Preaching the Truth

Why does Jesus leave the ninety-nine to search for the one lost sheep? In this sermon on Luke 15:1–10, we hear the comforting truth that Christ does not seek sinners in order to condemn them, but to rescue them. Like a shepherd searching for a wandering sheep, our Lord pursues those who have gone astray, carries them on His shoulders, and rejoices to bring them home. Drawing on the teaching of Martin Luther and the words of Jesus Himself, this sermon proclaims the Gospel for troubled consciences: you do not have to fear punishment, for Christ has come to save, forgive, and restore you through His Word and Sacraments. Heaven rejoices over every repentant sinner because the Good Shepherd never stops seeking His lost sheep.

Why do people make excuses when God invites them to receive His gifts? In this sermon on Luke 14:15–24, Pastor Tyrel Bramwell explores Jesus’ parable of the Great Banquet and the tragic reality that many value earthly blessings more than the heavenly bread Christ freely gives. From farms and careers to family pressures and personal desires, our excuses often reveal deeper idols of the heart. Yet God continues to call sinners to His feast of grace, where forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life are freely given through Christ. This sermon examines the tension between the “now” and the “not yet” of God’s kingdom, the danger of treating God's gifts as optional, and the overflowing mercy of the Savior who fills His banquet hall with the poor, crippled, blind, and lame—including us. Come and hear the invitation of the King who desires to bless you with His bread both now and forever.

In Luke 16:19–31, Jesus contrasts the rich man and Lazarus, revealing God's upside-down kingdom where worldly success is not the measure of faithfulness. This sermon explores the temptation to admire religious power and cultural influence while reminding Christians that their true hope is found in Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. Through His humiliation, death, and resurrection, Jesus rescues sinners from judgment and grants eternal life.

Why does the doctrine of the Trinity leave even the brightest minds humbled? In this Trinity Sunday sermon, we explore the mystery of the Triune God through Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John 3, Isaiah's vision of the Lord's holiness, and St. Paul's awe-filled words in Romans 11. While the Trinity remains beyond human explanation, God has revealed what is necessary for our salvation: the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for sinners. Rather than trusting our own understanding, Christians are called to receive God's gifts in faith through His Word, Baptism, and the Gospel. The mystery of God does not lead us to despair, but to humility, worship, and confidence in Christ crucified for us.

Scripture Readings: Isaiah 6:1-7, Romans 11:33-36, John 3:1-17

At Babel, humanity chose its own voice over the voice of God. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit reversed the confusion—not by encouraging chaos, but by proclaiming Christ clearly through His Word.

In this sermon for Pentecost, Rev. Tyrel Bramwell explores the connection between the Tower of Babel, modern Christianity’s “itching ears,” and the temptation to reshape God in our own image. Why do people resist sound doctrine? Why do we prefer teachers who tell us what we want to hear? And what does it mean that the Holy Spirit brings us objective, knowable truth through Scripture?

This sermon confronts the modern obsession with subjectivity, emotionalism, and self-made religion while proclaiming the forgiveness and peace found in Christ crucified.

Topics include:
• The Tower of Babel and rebellion against God
• Pentecost and the gift of clear proclamation
• “Itching ears” Christianity (2 Timothy 4)
• The role of pastors and preaching
• Biblical truth vs. personal preference
• The Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament
• Christ’s forgiveness for sinners who resist His Word

“Do you want to listen to what God says, or do you want to listen to what we say to each other?”

A sermon on John 16:1 for the Seventh Sunday of Easter (2026).

When Jesus died, something happened that changed everything.

The curtain of the temple—the barrier between God and man—was torn in two, from top to bottom. This wasn’t just a dramatic moment. It was a declaration.

The way to God is open.

In this Palm Sunday sermon on Matthew 27:50–51, we explore what that torn curtain really means. The temple, the veil, the sacrifices—all of it pointed forward to Christ. And when He gave up His spirit, the shadow gave way to reality.

Through His torn flesh and shed blood, Jesus has opened the way into the presence of God. The barrier is gone. Your sins are forgiven. Heaven is not closed to you.

This is not symbolism. This is your access to God.

In this Fifth Sunday after Lent sermon on John 8:46–59, Rev. Tyrel Bramwell confronts the truth that those who reject Christ’s Word are not of God. When Jesus speaks the truth and is accused of having a demon, He exposes something deeper than disagreement—He reveals the spiritual reality behind unbelief.

This sermon draws a sharp line between hearing and rejecting the Word of God. Through the example of Abraham, who believed against all odds, we see what true faith looks like: trusting God’s promises even when they seem impossible. In contrast, those who harden themselves against Christ show whose voice they are really following.

But this is not a message of despair—it’s a proclamation of certainty and comfort. Jesus declares that whoever keeps His Word will never see death. That promise is not symbolic. It is grounded in His identity as the great I AM, His atoning death, and His resurrection.

In a world where AI chatbots claim to connect you to “Jesus,” Rev. Tyrel Bramwell delivers an unflinching sermon on why God still uses real, flesh-and-blood men to preach His Word. Drawing from 1 Kings 17, Romans 10, and Luke 7, this message confronts our discomfort with pastoral authority and reveals the life-giving power of God's rightly distinguished Word: Both His Law and Gospel.

Jesus sent the Spirit of Truth to bring the disciples into all the truth, declaring what He has heard. The pattern of speaking only what the Holy Spirit preserved in the Holy Bible continues today so that you know you are forgiven of your sins. This is Rev. Bramwell's sermon for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, 2025.Watch the replay of the LIVE sermon-prep Bible study for this sermon: https://youtube.com/live/j0l3tqXeF2M