Why would the Church Year begin with a reading that describes an event near the very end of Jesus’ life—his entry into Jerusalem at the start of Holy Week? The events of Palm Sunday serve as a perfect summary of the entire plan of salvation.

It is odd to see this man riding into Jerusalem on a young donkey, to cheers and the celebratory waving of palm branches. Understandably, many asked, “Who is this?” The answer: This is not just a rabbi. This is the King of all creation. This is God Almighty wrapped in flesh. Yet he does not enter Jerusalem with glory and power on display, but rather he hides all that so he can be our priest and sacrifice.

This is a King unlike any other ruler who has ever lived. He is infinitely greater than all other kings, while simultaneously being infinitely humbler. This King is willing to trade his golden crown for one made of thorns. This King comes not demanding our service but to serve us. You look at how good, how loving is this King, and you ask that question upon which eternity hinges. “Who is this?” As we march through this new Church Year, the answer becomes crystal clear. This King is the Savior of the nations.

The Bible reading for this message is Isaiah 2:1-5.

Video of this worship service and message can be found here.

This message is Part 1 in our series: Come, Lord Jesus.

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Remember your Savior Jesus loves you! May he bless you with his grace!

Jesus promised, “I am coming soon.” Yet what does soon mean to the one who is the eternal God? We don’t know. We want Jesus to return quickly, because we know the Last Day will be a day of great deliverance for us. Yet how long will we have to wait? Will it be in a few months or a few millennia? We cannot know. 

As we await Christ’s return, we want to avoid two extremes: impatience and indifference. Let us not despair if the deliverance of the Last Day does not come as quickly as we would like, but let us never doubt that that deliverance will come. How do we avoid those extremes? How does Christ’s church remain ready and watchful? In this last week of the Church Year, our Savior does what he has done all year—point us to his Scriptures. The Scriptures record countless promises that have already been fulfilled in Christ. That assures us that the not-yet-fulfilled promises are as good as done. There is no doubting that the Last Day will come. There is no doubt that that day will be a day of blessed deliverance for God’s people. 

The Bible reading for this message is Luke 12:35-40.

Video of this worship service and message can be found here.

This message is Part 2 in our series: The Last Day.

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Remember your Savior Jesus loves you! May he bless you with his grace!

Our world is full of victims of abuse, violence, and oppression. In many cases, this evil goes unnoticed or unpunished. Injustice can drive victims in two possible directions. They can be filled with despair over the unfairness of the situation. Or they can be filled with hatred and a desire for revenge. While Christians wait for Christ’s return on the Last Day, they are by no means the only ones who suffer at the hands of others. They are, however, often included among them. Believers have always faced opposition from a world who rejects the one we believe in. When we suffer, what are our options? Do we throw up our hands in despair? Do we take matters into our own hands and seek vengeance? The certainty of that Last Day gives us a better option. We can leave justice up to the Judge. We can be confident that on the Last Day every wrong will be righted. We can look forward to the Last Day—also known as Judgment Day—because we are confident of where we stand with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
 
The Bible reading for this message is 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10.

Video of this worship service and message can be found here.

This message is Part 1 in our series: The Last Day.

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Remember your Savior Jesus loves you! May he bless you with his grace!

We believe in “the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints” (Apostles’ Creed). All with saving faith in Jesus as their Savior are holy. (Saint comes from the Latin word sanctus which means holy.) God grants the status of saint to all believers. Since sainthood is achieved through faith in Christ, we refer to believers as the invisible Church. Members are unknown to us since only God can see the heart. Furthermore, even if we knew the identity of each saint on earth, they would not look all that different from the rest of mankind. Believers still struggle with trials, temptations, and sin. Nor does membership in the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints make life easier. In some ways it makes life more difficult as we struggle against a world that is hostile towards Christ.

However, some members of the communion of saints no longer struggle with trial and sin. They are not oppressed by an anti-Christian world. These are all the saints who, through their Christian death, have triumphed over all these things. The blessedness of being God’s saint is no longer invisible for them. They live in the glory of Christ’s light. This week, we thank God for those members of the communion of saints who have gone before us and now enjoy everlasting life. We feebly struggle, just as they once did. But now, thanks to Christ, they in glory shine. Their example encourages us as we patiently wait to join them.

The Bible readings for this message are Revelation 21:1-6.

Video of this worship service and message can be found here.

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Remember your Savior Jesus loves you! May he bless you with his grace!

Throughout the history of the church, the story of faithfulness to the Word of God has always been the story of persecution. After all, Jesus promised it! Who would send defenseless sheep into a world of ravenous wolves? It makes no sense, yet that is precisely the plan that Jesus describes for his church. It makes no sense—unless you are the Good Shepherd who wants his sheep to utterly depend on him.

Our trust in Jesus doesn’t mean an absence of persecution, but faithfulness despite it. We will witness to the Word of God before brothers, fathers, children, governors, and princes. Jesus promised, “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” What comfort that must have been for Martin Luther, whose faithful witness caused him to be expelled from his order, excommunicated from his church, and outlawed from his empire. Before the kings and princes of Europe, Luther gave faithful witness at Worms: “Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”

The Bible readings for this message are Matthew 10:16-23.

Video of this worship service and message can be found here.

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Remember your Savior Jesus loves you! May he bless you with his grace!

Recently, we were reminded to trust not in our own ability or understanding, but to trust in God’s ability to bless. As we commemorate St. James of Jerusalem, that theme is amplified. We are called to trust in God’s gracious ability, but ability to do what? To change hearts and attitudes? Yes. To bring us joy in the face of suffering? Yes. To help us to grow through that suffering? Yes. To keep his promises even if we have to depart this life for the Christian faith? Yes. God is able to keep his promises, so by faith, we trust in him.
 
The Bible reading for this message is James 1:1-12.

Video of this worship service and message can be found here.

This message is Part 3 in our series: Lord, Increase Our Faith.

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Remember your Savior Jesus loves you! May he bless you with his grace!

Disciples of Jesus need to learn how to pray. We need Jesus to teach us to ask for those things which our Father in heaven promises us. We need to learn to claim in prayer what he wants for us more than what we want from him. However, learning to pray is not like many of the other things we learn to do in our lives. Once we know how to write our name, tie our shoes, or ride a bike, the learning is done. There is virtually no danger we will forget how to do those things. Not so with prayer. Prayer is not something we learn to do once and then know how to do correctly for the rest of our lives. Learning to pray consists of a lifetime of persistence and struggle. But when we struggle with God in prayer, it is not an indication that something is wrong but that everything is right. Struggle is part of the very nature of prayer. At the heart of the blessings it brings in our lives of faith.
 
The Bible reading for this message is Genesis 32:22-30.

Video of this worship service and message can be found here.

This message is Part 2 in our series: Lord, Increase Our Faith.

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Remember your Savior Jesus loves you! May he bless you with his grace!

A Christian marriage is established not on the success of the individuals, but rather on the gracious love of Christ that forgives the sins of husband and wife and enables them to forgive and love one another.

This message was preached for the Christian Wedding of Cathy Maddox and David Garrett on 14 October 2022 @ King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, FL.

The Bible reading for this message is Ephesians 4:31-32.

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Remember your Savior Jesus loves you! May he bless you with his grace!

Gratitude is the appreciation and thankfulness we feel when someone does something kind to us or for us. There are two key factors that influence the intensity of gratitude. First, there is the deservedness factor. Say you do a favor for your neighbor, picking up his mail when he is out of town. A month later he does a favor for you, giving you a ride to the airport. You are grateful for his help, but not overwhelmingly so. You feel by doing a favor for him, you deserved his help to some degree. Second, there is the generosity factor. Say you do that favor for your neighbor, picking up his mail when he is out of town. When he gets back, he gives you a hundred-dollar bill. You’re stunned. “I can’t accept. This is too generous.” Apply this to God. Consider the deservedness factor. What does God owe us? How deserving are we of his blessing? Consider the generosity factor. What has he done for us? What blessings has he given us now? What blessings has he promised us in eternity? As Jesus increases our faith, so that we accurately answer all those questions, we become more than grateful. We overflow with gratitude.
 
The Bible reading for this message is Luke 17:11-19.

Video of this worship service and message can be found here.

This message is Part 1 in our series: Lord, Increase Our Faith.

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Messages from the King is produced by King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, FL.

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Remember your Savior Jesus loves you! May he bless you with his grace!

This weekend we were going to start our new worship series – “Lord, Increase Our Faith,” but the Lord had other plans. Hurricane Ian made a direct hit on the southwest side of our state and plowed its way northeast over our homes and communities here in Central Florida. Tremendous amounts of rain fell from the heavens, causing lakes and waterways to flood homes and communities. Relentless winds knocked down trees and weaker structures, leaving millions without power. Devastation lay in the wake of the hurricane, especially where it made landfall. Yet in his appointed time, the Lord calmed the seas and stole the breath of the storms. With unfathomable grace, he preserved the lives of many and provided rescue for others. What else can a family of believers do in the aftermath of such a disaster than offer thanks for God’s gracious mercy? The Lord of wind and wave continues to watch over us. To him be glory and thanksgiving this day and always!

The Bible readings for this message are Mark 4:35-41 and Jonah 2:1-9.

Video of this worship service and message can be found here.

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Messages from the King is produced by King of Kings Lutheran Church in Maitland, FL.

To find out more about King of Kings...

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Remember your Savior Jesus loves you! May he bless you with his grace!