Podcasts about LSB

How God's people respond to prophecy—especially prophecy portending hardship—reveals where ultimate priorities lie. Some respond in fear to warnings of coming tribulation, while others respond with speculative diagnoses that match today's headlines with Bible prophecy. Daniel responded with faith in God's character and confidence in His promises; he prayed in the direction of both. "So I gave my face to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes," Daniel 9:3 (LSB). God gave Daniel prophetic visions of Israel's scary future not to satisfy his curiosity, but to realign His people to His priorities, and strengthen their faithfulness to Him. That's why Daniel's prayer in Chapter 9 shows the same pattern we find in the apostles praying Psalm 2, in John's vision of heaven, and in Christ's instruction to His disciples concerning prayer. When God promises His people something, we're meant to think and pray in the direction of those promises, letting His word direct our petitions, and then our lives. This Lord's Day, we'll begin our look at Daniel 9, starting with a prayer that precedes one of the Old Testament's clear prophecies of our Lord's first advent, Calvary, and the inauguration of His covenant of grace. Join us as we turn to Daniel 9:1-3 and consider "Back to the Future: When Prophecy Prompts Prayer." Prepare for Sunday: Read Daniel 9:1-19, meditating on verses 1-3. What historic setting is described in verses 1-3? What specifically was Daniel reading? What was Daniel's immediate response after understanding God's promise? What does Daniel's attention to Jeremiah's prophecy reveal about his view of Scri

Title: “Let No One Deceive You” Part 3 Text: 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 FCF: We often struggle fearing the deception that is to come. Prop: Because all who did not receive the love of the truth will be deceived, we must let no one deceive us. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. In a moment we'll read yet again the text starting in verse 3 and going to verse 12. Today I'll be reading from the Legacy Standard Bible but you can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. You'll notice on the screen that this is part 3 of this sermon. If you have not heard parts 1 and 2, I would encourage you to catch up on the teaching Paul has given regarding the man of lawlessness. The previous two sermons are foundational in understanding what is going on here and how we are to think about the end times. However, the sermon today, although relying on some of the conclusions we've made in the last two sermons, is by far the most standalone of the three. The message today is terrifying. It is gut wrenching. Because it speaks of a time when God is truly done with giving mercy to people who have rejected Him. And although God has done similar things in the past – it has never happened like this and only once on this scale. It is also terrifying because it remains in a context which emphasizes that many of the people who are being discussed here who have rejected God, are those who at one point believed in Him. But as terrifying as this message is – there is hope and comfort in holding fast to saving faith. Let's read once more. Please stand with me to give honor to and focus on the Word of God as it is read. Invocation: Gracious, Merciful, and Holy Father, You have endured the wickedness of men for thousands of years. You are longsuffering, extending mercy to all and allowing men to profane Your name and reject Your Son while You continue to bless them and give them common grace. But one day You will remove Your Restrainer and allow the man of lawlessness to come forth. One day Your mercies will end. One day Your common grace to wicked men will cease. And one day You will judge the world. I pray that even now You would be merciful and gracious to those in this room. Speak now words of comfort to Your people through this text…but Gracious God, send Your Spirit to open the eyes of the blind here and speak words of terror to those who are perishing. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Transition: [Slide 2] ”It is the creed of every sound evangelical church that those who do go back to perdition were persons who never really believed in Jesus.” A.A. Bonar “None sink so far into hell as those that come nearest heaven because they fall from the greatest height.” William Gurnall [Slide 3] “To forsake Christ for the world is to leave a treasure for a trifle…eternity for a moment, reality for a shadow, all things for nothing.” William Jenkyn “To see a ship sink in the harbor of profession is more grievous than if it had perished in the open sea of profaneness.” William Secker [Slide 4] “The essence of apostasy is changing sides from that of the crucified to that of the crucifier.” John Stott “Scripture does not need to be denied for apostasy to begin: all that is needed is that scripture takes second place in our calculations.” Iain H. Murray Let these words prepare your heart for the preaching of God's Word today. I.) The Man of Lawlessness will be powered by Satan to deceive all the perishing, so we must not let ourselves be deceived. (9-10) a. [Slide 5] 9 - whose coming is in accord with the working of Satan, i. The LSB has put hash marks into the previous verse to set it off from what follows in verse 9. ii. This is incredibly helpful because for we western English readers, this would be quite jarring, since we would assume the “coming” he is talking about now is still the coming of Christ. iii. What we don't see that would make this even more jarring, is that in the Greek the word for “coming” is… parousia. Advent. iv. However, Christ will not come in accord with the working of Satan. v. Paul is going back now to the topic of the man of lawlessness. And Paul intentionally points to the mockery of Satan here by using the same word he has used repeatedly to refer to the return of Christ. Only this time he refers to the coming of the man of lawlessness. vi. That the man of lawlessness comes in accord with the working of Satan, clarifies and affirms that the man of lawlessness is indeed a man. vii. Much like Judas Iscariot was a man who was possessed by Satan Himself, so also this man of lawlessness is a man that will come in accord with the working of Satan. viii. This is probably an idiomatic way to say that this man too will be possessed by Satan. ix. Now just like the scriptures always see Judas as culpable for his own actions… he was not a victim… so also this man of lawlessness is not a victim either. x. This man will do and say things that are so egregious and so infamous that he could not be a mere man. xi. And this man will go along with it, willingly obeying his father the devil. xii. Again, this points to the mockery of Satan. xiii. Jesus did and said things that indicated that He was no mere man too, all in willing obedience to His heavenly Father. But this Anti-Christ figure will have an advent that is similar but will do the opposite. xiv. But that isn't the end to the similarities. b. [Slide 6] with all power and signs and false wonders, i. Part of the working of Satan happening for this man is that he is coming with all Satan's power and influence. ii. He will be able to perform signs and wonders, all of which will be false. iii. How do we determine if a sign or wonder is false? iv. Scripture gives two criteria 1. [Slide 7] In Deuteronomy 18:20-22 Yahweh clearly says that if a prophesy does not come to pass, then they know that what the prophet said was not from Him and that prophet has spoken presumptuously and should be put to death. 2. [Slide 8-9] Let's go to Deuteronomy 13:1-5 and read this together. Because what if the signs and wonders do come true? What if they are effective? a. Notice what God says… b. If a prophet performs signs and wonders that come to pass but they advocate worshipping other gods, they should not listen to that prophet. Why? c. Because Yahweh sent (take note of that. Yahweh sent) that prophet to the people to test their love for Yahweh. d. Then God reinforms them of the command. They should walk after Yahweh, fear Him, obey His commands, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. e. But the prophet should be put to death for His attempt to mislead God's people. v. [Slide 11] The wonders and signs the man of lawlessness commits won't be false because they won't be powerful, effective, or come to pass. They will be false because they will be used to encourage people to worship him instead of Yahweh. Or to worship him as Yahweh or Jesus Himself. vi. We know how our Lord Jesus is coming next. He is coming on the clouds. He will gather us to Himself. That is how we will see Him next. In the air. vii. EVERY ESCHATALOGICAL FRAMEWORK AGREES! viii. Remember that my friends. Remember God's people. We will see Him next in the AIR. ix. No matter what signs or wonders a man does on earth… He isn't Christ if we don't meet Him in the air. He isn't Christ if we must go to Him. The Real Jesus will bring us to Himself. We will be CAUGHT UP. c. [Slide 12] 10 - and with all the deception of unrighteousness i. Another key factor that is hinted at in Deuteronomy 13 was that a person bringing signs and wonders that advocates for the breaking or distorting of God's laws – cannot be sent from God. ii. Jesus Himself said that a house divided against itself cannot stand. How can the real Jesus appear and lead people to conclude that living unrighteous lifestyles is… fine? iii. That disobeying the law of God… is fine? iv. Did Jesus do this at His first advent? v. He fulfilled the law, but He never rejected it or broke it. Nor did He ever advocate His followers do so. vi. As loving as He was to sinners and as much as He healed people what did He say? “Go and sin no more!” vii. He said, “Your righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees.” viii. He said, “You must be holy as my heavenly Father is holy.” ix. When Jesus walks this earth again… x. HE WILL NOT TREAT SIN WITH KID GLOVES. xi. In Isaiah 11, where Paul pulled the reference to Christ consuming the man of lawlessness with His breath, in that same context it says that in that day “they will do no evil nor act corruptly in all My holy mountain. “ xii. The man of lawlessness though, will be a man who advocates a reversal of God's laws. Perhaps emphasizing love and peace over righteousness and blamelessness. xiii. Indeed, his only law is that all must worship… him. xiv. But what Paul says next is absolutely essential for a proper understanding of this time. d. [Slide 13] for those who perish, i. Notice that the power, the lies, the signs, these are all aimed at a specific group. ii. The perishing. iii. The bible gives us warnings and we must absolutely heed them. But just because the warnings exist doesn't mean that there is a chance that God's promises won't be fulfilled. iv. God has promised that He will seal all His people until the day of redemption. v. Just because the bible gives warnings of falling away and believing a lie doesn't somehow make God's promises null and void. vi. Instead, we must look for a way to make both truths of scripture stand with all their strength without contradiction. vii. And the church has, for thousands of years, understood that it is by hearing the word of God that we receive faith. Not just faith to believe on Christ but faith to believe all that God has said. viii. God's word is effective to produce change in the hearts of God's people. His Word will not return void or empty. ix. Warning passages accomplish their purpose to cause true believers to be alert and vigilant. x. This is the means God uses to prevent them from falling away and succumbing to a lie so powerful that if it were possible the elect would be deceived. xi. Paul makes it clear, that the man of lawlessness will be able to deceive ONLY those who are perishing. Why? xii. Because true believers, believers that have genuine faith, will heed these warnings, continue to reject sin and pursue Righteousness, and continue to believe God. xiii. Paul writes this as a comfort to a church whom he is convinced is counted worthy of God's Kingdom, whom he is convinced received the gospel in power. He is not uncertain about their identity as children of God. Therefore, this comment is designed to give them comfort. The perishing are the ones who will be deceived. xiv. So, they must not let themselves be deceived. xv. But why are they perishing? e. [Slide 14] because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. i. The wording here is actually quite important. 1. The expression we might expect is that these people who are perishing would be those who did not believe the gospel. Or perhaps that they did not believe the truth. Or that they did not receive the truth. 2. But that isn't what saves a person and eliminates their possibility of being deceived by this Satanic Superman. 3. Christ Himself said that in the last day there would be many who said to Him, “Have we not prophesied in your name, and performed miracles and cast out demons in your name, but I will say to them depart from me lawbreakers, I never knew you.” 4. Paul says that people who did not receive THE LOVE of the truth are those who are perishing. 5. Only those who cherish the truth will be saved. 6. What does it mean to cherish the truth? We'll get to that, because a little later Paul is going to give us the opposite of this. Just hang tight for now. ii. So, the deception of the man of lawlessness will reach all the perishing because they didn't receive the love of the truth. What does that mean? iii. Right now, the gospel call goes out to all men. All men are given at least natural revelation that there is a Creator God who must be worshipped and obeyed. And all men are called to repent and believe the gospel. iv. But one day that general call will stop. v. At some point – when this man of lawlessness steps on the scene, the general call of the gospel to all men will no longer be available. vi. That isn't to say no more will come to saving faith in Christ at this time… vii. God may still effectually call people to Himself. viii. But those who are perishing, those whom God has not elected, will believe the lies of the man of lawlessness. f. [Slide 15] Summary of the Point: Paul has presented who the man of lawlessness is and the blasphemies he will commit. He has discussed when he will come and how he will end. Now, Paul reveals how he will deceive and who will believe him. The perishing, whether they have professed Christ or not, all those who have not received the love of the truth will believe the power, signs, and wonders of the man of lawlessness, and will be deceived into unrighteousness. God's general call to all men to repent and believe the gospel will ultimately go extinct as all the perishing are given over to the lies of this man. If we are truly elect of God, and we have received the love of the truth, we will not succumb to these lies. But how do we know we are elect and have received the love of the truth? We do not let ourselves be deceived. We hold fast to what we have been taught. We trust God no matter what our senses say. [Slide 16 (blank)] Transition: Perhaps you wrestled with that statement regarding the gospel call. Perhaps you were uncomfortable thinking that there will be a time when God is going to stop calling all men to believe the gospel and will only call those who are elect. Well, if you struggled with that. Buckle up. It is about to get very uncomfortable. Paul will now reveal how it will be so that all the perishing believe the lies of the man of lawlessness. II.) In order to judge them, God will actively reprobate the perishing, so we must not let ourselves be deceived. (11-12) a. [Slide 17] 11 - And for this reason, God sends upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, i. For this reason – meaning because the perishing have not received the love of the truth. ii. God is not forcing them to not receive the love of the truth – but as a response to them not receiving it… God will act. iii. Why do I say that the general call of the gospel will cease? iv. Because God will send a different message. He has already sent the gospel call to all men. v. But He has not sent out another message to all men yet. vi. All the lies and deceit and questioning of God's truth today is all generated by the lies of demons and by evil men. vii. But one day they will not be the only voices spreading misinformation. viii. One day, God Himself will send an influence that deceives the perishing. ix. Ok. Stop right there. We all know that God cannot sin. Specifically, we know that God cannot lie. So how can we interpret this differently so God isn't lying. x. Well does this text actually say that God will lie? xi. It doesn't. xii. It says that God will send a deluding influence. The Greek word for “influence” here suggests it is strong and inescapable. xiii. Notice that it does not say “allow” either. The Greek word here, translated “send” cannot mean that God simply is “allowing or permitting” this influence to occur. The Greek word means to cause to go somewhere. xiv. God will cause a deluding influence to go to the perishing. xv. God isn't lying, He is sending someone or something to lie to the perishing. xvi. Why? xvii. So that they will believe what is false. xviii. The general call of the gospel ceases because God sends something to make sure they believe something else. xix. Why would God do this? b. [Slide 18] 12 - in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in unrighteousness. i. God wants to make sure that every single person who is perishing, is justly judged. 1. This phrase here is the explanation of what it means to NOT receive the love of the truth. It means to not believe the truth but to take pleasure in unrighteousness. 2. These are not, however, two items. They are one. 3. The New Testament often defines genuine belief as belief unto obedience. To have saving faith is to love righteousness. So, if we see someone taking pleasure in unrighteousness, they cannot believe the truth, no matter what they say they believe. ii. But attentive bible students might wonder why God needs to send a deluding influence at all. iii. If God did nothing, wouldn't they still be judged? iv. [Slide 19] The answer is yes. 1. The doctrine of election is a doctrine of God's intervention. a. In order for anyone to be saved, God must intervene. b. No matter what kind of Christian you are, you must believe that God saves us and must intervene to do this. c. Otherwise, you are a Pelagian and a heretic. d. God's elect are those whom God has chosen, according to the counsel of His will and based on nothing of us, to intervene for and rescue from our sin. e. The others that God has not elected will not inherit salvation, but not because God has intervened to keep them from salvation. Rather they will not inherit salvation because God has chosen to NOT intervene for them. f. God judges them according to THEIR deeds which are evil. 2. In short, all men are deserving of judgment and wrath because of their sin. God intervenes for some by electing them to salvation. v. So, what is different here? vi. God is no longer passive. He intervenes… but in order to assure that the perishing are judged for their rejection of the gospel and their unrighteousness. vii. This is what we would call the doctrine of reprobation. God closes and seals the door actively rather than passively. The outcome is the same, but God's activity in the matter is markedly different and it signals an end to God's mercy and common grace toward the perishing. viii. And the really interesting thing is, although we've only seen God do this on this scale once in the global flood, it was not accompanied by God sending a lie. But we do have smaller cases of this happening. 1. [Slide 20] In I Kings 22, King Ahab had long heard the prophesies of Micaiah. God's prophet. Yet Ahab continued to refuse the counsel of the Lord. He continued to ignore and dismiss what God said. a. God determined that Ahab's time… was up. That it was time for him to be judged. b. To ensure that Ahab would earn His judgement to the fullest, God met in a heavenly council. He and angelic beings took council and God determined the course of action. c. He determined that a spirit must go and deceive Ahab. In that setting a spirit stepped forward and volunteered to be a lying spirit to the prophets of other gods and encourage them to tell King Ahab that he should attack a city because he would be victorious. A lie. d. Of course, God's prophet told Ahab that he would fail and even relayed the story of this heavenly council. e. But Ahab continued to choose to believe these false prophesies rather than believe God's prophet. f. Would Ahab had suddenly changed his mind and listened to Micaiah had God not done this? No. He wouldn't have. g. But that is not what the story is about. h. It isn't about Ahab's rejection of God… it is about God's rejection of Ahab. i. And that is what makes the story so harrowing. j. Ahab rejecting God, is just par for the course. k. But God rejecting a King of Israel to the point that He sends a lying spirit to convince Him to continue to DISOBEY Him? That is what is terrifying. 2. [Slide 21] In 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21 we see the same thing. a. We see God being fed up with Israel's disobedience under David's rule. b. The text of Samuel says that God incited David to take a census, and 1 Chronicles says that Satan enticed David to take a census. c. So, which is it? d. The devil is God's devil remember? e. God used Satan to accomplish His will. Which was to incite David to disobey so that God could judge Israel. f. Would they have earned His judgment without His intervention? g. YES!!! h. Again, this says more about God than about man. i. God's mercy does come to an end. At some point, God says, enough. ix. [Slide 22] And that is what is terrifying here friends. x. Wicked people loving their sin and rejecting God's truth? That has happened since Cain killed Abel. That isn't new or scary. xi. God sending a delusion to make sure ALL THE PERISHING reject Him? That is God rejecting, forever, those who are not His people. And that my friends… has never happened before. xii. There will be a day when God says… “I'm done with wicked mankind.” xiii. And it will coincide with a day when another says… “I'm God, I accept you as you are, come and worship me.” xiv. And everyone who hasn't received the love of the truth… will believe and worship that Satan empowered man. c. [Slide 23] Summary of the Point: For their comfort, Paul shows the Thessalonians that one day those who are persecuting them will be given over to the worship of the man of lawlessness. One day they will be judged. Paul's thought isn't quite complete. He will continue through the rest of the chapter to encourage them with positive news for them. But it is important that they know the end of the wicked. In order to judge them, God will give over those who did not receive the love of the truth to a reprobate mind so that He may judge them. They will believe and worship the beast and succumb to the pleasure of unrighteousness. So, what are the Thessalonians to do? Keep believing what they were taught. Hold fast and stand firm in the truth and do not let themselves be deceived. Why? Because with this man of lawlessness will come a great apostasy too. They must hear the warning of this passage and not let themselves be deceived, for only those who are truly elect will do so. Conclusion: So, CBC, what have we learned today that refines our beliefs and directs our lifestyles? Basics of Faith and Practice: [Slide 24] In his correction of the lie that the Thessalonians have allowed themselves to believe, Paul has reminded them of all that he had taught them concerning the man of lawlessness. And in these concluding thoughts about him, Paul reveals his influence and who will be deceived by him. There is no doubt that Paul does this to draw a contrast between the Thessalonians and those who will be deceived. He will make that even more apparent with next week's text. But the fact remains, that when the man of lawlessness steps on the scene, he will be empowered by Satan to convince all those who did not receive the love of the truth, that he should be worshipped as Yahweh. God is not passive in this, but rather than intervening to prevent this, God's mercy has reached an end, and God will send along with him a deluding influence to convince all the perishing to believe his lies. God will give them over to reprobation so that He may judge them for their love of unrighteousness. Paul's opening application to the Thessalonians remains the application. Don't allow yourself to be deceived. First must come the apostasy and the man of lawlessness and the deception of the perishing. Then and only then will the Day of the Lord come and the Lord return to gather His people to Himself. Don't believe anything but what we have already taught you. Otherwise, they too will succumb to the lies of this man and the deluding influence of God. But what does this mean for us? How can we be sure that we don't let ourselves be deceived? 1.) [Slide 25] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that the perishing are those who do not receive the love of the truth. a. Notice once again Paul's wording here. b. They do not receive the love of the truth. c. But wait a second, doesn't the bible simply talk about belief, faith being the way God unites us to Christ? d. It does. e. Isn't this a contradiction? f. Not at all. g. Just as we use the same word to talk about different aspects of the same thing, words like the cup which could mean 8 fluid ounces or just a drinking receptacle, so also the bible uses words differently depending on context. All doesn't always mean all. Call doesn't always mean the same thing. And as John the apostle demonstrates in his gospel, believe doesn't always mean the same thing. h. Here Paul is defining the kind of faith that saves. The kind of faith that unites us to Christ. It is not a faith that merely receives the facts. It is not a faith that merely respects the authority of the name of Jesus. i. The kind of faith that is saving… is a faith that receives the truth… and loves it. j. If salvation is a gift, we've all received gifts that we love. We have also all received gifts that we… do not love. k. We are warned in the gospels, that of the four soils of our hearts, three of them receive the gospel message. But only one produces fruit and is, therefore, useful to the farmer. l. The test of true and genuine saving faith is not in whether or not you believe in God or in Jesus… it is whether or not you love and cherish the truth of the gospel in your daily life. Is it precious to you to reflect on how you were once a sinner, doomed to hell, and Christ died to set you free? It is precious to you that Christ gave you His righteousness so that you could be declared righteous before God's judgment? Is it precious to you that the Lord sends His Spirit to all who are His and He enables us to live in obedience to Christ in an ever-growing way? Is it precious to you that Christ has united you to an assembly of people locally and universally who hold you accountable and encourage you? Is it precious to you to look hopefully toward Christ's coming as you live holy lives in preparation for His Kingdom? m. This is why when Paul later characterizes those who will be deceived, he says both that they did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in unrighteousness. n. In order to be saved by faith – it has to be a God-given kind of faith. What kind is that? One that propels you to seek God's Kingdom and His righteousness… first. o. Only those who love the truth… will deny the lie. 2.) [Slide 26] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that the man of lawlessness will deceive the perishing. a. Everyone else. b. No matter what you say you believe. No matter how much time you've spent coming to church, reading your bible, or praying. c. Everyone who does not love the truth and take pleasure in righteousness. Everyone who does not seek God's Kingdom first and His righteousness. d. Everyone else… will worship the man of lawlessness as God and submit to His rule over their lives. e. Fearing that they will lose their jobs, their possessions, their land, their homes, their wealth, they will take his mark and worship him as God. f. And mark my words… a good percentage of them will be those who have claimed to believe on Jesus. Many of them will have said the sinner's prayer. Many of them will have gone to church and come from a Christian family. 3.) [Slide 27] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that in the last days God will give over the perishing to a deluding influence. a. See it doesn't all come down to this man of lawlessness' cunning or his power. b. Paul doesn't give him all that credit. And Paul doesn't want to mislead the Thessalonian church. c. This man of lawlessness will be a Satanic Super Man… but if God wished to oppose Him, this man would not deceive even one. d. The fact of the matter is that when this man steps on the scene, when the restrainer is removed, God will actively send an influence, probably Satan himself, to deceive every single person who has not received the love of the truth. e. He will do this not because they have not already earned their judgment. But because He is done with evil mankind. He is ready to remake the world. His Kingdom is coming in full. f. Why will this man be so successful? The short answer? Because God wants him to be. g. But… 4.) [Slide 28] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that the elect will succumb to the deluding influence. a. In spite of the strength of the lie, based on this text, based on what Paul will say next, and based on the other promises in scripture – we must not conclude that God will allow any of His elect to be deceived by this deluding influence. b. Jesus said that in those days, IF POSSIBLE, the elect might be deceived. Jesus' wording leaves no room for misinterpretation. It isn't possible. c. The question then that must be asked, is how does God preserve us? 5.) [Slide 29] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” The Perseverance of the saints is primarily about God preserving us. a. The statement, “Once saved always saved.” Is technically true but oftentimes it communicates something that the bible flatly rejects. Even in this text. b. Just because you have professed Christ doesn't mean that you are saved. And just because you are saved, doesn't mean that you don't need to persevere. c. This doctrine must be primarily about God. d. God gives to all His elect a faith that endures. So much so that if we see our faith fail, it is not because we have lost it or because we did not persevere. It is because we were not given saving faith. We were a soil that received the message of the gospel but it did not produce fruit. e. The apostle John says of people who walked away from the faith, “that left us because they were not of us.” Not, “they left us because they are no longer of us.” f. God is the primary agent in preserving His people and enabling them to persevere… g. But… that doesn't mean we are passive. 6.) [Slide 30] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must not let ourselves be deceived. a. We are not passive in our own perseverance. b. Instead, God's true children will take warning passages such as these and, with fear and trembling, they will cling all the tighter to the gospel of Christ and the pursuit of holiness and righteousness, without which none will see God. c. God's true children will see the coming of this man of lawlessness, his empowering by the Devil, and God's active role here, and they will run back to what the scriptures teach and reject the lies even when all their senses tell them it is truth. And even when it will cost them everything. d. We must hold fast and stand firm in what we believe. e. So when we combine the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints with our role in persevering we realize that though we are certainly not passive in persevering… we are also… Praise the Lord… NOT ALONE. 7.) [Slide 31] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that Jesus accepts us as we are. Believing this is a symptom of not receiving the love of the truth. a. There is a teaching alive and well today that insists that Jesus accepts us as we are. b. Now what could be meant by that teaching is that there is no prerequisite to repenting of sin and trusting Christ. c. Meaning you don't have to be perfect in order to believe on Jesus. You don't have to have stopped sinning in order to become a Christ follower. You don't have to join a church, get a tattoo, be circumcised or any other prerequisite. d. If that is what is meant – then this is true. e. However, oftentimes this message ends up being – Jesus accepts you no matter what lifestyle you choose to keep living. Jesus will never ask you to be someone you aren't. Jesus just wants to love you for who you are. f. This… is a lie. g. Jesus died because of who you were. Jesus died because you fall short. You miss the mark. You are not good enough. That is why Jesus died. To pay for your shortcomings and to make you like Him. To change you. He died to make you a NEW CREATURE. Old has died… and new is taking its place. h. Jesus says in order to be His disciple you must crucify yourself… daily… and follow Him. i. He told the rich young ruler to sell everything he had and give it to the poor and follow Him. j. Christ's message is clear. k. Turn from your sin, follow Him and sin… no… more. l. There is no such thing as a Christian who loves his sin and Jesus too. m. There is no such thing as a Christian who dislikes God's law. n. There is no such thing as a Christian who loves this world. o. They simply… do not exist. p. They may call themselves Christians… but in the last day… they will be deceived, take the mark and worship the Anti-Christ, so that God may justly judge them. q. Jesus is so not satisfied with who you are, that He submitted to death to change you to be like Him. r. If you disagree – its time to really listen hard… 8.) [Slide 32] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” In the last days, many that profess Christ today will take the mark of the beast and worship him as God. a. The tension in the scripture is clear. b. Although God by grace alone unites His people to Christ's sacrifice through giving them faith in His Son, the kind of faith that God ALWAYS gives, is a faith that changes the person to whom it is given. c. When God gives faith, it is like when someone gets hit by a bus. d. Their life is going to be different from that day forward. It will change… because it must. e. The soil of the heart is prepared by the Lord to receive His truth and produce fruit. f. All other soils may look like they have received the truth… but things choke or scorch them to death. g. There will be many in that day who have prayed a prayer and accepted a cheap grace that forgives sin and asks nothing of them. A grace that has less to do with you being a citizen of God's royal family and more to do with keeping you from going to hell. h. But the same grace that keeps you from hell, makes you into a citizen of His family and conforms you to His standard. It's a package deal. You don't get one without the other. i. So how do you avoid being yet another dupe? How do you avoid standing at the judgment seat of Christ wondering why the books containing your works did not prove you were His? j. You must be born again. You must have your heart prepared by God to receive the love of the truth. k. How do you know God has done that for you? l. Well – is He stirring you now? Do you feel the Spirit of God pulling on you now? That is a pretty good sign that your heart is ready to receive the love of the truth. m. So, turn from sin. Turn from your pleasure in unrighteousness. Turn from worshipping and pursuing things on earth. Money, relationships, careers, possessions, lusts, passions… n. Turn from your desires, your pursuits, your will o. Lose your identity so that you can be absorbed into Christ's. p. Trust Him and love Him and what He has done for you. Love Him so much that He becomes your first priority. q. Submit to His rule over your life as your one and only King. r. Trust Him and love Him enough to leave all other things you trust and love behind. s. Then… and only then… will you start to see the Lord change you into His own possession. t. If that is you today… don't wait to tell someone. u. Don't walk out the door and think -I'll just tell them later. I'll just call them later. No. v. If you need to follow Christ. If you are done following you. Tell someone you know is a Christian here. We would like to rejoice with you and help you in the next steps. [Slide 33 (end)] Let me close with a prayer by the church father Augustine of Hippo In a vast wilderness full of snares and dangers, look! At your enabling I have cut off many of them, thrusting them out of my heart. And yet so many of these things buzz on all sides about my daily life. Do I dare say that nothing of this sort catches my attention, or causes even the slightest interest? True, I do not spend time in the worst kinds of entertainment, I do not dabble in astrology or the occult. I detest all those sacrilegious mysteries. And I owe you my humble and singlehearted service, O Lord my God. Yet the enemy, with tricks and suggestions, looks for a way in. So I beg you, by our King, even if I am far away from consenting to the enemy, may it ever be farther and farther away. You enable me, and will enable me, to follow you willingly, doing what you want me to do. We ask this for ourselves in Jesus' name, Amen. Benediction: Now may He who raises the poor from the dust, The needy from the ash heap; And makes them sit with nobles And inherit a seat of honor. Bear you through troubled days, To you who trust in God's unchanging love. Until we meet again, Grace and Peace to you.

I've used the HCSB from 2004 to early 2026, but I've recently made a change in my primary Bible to the Legacy Standard Bible. Why? I begin to look at the CSBible website, answering their reasons for abandoning their 656 uses of the name Yahweh in the Old Testament.

May 27th, 2026, marks the 350th anniversary of the death of Paul Gerhardt — one of the most beloved hymn writers in the history of the Lutheran Church. In this episode, host Elizabeth Pittman is joined by Peter Reske from the CPH music team for a deep dive into Gerhardt's life, his enduring hymns, and the faith that sustained him through one of history's most devastating eras. Grab your hymnal and join us.Episode Timestamps1:51 — Why talk about Paul Gerhardt? Previous episodes & the 350th anniversary5:21 — Overview of Gerhardt's 17 hymns in Lutheran Service Book (grab your hymnal!)10:44 — Paul Gerhardt's biography: Early life, the Thirty Years' War & Wittenberg14:42 — "A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth" (LSB 438) — hymn as drama25:28 — "Entrust Your Days and Burdens" (LSB 754) — comfort, acrostic structure & Psalm 37:537:04 — Mittenwalde, the altarpiece & the origin of "O Sacred Head Now Wounded"44:53 — "Rejoice My Heart, Be Glad and Sing" & closing reflections46:43 — New CPH release: Gerhardt Hymns for SAB Choir by Kevin Hildebrand Preview the new collection of hymns at cph.org/paul-gerhardt-hymns-for-sab-choir.About the GuestPeter C. Reske is senior editor of music/worship at Concordia Publishing House, where he has served since 2004. He holds degrees in English literature from Marquette University and in musicology from The Pennsylvania State University. In addition to his ongoing role overseeing music publications for CPH, he was the editor of Lutheran Service Book (2006) and its attendant resources, editor of The Hymns of Martin Luther (2016), and editorial advisor for One and All Rejoice (2020). With Joseph Herl and Jon D. Vieker, he was co-editor of Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns (2019). Concordia Publishing House – Bringing you God's enduring Word in a changing world.

“Once upon a time, a princess was born ...”  Three hundred years before Martin Luther was kidnapped and taken to Wartburg Castle for his own safety, the towering Schloss hosted another notable saint of God: Elizabeth of Hungary.   Born in 1207 in Sárospatak, Hungary, Elizabeth was the daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary. At the age of four, she left home to be betrothed to Hermann, son of the Count of Thuringia in present-day Germany.   In this episode, Sarah tells the story of one of the more obscure saints on the Lutheran calendar of commemorations (LSB xiii), celebrating especially her devout faith and selfless acts of charity. Although Elizabeth was a product (and in some ways a tragic victim) of the Medieval church that Luther later sought to reform, her example of piety and generosity continues to inspire Christians to this day.   For further reading, check out the following resources:  Philipp I, Landgrave of Hesse – Reformation 500  Philipp of Hesse: Unlikely Hero of the Reformation - Concordia Publishing House  St. Elizabeth's Church, Marburg - Wikipedia  Elizabeth of Hungary - Wikipedia  Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse - Wikipedia  George I, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt - Wikipedia  Louis V, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt - Wikipedia  George II, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt - Wikipedia  Anna Sophia II, Abbess of Quedlinburg - Wikipedia  Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies' Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

May 19, 2026Today's Reading: 1 Peter 4:7-11 (12-14)Daily Lectionary: Numbers 16:1-22; Luke 19:11-28 “‘All shall be done,' said Aslan. ‘But it may be harder than you think.'” –C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. “The end of all things is at hand.” (1 Peter 4:7). Peter knew the trials involved with living as God's child in this world, and he sought to encourage us in Christ. We trust that Christ's return is certain, but the timing is unknown to us. It feels like the day of resurrection will never come. During this long and indefinite wait, what shall we do? Peter instructs us to continue loving one another and showing hospitality, utilizing our God-given gifts for the benefit of our neighbors, and speaking and serving as those whose words and actions are grounded in the wisdom and strength of God. We are called to live in this world not for ourselves, but for others. In this, we live with a sense of urgent readiness, not for more of this fallen world, but for the fullness of life eternal which comes with Christ on the Last Day. Because our only true hope is in Christ's imminent coming with His kingdom, we are free to sacrifice the gifts we have in this world for the sake of our neighbor, know that God will continue to provide. In living out our vocations in this way, we bear witness to others of the imminent coming of Christ. Peter likewise knows all too well the fiery trials that accompany the ultimate vocation of those who are in Christ. It should come as no surprise that those in Christ are at odds with this world (just as Jesus admonished in John 15 and 16). So, Peter tells us, in spite of any suffering we may experience at the hands of this world, our sharing in Christ's sufferings is cause for rejoicing, because “when His glory is revealed,” (His glorious return) we will most certainly rejoice forever! Rejoicing in our suffering in this world is a part of our witness to those around us that our faith is rooted in the hope of resurrection. Since our comfort, strength, and hope come from His grace, which was given to us via His suffering, let us rejoice that our suffering at the hands of this world unites us to Christ's passion, and therefore to His resurrection and life eternal. Thanks be to God for Peter, whose words point us to Christ, urging us to live with love, serve with humility, and rejoice in our suffering, knowing that Christ's victory is certain. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Because Your Son knew agony and loss, Felt desolation, grief and scorn and shame, We know You will be with us, come what may, Your loving presence near, always the same. Through long grief-darkened days help us, dear Lord, To trust Your grace for courage to endure, To rest our souls in Your supporting love, And find our hope within Your mercy sure. (LSB 764:4,5)Rev. Jeffrey Ries, pastor of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tacoma, WA

May 18, 2026Today's Reading: Ezekiel 36:22-28Daily Lectionary: Numbers 14:26-45; Numbers 15:1-41; Luke 18:35-19:10"O Lord, command what you will and grant what you command." (Confessions, St. Augustine of Hippo) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. People often put their names on valuable belongings, even items they treasure solely for sentimental reasons that are unfathomable to others. One's name is tantamount to possession and value. God's name upon His people, Israel, equals His possession of them as well as their value to Him. Beginning with Abraham, God did not choose His people based on their goodness, morality, or value. When God first called Abraham (originally Abram), he was a pagan who worshipped the pagan gods of his Chaldean family. Even as Abram/Abraham responded to the Lord's promise to him and His offspring, he still violated that trust in numerous ways, just as would Isaac, Jacob/Israel, and his sons. From there, it gets no better. From then through the time of the Judges, then the Kings and Prophets, God's people continued to stray from His will. Time and time again, there was grumbling against God, tempting God, fornication, and murder, and all of this emanating from their constant propensity for idolatry. How could God place His holy name upon such a wretched people as these? How could He call them His people, His treasured possession (Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 7:6), even, “the apple of His eye” (Deuteronomy 32:10)? The answer is found in God's own declaration concerning Himself first in Exodus 34:6, and repeated not less than five times in Numbers, in Nehemiah, in the Psalms, and in the Prophets Joel and Jonah: “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…” In merciful and gracious steadfast love, God placed His name upon Israel. God's name is His reputation, and His reputation is mercy. Through Ezekiel, God reminded Israel that they had done nothing to earn His favor. "It is not for your sake … that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name." (Ezekiel 36:22) This is the very reason that you can trust your Baptism! When God sprinkled clean water on you, making you clean (Ezekiel 36:25), it came with His name placed upon you, the mark of Christ's cross placed upon your brow and heart. How is it that God would or could save you, a poor, miserable sinner? God's name is His reputation, and His reputation is mercy. He saves you not for your sake, but for the sake of His holy name, which you bear. “By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. O Christian, firmly hold this gift And give God thanks forever! It gives the power to uplift In all that you endeavor. When nothing else revives your soul, Your Baptism stands and makes you whole And then in death completes you. (LSB 596:5)Rev. Jeffrey Ries, pastor of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tacoma, WA

The church in America enjoys an unusual kindness of God's providence. Our liberty to worship and serve God as He leads, though not without opposition, is rare compared to the experience of Christians throughout the world in any age. Daniel's prophecy prepares us for the reality that God's people face persecution throughout history; our future is not one of ease, but perseverance. For now we live in the age of monstrous beasts—worldly kingdoms that, for a season, are permitted to wage war against the saints. But the beasts are not ultimate. One day, the saints will be vindicated forever. "... The saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come," Daniel 7:18 (LSB). Heaven's interpretation of Daniel's prophetic vision gives sober encouragement to God's people: we're called to keep our eyes fixed on heaven's throne room and live, not in dread or pessimism, but with courage anchored in Christ's kingdom. The saints of all ages triumph not by escaping persecution, but by enduring faithfully through it. This Lord's Day, we'll return to Daniel 7 and its interpretation of Daniel's beastly dream. Join us as we consider "Back to the Future: From Chaos to Conquest." Prepare for Sunday: Read Daniel 7 once more, focusing this time on verses 9-28. Why is Daniel troubled by the vision? According to verses 17-18, what is the vision's basic meaning? How is the fourth beast different from the others? What does the word "until" convey to you in verse 22? How does Daniel 7 help you fix your eyes on Christ's present reign, rather than fear of current events? How, specifically, can you live with hope and coura

May 16, 2026Today's Reading: Introit for Easter 7 - Psalm 27:1, 11a, 12; antiphon: Psalm 27:7a, 8b, 9aDaily Lectionary: Numbers 13:1-3, 17-33; Luke 18:1-17“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Some of our favorite stories are filled with majestic, mighty, and magnificent castles. Think of Hogwarts Castle in Harry Potter. Cair Paravel in The Chronicles of Narnia. Minas Tirith or Helm's Deep in The Lord of the Rings. Camelot in the tales of King Arthur. And the list could go on.The true story of the Scripture features a majestic, mighty, magnificent castle as well. Only it's not found in the palaces of Persia. Not atop the bulwarks of Babylon or standing watch in the strong towers of Tyre and Sidon. You won't find it guarding Galilee or even within the gates of Jerusalem. In fact, it's not even a building at all, but a body born of the Virgin Mary.Yes, Holy Scripture has a castle. And that castle is Christ. When you sing, read, or pray Psalm 27, you are confessing what the Scriptures declare time and time again. Christ is our temple. Our dwelling place. Our shelter from the storm. Our safe haven. Our rock and refuge. Our strong house upon the rock. Jesus is your stronghold of salvation. When John sees the holy city, Jerusalem above, in Revelation, there is no temple there, for the Lamb is the temple and light and life. And the Lamb of God is also Christ our Castle. And this is no fairytale kind of Castle or King. Christ, our King and Castle, spreads his Kingdom all over the kingdoms of this world, wherever his saints gather to hear and receive his Gifts in word, water, Body and Blood.Jesus is the stronghold of your life and of his church. You're built upon and rest in the solid rock of Christ who rested on the wood of the cross and rolled the stone away for you. The pillars and timbers and arches of his church are sealed and secure by his Body and Blood. So, when you enter the gates of the Lord's house tomorrow, dine at his table, and feast as a welcomed guest, you will sing, “The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?” This psalm, like all the psalms ultimately, is about Jesus. Your church is his castle where he rules and reigns in grace and mercy for you. There, Jesus is your King of kings and Castle of castles. He is our mighty fortress. A bulwark never failing. Jesus is the stronghold of your life, now and forever. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Thee will I love, my strength, my tower; Thee will I love, my hope, my joy. Thee will I love with all my power, With ardor time shall ne'r destroy. Thee will I love, O Light divine, So long as life is mine. (LSB 694:1)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.

May 15, 2026Today's Reading: Catechism: The Lord's Prayer - IntroductionDaily Lectionary: Numbers 11:24-29; 12:1-16; Luke 17:20-37Our Father who art in heaven. What does this mean? With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father. (Lord's Prayer - Introduction and Explanation)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.There are certain words that, by definition, tell you something about someone's relationship with others around them. Teachers need students, and students need teachers. The coach needs players, and players need a coach. The naval captain needs a crew, and the crew needs a captain. The pastor needs people, and God's people need a pastor. You get the idea. Something similar is happening when we pray the Lord's Prayer. One of the blessings Jesus gives us at the beginning of the Lord's Prayer is these words, “Our Father.” These are foundational, relationship-defining words and promises. “Our Father.” Just two words into the prayer, not even finished with the introduction, and God has already told us something important. “I am your Father. You are my children. I am the giver of all good things. You are the receiver of my grace and goodness. I, and I alone, define who you are. You belong to me. Your sins are paid for by the blood of my Son. You are saved by his cross. You are called, gathered, and enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Your faith and life are in my good and gracious hands.”And this is good news, because the sad reality is that sometimes earthly fathers fail miserably. Tragically, there are earthly fathers who abandon, abuse, or afflict their children. And the truth is, that all fathers, even the best ones, are still sinners in need of a perfect, loving, gracious heavenly father. And they're not alone in that. We all are. This is one of the reasons Jesus starts the prayer this way: “Our Father.” God the Father's love will not fail you. His grace towards you will never end. He won't walk out on you, hurt, or harm you. He promises never to leave you nor forsake you. His love and mercy and grace towards you are as he is, eternal, without end, wider than the widest ocean, and taller than the highest mountain. And should you ever doubt or despair of your Heavenly Father's love for you, you need look no further than the cross, where he sent His Son, His only Son, to die for you. And, that same Son, Jesus, gives you the joy and privilege of praying alongside him those words of promise, peace, and presence. Our Father.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Our Father who from heav'n above Bids all of us to live in love As members of one family And pray to You in unity, Teach us no thoughtless words to say But from our inmost hearts to pray. (LSB 766:1)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.

May 14, 2026Today's Reading: Mark 16:14-20 or Luke 24:44-53Daily Lectionary: Numbers 11:1-23, 31-35; Luke 17:1-19“And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.” (Luke 24:50-51)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.If your hands could talk, what story would they tell? They might tell a story of aching, cramping pain after taking a long test. Perhaps they would tell a story filled with warmth and joy around a campfire with family or friends. Or maybe they tell a love story as husband and wife walk hand in hand.But what about Jesus? If his hands could talk, what story would they tell? Thankfully, we don't have to wonder. Jesus' holy, precious palms tell the story of his promises made and kept for you. The story of your salvation is written by and in the holy hands of Jesus. After all, he who fashioned and formed Adam out of the dust of the earth also was incarnate of the Virgin Mary. He is flesh of our flesh. Bone of our bone. Hand of our hand, yet without the blackspot of sin-stained hands. He who fearfully and wonderfully formed you in your mother's womb - hands and all - also wriggled and wiggled his infant hands as Mary wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger.He who painted the starry skies above and made the earth his canvas also reached out his hands to cleanse, heal, and raise from the dead.He who spread out his hands in the wilderness and rained down manna and quail from heaven also broke bread on the hillside and in the Upper Room. He who inhabits the heavenly and holy temple built without hands, also inhabits and takes on human flesh, hands and all. Jesus' hands reached out in blessing. Jesus' hands took bread and broke it, and gave it, saying, “Take, eat, this is my body.” Jesus' hands lifted a cup and said, “Take, drink; this is my blood.” Jesus' hands prayed in Gethsemane. Shook at the violence of Good Friday. Were driven through by nails. Blood poured from his hands. Life left his hands. The darkness of the tomb covered his hands. And then, his hands had more to say. A good and gracious story to tell: Peace be with you. Crucified hands for you. Scarred hands for you. Risen and glorified hands for you. And now at his ascension, Jesus raises his hands once again in blessing. For his disciples. For you. When it comes to Jesus' hands, he has a gracious grip on you. A holy hold on your life. Indeed, he's got the whole world - including you - in his pierced hands. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Be now our joy on earth, O Lord, And be our future great reward. Alleluia, alleluia! Then, throned with You forever, we Shall praise Your name eternally. Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! (LSB 493:5)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.

May 13, 2026Today's Reading: Numbers 10:11-36Daily Lectionary: Numbers 10:11-36; Luke 16:19-31 “And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, ‘Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.' And when it rested, he said, ‘Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.'” (Numbers 10:35-36)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.In the Scriptures, God is locatable. Not the way you type a location into Google Maps. And it's not like you can slap an Apple AirTag on him or open the “find my phone” app to see where he's roaming. Nevertheless, in the Scriptures, God is findable. God locates himself. God dwells with his people. In the pillar of fire and smoke. In the tabernacle. Upon the ark. There, he's enthroned between the cherubim. There he's present with and for his people.In the Old Testament, the people of Israel spent a lot of time searching for God's presence and peace in all the wrong places—back in Egypt in slavery, in the golden calf in the wilderness, in the idols of Baal and the Asherah, or any other number of pseudo, self-made deities they foolishly put their trust in. The truth is, God is not hard to find. All you have to do is look where he promises to be, and where he promises to dwell, and where he declares that he is present with and for his people. In the Old Testament, God wasn't hard to find. He was in his house, the tabernacle, and later the temple. He was in his word and promise. He was in the sacrifices and the blood and the smoke and the fire for his people.In the New Testament, once again, God is locatable. He is born of the Virgin Mary. He is findable for he took on human flesh. God dwells with his people as one of his people, first in Mary's womb, then on the cross and in the tomb, and out alive again three days later. Sadly, like Israel, we spend a lot of time searching for God's presence and peace in all the wrong places: our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Our selfish loves, lusts, and longings for peace and joy apart from Christ. But thankfully, God is still locatable. Findable. He dwells with you and for you. No longer on the ark or in the pillar of smoke and fire. But on the altar. Enthroned between the flaming candles, seated in the bread and wine for you. Jesus dwells with you and for you, setting up a watery tabernacle of his own where he sends the Holy Spirit to dwell with you. Jesus is present with all of his promises for you in holy words, holy Baptism, and holy Communion.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Sing praise to the God of Israel! Sing praise for His visitation! Redeeming his people from their sin, Accomplishing their salvation, Upraising a mighty horn within The house of his servant David. (LSB 936:1)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.

May 12, 2026Today's Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-6 or James 1:22-27Daily Lectionary: Numbers 9:1-23; Luke 16:1-18“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.In Genesis 18, Abraham made intercession to Yahweh. He petitioned God for the sake of the righteous (that is, believing in Yahweh's promises) people in Sodom. Abraham pleaded God down from fifty to ten. Only Abraham and his family, Lot and his family (well, minus his salty-pillared wife) made it out of Sodom before its destruction. Another mediator was needed.In Exodus and Leviticus, Yahweh instructed Moses and Aaron to consecrate a priesthood and construct the tabernacle. The priests and the place they served in were to be a place of intercession, redemption, atonement, and mediation. Sins were confessed. Sacrifices were slain. Blood was poured out. Day after day. Holy feast after holy feast. Year after year. These servants and the sacrifices were good. They did what God gave them to do. But the priests were far from perfect. And the sacrificial system was one of wash, rinse, and repeat. Another mediator was needed.In Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, Moses pleaded and interceded on behalf of Israel numerous times when they failed, faltered, and were faithless in the wilderness. But so did Moses. He failed, faltered, and was faithless, too. He fell into the same infidelities of faith that Israel did. Moses, like so many of his generation, died in the wilderness before crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land. Once again, another mediator was needed. So, in the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son. Jesus is the One Mediator who redeems them all. Abraham, Aaron, and Moses were all small “m” mediators, each pointing the way to and paving the way for the capital “M” Mediator, Jesus. God's final mediator is God himself. Jesus is the best of both worlds. True God. True Man. Bearing Adam's humanity, yet without Adam's sin. Jesus is the go-between, reconciling us to God the Father. Jesus is our mediator bearing mercy and steadfast love. Jesus is our redeemer who pays our ransom with his holy, precious blood and his innocent suffering and death. And Jesus did this for Abraham, Aaron, Moses, and for you.In Jesus, you have the One Mediator who is perfect, eternal, everlasting, never-ending, always present, ever-gracious, and abounding in steadfast love for you.For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Since Christ has full atonement made And brought to us salvation, Each Christian therefore may be glad And build on this foundation. Your grace alone, dear Lord, I plead, Your death is now my life indeed, for You have paid my ransom. (LSB 555:6)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.

Send us Fan Mail+++Preacher: Pastor Adam SteinbrennerSubmit sermon questions by emailing podcast@stjohndublin.orgLink to SermonChurch Website: stjohndublin.orgChurch Center: stjohndublin.churchcenter.comThank you to Higher Things Inc. for permission to use their recording of LSB 834 “O God, O Lord of Heaven and Earth”. (leader.higherthings.org)Thank you for listening to the Post-Sermon Podcast.

May 11, 2026Today's Reading: Numbers 21:4-9Daily Lectionary: Numbers 8:5-26; Luke 15:11-32“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.' So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.” (Numbers 21:8-9)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Snakes usually have a bad reputation. And for good reason. The Slytherin house in Harry Potter is famous for dark wizards. Medusa, with her serpentine hairstyle and stone-cold stare, isn't exactly the woman that little girls long to be when they grow up. It's no different in the true story of the Scriptures. There's the serpent, the ancient dragon, Satan, back in Genesis, who tempted Adam and Eve with his craftiness, cunning, and calumny. The Lord tells Jeremiah to preach to Israel, but warns that he's sending him among serpents that cannot be tamed. Jesus admonishes the Pharisees that in their hissing fits of self-righteousness, they're a brood of vipers.And just like it did with our first parents, Adam and Eve, Satan's lies, along with sin's poison, came creeping and crawling, slithering and sliding, into the hearts and out of the mouths of Israel in the wilderness. “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.”So what did God do? Tell them to pound sand right back into slavery? No. He did what he does throughout Scripture. He brought punishment, yes, but also promise. Warning, but also a way of rescue. Judgment, but also a sign of justification. Those fiery serpents were instruments of God's work of repentance and restoration. And then, the Lord took the serpent, a sign of temptation, evil, sin, and death, and turned it into a sign of salvation, goodness, righteousness, and life. Moses made a bronze serpent. Set it on a pole for all to see. And anyone who looked at it lived. This isn't the last time God takes a sign of sin, suffering, and death and turns it into a sign of salvation, reconciliation, and life. Only this time, it wasn't in the wilderness, but on a hilltop outside Jerusalem. And it wasn't a pole, but a wooden cross. And it wasn't a bronze serpent, but the Lord himself in the flesh. Jesus died for you. Defeated the Serpent at his own game. For just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Your cross I place before me; It's saving power restore me, Sustain me in the test. It will, when life is ending, Be guiding and attending My way to Your eternal rest. (LSB 453:7)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.

It's always tempting to immediately connect Bible prophecy to our moment. We scan today's headlines, trying to match current events with Scripture. But that instinct, if left unchecked, leads more often to confusion than clarity. "... Four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another," Daniel 7:3 (LSB). So begins Daniel's prophetic vision of global chaos and cruelty—not in our future, but in his. "I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and came near before Him," Daniel 7:13. What Daniel saw was not the end of the world, but the turning point of human history: the moment when the Son of Man—Jesus Christ—ascended to heaven after His life, death, and resurrection and was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom. Daniel's vision shows us that before we can understand the chaos of history, we must first see the reign of Christ. Only then can we respond rightly to God's work in our chaotic present, and face our future with confidence. This Lord's Day, we'll return to our study of Daniel and its apocalyptic vision of world history and Christ's sovereign reign. Join us as we turn to Daniel 7:1-14 and consider, "Back to the Future: The King's Ascension." Prepare your heart: Read and meditate on Daniel 7 (especially verses 1-14), and revisit Daniel 2. How are the four beasts in Daniel's vision similar? How are they different? What changes the scene in verses 9-10? Who is "like a Son of Man"? Where, specifically, is He going? What is given to Him? How does Daniel 7 compare with Daniel 2? What do these verses teach us about human h

The Bible we hold is a translation of ancient manuscripts. But does that gap between the original autographs and our English Bibles introduce error we should be worried about? In Lesson 27 of Christian Ethics and the Old Testament, Dave Rich works through the transmission and translation of Scripture—and makes the case that we have every reason for confidence.Rich opens with the logic: reliable manuscripts plus faithful translation equals God's Word in English. Either piece can fail, and he walks through what happens when it does. From there he examines the manuscript evidence for the Old Testament—the Masoretic Text, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Septuagint—showing that agreement across those sources is remarkably stable. The one significant variant, Psalm 22:16, turns out to have strong textual support for "they pierced my hands and feet," consistent with its unmistakably messianic context.New Testament transmission is even more extensively attested—over 5,800 Greek manuscripts, with 99.5% of the text determinable from existing evidence. Rich walks through the nature of the variants honestly, showing that the most significant ones are well known, clearly marked in modern translations, and doctrinally non-threatening.The lesson closes with a survey of English translations across a spectrum from highly literal to outright corrupt: the YLT, NASB, LSB, ESV, NIV, New Living, and then the Message, the New World Translation, the Passion Translation, and several others that distort the text to serve a theological agenda.God had a purpose in giving His Word, Rich argues, and that same providence extends to its transmission and translation into every language. ★ Support this podcast ★

May 10, 2026Today's Reading:John 16:23-30 (31-33)Daily Lectionary: Numbers 3:1-16, 39-48; Numbers 4:1-8:4; Luke 14:25-15:10“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. ‘So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.'” (Numbers 6:22-27)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.There was an unwritten code in my college dorm room kitchen. If you didn't want someone absconding with your leftover microwave pizza or swiping those tasty homemade cookies mom sent you, you had better put your name on it. The name was a signal to my roommates. “This is mine. This belongs to me. This is something important and precious to me. Step away from the pizza!”Something similar, though in a far greater and gracious way, is happening when the Lord instructs Moses to declare to Aaron and his sons His words of blessing. We call it the Aaronic Benediction because it was given by God to Moses. And from Moses to Aaron. And from Aaron to his sons, the priests of Israel. And from the priests to the people of Israel. This benediction is more than a greeting, like sending someone a “get well” card or shooting off a quick text to your friend when they're sick: “Feel better, bro!” No. This is far better. For what the Lord says, he gives. What he promises, he delivers. When he tells Moses and Aaron to speak these words, his people are blessed as they hear them. The Lord's words bring His blessing, grace, and peace even while they're being spoken. You see, when our Lord wants to preserve, protect, and bring his promise to someone or something, He puts his name on it.The words and promises of this benediction are the Lord's way of sending a signal to Moses, Aaron, to all Israel, and to you. Our Lord poured his liquid benediction over you on the day of your Baptism. By water, word, and the Spirit, God placed his Holy Triune name upon you. And now, whenever you hear these words of benediction, the Lord says to you what he said to Israel: “You are mine. You belong to me. You are important and precious and beloved in my sight. You are holy. And you have my word and my name to back it up.” “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.I the Lord will bless you and keep you And give you peace; I the Lord will smile upon you And give you peace: I the Lord will be your Father, Savior, Comforter, and Brother. Go, My children; I will keep you And give you peace. (LSB 922:4)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.

May 9, 2026Today's Reading: Introit for Easter 6 - Psalm 66:1-2a, 17, 19-20; antiphon: Isaiah 48:20bDaily Lectionary: Leviticus 26:21-33, 39-44; Numbers 1:1-2:34; Luke 14:1-24“Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!” (Psalm 66:20)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Amen. Our God is a God who wants to hear our prayers. The psalmist confesses his iniquity and knows that his heart has turned from God. Even in the darkest times, God has heard his cries for help and pleas for mercy. It is not God that is far off; rather, it is man who has abandoned God in his sin. He has turned his back on God and sought after the desires of his sinful heart.In this world, the attacks from sin, satan, and the world are relentless. The temptation to follow our own desires of the flesh is always before us. Satan does not take a day off or the world a vacation when it comes to pulling us away from the one true God. In sin we seek after the lusts of the flesh. In sin, we want to work out our problems on our own. We rationalize God to be far off and out of touch with the realities that confront us. We meditate on our own wishes and reason our own solutions to the struggles that confront us. God has not abandoned us. He has not forsaken us. Our God is a God of mercy and compassion. He is a God who desires our prayers. He wants nothing more than for us to lift our prayers and petitions to Him. He hears our prayers. As the Psalmist writes, “...He has not rejected my prayer or removed His steadfast love from me.” In humility and humbleness, we petition our Father that His will may be done through us. He shapes and forms us as the potter shapes the clay. We are His vessels to serve in the vocations that He has equipped us for from before the foundations of the world. As we journey towards the end of the Easter season, we are comforted by the words of the Psalmist in knowing that our Father in Heaven always hears our prayers. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we are pointed back to our Baptism where we are marked with His word and water. We are drawn to the Communion rail where He feeds us with His healing balm of His Body and Blood. In His Holy Word, the Savior is revealed, and the message of forgiveness is placed upon our ears. In faith, we lift up our prayers to an ever-loving God who does not reject our prayers.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.To God the Holy Spirit let us pray For the true faith needed on our way That He may defend us when life is ending And from exile home we are wending. Lord have mercy (LSB 768:1)Rev. Timothy Davis, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Athens, GA.

May 8, 2026Today's Reading: Luke 13:29-30Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 26:1-20; Luke 13:18-35“...And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”(Luke 13:29-30)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Amen. Jesus teaches His hearers that in Him salvation is for the world. The mindset of the first-century Jew was that salvation was on account of their lineage. The appeal of the church leadership was to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob for their assurance that God would save them. The idea that salvation would be for the Gentile was folly to the Jew. The teaching that the message of salvation was for the world was foreign to the Pharisees and the church leadership. The Messiah was for the Jews to free them from a tyrannical and oppressive foreign government. Jesus flips the narrative that was being taught upside down. A teaching that the first would be last and the last first did not agree with the current leadership. Jesus was chastised for the people He called as His disciples. The individuals who benefited from His miracles were from all walks of life. He sat with sinners and tax collectors. He proclaimed comfort and hope to the destitute. He healed the blind, the deaf, and the mute. The outcast, the beggar, the half-breed Samaritans, He healed and restored them. His message was contrary to the message that the Pharisees had been teaching. He brought a message of forgiveness and mercy.Our world today advocates for self-reliance. We are to seek out our own desires and fulfill those desires regardless of whether they are contrary to the Scriptures. The message of the Scripture is still contrary to what the world would have us believe. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is offensive to the world. The world says to rely on yourself, fulfill your wants, and serve yourself. Christ's message is a message of repentance and forgiveness. The Savior has come into this world and paid the price for your sins. He has fulfilled the law on your behalf. You are set free to live in your Baptism. He did not look at your last name or who your parents are. He did not look at your history or where you are from ethnically. God has called you out of His unfathomable love for you.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Today Your mercy calls us To wash away our sin However great our trespass, Whatever we have been However long from mercy Our hearts have turned away, Your precious blood can wash us And make us clean today. (LSB 915:1Rev. Timothy Davis, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Athens, GA.

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the one-hundredth-and-fifty-third episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.' Hosted by MAJ Amy Beatty, the G-4 Senior Sustainment Planner from Plans / Exercise Maneuver Control Task Force on behalf of the Commander of Ops Group (COG). Today's guest is the Battalion Commander for the 626th Light Support Battalion, LTC Adam DiGiovanni.   The 626th Light Support Battalion (LSB), formerly the 626th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB), serves as the sustainment backbone of the 3rd Mobile Brigade Combat Team “Rakkasan,” 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Carrying the Hollywood call-sign “Assurgam”—Latin for “I Rise Up”—the battalion traces its lineage through decades of airborne and air assault sustainment operations supporting the division across combat deployments, contingency operations, and large-scale training exercises. As part of the Army's transition from the legacy BSB structure to the modern LSB construct, the battalion now synchronizes sustainment operations across dispersed formations through combat logistics companies (CLCs), while remaining directly integrated with the brigade's maneuver fight and closely linked with division sustainment assets. Today, the 626th LSB continues to adapt for large scale combat operations, providing the Rakkasans with the logistics, maintenance, medical, and distribution support necessary to fight and win in contested, multi-domain environments.   This episode focuses on how the light support battalion (LSB) operates within the mobile brigade combat team under the Army's new mobile brigade force structure, and the opportunities and challenges that come with replacing the legacy brigade support battalion (BSB) and forward support companies (FSCs). The discussion highlights how the transition to CLCs fundamentally changes sustainment relationships inside the brigade, requiring sustainers to balance centralized control with direct support to maneuver battalions. Leaders emphasize that the LSB is no longer simply a logistics provider in the rear, but a command-and-control headquarters responsible for synchronizing sustainment, protection, maintenance, distribution, and operational reach across dispersed formations in a contested environment. The episode explores how sustainers must now integrate more deliberately into MDMP, LOGSYNCs, targeting cycles, and current operations while managing significantly smaller formations and reduced manpower.    The conversation also examines how the new CLC construct changes the relationship between maneuver and sustainment units at echelon. Rather than functioning as permanently tied FSCs, the CLCs remain part of the LSB and operate in direct support relationships that allow the battalion commander to mass sustainment capability where needed most. Leaders discuss the cultural adjustments required on both the maneuver and sustainment sides, the importance of building trust between battalion commanders and logisticians, and the difficulty of sustaining operations with extremely small distribution platoons. Additional topics include sustainment at distance, sustainment culmination, base cluster operations, and the challenge of maintaining command and control while supporting deep and distributed operations. Ultimately, the episode reinforces that the success of the modern brigade depends on an LSB capable of synchronizing sustainment across the battlefield while remaining agile, survivable, and fully integrated into brigade operations.    Part of S05 “Beans, Bullets, Band-Aids, Batteries, Water, & Fuel” series.   For additional information and insights from this episode, please check-out our Instagram page @the_jrtc_crucible_podcast.   Be sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the latest warfighting TTPs learned through the crucible that is the Joint Readiness Training Center.   Follow us by going to: https://linktr.ee/jrtc and then selecting your preferred podcast format.   Again, we'd like to thank our guests for participating. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and review us wherever you listen or watch your podcasts — and be sure to stay tuned for more in the near future.   “The Crucible – The JRTC Experience” is a product of the Joint Readiness Training Center.

May 7, 2026Today's Reading: Catechism: The Lord's PrayerDaily Lectionary: Leviticus 24:1-23; Leviticus 25:1-55; Luke 12:54-13:17The Second Petition. Thy Kingdom come. What does this mean? The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also. How does God's kingdom come? God's kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Amen. As Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, they are reminded that the kingdom of God is not merely a location here on earth or some existential place that is beyond our understanding. The kingdom of God is present in Christ. John the Baptist proclaimed, “The kingdom of God is at hand,” when Christ was at the Jordan River. In Christ is also the reign of God. We say that in Christ is the “kingdoming” of God. He is the rule and reign of all things. As we pray in the Lord's Prayer, “Thy kingdom come,” we are reminded that the rule and reign of Christ is taking place right now. His reign is not something we are waiting to take place. Luther defines that the Kingdom of God comes through the Holy Spirit, when, by His grace, we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here and in eternity. In the life of the church and her people, there is the kingdom of God. When we receive the true Body and Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ in the Holy Sacrament, His kingdom is at hand. Christ comes to us for the strengthening of faith and the forgiveness of sins. As the Holy Spirit lives and dwells within us, we are sent out into the world to lead holy lives reflective of our Baptism. The world would like us to believe that the only kingdom is the kingdom here on earth. Our culture insists that there is nothing beyond this world and that there is nothing other than this world. We are encouraged to live lives that feed our flesh and our desires. The world, sin, and satan say that we are in charge of our own destiny. Scriptures teach otherwise. Scriptures point us through the lies of the world and point us to Christ and His kingdom. Scriptures point us to the work of Christ, and in those works is His “kingdoming.” He has fulfilled the law on our behalf. He has paid the price for our sins. He has conquered death. He reigns now and for all eternity. In His reigning we pray, “Thy Kingdom Come.”In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.May Christ our intercessor be And through His blood and merit Read from His book that we are free With all who life inherit. Then we shall see Him face to face, With all His saints in that blest place Which He has purchased for us. (LSB 508:6)Rev. Timothy Davis, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Athens, GA.

May 6, 2026Today's Reading: Luke 12:35-53Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 23:23-44; Luke 12:35-53“‘Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.” (Luke 12:35-36)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Amen. Jesus' words for the disciples were a little concerning for them. They wanted to know if these words were for them or for all the people. The “managers” are in the crosshairs of Christ's admonishment. The ones entrusted with the work of overseeing the administration of the gifts that have been given to them. The local church had abused its power by burdening the consciences of the people. The leadership continually advocated a law of salvation for the people. God's forgiveness was contingent upon the obedience to the laws made by man. The church had grown into apostasy. The leadership failed to see themselves as servants, but rather as those who were in control and “calling the shots.” The life they advocated was not about God's unfailing mercy and forgiveness but rather about obedience to their laws. Christ saw their hardened hearts. Christ came as the suffering servant who dies on the cross and conquers death. His ministry is a ministry of servitude for His people. In His service, His people are made ready for the Master's return. He prepares His people through the Gift of Holy Baptism. In your Baptism, you are made ready for His glorious return. Christ reminds His hearers that they know neither the day nor the hour when the master will return. He merely encourages them to be ready. You are ready in your Baptism. In your Baptism, you received the name of Jesus. In your Baptism, you received the sign of the cross both upon your forehead and upon your heart to mark you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified. You are baptized into His death, and you are baptized in His resurrection. You are dressed for the return of Christ as His robe of righteousness has been placed over you. You are ready for His return.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The gifts flow from the font Where He calls us His own; New life He gives that makes Us His and His alone. Here He forgives our sins With water and His Word; The triune God Himself Gives pow'r to call Him Lord. (LSB 602:2)Rev. Timothy Davis, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Athens, GA.

May 5, 2026Today's Reading: James 1:16-21Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 23:1-22; Luke 12:13-34“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:16-17)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Amen. The epistle of James does not mince words when it comes to the life of the Christian. James makes it abundantly clear that in our sanctified lives, we live as children of God. It is no surprise that many of the reformers reluctantly went to James. Even Luther struggled with James, but Luther also knew that God's word is unchangeable. In Exodus, God gives the promise to Moses to share with the people, “I will be your God and you will be my people.” (Exodus 6:7) God declares that He is the one who is bringing them out of slavery in Egypt and into a land of freedom flowing with milk and honey. Later, when they are in the wilderness, God delivers the Decalogue and reminds them again that He is their God and they are His people. His people do not live like the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, or the Egyptians, but His people live like children of God. When the people of the Old Testament do not live like children of God, He says to them, “You are not people and I am not your God.” (Hosea 1:9)In our sinfulness, we live like the world. We indulge in the pleasures of the flesh. We feed our minds with fantasies of immorality and ungodly conduct. We seek ways to massage God's word so that we can justify our behavior or someone else's behavior. In James, the mirror of the law exposes our sin and accuses us of not being God's children. In that behavior, we are not His people, and He is not our God. James does not leave us in despair. He reminds his hearers that all good things come from God. He writes in chapter 1:17, “....every perfect gift is from above,…” The perfect gift is a “complete” gift. The reader cannot help but connect what James writes here and what Christ says on the cross. It is “finished.” It is complete. The work is done, and it has come from above. Christ has fulfilled the law for us so that we are no longer slaves under the law. We are set free to live as children of God. He is our God, and we are His people. He gives to us His holy law, and we are free to live in His holy law without fear of the world's condemnation. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.To Jesus we for refuge flee, Who from the curse has set us free, And humbly worship at His throne, Saved by His grace through faith alone. (LSB 579:3)Rev. Timothy Davis

May 4, 2026Today's Reading: Isaiah 12:1-6Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 21:1-24; Luke 12:1-12“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Amen. The people of Judah were in a precarious position. They had watched the Northern Kingdom be completely destroyed by the Assyrian army. Families were separated. The places of worship had been desecrated with idols of false gods. The identity of the Northern Kingdom was gone. King Ahaz refused to listen to God through the prophet Isaiah. King Ahaz had his own plans to protect his people. Ahaz looked to the formidable army of Egypt for protection against Assyria. The very nation that God had freed His people from enslavement, Ahaz cut a deal with and went back to their historic slavemaster. In the previous chapters, Isaiah reminds his hearers of God's attitude towards arrogance and pride. God hates the prideful nature of man. He despises the arrogance of His people and the arrogance of the pagan nations around His people. In their idolatry, they have committed adultery against God. They have had affairs with other gods and lusted after their own hearts' desires. In the worst of times, they still pursued their own hearts and their false gods.In our sin, we fall into the trap of arrogance and pride. We see our accomplishments and what we are capable of achieving. Our electronic advancements and technological advancements give us every answer in the palm of our hands. We can find endless entertainment, both good and bad, with a few swipes of the finger. It can seem as if nothing is out of our reach. Isaiah's words in chapter 12 speak to the remnant that was left behind. The few that remained faithful to God. The epitome of that remnant is found in Jesus Christ. Christ is Israel reduced to one. The final sacrifice, the final King, the final prophet. Christ fulfills all aspects of God's holy law. In faith, you hold fast to the promise that Christ has completed the work for your salvation. Sin, satan, and the world will work tirelessly to turn you away from the work of Christ and point you to your work. In faith, you are held fast to Christ's work and His salvation for you. He has become your salvation. He has completed the work for you. He has paid the price for your sins. He has conquered death for you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Though Satan's wrath Beset our path And worldly scorn assail us, While You are near, We shall not fear; Your strength will never fail us, Your rod and staff will keep us safe And guide our steps forever; Nor shades of death Nor hell beneath Our lives from You will sever. (LSB 714:2)

May 2, 2026Today's Reading: Introit for Easter 5 - Psalm 98:1b, 3-4; antiphon: Psalm 98:1a, 2bDaily Lectionary: Leviticus 19:9-18, 26-37; Luke 11:14-36“Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.” (Psalm 98:1-2)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The book of Psalms is sometimes known as the hymnal of the Scriptures. And for good reason. There are one hundred and fifty psalms, or songs, given by our Lord, the Maestro of mercy, for us to pray, sing, study, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest. Psalm 98, which will be sung tomorrow in the Lord's house, is a beautiful example of how the Holy Scriptures sing the story of salvation. But it's not just in the Psalms. You'll find the story of salvation sung throughout the Scriptures. God's word rings out in harmony and blends its many voices to the tune of his steadfast love. From Genesis to Revelation, God's word echoes with the joyous songs of Yahweh's salvation. Everywhere you find God saving his people, you'll find them singing the songs of salvation.When Israel walked through the Red Sea, and Pharaoh's armies were buried in a liquid grave, they sang. “I will sing unto the Lord for he has triumphed gloriously, his horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.”When Isaiah foretold the coming Servant of Yahweh who would suffer in our place, he sang the Servant Songs that fill his prophetic book with a foretaste of the cross to come. “For by his wounds we are healed.”When Elizabeth and Mary met, and John leapt in the womb for joy that Jesus had come at last in the flesh, Mary sang the Magnificat. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the donkey brayed, and the crowds sang, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”And when John lets us peek into the angelic choir loft of heaven, guess what the saints, angels, and archangels are doing? That's right. Singing a new song, which is also an ancient song. “Worthy are you…for you were slain and by your blood you ransomed people for God.”So when you go to Divine Service tomorrow morning and sing the psalms, hymns, and liturgy, there might be ten people in church, or two hundred. But no matter how many people are gathered, you never sing alone. Whether it's a new song or an old song, join the throng and sing along to the God of our salvation, for he has done marvelous things!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Creator, humbly I implore You To listen to my earthly song Until that day when I adore You, Together with the angel throng And learn with choirs of heav'n to sing Eternal anthems to my King. (LSB 811:5)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz

April 30, 2026Today's Reading: Catechism: Creed Third ArticleDaily Lectionary: Leviticus 17:1-16; Luke 10:23-42“I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.” (3rd Article of the Apostles' Creed)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“So the Holy Spirit is like the Bat-signal,” said a confirmation student while learning about the Third Article of the Creed.“Wait, what?” I answered, bewildered, but curious. “What do you mean?”“Well,” he went on to say, “Whenever Gotham City needs help, they light up the Bat-signal, and it points the way; it lets people know help is on the way; it lets everyone know that Batman is coming to the rescue.”You might not think comic books could provide a talking point for confirmation class and the Holy Spirit. And believe me, I didn't think so at first either. But this kid was right. God the Father sends God the Son. God the Son lives and dies for the sins of the world. God the Son promises God the Holy Spirit. God, the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. God the Holy Spirit points us back to God the Son, who brings us back to God the Father. The Holy Spirit gives us Jesus. Works faith in our hearts. He calls us by the Gospel, gathers us in the Holy Christian Church, sanctifies us in Jesus, and enlightens us with all of God's holy Gifts.The Holy Spirit is sent and given to let you, and all the baptized know, that help is on the way in Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The Holy Spirit takes no days off, no breaks, no mid-day naps. His work is never done, yet is always being done in the Holy Christian church where we receive the forgiveness of sins. The Holy Spirit leads you to and gives you Jesus, who came to rescue, redeem, restore, and renew you. And thankfully, unlike your favorite comic book heroes, the Holy Spirit is not a work of fiction or fantasy. However, he does mask himself and work through ordinary means: water, word, bread and wine, the Gospel, the Absolution, Baptism, and the Lord's Supper. The Holy Spirit is no imaginary hero, but the very real third person of the Holy Trinity who lives and works to call you to faith in Jesus, point you to your Savior, give you faith in Jesus, keep you in the faith, and eternally fill you with Good News: help is indeed on the way in Christ who rescues you.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Creator Spirit, by whose aid The world's foundations first were laid, Come visit every humble mind; Come pour Your joys on humankind; From sin and sorrow set us free; May we Your living temples be. (LSB 500:1)

April 29, 2026Today's Reading: Leviticus 16:1-24Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 16:1-24; Luke 10:1-22“And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.” (Leviticus 16:21)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The Day of Atonement in Leviticus sixteen is a tale of two goats. Both gathered at the tent of meeting. Both before the Lord. Both goats given by a gracious God to save his people and atone for all their iniquities.One goat was for a sin offering. A sacrifice. A substitute. The innocent for the guilty. Clean for the unclean. A life for a life. Blood sprinkled on the mercy seat. Atonement made by the Holy One of Israel in the Holy of Holies to make his people holy. To cover all their transgressions.The second goat was an offering as well—a living sacrifice. As Aaron laid his hands on this goat, he laid all the trespasses of the people upon it. All their sins. All their iniquities. This goat was sent packing away from the camp and into the wilderness. This goat, too, is a substitute. Sent away from God's presence so his people would remain in his presence. Given to bear Israel's sin so they would not have to. But there's more to this story. Two goats point to the One Lamb.Like the first goat, Jesus, is our sin offering. A sacrifice. A substitute. He is the innocent one who dies for the guilty. He is the Clean One who washes away all the filth of our uncleanness. He gives his life for your life. His blood is sprinkled and shed and poured out on the altar of the cross and then into a chalice upon the mercy seat of the altar in your church. And like the second goat, Jesus, went out into the wilderness. Jesus overcame Satan, where the Serpent overcame Adam and Eve. Jesus also bears the iniquities of the people, all people, on his head, as he goes outside the camp of Jerusalem. Into the wilderness of Golgotha, burdened and weighed down by all our trespasses, all our sins, all our iniquities. Jesus, the Lamb of God, is sent outside the city walls and is forsaken by God so that you and all who believe in him would remain in his presence. Jesus is given to bear our sin so we don't have to.This tale of two goats points us to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Where the paschal blood is poured, Death's dread angel sheathes the sword; Israel's hosts triumphant go through the wave that drowns the foe. Alleluia! (LSB 633:3)

April 28, 2026Today's Reading: 1 Peter 2:11-20 or 1 John 3:1-3Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 10:1-20; Leviticus 11:1-15:33; Luke 9:37-62“For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.'” (Leviticus 11:44-45)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.In the story of the Scriptures, the word holy is like coffee shops in the Pacific Northwest or BBQ joints in Texas; you'll find holiness on every corner of every street as you travel the highway of God's Word. From God's holy sabbath rest on the seventh day of creation, to the holy of holies in the tabernacle, to the angels crying out holy, holy, holy around the Lamb's throne in Revelation, there's God in his holiness. God's holiness is a matter of proximity. The dust and rocks around the burning bush were holy. Why? Not because Moses worked some magic in the wilderness. Yahweh was there. It was holy ground. The wood, fabric, furnishings, ark of the covenant, along with the whole tabernacle, were holy. Why? Not because of the handiwork of Israelite craftsmen or the hands of the sons of Aaron and Levi. Yahweh was there. And that meant everything in and around the tabernacle was holy. God places his holiness alongside people, places, and things, and they, too, by his grace and promise, become holy.But there's a problem. Before God, we are wholly unholy. God's holiness is like Aslan in Narnia. God is good and holy, but he's not safe. Apart from Christ, God's holiness is not safe. So what does God do? God robes us in the holiness of Jesus crucified and risen. He declares you righteous and holy. In Christ, we receive God's holiness in Jesus' holy Gifts. God does all of this in a way similar to the way he did for Israel of old. By blood and water and sacrifice. Jesus the High Priest is also God's greatest and final offering for all our sins. On the cross, Jesus was defiled with all our uncleanness. On the cross, Jesus, who is wholly holy, became unholy for you, bore all our unholiness. And now he shares his holiness and holy Gifts with you. It's a matter of proximity. The holiness we lack, Jesus shares freely. From his holy cross, he brings you holy Gifts. His promise and presence in His Holy Word. A flood of forgiveness in Holy Baptism. Pardon and peace in Holy Absolution. His holy Body and Blood in Holy Communion. And where Jesus is, there is his holiness, and yours. For you have his promise: “You shall be holy, for I am holy. And you are holy in me.”In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Renew me, O eternal Light, And let my heart and soul be bright, Illumined with the light of grace That issues from Your holy face. (LSB 704:1)

April 27, 2026Today's Reading: Isaiah 40:25-31Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 9:1-24; Luke 9:18-36“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.” (Isaiah 40:28-29)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Nike tells you to “Just do it!” Your football coach says, “Winners never quit.” Motivational slogans can be helpful on the court, field, or soccer pitch. What works on the field, however, doesn't always make the cut when it comes to the Christian faith. Life as a baptized saint doesn't always look like it does for the heroes of an inspirational movie, and it's rarely as smooth as a clever slogan on a motivational poster. There are moments, days, weeks, months, and even years where you're worn out, weak, and weary: Physically. Mentally. Spiritually. Times when you ache and groan from the hurts and pains of your own trespasses and from those who have trespassed against you. Times when you're weary of scrolling through so much evil in the world that it's overwhelming. Times when you grow faint, and it feels as if your faith is wavering, flickering like a birthday candle in a tornado. Isaiah knew days like this. Yahweh called him to preach God's warning and promise to His wayward people, Israel. But did they listen? Not nearly as often as they ignored God and His prophets. All those years of teaching, preaching, and proclaiming Yahweh's warning and promises. No doubt there were plenty of days when Isaiah felt weary, faint, and sapped of strength in body, mind, and spirit. But Isaiah had something, and you have something that those motivational posters and inspirational movies don't have: Yahweh's promise. “He does not grow faint or weary,” declares Isaiah. “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.” Isaiah knew that faith and trust in Yahweh wasn't for winners, but for sinners, like Isaiah, Israel, and you and me. To be sure, there will be days in this life that will still leave you feeling weary and faint. But take comfort in this, that when you are weak, weary, and faint, you're in good company. You're not alone.Isaiah proclaimed the Good News that Yahweh delivers us, not by our might, but by his mercy. Not by our power but his promise. Not by our strength, but in the Savior Isaiah foretold. A Savior, who came not in an awesome display of power or athletic prowess, but in weakness, humility, and sacrifice. His name is Jesus. Immanuel. God with us, even in moments of weariness. His steadfast love for you never fails. Never quits. Never ends.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Creator of the stars of night, Thy people's everlasting Light: O Christ, Redeemer, save us all And hear Thy servants when they call. (LSB 351:1)

Union with Christ means union with His people. This blood-bought unity is precious and worthy of protection and care. "... Walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called...," Ephesians 4:1 (LSB). Last Sunday, we saw what Christ has made His church to be: one body with many diverse members, committed to one another. This Lord's Day, we'll turn to Ephesians to see how the body is called to live together. Unity is not created by the church—it's a gift from the Spirit of God, powerful in its source yet fragile in our hands. This oneness runs deeper than shared preferences and affection. We live worthy of our calling as we relate to one another "with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," Ephesians 4:2-3. These unity-preserving virtues are vital to the church functioning as one body. They ensure that each member's diverse gifts contribute to our maturity in Christ and our witness to the world. By God's design, our unity is not anchored to feelings alone, but to truth, so that Scripture shapes not only what we believe, but how we relate to one another. I hope you'll join us this Sunday as we continue our short series on "God's Glorious Church," and consider "The Life of Christ's People." Get ready: Read and meditate on Ephesians 4:1-16. What is the calling Paul refers to in verse 1? Which commands in verses 2 and 3 are internal? Which are relational? According to verses 13-16, what is the ultimate goal of the church's growth? Where might Christ be calling you to step more fully into your role in the body? Ask yourself: Am I living

April 25, 2026Today's Reading: Mark 16:14-20Daily Lectionary: Exodus 40:17-38; Leviticus 1:1-7:38; Luke 8:40-56“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” (Mark 16:16) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. What a remarkable promise by Jesus here in Mark 16:16. Baptism saves. How can that be?  We'll get to that in a moment. But first, let's review. What makes a Baptism a Baptism? Answer: water and God's Word. How much water? Jesus never says. Sprinkle? Sure. Immerse? If you want to. As long as you use water. No confetti. No rose petals. Water! Attached or hooked to the water is the all-authority-in-heaven-and-earth-Lord-Jesus' mandate: “in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19. Not, “creator, redeemer and sanctifier.” Not “creator, liberator, and sustainer.” You are baptized when the water is applied with the divine mandate Word (“in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”). What divine Gift does the Triune God give you in holy Baptism according to Matthew 28:19? It is the divine and saving name! And with His name, the Triune God gives Himself to the baptized. Promises to be God for her. Promises to act as God for her. So, to be baptized in the Triune name is to be baptized by the Triune God Himself.  Baptized in the divine and saving name of the Trinity, it is no surprise that the New Testament extols salvational benefits like Jesus does in Mark 16:16. Check out the following passages and note the benefits such as forgiveness and washing away of sin, Gift of the Holy Spirit, rebirth, justification, sanctification, etc.: Acts 2:38-39; 22:16; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 5:26; Galatians 3:27; Titus 3:5-7; John 3:3-5; 1 Peter 3:18-22. All those benefits flow from the divine and saving name given to the baptized. This is why the Large Catechism correctly taught: “This is the simplest way to put it: the power, effect, benefit, fruit, and purpose of Baptism is that it saves.” Oh, in addition, let's not forget that Peter declares that Baptism and all its salvific benefits are for “for you, and for your children and for all” (Acts 2:39)! And there's more: the words “for you” require all hearts to believe. Peter wants you to take this Gift personally.  “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,” Jesus promises. Faith does not make a Baptism a Baptism. Faith receives what Baptism gives so that it may be beneficial for the baptized, as Jesus promises. Always use Jesus' promise of Mark 16 against your sin, Satan, and guilty conscience by saying: “But I am baptized! And if I have been baptized, I have the promise that I shall be saved and have eternal life, both in soul and body,” (Large Catechism).  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. All who believe and are baptized Shall see the Lord's salvation Baptized into the death of Christ They are a new creation Through Christ's redemption they shall stand Among the glorious heav'nly band Of every tribe and nation (LSB 601:1) 

The Bride of Christ. God's household. Heaven's embassy on earth. Scripture describes the church these ways and more, declaring that God's people—redeemed and gathered—relate to Him and one another in a unique and vital union. "Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it," 1 Corinthians 12:27 (LSB). The church is not merely the unseen collection of saints throughout history, but also visibly expressed in local churches. By God's design, "church" is not an event to attend, nor a provider of religious services, but a dynamic body of Spirit-led members, each dependent upon and committed to the others. This Lord's Day we'll begin a short series on God's Glorious Church and introduce a new HBC Membership Covenant that spells out and celebrates what God calls us to as members of Christ's body, His church. Please join us this Sunday as we turn to 1 Corinthians 12 and consider "God's Glorious Church: One Body, Many Members." Get ready: Read and meditate on 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. What words or ideas are repeated? How is the relationship between "the body" and its "members" described? What does Paul mean when he says "so also is Christ" (verse 12)? Why is both unity and diversity essential in the church? How does this passage shape your understanding of your responsibility to other church members? Why might it be helpful for a church to clearly express these commitments to one another? [Note: We will return our study of Daniel 7-12 after this short series on the church.]

April 18, 2026Today's Reading: Introit for Easter 3 - Psalm 33:1, 18-20; antiphon: Psalm 33:5b, 6aDaily Lectionary: Exodus 32:1-14; Luke 6:20-38“Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,” (Psalm 33:18)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Jesus Christ is risen from the dead! Alleluia! “Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.”The Lord looks down from heaven. He has visited His people, and He has seen your struggles, and heard your cries. He is not a God who watches, but a God who steps in and cares for His creation. Our prayer is that God would continue to bring His enemies to nothing.The Psalmist's petitions are heard and answered by God, and our prayers are heard and answered also. In the beginning God spoke, and it came to be. God came down from heaven and visited His people. God is not absent from creation. He hears you, and His eyes are upon you. You are one whom God the Father created in His image. One whom God the Son, Jesus, died and redeemed by His blood. You are a new creation of water and the Spirit in your Baptism.We endure the days and times of this life because God has conquered His enemies, and our enemies we have only for a time. We wait for the Lord. We call upon His Name, which He has revealed to us. He is our help and our shield. Let your heart be glad in Him. You can trust in His holy Name. “​​Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.”In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Christ, who shared our mortal life And ended death's long reign, Who healed the sick and raised the dead And bore our grief and pain: We know our years on earth are few, That death is always near. Come now to us, O Lord of Life; Bring hope that conquers fear! (LSB 552:1)

April 17, 2026Today's Reading: Luke 6:1-19Daily Lectionary: Exodus 31:1-18; Luke 6:1-19“And Jesus said to them, ‘I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?'” (Luke 6:9)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Jesus takes them to task. The scribes and the Pharisees throw the Law in His face; they try to catch the One whom the very words concern that they might accuse Him. When you try to trap God with the Law, you will only leave withered and defeated.The scribes and Pharisees leave angered. The man with a withered hand leaves restored.Jesus restores the fallen creation. This being revealed in the withered man's hand. Jesus isn't a savior of symbolic brokenness or object lessons. He's the savior of sinners, who cannot save themselves. Jesus confronts the Pharisees with the law, challenging them to face the reality that they cannot save themselves according to it. They hardened themselves against Him and sought to find a way to deal with Jesus even more.The man with a withered hand comes as he is. No way to hide his suffering. He goes to where God's word is read, and where the One who is the fulfillment of that word happens to be.Go to where God has promised to be. In His Word preached, for you. Church is where we who are broken by the Law come before God, not seeking to trap Him to our demands or convince Him we've done our best. It is where we lay ourselves bare and say, “God be merciful to me a sinner.”Through absolutions proclaimed, sermons preached, water poured, and bread and wine distributed, the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given for you. The God of sinners restores them, heals them, binds them to Himself in His Son Jesus, and the means He initiated to call, gather, and enlighten you to saving faith, and keep you in the one true faith until He comes again.No tricks or traps with Jesus. He heals your diseases, binds your wounds, and forgives your sins. Thanks be to God, He has died, He has risen, and will come again.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“You shall observe the worship day That peace may fill your home, and pray, And put aside the work you do, So that God may work in you.” Have mercy, Lord! (LSB 581:4)

April 16, 2026Today's Reading: Catechism: Creed First ArticleDaily Lectionary: Exodus 25:1-22; Exodus 25:23-30:38; Luke 5:17-39“All this He does only out of fatherly divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me.” (Luther's Explanation of the First Article of the Apostles Creed)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.God does all of it. ALL OF IT. Only out of fatherly divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me.Stop trying to take the workload from Him. He's got the whole world in His hands. He gives daily bread to everyone, yes, even to all evil people. He sent His Son to be God and man that we would be like God. There's nothing you could give to God, or complete for God, that would even compare.The problem is that we give half-heartedly, and our merit is worthless. Our mercy is half-hearted and short-term, and goodness is brief. God gives all that we need to support this body and life. All of it. God is the giver, and the doer, and the fulfiller because he knows that we cannot give, and do, what He desires. God is the merciful Father who makes up for our fathers' failings, and our own. We don't deserve Him, and He doesn't deserve us.Yet He sends His Son to die for us poor, miserable sinners, without any merit or worthiness in me.Thanks be to God that He does all of it. ALL OF IT. His Fatherly divine goodness and mercy is revealed in His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. He is my heavenly Father, and I am His dear child. Remember this, dear baptized child of God. You are His, and He will not leave you, nor forsake you. He has done everything for your good that you would know you have a merciful God, a Father in heaven, a Son who saved you, and the Spirit who comforts you.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.We all believe in one true God, Who created earth and heaven, The Father, who to us in love Has the right of children given. He in soul and body feeds us; All we need His hand provides us; Through all snares and perils leads us, Watching that no harm betide us. He cares for us by day and night; All things are governed by His might. (LSB 954:1)

April 15, 2026Today's Reading: Exodus 24:1-18Daily Lectionary: Exodus 24:1-18; Luke 5:1-16“And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, ‘Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.'” (Exodus 24:8)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Why talk about the blood of the covenant during Easter? That's how the people of Israel could approach God. They were sinners, and God is holy. God cannot dwell where unholy sin is. So He instructed Moses to cover them in the blood of the covenant that their sins would be covered. And all God's people said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” Amen.The sacrifice must not have taken. Those sinners did not do all that the Lord has spoken, and they were not obedient. Neither have we. We deal with the same rebellious streak that the people of Israel did. God is still holy, and we are still sinners. God cannot dwell where unholy sin is.So God provides the sacrifice, His Son, His only Son, whom He loved, Jesus of Nazareth.Jesus takes the sins of our sinful, rebellious idolatry, becomes that sinful rebellious idolatry, and covers them in His blood of the New covenant poured out on the cross as the once and final sacrifice. The people of Israel received the blood, heard the words and promises of God, and, while imperfectly trusting in them, God is merciful. He forgives, He gives life, and He saves them from themselves, their enemies, death, all of it. God does it all by the blood, and proclaims in the life-giving promise of the One who would shed His blood for the sins of the whole world.The Blood of Jesus satisfies the Law's demands, and God's wrath dies with Jesus the crucified. Where all sin dies. God raises His Son from the dead, bearing the marks of His once for all sacrifice that all would believe and be made sons and daughters of the King who took His throne of the cross, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven to His Father's right hand. That His blood would be on us and all the people, and that by it we would have life in the One who died.Christ is Risen! Alleluia!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Sin, disturb my soul no longer: I am baptized into Christ! I have comfort even stronger: Jesus' cleansing sacrifice. Should a guilty conscience seize me Since my Baptism did release me In a dear forgiving flood, Sprinkling me with Jesus' blood? (LSB 594:2)

April 14, 2026Today's Reading: 1 John 5:4-10Daily Lectionary: Exodus 23:14-33; Luke 4:31-44“For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.” (1 John 5:7-8)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.What testimony is this that John writes? What testimony are the three, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, in agreement? This is not concerning manifesting faith within us, or that we accept the Lord Jesus into our hearts. Rather it is this, “The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”The Spirit points to the One who died, whose side poured out water and blood that brings life for all who receive them. You receive this life-giving testimony in your Baptism and are given a new identity through the washing of the water and the Word. In Baptism, you receive the Holy Spirit, who brings you who were dead to faith in the testimony concerning your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Through water and the Spirit, you are given new life and a Savior who is with you through all weakness, pain, and even death. There with you, leading you from this life, through death, to eternity.He gives you His Body and Blood, which is given to you through His Word, and bread and wine. To strengthen and keep you all the days of your life. That's what these three are for. Because it is not by your reason or strength that you are saved, that you have faith, or that you endure. Rather, it is by these three that unite you to the One who endured and has overcome death and the grave, and so shall you. These three testify, and these three agree. By them, you are united with your Lord Jesus now, and just as He died and rose again, so will you. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Water, blood, and Spirit crying, By their witness testifying To the One whose death-defying Life has come, with life for all. (LSB 597:1)

April 13, 2026Today's Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14Daily Lectionary: Exodus 22:20-23:13; Luke 4:16-30“Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.” (Ezekiel 37:4)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. We cannot imagine the horror Ezekiel felt in the valley of dry bones. God dropped Ezekiel there in that valley of despair, well past being clean among all that death. Ezekiel followed God, listened, and proclaimed the Word of God to those dry bones. Jesus still does this today. He takes a son of man and drops him where the church has called him to serve. Some in the valley, some on a mountain or hilltop, some in the city, suburbs, or country. Different scenery, yet as the son of man is led around, he notices all the dead, dry bones. In fact, he feels this dryness in his own bones as he dwells among them. This son of man, horrified at the death within him and with the death witnessed around him, is led by God to care for and serve those who are at that place. These sons of men are God's pastors and preachers, just like Ezekiel, and they listen and proclaim the Word of God to those dry bones. “The Lord says…so I prophesied as I was commanded.” The preachers see bone to its bone, and flesh and skin come upon them. Word preached, water poured, Body and Blood given under bread and wine. Breath prophesied, and the breath came into them, and they lived. The son of man God sent into that valley of dry bones does this work week in and week out, that God would raise these dry bones and strengthen them to stand and live according to the Word of their God, who gives them breath and life. This is the life of the church. This is your life, how God kills and makes alive. God preaches through His man called to you, and through that proclamation, through the Gospel joined to simple means, you have life and salvation. “And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Alleluia, alleluia! Oh, to breathe the Spirit's grace! Alleluia, alleluia! Oh, to see the Father's face!Alleluia, alleluia! Oh, to feel the Son's embrace! (LSB 491:4)

Today's Reading: Introit for Easter 2 - Psalm 81:1, 7a, 10, 16b; antiphon: 1 Peter 2:2aDaily Lectionary: Exodus 19:1-25; Hebrews 13:1-21“I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (Psalm 81:10)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob! Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.” For Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Asaph was a Levite, a member of David's court. The words of this psalm open to us the scriptures, giving us certainty of who God is, what He has done, and continues to do for His people. The people of Israel are described as stubborn, as those who do not listen or submit to God. Yet God conquers their enemies, delivers them from the land of Egypt. Despite their unfaithfulness and constant idolatry, God continues to care and deliver them. The same is true for us. We have seen all that God has done for us, and yet we still sin much and deserve nothing but God's wrath and punishment. We cannot, by our own reason or strength, believe in Jesus Christ as our God and Lord, or even come to Him. So God becomes the doer, the rescuer, the redeemer of us His people.  God comes down, that ancient Word that gave life to all flesh, puts on human flesh. The Word made flesh comes down, begotten of His Father, born of woman, to subdue our enemies of sin, death, and the devil. He does this not with gold or silver, but with His holy and precious blood by His innocent suffering and death. What is left for us to do then? Die. That's all we can do. God sees our stubbornness, our stopped-up ears, our sin and brokenness, and He overcomes them. His holy Law adjusts our stiff necks, and opens our ears, it kills our sinfulness, our very broken bodies, and kills all free will and go-getter attitude we might bring to the table. All we can do in history towards God is die. That's exactly what God does. He comes, and He dies to the Law in our place, bearing our sin that He might raise us the dead up and declare us His holy people. There's nothing we contribute. We die to sin, and are raised to new life. This is a daily reality we live in, that we would remember the God who brought His people out of Egypt, who fed them, and delivered them. God does the same for us. He does the redeeming, the saving, the life-giving, the absolving. We die to sin in our baptisms daily, and emerge in the daily resurrection to receive our daily bread. That we might receive the bread of life to fill us with the life that we will know fully on the Last Day. We are stubborn and unworthy, so we do all we can do is die. Yet united to our Lord and Savior Jesus, who came down, bore the cross, and rose again. We too shall rise.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Help us to serve you evermore with hearts both pure and lowly; and may your Word, that light divine, shine on in splendor holy that we repentance show, in faith ever grow; the pow'r of sin destroy and evils that annoy. O make us faithful Christians. (LSB 647:3)

Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 or 1 Corinthians 15:51-57Daily Lectionary: Exodus 18:5-27; Hebrews 12:1-24“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:56-57)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Behold! Jesus Christ is risen from the dead! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!Paul tells of a mystery. A mystery that will unfold at the fullness of time, at the sound of the trumpet. The perishable will put on the imperishable. Your mortal body must put on immortality. On the Last Day, Christ will return and raise you and me, and all the dead, and the words of the prophet Hosea that Paul writes to them will be fulfilled.A timeless truth, the promise Hosea proclaimed was as good as fulfilled when God spoke it to His prophet. In Jesus, that promise is fulfilled. In Jesus, death is swallowed up by His death; in Christ's victory over the grave, death is overcome. Death's sting is no more.In Jesus, God's promises are fulfilled. In Jesus, the Law of God is satisfied. Death is swallowed up forever, sin has no power over you, and the Law is silent towards you. In Jesus, the victory is won; God's timeless truths foretold by His prophets of old, by His apostles, and to you by His preachers are true and effective for you still today.In Holy Baptism are united to this truth, and the reality of the perishable putting on the unperishable, your mortal body puts on the immortality of Christ Jesus your Savior who you are united as baptized children of God through the water that washed you and claimed you from the sting of death, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Nothing for you to do according to the Law, truly a mystery that is proclaimed to us by God's mouthpieces from this time forth and forevermore. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“Laugh to scorn the gloomy grave And at death no longer tremble; He, the Lord, who came to save Will at last His own assemble. They will go their Lord to meet, Treading death beneath their feet.” (LSB 741:7)

Today's Reading: Job 19:23-27Daily Lectionary: Exodus 17:1-16; Hebrews 11:1-29“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.” (Job 19:25)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Job endured the cross God had laid on him. That sure didn't seem fair. Yet Job is not without hope; he knows that God has not abandoned him. Job had everything taken away from him. Lives of his children and wife, his own health, and his fortune. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness had died and left Job for dead. Yet sitting down in the midst of such darkness, Job bears his cross and knows God is with him. His God is with him, even through the worst of times, through the worst of friends, through the darkness; God is there.Job's words were written; they were inscribed in a book. That by reading Job's words, you would believe that Jesus is the Christ, and that by believing in Him, you, as Job did, would have life in His Name. Job's words—written with iron, or lead, engraved in rock, or ink engraved on paper, forever.It is in Job's suffering that He sees how much he has lost, and yet it is in that suffering that he makes that great confession, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.” Job knew he was a sinner, deserving nothing. Yet, despite losing everything, he had not lost God. “And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!” So it was for Job, and it still remains true for us today. Though we suffer and bear crosses laid on us by God, though we live in an unfair world, we are not without hope. We who deserve nothing better than Job, who no man was like, who feared God and turned away from evil cling to the God who lays the cross, and at the proper time when my skin has been destroyed we may see the God who also took on flesh, who suffered, who wept, who cried out, took up His cross and died.The God who suffers and dies is Jesus of Nazareth, your Redeemer who rose again, and lives and reigns at the right hand of His Father. He will stand upon the earth at the last, and you who suffer, who have conquered as a baptized child of God, joined to your Redeemer, will rise, live, and serve Him in His Kingdom for all eternity. It's not fair, yet it is glorious. Christ is risen, He is risen indeed! Alleluia!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Jesus, my Redeemer, lives; Likewise I to life shall waken. He will bring me where He is; Shall my courage then be shaken? Shall I fear, or could the Head Rise and leave His members dead? (LSB 741:2)

Today's Reading: Matthew 27:57-66Daily Lectionary: Exodus 13:17-14:9; Hebrews 7:1-22"The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, ‘Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ”After three days I will rise.” Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, “He has risen from the dead,” and the last fraud will be worse than the first.'” (Matthew 27:62-64)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Holy Saturday can be a difficult day to reflect on, because it is the in-between time where it seems the forces of evil have won, the Lord is dead, but we can still catch a glimpse of Sunday out of the corner of our eyes. We know what tomorrow brings, and we want to jump to that. But let's sit on Holy Saturday. Holy Saturday is a day where we reflect on the victory of the powers of darkness as they gloat, celebrate, and mock. The Lord told us just yesterday that His kingdom is not of this world, so there will be many times when it appears that the world is governed only by malice and cruelty. Turning on the evening news on any given night can be a strain on any normal person's assertion that the world is governed by an all-powerful, benevolent God. There is little we see with our eyes that convinces us of the Lordship of Jesus. In a world teeming with terror, genocide, fear, and brutality, it looks like the darkness has won.  This Holy Saturday we read about was no different. The chief priests and Pharisees think they've won, and all they need to seal their victory is for Jesus to stay dead. But here Matthew gives us a glimpse into the victors' mindsets. Even while victorious, they are afraid. They remember Jesus' promise that after his death, he would rise in three days, and instead of finding hope in that promise, they find a threat. Frightened, they do everything they can to protect themselves from what they assume will be a mere mythologizing of Jesus. On the surface, it seems perfectly rational: wait three days, let everyone see Jesus was speaking nonsense, and move along as if nothing happened. As if nothing has changed. It's a logic that makes sense on Saturday, when Jesus is still cold in his grave. Unlike the chief priests and Pharisees, however, we know the rest of the story. We know what's coming. We know how foolish their logic will look in the daylight tomorrow. Armed with that knowledge, we can look at the Holy Saturdays in our own lives and world, where the Lord seems silent, absent, defeated, and know that the gloating will not last the morning. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Oh perfect life of love! All, all, is finished now, All that He left His throne above To do for us below. (LSB 452:1)

LSB 544, v.5 • Good Friday

T8A - Basic characteristics of FM and SSB: Bandwidth of various modulation modes: CW, SSB, FM, fast-scan TV, Choice of emission type: selection of USB vs LSB, use of SSB for weak signal work, use of FM for VHF. T8B - Amateur satellite operation: Doppler shift, basic orbits, operating protocols, modulation mode selection, transmitter power considerations, telemetry and telecommand, satellite tracking programs, beacons, uplink and downlink mode definitions, spin fading, definition of “LEO”, setting uplink power. 55:05

T8A - Basic characteristics of FM and SSB: Bandwidth of various modulation modes: CW, SSB, FM, fast-scan TV, Choice of emission type: selection of USB vs LSB, use of SSB for weak signal work, use of FM for VHF. T8B - Amateur satellite operation: Doppler shift, basic orbits, operating protocols, modulation mode selection, transmitter power considerations, telemetry and telecommand, satellite tracking programs, beacons, uplink and downlink mode definitions, spin fading, definition of “LEO”, setting uplink power. 55:05

A right relationship with God has a way of turning things upside down. Consider the evidence: Daniel remained at ease the night he spent in a den of hungry lions, while the king whose law put Daniel there lay tossing on his bed in torment of soul. What a difference a clean conscience makes! "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him," exclaimed Daniel the next morning. "... and also toward you, O king, I have done no harm." Last week, we saw the character God formed in Daniel before the crisis. This week, we'll see what that relationship with God produces during the crisis. To believe we're kept by God's sovereign hand gives us boldness as His exiles. And to know He favors His covenant people, that our sins have been blotted out, gives us confidence even when we face our own death. Observable boldness and quiet confidence are the fruit of a right relationship with God—and a display case for His power to deliver. Even the wicked, like Babylon's King Darius, see God's power at work among His people. "... men are to fear and be in dread before the God of Daniel," Daniel 6:26 (LSB). "... for He is the living God and enduring forever, and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, and His dominion will be unto the end." This Lord's Day, we'll finish our look at Daniel 6, concluding the first half of the book of Daniel. I hope you'll join us as we consider, "God's People in Exile: Conscience Before Confidence." Prepare for Sunday: Read and meditate on Daniel 6, focusing on verses 18-28. What contrasts do you see between Daniel and Darius? Why was Daniel delivered

Daniel and the lion's den is one of the Bible's best-known stories. We rightly marvel at Daniel's devotion and God's deliverance; the former challenges us, while the latter assures God's people in exile still today. Yet it's what happened long before the lion's den that Scripture highlights for us in Daniel 6. "Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because an extraordinary spirit was in him, and the king planned to set him over the entire kingdom," Daniel 6:3 (LSB). What set Daniel apart from all other leaders was not merely administrative talent, but an inner quality that consistently rose above the often-stormy environment encircling him. Years of private devotion had formed in Daniel an inner life that bore the fruit of excellence. This Lord's Day, we'll consider how God graciously built in Daniel the kind of character that kept him from flinching when loyalty to the Lord was not merely costly, but deadly. Join us as we turn to Daniel 6 and consider "God's People in Exile: Character Before Crisis." Prepare for Sunday: Read Daniel 6, meditating on verses 1-18. How was Daniel distinguished among the other royal court officials? What does the term "extraordinary" or "excellent" reveal about Daniel's character? Use Scripture elsewhere to support your answer. Why would Daniel's integrity provoke hostility rather than admiration? How is Daniel a foreshadowing of Christ?

There are seasons in life when no matter how hard you try, nothing seems to move. You push forward, but the door won’t budge. You try to step back, but the path is blocked. You pray, plan, adjust, and strive—yet you still feel stuck. Psalm 40 reminds us that David knew this feeling well. He described being lifted from a “slimy pit” and set on solid ground. But later, when trouble surrounded him again, he didn’t pretend everything was fine. He cried out honestly, even urgently: “Come quickly, Lord, to help me.” Feeling stuck can bring frustration, fear, and even desperation. We may question why God hasn’t changed our situation yet. But Scripture shows us that waiting seasons are not wasted seasons. God is not absent in the delay. He remains present in the confinement. Sometimes God rescues immediately. Other times, He strengthens us within the waiting. Either way, He is our help and deliverer. He welcomes our honest prayers. He is not offended by our tears or our pleas for Him to hurry. If you feel wedged between circumstances you cannot control, remember: you are not trapped alone. The Lord is near. He hears you. He sustains you. And in time, He will place your feet on steady ground again. Main Takeaways Feeling stuck is a common and deeply human experience. David modeled honest, urgent prayer when he needed rescue. God is present in both deliverance and delay. Waiting seasons can strengthen faith and deepen reliance on God. The Lord remains our constant help, even when circumstances don’t immediately change. Today’s Bible Verse “As for me, I am afflicted and needy, May the Lord think of me. You are my help and the One who rescues me; Do not delay, O my God” (Psalm 40:17, LSB). Your Daily Prayer Prayer excerpt for listeners: “Help me to want You more than the relief, and to find hope in Your presence while I wait.” Listen to the full prayer here. To view the prayer in written format, visit the links below. Want More? Relevant Links & Resources Continue growing in faith and encouragement: LifeAudio.com – Christian podcasts and devotionals Crosswalk.com – Daily prayers, articles, and Bible study resources This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.orgTrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. https://trinitycredit.org Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The Christian life is nothing other than a daily Baptism. Baptism does not just happen to us; by it, the Lord transforms us by death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). We walk in our Baptism each day by living in repentance and the gracious forgiveness found in Christ. The Lord enables our faith to flourish as we mortify the flesh (Romans 8:13), turning to Him and trusting that His forgiveness in Christ is ours. “God's own child I gladly say it, I am baptized into Christ.” (LSB 594, st. 1) Rev. Daniel Lewis, Assistant Professor of Theology, Concordia University, Seward, NE, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to conclude our study of Baptism as confessed in the Large Catechism. 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.