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The Mystical Body of Christ (reprise)

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Click here to listen to this sermon. “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” (Revelation 7:9-10). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! The Feast of All Saints is the most comprehensive of the days of commemoration within the Church year, encompassing the entire scope of that great cloud of witnesses that surrounds us (Hebrews 12:1). It holds before our eyes of faith that great multitude which no man can number: all the saints of God in Christ—from every nation, race, culture, and language—who have come out of the great tribulation … who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9, 14). As such, it ...
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A Church That Takes God's Word Seriously

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Click here to listen to this sermon. “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’” (John 8:31–32). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! As we observe Reformation Day, we remember how the Lutheran tradition was born from a deep commitment to God’s Word. This commitment, rooted in the courage of Martin Luther and generations of believers, continues to shape our faith and life today. After being excommunicated for heresy and threatened with death in 1521, Martin Luther appeared at the Diet of Worms, and refused to recant of his writings, stating, “I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other—my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. God help me. Amen.” [i] Fifty years later...
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When God Gives You the Silent Treatment

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Click here to listen to this sermon. “ And [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart ” ( Luke 18:1 ). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! I lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? I have absolutely no idea. My help supposedly comes from the Lord, but I haven’t seen it yet! It seems the one who made heaven and earth doesn’t have anything left to give me. Is He asleep or on vacation? Is He angry with me? Perhaps I’ve offended Him in some way. Or maybe He just doesn’t care. I know. That’s not the way that Psalm 121 goes, but sometimes it seems that way; doesn’t it? Sometimes it feels like God isn’t paying attention. You’ve had those days, haven’t you? When it looks like God doesn’t care… that He must be angry with you… that He is screening His calls. What do you do when God is slow to answer your prayers? What do you do when God gives you the silent treatment? Most popular boo...
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Something Better than Good Manners

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Click here to listen to this sermon. On the way to Jerusalem [Jesus] was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as He entered a village, He was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When He saw them He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well” ( Luke 17:11–19).   Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Every year, the Gospel reading for Thanksgiving is the cleansing of the ten lepers. That’s unfortunate, for there are many Gospel read...
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