Author: admin

August 14, 2026

Broadcast

                       The Time is Now - Part 5
                             Luke 19:41-44
                              08/13/2026


        41   And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept
             over it,
        42   saying, ``Would that you, even you, had known on
             this day the things that make for peace! But now
             they are hidden from your eyes.
        43   For the days will come upon you, when your enemies
             will set up a barricade around you and surround
             you and hem you in on every side
        44   and tear you down to the ground, you and your
             children within you. And they will not leave one
             stone upon another in you, because you did not
             know the time of your visitation.''  (ESV)

        This week we have heard Jesus' prophecy about the
   destruction of Jerusalem which happened about forty years after
   His death and resurrection.
        And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over
        it, saying, ``Would that you, even you, had known on
        this day the things that make for peace! But now they
        are hidden from your eyes.  For the days will come upon
        you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around
        you and surround you and hem you in on every side and
        tear you down to the ground, you and your children
        within you. And they will not leave one stone upon
        another in you, because you did not know the time of
        your visitation.''


        Because of this warning, the Church prays:
        O God, You declare Your almighty power above all in
        showing mercy and pity.  Mercifully grant us such a
        measure of Your grace that we may obtain Your gracious
        promises and be made partakers of Your heavenly
        treasures.


        We have seen that the city was destroyed because they did
   not know the time of Jesus' visitation.  By rejecting God's mercy
   they sealed their own fate.

        The time is now.  Today may be the last time that you hear
   of God's mercy and pity.  How will you respond?  Will you put off
   learning more about God's grace?  Will you realize that this may
   be the last opportunity you have to hear of His love?

        Please join us at Trinity Lutheran Church each Sunday
   morning at 9:00 a.m.  as we come to a better understanding of
   God's mercy.

        May our Lord grant that we know the time of His visitation
   for our salvation.  Amen.

August 13, 2026

Broadcast

                       The Time is Now - Part 4
                             Luke 19:43-44
                              08/13/2026


        43   For the days will come upon you, when your enemies
             will set up a barricade around you and surround
             you and hem you in on every side
        44   and tear you down to the ground, you and your
             children within you. And they will not leave one
             stone upon another in you, because you did not
             know the time of your visitation.''  (ESV)

        The Church prays:
        O God, You declare Your almighty power above all in
        showing mercy and pity.  Mercifully grant us such a
        measure of Your grace that we may obtain Your gracious
        promises and be made partakers of Your heavenly
        treasures.


        Why was the city of Jerusalem destroyed?  God, who is long-
   suffering, eventually removes sinful nations which reject Him.
   The religious leaders of the day did not recognize the
   opportunity that God gave to learn of Jesus, to accept His gift
   of salvation.

        Therefore, Jesus foretold their destruction, which happened
   in August, 70 A.D.
        For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will
        set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem
        you in on every side and tear you down to the ground,
        you and your children within you. And they will not
        leave one stone upon another in you, because you did
        not know the time of your visitation.''


        Here is the lesson for each of us.  The Church proclaims the
   words of Isaiah the prophet, calling everyone to hear of God's
   grace, love, and mercy.
        Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him
        while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and
        the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the
        Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our
        God, for he will abundantly pardon.[1]


        May our Lord grant that we hear His voice and follow Him.
   Amen.
       ____________________

       1. Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV)

August 12, 2026

Broadcast

                       The Time is Now - Part 3
                             Luke 19:43-44
                              08/12/2026


        43   For the days will come upon you, when your enemies
             will set up a barricade around you and surround
             you and hem you in on every side
        44   and tear you down to the ground, you and your
             children within you. And they will not leave one
             stone upon another in you, because you did not
             know the time of your visitation.''  (ESV)

        This week the Church prayed:
        O God, You declare Your almighty power above all in
        showing mercy and pity.  Mercifully grant us such a
        measure of Your grace that we may obtain Your gracious
        promises and be made partakers of Your heavenly
        treasures.


        As Jesus entered into Jerusalem the Sunday before He was
   crucified, amid the waving of palm branches and the shouts of the
   crowd, He wept and grieved over the coming destruction of the
   city.  Those who called for Jesus' death did not recognize that
   He is the Son of God, the Messiah who God sent to redeem each
   person from sin, death, and the power of the devil.  By not
   recognizing Jesus, the religious leaders and their followers
   sealed their own fate.

        Forty years after Jesus rose from the dead, the city of
   Jerusalem was destroyed by the armies of Rome.  Jesus' words, His
   prophecy, were shown to be true.
        For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will
        set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem
        you in on every side and tear you down to the ground,
        you and your children within you. And they will not
        leave one stone upon another in you, because you did
        not know the time of your visitation.''


        There is a point when God withdraws His offer of mercy,
   pity, and grace.  He never forces Himself on anyone.  He shows us
   the true peace which comes from the forgiveness of our sins for
   the sake of His Son, but will allow people to harden their hearts
   against Him.

        Today you hear His voice, the good news that Christ Jesus
   died and rose again to defeat death and the grave.

        May our Lord grant that we know the time of His visitation.
   Amen.

August 11, 2026

Broadcast

                       The Time is Now - Part 2
                             Luke 19:41-42
                              08/11/2026


        41   And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept
             over it,
        42   saying, ``Would that you, even you, had known on
             this day the things that make for peace! But now
             they are hidden from your eyes.''  (ESV)

        God does not force Himself on anyone.  He offers life and
   salvation, the peace which comes from knowing your sins are
   forgiven, to all people.  Each person has the right to reject
   God's gracious gift, for God did not create us to be robots, but
   intelligent beings.

        This week the Church prays:
        O God, You declare Your almighty power above all in
        showing mercy and pity.  Mercifully grant us such a
        measure of Your grace that we may obtain Your gracious
        promises and be made partakers of Your heavenly
        treasures.


        How does the Gospel reading which we heard last Sunday
   reinforce the truth that God's power is found in mercy and pity,
   not in a show of force?
        And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over
        it, saying, ``Would that you, even you, had known on
        this day the things that make for peace! But now they
        are hidden from your eyes.''


        The Father sent His only-begotten Son, Jesus, to pay the
   price of our sin.  Jesus willingly took on our human flesh,
   placed Himself under God's Law, and fulfilled that Law perfectly.
   Yet, in His innocence, He was crucified because He took your sin
   and mine upon Himself, suffering death and condemnation so that
   you and I may live with Him for all eternity.  This sinless Son
   of God wept in grief and sorrow for those who were about to put
   Him to death.  He never desired their destruction.  He never
   desired their condemnation.  His death and resurrection covered
   their sin as much as it covers the sins of those who do not
   reject God's offer of life.

        May our Lord grant that we hear of His mercy and pity, and
   believe in Jesus as our Redeemer.  Amen.

August 10, 2026

Broadcast

                       The Time is Now - Part 1
                             Luke 19:41-44
                              08/10/2026


        41   And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept
             over it,
        42   saying, ``Would that you, even you, had known on
             this day the things that make for peace! But now
             they are hidden from your eyes.
        43   For the days will come upon you, when your enemies
             will set up a barricade around you and surround
             you and hem you in on every side
        44   and tear you down to the ground, you and your
             children within you. And they will not leave one
             stone upon another in you, because you did not
             know the time of your visitation.''  (ESV)

        The Bible is quite clear that God desires that all people
   come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, have faith in Him, to
   receive the gift of everlasting life.  We believe, teach, and
   confess that the faith which trusts in Christ Jesus is a gift
   which we receive as the Holy Spirit causes us to recognize our
   sin and to hear of Jesus' sacrifice.

        This week our prayer confesses this truth, even as we ask
   God's rich blessing on the Church and individuals.
        O God, You declare Your almighty power above all in
        showing mercy and pity.  Mercifully grant us such a
        measure of Your grace that we may obtain Your gracious
        promises and be made partakers of Your heavenly
        treasures; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,
        who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one
        God, now and forever.


        Yet, the Gospel reading for this past Sunday is the prophecy
   of the destruction of Jerusalem, spoken on Palm Sunday as Jesus
   rode into the city the week He was crucified.
        And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over
        it, saying, ``Would that you, even you, had known on
        this day the things that make for peace! But now they
        are hidden from your eyes.  For the days will come upon
        you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around
        you and surround you and hem you in on every side and
        tear you down to the ground, you and your children
        within you. And they will not leave one stone upon
        another in you, because you did not know the time of
        your visitation.''


        This week we will see God's love expressed even as He
   condemns those who reject Him.

        May our Lord grant us wisdom to recognize the opportunity to
   hear of His grace.  Amen.

August 7, 2026

Broadcast

                     Faithful Stewardship - Part 5
                              Luke 16:13
                              08/07/2026


        13   No servant can serve two masters, for either he
             will hate the one and love the other, or he will
             be devoted to the one and despise the other. You
             cannot serve God and money.  (ESV)

        What is your priority in life?  Is it wealth or power or
   fame?  Is it the toys you can buy, or the trips you can take, or
   that body that comes from hours at the gym?  Where to you spend
   your time, talents, and treasures?

        Too often our desires pull us away from the love of God.  We
   begin to worship the creation and ignore the Creator.  It may
   begin innocently, but eventually our passions for things
   overcomes any good sense we might have.

        Jesus told His disciples: ``No servant can serve two
   masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or
   he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot
   serve God and money.''  The things of this world pass away, the
   things of God are eternal.

        Because we cannot serve God and money, we pray:
        Let Your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers
        of Your humble servants; and that they may obtain their
        petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please
        You.


        Please join us at Trinity Lutheran Church at 9:00 Sunday
   morning to learn more about God's grace, love, and mercy as found
   in Jesus Christ so that your desire may be to serve Him.

        May our Lord grant you eternal blessings as you fear, love,
   and trust in Him above all things.  Amen.

August 6, 2026

Broadcast

                     Faithful Stewardship - Part 4
                             Luke 16:11-12
                              08/06/2026


        11   If then you have not been faithful in the
             unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the
             true riches?
        12   And if you have not been faithful in that which is
             another's, who will give you that which is your
             own?  (ESV)

        The things of this world are temporary.  Nothing lasts
   forever, not even the earth and sky.  How we use the things of
   this world shows how we approach the eternal gifts of God.

        Jesus asked His followers:
        If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous
        wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?  And
        if you have not been faithful in that which is
        another's, who will give you that which is your own?


        Because we desire to seek first the kingdom of God and His
   righteousness, we prayed:
        Let Your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers
        of Your humble servants; and that they may obtain their
        petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please
        You.


        Often we are selfish in our use of our time, talents, and
   treasure because we are afraid of the future.  As we seek to
   fear, love, and trust in God above all things, we come to know
   that even when we are dealt a devastating blow such as a personal
   disaster, He is with us and will care for us.

        Thus, as we can so do, we give of our time to help others by
   volunteering at the Hospice, or in coaching little league, or
   serving at church or in the community.  We use our talents, not
   for our own enjoyment, but to bring joy and comfort to others.
   We visit the sick, we provide meals for those who are in trouble,
   we hold the hands of those who mourn.

        May our Lord grant us the wisdom to recognize the
   opportunities to serve Him by serving our neighbor.  Amen.

August 5, 2026

Broadcast

                     Faithful Stewardship - Part 3
                             Luke 16:11-12
                              08/05/2026


        11   If then you have not been faithful in the
             unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the
             true riches?
        12   And if you have not been faithful in that which is
             another's, who will give you that which is your
             own?  (ESV)

        This week we prayed:
        Let Your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers
        of Your humble servants; and that they may obtain their
        petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please
        You.


        Several times Jesus said: ``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.''[1]

        Although we frequently fail to fulfill the words of our
   Lord, we pray that He guides and directs us to know and do His
   holy will.  Good stewardship means that we seek to use the gifts
   of this life to His glory, both by caring for ourselves and for
   our neighbors.  As we ponder our use of our time, talents, and
   treasures, do we seek first the kingdom of God?  Do we help those
   in need?

        Jesus asked this question.
        If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous
        wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?  And
        if you have not been faithful in that which is
        another's, who will give you that which is your own?


        How we use the things of this world reflects our faith and
   trust in God.

        May our Lord guide us in all our ways that we may do that
   which is pleasing in His sight.  Amen.

   ____________________

   1. Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV)

August 4, 2026

Broadcast

                     Faithful Stewardship - Part 2
                              Luke 16:10
                              08/04/2026


        10   One who is faithful in a very little is also
             faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a
             very little is also dishonest in much.  (ESV)

        This week we prayed:
        Let Your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers
        of Your humble servants; and that they may obtain their
        petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please
        You.


        Faith, which is trust in God's great love and mercy, is a
   gift He gives to those who believe that Christ Jesus died and
   rose again to redeem us from sin, death, and the power of the
   devil.  Because faith is a gift, something we cannot earn by our
   good works, something we do not deserve, we respond in
   thanksgiving.

        We ask God to hear our prayers because of His grace.
   However, we ask primarily for His help to love Him with our whole
   heart and our neighbors as ourselves.  Again, this is something
   we cannot do on our own, it requires God making us do that which
   is pleasing in His sight.

        We are all stewards of His gifts in this life.  Thus, we
   pray that we may be found faithful, using our time, talents, and
   treasures for the furtherance of the kingdom of God and to help
   those in need.  We pray this because we desire to do His will and
   walk in His ways.  Jesus said: ``One who is faithful in a very
   little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a
   very little is also dishonest in much.''

        May our Lord find us faithful in our stewardship of His
   abundant gifts.  Amen.

August 3, 2026

Broadcast

                     Faithful Stewardship - Part 1
                             Luke 16:10-13
                              08/03/2026


        10   One who is faithful in a very little is also
             faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a
             very little is also dishonest in much.
        11   If then you have not been faithful in the
             unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the
             true riches?
        12   And if you have not been faithful in that which is
             another's, who will give you that which is your
             own?
        13   No servant can serve two masters, for either he
             will hate the one and love the other, or he will
             be devoted to the one and despise the other. You
             cannot serve God and money.  (ESV)

        During this portion of the Church Year we are looking at the
   righteousness of the kingdom of heaven.  How does your faith
   influence your life?  Is going to church on Sunday the joyful
   beginning of the week, or is it a chore which must be done to,
   hopefully, gain merit with God?  Is giving your time, talents,
   and treasure for the good of others something we do out of guilt,
   or is it a pleasure to help?

        This week we prayed:
        Let Your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers
        of Your humble servants; and that they may obtain their
        petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please
        You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who
        lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,
        now and forever.


        Over the next few days we will examine this prayer in light
   of the Gospel reading from last Sunday.
        One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful
        in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is
        also dishonest in much.  If then you have not been
        faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to
        you the true riches?  And if you have not been faithful
        in that which is another's, who will give you that
        which is your own?  No servant can serve two masters,
        for either he will hate the one and love the other, or
        he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
        You cannot serve God and money.


        May our Lord strengthen us in faith towards Him and in
   fervent love for one another.  Amen.