Matthew 25:14-30 {Prayer} As I was struggling in developing this sermon, I came across a devotional from an old professor of mine which I want to use as a guide as we go through Jesus’ parable of the talents from our gospel lesson this morning. At first glance, when we read this parable,…
Matthew 25:1-13 {Prayer} As we draw closer to the end of the church year, you might have noticed that our readings take a turn toward the end times, to that “Day of the Lord” as Amos put it in our Old Testament reading. Well, you all know how my mind likes to wander at…
Matthew 22:15-22 {Prayer} Ever feel like the world is out to get you? Like no matter how hard you try, you find yourself on the bottom, you find yourself beat up and tired? No matter how hard you try to get ahead in life, bam, the car breaks down or a storm damages your…
{Prayer} Our LWML theme this morning is all about fruit and the production of fruit. Different kinds of fruit are more readily available at different times of the year. To know what fruit is really in season locally, all you have to do is drive by the Schwartz orchard sign on the way to Centralia.…
What Is Fair? Matthew 20:1-16 Summary: God’s deals with His people not based on what we deserve but based on His grace. Many people living in the United States have in some way been affected by the unions whether positively or negatively. You may have to join the unions if you work part time or full time…
Matthew 18:1-14 “What Does It Mean to be Great?” {Prayer} Little kids, especially babies, aren’t they just the most precious things you’ve ever seen? I mean really, the cuteness radar just goes off the scale! There are not many people who pass up the opportunity to hold a baby and just snuggle or…
Matthew 14:22-33 {Prayer} Have you ever thought what it would be like to be a disciple of Jesus? Now I’m not talking about being a disciple of Jesus today, but being one of the original twelve disciples back when Jesus actually was walking around in person. Have you ever wondered what it would…
Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV) Salt and Light13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor…
Matthew 3:13-17 (ESV)The Baptism of Jesus13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he…
Matthew 2:1-12 (ESV)The Visit of the Wise Men2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled,…