James Webb, Abraham, and the Great Cloud of Witness

Even with the new James Webb Space Telescope we still have the same problem Abraham had; we can’t even begin to count all the stars in the universe.

Father of many nations; Abraham and God

The great Old Testament patriarch Abraham is known as the father of many nations. This is what his name literally means. But Abraham did not start out that way. He started out as Abram, which means exalted father. He lived in the land of Ur of the Chaldeans. There was nothing special about him. But…

Death and Resurrection Baptism

Romans 6:3-5 “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in…

Love Is the Fulfilling of the Law

Paul’s letter to the Romans follows a familiar pattern that is found in many of his letters. He spends the first several chapters focusing on the Gospel. Then in chapter 12 Paul starts to focus on applying the Gospel to our everyday lives: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to…

To God be the Glory Forever. Amen.

[33] “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! [34] For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? [35 ] Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? [36]…

Mercy for the Disobedient

Romans 11:32: “For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.” God has consigned all to disobedience. This does not mean that God causes our disobedience. It means that he leaves us to our own devices. As soon as God removes his support we immediately turn to disobedience. The word…

The Power of the Resurrecting Christ

In a series of sermons based on the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, Dr. David Schmitt, professor of homiletics at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, observes that “Paul’s letter is filled with the power of the resurrecting Christ, bringing life and salvation to all people.” A focus on power is what one would expect when…

Serving God in a New Way

One of the things that the COVID-19 pandemic has meant is that most everyone is working in a new way. Many have had to start working from home. Those who still go in to work have had to change their work environment. Working from home was on the increase before the pandemic. In some cases…

Finding Jesus in the Old Testament

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) The phrase, “the wages of sin is death,” helps us to find Jesus in the Old Testament. On the day of Easter Jesus explained how all the Old Testament was fulfilled in…

“Hello, My Name is Paul”

According to Dr. David Schmitt, professor of homoletics at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, the Apostle Paul was in Corinth when he wrote his letter to the Romans. He was about to journey to Jerusalem to bring an offering from the churches in Asia to the poor in Jerusalem. After his trip to Jerusalem he wanted…