The Grace of the Father, Merits of the Son, and Efficacy of the Holy Spirit in the Sacraments
Trinity 12| Mark 7:31-37| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| August 18, 2024 In this Gospel lesson, Christ reveals that God wants to be gracious to us through His Word and Sacraments, so that we may find comfort and peace in them. However, the church has become divided on the topic of sacraments, how…
Two Religions
Trinity 11| Luke 18:9-14; Genesis 4:1-15| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| August 11, 2024 There are only two religions in the world. There is the religion of grace and the religion of works. The religion of works teaches that a person is justified before God by his works. The religion of grace teaches…
Episode 17: Is the Pope the Head of the Church?
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church the Pope is “The successor of St. Peter as Bishop of Rome and Pontiff of the universal Catholic Church. The pope exercises a primacy of authority as Vicar of Christ and shepherd of the whole Church; he receives the divine assistance promised by Christ to the…
Learning from the Courage of Jesus
Trinity 10| Luke 19:41-48| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| August 4, 2024 The United States of America will be destroyed. I am not speaking hyperbole. The destruction of Jerusalem, which Christ predicted and which came to pass just forty years later, foretells the destruction of every nation. Israel was God’s chosen people. Jerusalem…
Episode 16: The Early Church on Justification
Lutherans teach Sola Scriptura, Scripture alone. This means that only the Bible is the source and norm of all Christian doctrine. We call this the formal principle. We do not determine what we teach based on church councils, popes, or church fathers. We teach that a sinner is justified by grace through faith alone…
Everyone a Steward
Trinity 9| Luke 16:1-13| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| July 28, 2024 Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Luke 16:13) A couple…
Thirsting for What Is Good: Sermon for the 150th Anniversary of the LCMS
Pentecost, 1997 By Rev. Rolf Preus St. John’s Lutheran Church, Racine, WI
Episode 15: Justification
Article IV of The Augsburg Confession: Our churches also teach that men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works but are freely justified for Christ’s sake through faith when they believe that they are received into favor and that their sins are forgiven on account of Christ, who by…
Episode 14: Closed Communion
The Sacrament of the Altar Part 3: Who receives this sacrament worthily? Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” But anyone who does not believe these…