Preacher: The Rev. Aaron E. Yaeger

Micah 7:18–20 / 1 Peter 5:6–11 / Luke 15:1–10

Jesus Receives Sinners
“This man receives sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2). The Pharisees’ statement of judgment against Jesus is in fact a proclamation of Gospel truth. For our God is one who delights in mercy, who casts all our sins into the depths of the sea through the cross (Micah 7:18–20). “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15). Jesus came only for sinners, only for those in need of repentance (Luke 15). Refusing to be counted as a sinner means refusing Jesus. He seeks and saves to rejoice with those He rescues—and what better way to rejoice than with a feast? But all who rely on their own righteousness (like the older son) will scorn the repentant sinner and refuse to rejoice with the Father. Such refusing means remaining outside the Father’s house. Let us therefore be on guard against self–righteously trusting in our own merits. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you” (1 Peter 5:6). Rejoice that Jesus receives sinners like us and that He still sits at table with us in the Holy Supper, bestowing His forgiveness and life.

Sermon text: https://oursaviorlynchburg.notion.site/22875af8d8cd80149d2efa2d6770ca92

Preacher: The Rev. R. Eric Malmstrom

Acts 12:1–11* / [Galatians 2:1–10] / Matthew 16:13–19

St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles
“Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.” So confessed St. Peter. And Christ promised to build His Church on it by the forgiveness of sins (Matt. 16:16–19). He does this so we don’t try to build the Church ourselves, on this or that person, or by any human means. Let no one boast in men, whether Paul or Cephas, for all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s (1 Cor. 3:21–23). The same Lord who worked through Peter’s ministry worked also through Paul’s and is still at work in His Gospel and Sacraments (Gal. 2:7–8). The Church of every age must be recalled to hear the Word of this Gospel—the free forgiveness of sins for Christ’s sake apart from the Law—and believe. The Holy Spirit makes no distinction among men, but cleanses hearts by faith alone. So will we be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus (Acts 15:7–11). Both were imprisoned (Acts 12:1–11), both wrote Scripture (2 Pet. 3:15–16), both opposed the world—and sometimes each other (Gal. 2:11–16)—but all that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for us (v. 5).

Sermon text: https://oursaviorlynchburg.notion.site/22075af8d8cd8083b222ecb97d6eb0ce

Preacher: The Rev. Aaron E. Yaeger

Deuteronomy 6:4–13* / 1 John 4:8b–21* / Luke 16:19–31

Faith Trusts in Christ for Life Eternal
Faith in Christ alone saves. When the beggar Lazarus died, he was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. He was Abraham’s seed, for he shared the faith of Abraham. The name Lazarus means “God is my help.” But the unnamed rich man did not fear, love, and trust in God. Since “he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20), the rich man’s lack of faith is evidenced by his lack of love for the beggar at his gate. He who loved and trusted in possessions and prestige died and was in torment in Hades (Luke 16:19–31). There, he was filled with regret; regret is not repentance. Repentance and faith are worked only through Moses and the prophets—that is, the Word of God. Through Moses and the prophets, Abraham, and Lazarus—and all Christians—come to faith in Christ. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus—by faith we receive this saving reality—we are brought into the life everlasting. 

Sermon text: https://oursaviorlynchburg.notion.site/21a75af8d8cd80d9b340cd9bb15931fd

Preacher: The Rev. Aaron E. Yaeger

Isaiah 6:1–7 / Romans 11:33–36 / John 3:1–15

The Holy Triune God Reveals Himself to Sinners
When Isaiah beheld the glory of the Lord, he cried out “Woe is me!” For the sinner cannot stand in the presence of a holy God and live (Is. 6:1–7). But God the Father lifted up His Son Jesus for us on the cross, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. This eternal life of Christ is given us according to the Holy Spirit’s good pleasure in Baptism. “Unless one is born [again] of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). To sinners in fear of death, the messengers of God place on our lips the living body and blood of Christ and speak His words of absolution, “Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for” (Is. 6:7). Having received forgiveness and life from the Father through the Son by the Holy Spirit, we join with the angels in praising the blessed Trinity, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!” (Is. 6:3). “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:33–36).

Sermon text: https://oursaviorlynchburg.notion.site/21375af8d8cd801d9997c337dc70ee2f

Preacher: The Rev. Aaron E. Yaeger

Genesis 11:1–9 / Acts 2:1–11 / John 14:23–31a

The Holy Spirit Gives Peace

Following the flood, Noah’s descendants failed to spread out and fill the earth as God had spoken. Rather, they exalted themselves; with “one language and the same words” (Gen. 11:1) they spoke proudly and arrogantly. The Lord humbled them by confusing “the language of all the earth,” dividing and dispersing the people (Gen. 11:9). That dispersal was reversed on Pentecost Day (the fiftieth day of Easter), when God caused the one Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to be preached in a multitude of languages. “At this sound the multitude came together” (Acts 2:6), for the preaching of Christ is the primary work of the Holy Spirit, whereby He gathers people from all nations into one Church. The Holy Spirit teaches and brings to our remembrance the words of Jesus, which are the words of the Father who sent Him. These words bestow forgiveness and peace to those who keep and hold on to them in love for Jesus. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27).

Sermon text: https://oursaviorlynchburg.notion.site/20c75af8d8cd80e89c3dd7b591716b17

Preacher: The Rev. Aaron E. Yaeger

Ezekiel 36:23a, 23c–28* / 1 Peter 4:7b–11* / John 15:26–16:4a*

The Spirit of Truth Bears Witness to Jesus
The Spirit of Truth bears witness to Jesus, who is the truth. But the world does not receive the truth—indeed, it cannot, since the world loves its own and hates those who are of the truth. Jesus promises that just as He was scorned by the world, so also His Church. Jesus says: “The hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service [a liturgy!] to God” (John 16:2). But Jesus’ suffering and death also wins our salvation. Thus, we rejoice to share in His sufferings, that we may also share in His resurrection glory (1 Pet. 4:7–14). Through the ministry of the Spirit of Truth, we are cleansed from the deceit of our idols and given a new heart and a new spirit, the heart and Spirit of Christ (Ezek. 36:22–28). He now works in us fervent, self-giving love for one another, love which covers a multitude of sins, “that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Pet. 4:11).

Sermon text: https://oursaviorlynchburg.notion.site/20575af8d8cd80f6b1cdc99a4c28218b

Preacher: The Rev. R. Eric Malmstrom

Numbers 21:4–9 / James 1:22–27 / John 16:23b–30*

The Father Answers Our Prayers Because of Jesus
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you” (John 16:23). To pray in Jesus’ name is to pray as one who has been baptized. For it is in the water that He put His name upon you, claiming you as His own, making you a son of God with access to the Father. By His incarnation and crucifixion, our Lord Jesus broke through the barrier of sin which separated us from God, opening a portal to the Father. To pray in Jesus’ name is to pray with faith in Him as the one Mediator between God and men, who gave Himself a ransom for all (1 Tim. 2:1–6). Like Moses in the wilderness, Jesus is our go-between and intercessor before the throne of heaven. He was lifted up for us on the cross that we might be saved and restored to fellowship with the Father (Num. 21:4–9). Looking into this perfect teaching of liberty (James 1:22–27) we pray with boldness and confidence as dear children of God.

Sermon text: https://oursaviorlynchburg.notion.site/20175af8d8cd80b58eb4ead167103c78

Preacher: The Rev. R. Eric Malmstrom

Isaiah 12:1–6 / James 1:17–21* / John 16:5–15

Jesus Promises to Send His Holy Spirit, the Paraclete
Jesus departs visibly from us to the right hand of the Father who sent Him, but this is to our advantage. For Jesus is Lord over all creation; He intercedes for us before the Father; He is preparing a place for us in heaven. He sends the Paraclete, the Spirit of Truth (John 16:5–15), who comes alongside us. Through Jesus Christ, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17). The Holy Spirit helps us by taking what is Christ’s and declaring it to us. In the Word of truth, written by the apostles, spoken by Christians, and preached by the Lord’s ministers, the Spirit works. Through the Word, He brings repentance and delivers to us the forgiveness of sins, the righteousness of Christ, and victory over the devil. For the ruler of this world is judged and defeated by the cross. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we have been brought forth to new life in Him who is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. Confident of our resurrection with Christ we confess, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid” (Is. 12:2).

Sermon text: https://oursaviorlynchburg.notion.site/20175af8d8cd804cb952edd1475f521d

Preacher: The Rev. Aaron E. Yaeger

Isaiah 40:25–31 / 1 Peter 2:11–20 / John 16:16–22

Those Who Wait on the Lord Shall Rejoice
The people of God are pilgrims and sojourners in this world, looking ahead to a destination yet to come (1 Peter 2:11–20). Though we are now children of God, the fullness of what we shall be has not yet been revealed (1 John 3:1–3). We are those who wait on the Lord. “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him” (Lam. 3:25). Jesus tells us that the wait is just a little while. “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me” (John 16:16). Though you must experience sorrow for a time, though you must live as strangers in a world that is at enmity with Christ, yet your sorrow will be turned to joy when He returns. “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength” (Is. 40:31). The little while of weeping shall be replaced with an eternity of rejoicing in the presence of Christ the crucified and risen Savior. “And no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22).

Sermon text: https://oursaviorlynchburg.notion.site/1f075af8d8cd8032a0d5c3a062d3984e

Preacher: The Rev. Aaron E. Yaeger

Ezekiel 34:11–16 / 1 Peter 2:21b–25* / John 10:11–16

The Good Shepherd Cares for His Sheep
Our Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11–16). He is not like the hireling, who cares nothing for the sheep and only for himself, who flees when he sees the wolf coming. Rather, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who seeks out His scattered sheep to deliver them (Ezek. 34:11–16). He gathers them and feeds them in rich pasture. He binds up the broken and strengthens the sick. He lays down His life for wandering and wayward sheep. On the cross, Christ bore in His body the attacks of the predators of sin and death and the devil for you that you might be saved. He now lives to restore your soul in the still waters of baptism, to lead you in the paths of righteousness by the voice of His Gospel, to prepare the table of His holy supper before you, that you may dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23). “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).

Sermon text: https://oursaviorlynchburg.notion.site/1e975af8d8cd8028ba10cf13c4bb8bc5