Author Archives: St. John's and Grace Lutheran Parish

Just a Little While

Text: John 16:16-22 “Just a little while.” That’s what we say to ourselves or to others when we’re caught up in doing something that, maybe, well, we don’t really want to be doing. We say that it’ll just be for “a little while.” Or, if it’s already happening, we might say it’s just for “aContinue reading “Just a Little While”

I Know My Own, They Know Me

Text: John 10:11-16 This last week was Call Week at our seminaries in Fort Wayne and St. Louis. Call Day is the day where our fourth-year seminarians find out where the Lord is sending them to tend His flock. Five years ago, I myself was in that position. We give thanks to God for raisingContinue reading “I Know My Own, They Know Me”

Peace the World Cannot Give

Text: John 20:19-31 These last Advent and Lenten seasons we continued our normal practice of midweek services. During those times in the Church year, we pause to focus on the mercy and love of our God toward us. In both seasons we used a service called “Evening Prayer.” It’s a beautiful service, as most wouldContinue reading “Peace the World Cannot Give”

He is Going Before You

Text: Mark 16:1-8 Have you ever put something down and then, when you went back for it, it moved? Remote controls and keys are notorious for this. You set them down and come back, and somehow, they aren’t where you left them. It’s like whatever it was grew a set of legs and walked off.Continue reading “He is Going Before You”

No Guilt in Him

Text: Is. 53 and Jn. 18-19 The Holy Spirit spoke by the prophet Isaiah about our Lord’s death and burial, “They made His grave with the wicked and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence and there was no deceit in His mouth.” (Is. 53:9, ESV) By this, theContinue reading “No Guilt in Him”

The Lord’s Supper

Text: 1 Corinthians 11:23-32 St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians in the Epistle text tonight:  For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body,Continue reading “The Lord’s Supper”

Serious Law and Gospel

Text: The Close of the Commandments Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is likeContinue reading “Serious Law and Gospel”

You Shall Not Covet

Text: Ninth and Tenth Commandments “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” This was King David’s fervent prayer to God, after the prophet Nathan made known to him his sin. David had taken another man’s wife to be his own and, moreover, had the man killed byContinue reading “You Shall Not Covet”

To Build Up, Not Tear Down

Text: Eighth Commandment St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, in chapter 4, about the new life they had received in Christ. Their new life – to which they were called by Baptism and faith – was different than the life they previously lived, including how they used to relate to their neighbor. St. Paul said, Continue reading “To Build Up, Not Tear Down”