Redeemer's Refuge

An Inspiring View | May 17

Sixth Sunday of Easter (YrA)

Psalm 66:8-20
Acts 17:16-31
1 Peter 3:13-22
John 14:15-21

God at Work | May 10

Fifth Sunday of Easter (YrA)

Psalm 146;
Acts 6:1-9; 7:2a, 51-60;
1 Peter 2:2-10;
John 14:1-14

Much More than Mere Example | May 3

Fourth Sunday of Easter (YrA)

Psalm 23;
Acts 2:42-47;
1 Peter 2:19-25;
John 10:1-10

The Stranger Savior | April 26
Third Sunday of Easter (YrA)

Psalm 116:1-14;
Acts 2:14a, 36-41;
1 Peter 1:17-25;
Luke 24:13-35

Voice of Peace | April 19, 2020 | Easter 2 (YrA)

Message presented by Rev. Frank C. Ruffatto

Psalm 148
Acts 5:29-42
1 Peter 1:3-9
John 20:19-31

Easter is, among other things, about the power of the voice. On this Second Sunday of Easter, the risen Lord Jesus comes to you and to me to speak His peace into our hearts so that we may speak that peace into the world.

Eyes on Jesus: Angel Eyes April 12, 2020 | Resurrection Sunday (YrA)

Message presented by Rev. Frank C. Ruffatto

Psalm 118:15-29
Job 19:23-27
1 Corinthians 15:51-57
Mark 16:1-8

Finally, Easter Sunday gazes upon “Angel Eyes.” The angel in the tomb knows the whole story of Jesus’ resurrection. When he sees the women, he proclaims the Gospel to them, shows them where Jesus’ body had formerly lain, and tells them that they can see Jesus themselves in Galilee. Likewise, the “angels” or messengers of the Church in the apostolic ministry tell God’s people where they can find Jesus and His salvation in the Means of Grace.

Eyes on Jesus: Opened Eyes April 5, 2020 Palm Sunday (YrA)

Message presented by Rev. Frank C. Ruffatto

Psalm 118:19-29
Isaiah 28:14-20
Ephesians 1:15-19
Mark 8:14-25

On Palm Sunday, we look through the “Opened Eyes,” given to us by our Savior and whereby our King, humble and riding on a donkey, removes the scales from our eyes; and in our Baptisms we are given the gift of the sight of faith that we would behold His Word and Sacraments and take in the forgiveness and light and life that Christ gives to us as pure gift.

Eyes on Jesus: Worldly Eyes March 29, 2020 Fifth Sunday of Lent (YrA)

Message presented by Rev. Frank C. Ruffatto

Psalm 2
Isiah 13 : 9-11
1 John 2 : 15-17
Mark 15: 1-20

In the fifth week of Lent, we look through the “Worldly Eyes” of Pilate, the Jewish leaders, and the Roman soldiers. Pilate can only view matters in a worldly, pragmatic way, wishing to placate the worldly Jewish leaders and crowd, so he consents to handing Jesus over for crucifixion. The soldiers see the opposite of a worldly king, but their ironic hailing of Him as “King of the Jews” proclaims who He really is. The world looks for power and glory; God’s way is suffering and the cross.

Eyes on Jesus: Denying Eyes
Redeemer Lutheran Church - LCMS
Charleston, WV
Fourth Sunday of Lent (YrA)

Message presented by Rev. Frank C. Ruffatto

Psalm 10 : 1-12
Job 24 : 13-17
1 John 3 : 11-15
Mark 14 : 1-2, 53-65

“Murderous Eyes” is the theme of Week 4 in Lent. The chief priests and scribes saw Jesus as an obstacle to be rid of by murdering Him through the Roman judicial system. Yet during the Passover festival, they would unwittingly bring about the Father’s sacrifice of the ultimate Passover Lamb.

Psalm 27:1-5
Isaiah 59:1-3, 12-13
2 Timothy 2:8-13
Mark 14:26-31, 66-72

In the third week of Lent, we stare into the “Denying Eyes” of Peter and the other apostles. They could not see how they could ever fall away from Jesus, but after Jesus is betrayed by Judas, ten of them flee, and Peter—when he is spotted by a servant girl and sees that his own neck is on the line—sees fit to deny Jesus, which leads to his own eyes weeping in remorse. We sinners likewise deny our Lord in many ways, but Jesus denied Himself to take up the cross for our salvation.