YouTube -- 15th Sunday after Pentecost (September 6, 2026)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, September 6, 2026.

Sermon -- 15th Sunday after Pentecost (September 6, 2026)

YOU ARE LIVING SACRIFICES.

ROMANS 12:1-8

In the name + of Jesus.

      This weekend, we observe Labor Day, a day on which we recognize the contribution that workers make to our lives.  I suppose that many would argue a day off of work is better than any day at work, but God has given us work as a blessing.  Consider God’s creation of Adam.  Moses wrote, “The LORD God took the man and settled him in the Garden of Eden to work it and to take care of it” (Genesis 2:15).  God put the man in the garden to work it.  This work was a blessing.  By it, the man would fill his days with purpose and provide for his family.  This was a practical way in which he would love his neighbor. 

     Work is not a curse.  When you feel like it is, it is because of sin which has warped everything.  After sin entered the world, the Lord told Adam, “The soil is cursed on account of you.  You will eat from it with painful labor all the days of your life.  Thorns and thistles will spring up from the ground for you” (Genesis 2:17-18).  Your labor has its own version of thorns and thistles—whether entitled customers, needless paperwork, or broken equipment.  All are the result of sin which makes work difficult and drudgery.  On top of that, our sinful nature prefers laziness over effort.  The book of Proverbs repeatedly gives warnings to the sluggard.  In general, those who are industrious find prosperity while those who are lazy suffer.  Besides bringing harm to himself, the sluggard produces nothing for his fellowman.  While work may be toil when you are engaged in it, you experience deep satisfaction when the task has been completed.

     Work is a good thing.  The Lord gives you the opportunity to do good works every day through your various vocations—as a worker, a parent, a spouse, or a citizen.  Other people are blessed by your good works.  St. Paul noted one way in which people are blessed by your labors: “Let [a man] work hard doing what is good with his own hands, so that he has something to share with a person who is in need” (Ephesians 4:28).  In this way, you are living sacrifices.  You give of your time and energy as you provide a service in your vocation.  This is a practical way in which you love your neighbor.  Through our labors, God is honored and our neighbor is blessed.  These are good things.

     It is sometimes said that Lutherans are opposed to good works.  Now, it is clear that we are not saved by our good works.  For, the Bible teaches us, “We conclude that a person is justified by faith without the works of the law” (Romans 3:28).  Nor do our good works contribute to our salvation.  If they did, we would have to deny that we are saved by grace alone.  If God’s salvation is a gift, then we did not earn it or contribute to it.  It is God’s good work done for our benefit.  But we cannot say that good works are unnecessary.  Our own Lutheran Confessions say, “Our churches teach that this faith is bound to bring forth good fruit.  It is necessary to do good works commanded by God, because of God’s will” (Augsburg Confession, Article VI, paragraph 1). 

     If anyone tells you that Lutherans oppose good works, he is either very sloppy with his words or he is dead wrong.  St. Paul wrote that “we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).  Good works do not save, but those who are saved are dedicated to good works.  It is God’s will for people to engage in good works.  This is why God has given you your labors.  God does not need your good works, but your neighbor does.  You are a living sacrifice, spending yourself to glorify God and to love and serve your neighbor.  If your faith is living and active, you will be living and active in your vocations and in good works. 

     This is what St. Paul wrote about in our epistle reading today.  “I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice—holy and pleasing to God—which is your appropriate worship” (Romans 12:1).  It is God’s mercy that motivates us to worship him with good works.  That is because Jesus Christ did his good work, which is to save sinners. 

     Jesus was a living sacrifice.  Jesus performed the good work of perfect obedience to his Father.  It was not merely avoiding sin; it was also pursuing and practicing good toward all.  He loved his neighbor—whether they were hurting or healthy, whether they were locals or foreigners, whether they were his allies or his enemies.  We have not been so willingly obedient.  Even our best works are flawed, as Isaiah testifies: “All our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth” (Isaiah 64:6).  Isaiah did not say that our sins are like filthy cloth.  Our righteous deeds are unclean because we are, by nature, unclean.  This is why we dare not take pride in our works before God.  But we have Jesus as our living sacrifice.  His pure work atones for our impure works.

     Even though we strive for good works, many of our works are not good.  Sometimes we do our works with resentment.  Sometimes we complain that our works are not getting what we consider to be proper attention or praise.  Sometimes we just don’t care to do the works at all.  Maybe we don’t want to be bothered.  Maybe we deem someone unworthy of our time and effort.  For these and for all sins, Jesus made himself a sin offering.  Jesus was not only a living sacrifice, he also died as a sacrifice for you.  All your sins were laid on him.  God’s wrath was redirected from you to Jesus.  By his sufferings and death, Jesus did the works that save you from divine judgment.  You are redeemed by Jesus’ works, not your own.  So, do not trust your own works, no matter how good you think they are.  You are saved by faith in Jesus.  He did the works, and you receive the reward.

     Now, in view of that mercy, we get to be merciful to others.  In thanksgiving for Jesus’ good work, we dedicate ourselves to good works.  We’ve been set apart from sin, death, and the devil.  We’ve been set apart for a good and godly life.  Jesus laid down his life to rescue us from our wickedness so that you and I could live in godliness.  You are a living sacrifice—living to serve others to the glory of God.

     To preserve us in this godliness, St. Paul urges, “Do not continue to conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you test and approve what is the will of God—what is good, pleasing, and perfect” (Romans 12:2).  One way or another, you are being taught.  One way or another, someone is preaching to you and influencing your thinking.  Such influence can be good or bad.  You come to God’s house to hear the word of the Lord.  Hopefully, you are reading your Bible or some devotional material throughout the week.  This regular meditation is important because the world is preaching to you nonstop.  The devil employs worldly thinking to entice you to abandon God’s word for what is popular and for what appeals to your sinful nature.  The more you listen to that, the more you will be conformed to the pattern of this world.  The more you conform to the pattern of this world, the less you will care about God’s word and his salvation—although the devil will convince you that you are still a good person and that God should reward you for that.

     Do not be swayed by popular opinions and behaviors.  History has shown that the masses can be in full agreement about an issue and be terribly wrong.  Besides that, the masses can change their minds about what is good and what is evil.  In generations past, when a man and a woman cohabited before they were married, it was called living in sin.  Today, most consider it foolish if couples don’t do that.  The world changes its mind quickly about what is good and what is evil.  God does not, but the world does.  So, “do not conform to the pattern of the world” (Romans 12:2).

     God created us and loves us.  What he says is always true, and it always stands.  Therefore, we listen to what our Lord says, knowing that he is looking out for our good both now and eternally.  The more you listen to the Lord, the more you will “be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2).  You will find joy in your life being a living sacrifice, and you will not consider it a major sacrifice to do so.

     For the most part, St. Paul describes how we all serve as living sacrifices in the church.  He wrote, “We have many members in one body, and not all the members have the same function.  In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.  We have different gifts, according to the grace God has given us.  If the gift is prophecy, do it in complete agreement with the faith.  If it is serving, then serve.  If it is teaching, then teach.  If it is encouraging, then encourage.  If it is contributing, be generous.  If it is leadership, be diligent.  If it is showing mercy, do it cheerfully” (Romans 12:4-8).  

     We all have ways that we can serve God’s people.  We all have talents, abilities, and interests which can benefit the body of Christ.  You don’t have to invent ways to do good works for your fellow Christians.  God places them right in front of you.  You serve according to your ability and where there is a need.  In this way, the whole body of Christ functions well and the whole body of Christ is served. 

     You are living sacrifices “holy and pleasing to God—which is your appropriate worship” (Romans 12:1).  But don’t get the idea that the only good works are the works done in the church.  A number of years ago, there was a woman who went to her church’s evangelism meeting.  They were given a pep talk and then sent out to their neighborhood to knock on doors.  As they were going, she said to the man who had teamed up with her, “I can’t believe I did not really do anything for Jesus until now.”  The man was confused.  This woman was the church secretary.  She sang in the choir.  She had raised her children and cared for her home.  Weren’t those things done for Jesus?

     You are living sacrifices.  Everything you do is done for God’s honor and for the good of your neighbor.  Your vocations may change over the years, but your place in God’s kingdom remains constant.  You are a living sacrifice.  Your good works may be known to all or invisible to all.  Either way, God knows them.  Your good works may be a special project or they may be the daily household routine.  No matter; God is pleased with them because Jesus has made you pleasing to him.  For, you are God’s handiwork—created for God’s honor, redeemed by God’s grace, and renewed for good works in God’s kingdom.  God’s work which was done for you is good, and the work God gives you to do is good. 

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Schedule update for St. John's Lutheran Church, Lake City, Minnesota

Here is a public service announcement for the schedule at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lake City, Minnesota.

NEW SERVICE TIME -- St. John's Divine Services will be changed to 9:00 AM staring Sunday, September 6.   We will retain this service time for the foreseeable future.

LIVE-STREAMING AND RECORDED SERVICES -- It should also be noted that our live-streaming will be competing with Bethany Lutheran Church.  The service may be delayed, beginning at 10:30 AM, or viewers may have to find it on our YouTube channel.  As of this writing, the service should still be broadcast on local channels as usual (Wednesdays at 7:00 PM on channels 13 and 18).

BIBLE BASICS CLASS will begin on Thursday, September 9, 7:00-8:30 PM.  It will be a class that covers the essential teachings of Scripture and will attempt to address any and all questions people have.  Details about the schedule can be found here.  To register, call St. John's at (651) 345-3523 or email pastor@stjohnslakecity.com. 

ADULT BIBLE CLASS to begin on Sunday, September 13 at 10:15 AM.  Our topic will be about the canonical books of the Bible, entitled, "Why These Books?"  Details can be found here.

SUNDAY SCHOOL will also begin on Sunday, September 13 at 10:15 AM.  We will begin in the church basement with a children's lesson before the children are dismissed to their respective classrooms.

YouTube -- 14th Sunday after Pentecost (August 30, 2026)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, August 30, 2026.

Sermon -- 14th Sunday after Pentecost (August 30, 2026)

o wn is Greek for "he who is."

THE LORD IS KNOWN BY HIS SALVATION.

EXODUS 6:2-8

In the name + of Jesus.

      It is happens often in Catechism Class when we get to the 2^nd Commandment.  The Commandment says, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God” (Exodus 20:7).  The follow-up question is, “Well, what is his name?”  God gives us many names for himself, but I think the youth want something that seems familiar, as if I am going to say, “His name is Frank.” 

     In this brief section, God gives his name.  Three times, he says, “I am the LORD” (Exodus 6:2,6,8).  When you see that name written in all capital letters, it refers to a specific name that God gave for himself.  It means, “I AM.”  That tells us that the Lord is eternal and unchanging.  You and I change over time—from childhood to adolescence to adulthood to elderly.  Eventually, we pass away.  But the Lord is without beginning and without end.  He does not change.  He is always I AM.  The other thing “I AM” tells us about the Lord is that he is independent of everything.  If we managed to destroy our planet and every living thing on it, God would not have changed.  He does not depend on us for survival, for approval, or for glory.  But the Lord does not merely make himself known by his qualities.  He especially makes himself known by his deeds.  The Lord is known by his salvation.

     When the Lord appeared to Moses at the burning bush, he told Moses, “I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name, the LORD, I was not known to them” (Exodus 6:3).  This seems to contradict what the Bible says back in Genesis.  There, we read, “Abram moved his tent and went to live by the oaks at Mamre, which are at Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD” (Genesis 13:18).  Elsewhere, Isaac and Jacob also built altars and called upon the LORD.  So, they clearly knew his name.  What does it mean that they didn’t know him as the LORD?

     The Lord makes himself known by his salvation.  The Lord told Moses, “I … established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land where they were residing as aliens” (Exodus 6:4).  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob each received a promise from the Lord, but they never saw its fulfillment.  And they certainly did not see God’s salvation which he was about to bring about through Moses.

     The Lord told Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘I am the LORD.  I will bring you out from under the forced labor of the Egyptians.  I will deliver you from being their slaves.  I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment” (Exodus 6:6).  Moses and the Israelites would see the Lord perform great acts of power and judgment upon the Egyptians.  After the plagues, the Lord would save the people of Israel through the blood of the Lamb at the Passover.  When the Egyptian army would pin the people of Israel down on the shores of the Red Sea, the Lord would divide the waters so that Israel could pass through on dry ground.  The Egyptian army would pursue the Israelites, but the Lord would return the waters to their normal place and destroy Israel’s enemy.  Israel would witness a great victory—a victory in which they did nothing but watch God’s deliverance.  So, while the people of Israel knew the name of the LORD, they also witnessed his mighty acts of deliverance.  They knew the LORD as the one who delivers his people from bondage and brings them to the Promised Land.  The Lord is known through his salvation.

     You also know the Lord by his salvation.  The Lord became a man to deliver mankind from the bondage to sin and to death.  The eternal God entered our time.  The God who is independent of all things made himself dependent on Mary and Joseph.  He willingly accepted the mission for which his Father sent him into the world—to deliver sinners from their sins and the punishment they have earned, and to deliver people from their bondage of the grave.  The Lord will finally deliver you from a world of sin and sorrow to his promised Paradise.  The Lord is known by his salvation

     The Lord told Moses, “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment” (Exodus 6:6).  The Lord’s outstretched arm refers to his miraculous feats of power which he displayed against the Egyptians.  When Jesus performed miracles, he demonstrated his outstretched arm with power over creation, over illness and disabilities, and even over the demons.  But when he acted to deliver you from sin, death, and hell, he did not perform great feats of strength.  Nevertheless, Jesus’ salvation was done with outstretched arms. 

     Jesus went to the cross for you.  To set you free from the bondage to sin, Jesus bound himself to your sins and suffered the curse for you.  He who is worthy of all the majesty of heaven endured all the torments of hell to set you free.  Jesus bound himself to your death and was laid in a grave.  But he destroyed the bonds of sin and death when he rose from the dead.  Jesus did that so that you are no longer shackled to sin and death.  Jesus has won the victory over your enemies—a victory in which you did nothing but receive his salvation.  This is how God has revealed his identity to you.  The Lord is known by his salvation.  And since you have been baptized into his name, the Lord gives you your identity: You are the children of the Most High God.

     Sadly, there are many who try to establish their own identity apart from God’s design and God’s intention.  There are men who say they identify as women and women who say that they identify as men.  For some, this is a serious mental issue, and they need your mercy and your prayers.  For others, it is rebellion against God who created them male or female.

     While people creating their own identity and taking pride in it seems to be a modern phenomenon, it is nothing new.  Consider Adam and Eve back in the Garden of Eden.  God had created them as the crown of his creation.  They were made in the image of God.  They were created to love God above all things and to love their neighbor as themselves.  This is still God’s intention.  This is what all people were created to be.  But Adam and Eve were not content with what God had made them to be.  They were convinced they needed to establish a different identity.  They bought into the devil’s lie, “God knows that the day you eat from (the forbidden fruit), your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5).  Just as Satan was not content to be what God had created him to be, so he convinced people to do the same. 

     And is this not the root of all your jealousy and bitterness?  You see that God has blessed someone differently than you, and you feel cheated.  Your health is declining, and you become bitter.  Your job is not as exciting as someone else’s because you only pay attention to your challenges while you assume others bask in benefits and rewards.  Your marriage is not a Hollywood story, so you gaze at someone else’s spouse and think it would be better with him or her.  Repent. 

     This is what the Lord says, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.  You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor” (Exodus 20:17).  To covet is to want something that God has chosen not to give you.  It is not merely being discontent, it is also telling God, “You should have given me better.  You blessed me according to your wisdom and love, but you are clueless.  I would rather have what you did not give.  I would rather be what you did not make me to be.  You should have given me a different spouse, different children, a different home, a different job, or a different body.  You are terrible at being a Father who is supposed to care for his children.”  How should the Lord respond to our covetous heart? 

     Repent.

     The God who created you knows you very well.  He knows the secrets of your heart.  And he knows that your heart deceives you when it assures you that all your feelings are justified and good.  This is what the Lord says: “The heart is more deceitful than anything.  It is beyond cure.  Who can understand it” (Jeremiah 17:9)?  Therefore, God tells you what he sees and knows.  He exposes your sinfulness to you.  He shows you that your sin makes you discontent.  He shows you that, because of your sin, you are never satisfied with your family, your job, or your body.  He wants you to know that you will never find contentment until the Lord himself provides it. 

     Rather than discard a corrupted humanity, the Lord acted to redeem it.  The Lord is known by his salvation, and he has acted to redeem you from your jealousy, your discontent, your bitterness, and any attempt to invent an identity apart from him.  The Lord has acted to restore mankind into what he had originally created them to be. 

He has renewed you in the waters of baptism.  No longer are you bound to your sinfulness.  The Lord has created in you a clean heart and renewed in you a right spirit.  With your renewed spirit, you know that it is good to align your life according to God’s word.  With your renewed spirit, the Lord enables you to find joy and contentment in your renewed identity.

     This renewal is on-going because the sinful nature still clings to you.  For some, this renewal will be a great struggle because temptation will always have a strong pull.  The world will tell you to exalt your feelings over God’s word and to exchange the image God renews in you for your own preferred identity.  If you are engaged in such struggles, you will need to cling to your Savior all the more—being guided by his word and strengthened by his sacrament.  It may be a hard battle, and that battle may go on for a long time.  But the Lord is a merciful and mighty Savior.  He stands with you in your struggles, and he upholds you in your weakness.  He is known by his salvation, and he will not abandon those who are struggling with their identity.  Victory, contentment, and peace will only be found in Jesus.

     The Lord reveals your true identity, and it is found in your baptism.  There, the Lord has applied to you the death and resurrection of Jesus.  He has put to death the sinner and raised you up a saint.  He who declares, “I am the LORD,” has put his name upon you to mark you as his very own.  You are a child of the Most High God—beloved, redeemed, and renewed for godly purposes.  The Lord is known by his salvation; and you are known by him as the ones he has saved.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

State Fairs, a comparison

We have now been to three state fairs--Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.  Here is a review.

The Michigan state fair is held at an Expo center in Novi.  It is what you would expect from a state fair being held in an expo center.  As state fairs go, it is very disappointing.  I doubt we'd have ever gone back if it weren't 10 minutes from our house.  They did have good parking, though.

We had heard the Minnesota state fair is the best in the US.  My assessment has the Minnesota and Wisconsin state fairs as equals.

What Minnesota does better: Wide streets/walking areas.  There were LOTS of people filling the streets throughout the fair, but the width of the streets made walking easy enough.  There were also lots of shade trees throughout the fair grounds.  It was not hard to find relief from direct sunlight.  Very nice!

What Wisconsin does better: Parking.  WAY better than Minnesota.  Maybe seasoned fair-goers would disagree, but as newbies, we found the parking to be lacking and the resultant backed-up traffic to be frustrating. I might also give Wisconsin a slight edge in the buildings and stages.

Next year, we will have to put Iowa's state fair to the test as some claim theirs to be the best in the US.

Minnesota and Wisconsin can hold their heads up high. Both fairs are outstanding. 

Local Tourist -- Minnesota State Fair

The Local Tourist is expanding his definition of " local" to include a larger radius.  That now extends to the Twin Cities.  We went to the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul on Friday, August 28.

Food items consumed: soft drinks (not getting into that soda vs pop debate here) in our souvenir cups, walleye on a stick, chicken shawarma, pork chop on a stick (HAD to; would you skip a cream puff at the Wisconsin state fair?), and fried Snickers on a stick.  Also enjoyed an Octoberfest from Summit Brewing Company. It did not disappoint. 

We saw a few live bands.  Not Quite Brothers from Iowa did a great job.  Started to see Socaholix, but wasn't getting into the Reggae much.

Here are just a few photos.  We did not take many, but chose to enjoy where we were rather than snap photos of it.

Something from ... the Lutheran Confessions about Lutheran worship

The Lutheran Reformation is correctly labeled a conservative reformation.  The Lutherans sought to conserve as much as possible from the rites and ceremonies that the Church had always practiced.  The problem was not the rites and ceremonies, as if they needed to be jettisoned so that something new and innovative could take their place.  The reformers noted the abuses that had crept in over time (in some cases, having been practiced for a long time).  They exposed these abuses as unscriptural and removed them.  But, by and large, Lutheran worship in the 1500's looked strikingly similar to the Roman church.

Other efforts to reform the church (e.g., Calvinists, Anabaptists, and other groups simply labeled "Reformed") got rid of many established rites and ceremonies.  Basically, if it looked, felt, or smelled Roman Catholic, they got rid of it.  This would be known as the radical reformation.

But Lutherans were not radicals.  The Augsburg Confession goes to great pains to demonstrate that Lutherans are not a sect.  We are still the church catholic, meaning we have been faithful to the teachings and practices of the Christian Church, abuses having been corrected.

It may surprise 21st century Americans to read how Lutheran worship and practice is described in our confessions.  For various and sundry reasons, we have drifted more toward Protestant (i.e., radical reformation) practices.  The reasons are outside the scope of this post, but they are worth consideration.

The Lutheran Confessions describe Lutheran rites and ceremonies.  These are not mere historical documents which present a snapshot in time.  They are a faithful confession of the Scriptures and of the rites and ceremonies which teach and reinforce what the Scriptures say.  These confessions we still uphold and observe.  These are confessions which faithful Lutheran congregations have their pastors swear before God and his Church to believe, teach, and confess.

So, here is something from the Lutheran Confessions about Lutheran worship.

Our churches are falsely accused of abolishing the Mass. The Mass is held among us and celebrated with the highest reverence. Nearly all the usual ceremonies are also preserved… (Augsburg Confession, Article XXIV:1,2)

Because the Mass is for the purpose of giving the Sacrament, we have Communion every holy day, and if anyone desires the Sacrament, we also offer it on other days, when it is given to all who ask for it. (Augsburg Confession, Article XXIV:34)

We answer that it is lawful for bishops, or pastors, to make ordinances so that things will be done orderly in the church, but not to make satisfaction for sin… It is proper that the churches keep such ordinances for the sake of love and tranquility, to avoid giving offense to another, so that all things be done in the churches in order, and without confusion. (Augsburg Confession XXVIII:53-55.)

However, it is pleasing to us that, for the sake of peace, universal ceremonies are kept. We also willingly keep the order of the Mass in the churches, the Lord’s Day, and other more famous festival days. With a very grateful mind we include the beneficial and ancient ordinances, especially since they contain a certain discipline. (Apology to the Augsburg Confession, Article VII/VIII:33)

Masses are celebrated among us every Lord’s Day and on other festivals. The Sacrament is offered to those who wish to use it, after they have been examined and absolved. And the usual public ceremonies are observed, the series of lessons, of prayers, vestments, and other such things. (Apology to the Augsburg Confession, XXIV:1)

Nothing in customary rites should be changed without a reasonable cause. So to nurture unity, old customs that can be kept without sin or great inconvenience should be kept. (Apology to the Augsburg Confession, XV:51)

YouTube -- 13th Sunday after Pentecost (August 23, 2026)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, August 23, 2026.

Sermon -- 13th Sunday after Pentecost (August 23, 2026)

 A GREAT FAITH RECEIVES GREAT MERCY.

MATTHEW 15:21-28

In the name + of Jesus.

      There are times when it appears that our Lord ignores us and our challenges.  The Psalms remind us, “[Our] help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2).  When our help does not seem to come, we are perplexed by God’s seeming inactivity.  Is he concerning himself with bigger things?  Is he ignoring us?  Does he care?

     That was the case with the Canaanite woman who came to Jesus.  Our help comes from the Lord, so she came to her Lord.  She prayed for mercy, and for good reason.  She said, “A demon is severely tormenting my daughter” (Matthew 15:22)!  Her anxiety must have been through the roof.  She knew that Jesus brought healing and relief.  She yearned for it and begged for it.  She said, “‘Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David!  A demon is severely tormenting my daughter!’  But he did not answer her a word” (Matthew 15:22-23).  Jesus ignored her!  Maybe he was focused on bigger things.  Maybe he did not care.  But that does not sound like Jesus, does it? 

     If we attempt to defend Jesus’ callous response, we may cite a little background.  “Canaanites” refers to a number of nations who had inhabited the Promised Land.  They were wicked and practiced perverse worship, including child sacrifice.  The Lord had been patient with them, giving them centuries to repent.  When they did not, the Lord’s judgment came upon them.  That judgment could have come in the form of a plague or a natural disaster.  Instead, the Lord’s judgment came in the form of the sword, as the Lord commanded the Israelites to either drive the Canaanites out of the land or to kill them off.

     The Israelites were forbidden to show them any kind of mercy.  The reason was simple.  The Lord told them, “They will turn your sons away from following me, and they will serve other gods.  The anger of the LORD will burn against you, and then he will destroy you quickly” (Deuteronomy 7:4).  God had chosen the nation of Israel to be the people through whom the Savior would come into the world.  Allowing the Canaanites to remain settled in the Promise Land threatened the promise of a Savior.  No one was permitted to mess with that promise.  Therefore, the people of Israel were to extract or exterminate the Canaanite people.

     Obviously, they did not kill off all the Canaanites.  A Canaanite woman approached Jesus and pleaded with him for help and for mercy.  “But he did not answer her a word” (Matthew 15:23).  If we attempt to defend Jesus’ callous response, we might conclude, “No wonder he didn’t answer her a word!  She was a Canaanite!  She was marked for divine judgment, not divine favor.  Besides that, her daughter was possessed by a demon.  What cultish practice was she engaged in for that to happen?  She was getting what she deserved, and it was not mercy.”

     We are not told how long she had been crying out to Jesus.  Even if it wasn’t long, you can understand how it would quickly get tiresome.  It sure annoyed Jesus’ disciples!  They “pleaded, ‘Send her away, because she keeps crying out after us’” (Matthew 15:23).  If she was upset that Jesus had not answered her a word, it must have stung when he finally did respond.  He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24).  In other words, “I am here for the chosen people of God, not you.” 

     This Gentile woman—a Canaanite, no less!—did not give up on her petition.  She still trusted that Jesus would perform an act of mercy and healing.  She knew that Jesus was the Son of David.  In other words, he is the Messiah.  And he is not a Messiah for some; he is the Messiah for all—even for Canaanites.  So, “she came and knelt in front of him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’  He answered her, ‘It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to their little dogs’” (Matthew 15:25-26).  Ouch!  Jesus had reduced her to a little lap dog who should not eat from the Lord’s table.

     But great faith receives great mercy.  She persisted in her trust.  “[Our] help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2).  He is Christ, the Lord.  He is our help in time of need.  He is the Savior of the nations.  He delivers from sin, death, and especially from the power of the devil.  The Canaanite woman grabbed onto Jesus’ words, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to their little dogs” (Matthew 15:26).  She replied, “Yes, Lord” (Matthew 15:27).  Am I nothing but a dog?  Okay.  So be it.  I do not claim to be worthy of special treatment.  I know that I am not owed mercy; for mercy, by definition, is not deserved.  So, I will be a dog.  But I am the master’s dog.  I still benefit from the master’s care.  “‘Yes, Lord, … yet their little dogs also eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’  Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, your faith is great!  It will be done for you, just as you desire.’  And her daughter was healed at that very hour.” (Matthew 15:27-28).  Great faith receives great mercy. 

     The Canaanite woman refused to believe that Jesus was unconcerned for her, that he was merciless, or that his salvation was limited to a few.  She knew he was the Son of David, the Lord’s anointed—anointed to make the atoning sacrifice for sinners.  She knew that he had come to destroy the devil’s kingdom.  And if that was true, then he would relieve her daughter from the devil’s clutches.  So, she would not let Jesus’ gruff responses dissuade her.  She persisted in her faith.  She insisted that Jesus be who he is—a merciful Savior.  The crumbs from his table would be enough for her.  Great faith receives great mercy.

     Now, to my knowledge, no one here is demon possessed.  And chances are that you don’t know anyone who is.  But the devil does lay claim to everyone who enters this world.  We were all unclean, sinful even from the time we were conceived.  If we are to be saved, the Lord must deliver us from the devil’s grasp.  In Holy Baptism, the Lord converted you from unclean to clean, from sinner to saint.  Martin Luther’s rite of Holy Baptism even included a minor exorcism.  The pastor said, “Depart, unclean spirit and make way for the Holy Spirit.”  And in baptism, the Lord did what was promised: “You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).  In this way, Jesus had released you from the power of the devil.  The devil cannot have you; you belong to Christ.

     However, the devil is not willing to leave you alone.  He is called “Satan,” which means Accuser.  He oppresses you with accusations and rubs your sins in your face.  He replays the past, reminding you of sins from long ago.  He opens wounds and makes the guilt fresh all over again.  The Lord has warned us, “[The devil] is a liar” (John 8:44); but when he accuses you of your sins, he does not lie.  He reminds you of what you have done and replays what you had said.  He does not make anything up.  You know his accusations are true.  In this way, the devil oppresses you.  He focuses you on yourself and your sin.  He wants to convince you that you are worthless, unlovable, and irredeemable.  But he will suggest ways to cope, tempting you to turn to drugs or alcohol, or worst of all, suicide.  The devil plays dirty, and he will do whatever he can to drag you down to hell with him.

     But the Bible reminds you of this—and it is imperative that you take it to heart: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8).  Jesus grants you relief not merely from the devil’s claim on you, but also from his oppressing you with guilt and shame and misery.  Therefore, you and I cry out to Jesus, and he does not get annoyed by your cries for mercy.  Like the Canaanite woman, you want to be free from being oppressed by the devil.  Like the Canaanite woman, you know that “[Our] help comes from the LORD” (Psalm 121:2), and there is no other helper.  Like the Canaanite woman, you don’t deny your sins or your misery.  You confess it, and flee to Jesus for deliverance.  Like the Canaanite woman, you plead, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David” (Matthew 15:22)!  And like the Canaanite woman, you trust that Jesus will provide deliverance, relief, and consolation for sinners.  For, “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, …abounding in mercy.  …He does not treat us as our sins deserve.  He does not repay us according to our guilty deeds” (Psalm 103:8,10).  We trust that Jesus will do what was promised.  For, great faith receives great mercy.

     See how merciful the Lord is!  He does not treat us as our sins deserve.  We deserve death and hell.  We’ve earned it.  Jesus does not give us what we deserve; that is mercy.  But neither can our sins just be ignored.  So, to destroy the works of the devil, Jesus let the devil do his worst to him.  To deliver us from Satan’s accusations, Jesus held himself accountable for every sin imaginable.  Jesus was treated as our sins deserve as he put himself under divine judgment for us.  But then Jesus rose from the grave.  He who took our sins away lives to bestow forgiveness.  He who overcame death lives to bestow eternal life upon us.  He who took up every accusation of sin lives to silence the devil and to declare you not guilty of all charges.  

     There are only two times in the Gospels that Jesus commended someone for having great faith.  Both were Gentiles—a Roman officer and a Canaanite woman.  If great faith receives great mercy, perhaps you wonder if your faith is great enough.  Fear not.  You are not saved by how strongly you believe or by how sincere you are.  You are saved by how merciful the Lord is.  You are saved by his work for you.  Faith does not look to itself to see how bold or strong it is.  The devil tells you to look at yourself.  But faith looks to Jesus.  His saving work is perfect.  His salvation is sure and certain.  This great Savior bestows great mercy.

     The Canaanite woman was content to receive scraps from the master’s table, knowing that even a little from him was enough.  It is enough for us, too.  Our goal is to dwell in God’s presence and be seated at the eternal banquet in heaven.  That will come soon enough.  For now, we come to the Lord’s altar.  Here, we receive a small portion of the heavenly banquet.  It is a moment of time and a smidgeon of food.  For now, we receive scraps from the master’s table.  And it is enough to strengthen and keep you in the true faith until life everlasting.  It is enough to forgive your sins, to ward off the devil, and to keep you safe in Jesus’ care.  It is more than we deserve, but it is gladly and freely given.  For, our great Savior bestows great mercy.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Today's Earworm: Waterloo by Abba

I have a pet peeve (Things that make me go ARRRRGGGGHHHH!) about radio stations which are fixated on one song by an artist while virtually ignoring all others.

For example, did you know Bryan Adams has other hits besides Summer of '69?  And Kansas released something in addition to Carry On, Wayward Son?  Boston did more than More Than A Feeling.  You get the idea, and chances are you can add to this list.

Recently, one of the local stations began playing a lot of songs by Abba.  My theory is that the station manager recently discovered his Mom's CD collection and Abba's Greatest Hits was in there.  

In any case, I will give the station credit for this: They recognize that Abba had other songs beside Dancing Queen.  That's how the song Waterloo pierced my brain.  I also pay homage to a local town and sing Wabasha instead.  Now, if I only knew the rest of the lyrics....

Enjoy.

Worship Notes: Amen

Almost everyone is familiar with the word, "Amen."  We use it to punctuate our prayers.  We use it to express agreement with someone, even in secular settings.   In Luther's Small Catechism, the reformer taught our children to learn the definition as, "Yes, it shall be so."

The word comes from the Hebrew, which can mean "truth" or more specifically, "I believe, I trust."  Jesus used it to express a solemn truth.  We are probably more familiar with the King James Version's translation when it says, "Verily, verily..."  The recent Evangelical Heritage Version opts not to translate it at all.  It has Jesus stating, "Amen, Amen, I tell you..." 

Amen shows up repeatedly in our liturgy.  It is often said by the wrong person, however.  The word "Amen" is a response to the pastor's words.  It is not the pastor's word; it is the people's word.

In St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians, he mentioned how Amen was used liturgically in their services.  In this context, St. Paul was addressing people who spoke in tongues during the service (a topic worthy of commentary, but beyond the purpose of this post).  St. Paul wrote, "That is why a person who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.  For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.  So what is to be done?  I will pray using my spirit, and I will pray also using my understanding. I will sing using my spirit, and I will sing also using my understanding.  Otherwise, how will an uninformed person say the “Amen” after you give thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?  To be sure, you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up" (1 Corinthians 14:13-17, emphasis added).  The "Amen" was the response of one worshiper expressing agreement with the speaker.  By adding his "Amen," he was saying, "Yes, that is true, and it is my confession, too!"

Amen is the people's word.  It is said after the invocation.  The congregation assents, "Yes, the Triune name marks us, too."  It is said after the prayers.  The congregation assents, "Yes, that is our prayer, too."  It follows the Benediction.  "Yes, let the name and the blessing of the Lord rest upon us."  It can be said in other places, such as in response to the sermon.  Somehow, it became the custom for the pastor to punctuate his sermon with, "Amen."  Of course, the pastor agrees with his own sermon!  Hopefully the congregation does too.  There should be a place for the people to voice their "Amen" to assent to it.

As the preacher, I have no desire to have people shout out "Amen" during the sermon.  That would be disruptive and distracting--not only to me, but to others as well.  It also leads to the preacher fishing for "Amens" (Can I get an Amen?) during the sermon.  Fabricated praise seems to ring hollow.  If the congregation would like to add their assent to the sermon, it is teed up nicely for you.  The sermon concludes, "In the name of the Father, and of + the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."  This allows the congregation to add their assent very easily.

Amen can also be used in connection with the Lord's Supper.  It makes a nice confession, too.  Consider this response as the elements are distributed:

Minister:                  The body of Christ...

Communicant:   Amen.

Minister:                 ...given for you.

Minister:                  The blood of Christ...

Communicant:   Amen.
Minister:                 ...given for you.

The communicant makes a confession:  Yes, it IS the body of Christ I am receiving.  Yes, it IS the blood of Christ truly present.  A Protestant (e.g., Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, etc.) would not be willing to add their Amen since they believe the elements are merely symbolic.  Lutherans believe that it is the body and blood of Christ, and our Amen confesses it to be so.

These expressions of Amen have a long, historic use in Christendom.  It may be unfamiliar to WELS Lutherans, having fallen into disuse among us for various and sundry reasons.  But some practices are worth restoring, especially when they make a good confession.  

This practice is explained for you, but it is not to be forced upon anyone.  If people feel a little awkward adding their Amen, I would not presume to think they are denying Lutheran doctrine.  People are free to take up this practice or not.  But with any rite or ceremony, everyone should understand the "Why" behind it so that no one is scandalized if someone does adopt it.

Adult Bible Class begins Sunday, September 13

The Canon of Scripture: Why These Books?  

          We confess 66 canonical books to be the Holy Scriptures.  “Canon” refers to a stick or a standard (like a “cane”).  So, the 66 books are the standard.  They are God’s word.  But why these books?  Why not others?  And what about the Apocrypha—why not them?  Let’s consider how God gave us the Scriptures and why we regard only the 66 books in our Bible as the word of God.

Sept 13                  Why THIS book?

Sept 20                 How has God revealed his word?

Sept 27                 What is divine inspiration?

Oct 4                     The Old Testament: Why these books?

Oct 11                    The New Testament: Why these books?

Oct 18                   What about other books?  Why not them?

Oct 25                   God’s word through human hands: Is there a problem?

Bible Class will meet in the church basement,

beginning about 10:15 AM. All are welcome.

YouTube -- 12th Sunday after Pentecost (August 16, 2026)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, August 16, 2026.

Sermon -- 12th Sunday after Pentecost (August 16, 2026)

FAITH TRUSTS WHAT IT HEARS, NOT WHAT IT SEES.

MATTHEW 14:22-33

In the name + of Jesus.

     The Lord had just fed the five thousand.  The crowds ate until they were full.  The apostles gathered up the leftovers, giving each of them a basket full.  Rather than bask in the praise of the crowd, Jesus sent everyone away—the crowds to their homes, the apostles to their boat.  Jesus, however, went up onto a mountain by himself to pray. 

     Occasionally, we pass over sentences in the Bible that seem to have little importance.  But listen again to this: “After he had dismissed the crowd, he went up onto the mountain by himself to pray.  When evening came, he was there alone.   In the fourth watch of the night” (Matthew 14:23,25) Jesus came to his disciples.  The fourth watch of the night was from 3:00 to 6:00 AM.  That means Jesus spent perhaps six or more hours in prayer.  I don’t know about you, but my sinful flesh finds anything more than five minutes to be a burden.  And should our Divine Service stretch out beyond an hour, we get antsy, check our watches, and offer some criticism.  This does not bode well for people whose goal it is to spend eternity in God’s presence.  Jesus, however, found it pure joy to spend lots of time pouring out his cares and concerns to his Father.  God be praised!  Jesus’ dedication to prayer atones for our lack of it.

     After his prayer, Jesus planned to meet up with his disciples.  But there was a problem: “The boat was quite a distance from shore, being pounded by the waves because the wind was against it” (Matthew 14:24).  To meet up with his disciples, Jesus would have to go to the middle of the Sea of Galilee.  So, that’s where he went.  The Lord of Creation overruled the laws of creation.  Jesus walked upon the waters to get to his apostles in the boat. 

     Familiarity with this miracle may reduce our reaction to, “Yeah, that was neat.”  The apostles had a whole other reaction.  “In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came toward them, walking on the sea.  When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified and cried out in fear, ‘It’s a ghost’ (Matthew 14:25-26)!  And familiarity with this account might have us shaking our heads at the apostles, saying, “Why were they so terrified?”

     If you have seen The Chosen, you might have gained an appreciation for this event.  The Chosen is a TV series which depicts the life of Jesus and his apostles.  For the most part, they do a very good job showing these men with real personalities, and especially of demonstrating the humanity of Jesus.  On the episode where Jesus walks on water, they showed how the apostles might have seen it.  In the black of night, they could not see much of anything except for the splashing of waves over the bow of the ship.  The Chosen added lightning to the scene, which I guess was possible.  When the lightning flashed, the apostles caught a glimpse of a man coming out to them on the water.  With each flash, that figure got a little closer.  No normal person would conclude, “Oh, that’s our buddy.  Hey, that’s neat!”  To see a man approaching your boat in the black of night would scare anybody.  People don’t walk on water, but ghosts might. 

     “Jesus spoke to them at once, saying, ‘Take heart!  It is I!  Do not be afraid’” (Matthew 14:27).  I don’t think it mattered that the apostles had just witnessed Jesus feed the 5,000 with the loaves and fish.  That was an amazing display of Jesus’ power.  But this?!  Walking on water?  Peter put Jesus to the test: “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water” (Matthew 14:28).  We should give Peter credit for this much—he did not fling himself over the side of the boat and say, “Well, if you can do it, so can I!”  He called on Jesus to say the word which enabled him to walk on water.  “Jesus said, ‘Come’” (Matthew 14:29)!  Once Peter had the command from Jesus, he stepped onto the water.  Peter listened to the command of Jesus because faith trusts what it hears, not what it sees.

     It is important to learn this lesson: We are right to hold God to his word.  When you pray, you can insist that Jesus live up to what he has promised.  That is not disrespectful; it is faith which knows and believes his promises.  It is the confidence that the Lord will never fail on his promises.  For example, Jesus promises to strengthen you against temptation.  So, when temptations come upon you, you can pray boldly that he will provide strength to overcome or an opportunity to escape it.   And you can hold him to that.  Faith trusts what it hears.

     We sin against God, however, when we hold God to promises he has not made.  After Jesus summoned Peter to come out on the water, we do not hear of the rest of the apostles saying, “Well, if he’s going out there, so are we!”  God did not give the command to them.  It would have been foolish to trust a word that was not given to them.  You, too, are a fool if you think Jesus’ word to Peter on the Sea of Galilee applies to you on Lake Pepin.  God could issue that command to you if he wanted, but he has not.

     Recognize what God has promised, and recognize what he has not.  He promises to supply your daily bread.  That means, he will always provide what you need to live.  But do you mistake your needs with your desires?  If God chooses to reduce your blessings so that you have to cancel Wi-Fi, vacation, and a gym membership, God did not fail you.  Those are nice, but they are not daily bread.  We sin against God when we fault God for failing to honor promises he did not make.  Repent. 

     Jesus summoned Peter to come out to him on the water.  He trusted that word.  “Peter stepped down from the boat, walked on the water, and went toward Jesus.  But when he saw the strong wind, he was afraid.  As he began to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’  Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt’” (Matthew 14:29-31)?

     Why did he doubt?  Because Peter was standing on water, and that’s not how water works!  Because the winds were whipping around him and the waves were crashing!  Peter assessed his situation and reasonably concluded, “What am I doing out here?”  Peter trusted what he saw and what he felt.  Can you blame him?  Well, Jesus did.  Peter, you had an authoritative word that the Lord would sustain you on the water.  “You of little faith, why did you doubt” (Matthew 14:31)?  Peter’s faith was in what he saw, not in the word he had been given.

     How often we trust what we see and feel and not what our Lord has said!  You can feel your stress level.  You can feel declining health.  You can see a strained budget.  You can see people who have no use for Jesus seeming to live a better life than you do.  You may even take up the lament of the Psalmist: “Have I really kept my heart pure for nothing?  Have I kept my hands clean in vain” (Psalm 73:13)?  This is why faith trusts what it hears, not what it sees.  What you experience can deceive you.  What you see can distort your focus. 

     Consider Noah.  The Lord had told him to build an ark because the world was going to be destroyed by a flood.  God said he would be patient for 120 years, and then judgment.  As Noah built the massive ark, he could not do it in secret.  There was no hiding it.  Noah must have endured mockery and scorn from whoever saw it.  How do you think Noah felt when he saw life go on as usual, when he saw the wicked continue shamelessly in their sins with no fear of judgment and no judgment coming—and that for decades!?  But Noah trusted what he had heard, not what he saw.  God had given his word, and God was faithful to it.  Judgment came upon the earth, but salvation was delivered to Noah and his family.

     And so also with you.  Faith trusts what it hears, not what it sees.  You know that a judgment is coming on the earth, and you also endure scorn as you wait patiently for it.  St. Peter warned in his second epistle, “In the last days scoffers will come with their mocking, following their own lusts.  They will say, ‘Where is this promised coming of his?  For from the time that our fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they have from the beginning of the creation’” (2 Peter 3:3-4).  But you know the word of the Lord, and you confess it every week: “He will come again to judge the living and the dead” (Apostles’ Creed).  Faith trusts what it hears, not what it sees.  God has given his word, and God will be faithful to it. 

     The Lord chooses not to dazzle us with marvelous displays.  The Lord showed Elijah a violent wind, an earthquake, or a fire.  But the Lord was not in those.  Then he spoke through a gentle whisper.  He still speaks through his word.  It might be appealing to see our Lord perform great, miraculous signs—or, to be like Peter and participate in it!  But the Lord does not want us to focus on what we see or feel.  Faith trusts what it hears.

     Jesus told us to listen to the prophets and apostles.  They have recorded God’s words so that we can read, learn, mark, and inwardly digest them.  Faith trusts what it hears, not what it sees.  For, if you had seen Jesus at his crucifixion, you would have seen a man who was detested, mocked, beaten ruthlessly, and languishing on a cross.  Sight says he was pathetic; faith says that he is worthy of praise because faith trusts the word which reveals the truth: “It was because of our rebellion that he was pierced.  He was crushed for the guilt our sins deserved.  The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).  Jesus Christ was crucified to atone for all our sins.  Faith knows that this is where salvation was won.  And faith clings to the words of absolution where that forgiveness is delivered. 

     Faith trusts what it hears, not what it sees.  When we see an infant brought to the font to have water poured on his or her head, it looks like nothing.  But the word of the Lord says, “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).  Faith trusts what it hears, not what it sees.  When we come to this altar, our eyes, hands, and mouths tell us this is bread and wine.  Jesus tells us, “This is my body. … This is my blood of the new testament, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28).  When you receive it, you may not feel forgiven, but Jesus says you are.  Faith trusts what it hears, not what it sees. 

     The apostle Peter had received a specific word from Jesus to come to him on the water.  As long as he focused on that word, he was safe.  When he focused on his own experience, it could have ended disastrously.  You and I are never called to put our trust in our senses, our reason, or our motives.  If you do, it will end disastrously.  Rather, you have been given specific promises from our Lord.  Faith trusts what it hears from him.  And as long as you trust in that, you are safe. 

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.