Isaiah 58:1-12; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Today is Ash Wednesday, which is so named because in many places Christians have adopted the custom of putting ashes on one’s forehead as a reminder that we are ashes to ashes, dust to dust (Gen 3:19).

Nevertheless, some congregations do not put ashes on the forehead on Ash Wednesday because this practice falls into certain problems, as do other customs for Lent, and that is what we need to look at today.

People will ask: What are you giving up for Lent? Then, of course, there are all kinds of things that people give up. Some give up caffeine for Lent. Others give up sugar. Still others give up social media! Others say: I can’t do that. It’s too much! But the idea has been that now that it is Lent, we’re going to do something extra. We are going to mortify the flesh.

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Luke 9:28-36

A sermon for Transfiguration Sunday

During the season of Epiphany, we celebrate the coming of the light. As the Gospel of John states: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

Today is the last Sunday of Epiphany, the Festival of the Transfiguration. In the Gospel text we are brought to the mountaintop. From there we look out over the valley below and look forward to the horrible events to come. What lies below is deep darkness, the valley of the shadow of death. Jesus will be abandoned, betrayed, mocked, suffer, die, and rise again.

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1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50

A Sermon for the Seventh Sunday after Epiphany

In this season of Epiphany, we celebrate the coming of the light: “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

In Epiphany we look at Lutheran basics as to how the light comes to us. Today we’re going to consider the “church” and what it’s about.

Those who study church history know darkness and evil has shadowed the church from the beginning. It is said that God writes straight with crooked lines. This is true both in our lives and also for the church throughout history

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Luke 6:17-26

A Sermon for the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

The season of Epiphany is the season of the coming of the light. Today we look at how the Lord’s Supper gives light and life. It is important for us Lutherans to hear know what this means.

Luther has remarkable things to say about this, but first, I want to tell you about what one Lutheran pastor did to help his people see the light.

It was a regular Sunday morning worship service. He had preached the sermon. The offering had been taken. It was time to begin the liturgy for communion. Before starting that, he called the ushers to come forward again and handed them each a pile of $20 bills. Then he asked them to give a $20 bill to each person there that day.

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1 Corinthians 15:1-11

A Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Every week it’s getting brighter. The light is increasing. The coming of the light is what this season of Epiphany is all about. As it says in John 1:5: “The light came into the world and the darkness does not overcome it.”

In this season we ask: Where is the true light and how do we sort it out?

We find the true light, the light of Christ, in the church. There is some kind of authority in the church and the way it works. Some churches have bishops, popes, and councils. Those persons because they have been ordained, have a particular grace; they are said to the Holy Spirit in a special way so that what they decide what is this light.

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