A Famine Not of Bread

"Christ on the Road to Emmaus" by Duccio Click here to listen to this sermon. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Last week I posted this thought exercise on my Facebook timeline: “There’s no doubt been many inconveniences, much anxiety, and (at least for some) acute suffering during this time. But I’m the type who looks expectantly for a pony in the manure pile. So, I invite all of you to complete this sentence: An unanticipated blessing brought about because of the pandemic has been...” There were a wide variety of answers, including: ·         Lots of good homemade cooking. ·         A greater appreciation for the church, particularly for the Lord’s Supper. ·         I have been able to spend family time with my husband and sons without us all going in a hundred directions. ·         [Time] to refre...

Click here to listen to this sermon. Danny, Steve, and Toni, family members and friends of Millie: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! The loss of a loved one is never an easy thing to endure. It seems that we are never ready for that to happen and yet, it does happen. I’m not telling you anything new. Many of you know that more personally than I. And no matter when it happens, it’s hard to know what to say. Our words fail us. Often they do not help, but unintentionally irritate the wound. For none of our words can bring our loved one back. And memories can be wonderful, but they are a weak substitute for having them with us. And so, on this day as you seek a word of comfort and hope, I will direct to the Word of God—which is the only thing that gives comfort and hope that can be trusted and that can live forever. Listen now to the words of the Holy Spirit as written by Peter in his first epistle: You have been born again, not of perishab...

Click here to listen to this sermon. The text for today is our Epistle lesson, 1 Peter 1:17-25. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Once upon a time there was a beautiful little village nestled in a valley between two mountains. In the center of the village was a well. The well provided water to all the inhabitants of the village. People came from all over the world to drink the cool, clean, crisp water that was drawn daily from the well. Countless people remained in the village and made their homes there. They loved the water. The one well was sufficient for the people of the village. No other wells graced the cobblestone streets of that mountain town. There was no need. No one ever suggested that they might like some other well more. The well was sufficient to satisfy all their needs, and it seemed that no matter how many people came to dwell in the village there was always enough water. Whenever anyone went to the well, from the smalles...