September 3, 2023 — Since we are sinners by nature with worldly desires, the church “we want” according to our weak flesh is one in which there are no demands, where everything goes our way, and where life is easy and prosperous. But that’s not what Jesus promises us. Nor is that the kind of Church…
August 27, 2023 — In our Epistle Lesson this Sunday, St. Paul declares, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Confessing our faith in Jesus is central to what The Church God Wants does. We confess…
How much easier life as a Christian would be if there weren’t so many obstacles! Last week we learned about the weeds that surround the wheat, that is, the fact that believers and unbelievers are in the same “field.” God plants the wheat with His Word. But then the devil sows seeds of dissent, wickedness,…
What is a Christian? Christians are sinners saved by grace. Christians strive to be what Christ wants them to be. We don’t always live up to that. Far from it. Therefore a Christian is someone who runs to Jesus for forgiveness. Look at the list below. The first thing we talked about two Sundays ago…
Sunday, July 9, 2023 — Ask any 10 people to define “Christian” and you may well get ten different answers. Much better to let the Bible define the world. In our current series, “Define: Christian” our Scripture readings give us God’s definition of who and what a Christian really is and what Christians do. We…
Ask any 10 people to define “Christian” and you may well get ten different answers. During the next 7 weeks, our readings will give us a definition from God of who and what a Christian really is and what Christians do. We will be struck by how often we do not do all those things.…
This Sunday brings us the final of our series of readings on the Holy Ministry. In our Old Testament Lesson Jeremiah the prophet of Judah shortly before and at the time of the beginning of the Babylonian captivity is sent to preach one final call to repentance. He is not only unpopular due to his…
Trinity Sunday – June 4 2023 — All three persons of the Holy Trinity created all things at the beginning of time. God the Father spoke. The Word (Jesus) proceeded from the Father and brought everything into existence as the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the deep. Our Old Testament Lesson…
May 28, 2023 — Jesus promised, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!” He came in fulfillment of Isaiah 12:3, “Therefore with joy you shall draw water from the wells of salvation,” which was part of the Feast of Tabernacles liturgy the day Jesus spoke the words of our Gospel Lesson.…
May 21, 2023 — This Sunday we light the Christ Candle for the last time until Christmas. This candle marks the “festival half” of the church year where each year we review the time of Christ’s life on earth. Our First Lesson, from the Book of Acts records the day Jesus ascended back into heaven…