A Father's Love

How did we become sons and daughters of God?
The short answer is because God said so.

Just like in creation God said, “Let there be light” and there was light, so it was in the waters of our baptism that God said, “You are my beloved child,” and sure enough we were made his beloved daughter or son.

It was nothing we did.  And so the ability we have to call God, Father, is a pure gift; the gracious work of God.

Pray Without Ceasing

The contrasts between the judge and God are many. The judge doesn't care about justice. God does
The judge is self-centered and only cares about himself.  Whereas God is self-less and his primary care is us.

What may not be so obvious, is the contrast to be made between the widow and us.  But there’s one very important difference between us and the widow.  She had a case.  We don't.

"Your Faith Has Saved You"

Our gospel this morning contains several important lessons; any one of which could fill a sermon.

There’s the lesson about being faithful in doing what the Lord has given us to do.

As well as the lesson about the importance of giving thanks to God for using all the blessings he gives us
And finally, there’s the lesson of salvation; and more specifically about how we are saved through faith.

 
• 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c and Psalm 111  • 
 
• 2 Timothy 2:8-15  • 
 
• Luke 17:11-19

Beggars All

Like Lazarus, we are poor beggars at the doorstep of our Lord.  But unlike the rich man in the parable our Lord is gracious and generous.  He binds up our wounds by forgiving our sins, and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

And unlike the rich man in the story this morning who ignored Lazarus day after day and refused him all even a scrap of bread from his table; day after day, our Lord richly feeds us with his own body and blood in the bread and wine of Holy Communion.

He invites us into his home to share in his abundant and never-ending feast.

 
• Amos 6:1a, 4-7 and Psalm 146  • 
 
• 1 Timothy 6:6-19  • 
 
• Luke 16:19-31

Paid In Full

Our Gospel lesson this morning is a bit challenging. Because it seems that Jesus is holding up a crooked and corrupt manager as the example we should follow.

Is Jesus saying that the children of light should be corrupt? That we should learn how to bend the rules and beat the system?
No, of course not.

 
• Amos 8:4-7 and Psalm 113  • 
 
• 1 Timothy 2:1-7  • 
 
• Luke 16:1-13

The Finder's Joy

Our gospel lesson this morning gives us unique insight into the joy God experiences when we repent.

The parables of the lost coin and the lost sheep are really about the diligent ones who search and seek to find their lost possession - the man with the sheep and the woman with her coin - and the joy they experience in finding what they’ve lost.

This is the joy our heavenly Father experiences at our repentance.

 
• Exodus 32:7-14 and Psalm 51:1-10  • 
 
• 1 Timothy 1:12-17  • 
 
• Luke 15:1-10

The Journey is Christ's Alone (Part 2)

Are we really thankful for this gospel lesson? Jesus tells us that if we want to become his disciples we must hate our families and our lives give up all our possessions, too.

Is this really the good news that we came to hear this morning?

Well, my hope is that by the time we're done this morning this will seem like good news; news for which we’ll gladly say, "Praise to you, O Christ!”

 
• Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Psalm 1  • 
 
• Philemon 1:1-1:21  • 
 
• Luke 14:25-33

Our Unchanging Savior

Everything else is constantly changing.  No person, theory or thing remains the same. The number of planets will change.

The number of food groups will change. The theories about global climate will change. But Christ remains yesterday, today and forever.

• Proverbs 25:6-7 and Psalm 112  • 
• Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16  • 
 
• Luke 14:1, 7-14