Resurrection

Thanksgiving Matins sermon

November 26, 2009

God made man from the earth. Our very first father, Adam, was made from the clay, but he came alive when God breathed into Adam the breath of life. And not only was Adam made from the earth, he depended on the earth for his life. The food that he had to eat came from [...]

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Thrivent Gnosticism

November 18, 2009

We’re getting new carpet in the church offices, and as a result, all books had to be moved out. This has given us an opportunity to sort through some things and throw a lot of junk out. One piece of junk came in the form of a book from Thrivent called A Time to Mourn, [...]

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Trinity 23 sermon

November 15, 2009

Trinity 23 texts: Proverbs 8:11-22; Philippians 3:17-21; Matthew 22:15-22 Bianca Ehling was baptized at this Divine Service. It’s early in the week – just a day after Palm Sunday, the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem. The crowds hail Jesus as their king. All Jerusalem is abuzz. “Messiah has come!” It is time, the Pharisees decide, [...]

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All Saints Day

November 7, 2009

Sermon from last Sunday, November 1, 2009. Text: Matthew 5:1-12 Death puts everything into perspective. Death reveals that all of our accumulated treasures on earth are worthless, all of our medicine cannot heal, everything done outside of God’s Word and will was a waste. All Saints Day is about the dead. It is about the [...]

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Funeral Sermon: +Ralph Behrens

November 7, 2009

Texts: John 10:27-30; 1 John 3:1-2 I deviated somewhat from this manuscript in the actual sermon. Lola; Jackie, Julie, Jean; brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It would be difficult to overstate the influence of Ralph Behrens. His service at Immanuel impacted [...]

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Trinity 16 sermon

October 3, 2009

From Sept. 27, 2009 Gospel: Luke 7:11-17 The American religion tends to equate faith with success, prosperity, and health. If you lead a good life, good things will come to you. One slogan puts it this way: “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” The first part is true. But God’s [...]

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Those in the tombs shall rejoice

April 14, 2009

More Schmemann: Only Christ has risen from the dead, but in doing so He destroyed our death, He destroyed its dominion, its hopelessness, its finality. No, it is not nirvana or a shadowy life beyond the grave that Christ promises us, but an eruption of life, a new heaven and a new earth, joy in [...]

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Life erupted out of death

April 13, 2009

More profundity from Schmemann: Christianity is above all the belief that Christ did not remain in the grave, that the light of life erupted out of death, and that in Christ’s resurrection the absolute, all-encompassing and uncompromising law of mortality and death has been torn apart and overthrown from within. As an Orthodox theologian, he [...]

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The Resurrection of Our Lord

April 12, 2009

  Some of you have journeyed with the church every step of the way this Holy Week. Rejoice! This is the day for which you have longed. Some of you have not been here in a long time. You too, rejoice in this day! On this day everything is made new. But whatever joys or [...]

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The seal of the grave is broken

April 12, 2009

“This is the night” rings out over and over again in the Great Thanksgiving of the Easter Vigil. Tonight it was a great blessing to have Chaplain Richard Townes and Chaplain Jonathan Shaw serve at Immanuel’s Vigil. One of our catechumens, James, was also baptized tonight, filling me with great joy. This is the night [...]

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