Service Folder Tonight we introduce our Lent sermon series, which is based on the ancient hymn “O Love, How Deep” (LSB 544). This hymn, written in the fifteenth century, contemplates the love of God in becoming man, taking on our life, dying our death, and rising again, all for us. But for us to understand and appreciate this love, we must first…
Service Folder The Children of Israel, at God’s Word, marked their doorframes with blood of lambs. When the Lord saw the blood-marked doors, the destroyer passed over their homes. The blood of those lambs foreshadowed Jesus. We see him, standing with sinners, in the waters of baptism to be the Lamb of God for us. Baptism marks our hearts with his blood…
Service Folder The messaging of our culture is that the Biblical faith is “foreign, out of step, and even dangerous.” So how are we to survive in a culture with that narrative? If it were up to us we can’t. God must do it for us. The means by which He does is the Word of God. He sows the Word in…
Service Folder So much of what we do in life is related to merit. An employee merits a paycheck, a student merits a grade, an Olympic Athlete strives to merit a gold medal. It’s not surprising that our fallen nature likewise thinks we merit, at least in part, God’s grace. Sunday’s theme is that we are saved not by any merit on…
Service Folder At the Transfiguration, Jesus’ glory as God radiates through His human nature. It was a foretaste of Jesus always fully radiating in glory after he went the way of the cross. (Matthew 17:2) The prophet, Moses, gives us a foreshadowing of Jesus in Joseph. Joseph was raised in glory next to Pharaoh after suffering crosses in his own life. (Genesis…
Service Folder The Old Testament lesson continues with the history of Abraham’s family, specifically his grandson, Jacob. It takes us to Jacob’s wedding, where his Uncle Laban deceived him, so that he up with 2 wives, Rachel and Leah. While Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, Leah would be the ancestor of Jesus. We see Leah’s Descendant at another wedding: the Wedding…
Service Folder Moses takes us inside Isaac’s family, which like any family, had its family sins. Despite that, God was doing his good work – for Isaac and his son Jacob were next in line as ancestors of the Promised Savior, the very Savior they needed and we need. Their Descent Jesus was brought to the temple as a 12 year old…