κήρυξον τὸν λόγον

All through the season of Easter, we have been meditating on God’s Word from our introits ... so today, we take up our verses from Psalm 27. You should remember that introit literally means entrance. Paired with the Psalms, an introit is an entrance hymn. We have entered the Divine Service thanking the Lord and singing his praise that he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it in the one true faith.   Because these are hymns, it is quite fitting to sing ... not just speak ... these verses. They’re incredible expressions of faith. Through these words, God opens our eyes to the joy of new birth. He enables us to recognize our Risen Shepherd coming to us, calling us, leading us back to the green pasture where we feast beside still water. Here, he teaches us to rejoice, and sing, and pray. He gives us confidence ... that is, faith in the promises of God ... not because of the things we are doing ... but because of what he has done and...

The word for our meditation today comes from the ending of our Introit, with the addition of verse 18. Today is Rogate Sunday. The Latin word Rogate means to ask in prayer. Therefore, the theme of our day and our text is ... REDEEMED BY THE CROSS OF CHRIST, PRAY WITH CONFIDENCE I. All of our readings today should give you confidence to do this. In our Old Testament reading from Numbers, Moses teaches us to keep our eyes on the cross as we pray for ourselves in faith (Num 21:4-9). In our epistle reading, Paul urges us to pray for each other in faith that we may lead quiet and peaceful lives, godly and dignified in every way (1 Tm 2:1-2). When we do this, Jesus taught us therefore that whatever you ask the Father, he will give to you in his name (Jn 16:23).  II. That naturally leads us to the beginning, to the Lord’s Prayer, the one we most often pray with confidence.  No other section of the Bible is so well-known as the Lord’s Prayer, which comes in the name of Jesus, an...

Today is Cantata Sunday. Therefore, the theme of this day and of this sermon is, sing ... SING IN PRAISE TO GOD FOR COMPLETING HIS REDEEMING WORK: HE IS RISEN! I. Sing a Psalm! Sing! ... Like the people of Israel, after crossing the Red Sea, saying, The LORD [God] is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation (Ex 15:2a). Sing ... Like Mary, when she learned she would become the mother of God, saying, My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices [in] God, my Savior (Lk 1:46-47).   Sing ... Like Zechariah, that our Lord [has given] knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins (Lk 1:77). Sing a Gerhardt or Starke hymn. Yes, make a joyful shout to YHWH that the marriage of the Lamb has come (Rv 19:7). Join all the saints, angels, and the company of heaven who are singing, Great and marvelous are all your works, Lord God, the Almighty (Rv 15:3)!  This is what the Holy Spirit is teaching us today with our Introit from Psalm 98. Our e...

Hallelujah! He is risen! ...  In this recognition, you have grace and peace from God in Christ, and a [reason to make a joyful] shout to God, all the earth! (v 1)  For the past couple of Sundays, we have been meditating on the Introits of the Divine Service. This week we take up our versicles from Psalm 66. Introits, you should remember, are entrance hymns, songs we sing in response to God’s call to enter into his presence, where we receive his Divine Service. We sing in recognition that he serves us. He remembers us. Introits are wonderful responses to his call. Consider today’s on this Fourth Sunday of Easter.  6. Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!  Sing the glory of his name.  Lay upon him the glory of his praise! Say to God, ‘How awesome are your works!  With your strength, your enemies will be found liars. Come and see the deeds of God. Awesome are his deeds toward the sons of Adam. Bless, O Peoples, our God.  Be caused to hear the ...