κήρυξον τὸν λόγον

Sebastian Gambill, Ian Bergman, Liam Harding ... dear brothers and sisters in Christ ... Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Hear the Word of the Lord for you this confirmation day. From Jeremiah 29:11 ... I myself know the plans I have devised for you, declares YHWH, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a latter time and a hope . And from Philippians 4:13: I have all strength in the one strengthening me. [Introduction] We need to begin with this reminder, something you should never forget: You are baptized.  That’s what today is all about ... You are baptized. It’s not that you were baptized ... perhaps in this font. You are baptized. Baptism is a present reality. Baptism is an on-going reality. Baptism is a gift of God. He has baptized you. And he keeps you in baptism. There is one faith, one hope, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and in all (Php 4:5-6). Today is a day to remember this. Confirma...

Behold, your king is coming to you: Righteous and having salvation is He. [Introduction] Our text from Zechariah is sharper than a two-edged sword. When you actually listen to this Word of the Lord, it brings both great joy and shame. It certainly did this for the people of Jerusalem when they beheld Jesus coming to them, riding on a donkey. They rejoiced when they beheld the king of kings coming to them. But they quickly realized his righteousness was not their own. He had salvation, and they did not. Within days, they were calling for his crucifixion. 3. Behold, you remember your shame, too, don’t you?  You remember that awful moment you realized that you weren’t fit for the king, don’t you? ... the first time you knew he was able to see what you’ve done to your temple, your very being. You had thought you had it covered, didn’t you? You thought no one knew what you had done or have left undone, didn’t you? And suddenly, you realize: Your sin is out in the open. And you are lef...

[Introduction] Forty years is a long time. It’s literally two-thirds of my life, and nearly half of many of your lives. It was THE entire life of this collection of Israelites. We are nearing the end of the wilderness wanderings. Our text begins ... The sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the Desert of Zin in the first month (v 1). That is, they entered a new year, and this group of grumblers are not those of the past, the group we had been hearing about this Lenten season of wandering. They are the second generation. Their fathers had suffered the punishment and the discipline of God for not trusting his Word.  But this group continues the journey. The pillar of cloud by day and fire by night continues to lead them, guide them, stay with them. Moses and Aaron ... the men God called to speak for him ... continue to lift their hands in blessing. They continue to teach the sons of Israel what it means to be different from the world. This generation had never known slave...

And it came to pass, after these words, God tested Abraham and said to him, Abraham! And [Abraham] said, Behold me. And [God] said, Take, please, your son, your only [one] whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah yourself and cause him to ascend there (as) a burnt offering upon one of the mountains that I will tell you [about] (vv 1-2). Thus, the word for our meditation begins. [Introduction] There are not many words of God that are more shocking ... staggering ... horrendous ... than this one we just heard. Is heinous too strong? I. What must we think? What must the world think when you hear God Almighty asking Abraham to sacrifice his son, the only son he loves? Take a knife and slaughter your son, the one you love!? Cut him into two!? Burn the body!? The smoke from the sacrifice that ascends into the heavens, it will be a pleasing aroma to God!?  What must the world think when you hear that God also said please? Most English translations of this text ... not all of t...