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)

There are 257 posts filed in Sermons (this is page 33 of 86).

Tomorrow is World Malaria Day

LCMS and LWR presidents encourage World Malaria Day prayer – YouTube.

Also visit: Lutheran Malaria Initiative

The 14:40 Prayer for World Malaria Day April 25, 2012
One child in sub-Saharan Africa dies every 60 seconds from malaria, a disease spread by a mosquito-borne parasite. In a single 24-hour period (one day), 1,440 people in Africa will succumb to this disease. Please join us in prayer on April 25, World Malaria Day, to lift up all those who are facing the devastating effects of malaria.

Wherever you are on April 25, please observe one minute of silence at 2:40 p.m. local time (14:40 on a 24-hour clock) to remember all those suffering from malaria, and those who will lose a child or other family member to the disease.

Here is a prayer you might pray during the moment of silence:
Lord God, our most merciful Father, in this fallen and sinful world death is the constant and impartial enemy of all. We humbly ask you to show mercy on all those who are suffering from malaria today. If it be your will, restore the afflicted to full health. Surround them in their time of illness with your love, especially the children who are weak and afraid, through the family and friends who minister to them. Comfort those who have already lost a loved one to malaria or will, especially the parents of young children, who in the minds of mothers and fathers are taken from this life too soon. We plead you to perform the miracle of ending this disease, in part through the education and relief efforts of the Lutheran Malaria Initiative. Grant that LMI’s educators, physicians, health care providers and missionaries are powerfully and fully equipped to bring an end to the human suffering and death in Africa caused by malaria. And Lord, through the Gospel of your Son Jesus, proclaimed through Word and Sacrament, strengthen our faith and lead others to see that a life in His grace leads only to an eternal existence in your loving presence. Through Jesus Christ, your Son, our savior. Amen.


Misericordias Domini ’12 – John 10:11-16; Psalm 23

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 →

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.