From the category archives:

Sermons

The Presentation of Our Lord and Purification of Mary

February 4, 2010

Last night (Wednesday, Feb. 3) we transferred the Presentation/Purification feast from its proper date, Feb. 2. Below is the sermon I preached at the Divine Service. Brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, yesterday was the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord and the Purification of Mary, for it was the fortieth day of Christmas, [...]

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Psalm 36

February 4, 2010

At our Wednesday evening services we have been periodically (i.e., except during Advent, Lent, or when a minor festival falls on or close to a Wednesday) working through the Psalter. I wasn’t going to publish the one from January 27 on Psalm 36, partly because I wasn’t quite finished with my manuscript, and partly because [...]

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Septuagesima

January 31, 2010

Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16 Football season is over, and once again my Vikings lost in tragic fashion. So close. Which can only mean one thing: it’s time to start thinking about the Twins. Pitchers and Catchers report on Feb. 21. Spring training is almost here. Today is our reminder that a different kind of spring training [...]

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Sanctity of Human Life/Epiphany II sermon

January 17, 2010

I was asked to write the sermon for the LCMS Life Ministry’s resource for Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, coinciding this year with Epiphany II. The following is that sermon, slightly modified for use in my own parish. “In the beginning, God created” (Gen. 1). That’s who God is. The One who creates. Outside of [...]

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Baptism of Our Lord

January 13, 2010

January 13 is the traditional date for the observance of the Baptism of Our Lord. The following is the sermon preached at Immanuel’s Divine Service for the Feast. The Gospel reading is Matthew 3:13-17. One of the first things to go when pastors start tinkering with the church’s liturgy is the absolution. Some pastors are [...]

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First Sunday after the Epiphany

January 11, 2010

Traditional Gospel: Luke 2:41-52 “What did he know and when did he know it?” When scandal breaks in Washington, that is the question journalists and investigators ask as they try to determine guilt. It’s also an important question for Christology, i.e., for what we can say about Christ. Who is Jesus, really? What did He [...]

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Epiphany

January 6, 2010

Today’s Gospel: St. Matthew 2:1-12 St. Augustine, that great doctor of the Church, began his Confessions with this truth: Man bears his mortality with him, “carrying with him the witness of his sin…. Nevertheless,” he continues, “to praise you is the desire of man, a little piece of your creation. You stir man to take [...]

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Christmas II

January 6, 2010

From Sunday, January 3, 2010 – The Second Sunday after Christmas Gospel: St. Matthew 2:13-23 There’s always a bit of a letdown after the holidays. The Bible stories that come after Christmas are no exception. From glad tidings of great joy to all people, we move to King Herod wishing to murder the infant Jesus. [...]

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The Circumcision and Name of Jesus

January 1, 2010

As we review the year coming to a close – how have we used it? “Is there one commandment we have not transgressed? Is there one day in which we have not sinned?” Is there one gift for which we have been perfectly thankful and used as God intended? “Is there one rescue from trouble [...]

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St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

December 27, 2009

Readings for St. John’s Day: Rev. 1:1-6; 1 Jn 1:1—2:2; Jn. 21:20-25 Beloved, today is St. John’s Day, the beloved disciple of Jesus and the man inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the Fourth Gospel, as well as three epistles in our New Testament and the Book of Revelation. On Christmas Day, we heard [...]

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