Title: Christ’s prayer for you!
Text: John 17:1-11
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11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
This past Friday I remembered my father on what would have been his 100th birthday.
It seems like yesterday that I officiated at his funeral which was now some 13 years ago!
Sometimes, I think of conversations we had, and the wisdom he gave me. Sometimes, I think of funny things my dad did, or things I’d wish he hadn’t done.
We are sinners in a broken world but the gift of my father has blessed me for the entirety of my 68 years.
In his High Priestly Prayer Jesus prays to his father:
17… “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
The gift of eternal life is given, not earned, and while heroes in this life deserve to be remembered … you don’t have to be a hero to receive the gift.
We receive all sorts of things in this life that we don’t deserve.
My parents and many of your parents sacrificed much to make sure that we had the very best they could give. We were fed and clothed, taught what was right and wrong and how to treat others.
My parents made sure that I received an education, even though I might have wanted to skip school and play, they knew this was important for me and would help me in the future.
At 48 when I went back to school to prepare for seminary I said to my dad when he asked me how my schooling was going,
“It’s going well but all the other kids tell me their parents are paying for their schooling.”
My dad said,
“Well, that’s nice Russ … if you were still a kid I’d be paying too.”
As Christians my parents knew something else that was good for me too and Jesus makes it clear in his prayer.
3 that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
It was important for my parents that I knew Christ and that he knew me.
Why?
Well Jesus says … this is eternal life … that we know the Father and Jesus who the Father has sent.
So, they brought me to the means that God gave and I was baptized and given new birth in baptism one month after being born.
My parents knew this was good for me and knew that just as I needed their physical care around the clock, I also need the spiritual care that God could give me in his word and by his Spirit.
Most of us as children don’t know what we need. I didn’t know what I needed. But seeing little babies, I know that when,
they’re hungry - they cry,
and when they needs changed – they cry,
and when they need anything – they cry.
Maybe it is a sign of the death we are born into?
If children were born and left to make their own way … without their parent’s care … they would die.
So, God in his mercy has given parents and grandparents to care for the physical needs of those too young to care for themselves, and by his means of grace to his church, we as loving parents, bring God’s mercy and forgiveness to those in need … from the youngest to the oldest.
3 And this is eternal life that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
As Jesus said last week in our Gospel, he would not leave us as orphans to care for ourselves but that the Holy Spirit, the comforter who he was sending from the Father would bring true comfort.
This gift is given to you and me and all through the gifts of word and sacrament and it brings us all real peace.
Peace though, in our world is fleeting.
The war in Iran, Ukraine and unrest at and in our cities - shows that our world is not at peace!
Death too comes to those young and old in this life and we know not the day or hour.
Having many dear Peace members on my mind that our resting in Jesus, the reality of death in our lives is real. It invades our comfort and security and is why it’s so important for us all to know him,
… who is the way the truth and the life – Jesus Christ – our Lord - the only way to the Father.
It’s comforting to know that in our text today, Jesus is praying for you and for me and for all far away, born in and struggling with sin, death, and the devil.
Jesus says:
9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
This past Thursday was the day of the Ascension.
6 So when [the disciples] had come together, they asked [Jesus], “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
So, we are here today as appointed witnesses of all that Jesus came to do and has done. We tell others by the working of his Spirit in us and Christ prays and interceded to the father on our behalf.
10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Monday, May 18, 2026
Monday, May 11, 2026
Sermon May 9-10, 2026 - 6th Sunday of Easter
Title: The comforter points to Jesus!
Text: John 14:15-21
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15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
When I was a little boy growing up, I attended kindergarten in Glassport Pennsylvania.
We, had fire drills to prepare ourselves in case of an emergency. When the fire bell rang, we were directed to exit the room orderly and row by row and as we entered the hall walking towards the door one of the older children from the upper grades would hold the hand of a kindergartener and walk with them out the door to the designated place of safety.
They became our guide and helper and would not leave us until the drill was over.
In the life of the Christian, the good news is that you will not be left alone either.
The Holy Spirit is your helper and guide and will remain with you and will comfort you no matter the circumstance. You do not have to hope that He will come and lead you to safety … for He dwells with you and is in you!
Jesus, in John 14 speaks of sending the comforter, the Holy Spirit, to be our comfort and our hope.
He had told the disciples about that hope and not to be troubled, to believe in God and also to believe in Him and that He would be going to prepare a place for them, that where He is they too may be also.
To Thomas’ question of how they could know the way Jesus replied that He is the way the truth and the life and that no one comes to the Father except through Him … and to Philip’s question to show us the Father, Jesus said, whoever has seen me, has seen the Father!
There is a very close connection between Jesus and the Father.
To see Christ is to see God and to know Christ is to know the Father; one God in essence, uniqueness of persons.
The Father is not the Son and the Son is not the Father but the mystery of the Godhead in there for the first disciples and for us as well.
Today’s reading begins:
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Well that’s comforting.
Text: John 14:15-21
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15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
When I was a little boy growing up, I attended kindergarten in Glassport Pennsylvania.
We, had fire drills to prepare ourselves in case of an emergency. When the fire bell rang, we were directed to exit the room orderly and row by row and as we entered the hall walking towards the door one of the older children from the upper grades would hold the hand of a kindergartener and walk with them out the door to the designated place of safety.
They became our guide and helper and would not leave us until the drill was over.
In the life of the Christian, the good news is that you will not be left alone either.
The Holy Spirit is your helper and guide and will remain with you and will comfort you no matter the circumstance. You do not have to hope that He will come and lead you to safety … for He dwells with you and is in you!
Jesus, in John 14 speaks of sending the comforter, the Holy Spirit, to be our comfort and our hope.
He had told the disciples about that hope and not to be troubled, to believe in God and also to believe in Him and that He would be going to prepare a place for them, that where He is they too may be also.
To Thomas’ question of how they could know the way Jesus replied that He is the way the truth and the life and that no one comes to the Father except through Him … and to Philip’s question to show us the Father, Jesus said, whoever has seen me, has seen the Father!
There is a very close connection between Jesus and the Father.
To see Christ is to see God and to know Christ is to know the Father; one God in essence, uniqueness of persons.
The Father is not the Son and the Son is not the Father but the mystery of the Godhead in there for the first disciples and for us as well.
Today’s reading begins:
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Well that’s comforting.
We poor sinners confess unto you that we are by nature sinful and unclean!
God’s Law we can’t keep and his law shows us our sin and that we fall short daily needing the comfort and forgiveness only given us by God himself through His comforting absolution pronounced by His called and ordained servants, in the stead and by the command of Christ.
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17even the Spirit of truth.
The Disciples are being comforted that when Jesus leaves them and ascends back to the Father, the helper, the Spirit of truth, will be with them [and us] forever.
The Holy Spirit's role is to shine the light on our Lord Jesus Christ.
Some years ago we upgraded the building of our church here at Peace with new lights on the building. When lighting is done well, the lights make visible the building when otherwise it would not be seen for the darkness. This illustrates also the Spirit's role and work.
He is, the hidden light shining on the Savior.
God’s Law we can’t keep and his law shows us our sin and that we fall short daily needing the comfort and forgiveness only given us by God himself through His comforting absolution pronounced by His called and ordained servants, in the stead and by the command of Christ.
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17even the Spirit of truth.
The Disciples are being comforted that when Jesus leaves them and ascends back to the Father, the helper, the Spirit of truth, will be with them [and us] forever.
The Holy Spirit's role is to shine the light on our Lord Jesus Christ.
Some years ago we upgraded the building of our church here at Peace with new lights on the building. When lighting is done well, the lights make visible the building when otherwise it would not be seen for the darkness. This illustrates also the Spirit's role and work.
He is, the hidden light shining on the Savior.
It is as if the Spirit stands behind us, throwing light over our shoulder on to Jesus who stands facing us.
The Spirit's message to us is not,
"Look at me; listen to me; come to me; get to know me",
but always,
Look at him,
see his glory;
listen to him and hear his word;
go to him and have life in him;
get to know him and taste his gift of joy and peace."
The Spirit’s, role is to bring you and Christ together and ensure that you and Christ Jesus stay together.
James Packer, Your Father Loves You, Harold Shaw Publishers, 1986.
But you don’t … and I don’t. We fall short, we miss the mark. It’s like having directions to our destination and always getting lost … always making the wrong turn!
Some years ago I had a good example of this as Bob Poe and I drove to the Doxology conference in DeWitt, MI. I’m driving, knowing that I need exit 87. Bob says, “Pastor, isn’t this our exit?” Oh yes, it is Bob, thanks for letting me know as I quickly move right to exit the freeway!
On the way home I’m heading north on I-69 towards I-75 when I hear, “Pastor, isn’t this our exit?” Oh, thanks again Bob for pointing that out to me, as I once again move right quickly so as not to miss the, I-75 exit and our way home.
In a similar way:
The Spirit shows you when you miss the mark,
When you are going the wrong way
He, points you back to Jesus
So that you once again see the error of your sin and where you fall short, but also see the way the truth and the Life … Jesus, who kept the commandments – the Law - perfectly for you and who the Spirit will continue to point you to, Christ Jesus our Lord!
He is the light of the world and the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world and His gracious forgiveness and love is for you and for all who love God and are called according to His purpose!
Jesus said:
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
It is Jesus who gives us every good and perfect gift from above.
It is Jesus who will not leave you as orphans.
It is Jesus who took your sin upon himself at the cross burying it in the tomb and
It is Jesus, who asks the Father to send the Helper, the Spirit of truth, to you, so that you can continue to see Christ, the author and finisher of your faith Jesus.
Christ says:
Because I live, you also will live.
20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
By the Spirit, Christ will make Himself known to you!
Because death could not end Christ it will not be your end!
Because of the work of the Spirit in the life of God’s children … you will know Him and His ways, and you will be found acceptable because you will be clothed in the robes of the God/man Himself Jesus Christ the Righteous one.
Remember:
In the life of the Christian, the good news is that we will not be left alone.
The Holy Spirit is in you and with you and will comfort you in all trials … because you do not have to wonder if He will come to you … for He dwells with you and will be in you!
By God’s Spirit we look to Christ
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
The Spirit's message to us is not,
"Look at me; listen to me; come to me; get to know me",
but always,
Look at him,
see his glory;
listen to him and hear his word;
go to him and have life in him;
get to know him and taste his gift of joy and peace."
The Spirit’s, role is to bring you and Christ together and ensure that you and Christ Jesus stay together.
James Packer, Your Father Loves You, Harold Shaw Publishers, 1986.
But you don’t … and I don’t. We fall short, we miss the mark. It’s like having directions to our destination and always getting lost … always making the wrong turn!
Some years ago I had a good example of this as Bob Poe and I drove to the Doxology conference in DeWitt, MI. I’m driving, knowing that I need exit 87. Bob says, “Pastor, isn’t this our exit?” Oh yes, it is Bob, thanks for letting me know as I quickly move right to exit the freeway!
On the way home I’m heading north on I-69 towards I-75 when I hear, “Pastor, isn’t this our exit?” Oh, thanks again Bob for pointing that out to me, as I once again move right quickly so as not to miss the, I-75 exit and our way home.
In a similar way:
The Spirit shows you when you miss the mark,
When you are going the wrong way
He, points you back to Jesus
So that you once again see the error of your sin and where you fall short, but also see the way the truth and the Life … Jesus, who kept the commandments – the Law - perfectly for you and who the Spirit will continue to point you to, Christ Jesus our Lord!
He is the light of the world and the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world and His gracious forgiveness and love is for you and for all who love God and are called according to His purpose!
Jesus said:
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
It is Jesus who gives us every good and perfect gift from above.
It is Jesus who will not leave you as orphans.
It is Jesus who took your sin upon himself at the cross burying it in the tomb and
It is Jesus, who asks the Father to send the Helper, the Spirit of truth, to you, so that you can continue to see Christ, the author and finisher of your faith Jesus.
Christ says:
Because I live, you also will live.
20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
By the Spirit, Christ will make Himself known to you!
Because death could not end Christ it will not be your end!
Because of the work of the Spirit in the life of God’s children … you will know Him and His ways, and you will be found acceptable because you will be clothed in the robes of the God/man Himself Jesus Christ the Righteous one.
Remember:
In the life of the Christian, the good news is that we will not be left alone.
The Holy Spirit is in you and with you and will comfort you in all trials … because you do not have to wonder if He will come to you … for He dwells with you and will be in you!
By God’s Spirit we look to Christ
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Monday, May 4, 2026
Sermon May 2-3, 2026 - 5th Sunday of Easter
Title: Your place is prepared in Christ!
Text: John 14:1-14
Text: John 14:1-14
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6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
In our gospel today Jesus said to his disciples:
14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
This text is often used at funerals. It is for comfort and hope. Death is real but so is Christ’s rescue.
What also is interesting is the context of the hope that Jesus gives here in the beginning of chapter 14, with the last line of verse that he says in Chapter 13, where he turns to St. Peter and says,
“I tell you the truth, [truly, truly] before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!”
Not only then but now as well. We too disown the savior daily and not just three times.
It is daily. It is willful, and it is often, day in and day out until we die.
It is in that context that Christ’s - Let not your hearts be troubled - is truly good news and why it is so important that it be shared at times of great grief and suffering.
Peter was standing tall … thinking he knew all:
When Jesus washed the disciple’s feet Peter asked:
“Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”
Then Peter said:
“You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have [no part of] me.”
Jesus tells them:
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
He tells them to love one another, to serve one another, to care for one another … because where he is going, they cannot come.
Not in their own strength at least.
And Peter in his own strength says:
“Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
But in reality, that’s you and that’s me.
We think we can stand.
In the midst of trial, in the midst of temptation, in the midst of sin - we fall, denying the Lord and the rooster crows that reality in our own lives.
If we think about our own confirmation, confirming what God did in our Baptism and living our lives connected to Christ and this truth - right in the middle of the Rite of confirmation - the question is asked:
“Do you intend to hear the Word of God and receive the Lord’s Supper faithfully?
Do you intend to live according to the word of God, and in faith, word, and deed to remain true to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, even to death?
And finally, it asks:
Do you intend to continue steadfast in this confession and church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it?
To all of this we answer, “I do.”
In a sense saying like St. Peter:
I’ll lay down my life for you!
But, the confirmation rite adds one more “I do.” To these words we confess:
“By the grace of God.”
That is what Peter missed. His strength and our strength, as it is connected to faith, life, and eternal life … is in God’s hands and by his grace.
It is why we can let not our hearts be troubled!
I wrestle with so many who are confirmed members here and no longer come to church regularly.
I pray for all who have left the fold that the Lord would draw them back to regular attendance and fellowship as we talked about last week with the Apostles teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer as we gather together here.
It is God who brings to faith!
As pastor’s we all need to be reminded this truth that:
Jesus is God and I am not!
As we prepare for the Ascension of Christ in a little more than a week we are left with this reality. God has given the church under shepherds and by the Holy Spirit, the work of God continues.
In chapter 13 Peter is confused and asks Jesus,
“Lord where are you going?”
Thomas in chapter 14 asks:
5 … “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
To this Jesus answers:
6 … “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
It is really good news to hear that God has washed you and me and marked us as his.
He gives us pastors, as under shepherds to lead, teach, and point us to Jesus so we too can confess who Jesus is and follow him.
We all have been made partakers of eternal life.
We will see this again on the Day of Pentecost as we welcome new members and confirm two of our youth who have completed their work.
It is God though, who through the means he has provided of Word and Sacrament, will keep us all in the one true faith.
14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
That is Good News for pastors;
Good News for you dear members;
And that is Good News for all the Lord will continue to call to himself through his word and gifts!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Monday, April 27, 2026
Sermon April 25-26, 2023 – 4th Sunday of Easter
Title: God gives life through his means!
Text: Acts 2:42-47
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42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Teaching, Fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer.
It sounds a bit like our Easter weekend and breakfast!
It sounds like a formula for success.
Easter breakfast gave us time to fellowship and gather as the body of Christ.
We heard the word of God and the proclamation of his resurrection and the work of Jesus by the Spirit in the life of the church.
It was also a Unity Sunday and it was a joy to have a 150 gathered in worship on this day, something we haven’t had in many years.
We gathered also together at the table of the Lord, receiving his true body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins and strengthening of our faith.
And, we prayed for our needs and for the need of those we know and care for.
That is the joy and that is the goal with which we are brought to faith by our loving God, that through His gifts and by communion and fellowship with Him we have a life, in Christ, by Christ, and through Christ.
God gives life through his means!
St. Luke in his book of the Acts of the Apostles gives an account of the early church.
Last week we heard of Peter’s sermon in Acts chapter 2 that cut to the heart of those who heard the Law of God’s condemnation bringing them to the point of asking, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Acts 2:37b
To which Peter replies:
“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Now coming to faith through the Gospel brought some 3000 souls into the church through Peter’s sermon, but now we hear what the church did with and for those who repented and were baptized.
They heard the word of God proclaimed which is the Apostles teaching.
They had fellowship one with another both in community and in communion with that same doctrine of the word.
The breaking of bread in fellowship meals as well as with the Lord’s Supper that, as we heard last week, opened the eyes of their understanding so that they could see who Christ Jesus truly is and what he had done.
And finally, prayer, which is conversation and communion with that one and same word of God – Jesus Christ.
Our Lutheran Church Missouri Synod for many years had a mission focus called Witness, Mercy and Life together that fits this focus of the early church and our life together here at Peace as well.
The Apostle’s teaching, which is the word of God and what that word means, is the witness of who God is and what we have become in Christ.
As His children, we are called by Christ to be in worship, to hear His word, to know that as sinners, we all fall short of God’s requirements, but we also know that God has made a way in the person and work of Jesus Christ to bring us back into fellowship with him.
This fellowship we now have with each other as His children, celebrating our life together in communion around the table of the Lord, as we together confess that the body and blood of Christ that was given and shed for you and me, is now truly received with the bread and wine, bringing forgiveness of sins to those who receive this merciful gift by faith.
Apart from faith it is impossible to please God or to come to him because we all are judged as sinful and unclean and separated from the love of God found only in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God gives life through communion and the Apostle’s teaching and that is our Witness, Mercy and Life Together!
I’ve mentioned my friend’s daughter Michelle before:
Michelle Ruehl has served in the U.S. Air Force since 2003. She earned a bachelor's degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2003, a graduate degree from the University of Colorado in 2012, and a Ph.D. from George Mason University in 2024. Ruehl's career experience includes working as a military officer, pilot, life coach, executive coach, English teacher, equine riding instructor, theater director, and professional speaker. As of 2025, she was affiliated with the United States Air Force, the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the International Coaching Federation (ICF).[1]
Michelle Ruehl is an at-large member of the Colorado Springs School District 11 school board. She assumed office on December 10, 2025. Her current term ends in 2029.
https://ballotpedia.org/Michelle_Ruehl
It caused me to reflect on her life and an Easter not far removed from this past one.
At times we find ourselves in tough situations and I remember an Easter past when Michelle was serving in Afghanistan as a pilot in the Air Force.
Her Easter was a bit different than yours and mine. For her - worship started on the roof of the hospital at her base … at sunrise … overlooking the mountains and the dawning of the Easter morn as the F-16s began taking off on their missions in the distance.
The second service was at 8:00 am and for this service she played guitar and sang hymns of praise.
Just before the Lord’s Supper in the service, the sirens went off as mortar and rocket fire came upon the base. Everyone hit the floor. One soldier chuckled in the midst of the attack as he saw Michelle put her guitar over her head. “What kind of rocket you plan of stopping with that.” He asked?
Michelle kind of chuckled too knowing that it wouldn’t do much good but was a natural reaction.
Soon the all clear was given and the service continued, the words of institution were said, the Lord’s body and blood was given and received, and appropriately they sang, “How Great Thou Art!”
That’s a bit different from our Easter service here and our regular Sunday services! But the elements of Word, Fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer continue here and wherever the Lord’s people are gathered.
Prayers, we pray them every week in our services and daily for many of us in the church - is conversation with God. We bring our prayers and petitions to the one who holds our life in His hands through the mediation of his son and this is truly a blessed communion for us all.
Prayer can be a powerful blessing and we all need to avail ourselves of it daily. As we celebrate today all the Lord’s blessings, we can’t forget prayer, especially the faithful prayers of those, who keep and have kept us united in him.
Life is a matter of building. Each of us has the opportunity to build something -- a secure family, a good reputation, a career, a relationship to God. But some of those things can disappear almost overnight due to financial losses, natural disasters and other unforeseen difficulties.
What are we to do?
Daniel Webster offered excellent advice, saying, “If we work upon marble, it will perish; if we work on brass, time will efface it. If we rear temples, they will crumble to dust. But if we work on men’s immortal minds, if we impress on them high principles, the just fear of God, and love for their fellow-men, we engrave on those tablets something which no time can efface, and which will brighten and brighten to all eternity.”
DANIEL WEBSTER, secretary of state, speech to the City Council, Boston, Massachusetts, May 22, 1852.—The Writings and Speeches of Daniel Webster, vol. 13, pp. 518–19 (1903). Morning Glory, July 3, 1993.
God gives us life together through communion and the Apostle’s teaching!
Jesus said:
10 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
We know the Good Shepherd’s voice through his word, and by that word, communion, fellowship and prayer, which is communication with God continues.
By that, you know him who is the way the truth and the life!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Text: Acts 2:42-47
Facebook live: God gives life through his means!
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Teaching, Fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer.
It sounds a bit like our Easter weekend and breakfast!
It sounds like a formula for success.
Easter breakfast gave us time to fellowship and gather as the body of Christ.
We heard the word of God and the proclamation of his resurrection and the work of Jesus by the Spirit in the life of the church.
It was also a Unity Sunday and it was a joy to have a 150 gathered in worship on this day, something we haven’t had in many years.
We gathered also together at the table of the Lord, receiving his true body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins and strengthening of our faith.
And, we prayed for our needs and for the need of those we know and care for.
That is the joy and that is the goal with which we are brought to faith by our loving God, that through His gifts and by communion and fellowship with Him we have a life, in Christ, by Christ, and through Christ.
God gives life through his means!
St. Luke in his book of the Acts of the Apostles gives an account of the early church.
Last week we heard of Peter’s sermon in Acts chapter 2 that cut to the heart of those who heard the Law of God’s condemnation bringing them to the point of asking, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Acts 2:37b
To which Peter replies:
“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Now coming to faith through the Gospel brought some 3000 souls into the church through Peter’s sermon, but now we hear what the church did with and for those who repented and were baptized.
They heard the word of God proclaimed which is the Apostles teaching.
They had fellowship one with another both in community and in communion with that same doctrine of the word.
The breaking of bread in fellowship meals as well as with the Lord’s Supper that, as we heard last week, opened the eyes of their understanding so that they could see who Christ Jesus truly is and what he had done.
And finally, prayer, which is conversation and communion with that one and same word of God – Jesus Christ.
Our Lutheran Church Missouri Synod for many years had a mission focus called Witness, Mercy and Life together that fits this focus of the early church and our life together here at Peace as well.
The Apostle’s teaching, which is the word of God and what that word means, is the witness of who God is and what we have become in Christ.
As His children, we are called by Christ to be in worship, to hear His word, to know that as sinners, we all fall short of God’s requirements, but we also know that God has made a way in the person and work of Jesus Christ to bring us back into fellowship with him.
This fellowship we now have with each other as His children, celebrating our life together in communion around the table of the Lord, as we together confess that the body and blood of Christ that was given and shed for you and me, is now truly received with the bread and wine, bringing forgiveness of sins to those who receive this merciful gift by faith.
Apart from faith it is impossible to please God or to come to him because we all are judged as sinful and unclean and separated from the love of God found only in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God gives life through communion and the Apostle’s teaching and that is our Witness, Mercy and Life Together!
I’ve mentioned my friend’s daughter Michelle before:
Michelle Ruehl has served in the U.S. Air Force since 2003. She earned a bachelor's degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2003, a graduate degree from the University of Colorado in 2012, and a Ph.D. from George Mason University in 2024. Ruehl's career experience includes working as a military officer, pilot, life coach, executive coach, English teacher, equine riding instructor, theater director, and professional speaker. As of 2025, she was affiliated with the United States Air Force, the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the International Coaching Federation (ICF).[1]
Michelle Ruehl is an at-large member of the Colorado Springs School District 11 school board. She assumed office on December 10, 2025. Her current term ends in 2029.
https://ballotpedia.org/Michelle_Ruehl
It caused me to reflect on her life and an Easter not far removed from this past one.
At times we find ourselves in tough situations and I remember an Easter past when Michelle was serving in Afghanistan as a pilot in the Air Force.
Her Easter was a bit different than yours and mine. For her - worship started on the roof of the hospital at her base … at sunrise … overlooking the mountains and the dawning of the Easter morn as the F-16s began taking off on their missions in the distance.
The second service was at 8:00 am and for this service she played guitar and sang hymns of praise.
Just before the Lord’s Supper in the service, the sirens went off as mortar and rocket fire came upon the base. Everyone hit the floor. One soldier chuckled in the midst of the attack as he saw Michelle put her guitar over her head. “What kind of rocket you plan of stopping with that.” He asked?
Michelle kind of chuckled too knowing that it wouldn’t do much good but was a natural reaction.
Soon the all clear was given and the service continued, the words of institution were said, the Lord’s body and blood was given and received, and appropriately they sang, “How Great Thou Art!”
That’s a bit different from our Easter service here and our regular Sunday services! But the elements of Word, Fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer continue here and wherever the Lord’s people are gathered.
Prayers, we pray them every week in our services and daily for many of us in the church - is conversation with God. We bring our prayers and petitions to the one who holds our life in His hands through the mediation of his son and this is truly a blessed communion for us all.
Prayer can be a powerful blessing and we all need to avail ourselves of it daily. As we celebrate today all the Lord’s blessings, we can’t forget prayer, especially the faithful prayers of those, who keep and have kept us united in him.
Life is a matter of building. Each of us has the opportunity to build something -- a secure family, a good reputation, a career, a relationship to God. But some of those things can disappear almost overnight due to financial losses, natural disasters and other unforeseen difficulties.
What are we to do?
Daniel Webster offered excellent advice, saying, “If we work upon marble, it will perish; if we work on brass, time will efface it. If we rear temples, they will crumble to dust. But if we work on men’s immortal minds, if we impress on them high principles, the just fear of God, and love for their fellow-men, we engrave on those tablets something which no time can efface, and which will brighten and brighten to all eternity.”
DANIEL WEBSTER, secretary of state, speech to the City Council, Boston, Massachusetts, May 22, 1852.—The Writings and Speeches of Daniel Webster, vol. 13, pp. 518–19 (1903). Morning Glory, July 3, 1993.
God gives us life together through communion and the Apostle’s teaching!
Jesus said:
10 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
We know the Good Shepherd’s voice through his word, and by that word, communion, fellowship and prayer, which is communication with God continues.
By that, you know him who is the way the truth and the life!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Monday, April 20, 2026
Sermon April 18-19, 2026 – 3rd Sunday of Easter
Title: He is Lord and Christ of our lives!
Text: Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Text: Acts 2:14a, 36-41
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38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
The work of God continues to be evident as we celebrate the living Christ in the Easter season.
The Lord’s death and resurrection is now in the making of disciples through word and gift. The word proclaimed and the sacraments administered.
Peter now proclaims God’s miraculous working in the waters of baptism to those gathered in Jerusalem on Pentecost!
We too, are all partakers of this gift; and for you and me at times, we forget the blessing or the importance of what God has done for us.
As has been said before we cannot know Jesus or this gifts apart from God working to bring us to faith. This is especially true with Baptism!
It seems foolish to the natural man and apart from the Spirit, we cannot understand it.
How can water do such great things?
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.
This is the beginning of Peter’s sermon on Pentecost, which for us is still a few weeks away in this church year. But an important sermon none the less. The word of God at all times has a place in the ears of believers and non-believers alike.
It brings to faith.
Turns us in repentance.
And comforts us with the word of forgiveness.
Peter, establishes first the truth of who Jesus is:
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus] delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
Peter says:
You know who he is.
You’ve seen his mighty works.
It was God’s plan.
Lawless men gave him up and crucified him.
God raised him from the dead.
But Death and the grave could not hold him.
The response is clear:
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
The knowledge of sin should bring this response by the working of the Holy Spirit.
Cut to the quick they are sorry for their sin and look for hope. Peter brings that in his response to their ears.
38 … “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The response to repentance is forgiveness.
The being sorry for sin
The turning away from sin and a desire to stay away from sin
The comfort of forgiveness proclaimed and received
To be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is in fact to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
As Jesus said in Matthew 28:
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
As Paul writes in Colossians that 9 … in [Christ] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
But the next part has as it is the teaching about Jesus which Peter refers to in his sermon
39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
The faith needs to be passed down and that is our responsibility.
Not just mine, but yours as well.
I’ve had the conversation with people about a family member who isn’t baptized or connected to the faith and they say, “That’s your job, Pastor”
Oh really?
Certainly, I have a call to function as an under shepherd of Christ here and that can also entail the baptizing of baby’s and adults alike. But, the call to parents, spouses, siblings and friends to share Christ with those who need to hear and get them to the fount is equally compelling FOR ALL.
For the promise here is for YOU!
And for YOUR children!
And for ALL who a far off!
For EVERYONE whom the Lord our God call to himself!
Take for example our Gospel reading for today with Jesus on the Emmaus Road with his two companions.
28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. [Jesus] acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So, he went in to stay with them.
They were unaware of who Jesus was but they were compelled by his teaching:
“O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
And Jesus,
30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
In the breaking of bread Jesus too make himself known to us and all that he came to do.
To take on flesh, yet without sin
To suffer and die for the sins of the world.
To rise from the dead for our justification.
33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
And then we too rise and receive the same gifts of Christ’s body and blood receiving the joy of forgiveness in our mouths and having our faith strengthened we go forth telling all that the Lord has done for us!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Monday, April 13, 2026
Sermon April 11-12, 2026 – 2nd Sunday of Easter
Title: The Lord’s peace is revealed by faith!
Text: Acts 5:29-32, John 20:19-31
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26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
In 325 A.D. at the Council of Nicaea, which was an important church meeting in the 4th century. It is also the place where the Nicene Creed gets its name.
There were 318 delegates in attendance. Of that number, fewer than 12 had not lost an eye or a hand or didn’t limp on a leg lamed by torture for their Christian faith.
Vance Havner
Such is the way of faith for those who follow Christ.
In our first reading:
41 [the Disciples] left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name [of Jesus]. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that [Jesus is the Christ].
Martin Luther writes:
If we consider the greatness and the glory of the life we shall have when we have risen from the dead, it would not be difficult at all for us to bear the concerns of this world. If I believe the Word, I shall on the Last Day, after the sentence has been pronounced, not only gladly have suffered ordinary temptations, insults, and imprisonment, but I shall also say: "O, that I did not throw myself under the feet of all the godless for the sake of the great glory which I now see revealed and which has come to me through the merit of Christ!"
Martin Luther
In our lesson, in the Book of Acts, things are not going well for the apostles.
This is a bit further in our timeline than where we are in our gospel reading for today where the disciples are locked in the upper room for fear of the Jews … but as you see not much is different.
Jesus has been killed and raised from the dead, but fear and uncertainty abound.
Thomas won’t believe, unless he has proof and for this it better be tangible … fingers in the nail holes and hand in the side.
But in our reading from Acts chapter 5 it is the Apostles who are receiving the wrath of the Jews from the Sanhedrin – the council of the Pharisees and Sadducees – for preaching the name of Jesus and performing miraculous signs wonders and healings in his name.
It fills the high Priest and those with him with jealousy so much so that they had the apostles arrested and put in jail … unfortunately a fairly common place for those proclaiming Christ than and even now.
But during the night the angle of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out of the jail, told them to stand in the Temple courts and to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and his life, death, and glorious resurrection for the sins of the world!
Text: Acts 5:29-32, John 20:19-31
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26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
In 325 A.D. at the Council of Nicaea, which was an important church meeting in the 4th century. It is also the place where the Nicene Creed gets its name.
There were 318 delegates in attendance. Of that number, fewer than 12 had not lost an eye or a hand or didn’t limp on a leg lamed by torture for their Christian faith.
Vance Havner
Such is the way of faith for those who follow Christ.
In our first reading:
41 [the Disciples] left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name [of Jesus]. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that [Jesus is the Christ].
Martin Luther writes:
If we consider the greatness and the glory of the life we shall have when we have risen from the dead, it would not be difficult at all for us to bear the concerns of this world. If I believe the Word, I shall on the Last Day, after the sentence has been pronounced, not only gladly have suffered ordinary temptations, insults, and imprisonment, but I shall also say: "O, that I did not throw myself under the feet of all the godless for the sake of the great glory which I now see revealed and which has come to me through the merit of Christ!"
Martin Luther
In our lesson, in the Book of Acts, things are not going well for the apostles.
This is a bit further in our timeline than where we are in our gospel reading for today where the disciples are locked in the upper room for fear of the Jews … but as you see not much is different.
Jesus has been killed and raised from the dead, but fear and uncertainty abound.
Thomas won’t believe, unless he has proof and for this it better be tangible … fingers in the nail holes and hand in the side.
But in our reading from Acts chapter 5 it is the Apostles who are receiving the wrath of the Jews from the Sanhedrin – the council of the Pharisees and Sadducees – for preaching the name of Jesus and performing miraculous signs wonders and healings in his name.
It fills the high Priest and those with him with jealousy so much so that they had the apostles arrested and put in jail … unfortunately a fairly common place for those proclaiming Christ than and even now.
But during the night the angle of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out of the jail, told them to stand in the Temple courts and to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and his life, death, and glorious resurrection for the sins of the world!
So, they went and did all that the Lord commanded them.
Giving Praise, proclaiming the good news, and rejoicing in the Lord!
What a surprise as they send for the apostles and they are not there – even though the doors are still locked and the guards posted. They report their finding that the disciples are back preaching about Jesus.
So, they go and get them again and bring them to the High Priest and the whole Council saying in a sense
“We told you to stop teaching in this name … this name of Jesus.”
But Peter says:
“We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Today is not much different:
In a shocking ruling delivered in Helsinki last week, the Supreme Court of Finland convicted Päivi Räsänen, a 66-year-old longtime Christian Democratic parliamentarian, and her Lutheran bishop, Juhana Pohjola, of hate speech for “making and keeping available to the public a text that insults a group.” The court ordered that the text, a 2004 pamphlet explaining and defending traditional Biblical teaching about homosexuality, must be “removed from public access and destroyed.”
Not a good sign … but why so much hatred against Christians?
Gamaliel may be a good source for our understanding. Being a teacher of the Law and held in honor by the people … even being the Apostle Paul’s teacher. He stood up saying:
“Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!”
The truth that we are sinners in need of a savior causes many to rise up in opposition just as it did in the time of Jesus as the Pharisees met.
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
People rise up in our day too and want to do away with this Good News that is the gospel. God’s word brings one of two responses repentance or anger.
Repentance hears the word and turns away from sin and back to God while anger hears repentance call and says:
“How dare you judge me! Who are you to judge me? What an unloving thing to do!”
But in reality, it is the thought of:
What if it’s true?
What if eternity apart from Christ is damnation?
What if it is just the lies of the devil that I’m hearing?
“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” NIV
If Christ is God in the flesh than apart from him, we are dead in trespass and sin or buy God’s Holy Spirit’s work we repent, turn back to him, and are saved.
This turning also though turns us away from the sin we are broken by - and we desire the things of God; his word, his gifts his forgiveness.
Do you desire to be in his house?
Do you know God’s desire for you?
St. Peter in his first epistle reminds us.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5
God will guard his children, though the work of the devil seems overwhelming and I pray that those who came at Easter service last weekend will desire to be in God’s house each week to receive his gifts.
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9
It is God who wills and works in you and in me. May he continue to work to bring joy, peace, and salvation to all of those he gives faith to in his time and in his way.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Giving Praise, proclaiming the good news, and rejoicing in the Lord!
What a surprise as they send for the apostles and they are not there – even though the doors are still locked and the guards posted. They report their finding that the disciples are back preaching about Jesus.
So, they go and get them again and bring them to the High Priest and the whole Council saying in a sense
“We told you to stop teaching in this name … this name of Jesus.”
But Peter says:
“We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Today is not much different:
In a shocking ruling delivered in Helsinki last week, the Supreme Court of Finland convicted Päivi Räsänen, a 66-year-old longtime Christian Democratic parliamentarian, and her Lutheran bishop, Juhana Pohjola, of hate speech for “making and keeping available to the public a text that insults a group.” The court ordered that the text, a 2004 pamphlet explaining and defending traditional Biblical teaching about homosexuality, must be “removed from public access and destroyed.”
Not a good sign … but why so much hatred against Christians?
Gamaliel may be a good source for our understanding. Being a teacher of the Law and held in honor by the people … even being the Apostle Paul’s teacher. He stood up saying:
“Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!”
The truth that we are sinners in need of a savior causes many to rise up in opposition just as it did in the time of Jesus as the Pharisees met.
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
People rise up in our day too and want to do away with this Good News that is the gospel. God’s word brings one of two responses repentance or anger.
Repentance hears the word and turns away from sin and back to God while anger hears repentance call and says:
“How dare you judge me! Who are you to judge me? What an unloving thing to do!”
But in reality, it is the thought of:
What if it’s true?
What if eternity apart from Christ is damnation?
What if it is just the lies of the devil that I’m hearing?
“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” NIV
If Christ is God in the flesh than apart from him, we are dead in trespass and sin or buy God’s Holy Spirit’s work we repent, turn back to him, and are saved.
This turning also though turns us away from the sin we are broken by - and we desire the things of God; his word, his gifts his forgiveness.
Do you desire to be in his house?
Do you know God’s desire for you?
St. Peter in his first epistle reminds us.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5
God will guard his children, though the work of the devil seems overwhelming and I pray that those who came at Easter service last weekend will desire to be in God’s house each week to receive his gifts.
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9
It is God who wills and works in you and in me. May he continue to work to bring joy, peace, and salvation to all of those he gives faith to in his time and in his way.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Sunday, April 5, 2026
Sermon April 5, 2026 – Easter Sunday
Title: He is not here and you too will rise!
Text: Matt. 28:1-10
Text: Matt. 28:1-10
Facebook live: He is not here and you too will rise!
5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen
The tomb is empty
The stone rolled away!
Death conquered!
Christ is raised from the dead!
Through Jesus, we have access to the Tree of life and eternity!
2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.
God’s word here gives a very wonderful description of what happened very early on that first day of the week, Sunday morning, as an angel of the Lord rolls away the stone … not as an aid to the resurrection but as a sign to the empty tomb and the reality that Jesus had risen from the dead!
This angel rolled the stone away and used it for his own seat and such was in his appearance as lightening and as white as snow.
Can you imagine the look on the guard’s faces that were placed there to make sure that the disciples didn’t come to steal the body of the Lord.
At the sight of this angel, they trembled and became as dead men out of fear.
The evidence that Jesus had been crucified, dead and buried and was now risen from the dead - was no longer in doubt - and there was no more concern for those who were placed to guard the tomb.
As the women … those faithful who came to contend with the Lord’s body the angle says:
“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.
For this is now a place where He, Jesus, had been, laid in death, and He is not there;
No longer in the tomb … no longer dead … but risen and alive!
Death … which is a part of life that we all have had some experience with … connects us too with the death of Christ.
Even as little children we know death as a sign of fallen humanity.
We see death in nature and with the loss of family pets.
We know the reality of death in our lives with the loss of beloved relatives, siblings, or parents and high-profile people in the world and that reality becomes clearer as we get older.
This was not God’s plan.
The Tempter, the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,
and our first parents Adam and Eve, made sure of that!
Our own families become the evidence of this as we see those who sustained us through life leave us, showing the reality of sin in their life and ours too, as they fall victim to the wages of sin, and these wages bring death, a death that is assured just as our crucified Lord, who breathed His last, was dead as He gave up the Spirit, commending his Spirit into the Father’s hands.
I have seen this reality with fellow believers and members of Christ’s body the church as well as they too breathed their last and gave up their spirit in this life over the years of ministry.
So many dear church members, and friends, all morning the loss of loved ones called away from the joys of this life and the ones that they loved.
How quickly it is that even one day can change our whole lives.
Those first disciples, those first followers of Jesus felt loss too.
The one in whom they had placed their hope as their Messiah and Lord had been taken from them … and this loss brought grief and confusion.
Was he too just a man?
Did he deceive all those who had placed their trust in him?
Did their hope too … die with him?
And what about our own hope?
As a pastor I get to preach at funerals and it is always a joy to remind those who are grieving and suffering loss that in Christ, death is not the end for we who cling to the blessed hope of Christ’s resurrection.
The Tree of Christ’s cross made sure of that!
But, it is a time of parting … for a while.
St Paul gives us the joyful hope in his epistle to the Romans in chapter 8 where he says:
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8:38-39
7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
Earlier I said,
“How quickly it is that even one day can change our whole lives.”
St Luke tells us in a parallel account:
24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. Luke 24: 1-3
… one day can change our whole lives …
“Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen!” Luke 24:5b
The fall into sin brought death, but Christ’s death brings life for all born in the death of sin and separated from God.
By his resurrection we too have hope in our resurrection promised in Christ.
Though we die, yet shall we live!
You too, who trust in Christ, have this promised eternity waiting for you!
The blessed Good News that Jesus died for your sins - is the wonderful Gospel message you can trust.
He has forgiven your sin and has called you to faith by the Gospel and through the power of the Holy Spirit, and has given you faith to believe in Jesus Christ’s saving work.
9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
Because:
Christ is raised … so you too will rise!
The good news of Easter is our present reality and hope until Christ Jesus returns in glory to gather us to himself!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
Through Jesus, we have access to the Tree of life and eternity!
2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.
God’s word here gives a very wonderful description of what happened very early on that first day of the week, Sunday morning, as an angel of the Lord rolls away the stone … not as an aid to the resurrection but as a sign to the empty tomb and the reality that Jesus had risen from the dead!
This angel rolled the stone away and used it for his own seat and such was in his appearance as lightening and as white as snow.
Can you imagine the look on the guard’s faces that were placed there to make sure that the disciples didn’t come to steal the body of the Lord.
At the sight of this angel, they trembled and became as dead men out of fear.
The evidence that Jesus had been crucified, dead and buried and was now risen from the dead - was no longer in doubt - and there was no more concern for those who were placed to guard the tomb.
As the women … those faithful who came to contend with the Lord’s body the angle says:
“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.
For this is now a place where He, Jesus, had been, laid in death, and He is not there;
No longer in the tomb … no longer dead … but risen and alive!
Death … which is a part of life that we all have had some experience with … connects us too with the death of Christ.
Even as little children we know death as a sign of fallen humanity.
We see death in nature and with the loss of family pets.
We know the reality of death in our lives with the loss of beloved relatives, siblings, or parents and high-profile people in the world and that reality becomes clearer as we get older.
This was not God’s plan.
The Tempter, the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,
and our first parents Adam and Eve, made sure of that!
Our own families become the evidence of this as we see those who sustained us through life leave us, showing the reality of sin in their life and ours too, as they fall victim to the wages of sin, and these wages bring death, a death that is assured just as our crucified Lord, who breathed His last, was dead as He gave up the Spirit, commending his Spirit into the Father’s hands.
I have seen this reality with fellow believers and members of Christ’s body the church as well as they too breathed their last and gave up their spirit in this life over the years of ministry.
So many dear church members, and friends, all morning the loss of loved ones called away from the joys of this life and the ones that they loved.
How quickly it is that even one day can change our whole lives.
Those first disciples, those first followers of Jesus felt loss too.
The one in whom they had placed their hope as their Messiah and Lord had been taken from them … and this loss brought grief and confusion.
Was he too just a man?
Did he deceive all those who had placed their trust in him?
Did their hope too … die with him?
And what about our own hope?
As a pastor I get to preach at funerals and it is always a joy to remind those who are grieving and suffering loss that in Christ, death is not the end for we who cling to the blessed hope of Christ’s resurrection.
The Tree of Christ’s cross made sure of that!
But, it is a time of parting … for a while.
St Paul gives us the joyful hope in his epistle to the Romans in chapter 8 where he says:
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8:38-39
7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
Earlier I said,
“How quickly it is that even one day can change our whole lives.”
St Luke tells us in a parallel account:
24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. Luke 24: 1-3
… one day can change our whole lives …
“Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen!” Luke 24:5b
The fall into sin brought death, but Christ’s death brings life for all born in the death of sin and separated from God.
By his resurrection we too have hope in our resurrection promised in Christ.
Though we die, yet shall we live!
You too, who trust in Christ, have this promised eternity waiting for you!
The blessed Good News that Jesus died for your sins - is the wonderful Gospel message you can trust.
He has forgiven your sin and has called you to faith by the Gospel and through the power of the Holy Spirit, and has given you faith to believe in Jesus Christ’s saving work.
9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
Because:
Christ is raised … so you too will rise!
The good news of Easter is our present reality and hope until Christ Jesus returns in glory to gather us to himself!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
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