We're all chasing after certain things in life. When that chase starts at Jesus' empty tomb, life will always be full. For the fifty days of the Easter season, we celebrate all of the blessings with which the empty tomb fills our lives. This week we see that Jesus' resurrection means that we are not alone. Yes, he withdrew his visible presence from this world. But he still lives to give us his Holy Spirit, just as he promised. Do not be troubled. We are not alone. Our living Savior now makes his home in our hearts through his Holy Spirit.
Running on Empty: Empty Purpose (5th Sunday of Easter)
We're all chasing after certain things in life. When that chase starts at Jesus' empty tomb, life will always be full. For the fifty days of the Easter season, we celebrate all of the blessings with which the empty tomb fills our lives. This week we see that the empty tomb also means our lives have purpose. Before he left, he gave his followers a new command: Love as I have loved you. Jesus' resurrection proves that love always endures. Because he lives, our lives have lasting purpose.
Running on Empty: Empty Future (Fourth Sunday of Easter)
We're all chasing after certain things in life. When that chase starts at Jesus' empty tomb, life will always be full. For the fifty days of the Easter season, we celebrate all of the blessings with which the empty tomb fills our lives. This week we see that the empty tomb guarantees our eternity. As a shepherd would say to his sheep, so Jesus says to us, "Follow me." However, this isn't just another claim made by another religious leader. By his resurrection, he proved his ability to promise his sheep, "They shall never perish. No one can snatch them out of my hand."
Running on Empty: Empty Identity (Third Sunday of Easter)
We're all chasing after certain things in life. When that chase starts at Jesus' empty tomb, life will always be full. For the fifty days of the Easter season, we celebrate all of the blessings with which the empty tomb fills our lives. This week, we see that the empty tomb clearly proves Jesus identity. It not only shows us who he is, the Son of God. It also shows us why he came. His death on the cross was no accident or unfortunate tragedy. He came to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. His resurrection from the dead proves that his mission was accomplished.
Running on Empty: Empty Status (Second Sunday of Easter)
We're all chasing after certain things in life. When that chase starts at Jesus' empty tomb, life will always be full. For the fifty days of the Easter season, we celebrate all of the blessings with which the empty tomb fills our lives. This week we remember that the empty tomb changes our status before God. The war with God is over. Peace with God has been won. That peace is assured both in the words Jesus' speaks to us and the words he gives us to speak to others.
Easter Sunday: Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!
Today we come together to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. Let us draw near to him in worship and in praise, in our thoughts and in our prayers
Does it ever seem as though you're doing a lot of running around without really getting anywhere? It's easy for life to seem like a frantic chase after something you never quite catch. If so, there's good news. The first Easter morning was full of running as well. Mary and the disciples were running all over the place trying to find their teacher with no success. But by the end of the day, they had not only seen him alive, but had found more than they were ever looking for: peace, joy, and the hope of eternal life. Join us this Easter as we remember that the race to a full life begins at the empty tomb!
Good Friday: Service of the Cross of Christ
All of human history hinges on this day. Humbling himself before the will of the Father and the blood-thirst of men, the Son of God is slaughtered. Even worse than an ignomible death, the Father must reject his own Son since he bears the sin of the world. But all this served God’s saving purpose, and so we call this Friday…Good.
Maundy Thursday: A New Covenant
Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter commemorate the central events of the Christian Church. This evening, we are reminded that blood paints the way to salvation. Yet “not all the blood beasts” (CW 128) could for sin atone. Fulfilling the Old Covenant, the Lamb of God establishes the New Covenant in his own body and blood.
Palm Sunday
Here is the culmination of our Lenten journey of repentance and renewal. Here is final preparation for the celebration of the Paschal Mystery. The journey of Lent has prepared our hearts to ponder anew the Passion of our Lord and his glorious triumph over death and grave. With repentant hearts we join our Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, confident in his everlasting rule, hailing him as our Eternal King. At the same time, we are mindful that he is our King because he is the Messiah, the promised Son of David sent as the sacrificial Lamb of God. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
It's Time to Give Up: Living in the Past
During Lent God calls us to give up our sin. His pointed attacks against the sins that beset his people help us put off the attitudes and actions of our sinful nature. His perfect righteousness as our substitute assures us that we are right with God and empowers us in godly living. This week Jesus attacks the arrogant attitude that bases its confidence on a superficial connection to God. This sin showed itself prominently among the people of Israel, who believed that their ancestry made them right with God. We too can easily put our confidence in our ancestry, our church affiliation, or our traditions. Instead, we remain right with God by staying currently connected to our Savior Jesus.
The Hard Parts of Christianity
For the two Lent midweek services this year we will be looking at the portion of Luther’s Catechism that talks about forgiveness and confession. While on the surface, these things seem easy and obvious, they are also two aspects of the Christian life that tend to be difficult at times. This evening, we will consider confession—we will marvel at God’s gracious forgiveness of all our sins and address why it is hard at times for us admit we are wrong—to God and to others.
It's Time to Give Up: Judgmentalism
During Lent God calls us to give up our sin. His pointed attacks against the sins that beset his people help us put off the attitudes and actions of our sinful nature. His perfect righteousness as our substitute assures us that we are right with God and empowers us in godly living. This week Jesus attacks the type of self-righteousness that causes us to turn up our noses at “sinners.” We are easily tempted to believe that we are all saved by God’s grace until that grace reaches someone we think doesn't deserve it. Then self-righteousness rears its ugly head. Humbling ourselves before God will lead us to celebrate every time a lost sinner is found.