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June 29, 2026

Broadcast

                    The Speck and the Log - Part 1
                               Luke 6:36
                              06/29/2026


        36   Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
             (ESV)

        This week we pray:
        O Lord, grant that the course of this world may be so
        peaceably ordered by Your governance that Your Church
        may joyfully serve You in all godly quietness; through
        Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns
        with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.


        As we approach the 250th anniversary of the founding of this
   nation, we are very aware that there is little peace in this
   world, and that we are a nation divided against ourselves.  There
   are two ways we can act.  Either we are selfish, prideful, and
   arrogant, or we are forgiving and humble.  Unfortunately, more
   often we see the arrogance and not the forgiveness.

        Sunday's Gospel reading from Saint Luke begins: ``Be
   merciful, even as your Father is merciful.''  Here is where we
   fail.  By nature we desire to be in charge, to be in complete
   control.  We cherish things and use people, We strive to
   accumulate wealth at any cost.  We celebrate pride, our own
   demands over the good of others.

        Yet Jesus calls us to be merciful.  Our heavenly Father
   shows His mercy to us daily as we receive from Him all that we
   need to support this life.  But the greater mercy, He set His Son
   to die in our place, to redeem us from our arrogance, to show us
   our sin, but more-so, to show us our Savior.

        This week we will be looking at God's mercy as shown to us
   through Christ Jesus.  We will see that in Him we have life
   everlasting.

        May our Lord grant us mercy so that we may reflect His love
   to others.  Amen.

June 26, 2026

Broadcast

                        Lost and Found - Part 5
                             Luke 15:7,10
                              06/26/2026


        7    Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in
             heaven over one sinner who repents than over
             ninety-nine righteous persons who need no
             repentance.
        10   Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the
             angels of God over one sinner who repents.''
             (ESV)

        This week we have looked at the prayer of the Church in
   light of God's grace and mercy.  As John Newton confessed in the
   hymn, ``Amazing Grace,'' ``I once was lost but now I am found.''
        O God, the protector of all who trust in You, without
        whom nothing is strong and nothing is holy, multiply
        Your mercy on us that, with You as our ruler and guide,
        we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not
        the things eternal.


        Because the Church is God's earthly agent, we also seek the
   lost.  We hear Jesus' words: ``Just so, I tell you, there will be
   more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-
   nine righteous persons who need no repentance.  Just so, I tell
   you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who
   repents,'' and rejoice over those who come to know the love of
   God.

        The Church is not for the self-righteous, for those who
   claim they are perfect.  The Church is for the sinners who desire
   the peace of knowing God's grace.  The Church is for those who
   long for the forgiveness earned by Christ Jesus as He suffered,
   died, and rose again.  The Church is for you and me, sinners who
   need to hear the good news of salvation.

        Each Sunday you can hear this good news that you are
   reconciled to God the Father for the sake of Jesus Christ.
   Please join us at 9:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church to learn
   more of this marvelous truth.

        May our Lord open our hearts and minds to hear His
   invitation that we may come into His presence to receive His gift
   of eternal life.  Amen.

June 25, 2026

Broadcast

                        Lost and Found - Part 4
                             Luke 15:7,10
                              06/25/2026


        7    Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in
             heaven over one sinner who repents than over
             ninety-nine righteous persons who need no
             repentance.
        10   Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the
             angels of God over one sinner who repents.''
             (ESV)

        Our prayer this week asks God to keep us in His care, to
   keep us from straying from the flock, to always be in His
   possession.
        O God, the protector of all who trust in You, without
        whom nothing is strong and nothing is holy, multiply
        Your mercy on us that, with You as our ruler and guide,
        we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not
        the things eternal.


        In the two parables this week, the Lost Sheep and the Lost
   Coin, the result is the same.  That which was lost was found.
   What is the result?
        [Jesus said:] ``Just so, I tell you, there will be more
        joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over
        ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
        ...  Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the
        angels of God over one sinner who repents.''


        As we look at ourselves, there are things we have done which
   we do not want to admit in public.  If we try to live the lie
   that we are perfect, we cause ourselves all sorts of problems,
   all sorts of unhappiness.  Yet, as we confess our sin, as we are
   truly sorry for our sin, all the angels in heaven rejoice.  Saint
   John the Evangelist wrote: ``If we say we have no sin, we deceive
   ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins,
   he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us
   from all unrighteousness.''[1]

        May our Lord continue to find those who have strayed, that
   they may repent and know the joy of His mercy.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. 1 John 1:8-9 (ESV)

June 24, 2026

Broadcast

                        Lost and Found - Part 3
                             Luke 15:8-10
                              06/24/2026


        8    ``Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she
             loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep
             the house and seek diligently until she finds it?
        9    And when she has found it, she calls together her
             friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me,
             for I have found the coin that I had lost.'
        10   Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the
             angels of God over one sinner who repents.''
             (ESV)

        In our Prayer of the Church this week, we ask God to protect
   us from everything that entices us from His loving care.  This
   includes the lure of false doctrine, the lure of the things of
   this world, the problems what make us doubt His love.
        O God, the protector of all who trust in You, without
        whom nothing is strong and nothing is holy, multiply
        Your mercy on us that, with You as our ruler and guide,
        we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not
        the things eternal.


        Yet, even with such prayers, we daily sin, we daily stray
   from God.  Unfortunately, some people don't realize they have
   strayed, so God seeks to restore them to Himself.

        ``Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses
        one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and
        seek diligently until she finds it?  And when she has
        found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors,
        saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin
        that I had lost.'  Just so, I tell you, there is joy
        before the angels of God over one sinner


        Isn't it comforting to know that our Lord seeks those who
   are lost?  They are precious in His sight, the delight of His
   heart.  When they have strayed, when they are not in His
   possession, He looks until they are found.

        In order to find and save the lost, God the Father sent
   Jesus Christ to take on our human flesh, to live among us, to
   suffer for us, to take upon Himself our sin.  In turn, we are
   given the righteousness of God, not as something we earned, but
   as a gift.

        May our Lord grant that we recognize that we are lost, and
   that we are found only in Christ.  Amen.

June 23, 2026

Broadcast

                        Lost and Found - Part 2
                              Luke 15:3-7
                              06/23/2026


        3    So he told them this parable:
        4    ``What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he
             has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-
             nine in the open country, and go after the one
             that is lost, until he finds it?
        5    And when he has found it, he lays it on his
             shoulders, rejoicing.
        6    And when he comes home, he calls together his
             friends and his neighbors, saying to them,
             `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that
             was lost.'
        7    Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in
             heaven over one sinner who repents than over
             ninety-nine righteous persons who need no
             repentance.''  (ESV)

        This week the prayer of the Church confesses that He is our
   protector, that only as we trust in Him are we able to do that
   which is good.  We also pray that He protects us from everything
   that will take us from faith in Christ Jesus.
        O God, the protector of all who trust in You, without
        whom nothing is strong and nothing is holy, multiply
        Your mercy on us that, with You as our ruler and guide,
        we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not
        the things eternal.


        Much to the dismay of the Pharisees, the religious leaders
   at the time of Christ, Jesus not only spoke with tax collectors
   and sinners, but even ate with them.  As ones who took pride in
   their moral behavior, the Pharisees were not pleased.

        So [Jesus] told them this parable: ``What man of you,
        having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them,
        does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and
        go after the one that 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 his neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice
        with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.'
        Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven
        over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine
        righteous persons who need no repentance.''


        The Church is not for the self-righteous, but for those who
   confess they have sinned against God and neighbor.  The Church is
   for the lost sheep who strays from the truth.  The Church is for                              
   redeemed sinners who long for God's divine protection.

        May our Lord grant us peace as we have faith in Christ
   Jesus.  Amen.

June 22, 2026

Broadcast

                        Lost and Found - Part 1
                              Luke 15:1-2
                              06/22/2026


        1    Now the tax collectors and sinners were all
             drawing near to hear him.
        2    And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled,
             saying, ``This man receives sinners and eats with
             them.''  (ESV)

        Yesterday the church prayed:
        O God, the protector of all who trust in You, without
        whom nothing is strong and nothing is holy, multiply
        Your mercy on us that, with You as our ruler and guide,
        we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not
        the things eternal; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who
        lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,
        now and forever.


        To the surprise of many, the goal of the Christian Church is
   not moral perfection but faith in Christ Jesus as our Redeemer
   from sin, death, and the power of the devil.  As we come to know
   that He suffered, died, and rose again to pay the price of our
   sin, as we accept His gift of forgiveness, we certainly will act
   with love towards God and neighbor.

        In the days of Jesus, the most religious people were the
   Pharisees.  They did all the right things, they were the paragon
   of virtue, the perfect example of moral behavior.  Yet, they did
   not understand God's love, His desire that all people be saved
   and come to the knowledge of the truth.

        Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing
        near to hear [Jesus].  And the Pharisees and the
        scribes grumbled, saying, ``This man receives sinners
        and eats with them.''


        This week we will see that the prayer of the Church
   confesses that we cannot, by our own works, redeem ourselves.
   Without the work of the Holy Spirit, we cannot be holy.  Yet,
   God, in His mercy desires our salvation.

        May our Lord grant that we know of His love, that we may
   have the peace which comes from the forgiveness of our sins.
   Amen.

June 19, 2026

Broadcast

                        Rejecting God - Part 5
                              Luke 14:24
                              06/19/2026


        24   ``For I tell you, none of those men who were
             invited shall taste my banquet.''  (ESV)

        Our prayer this week recognizes the work of the Holy Spirit
   as He gives us faith to trust in God for our salvation from sin,
   death, and the power of the devil.
        O Lord, since You never fail to help and govern those
        whom You nurture in Your steadfast fear and love, work
        in us a perpetual fear and love of Your holy name.


        Jesus finished His parable which He told in response to the
   exclamation, ``Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the
   kingdom of God!''  The master of the feast pronounced the
   judgment on all who rejected his invitation to the banquet.
   ``For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste
   my banquet.''

        The sign along the highway this week asks the question,
   ``Why don't you go to church?''  Why do you reject God's
   invitation to receive the blessing of the forgiveness of your
   sins?  Is it your pursuit of wealth, or that you are too busy at
   work, or you put family and leisure ahead of God's mercy?

        Remember, the message of the church is not a demand for good
   works or self denial or heroic acts of piety to show your faith.
   The message of the church is simple, you and I have sinned and
   deserve God's wrath and punishment.  However, because we cannot
   save ourselves, God, in His mercy, sent His Son, Jesus, to
   suffer, die, and rise from the dead to pay the price of our sin.
   He forgives us because Jesus paid our debt.

        You are invited by God to receive from Him the fullness of
   His love.  Where can you hear this message of grace?  Join us at
   Trinity Lutheran Church at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday.  Please accept
   this invitation.  Come, the feast is ready.  God grant this for
   Jesus' sake.  Amen.

June 18, 2026

Broadcast

                        Rejecting God - Part 4
                             Luke 14:22-23
                              06/18/2026


        22   And the servant said, ``Sir, what you commanded
             has been done, and still there is room.''
        23   And the master said to the servant, ``Go out to
             the highways and hedges and compel people to come
             in, that my house may be filled.''  (ESV)

        Our prayer this week acknowledges the work of the Holy
   Spirit as He grants us wisdom and faith to trust in God for our
   redemption from sin, death, and the power of the devil.
        O Lord, since You never fail to help and govern those
        whom You nurture in Your steadfast fear and love, work
        in us a perpetual fear and love of Your holy name.


        Jesus, in response to the exclamation, ``Blessed is everyone
   who will eat bread in the kingdom of God,'' told a parable of a
   great feast where those who were invited refused to attend.  When
   the honored guests excused themselves, the master of the house
   told his servant to gather the least important people in the
   city.  Many came to dine at the feast.

        And the servant said, ``Sir, what you commanded has
        been done, and still there is room.''  And the master
        said to the servant, ``Go out to the highways and
        hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may
        be filled.''


        The invitation to the feast was extended outside the city,
   outside the region.  Although the children of Israel are God's
   chosen people, the message of God's love is not exclusive to
   them.  Throughout the Old Testament we hear the call to all
   nations to come to the knowledge of the truth, to repent and
   accept God's grace.  No one is excluded from the invitation to
   hear of God's grace, love, and mercy.  God's house is filled with
   redeemed sinners from every nation, from every race, without
   exception.  His love extends to all people, for the death and
   resurrection of His Son, Jesus, paid the price of all sins.

        May our Lord grant His mercy to all people, that they hear
   of His love and accept His grace.  Amen.

June 17, 2026

Broadcast

                        Rejecting God - Part 3
                              Luke 14:21
                              06/17/2026


        21   So the servant came and reported these things to
             his master. Then the master of the house became
             angry and said to his servant, ``Go out quickly to
             the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in
             the poor and crippled and blind and lame.''  (ESV)

        Our prayer this week acknowledges the work of the Holy
   Spirit as He grants us wisdom and faith to trust in God for our
   redemption from sin, death, and the power of the devil.
        O Lord, since You never fail to help and govern those
        whom You nurture in Your steadfast fear and love, work
        in us a perpetual fear and love of Your holy name.


        Jesus was at a banquet when one of the guests said,
   ``Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God.''
   In response, Jesus told a parable about a man who prepared a
   feast.  Each of the invited guests had an excuse, a reason to
   reject the invitation.  The pursuit of wealth, the satisfaction
   of working, the joys of family and leisure were more important
   than the feast.  In the parable, the ones who rejected the
   invitation were the pillars of the community, the leaders, the
   ones who knew the invitation was coming.

        So the servant came and reported these things to his
        master. Then the master of the house became angry and
        said to his servant, ``Go out quickly to the streets
        and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and
        crippled and blind and lame.''


        Who were invited instead of the rich and famous, the
   paragons of virtue?  The master invited those who were not
   worthy, who knew they did not belong at the feast, the tax
   collectors, the prostitutes, and those who needed forgiveness.
   The church is not for the ones who claim to be religious, who
   make a show of their piety, but for the ones who stand in the
   shadows saying, ``God, be merciful to me, the sinner.''  The
   church is not filled with those who deserve to be honored, but by
   those who are invited by grace alone.

        May our Lord grant us faith to hear His invitation even if
   we are unworthy, Amen.

June 16, 2026

Broadcast

                        Rejecting God - Part 2
                             Luke 14:16-20
                              06/16/2026


        16   But he said to him, ``A man once gave a great
             banquet and invited many.
        17   And at the time for the banquet he sent his
             servant to say to those who had been invited,
             `Come, for everything is now ready.'
        18   But they all alike began to make excuses. The
             first said to him, `I have bought a field, and I
             must go out and see it. Please have me excused.'
        19   And another said, `I have bought five yoke of
             oxen, and I go to examine them.  Please have me
             excused.'
        20   And another said, `I have married a wife, and
             therefore I cannot come.'  (ESV)

        Our prayer this week acknowledges our selfish desires which
   pull us away from God's grace and love.  Only as the Holy Spirit
   grants us wisdom and faith can we accept His invitation to dine
   in the kingdom of God.
        O Lord, since You never fail to help and govern those
        whom You nurture in Your steadfast fear and love, work
        in us a perpetual fear and love of Your holy name.


        Jesus was at a banquet when one of the guests said,
   ``Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God.''
        But [Jesus] said to him, ``A man once gave a great
        banquet and invited many.  And at the time for the
        banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had
        been invited, `Come, for everything is now ready.'  But
        they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to
        him, `I have bought a field, and I must go out and see
        it. Please have me excused.'  And another said, `I have
        bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them.
        Please have me excused.'  And another said, `I have
        married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'


        Who were the men invited to the banquet in the parable?
   They were members of the religious establishment, the children of
   Israel, who turned their backs on God.  They are all who ignore
   the Church today, who ignore their own sin and their need for a
   Redeemer.  The men who rejected the invitation prized wealth, or
   work, or family and leisure above God.  Those are the same
   excuses we hear today.

        May our Lord grant us faith to fear, love, and trust in Him
   above all things.  Amen.