Preaching and Teaching from St. John Ev. Lutheran Church (Sherman Center), Random Lake, Wisconsin

Text: 1 Samuel 2:12, 18-21; 3:1-20

Text: 1 Samuel 2:1-11

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Text: 1 Samuel 1:19—2:2

Text: John 21:15-25

Text: Jn 21:1-14

The answer to the religious chaos of this world and Christianity is Jesus alone. He promises, “There will be one flock, one shepherd.” There is only one, holy, catholic, and Apostolic church. There is only one Good Shepherd. Our confession of the church is bound to our confession of Jesus. Where you hear Jesus’ voice in truth and purity, there you are hearing the Good Shepherd. Where the Good Shepherd is laying down His life that you would have life in Him, there is His true sheepfold. Where sheep are gathered to receive their crucified Shepherd for their forgiveness, there is the true church.

Text: Ezekiel 34:11-16

Text: John 20:19-31

Text: John 19:25-42

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Text: John 19:1-24

Text: John 18:28-40

Text: John 18:1-27

The reason for not addressing doubt might be fear of being wrong or its laziness and neglect. It’s hard work. It takes time. You might be perceived as a stick in the mud. Your neighbors may wonder what’s wrong with you. And it’s true you may fail to give trust where it’s earned. So start there, giving everyone trust. And when doubt arises in your heart, push back. Challenge one another. Ask questions. Do the research. God gave you your heart and mind, your doubts which lead your imagination and inquiry. You may be wrong in which case you’ll be led out of ignorance. Or your suspicions may be correct, and your neighbor in error and now corrected. And in so doing, both you and your neighbor’s faith and life will increase. “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” (Proverbs 27:17)

Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Text: Exodus 15:1-18

Text: John 21:15-25

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Text: John 21:1-14

Text: Luke 24:33-49

Text: Luke 24:13-35

Because the stone is rolled away, your debt is cancelled, your punishment is atoned for, and the one who did it all in your place is free. Every stone that lays heavy on your heart and conscience has been rolled away into the depths of the sea. God has reconciled the whole sinful world to Himself in Christ, who was given up for our sins and rose again for our righteousness.

But that’s not the end of the three days. The sign of Jonah doesn’t end with the sealed tomb. Just as the fish could not contain God’s man, so also the grave could not contain the Son of God. He burst the chains of death’s prison, destroying its captive hold forever.

Saturday, April 3, 2021

You have no problem forgiving those who love you, serve you, and show you due humility. But forgive those who hate you, who slander you, who impose their will on you, who oppress you, or who tyrannize you? That takes some real effort and more than you have. What you want is sacrifice before forgiveness. You want them to grovel, beg, plead. This is your natural religion.

Preached on April 2, 2021

John 15-17

We Christians should... cherish this Testament as a treasure of the highest value, should love it dearly, and should make use of it cheerfully and frequently, deriving from it much joy and consolation, thus fulfilling the will of our dying Lord and Savior. His command in this regard is plain; He urges upon us the use of this Sacrament. True Christians will never disregard this command, but will readily and often find comfort in its fulfillment, even until that day when the Lord, who Himself gave us such a Testament, shall again come from heaven to judge the living and the dead. (Martin Luther, Maundy Thursday Sermon)

Thursday, April 1, 2021

John 12:1-50

Join the congregation of St. John in prayer each day and for Divine Service each Sunday at 9:30 am and Wednesday @ 7 pm, where God serves us with His gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation.

Words matter. Your entire life is dependent on you knowing words, what those words mean, and how to speak those words in a way that is intelligent and intelligible. Literacy is essential to for life and for faith. Without words, you cannot know the truth from error. Without words, you cannot hear of Jesus and His salvation. Without words, you lack the knowledge of what love for neighbor looks like. Words matter.

We considered the liturgies of Holy Week, especially some of the more difficult texts.

Text: John 12:12-19

Text: John 13:21-38

According to the best stories we have, and there’s no reason to doubt them, Peter was crucified upside down, and his brother Andrew died on an x shaped cross. Philip died by beheading or possibly stoning, Bartholomew was skinned alive, Thomas was killed with a spear, for Matthew it was a halberd, James the Less was crucified, or perhaps clubbed to death, Simon and Jude died together, sawn in half by some accounts. That only leaves James, the only one (not counting Judas), whose death is recorded in Scripture.

Text: John 13:1-20

Text: Acts 6:8-15; 7:51-60

Text: John 12:12-26

Text: John 12:1-11

You know that Jesus chastises those whom He heals. He disciplines those whom He loves. He doesn’t do anything to hurt you or harm you. Everything He says and does, He does for your good. He always has in mind the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. He does not willingly afflict His children. He loves you so much as to not let you live in rebellion, despair, and unbelief.

Study Notes: https://drive.google.com/open?id=18pRR7dN1KAnsFHbcXXIsXGk60HqP06GO&authuser=pastor%40stjohnrandomlake.org&usp=drive_fs

Text: Genesis 22:1-14; Hebrews 9:11-15

Text: Mark 15:33-47 St. Joseph, Guardian of Jesus—Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

Text: Mark 15:16-32  

17. March 2020 Lent Midweek 4 - St. Stephen

Text: Mark 6:14-29

Text: Mark 15:1-15

Text: Mark 14:53-72