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Sermon Text for the 11th Sunday after Pentecost

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The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost   Job 38:4-18   Romans 10:5-17   Matthew 14:22-33 O Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. In the state of Indiana, public school has either started or is about to begin a new school year. It’s been a while since I or our son was in school, but I imagine some things have not changed. Before school, parents, teachers, and students meet one another. Questions are asked and answer. Then, on the first day of class there is a statement about expectations, stated goals for learning, sometimes called projected outcomes. One class period turns to another, then time passes by and before we know it, progress reports are issued. Students and interested parties learn the progress of learning and striving toward the desired goals and outcomes. Most of us are both relieved and happy when progress is observed and applauded.  All of this came to mind as I reflected up...
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The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost - Sermon Text

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Pentecost 10 (Proper 13)   Isaiah 55:1-5   Romans 9:1-5   Matthew 14:13-21 O Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. The feeding of the five thousand is found in all four of the gospels. (Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-14) Because the Holy Spirit allows the authors of the gospels to record their unique observations and memories, we are blessed with additional details that provide a richer, fuller picture of this miraculous event. For example, from the gospel of John we learn that because of what the people are hearing, seeing, and experiencing with Jesus, some are already wondering out loud if Jesus is indeed the prophet of God that Moses spoke of. In Deuteronomy 18:15-18, Moses declared “ The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers - it is to him you shall listen – just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the as...
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Interview with Professor Arthur Just

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Rev. Dr. Arthur Just, retired Professor of Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, IN is interviewed on the On the Line podcast.  Professor Just has written and published a theological memoir Ever to Emmaus: A Theological Memoir . This is a wide ranging and informative conversation. Well worth your time!
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Sermon Text for the 9th Sunday after Pentecost

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  The Ninth Pentecost Sunday after Pentecost  (Proper 12A) Deuteronomy 7:6-9 Romans 8:28-39 Matthew 13:44-52 O Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.  Through the book of Deuteronomy Moses retells the teaching and events of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. As Moses speaks to the people these words and commits them to written form, he knows that he is near the conclusion of his earthly journey.  The Lord will call him home soon. Moses will not go into the Promised Land. The mantel of leadership will pass on to Joshua. He will lead them in the conquest of the Promised Land.  Through Moses God addresses the new generation of Israel. Those who originally witnessed the mighty plagues that God visited upon Egypt, crossed the Red Sea on dry land, and wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, are passing on or soon will. The new generation needs to hear anew that God views them as His tre...
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Sermon Text - Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

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The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost  Isaiah 44:6-8  Romans 8:18-27  Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 O Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, my rock and my redeemer. Amen.  One way of looking at the parables of Jesus is that they are short stories. Some of the parables are explained, some are not. But just as a short story that is written by a gifted writer leads us into new insights and questions, so do Jesus’ parables. He uses familiar settings and scenes, but by the end of either the parable or His explanation, we may find ourselves feeling oddly uneasy. It’s as if Jesus is looking into our own crooked hearts and speaking right to us. He speaks the truth in love. Yet, his truth and his love are not always warm and fuzzy.  Last week’s parable of the Sower and the Seed is about the challenges of the seed landing on the good soil so that it can grow and mature. This parable is a teaching about God’s abundant grace in broadcast...
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One benefit of translating Latin

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Seventh Sunday after Pentecost - video and sermon text

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Video of Divine Service at St. Luke, Rensselaer, IN Seventh Sunday after Pentecost  Isaiah 55:10-13  Romans 8:12-17  Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 O Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. The theme of today’s lectionary is the Word of God and what the Word does. The Word of God is active. The Word moves outward. The Word is beneficial to those who receive it. The Word of God grows within us and changes us for the better.   Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the prophet Isaiah connects the life-giving benefits of water and snow upon the earth with the benefits of the Word. Water and snow bring the necessary moisture so that seed can grow and the fields and pastures flourish. The Word of God goes forth with purpose. The Word accomplishes that which it is supposed to accomplish.  As I reflected on the movement that Isaiah describes, in particular, downward and outward, I cannot help think of all th...
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