Sermon – St. John's and Grace Evangelical Lutheran Parish

One Little Word

Text: Genesis 3:1-21 The account we hear tonight of our first parents’ fall into sin is familiar to us. We hear it each year during the first week in Lent. It’s also a lesson we cover 3 out of the 4 years in our Confirmation instruction. It’s a lesson we’ve taken to heart because theContinue reading “One Little Word”

Let Them Hear Them

Through the Word, the Holy Spirit calls us to faith, returns us to it, and sustains us in it until we die.

Fear Not, Daughter of Zion

Jesus says to us today, “Fear not.” Because Jesus rode into Jerusalem to suffer and die for us, and because He rose again from the dead for us, we need not fear – not sin, not death, nor even the devil.

Life in the Spirit vs. The Flesh

It is our call as Christians to bear witness in the world through our daily vocations. But it is also part of our call as Christians that we live in fellowship with one another, strengthening and being strengthened in our common faith and witness.

Overcoming the World

In our time, the Son of God took on our same human flesh, He endured the temptations and assaults of the devil, and through His resurrection, won the victory over the devil and his kingdom. This victory – over sin, death, and the devil – He shares with us by His grace, through faith.

Praying to Our Father

As His beloved children, we receive the precious promise of God – that we may speak to Him and know that He hears. In the Lord’s Prayer, our God invites us to speak to Him and assures us that He will hear and answer our prayers.

The Proof that Faith is Living

St. Peter wrote us not a commandment, but encouragement from a faithful shepherd. He encourages us that, recognizing that God has already saved us from the corruption of sin and death, we live in keeping with that truth.

Grace in Weakness

The Lord doesn’t exercise His power primarily by feats of human strength and power, but by sustaining those who are weary. Such has He done for us all our lives up to this point, and so will He always do in the days to come; for, as He has said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Race to Win

Earthly athletes do what they do for a perishable prize. We see how hard they exercise their bodies, and that for something that will ultimately fade. How much more should we, Christians, who are working toward an imperishable prize, behave the same? St. Paul encourages us this week to view our Christian lives as runners do a race: keeping our eye on the prize and exercising self-control in all things.

Inspired Eyewitness Testimony

Because the Scriptures were written by eyewitnesses and men inspired by the Holy Spirit, we can be certain of the forgiveness and hope we have in Christ.