Author: admin

October 15, 2026

Broadcast

                       Be of Good Cheer - Part 4
                             Matthew 9:5-7
                              10/15/2026


        5    [Jesus said:] ``For which is easier, to say, `Your
             sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Rise and walk?'
        6    But that you may know that the Son of Man has
             authority on earth to forgive sins'' -- he then
             said to the paralytic -- ``Rise, pick up your bed
             and go home.''
        7    And he rose and went home.  (ESV)

        [Jesus said:] ``For which is easier, to say, `Your sins
        are forgiven,' or to say, `Rise and walk?'  But that
        you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth
        to forgive sins'' -- he then said to the paralytic --
        ``Rise, pick up your bed and go home.''  And he rose
        and went home.


        The scribes who watched Jesus heal the paralytic had a
   problem.  Only God can forgive sins.  Only God can heal with His
   voice.  They saw Jesus do both things.  What should they do?
   Should they admit that Jesus is the Son of God, God who took on
   our human flesh?  Should they deny the truth?

        Too often we deny the truth because the truth is difficult
   to believe.  We don't like the idea that God became man, lived
   among us, died for us, and rose again from the dead.  If Jesus
   paid the price of our sin, that means that we do not have the
   power to save ourselves.  That does not fit well with our human
   nature.

        By faith, however, we understand that God so loved the world
   that He gave His only-begotten Son to die for us, to pay the
   price of our sin, and to give us eternal life.  Because we
   believe this, we are bold to pray:
        Almighty and merciful God, of Your bountiful goodness
        keep from us all things that may hurt us that we, being
        ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish
        whatever You would have us to do.


        May our Lord grant us faith to receive this gift of
   salvation.  Amen.

October 14, 2026

Broadcast

                       Be of Good Cheer - Part 3
                             Matthew 9:2-6
                              10/14/2026


        2    And behold, some people brought to him a
             paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw
             their faith, he said to the paralytic, ``Take
             heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.''
        3    And behold, some of the scribes said to
             themselves, ``This man is blaspheming.''
        4    But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, ``Why do
             you think evil in your hearts?
        5    For which is easier, to say, `Your sins are
             forgiven,' or to say, `Rise and walk?'
        6    But that you may know that the Son of Man has
             authority on earth to forgive sins'' -- he then
             said to the paralytic -- ``Rise, pick up your bed
             and go home.''  (ESV)

        And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic,
        lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said
        to the paralytic, ``Take heart, my son; your sins are
        forgiven.''  And behold, some of the scribes said to
        themselves, ``This man is blaspheming.''  But Jesus,
        knowing their thoughts, said, ``Why do you think evil
        in your hearts?  For which is easier, to say, `Your
        sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Rise and walk?'  But
        that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on
        earth to forgive sins'' -- he then said to the
        paralytic -- ``Rise, pick up your bed and go home.''


        Only God can forgive sins, for only God is holy.  Certainly,
   you can forgive the person who sins against you, but neither you
   nor I have the power, on our own, to speak for someone else.  The
   scribes were correct.  Only if Jesus was God could He forgive the
   sins of the paralytic.

        However, Jesus' actions showed that He does have God's
   creative power.  He healed the man's paralysis with just a word,
   thus showing He has the right and power to forgive sins.

        God has entrusted that right to the Church.  Therefore, when
   you confess your sins to the pastor, they have the authority to
   forgive your sins given to them by God as they act as the agent
   of Christ, Himself.

        Therefore we pray:
        Almighty and merciful God, of Your bountiful goodness
        keep from us all things that may hurt us that we, being
        ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish
        whatever You would have us to do.

        Grant this, Lord, for Jesus' sake.  Amen.

October 13, 2026

Broadcast

                       Be of Good Cheer - Part 2
                              Matthew 9:2
                              10/13/2026


        2    And behold, some people brought to him a
             paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw
             their faith, he said to the paralytic, ``Take
             heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.''  (ESV)

        The message Jesus proclaimed was simple, repent for the
   kingdom of heaven is at hand.  He calls on all people to
   recognize that they have sinned, have ignored God and harmed
   their neighbors.  In confessing, He asks us to trust that He has
   already paid the price of our transgressions.

        This week's prayer reinforces our understanding that only by
   God's grace, mercy, and goodness can we do what is pleasing in
   His sight.  Our good works are a response to His love shown in
   Christ Jesus.
        Almighty and merciful God, of Your bountiful goodness
        keep from us all things that may hurt us that we, being
        ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish
        whatever You would have us to do.


        Jesus had returned to Capernaum having traveled around
   Galilee teaching and healing the sick.
        And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic,
        lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said
        to the paralytic, ``Take heart, my son; your sins are
        forgiven.''


        All people understand that there are consequences to sin,
   even if they do not believe in the Triune God.  Someone who was
   paralyzed would agonize over the cause of his illness.  He would
   be terrified of dying, for he would know he was condemned.  Jesus
   took away that fear.

        May our Lord take away our fear of death by proclaiming that
   we also are forgiven.  Amen.

October 12, 2026

Broadcast

                       Be of Good Cheer - Part 1
                              Matthew 9:1
                              10/12/2026


        1    And getting into a boat [Jesus] crossed over and
             came to his own city.  (ESV)

        Our prayer this week reminds us that God protects us from
   all that would cause us eternal harm.  We are free to respond to
   His love and mercy by serving our neighbors.
        Almighty and merciful God, of Your bountiful goodness
        keep from us all things that may hurt us that we, being
        ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish
        whatever You would have us to do; through Jesus Christ,
        Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and
        the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.


        In this week's Gospel lesson, we will see friends of a
   paralytic man who had faith that Jesus could heal all diseases.
   We will see in action the results of the preaching of God's
   kingdom.

        Jesus had been traveling around Galilee teaching and healing
   the sick.  Saint Matthew records: ``And getting into a boat
   [Jesus] crossed over and came to his own city.''  He was about to
   show the meaning of His teaching.  The message of Jesus was the
   same that John the Baptizer proclaimed, ``Repent, for the kingdom
   of heaven is at hand.''[1]

        What is the kingdom of heaven?  It is the undisputed reign
   of Jesus over sin, death, and the power of the devil.  It is the
   application of the Gospel, ``For God so loved the world that He
   gave His only-begotten Son.''  Thus the message is simple,
   ``Acknowledge your sins for Jesus died to pay the price of your
   guilt.''

        May our Lord richly bless us this week as we see this truth
   as recorded in the Bible.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. Matthew 4:17

October 9, 2026

Broadcast

                       To Summarize... - Part 5
                             Matthew 22:46
                              10/09/2026


        46   And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from
             that day did anyone dare to ask him any more
             questions.  (ESV)

        This week we have prayed that the Holy Spirit guide us so
   that we delight in God's law, living to serve Him by loving our
   neighbor.
        O God, because without You we are not able to please
        You, mercifully grant that Your Holy Spirit may in all
        things direct and rule our hearts.


        On the last visit Jesus made to the Temple before His
   crucifixion, He clearly summarized both the law and the Gospel.
   He taught that the Bible is the inspired Word of God.

        Did the Pharisees repent?  Did they turn from their selfish
   desires and embrace the Word of God, recognizing the Son of God
   as their Redeemer from sin and death?  Will you take these words
   to heart, or will you act like those who ultimately put Jesus to
   death for speaking the truth?

        ``And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that
   day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.''

        Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  Today you
   have heard the good news that Jesus is the Son of God, sent by
   the Father to bear the price of your sin.  Today you have heard
   the Word of God, written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit, so
   that you may have eternal life.

        Do you wish to know more?  Join us this Sunday at 9:00 a.m.
   at Trinity Lutheran Church as we learn more of God's love, grace,
   and mercy.

        God grant this for Jesus' sake.  Amen.

October 8, 2026

Broadcast

                       To Summarize... - Part 4
                           Matthew 22:41-45
                              10/08/2026


        41   Now while the Pharisees were gathered together,
             Jesus asked them a question,
        42   saying, ``What do you think about the Christ?
             Whose son is he?'' They said to him, ``The son of
             David.''
        43   He said to them, ``How is it then that David, in
             the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,
        44   `The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand,
             until I put your enemies under your feet?'
        45   If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?''
             (ESV)

        This week's prayer confesses that the Holy Spirit causes us
   to live according to God's will.
        O God, because without You we are not able to please
        You, mercifully grant that Your Holy Spirit may in all
        things direct and rule our hearts.


        Jesus answered the Pharisee's question about the law.  He
   did not stop there, however.  He pointed the Pharisees, and all
   who were listening to His words, to the truth of the Messiah, the
   Christ, the One promised by God who would bear the sins of the
   world.

        Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus
        asked them a question, saying, ``What do you think
        about the Christ? Whose son is he?'' They said to him,
        ``The son of David.''  He said to them, ``How is it
        then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,
        `The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until
        I put your enemies under your feet?'  If then David
        calls him Lord, how is he his son?''


        There is so much to see in these short verses.  Jesus
   declares that King David wrote the Psalms as inspired by the Holy
   Spirit.  He declares the Psalms as a proper source for doctrine
   and teaching.  He shows that the Messiah is truly the Son of God.
   He even confesses the Trinity, that the Father spoke to the Son
   as the Holy Spirit instructed David to write.

        Thus we have a summary of the doctrine of the verbal
   inspiration of the Bible, the definition of the Trinity, and the
   divinity of Christ Jesus.  What more do we need?  The Bible shows
   us the love of God and we are allowed to respond.

        May our Lord grant us faith to trust His Word for our                      
   eternal life.  Amen.

October 7, 2026

Broadcast

                       To Summarize... - Part 3
                           Matthew 22:37-40
                              10/07/2026


        37   And he said to him, ```You shall love the Lord
             your God with all your heart and with all your
             soul and with all your mind.'
        38   This is the great and first commandment.
        39   And a second is like it `You shall love your
             neighbor as yourself.'
        40   On these two commandments depend all the Law and
             the Prophets.''  (ESV)

        This week's prayer confesses our inability to live according
   to God's will.
        O God, because without You we are not able to please
        You, mercifully grant that Your Holy Spirit may in all
        things direct and rule our hearts.


        What is God's will?  Yesterday we looked at the law as a
   mirror which shows us our sin.  Today we will see the law is also
   a guideline, a goal which directs our actions so that we may do
   that which is pleasing to God.
        And [Jesus] said to him, ```You shall love the Lord
        your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
        with all your mind.'  This is the great and first
        commandment.  And a second is like it `You shall love
        your neighbor as yourself.'  On these two commandments
        depend all the Law and the Prophets.''


        As hard as we try, we still fail to perfectly keep the law.
   Daily we strive to fear, love, and trust in God above all things
   while serving our neighbor, but we also are corrupted by our
   selfish, sinful nature.  Therefor, each day we confess our sins,
   trusting in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus to
   pay the price of our transgressions.

        He, and He alone, has perfectly kept all of God's law, from
   birth to death to eternal life.  Because of God's grace and
   mercy, our heavenly Father credits Jesus' righteousness to us,
   thus removing the guilt and punishment for our sins.  In God's
   sight, because of Christ Jesus, we have indeed kept the law
   perfectly.  This is God's promise of forgiveness and salvation.
   Is it any wonder that we desire to serve Him who has removed the
   shame of our sins?

        May our Lord grant us faith to receive His mercy.  Amen.

October 6, 2026

Broadcast

                       To Summarize... - Part 2
                           Matthew 22:35-40
                              10/06/2026


        35   And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to
             test him.
        36   ``Teacher, which is the great commandment in the
             Law?''
        37   And he said to him, ```You shall love the Lord
             your God with all your heart and with all your
             soul and with all your mind.'
        38   This is the great and first commandment.
        39   And a second is like it `You shall love your
             neighbor as yourself.'
        40   On these two commandments depend all the Law and
             the Prophets.''  (ESV)

        This week's prayer asks God to direct us so that we may keep
   His holy law.
        O God, because without You we are not able to please
        You, mercifully grant that Your Holy Spirit may in all
        things direct and rule our hearts.


        In the Gospel reading, Jesus is asked about that law, which
   He summarized in two brief sentences.
        And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test
        him.  ``Teacher, which is the great commandment in the
        Law?''  And he said to him, ```You shall love the Lord
        your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
        with all your mind.'  This is the great and first
        commandment.  And a second is like it `You shall love
        your neighbor as yourself.'  On these two commandments
        depend all the Law and the Prophets.''


        Our problem is simple.  Because of our sinful, selfish
   nature we cannot love God with our whole being.  Because we are
   turned inward, seeking our own advantage, we cannot love our
   neighbor as ourselves.  Thus, we stand condemned by the law.  It
   works as a mirror, showing us our unrighteousness, showing us our
   need for a Savior.

        The Pharisees, however, insisted that they can keep the law
   perfectly, that they deserved heaven because they tried to do all
   the 613 Jewish laws demanded.  We also fall into the same trap.
   As long as we think we are good enough, as long as we ignore the
   mirror of the law, we have no hope.

        May our Lord show us our sin so that we may see our Savior.
   Amen.

October 5, 2026

Broadcast

                       To Summarize... - Part 1
                             Matthew 22:34
                              10/05/2026


        34   But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced
             the Sadducees, they gathered together.  (ESV)

        This past Sunday was the last of the third cycle of readings
   in the historic One Year series.  The readings summarized the
   righteousness of faith, the Christians' response to God's grace,
   love, and mercy.  Our prayer this week also summarizes our
   inability to live a God-pleasing life without His direct help and
   intervention.

        O God, because without You we are not able to please
        You, mercifully grant that Your Holy Spirit may in all
        things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus
        Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with
        You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.


        We believe, teach, and confess that good works follow coming
   to faith in Jesus Christ as our Redeemer from sin, death, and the
   power of the devil.  Good works do not earn our salvation, but
   are the result of our salvation.

        This week's Gospel reading takes place on Tuesday of Holy
   Week, two days after Jesus rode into Jerusalem to the waving of
   the palm branches and the shouts of the crowd.  On that Tuesday,
   Jesus discussed theology with the Sadducees and Pharisees as they
   tried to catch Him in false doctrine or inconsistencies.

        But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the
        Sadducees, they gathered together.


        The Pharisees were seeking to have Jesus put to death
   because of the political repercussions of His popularity.  This
   week's reading is the last time Jesus spoke with them before His
   crucifixion.

        May our Lord open our hearts and minds to His rich grace.
   Amen.