Martin Luther's Evening Prayer

Psalm 46 is the source of Luther's Reformation hymn, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God," and is the basis for Dr. Zeile's message explaining what the Reformation was about- the glory of God centered in the work of Christ for our salvation. No human works intervene lest anyone should boast, imagining he has merit over others, nor despair, imagining that he is irredeemable. The Refor...

God's Word is simple- "love!" But HOW are we to love God and others? The life to which we apply God's Word is complicated, and so it requires the best we can give it, and even so, there are many times when we must walk by faith and not by sight, when we must accept God's commands and promises despite the contravening messages of our heart. John freely discusses the complic...

Deacon Dave Valenti leads in the prayer for God's blessing on the Martin Luther's Evening Prayer on the inception of international short wave broadcasting.  Send us Fan Mail

Deacon Dave Valenti reads Luther's exhortation as part of the Reformation Service Send us Fan Mail

Ezekiel saw a valley of dry bones and is told to preach to the Spirit/Wind/Breath. The point is that God's people will be brought back, despite their reduction to bones and dust. And it is the Holy Spirit, the Wind or Breath of God that will awaken us on the Last Day.  This Pentecost message is accompanied by the Confessional rite, Introit, and Kyrie, the Nicene Creed and the hymn, O Day of J...

Forgiveness is for those who want to be free from their sin, not those who wish to indulge further. When we use forgiveness as an excuse to sin more, we are receiving grace in vain and condemning ourselves further. This sobering message is accompanied by St. Patrick's Breastplate ("I Bind Unto Myself This Day the Strong Name of the Trinity"), the eschatological hymn "A Multitud...

God abundantly blesses us at times with more than we can use. What are we to do with such? We are to lift up those who lack, blessing others in imitation of God's blessing. When we use gifts to manipulate others or imply that we are better we fail to lift others up. Christ died to lift us up and His love is the motive for edification of all kinds. The meditation is followed by the hymn "...

The Ethiopian Eunuch was a seeker who was of a different race and of a condition not allowed to worship at the temple or offer sacrifice. But Deacon Philip explain Isaiah 53 to him and the good news that Jesus is that acceptable sacrifice for all nations, the very transition from the Old Covenant based on Law to the New Covenant based on grace for Jesus' sake.  This meditation is followed by...

After the rite of confession, Dr. Zeile presents a message on the Pharisees' attempt to intimidate Jesus in Luke 13. The Lord's example in not allowing fear to dominate His thinking or influence His plans is a power one for us today. The sermon is followed by the litany and Lord's Prayer. Send us Fan Mail

The Psalmist celebrates God's provision for all creatures, especially for people who can know who sends their blessings. And Christ came to provide not merely bread for the day but the bread of life, His own Body given that we may have unending life. God foresaw our need and out of that foresight, provides what is needed. This meditation is accompanied by a choir anthem "King of Our Hear...

Dr. Zeile reads the Psalm in three classic English translations Send us Fan Mail

Dr. Zeile's message develops Christ's pointing out His place in the Scriptures so that we see where we are in relation to Christ, and all of history. This truth provides orientation, context, and direction for our personal lives. This is accompanied by 2021 Vacation Bible School songs led by Lutheran Teacher Glenn Grage. Send us Fan Mail

God's Word can be divided into the commands and the promises, or the Law and the Gospel. Law is God's demand for righteousness and Gospel is the good news of God gift of righteousness through Christ. The Psalmist's celebration of this in Psalm 18 is accompanied by the "Missa Breva" of Lutheran tradition the Kyrie and Gloria in Excelsis, and the Rite of Holy Communion. The...

This sobering message points out that living right has many blessings in life but it also attracts persecution in a sinful world. Without the grace of faith in God we can be discouraged and succumb to evil ourselves. Psalm 3 , the Rite of Confession, and the classic hymn "Yea, As I Live, Jehovah Saith, I would not have the Sinner's Death,"  accompany this message. Send us Fan Mail

St. Paul describes the nature of thanks  which is related to the word "grace," that quality that gives gratification without expectation of return. Readings from Ruth, I Timothy, and Luke 17 (The One of ten who returned to thank Jesus) accompany this meditation as well as the hymn "We Praise Thee O God of our Fathers." Send us Fan Mail

"Tradition" is a misunderstood concept among protestants in general and Lutherans in particular. St. Paul in I Corinthians 11 speaks of what he received and of handing down which was of greatest importance. This tradition is spelled out in the Apostolic Scriptures which are the canon (rule) by which we recognize the Word of God in all its forms. The Magnificat from Vespers accompanies th...

We often forget that the Prodigal Son had a brother, and many of us, whether we realize it or not, identify with him. This message with its call to repentance is accompanied by the Rite of Confession and Absolution (Forgiveness), the Kyrie ("Lord, Have Mercy"), and the Psalm 51- based Offertory ("Create in Me a Clean Heart"). Send us Fan Mail

The Gospel for 5th Sunday of Lent A Year Send us Fan Mail

In our hearts as well as in the outward people of God we call the visible Church weeds are sown by the Evil One; but God allows both to coexist, lest the good be destroyed with the evil. We are to wait patiently until the final harvest when God gathers His Own. Psalm 24 is prayed along with the Te Deum Laudamus from Matins, and the hymn "Almighty God Your Word is Cast like Seed into the Groun...

Christ's commission to the 70 apostles in Luke 10 clarifies the role of healing in service to the Gospel. Not to replace doctors or physicians, but to address the very root of disease, which is sin;  not to restore earthly health which will ebb at the last, but health of the spirit that may flourish in new and everlasting life.  A choral anthem and the rite of Communion for Pentecost are incl...

This sermon for Trinity Sunday discusses the works of God and their attribution to the Persons of God. To the Father is ascribed Creation, although the other persons are involved; similarly the work of Redemption is ascribed to the Son although the Father and the Spirit each have their part to play. And the Work of giving life and faith to the believer is the work of the Spirit, sent by Father and...

Psalm 104 speaks of the Spirit of God as the source of life and this explains the Spirit's role in creation and in the believer's recreation as a child of God. This meditation on the Spirit of Life includes the Gospel for Pentecost read in three languages to recall the gift of tongues: German, English, and Latin. Luther's hymn, "Come Holy Ghost, God and Lord," and the anci...

Christ instituted the Pastoral Office, committing to His ministers the duty of preaching the Word and administering the Sacraments. This is a separate institution from the Priesthood of all  Believers. This discussion of Matthew 9 makes the Bible teaching clear and shows why Confessional Lutherans are set apart from generic Protestants or Evangelicals. The message is accompanied by the Rite of Com...

This 3rd of three meditation on God's people influenced by their social and cultural context discusses the circumstances of the Babylonian exile in which God's people found themselves deprived of so much- home, temple, countrymen, familiar institutions. Yet God blessed them through suffering in that they clung to the promises of their faith so much the more. God can bless us even through...

This 2nd of a series of 3 meditations reflects on God's people in different surroundings, the present one as settlers in the land of Canaan. They were tempted by their surrounding culture as we are today, and each generation had to learn anew to trust God's promises, usually through suffering. Portions of the evening service of Compline are included as also hymns of consolation, "Wh...