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.

Sermon -- Funeral for Kirsten Langfield (August 15, 2026)

+ Kirsten (nee: Kitchin) Langfield +

(January 22, 1965 – July 28, 2026)

THE RISEN SAVIOR GIVES US AN ENDURING HOPE.

1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-18

In the name + of Jesus.

      St. Paul speaks about hope.  Perhaps a funeral sounds like a strange place to talk about hope.  When Kirsty was diagnosed with cancer, there was hope that treatments would provide a cure.  You hoped that she could resume running 5K races, and Greg hoped that he would finally beat her.  As the cancer progressed, there was a hope that God would work a miracle.  When the doctor told you that her condition was not going to get better, you hoped to make one more trip to England and see family there one more time.  That hope was fulfilled, but then you came back here to await a hopeless situation.  Kirsty’s death could not be averted.  When death comes, hopes and dreams die with it.

     But St. Paul assures you today that there is an enduring hope even in the face of death.  He wrote to the Thessalonian Christians who had been misled about death and the resurrection of the dead.  They feared that their fellow Christians had somehow missed out on the resurrection and eternal life.  So, Paul assured them that their hope was not misplaced, nor had it failed.  He wrote, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you do not grieve in the same way as the others, who have no hope.  Indeed, if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then in the same way we also believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). 

     The risen Savior gives you an enduring hope.  This hope, however, does not mean that it doesn’t hurt right now.  Your sorrow and grief are genuine and natural.  Death hurts.  It is cruel because it rips our loved ones from us.  Grief does not mean a lack of faith.  Nor does it destroy your hope.  St. Paul points you to Jesus “so that you do not grieve in the same way as the others, who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).  The risen Savior gives you an enduring hope.

     Kirsty’s work in biochemistry and with life science companies served to improve people’s lives.  Her work may have extended the lives of some people.  But no amount of research or medicine has allowed anyone to elude death.  Kirsty’s death resulted from cancer.  If not for cancer, it could have come from a car accident or heart failure or old age.  But the root cause for every death is always the same: sin.  The Bible reminds us, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  While you will always remember Kirsty for her love of travel, for singing in the choir, and for the love she showed in caring for others—and you aren’t wrong—she was a sinner.  She, like all of us, did not live up to God’s commands.  Sin marks us all.  That is why death comes to us all.

     What hope is there in the face of death?  What hope do sinners have when we stand before God to answer for our lives?  Kirsty’s hope was not that she did more good than bad.  Your hope is not that, since you loved Kirsty, God must have shared your affection.  Rather, the only real hope anyone can have is in Jesus who came to deal with sin and death for us all. 

     In order to secure a full pardon for us, Jesus made himself accountable for all our guilt.  The wages of sin is death; therefore, Jesus laid down his life for us.  Jesus’ death is the payment for all our sin.  Jesus bore the punishment that sinners deserve.  Since Jesus has paid the price for all sins, we have an enduring hope at the final judgment.  We don’t need to bargain with God about how much we have done, tried to do, or wished we could have done.  You don’t need to present a resume to God and cross-your-fingers-hope that you are good enough for heaven.  The crucified and risen Savior assures us that our sins have been taken away from us.  This is our enduring hope.

     The Bible reminds us, “The blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).  That was applied to Kirsty when she was baptized in the name of Jesus.  There, Jesus clothed her in a garment of salvation.  There, Jesus marked Kirsty as a child of God.  And Kirsty continued to come to God’s house to be confirmed in God’s promises.  She came to this altar where she received the blood of Christ which bestows forgiveness and the body of Christ which has conquered death.  This is where Jesus gave her an enduring hope. 

     When Kirsty was seeking her green card to work in the US, she encountered many challenges.  There were limits in staffing, limits in office hours, and other frustrations.  But the green card was necessary if she were going to be gainfully and legally employed here.  There are also restrictions in entering heaven.  Jesus has removed one giant obstacle: He has taken away Kirsty’s sin.  But her body was still subject to death and the grave.  A sin-stained body cannot enter a sinless heaven. 

     The risen Savior gives you an enduring hope, even in death.  That’s because your crucified Savior is also your risen Savior.  Jesus’ resurrection proves his authority over the grave.  This authority serves Kirsty as well.  St. Paul wrote, “Indeed, if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then in the same way we also believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:14).  Death does not get the last word.  On Judgment Day, Kirsty’s body will be raised in glory.  She will be raised with a body that is imperishable—it cannot die again, and incorruptible—it will not even get sick, weak, or frail.  The risen Savior gives you an enduring hope.  The grave has to give Kirsty back.  And if you cling to Jesus, you will be reunited with Kirsty and all the faithful.  This hope is backed by the death and resurrection of Jesus.  And since nothing can erase that, nothing can destroy this hope.

     St. Paul spelled out what the future will be when Jesus comes again.  “In fact, we tell you this by the word of the Lord: We who are alive and left until the coming of the Lord will certainly not go on ahead of those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them, to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). 

     So, you see, you have not lost Kirsty.  She dwells with the Lord in peace, comfort, and joy.  You may grieve for some time.  It will hit you at random times and for strange reasons.  But you do not have to grieve like people who have no hope.  The risen Savior gives you an enduring hope which not even death can overcome.  Jesus lives.  Kirsty does too.  “Therefore, encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

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

Wedding of Dana LeFevre and Evan Petersen (August 7, 2026)

This sermon was preached at the Buhl Estate in Addison Oaks County Park in Leonard, Michigan.

THE LORD BINDS YOU TOGETHER FOR A BLESSED UNION.

ECCLESIASTES 4:9-12

In the name + of Jesus.

     The institution of marriage was designed by God.  It is still God’s plan, and it is still a good idea.  The Lord established marriage when he brought Adam and Eve together and blessed them.  The Scriptures remind us: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will remain united to his wife, and they will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).  Marriage is a blessed union where two become one—one household, one family.

     When God established marriage, he did it in a world that was still pure and perfect.  Marriage was not something God threw together quickly once sin entered the world.  Holy matrimony was established in a holy world; and God called it good.  It is still good, and it brings tremendous blessings to a man and a woman even in a sinful world.

     King Solomon spoke about the partnership of two people in his book of Ecclesiastes.  If you read through the whole book of Ecclesiastes, you will find that Solomon declared many earthly pursuits to be ultimately meaningless.  Regarding the marital union, however, Solomon found great blessing.  He wrote, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their hard work.  If one of them falls, his companion can lift him up.  Pity the person who falls and has no one else to lift him up.  What’s more, if two lie down, they can keep warm, but how can one person keep warm alone?  Though an attacker can overpower one person, two people together can stand up against him” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).

     This makes marriage seem quite practical.  And to be sure, there are benefits of joining your resources and your energies.  No longer do you pay twice the rent and twice the utilities.  You will not need to clean two homes and care for two yards.  But marriage is no mere arrangement of convenience.  You are not business partners.  You are not roommates.  Two individuals may pull apart, but a husband and wife are intertwined as one.  The Lord binds you together in a blessed union. 

     Now, the bad news.  Even though you are joined together in a blessed union, you still remain two sinners.  You will discover different opinions, different preferences, and possibly even different priorities.  The devil will use these to try to break up this union.  And the devil is sly enough to use pesky, little things to mount up into resentment and sarcastic zingers.  Right now, you can’t imagine that you will argue about how to fold towels or load a dishwasher.  Of course, engineers tend to think that there is a specific way of doing something, and you may not always agree on what that way is.  These are the things that stoke up self-importance at the expense of your spouse.  Even if you win the argument, the marriage takes the blow.

     If this marital union is nothing more than a business arrangement, you could just dissolve the partnership and look for new roommates.  But that is not the Lord’s design.  Jesus declares, “What God has joined together, let no one separate” (Mark 10:9).  The Lord binds you together in a blessed union, and it is a union that is inseparable and insoluble.  As God designed it, it is a union that is a blessing for both of you.

     To preserve this union between two sinners, the Lord has blessed you even more.  He has bound you to himself.  After considering, “Two are better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9), Solomon concludes, “A rope with three strands is not quickly snapped” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).  The Lord takes his own place in your marital union.  He is what truly will keep you bound to one another.  He will sanctify your marriage, protect it, preserve it, and produce peace and joy within it.  That is because the Lord has bound you to himself, and he has bound himself to you. 

     God the Son became a man to unite himself to humanity.  He has made your sins his own.  He was cursed for all our impatience, our self-importance, and our cutting remarks.  His death has paid the price for the sins of the world.  Now he is risen from death and lives and reigns for your good.  By becoming a man, he bound himself to humanity.  When you were baptized, he bound you to himself.  He is yours, and you are his.  This union is blessed above all others.  And “what God has joined together, let no one separate” (Mark 10:9).  

     The Lord Jesus is the Groom, and his Church is his Bride.  To win her for himself, he surrendered his life.  He shed his blood as the dowry.  With his holy, precious blood, he cleansed his Bride to be pure and innocent, free from all fault and flaws.  The Church, in turn, is devoted to her beloved Groom.  Just as she benefits from his love and care, so she willingly submits to him trusting that everything he does is done to exalt her.

     This mystery is reflected in your marriage.  Evan, you are the groom who does all things for the good of your bride—to bless her, to protect her, to provide for her, and to exalt her.  Dana, you are the bride who willingly submits to your husband—trusting that he seeks your good, encouraging him as he cares for you, and exalting him as the head of the house. 

     This is God’s plan for marriage.  It is still God’s plan, and it is still a good idea.  And God blesses this plan by uniting himself to you as he binds you together.  “A rope with three strands is not quickly snapped” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).  This bond will continue to be strengthened as you grow together in Christ.  He will strengthen and keep you in the one, true faith as you hear his words of grace and feast on his body and blood.  As you grow in Christ’s love, you will also increase in love for one another—forgiving one another, encouraging one another, consoling one another, praying with one another and for one another, and giving thanks together for all God’s blessings. 

     God binds you together today.  It is not a partnership for the sake of convenience.  It is a sacred institution which God established for the good of a man and a woman.  And you are doubly blessed, for your union includes the Savior who will be with you in all the ups and downs of life and who will bring you into the wedding feast of heaven.  The Lord brings you together for a blessed union—united to each other for life, and united together in Christ for life everlasting.  “A rope with three strands is not quickly snapped” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).  What God joins together, let no one separate—for it is a most blessed union. 

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

YouTube-- 11th Sunday after Pentecost (August 9, 2026)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, August 9, 2026.  The guest preacher was Rev. Phil Spaude who is retired.

Welcome to the world: Jordan Elsie Schroeder (August 8, 2026)

Our family has been richly blessed over the years in many ways.  Another rich blessing was bestowed upon us on Saturday, August 8 when our son, Caleb, & daughter-in-law, Caitlin, saw the birth of their fist child, Jordan Elsie.  She came in at 7 pounds, 9 ounces and 20 inches long.  The jury is still out on who she looks like between Schroeder and Boehler genes.  

Caleb noted that his favorite Green Bay Packer was Jordy Nelson. Now his daughter is Jordan Elsie. Note: Caitlin chose the middle name, so this is more coincidence than scheme.  Caitlin is a Lions fan.

She is the first grandchild for both sides.  Aunt Faith feels vindicated that there is finally another girl born to this family.  I have not seen Laura since Jordan's birth because I failed to tether her to the ground.  I can only hope she will return to Lake City with me.

I had hoped to have a photo of Caitlin with Jordan, but she may have felt less than photogenic in the hospital.  Sorry!

God bless and keep Caleb, Caitlin, and Jordan.

The uncles with the new Dad.  T-shirts courtesy of Nathanael.

Bible Information Class to begin Thursday, September 10

Ever wondered????

            Most people are interested in religion.  Many have ideas, but how can we know for sure what is right?  The Bible has the answers people crave.  If you have ever wondered what God says about mankind, about how we can be sure of eternal life, or other topics, this class is for you.  Long-time Christians will also benefit from a refresher on these things.

BIBLE INFORMATION CLASS will begin on Thursday, September 10.  Classes will be 7:00 – 8:30 PM.

The schedule for this class is:

09/10       God's Plan of Salvation
09/17       God Created a Beautiful Universe.
09/24       Why is the World So Crazy?
10/01       How did Jesus Save the World?
10/08       The End is Coming!
10/15       Why do We Need the Bible?
10/22       God Works through Holy Baptism.
10/29       God Works through Holy Communion.
11/05       God Gathers His Church.
11/12       A Conversation with God.
11/19       Our Spiritual Heartbeat
11/26       Thanksgiving; No Class
12/03       Love the Lord your God.
12/10       Love your Neighbor – Part 1
12/17       Love your Neighbor – Part 2
TBD        Take Good Care.

There is no cost.  All materials are provided.  Come with questions.  Come with friends.  Come and learn what God wants you to know.

Call (651-345-3523) or e-mail (pastor@stjohnslakecity.com) to register for this class. 

YouTube -- 10th Sunday after Pentecost (August 2, 2026)

Here is the service from Sunday, August 2, 2026.

Sermon -- 10th Sunday after Pentecost (August 2, 2026)

JESUS IS OUR PRICELESS TREASURE, AND WE ARE HIS.

MATTHEW 13:44-52

In the name + of Jesus.

      The chief hymn for today is “Jesus, Priceless Treasure.”  In it, we call Jesus our “Fount of purest pleasure.”  You would think that a hymn which exalts Jesus as our purest pleasure might have a peppy tune.  Instead, we have a tune that is quite serious.  I would argue that this is not a flaw.  This hymn is not a pop song; it is a fight song.

     Why is Jesus our priceless treasure?  The hymn tells us why; and as it does, it calls out our enemies—sin, death, and the devil.  Sin is our enemy, marking us for condemnation.  Death and the grave are our enemies; they seize all of us.  And Satan is our chief enemy.  His name means “Accuser” because he accuses and taunts us over our sins.  He even refreshes the memory and the shame of sins that happened years ago.  He doesn’t make up the charges, either.  He simply holds up the record that stands against us, and our conscience confirms that Satan’s accusations are accurate.  We have done what is evil, and we have failed to do what is good.  We have been overcome by our enemies.  But for us fights the Valiant One.  He has fought for us and won.

     Jesus is our priceless treasure because he has removed our offenses from us, because he has conquered the grave for us, and because he silences the devil for us.  Remember, the devil is a liar.  Even if he does not lie about the sins you’ve committed, he lies that your sins still cling to you.  Jesus has taken them away.  “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).  And so, we sing our fight song, even mocking our enemies:

        “Satan, I defy thee;
           Death, I now decry thee;
              Fear, I bid thee cease.
        World, thou shalt not harm me;
           Nor thy threats alarm me
              While I sing of peace.
        God’s great power Guards every hour;
           Earth and all its depths adore him,
              Silent bow before him” (Jesus, Priceless Treasure, stanza 3).

     Jesus told these brief parables about priceless treasures and the kingdom of heaven: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again.  In his joy, he goes away and sells all that he has and buys that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls.  When he found one very valuable pearl, he went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:44-46). 

     Jesus is our priceless treasure, and for good reason.  There is nothing on earth that can rival him.  There is no other name given under heaven by which we are saved.  There are many who preach “How to” sermons which instruct you to avoid sins.  Only Jesus takes your sins away.  There are many medicines which can maybe prolong your life.  Only Jesus grants the resurrection to eternal life.  Psychologists can give you ways to cope with the guilt that Satan piles upon you.  Only Jesus can soothe a troubled conscience because he has crushed the Serpent’s head.  Jesus overrules the accusations of Satan.  He absolves you of all your guilt.  All these blessings Jesus delivers to you through word and sacraments.  This is why we continue to come to God’s house so we can receive all his benefits.  Jesus is the only refuge against the enemies of God’s kingdom.  The world might promise you treasure and glory, but they are momentary—if they come at all.  And none of them save.  Only Jesus does.  Jesus will deliver eternal pleasures and endless glories.  That is why he is the priceless treasure.

     Jesus’ parables speak about a man who gives up everything he has in order to attain the treasure hidden in the field and the pearl of tremendous worth.  From this, you might conclude that you must give up everything in order to attain Jesus as your priceless treasure.  To be sure, there are some things that you have to give up if Jesus is to be your Lord and Savior.  We must give up our sins.  Forgiveness is not an excuse to return to our sins.  You’ve been set free from them.  Why would you run back to them?  You’ve been set apart for a high and holy purpose.  Why would anyone despise that? 

     Those who bear the name of Christ want to live like him.  So, just as we sing our fight songs against sin, death, and the devil, we also fight against sin and temptation which would seduce us away from the kingdom of God.  St. Paul encourages, “Let us live up to what we have already attained” (Philippians 3:16).  Of course, you and I discover that, as much as we want to forsake our sins, they continue to happen.  And that is why we continue to need Jesus.  We flee to him for refuge against the enemies.  We need Jesus’ constant mercy and forgiveness.  The good news is: Jesus continues to be our Savior and our refuge.  He is our priceless treasure whose value never decreases.

     We give up other things too, although it would be more accurate to say that our Lord takes them away from us.  Our Lord pours out many blessings upon us throughout life.  As time goes by, the Lord withdraws them.  He may take away your money and possessions—either by a bad economy or natural disaster.  As difficult as that might be, other losses cut more deeply.  You will likely lose your parents.  You will bid farewell to friends.  You may lose your health, your hearing, your balance, or your memory.  We thank God for these blessings while we have them, but none of them will endure.  So, if these blessings can be lost, it shows us that we should not put our trust in them.  This is why the Psalmist wrote, “Who else is there for me in heaven?  And besides you, I desire no one else on earth.  My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:25-26).  As a treasure, only Jesus is priceless, and his word endures forever.

     In the end, the Lord withdraws everything from you until the last thing he takes from you is your breath.  In the end, the only thing you ever needed was Jesus; and he will not withdraw from you.  Jesus remains your priceless treasure.  His kingdom and his righteousness remain yours.  So, you do not really lose anything.  You will be reunited with all the faithful.  You will bask in the peace and glory of the Lord.  You will feast at the wedding banquet of the Lamb.  And your heavenly treasure will never perish, spoil, or fade.  This is why Jesus is your priceless treasure. 

     But if we consider this parable a little more closely, we will see that Jesus urges us to do the impossible.  He said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again.  In his joy, he goes away and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matthew 13:44).  Have you sold everything, as much as you have, to buy this priceless treasure?  “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls.  When he found one very valuable pearl, he went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:45-46).  Again, have you sold everything, as much as you have, and buy this valuable pearl?  Can you?  You know full well that we do not buy our way into the kingdom of God.  God’s grace is not a commodity that can be bought and sold.  Grace is a gift that is given, not purchased.

     What’s more, the parable says a man seeks and finds the treasure.  For some, this makes perfect sense.  There are Christians who ask others, “Have you found Jesus?”  That suggests it is up to us to find the kingdom of God.  But that is not how the Bible speaks.  The lost sheep does not find its way back to the shepherd.  It is lost.  It is helpless.  The enemies—sin, death, and the devil—have the sheep marked as easy prey, and it cannot escape them.  The sheep does not need directions; it needs rescue.  So, the shepherd goes out and finds the sheep.  And when he finds the sheep, he puts it upon his shoulders and brings it back to the safety of the flock.  It is just as Jesus said, “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).  It is our Lord who found you, rescued you, and brought you into his kingdom.  This is the work of one who saves, and there is no other Savior than Jesus. 

     So, let’s reconsider Jesus’ parables.  If Jesus is teaching about the kingdom of heaven, it is going to be about what the Lord is like and what the Lord does rather than about what you are like and what you do.  Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again.  In his joy, he goes away and sells all that he has and buys that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls.  When he found one very valuable pearl, he went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:44-46). 

     Jesus is our priceless treasure, but he also teaches that you are his priceless treasure.  Jesus came into this world to redeem it.  If he redeems it, that means there is a cost.  The cost for Jesus to redeem you and all creation was his life.  In other words, Jesus gave up everything, as much as he had.  God the Son left the glories and majesty of heaven to enter a corrupt, dying world.  God the Son took upon himself our flesh, submitting to the weaknesses we all know.  He subjected himself to the temptations of the devil, although he resisted them all.  He humbled himself to endure the slander and scorn of his enemies.  He took the blows of fists and whips.  He allowed himself to be spit upon and stripped bare.  The Almighty suffered in weakness.  The God of glory died in shame.  All this he did to redeem and rescue you.

     This is how greatly our Lord has valued you.  It has been said that something is only worth as much as people are willing to pay for it.  I always found it amusing when people would bring their treasures to the Antiques Road Show, and the appraiser would inform these people, “Your item is exquisite.  Something like this would sell for $20,000 at an auction.”  I wonder, do they ever find someone who ponies up $20,000?  After all, if no one thinks it is worth $20,000, what good was that appraisal?

     Jesus is your priceless treasure, and you are his.  Consider the value that our Lord has assessed you at!  He has purchased and won you from all sin, from death, and the power of the devil—not with gold or silver, but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent sufferings and death.  Jesus gave up everything, as much as he had, to acquire you for eternity.  All this he did so that you could be his own and live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness.  You are the treasure which Jesus bought.  You are the pearl of great price.  You are worth the life of God the Son!  How dearly our Lord must love you! 

        Hence, all earthly treasure!
           Jesus is my pleasure;
              Jesus is my choice.
        Hence, all empty glory!
           Naught to me thy story
              Told with tempting voice.
        Pain or loss Or shame or cross
           Shall not from my Savior move me
              Since he deigns to love me (Jesus, Priceless Treasure, stanza 4).
     Jesus is our priceless treasure, and we are his, too.

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

Worship Notes: Children's Lessons

The children's lesson is a novelty within the Divine Service.  For almost the entirety of Christendom, the Church met without a children's lesson as part of the Divine Service.  

It should be noted that the Bible neither commands nor forbids children's lessons.  Although, proponents for children's lesson get close to accusing those who do not practice them as sinning against children.  They will cite the women bringing the children to Jesus for him to bless them, and especially Jesus rebuking the apostles for keeping them away.  Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (Matthew 19:14).  The women did not bring their children to Jesus during synagogue worship.  So, to equate this verse with a children's lesson is a bit misleading.  

But if anyone insists on equating Jesus' blessing the children with children's lessons, then perhaps we should consider the earlier part of this reading: "Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them" (Matthew 19:13).  Is everyone comfortable with the pastor laying his hands on the children?  In our modern climate, I fear legal charges could arise.

I have heard some people go so far as to say, "If a church does not have children's lessons, they don't care about the children."  That charge is pure manipulation.  It also condemns centuries of churches and pastors who never had them.  

I opt to not include children's lessons in the Divine Service.  There are a number of reasons for this.  In no particular order, they include:

1)  It segregates part of the congregation.

Having a portion of the service for just one segment of the congregation is divisive.  If there is a lesson tailored to children, what about the teens?  What about twenty-somethings?  What about those newly married or recently widowed?  Doesn't Jesus have a special message just for them?

The Divine Service is where the entire family of God joins together for worship, regardless of sex, age, marital status, and so forth.  All sing together, pray together, and listen together.  As the children grow older, they will gain more from the service.  And they probably are getting more out of the service than parents realize.

2)  There are already many children's lessons.

St. John's is blessed to have a Lutheran elementary school in which Bible History lessons are taught daily.  There are also weekly chapel services.  And there is Sunday School.  These lessons are already tailored to their age levels.

If the parents are eager for the children's lesson to take place, I offer this solution: The parents can talk to their children about the sermon at home.  This reinforces for the entire family the theme for the day, and it teaches the children that the parents consider the sermon and the service worthy of meditation beyond Sunday morning.

3)  The children's lesson is a distraction from the liturgy.

The children's lesson interrupts the flow of the service as the pastor waits for children to come down from all parts of the sanctuary and settle in.  After the lesson, the children return to their seats.  Depending upon how long the pastor takes to teach the lesson, it is a five-minute break from the liturgy.  If a children's lesson is necessary, it can be done outside of the liturgical order.  And it is (cf point #2).

4)  The children's lesson teaches the children that the rest of the service is not for them.

This is the most grievous lesson learned from having children's lessons.  The children are summoned for a portion of the service which is "just for them."  If that part is for them, by implication the rest is not.  Why pay attention to the sermon when they already got their part done?  

Sadly, adults have also remarked that they get more out of the children's lesson than they do the sermon.  I suppose this is to be understood as an endorsement of the children's lesson.  I would consider it an indictment, either of the pastor delivering a poor, incoherent sermon or of the listener not wanting to put in the effort of intentional listening.  Sesame Street is easier to comprehend than 60 Minutes, but I hope adults would recognize that 60 Minutes has more substantive content.

5)  The children's lesson is a time for amusement.

Another appeal for the children's lesson is the response that comes from children when questions are asked of them.  After all, Kids Say the Darndest Things.  Everyone looks forward to a chuckle.  But if we come to church looking for a chuckle, we have missed the point of the Divine Service.  The entire Divine Service is a time when we stand in the presence of our Lord.  This is holy ground.  Whenever people encountered our Lord in the Bible, no one was yucking it up.  So, this levity is out of place for sinners yearning for God's mercy.  There is a time and place for amusement.  The Divine Service is not it. 

Every practice in the Divine Service deserves to be evaluated.  Some practices demonstrate reverence and avoid frivolity.  Other practices detract from the sense of awe and glory that is worthy of our Lord.  Not all practices are in the best interest of teaching the Christian faith, even if they are not strictly forbidden.

Sermon -- 9th Sunday after Pentecost (July 26, 2026)

THE GOOD SEED PRODUCES A GOOD HARVEST.

MATTHEW 13:24-30,36-43

In the name + of Jesus.

      The kingdom of heaven is like a man who planted good seed and desired a good harvest.  The good seed has produced a good harvest.  It has produced saving faith in you—a faith which trusts God’s word, a faith which receives the benefits of Jesus’ perfect life and innocent death, a faith which is taught to say “No” to wickedness and “Yes” to godliness.  You are the good harvest. 

     But the kingdom of heaven has an enemy.  Although the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the enemy has infiltrated this world.  He has sown seeds of sin and unbelief.  And although his work results only in pain, suffering, and death, his work is not always as obvious as we would think.  In some cases, it is obvious.  There are people who have embraced the enemy’s lies.  As St. Peter wrote, they live “in unbridled immorality, lusts, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and disgusting idolatry.  For this reason, they are surprised that you do not plunge into the same overflowing river of filth with them, and they slander you” (1 Peter 4:3-4).  Their sins are obvious.

     But that is not the case with most.  Jesus described it this way: “When the plants sprouted and produced heads of grain, the weeds also appeared.  The servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field?  Where did the weeds come from?’  He said to them, ‘An enemy did this.’  The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather up the weeds?’  ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because when you gather up the weeds, you might pull up the wheat along with them’” (Matthew 13:26-29). 

     You might recall that the King James Version referred to the weeds as tares.  We will use that phrase in a hymn later.  Tares are poisonous.  If you consumed them, you would get sick.  But you can’t tell the difference between wheat and tares as they grow together.  This is true in the world as well.  You usually can’t tell who is in the kingdom of God and who is not.

     Most people know how to behave.  Most people recognize that society works best when people are polite, decent, and generous.  As a result, we might assume that most people are in the kingdom of God.  You can’t know it by someone’s appearance or personality.  What if a man is grumpy?  Is he not in the kingdom of God?  On the other hand, what if a man is the life of the party and always picks up the check?  Is he in the kingdom of God?  We don’t know.  Atheists can be polite and generous.  Christians can be self-absorbed and self-centered.  We cannot distinguish the wheat from the tares. 

     It might seem sensible to uproot and remove all the tares.  That should make the world a better place, right?  But it would be a disaster if we tried.  Jesus explained why.  “When you gather up the weeds, you might pull up the wheat along with them” (Matthew 13:29).  The wheat and the tares will continue to grow together.  Jesus said they would remain until the harvest, that is, until the final judgment.  Then each will be shown for what he or she is.  Then our Lord will judge each person accordingly.

     Throughout the history of the Church, there have been repeated efforts to make the Church more pure and, allegedly, better preserved from sin and error.  Most of those efforts involved separation from a group or seclusion from society.  The Puritans wanted a more devout church than the Church of England.  They separated from it, even crossing the ocean to establish a pure church.  Monks wanted to free themselves from the wickedness of the world.  So, they left it and entered monasteries.  None of these efforts ever produced a pure church.  Sinners still brought their sinfulness with them.  Besides that, it is not what our Lord has called us to do.  How can you love your neighbor if you keep him away from you? 

     If the wheat and the tares grow together in this world, you can expect the world to be messed up.  And so it is.  If the wheat and the tares grow together in the Christian Church, you can expect the Christian Church to be messed up.  And so it is—with countless and conflicting denominations.  But the good seed produces a good harvest.  There is a Holy Christian Church, just as we confess.  It is the invisible Church, because God alone knows who are the true sons and daughters of the kingdom.

     But that does not mean we are incapable of recognizing the Church.  Jesus told us where to find the Church.  He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.  The field is the world.  The good seeds are the sons of the kingdom” (Matthew 13:37-38).  The Lord Jesus establishes his Church where the seed is sown.  The Church is wherever God’s word is rightly preached and the sacraments are rightly administered.  There, the Holy Spirit is at work to create and to sustain faith in the hearts of people.  To remain in the kingdom of God, God’s people need to be where the word of God is rightly preached and the sacraments are rightly administered.  There, the good seed continues to be sown, and it will produce a good harvest.

     Unfortunately, the kingdom of God has an enemy.  Jesus said, “The weeds are the sons of the Evil One.  The enemy who sowed them is the Devil” (Matthew 13:38-39).  Just as it is not always easy to distinguish the wheat from the tares, so also it is not always easy to distinguish between the seeds, whether they are good or bad.  When the devil tells his lies, he is good at making them sound right.  He twists God’s word just slightly so that it still sounds like it is God’s word.  The devil perverts a part of God’s word, hoping that this will lead people farther away from the rest of God’s word.  The goal of the devil is to lead you away from Jesus, and he will do this bit by bit.  A ship that is only one degree off course will end up miles away from its far destination.  This is how the devil steers people away from the truth.

     This is how you can have many churches today which profess to be Christian churches and yet proclaim teachings that defy God’s word.  They will accept any and every lifestyle and say, “God told us to love our neighbor.  We do that here.”  Of course, God wants us to love our neighbor, so it sounds very Christian.  But when you say, “Some choices are wicked.  People need to repent,” they will condemn you.  “God told us to love our neighbor.  Why don’t you?”  You are enticed to embrace the lie, as if you have failed God’s commands.  Who doesn’t want to be known as open-minded and big-hearted?  The Enemy has sown this seed, and it takes root very easily.  Beware.  Love for your neighbor is never at odds with a love for God’s word. 

     The goal in calling people to repent is not to prove who is better or worse.  It is about a godly love for people so that they will not die in their sins and receive the judgment Jesus warned about: “The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will pull out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and those who continue to break the law.  The angels will throw them into the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:41-42). 

     The reality is that we all entered the world as bad seed.  We confess with King David, “Certainly, I was guilty when I was born.  I was sinful when my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5).  We acknowledge the words of St. Paul, “All have sinned and continue to fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 2:23—“fall short” is a present tense; it is an on-going reality).  While the sins of others may be obvious, we do not have to answer for them.  We have our own sins to answer for—sins of habit, sins of weakness, sins of looking down on others for their sins, sins of encouraging people in their sins because we would rather be in their good graces than in God’s.  We have much to answer for, and we don’t have any better answers than anyone else.  Repent.

     The good news is that we have a Savior who has stepped in to answer for us.  The Lord Jesus Christ has come to be our advocate before the heavenly Father.  Jesus does not excuse our sins.  Rather, he paid for them. 

     When Jesus stood on trial before the Sanhedrin, they accused him of many things.  Jesus did not give any answer to defend himself.  He was not trying to escape the cross or evade condemnation.  He accepted the charges for all of mankind.  He took all sins into himself.  And just as our Lord does not excuse any sins, so Jesus did not fail to take up any sins when he went to the cross.  No sins were too costly.  No sinner was omitted.  Jesus paid the price for every sin and every sinner.  As a result, Jesus answers for us before the Lord’s court.  All sins have been taken away.  All the charges have been dropped.  All have been issued a divine pardon.  

     God has planted the seed of his word in you to produce a good harvest.  As a result, you have received the benefits of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  This is what makes you sons and daughters of the kingdom.  It is not because you are good; it is because Jesus is good and merciful.  It is not because you are righteous; it is because you have been covered in Jesus’ righteousness.  Jesus has cleansed you with his holy, innocent blood.  And if you need greater assurance of this salvation, here the blood of Christ is poured into you to cleanse you of all unrighteousness.  Here is the body that bore your sins and has overcome death for you.  Here the sacrament is rightly administered for the good of God’s people.  Here, the Lord works in you to increase your faith, love, and good works.

     The Lord has not removed you from this sinful world.  You remain here as God’s people to be a godly influence on the world.  You get to spread the good seed in the world so that more people can be gathered into God’s kingdom and delivered from the fiery judgment to come.  If you are grieved by the wickedness you see and experience, you will find peace only in Jesus.  Pray for patience and perseverance, knowing that the final harvest is coming.  Then you will be forever free from wickedness, and the Enemy of the kingdom will not be able to harm or harass you anymore.

     In the meantime, the wheat and the tares will grow together.  In the end each will be shown for what he or she is.  “The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will pull out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and those who continue to break the law.  The angels will throw them into the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 13:41-43).

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

A Pastoral Concern about going to church

Go To Church Every Week? Why?

The only valid reason for missing church is because of poor health. If you think saying so is provocative and unrealistic, perhaps you fail to see the benefits of the Divine Service.

Go to church every week? Why?
          It is NOT to make God happy. God is happy with you because you belong to Christ and are redeemed by his sacrificial life and death. Your works cannot improve that status at all.
          It is NOT to just obey the Third Commandment. It is true: We should not despise preaching and his word. But if going to church is only about keeping the Third Commandment, your reason for going is to jump through a hoop to appease God. Your motive, then, is corrupt. Your worship will not please God.
          It is NOT so that others will see you and, thus, think well of you. This would make you a hypocrite—looking pious on the outside but being far from God in your heart. While others might be impressed with your attendance, God would know better. He despises hypocrites.

Go to church every week? Why?
          We come as beggars—poor, needy, and destitute. We come with our sins. We come bearing guilt. We come cloaked in shame. We come with struggles, frustrations, angst, unrest, and fears. We come because God offers relief from all of these things. We come as beggars, and God fills us with heavenly riches.

Go to church every week? Why?
          Because every week, we suffer trials and temptations.
          Because every week, Satan seeks to deceive and destroy us.
          Because every week, false teachers and false teachings try to seduce us.

Go to church every week? Why?
          Because others sin against us.
          Because we sin against others.
          Because we live in a world that is evil.
          Because we face disease and sickness; disappointment and disaster; sorrow and stress; decay and death.
          Because we are weak and frail.

Go to church every week? Why?
          Because we are sinners, and we can’t fix it.
          Because we face judgment, and we can’t avoid it.
          Because we are dying, and we can’t stop it.
          Because our only hope to be delivered from our wretched condition comes while we are still alive.

Go to church every week? Why?
          Because Jesus forgives sinners.
          Because the Lord’s forgiveness comes through the gospel rightly preached and the sacraments rightly administered.
          Because we desire to be saved, to partake in the resurrection of the dead, and to be judged worthy of eternal life through faith in Jesus. 

             Because faith will only remain alive if it is fed by word and sacrament.

Go to church every week? Why?
          Because our Father desires to bless us since we are his dearly loved children.
          Because Jesus Christ delivers pardon for our sins, relief from our guilt, and hope despite our shame.
          Because the Holy Spirit pours upon us encouragement, strength, and peace.

Go to church every week? Why?
          Because the sheep listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd.
          Because the Bride of Christ loves to hear her Groom proclaim his constant love and devotion to her.
          Because the children are eager to be heard by their good and merciful Father in heaven.
          Because by their actions, God's people confess what they regard as their comfort, their hope, the foundation and the goal of their life.

Go to church every week? Why?
          Because God’s promises are declared in the lessons.
          Because God’s grace is given in the Absolution.
          Because God’s mercy is applied in the preaching of the sermon.
          Because the body and blood of Christ are administered to us in Holy Communion for our salvation.
          Because God puts his name on us and blesses us in the Benediction.

Go to church every week? Why?
          Because God gives his greatest blessings there. What week don’t we want these? What week don’t we need these? Our joy and comfort are this: Every week, without fail, God gives these. Every week, God serves us— for our benefit, for our comfort, and for our salvation.

NOTE: If you work on Sunday mornings and cannot change your schedule, speak to your pastor about alternative dates, times, or ways to be served. If you need a ride, let your pastor know so that he can arrange one for you. If you are not aware of a WELS/ELS church where you are living, contact your previous pastor or go to www.wels.net to use the church locator to find one.