Christianity versus Modern Therapeutic Deism

Trinity 11 Good Shepherd 2004 Pass Rd, Biloxi, MS 39531 Draft Gen 4:1–15; 1 Cor 15:1–10; Lk 18:9–14; Ps 50:7–23; antiphon: v. 14   –     08/31/25 Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Last year I explained to you some of […]

Jesus warns Jerusalem

Trinity 10 Good Shepherd 2004 Pass Rd, Biloxi, MS 39531 Draft Jer 8:4–12; 1 Cor 12:1–11; Luke 19:41–48; Ps 92; antiph: v. 4   –     08/24/25 Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Two other times Jesus laments the destruction of […]

Parable of the Shrewd Manager

Trinity 9 Good Shepherd 2004 Pass Rd, Biloxi, MS 39531 Draft 2 Sam 22:26–34; 1 Cor 10:6–13; Lk 16:1–13; Ps 51:1–12; antiph: v. 18   –     8/17/25 Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Someone once said about this Gospel text: […]

Wolves versus the Wise and Foolish Christian

Trinity 8 Good Shepherd 2004 Pass Rd, Biloxi, MS 39531 Draft – Jer 23:16–29; Rom 8:12–17; Mt 7:15–23; Ps 26; antiphon: v. 12   –     08/10/25 Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Some context for our weekly readings is usually […]

Who can know his sin? who can keep the Law?

Trinity 6 Good Shepherd 2004 Pass Rd, Biloxi, MS 39531 Draft Exodus 20:1–17; Romans 6:1–11; Matthew 5:17–26; Psalm 19   –     07/27/25 Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Jesus said, whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and […]

Trinity 5 1 Kings 19:11–21; 1 Peter 3:8–15; Luke 5:1–11; Psalm 16 – 7/20/25 Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Much of today’s sermon was adapted from Rev. Stoeckhardt (Gospel Sermons, 295–299). When they had let down their nets as Jesus instructed, […]

Can the blind lead the blind?

Genesis 50:15–21; Romans 8:18–23; Luke 6:36–42; Ps 138 Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. In the 16th century, during the Reformation, the enemies of the Gospel used the second verse of our Gospel reading to support the idea that salvation comes because […]

What Kind of Soil Am I?

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 – What Kind of Soil Am I? Risen Savior Lutheran Church in McFarland, Wisconsin Pastor Nathan Berg   Just like last week, the Word of God before us describes the inner workings of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. And, just like last week, the context is key. Outwardly, Jesus’ ministry is […]

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

The Sermon for Matthew 11:25–30 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church; Hoopeston, IL Rev. James T. Batchelor   Just because you don’t believe it; that doesn’t mean that it isn’t true. I remember when President Kennedy was assassinated.  I first heard the news out on the school playground.  One of my fellow students came to tell me […]

I came not to bring peace, but a sword

The Sermon for Matthew 10:34–42 St Paul Lutheran Church, Manito, IL Rev. James T. Batchelor   In this morning’s Gospel, we heard Jesus say, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34) These words sound violently uncharacteristic for […]