Last Sunday of the Church Year| Matthew 25:1-13| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| November 20, 2022 We Christians are of all people greatly privileged, because we do not need to be afraid of Christ’s return. Last week, we heard of Jesus’ lesson of the final judgment when he would separate all nations before…
Second to Last Sunday of the Church Year| Matthew 25:31-46| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| November 13, 2022 The Gospel lesson appointed for the second to last Sunday in the Church Year focuses on the final judgment, which everyone should contemplate with great sobriety. Although many scoff and doubt that Christ will ever…
All Saints Day (Observed)| Matthew 5:1-12| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| November 6, 2022 The theme that seems to permeate through every text for All Saints Day is now, and not yet. We are God’s children now, St. John says. Yet, what we will be has not yet appeared (1 John 3:1-3). St….
Reformation 2022| Romans 3:19-28| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| October 30, 2022 The greatest task of the Lutheran Reformation was to properly distinguish between the law and the Gospel. If a person does not understand the difference between the law and the Gospel, then he cannot understand the Bible. The law is what…
Feast of St. James of Jerusalem, Brother of Christ and Martyr| Matthew 13:53-58| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| October 23, 2022 Perhaps the most unpopular statement Jesus ever said was, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is…
Trinity 18| Matthew 22:34-46| Pastor James Preus| October 16, 2022 In Matthew chapter 22, Jesus is bombarded with questions from the Pharisees and Sadducees in vain attempts to catch him in his words. Finally, a lawyer from the Pharisee party asks Jesus which is the greatest commandment in the Law. Jesus teaches us that…
Trinity 17| Luke 14:1-11| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| October 9, 2022 “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?”, Jesus asks. What kind of a question is this? Why wouldn’t it be lawful to heal on the Sabbath? The question lies in the Third Commandment. God gave Moses the Third…
St. Michael and All Angels (Observed)| Matthew 18:10| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| October 2, 2022 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10) September 29th is the…
Trinity 15| Matthew 6:24-34| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| September 25, 2022 “Why does the sun go on shining? Why does the sea rush to shore? Don’t they know it’s the end of the world Cause you don’t love me any more? Why do the birds go on singing? Why do the stars glow…
Trinity 14| Luke 17:11-19| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| September 18, 2022 It has become common for English speaking Lutherans to refer to their Sunday worship as the Divine Service. This is a translation from the German, Gottesdienst, which literally means, “God’s Service.” Yet, the term God’s Service or Divine Service is a…