Tag Archives: Feasts

Sermons

St. Mary Magdalene (Jn 20:1–2, 10–18)

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

INI + AMEN.

Seven demons. Not just one, or even two, but seven demons. That’s how many demons Jesus cast out of Mary Magdalene. He rescued her from the power and kingdom of the devil. From her prostituting herself, and her many other sins, He also saved her. He’s yet to save her body from death. He will, though. We know that from her. She saw Him crucified, she saw Him dead and buried, and she didn’t just see an empty tomb. No, she saw Him—alive! Easter in July! We celebrate and rejoice on St. Mary Magdalene’s day because she’s a picture of your own salvation.

She’s a picture of your salvation because JESUS SAVES YOU LIKE HE DID MARY MAGDALENE. Continue reading →

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Sermons

The Visitation (Lk 1:39–56)

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

INI + AMEN.

Well, here we are again, continuing our story from last week. Well, actually moving back a little, picking it up at an earlier point. Today, Mary visits Elizabeth when she was six months along, and she stays three months. Did Mary go to get advice from Elizabeth? Did Mary go to help Elizabeth in her delivery? We aren’t told. We know the end of the story, though. John’s born, and Mary, then in her second trimester, journeys back to Galilee only to turn right back around in six months time to go to Bethlehem. And we all know how that ended.

But today, important stuff, miraculous stuff going on. Elizabeth’s miraculous pregnancy pales in comparison, and Elizabeth knew it. She knew her young cousin was mother number one, that in Mary, through her womanhood, the Lord was coming. In fact, the Lord God was there, in her womb. Continue reading →

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Sermons

Nativity of John the Baptist (Lk 1:57–80)

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

INI + AMEN.

We aren’t just an isolated little group of people here. We are part of God’s people who’ve lived through the centuries and all over the world. Within this company of Christ’s people we have our place and identity. Around the world today millions of Christians are remembering, as they’ve done for centuries, that today is six months before Christmas Eve and the birth of our Savior. That means we are also remembering the birth of John the Baptist, our brother in this company of God’s people where he also has his place, identity, and task. Continue reading →

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Sermons

St. Mary Magdalene (Jn 20:1–2, 10–18)

July 23, 2017
Immanuel Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS || AUDIO
Bethlehem Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS || AUDIO

INI + AMEN.

Seven demons. Not just one or two but seven. That’s how many demons Jesus cast out of Mary Magdalene. The Son rescued her from the devil’s kingdom and brought her into His and His Father’s Kingdom. From that moment on she followed Him, caring for Him and His Apostles with her own money and possessions. She saw Him die, and she was the first to see Jesus after He came back to life.

What Jesus did for Mary Magdalene isn’t unique to her. He saves you and me from the same things He saved her from. Jesus saves you like He did Mary.

WHEN JESUS SAVES YOU, YOU’LL SEE HIM RESURRECTED FACE TO FACE. Continue reading →

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Sermons

The Visitiation (Lk 1:39–56)

July 2, 2017
Immanuel Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS || AUDIO
Bethlehem Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS || AUDIO

INI + AMEN.

GOD HIMSELF IS BODIED AND BLOODED FOR YOU. Wait. What? GOD HIMSELF IS BODIED AND BLOODED FOR YOU. That’s what the Christian faith is all about! It’s not whatever we want it to be. It’s not what we think it should be. It’s not cultural impact, governmental change. It’s not some club, not a family-only sort of thing. Not something you do to be considered a good person. It’s not just for people we like, people like us. No, none of that, but only what’s in our Gospel text:

GOD HIMSELF IS BODIED AND BLOODED FOR YOU.

And it doesn’t quite matter who that “FOR YOU” is. Continue reading →

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Sermons

Presentation of the Augsburg Confession (Mt 10:26–33)

June 25, 2017
Immanuel Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS || AUDIO
Bethlehem Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS || AUDIO

INI + AMEN.

“Don’t fear: You’re worth more than many sparrows.” That’s Jesus’ Word today. His comfort today. Of all the beasts of the field and the birds of air—“not one falls apart from your Father.”

Yes, two sparrows could’ve been sold for a Roman penny, but even those two sparrows, which we value as insignificant, are prized and valued by your heavenly Father. He made them. He sustains them. They are His.

“Don’t fear: You’re worth more than many sparrows.” But what does that mean? How many sparrows are we talking about? How much copper, silver, or gold? What sort of worth and value is “many sparrows”?

But the comfort is this: your worth isn’t just “many sparrows;” your worth is this: The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Continue reading →

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