Higher Homilies

Rev. Mark Buetow

"The heavens declare the glory of God and the earth shows forth His handiwork." So the creation itself testifies to the glory of God in Jesus Christ and a star is employed to guide pagan magi to the infant Christ. That's the historical bit of Epiphany: Magi, Wise Men, Persian astrologers-whatever you want to call them-;came at the sign of a special star, knowing that a king was born. But Epiphany isn't just that the magi came and the church put it on the calendar! Epiphany means something.

Rev. Mark Buetow

Wow! The End of the world. The seating of God's court. The earth and heavens burned up with fire. Sheep and goats separated. The Last Day is coming quickly, dear Christians. It will soon be upon us. But don't worry! Don't be frightened by these awful images of judgment. Don't worry. Because the Lord has given you a pastor. And he gives you this pastor for this purpose: that in these Last Days, you may know the comfort of Christ in whom you have escaped God's judgment and instead, as children of God, now have eternal life.

Rev. George Borghardt

Rev. Joel Fritsche

Complete sentences aren’t in these days. There’s facebook and texting and all kinds of abbreviations along with them. I thought learning Greek was hard. Sometimes I really have to work hard decode the texting abbreviations. Thankfully there are websites devoted to this. Years ago I thought it was fun when you typed in a sentence and had it translated into Jive or into Redneck or even into Elmer Fudd. Now you can go to transL8it.com and translate from text lingo into plain English or from English into text lingo. I have to go there sometimes to decipher assignments from my confirmands. Like I said, complete sentences aren’t in these days. You may not have verbs or even full words. BUT…

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of Him who brings good news!” That means how beautiful are Jesus' feet because He brings Good News. These are the feet of God's Son who was born with ten little piggies just like the rest of us. These are the feet that stepped into the water of the Jordan River to be baptized for you. These are the feet that walked on water and carried the preaching of the Kingdom of God around. These are feet so beautiful that the sinful woman washed them with her tears and hair! These are the feet that stood before the religious leaders and the Roman Governor. These are the feet that stumbled as they carried the cross to calvary. And there, on Calvary, on the mountain, behold the beautiful feet, pierced with nails, stuck to the cross. To bring Good news. The Good News that your sins are forgiven. The Good News that He is pierced for you. That His feet and hands and side and brow are pierced for your sins. To wash them away with His blood. To wipe them out once and for all. The pay the price. To bring peace between you and God. How beautiful indeed are those holy feet of Jesus that walked this earth on their way to be nailed to the tree for our salvation!

The story goes that the London Times once sponsored an essay contest, by invitation only. The editors asked several of the best writers and thinkers of the time to answer the question, “What’s wrong with this world?” Among the contest entries was one by G. K. Chesterton, whose entry was also the shortest. It said, “Dear sirs: I am.”  It was a quick, elegant commentary on original sin.

Rev. Mark Buetow

People often think that by ascending into heaven, Jesus has gone away from us. He was here on earth and now He's “up there” somewhere and isn't really around until He comes again. But pay close attention to what Luke wrote down in the book of Acts: “A cloud hid Him from their sight.” The Bible doesn't say that Jesus went away when He ascended. It says they couldn't see Him anymore. But if Christ isn't gone then where is He? That is answered in St. Mark's Gospel in which Jesus gives His apostles the command to preach the Gospel to every creature. And so they did, writes Mark, “the Lord working with them.”

Rev. Rich Heinz

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."

"Hear My voice."  Have you ever watched a baby’s reaction to his mother’s voice?  He reacts.  He turns toward his mother, and is soothed by the comfort of His mother’s voice.  He has heard her from within the womb, and finds comfort and nurture and care in her voice.

Rev. Mark Buetow

What has fallen has been lifted up again. What has been lost has been recovered. What was ruined has been made whole again. What was destroyed has been repaired. What was cursed has been blessed. We who expected death have been given life. All this because He who was dead is now alive! Christ who was slain is alive again.

Rev. Mark Buetow

Consider for a moment the ashes smeared on your head. Or if you don't have ashes at least look around at someone that has them and think about the ashes for a minute. And understand this: everything that you love, everyone that you love, everything that is a treasure to you is going to end up like that: ashes, dust, gone.

by The Rev. Rich Heinz

The children come running, as they return from the vacation.  Excitedly, each one wants to be the first to speak in the classroom.  “Teacher, guess what I did!”  “Teacher, pick me!”  “You won’t believe where we went and what we got to do!” 

Jesus is welcoming back His students from their field trip.  His first 72 missionaries, aside from the 12 apostles, are coming back to Jesus in today’s Gospel, and they can’t wait to talk to Him!  .  “Teacher, guess what I did!”  “Teacher, pick me!”  “You won’t believe where we went and what we got to do!” 

by The Rev. George F. Borghardt III

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen. Holy Cross Day goes all the way back to Pious Helena.  If you don’t know her, you most likely know her son, the Emperor Constantine, the Roman Emperor who converted to Christianity.

by The Rev. Brent Kuhlman

Well, leave it to an apostle.  I mean, who dares to preach such a message?  Paul does.  Pull No Punches Paul.  Straight to the heart of the matter with us and how we stand before God.   

"Dead in your transgressions."  "Gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature."  "Following its desires and thoughts."  "By nature objects of [God's] wrath."   

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

Are you IN or are you OUT? In the reading from Ephesians that we just heard, St. Paul uses the phrase “in Christ” or “in Him,” I don't know, like a million times or something! In Christ. In Christ! IN CHRIST! In Christ what? In Him you have forgiveness, an inheritance, the revelation of God's grace, your salvation and on and on! St. Paul writes that everything that God does for you and your salvation is done in and through Jesus Christ for you. That's SOLO CHRISTO: CHRIST ALONE!

by The Rev. Bruce Keseman

Sola.  That’s Latin.  You’ll learn a lot of Latin this week.  Sola means “alone.”  Maybe you already knew that.  If you didn’t, I guarantee you’ll know it by the end of this conference.

by The Rev. George F. Borghardt III

Alleluia!  Jesus Christ is risen from the dead!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!  In the name of Jesus.  Amen.

And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had held them and they said nothing to no one for they were afraid.

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

In the Garden of Eden, mankind fell into sin and death. On the cross of Calvary, mankind was saved from sin and death. In the Garden, disobedience led to a curse, to punishment. Now Adam would have a hard time getting the ground to grow food. Thorns and thistles would come up and be a nuisance, a reminder of a cursed earth. Every prick of the finger on a nasty thorn is a reminder that man brought sin and death into the world, a curse. But now look! The Son of God wears a crown of thorns! The curse is on Him! He bears it, carries it, suffers under it. Sin and death and the curse are for Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! See your Lord, crowned with thorns, carrying the curse for you

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

Why did these men want to kill Jesus? What did Jesus ever do to them? Jesus healed the sick. He made the blind to see and the deaf to hear and the lame to walk. He cast out demons and raised dead children to life. So why is it that the clergy are so anxious to grab stones and beat Jesus to death? What did He do? He looks them in the eye and says, “You are of your father the Devil!” What Jesus does is to rob these men of their religion and their piety and holiness.

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

“O woman, great is your faith! May it be done for you as you desire.” The Canaanite woman had great faith. Do you? Is your faith great? Is it the kind that moves mountains? Most preaching you hear out in the world goes something like this: “If you have enough faith, that is if you REALLY believe, and if you REALLY have trust in God, good things will happen to you. If you're sick and you pray about it and nothing happens, it's because you don't have enough faith. If you are worried or you have troubles in your life, it's because you don't have enough faith. You must have more faith, in order to unlock God's promises and blessings. God has got all kinds of good things for you but He can't give them to you if you don't have enough faith!”

by The Rev. George F. Borghardt III

In the name of Jesus. Amen.   Thank God for Lent.  I love Lent.  Just love it.  Thank God for Ash Wednesday.

You should love Lent too!  Get excited about it.  Be joyful.  For in Lent, God takes our eyes off us and our sins and puts them on Jesus.  Jesus is headed to the Cross to suffer and die for all our evil.  Come let us fix eyes on Him.

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

People often think that the parables that Jesus tells are simple little stories about familiar things that He tells to illustrate a point. Except that the people in Jesus' parables are always crazy and don't do things like the real world at all! For example, what farmer sows seed willy-nilly all over the place? The farmers I've heard of plant the seeds in rows but the farmer in Jesus' parable just throws seed everywhere, like he's wasting it! And then there's the story of the guy who owned the vineyard and rented it out and then sent his servants to collect his cut. But the tenants beat them up and even killed some. So what does the owner do? Send his son? What was he thinking!? Or how about the Father who gives his son his inheritance—before he's even dead! Usually a parent says, "No, you have to wait 'til I'm dead to get whats coming to you."

by The Rev. David Juhl

Just when Peter thought it was good to be on the mount of Transfiguration with Jesus, Moses, Elijah, James, and John, he heard a voice coming out of the cloud that surrounded them: this is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him! The next thing Peter knew, he looked up and saw no one but Jesus only. Jesus then commanded Peter, James, and John to tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.

by The Rev. George F. Borghardt III

In the name of Jesus. Amen.   There is only one group that gets the Gospel right in Matthew chapter nineteen.  Just one group.  

The Jews blow it.  They wanna get rid of their wives.  The disciples follow with more cluelessness - trying to keep the children from Jesus. Then, comes the Rich Young Ruler.

You know one that asked Jesus how to earn salvation, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"   What must I do?  I.. Me...  You know... Me.. Me.. Me.. That makes me the center of my religion.  What do I do to earn heaven?  

by The Rev. William Weedon

Poor Peter went from being the star pupil to the class dunce – and all in a matter of minutes. When Jesus asked: “Who do people say that I am?” the disciples gave the usual answers: John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the prophets. But then our Lord turned to them, the disciples who had been with Him now for some time. “But who do you say that I am?”

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

Jesus comes to be baptized by John and John says Jesus should baptize him. But our Lord says, “Let it be so now in order to fulfill all righteousness.” Warning! Big church word alert! “Righteousness.” It's one of those big words we hear in church and don't really know what it means. Do you know what “righteousness” is? Do you have any? How do you get some. What good does having it do you? It's really not as complicated as all that.

by The Rev. Bruce Keseman

I see a lot of parents here who have sons. I have a question for you. You celebrate your son's birthday every year, just like we celebrated Jesus' birthday last Sunday, right? Well, this Sunday we're celebrating the circumcision of Jesus, so why don't you have an annual celebration of that event for your son, hmm? Why don't you sing "Happy Circumcision Day to You" and bake a Circumcision Day cake and give him Circumcision Day presents, hmm?

by The Rev. William Cwirla

Today is the fourth day of Christmas, and I hope you're still going strong with the holy days now that the holidays are behind us.  It makes me sad to see the Christmas trees already curbed for the trash man.  It's like baseball fans who go home in the sixth inning to beat the traffic and miss the best part of the ball game.  There's plenty more left to Christmas, so don't give up yet.  We've even kept the candles burning to keep you in the mood.

by The Rev. Matthew D. Ruesch

Kids like Christmas for the presents.  I obviously like it for the food.  Oh, there are many other reasons I like Christmas…as a Christian I absolutely love the good Gospel news of Christ’s birth.  But it’s still okay to like the other things…just keep them in the proper perspective.  Unfortunately, our plan is to spend this afternoon traveling, so my Christmas dinner likely won’t be until tomorrow.  But in the meantime, I’ll reflect on Christmas dinners past.  Grandma always used to make two hams for Christmas: one for grandpa and one for the rest of the family (no kidding).  Being a not-so-small person, I’ve always had a big appetite for Christmas dinner.  I remember in particular one dinner when I was about twelve years old.  I think it was the first time that dinner was not at my grandparents’ house, but Mom decided she was going to play host.

by The Rev. David M. Juhl

Every year we are reminded more and more how offensive is the Name of the Lord. The month of December is slowly becoming a month where people buy presents, attend parties, and celebrate a general holiday season rather than the holy day of Christmas.

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

Maybe this so-called recession is frightening you. But are you praying? Maybe you're worried about your job or if your job is secure, how you'll pay your bills. But are you watching and waiting for Jesus to return? Maybe you are depressed or worried by all the things you hear on the news: companies going under, retirement savings being wiped out and all that. But are you longing for the day of our Lord's return? Perhaps you don't care about all that financial stuff and you're just living for today: partying and spending your money as fast as you make it and doing whatever things make you feel good and comfortable. But are you giving any time to prayer and hearing and learning God's Word? Maybe things are generally fine and your main concern is just getting the parties planned and prepared and all the Christmas shopping done. But do you begin each day with the sign of the cross and your baptismal name? Maybe your biggest problem is how to fit all the people around the table for dinner. But are you coming to the Lord's table to receive His feast of salvation? The world is going crazy right now: on the one hand, everything seems like it's collapsing. But its the “Holiday Season” out there and that means doing tons of things that take up all our time and money. Perhaps that's why we hear this Gospel during Advent. We hear our Lord say not to get caught up in drunkenness and useless living and the worries and cares of this world—precisely during that time of year that we're doing that stuff!

by The Rev. Brandon Simoneaux

Today in addition to being the first Sunday in Advent it is also the first Sunday in the church year. So Happy New year to all of you. But if this is our beginning of the church year you might wonder why we begin with the Gospel reading that we hear on Palm Sunday the week before Jesus was crucified instead of something else like the birth of Christ being foretold or anything else leading up to the birth of our Savior.

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

Ten Virgins went to meet the Bridegroom. Five were wise and five were foolish. The Greek word for “foolish” is “moron.” The Bible says, “The FOOL says in his heart there is no God.” The foolish virgins were foolish because to them the things of God were not worth worrying about. Perhaps they never thought the Bridegroom would come. Perhaps they live as if there might be a God or maybe not. Maybe they don't care whether or when Jesus is coming back. The gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation are not things they care about our delight in. Perhaps they have some sin that they want to hold on to. Whatever the case, they are foolish because they leave behind the gifts of faith and when the Bridegroom comes they are not ready.

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

Judgment Day! The prophet Daniel tells us about the throne with fire coming out of it. The court is seated and the books are opened! The apostle Peter describes how the earth and the heavens will be consumed by fire on that day and this heaven and this earth will pass away. These are scary images. They are the sorts of pictures that, if we stop and consider them, should frighten and terrify sinners. They should cause us to fall down and cry out in repentance for our sins! Then comes our Lord Jesus' words. He describes that Judgment Day and speaks of the separation of the sheep and the goats. And our sinful flesh, which only ever thinks of itself, grabs onto the idea that what is going on is that Jesus is judging people based on how they lived. Those who served their neighbor get to go to heaven. Those who didn't do good works for others go to hell. If you do good works, you get rewarded. If you don't do good works, you get punished. Brothers and sisters in Christ, if that's what you get out of this Gospel reading, then repent!

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

So the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea. Their enemies lay dead on the seashore. They journeyed through the wilderness to Mt. Sinai. Moses went up on the mountain to speak with the Lord. And the Israelites waited. And they waited. And they waited some more. Finally they got tired of waiting. So they told Aaron, "We're tired of waiting. We don't know what happened to Moses. So never mind the mountain stuff. Make us gods to lead the way!" So Aaron collected their gold and made a golden calf. But here's the kicker: what was the calf called? It was called "The Lord." The Israelites didn't just make a false god. They attached the True God's name to it!

by The Rev. Dan Feusse

In the Lord's Prayer you pray for the Lord's will to be done - on earth as it is in heaven.  You pray that often. But do you realize what you are asking?  You are asking for the Lord to break and hinder every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and your own sinful nature.  You are asking for the Lord to strengthen and keep you steadfast in His Word and Faith until you die.  To put it simply, you are asking for heaven on earth. 

by The Rev. David Kind

“Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth – to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people…” The church is both the result of that heavenly proclamation and the body that continues to promulgate it throughout the world. Everything the Church is and does, from the work of her pastors to the activities of the men, women and children that are part of her, is centered in the Gospel, in that glorious proclamation that Christ Jesus has suffered and died on account of our sins, and has been raised for our justification, so that God can say: “Iwill forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” The Lutheran Confessions say that wherever that Gospel is rightly proclaimed, through preaching and the giving of the Sacrament, and where people are gathered to that Gospel, there is the Church.

by The Rev. Dr. Rick Stuckwisch

There is both an important similarity and a significant contrast between the Twelve Apostles and these “seventy others” who are sent by Christ in the Holy Gospel appointed for the Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist (St. Luke 10:1-9). 

The seventy are called, ordained, and sent by Christ Jesus, in His Name and with His authority, to every place where He Himself would go.  So Jesus goes nowhere apart from those whom He sends.  This sending is the continuation of the Apostolic Ministry of the Gospel of Christ; also to this very day, and also to you within His Church on earth.  It continues on the foundation of the Scriptures, including those recorded by St. Luke.  Interestingly, some traditions hold, not unreasonably, that St. Luke was one of those seventy sent ones described in this Holy Gospel.

by The Rev. Brent Kuhlman

Absolutely incredible isn’t it? 

Who would not want to party at a wedding feast?  Especially when King God’s throwing the party.  Yes, the wedding feast of God’s only Son, the Savior Jesus.  The Father has splurged!  He has spared no expense.  Gave His Son into death for your sin.  Sacrificed everything.  And now He invites you to the feast.

Pastor Kuhlman proclaims the great invitation from our King for His feast. He invites you to read more!

by The Rev. Mark T. Buetow

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, how can the Kingdom of God be like a king who sends soldiers to destroy and burn!? How can the kingdom of God be like a king who throws a man into the outer darkness because he has no wedding garment on? How can the kingdom of heaven at the same time be like a wedding reception? How can it be a place of joy when misery is described!? How can such punishment be a part of God's kingdom when such joy is to be found there?

by The Rev. William Cwirla

With the Lord there is always more. More than we dare ask or expect, more than we deserve, and much more than we can see with our eyes…

Angels are rarely seen, and when they are, they are not like the prettified angels and chubby cherubs you see depicted on Christmas cards. Pastor Cwirla proclaims the work of the Lord through His angels, and the even greater work through His Son!

by The Rev. Paul L. Beisel

Tax collectors at Jesus’ time were not known for their honest business principles and spotless reputations. Like today’s car salesmen, tax collectors were renowned for taking a little more than was necessary, just to fill their own pockets. They were also a sign of Roman occupation. They were a constant reminder to the Jews that Caesar, and not their own king, was in charge.

by The Rev. Mark T. Buetow

Do you know how foolish you are? According to the world, you are morons! Think about it! You get up early on a Sunday morning, a day that most people are sleeping in, or out having a communion of coffee and donuts, or just relaxing or whatever. You come out to sit on the sort of bench you only sit on once a week. And you come to hear a guy wearing what amounts to a dress, almost, stand up and talk to you for 20 minutes about something that happened 2000 years ago. Every week. The same thing that happened 2000 years ago! Don't you see how ridiculous you look? Don't you realize how silly this is? Don't you get it, that it's a waste of time?

by The Rev. Brent Kuhlman

“The Son of Man came to save that which was lost,” (Matthew 18).  Jesus died for everyone.  There’s none He didn’t die for.  Can you name anyone Jesus leaves out of His Good Friday Calvary dying?  . . .

Pastor Brent Kuhlman takes the occasion of the baptism of a baby to remind us of the amazing Gift of Baptism, given for all!

by The Rev. Mark T. Buetow

Brothers and sisters in Christ, God has given you all things in Jesus. Forgiveness is yours. Life is yours. Heaven is yours. The Lord Himself is yours in Christ. You are washed and claimed by the Lord in Holy Baptism. The sins that once stood against you have been cast aside by Holy Absolution. The Body and Blood of Jesus are your regular feast. The Good News of the Son of God's death for your sins is the testimony of the Lord Himself that He loves you and cares for you in and through His Son. That is true riches!

by The Rev. William Weedon

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Those words from today’s Old Testament reading set up for us the opposition that frequently arises between our ways and the ways of the Lord. We have our notions of how He OUGHT to act; what He ought to do; how things should be. But He consistently blows us away with doing things in a way that appears downright silly to us. His ways, though, pan out in the end, and we’re left confessing that we’re not nearly so smart as we thought we were.

by The Rev. Mark T. Buetow

OK. I'll admit it. Jesus is making me nervous. As a Lutheran, it's been drummed into my brain my whole life: we are saved by grace, not by our good works. Jesus saves us, not what we do. Our sins are forgiven because Jesus died for them, not because we do good works for other people. So when this young expert in the Law of Moses says, "Love God. Love your neighbor" and Jesus says, "Do this and you will live"--that makes me nervous!

by The Rev. Christopher S. Esget

The voice of terror and doom pierces our every hiding place; it is the voice of the LORD, which demanded of Adam, demanded of Cain, and demands of you: What have you done?

There is no bargaining with God - He holds all the cards. What shall we do? We are not alone with such thoughts - those who listened to Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost had the same question; we heard it in the first reading:

by The Rev. William Cwirla

There is a famous scene in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth.  Perhaps some of you have learned it; I did when I was in high school.  Lady Macbeth is racked with guilt over the bloody murders she and her husband have committed.  She roams through the halls of the castle in her sleep late at night, desperately wringing her hands, trying to wash away the bloody evidence that tortures her conscience to the point of madness.  “Out damned spot, out I say!”  but the spot just won’t go away.  “Who would have thought the old man to have so much blood in him,” she cries, scrubbing her hands.  She can smell the blood on her hands.  “All the perfumes in Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.”

by The Rev. Brent Kuhlman

What a fool!  The apostle doesn’t seem to have a clue.  You can just hear Napoleon Dynamite:  “Idiot!” After all, the religion of the world is:  YOU”VE GOT TO LOVE YOURSELF.  Take care of number one!  Climb to the top of the mountain.  And kick in the teeth of anyone who gets in your way.  Someone hurts you.  You demolish him in return.   Life is a battle royale of establishing yourself as king.

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

So this woman has a demon-possessed daughter. She's in a bad way. But Jesus is in the 'hood so she tracks Him down. "Lord, Son of David! Have mercy on me! My daughter is demon possessed." Here's a Gentile woman of all things to whom the Lord owes nothing, begging Him for help. He ignores her. Then the disciples get all upset. "Lord, send her away! She's stalking you! She won't go away! Make her be quiet!" Jesus says He hasn't come except for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. That means the Jews. She's not a Jew. So He ignored her. Then when she wouldn't go away He says He's not here to help her. But she still hangs on Him. "Lord, help me!" Finally, He tells her straight: "You can't take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs!" Whoa! Did you hear that? Jesus just called her a dog!

by The Rev. George Borghardt III

In the name of Jesus. Amen. There is the “Amen” of God. God's “yes” answer. He's at the place of Skull, Golgatha. “Amen” on Good Friday is spelled, “INRI.” Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. We'd erase that, tweak it, make it more agreeable with what we think. But, what was written, stays written.

by The Rev. Mark T. Buetow

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I don't think any of you would think me strange if I ran into the street to save my daughter if she ran into the path of an oncoming car. You wouldn't think I'm silly if I told someone walking in the front door of the church to be careful if the floor was wet. So don't think it unimportant or silly today as I warn you about false prophets and the danger they pose to you!

by The Rev. Joel Fritsche

“Let it be to me according to your word.” That’s Mary’s “amen,” her amen of faith. The angel Gabriel comes to this young virgin girl with a shocking proclamation of good news. “You have found favor with God…You will conceive a son…you will call His name Jesus.” Yeshua! The Lord saves! “He will be great…the Son of God…the descendant of David whose throne will last forever…an everlasting kingdom.”

by the Rev. Mark Buetow

Our Old Testament reading tells of Adam and the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life. One of the questions people like to ask pastors is: If God knew Adam and Eve would sin, why did He put the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden? Why did God make something they were forbidden to eat? Why did He do that? It's like He's playing games or something. Testing them to see if they slip up. No, that is not why.

by The Rev. Rich Heinz

Anakin Skywalker had a problem. Okay, so he had quite a few problems. But one thing that truly plagued him was a fear of suffering, death and separation. There had been no father in his life. At age nine he left his mother behind, in slavery, as he began a new life. When he returned, she had been captured and tortured, and it was too late; she died before his eyes. He was later tormented by dreams of his wife and unborn child dying – all the while being deceived and tempted by a prince of lies to curse the Light Side of the Force. And after he has lost everything, he goes into a rage and destroys the things around him as he screams in utter agony.

by The Rev. David Kind

It’s kind of cool that now that we have come to the end of our week together at this conference, we also have a reading from the very end of the Bible. But coming to the end of things is not always pleasant. And with an event like this one, it can be kind of depressing when you realize later today or tomorrow or in a few more days I’m going to be back home and back to my regular routine. Oh, for a while, you’ll relive this week as you tell about it to your friends who couldn’t come. You’ll exchange pictures on facebook. And hopefully you’ll start planning to come to the next conference. But eventually the joy and excitement of the experience will fade away, even the joy of retelling it will fade.

by The Rev. Eric Andrae

In the name of + Jesus. Jesus once spoke this parable to the Pharisees: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

by The Rev. Rich Heinz

When it comes to fishing, Jesus doesn’t know what He’s doing! Fish are more easily caught in the evening, or at least before the sun rises. Here is Jesus in broad daylight, telling Simon Peter and his partners to go at the wrong time. Fishing in the Sea of Galilee is best in the shallows. Jesus tells Peter and company to go out into the deep.

by The Rev. Aaron A. Koch

I'm sure many of you have had the experience of hearing your voice recorded on tape and saying, "I sound like that?! That doesn't sound like me." Or you've seen yourself on video at some event and you've thought to yourself, "Gee, I didn't realize that's how I acted. I didn't realize my laugh was so annoying. The camera sure makes me look fat"-or bald, or whatever the case may be. Sometimes that outside, more objective perspective can give us a better understanding of ourselves and the way things really are with us and free us from the illusions of our own self-perception.

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

At our house, we enjoy watching that show on Discovery Channel called "Dirty Jobs." Maybe you've seen it. The guy who hosts the show joins people doing all sorts of stinky, nasty, gross jobs such as cleaning out the inside of septic tanks or pig farming or sifting through garbage. No matter what the job, the guy always tries it out. No matter how dirty or smelly or disgusting, there he is with his camera crew experiencing some "dirty job."

by The Rev. Charles Henrickson

Real estate agents will tell you there are three things that determine the value of a house:  1) location; 2) location; and 3) location.  That old line may be somewhat exaggerated, but the point is clear enough:  Location is extremely important in determining value.  Where a house is located can make a huge difference in its value.

by The Rev. Christopher Esget

Did he get depressed, lying in the dirt? As people passed him by on the road, hurrying to meetings, walking or running for exercise, heading for the store to purchase a present, carrying a bag or basket to market to pick up food for the evening meal, did he get depressed? Perhaps a few people tossed a small coin to Lazarus, but doubtless more passed by with nothing. With guilt some would look away from him; but children drew a little closer to their mother’s skirts when they saw his hideous body, covered with sores, and the more callous adults would stare with revulsion and condescension. Did this make Lazarus sad?

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

If people believe in God at all, I think there are generally two ways they think of God. On the one hand, they suppose God is a condemning God. They usually think this because they consider themselves better than others. These are the folks who love to see the glorious God of Isaiah who is ready to smite sinners and burn them to ashes. This God is a punisher, just waiting to destroy anyone who doesn't get in line, get on board and behave. Those who have such a God live under the delusion that they had better not do anything to make God angry at them!

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

God always works through means. He never just does stuff "out of the blue." He always deals with us and comes to us and blesses us through earthly things that have His Word and promises and gifts attached. One of the ways in which this is most obvious is that of mothers.

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

The most important thing we can learn about our Lord's Ascension is that even though He has ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, He IS NOT GONE. Most people seem to think that after Jesus' ascension, He's not around anymore. He's far away. Wherever the "right hand of God" is, it's not nearby. People suppose that Jesus is gone and that they're just sort of on their own, maybe with some help from the Spirit, until He comes back. But this is exactly what the Scriptures do NOT teach.

by the Rev. William Weedon

Rogate, the name of this Sunday, means “pray!” or “ask!” Comes right out of the Gospel reading where our Lord says: “Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full!” But how often is this gracious invitation unheeded? And why? Why is it that people have such a hard time praying?

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, pay close attention to Jesus' words! Over the next several weeks of this Easter Season, Jesus will be speaking to His disciples of the time of the church and the work of the Spirit. Jesus speaks to us who live also in this time when He does not come to us to be seen by our eyes, but comes to us by His Word and Sacraments.

by The Rev. David Juhl

There is no comparison between a shepherd and a hireling.  Jesus won’t allow Himself to be mentioned in the same sentence as a hireling.  The two positions are polar opposites.  A shepherd tends and defends sheep.  A hireling tends sheep but will not defend the sheep.

by The Rev. Mark T. Buetow

Sometimes words are just information. For example: I could tell you I had Steak 'n Shake for lunch last week. Or that Washington crossed the Delaware on a cold, winter night. Or that Perry County had almost 7 inches of rain over a week ago. Those are just facts. Take them or leave them. Maybe they're true. Maybe they're not. But sometimes words are more than facts. Words do things.

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

Dear Christians, on this Friday called "Good," rejoice in the blood and water that streams from Jesus' side. The Lamb is pierced. And "it is finished." There is nothing left to do for your salvation. Nothing left to be done to bring you to the Father. It's all been done by Jesus. Tonight, it all comes down to this: your sin and Jesus' water and blood. Your transgressions. Jesus' water and blood.

by The Rev. Todd A. Peperkorn

We have gathered here on this most solemn night of the year to be with our Lord, to remember His suffering, death, and resurrection, and to reflect on the gifts He has given us in this wonderful meal we call The Lord’s Supper.

by The Rev. Jonathan Naumann

This morning we will meditate upon the Gospel according to St. John, where we are told that '...the great crowd that had come for the Feast (of the Passover) heard that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting, "Hosanna!", "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord". "Blessed is the King of Israel!"

by The Rev. Richard Heinz

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” This morning we hear the chants of praise echoing from the streets of Jerusalem, welcoming Jesus. Voices raised singing psalms to the Savior King as He humbly entered the Holy City, riding on a donkey.

by The Rev. Mark T. Buetow

Um, Dad?" "Yes, Isaac?" "Well, we've got wood here. And we've got some fire. But, um, where's the lamb for the burnt offering?" And what do you suppose Isaac was thinking as Dad tied him up and laid him upon the altar and raised the knife? Do you think Isaac at that moment remembered Abraham's words, "God will see to the Lamb for Himself!"

by The Rev. Brent Kuhlman

The way Jesus works is so, so, scandalous.  Jesus does the unthinkable.  The outrageous.  He dares to speak to a woman in public.  That's strike one.  She's a half-breed gone astray from God's ways Samaritan.  Strike two.  She's a very naughty still in her sins Samaritan woman.  Been through five husbands.  Now she's with a sixth man.  But he's not her husband.  Strike three!

by the Rev. Todd A. Peperkorn

Silence. Complete and utter silence. That was Jesus’ response to her. Her daughter was terribly vexed with a demon, a horror we can only imagine. She was at her wits end. All the parenting skills in the world could not help her daughter. She was at the end of her rope. She went to the one Man who could help her. She went to Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah. Surely He would help her! Surely He would look at her plight and would have mercy upon her by healing her daughter.

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

Dear children of God: Never let go of God's Word! It will keep you safe! Never stop hearing God's Word. It will protect you from the Evil One. Adam and Eve show us our repentance for this First Sunday in Lent. They let go of God's Word. They ignored it. Adam didn't preach it when he should have. Eve didn't hold on to it when tempted. Together they let God's Word go and then they were sitting ducks for the Serpent. You, dear Christian: cling to God's Word. Hold on to it as the greatest treasure.

by The Rev. Rick Sawyer

Dear Christian, you have nothing to prove - not to me, not to yourselves, not to anyone. Not even to God. What I mean is this: Your life is already guaranteed in Jesus. Now - with nothing to prove - begin the season with ashes, with fasting and praying and rending your hearts.  You have nothing to prove by that. That's why you are the only ones who can do them freely - without drawing attention to yourselves, without the selfishness of those who think they have something to prove.

by The Rev. George F. Borghardt III

Naaman knew what he needed. Everybody knows how someone gets cured from leprosy. First, the prophet has to come out of his house. Then, he stands and calls on the name of the Lord His God. Then, he waves his hand and cures the leper. But that's not what happened to Naaman. In this sermon from the Watermarked Retreat at Trinity Lutheran Church, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Pastor Borghardt proclaims how Naaman, religion expert like we all are, did not get what he expected. Revisit this story of cleansing waters.

by The Rev. William Weedon

The Ethiopian Eunuch had been up to Jerusalem. He was riding home now, maybe with his brand-spanking new copy of Isaiah, and he was reading along and puzzling over what on earth the prophet was saying in what we call chapter 53 - this Lamb that is silent before its shearers, whose generation none could declare. The Holy Spirit sends Philip to run aside and ask him if he gets it. "Course not!" the Eunuch replies. "Come up and explain it to me." Then it gets very interesting.

by The Rev. Randy Asburry

“Actions speak louder than words.” No doubt, you’ve heard that saying, and you know exactly what it means. Another person can speak a promise to you, but his action of keeping that promise says much more than the mere promise. A spouse can say, “I love you,” but unless those words are backed up by actions of love, devotion, and commitment, then the words ring hollow. “Actions speak louder than words.” Somehow, we just know how true it is.

by The Rev. Randy Asburry

Everyone loves browsing through the family photo album. “Ah, what memories!” we say as we take in the faces and the antics of the past. Grandmas and grandpas; aunts and uncles; children and pets; holidays and other festive times; even just good ol’, ordinary, day-to-day happenings around the house. But why look at the photo album?

by the Rev. Mark Buetow

Martin Luther had to be set free. He was a slave to his sins. He had become a monk so that he could spend every hour of every day living a holy life and make God happy with him. But the problem was that instead of a holy life, he just had more time to think about his sins. He spent hour after hour and day after day wondering how he could ever get on the Lord's good side. After all, Jesus was the righteous Judge and Luther was a moldy worm sack! He would go to Confession and then go and scrub the floor and then have to run back to his Father Confessor because he remembered some sins he had left out. Finally his Father Confessor, Father Staupitz, told him, "Martin! Stop already! Believe and trust in Jesus who has taken away your sins!"

by The Rev. Randy Asburry

On this day the Church commemorates St. Luke the Evangelist. He wrote the Gospel account that carries his name, and he wrote the sequel that we know as the Book of Acts. In his first book St. Luke did his historical research and interviewed eyewitnesses to tell “all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up” (Acts 1:1-2).

by The Rev. William Weedon

Our Catechism teaches us to pray every morning and every night: “Let Your holy angel be with me that the evil foe may have no power over me.” And then in the morning, we are to go off to work singing a hymn; and in the evening, we are to go to sleep at once and in good cheer.  Where does such a prayer come from? This asking of God to let His holy angels be with us so that our evil foe can have no power over us?

by The Rev. Randy Asburry

Did you know that Jesus ruined every funeral that He ever attended? Consider what we just heard. As Jesus approaches the city of Nain, He meets a funeral procession. Obviously, all of the funeral arrangements had been made. The dead young man was in his coffin. The pallbearers were leading the procession as they carried the young man out of the town. They had all of their fine funeral arrangements made, and they were going out to finish the service by burying the young man in the family tomb. But Jesus comes along and ruins this perfectly good funeral!

by The Rev. George Borghardt III

In the name of Jesus. Amen. Two men in the temple. The first with tons of religion. The other with nothing but sins. Who goes home justified?  Imagine the first. He is basically good – in fact before every bad thing he could come up with was a “am not.” “I'm not swindler. I'm not unjust. I've never committed adultery.”  I'm an upstanding member of my church. I give my ten percent – off the gross. Other people only give a tithe from the take home. But, I give ten percent of everything.

by The Rev. George F. Borghardt III

In the name of Jesus. Amen. Mountains. Mountains. Mountains. On all sides of us. It gives both the feeling of safety and the feeling of awe. It's like the mountains have us surrounded, like they have us where they want us...  They don't. Jesus does. We are gathered by Him. Passive. Jesus provides the time and place. He's tending us – providing for the delivery of His Calvary-won gifts. That's the Gospel.

by The Rev. Marcus Zill

In the name of Jesus. Amen. How does one even begin to comprehend the enormity of the holiness and the glory of God? Imagine a being so great and powerful that He created everything that is, everything that ever was, and everything that ever will be. Almighty, eternal, knowing all things. It’s just plain beyond all of our understanding.

by The Rev. David A. Kind

You have come to a conference entitled “For You”. I’m sure as you’ve planned for this trip you’ve considered just what that title is meant to convey. Simply put, God is “For you”. Christ is “For You”. His love is “For You”. His gifts are “For You.” But every Christian wonders at one time or another whether or not all of this, God, His love, His blessings, really are for him or her. You know what the Gospel says about Jesus’ love, but you are also assailed with other voices that want you to doubt that love – the voice of your own conscience as you consider your sins, the voice of the devil who wants to amplify what conscience says so that you are lead not to repentance but to despair, the voice of the world that calls your faith foolish.

by The Rev. Brent Kuhlman

What’s Jesus doing? Obviously He didn’t get the memo. Someone call the bouncers before He gets past John and jumps into that water! This is no way to start your ministry Jesus! After all, you’re the Christ!  Stop right there Jesus! John’s baptism is for sinners. For the low lives and losers of the world. For critter crooks who have lots for which to repent. You don’t Jesus. These scum need to have their sins washed away. But not you Jesus. You’re the sinless royal Son of God!

by The Rev. William Cwirla

The Light of the world hangs in darkness. The Light no darkness can overcome is plunged into the darkness. The Splendor of the Father’s light who makes our daylight lucid bright is swallowed up into black hole of the world’s sin and death. On a Friday - the day man was made, the day God spoke His “very good” over all creation. Between Noon and three pm - the bright hours of the day. This is good Friday. Behold, it was “very good.”

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

Today we celebrate the Nativity, the birth, of St. John the Baptist. Throughout the year, the Church has marked dates upon which we remember the work of the Lord through particular people: Apostles and Prophets and pastors and missionaries and many other holy men and women of God through whom the Lord has proclaimed His saving Gospel and shown us His gracious good works. So today we remember and give thanks for the birth of St. John the Baptist.

by Rev. Brent Kuhlman

Peter's been preaching his Pentecost sermon. You hear the word "Pentecost" and you think Holy Spirit and all His gifts, don't you? That's right. The disciples are given the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Day to preach the Gospel in many understandable languages. And 3,000 sinners are brought to faith in Jesus as the Savior of the world. Just as He promised Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to bring glory to Himself.