Zion Lutheran Sioux Falls

The Lord finds those who did not seek Him or ask for Him. He spreads out His hands “to a rebellious people” (Isaiah 65:2) and calls them to be His people and to dwell in peace upon His holy mountain (Isaiah 65:9). For wherever Jesus Christ enters in, Satan is cast out. Those who were enslaved and driven mad by the assaults and accusations of the devil are set free by the Word of Christ. He drowns and destroys the old Adam in us with the waters of Holy Baptism and thereby brings us out of death into life. No longer naked in our shame, living “among the tombs” (Luke 8:27), we are brought into the Lord's house, fully clothed by Christ; He has come in “the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4) to fulfill the Law on our behalf and to redeem us from its every accusation. Therefore, having been justified by His grace through faith in His Gospel, “you are no longer a slave, but a son” (Galatians 4:7).

Today the Church celebrates Trinity Sunday. It is a day to bask in the wonder of knowing the triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - who has been revealed to us in the Scriptures. While we often think about the three persons of the Trinity having their own areas of expertise (the Father creates, the Son redeems, the Spirit sanctifies), the Readings for today focus on how the three persons of the Trinity work together in every task. In the Old Testament Reading from Genesis, we see all three persons are present and active in the creation of the world. In our Reading from Acts, we see all three persons active in the salvation of the world. And in the Holy Gospel from Matthew, we see that all three persons are active in the new life we have as baptized children of God.

“What does this mean?” This question might sound familiar to anyone who has spent time studying Luther's Small Catechism. As the catechism covers each of the Six Chief Parts, the question is asked again and again: “What does this mean?” And then explanation follows. This same question was asked by many in the crowd on the Day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2. As the people hear and see these miraculous events, they are amazed and perplexed, asking one another, “What does this mean?” In the verses that follow, Peter gives explanation from the Old Testament. He proclaims that God has fulfilled His promise to “pour out His Spirit on all flesh.” The gift of the Holy Spirit has been given for all nations. As you celebrate the Day of Pentecost today, reflect on these events by asking yourself, “What does this mean—for me?”

I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. Jesus prays. Jesus reveals that his greatest glory is to enter into suffering with us and for us. And not only on the cross as he did when his hour came. But also, to join us in our present day suffering, to shine the glory of his death for us as we walk through this journey of life. Even now, he glorifies you in his Word. He glorifies you in his gift of eternal life, that you know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent. You are glorified in Jesus. Right now. Today. And forever. 

Memorial Day is a national holiday to remember those who have served our country and now rest from their labors. As Christians we know that the separation we feel as we remember our brothers and sisters in the faith is temporary. We shall see them again by the grace of God. On this day we remember most of all the "service" our Lord provided to the Kingdom of God, giving His life so that we might have eternal life and look forward to that blessed reunion in heaven.

The power of Easter lies not just in the life it offers us, but also in the way we are recruited to be life-bringers. This week, the role of love in leading us to life … and enabling us to bring life to others … stands out in the Lectionary. Love is never easy, it is always messy, unpredictable and scandalously inclusive. But, if we seek to follow Christ, we cannot avoid the privilege and the responsibility we have to be people of love. May your worship lead into this love of Christ, and into His life, a little more this week.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came from the Father and became flesh among us in order to rescue us, His sheep. He laid down His life for us and took it up again in order to give us eternal life. By the preaching of His Gospel, He calls His sheep to Himself and keeps them with Him forever. As they hear His voice and follow Him, “they will never perish” (John 10:28), for “no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand” (John 10:29). In the same way, faithful pastors (literally, “shepherds”) “care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28), “testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). Therefore, with all the company of heaven, the Good Shepherd gathers His flock in worship, as they cry: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Rev. 7:10).

Two days ago, we watched the Christ candle leave the sanctuary in darkness, symbolizing Christ's entrance into the dark tomb.  Today we begin just as we left.  At the tomb.  But today, the tomb is empty, and the Christ candle will re-enter showing the victory that Christ has over the grave. 

The pilgrims packed Jerusalem during the Feast of Passover, waving palm branches and singing praises to the donkey-riding King who came to save. Not knowing exactly how or even when He would declare His victory over His foes, the multitudes celebrated and were “altogether joyful” (Deuteronomy 16:15). We can have the same joy and gladness in our hearts today as Jesus comes to us through the promised treasures of His Word. Because we have received the full story of His saving actions for us, we are blessed to know that by His death and resurrection that week of Passover, our humble King has delivered us from our enemies—Satan, sin, and death. Let us together be “altogether joyful” in Jesus!

Our Bible Reading of the Day is 2 Timothy 1, 3:14–17. Paul writes this instructive letter to his spiritual son, Timothy. As the pastor of the Church in Ephesus, young Timothy relies on Paul's experience and advice. Paul's words to Timothy encourage all believers in Christ: “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1 Timothy 1:15).  

Our Bible Reading of the Day is Acts 27:9–44. After appealing his right as a Roman citizen, Paul sets sail for Rome under guard of Julius, a centurion. They try to sail along the coast of Crete, but a fierce storm batters the ship for two weeks, pushing them out to sea. An angel tells Paul the ship will be lost but all aboard will survive. Paul encourages everyone to take heart and have some food. Then the crew cuts the anchors loose, and the ship heads toward a beach, where it strikes a reef. All 276 aboard arrive safely ashore.

Our Bible Reading of the Day is Acts 23:12–24. When Paul's nephew overhears a plot by the Jews to assassinate Paul, he tells Paul, who tells his prison guards. They take the young man to the Roman tribune, who takes action to protect Paul from the plot. Now guarded by at least 470 soldiers, spearmen, and horsemen, Paul is safely moved to Caesarea to await a hearing before Governor Felix.

Our Bible Readings of the Day are Acts 20:1–12 and 2 Corinthians 11:22–28. After an extended stay in Greece, Paul sets off on another journey, finally arriving in Troas. There, as he preaches late into the night, a young man named Eutychus falls asleep on a window ledge and tumbles three floors to his death. Paul rushes to his side and restores Eutychus to life. Later, in his second letter to the Church at Corinth, Paul recounts in detail the numerous hardships he endured in his ministry.

AS WE GATHER: Our Bible Reading of the Day is Acts 17:16-34. As Paul waits for the other disciples to join him in Athens, he spends time in discussion with philosophers and others in the marketplace. Many temples and altars fill the city of Athens, including an altar dedicated to the “unknown god.” One day, Paul speaks at the Areopagus—also called Mars Hill. He uses the altar to the unknown god as an opportunity to teach the people concerning the true God.

Our Bible Reading of the Day is Acts 16:9-15. Paul and Silas journey to Philippi. On the Sabbath Day, they meet a businesswoman named Lydia and others gathered at the riverside for prayer. After hearing Paul's teaching, Lydia and her household are baptized. Lydia invites Paul and the others to stay at her home.

Our Bible Reading of the Day is Acts 13:1–3; 14:8–18. The Holy Spirit leads the Church at Antioch to send Paul and Barnabas on a momentous missionary journey. In Lystra, they heal a man who had never been able to walk. The people who see this think Paul and Barnabas are gods come down to earth, and they attempt to offer sacrifices to them. In grief, Paul and Barnabas tear their clothes and rush into the crowd, barely preventing them from making the offerings.

Our Bible Reading of the Day is Acts 12:1-25. King Herod launches attacks on the Church, killing James, the brother of John. When Herod sees how much this pleases the Jews, he has Peter imprisoned. Peter is guarded by four squads of soldiers as the Church prays for him. That night, an angel appears and leads Peter past the guards and out of prison. Peter knocks at the gate of the house where the others are gathered in prayer. A servant girl, Rhoda, answers. She is so excited that she runs to tell the others, leaving Peter to continue knocking. An angel of the Lord strikes Herod down for his pride.

Our Bible Reading of the Day is Acts 9:19b–31; 11:19–30. Following his conversion, Saul (also called Paul) is introduced by Barnabas to the apostles in Jerusalem. The Church had spread to Antioch, so the leaders in Jerusalem send Barnabas there. He exhorts the people to remain faithful, and he brings Saul from Tarsus to help him minister among the people in Antioch for a whole year. The name Christian is first used for the believers in Antioch. The Church in Antioch sends relief to the believers in Judea.  

Our Bible Reading of the Day is Acts 10:1-48. A faithful and generous centurion named Cornelius has a vision of God's angel telling him to bring Peter to Caesarea. In Joppa, Peter sees a vision of a sheet descending from the sky, filled with all kinds of animals. The instruction to “kill and eat” confuses Peter since many of the animals on the sheet are considered unclean. The Spirit tells Peter to go to Caesarea. At Cornelius's home, the Holy Spirit descends on the Gentiles as Peter preaches the Gospel to them. Peter commands the Gentiles to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

This weekend we demonstrate our financial generosity through pledging a portion of our income for our church. Zacchaeus will help us as he shows money's generous side. 

Money Talks! That's the name of the three-week sermon series we're in. Today's money talk comes from 2 Kings 5. The focus? A greedy man named Gehazi. 

Today we begin a three-week series called Money Talks and Lot is our focus. Lot, Abraham's nephew. Lot, whose wife famously became a pillar of salt. Lot, whose life shows us money's dark side. There is much to learn!

The Feast of the Epiphany centers in the visit of the Magi from the East. While Christmas has focused on the incarnation of our Lord … that is, on God becoming flesh … the season of Epiphany emphasizes the manifestation or self-revelation of God in that same flesh of Christ. The Lord Himself has entered our darkness and rises upon us with the brightness of His true light (Is. 60:1–2). He does so chiefly by His Word of the Gospel, which He causes to be preached within His Church on earth … not only to the Jews but also to Gentiles (Eph. 3:8–10). As the Magi were guided by the promises of Holy Scripture to find and worship the Christ Child with His mother in the house (Matt. 2:5–11), so does He call disciples from all nations by the preaching of His Word to find and worship Him within His Church (Is. 60:3–6). With gold, they confess His royalty; with incense, His deity; and with myrrh, His priestly sacrifice (Matt. 2:11).

Who is Jesus? That's the question we're asking this Advent, using Matthew 1 to guide us. Who is Jesus? It's the most important question that we can ever ask. Today as we ask the question Who is Jesus? Jesus is the Son of Mary. Meaning what? With Jesus and Immanuel, we are given all of God's love, grace and mercy!

Who is Jesus? That's the question we're asking this Advent, using Matthew 1 to guide us. Who is Jesus? It's the most important question that we can ever ask. Today we discover Jesus Is The Son Of Solomon (Matthew 1:6) Who is Jesus? Jesus is the Son of Solomon. And what does Solomon teach us? It's easy as pie to begin. It's tougher than nails to finish.

Who is Jesus? That's the question we're asking this Advent, using Matthew 1 to guide us. Who is Jesus? It's the most important question that we can ever ask. Today as we ask the question Who is Jesus? We find the answer that Jesus Is The Son Of Abraham (Matthew 1:1) Who is Abraham's famous son? That would be Isaac. With Abraham and Isaac we see Jesus… the Son of Abraham and our Son of Sacrifice.

We continue our theme “Who is Jesus?” on these four Advent Sundays using Matthew 1 to guide us. Who is Jesus? It's the most important question that we can ever ask. Today we learn that Jesus is the Son of David. Christ is our King!

The Reading of the Day is Mark 14:53-72. Jesus faces a farce of a trial before the high priest and the Council. Despite a parade of accusers, no two witnesses can manage to make their testimonies agree. Frustrated, the high priest asks, “Are you the Christ?” (Mark 14:61). Jesus' response, “I am” (v. 62), enrages the high priest, who tears his clothing. Meanwhile, Peter faces his challengers in the courtyard. When bystanders accuse Peter of being a follower of the Nazarene, he denies Jesus three times, just as was foretold.

Our Bible Reading of the Day is Matthew 26:36-56.  Knowing His final hours are drawing close, Jesus goes with His disciples to Gethsemane. Taking Peter, James, and John deeper into the garden, Jesus goes off alone three times to pray. His prayer reflects His willingness to fulfill the Father's plan despite the suffering that lies ahead. The armed mob arrives to arrest Jesus, whom Judas betrays with a kiss. Peter brashly tries to defend Jesus with a sword but only manages to injure the high priest's servant. Jesus allows Himself to be taken by the armed mob to fulfill the Scripture. 

: The Reading of the Day is from Luke 22:7-23. Jesus sends Peter and John to prepare the Passover for Himself and the others. They follow a man carrying water to a home with a furnished upper room, where they prepare the Passover meal. During the meal, Jesus institutes what we now call the Lord's Supper. Through the bread and wine, Jesus lovingly gives them, and us, His very body and blood. 

The Reading of the Day is from Mark 12:41-44. Jesus sits in the temple, observing people depositing money into the offering box. But one offering stands out: a widow brings two small copper coins. Jesus commends this offering to His disciples because He knows her offering is everything she has to live on.

The Reading of the Day is from John 12:1-8. In the week before His crucifixion, Jesus goes to dinner in Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had just raised from the dead. Martha serves as Jesus and Lazarus recline at table. Meanwhile, Mary anoints Jesus' feet with expensive ointment while wiping them with her hair, preparing Him for burial. When Judas voices his objections, Jesus tells him to leave her alone and points to His upcoming death.

Our Bible Reading of the Day is Luke 9-17. The disciples try to prevent the people from bringing their children to Jesus. Jesus rebukes the disciples and draws the children near to Himself, using a child as an example of how believers receive the kingdom of God.

Our Bible Reading of the Day is John 11:1-44. Mary and Martha's brother, Lazarus, falls seriously ill. When word of his illness comes to Jesus, He delays two days, assuring His disciples the disease would not lead to death but to God's glory. Despite death threats, Jesus reassures the disciples when deciding to return to Judea. They set out for Bethany, arriving four days after Lazarus is placed in the tomb. Jesus tells Martha that He is the resurrection and the life, as she boldly confesses, “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God” (John 11:27). Deeply moved by their grief, Jesus calls Lazarus back to life.

Our Bible Reading of the Day is John 9:1-41. When Jesus encounters a man born blind, His disciples wrongly assume the man's sin or his parents' sin is the cause of the blindness. Jesus corrects their assumption, telling them the man's blindness was so the works of God might be displayed in him. Sight restored, the man and then his parents find themselves before the Pharisees, who try to claim the man was never blind. When the man asserts the truth of his healing, the Pharisees cast him out. Encountering Jesus once again, the man confesses his faith in the Son of Man.

Our Bible Reading of the Day is Luke 15. Jesus shares three parables demonstrating our heavenly Father's concern for the lost. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine sheep to seek one that was lost. A woman sweeps the house to find one of ten silver coins. In the parable of the lost son, a young man squanders his inheritance, ending up in squalor. Determined to plead for his father's mercy and beg to return as a servant, the son instead receives a celebration. Angered at his father's welcome for the prodigal, the older son confronts his father. The father's gentle response reassures the young man of the father's everlasting love and care. 

Welcome to Rally Sunday!  Today, we celebrate the start of the 2024-25 activity year here at Zion Lutheran Church. Each week we rally around the Word of God and Holy Communion. We listen together as the lessons are read. We listen together as sermons are preached, as songs are sung and anthems soar. We rally around the love that God has for each of us and the lengths to which He will go to seek us out, to save us, to make a place for us, to celebrate with us! Let's Rally Together to be a presence of Christ in the world today!Today, we begin a new series of answering the question every week of “Who is Jesus?” Our first focus for today to help us answer the question is “A Welcome Truth.” Jesus and His disciples visit the home of sisters Mary and Martha. Mary sits at the Lord's feet to hear His words. Martha, busy with meal preparations, asks Jesus to tell Mary to help. Instead, Jesus gently tells Martha that Mary has chosen the more important thing.

Today we celebrate Labor Day, a federal holiday set aside to honor the working people of this nation.  The first Labor Day was celebrated on Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City.  It was made a national holiday in 1894.  While the holiday was originally designed to recognize organized labor, it has become a holiday for all workers.  For many, it marks the end of summer and begins the activities of the fall season.  It is somewhat interesting that a day designated as Labor Day is celebrated with a day taken off from laboring. Today will also be a Labor Day of a different sort.  For a faithful Christian every day is a day to work and serve the Lord.  Each day should be spent working in the kingdom of God.  There is work for each of us to do on an individual basis, and there is work for the church to do collectively.  As long as we walk faithfully “in Christ,” every day is a Labor Day.  

This text shows us that Jesus sees clearly the ugliness of human hearts, yet he does not turn away. He sees right through our highly edited versions of ourselves, knows what lurks in our hearts, yet loves us still. The good news exerts a claim on our lives, a call to follow. Following Jesus is not about separating ourselves from those considered less holy or unclean. Following Jesus means that like him, we get our hands dirty serving others, caring especially for those whom the world has cast aside. True faithfulness is not about clean hands, but a heart cleansed and a life shaped by the radical, self-giving love of God in Christ.

Who is Jesus? Jesus is the Son of God, sent from above, to feed the world for all time. Jesus is he who sustains the world in a way that makes living possible. Jesus is the one who speaks, and we know he is here. Jesus is the one who draws us to himself. Jesus is the one who can help us understand even when everything in our histories cries out that it does not fit.

By comparing himself to bread, Jesus makes himself as necessary to us as the food we eat. He is our food, enabling us to live our life's call, to be alive, our source of spiritual energy when exhausted, our consolation when we are troubled, our strength when we are weak. Jesus, the bread of life, sustains us and restores our vigor and exhausted energies. Our search for material bread continues… the desire for more increases even as we have a lot of bread. The present bread does not fulfill our hunger or quench our thirst, but that which Jesus gives does.

The bread we bake in our homes or buy from the store is good for today. But by tomorrow, it may be gone. The gifts we receive in this world satisfy us for a moment; however, the gifts we receive in the promised treasures of God's Word are gifts that are eternal. When Jesus describes Himself in John 6 as the bread of life, we know that He highlights for us His mission of salvation. As our bread of life, Jesus comes to forgive us, renew us, and lead us toward a meaningful life in relationship with Him. Let us taste and experience that life together this day as the Holy Spirit calls us to walk with Jesus and be satisfied by His presence among us.

The call of this week's Scripture readings is to learn to see God's Spirit within each person and in our community as a whole. We learn to see in this way as we each seek to follow the Good Shepherd.  We are called not only to follow the Good Shepherd, we are called to live as good shepherds for all we meet and in so doing allow God to build us into … a community … of grace and love in which God's Spirit "lives" and moves and changes lives. May you experience God's sending and God's provision both as you worship and as you go out to live the mission of Christ in your daily life.

How do we use power? How do we speak truth to power? What do we do when we are both "power" and "prophet"? These are some of the questions raised by the Scripture readings this week. The challenge we face is to exercise the power we have with righteousness and justice and in submission to the higher authority of God's Reign, while holding the powers of our world accountable to God's justice, compassion, hope and good management. May we be confronted by God's truth and power as we worship, and may we be transformed into prophets who use power well and who courageously and faithfully speak truth to power when required. We are called to be “Tender Without Surrender!”

As we once again celebrate our nation's independence, we will hear much about freedom. As citizens, we give thanks for the blessings we have and for the many who fought for and paid the price for our liberties. While we certainly do not worship our nation, we appropriately honor and give thanks to God for this land in which we can freely worship the one true God. As this national celebration then passes, we are joyful that we don't need an annual holiday to recognize true freedom as Christians. Daily we hold fast to the wonderful news that the battle has been fought and the price has been paid by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that we may have freedom from sin, eternal death, and the devil. 

The Lord is faithful. His steadfast love never ceases, and “his mercies never come to an end” (Lam. 3:22–23). To keep us in repentance and to make our faith grow, He causes grief for a while, but He does not cast off forever; in due time, “he will have compassion” (Lam. 3:31–33). Therefore, “hope in him,” and “wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD,” for “the LORD is good to those who wait for him” (Lam. 3:24–26). That is what the woman did who had “a discharge of blood,” and also the ruler whose daughter was “at the point of death.” Each waited on the mercy of the Lord Jesus, and each received His saving help (Mark 5:21–28). The woman had suffered much for 12 years, and the ruler's daughter had already died before Jesus arrived. Yet at the right time, the woman was immediately “healed of her disease,” and the little girl “got up and began walking” (Mark 5:29, 42). Such is “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,” who humbled Himself unto the extreme poverty of death “so that you by his poverty might become rich,” even unto life everlasting (2 Cor. 8:9).

In his anguish and affliction, Job must be reminded that, as a finite creature, he is in no position to question the Maker of the heavens and the earth. Job's “words without knowledge” are unable to penetrate the wisdom of the Lord (Job 38:1–2). For the Lord has “prescribed limits” and “set bars and doors,” so that “here shall your proud waves be stayed” (Job 38:9–11). That's how He humbles us unto repentance. But also by His powerful Word, He calms the “great windstorm” and the waves “breaking into the boat.” He does not permit the chaos of this fallen world to overwhelm us or bring us to despair. By the Word of His Gospel, He speaks “Peace!” to us, which bestows the “great calm” of His new creation (Mark 4:37–39). Therefore, do not be afraid, and do not receive this grace of God in vain. “Now is the favorable time,” and “now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:1–2).

The parables of our Lord convey the mysteries of the kingdom of God to those who are “able to hear it,” that is, “to his own disciples,” who are catechized to fear, love and trust in Him by faith (Mark 4:33–34). He scatters “seed on the ground,” which “sprouts and grows” unto life, even as “he sleeps and rises” (Mark 4:26–27). “On the mountain height of Israel,” He plants a young and tender twig, and it becomes “a noble cedar.” Indeed, His own cross becomes the Tree of Life, under which “every kind of bird” will dwell, and in which “birds of every sort will nest” (Ezek. 17:22–25). His cross is our resting place, even while now in mortal bodies, we “groan, being burdened” (2 Cor. 5:1–4). Yet in faith, we live for God in Christ, who for our sake “died and was raised” (2 Cor. 5:15). We know that, in His resurrected body, “we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Cor. 5:1).

Blood is thicker than water. Sometimes this phrase is used to show that family ties are stronger than the ones you make among friends. While earthly family relationships are important, in today's Gospel, Jesus teaches that our relationships to God and His family of faith are of even greater importance. We have been made brothers and sisters in Christ through a different, more precious blood—the blood of Jesus shed for us on the cross. Relationships made possible through His blood last for all eternity. While we honor our families, we give greater honor to the One who made us a part of His family. Thank You, Lord, for the privilege of being called Your sons and daughters!

“Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob!” (Psalm 81:1). God ordained the Sabbath for the benefit of His people, as a source of refreshment and of joy. The Sabbath Day is the culmination of the week and gives meaning to all of the other days. With joy we gather for worship on the Lord's Day. He is here! We have much to celebrate!

Today the Church celebrates Trinity Sunday. It is a day to bask in the wonder of knowing the triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - who has been revealed to us in the Scriptures. While we often think about the three persons of the Trinity having their own areas of expertise (the Father creates, the Son redeems, the Spirit sanctifies), the Readings for today focus on how the three persons of the Trinity work together in every task. In the Old Testament Reading from Genesis, we see all three persons are present and active in the creation of the world. In our Reading from Acts, we see all three persons active in the salvation of the world. And in the Holy Gospel from Matthew, we see that all three persons are active in the new life we have as baptized children of God.