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

Text: Jer. 26:1-15; Ephesians 5:1-9

Text: John 6:47-69

Text: John 6:22-44

3. March 2021

Too often, though, people do shoot the messenger. They react with anger and malice towards the bearer of bad news. That was the case with Zechariah. He was merely the messenger, bringing God’s word to His people. If people didn’t like what Zechariah had to say, they should have been mad with God, not with Zechariah. But sometimes people do shoot the messenger.

Text: 1 Kings 21:1-16

Text: John 6:1-21

Text: Numbers 11:4-6, 10, 13, 18-23, 31-34

The new god, science, attempts to downplay or even eliminate both the pains and pleasures of this life. Its seductive promises cause you to hold out for some “pie in the sky” future that will free you from all pain and sorrow. Instead of seeing life's trials as something to struggle with and overcome, and in the process become stronger, the life-denying god encourages you to hate this life and look forward to a better life that's out there, just on the other side of the next scientific breakthrough or technological innovation. But how can this be true? Science has given you so much that improves your life! Except it doesn't and hasn’t because it's not Christ. Jesus is your strength and faith. He is the life-affirming God because Jesus is Life itself, and anything that is not Jesus is not God, and therefore cannot give you true life.

Text: Genesis 32:22-32

Text: Luke 8:40-56