Preaching and Teaching from St. John Ev. Lutheran Church (Sherman Center), Random Lake, Wisconsin

December 20, 2021

Every call to repentance and every proclamation of God’s holy Law, by prophet and pastor alike, is preparation to receive Jesus. Like John, our confession of sin and repentance is preparation to receive Christ Jesus. Like John, the preacher points to Christ in the manager, and Christ crucified and declares, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” “Take, eat, the body of Christ for you!” “Take, drink, the blood of Christ shed for you for the forgiveness of sins!” “You are forgiven! Go in peace!” So, the man sent speaks the Word and gets out of the way. The Word by the Holy Spirit does the work.

December 18, 2021

December 17, 2021

December 16, 2021

But how about, “Hate your enemy?” We ask the catechism question, “Where is this written?” It has a ring of truth being paired with the explicit, “You shall love your neighbor.” It makes sense to us. It’s the best Santa Claus morality. There’s no problem loving those who love us. Of course, we are to hate our enemies! Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, is as true today as then. It’s the kinetic, conservation of energy (the first law of thermodynamics), and the equal and opposite reaction (Newton’s third law.) But you can spend all day looking up “and you shall hate your enemy” and you will not find it.

December 15, 2021

December 14, 2021

December 13, 2021

When your bones grow weak, Jesus still loves you. When the blood dries up in your veins, Jesus still loves you. When your love slowly fades away from this earth, and the dirt embraces you, Jesus still loves you. God's love is more than father, mother, friend, or anyone else could love you, even more than you can love yourself... because God is love, and his promises to you are unbreakable, even into eternal life.