κήρυξον τὸν λόγον

  Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God (v. 15)!  Have you ever thought that yourself ... that that’s the day we will be blessed? That the highest possible blessing is the day we get to dine with the saints in heaven and enjoy all the bliss and glory of heaven? Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God (v. 15).  It’s not uncommon for us to think like that, to long for the future. In the here and now, we long for the there and then. And I think that that is a good thing. One of our favorite hymns in the service book seemingly captures that thought.  I’m but a stranger here. Heav’n is my home. Earth is a desert drear. Heav’n is my home. Danger and sorrow stand ’Round me on ev’ry hand, Heav’n is my fatherland; Heav’n is my home (LSB 748). It’s a very popular hymn, probably because it helps us cope with all the struggles of the here and now as we look toward the there and then. We know we were created for something better. So we .....

The world around you will tell you there are four things we all need for survival: food, water, clothing, and shelter. If you have these four things, they say, you can survive for decades.  But if you were paying attention to our readings today ... you learned something’s missing. You can have all the food, clothing, water, and shelter you think you need, but if you don’t have love, you have nothing (1 Cor 13:2). We all need love. Love is the universal need of man. We all need to be loved. We all need to feel loved. We all need someone to love. We all need love. People who are unloved, not loved, or who have never learned to love suffer terribly ... physically, mentally, emotionally. Love is the universal need of man. 1. I haven’t watched it in a long time, but there’s a reality television show called “Alone.” It’s a fascinating competition. The show follows the daily struggles of ten people who are left alone in the wilderness with limited means to gather food, water, clothing, a...

Behold, this touched your lips and your iniquity is removed; your sin is atoned (v. 7). Details, details, details. Iron out the details. Get down to the details. Pay attention to details. Details matter. Paying attention to detail might seem like an obvious skill to highlight when you’re looking for a job, but surprisingly it’s one many ignore. The same can be said about confessing being a Christian.  So today, we celebrate Trinity Sunday. Because details matter. Today is one set aside specifically to help us confess important details of who God really is. The details matter. It’s difficult to preach on a day like today because it’s intimidating trying to explain a word as imperfect as Trinity. Fortunately, we have the Athanasian Creed to help us. We should use this creed far more often because it’s a concise yet detailed expression of the Gospel. Sadly, though, too many people think it’s too onerous to use regularly. They think it’s intimidating. It reminds us that if you don’t be...

Then they said, Come, we will build for ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and we will make a name for ourselves (v 4). They say history repeats itself, and that those who don’t learn from it are doomed to repeat it. In which case today we have a great example of how the human race never learns from it. Our Old Testament reading for this Day of Pentecost recounts the story of the Tower of Babel. This ancient story is a contemporary story. It’s a 6,000-year-old story that is just as relevant today as it was when it actually happened. It shows us how history continues to repeat itself. We will make a name for ourselves. The ancients said it first, and we’re still telling ourselves this.  If you remember, it wasn’t long after the Great Flood that our ancient fathers said this. Genesis 11 recounts how Noah’s sons followed their hearts, taking their own path into the world in their own search of greener pastures. They quickly began moving away from God, who had ...