We continue our midweek series “Living Lent as People of the Resurrection”. Today our focus is on “purpose”. What does Scripture say about the will of God? How did Jesus’ life of obedience, suffering, death on a cross, and resurrection serve his...

“And lead us not into temptation”, Jesus teaches us to pray. Martin Luther reminds us that in the Lord’s Prayer “we ask that God would guard against the devil, the world, and our sinful nature.” So confident is Satan of his own power that he confronts...

Just days ago we experienced the transfigured Christ, shining in all his glory. Like his disciples we would prefer lingering in mountaintop experiences. But our Savior leads us down from the mountain to the valleys where we encounter the trials, the...

With Jesus’ disciples, we are invited to stand in the presence of the holy and merciful God and behold his glory. That glory is revealed in Jesus, and his presence remains with us as we gather around Word and sacrament. Like the disciples we may wish...

The glory of God is often revealed when and where it is least expected. God uses our lips to declare that glory, inexperienced and hesitant though they may be. God uses our love to demonstrate that glory and so urges us to exercise it. God uses Jesus...

Our Lord speaks and we listen. God’s Word delivers what it promises. Our life together begins with the life-giving Word of God. Faith is born from that Word, a faith that is shared in time and space by those gathered and redeemed by the living Word...

In today’s Old Testament reading, God tells his people to rejoice because he is creating a new relationship with them, giving them a new name. In the Gospel account we hear the familiar story of Jesus “gladdening” the wedding at Cana by the first of...

Baptism is always the begin-ning of a new story. It was for Jesus; it is for us. It should not surprise us that the Author of Life, in his great love for us, provides in water and his Word a gift, a divine means for renewing each day of our life as...

Throughout the season of Epiphany the divine nature of Jesus is revealed in different ways. Today we see him as a light shining in the darkness, a light prophesied from long ago. Through our baptism into Christ we are called to be children of that...

“In the fullness of time, God sent his Son to earth. When the time was right, Jesus called his disciples and performed his miracles and signs. According to the divine plan, Christ was sacrificed on our behalf and rose again. Today we delve ever deeper...