Tag Archives: Festival

Sermons

Transfiguration (Mt 17:1–9)

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

Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”
Jesus touching them said, “Rise and don’t be afraid.”
“This is My beloved Son; with Him I’m well pleased. Listen to Him.”

INI + AMEN.

((3.)) Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

He did rise from the dead. That’s what Transfiguration’s really all about. Jesus doesn’t want to be known for Sinai type glory or mountain of transfiguration glory. He doesn’t want to be known as the big, powerful, almighty God. (He is those things, of course. He’s one with the Father, after all.) No, He wants to be known for His Calvary glory, His cross and death glory, but also His risen from the dead glory. It’s why He says don’t tell anyone until after “the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” It’s why the angel says to the women, “You seek Jesus who was crucified. He’s risen. He’s not here.”

We’re getting a preview of that today—80 days or so ahead of time. (It’s about 80 days until Easter Sunday.) But before He heads up Mt. Calvary, before He’s buried and raised on the mountain Jerusalem’s built on, Jesus heads up this “very tall mountain.” There He shines in glory. There a preview of what Jesus is all about: not just death, but resurrection, too—His FOR YOU.

Jesus is raised from the dead, and so we can rejoice today when looking at the movie-trailer version: the mountain of transfiguration.

((2.)) Jesus touching them said, “Rise and don’t be afraid.”

We live lives of fear. We’re afraid of so many things. Maybe we’re afraid of what the world’s coming to. Maybe we’re afraid of God and judgment because of our sinfulness like the disciples were. And each of us should consider how we don’t “fear, love, and trust in God above all things” when it comes to how we act in our day to day lives, but there is something we’re all afraid of: dying and death.

We’re afraid of death. Our heart stops, then what? Blackness. Nothingness. Death. But it’s not just that split second we worry about, that we’re—pun intended—scared to death of. We’re also afraid—maybe more so—about what happens before that. We’re afraid of dying. What if I get cancer? What if it’s Alzheimer’s? What if I linger? What if there’s pain? The list goes on and on.

He says to you, “Don’t be afraid.” Someday, the Last Day, He’ll tell you, “Rise!” Then no more fear. No more death. Not for you. Not ever. Why? Jesus has died and risen. He did it for you. He makes it yours. His death is your death. His resurrection is your resurrection. You will live forever. You will see Him face to face. You’ll be in your Father’s presence forever.

You will be raised from the dead. Jesus is raised, and His resurrection is yours. “Don’t be afraid.”

((1.)) “This is My beloved Son; with Him I’m well pleased. Listen to Him.”

Beloved Son of the Father: baptized for sinners, suffered for sinners, died for sinners, raised for sinners. The Father’s pleased with Jesus not just because He’s His eternal Son, but because Jesus does all that He does not for glory’s sake but for your sake—to save you from the dead.

We should listen to what He says. He’s risen from the dead, after all. Probably good to listen to someone who does that. We listen not only because He says, “Rise and have no fear.” His resurrection is your resurrection, and listening to Him is exactly how He makes His resurrection your resurrection.

“Listen to Him.” “I baptize you into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” “Whoever believes and His baptized will be saved.”

“Listen to Him.” “I forgive you all your sins.” “If you forgive anyone His sins, they are forgiven.”

“Listen to Him.” “This is My Body and Blood, given and shed for you, for the forgiveness of sins.” “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will resurrect Him on the Last Day.”

“Listen to Him.” Listening to Him is resurrection, eternal life, and eternal peace.

((Conclusion.))

The Son of Man is raised from the dead. He died for you. Rose for you. We get a preview of that today.

We don’t need to be afraid of death. He will raise us from the dead “to live before Him in righteousness and purity forever.” His resurrection didn’t just happen. His resurrection is yours. He makes it yours, and so we’re never afraid. Not of the world, not of death or even dying. Not anything. Because Jesus isn’t just about death. He’s about resurrection, too—His FOR YOU.

It is yours. “Listen to Him.” That’s how He makes it yours. Over your forehead. Into your ears. Into your mouth. We listen to Him not just cause it’s a good idea, not just cause we’re told to, but because in His Word is resurrection, eternal life, and eternal peace.

LISTEN, JESUS’ RESURRECTION IS YOURS!

It has to be. He not only did it. He makes it yours. “Listen to Him.” “I baptize you.” You are baptized! “Listen to Him.” “I forgive you.” You are forgiven. “Listen to Him.” “My Body and Blood for you; I will resurrect you.” You are bodied and blooded. You will be resurrected. One day He’ll do it. One day, He’ll touch your grave and say, “Rise.” You don’t need to be afraid. LISTEN, JESUS’ RESURRECTION IS YOURS! He says so.

INI + AMEN.

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Sermons

Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Our Lord (Lk 2:22–40)

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

INI + AMEN.

The Lord’s Word gets filled up. It gets fulfilled. It gets done. Laws cherished and obeyed. Promises kept, made good on. The Lord takes care of it all Himself. It’s all done in Jesus. Jesus cherished the Laws and did them purely and with a pure heart. Jesus kept the promises of salvation. He not only did them, He finished them.

It doesn’t matter if the Lord spoke a command or a promise, either way Jesus fulfilled it: filled it up. He fills up the Laws 100%. He fills up the Promises, too—past overflowing. That’s what happens when Jesus comes. Everything gets filled up. Nothing’s left empty.

Continue reading →
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Sermons

St. Titus—Observed (Acts 20:28–35)

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

[Paul said to the Ephesian pastors,] “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has placed you as overseers in order to pastor the Church of God that He purchased with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28)

INI + AMEN.

Red like blood. Jesus’ blood. Blood that was shed for you. Red like fire. The Spirit’s fire. Tongues of fire at Pentecost. Red for Titus. Titus’ day. The color of the holy ministry, the color of pastors.

These aren’t separate, at all! We’re seeing red today because of Jesus’ blood shed for you. We’re seeing red because of the Holy Spirit’s work for you. We’re seeing red because of pastors’ work, too. Jesus’ blood, the Spirit’s work, the pastor’s work are all connected. They’re connected because

THE SPIRIT USES PASTORS TO DELIVER JESUS’ BLOOD TO YOU. Continue reading →

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Sermons

All Saints’ Day—Observed (Rev 7:9–17)

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

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev 7:13–14)

INI AMEN.

They’re countless. They’re like the sand on the beach, the stars in the night sky. They’re Abraham’s promise fulfilled. In fact, he’s there, too. They’re “a thousand thousands.” (Dan 7:10) They’re “ten thousand times ten thousand.” (Dan 7:10) They’re countless—”a great crowd that no one can number. But they’re not nameless, faceless.

You know them. Well, some of them. You know their names. You know their faces. You know them. They know you. They’re your family members, your friends, but they’re also your brothers and sisters in Christ. They’re your fellow baptized. They trusted in the Lamb slain for them, they were given the white robe of His righteousness, they were washed, they were purified by the blood of the Lamb. Now, they are those “who have come out of the great tribulation” of this life. You know that about them. But you also know them, and because of what you know or maybe in spite of what you know about them, you love them.

But more important than you knowing them, or them knowing you is that the Lord knows them. John doesn’t quite know who they are, the elder knows who they are, but the Lord knows them, knows you, too. They’re His saints, His holy ones. You’re a saint, too. The Lord sanctifies you, He holies you, He “saints” you. He’ll also bring you through “the great tribulation” of life to Himself in heaven.

It might be “a great multitude that no one can number,” but they’re not nameless, faceless. They aren’t indistinguishable to the Lord. He knows them. He names them. He saves them. He “saints” them, holies them, sanctifies them. You, too!

THE LORD KNOWS HIS SAINTS AND SAVES THEM. Continue reading →

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Sermons

Reformation Observed (Jn 8:31–36)

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

“The slave does not remain in the house forever. The Son remains forever. Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you’re really free.” (35–36)

INI + AMEN.

Jesus sets you free. It’s why He came. It’s why He died for you, rose for you, too. It’s why He baptized you. It’s why He delivered the Absolution today. It’s why He gives His body and blood to eat and to drink. Jesus wants you to be free, and so He sets you free. And WHEN JESUS SETS YOU FREE, HE REALLY SETS YOU FREE. Continue reading →

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Sermons

St. Michael and All the Angels (Mt 18:1–11)

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

INI + AMEN.

Our Lord says, “Let the little children come to Me” because He lifts up the lowly, the nothing. He makes the strong serve the weak. That’s what our dear Lord’s about. What His Kingdom, His reign, His rule is all about, too. That’s even what St. Michael’s Day is all about!

It’s white today—not to rejoice in the purity of angels, their might, their greatness. It’s white to point us to a purity more pure than the angels have—the purity, holiness, and righteousness of our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The righteousness—His righteousness that He gave you at the Holy Font in Holy Baptism.

And so He says, “Let the little children come to Me.” And so He says in our Gospel text today: “Whoever receives one such child in My name, receives Me.” Continue reading →

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Sermons

Winkel—Holy Cross Observed (1 Cor 1:18–25; Jn 12:20–33)

Immanuel Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS || AUDIO

INI + AMEN.

We’re all a bunch of fools! We’re morons! Can you think of anything more ridiculous than what we do? There isn’t much, according to the “wisdom of the world.” Those who are high and lofty, those who are wise, those who are strong, those who are something, want to be something, can be something may grant some foolishness—foolishness for the sake of entertainment. Society needs people who make life not so serious, after all. Comedians, actors, entertainers, magicians, circus ringmasters. Funny. Not fools.

But we—we are bunch of fools! We really are! Not because of us, but because of Him. Because we preach—preach Him. But not just Him. What He did. “We preach Christ crucified, which is scandal to Jews and foolishness to Greeks, but Christ, God’s power and wisdom, to those who are called (whether Jew or Greek).” Christ is “God’s power and wisdom” because Christ “is God over all, blessed forever.” The eternally blessed God, the Creator of the universe “for us and our salvation came down from heaven,” and “was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.” Continue reading →

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