κήρυξον τὸν λόγον

If you had to list the most serious problems of the world today, what would it be? Crime? Drug abuse? Abortion? Greed? Climate change? How about this one: Putting others down. ... It’s amazing how many people do this. Putting others down has a devastating effect on all of us ... in our marriages, family life, friendships. It has national and global implications.  Our text today from the 18th chapter of the Gospel according to Luke is about a man who put others down and another who lifted another up. It’s about those who think too highly of themselves and who look down upon everyone else. It’s about those who think they are good Christians. It’s about those who boast that I am not like that other guy ... I’m better than him. The parable of the Pharisee and the Tax collector, as we have come to call today’s reading, is a parable about a good guy and a bad guy. For a twist, Jesus described the good guy as one who put others down, and the so-called bad guy, a tax collector, who put him...

  Brothers and sisters in Christ, especially you Cooper Gillis, before I really get going, let me ask you: What is your favorite verse of scripture? Do you have one in memory? If you are like me, I’m sure you’d highlight more than one. I’m super fond of Isaiah 52:7, John 12:21, and 1 Peter 1:8-9. In a similar way, a Pew Research poll a few years ago revealed that one verse from the Old Testament, Gospels and Epistles were America’s top choices. In third place was Romans 8:28, And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. In second place was John 3:16, For God so loved the world ... (or better yet ... God loved the world in this way:) ... he gave the only begotten Son, in order that everyone who believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. And last but not least, because it’s first, is Psalm 23, the beloved Shepherd’s Psalm.  The 23rd Psalm is a favorite of many because it preaches comfo...

Dear Jerry, Clint and Lance ... dear family and friends ... dear brothers and sisters in Christ ... all of you who have gathered today to commemorate the homecoming of Sharlyn Kyne Stocklaufer: Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. You heard the reading from The Revelation of Jesus Christ to Saint John the apostle. Jesus revealed, and Behold, Saint John saw ... a blessed vision ... Behold, a great multitude that no one could number ... Behold, a crowd wondrously big, clothed in white robes standing before the throne and the Lamb! And they were worshiping! And what did Saint John hear? ... Crying ... the kind of crying with no tears, ever. They are crying with joy. As the Prophet Isaiah told us ... they don’t labor in vain or bear children in calamity. The sound of weeping is gone! The cries of distress are gone! Their song goes on forever.  1. And now we are looking ... And what do we see? ... What do we hear?  We see the casket of our beloved ...

Let us pray: Cleanse us, O Savior, from everything that would separate us from the things that bring us peace. Open our hearts, minds, and ears to your Word. Enable us to hang on your every Word so that you may achieve the purpose for which you sent it: the forgiveness of all sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.  The Lord be with you. Everytime we meet, whether it is here in the sanctuary for the Divine Service or in the fellowship hall for Bible study, you hear me say these words: The Lord be with you. They are important words for all of us to hear as often as we can.  The Lord be with you. Have you ever thought about what those words really mean and why your pastors greet you this way? The Lord be with you (2 Th 3:16) is a Word of peace. When the Lord is with you, you have peace ... or as the Hebrews might say ... you have שָׁלוֹם ... which is an even better word for peace ... God’s word of peace. This peace is not just wishful thinking. It is not just platitudes to start your day ...

How much do you owe? What is your total debt? Or as you just sang, What is the world to me? If you’re an average guy or gal, it’s probably staggering. The national debt this week was $30.6 trillion and rising ... in other words, $92,002 per citizen or $243,797 per taxpayer. Our households aren’t much better. We have $23.5 trillion in personal debt ... or $70K per citizen ... and only $8,500 in family savings. We are terrible stewards. Can we ever repay that? Of course, that’s all a pittance in comparison with what we owe the Lord. We can’t even begin to count the debt we have with him. We can’t begin to give an account for all the ways we’ve squandered his gifts. Even if we could enumerate our debt to him, we’d quickly recognize that all we have is his and become ashamed. Our Lord is the one who gives us food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods ... and all that we have. We owe him everything. How can we ever repay him?  Fortunately for us, on account o...