A Famine Not of Bread

Click here to listen to this sermon. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Look at the picture of Luther’s seal on the cover of your bulletin. You’ll see three Latin phrases: Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, and Sola Fide . Ironic, isn’t it? A movement that resulted in the liturgy and the Bible in our own language rather than Latin is remembered by Latin phrases. The Reformation rested upon three fundamental principles: 1.    Our salvation is entirely a gift of grace from God and not our own doing. 2.    We receive that grace through faith and not by any works we might do. 3.    The sole norm and rule of all doctrine is the Holy Scriptures. Although the word sola means “alone,” the three solas that follow are never alone! They are interconnected and woven together. By grace alone, through faith alone, in Scripture alone. To these solas , many writers have added another: Solus Christus , “through Christ alone.” Many ...

"Jacob Wrestles with an Angel" by James Tissot Click here to listen to this sermon. Then [the Lord] said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed’” (Genesis 32:28). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Most of you recognize that struggle builds character, and something earned is more appreciated than something received without any effort. As a result, toddlers take a couple steps, fall, and get back up again. Business owners put in long hours to get ahead. Loving parents administer discipline. Coaches preach: “No pain, no gain.” The road to anything worthwhile seems to be the tougher one. So why are we surprised when this is also true of our spiritual life. Why do we get discouraged when living our Christian faith doesn’t get easier but, in fact, becomes more of a struggle? Certainly, it doesn’t help that most of the literature found in Christian bookstores ...

Click here to listen to this sermon. Denny, Ron, Deb, and Randy, members of St. John’s congregation, family and friends of our departed brother in Christ, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Most anyone who attended worship services at St. John’s Lutheran Church over the last decades probably knew Clarence. Ever since moving back to Trosky, Clarence was our head usher and greeter. He welcomed everyone when they came to church and checked out any visitors. You might say Clarence was the doorkeeper of our congregation. Clarence was baptized into Christ at St. John Lutheran Church in Villard, MN on July 9, 1929. He confessed his Christian faith publicly in the Rite of Confirmation here at St. John’s on April 2, 1944. His confirmation memory verse was Matthew 10:32, “Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven.” Clarence married Lois here at St. John’s on July 7, 1951. Though moving around severa...

"The Healing of the Ten Lepers" by James Tissot 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 appointed Gospel reading for Thanksgiving is the cleansing of the...