Pastor Scamman

The Christian faith is a religion of words. This is so because our God has revealed himself to us as the God who speaks. He created the world by speaking it into existence. He sustains the universe by the power of his Word. And when it became necessary to redeem His creation, the Word of God took on…

The Parable of the Vineyard illustrates in striking terms the long-suffering patience of God toward his wayward children. No one else, no human landowner would ever act in such a way. If you sent your servants to collect the rent and they were beaten, would you send more servants? Of course not. And…

When you read our text, you might ask, “What is Jesus doing once again in a house full of his enemies?” Perhaps that’s the sort of dinner invitation he ought to turn down. You and I might turn that invitation down, but not Jesus. That’s good news for us because at one time we were his enemies. Aren’t…

Had there been newspapers in Bible days, the headline the next day might have read, “Jesus ruins another funeral—Yesterday’s function was hopelessly derailed when Jesus showed up uninvited and canceled the ceremony. Even though the whole town had come out to bury the young man, their efforts were unsuccessful.…

I am once against struck by the timeliness of God’s unchanging word, which applies to every situation in every generation. This week we learned that none of the flood damage at St. Paul will be covered by insurance, that everything must be paid for out of pocket. And this week, according to the ancient…

Today we read of the “failed” ministry of John the Baptist. Those who had been with him in the beginning could remember the days of large crowds, when everybody flocked to hear John speak. The church was full, or rather, the Jordan River. But then something happened. John was arrested. His followers…

In the Old Testament text chosen for this day, the Lord God gives us a glimpse of the future He has in store for all believers: “Behold, I create a new heavens and a new earth, and the former things (that is, the sorrows of this life) shall not be remembered or come into mind. No more shall there be…

Today, as the Christian church gathers to receive the gifts of Christ, we remember St. Mary, who was chosen from all women to become the mother of God. This is the highest honor ever bestowed upon any member of the human race, and every generation since has rightly called her the blessed virgin Mary.…

How do we read and understand the accounts of miracles that Jesus performed in his ministry? In the seventies our synod experienced a crisis because forty-five of fifty professors at the St. Louis seminary were teaching that the miracles of the Bible did not actually happen as written. Of course, Jonah…

This Sunday is sometimes called “False Prophet Sunday” because the readings from the Old Testament and Gospel are both warnings against false prophets. False Prophet Sunday was the occasion for my installation and my first Sunday as your pastor. What a great way to be ushered into the ministry: “Here…