March 19, 2023– The Old Testament prophets, especially Isaiah, outlined signs that would prove the Messiah had come, such as giving hearing to the deaf and sight to the blind. Jesus fulfilled all those signs. In the Gospel Lesson, John records the sixth of the seven signs, as Jesus heals a blind man. That gives…
March 12, 2023 — The Bible uses a number of analogies for what the Gospel offers. In answering the devil’s temptation, Jesus answered, “Man does not live on bread alone, but by every word which comes from the mouth of God.” Elsewhere, Isaiah describes the Gospel as a rich feast with rich food and fine…
March 5, 2023 — Abraham is called the “Father of us all.” He is in many ways our spiritual forefather, because He is the forefather of Jesus who reconciled him, the world, and us to God the Father. “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness,” Moses wrote. And Paul quoted that…
February 26, 2023 — A Champion for the Defeated The Season of Lent leads the church on a 40-day journey of repentance and prayer, of remembrance and renewal of our baptism. God calls to mankind: Return to the Lord! The journey begins with Ash Wednesday’s warning of mortality. On the First Sunday in Lent we…
February 19, 2023 — This Sunday brings the Epiphany Season to a close with the Festival of Transfiguration. Before His journey up to Jerusalem in the closing months of His public ministry, Jesus took three of His disciples—Peter, James and John—up a mountain where God the Father strengthened Him for what awaited Him, His suffering…
February 12, 2023 — This week we continue reading through our Savior’s Sermon on the Mount in our Gospel Lesson. Jesus gives us a New Testament version of the commandments of God. Here we see how strict our perfect God really is. He isn’t interested in mere outward compliance to His Commands. He expects His…
February 5, 2023 — This week we continue reading through our Savior’s Sermon on the Mount in our Gospel Lesson. The Good News is that Jesus tells us we are the salt of the earth. He then tells us to stay salty. Jesus—who Himself is the Light of the world, tells us that we disciples…
January 22, 2023 — As the star appeared in the East, Jesus appeared as the true light of the world and has taught us to reflect that light. Epiphany! In our Old Testament Lesson we have another prophecy from Isaiah. The land of the two northernmost tribes, Zebulon and Naphtali bore the brunt of foreign…
January 15, 2023 — Epiphany is a word that bears reviewing. An epiphany is a “light bulb moment” after which you might cry out “Eureka!” The Epiphany was when a big light bulb—a miraculous star—appeared and guided the Magi from the east to Bethlehem to worship the newborn King. In the church calendar the Sundays…
January 8, 2023 — Jesus is “the Christ” (Greek), “the Messiah” (Hebrew). Both words mean the same thing, namely, “the Anointed One.” At his baptism, Jesus was officially anointed into his three-fold office as our eternal Prophet, High Priest, and King. As our Prophet, Jesus taught the Word of God while on earth and continues…