A Famine Not of Bread

Click here to listen to this sermon. “In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of Him shall the nations inquire, and His resting place shall be glorious” (Isaiah 11:10). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Imagine making a long drive to your favorite summer getaway in the woods, only to find that almost overnight every tree has been cut down and only the piles of dried-up branches remain. Further imagine that the cabin that had been in your family for years was burned to the ground, along with the homes of all your neighbors. The initial shock of such a loss is only the beginning. After that comes the grief that much has been taken… and the dread that more could be taken, too. Now put yourself in the shoes of the people of Judea, Isaiah’s audience as he utters his prophecy for the first time. The twelve tribes of Israel have been culled down to two. They look across the border to the northern kingdom and it’s a w...

  Click here to listen to this sermon. "Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself. “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved” ( Philippians 3:17 - 4:1). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! “Set a good example.” You’ve probably heard this before. “Parents, do you want your children to grow up in the Christian faith? Set a good example!” “Son, you’re the oldest. Set a ...

"Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem" by Francesco Hayez Click here to listen to this sermon. And [Jesus] said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once” (Luke 21:8-9). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Our text begins with Jesus hearing His followers discussing the impressive appearance of the temple. This would have been quite a natural response to looking at Herod’s temple, which was not only lavishly decorated but was also the largest religious structure in the world at the time. When Jesus tells them of the coming destruction of the temple they respond with the obvious question: when will this happen? The remainder of the passage is an extended speech by Jesus, a response that goes far beyond the q...

Our text for today is our Gospel lesson, Mark 13:1-13, which has already been read. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Even his critics knew President Ronald Reagan as “The Great Communicator.”   I think much of that ability to communicate was due to the consistency of his message.   No matter what the forum or audience, he always spoke of the greatness of America’s heritage, the productivity of its citizens, and the potential for even greater success.   Frequently, he would close his message with these words: “America’s best days lie ahead.   You ain’t seen nothing yet!”   Though certainly not grammatically correct, it did get his point across and it captured the imagination of millions of supporters for years afterward.   Even in the most recent election many people were looking for someone who could effectively communicate that sense of optimism and purpose. “You ain’t seen nothing yet!...