Lutheran Preaching and Teaching from St. John Random Lake, Wisconsin

Text: John 19:25-42

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Text: John 19:1-24

Text: John 18:28-40

Text: John 18:1-27

The reason for not addressing doubt might be fear of being wrong or its laziness and neglect. It’s hard work. It takes time. You might be perceived as a stick in the mud. Your neighbors may wonder what’s wrong with you. And it’s true you may fail to give trust where it’s earned. So start there, giving everyone trust. And when doubt arises in your heart, push back. Challenge one another. Ask questions. Do the research. God gave you your heart and mind, your doubts which lead your imagination and inquiry. You may be wrong in which case you’ll be led out of ignorance. Or your suspicions may be correct, and your neighbor in error and now corrected. And in so doing, both you and your neighbor’s faith and life will increase. “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” (Proverbs 27:17)

Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Text: Exodus 15:1-18

Text: John 21:15-25

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Text: John 21:1-14

Text: Luke 24:33-49

Text: Luke 24:13-35

Because the stone is rolled away, your debt is cancelled, your punishment is atoned for, and the one who did it all in your place is free. Every stone that lays heavy on your heart and conscience has been rolled away into the depths of the sea. God has reconciled the whole sinful world to Himself in Christ, who was given up for our sins and rose again for our righteousness.

But that’s not the end of the three days. The sign of Jonah doesn’t end with the sealed tomb. Just as the fish could not contain God’s man, so also the grave could not contain the Son of God. He burst the chains of death’s prison, destroying its captive hold forever.

Saturday, April 3, 2021

You have no problem forgiving those who love you, serve you, and show you due humility. But forgive those who hate you, who slander you, who impose their will on you, who oppress you, or who tyrannize you? That takes some real effort and more than you have. What you want is sacrifice before forgiveness. You want them to grovel, beg, plead. This is your natural religion.