Lutheran Church of the Resurrection

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I invite you to take your bibles and turn to 1 Samuel, chapter 17. Page 239 in your pew bible. We’re going to read selective verses from this chapter as we go and if you’d like to follow along from the bible, you may do so.

1 Samuel 17 is another one of those many accounts of the Philistines against the Israelites. And this particular account features a battle between David the Israelite and Goliath the Philistine. (more…)

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“Beware!” That’s the first word from Jesus’ lips to our ears in the gospel we’ve just heard. “Beware!” Whatever it is that follows is something dangerous. “Beware!” A warning from the mouth of God to our ears that what you are about to hear is deadly dangerous and you’d better take heed.

Too bad that when we hear Jesus say, “Beware!” we take it the same way we do when we read, “beware of falling rocks,” or “beware of moose.” An amusing little warning that there’s a slightly greater than normal risk that we may encounter one of these things where it doesn’t belong. But nothing so serious as to cause us to actually slow down or even turn back. (more…)

The Lutheran Reformation is frequently summarized under the banners of “Sola Scriptura,” Sola Gratia,” and “Sola Fide.” As Lutherans, these three premises form the foundation for our approach to the Christian faith. Although each of these headings are closely connected with each other, here, I would like to consider “Sola Gratia” solely. (more…)

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Today, the Christian Church on earth, passes in review before Jesus Christ as He gives a glimpse of His glory. The Christian Church in heaven sees His glory all the time because they see Him as He is. But for the saints on earth, His glory is hidden from our eyes behind the veil of flesh and bones and Word and Sacrament.

So, as the Christian Church passes in review before the Transfigured Jesus, we’re getting a preview of Christ, as we will see Him in heaven. In his Revelation, John reports what he sees and what he doesn’t see in heaven. “…The city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light and its lamp is the Lamb. And by its light the nations walk…” (Rev.21:24). (more…)

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“And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.” (Luke 6:17-18).

Judea and Jerusalem are in the south and are Jewish territories. Tyre and Sidon are in the north and are gentile territories. In other words, Jews and Gentiles came from north and south to hear what Jesus had to say and be healed of what ailed them and freed of what jailed them. That’s why they came.

Sounds just like Church if you ask me. People packing the kids in the mini-van, coming from north and south, sometimes over an hour away. Coming with their sin-diseased souls and their unclean hearts. People coming to hear the gospel and be touched by Christ’s Word and the power that comes out of His Word preached into our ears and sacramented into our mouths. And all that we might be healed of what ails us and freed of what jails us. That’s why we’ve come. (more…)

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In the beginning, the Spirit of God was hovering over the deep. And God said, ‘let there be light.’ And there was light. Now, in these last days, or as St. Luke puts it, “on one occasion,” while floating over the surface of the deep, God said, ‘let there be fish.’ And there were fish. So many fish that even professional fisherman were freaked out and didn’t know what to think about this.

The nets began to break and the boats begin to sink. It’s so incredibly wonderful that it’s scary. Peter cries out, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” These are strange words from a fisherman whose livelihood depends on catching fish. Like I’ve always said, if I were Peter, I’d try to sign Jesus to a contract to be my guide at least weekly and together, they’d make a buddle. Or some more practical variation of that theme.

“Get into my car, Jesus, and go to the bank with me and when I let down my paycheck into the tellers window at the drive-through, you fill my checking account with more money than it can hold.” You get the idea. (more…)