When either in conscience or on Judgment Day such roguish Christians are addressed in this way (Matthew 22:12), then, says the Lord, they will have nary a word to answer; they will be unable to offer any excuse. For what can their excuse be? God did what he was supposed to do. He gave you […]
Sermon on St. Matthew 22:34-46 Trinity 18 + In the Name of Jesus + A Gentile once asked a famous Rabbi to explain the entire Law while standing on one foot. The Rabbi replied, “What is hateful to you, to your neighbor don’t do. That’s the entirety of the Law; everything else is commentary.” This […]
Sermon on St. Luke 14:1-11 Trinity 17 + In the Name of Jesus + Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God! Just before today’s Gospel Lesson, Jesus talked about the feast of salvation in the presence of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. “And people will come from the east and west, […]
Sermon on St. Luke 7:11-17 The Widow’s Son at Nain Trinity XVI + Jesu Juva + She was the mother of the dead. We all expect to bury our parents. This woman had probably already grieved over both parents. We expect one spouse to have to bury the other. This widow had already buried her […]
“[Luther] gathered the principal and most necessary points of doctrine and comfort in beautiful German Psalms and hymns, so that the simple too might make continual use of them–as has manifestly (praise God) come to pass, and no one can truthfully deny.” These words, written about a century after Luther, summarize what it means to be the singing church. As we are currently learning in Adult Bible Study and exploring in our day school this year, Luther’s legacy was not just talking about God, but also singing the Gospel. Singing engraves the text our hearts, gives musical expression to the text, and preaches the good news that Christ is present in our singing. This morning, I’d like to briefly explore two aspects of our sung confession of faith. First, the song of justification. Second, the song of Jesus’ real presence in the Lord’s Supper. We need to sing both of these songs, for they deliver the good news of Christ to our ears and to our very mouths.