 2023
THE END OF THE WORLD Prayer: Praise be to You, Lord, that we do not have to worry about how to answer the scoffers and all who don’t believe in Your coming judgment. You are the answer. Your longsuffering is the answer. It also teaches us not to be dismayed by what others say or do, but show them Your patient love in everything we say and do. We thank You that in the end it won’t be wickedness, torture, persecution…
Thanksgiving, 2023
Prayer: Almighty God, heavenly Father, whose mercies are new to us every morning: You abundantly provide for all our wants of body and soul, even though we have in no way deserved Your goodness. We pray You, give us Your Holy Spirit, that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness toward us, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience. For Jesus’ sake we pray. Amen! Sermon Text: Lamentations 3:22-25. Dear fellow redeemed, citizens not only…
3rd Last Sunday of the Church Year – 2023
FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS OF THE GOSPEL Sermon Text, St. Matthew 24:15-28. Prayer: Lord, keep us faithful and watchful in a world spinning out of control, that we may be kept from following those who would deceive us so we receive and hold onto the salvation You’re preparing for us.Amen! Dear fellow watchers for the Bridegroom’s coming: Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Matthew 24 is where we hear what…
Festival of All Saints
MEET THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT Prayer: God, let our heart be in heaven. Amen. [Laache, p. 690] Sermon Text, Revelation 7:9-17. Dear saints: Do you know this name for heaven? – “The church triumphant.” You don’t find this name in a Bible verse. But what do we see in Revelation 7? – We see the church in heaven – not a building, but the people who make up the church – and the only way to describe them is: triumphant –…
The Festival of Reformation
CLEANSING THE TEMPLE Sermon Text: John 2:13-17. Prayer: Almighty God, merciful Father: We thank You that by means of Your servant Martin Luther You restored the light of the pure Gospel. We pray You to grant that we continue to hear Your Word in its truth and purity so that we are preserved in the true faith; through Christ, our Lord. Amen. Dear saints: Jesus’ cleansing of the temple has an obvious application to what Martin Luther did in the…