Podcasts about holy baptism

Join Pastor Balla for this powerful Ascension Day sermon, “Christ Ascended, Promises Secure,” based on Luke 24:44–53 (ESV). Preached within the rich liturgical tradition of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), this sermon proclaims the victorious reign of our risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ. Far from being absent, Christ ascended to intercede for us, to reign in glory, and to secure every promise He made to His Church.This Christ-centered message confronts the sin of doubt and points to the sure hope found in Jesus' real presence—not just in heaven, but also in His Word, Holy Baptism, and the Lord's Supper. Drawing from Scripture and confessional Lutheran theology, Pastor Balla reminds us that Christ's ascension is not a farewell, but a coronation—where Christ now rules with divine authority and steadfast love for His people.Whether you are preparing a Bible study, meditating on the Ascension of Our Lord, or seeking encouragement in faith, this sermon will strengthen your trust in the Gospel promises that never fail.Watch, subscribe, and share to spread the Gospel of Christ ascended and reigning!

Saint Constantine was born in 272, the son of Constantius Chlorus, ruler of the western part of the Roman Empire, and St Helen. When his father died in 306 he was proclaimed successor to the throne. The empire was ruled at that time by several Caesars, each with his own territory. When Constantine learned that the Caesars Maxentius and Maximinus had joined against him, he marched on Italy. It was there that, on the eve of a decisive battle outside Rome, he saw in the sky a radiant Cross with the words "In this sign conquer." He ordered that a battle-standard be made bearing the image of a cross and inscribed with the Name of Jesus Christ. The following day he and his forces attacked and won a spectacular victory. He entered Rome in triumph and in 312 was proclaimed "Emperor of the West" by the Senate. (His brother-in-law Licinius ruled in the East.) Soon thereafter he issued his "Edict of Milan," whereby Christianity was officially tolerated for the first time, and persecution of Christians ceased. (Many believe, mistakenly, that the Edict made Christianity the only legal religion; in fact, it proclaimed freedom of religion throughout the Empire).   Licinius, though he pretended to accept the Edict, soon began persecuting Christians in his domain. In response, Constantine fought and defeated him in 324, becoming sole Emperor of the entire Roman Empire. In 324 he laid the foundations of a new capital in the town of Byzantium; in 330 he inaugurated the new capital city, naming it "New Rome" and "Constantinople." In 325 he called the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea, attending its sessions himself. Shortly before his repose in 337, he received Holy Baptism; he died on Holy Pentecost, at the age of sixty-five, and was interred in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople.   St Constantine's holy mother Helen, in her role as "Augusta" of the Empire, founded countless churches. She traveled to Jerusalem and found the True Cross on which the Lord was crucified. In the Holy Land she established churches at the sites of Christ's Nativity and burial, which still stand today in much-modified form. She died at about eighty years of age.

May 20, 2025Today's Reading: Revelation 21:1-7Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 23:1-22; Luke 12:13-34“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more.'” (Revelation 21:3-4)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Where is God? Everywhere, right? He's omnipresent, it's true. But here in Revelation, it says that the “dwelling place of God is with man.” How is that? On the one hand, we can acknowledge that it's a mystery. On the other hand, we can also recognize that throughout the Scriptures, we see God seeking to be with man. When Adam and Eve fell into sin, there was God, seeking them in the cool of the garden. When God visited Jacob, revealing to him the ladder to heaven, that place became “Bethel,” the “House of God.” When Moses was given the instructions for the Tabernacle, God said of the tent in it, the “Tent of Meeting,” “There I will meet with the people of Israel” (Exodus 29:43). So, this is not a new idea at the Resurrection of the dead at the end of time that we see in Revelation 21.  But what are we to make of this? To begin, as we often need to, we have to realize that the issue is sin. It's because of sin that we can't see God face-to-face. As God says to Moses, we can't see God and live (Exodus 33:20). That's why this is hard for us to understand. However, God came and met with us in Jesus. He came into a body. He came to a place, Judea and Jerusalem. In that place, He carried our sin to the cross so that by the life in the resurrection of His body in that place, now we have life and the victory over sin won by this forgiveness. Now, God meets with us in His Word, in the Waters of Holy Baptism, in His Holy Supper. He does this to deliver that forgiveness to us, to make us holy so that we can dwell with Him forever in that place.  What does this ultimately mean for us to understand how God is everywhere but in a place? Once again, we still have to say it's something of a mystery, but we can understand more of it in light of Jesus. Yes, God is everywhere, but He's made us to be in a place and He wants to be with us, which He does in Jesus in a very specific way. Through Jesus, then, we see that the fullness of God dwells in a man bodily (Colossians 2:9). It's Jesus that we'll see on that Last Day, and when we do, it will make a lot more sense. It will also be the greatest comfort as He promises to be with us and even wipe away our every tear.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Lord Jesus, thank you for meeting us in Your Word and Sacraments to cleanse our sin and prepare us to live with you forever on the Day of Your Return. Amen.- Rev. Matthew Zickler, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Western Springs, IL.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Andrew R. Jones identifies ten lies Satan uses in attempts to dismantle God's people and His kingdom. Find encouragement in God's Word of Truth and remember the final victory we have in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

May 13, 2025Today's Reading: Revelation 7:9-17Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 10:1-20; Leviticus 11:1-15:33; Luke 9:37-62“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!'”  (Revelation 7:9-10)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus speaks to His lamb: My dear lamb, sin is much dirtier than you can know. Only one thing can wash it away… only My blood washes away your sins. My Father sent me to cleanse you because He loves you.When you were baptized, the Holy Spirit gave you this washing, and He keeps you in the true faith all your life.In this life, you won't see the washing with your eyes. You'll still struggle with temptation and sin until you die. But you know you're washed because I've told you— in My Word, in Holy Baptism, and when you eat and drink at my Supper. In all these ways, I give you forgiveness.In Heaven, when I take you home, you will see my glory, and you'll also see the forgiveness I've showered upon you with your own eyes. You will wear a robe I made for you, washed clean by My blood shed for you on the cross.For now, though, you can trust that I have cleansed you from your sins and that I love you forever.Jesus' lamb responds to Him: Thank you, dear Shepherd. You know better than anyone how many sins I need to have washed away. When you wash them, they are gone forever. You set me free by Your grace. I don't deserve the love that You've given to me. But You've promised never to stop loving me, and I believe You.I'm sorry for the times I forget Your Word. Even after all You've done for me, I still chase after the sins You died to wash away. Please don't let me forget the price that my forgiveness cost You.Lead me in repentance every day of my life, and to walk with You in love.Thank you for giving me salvation!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Around the throne of David, the saints, from care released, raise loud their songs of triumph to celebrate the feast. They sing to Christ their leader, who conquered in the fight, who won for them forever their gleaming robes of white. (LSB 672:3)- Rev. Jeffrey Horn, pastor of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Escondido, CA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Andrew R. Jones identifies ten lies Satan uses in attempts to dismantle God's people and His kingdom. Find encouragement in God's Word of Truth and remember the final victory we have in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Gospel is God's work through Christ's death and resurrection for the sake of our forgiveness, life, and salvation. This Gospel is lavishly generous with His gifts: spoken Word, Baptism, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Office of the Keys, and the mutual consolation of the saints. By His grace, God provides these gifts, so that His people might receive this undeserved salvation. Rev. Joshua Willadsen, pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church, Fort Smith, AR and Trinity Lutheran Church, Sallisaw, OK, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study the Gospel and Holy Baptism. Find your copy of the Book of Concord - Concordia Reader's Edition at cph.org or read online at bookofconcord.org. Study the Lutheran Confession of Faith found in the Book of Concord with lively discussions led by host Rev. Brady Finnern, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District, and guest LCMS pastors. Join us as these Christ-confessing Concordians read through and discuss our Lutheran doctrine in the Book of Concord in order to gain a deeper understanding of our Lutheran faith and practical application for our vocations. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org. 

4/26/2025 | This day's featured sermon on SermonAudio: Title: Holy Baptism of Children Subtitle: Lord's Day 27 Speaker: Rev. William Langerak Broadcaster: Trinity Protestant Reformed Church Event: Sunday - AM Date: 2/16/2025 Length: 48 min.

April 15, 2025Today's Reading: John 12:23-50Daily Lectionary: Exodus 9:29-10:20; Lamentations 2:1-22; Hebrews 3:1-19“Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John 12:25)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“If you are going to love someone, you first must love yourself.” The saying is popular among relationship gurus in our world today. The focus on yourself must be first if you are to give love. It is a profound thought to think of yourself first, but in the world of humanism, that is exactly what is advocated. The first-person personal pronouns reign supreme. The “I,” the “me,” the “my,” the “myself” all take precedence over everyone else. It is how we are taught and even wired on account of sin. Love yourself first.Jesus' words to those in His midst were certainly contrary to their way of thought. We must hate our lives in order to keep it. Those words certainly did not make sense to the audience listening to Jesus. Christ's words were counter-cultural. No one is to hate their life and, in doing so, gain eternal life. The Jews in His midst have reminded Him that they are children of Abraham and that they are set apart as God's people. They are the chosen people of God. Hating our lives would be a ridiculous thought. On account of their hardness of heart, they did not hear the true meaning behind Christ's words.Our own sin deafens our ears to the Good News of Christ. We hear over and over the words of the world and how we are to place ourselves first and pursue our own desires. Christ's words address our own pride and self-centeredness by taking the focus off of the things of this world and pointing them to God's work in Christ. Every day, we are encouraged in this world to pursue the desires of the flesh. In the Scriptures, we are pointed to the works of Christ. It is Christ who gave His life so that we have life eternal in His name.  In your Baptism, you have been separated from the world. You are in the world, but you are not of the world. You are in Christ and of Christ through the washing and renewal in the waters of Holy Baptism. As you arise each day, the sign of the cross is made, reminding you of your Baptism. No longer does the world prevail in your life. It is Christ who has delivered you out of this world and into life everlasting.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty and everlasting God, grant us by Your grace so to pass through this holy time of our Lord's passion that we may obtain the forgiveness of our sins; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Collect for Tuesday in Holy Week)-Rev. Timothy Davis, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Athens, GA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Visit the timeless rhythms of the Christian life with award-winning author Harold L. Senkbeil. As he addresses the concerns and pressures of the world today, you'll discover that even while the world is dying, Christ's death brings about life. True life. One that He offers to you. Order Now!

“I'm a good person,” is a common way people describe themselves, but an honest self-assessment will soon reveal that this statement is not true. The only human hope for goodness is found outside ourselves in Jesus Christ, God's Son and our Saviour. He won the gift of goodness for us through his life, death & resurrection & he applies his goodness to us personally in the waters of Holy Baptism. (Based on Titus 2:11-3:8.)

Year C – First Sunday in Lent – March 9, 2025 Pastor Megan Floyd Luke 4:1-13 Grace and peace to you from God, our Creator, and from our Lord, Jesus Christ, in whose death and resurrection we share through the gift of Holy Baptism. Amen.   *** What a joyful day!  Today we celebrate Stella who has been adopted into God's family as our sibling in Christ… through the waters of baptism and through God's word… God's holy promise… spoken for us. God's promise to Stella today reminds us that this promise is for us as well… that even though we may find ourselves lost and alone in the wilderness, God's promise to us in our baptism is that God is with us… always…  God promises to meet us in our wilderness, and that through water and word, our sins are drowned each day… and each day we are made new, forgiven, and loved. Through baptism, we share in our Lord's death and resurrection… dying daily to our sin … and rising anew each day, embracing the promise of new life with Christ…  Each day we are reborn, reconciled to God… and freed to worship God and give thanks, and respond to this precious gift by caring for others and boldly loving the world as God so loves the world. Baptism is a precious gift… that draws us into God's grace, and transforms our relationship with God, and with our world. *** How poetic it is, then, that we celebrate Stella's baptism on this day… the first Sunday in Lent. During Lent, we are called to pay special focus to all that draws us away from God, and to be intentional in our thoughts and actions, choosing patterns and habits that will bring us back closer to our Creator. We might fast, as Jesus did in the wilderness, so that each thought of whatever you are avoiding, becomes a reminder to return to the Lord and give thanks. Or we might introduce more intentional prayer and time for meditation on God's faithful presence in our lives.  This can be done alone… or you may choose to lean on the support of others, and come together with our community of Faith here… you could join in our weekly bible study, the Lenten book study, or come on Wednesday nights for our Holden Evening Prayer service. Or we might choose to give more generously to those in need, sharing gifts that we have first received… and in doing so, sharing love for others and celebrating God's boundless love for all. However we choose to observe Lent, the goal is to grow in our relationship to God as we move toward the cross, and ultimately, to new life.  The goal is to interrupt the patterns of sin that tempt us… and lead us away from God, as the devil unsuccessfully tempted Jesus…  and to allow the challenge… the struggle… to strengthen us and deepen our faith and our trust in God who sustains us… and to remind us that we are forgiven and washed in grace. *** Our passage today brings us alongside Jesus in the wilderness… he is full of the Holy Spirit because he has just come from his own baptism in the Jordan River, signaling the start of his ministry on Earth. But even Jesus needed clarity for his mission… to face challenge and struggle… to strengthen himself for the work ahead, and so the Spirit leads him into the wilderness. The temptations Jesus faced mirror the temptations that Adam and Eve faced in the garden…  to eat food that is not theirs to eat… to reach for power that is promised by one without the authority to make such a promise… and to test God, rather than trust that God will be true to God's promise to provide. And where humanity falters, Jesus prevails… and in facing these challenges, Jesus gains clarity, and courage for his mission.  And so, it is poetic that on this first Sunday in Lent, we celebrate the gift of Stella's baptism, and by extension, the gift of our own baptism…  We celebrate that Stella is now full of the Holy Spirit, and by extension, we too are full of the Holy Spirit, ready to face the challenges ahead…  ready to strengthen and nurture our relationship with God and give intentional focus to all that God has done for us. Through our new sister, Stella, we are reminded of the promises we made… Promises that draw us closer to God.  Promises that open our hearts to recognize all the ways that Jesus shows up for us…because that's the goal… that's always the goal. *** God's promise to us through the word and the water is that we are always being made new… that every day, our sins are drowned… gone… and we rise from the water forgiven… and redeemed, and ready to walk with Christ. And even though we must die daily to our sin and receive the promise of new life each day… God's promise is everlasting… unwavering… and true. And though we are still flawed, God still calls us to God's self, still claims us as beloved just as we are, and desires for us to participate in the renewal of Creation by transforming the world around us with love. Baptism is our physical sign and reminder that we have received God's grace… love… mercy… and forgiveness. And so today, on this first Sunday in Lent, we celebrate the promise of new life for Stella, and for all of us… and we give thanks to God for the gift of baptism. Amen.

February 4, 2025Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:13Daily Lectionary: Job 1:1-22; John 1:1-18Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away…So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:8,13)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“Love is love,” they tell me. “Love is this feeling I get when I think of my girlfriend/boyfriend.” “I really love (insert restaurant).” Love these days has become an excuse for disordered relationships (homosexuality, shacking up, cheating, etc.), but is that what love is? Love that adulterates what is true, beautiful, and good? No! Love these days can be a description of a favorite food or celebrity, but that's just consumption. Is that what love does? Does it consume and throw away the trash? No! Love these days is this emotional hit of dopamine, the feel-good hormone, but what happens when the hormone takes a break? Does love? No! Epiphany is the Church season of enlightenment and revelation in Christ Jesus, and we, just as much as the world, need an epiphany of what true love is. This is the love that is cruci-formed with Christ. That is, a love that Paul says “never ends” (vs. 8). It is a love that is of God who is eternal. It is a love that only reaches its full potential at the return of Christ. It is the love that is purely found and only done through Christ. It is as patient and kind as Christ. It is as humble and content as Christ. It is as calm and forgiving as Christ. It walks aligned to the truth of Christ, and it endures every adversity, small and large. This is the same love that stooped down from heaven to earth and took responsibility for our sin. This is the same love that died for us when we were God's enemies. The same love that Jesus says, “All the law and prophets hang upon.” It is not a love that comes naturally to those who are poisoned with sin, but it is the very love that bathed us in the blood of Christ through Holy Baptism and the very love that is poured into us through the Holy Spirit. And it is our joy and our opportunity to practice this love daily in Christ. Will we fall short? Yes! Will it still be lacking? Yes! But this is the Divine Love in Christ that daily and richly and freely forgives your sin. So practice love, pursue love, learn love, for the love of Christ will never fail you.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Love in Christ is strong and living, Binding faithful hearts in one; Love in Christ is true and giving. May His will in us be done. Love in Christ abides forever, Fainting not when ills attend; Love, forgiving and forgiven, Shall endure until life's end.” (LEB 706:1,3)-Rev. Matthew Synnott, associate pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Peoria, IL.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

So many in the West today are learning about Orthodoxy but may not yet have a concrete answer to the fundamental question: What is Orthodoxy? Archbishop Averky offers us the answer.

January 14, 2025 Today's Reading: Romans 6:1-11Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 36:33-37:14; Romans 5:1-21“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (John 6:4)In the Name of Jesus. Amen.It's easy to make snap judgments on what we see. We've heard the phrase “seeing is believing,” and to a degree, the eyes have played a role in the spread of Christianity. Think about the Resurrection. This isn't a myth but a real-time event recorded as history in Scripture. Many eyewitnesses attest to having seen the risen Christ. Therefore, every occurrence of a name in the New Testament is significant. On the other hand, seeing alone is no help in divine matters. The Israelites saw the miraculous parting of the Red Sea and the destruction of the Egyptian army. But it's no time before they're grumbling against God. People saw the crucifixion and mocked the dying Christ. The eyes saw blood, gore, and death—just another corpse and crucifixion for the books.  Romans 10:17 teaches faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ. The senses aren't the cause of faith. That comes by the Holy Spirit through the Word. Snap judgments in divine matters can be devasting for how we think about God and His Gifts. Baptism, for example, doesn't look like much, only some water by a man in robes on a baby's head. The baby does nothing during the rite of Holy Baptism except maybe cry and fill a diaper. But St. Paul's inspired Words in Romans 6 teach us what Baptism does without human aid and cooperation. Something happens, something affected by God, when someone is baptized in that triune Name, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. One is “buried with Him.” One dies with Christ. The Old Adam dies, and “just as Christ was raised…we too may walk in newness of life.” This is a reality for the baptized given by God in Jesus. It's not earned by human merits, decisions, emotional pleas, and movements in the heart. It's God's work that faith receives. Since faith is a Gift, it's not dependent on intellectual capacity. Baptism doesn't look like much, but according to Scripture, it means life in Christ, being dead to sin and alive to God. It means sins forgiven in the Name above all Names, the only Name under heaven and earth by which man is saved (Acts 4:12). These promises don't go away over time, something faith sees when the eyes don't.In the Name of Jesus. Amen.Heavenly Father, grant us faith to daily repent and turn to you. Preserve us from evil, and comfort us with Your promises in Holy Baptism to make us Your dear child robed in the righteousness of Jesus, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.-Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, associate pastor and headmaster at Grace Lutheran Church and School in Brenham, TX.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

In our uncertainties and doubts about God's love for us, he comes to bring us absolute certainty in the gift of Holy Baptism. This sermon based on Titus 3:4-7 was preached on January 12, 2025.

January 13, 2025 Today's Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 36:13-28; Romans 4:1-25“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1)In the Name of Jesus. Amen. With Scripture, context is important. This glorious passage in Isaiah is on the heels of God's rebuke of His people for their failure to hear and see. Isaiah, like all the prophets, labors to bring Israel to repentance. He would preach a stern law in hopes people would see their sin, repent, and live. Read Isaiah, and you'll find there's no mistaking God's threats and punishments for Israel's deaf ear. Still, God's mercy, love, and promises never disappear, as Isaiah reminds God's wayward children of the LORD Who has created and redeemed them. The words “fear not” are Words of peace from the God reminding Israel, “I am the LORD our God, the Holy One of Israel, Your Savior.” Don't be afraid; you're in the hands of God as His child, His redeemed child brought from death to life, living by faith in He Who promises to take you through the fire. Verse 2 is clear: the fires will come. It's not “if” but “when.” For Israel, exile is imminent for the impenitent nation, though God promises to be “their Savior.” He never abandons His promises in times of suffering and grief.In a fallen creation, suffering and grief are never distant. Many and various temptations besiege God's people. A popular one now is despairing over an undesirable body. This powerful temptation assails many people who look at themselves and long to be something different when it's God who forms and creates. The physical body, however “imperfect” it seems, is God's Gift and work. Sin wrecks all flesh, to be sure, as everyone ages and decays. However, we should thank God for the bodies we have while hearing His promise: “I have redeemed you.” You have been redeemed, purchased, and paid for in full by the blood of God's own Son. He calls you by Name, a Name put upon you in Holy Baptism at those words “in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” You live under the God Who reigns in the heavens and has the hairs on your head numbered. At the resurrection of the body when the Lord Jesus returns, there will be no discontent over who we are. God says it now: “You are mine.” You belong to God in Christ, Who died to obtain you for Himself. He will bring you through fire, and the rivers won't overwhelm you. Since Jesus lives, so does His Church. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.“God's own child, I gladly say it: I am baptized into Christ! He, because I could not pay it, Gave my full redemption price. Do I need earth's treasures many? I have one worth more than any That brought me salvation free Lasting to eternity!” (LSB 594:1)-Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, associate pastor and headmaster at Grace Lutheran Church and School in Brenham, TX.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

1-12-25 PM "The Basics concerning Holy Baptism" Scripture Reading: Romans 6:1-14, Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 26 I. The Sacramental Symbolism within Holy Baptism A. The Idea of Sacramental Symbolism B. The Basis for Sacramental Symbolism C. The Purpose of Sacramental Symbolism II. The Spiritual Reality behind Holy Baptism A. The Dual Elements in this Spiritual Reality B. The Redemptive Basis for this Spiritual Reality III. The Sovereign Institution of Holy Baptism A. The Need for a Sovereign Institution B. The Emphasis in the Sovereign Institution Rev. Greg Lubbers

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts about John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water. One who is more powerful than I is coming. I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”After all the people were baptized and after Jesus himself was baptized and praying, the heaven opened and the spirit descended upon him in bodily form, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the beloved. With you I am well pleased.” It's hard to wonder about “unquenchable fire” this morning without being mindful of what's been burning in California all week – the houses and habitats, the landscape and livelihood, the lives of so many people and so much of God's beautiful creation.And I've spent a fair amount of time the last few days watching those rescue workers and firefighting aircraft douse those relentless flames with gallon after gallon after gallon after gallon of water and fire retardant, as people pray for some relief and some reprieve from the destruction of those wildfires – all of which is pretty hard to fathom, here in the frozen, cold, snow and ice of our Midwestern winter.And I saw one story, in particular, about it all, that got my attention. A guy named Miro Freed, who used to work for the Forest Service as a Firefighter in California, but doesn't any more, was able to save his home somewhere up in the highlands, or mountains, of Sierra Madre, from burning to dust like so many of the homes and businesses of his friends, family, and neighbors along the California coast. And he told a reporter how he did it.Over the last five years, Freed has been doing what he called “fuel reduction” and creating what he called “defensible space,” around his home. From what I gathered, this means he got rid of certain kinds of plants and trees from around his house so that, should a fire come, they wouldn't serve as kindling and fuel that would help to burn the structures on his property. Hence what he called, “fuel reduction.”He also described literally raising up trees and bushes – the ones that remained a distance from his house – to a higher elevation from the land and plants beneath his on the mountain, so that, as a wildfire climbed up the hillside there would be less of a chance that it could reach – or that the flames would jump – to the plants and foliage and structures on his land. I imagine this “defensible space” amounts to a significantly vacant span of emptiness, for lack of a better description.Of course, they also showed him soaking down all of the above – the trees, bushes, and foliage around his house – with a garden hose to keep the flames at bay, too.And all of that guy's pro-active, pre-emptive, thoughtful preparation helped remind me to think differently about John the Baptist – and all of his words and warnings down by the river on the day of Jesus' baptism.See, John always sounds so angry, doesn't he? And he often gets portrayed that way, with all of his talk about winnowing forks and threshing floors; about burning chaff and unquenchable fires, I mean. (John, why are you mad … when you could be glad?)Well, maybe John isn't so mad, after all. Or angry, or as fire-and-brimstone as Christians have so often made him out to be. And, even more, maybe that's not the way we're supposed to imagine or receive the Jesus John was promising and pointing toward, either. Teachers of religion – Christianity and otherwise – are so good at painting pictures of God as a finger-pointing, fire-wielding, people-punishing, power monger who gathers up the good and disregards the bad with no more than the brush of a hand. And custodians of Christianity have taken it upon themselves to do the same, by deciding and declaring – on behalf of Jesus – whoever or whatever doesn't fit into what they believe to be Christian, or Christ-like, or whatever.You know what I mean … whether it's women being worthy of preaching the good news; LGBTQ folks being able to love who and how they were created to love; gate-keeping who can join a church, who's ready for baptism, who's allowed at the communion table, who's forgivable, loveable, acceptable, worthy.This is not how it's supposed to be and I don't believe this is what God wants us to hear when we read John's warning about the coming of Jesus today. I don't know what God's “threshing floor” is supposed to look like, exactly – but I don't believe that “chaff” has to be a metaphor for people. I believe “chaff” to God is the stuff in our lives that we might wish to be rid of, ourselves, if we could be honest and faithful about what hurts, harms, and keeps us from living our best lives as God's children.See, I wonder if John the Baptist was more like that guy in California – the former Firefighter – who's just offering some practical, holy advice about how to live a life of faith that's less likely to be consumed or disrupted or destroyed by the hard stuff that comes our way in this world?What if John is talking about “fuel reduction,” too – getting rid of those things in our midst, close to our hearts and close to our homes, that threaten to consume us or others? What if he's talking about creating “defensible spaces” between us and all of that which we know isn't good, or righteous, or healthy, or holy for anybody?And what if John is painting a picture of a God, in Jesus, who helps us, with great care and compassion, to remove the chaff from our lives that distracts us from God's love, that keeps us from living well – anything that tempts us not to give or serve or love ourselves and our neighbor, just the same?What if John is pointing to Jesus, the Messiah, as the one who invites and who helps people like you and me to leave behind the things that hold us captive, that keep us bound, that separate us from the fullness of life God intends for us all as God's beloved children, with whom God is well-pleased?And the variety of things that hold us captive are many – and as varied as the circumstances in the lives of those of us here. We are held captive by our fear of the unknown. We are held hostage by our grief. We are bound by the burden of the grudges we carry.We're captive, too, by systems of oppression that harm us all in the long run – but that do more damage to some than others. We are beholden to our greed, our jealousy, our hypocrisy, our intolerance, our privilege, our comfort, our self-interest, and our reluctance to repent and change, any number of those things enough of the time.Some of us are trapped by a long, painful history of bad theology that has convinced us that we – or others – are unworthy of the divine love and mercy all of us long for.Whatever the case, it's all chaff, chaff, and more chaff. It harms us. It hurts our neighbor. It destroys community. It blunts our faith. And God knows it. And it deserves to be set ablaze by God's Holy Spirit or doused and drowned by the waters of Holy Baptism.I think that's what John was offering, because I believe that's what Jesus showed up to do – and does, still … not out of anger or for the sake of fear, but out of love and for the sake of hope – for us and for the whole wide world.And that is the gift of baptism. It's the hope of baptism for those who've already received it and it's the promise of the sacrament, for those who are curious. It's an invitation to let the love of God burn away whatever keeps you afraid or feeling less than or unloved or unworthy of God's favor. It's the promise of a grace so big that it drowns out and washes away whatever sin and brokenness the world pretends can separate you from the God who calls and considers you “Beloved,” already and always.It is water and Word that means to bless your life on this side of heaven, just as much as whatever awaits you on the other side of life as we know it. And it's the good news of a grace that will change us and transform the world when we receive and share it, fully, as God intends.Amen.

January 12, 2025  Today's Reading: Luke 3:15-22Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 34:1-24; Romans 3:19-31“His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire” (Luke 3:17)In the Name of Jesus. Amen.John testifies to Jesus, the “mightier One” Who holds the keys to life and death and the winnowing fork separating wheat from chaff. God's prophet doesn't blunt the sharp edges of the Word and exhorts people with the Good News of Jesus, Who will baptized with the “Holy Spirit and with fire” (Luke 3:16). John was faithful and bold. Even Herod wasn't exempt from his rebuke over having “his brother's wife.” It would land John in prison and ultimately beheaded, as we hear in Mark 6:14-29. But John's preaching, that holy Word testifying to the Kingdom of God in the person of Christ, transcends any decree of earthy tyrants like Herod. John would suffer a grisly death, a martyr for the faith. But it's that faith that is victorious over the world (cf.1 John 5:4) precisely because faith grabs Jesus and His saving work. John would die only to live because Christ lives and promises life for His Church obtained by blood (Acts 20:28).Luke places Jesus' Baptism in the context of persecution. This is no accident. Jesus' Baptism would mark the beginning of His public ministry (cf. Acts 1:22), “fulfill all righteousness” (Matt.3:15), and following the descent of the Holy Spirit merit the Father's eternal voice “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Jesus fulfills all righteousness at the cross, where the penalty for sin is paid by His blood. Holy Baptism today means life “in Christ,” a popular phrase in the New Testament marking the baptized believer as one covered in the righteousness of Jesus and now an heir to everlasting life.Suffering, persecution, and martyrdom still besiege God's Church on earth. Still, the devil and his tyrants cannot overcome the “mightier One” with the winnowing fork in His hand. God's enemies decree death to the saints, but the Church needn't be afraid. God in Christ decrees life, eternal life given in the waters of Holy Baptism where Christ is present to call us by Name, make us His children, and on the Last Day do what the Small Catechism also teaches: “...give eternal life to me all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.” In the Name of Jesus. Amen.Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. -Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, associate pastor and headmaster at Grace Lutheran Church and School in Brenham, TX.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

What began on His eighth day culminates in your eighth day, the day of your baptism, the day of your resurrection! You are sons and daughters of the King through the new circumcision of the heart, that is, faith. As St. Paul writes, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love” (Galatians 5:6). You have received this more excellent mark than circumcision, the giving you the new name, Christian. You are marked by Holy Baptism, wholly covered by Christ's flesh. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stjohnrandomlake/support

This illustrious light of Orthodoxy in the Western Church was born in Gaul in 349, but his widowed mother took the family to Rome while he was still a small child. Brilliant and well-educated, he was made a provincial Governor in 375 and took up residence in Milan. In those days, the Arian heresy was still dividing the Church, despite its repudiation at the Council of Nicaea in 325. When the time came to elect a new Bishop in Milan, the Orthodox and Arian parties were so divided that they could come to no agreement on a new Bishop. When Ambrose came as Governor to try to restore peace and order, a young child, divinely inspired, called out "Ambrose, Bishop!" To Ambrose's amazement, the people took up the cry, and Ambrose himself was elected, though he tried to refuse, protesting that he was only a catechumen (it was still common in those days to delay Holy Baptism for fear of polluting it by sin). He even attempted to flee, but his horse brought him back to the city. Resigning himself to God's will, he was baptized and, only a week later, elevated to Bishop. Immediately, he renounced all possessions, distributed all of his money to the poor and gave his estates to the Church. Straightaway, he entered into a spirited defense of Orthodoxy in his preaching and writings to the dismay of the Arians who had supported his election. Soon he persuaded Gratian, Emperor of the West, to call the Council of Aquilea, which brought an end to Arianism in the Western Church. (Arianism, however, continued to prosper among the barbarian nations for many years; see the Martyrs of Africa, also commemorated today).   Several times the holy Bishop was called upon to defend the Church against domination by the secular powers. Once, putting down an uprising in Thessalonika, the Emperor Theodosius punished the city by ordering the massacre of thousands of its residents. When the Emperor later visited Milan and came to the Cathedral to attend the Liturgy, Saint Ambrose stopped him at the door, condemned his crime before all the people, forbade him entrance to the church and excommunicated him for eight months. The Emperor went away weeping, and submitted in humility to the Church's discipline. When he returned after long penance to be restored to Communion, he went into the sanctuary along with the clergy, as had been the custom of the Emperors since Constantine the Great. But again the holy Ambrose humbled him in the sight of all the people, saying "Get out and take your place among the laity; the purple does not make priests, but only emperors." Theodosius left without protest, took his place among the penitents, and never again attempted to enter the sanctuary of a church. (When the Emperor died, it was Bishop Ambrose who preached his funeral eulogy).   Saint Ambrose, by teaching, preaching and writing, brought countless pagans to the Faith. His most famous convert was St Augustine (June 15), who became his disciple and eventually a bishop. Ambrose's many theological and catechetical works helped greatly to spread the teaching of the Greek fathers in the Latin world. He wrote many glorious antiphonal hymns which were once some of the gems of the Latin services.   Saint Ambrose reposed in peace in 397; his relics still rest in the basilica in Milan.

Session 2 of Catechumenate. Pastor Atkinson explains how Holy Baptism marks us with God's holy Name.

Session 1 of Catechumenate. Pastor Atkinson begins teaching on the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. (I apologize for not getting the recording going at the beginning of class)

Join us for a festive celebration of All Saints and All Souls with Holy Baptism! We are in the season of stewardship. If you would like to pledge to chapel operations in 2025, please do so at the following link: Stewardship — St. Augustine's Church

In this chapter, the LORD first instructs His people in how they will make water for purification, and second, He describes situations for that water's use. A red heifer without defect is sacrificed and burned along with other specific items in order to make ashes for use in the water for purification. Such water is used especially when an Israelite has become unclean due to contact with death. The LORD graciously provides this means to enable His people to draw close to Him and His holiness. The combination of a sacrifice with water points forward to Holy Baptism, and the reality of the cleansing provided by this water reminds us that the word of the LORD is the true power to bring His gifts to us.  Rev. Tim Eden, pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Bryan, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Numbers 19:1-22.  "Wilderness Wanderings” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Numbers. After the LORD delivers His people from slavery in Egypt, He leads them toward the Promised Land. Although the first generation of Israelites proves faithless, the LORD remains faithful to His people and brings a new generation of Israelites to the plains of Moab. This strengthens us to listen to God's promises today and stay faithful to Him as He guides us toward resurrection life. 

Our Savior who in His incarnation became one flesh with us, so that through His death and resurrection He might make us one flesh with Him. On the cross He spoke His marriage vow to us, His sacred “I will,” as He laid down His life for His bride. Just as a tree broke that first marriage in Paradise, so a tree has restored marriage – our relationship with God. In Christ, we are washed clean and made holy in the forgiveness of our sins. And this vow our Savior did not only make once – once for all on the cross, and then once for me and you in Holy Baptism. Not only then, but He also renews His vows to us His vows of forgiveness, life, and salvation – every time we gather here at His altar, taking us in His arms in the Absolution, and giving us His body and blood in His Supper. Here delighting in us, as He makes us His own. Never tiring of receiving us. Never tiring of forgiving us. We brides who come as black as sin and leave as white as snow. For the Son came from the Father and holds fast to His wife, His Church. ----- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Our Savior who in His incarnation became one flesh with us, so that through His death and resurrection He might make us one flesh with Him. On the cross He spoke His marriage vow to us, His sacred “I will,” as He laid down His life for His bride. Just as a tree broke that first marriage in Paradise, so a tree has restored marriage – our relationship with God. In Christ, we are washed clean and made holy in the forgiveness of our sins. And this vow our Savior did not only make once – once for all on the cross, and then once for me and you in Holy Baptism. Not only then, but He also renews His vows to us His vows of forgiveness, life, and salvation – every time we gather here at His altar, taking us in His arms in the Absolution, and giving us His body and blood in His Supper. Here delighting in us, as He makes us His own. Never tiring of receiving us. Never tiring of forgiving us. We brides who come as black as sin and leave as white as snow. For the Son came from the Father and holds fast to His wife, His Church. ----- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Our Savior who in His incarnation became one flesh with us, so that through His death and resurrection He might make us one flesh with Him. On the cross He spoke His marriage vow to us, His sacred “I will,” as He laid down His life for His bride. Just as a tree broke that first marriage in Paradise, so a tree has restored marriage – our relationship with God. In Christ, we are washed clean and made holy in the forgiveness of our sins. And this vow our Savior did not only make once – once for all on the cross, and then once for me and you in Holy Baptism. Not only then, but He also renews His vows to us His vows of forgiveness, life, and salvation – every time we gather here at His altar, taking us in His arms in the Absolution, and giving us His body and blood in His Supper. Here delighting in us, as He makes us His own. Never tiring of receiving us. Never tiring of forgiving us. We brides who come as black as sin and leave as white as snow. For the Son came from the Father and holds fast to His wife, His Church. ----- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Introducing 'Catholic Kernel of Truth' from TruthPop! Dive into short, digestible, and catechetical knowledge that will help you learn and grow in your Catholic faith. Learn about the 'Sacrament of Baptism' in this CKoT.Where are you finding your identity right now? We can find our true identity as being a son or daughter of God through our Baptism. CCC 1213 states Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons and daughters of GodJesus' last words while on this earth were, “go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Mt 28:19)Jesus has revealed how important Baptism is because through it, we are made into a new creation and become sons and daughters of God, we are given the power of Christ over the enemy, and we are born into the Church which is the path of Salvation. When Jesus was Baptized God the Father stated “this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.” (Mt 3:17)When you were baptized God the Father also looked at you with love and said the same thing about you.  Our baptism reminds us that our identity is not in our work, relationships, or what people think about us. Our deepest identity is being a beloved child of God though our Baptism. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------"music by audionautix.com"Adventures by A Himitsu https://soundcloud.com/a-himitsuMusic released by Argofox https://youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQEMusic provided by Audio Library https://youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8

"An actor, he first mocked at Christians before Julian the Apostate. On one occasion, when he was mimicking the Christian mystery of Baptism, he was dipped into the water, pronouncing the words: 'In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.' When he emerged from the water, he cried out: 'Now I am a Christian!' Everyone thought that this was in jest, as always, but he held firm to it, stopped mocking Christians and finally suffered for Christ. He was beheaded in 361, and entered into the Kingdom of Christ." (Prologue)   We rightly condemn worship that is purely external; but the life of St Porphyrius reminds us in a striking way that the 'externals' of the Faith have a power that can work to convert the heart of man. St Porphyrius used the words of Holy Baptism not only carelessly but mockingly, yet by God's grace he emerged from the waters truly renewed into Christ.

St. Paul ties the gift of prayer very closely to the armor of God. As we cry out to God in prayer, we rely on His strength and ask for those things He promises in His Word. St. Paul particularly asks that the Ephesians would include him in their prayers of the Church, that he would be given to proclaim the gospel even while he is in prison. He commends Tychichus to them as the one who carries the letter and reads it to them. He concludes with the blessing of peace and grace from God, which the Christians in Ephesus and all Christians receive through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Rev. Tim Storck, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Chesterfield, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ephesians 6:18-24.  "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle to the Ephesians. St. Paul highlights the salvation that God has given to His whole Church by His grace through faith. Because God has given His people this new life in Holy Baptism, we live in thanksgiving to Him as members of one body. 

As St. Paul begins to conclude his letter to the Ephesians, he reminds Christians of the gift of new clothing in Holy Baptism. In the Lord's strength, this new clothing is armor that equips Christians to stand against the attacks of the devil. As St. Paul writes concerning each piece of armor, he encourages Christians to know the mighty protection God gives to us against our spiritual enemies. Because Christ has triumphed, so does His Church, for we are in Him.  Rev. Isaac Schuller, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church and School in Brenham, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ephesians 6:10-17.  "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle to the Ephesians. St. Paul highlights the salvation that God has given to His whole Church by His grace through faith. Because God has given His people this new life in Holy Baptism, we live in thanksgiving to Him as members of one body. 

Pastor Tim continues to walk through the keystone passages on the doctrine of Holy Baptism

St. Paul continues his table of duties by speaking to children and fathers. Children who have been baptized into Christ are full members of the Church right now. In the humble act of honor for their parents, children do a holy work that is blessed by God. Similarly, fathers do a holy work when they remain committed to the humble task of raising their children as Christians. St. Paul next turns to slaves and masters to instruct them in godly living. Although slaves and masters occupy different stations in life, in Christ, they are one and live toward each other in the recognition that He is their true Lord.  Rev. Andy Wright, pastor at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Topeka, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ephesians 6:1-9.  "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle to the Ephesians. St. Paul highlights the salvation that God has given to His whole Church by His grace through faith. Because God has given His people this new life in Holy Baptism, we live in thanksgiving to Him as members of one body. 

As St. Paul encourages Christians to live in the order that God has given, he gives a table of duties. Beginning with the way wives and husbands act toward each other, the Apostle not only gives instruction for Christian living, but he proclaims the Gospel in the way Christ has acted as Bridegroom for His Bride, the Church. Wives are to submit to their husbands as the Church submits to Christ. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the Church. In saying this, St. Paul expounds upon the mystery of what Jesus has done for His Bride, washing her clean in Holy Baptism to present her as blameless before Him. The way that husbands and wives live together in Christ provides a glimpse of this reality of Christ and His Church.  Rev. Mark Barz, pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ephesians 5:22-33.  "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle to the Ephesians. St. Paul highlights the salvation that God has given to His whole Church by His grace through faith. Because God has given His people this new life in Holy Baptism, we live in thanksgiving to Him as members of one body. 

Because of the truth of Christ giving light, St. Paul instructs Christians to see carefully how they walk in this life. Making use of the wisdom of God's Word, we redeem the time to be used for the glory of God. Rather than filling ourselves with wine that leads to drunkenness and debauchery, Christians are filled with the Holy Spirit as we sing God's Word and give thanks to Him in all things. In the true fear of the Lord, we order our lives for service to our neighbor.  Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ephesians 5:15-21.  "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle to the Ephesians. St. Paul highlights the salvation that God has given to His whole Church by His grace through faith. Because God has given His people this new life in Holy Baptism, we live in thanksgiving to Him as members of one body. 

Because Christians have put on the new self, created in the likeness of God in Holy Baptism, St. Paul calls us to imitate God in forgiveness and love. In His love, Jesus has given Himself as a sacrifice in our place. Therefore, we flee from idolatry and everything related to it, for this would be to renounce the inheritance that God has given. Because God has called us out of that darkness, we live in His light, seeing the truth through His Word. Through His Word, He makes all things visible. St. Paul reminds the Ephesians of that reality through a hymn: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”  Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church—Friedheim, just outside Decatur, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ephesians 5:1-14.  "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle to the Ephesians. St. Paul highlights the salvation that God has given to His whole Church by His grace through faith. Because God has given His people this new life in Holy Baptism, we live in thanksgiving to Him as members of one body. 

Because Christians have been clothed anew in Holy Baptism, St. Paul calls us toward that new life that God has given. Our speech is filled with truth instead of lies, because we belong to the one church. Anger is met with repentance so that the devil is given no foothold. Dishonesty and laziness are replaced with generosity and diligence for the sake of serving the neighbor. Our words are filled with grace through God's Word. In the Holy Spirit, all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander are put away, and we are filled with forgiveness for each other, because God has first forgiven us in Christ.  Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church and School in Brenham, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ephesians 4:25-32.  "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle to the Ephesians. St. Paul highlights the salvation that God has given to His whole Church by His grace through faith. Because God has given His people this new life in Holy Baptism, we live in thanksgiving to Him as members of one body. 

St. Paul reminds the Gentile Christians of the terrible way of life that they walked when they lived under idolatry. Such a life was nothing but futility, darkness, ignorance, impurity, and hardness of heart. Instead, now they have received Christ and His truth. Baptized into Him, they have put off the old self, that is, the sinful nature. Through the work of the Spirit, their minds are renewed and they put on the new self, created after the image of God in His righteousness.  Rev. David Boisclair, pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Overland, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ephesians 4:17-24.  "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle to the Ephesians. St. Paul highlights the salvation that God has given to His whole Church by His grace through faith. Because God has given His people this new life in Holy Baptism, we live in thanksgiving to Him as members of one body. 

St. Paul begins to expound upon the way the baptized walk according to the calling Jesus has given. He has made us members of one body and one Spirit. The one Lord has called us to one hope and one faith in one baptism, so that we are under the one God and Father. This one God has given His gifts to His whole Church through the ascension of Christ, who is proclaimed by the ministers He sends to His Church. Through this proclamation of the Word, God unites and builds up His church in the truth so that the whole body works properly in Him.  Rev. Richard Mittwede, pastor at University Lutheran Church in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ephesians 4:1-16.   "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle to the Ephesians. St. Paul highlights the salvation that God has given to His whole Church by His grace through faith. Because God has given His people this new life in Holy Baptism, we live in thanksgiving to Him as members of one body. 

Marveling at the mystery of the Gospel, St. Paul bows his knee in prayer before the Father. We truly know Him as our Father, instead of any idols, because of our Brother, Jesus Christ. Through His Spirit, we are strengthened as Christ dwells in us by faith. This love that God has for us surpasses our knowledge, and yet, we are filled with His fullness. For His work, which is more than we could ever ask or think, God receives glory from His whole Church forever.  Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in Roswell, NM, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ephesians 3:14-21.   "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle to the Ephesians. St. Paul highlights the salvation that God has given to His whole Church by His grace through faith. Because God has given His people this new life in Holy Baptism, we live in thanksgiving to Him as members of one body.

St. Paul says that he is a prisoner for Christ for the sake of the Gentiles. He has been faithful in the stewardship that God gave him to proclaim the reality of salvation by God's grace through faith to all people. In this way, God has revealed His mystery in Christ; all who have faith in Him are fellow heirs with all the saints of God. Even though St. Paul is the least of all the saints, God showed him this same grace to proclaim this reality, so that those who hear and believe have boldness and access to God. For that reason, the Ephesians do not need to lose heart at Paul's sufferings but can rejoice with him in his suffering.  Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ephesians 3:1-13.   "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle to the Ephesians. St. Paul highlights the salvation that God has given to His whole Church by His grace through faith. Because God has given His people this new life in Holy Baptism, we live in thanksgiving to Him as members of one body. 

St. Paul says that he is a prisoner for Christ for the sake of the Gentiles. He has been faithful in the stewardship that God gave him to proclaim the reality of salvation by God's grace through faith to all people. In this way, God has revealed His mystery in Christ; all who have faith in Him are fellow heirs with all the saints of God. Even though St. Paul is the least of all the saints, God showed him this same grace to proclaim this reality, so that those who hear and believe have boldness and access to God. For that reason, the Ephesians do not need to lose heart at Paul's sufferings but can rejoice with him in his suffering.  Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ephesians 3:1-13.   "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle to the Ephesians. St. Paul highlights the salvation that God has given to His whole Church by His grace through faith. Because God has given His people this new life in Holy Baptism, we live in thanksgiving to Him as members of one body. 

The salvation by grace through faith in Christ is not only for Jews; it is for Gentiles as well. St. Paul especially reminds the Gentile Christians in Ephesus that although they had once been far away from God, they have now been brought near in Christ. Where once there had been division between Jew and Gentile, now there is peace, for Christ has died to reconcile sinners to God. Through Jesus, all who trust in Him have access to God and are joined into the one holy Christian and apostolic Church. Christ is the cornerstone of His Church, and He builds us together into the dwelling place of God.  Rev. Jeremy Swem, pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ephesians 2:11-22.   "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle to the Ephesians. St. Paul highlights the salvation that God has given to His whole Church by His grace through faith. Because God has given His people this new life in Holy Baptism, we live in thanksgiving to Him as members of one body.

St. Paul lays out directly the way God has saved us. Before we were Christians, we were not merely injured by our trespasses. No, we were actually dead, even as we actively walked after the ways of the devil and the course of this world. Only by the mercy and love of God have we been made alive. This has happened through Christ; in Him we have been raised and given life with God in the heavenly places. All of this is the gift of God's grace which we receive through faith, which is also God's gift. Having been made alive and created anew in Christ, we begin to walk in the good works that He has already prepared for us.  Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Winchester, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ephesians 2:1-10.   "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle to the Ephesians. St. Paul highlights the salvation that God has given to His whole Church by His grace through faith. Because God has given His people this new life in Holy Baptism, we live in thanksgiving to Him as members of one body. 

St. Paul gives thanks to God for the faith of the Ephesians and remembers them in his prayers. He asks that God would give them wisdom and knowledge in Christ. In Him, the Ephesians will truly see the certainty of their hope and the riches of their inheritance. God has shown His power over all things through the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. He rules over all things for the sake of His Church, which is His body.  Rev. Steve Andrews, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee's Summit, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ephesians 1:15-23.   "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle to the Ephesians. St. Paul highlights the salvation that God has given to His whole Church by His grace through faith. Because God has given His people this new life in Holy Baptism, we live in thanksgiving to Him as members of one body. 

St. Paul spent a long time in Ephesus during his third missionary journey. Even while he was later imprisoned, he wrote to them to instruct them in the Christian faith and life. The letter opens with praise and blessing to the Triune God. The Father has blessed us and chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world. In the beloved Son of God, we are beloved as well. In Christ Jesus, the inheritance of all God's riches belong to us, because we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of the resurrection from the dead.  Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Colby, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ephesians 1:1-14.  "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle to the Ephesians. St. Paul highlights the salvation that God has given to His whole Church by His grace through faith. Because God has given His people this new life in Holy Baptism, we live in thanksgiving to Him as members of one body. 

"One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle to the Ephesians. St. Paul highlights the salvation that God has given to His whole Church by His grace through faith. Because God has given His people this new life in Holy Baptism, we live in thanksgiving to Him as members of one body.  Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org. 

"Saint Olga, renowned for her wisdom and sobriety, in her youth became the wife of Igor, Great Prince of Kiev, who ruled during the tenth century. After her husband's death, she herself ruled capably, and was finally moved to accept the Faith of Christ. She travelled to Constantinople to receive Holy Baptism. The Emperor, seeing her outward beauty and inward greatness, asked her to marry him. She said she could not do this before she was baptized; she furthermore asked him to be her Godfather at the font, which he agreed to do. After she was baptized (receiving the name of Helen), the Emperor repeated his proposal of marriage. She answered that now he was her father, through Holy Baptism, and that not even among the heathen was it heard of a man marrying his daughter. Gracefully accepting to be outwitted by her, he sent her back to her land with priests and sacred texts and holy icons. Although her son Svyatoslav remained a pagan, she planted the seed of faith in her grandson Vladimir (see July 15). She reposed in peace in 969." (Great Horologion)