Sermons

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

“Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?”

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words.

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone

By what authority does Jesus make the blind to see and the lame to walk?

“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?”

We, by faith, are God’s “little children.”

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means!

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.

Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds

the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations

Because we cannot see beyond ourselves, the glory that lies in our future must be revealed to us.

With this parable, Jesus teaches what to expect when the Word of God goes out into this world.

n Baptism, the Lord Jesus Himself washes away our sins, raises us to new life in the faith, and sustains that faith as we journey through this earthly life. This is mercy, not condemnation.

It is the hatred of the world that brings forh the “sword,” not Jesus.

When we can’t find the words to pray as we should, Jesus gives us the perfect prayer. Everything we could ever need in this life is in the Lord’s prayer.

The words “Receive the Holy Spirit” show us that this is indeed a spiritual activity ruled by the Word of forgiveness. As priests of Christ Jesus, we rule by means of grace, mercy, and love.

Sacrifices are good when used according to God’s will. But God rebukes their abuse when our fallen human nature uses sacrifices to appease Him and to earn His blessings. Faith, not sacrifice, obtains the rich blessings of God.

Only God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, bring us to everlasting life. God has made His name known to us and He makes himself known in a trinity of persons.

The significance of the “living waters”
is renewal. Spiritual renewal, for they
represent the work of the Holy Spirit.
Recall what Jesus said in the Gospel
Reading, He said, ““If anyone thirsts,
let him come to me and drink… ‘Out of
his heart will flow rivers of living
water.’