April 5, 2017
Bethlehem Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS || AUDIO

Who receives this sacrament worthily? (LSB 327)

Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”

But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words “for you” require all hearts to believe.

INI + AMEN. Continue reading →

March 29, 2017
Immanuel Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS || AUDIO

INI + AMEN.

The Lord speaks. He gives. Faith that’s created by His speaking and giving will be strengthen by the same speaking and giving that gave it life. From the speaking and giving of the Lord, faith is given, strengthened, it’s given life and growth. The Lord speaks. We listen. The Lord gives. We receive.

Yahweh, the Lord Jesus, doesn’t just give us something good that’s safe to ignore. He’s not some doctor who says, “You know, you should probably cut out the salt, eat more fruits and veggies, and exercise more.” We know all that. “Yeah, I know,” is usually the reply. But what Jesus says and gives doesn’t have to do with offering you a higher or better quality of life, which is really what we want—more success, or whatever. If there’s no measurable return on the investment now, we move on. “Yeah, I know,” continues to be the answer.

But Jesus’ speaking and giving has to do with what happens when your heart stops and you breathe your last. He’s an eternal physician, working eternal cures on bodies and souls that are only eternal and live in and through Him. He made them, He gave them to us, He will raise them up. That’s His Word, His promise. The Lord speaks. We listen. We trust Him. How can we not?

JESUS IS TRUE TO HIS WORD AND PROMISE OF SALVATION. Continue reading →

March 22, 2017
Bethlehem Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS || AUDIO

What is the benefit of this eating and drinking? These words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation. (LSB 327)

INI + AMEN.

“Forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.” Three different things listed in our Catechism, but they could all be said with one simple Hebrew word. שְׁל‫וֹם‬. Peace. Now, שְׁלוֹם does mean peace, but it’s so much more than that, too. שְׁלוֹם: wholeness, wellness, nothing is causing disruption between you and God, between you and your neighbor, or even within yourself. שְׁלוֹם. Peace.

So, is God at peace with you? Is He שְׁלוֹם? If, so how do you know? Can you bet the farm on whether or not God’s שְׁלוֹם with you? If He’s not, watch out! He’s not one to take that sort of thing lying down. He’s not one to let bygones be bygones. He doesn’t agree to disagree. Nope, He punishes “the children for the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me,” He says. “He sentences all to judgment…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” He’s also able to deliver not just consequences in this life. No, we should fear Him because He “is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Continue reading →

March 15, 2017
Immanuel Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS || AUDIO

INI + AMEN.

Holiness. The Lord has it. He is it. The Lord is holy. “Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth, heaven and are full of [His] glory.” He’s perfect. He’s Light—“in Him no darkness at all.” He’s set apart. “He dwells in unapproachable light,” and it’s unapproachable from our end of things.

It’s unapproachable because we aren’t holy—not in ourselves. We’re not set apart. Fine china is an example of something that’s set apart. Far from that, we get into all sorts of messes: messes that we try and cover up from other people; messes we try and not think about; messes we may even try to cover up from the Lord. We don’t really want to come into the light either because then our “deeds would be exposed.”

“Yahweh spoke to Moses.” The Lord’s speaks. He must. He must come to us. Left to ourselves, in our deep dark secrets, our deep dark consciences, our deep dark past, our deep dark present, we’d hide like Adam and Eve at the slightest rustling wind. The Lord comes. He comes with more than a Word—more than just Word that will ring in our ears and engage our minds. The Lord is more touchable than that. The Lord of fingers and toes, of sight, smell, and taste, gives much more tangible gifts to His people, to you.

THE HOLY LORD GIVES HOLY BREAD TO MAKE HIS PEOPLE HOLY. Continue reading →

March 8, 2017
Bethlehem Lutheran Church—Bremen, KS || AUDIO

What is the Sacrament of the Altar? It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink.

INI + AMEN.

Questions are a gift. When we’re confronted with questions, for one, they’re an opportunity to learn. But questions are a gift, because the answers are also a gift—a gift from the Lord. Questions and questioning gives us the opportunity to confess what we believe from what the Lord Jesus has told us. We confess Him: His Word, His Work.

We’re gifted with five questions the next 5 Wednesdays. What is the Sacrament of the Altar? Where is this written? What is the benefit of this eating and drinking? How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things? Who receives this Sacrament worthily?

That’s the Catechism! We’ll have one additional gift Wednesday of Holy Week, but also tonight we get a few more gifts: Who’s Jesus? What is it? (We’ll talk about what “it” is.) Finally, what then do we receive from the Lord? Continue reading →