Epistle: 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:5 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly;…
Epiphany 2| John 2:1-11| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| January 14, 2024 The overarching theme of Christmas, obviously, is the incarnation of Christ, that God became a man in human flesh. Epiphany means manifestation, that is, that Christ shows Himself to us. Our Gospel lesson concludes, “And He manifested His glory and His…
Epiphany (Observed)|Matthew 2:1-12| Pastor James Preus| January 7, 2024 Unless the angel heralded the news, the shepherds would have never known that their Lord and Savior was born in Bethlehem. If you put a lamp under a basket, its light will not illuminate the room. And without Epiphany, the miracle of Christmas remains hidden…
Christmas 1| Luke 2:22-40| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| December 31, 2023 No audio. Simeon took the baby Jesus into his arms and blessed God. Why did Simeon bless God? Because God had fulfilled His promise and let Simeon see the Christ. What does it mean that Simeon got to see the Christ?…
Christmas Day 2023| John 1:1-14| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church The Christmas story we are all familiar with comes from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Matthew and Luke detail the nativity of Christ with remarkable care, both in the events as they happened as well as the theological significance of them. Matthew…
Christmas Eve 2020| Luke 2:1-20| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church Every once in a while, someone, usually from the church, will ask me if he can stop to check on something in the parsonage. And I almost always answer, “Yeah, sure.” This annoys my dear wife, not because she has a problem with…
Advent 3| Matthew 11:2-10| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| December 17, 2023 “And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” People who are quickly offended are difficult to live with. It can make you feel like you’re walking on egg shells trying to navigate around people, who might get offended…
Advent 2| Romans 15:4-7| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| December 10, 2023 “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through the endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” St. Paul tells us that the Holy Scriptures were written for our instruction. It…
Advent 1| Matthew 21:1-9| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| December 3, 2023 Over the past few weeks, we have been focusing on Christ’s return in judgment. Seared in our memory is the image of the unrighteous being banished to eternal punishment prepared for the devil and his angels, and foolish virgins banging on…
Last Sunday in the Church Year| Matthew 25:1-13| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| November 26, 2023 This morning, Lillian was baptized. She was clothed in in the garment of a virgin attendant at the royal wedding in the Kingdom of Heaven, and she was given a lamp filled with oil, set aglow by…