Words that Will Not Pass Away

It's time for an Advent season sermon. Advent is the beginning of the church calendar/year and is the season we reflect on what it means to be the people of God as we wait for Christ's return. Here is an article that explains the Advent season.

Words that Will Not Pass Away - Luke 21:25-36 - Hope Lutheran Church, Aurora CO, Podcast Bible Gateway passage: Luke 21:25-36 - English Standard Version You might notice that I am playing around with the blog post formating and also using a new podcast streaming website. I'd enjoy your feedback!

Introducing Advent

If you grew up like me, attending an evangelical church, you might not know anything about the season of Advent. Advent begins four weeks before Christmas, which means this year it begins on Sunday, November 27, 2016. Advent is a time of preparation and expectation leading up to the celebration of Christ's birth. It also has themes that look forward with hope and anticipation to Christ's second coming. For churches that follow the liturgical calendar, Christmas season doesn't begin until Christmas Eve and continues for 12 days until Epiphany.

I have enjoyed learning about Advent and other seasons/celebrations of the liturgical church calendar. It reminds me that the Church isn't something we invented yesterday. The seasons and celebrations (feasts) of the Church are rich in theology, worship, and practical application.

This blog post includes links to two podcasts. The first is a short (5 minute) podcast that highlights a song written for Advent season. It is a beautiful song that focuses on the themes of promise, waiting, and hope. There are five more of these short podcasts, and I will post them over the next few weeks. The second link is a fourteen minute Christmas Eve message that does a good job of introducing the season of Advent and is a heart warming story as well. Both podcasts are from St. Benedict's Table in Manitoba, Canada.

Come Lord | Episode 5 in our series of Advent podcasts

A bit of holy mischief | A sermon for Christmas Eve

Over the next four weeks, I will be posting sermons that fit into the Advent theme. Thank you to those of you who are listening. I would appreciate hearing from you in the form of a blog comment or an email if you are enjoying this blog. Have a wonderful Advent season as we anticipate the coming of our Lord Jesus the Christ!

Thanksgiving

Below is a link to a thanksgiving sermon. Sorry for the broken link in the email share. Happy Thanksgiving!

Merciful Thanks 11/23/16 - Sermons

Christ: The Final Word

Is everyone ready for another good sermon? This sermon was preached by Timothy Keller in 2005, and is part of series on the book of Hebrews. The text from Hebrews is read aloud by an unnamed reader before the sermon and is worth the price of the entire sermon. If I ever write a book, I want him to read the audio version.

Christ: The Final Word

Rev. Timothy Keller / Redeemer Presbyterian Church

February 6, 2005 / Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:1-4

From Death's Pale Brow Forever

It's time for another sermon. I love this church because on their website "About Us" page, it says: "It's not about us. It's about Christ crucified for our sin. But if you really want to know about us, we're a bunch of sinners and we'd love to tell you about Christ's forgiveness." This is the first sermon I've ever heard on the theme of death except at a funeral. If you can survive the first 5 minutes and 20 seconds you are in for a big surprise!

From Death's Pale Brow Forever

Bible Gateway passage: Revelation 7:9-17 - English Standard Version

A Great Multitude from Every Nation - After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

Theology as Child's Play

Here is an excellent sermon that highlights a game Martin Luther suggested parents and teachers play with children to teach the great themes of the Bible. Here is what Luther said about the game:

And let no man think himself too wise for such child’s play. Christ, to train men, had to become man himself. If we wish to train children, we must become children with them. Would to God such child’s play were widely practiced. In a short time we would have a wealth of Christian people whose souls would be so enriched in Scripture and in the knowledge of God that of their own accord they would add more pockets.

Enjoy the sermon and listen for the game! I have become fond of playing the game in my head when reading scripture and listening to sermons. Here is the text: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Not Surprised by Sufferiong - 1 Peter 4:12-19

Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller

Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller / Hope Lutheran Church, Aurora CO

January 3, 2016 / 1 Peter 4:12-19

You Are The Body Of Christ

It's time for another great sermon. This one focuses on the Church as the Body of Christ. The text is 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. Enjoy!

You Are The Body of Christ

Jamie Howison / St. Benedict's Table Winnipeg, Canada

Date: January 24, 2016 / Text: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

A Man Named Martin

Ready for some reformation history?

Below is a link to playlist of eight videos. I am currently in the process of watching them, so if you find anything "interesting" please comment!

A Man Named Martin

These videos are published by Lutheran Hour Ministries. The first five were produced in 2015, and focus on Martin Luther. The details of Luther's life including his childhood, education, decision to become a monk, protest of Catholic practices, his voluminous writings, his life in hiding, and his roles as husband and father are all considered in these videos.

The final three videos were produced in 2016, and focus on teachings of the late Medieval Church including purgatory, penance, celibacy, prayers for the dead, transubstantiation, the treasury of merits of Christ, devotion to Mary and the rosary, the institution of the papacy, and the one most often linked to the Reformation: the sale of indulgences.