Sermon June 20-21, 2026

Title: Fear not for God loves you and is with you!
Text: Matthew 10:5, 21-33

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31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

The Bohemian reformer John Hus, who lived about 100 years before Martin Luther, was a man who believed the Scriptures to be the infallible and supreme authority in all matters of faith. He died, burned at the stake, for that belief in Constance, Germany, on his forty-second birthday. As he refused a final plea to renounce his faith, Hus's last words were, "What I taught with my lips, I seal with my blood."

Source Unknown.

The prospect of standing for what one believes is getting more and more difficult. Simple truths that have been understood for years are being challenged. My truth … is the phrase of the day.

1 John 2:16-17 summarizes a bit of the dilemma:

16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

In his goodness and mercy God has called us to be his people.

He has forgiven us our sins.
Daily and richly, he supplies all our needs.
He has set before us eternal life.
All of this is by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

During the days of his public ministry, our Lord sent his disciples out to preach the gospel. First, it was the twelve, then the seventy-two and finally it became the general commission for all of his followers.

Today it is our commission.

This brings us to our Gospel reading today:

5These are the twelve that Jesus sent out, instructing them, …

But the bulk of our text today points to what await those who profess faith in Christ.

21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

The work of those who were sent would not be fun or easy.
Persecution would be part of the lot of those sent.

Not only would the world hate them but so too their family, brother, father children and so on. Christ says,

Have no fear of them … proclaim the truth!

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Our Lord put it in various ways:
Preach the gospel to every creature.

Make disciples of all nations.
Be my witnesses in all the world.

Preaching, making disciples, and witnessing – this is our task!

It is our call; it is our work. This is what the Lord has given us to do. The importance of this work is plain:

Apart from the gospel there is no salvation. Apart from Jesus Christ there is no hope.

Jesus has said:

6 … “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

In the words of St. Peter:

12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

The urgency of the commission is also plain. Generations are born; they live and die. While they live, each member of the generation has an opportunity to know Christ and find salvation in him. For we who know Jesus we are given the opportunity and task to make him known to others. Once life ends, eternity and judgement come.

The love of God overcomes fear!

Today, the brokenness is laid bare for all to see and at times embraced, at least by the world and the worldview of many.

No more is Christ the way the truth and the life for those whose peace is found only in:
My way! My truth! And my life!

The persecution of those who proclaim the name of Christ is growing.
It is and has been dangerous to those around the world.

Proclaiming Christ in our country too is being met with anger and only time will tell the extent of the persecution we all might feel.

So, what do we who are Christians do in light of this evil in the world?

Well certainly we pray, but we also need to be in the world though not of the world or conformed to its ways.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said in a very poignant way as he was confronted with all that Hitler and the Third Reich were doing leading up to and including World War II.

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

He continues on in his book, The Cost of Discipleship:

“Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ.

It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life.
It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner.

Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: 'Ye were bought at a price’ and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us.

Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

Fear not for God loves you, and is with you!
It is the mission of the church as we learned to “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Matt 28
It is a mission of the Church at large, our own LC-MS, and of we here at Peace:
To make disciples, to proclaim Christ, to baptize and teach;

It is a rough road, and a dangerous road. Many die along the way, in doing the work of proclaiming the gospel. But Christ says, Fear not!

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

We have many sparrows next week coming for VBS. We show them Jesus in our service to them as neighbors and point them to the truth of who Jesus is as our savior and redeemer.

Christ has promised that where he is you too will be also. He has a room prepared and where He is you too will be also. And He gives you and me the work to do with this promise:

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, John 14:12a

I’d like to close with these words of comfort from Luther:

Now, since these promises of God are words of holiness, truth, righteousness, liberty, and peace, and are full of universal goodness, the soul, which cleaves to them with a firm faith, is so united to them, nay, thoroughly absorbed by them, that it not only partakes in, but is penetrated and saturated by, all their virtues.

For if the touch of Christ was healing, how much more, does that most tender spiritual touch, nay, absorption of the word, communicate to the soul all that belongs to the word!

In this way therefore the soul, through faith alone, without works, is from the word of God justified, sanctified, endued with truth, peace, and liberty, and filled full with every good thing, and is truly made the child of God, as it is said,

“To them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” John 1: 12

And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in and through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior now and forever.

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

Amen

Sermon June 13-14, 2026

Title: Pray, send, go, and tell the Good News!
Text: Matthew 9:35-10:8

Facebook live: Pray, send, go, and tell the Good News!

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

In our gospel today:

35 … Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.

In the proceeding part of chapter 9 Jesus:

Healed a paralytic brought to him lying on a mat.
He called the apostle Matthew, the tax collector, to follow him.
He raised a daughter from death to life.
He healed a woman from bleeding who touched the hem of his garment.
He restored the sight of two blind men who asked him for mercy.
And cast out a demon from a man unable to speak who then spoke.

Our compassionate Lord went to those in need or they came to him.

He brought life where only death reigned.
He healed those who had been unable to be healed.
He restored sight and cast the demons away.

[Jesus] had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

We’ve talked a bit over the last months about the need for pastors and the churches that are without one and going through the process to self-evaluate. They are trying to be honest with themselves as their needs and church has changed.

Our Pastor’s conference in Frankenmuth last month had a number on conversations about that and our Synod convention next month will deal with this as well.

We have symbols from two sister congregations in our Narthex that for many of their members now call Peace their home, and there are other churches in our circuit that are in need of pastors. It is a hard reality for many more churches in the future.

I mentioned last weekend that we had a husband and wife visit us on Trinity Sunday from a Prescott Valley Arizona and they asked for prayers for their congregation, Trinity Lutheran as they struggle without a pastor.

After all, the church is the gathering of the faithful no matter where it may be, and all churches need an under shepherd of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ to proclaim God’s word and distribute his gifts!

The Twelve Apostles

10 And [Jesus] called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Each church in our circuit grows and falls as the Lord dictates.

I think pastors are given calls to move the process along. After all we are creatures of habit. We would all stay put and do things just as they are unless moved along by the Lord.

5 These twelve Jesus sent out,

The 12 disciples were probably not looking for a change.
They liked Jesus and were content to follow him and stay where they were.
But he sends them out, taking them out of their comfort zone and giving them marching orders.

“Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

Life and needs have changed for some of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Some are without a shepherd and waiting on the Lord.
Some are watching services online.
Some can’t come or drive.
Some are in care facilities.
Some are dealing with cancer and other illnesses.
Some can’t do stairs.
Some are mourning the loss of a spouse and struggle with grief.

In some cases other Circuit Pastors are visiting church members to help out.

We all, in compassion for the Lord’s sheep, are trying as best we can to serve God’s people as his under shepherds, where we are.

I am thankful for all my brother pastors and their efforts.

No one size fits all here. “The times they are a changing,” as Bob Dylan once sang and we all have to have our eyes open to this reality.

Every year things change.
2026 is no different.

The hope is not to avoid change but to hold dear to the unchangeable Jesus.

Jesus is after all: The way the truth and the life!

Sickness, war, protests, midterm elections, our Synod convention, birth and death. Everything the world deals with, the church deals with, and the root cause, result, and solution, are the same.

Sin, death and Jesus

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23

Whether like Peace member Erna Gidcumb, who rests in Jesus having finished the race in this life last month. Or, the myriads of other members and loved ones from this church and others who have once blessed us with their presence in this life and now joy in Christ’s presence, the sting of death is real.

It hurts, It’s personal, it’s troubling, and it’s no respecter of age, race, gender, status or political affiliation. So, the mandate from Jesus to his disciples should ring in our ears as well.

38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Our prayers are for both the Lord to send laborers; knowing that we might be called upon to be one of those to bring Christ to those in need as pastor’s, helpers and friends.

While death is the result of sin, Jesus is the solution for sin.

Christ needs to be proclaimed in this life with or without pastors - not to diminish the concerns in this life but to illuminate the greater reality.

All roads lead to death in this life, but only one way leads to peace and life eternal and that’s Jesus.

Our sermon hymn 826 Hark, the Voice of Jesus Crying brings all of our concerns and in a wonderful way points to the Blessed Hope that Jesus is.

Your hope, trust, and security in this life is only for a while.
Let us rest in Jesus’ call as the lyrics of our hymn make clear.

1. Hark! the voice of Jesus calling, "Who will go and work today?
Fields are white, the harvest waiting, “Who will bear the sheaves away?"
Loud and long the Master calls out, Rich reward he offers free:
Who will answer, gladly saying, "Here am I, send me, send me."

2. If you cannot speak like angels, f you cannot preach like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus, you can say he died for all.
If you cannot rouse the wicked, With the judgment's dread alarms,
You may lead the little children, To the Savior's waiting arms.

4. Let none hear you idly saying, "There is nothing I can do,"
While the multitudes are dying, and the Master calls for you.
Take the task he gives you gladly; Let his work your pleasure be.
Answer quickly when he's calling, "Here am I, send, send me."

Pray, send, go, and tell the Good News!

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

Amen

Sermon June 6-7, 2026

Title: Let us all, like Matthew, follow Jesus!
Text: Matthew 9:9-13

 
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9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

As we begin today with our gospel reading, Jesus sees Matthew as he is sitting in his Tax office and he says to him, “Follow Me.”

The response is immediate. Matthew got up and followed him.

This begins a life of service to his Lord. It was not always easy, but we can be sure that it was always special as he walked in the presence of the living Christ.

This man had been called Levi, the son of Alphaeus as St. Mark tells us in his gospel, but from now on Matthew continues with a new name and a new calling.

It is possible that Matthew may have known Jesus before this time.

He may have heard of him or even heard him, but there is no mistaking he is now the Lord’s and God’s call is always effective. Jesus was directly enrolling Matthew in the Lord’s work and he would be standing in Christ’s closest circle of followers.

The words of Jesus were simple and direct.
I don’t know if there were other conversations that preceded this call but the simple two words were 

enough for him: “Follow Me.”

Jesus called others too: fisherman, brothers, Nathaniel who he saw while he sat under a fig tree, and even one who would betray him. But today it is Matthew.

The invitation and calling still comes to us today.

Some of you heard the call as infants in the waters of Holy Baptism, while others hear God’s inspired word that calls you to believe as you talk to friends or grieve the loss of a dear loved one at a funeral or visitation. God works through the ordinary times and circumstances of life to bring himself and this reality to you.

God’s word and his call are sure.

We shouldn’t think that it was easy for Matthew to walk away from his life and the work he did. He probably had a lucrative income and a family, we’re not sure but it is never easy to give up things that are important in our lives and in our past to serve Jesus. But God makes it happen and rewarding.

The gospel continues in a most interesting way.

10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.

If you had friends over to your house, who would they be?

Well, maybe people like you.

People that work with you, socialize with you, live with you, live near you, and those whom you desire to know or get to know better.

You also might want them to know your friends and those friends that are new to you, like Jesus.

It is not surprising that Matthew had tax collectors and sinners in his home and at this feast. He may have even invited the Pharasees to expand his circle of friends or to bring them the Good News to follow Christ as well.

They were not happy with the whole affair or Jesus who reclined at table.

Saying, to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Which is another way of saying,
“Why do you eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Which is another way of saying,
“Why does your teacher eat with you?”

To this Jesus answers with his words of great perspective:

12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

Also quoting the familiar words of the Prophet Hosea from our Old Testament reading today:

‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus takes his critics to task.
Jesus points out the inherent problem with their reasoning.
They think they are well!

They don’t realize the sickness that dwells with in all born in sin who are all born to die. They think those connected to Jesus have the problem, but Jesus is not the problem, he is the cure.

Christ alone is the great physician!

He alone can save!
He alone can heal!

The person who thinks he is spiritually well, who thinks he is righteous and perfect and without sin, may not feel the need for a savior - having a lifelong rebellion against God and the things of God.

You know them and I know them. If fact we were them, especially when we think:

“I’m doing pretty good and I can make it one my own. At least, I’m not as bad as, you know who!” Tax collectors and sinners!

Many live that way and are without hope.

No Jesus.
No future hope.
No eternity in his presence.
But a real eternity, separated from God in Christ forever.

Don’t fight and throw away the gift!

Jesus doesn’t want your work. He wants you.
Jesus doesn’t want your stuff. He wants you.
Jesus doesn’t need your money. It’s all his anyways.

But his does want you to be his child, and he wants you to trust all that he came to do, for you!

The Pharisees never really felt the need for the mercy of God, or the comfort he gives because they trusted themselves. Maybe that is why they were so unloving towards others?

Many today live the life of a pharisee as they trust themselves, trust their schools, trust their jobs, and trust their families and friends, to be their guide and aid in the good and bad times of life.

Don’t place your hope in things that pass away.

It was not easy for Matthew to walk the way of following Jesus. It cost him much but also gave him much more that he gave up.

Our call is to follow Jesus and to invite others to know him because he desires that they would be his children as well.

Look to the empty tomb and know that because Jesus Christ, conquered sin, death, and the devil we too by faith in his work shall rise to an eternity with him also.

Hear the call of the Lord. Follow me!
Let us all, like Matthew, follow Jesus!

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

Amen

May 30 -31, 2026 Trinity in unity and unity in Trinity!

Title: Trinity in unity and unity in Trinity!
Text: Matthew 28:16-20

Facebook live: Trinity in unity and unity in Trinity!

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] 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.”

A Psalm for giving thanks.

1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

On this Trinity Sunday (Weekend) we look to the hope that is our one true God who has revealed himself as one divine essence, but also as three unique and coequal persons … Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness!

We all love a joyful noise and a joyful noise is proclaimed to our God through singing, as was just proclaimed in the singing of the sermon hymn, Praise to the Lord, the almighty!

We sing of God’s goodness that never fails and our lacking nothing that we need, because he provides for all of body and soul in this life and in the life to come. The Father’s love is made known to us in his Son who holds us in the palm of his hands promising never to lose a single one – I am his and he is mine – forever!

This joy is yours and mine by the work of God’s Spirit. He points, directs and comforts so that we serve those in need joyfully and with glad hearts.

A friend’s dad, Bill Wilstermann, once told me after church many years ago:

“When I’m feeling down and things seem to be going wrong, I go and do something nice for someone and I feel a whole lot better!”

Come into his presence with singing!

We begin our service at 10:30. At times some come late and miss the opening hymn – or you may miss a beautiful prelude Rob plays before service and it’s not uncommon to have a greater number of people in the pews for the Closing hymn than the service begins with.

Come early, sing joyfully … you’ll be glad you did!

3 Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;

To know the Lord is to know our Triune God as he has revealed himself to us through his word. God speaks to us through his word. His word read, sung and meditated upon reveals who he is and his love for us.

The Spirit shines the light on Christ, the word made flesh, for you and me. We know him by his word and through the word he continues to be made known.

Matthew 11:28 King James Version (KJV)
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

John 3:16 King James Version (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 6:23 King James Version (KJV)
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

At times I need to read the old King James for the majesty to conveys. Judy Harroun has said of the late seminary Professor John Saleska who, having memorized much of the KJV bible, it is what will be spoken in heaven! The beginning and end of Reverend Saleska’s obituary speaks of his hope.

Rev. John Saleska, 87, whom God adopted as his own beloved child at his Baptism, now rests with Jesus, where he is waiting with all of us for the Resurrection that God promised him in Christ.

Revelation 21:4 King James Version (KJV)

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Dear friends, this is our Triune Gods hope for you and me as well!

No tears, no death, no sorrow, no crying, no pain … all gone.

We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. The Psalmist reminds us.

The Lord’s sheep know the shepherd and by the Holy Spirit we are his and know him. But like sheep we wonder from the truth.

Dr. Andrew Bonar told how, in the Highlands of Scotland, a sheep would often wander off into the rocks and get into places that they couldn't get out of. The grass on these mountains is very sweet and the sheep like it, and they will jump down ten or twelve feet, and then they can't jump back again, and the shepherd hears them bleating in distress. They may be there for days, until they have eaten all the grass. The shepherd will wait until they are so faint they cannot stand, and then they will put a rope around him, and he will go over and pull that sheep up out of the jaws of death.

"Why don't they go down there when the sheep first gets there?" The question was asked.

"Ah!" He said, "they are so very foolish they would dash right over the precipice and be killed if they did!"

And that is the way with men; they won't [come] back to God till they have lost everything.

If you are a wanderer or know one, I tell you that the Good Shepherd will pursue you and bring you back when you have given up trying to go it your own way and let the Spirit turn you back to Christ.

Moody's Anecdotes, pp. 70-71.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!

John 1:11-13 English Standard Version (ESV)

11 [Jesus] came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood [not who we are] nor of the will of the flesh [not the things we do] nor of the will of man, [or what others tell us we can do of ourselves] - but of God.

Born from above, born again, born of God!

You and I enter God’s presence with thanksgiving and praise by God’s work revealed in his son and the promise never fails.

Hold on to it for dear life and proclaim it to your children and your grandchildren!

Give them an example to model. Show your friends your faith and invite them to church.

My friend Rob showed me the truth of God’s love in word and example.

I in turn shared it with my friend Mark at work. Mark told me he went to the gas station for a coffee and the lady behind the counter had a cross around her neck. Mark said to her with his big Mark smile, “Are you my sister in the Lord?” She gave him a big smile and a hug.

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

5 For the LORD is good;

We who are broken in sin and are made new in Christ.

From verse 5 of Praise to the Lord, the almighty:

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him.
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him!
Let the Amen
Sound from his people again;
Gladly forever adore him! 

Christ’s cross and work for you and me - guide and lead - in times of sorrow and joy.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit united in our life now and for eternity.

In Christ our God knows you and he knows me and he has numbered our days and appointed us here for this time and for this work. We proclaim Christ because it is his desire for us to do so. His love for us will never fade and we are his forever.

his steadfast love endures forever, - his love is never ending!
and his faithfulness to all generations. – it is his promise for all!

God is faithful. He will continue dear friends to pursue you all the days of your life!

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

Amen

Sermon May 16-17, 2026 - 7th Sunday of Easter

Title: Christ’s prayer for you!
Text: John 17:1-11

Facebook live: Christ’s prayer for you!

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

Sermon May 9-10, 2026 - 6th Sunday of Easter

Title: The comforter points to Jesus!
Text: John 14:15-21

Facebook live: The comforter points to Jesus!

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.

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

Sermon May 2-3, 2026 - 5th Sunday of Easter

Title: Your place is prepared in Christ!
Text: John 14:1-14

Facebook live: Your place is prepared in Christ!

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

Sermon April 25-26, 2023 – 4th Sunday of Easter

Title: God gives life through his means!
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

Sermon April 18-19, 2026 – 3rd Sunday of Easter

Title: He is Lord and Christ of our lives!
Text: Acts 2:14a, 36-41

Facebook live: He is Lord and Christ of our lives!

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

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

Facebook live: The Lord’s peace is revealed by faith!

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

 

Sermon April 5, 2026 – Easter Sunday

Title: He is not here and you too will rise!
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

Sermon April 3, 2026 - Good Friday

Title: Living among the Bible's trees - Tree of the Cross!
Text: Deuteronomy 21:22–23; Galatians 3:1–14

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13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

The curse of being hanged on a tree is something we all know or have heard about in our history.

Whether it is a result or circumstance of war or simply an unjust act of rage, lives have fallen victim to death by hanging from the tree of the gallows or the tree on vengeance and revenge.

As our special Lenten sermon series nears its climax, we consider the eighth of the Bible’s trees among which we live, none other than the tree of the cross.

Considering the Tree of the Cross, we realize that, although we fail to keep God’s Law and deserve the cross’s shame, Jesus became accursed for us and so redeems us.

I. We fail to keep God’s Law and deserve the cross’s shame.

In our reading tonight, we heard the Lord through Moses in his final “sermon” command the people of Israel to bury on the same day criminals who were hung on a tree.

This hanging was after the criminal had already been executed by stoning or some other method. Hanging on a tree after execution publicly displayed the criminal’s shame and deterred others from committing the same crime.

Such criminals were cursed by God, and being displayed on a tree showed the shame of God’s judgment and rejection.

Yet there was to be a limit:

God said that leaving them hanging overnight would defile the land he was giving the Israelites.

The people of Israel were not the first or only ones so to use trees or their wood. The Book of Genesis reports that earlier Pharaoh’s onetime chief baker, who was imprisoned with Joseph, was hung from a tree. Gen 40:19, 22

The Book of Esther much later reports that the Persian king hung two of his rebellious eunuchs. Esth. 2:23

And the Bible reports at least two additional cases where the people of Israel under Joshua did obey this particular commandment to bury those so hung on the same day. Josh 8:29; 10:26–27

Of course, the Israelites could hardly boast that they obeyed that particular commandment or any of God’s commandments all the time.

Today, St. Paul, by divine inspiration writing to the Galatians about salvation by faith, quote from elsewhere in Deuteronomy that everyone who does not abide by and do all the things written in the Book of the Law is cursed.

So, St. Paul says, no one is justified (or “righteous”) before God by keeping the Law, and that includes you and me.

In thoughts, words, and deeds, we fail to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and we fail to love our neighbors as ourselves.

We each know our own failures better than others know them, and God knows them best of all!

Such failures flow from the sinful nature and for such failures we deserve to be cut off from God’s presence for all eternity.

We all deserve to be hung accursed from the accursed tree!
Do we think of such an outcome as shameful?
Are we ashamed of our sin?
Do people today even feel shame anymore?
What do we consider to be insulting?

Are we more concerned about embarrassment or a loss of respect or reputation from something posted on line than we are of the guilt of our sins?

II. Jesus became accursed for us and so redeems us.

Also, as we heard tonight, sinless and righteous Jesus Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by

becoming a curse for us,
being hanged on the tree of the cross.

For some seven centuries before Jesus, the Assyrians, Persians, Jews, and Romans crucified people, whipping them, using crosses of different shapes, and even impaling them in a most cruel way.

For us and for our salvation, Jesus Christ humbly endured the shame of crucifixion, the greatest possible insult—stripped, beaten, and left hanging naked to the world—so that you and I might be sinless and righteous, not by the Law, but by faith in him.

Jesus Christ took to the cross our sins and the ancient curse that afflicts us, as we sang this evening in the Office Hymn:

1

Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See Him dying on the tree!
'Tis the Christ, by man rejected;
Yes, my soul, 'tis He, 'tis He!
'Tis the long-expected Prophet,
David's Son, yet David's Lord;
Proofs I see sufficient of it:
'Tis the true and faithful Word.

St. Paul but also St. Peter repeatedly preached and wrote about Jesus’ hanging on the tree of the cross for us (Acts 5:30; 10:39; 13:29;1 Pet 2:24).

After them, at least one Early Church writer also understood the ram caught by its horns in the thicket when Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac as a prophetic image pointing to Jesus’ hanging on the tree (Gen 22:13).

Such is God’s use of hanging on a tree for us!

One author says well:

It is no accident that human sin which began at the foot of a tree, the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”), found its resolution on another tree, the cross of Calvary.

There is a poetic justice in the use of trees in [salvation history]. ...

Satan’s victory over the woman and the man! beneath the branches of that primal tree led to his own defeat beneath the crossed beams of another tree.

Our Altar book states:

“the serpent who overcame by the tree of the garden” was overcome “by the tree of the cross”

LSB Altar Book, 151, 190, 231

2

Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning,
Was there ever grief like His?
Friends through fear His cause disowning,
Foes insulting His distress;
Many hands were raised to wound Him,
None would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced Him
Was the stroke that Justice gave.

The temple of Jesus’ body was likewise mocked and destroyed but ultimately raised back up.

Jesus did not hang on the tree of the cross overnight that first Good Friday but was taken down before the Sabbath.

And later God revealed the majesty and glory of the crucified Christ by raising him from the dead and exalting him to his right hand.

So, now Jesus Christ works through his Holy Spirit in all those who believe, through such means as the reading and preaching of his Word, Holy Baptism, Absolution, and …

Especially in the Sacrament of the Altar, where we eat the fruit and receive the blessings of the tree of the cross.

Thus, the cross in effect becomes for us a tree of life!

For now, considering the tree of the cross, we realize that, although we fail to keep God’s Law and deserve the cross’s shame, Jesus became accursed for us and so redeems us.

3

Ye who think of sin but lightly
Nor suppose the evil great
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the sacrifice appointed,
See who bears the awful load;
'Tis the Word, the Lord's anointed,
Son of Man and Son of God.

Long before thousands of people in our country were killed through the detestable crimes of mobs—taking the law into their own hands and hanging people on trees—our Lord Jesus Christ was hung from a tree, under the Law, for the sake of us all.

Jesus became accursed for us on the tree of the cross so that you are redeemed!

4

Here we have a firm foundation,
Here the refuge of the lost;
Christ, the Rock of our salvation,
His the name of which we boast:
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded,
Sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
Who on Him their hope have built.

By God’s mercy and grace, this is his promise now and for eternity.

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

Amen

Lent series, "Living among the Bible's trees" - modified

Sermon April 2, 2026 - Maundy Thursday

Title: Living among the Bible's trees – Fig trees!
Text: Luke 13:1–9; Mark 11:12–25

Facebook live: Living among the bible trees – Fig trees!

6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

In our part of the world today, figs are well down the list of popular fruits.

In fact, if it weren’t for Fig Newtons, many of us would probably never have thought of them at all.

But in Bible times, in Palestine and the Near East, figs were no novelty for an occasional cookie or jam; they were food on the table the way apples or oranges might be for us today.

Fig trees are among the first plants ever cultivated by humans, long before wheat or barley or beans.

In fact, evidence of their domestication in the Jordan River Valley may be the first discovered example of agriculture.

Fig trees grow well in poor soil. They can withstand drought. And they’re large; they can grow to a height of more than thirty feet and provide welcome shade in hot climates.

It was fig trees and their fruit—or lack thereof—that we heard about in today’s readings.

On this Maundy Thursday night, as we think especially of the fruit of the grape vine, we prepare to receive that blessed gift by continuing our special Lenten sermon series, “Living among the Bible’s Trees.” Today we consider fig trees.

Considering the Fig Trees, We Realize That, Although We Do Not Always Bear the Fruits of Faith as We Should - God brings forth from us Fruits in keeping with repentance.

I. We do not always bear the fruits of faith as we should.

In the readings, we heard both St. Luke’s unique report of Jesus’ parable that used a fig tree, and also St. Mark’s of Jesus’ later experience with a fig tree.

In the First Reading, the parable using the fig tree illustrates the time for repentance that tragedies should prompt.

In the Second Reading, Jesus dramatically enacts a living parable or takes prophetic action related to the judgment that comes when the time for repentance is over.

In that case, the repentance and judgment seem to relate specifically to God’s people’s being full of activity but nevertheless unfruitful.

People sometimes have a hard time with Jesus’ experience with the fig tree on the road from Bethany to Jerusalem. Some say the miracle is unworthy of the Lord, or that an innocent tree was unjustly the target of his wrath.

Yet, Jesus is the Creator in human flesh, with the right to do with his creation as he knows best, and that particular tree, as it was by the road, may not have been anyone in particular’s tree.

What’s more, with the leaves, there should have been early figs, indicators of the later figs to come; apparently, a tree without figs early on also will not have figs later.

The Old Testament is also full of references to figs in related figures of speech. For example, through Hosea, the Lord says:

10 Like grapes in the wilderness,
I found Israel.
Like the first fruit on the fig tree
in its first season,
I saw your fathers.
But they came to Baal-peor
and consecrated themselves to the thing of shame,
and became detestable like the thing they loved.

Hos 9:10

And yet, as he says through Jeremiah,

13 When I would gather them, declares the Lord,
there are no grapes on the vine,
nor figs on the fig tree;
even the leaves are withered,
and what I gave them has passed away from them.”

Jer 8:13

Are we like the unfruitful people God addressed through Hosea and Jeremiah and like the Jews of Jesus’ day, claiming to be religious but without any fruits of faith?

Certainly, we are like them according to our sinful nature, but God calls and enables us to bear fruit.

Do we bear fruit as we should?

If not, apart from repentance, we deserve the same kind of judgment they deserved.

Like the fig tree on the road looked the next time the disciples saw it, God’s righteous wrath could totally dry us up to our very roots because we do not listen to him as we should.

16 Ephraim is stricken;
their root is dried up;
they shall bear no fruit.
Even though they give birth,
I will put their beloved children to death.
17 My God will reject them
because they have not listened to him;
they shall be wanderers among the nations.

Hos 9:16–17

We face temporal consequences, including death, and eternal torment in hell if we do not first turn away from our sin, trust God to forgive our sin, and want to do better than to keep on sinning.

And so, we each must ask ourselves this question as we prepare to come to the Lord’s Table tonight:

“Do I repent of my sins, truly intend to amend my sinful ways, and desire to receive Christ’s forgiveness?”

II. God brings forth from us fruits in keeping with repentance.

God delivered his people from slavery in Egypt, which pointed forward to his delivering his people both from exile in Babylon and, most important for us, from our slavery to sin and its eternal punishment.

After his three-year ministry, Jesus took upon himself the punishment that we deserve and experienced that punishment on the cross for us, in our place.

God forgives our sin, whatever our sin might be.
God forgives it all by grace through faith for Jesus’ sake.

21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”

22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.

Through the means of congregations today, God calls pastors to serve him by serving his people, as God once directly called the prophet Amos, who had been a dresser of sycamore fig trees (Amos 7:14).

Such workers in the vineyard dig around the trees and put on manure, as it were, and wait another year before cutting down any unfruitful trees.

That is to say, such workers in the vineyard read and proclaim God’s Word to all those gathered in his cleansed house of prayer.

And, as appropriate, such workers in the vineyard apply that Word to individuals in Holy Baptism, in Absolution, and in the Sacrament of the Altar that we celebrate tonight.

For on this night, the night when he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread and wine, and when he had given thanks, he broke the bread, he passed the cup, and gave to them, gave to us, his very body and blood for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

In each of these means, God brings forth from us fruit in keeping with repentance according to our various callings in life.

As such “good figs,” the Lord plants us by giving us a heart to know that he is the Lord, and so we are his people and he is our God. Jer 24:6–7

The Second Reading might have us think of the figurative figs of forgiving our brothers and sisters in Christ, even as our Father in heaven forgives our sins:

25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Figurative figs are also service to God and one another through our volunteering to our congregation.

Whether or not the literal fig trees should blossom, however else we might be afflicted, yet we rejoice in the Lord and take joy in the God of our salvation. Hab 3:17–18

As we are “Living among the Bible’s Trees,” God calls and enables us to repent of our sin and freely forgives us of our sin for the sake of his Son, Jesus Christ. Considering the fig trees, we realize that, although we do not always bear the fruits of faith as we should, God brings forth from us fruits in keeping with repentance.

By God’s grace, we are prepared and watching for it! Amen.

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

Amen

Lent series, "Living among the Bible's trees" - modified