There are three essential truths taught by today’s Gospel. First, Christ laid down his life for the sheep. Two, Christ remains with His sheep and continues to abide for them with His voice, His flesh and blood, and His Spirit. Third, Christ is working diligently to gather all His sheep into one flock under one shepherd. All three are confessed by the Psalmist and are a wonderful source of comfort. Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. Continue reading
Sermons
What is preaching? St. Paul writes in Romans: “Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14-15)
Therefore our Lutheran Confessions state: “It is also taught among us that one holy Christian church will be and remain forever. This is the assembly of all believers among whom the Gospel is preached in its purity and the holy sacraments are administered according to the Gospel.†(Augsburg Confession VII:1-3)
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Heaven is Not Imaginary
Every few months I have someone ask me about the book “Heaven Is For Real.” No doubt, the title is true. But is the content within true? Is it helpful? These are important questions. Truth and helpfulness go together. Consider Prof. Jeff Gibbs take:
As N. T. Wright, the great New Testament scholar has quipped, “I’m not against heaven; but it’s not the end of the world!” It is the Easter season. Christ did not rise from the dead so that when we die, our souls could go to be in heaven. No. Christ died and rose, ascended and will come again, in order to renew the creation, and “on the Last Day He will raise up me and all the dead, and give unto me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true.” There is not one crumb, not one word in Heaven is For Real that God’s full plan of salvation in Christ means eternal life now, and on the last day, full bodily holiness and immortality for all believers and for the whole cosmos. There is no appreciation for the importance of our bodies, and of God’s promise in Christ to redeem them and raise us to everlasting life. In brief, the best response to this book might be simply to confess the words of the Nicene Creed: “I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world Greek, “age” to come.”
via Concordia Theology » Heaven Is For Real.
Also, if you are so inclined, listen to this interview with Pr. Tom Messer:
We ought to be critical of what we read and not take everything at its word. Truth requires verification. Truth is helpful and good.
Quasimodo Geniti ’12 – John 20:19-31
Today’s Gospel comes in two parts. On Easter evening, Jesus says to the disciples, “Peace be with you.” He shows them His hands and feet. Peace is in the wounds of Christ. “We have seen the Lord,” the disciples exclaim. Yet, Thomas missed it. “Unless I see in His hands and mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe.”
Today, the octave evening, Jesus comes again and says, “Peace be with you.” Peace is good, comforting, happiness, and well-being. Peace in the midst of horrible things. Jesus said He would rise — look and see my hands and side. “Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and my God!” His belief is coupled with proof of the promise. Jesus has kept His Word.Our faith is not an empty faith that believes in empty words. God’s Word of promise is coupled with testimony and signs, the Word of the eyewitnesses and the testimony of the Spirit, water, and the blood.