Sermon Texts

April 19, 2026                                                                              Text:  1 Peter 1:17-25

Dear Friends in Christ,

            The Apostle Peter had begun this epistle with a section titled, “Born again to a Living Hope.”  Is this kind of hope an escapism that turns its back on the present world?  Will it lead to a “pie in the sky” mentality?  Not so.  The apostles were energized by the Holy Spirit, and they laid the foundation for the conversion of the Roman Empire.  In the centuries that followed, the living hope resulted in acts of mercy and concern by Christians for all humanity.  C.S. Lewis gives us the maxim, “Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’:  aim at earth and you will get neither.”  Peter is urging the church and in turn us to be . . .

“LIVING IN REVERENT FEAR”

            There are many kinds of fear.  Punishment might be the most frequent.  A child who misbehaves and a thief who steals are descendants of a man who said to his Maker, “I was afraid because I was naked.”

            Fear of injury or death can occupy our thoughts.  Jesus rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith when they thought they were going to drown when a storm engulfed their boat.

            Fear of the unknown occurred when the appearance of angels surfaced.  Zechariah, the shepherds in the fields, the women at the empty tomb.  And remember this about the soldiers on Easter morning – “The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became as dead men.” (Matt. 28:4)

            Despite all this, there is good fear.  We would call it “reverent fear.”  It works like this.  The Lord has showered so many good gifts upon us, we want to please him by keeping his commandments.

            Loving God and living in reverent fear means that we conduct ourselves as “aliens and strangers in the world” (1 Pet. 2:11), for we are a “people belonging to God” (1 Pet. 2:10).  As such we do not become attached to earthly things.

            Living in reverent fear is an ongoing rejection of the cravings of sinful man.  How are we doing?  Here is a quote I came across, “The Lord Jesus Christ has called his church to holiness.  The Christian is called to live by high standards.  Recent surveys indicate that the conduct of the church isn’t too different from the world.”

            We have been redeemed from the empty way of life.  Peter is writing to converts who have come out of their heathen ways.  They inherited it from their forefathers, but they found it empty and unfulfilling.  There was no joy.  This happens still today by those who have a form of godliness, an outward expression of religion and religious activity but it is not Christ-centered or biblically oriented.  While these people know that God exists, they do not give Him glory.

            The precious blood of Christ makes us free.  In March 1960, the little town of Agidir, Morocco, Africa, was reduced to rubble by an earthquake.  At the time, Lt. Gerald Martin was stationed there with his wife, Sue.  While he was not harmed, his wife could not be found.  After several days of searching the military people were told to leave because a 2^nd earthquake could occur.  Lt. Martin stayed on.  One day later he found Sue, still alive, under six feet of debris.

            What did he do?  Scold her for coming to that area?  Offer advice so she could free herself?  Pass her a survival kit?  Cheer her up with words?  Of course not.  He got busy.  With his two hands he dug away the rubble until she was free.

            So, God dealt with us.  A “do-it-yourself” salvation kit would do no good.  Cheerful encouragement would not help.  Rather, through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ, God set aside the rubble of sin to rescue us.  Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin…If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (Jn. 8:34,36)

            Christ as our text says, “was foreknown before the foundation of the world.” (v. 20). He accomplished what we could not do.  It reminds us that we are the elect, chosen by God.  This is not an easy teaching to understand. 

            A few years back in a chapel service at the LCMS International Center, a seminary student from Korea said, “I am the first Christian in my family in 5,000 years.”  Strange and awesome!  Why him?  Why us?  Why me?

            Not easy to understand.  We leave it to the wisdom of God, whose judgments are unsearchable and paths beyond tracing out (Rom. 11:33).  But what we can do, as we live in the hope of our inheritance, is to give him the glory forever.  Living in Reverent Fear.

                                                                                                                                                Amen.       

April 5, 2026 – Easter                                                                 Text:  Zechariah 8:19-23

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Today is a day of feasting.  Easter breakfast.  Easter baskets.  Easter dinner.  Even better, we feast on the triumphant news of Christ’s victory over sin, death, Satan, hell.  We linger over this savory statement:  “He is not here; he has risen.” (Matt. 28:6)

            Let’s back up.  Did you fast during Lent?  We are not talking about getting ready for a medical test or skipping a meal.  Did you observe the ancient spiritual discipline of fasting?

            God commanded the Israelites to abstain from food one day:  the Day of Atonement.  But in the Bible David fasted and Jesus fasted and the believers at Antioch fasted and there are other examples of voluntary fasting.  Fasting can help keep focus on Jesus or devotional time or remorse over sin.  Maybe you fasted from sweets or alcohol or social media.

            But after a time of self-denial, we anticipate a celebration.  Imagine Jesus at the end of his 40 day fast.  We have looked forward to the end of the 40 days of Lent, and today – Resurrection Day . . .

“OUR FASTING GIVES WAY TO FEASTING”

            At a recent circuit Pastor’s conference, we had a study on fasting.  There is a group of LCMS clergy who have been fasting during Lent.  We looked at Bible verses and what fasting is and what it is not.  We were given practical helps for this spiritual discipline.  And I learned again that the work breakfast came to be from breaking the fast.

            In Lent we have been looking at the prophecies of Zechariah, the Holy Week Prophet.  None of his prophecies directly foretell of Jesus’ resurrection, but today we will hear the prophet predict that fasting will give way to feasting.

            The text says that in the fasting “love truth and peace.”  Even if you didn’t fast during Lent, it is a nice reminder that every day we should live the truth.  We need to lament that it was “my fault, my own fault” that caused Jesus’ torture and torment.  We confess we have not always loved truth and peace, and we deserve to be deprived of God’s presence for all eternity.  Yet it was Jesus who was deprived of the Father’s presence on the cross.

            Lent is also a time to see that the prophecies have been fulfilled.  The fasting has ended; let the feasting begin.  Easter is a joyful occasion for God’s people, because Jesus’ work is complete.  The truth is, “he is not here; he has risen.”  The peace is, we have a restored relationship with God. 

            That is why you rolled out of bed this morning to see the lilies and white paraments and to hear the return of “Alleluia” and to sing, “I know my Redeemer lives.”  And maybe you invited people to be here with you like the prophet wrote, “In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’” (v. 23).  What a testimony.  The church throughout the world.  Think of all of your fellow Christians around the world who have worshipped, are worshipping and will worship.  This Easter joy ties us all together.  Next Sunday, we see it in person with our seminary student Corrie Steel whose home is Australia.

            God is with you Mary Magdalene as you weep outside the tomb.  God is with you apostles as you hide behind locked doors until Jesus says, “peace be with you.  God is with you Emmaus disciples as you lament the death of Jesus but then He explains the Scriptures to you.  God is with you persecuted Christians, as you hold tightly to the faith under pressure.  God is with you suffering Christians as you weep and grieve.  God is with you faithful Christians as you seek to defend the truth in a hostile world.  God is with you dads and moms as you equip your children for life in a world that hides so many spiritual land mines.

            Live your faith.  Live it so loud that people are envious of your joy.  Make church attendance a Sunday thing that if the neighbors see your car in the drive, they know you must be sick.  And when they ask why you handle things so confidently tell them about God who says:  “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Is. 41:10)

            On Easter, the fasting of that fatal Friday gave way to feasting for Jesus’ disciples.  On Easter, the fasting of Lent gives way to feasting for us.  Fill your heart with the triumph of the resurrection.  Stuff your schedule with satisfying service to your Savior and your neighbor.  Show the curious minds of your friends the power of the living Lord in your life.

            And then don’t be surprised if one or two or ten people take hold of you by the hem of your clothing and say, “Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.”

A Blessed Easter!

                                    Amen.      

April 3, 2026 – Good Friday Tenebrae                                      Text:  Zechariah 3:1-10

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Back in the 1980’s TV preachers were big business and quite well known.  In my last year of seminary, I wrote my 25-page dissertation on their theology.  To say most of it was unbiblical or came up short would be an understatement.  But another problem was their public lives.  Names like Swaggart and Baker and others were exposed for their behavior.  It certainly affected how the nominal Christian and unbeliever looked at the Church.

            If Satan can get the spiritual leader, it will help His cause.  Tonight, we see Satan go after the high priest Joshua.  Satan was the prosecutor in God’s supreme court.  But the Lord was on Joshua’s side, and the charges were dismissed.  It is Good Friday and sins are . . .

“GONE IN A SINGLE DAY”

            Let’s remember that the name Joshua is a form of the name Jesus.  This is the vision.  Joshua is before the angel of the Lord and Satan is there to accuse him.  Joshua is human so Satan has some good material to draw from.  What might he have done in boyhood?  How about any foolish actions as an adolescent?  Mistakes as Israel’s religious leader?  Evil thoughts that lurked in his heart?  As I wrote this sermon it brought up my own indiscretions in life.  How would I fare in the courtroom?

            The truth is.  Satan owned you and I.  The accusations can stick, because they are all true.  “Look at the evidence judge.  Many people can testify how they have been hurt by the defendant’s selfish actions.  I have audio of the defendant’s less than holy language.  Here is a list of worship services missed because something else was more appealing.  As for the defendant’s thoughts, well, we don’t want to be here all day.  You have to convict.”

            The text said Joshua stood in the court with “filthy garments.”  Our garments don’t look or smell any better.  What was the Lord going to do with Joshua’s “filthy garments?”  The text says, “Remove the filthy garments from him…Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” (v. 4)

            Pure vestments.  This formerly filthy felon looks like a dignified high priest.  More important, he is declared holy – he can appear in the presence of the Holy Judge.

            Your filthy clothes have been taken away; Jesus himself will now wear them.  In exchange, Jesus dresses you in his own spotless garments; they are now your new wardrobe.  The prosecutor’s charges are dismissed.

            Here is the clear reference to Good Friday, verse 9, “I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.”  It can also be translated, “I will remove the sin of the earth in a single day.”  That is why we are here to give thanks this day.  Every person’s sin…every Pastor’s sin…removed on a single day…by a single sacrifice…by a single Savior who snatched us burning sticks out of the fire.  The judge has rendered his verdict, and will not change his mind.  You are acquitted.  You are forgiven.  You are dressed in the clean garments of Christ’s righteousness.

            The text concludes, “In that day, declares the Lord of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.” (v. 10).   Jesus is excited to bring us to the place he has been preparing for us since his ascension.  It is a place where we will be safe, where we and our neighbor will sit under the vine and fig tree in perfect peace, where we will eat from the tree of life and live forever.

            You can extend that invitation now.  Let your neighbor know that under the cross of Christ there is forgiveness; under the vine of Christ there is abundant fruit; and under the fig tree of Christ there is cooling shade from the hot, harsh, hostile world.

            Satan went after the supreme Shepherd, the highest Priest, on Good Friday, hoping to make him fall.  Had Jesus failed, we would be forever wearing filthy clothes, disqualified from a home in God’s holy heaven.  Instead, Satan failed, while Jesus succeeded in removing the sin of the world in a single day.  The price has been paid.  It is finished!  Your new forever home is waiting.

                                                Amen.         

April 2, 2026 – Maundy Thursday                                                Text:  Zechariah 13:1-3

Dear Friends in Christ,

            The Centers for Disease Control has a whole page dedicated to washing your hands.  The headings are, “Why it’s Important,” “Key times to wash hands,” and “How it works.”  We all know how important it is in protecting your own health and that of others to wash our hands.

            What about cleansing our hearts?  The Washington D.C. government has on their website a “Clean Hand Mandate.”  But it is not about washing hands.  It is about being up to date on your taxes so you can get city permits etc.  It goes to the heart and a business’s honesty.  How honest are we?  We know that no amount of soap and water can clean a mouth spouting disgusting words or a heart that harbors hate.  Isaiah calls us “filthy rags.”

            But God provided a fountain where we can be cleansed.  On this Holy Thursday . . .

“A CLEANSING FOUNTAIN”

            We cannot scrub the iniquity from our insides.  So what are we to do?  There is nothing we can do.  The Lord has already done it for us.  “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.” (v. 1).

            That day is the day the Savior was crucified.  The day of salvation and the fulfillment of God’s plan.  Jesus’ side was pierced and there was a flow of blood and water.  Cleansing blood and water. 

            This night, as we partake of the Lord’s blood, we also drink from the fountain.  We rejoice that this same body and blood present at his sacrifice are also present in his Sacrament, with the same power to cleanse our dirty souls.

            Typical hand sanitizers promise to kill 99.9% of germs.  But what about that sneaky 0.1% that could still make you sick?  Jesus removes our sins not at 99.9% but at 100%.  He removes even the tiniest sins, the ones we don’t recognize anymore.

            As you come to the Lord’s Supper, know that Satan (that spirit of uncleanness) has lost his grip on you.  One day he will no longer tempt you with unclean thoughts.  One day you will sit at Christ’s table in heaven with completely clean hands and permanently pure heart.

            As you leave the altar and reflect on the sacrifice, remember the cleansing.  Then pray to the Holy Spirit for a grateful response.

            We have some shocking language in our text.  According to God’s Old Testament Law, children who struck or cursed a parent were to be killed.  God did not put up with the worship of other gods from His people.

            We do not live under that law, but there can still be consequences to our sinful actions.  Are you serious about keeping your hands and heart clean?  What idols need to be eliminated from your life?  What is luring you from the Lord:  a job? a friend? a romantic interest? a hobby? a sport?

            Examine your budget and calendar.  Are you wisely managing your time, talents, treasures?  Are you shouting any pro-world, anti-God philosophies from the rooftops?  Even so, get away from them, even if the rot is in your own family.  That is the warning of Zechariah tonight.  “If anyone again prophesies, his father and mother who bore him, will say to him, ‘you shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the Lord.’  And his father and mother who bore him shall pierce him through when he prophesies.” (v. 3)

            Parents, please don’t pierce your children, even if they have wandered from the truth of God’s Word. Sense the urgency.  It is a matter of life and death.  Pray for those who are straying but don’t tolerate false teaching they may be professing.

            Germs are everywhere.  That is why we wash our hands often.  Threats to your faith are everywhere too.  Act decisively against any influence leading you away from your Savior – work, play, social media, friends, even family.  Pierce it and get it out of your life.

            Do it because you have been cleansed in the fountain that flowed from that Friday morning sacrifice.  Do it because you have been cleansed by Jesus’ body and blood in this Thursday evening sacrament.  Do it because it feels good to be clean . . . and you want to stay that way.

                                    Amen.   

March 29, 2026 – Palm Sunday                                               Text:  Zechariah 9:9-10

Dear Friends in Christ,

            When have you hung your head?  Were you discouraged?  Did you hang it in shame?  Or were you just so upset about something that you just had to bury your head in your hands?  Any number of things can cause us to hang our head.

            The Jews’ heads were hanging.  They felt defeated.  Sure, the temple had been rebuilt and Herod had done some renovations, but they still didn’t have real freedom.  They were subject to the Romans who told them what to do and how to do it.  They longed for the glory that was once Israel’s.  But someone shouted, “Look up!  Here comes your King!”

            We are not subject to a King, and we have our freedom, but there are times we feel defeated.  We are subject to sin and the effects of our actions.  We long for simpler times and what we might perceive as the glory days.  Then we hear today . . .

“LOOK UP TO SEE YOUR KING!”

            “Look!  Up in the sky!  It’s bird!  It’s a plane!  No…it’s Superman!”  And with that, everyone looked up to see their hero coming to the rescue.

            The Jews of Jerusalem were so excited to have Jesus come to their city.  They didn’t need to hang their heads anymore.  They didn’t need to look in the sky for their hero, all they needed to do was to look on the back of donkey.

            Here was the long-promised Messiah, their conquering hero.  Their salvation from the Romans, from poverty and sickness and suffering.  Look up and see Him.  Spread your coats and palms to welcome him.  Shout loud hosannas to honor him.

            When Zechariah told the people to shout, he used a word that was a battle cry.  How hopeful the Jews were that their King was going to wage war against the Romans.

            They had already seen him raise fallen troops back to life, end the need for supply lines as he multiplied loaves and fish, and destroy the enemy once for all.

            But on a donkey?  Superman would never come like this.  Where is the superhuman strength or the lasers from his eyes?  Shouldn’t he at least be on a golden chariot with white stallions?  Instead, he comes gently, humbly, peacefully…on a donkey.  Much more relatable, wouldn’t you say?  He was not seeking glory but seeking to deliver the oppressed.

            They were looking for a Superman who would destroy Rome and bring them national peace.  Shortly they would look up and see him on a cross.  Why would this man who once walked through an angry mob allow himself to be arrested?  Why did he who raised the dead allow himself to die?  They must have wanted to hang their heads again.

            We often look up to Jesus and wonder:  Why does the omnipotent God allow my body to break down?  Why does he allow my relationships to fall apart?  Why does he let me struggle with finances and worry?  Why doesn’t he save me from suffering and pain?  Why doesn’t my Superman Savior save me from my troubles?

            Because he is not that kind of king.  He didn’t come to wage war on poverty or disease or to take away your pain and make life easy.  If let your disappointment in what Jesus doesn’t do for you invade your thoughts, you are tempted to reject him like the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

            You need to know what kind of King he is:  “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout aloud O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold your King is coming to you; righteous and having salvation.” (v. 9a).  Look up.  Don’t hang your head in shame.  He won peace between you and God by defeating the old evil foe.  He stayed faithful every time you went AWOL with God.  His righteous record is credited to you, making you perfect in God’s sight.

            So, if Jesus did all this why do we still have wars and crashed planes and traitors and murdered families?  Because, he is still not that kind of King. 

            Outside a wall of the United Nations are the words from Isaiah 2:4 which describe a world of peace.  But since that first Palm Sunday, there have only been wars and rumors of wars.  Jesus said as much.  So, the promise of “peace to the nations…from the River to the ends of the earth” must mean something different.

            Jesus is the real Peacemaker.  His atoning death brough us peace from guilt and shame.  Someday, wars will end.  Someday, we will have peace from all our problems.  Someday, we will have no need for headphones.  Just not yet.  We look up to the skies when our King will return, not on a donkey but riding on the clouds.  He will bring a perfect, permanent peace.

            Let’s look up.  Your King is riding into Jerusalem on a donkey to be the conquering hero.  Look up to your King on the cross, paying with his blood for our peace with God.  And look up when He returns again to put an end to all conflict.  In the meantime, shout his praises, “your king is coming to you.”

                                                                        Amen.     

March 22, 2026                                                           Text:  John 11:47-53

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Over the years I have always told the Bible Class that my mom taught me that there can only be one chief.  You see my mom was a teacher and they are all used to being in charge.  My mom also served on the negotiating committee for contracts with some of the other teachers in the district.  She would come home frustrated at times because everyone was trying to be in charge, and nothing was getting done.  She would say to us, “you know there can only be one chief the rest of us have to be Indians.”

            That advice has served me well.  In this church we have some of you who like to be in charge and some of you who like to work in the background.  That’s wonderful.  Be who you are.  In certain situations, like at a car accident or a fire or a military battle or the coach at a game or any kind of meeting, you want someone in charge.  It just makes things normally go much smoother.

            As we near Holy Week, our text challenges us to ask the question . . .

“WHO’S IN CHARGE?”

            The Sanhedrin have a Jesus problem.  These men just wanted Jesus to go away.  He was an unwelcome intrusion into their lives, work, and world.  They knew he had performed many miracles, and He had just raised Lazarus from the dead.  We cannot do anything to control this guy.   If we don’t take care of this problem, then people will start believing in him.  They expect a civil rebellion will follow and they will lose their power because they are sure the Romans will take it away. 

            Any of this sound a wee bit familiar?  We want to control our lives, our spouse’s actions, our kids behavior, other people’s influence in our lives.  We may want to control our religion.  Worst of all, we may try to control God, dictating to him in our prayers how He should answer us.  But then we get shocked back into reality – a lost job, uncontrolled cancer, children out of control, guilt that won’t go away, and prayers answered differently than we expected.  We have got to regain control.

            In our text, here comes the man in charge.  Now we are going to get something done.  His name is Caiaphas, and he was the high priest that year.  Like many high priests he was self-seeking and not acting as God’s servant.  He does have a plan.  Rather simple really.  Have one man – Jesus – die instead of our nation going down the tubes.  What a noble concept.  Most of the Sanhedrin sign off on this plan.  If they can get Jesus out of the way they can go back to business as usual. 

            Caiaphas’ plan has been used for centuries.  When we get caught in a jam, let’s put the blame on someone else.  Maybe our spouse or our boss, our neighbor or our children, let’s make them the scapegoat. 

            God takes charge with the perfect substitute.  John gives us the real reason that Caiaphas spoke this way.  How easily we forget that man proposes, but God disposes.  These words of Caiaphas meant to save the backsides of all these men were given by God to him to utter.  What dramatic irony.  A character who utters words that are truer than he imagined.

            God’s plan brings blessings beyond the border of their nation.  God has designed that salvation and life with him are gifts given to all who will receive Him by faith, wherever they may live in the world.

            The Sanhedrin had their plan.  Now they needed to execute the mechanics of it.  They plotted, formed a conspiracy.  They forged ahead with their plan, deluded into thinking they have things under their control.

            When all is said and done, guess who had the final word?  Who was in charge?  The Sanhedrin had their mission to execute Jesus.  They did.  They also lost their temple, their court, their nation – and their Savior!  Remember, however, what Jesus declared:  “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life – only to take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.  I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.  This command I received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18). What a loving sacrifice for you and me.

            Thank God that He is in charge of your salvation, your faith, your life, your future, your eternity.  Trust Him to take complete care of you.

                                                                                                Amen.