There is a profound spiritual value in giving and in thanks-giving. Giving mirrors the nature of God, the ultimate giver and provider, not only for the just but also for the unjust. God's generosity, from life-sustaining provisions like sunlight and rain to the spiritual gift of His Son, sets the standard for human giving. This divine example challenges believers to adopt a similar posture of generosity, even toward enemies, as a reflection of God's boundless grace.

The story of Jacob and Israel's history ties deeply into the theme of thanksgiving, illustrating God's providence through trials and blessings. Jacob's years of wandering and labor in Paddan-Aram highlight human reliance on God. The betrayal of his son Joseph by his brothers, followed by their eventual reunion during a famine, underscores God's power to redeem suffering for His purposes. The exodus from Egypt, marked by the Passover lamb and manna in the wilderness, prefigures Christ as the ultimate provider, sacrificial Lamb and the Bread of Life.

May we embrace gratitude not only for blessings but also for hardships, recognizing these as tools through which God works for good. Echoing Job's declaration--"The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord"--this sermon calls believers to a faith that trusts God's wisdom even in loss and adversity. Thanksgiving, as an act of worship, aligns the soul with God's will, as well as fostering a deeper understanding of His love and providence.

First Thessalonians 5 states the identity of Christians as "children of light" and "children of the day," redeemed through Christ's death and resurrection. This identity calls believers to remain spiritually awake, watchful, and sober in anticipation of Christ's imminent return. Christians are destined for salvation, not wrath, and that whether alive or dead, they will live with Christ. God sees His people clothed in Christ's righteousness, free from condemnation.

In examining eschatological views, Pastor Rhode critiques postmillennialism, a theology originating in the 17th century, which envisions Christianity transforming the world into a near-utopia over a thousand-year period before Christ's return. He explains how postmillennialism influenced the social gospel movement, with its emphasis on societal reform over spiritual repentance, and its later transformation into social justice ideologies. He contrasts this with the biblical teaching that Christ reigns now and will return suddenly, not after a human-constructed "golden age."

Rhode connects these theological trends to broader cultural shifts, such as the rise of liberation theology and movements like multiculturalism, warning against allowing political and societal ideologies to distort Christian doctrine. The sermon ultimately calls believers back to the simplicity of faith: trusting in Christ's current reign and looking forward with joy and readiness to His return, free from the complexities and errors of human-devised eschatologies.

Pastor Rhode reflects on the imminent return of Christ, emphasizing its sudden and unmistakable nature, likened to the days of Noah and Lot when normal life abruptly gave way to judgment. He calls believers to repentance, humility, and trust in Christ, our Savior and our Judge, who bears the scars of his sacrifice for our redemption.

He critiques the modern doctrine of the Rapture, noting its historical absence from Christian teaching until the 19th century, and denounces related heresies like millennialism, Zionism, and dispensationalism. These teachings distract from Christ and mislead believers.

Paul's words in 1 Thessalonians assure believers that the dead in Christ will rise and join the living to meet the Lord. Pastor Rhode encourages faith in Christ's victory over death and urges Christians to reject false teachings, take up their crosses, and remain steadfast in hope, grace, and the true gospel until Christ's return.

Behold the profound love of God, which not only created the world but continually seeks to redeem it through acts of divine love, manifest most clearly in Jesus Christ, the love of God made flesh. This love, which called Carlene into being and sustained her throughout her life, is the same love that calls each of us into a relationship with God, marking us as His own through baptism. In baptism, we are born again, not of flesh which succumbs to death, but of spirit which endures eternally. Carlene's life, marked by love in her roles as a wife, mother, and community member, exemplifies the transformative power of living in this divine love. Even in her passing, she witnessed to this love, facing death not with fear but with a spirit filled with peace and assurance in Christ's promises. This same love invites us to see beyond the temporal and embrace the eternal, ensuring us that in Christ, death is not an end but a new beginning, a birth into eternal life where we will once again reunite in the everlasting love of God.

God sees the Invisible: He is compassionate, seeing, healing, and restoring those who feel overlooked. God's mighty power over ancient enemies like Egypt shows His strength and gives assurance that no matter how chaotic the world becomes, He will comfort and sustain His people.

Jesus encounters two people in great need: a ruler who believes Jesus can bring his deceased daughter back to life, and a woman suffering from a hidden illness. The woman, in faith, secretly touches Jesus' garment, and He sees and heals her despite her social invisibility. Jesus recognizes those suffering in silence, even when others do not.

These biblical stories connect to everyday life, acknowledging how people today can feel unseen in work, school, families, or crowded communities. Yet, we are assured that God sees and cares for the invisible, just as Jesus did for the woman in the crowd.

Jesus raising the ruler's daughter demonstrates that He is not afraid to reach out to those considered "unclean." By touching the woman and the dead girl, He heals and restores dignity, showing His willingness to reach out to us in our brokenness, offering forgiveness, comfort, and life eternal.

May we emulate Jesus by reaching out to the invisible people around us with kindness and compassion, bringing God's love to those who feel isolated. Because of Christ's resurrection, death is now a peaceful rest, with the promise of awakening in God's eternal presence and will be embraced in eternal communion, never to be lonely or unseen again.

God's boundless love for His people is not an abstract concept but a tangible reality made flesh in Jesus Christ. It is most clearly revealed through Christ's humility and selfless sacrifice, as He bore our sins and suffering to bring us freedom and restore our relationship with the Father. His love, vividly demonstrated on the cross, where He valued us more than His own life, should never become something we take for granted.

The brokenness we see in our world--in our nation, communities, families, churches, and even our own hearts--reveals our deep need for a Savior. This fragmentation can lead to feelings of isolation and a struggle for identity. Yet, in the midst of this, John's reminder from his first epistle calls us to remember who we truly are: beloved children of God. "Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are."

Baptism affirms and secures our identity as God's children, transforming us into new creations and anchoring us in His steadfast love. This truth goes beyond sentiment; it has the power to transform us. Even when the world fails to recognize or appreciate us, we should not be discouraged. In our baptism we have died to sin and now live in Christ, destined to reflect His likeness and be fully immersed in His love. In this, we find unshakeable strength and comfort, knowing that no matter how fractured or uncertain our world may be, our future is radiant and secure in God's unwavering, unchanging love.

This sermon is beautifully centered on the heart of the Reformation: the assurance that salvation is a gift freely given through faith in Christ alone, untouched by human efforts. By emphasizing Romans 3 and Paul's "but now," it powerfully captures how God's grace shines into the reality of sin, replacing despair with hope and certainty in Christ's finished work.

This sermon celebrates the gospel, focusing on the core Lutheran teaching of justification by faith alone, apart from works of the law. It honors the Reformation not for its polemics or divisions but for rediscovering the gospel message that continues to transform lives. Our redemption and righteousness come solely from Christ, whose sacrifice was God's profound act of love, covering all humanity's sins. Faith grasps this grace, building a foundation for hope, love, and spiritual transformation.

The law, which exposes our sin, is contrasted with the gospel's "but now" moment (Romans 3:21) -- where God's righteousness is freely given through faith in Jesus. This righteousness supersedes all attempts to be justified by the law or conscience, which would only lead to despair. Everyone is equally guilty but also equally justified by grace through faith as a gift. This leaves no room for boasting in personal works or achievements. The only boasting is in Christ and His completed work.

Believers in Jesus Christ are called to live in this freedom--using the gospel as a constant source of peace and assurance, enabling a life of love, hope, and faith, unto eternal life.

Jesus uses the healing of the official's son in Cana to teach a deeper spiritual truth. While the father comes asking for his son's physical healing, Jesus challenges the crowd's desire for signs and wonders, pointing to a more important reality--eternal life and spiritual healing.

Modern society views health as the avoidance of suffering and the pursuit of pleasure, often neglecting their spiritual well-being. Instead, illness and suffering can be a means by which God draws us closer to Him. Through suffering, we can gain humility, repentance, and a deeper understanding of God's grace. When health is used for evil or self-indulgence, it loses its value. True "quality of life" is defined by closeness to God. Good health is not merely the absence of suffering. Illness, in this sense, can be seen as a divine medicine leading to spiritual benefits, while death, paradoxically, becomes the ultimate cure that frees us from sin and restores us to life with God. Jesus' frustration in the story reflects His desire for people to prioritize eternal life over mere physical healing, and His act of compassion in healing the boy points to the greater healing He offers through the cross.

In His sermon during Holy Week, Jesus confronts the Pharisees, highlighting their rejection of God's prophets and His Son by quoting Psalm 118. He declares that, despite this rejection, He will become the cornerstone of God's kingdom--a kingdom that will be taken from them and given to those who will bear its fruits.

Central to the message are themes of God's relentless love, patience, and the ultimate sacrifice of His Son. The listeners are invited to reflect on their own blessings and the divine patience they have received from God.

Ultimately, the vineyard is understood as the Holy Christian Church, where believers partake in the joy of salvation through the Lord's Supper. This sacrament foreshadows the heavenly feast to come, as all who have faith in Jesus Christ rejoice in the love and grace that God continually extends to them.

Pastor Rhode compares two miracles: physical healing and the forgiveness of sins, focusing on the healing of the paralytic in Matthew 9. While Jesus performs many miraculous healings, including raising the dead, stopping a woman's bleeding, and healing the paralytic, these are temporary. All those healed, eventually face death again. In contrast, the forgiveness of sins offers eternal significance, making it the greater miracle.

Pastor Rhode challenges listeners to consider their biggest problems, which are often health, finances, or relationships. Yet, sin is our ultimate problem. Even if all other issues were solved, sin would remain. But if sins are forgiven, we have God, and in time, everything else will follow.

To prove His divine authority, Jesus heals the paralytic, showing that His Word holds the power to both heal and forgive.

Jesus extends this authority to His Church, explaining that confession and absolution are key to experiencing the freedom of forgiveness. When we confess, we release the "toxin" of sin, cleansing our conscience and healing our relationships. The power of forgiveness, administered through the Church, is "legally binding" in heaven. Christ already knows our hearts, and when we confess, we turn to the One who laid down His life for us.

With the forgiveness of sins, we have everything we truly need, and in time, all else will be provided. The forgiveness of sins is the greatest miracle, far surpassing physical healing.