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June 27, 2025

Broadcast

                   The Rich Man and Lazarus - Part 5
                             Luke 16:30-31
                              06/27/2025


        30   And he said, ``No, father Abraham, but if someone
             goes to them from the dead, they will repent.''
        31   He said to him, ``If they do not hear Moses and
             the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if
             someone should rise from the dead.''  (ESV)

        This week, as we studied the Rich Man and Lazarus, we asked
   three questions.  First, what is the Church?  The Church is the
   people who trust in God's grace and mercy who are gathered around
   God's Word and the sacraments.  How are we saved from sin and
   death?  We are redeemed by God's grace, because Jesus Christ bore
   the guilt of our sins upon the cross, dying in our place, and
   rising again to give us eternal life.  Finally, what is the role
   of good works in our salvation?  Good works show a living faith.

        The rich man is arguing with Abraham.  First, he demanded
   Abraham send Lazarus from heaven to Hades to give him drink of
   water.  When that failed, he demanded that Lazarus be sent to
   warn his brothers about the fate of those who trust in wealth and
   power.  Now he contradicts Abraham who directed the brothers to
   truly listen to Moses and the prophets.

        And [the rich man] said, ``No, father Abraham, but if
        someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.''
        He said to him, ``If they do not hear Moses and the
        Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone
        should rise from the dead.''


        Jesus has risen from the dead.  That truth has not convinced
   anyone to join the Church, to hear of God's love.  If you desire
   the comfort and hope of God's grace, love, and mercy, you will
   want to study God's Word.  Please join us at Trinity Lutheran
   Church each Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. to learn of the Father's
   love and the gift of the forgiveness of sins for the sake of
   Christ Jesus.

        May our Lord grant us the wisdom to hear Moses and the
   prophets.  Amen.

June 26, 2025

Broadcast

                   The Rich Man and Lazarus - Part 4
                             Luke 16:27-29
                              06/26/2025


        27   And he said, ``Then I beg you, father, to send him
             to my father's house --
        28   for I have five brothers -- that he may warn them,
             lest they also come into this place of torment.''
        29   But Abraham said, ``They have Moses and the
             Prophets; let them hear them.''  (ESV)

        This week we are looking at the Rich Man and Lazarus.  The
   rich man and Abraham are talking after Abraham refused the rich
   man's command that Lazarus journey to Hades with a drop of water.

        And [the rich man] said, ``Then I beg you, father, to
        send him to my father's house -- for I have five
        brothers -- that he may warn them, lest they also come
        into this place of torment.''  But Abraham said, ``They
        have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.''


        We believe, teach, and confess that the Church is the people
   who truly trust in God's grace, love, and mercy, who look to the
   Word of God, both written and visible in the sacraments, to know
   of Jesus Christ as their Redeemer from sin, death, and the power
   of the devil.  Riches are no indicator of God's eternal favor.
   Our good works do not pay the price of our sins.

        There is only one source of knowledge, one source of
   doctrine, for the Church.  That is the inspired Word of God,
   Moses and the prophets and the apostolic writers.  The Old and
   New Testaments combined give us all we need to know of God's rich
   grace, love, and mercy.  The Bible tells us plainly that the
   Father sent the Son to die for our sins, to earn for us
   redemption from eternal death.  This redemption is a gift, not
   something we earn.

        Moses and the prophets are sufficient witness of the truth
   so that we may know of the Father's love, the Son sacrifice, and
   the Holy Spirit's work of bringing us to faith in Christ.

        May our Lord grant us faith to hear Moses and the prophets
   for our eternal blessing.  Amen.

June 25, 2025

Broadcast

                   The Rich Man and Lazarus - Part 3
                             Luke 16:24-26
                              06/25/2025


        24   And he called out, ``Father Abraham, have mercy on
             me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger
             in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish
             in this flame.''
        25   But Abraham said, ``Child, remember that you in
             your lifetime received your good things, and
             Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is
             comforted here, and you are in anguish.
        26   And besides all this, between us and you a great
             chasm has been fixed, in order that those who
             would pass from here to you may not be able, and
             none may cross from there to us.''  (ESV)

        This week we are studying the story of the Rich Man and
   Lazarus.  Earlier we saw that the rich man was selfish, caring
   only for his own comfort.  He was arrogant, even after dying,
   being judged, and being cast into Hades where he had no comfort.
   Lazarus, on the other hand, is seated beside Abraham at the
   unending heavenly banquet.  The rich man complains, Lazarus is
   silent.

        And [the rich man] called out, ``Father Abraham, have
        mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his
        finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish
        in this flame.''  But Abraham said, ``Child, remember
        that you in your lifetime received your good things,
        and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is
        comforted here, and you are in anguish.  And besides
        all this, between us and you a great chasm has been
        fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to
        you may not be able, and none may cross from there to
        us.''


        Even in death, the rich man demands that Lazarus do for him
   what he was unwilling to do.  But there is no help for the rich
   man, neither in heaven or hell, for the rich man is separated
   from the love of God.  Although Abraham still calls him
   ``Child,'' and acknowledges the rich man as his son, even Abraham
   can give no comfort.

        Can there be a greater punishment than to long for the
   blessings of God, to see the joys of heaven, and know that we, by
   our own selfish desires, chose to reject our heavenly Father's
   invitation?

        May our Lord grant us wisdom to learn from the words of
   Jesus, that we trust in our heavenly Father for all things, and
   reflect His love to those in need.  Amen.

June 24, 2025

Broadcast

                   The Rich Man and Lazarus - Part 2
                             Luke 16:22-23
                              06/24/2025


        22   The poor man died and was carried by the angels to
             Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was
             buried,
        23   and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his
             eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his
             side.  (ESV)

        This week we are considering the story of the Rich Man and
   Lazarus, which Jesus spoke to warn the Pharisees about the love
   of money.  As you may recall, the rich man held a daily feast
   while Lazarus starved outside the gate.

        The poor man died and was carried by the angels to
        Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried,
        and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes
        and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.


        We have no back-story on Lazarus, how he lived his life, how
   he trusted in God.  We know, however, that when he died, God's
   angels carried him to the never- ending feast in heaven where he
   was seated in the place of honor by the side of the first
   patriarch, Abraham.  On the other hand, we know the selfish rich
   man may have been a community leader, but he cared nothing for
   his neighbor, for those less fortunate.  He trusted in his
   wealth, not God.

        In death, the rich man was alone, condemned for his lack of
   faith in God's mercy.  We know the rich man did not have faith in
   God, for faith in God brings forth good works which serve those
   in need.  Although we cannot see into a man's heart, we can see
   the fruits of their labors.  After all, we confess that we are to
   fear, love, and trust in God above all things, and love our
   neighbors as ourselves.

        The judgment was swift.  Both men quickly knew their fate.
   Lazarus was at the heavenly banquet, the rich man even lacked
   water to quench his thirst.

        May our Lord grant us faith which trusts in His promises and
   bears good fruit for the benefit of our neighbors.  Amen.

June 23, 2025

Broadcast

                   The Rich Man and Lazarus - Part 1
                             Luke 16:19-21
                              06/23/2025


        19   There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and
             fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
        20   And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus,
             covered with sores,
        21   who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich
             man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and
             licked his sores.  (ESV)

        During the first weeks after Pentecost, the readings for
   each Sunday focus on the questions, ``What is the Church?''
   ``How are we saved from sin and death?''  ``What is the role of
   good works in our salvation?''  The story of the Rich Man and
   Lazarus gives us some insight as we ponder these questions.

        There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine
        linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.  And at
        his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered
        with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from
        the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and
        licked his sores.


        As we consider the two men, the rich man would be a leader
   in the community.  Everyone desires to get on the good side of
   the wealthy, even if the wealthy person is selfish and arrogant,
   as we will discover was the case of this gentleman.  At the same
   time, everyone would try to avoid the diseased, poverty-stricken
   beggar.

        Both of these men are considered children of Abraham,
   members of the Church.  Both seek the joy of heaven, the peace of
   knowing their sins are forgiven, that they are acceptable to God.

        This week we will consider the Church, the people of God who
   are gathered at God's invitation, as we read this story.

        May our Lord grant you the peace and comfort which comes
   from His promise of forgiveness and life everlasting.  Amen.

June 20, 2025

Broadcast

                         The Trinity - Part 5
                             John 3:16-17
                              06/20/2025


        16   For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
             Son, that whoever believes in him should not
             perish but have eternal life.
        17   For God did not send his Son into the world to
             condemn the world, but in order that the world
             might be saved through him.  (ESV)

        All three Persons of the Trinity, the One true God, are
   involved in our salvation from sin and eternal death.  The Father
   sent His Son into the world to take on our flesh and blood, to
   pay the price of our sin.  The Holy Spirit creates the faith, the
   trust, which acknowledges the truth that we cannot, by our own
   works, redeem ourselves.

        For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,
        that whoever believes in him should not perish but have
        eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the
        world to condemn the world, but in order that the world
        might be saved through him.


        Jesus is quite clear that we do not and cannot cooperate in
   our salvation from sin and death.  He speaks of the Father's love
   and the work of the Holy Spirit.  Nowhere does He say we need to
   make a decision or invite Him into our heart.  Nowhere does He
   say we need to do good works before the Holy Spirit will accept
   us.  You and I are sinners redeemed because of God's grace alone
   as we do not reject the gift of faith which trusts in Christ
   Jesus alone.

        That is the message you will hear in the congregation named
   for the Triune God, Trinity Lutheran Church, each Sunday morning
   at 9:00 a.m.  Come, join us, hear God's Word which declares that
   Jesus Christ died and rose again for you.

        May our Lord grant us faith in the Triune God, Father, Son,
   and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

June 19, 2025

Broadcast

                         The Trinity - Part 4
                             John 3:12-15
                              06/19/2025


        12   If I have told you earthly things and you do not
             believe, how can you believe if I tell you
             heavenly things?
        13   No one has ascended into heaven except he who
             descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
        14   And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the
             wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
        15   that whoever believes in him may have eternal
             life.  (ESV)

        Nicodemus did not understand Jesus.  ``How can this be?'' he
   asked.  Jesus replied:
        If I have told you earthly things and you do not
        believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly
        things?  No one has ascended into heaven except he who
        descended from heaven, the Son of Man.  And as Moses
        lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the
        Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him
        may have eternal life.


        Jesus, the Son of God, became flesh to accomplish two
   things.  First, He proclaimed the Kingdom of God, that the Father
   desires that all people would be saved by knowing the truth of
   God's grace.  Second, that grace of the Father, the grace of the
   Triune God, means that God, Himself, had to die to pay the price
   of our sin.

        Jesus reminded Nicodemus of the rebellious children of
   Israel who, when they defied God in the wilderness, were attacked
   by venomous serpents.  When bitten, if they looked in faith
   towards a bronze serpent which was hanging on a cross, they would
   not die from the snakebite.  The bronze serpent was a symbol of
   God's promise.  Faith trusts God's promise.

        We are condemned to everlasting punishment.  As we look to
   the Son of God as He died and rose from the dead, as we have
   faith or trust in His sacrifice on the cross, we will be redeemed
   from our sin.  We will not suffer the punishment we deserve.
   This is the work of the Son.

        May our Lord grant us faith as the Holy Spirit works through
   the Word and sacraments to trust in the work of Jesus Christ.
   Amen.

June 18, 2025

Broadcast

                         The Trinity - Part 3
                              John 3:4-8
                              06/18/2025


        4    Nicodemus said to him, ``How can a man be born
             when he is old? Can he enter a second time into
             his mother's womb and be born?''
        5    Jesus answered, ``Truly, truly, I say to you,
             unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he
             cannot enter the kingdom of God.
        6    That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that
             which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
        7    Do not marvel that I said to you, `You must be
             born again.'
        8    The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its
             sound, but you do not know where it comes from or
             where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born
             of the Spirit.  (ESV)

        Jesus, in talking to Nicodemus, one of the members of the
   ruling Sanhedrin, is discussing baptism and faith.
        Nicodemus said to him, ``How can a man be born when he
        is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's
        womb and be born?''  Jesus answered, ``Truly, truly, I
        say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit,
        he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  That which is born
        of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the
        Spirit is spirit.  Do not marvel that I said to you,
        `You must be born again.'  The wind blows where it
        wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know
        where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with
        everyone who is born of the Spirit.


        It is the work of the Holy Spirit, who works through the
   Word and sacraments, to create and sustain the faith which trusts
   in God.  We cannot, by any means, including the absurd idea of a
   second physical birth, become followers of Jesus Christ without
   the work of the Holy Spirit.

        Flesh is flesh, and our flesh is corrupted by both original
   sin and actual sin.  Spirit is spirit, and the Holy Spirit
   creates in us a new heart, making us holy in God's sight, as He
   works through the water and the Word..  Here, the Son of God, the
   second Person of the Trinity, instructs each believer in the
   truth about the work of the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy
   Spirit.  who creats the faith which trusts in the forgiveness of
   our sins for the sake of the death and resurrection of Jesus
   through water and the Word.

        May our Lord grant us faith to know of Him, that we are born
   again of water and the Spirit, thus being made part of the
   kingdom of God.  Amen.

June 17, 2025

Broadcast

                         The Trinity - Part 2
                              John 3:1-3
                              06/17/2025


        1    Now there was a man of the Pharisees named
             Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
        2    This man came to Jesus by night and said to him,
             ``Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from
             God, for no one can do these signs that you do
             unless God is with him.''
        3    Jesus answered him, ``Truly, truly, I say to you,
             unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom
             of God.''  (ESV)

        During the first week of the Trinity Season, we ask, ``Who
   is God?''
        Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a
        ruler of the Jews.  This man came to Jesus by night and
        said to him, ``Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher
        come from God, for no one can do these signs that you
        do unless God is with him.''  Jesus answered him,
        ``Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again
        he cannot see the kingdom of God.''


        Nicodemus asked Jesus, ``Who are you and what are you
   teaching?''  The truth is simple, we do not and cannot know of
   God or Jesus without having faith.  Faith includes knowledge,
   agreement that what is known is true, and trust in that truth.
   Without faith, Christianity remains foolish to those who hear of
   God's love.

        How do we obtain that faith?  Jesus points us to baptism,
   the washing of regeneration and renewal where the Word of God is
   joined with water to create the faith which holds to God's
   promise of everlasting life.  Saint Peter reminds us, ``Baptism
   now saves you,''[1] Saint Paul wrote: ``We were buried therefore
   with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was
   raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might
   walk in newness of life.''[2] Jesus said: ``Whoever believes and
   is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be
   condemned.''[3]

        May our Lord grant us faith to know Him, thus to have the
   forgiveness of our sins and life everlasting.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. 1 Peter 3:21

   2. Romans 6:4 (ESV)

   3. Mark 16:16 (ESV)

June 16, 2025

Broadcast

                         The Trinity - Part 1
                              John 3:1-3
                              06/16/2025


        1    Now there was a man of the Pharisees named
             Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
        2    This man came to Jesus by night and said to him,
             ``Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from
             God, for no one can do these signs that you do
             unless God is with him.''
        3    Jesus answered him, ``Truly, truly, I say to you,
             unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom
             of God.''  (ESV)

        The Church Year or Liturgical Year is split in half.  For
   six months the Church looks at the work of Jesus Christ as He was
   born, was revealed as true God, as He suffered, died, and rose
   again from the dead.  Now begins the ``Church half'' of the year
   were we seek to learn what it means to be Christian, to respond
   to God's rich grace and mercy as shown in His Son.

        Yesterday, Trinity Sunday, is unique in that it is the only
   Sunday in the Church year that does not specifically examine an
   historical event in the life of Jesus.  Rather, we celebrate the
   great mystery of faith, asking the question, ``Who is the God in
   whom we trust?''  The answer is incomprehensible to our human
   logic and reason, for we worship One God, yet Three Persons.

        As one devotional resource, ``Treasury of Daily Prayer,''
   reminds us:
        Certainly the essence of God is beyond our weak
        comprehension, but He has graciously revealed Himself
        to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.[1]


        This week we will look at the Trinity as we seek to know the
   basic teaching of the Christian Church.

        May our Lord, the Triune God, bless you and keep you as we
   seek to know more about His grace and mercy.  Amen.

   ____________________

   1. Kinnaman,  S.  A., ed. (2008).  Treasury of daily prayer.  St.
      Louis: CPH, p. 352.