Author Archives: Rev. Aaron T. Fenker

Jesus' Parousia
Sermons

Advent 2: Populus Zion (Lk 21:25–36)

Bethlehem Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS || AUDIO
Immanuel Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS || AUDIO

INI + AMEN.

((5. Oops!: Dark days are coming.))

Dark days are coming. The Last Days are coming. Soon even the Last Day will come. The signs are all around us. Like buds coming out on a fig tree or any other tree in Spring time. There’ll even be “signs in the sun, moon, and stars”—creation coming apart at the seems.

The Last Days are here. Dark days are here. Society coming apart at the seems, it seems. Wars come. Rumors, news stories, fears of wars come, too. “Distress of nations,” “men fainting because of what’s coming upon mankind.” Then the Last Day comes, then all things will be swept away, like leaves coming down in the Fall. Continue reading →

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Sermons

Advent 1 Midweek (Gal 3:26–4:7)

Small Catechism: Lord’s Prayer Introduction and First Petition

Immanuel Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS || AUDIO

INI + AMEN.

Holy Baptism. We don’t fully grasp the benefits given to us in Holy Baptism. In fact, we don’t really believe that all the benefits and blessings that Scripture attaches to Holy Baptism are really true.

Christ, His cross and death for you, His empty tomb, His resurrection from the dead, the Holy Spirit with all His gifts, salvation itself, eternal life, a new heart, being born from above—all these things (and more!) are poured out wholesale in the water and Word of Holy Baptism. All these things are given you as a gift, and so they’re all yours!

Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Pastor, you’re supposed to preach about the Lord’s Prayer. We even confessed some of what it means. Why are you talking about Holy Baptism?”

The Lord’s Prayer—and all prayer for that matter—is also a gift. The gift of praying to God isn’t just some right that you have as a human being. No, the Lord’s Prayer is a gift to the Baptized. In fact, it was prayed over you and given to you when you were baptized! The Lord’s Prayer is the prayer of those who are baptized into Christ Jesus. Continue reading →

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Sermons

Advent 1: Ad Te Levavi (Mt 21:1–9)

Bethlehem Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS || <a href="https://app.box.com/s/e72jpgw7j2gasiqhowu5os7c999jstyp“>AUDIO
Immanuel Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS || <a href="https://app.box.com/s/3r0cqitbn5pf4rinytywpvzgjs278pmn“>AUDIO

INI + AMEN.

Advent. “He comes.” That’s what “Advent” means. Jesus comes. He came, He comes, He’ll come again. He comes to save. That’s what it means for Him to be King—He’s Redeemer, Savior.

Advent. He comes. Of course He does. He said He would. He does what He says. He says what He does. What the Lord does is always according to His Word…of Promise.

What the Lord says will happen—happens! If He says He’ll come, then He’ll come. Come exactly how He says He will. So this means that it’s not just the Lord who advents, but His Word advents, too. It comes to pass. It happens. And this is always for your good, your eternal good, your forgiveness, life, and salvation.

Advent. The Lord advents. His Word advents. Salvation advents. All for you. Yes,

THE LORD’S WORD ADVENTS (IT HAPPENS) FOR YOUR SALVATION. Continue reading →

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Sermons

Thanksgiving (Lk 12:13–21)

Bethlehem Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS || AUDIO

INI + AMEN.

Gifts. The Lord Jesus gives them. Gifts. We like them. Of course we do. I mean: come on! Who doesn’t like gifts? Gifts. It’s why we’re here today. Should be why we’re here. There’s so many gifts afoot today. It’s hard to keep them all straight. So many gifts being doled out today—an extra slice of pie. So many gifts will be bought tomorrow—Black Friday. So many Gifts delivered Sunday after Sunday here—the Lord Jesus’ gift-giving place.

Gifts. The Father of Jesus is the Fountain and Source of all gifts and goodness, and, in and through His Son Jesus, “He provides all that we need” not only “to support this body and life” but to support the soul and eternal resurrected body life.

Gifts. They’re given. All sorts. All from above. Gifts given to be received. Gifts given to be enjoyed. The true God is all about gifts and gift giving. Continue reading →

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Sermons

2nd Last Sunday (Mt 25:31–46)

Immanuel Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS || AUDIO

INI + AMEN.

Ever since the Garden of Eden, the Lord Jesus has done things a certain way. Well, actually, the same way. What He does today, He did then. What He did then, He’ll continue to do, even till the Last Day, Judgment Day. Then the Lord will do forever what He’s always done.

Ever since the Fall into sin, mankind has also done things a certain way. The way it’s been done is the same today as then, and it’s opposite of what the Lord has always done, still does, and would continue to do in and through us.

The Lord always does things by way of Gifts and Promise. We do things by way of works. The Lord’s gifting way is selfless. It’s completely, 100% selfless and self-giving. Our way is inherently selfish—looking out for us, or those people, things, or causes that we like and are meaningful to us.

The Scriptures show us God’s selflessness. He does things that are against His own self-interest, even His own life. He’s crucified for people who turn from Him, hate Him, kill Him. Gift and promise alone. We give only as long as we get something out of it. Some people get more us, get more effort, more patience than others. It’s all works. This, of course, should not be the way of things. This is what it means to be sinful—turned in on myself, selfish. Continue reading →

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Sermons

2nd Last Sunday—Mission Fest (Mt 25:31–46)

Bethlehem Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS || AUDIO

INI + AMEN.

The message of the Kingdom is the message of the King. The message of the King tells us what He thinks and what He wants. The message of the Kingdom tells us how the King is toward us. When we hear the message of the Kingdom, we find out that the King and His Kingdom are completely different than how you or I are hardwired to think.

The Lord always does things by way of Gifts and Promise. We do things by way of works. The Lord’s gifting way is selfless, self-giving. Our way is selfish—looking out for us, or those people, things, or causes that we like and are meaningful to us.

These are the competing messages today, the two ways of thinking, two ways of doing, two ways of believing. There’s the way of the king, and the way of the goats. Continue reading →

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Sermons

Wedding of Chris Bargmann & Baleigh Rockwell (Eph 5:22–33)

Immanuel Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS

INI + AMEN.

“Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of world.” He is the true Bridegroom. He takes away His bride’s sins, too.

Behold, His holy Church whose sins were taken away by the Lamb of God, her Bridegroom. She is His and His alone. There is no other one for her than Him. He’s her Savior. Her Forgiver. Her Redeemer. She has no sins before Him. No, not even one. Continue reading →

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