A Famine Not of Bread

Click here to listen to this sermon. “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority” (Colossians 2:8–10). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! The complexity of something isn’t always the best measure of its value. Sometimes the very simple has the greatest impact. The Gettysburg Address, for example, contains only 266 words. Yet it has inspired millions to greater enthusiasm for liberty and freedom. The Lord’s Prayer contains only 56 words. Yet it is a wonderful summary of how to pray and what to pray for. In Baptism, only 18 words are used, not counting the name of the one being baptized and the “  Amen.  ” Baptism looks so simple. A splash of water. A few words. Yet “  Baptis...

"Christ in the House of Martha and Mary" by Johannes Vermeer Click here to listen to this sermon. Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to Him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! You all know what it’s like when you’re expecting company. There’s usually a certain amount of preparation that is necessary—cooking, cleaning, bringing out the best dishes and silverware. We want to impress them. We want to m...

Painting of Martin Luther by Lucas Cranach. The text for this observation of Reformation Day is John 8:31-32: “ So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in 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.’” Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our text, like many other passages of Scripture, is often misused and taken out of context.   The words “the truth will set you free” are isolated, so that any learning that might help us to find “truth” (whatever that may be) is praised.   We see the words on libraries and as secular college mottoes.   We hear them on the lips of our post-modern intellectual and political leaders.   But we don’t hear Whose Word reveals the truth that sets us free.   We don’t hear Who is the Truth that sets us free.   We don’t hear about Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And unfortunately this i...