Trinity Season – St. John's and Grace Evangelical Lutheran Parish

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.

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.

Watching for the Bridegroom

This is how our Lord’s return will be. He will come at an hour we do not expect. Therefore, lest we be found unwise and unprepared, He encourages us to keep watch and ready to enter His wedding feast.

Don’t Be Deceived (about the Coming of Christ)

As we approach the end of the Church Year, we hear our Lord’s teaching about the destruction of Jerusalem and His return. One will come with a warning; the other, not.

The Law and the Gospel

Text: Matthew 22:34-46 In our Christian Book of Concord, the Lutheran confessors write, The distinction between the Law and the Gospel is a particularly brilliant light. It serves the purpose of rightly dividing God’s Word and properly explaining and understanding the Scriptures of the holy prophets and apostles. We must guard this distinction with specialContinue reading “The Law and the Gospel”

Sabbath Humility

Text: Luke 14:1-11 In our readings this week, we seem to have two streams of thought going on. The first stream we heard in the Old Testament reading, in St. Paul, and the second half of the Gospel text. The word that comes to mind in all three readings is humility. Our Lord encourages usContinue reading “Sabbath Humility”

Life Through Death

Text: Luke 7:11-17 I will extol you, O Lord, for You have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You have healed me. O Lord, You have brought up my soul from Sheol; You restored me to life fromContinue reading “Life Through Death”

When God Blesses You

Text: Luke 17:11-19 St. Paul wrote to the Galatians in the Epistle reading that those who belong to Christ Jesus, “have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 4:24, English Standard Version) He wrote this to encourage them and us in our walk as Christians, that we do not fall backward into theContinue reading “When God Blesses You”

Christ, the Good Samaritan

Text: Luke 10:23-37 Dear friends in Christ, St. Paul wrote to the Galatians in our Epistle reading, Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scriptures imprisoned everything under sin,Continue reading “Christ, the Good Samaritan”

The Day of Your Visitation

Text: Luke 19:41-48 During Holy Week, while Jesus was teaching in the temple, He told a parable about a man who planted a vineyard and rented it out to tenants. When the time for fruit came, the man sent his servants to the tenants, but they beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again, theContinue reading “The Day of Your Visitation”