Author Archives: pastortapken

Today we see the stark contrast between how the Pharisees would like to understand the Bible and how Jesus Christ, the Word of the Father incarnate, the very author of the Scriptures, tells us how we must read His Word. The Pharisees attempt to bring Jesus into a debate that they have among themselves. TheContinue reading “Sermon for the Eighteenth Sunday of Trinitytide (Matthew 22:34-46)”

Christ Jesus heals and exalts the humble through His Holy Supper. I. It is the Christian intention to be saved from our works of wrath and to inherit eternal salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. And so, for us to receive such good things, we must have faith. As Saint Paul writes in Romans chapterContinue reading “Sermon for Seventeenth of Trinitytide (Luke 14:1-11)”

Elijah tells the widow of Zarephath, “Give me your son.” Within these four little words, we have the entire Christian theology of death. When we lose a loved one to any kind of disease or tragedy, we should see it as if Christ, the greater Elijah, were to come and say to us, “Give himContinue reading “Sermon for Sixteenth Sunday of Trinitytide (Luke 7:11-17)”

When man has two lords, anxiety will come, so we must be generous lords over such mammon. I. Christ Jesus states what the cause of all anxiety is. It is simple: we serve two masters. The first is the one true God, and the second is earthly mammon. God, our Heavenly Father, has looked onContinue reading “Sermon for the Fifteenth Sunday of Trinitytide (Matthew 6:24-34)”

To be a leper is to be marked by God as an unrepentant sinner. For it has been recorded for us in the 12th chapter of the book of Numbers that Miriam and Aaron sought to lead a rebellion against their brother Moses, who faithfully led the people out of Egypt, because they no longerContinue reading “Sermon for the Fourteenth Sunday of Trinitytide (Luke 17:11-19)”

There is a striking similarity between the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the miracle of the deaf-mute man we heard last week. As we observe that the friends of the man possessed saving faith in Jesus Christ, which led them to bring the deaf-mute to be restored, it is not without love for theContinue reading “Sermon for the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity (Luke 10:23-37)”

The apostle James writes in his epistle, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to him, “Depart in peace, be warmed and be filled,” but you do notContinue reading “Sermon for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity”

The grace of God, the Father, through Christ Jesus, does not make one proud, but it makes one humble. Without true humility, we have not yet become partakers of the Lord’s goodness and mercy. For the grace of God is truly like a stream as it flows downward and not upwards. For we know theContinue reading “Sermon for Eleventh Sunday after Trinity (Luke 18:9-14)”

The great flood in the days of Noah has been recorded for our instruction. God destroyed the entire world by means of water as judgment upon their sins as a result of their unbelief in the promises and grace that He bestows. Yet, the Lord God saves believing Noah and his family in the ark.Continue reading “Sermon for the Tenth Sunday after Trinity (Luke 19:41-48)”

The parable that is before us, concerning the Unjust Steward, is one that is meant to call us to consider the absolute magnitude of God’s grace towards the children of Adam. As our forefather and his wife had everything they could ever desire. And to remain in the land of paradise, they were to remainContinue reading “Sermon from the Ninth Sunday after Trinity (Luke 16:1-9)”