Sermons from Grace/Bethel

There are more than 2300 Bible passages that speak about money. Why? Money is a master Satan frequently tempts us to serve. And that evil foe knows how successful his efforts with money can be. Money provides us with a false comfort and a sense of security. It serves as a source of pride. It serves as a wonderful tool for a favorite pastime: justifying ourselves in our own eyes and the eyes of oth...

“He’s lost.” We use that term not only to refer to someone who is bewildered about where they are but also to refer to someone who is in a helpless, hopeless state. Mankind’s natural state is one of complete spiritual helplessness, a profound lostness. It manifests itself in countless ways. The one who simply wants God to leave him alone: lost. The one who feels she can handle life on her own: los...

It is an unavoidable hard truth. Our relationship with Jesus will put us in situations where we must decide where love for him ranks compared to love for other people and things. And Jesus is not content to be one of many important things in our life; he wants to be first. He wants us to follow his Word unwaveringly, even when he asks us to do difficult things. As a result, following Jesus will fo...

Everyone knows that humility is a positive trait and pride is a negative one. So, why bother talking about what we already know? Because in spite of that knowledge, we still helplessly fall into the trap of pride. We cannot help but think that our ascent to the exalted status we desire is our responsibility. We even take our exaltation into our own hands, either by treating poorly those we believe...

When it comes to the difficult and uncomfortable topic of who goes to heaven and who goes to hell, it is natural to want to avoid the issue. One way we do that is to direct our attention to theoretical questions. “What is heaven like?” “How old will we be there?” Today, someone asks Jesus, “Lord, are only a few going to be saved?” Jesus brushes these questions aside. Instead, he answers the questi...

We often divide humanity into groupings that are not really significant: this ethnic group versus that one, men versus women, wealthy versus the poor. Yet, every ethnic group is under God’s law. That law convicts both men and women of sin. Because of sin, the wealthy and the poor will both die. Only through faith in Christ is sin forgiven and the sting of death removed. God’s Word creates that sav...

Last week Jesus warned us against overvaluing earthly wealth. This week Jesus warns against undervaluing heavenly treasure. Last week, Jesus exposed the folly of greed. This week, Jesus exposes the folly of worry, even when faced with the prospect of having a shortage of earthly wealth. This week might be the bigger challenge! When it seems we lack providence or protection for our daily lives, it...

Jesus wants focused followers. However, one of the things that can most easily get in the way of our focus is our earthly possessions. It is no surprise, therefore, that Jesus’ words so frequently focus his followers on wealth. Jesus’ followers don’t reject earthly wealth or despise it. They can be grateful for every good gift that comes from the hand of God. However, Jesus’ followers value earthl...

In a sense, prayer comes naturally to us. We want so we ask. We hurt so we cry out. We are frustrated so we vent. We are blessed so we give thanks. So we sometimes define prayer as “speaking to God from the heart.” Seems so easy. What does not come naturally, however, is the focused prayer God wants for us. We need focus when it comes to the basis of our prayers. Our prayers are based entirely on...

We call worship a "service.” Which raises the question: who is serving whom? In answering that question, it is easy to focus on what we do in worship. “I set aside time in my week to come to church. I am singing praise to God. I brought him an offering. Clearly, I am serving him.” True enough. However, as God speaks this week, he clarifies our focus, letting us see that worship is primarily about...

Christ has not only given us his powerful Word. In his grace, he gives us ministers who proclaim that Word to us in whatever ways we need at the time: words of comfort, words of instruction, or even words of rebuke. Those who are entrusted with the care of Jesus' flock are expected to shepherd that flock just as Jesus would. They humbly assume that privilege, not to proclaim their own ideas or opi...

On this Sunday of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, the focus will be on “Believing Humility,” which the Tax Collector displays in the Gospel Lesson. He recognizes his immense sin and turns to Jesus for full and free forgiveness. This is the Christian life of repentance, worked in our hearts by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament. In the sermon text from Psalm 32, we will see David inspir...

Victory! It’s something that we all want – whether it’s in sports or in life. And yet, in this sin-cursed world, we often face just the opposite (the struggles of the mother in the Old Testament lesson is an example). But listen to Jesus’ message in the Gospel! This gives Paul confidence in the Verse of the Day and the sermon text. We are more than conquerors through Jesus!

Paul told the Philippians that he thanked God every time he remembered or thought of them. As he wrote this letter to them from prison, he wanted them to know that thinking about them gave him joy even in his unhappy situation. We don’t know much about what the future holds, but, like Paul, we can be confident of one thing. God is in control.

As we read God’s Word from the first verse of Genesis to the last verse of Revelation, he gives us hints and glimpses of his Triune nature. God dwells in a “majesty and mystery” that far exceeds our understanding. But here is what we can understand. Every time we gather in the name of the Lord, our Triune God, we receive indescribable blessings.

God interrupted the rebellion of the people of Babel by confusing their language. On Pentecost he enabled the disciples to overcome all language barriers in order to communicate the good  news about Jesus. The Holy Spirit worked through the good news they proclaimed to bring 3000 to faith in Jesus.

Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us. He is coming soon to take us to be with him there. Because we are washed in the blood of the Lamb we can say, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

It may not always seem that Jesus is ruling all things for his bride, the church. But John sees Jesus riding a white horse to victory. He is our bridegroom, our knight in shining armor, who will come to rescue us from all evil and take us to the wedding banquet that never ends.

We must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of God. Paul and Jesus point us to the secret to having joy in the midst of trouble. It's seeing Jesus. Trusting that because he is our risen Lord and Savior we have forgiveness and eternal life.

Jesus gave his disciples a new command. Love One Another. If you know your Bible you might wonder what's new about that. The summary of the second table of the law is "Love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus explains what's new when he adds - As I have loved you, so you are to love one another." He wants us to show the same selfless love for others, everyone, as he has shown us, a love that moved h...

Promises that go unfulfilled are empty words. A promise that you can be right with God by keeping rule and laws is an empty promise. Paul proclaims the fulfilled words of God. The resurrection of Jesus proves all God's promises are trustworthy. It is through faith in that we are justified, forgiven.

Everyone is born spiritually blind. It is only by means of a miracle that anyone can be brought to see that Jesus is the savior. Jesus worked this miracle in Saul by appearing to him on the road. He works it in our by letting us see him in his word.

Satan uses everything he can to keep Christians from witnessing. He uses our own fears and insecurities, threats from others, whatever he can think of because he knows that the Holy Spirit works powerfully through the word of God Christians share to bring people to repentance and faith. Knowing we have powerful good news to share helps us overcome restraint and share the good news about Jesus.

Because of Jesus' life, death and resurrection death has been swallowed up in victory. God gives that victory to us.

Who would have imagined that God would destroy the power of by death. Because Jesus died our death, fulfilling the law and paying the debt of our sins, death no longer has power over us.