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

Taught on January 12, 2019

Preached on January 8, 2019.

05. January 2019

Your life is like St. Joseph: a hard road to walk, no doubt. Suffer evil quietly. Serve each other in your vocations. Don’t be ashamed that life is difficult for you. But, just as it is for Joseph, so it is for you. Rejoice now even in suffering. In the end, the glory of what God has done in and through you will be shown. You are blessed while you suffer because God himself is with you as you share in Christ’s sufferings. Your faithful creator will accomplish good according to His will. You may not understand now, but in faith you know it is true as He is true. Everything will work out for your good. On the last day, you’ll be able to look back and rejoice with understanding.

Taught on January 5, 2019.

01. January 2019

"And at the end of eight days, when [Jesus] was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb" (Luke 2:21). Merry Christmas! Today’s Gospel reading is the shortest of the church year. But packed in those few words is the entire proclamation of the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ! Everything you need to know about Jesus is right there.

29. December 2019

Waiting is not easy. The life of the baptized is full of trial and temptation. As long as we live in this mortal body, the new man in Christ will always be at odds with the old man of death. Waiting with hope needs the assurance of faith. Thus the Holy Spirit brings you to faith by the preaching of the Word, through the new birth of Holy Baptism, through the declaration of sins forgiven, and through the sacred meal of Christ’s own flesh and blood. He does this in His Holy Christian Church where this one baptism is given and received. And He continues to nourish and strengthen your faith that you would be steadfast until Christ brings all His promises to fulfillment.

Taught on December 29, 2019.

25. December 2019

Merry Christmas! Today, we celebrate the incarnation of the Son of God and the birth of the Son of Mary. And who doesn’t like a birthday party, especially when the child given is Himself your salvation and the savior of the whole world? Today is truly a day worth celebrating! For unto you is born a savior, Christ the Lord! But there’s another birthday today that we celebrate and that’s yours! For unto you a Savior is born, and in Him you, too, are given new life, a new birth.

24. December 2019

It may be dark and half-spent is the night. But the light has come. Jesus has come. Salvation is yours. And He still comes! His light still pierces the darkness. He still opens heaven wide, as we sing with saints, angels, and the whole host of heaven. We sing the song the angels sang because Jesus still comes! He still shines into the darkness of hearts and lives with His light and life. He forgives, renews, and strengthens by His Word and Spirit. And just as there is nothing that can separate you from the love of Christ Jesus, so we learn this night that there is no darkness in you or in this world that can overcome the glory of Jesus, the only-begotten Son. He has and will always shine His light upon you, tonight and always.

24. December 2019

Merry Christmas! When an angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph in a dream, he spoke three essential truths. When God sends His messengers to you, you best listen. The message this Angel spoke to Joseph was good news for him and it’s good news for you. So, listen!