Preacher: The Rev. Aaron E. Yaeger

Daniel 9:2–10* / Psalm 95 (Venite from Matins) /  1 Corinthians 9:24–10:4* / Matthew 20:1–16

Septuagesima (meaning “about 70 days”) - Grace is Undeserved (or Grace Alone) 
The collect for this Sunday implores God to graciously hear us, who are justly punished for our sin, so that we may be delivered by His goodness. The goodness of God is emphasized in the parable of the vineyard workers in the Gospel, Matthew 20:1-16. All the laborers receive the reward because of the goodness of the landowner and not because of their own labor or merit. We prepare for Easter by remembering that God is good and Christ has borne the heat and burden of the day for us so that we might have the goodness He gives for free.

Sermon text: https://oursaviorlynchburg.notion.site/19c75af8d8cd80afb98ff27bab441e75

Preacher: The Rev. Aaron E. Yaeger

Exodus 34:29–35 / Psalm 2 / 2 Peter 1:16–21 / Matthew 17:1–9

Jesus Is Transfigured and Manifests His Glory
The Lord appeared to Moses in the light of the burning bush (Ex. 3:1–14). Later Moses’ face would shine with the light of God’s glory when he came down from Mount Sinai (Ex. 34:29–35). At the Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared with the One who is the Light of Light Himself (Matt. 17:1–9). Jesus’ glory as God shines with brilliant splendor in and through His human nature. By this epiphany, our Lord confirmed the prophetic word (2 Pet. 1:16–21), revealing that He is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. He manifested His majesty as the eternal Son of the Father, and He wonderfully foreshowed our adoption as sons (Collect). We who have been baptized into Christ’s body are given a glimpse of the glory that we will share with Him in the resurrection on the Last Day.

Sermon text: https://oursaviorlynchburg.notion.site/19575af8d8cd80dfb3ece696dc524254

Preacher: The Rev. Aaron E. Yaeger

Malachi 3:1–4* / Psalm 84 / Hebrews 2:14–18 / Luke 2:22–32

God Gives the Gift of a Child to Destroy Death
The Lord opened the barren womb of Hannah and gave her the gift of the son for whom she prayed, and in grateful response she presented and gave the child, Samuel, to the Lord’s service. “As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD” (1 Sam. 1:28). So, too, did Mary and Joseph present the Child promised from the fall, born of a virgin’s womb. The true offering wasn’t the turtledoves or young pigeons. It was the Child they carried. This Child has come to “destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Heb. 2:14b–15). Set free by His advent in our flesh and the promise of what He would do “in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Heb. 2:17b), Simeon and Anna rejoiced. We also rejoice, for we, too, can face death unafraid and “depart in peace” (Luke 2:29) when our time comes.

Sermon text: https://oursaviorlynchburg.notion.site/18e75af8d8cd802dac4df856f4d11c60

Preacher: The Rev. R. Eric Malmstrom

Acts 20:28–35 / Psalm 71 / Titus 1:1–9 / Luke 10:1–9

St. Titus, Pastor and Confessor
“Faith,” “the knowledge of the truth,” and “the hope of eternal life” are manifested daily among us in His Word through the preaching of the Gospel of Christ Jesus (Titus 1:1–3). The times seem desperate: “fierce wolves” are among us, “not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:29) and “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Luke 10:2). The Lord, however, is diligent to build and care for the Church “which he obtained with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). We are not to fear, but rather to“pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest” (Luke 10:2). Send us faithful laborers! Preserve all pastors and teachers, that they “hold firm to the trustworthy Word as taught” so that they, like St. Titus, “may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9)! Give us ears to hear their preaching in repentance and faith. Preserve them from falsehood, greed, and unholy living. We commend them to You and the Word of Your grace (Acts 20:32), that “when the chief Shepherd appears,” (1 Peter 5:4) He may declare, “Well done, good and faithful servant. . . Enter into the joy of your master” (Matt. 25:21).

Sermon text: https://oursaviorlynchburg.notion.site/18775af8d8cd801f966fe0e541594d3b

Preacher: The Rev. Aaron E. Yaeger

Amos 9:11–15 / Psalm 111 / Romans 12:6–16a* / John 2:1–11

Jesus’ First Miracle Reveals God’s Glory
The coming of the Messianic kingdom means the restoration of creation. The sign of this restoration is that “the mountains shall drip sweet wine” (Amos 9:11–15). When the elements of a fallen creation fail and run short at a wedding feast, our Lord Jesus steps in to restore creation and miraculously changes water into an abundance of the very best wine (John 2:1–11). With this sign, Christ manifests His glory. The “back” of God (Ex. 33:12–23) is revealed to those who believe. The hour will come when Jesus will again manifest His glory by taking creation’s curse into His own body to release us from its power. The Bridegroom will give His life for the Bride (Eph. 5:22–32), and from His side will flow water and blood, the holy sacraments by which she is cleansed and made one with Him. Through this sacrificial love of Christ we are enabled to “love one another with brotherly affection . . .” and to “outdo one another in showing honor” (Rom. 12:6–16).

Sermon text: https://oursaviorlynchburg.notion.site/e862ba8f7dfd4d769234b0090edfc2ed

Preacher: The Rev. Aaron E. Yaeger

Isaiah 42:1–9* / Psalm 50 / Romans 12:1–6a* / Luke 2:42–52

The Glory of the Lord Returns to the Temple in the Boy Jesus
Now Jesus, who is the glory of the Lord in the flesh, enters the temple to show that He Himself is the everlasting temple and dwelling place of God. He has come there to be among the Father’s things (Luke 2:41–52). Our young Lord, true man, subject to Mary and Joseph, reveals Himself also to be true God — He is the Everlasting Son of the Everlasting Father. Jesus does this at the time of the Passover. For He came to be the sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Even as He was found by His parents after three days, so He would later rise from the dead on the third day that the favor of God might rest also upon us. It is by these mercies of God that we present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God through Christ (Rom. 12:1–6a).

Sermon text: https://oursaviorlynchburg.notion.site/c7bfe9203e2144598eb08b1cf4c1d297

Preacher: The Rev. Aaron E. Yaeger

Jeremiah 31:15–17 / Psalm 24 / Romans 3:19–26 / Matthew 2:19–23

Vigil of the Epiphany of Our Lord
This Twelfth Day of Christmas marks the beginning of the shift from Christmas to Epiphany; the focus shifts from the Nativity of our Lord to His being revealed to the nations as their Savior. The Light which has come into the dark world encounters opposition from Satan and his enemy agents. “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children” (Jer. 31:15). In fleeing the murderous Herod, our young Lord goes to Egypt (Matt. 2:19–23), that the prophecy might be fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I called my Son” (Hos. 11:1). He escapes death at this time, but at the time and place of His choosing, He will give Himself into death for the salvation of the world – the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe (Rom. 3:22). He submits Himself to persecution and suffering in order to save us. Christ suffered in this world, and so it will be for all who belong to Him. But we do not suffer in vain. Rather, we rejoice to share in Christ’s sufferings, knowing that we will also share in His glory.

Sermon text: https://oursaviorlynchburg.notion.site/6c9843e2bbc945ba9eade14bd6d09495

Preacher: The Rev. Aaron E. Yaeger

Jeremiah 31:31–34* / Psalm 89:1–18 / Galatians 4:1–7 / Luke 2:33–40

The Seed of David Comes to His Temple
A Rod has come forth from the stem of Jesse (Is. 11:1–5)—the Seed of David whose kingdom shall be established forever (2 Sam. 7:1–16). In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son Jesus to redeem us from the judgment of the Law (Gal. 4:1–7). Now He is presented in the temple in fulfillment of the Law and revealed to be “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:22–40). Christ has enlightened us in baptism, giving us to be adopted as sons of God and heirs of eternal life. Receiving the Holy Sacrament of His body and blood, we are prepared to depart this world in peace, for our eyes have seen the salvation of God in Him.

Sermon text for Sunday within the Christmas Octave AD 2024: https://www.notion.so/a69756dc5b184512ac48f7200b36c8be

Preacher: The Rev. Aaron E. Yaeger

Genesis 3:8–15 / Isaiah 7:10–14 / Luke 1:26–38 / Isaiah 60:1–6 / Isaiah 62:1–4a, 10–12 / Matthew 1:18–25 / Titus 2:11–15a / 1 John 4:7–16 / Luke 2:1–20

The Word of the Lord Is Fulfilled in the Flesh of Jesus
Though Ahaz would not ask, the Lord gives a sign to the house of David, that “the Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Is. 7:14). With this promise, He signifies that salvation is by His grace alone; it is no work or achievement of man, but the Lord’s own work and free gift. The promise is fulfilled as the Son of God is conceived and born of the Virgin Mary, and the sign is received in faith by the house of David in the person of Joseph (Matt. 1:20–24). “Incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary” (Nicene Creed), God is with us (Immanuel) in the flesh of Jesus, Mary’s Son. Joseph believes that Word of God and so demonstrates a marvelous example in his immediate and quiet obedience, taking Mary to be his wife and caring for her in faith and love. He loves her because the love of God is manifest in this, that “the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world,” “to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:9–10).

Preacher: The Rev. Aaron E. Yaeger

Deuteronomy 18:15–19 / Philippians 4:4–7 / John 1:19b–28

John the Baptist Points Everyone to the Messiah
The coming of God in all His unveiled power at Mount Sinai was terrifying to the people of Israel. The thundering voice of the Lord puts sinners in fear of death (Deut. 18:15–19). God, therefore, raised up a prophet like Moses—the Messiah, the Christ. God came to His people veiled in human flesh. The skies poured down the Righteous One from heaven; the earth opened her womb and brought forth Salvation (Introit) through the blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of the Lord (Luke 1:39–56). The fruit of her womb is the very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the One whose sandal strap John was not worthy to loose (John 1:19–28). In Jesus we are delivered from fear and anxiety. In Him alone we have the peace of God which surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:4–7).