Sermons and Bible Studies from Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Olive Branch, Mississippi
Color: Green Old Testament: Genesis 1:1—2:3 Psalm: Psalm 8; antiphon: v. 9 Epistle: Ephesians 6:10–17 Gospel: John 4:46–54 Introit: Psalm 119:1, 38–40; antiphon: Liturgical Text Gradual: Psalm 90:1–2 Verse: Psalm 125:1 God Declares Us Righteous Unsheathing His Word Against All Evil “‘Let there be light,' and there was light” (Gen. 1:1—2:3). The Father speaks, and it is so. His Word accomplishes what it says. He created all things out of nothing through His Son by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Father's creative Word became flesh in Jesus Christ, that He might restore fallen creation and save fallen man. To the nobleman whose son was deathly ill, Jesus says, “Go; your son will live” (John 4:46–54). And in the very hour Jesus spoke, the nobleman's son was made well. The Word of Christ still accomplishes what it says. In baptism, absolution, and the Lord's Supper, He declares His life–giving forgiveness to you, and it is so. This saving Word of God is the sword of the Spirit by which you are able to fight off all the onslaughts of the devil (Eph. 6:10–17). “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
Matthew 11:25-30
Exodus 33:4-11; 18-22
Color: White First Reading: Revelation 7:2–17 First Reading: Revelation 7:9–17 Psalm: Psalm 149; antiphon: v. 4 Epistle: 1 John 3:1–3 Gospel: Matthew 5:1–12 Introit: Psalm 31:1, 3, 5; antiphon: Revelation 7:14b Gradual: Revelation 7:14b; Psalm 84:5 Verse: Hebrews 12:1a, 2a Saints Are Blessed in the Eternal Presence of Christ “A great multitude from all tribes and peoples and languages,” cry out “salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne” (Rev. 7:9–17). Faith-filled saints from every place and time with unified voices eternally magnify the Lamb of God. As His beloved children, we too, “shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:1–3). Joined with the throng of angels and a myriad of saints, we shall “serve him day and night in his temple” (Rev. 7:9–17). In our earthly tension vacillating between saint and sinner, faith and doubt, sacred and profane, we earnestly seek Jesus to calm our fears, comfort our spirits, and forgive our sins. The Holy Spirit, through faith in Christ propels us forward, fortifying us in Word and Sacrament, to our eternal home. In the midst of our constant struggle as believers, we need to be blessed. And so we are. The poor in spirit, the meek, the hungry, the thirsty, the merciful, the pure, and the persecuted are all blessed and we will most certainly inherit the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:1–12). Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
November 1, 2025 - Gates of Gaza II - Preparing for Cosmic Warfare: Reading Revelation as Men - St. Paul Lutheran Church Paducah, KY
Exodus 32:30-33:3
Revelation 22:1-10
Acts 19:23-41
Color: Red First Reading: Revelation 14:6–7 Psalm: Psalm 46; antiphon: v. 7 Epistle: Romans 3:19–28 Gospel: Matthew 11:12–19 Gospel: John 8:31–36 Introit: Psalm 34:1–2, 11, 22; antiphon: Psalm 119:46 Gradual: Psalm 48:1a, 12–14a Verse: Luke 12:32 The Son of God Has Set Us Free from Sin and Death by His Grace “Wisdom is justified by her deeds” (Matt. 11:19), and the true Wisdom of God, Christ Jesus the incarnate Son, justifies us by His deeds. He prepares His way by the preaching of repentance, but He has suffered the violence of the Law and voluntarily handed Himself over to violent men, that we might eat and drink with Him in His Kingdom and “remain in the house forever” (John 8:35). For He is “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matt. 11:19), and He has rescued us by His grace from the slavery of sin and death. By the proclamation of His eternal Gospel “to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people” (Rev. 14:6), “the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law” (Rom. 3:21), “that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26). And by hearing the Gospel of Christ Jesus, “whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith” (Rom. 3:25), “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31–32). Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
Exodus 32:19-29
Revelation 21:22-27
Color: Green Old Testament: Deuteronomy 10:12–21 Psalm: Psalm 34:8–22; antiphon: v. 19 Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:1–9 Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:4–9 Gospel: Matthew 22:34–46 Introit: Psalm 122:1, 6, 8–9; antiphon: Liturgical Text Gradual: Psalm 122:1, 7 Verse: Psalm 117:1 In Life and Death, Christ Fulfills the Law of God The Pharisees ask a Law question. Jesus asks a Gospel question. The Pharisees seek to test Jesus in His own words. Jesus seeks to “test” them in the saving reality of who He is as the Messiah (Matt. 22:34–46). The Law requires you to “fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul” and to “love the sojouner” (Deut. 10:12–21). Failure to keep the Law perfectly brings judgment. On the other hand, the Gospel brings the grace of God given by Jesus Christ, that you may be blameless in the day of His return (1 Cor. 1:1–9). Jesus is David's Son yet David's Lord, true God and true man. He is Love incarnate who fulfilled all the demands of God's Law on our behalf, that we might be saved from the Law's condemnation and sanctified in the Gospel's forgiveness. Thereby we see that “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:9). Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
Exodus 32:1-18
Revelation 21:5-21
Color: Green Old Testament: Proverbs 25:6–14 Psalm: Psalm 2; antiphon: v. 11 Epistle: Ephesians 4:1–6 Gospel: Luke 14:1–11 Introit: Psalm 119:1–2, 5–6; antiphon: vv. 137, 124 Gradual: Psalm 33:12, 6 Verse: Psalm 116:1 Whoever Humbles Himself Will Be Exalted “Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence” (Prov. 25:6–14). Rather, take the lowest position at the table. Humble yourself before Him. For your place is not for you to take but for Him to give. Conduct yourself with all lowliness and gentleness, bearing with one another in love (Eph. 4:1–6), that the King may give you glory in the presence of those at the table with you. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:1–11). Is this not the way of Christ? He is the one who took the lowest place, who humbled Himself even to the point of death for us. He is now exalted to the highest place at the right hand of the Father that penitent believers may be exalted together with Him in the resurrection. To the humble at His Supper He says, “Friend, move up higher,” giving you His very body and blood for your forgiveness that you may ascend to take part in the great wedding feast which has no end. Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
Exodus 31:1-18
Color: Green Old Testament: 1 Kings 17:17–24 Psalm: Psalm 30; antiphon: v. 5b Epistle: Ephesians 3:13–21 Gospel: Luke 7:11–17 Introit: Psalm 86:1, 7, 12–13; antiphon: vv. 3, 5 Gradual: Psalm 102:15–16 Verse: Psalm 115:11 Jesus Calls forth Life from Death A large funeral procession carrying the only son of a widow is confronted by another large procession, Jesus and His followers. Death and Life meet face to face at the gate of the city (Luke 7:11–17). Filled with compassion, Jesus comes into direct contact with our mortality in order to overcome it. He touches the coffin and speaks His creative words of life, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” Jesus does what is neither expected nor requested. For through Christ, God the Father “is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think” (Eph. 3:14–21). Jesus bore our death in His body that we may share in His resurrection. Even as Elijah stretched himself out three times over the Zarephath woman's son (1 Kings 17:17–24), God stretched Himself out over us in the threefold application of His name in the baptismal water, breathing new and everlasting life into us. “To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
Exodus 30:17-38
Revelation 20:11-15
Acts 19:1-10
Color: White Old Testament: Daniel 10:10–14; 12:1–3 Psalm: Psalm 91; antiphon: v. 11 Epistle: Revelation 12:7–12 Gospel: Matthew 18:1–11 Gospel: Luke 10:17–20 Introit: Psalm 103:20–22; antiphon: v. 1 Gradual: Psalm 91:11; 103:1 Verse: Revelation 12:11 Our Father in Heaven Protects His Children by Giving His Holy Angels Charge Over Them We live in “a time of trouble” (Dan. 12:1), in the midst of great tribulation. Satan and his wicked angels have been thrown out of heaven and have come down to earth “in great wrath,” with woeful “temptations to sin” and with constant accusations (Rev. 12:8–12; Matt. 18:7). Even so, we are encouraged by the presence and protection of St. Michael and the holy angels, whom God sends to help us in the strife (Dan. 10:11–13). By “the authority of his Christ,” His holy angels guard and keep us in body and soul. These heavenly servants of God preserve His human messengers on earth, the ministers of “the blood of the Lamb,” against all the power of the enemy, for by “the word of their testimony,” the Church is saved and the devil is defeated (Rev. 12:10–11; Luke 10:18–19). By their preaching and Baptism of repentance, the old Adam and the old evil foe are “drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matt. 18:6). As God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, so are His people delivered and raised from the dust of the earth through the forgiveness of their sins (Dan. 12:1–3). Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
Exodus 30:1-16
Revelation 20:4-6
Acts 18:18-28
Color: Red Old Testament: Ezekiel 2:8—3:11 Psalm: Psalm 119:33–40; antiphon: v. 35 Epistle: Ephesians 4:7–16 Gospel: Matthew 9:9–13 Introit: Psalm 92:1–5; antiphon: Matthew 9:13b, c Gradual: Psalm 119:105, 103; 45:1a, c Verse: Matthew 28:19a, 20b St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist Our ascended Lord gives “gifts” to His Church. In particular, He gave apostles and evangelists like St. Matthew, prophets like Ezekiel, and still gives pastors and teachers (Eph. 4:8, 11). All are “for the common good … empowered by one and the same Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:7, 11). They speak Christ's “truth in love” to wind- and wave-tossed children so that the saints may be equipped, served and built up as the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:12–15). Christ is not only the head of this body, He is her Good Physician (Matt. 9:9–13). He has come not for the well but for the sick, not for “the righteous, but sinners” (Matt. 9:13) — even notorious tax collectors like Matthew. Christ's team of spiritual physicians must serve faithfully. Their instrument is “thus says the Lord God,” to be spoken “whether they hear or refuse to hear” (Ezek. 3:11). To those stubborn, rebellious patients who believe they need no physician, the word “of lamentation and mourning and woe” must be fearlessly spoken: God's Law calls to repentance (Ezek. 2:10). To those who recognize their trouble and sickness, the salve of the Gospel is to be applied. So Christ works to save us, as Matthew's Gospel records. Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
Exodus 29:29-46
Acts 18:1-17
Color: Green Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 28:8–15 Psalm: Psalm 32; antiphon: v. 2 Epistle: Galatians 3:15–22 Gospel: Luke 10:23–37 Introit: Psalm 74:1–2, 19b, 21b; antiphon: vv. 20a, 21a, 22a, 23a Gradual: Psalm 77:14–15 Verse: Psalm 88:1 Jesus Is Our Good Samaritan The Law cannot help us or give us life. Rather, it confines everyone under sin as wounded and naked before God (Gal. 3:15–22). So it is that two figures of the Law, the priest and the Levite, passed by the injured man on the side of the road (Luke 10:23–37). Only the promised Seed of Abraham can rescue us and make us righteous before God. Only the Samaritan, our Lord Jesus, had compassion, as did the Samaritans of old (2 Chronicles 28:8–15). He came down to us in our lost and dying condition, pouring on the oil and wine of the Sacraments. He placed us on His own animal, bearing our sin and brokenness in His body on the cross to restore us. Jesus brought us to the inn, that is, the Church, and gave the innkeeper two denarii, that His double forgiveness might continue to be ministered to us. In this way the Lord, by whose Law we are torn and stricken, heals us and revives us by His Gospel and raises us up with Himself. Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
Exodus 29:10-26
Revelation 19:11-21
Color: Green Old Testament: Isaiah 29:17–24 Psalm: Psalm 146; antiphon: v. 8 Epistle: 2 Corinthians 3:4–11 Epistle: Romans 10:9–17 Gospel: Mark 7:31–37 Introit: Psalm 70:2b, 4a, 5b; antiphon: vv. 1–2a Gradual: Psalm 34:1–2 Verse: Psalm 81:1 Faith Comes from Hearing A man who was deaf and therefore also had an impediment in his speech was brought to Jesus (Mark 7:31–37). In the same way, all are by nature deaf toward God and therefore also unable to confess the faith rightly. For “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:9–17). Jesus put His fingers into the man's ears, and He spat and touched His tongue. Even so in Holy Baptism, water sanctified by the words of Jesus' mouth is applied to us; and the finger of God, that is, the life–giving Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 3:4–11) is put into our ears in the hearing of the baptismal Gospel. Jesus' sighing “Ephphatha” opened the man's ears, and his tongue was loosed to speak plainly as Isaiah prophesied of the Messiah, “In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book” (Is. 29:18–24) So also, He who sighed and breathed His last on the cross for us has given us to hear and believe in Him and has opened our lips that our mouths may declare His praise. Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
Exodus 28:36-29:9
Color: Green Old Testament: Genesis 4:1–15 Psalm: Psalm 50:7–23; antiphon: v. 14 Epistle: 1 Corinthians 15:1–10 Epistle: Ephesians 2:1–10 Gospel: Luke 18:9–14 Introit: Psalm 68:1, 3, 7a, 10b, 19; antiphon: vv. 5b, 6a, 35b Gradual: Psalm 28:7b, 1a, 2a Verse: Psalm 90:1 The Lord Lifts Up the Lowly “And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard” (Gen. 4:1–15). For unlike Abel, Cain's offering did not proceed from a heart that revered and trusted in the Lord. Thus, the lowly tax collector who prayed, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” was the one who went down to his house justified before God, not the respectable, outwardly righteous Pharisee who trusted in himself and his own good living (Luke 18:9–14). “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:1–10). The one who penitently despairs of his own righteousness and relies completely on the atoning mercy of God in Christ is the one who is declared righteous. For Christ died for our sins and rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:1–10). Therefore, “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
Color: Green Old Testament: Jeremiah 23:16–29 Psalm: Psalm 26; antiphon: v. 12 Epistle: Romans 8:12–17 Second Reading: Acts 20:27–38 Gospel: Matthew 7:15–23 Introit: Psalm 48:1, 3, 11, 14; antiphon: vv. 9–10 Gradual: Psalm 31:2b, 1a Verse: Psalm 78:1 Beware of False Prophets “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matt. 7:15). Deceit has its strength in masquerading as the truth. False prophets speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord (Jer. 23:16–29). They deny the judgment of the Lord, speaking peace to the unrepentant, when in truth there is condemnation and wrath. “You will recognize them by their fruits” (Matt. 7:20). The “fruits” of a true prophet are not outward righteousness or success but faithfulness in proclaiming the Word of the Lord. This is the will of the Father in heaven, that pastors take heed to the flock, the Father's adopted ones (Rom. 8:12–17), warning them against the wolves and their lies, and shepherding the Church of God which He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:27–38). For indeed, the cross is that good tree bearing good fruit—namely, the body and blood of Christ, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
Exodus 28:29-35
Color: Green Old Testament: Genesis 2:7–17 Psalm: Psalm 33:1–11; antiphon: v. 6 Epistle: Romans 6:19–23 Gospel: Mark 8:1–9 Introit: Psalm 47:3, 6–8; antiphon: vv. 1–2 Gradual: Psalm 34:11, 5 Verse: Psalm 47:1 Jesus Restores Paradise and Feeds Us Freely In the Garden of Eden, our first parents received food freely from the gracious hand of God, apart from any burdensome work (Gen 2:7–17). But after the fall, food would be received only through toil and labor. The curse declared, “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground . . .” (Gen. 3:19). In other words, “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). But into this wilderness world came Jesus the Messiah to restore creation. Having compassion on the weary multitudes, He renewed the bounty of Eden on the third day, freely granting an abundance of bread to the 4,000 (Mark 8:1–9). So also our Lord Jesus, having endured the burden of our sin, was raised on the third day to bring us back to Paradise. He now miraculously turns the bread of death into the Bread of Life in the Sacrament, giving you His very body and blood for your forgiveness. For “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
Color: Green Old Testament: Exodus 20:1–17 Psalm: Psalm 19; antiphon: v. 8 Epistle: Romans 6:3–11 Epistle: Romans 6:1–11 Gospel: Matthew 5:20–26 Gospel: Matthew 5:17–26 Introit: Psalm 28:1–2, 7; antiphon: vv. 8–9 Gradual: Psalm 90:13, 1, 2b Verse: Psalm 31:1 Our Only Hope Is in Christ's Righteousness “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:20). God demands nothing less than perfection and holiness from you in regard to His commandments (Ex. 20:1–17). Your only hope, then, is not in your own goodness but in the goodness of Christ, who did not come to destroy the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them for you. In Christ, your righteousness does indeed exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. For you have been baptized into Christ's death and your sinful nature crucified. Therefore, he who has died has been freed from sin (Rom. 6:1–11). You are now raised with Christ to walk in newness of life and to share in His resurrection on the Last Day. Christ has brought you through the baptismal sea “out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Ex. 20:2). Therefore, “consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:11). Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
Revelation 18:17-19:10
Color: Green Old Testament: 1 Kings 19:11–21 Psalm: Psalm 16; antiphon: v. 11 Epistle: 1 Peter 3:8–15 Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:18–25 Gospel: Luke 5:1–11 Introit: Psalm 27:1a, 11–12, 14; antiphon: vv. 7, 9b Gradual: Psalm 84:9, 8 Verse: Psalm 21:1 Jesus Makes Fishers of Men The Lord called fishermen to be fishers of men (Luke 5:1–11). The net they would use is the message of the cross, which is foolishness and a stumbling block to the world (1 Cor. 1:18–25). The power of God to save is not in spectacular signs like wind and fire and earthquakes (1 Kings 19:11–21), nor is it to be found in human intelligence and wisdom. The power of God to save comes in the still, small voice of the preaching of Christ crucified. In worldly darkness the disciples could catch nothing. But in the light of Christ, whose Word was attached to the water, the boats were filled with fish. So it is that in Baptism you have been drawn in to the ship of the Church. Though the nets are breaking and some who hear the Word do not believe, pastors continue to cast the net of the Gospel and the Sacraments, that Christians may abide in the boat of the Church and that we may be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks a reason for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:8–15). Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
Exodus 26:15-27:8
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