Sermons 2025

Text: Hebrews 11:12-12:4
Theme: Great Cloud of Witnesses

Outline
1.    Running the race of faith
2.    Cheered on by Patriarchs and Saints before us
3.    Focused on JC

Sermon

Grace, mercy, and peace, be to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

My dear beloved flock, the text for our meditation today is the book of Hebrews chapter eleven verse twelve through twelve verse four.

Boys and girls, I pray that you are doing well today. Have you ever run a race? I know that you love to run as fast as you can as much as you can. Whether it be on your scooters, bikes, cars, boats, or feet and legs, you enjoy going superfast. When we win the race, we feel awesome and special. When we lose the race, we feel sad. We are happy when we run, but sad that we did not win. When you run, you have your moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, friends and others cheering you along from the sidelines. They support you as you run the race to the very end. We see similar in our text for today. The race that we run is the race of life. The goal is what Jesus has won for us by His death and resurrection from the dead. We have a great cloud cheering us on, the saints of old. How do they cheer us one? How can we run all the way to the end steadfast in faith? Ponder those questions as you hear the rest of the sermon. You may go back to your seats and those who love you.

1.    Running the race of faith

Every single one of us is running a race. We are running a race called life, doing so while propelled by faith to the end. Many times, we are running a race with five thousand (5,000) pound weights upon us as we go throughout our earthly life. Would you be able to get very far with that kind of weight upon you?  I doubt that many of us would be even able to take a single step! We would be crushed under all that weight.
That is what our sin does as we run. It crushes us. It weighs us down. It makes so that we cannot run the race in faith well. We are crushed by the  Law of God as it reveals to us how deeply, in thought, word, and deed, we have failed to throw off the weight that clings to us so that we may run the race well, unencumbered and steadfast to the end. Rather than constantly looking forward to the goal, we return back to what we threw off at the beginning of the race. We put back on our weights. Sometimes they can be small. “No Hon, you are not getting a grey hair. That dress does not make you look fat, you are as skinny as you were back in high school. Hubby, you are just as strong and virile as the day I met you, your strengthen has not diminished with age.” If anyone ever finds someone that can honestly say that, let me know, I would love to meet them someday. Sometimes our weights are large. “You stole a million dollars from the bank. You killed a man. You betrayed our trust as friends, I am never trusting you again with anything!” Sometimes our weights are not put on verbally, but mentally. “I should have not said that. I should have said this instead, that would have been better for the spread of the Gospel.” “Am I doing the right thing? Does God really approve of this? Am I good enough for God to love me? Am I really His dear and beloved child?” 

2.    Cheered on by Patriarchs and Saints before us

As we run this race, we must remember that we are not alone. The same as we are not alone when we run earthly races, so too heavenly races. We are surrounded by other runners, by the crowds cheering us and encouraging us on. We can hear the crowd around us cheering and rejoicing as we run towards the goal. As we look out, we see familiar faces. Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Adam and Eve, Noah, Moses, Abel, and many more. The saints of old who showed faith in their lives and who died clinging in faith to the promise of God, now cheer us on as we continue in the faith unto the end.  They cheer us on by their examples of faith as well as with their words of encouragement.   It is not easy to live in faith. “Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.  ”  Yet in spite, they looked forward to the goal. “Don’t give up!” those heroes would shout from the pages of Holy Scripture, “Keep on running! You’re on the right track!”  Amid our despair and worry, they say: “Yes, you are a child of God, you are good enough. Not because of yourself, but because of Christ in you! Focus on Christ! Throw off what hinders you as you focus on the goal!”

1.    Focused on JC

The Old Testament heroes point us to the goal. They, who ran faith’s course successfully, can encourage but not strengthen us. For ongoing strength and stamina we need to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” Again the author uses the present tense in the Greek to remind us to keep fixing our eyes on Jesus. Note also the use of the personal name “Jesus.” Jesus, the Second person of the Holy Trinity, became flesh to furnish our salvation. He’s the one who authors, continues, and brings our faith to perfection in heaven. From A to Z he is both the object and the cause of our faith. He creates faith in us and is the object that faith clings to.

What a powerful incentive Jesus’ example is for us as we run our race. He “endured the cross,” the author says, using the same root word as for our “perseverance” in verse 1. The cross with its torture and disgrace was no light load for our Lord, but He held up under it. The shame involved was far outweighed by the joy he found in completing the work of salvation and sitting down in triumph at God’s right hand.  He suffered, bled, died, and rose from the dead for you. He defeated Sin, death, and the power of the devil so that we can indeed throw off every weight that hinders us because Jesus has taken every weight off of us, placed them upon Himself, and given us His light and easy yoke. 

As we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, encouraging us as we run with them in Faith. Let us hold onto the faith that we have been given, focused on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. With the eye of faith, we join the hymnwriter in anticipating the scene when “Ten thousand times ten thousand in sparkling raiment bright, the armies of the ransomed saints throng up the steeps of light. ‘Tis finished, all is finished, their fight with death and sin; fling open wide the golden gates and let the victors in” (TLH 476:1).

Throw off your sins, throw off the worlds mockery, preserve, and endure focused on the goal. “God had planned something better for us.” Those Old Testament heroes of faith are no second-class citizens in heaven. Christ’s cross reaches with its redemption both backward to them and forward to us. But those heroes of faith operated on so much less than we do. They lived in the shadow and yet dared and died for Christ. They had so little and yet did so much.

Do we catch the challenge the author is placing before his New Testament readers? The full triumph of the cross is ours. The full truths of God’s promises are in our hands. Now what will we do and dare for him? Will our portraits, by the grace of God, be added on the walls of the hall of faith? Will a gracious God count us among those who have done the only great things this world has ever really known?  I pray that we would indeed be with them because of Christ’s death and resurrection from the dead as we follow where our Captain trods, looking forward in grace, to that day when we will see Him and all the Saints in glory forever.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard, and keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Text: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 
Theme: A Life Preserver 

Outline:
1.    Preserver Lost
2.    Preserved in Christ
3.    Preserved still today

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

My dear beloved flock, the text for our meditation this morning is the Epistle Lesson from Saint Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, the tenth chapter verses one through thirteen. 
Boys and girls how are you doing this morning? I pray that you are doing well. How good of a swimmer are you? Could you swim for hours and hours? Maybe? or would you need help? You might need what’s called a life vest or a life preserver. It is something that you can hold onto when you get tired of swimming and will hold you afloat so you will not drown. Once there were two friends fell off a ship. A life preserver was thrown to each person. One was relieved, grasped the preserver immediately, and was saved. The other believed he could do better on his own, pushed the preserver away, and was lost. Which of these are you? And if you are the one hanging on to the preserver, will you keep hanging on until you are safely pulled up onto the ship? Or is there the temptation to let go? How do we hold onto our life preserver given to us in and though Jesus Christ? Ponder these questions as you hear the rest of the sermon. You may go back to your seats and those who love you. 

Preserver Lost

In our text for today, Saint Paul draws on the history of Israel and uses it as an example of how people who have seen great things still need to be careful that they do not lose the thing that they have been given. 
The Israelites saw great and wonderful things. They were a privileged group of people. Graciously saved by God from slavery to the Egyptians. By God’s grace they saw and were a part of things that no people before or since have seen or been a part of. Israel had seen the Lord of the universe blazing a trail for them through the wilderness with a pillar of could in the daytime and a pillar of fire at night.  Israel had walked through the center of the Red Sea on dry ground with the water stacked up on both the left and right. Every Israelites who went through that dramatic baptism had a reason to think: “I must be one of God’s people. Look at what great thing He is doing for me! To save me!”  

They were certainly privileged people. God Himself was their Ruler, Shepherd, and Guide. Every year, the Israelites were to recall that saving event, called the Passover. The remembrance of Passover sustained and preserved the new life that they had been given. They were freed from the slavery and oppression in Egypt. 

Christ Himself was present with them in the rock that provided water and in the manna from heaven. Daily, they were provided for by God Himself. Every single day God did wonders to provide for them. They saw manna daily on the ground before. They saw every evening flocks of quail for them to eat. Yet, in spite of all of this Israel rejected God. They fell into idolatry, sin, and eternal death. However, those who did not reject the rock, those who held into the promises of God, were saved through their faith. Out of all of the original Israelites who walked through the Red Sea, 600,000 plus men twenty years and older, there was only two who remained faithful, Joshua and Caleb, who entered the Promised Land. 

Preserved because of Christ

If people as privileged as Israel could fall away from their God, what warning for us! Just as the people of Israel, the church in Corinth have graciously saved by God from bondage to the pagan idols. They are no longer slaves to false gods of wood, stone, and lustful passions. They have been saved by the wonderous work of God on their behalf.

They had seen the gracious works of God in and through Jesus Christ. Their reaction? One bordering on arrogance leading to eternal damnation. They took the mercy of God for granted, thinking that they could go back to their old ways. They could return to the worship of false idols, ways of ungodly living, and everything would be ok. Saint Paul warns them against this. He says, ‘do not be idolaters as some of them were…We must not indulge in sexual immorality… we must not put Christ to the test.’ 

Why? Because Baptism into Christ meant a new way of life. It means putting away forever former things. No longer going towards sinful ways but resisting them by standing firm in Christ Jesus. Indeed, given all of the enemies against them, they must be on guard and take heed lest they fall. Recalling their Baptism and salvation in Christ (including the Lord’s Supper, as Paul will explain later), they are sustained and preserved that new life that is granted to them. 

Where the Word and Sacraments are, there Christ is present. He the same as He accompanied ancient Israel, so too He accompanied the church in Corinth. They knew that because Christ was with them, they were provided the way out of sinful dangers. They did not depend upon themselves, but upon Christ’s death and resurrection, and His strength. They knew that with Christ living in them through Holy Baptism, that they could resist sin. They heeded Saint Paul’s warning. They did not become arrogant and prideful. If that happened, then Christ is rejected and everything is lost.  Those grasping him through faith are saved. It means repenting of sin, again and again, and  living in the forgiveness of Christ. 

Preserved in Christ still today

What was true of Isreal, and the church in Corinth, is also true of you. You have been graciously saved by God. You do not need to embrace our pagan culture. You have seen the great signs and wonders that God has done on our behalf, by sending His only Son, to suffer, bleed, and, die for you and me. We dare not become arrogant. We face the same weaknesses as Israel and Corinth. 

Christ, our Shepherd, the Son of God, has mercy upon you by sending pastors as your undershepherd. It is the responsibility of a pastor to forgive you of your sins in the name and stead of Christ. By Word and Sacrament, to give you new life in the waters of Holy Baptism. To come along side daily, helping and strengthening you by the Gospel to live out that new life given to you in Christ. Living out this new life is not an easy task, we are daily tempted, we daily struggle.  

Yet, we do so giving thanks for what Jesus has done for us. By the shedding of His innocent, holy, and precious blood, Jesus has taken away all of our sins. Rising again from the dead, we are given new life. Through the sending of the Holy Spirit, we are strengthened. Jus as Christ was with Isreal, and the church in Corinth, so Christ is present with us as well. Christ is present in the apostolic Scriptures. Every Word is about, and points to Christ. We are given Jesus’ very body and blood in, with, and under, the bread and the wine of the blessed Eucharist. As we live out our lives, Christ’s Word, and Sacraments, accompany us giving us strength and empowering us. 
When we are tempted and threatened with sin that leads to death, to toss away our life preserver, Christ’s presence, through His Word and through the voice of your pastor, your under Shepheard, provides the way out. We draw strengthen from Christ’s temptation, His defeat of Satan, and Christ’s suffering for us. We do not take it lightly. We hold it close and highly value it. We constantly remind each other, “Christ died for you. By His resurrection, He has given to you newness of life. Live in Him. Resist sin, hold fast to Christ.” 

One way that we can do so is every time we wake up and lay down for the evening.  Luther recommends that one’s first words on rising and retiring for the evening be the trinitarian invocation, the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thus reminding us of our Baptism. Then he suggests praying the morning and evening prayers. 

The Christian life is like a journey on a ship. From time to time, for a variety of reasons, we each find ourselves thrown overboard, swimming in a sea of temptations. We cannot swim long on our own. We need something to hold on to for our salvation. Continue to hold onto Jesus. Hold onto your Baptism into his name. Baptism into Christ is our life preserver. Grasp him and hold him tight, even when the seas roar and foam, dear Christian hold tight. Your Savior is present with you, hold fast to Him. 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard and keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Video

Sermon Outline

Do Not Fear Living and Even Dying for Christ, Because While in Adam All Die, in Christ All Will Be Made Alive.
    I.    We all die like Adam because we all sin like Adam.
    II.    But Christ died our death for us, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Sermon

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

My dear beloved flock, the text for our meditation is the first letter of Saint Paul sent to the church in Corinth, the fifteenth chapter verses twenty-one through twenty-six and thirty through forty-two. 
Boys and girls, I pray that you are doing well today.  How are you doing today? Are you happy to be alive? I pray that you are. There are many reasons that we can have joy over being alive. There is also a lot that we could be afraid of that might take our lives. Sickness, diseases, wild animals. There are many things that could kill us.

Paul tells the Corinthians he fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, presumably because he would not compromise his Christianity. Authorities threatened Paul repeatedly during his ministry. But Paul kept preaching Jesus, even when, eventually, he was killed for doing so.

Why do we die? To answer that question, 1 Corinthians 15 will help. Even if—or actually because—Paul is blunt. “As in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (v 22). There are only two possibilities. Are you dying with Adam or living with Christ? Ponder that question as you hear the rest of the sermon. You may go back to your seats and those who love you.

I.
In Adam, all die. All. No exceptions. You have Adam as an ancestor. So the next time you’re at a funeral, take a good long look at the body in the casket. Unless Jesus returns quickly, the day is coming when that will be you.
You can put me in a solid gold casket, and I’ll be just as dead as if you bury me in a cardboard box. I can cover your grave with a blanket of beautiful bouquets. The flowers will hide the dirt. But they will not change the fact that you’ll still be a lifeless corpse six feet under the soil. Because you are connected to Adam. Like I am. In Adam, all die.

How does the triage nurse in the emergency room determine if the unresponsive body that just arrived is dead or alive? Feel for a pulse, right? And check for breath. If possible, maybe find out if there are brain waves. If you have a pulse and breath and brain waves, you have life, right?

No. You have death waiting to happen. You started dying the moment you were conceived. So did I.

But not Adam. Adam started with life that did not have to end in death. Adam enjoyed a carefree existence. And he could eat from apple trees, peach trees, mango trees, and especially from the life tree.
God wanted Adam to continue living. So God told Adam not to eat from one tree. From the only tree with deadly fruit. God was protecting Adam. God warned that eating that fruit would kill Adam. Maybe Adam did not believe the consequences could be that dire. God says ignoring his Commandments will kill us. But we’re tempted to believe the consequences could not be that dire. So we sin. And we die.

You can try to blame Adam. After all, you inherited sin from him. But Adam isn’t the one listening to the devil when you break one of the Commandments. You are. Adam isn’t the one who’s harboring anger in his heart toward the person who makes you mad. Adam doesn’t force you to curse. Or lie. Or covet. Adam is not the one afraid to live for Jesus. You are.

You and I are in Adam. And in Adam all die. There is nothing you can do to stop that reality or reverse that reality. We may as well eat, drink, and indulge all our sinful natures’ desires, because tomorrow we die.

II.
Unless we have another Adam. Unless there is a human like Adam but unlike us, an Adam who starts life without any of our sinful inclinations. But this Second Adam needs to do what the first Adam failed to do. Heed God’s warnings. And resist every enticement of the devil. And then this Second Adam would have to do something even more unlikely. He’d have to be willing to die for people who ignore his warnings.

Jesus is the Second Adam who volunteers to pay your debt in full. He willingly and joyfully obeys the will of the Father, even when you owe death. He takes the blame for the sin that kills you. Your sin kills him instead of you. In that great exchange, Jesus gives you, His perfection. That leaves you sinless.

That is why we clothe the newly baptized in white. It’s also why we cover the bodies at each Christian funeral with a pall. The pall is white, to tell you the body beneath it belongs to a purified, baptized child of God. Ours has a red cross covered over with gold in the center to say the body beneath it was washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb, the Second Adam. The cross shows you where that blood was shed. Someday that pall may cover your dead body. 

Maybe the pall should also include an altar, where your Lord puts into your mouth his body that rose from the dead and his blood that pays the debt it would have taken an eternity for you to pay in hell.

In Adam, all die. But you have already died. With Christ. In Baptism. Now in Christ will all be made alive.

That’s why when Paul speaks of Christians who have died, he sometime calls them asleep. Oh, make no mistake; the bodies of Christians die. The wages of sin is death. We will collect our paycheck. But when you are in Christ, that death is not permanent. It is temporary. Like sleep.

One Greek word for resurrection means “to be awakened.” If you die before our Lord’s final advent, before the day Jesus returns, picture him reaching down into your grave, tapping you on the shoulder, and saying, “It’s time to wake up.” Then you will wake up from death just like you wake up each morning. You will get up out of your grave like you get up out of your bed. Because whether you’ve been dead only a few minutes or for a few centuries at his return, you still will be baptismally linked to the risen Christ. And in Christ, all will be made alive.

You no longer have death waiting to happen. You have life waiting to be lived, now in this old creation and fully in the new creation.

Death hurts. Death separates you from the people you love. Death is a blot on God’s good creation. So despise death. But do not fear death. Death has been conquered. Death will be undone. In Christ will all be made alive.
That is why Paul did not have to fear death when he faced the wild beasts. That is why you could say at your confirmation, “I am ready to suffer anything, even death, rather than compromise this confession of faith.” That’s why you can love your enemies instead of hating your enemies. Like Joseph did in our Old Testament lesson. His brothers sold him into slavery. But Joseph did not hold it against them. He believed in the God who uses evil to accomplish good, who uses the evil of death as the gate to life with him. You are in Christ. Even if they kill you for being a Christian, you won’t stay dead. Not permanently.

Maybe that’s why in, 1 Corinthians 15, Paul does not say the bodies of believers are buried. He says they’re planted, “sown” (v 42). Maybe we’ve been using the wrong word. We talk about burying Christian bodies. Maybe we should join Paul in saying we plant them. Because when you bury something, you put it in the ground and expect it to stay there. When you plant something, you put it in the ground and expect it to come out again. We plant the bodies of baptized believers in Christ. That’s why we do not need to fear living for Christ or dying for Christ.

It’s true that in Adam all die, but in Christ shall all be made alive. 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard, and keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.