A Famine Not of Bread

"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. Downloadable mp3 files are available upon request. The text for today is our Gospel lesson, Luke 13:22-30. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! It’s a common question, one often discussed by Jewish teachers during the day of Jesus’ ministry and the focus of speculation in our own day: “Lord, will those who are saved be few?”   Some of the rabbis taught that all Israelites would have a share in the world to come; others, that only the spiritually elite (like them) would make the cut.   Jesus’ answer is quite different, a sobering warning that should cause everyone to think—especially us who consider ourselves Christians.   You see, once again people are asking the wrong question.   And they are concerned about the wrong person.   “Instead of being so concerned about an abstract ‘How many?’ Jesus says, “ You strive to get in.”   Instead of wondering about others, check yourself...