The most important day of Roberta’s life was September 10th, 1968. This was the day that God granted her the new birth of the Holy Spirit through Holy Baptism. On this day God wrote Roberta’s name in the Lamb’s Book of Life. He sundered her from the number of the unbelieving, and placed her safe and…

Why do we need Christmas? An odd question, perhaps, but an important one. We’re so busy celebrating Christmas, does anyone ever stop to ask, “Why do we need Christmas?” I know how the merchants would answer: “We need Christmas to stay in business. We need Christmas so that everyone goes out and buys…

John the Baptist was a Christian. He was a follower of Christ. Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” ( Mt 16:24 ). So, when the priests and Levites asked John, “Who are you?” John answered, “I am not the Christ” ( Jn 1:20 ). John’s confession…

The angel answered Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was…

“Comfort, comfort my people says your God” ( Is 40:1 ). These words from the 40th chapter of Isaiah mark the beginning of a major shift in Isaiah’s message. In the previous chapter, Isaiah had proclaimed the judgment of the LORD against sin. Because of idolatry, Jerusalem, the holy city, would fall.…

“Behold, I send my messenger and he will prepare my way before me” ( Mal 3:1 ). These words contain a wonderful gift and promise of God. We know that Advent is supposed to be a time of preparation and repentance. When a king came to visit a small town, the people would spend weeks preparing for his arrival.…

The season of Christmas seems to start earlier every year. Have you noticed that? I’m sure you have. My wife went to the store last week to get some Christmas decorations, almost a month in advance, and she came back complaining that nearly everything was already gone. Some of the older folks here may…

Our gospel text contains the first mention of Christian baptism in the Scriptures: “[All the people of Jerusalem and the surrounding region] were going out to John, and they were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins” ( Mt 3:5b–6 ). John was the first to baptize, yes, but he…

“Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold! Your King comes to you’” ( Mt 21:5 ). First, these words are a command to all preachers. What words should be spoken to the church? Only these, “Your king comes to you.” No other words, no other message, no other gospel – only Christ, who comes in meekness to be…

This sermon draws much from the faithful preaching of Pastor Rolf Preus, whose has taught me, nearly more than any other, how to preach of Christ.