Pastor Scamman

The lawyer who tries to test Jesus was supposed to be an expert—not in criminal law, or tax law, or business law, but in the Law of God. But he shows by his questions that, smart as he was, he didn’t understand the first thing about God’s holy Law. It is possible both to be an expert on a subject and…

Martin Luther said that your god is whatever you look to for help in the time of trouble. Two men went up to the temple to pray, that is, to find help in the time of trouble. The Pharisee prayed thus with himself, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even…

Our Gospel text this morning is set during the triumphal entry of Palm Sunday. You are familiar with the scene: Jesus riding upon a donkey as He enters Jerusalem, the multitude of disciples waving palm branches and rejoicing as they sing, “Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is He who comes in the name…

The righteous man perishes, and no one takes it to heart; merciful men are taken away, while no one considers that the righteous is taken away from evil. ( Is 57:1 ) Apart from Scripture and the promises of Christ, we don’t know how or what to think about death. We don’t understand it. We can’t measure…

If you ask a scientist to explain the eye, he will probably start talking about the iris and pupil, or about rods and cones. Ask a Christian, and he will likely speak about how the eye is designed and fashioned by God, which is true. But if you consult Scripture, you will find that the eye is the instrument…

At that time: All the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Jesus to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” ( Lk 15:1–2 ) If you ask a Christian, “What is the mission of the church?”, he will probably answer with something to…

“A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent His slave at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ ” When a man gives a wedding feast for his son or his daughter, the invitations usually go out a few months in advance. But Jesus speaks here…

We don’t have to look to hard to find persecution of Christians in the world today. Perhaps you saw the photo of the 21 Coptic martyrs a few years back as they were led across the sand before being beheaded by their Islamic captors. Or, more recently, you may have heard of the atrocities being perpetuated…

During the introductory rite of Confession and Absolution, the pastor speaks the following words: “In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” When visitors from another Christian tradition attend…

When a man of considerable means is preparing to die, he leaves instructions for how to distribute his possessions among his heirs. This is called his last will and testament. And often a lawyer is involved to ensure that the language of the will is clear and beyond dispute. A last testament is no place…

Many Christians do not believe that children can enter the kingdom of God through Holy Baptism. But far from being an exception, Jesus holds up little children as the model for those who enter the kingdom. And He says to us adults, “Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by…

This Sunday the church begins her countdown to Easter. In seventy days we will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. That is what Septuagesima means—seventy days. But before joy comes sorrow. Before the Resurrection comes suffering. Before the feast of heaven comes the fast of life in this sinful world.…

“When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find Him, they…

To be a Christian means to believe in Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God the Father, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. If you are a Christian, you confess these truths. Perhaps you have confessed them so many times, as we do in the Creeds, that you know the words…

The words of the Introit are a prayer, imploring God to keep His saving promise: “Remember us, O Lord, with the favor that Thou bearest unto Thy people: oh, visit us with Thy salvation!” ( Psalm 106:4 ) The collect echoes this plea, “Stir up, O Lord, we beseech Thee, Thy power, and come and help us with…

God has instituted and ordered His church so that within it, and nowhere else, we might find the forgiveness of sins. The church is that gathering of sinners in which the Lord Jesus is present among us with His forgiveness. We know this is true from His own words in Matthew 18 , that great chapter on…

This morning we hear the historical accounts of two different widows who suffer the death of their only son: the widow of Zarephath in the days of Elijah, and the widow of Nain during the earthly ministry of Jesus. The fact that these women are widows tells us that it is not the first time they have…

In those days the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “Son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. Then He spread it before…

At that time Jesus said to the multitude of the Jews: “If I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die. The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man…

Usually, the parables of Jesus are about the kingdom of heaven. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed…” “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning…” “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field…” Not so this morning. The parable of the wicked steward…

“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” ( Jn 12:24–25 ). These words of Jesus stand in stark contrast to the values of…

At funerals it is common for the gathered family and friends to do their best to avoid speaking the truth about what we all know has happened. And what is that? Why are we here today? What singular event has brought us all together? I know the answer. You know the answer. But, according to the unspoken…

All men must die. Such is the fate that hangs over our fallen race. There is no question about whether this is true. The Word of God is clear: “The soul that sins, it shall die.” ( Ezek 18:4 ) Jimmy was a sinner, and now he has died. You are a sinner, and one day you too will die. If these words seem…

This morning our Lord Jesus instructs us in how to live as Christians in this fallen world. He tells us what we are not to do, and what we are to do. “Do not judge. Do not condemn. But rather, forgive and be merciful, just as your Father in heaven also is merciful.” ( Luke 6:36–37 ) On the one hand,…

The two greatest apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul, have been commemorated together on June 29 for nearly eighteen centuries, almost since the time of Christ. Our congregation, like many others, is named after St. Paul, while countless other congregations are named for St. Peter, or perhaps, St. Peter…