κήρυξον τὸν λόγον

Say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come (and continues to come) near to you’ (v 9). [Introduction] When Saint Paul and Saint Barnabus went to Jerusalem to meet with Saint James the brother of Jesus, Saint Peter, and Saint John the son of Zebedee in Acts 15, they laid before these pillars of the Church of God the Gospel they had preached during their first missionary journey to the world (Acts 13:1-14:28). They reported how the One True Gospel ... the proclamation of the liberating death and resurrection of Christ ... was bringing the Gentiles ... that’s you ... salvation by grace through faith in Jesus apart from the works of the Law. They reported that all of us enter the Kingdom of God by baptism, not circumcision ... by faith, not by works. They reported how the amazing Gospel that God, who knows the heart, is being poured out by the Holy Spirit without distinction, cleansing hearts by faith (Acts 15:8-9) ... They reported that we are saved on account of the blood of Jesus alone (...

[Introduction] In the beginning, God created (Gen. 1:1a).  That’s who God is ... The One who creates ... outside of himself. The fact that he creates outside of himself reveals the great attribute that belongs to him ... Love. God is love (4:8) and God created man so that he may have someone to love.  That work of God continues today. As we say in the Catechism, I believe that God has made me and all creatures. He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and STILL TAKES CARE of them .   The fact that he has made you and me means that ... apart from anything we have done or have failed to do ... apart from anything we have thought or failed to think ... he loves us ... he STILL takes care of us. As we say: He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all that I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. The fact t...

For see your calling, brothers, that not many (are) wise according to flesh, not many are powerful, not many are of noble birth. But God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong; And God chose the low and the despised of the world, [even] things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast in the presence of God. [And because of him] you all are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom to us from God, and righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that just as it is written, ‘The one boasting, Let him boast in the Lord.’ (vv 26-31). 4. [Preparing to see your calling.] As I was preparing this sermon, I couldn’t help but notice that our epistle reading begins with the word “ For .” ... For see your calling, brothers (v 26a). You may have never before noticed one of our readings starting this way, but your pastors almost always do, and it seems to happen often. I’m sure I can speak for most of ...

So Israel and all [his relatives and possessions] set out and came to Be’er Sheva and sacrificed sacrifices to the God of his father, Isaac. And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night. And He said, ‘Jacob, Jacob.’ So [Jacob] replied, ‘Behold, It’s me.’ Then [God] said, ‘I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt because I will establish you [as] a great nation there. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I myself will cause you to ascend, and Joseph will [close] your eyes.’ So Jacob arose from Be’er Sheva, and the sons of Israel carried Jacob, their father, and their children, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry them. And they took their cattle and their property which they gathered in the land of Canaan, and they went to Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him (vv 1-7). [Introduction] His given name was Jacob ... a name that described his old nature as a deceiver, a cheater, a supplanter ... one who takes the place ...