I. About Jesus In 2009, two days before the American Thanksgiving that year, another holiday took place in Nepal—a festival in honor of the Hindu goddess of power, Gadhimai.…
Philippians 4:4-13 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice.” I. Joy The Lord wants you to rejoice so much that He actually commands you to…
“Once upon a time …” When I was a child, I heard many stories that began with those words. I soon learned that those words – “Once upon a time…
Dear Friends in Christ, Imagine for a few moments this morning that you are the prophet Jeremiah on the day our text was written. It was almost 600 years…
But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord…
Dear Friends in Christ, In the gospel for today, Jesus describes what life on earth is like until he comes again in glory at the consummation of the age. …
Dear Friends in Christ Jesus, Tomorrow, November 11, is the day we think about the sacrifices that were made by loved ones who served in battle so that we…
I. The Joyful Confession This short text is brimming with Good News: “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children…
Dear Friends in Christ, A candle flickered in the dark room as a man sat hunched over a desk. He was a man, some 40 years old, clearly an…
Dear friends in Christ Jesus, In today’s Gospel lesson, our Lord is teaching us where our priorities are to be. The rich young man wanted to inherit eternal life.…
Dear Friends in Christ, Families all across our nation are gathering together this weekend to join in a spirit of family unity and thanksgiving. God has called us into…
Dear friends in Christ, In today’s Gospel you have heard what a place of honor Jesus imparts to little children. You have heard that one who receives a little…
Dear Friends in Christ Jesus, A roaring lion, round he goes, no halt nor rest he ever knows; He seeks the Christians to devour and slay them by his…
Dear Friends in Christ Jesus, It’s the cry of Jeremiah, surrounded by those who plot to take his life. But it’s worse than that. Reading through the rest of…
Dear Friends in Christ: A woman called her husband because a wolf had attacked the chickens. The first question he asked was, “Did he jump the fence or did…
I. The Text Let’s take a closer look at the context of our Gospel lesson. Jesus is in the region of the Decapolis: this is Gentile territory. He’s just come…
Dear Friends in Christ, When I attended the seminary, the required reading list included a book by Swedish Lutheran theologian, Bo Giertz, called, "The Hammer of God." This book…
I. Profound Mystery #1: Marriage Today our text speaks of profound mysteries and perfect marriages. The first begins like this: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.…
Dear Friends in Christ Jesus, Seems like good advice. Walk with care—not like a fool but like one who is wise. Redeem the time—make the most of it, because…
Dear Friends in Christ, In his letters to Christian congregations of the 1st Century, St. Paul exhorts, encourages, and equips his readers to live the new life to which…