St. Paul's Lockport Sermons

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The world was formless, empty, and dark. God the Father, the God the Son who is the Word, and the Holy Spirit who hovered over the waters formed, filled, and enlightened to the world. God by his Word created light, and gave it form as He separated it from darkness. He separated the waters of heaven and earth by the sky, giving them form, and...

What does the freedom and slavery have to do with Reformation? Well, everything. What Luther did was to bring the truth that sets you free back to the center of the church’s life. That truth being to abide in the word of Christ, and that word is not just about anything, not just about a set of morals or rules, but about Christ himself. For as Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. Chri...

St. John mentions several times that Jesus dies on the Jewish Day of Preparation. What is the day of Preparation? Well, when God created the heavens and the earth, he created in six days and on the seventh day He rested. This day was the Sabbath, Saturday, and it was passed down through the law of Moses, through the Ten Commandments that none should work on Saturday, on the Sabbath. So Friday was...

Last week we heard that Jesus would be with the disciples a little while, and then they would not see him, and then they would see him. It was to their benefit, and the benefit of the whole world, that he suffer and die for sin on the cross. Without this he would not be resurrected and therefore bring resurrection and eternal life for all who believe in him. Today we hear from Jesus that it is goo...

We must not look at the ascension as something that is sad, but as a joyful victory. The work of Jesus does not end at the resurrection. This is why Luke speaks of what Jesus began to do a preach in the gospel, which is continued in the book of Acts. Through the work of the Church by the Holy Spirit, Jesus continues his work.

The Easter season comes to an end with Ascension, which we celebrated on Thursday. In the Ascension, Jesus is taken up into heaven to the right hand of the Father. There Jesus in the final victory of his cross and resurrection reigns over heaven and earth as God and man. As our ascended Lord, he has the authority to send His Holy Spirit, the Helper, who guides us and comforts us in the truth of Go...

Isaiah in the Old Testament reading speaks a promise of the LORD to the Israelites in a dire situation. He speaks to a people who have been conquered and dispersed for their sin, exiles who now dwell in Babylon, a foreign city far from their home in the promised land. 

Every group of people has a story, some kind of founding narrative, some would call it a myth, which doesn’t mean it’s not real, but a story that creates meaning for the group of people about where they came from and who they are. In America, there are a few, you were probably taught in school about the Pilgrims coming to the New World for religious freedom, and then the Founding Fathers, George W...

Sermon for Christmas Eve. Psalm 19 says - “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” This is a message which goes out into the world day and night – God has created the heavens and the earth. The Sun, moon, and stars all keep their courses and their places by his decree. They follow the perfect Law of God which is set for them. God made the world as a home. All...