University Lutheran

About the Fourth Sunday in Lent: This Sunday is a rare time when the theme verse for the annual focus (Ephesians 2:8-10) coincides with the Epistle reading. As we look at the context of the theme verse of our annual focus, we see that Paul is encouraging us to look at our new lives in Jesus Christ as gifts – that we are made dead to sins and alive in Him. The gift of new life given to us is one that simply does not come without the death of Baptism and Repentance. As the Psalmist says, precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His saints.

About the Fourth Sunday in Lent: This Sunday is a rare time when the theme verse for the annual focus (Ephesians 2:8-10) coincides with the Epistle reading. As we look at the context of the theme verse of our annual focus, we see that Paul is encouraging us to look at our new lives in Jesus Christ as gifts – that we are made dead to sins and alive in Him. The gift of new life given to us is one that simply does not come without the death of Baptism and Repentance. As the Psalmist says, precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His saints.

About the Second Sunday in Lent: Most of us would say that we understand the “New Covenant” of the New Testament books and how Jesus saves us, but often we find that we are uninterested in the Old Covenant given to Abraham and how that forms and shapes our rejoicing. As we look to Jesus Christ as the “AND” who brings together these two covenants in Himself, we learn not to despise the Old

About the Second Sunday in Lent: Most of us would say that we understand the “New Covenant” of the New Testament books and how Jesus saves us, but often we find that we are uninterested in the Old Covenant given to Abraham and how that forms and shapes our rejoicing. As we look to Jesus Christ as the “AND” who brings together these two covenants in Himself, we learn not to despise the Old

About the First Sunday in Lent: As we gather on Sunday, some have been with us as we declared the fast on Wednesday, but many have not. We re-tell the sense of duality that we embraced on Wednesday, describing Christ as the “AND” who connects our Lent with Easter, and today especially our sacrifice with His provision. As we look to the story of the binding of Isaac, we consider how Abraham’s sacrifice was not necessarily of his son, but of His will and control, and how we are given the gift of sacrifice so that we too might see God’s provision.

About the First Sunday in Lent: As we gather on Sunday, some have been with us as we declared the fast on Wednesday, but many have not. We re-tell the sense of duality that we embraced on Wednesday, describing Christ as the “AND” who connects our Lent with Easter, and today especially our sacrifice with His provision. As we look to the story of the binding of Isaac, we consider how Abraham’s sacrifice was not necessarily of his son, but of His will and control, and how we are given the gift of sacrifice so that we too might see God’s provision.

About Ash Wednesday: We begin Lent by declaring the fast before the feast of Easter, but even in this season of Lent, we find joy. We find renewal in the declaration that we are dust and to dust we shall return. As Paul says: We are sorrowful and always rejoicing, poor and making others rich, having nothing yet having everything. It is the AND that describes our life in Christ, it is Christ who connects our suffering with His Glory, and our fast with His feast.

About Ash Wednesday: We begin Lent by declaring the fast before the feast of Easter, but even in this season of Lent, we find joy. We find renewal in the declaration that we are dust and to dust we shall return. As Paul says: We are sorrowful and always rejoicing, poor and making others rich, having nothing yet having everything. It is the AND that describes our life in Christ, it is Christ who connects our suffering with His Glory, and our fast with His feast.

The Gospel of the "Because He" series comes to a zenith here in the Transfiguration. As we see Jesus glorified and having conversations with Elijah and Moses, we know that we too will be glorified with Him and will have conversations with all of the saints in glory forevermore.

The Gospel of the "Because He" series comes to a zenith here in the Transfiguration. As we see Jesus glorified and having conversations with Elijah and Moses, we know that we too will be glorified with Him and will have conversations with all of the saints in glory forevermore.