κήρυξον τὸν λόγον

One. This is our word of the day ... One body and one spirit just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all: the one upon all and through all and in all (vv. 4-6).  One! It’s perfect and complete!  There has never been a more united One, Holy, Christian and Apostolic Church than the One that arose in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. As Saint Luke writes in Acts … on account of the One who came upon all and through all and in all ... you know, the Holy Spirit ... the many became one in devotion ... one in confession that Jesus is the Lord of heaven and earth, God out of God, Light out of Light, very God out of very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. He is the one who died and rose again. He is the one who has made us all one with him and each other in the one baptism. Together as one body, he gives us the one bread and the one cup in the one feas...

Now to him, who is able above all to do (extraordinary abundance beyond) what we ask or know, according to the power that works in us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen (v. 21). Some things are beyond our comprehension. If you’ve ever seen the Milky Way illuminating a dark night sky and marveled at the beauty and expanse of it all, you know what I mean. Did you know it would take 200 thousand light years to travel across the Milky Way? How big is that? Incomprehensible! Now imagine that astronomers estimate there are another two trillion Milky Ways in the universe? Can you even begin to imagine the skill it must have taken for God to set all of that in motion. Now let’s talk about human life. Let’s talk about God With Us. Let’s talk about heaven on earth!  We are certainly willing! But are we able? The Love God has for us and the power that He brings to bear on our behalf each day is, likewise, incomprehensible. We all ...

I have our word of the day taped to my lampstand right here. Κύριε, θέλομεν τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἰδεῖν. Sir, we wish to see Jesus .  Every time I climb into the pulpit, I want this note to remind me why I became pastor: You want to see Jesus . It’s probably a primary reason you became a pastor ... why you are here today with me celebrating Holy Cross Day with all the  company of heaven. We want to see Jesus , to see what he has done for you in his life, his death, his resurrection, his ascension into heaven. ... We want to see Jesus ... what he continues to do for you, through you, in you, to you.  So we pray ... Lord, help us see Jesus Christ and him crucified ... the one who knew no sin but became sin for us so that on account of his death on the cross he could deliver us from death, redeem us, and lead us into paradise where there is no death. We long to be like Peter, who saw him, believed in him, loved him ... knowing that the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are ours...

Preached to the saints of Mount Olive Lutheran Church and Grace English Lutheran Church, Bovey and Marble, MN; September 12, 2021 Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious about itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble (Matthew 6:34). Our Lord Jesus Christ, who took on our flesh, willingly stepped into our reality of life. He took on all of your troubles, all of your burdens, all of your anxieties and, most importantly, all of your sins. H e carried it all to to the cross and in His dying breath, he brought it all to completion for you . Today, he speaks as the God of All creation and offers you, His disciples, great comfort: Do not be anxious about tomorrow . Easier said than done, to be sure. You almost want to interrupt Christ our Lord and say, “are you serious? Do you not see what is going on down here? Do you not know how difficult daily living is? Inflation is rising; illness continues to creep in and disrupt our comfortable lives; eve...