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! It is fitting for us to be here today. Three of the most important dates in the lives of David and Ardyce DeWitte happened here in Jasper, Minnesota at Trinity Lutheran Church—their baptisms, confirmation, and marriage. They were united in marriage here on October 12, 1948, a joyous occasion, no doubt, the start of a family blessed with six children, five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and their spouses. But their connection to one another and Trinity began much earlier. Ardyce Elaine Bauman was baptized here on November 2, 1924. David John DeWitte was baptized here a little over one month later, on December 14, 1924. Both Ardyce and David publicly confessed their faith on May 28, 1939. Psalm 24:4-5 is David’s confirmation verse: “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swe...

Click here to listen to this sermon. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! I must admit up front: I don’t know much about Steve. The first time that I saw him was in the hospital room last week. I never had the chance to get to know the man who was your son, your brother, your friend. I never got to know the man who enjoyed hunting, fishing, spending time with his dogs, or hanging out at the lake. I don’t know much about Steve as a person, except what I’ve been told: “Steve was the type of friend who would give you the shirt off his back.” While I’m sorry that I never had that opportunity, in some ways I consider it an advantage as I speak to you today. I consider it an advantage, because although it’s helpful to be able to personalize the message, a funeral sermon (as all sermons) should be focused on Christ and not the Christian. It should tell us what Jesus has done to seek and to save lost sinners like Steve and you and me. And so that is wh...