BSLC Antioch Sermons

The Advent message is: "Behold, your king is coming to you, righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey" (Zechariah 9:9). We are called to prepare by celebrating Christ's first coming and by anticipating His final return. The King comes to us now in humble ways—through His Word and Sacraments—ushering in His saving reign. We receive this King by accepting His forgiveness a...

The stomach's growling preaches that we are dependent on our dependable God for physical sustenance. This hunger is a reminder of God's goodness and generosity to us and our responsibility toward others. Ultimately, the stomach's hunger points us toward our true need for eternal sustenance, which is found only in Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life (John 6:35).

Jesus is a crucified King who offers paradise to sinners. "As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26). Through Baptism, we are united with Him in death and resurrection, guaranteeing that we never die alone and live under His reign of forgiveness.

We are living in the end times (Luke 21:29-31), which began with Christ's cross and resurrection. We must perk up at the signs of world distress, recognizing them as a countdown to our redemption. We are to check ourselves against distractions that weaken our faith and to stay awake in prayer, trusting Jesus to give us the strength to endure to the end.

God is the God of the living (Luke 20:38), and His eternal name, given to us in Baptism, guarantees our resurrection and eternal life. We know Him by what He does for us: "I will be who I will be" (Exodus 3:14). Because God has attached His eternal name to us, we must live in anticipation of eternity, knowing that our actions in this life have lasting value.

The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Jesus seeks even the unlikeliest sinners, like Zacchaeus, forgiving them and granting them salvation. The Christian life is a witness to His saving work, offering hope in the resurrection and eternal life.

In this sermon for Reformation Sunday, true freedom comes only from Jesus Christ; all alternatives are slavery. This freedom is an unearned gift experienced now by abiding in His Word. It makes us truly human by setting us free from sin and transforming us to be like Him, granting the certainty of salvation and eternal life.

True faith is a tenacious, wrestling faith that drives us to always pray and not lose heart. This faith holds God to His promises, knowing that our loving and righteous Father will give justice. We persist in prayer, gripping His Word, confident that He will return to fulfill every promise and bring eternal blessing.

Faith is the Lord's connection to you, not a power within you. Its strength comes from the Holy Spirit and it is the sole requirement for salvation. Faith gives you direct access to God, provides full, unconditional forgiveness, and ensures you share in Christ's resurrection to eternal life.

Mustard seed faith is for the miracle of forgiveness, not worldly show. It relies on the power of Christ's Cross to receive God's continuous pardon and to be able to forgive others in His name, which is the ultimate, transformative work of the Christian life.

Jesus is the one who crosses the chasm between heaven and humanity, rescuing sinners from hell. God's Word is sufficient to bridge this chasm, working daily repentance in us and having the power to save others. Through the Word, believers are forgiven and can stand without fear at the final judgment.

The reckoning is coming, so Jesus invites us to stake everything on His mercy and be eternally shrewd. He absorbed our judgment on the cross, making death a gateway to eternal life. We should therefore hold this world loosely, investing in eternal life through spiritual practices and witnessing to a world in need of hope.

Heaven's joy is revealed in the parable of the lost sheep, where Jesus, the Good Shepherd, actively seeks the lost. Salvation is a gift from the Shepherd, who has already carried the burden of all sin on the cross. The Church's role is to reflect this heavenly joy by celebrating every repentant sinner and welcoming them into the flock.

True discipleship requires prioritizing Jesus above all and expecting sacrifice, but it comes with a much higher reward. The cost of following Christ is worth it because He has already paid the ultimate price, saving us by His goodness, not our own. Our perseverance in faith becomes a witness to the world.

Jesus is a king who challenges worldly notions of honor and status. The Sabbath is a time for things to be made right, as Jesus demonstrated by his healing. Jesus, the true Host, took the lowest place on the cross to invite sinners to "move up higher" and receive his righteousness.

Salvation is a gift received through humble faith, not earned through pride or good deeds. The "narrow door" is open for those who trust in Jesus, who did everything necessary for our salvation.

The Gospel is designed to address the brokenness and sin in our lives. While Jesus brings true peace, living by the cross creates a necessary division from the world's ways. This division ultimately leads to eternal life as we await Jesus's return to make all things new.

This sermon explores how to live without worry, not by being carefree, but by trusting in God's loving reign. It teaches that Jesus's command not to worry is an invitation to receive God's kingdom, which He gives out of His good pleasure. By seeking His kingdom and trusting in His provision, believers can find peace.

Jesus redefines wealth as a relationship with God through Himself, our ultimate inheritance. True riches are not worldly possessions but the eternal treasures received through Christ's forgiveness, empowering believers to live a rich life with hope tied to eternity.

This sermon explores how our perception of what God thinks of us profoundly impacts our faith. It highlights the challenge of truly believing the Gospel—that God loves and forgives us despite our shortcomings, viewing us as the "joy" for which Jesus endured the cross. This understanding empowers us to pray boldly and live with trust and joy.

This sermon unveils God's profound secret: humanity's reconciliation through Jesus Christ. It emphasizes that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone, a hope universally accessible. Believers are called to stand firm in this truth and share it with everyone.

This sermon, "Won't You Be My Neighbor?", interprets the Parable of the Good Samaritan. It highlights Jesus as the ultimate Good Samaritan who saves humanity, and calls the church to be "innkeepers" sharing Christ's love.

This sermon on Luke 10:1-20 explores Jesus's declaration that the Kingdom is near, showing how believers are sent to proclaim God's Kingdom. Sharing God's word, in various forms, brings His power and peace to all.

This sermon, based on Luke 9:51-62, emphasizes the profound urgency of the cross in a Christian's life. It explores Jesus's unwavering commitment to His mission and challenges would-be disciples to prioritize following Him above all else, highlighting how the cross transforms every aspect of a believer's existence.

This sermon explores "eucatastrophe"—God's sudden, good catastrophe—through the story of the demon-possessed man. It reveals Jesus's sovereign power to conquer evil and restore hope, showcasing Him as the ultimate eucatastrophe who makes all things right.