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April 20, 2026

Broadcast

                      The Good Shepherd - Part 1
                             John 10:11-13
                              04/20/2026


        11   I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays
             down his life for the sheep.
        12   He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who
             does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and
             leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches
             them and scatters them.
        13   He flees because he is a hired hand and cares
             nothing for the sheep.  (ESV)

        Jesus told His disciples:
        I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his
        life for the sheep.  He who is a hired hand and not a
        shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf
        coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf
        snatches them and scatters them.  He flees because he
        is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.


        On this, the Third Week of Easter, our focus shifts to the
   blessings of God given to us through Jesus.  His greatest gift,
   given for the sake of His death and resurrection, is the
   forgiveness of our sins.  We, like sheep, have gone astray, yet
   because of God's love, He has sought us and preserves us.

        Our prayer this week reflects the love of God for His
   people.
        O God, through the humiliation of Your Son You raised
        up the fallen world.  Grant to Your faithful people,
        rescued from the peril of everlasting death, perpetual
        gladness and eternal joys; through Jesus Christ, our
        Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy
        Spirit, one God, now and forever.


        Truly, this prayer reminds us of Jesus' sacrifice, and the
   gift of eternal life which He gives to those who trust in Him.

        May our Lord grant us faith to receive the joys of heaven
   for the sake of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

April 17, 2026

Broadcast

                       Confessing Jesus - Part 5
                             John 20:30-31
                              04/17/2026


        30   Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of
             the disciples, which are not written in this book;
        31   but these are written so that you may believe that
             Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by
             believing you may have life in his name.  (ESV)

        Last Sunday the Church prayed:
        Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the
        Lord's resurrection may by Your grace confess in our
        life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God.


        The ongoing mission of the Church is to proclaim the good
   news of salvation from sin, death, and the power of the devil
   because of God's love for the sake of the death and resurrection
   of Christ Jesus.  Our life and conversation proclaim that Jesus
   is Lord and God.

        We believe, teach, and confess that our redemption is
   because of God's grace, not our works.  Because we are born in
   sin, we do not desire to seek God, but run from Him.  Yet, as we
   hear the Word of God, as we see the Word joined with the visible
   elements of water, of bread and wine, we come to know and trust
   in Christ Jesus.

        Saint John finished the story of Thomas with the words,
   ``Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.''
   John points us to his eyewitness account of the life and work of
   Jesus.  Here is the purpose of the Bible, from Genesis to
   Revelations.

        Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the
        disciples, which are not written in this book; but
        these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is
        the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you
        may have life in his name.


        Please join us at Trinity Lutheran Church each Sunday at
   9:00 a.m. to learn more about Christ Jesus so that you also may
   have life in His name.

        May our Lord grant us faith to trust in Him for life
   everlasting.  Amen.

April 16, 2026

Broadcast

                       Confessing Jesus - Part 4
                              John 20:29
                              04/16/2026


        29   Jesus said to him, ``Have you believed because you
             have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen
             and yet have believed.''  (ESV)

        Last Sunday the Church prayed:
        Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the
        Lord's resurrection may by Your grace confess in our
        life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God.


        Yesterday we asked the question, ``How does this prayer
   relate to Thomas?''  Because Thomas saw and touched Jesus, he
   confessed Jesus as Lord and God.  According to tradition, Thomas
   traveled to India and, possibly, China to proclaim the good news
   of Jesus Christ.  He made this good confession, both in word and
   deed, as he brought the peace of God to those in the Asian
   subcontinent.

        You and I, however, do not have the luxury of touching
   Jesus' wounds or hearing His voice.  Yet, all who believe in Him
   came to faith because God revealed Himself to them.  We believe,
   teach, and confess that faith comes from hearing the Word of God
   in its truth and purity.

        ``Jesus said to [Thomas], ``Have you believed because you
   have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have
   believed.' '' You and I are counted among the blessed, for the
   truth of salvation by God's rich grace alone has been given to
   us.

        May our Lord grant that we hear His Word and believe that
   Jesus Christ is our Lord and God as confessed by Thomas.  Amen.

April 15, 2026

Broadcast

                       Confessing Jesus - Part 3
                             John 20:26-28
                              04/15/2026


        26   Eight days later, his disciples were inside again,
             and Thomas was with them.  Although the doors were
             locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said,
             ``Peace be with you.''
        27   Then he said to Thomas, ``Put your finger here,
             and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place
             it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.''
        28   Thomas answered him, ``My Lord and my God!''
             (ESV)

        Last Sunday the Church prayed:
        Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the
        Lord's resurrection may by Your grace confess in our
        life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God.


        Yesterday we asked the question, ``How does this prayer
   relate to Thomas?''
        Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and
        Thomas was with them.  Although the doors were locked,
        Jesus came and stood among them and said, ``Peace be
        with you.''  Then he said to Thomas, ``Put your finger
        here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and
        place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.''
        Thomas answered him, ``My Lord and my God!''


        Because we are born in sin, each one of us needs convincing
   of the truth that Jesus Christ died and rose again for our
   salvation.  For Thomas it was touching Jesus.  As he realized the
   truth that Jesus is risen from the dead, he confessed his faith,
   calling Jesus ``My Lord and my God.''  Faith confesses Christ
   Jesus, just as the prayer of the day asks God to enable us to do.

        We confess our faith in thought, word, and deed.  As we look
   to Christ Jesus for our redemption from sin and eternal death, we
   also become more aware of the needs of our neighbors.  Our
   desires turn from our selfishness to the good of others.

        May our Lord grant us faith which confesses Jesus as Lord
   and God.  Amen.

April 14, 2026

Broadcast

                       Confessing Jesus - Part 2
                             John 20:24-25
                              04/14/2026


        24   Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin,
             was not with them when Jesus came.
        25   So the other disciples told him, ``We have seen
             the Lord.'' But he said to them, ``Unless I see in
             his hands the mark of the nails, and place my
             finger into the mark of the nails, and place my
             hand into his side, I will never believe.''  (ESV)

        Last Sunday the Church prayed:
        Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the
        Lord's resurrection may by Your grace confess in our
        life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God.


        How does this prayer fit with the faith of Thomas, the
   disciple of Jesus?  Ten of the disciples were convinced that
   Jesus had arisen from the dead.  They could not help but tell
   Thomas, who was not with them on the evening of Easter, of this
   good news.

        Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not
        with them when Jesus came.  So the other disciples told
        him, ``We have seen the Lord.'' But he said to them,
        ``Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and
        place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place
        my hand into his side, I will never believe.''


        We often are like Thomas, not believing that which reliable
   people tell us.  The good news of salvation by grace through
   faith for the sake of Christ does not seem to fit our view of the
   world, it does not seem to fit what we consider to be true.
   Maybe we think it doesn't apply to us, that Jesus is for sinners,
   and we aren't as bad as others.  Maybe we think that science
   holds the answers, that the Bible, being an ancient source, is no
   longer relevant.

        Can you imagine the other ten disciples, their frustration
   with Thomas?  They wanted the best for him, the peace of knowing
   that Jesus lives, yet they were dealing with his reluctance to
   hear the truth.

        May our Lord open our hearts and minds to hear the truth,
   that we do need the grace of God which is found in Christ Jesus
   alone.  Amen.

April 13, 2026

Broadcast

                       Confessing Jesus - Part 1
                             John 20:19-23
                              04/13/2026


        19   On the evening of that day, the first day of the
             week, the doors being locked where the disciples
             were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood
             among them and said to them, ``Peace be with
             you.''
        20   When he had said this, he showed them his hands
             and his side. Then the disciples were glad when
             they saw the Lord.
        21   Jesus said to them again, ``Peace be with you. As
             the Father has sent me, even so I am sending
             you.''
        22   And when he had said this, he breathed on them and
             said to them, ``Receive the Holy Spirit.
        23   If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are
             forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone,
             it is withheld.''  (ESV)

        Historically the Church does not look at Easter as a single
   day, but as an entire season, forty-nine days of celebrating the
   resurrection of Jesus.  Therefore, yesterday We prayed the
   historic Collect or prayer of the Church for the Second Sunday of
   Easter:
        Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the
        Lord's resurrection may by Your grace confess in our
        life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God;
        through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and
        reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
        forever.


        Our Gospel lesson for the Second Sunday of Easter has three
   parts.  In the first part, Jesus comes to the disciples and gives
   them, and the Church, the authority to forgive and retain sins.

        On the evening of that day, the first day of the week,
        the doors being locked where the disciples were for
        fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and
        said to them, ``Peace be with you.''  When he had said
        this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the
        disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.  Jesus said
        to them again, ``Peace be with you. As the Father has
        sent me, even so I am sending you.''  And when he had
        said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
        ``Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of
        anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness
        from anyone, it is withheld.''


        This is the purpose of the Church, to proclaim the good news
   that Jesus died to pay the price of our sin, only to rise again
   to give to us eternal life.  Where sins are forgiven, death is
   overcome.

        May our Lord grant us faith to trust in His Word, that we
   have life because Jesus died and rose again.  Amen.

April 10, 2026

Broadcast

                         He is Risen - Part 5
                               Mark 16:8
                              04/09/2026


        8    And they went out and fled from the tomb, for
             trembling and astonishment had seized them, and
             they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
             (ESV)

        The reaction of the women to the angelic message, ``Jesus is
   risen, He is not here,'' astonishes the modern Christian.  ``And
   they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and
   astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone,
   for they were afraid.''  Yet is was a natural fear, for
   everything changed in an instant.  Where the women expected
   death, there was life.

        Over the years the Church has prayed
        Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten
        Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened
        the gate of everlasting life to us.  Grant that we, who
        celebrate with joy the day of our Lord's resurrection,
        may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving
        Spirit.


        We believe the resurrection account, not only because the
   Bible is the true and inerrant Word of God, but because the Holy
   Spirit has given us faith which receives His gifts and trusts His
   Word.  But too often our response to the resurrection mimics the
   response of the women, we flee and say nothing.

        Let's change this.  At Trinity Lutheran Church we proclaim,
   publicly and clearly, that Jesus Christ died to pay the price of
   our sin and rose again to give to us eternal life.  This word of
   truth sounds foolish in the ears of those who demand proof, but
   that does not mean that Jesus did not rise from the dead.

        We proclaim this on the airwaves, on our website, and each
   Sunday at 9:00 a.m. as we gather together at God's invitation to
   receive from Him His richest blessings.

        May our Lord grant us faith to accept the invitation to hear
   His Word for our eternal benefit.  Amen.

April 9, 2026

Broadcast

                         He is Risen - Part 4
                              Mark 16:5-7
                              04/09/2026


        5    And entering the tomb, they saw a young man
             sitting on the right side, dressed in a white
             robe, and they were alarmed.
        6    And he said to them, ``Do not be alarmed. You seek
             Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has
             risen; he is not here. See the place where they
             laid him.
        7    But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is
             going before you to Galilee.  There you will see
             him, just as he told you.''  (ESV)

        None of the followers of Jesus anticipated the events of
   Easter Sunday.  Although Jesus clearly taught that He would die
   and rise again, they did not understand.  Therefore, when the
   women arrived at the tomb at dawn, they were perplexed, to say
   the least.

        And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on
        the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were
        alarmed.  And he said to them, ``Do not be alarmed. You
        seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has
        risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid
        him.  But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is
        going before you to Galilee.  There you will see him,
        just as he told you.''


        The angels answered the classic questions which we need to
   address for every event: what, why, when, how, where, and who.
   Quickly the women learned that Jesus is risen from the dead, and
   that He was going to see the disciples in Galilee.  The women
   were given explicit instructions to tell the disciples and Peter,
   who was disgraced by denying Jesus, of the resurrection and
   Jesus' instructions.  The message is simple and direct.

        Because the women found the tomb empty, and because the
   angels told them Jesus' instructions, the Church is able to pray:
        Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten
        Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened
        the gate of everlasting life to us.  Grant that we, who
        celebrate with joy the day of our Lord's resurrection,
        may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving
        Spirit.


        May our Lord grant us faith to accept the gift of life given
   to us because the tomb is empty.  Amen.

April 8, 2026

Broadcast

                         He is Risen - Part 3
                              Mark 16:5-7
                              04/08/2026


        5    And entering the tomb, they saw a young man
             sitting on the right side, dressed in a white
             robe, and they were alarmed.
        6    And he said to them, ``Do not be alarmed. You seek
             Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has
             risen; he is not here. See the place where they
             laid him.
        7    But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is
             going before you to Galilee.  There you will see
             him, just as he told you.''  (ESV)

        At dawn on Easter Sunday, several women, including Mary
   Magdalene, went to the tomb of Jesus to wash and prepare His body
   for its final burial.  Because time was very short of Friday
   evening, they didn't have time to finish these tasks before the
   beginning of the Sabbath.  Unexpectedly, they found the tomb
   open, the stone removed.

        And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on
        the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were
        alarmed.  And he said to them, ``Do not be alarmed. You
        seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has
        risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid
        him.  But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is
        going before you to Galilee.  There you will see him,
        just as he told you.''


        Let's pause for a moment and consider angels.  The word
   ``angel'' means ``messenger,'' which means that the angels are
   created beings who are sent to do various tasks for God.  An
   angel told Mary she would bear the Christ Child.  Angels
   announced the birth of Jesus.  An angel announced the
   resurrection to the women.

        The message is simple, Jesus is risen from the dead.  He is
   no longer in the tomb.  The angels instructed the women as to the
   next things they needed to accomplish so that the disciples would
   be aware of this good news.

        Therefore the Church prays:
        Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten
        Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened
        the gate of everlasting life to us.  Grant that we, who
        celebrate with joy the day of our Lord's resurrection,
        may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving
        Spirit.


        May our Lord open our hearts and minds to the message of the
   angels.  Amen.

April 7, 2026

Broadcast

                         He is Risen - Part 2
                              Mark 16:2-4
                              04/07/2026


        2    And very early on the first day of the week, when
             the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.
        3    And they were saying to one another, ``Who will
             roll away the stone for us from the entrance of
             the tomb?''
        4    And looking up, they saw that the stone had been
             rolled back -- it was very large.  (ESV)

        There is a lot of controversy surrounding Easter Sunday.
   Can we trust the Biblical accounts of the resurrection?  Did
   Jesus really rise from the dead, as the Bible claims, or is this
   simply a religious myth which was built up over time, as some
   modern authors suggest?

        And very early on the first day of the week, when the
        sun had risen, they went to the tomb.  And they were
        saying to one another, ``Who will roll away the stone
        for us from the entrance of the tomb?''  And looking
        up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back -- it
        was very large.


        The chief priests, expecting some sort of trickery from the
   disciples, asked Pontius Pilate to set a Roman guard on the tomb.
   The stone which covered the opening of the grave was sealed, the
   guards alert for any disturbance.

        Were the tomb left unguarded, the truth of the resurrection
   would certainly be in doubt.  But the witnesses of the
   resurrection were the very people who had the most to lose if the
   grave was empty.  That the soldiers fled the scene, according to
   Saint Matthew, shows that Jesus is risen from the dead.

        Therefore the Church prays:
        Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten
        Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened
        the gate of everlasting life to us.  Grant that we, who
        celebrate with joy the day of our Lord's resurrection,
        may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving
        Spirit.


        May our Lord open our hearts and minds to the good news that
   Jesus has overcome death and the grave.  Amen.