Author: admin

February 27, 2026

Broadcast

                          Temptation - Part 5
                             Matthew 4:11
                              02/27/2026


        11   Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came
             and were ministering to him.  (ESV)

        Last Sunday we prayed:
        O Lord God; You led Your ancient people through the
        wilderness and brought them to the promised land.
        Guide the people of Your Church that following our
        Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world
        toward the glory of the world to come.


        Is it proper to compare Jesus' life, death, and resurrection
   to the Exodus from Egypt?  Is it proper to compare our salvation
   to the journey of Israel as they wandered forty years in the
   wilderness?

        When Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration with Moses
   and Elijah, they discussed His departure, literally His exodus,
   which would be accomplished in Jerusalem.  Saint Luke, in his
   Gospel, uses the word ``exodus''[1] to describe Jesus' death and
   resurrection.

        Jesus leads is in our own exodus from sin, death, and the
   power of the devil.  Even as we stumble and fail, our Lord
   continues to uphold us.  He has defeated the temptations which
   overwhelm us, and has won for us our redemption.  The story of
   Jesus' temptation shows this first of many victories over sin
   which He accomplished on our behalf.  ``Then the devil left him,
   and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.''

        Please join us each Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. at Trinity
   Lutheran Church to learn more of our deliverance from the devil,
   the world, and our own sinful flesh.  If you have questions or
   comments, please visit our ``ask the pastor'' website at
   http://ask.trinityslayton.info.

        May our Lord grant you the peace of knowing Christ Jesus has
   delivered you from sin and death because of His great love.
   Amen.
   ____________________

   1. Luke 9:31

February 26, 2026

Broadcast

                          Temptation - Part 4
                            Matthew 4:8-10
                              02/26/2026


        8    Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain
             and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and
             their glory.
        9    And he said to him, ``All these I will give you,
             if you will fall down and worship me.''
        10   Then Jesus said to him, Be gone, Satan! For it is
             written, ``You shall worship the Lord your God and
             him only shall you serve.''  (ESV)

        Jesus overcame the temptations of the flesh and the lure of
   false doctrine
    so to deliver His people from sin, death, and the power of the
   devil.  Last Sunday we prayed:
        O Lord God; You led Your ancient people through the
        wilderness and brought them to the promised land.
        Guide the people of Your Church that following our
        Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world
        toward the glory of the world to come.


        Hungry and weak from fasting forty days and forty nights,
   Jesus nevertheless did not give in to the devil's temptations
   concerning God's care for His creation.  Jesus did not give in to
   a false rendering of God's Word.

        Now the devil goes to the heart of the matter.  Jesus, as
   true man, knew the pain and suffering which He would endure to
   deliver mankind from sin and death.  The devil appealed to Jesus
   as man to avoid this pain even while obtaining power and glory in
   this world.

        Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and
        showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their
        glory.  And he said to him, ``All these I will give
        you, if you will fall down and worship me.''  Then
        Jesus said to him, 11Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
        `You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall
        you serve.'''


        The pain will end.  The glory of this world will pass away.
   The Word of the Lord endures forever.  Nothing created can
   replace the love, grace, and mercy of the almighty God.

        May our Lord grant that we fear, love, and trust in Him
   above all things.  Amen.

February 25, 2026

Broadcast

                          Temptation - Part 3
                             Matthew 4:5-7
                              02/25/2026


        5    Then the devil took him to the holy city and set
             him on the pinnacle of the temple
        6    and said to him, ``If you are the Son of God,
             throw yourself down, for it is written, `He will
             command his angels concerning you,' and `On their
             hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your
             foot against a stone.'
        7    Jesus said to him, ``Again it is written, `You
             shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'''
             (ESV)

        Jesus overcame temptation so to deliver His people from sin,
   death, and the power of the devil.  Last Sunday we prayed:
        O Lord God; You led Your ancient people through the
        wilderness and brought them to the promised land.
        Guide the people of Your Church that following our
        Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world
        toward the glory of the world to come.


        Having failed to tempt Jesus to doubt God's Word about
   providing for our daily needs, the devil sought to deceive Jesus
   by twisting the very Word in which Jesus trusted.  The devil is a
   master of Biblical knowledge, one who knows how to misread
   Scripture to deceive those who do know God's promises.

        Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on
        the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, ``If you
        are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is
        written, `He will command his angels concerning you,'
        and `On their hands they will bear you up, lest you
        strike your foot against a stone.'''  Jesus said to
        him, ``Again it is written, `You shall not put the Lord
        your God to the test.'''


        False teachers will quote the Bible out of context or will
   omit certain verses.  A partial truth is, in fact, a lie.  The
   Psalm quoted by the devil is not an invitation to perform some
   sort of daring act, but to know that God keeps us through the
   knowledge of His grace and love.

        May our Lord grant us wisdom and knowlege to trust in His
   entire Word, that we may know and flee from false teaching.
   Amen.

February 24, 2026

Broadcast

                          Temptation - Part 2
                             Matthew 4:3-4
                              02/24/2026


        3    And the tempter came and said to him, ``If you are
             the Son of God, command these stones to become
             loaves of bread.''
        4    But he answered, ``It is written, `Man shall not
             live by bread alone, but by every word that comes
             from the mouth of God.'''  (ESV)

        During Lent we reflect on God's grace, love, and mercy as He
   delivered us from sin, death, and the power of the devil.  Last
   Sunday we prayed:
        O Lord God; You led Your ancient people through the
        wilderness and brought them to the promised land.
        Guide the people of Your Church that following our
        Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world
        toward the glory of the world to come.


        Immediately after He was baptized, Jesus went by Himself
   into the wilderness in order to be tempted by the devil.  Jesus
   had to overcome the temptations which we fail to overcome.  His
   victory over sin had to include victory over the sins which
   continue to defeat each of us.  The first temptation concerned
   our bodily needs.

        Jesus had been fasting for forty days.  He was hungry.  As
   true man, He was at the end of His energy, weak with hunger.
        And the tempter came and said to him, ``If you are the
        Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of
        bread.''  But he answered, ``It is written, `Man shall
        not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes
        from the mouth of God.'''


        Jesus trusted in His Father, even when weak with hunger.  He
   proved He is the Son of God by rebuking the devil and by holding
   to God's Word alone.

        May our Lord grant us faith that He will provide for us in
   time of need so we trust in Him for all things.  Amen.

February 23, 2026

Broadcast

                          Temptation - Part 1
                             Matthew 4:1-2
                              02/23/2026


        1    Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the
             wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
        2    And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he
             was hungry.  (ESV)

        We are now in the first full week of the season of Lent.
   This last Sunday we prayed:
        O Lord God; You led Your ancient people through the
        wilderness and brought them to the promised land.
        Guide the people of Your Church that following our
        Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world
        toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus
        Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with
        You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.


        The story of the Passover and Exodus from Egypt provides the
   foundation for the Old Testament, and finds its fulfillment in
   the New Testament.  God delivers His people.  In spite of
   temptation, in spite of hardships, God leads His people forward
   for their ultimate blessing.

        Jesus, called the Lamb of God by John the Baptizer, is the
   one who delivers us from sin and death.  He did this by
   overcoming temptation, by rebuking the devil, and then dying so
   that eternal death passes over those who trust in His blood.  His
   resurrection is the final proof that God has delivered His
   people, that our journey through this life ends as we live in our
   heavenly Father's mansions.

        Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness
        to be tempted by the devil.  And after fasting forty
        days and forty nights, he was hungry.


        This week we will explore the temptation of Jesus in the
   wilderness with our delivery from sin, death, and the power of
   the devil.

        May our Lord grant you the blessing of peace as we ponder
   His grace and love.  Amen.

February 20, 2026

Broadcast

                      Going to Jerusalem - Part 5
                              Luke 18:34
                              02/20/2026


        34   But they understood none of these things. This
             saying was hidden from them, and they did not
             grasp what was said.  (ESV)

        During Lent the Church prays:
        Almighty and everlasting God, You despise nothing You
        have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent.
        Create in us new and contrite hearts that lamenting our
        sins and acknowledging our wretchedness we may receive
        from You full pardon and forgiveness.


        We believe, teach, and confess that the Bible is clear in
   it's message of our sin and God's grace.  However, we often
   reject even the clearest words if the words do not fit our
   preconceived ideas.  The first stage of grief, as an example, is
   denial.

        The disciples are no different.  They expected a political
   savior, one who would restore the kingdom of David and Solomon.
   Although the prophet Isaiah was clear as he wrote of the
   Suffering Servant, that Messiah was simply inconceivable.  Saint
   Luke recorded the disciples' reaction to Jesus' words: ``But they
   understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from
   them, and they did not grasp what was said.''

        Without understanding our sin, the good news of God's gift
   of salvation for the sake of the death and resurrection of Jesus
   falls on deaf ears.  We simply do not like to admit that we
   deserve God's wrath and punishment, that we cannot fix that which
   we have broken.

        This is why we should gather to hear God's Word each week,
   so that we can hear and accept the truth.  Please join us at
   Trinity Lutheran Church on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. to learn more of
   God's mercy.  You may leave your comments or questions at
   http://ask.trinityslayton.info.

        May our Lord grant you His rich blessing of knowledge,
   wisdom, and faith for your eternal blessing.  Amen.

February 19, 2026

Broadcast

                      Going to Jerusalem - Part 4
                             Luke 18:32-33
                              02/19/2026


        32   For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and
             will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit
             upon.
        33   And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on
             the third day he will rise.  (ESV)

        During Lent the Church prays:
        Almighty and everlasting God, You despise nothing You
        have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent.
        Create in us new and contrite hearts that lamenting our
        sins and acknowledging our wretchedness we may receive
        from You full pardon and forgiveness.


        Traditionally the Collect for Ash Wednesday, the prayer of
   the Church for the first day of Lent, is repeated during every
   service during the next forty days.  The prayer speaks of God's
   love, grace, and mercy.  Because God forgives the sins of the
   repentant, we pray that He will create in us a new heart which
   readily acknowledges our sin and which trusts in Him alone for
   forgiveness.

        We believe, teach, and confess that our works do not and
   cannot earn us forgiveness, but that God's love alone leads Him
   to grant us mercy.  It is because Jesus traveled to Jerusalem
   knowing all that would happen during the Passover celebration.
   Jesus told His disciples:
        For [the Son of Man]  will be delivered over to the
        Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and
        spit upon.  And after flogging him, they will kill him,
        and on the third day he will rise.


        May our Lord richly bless us as we ponder His great love and
   compassion for His creation.  Amen.

February 16, 2026

Broadcast

                      Going to Jerusalem - Part 1
                             Luke 18:31-34
                              02/16/2026


        31   And taking the twelve, he said to them, ``See, we
             are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is
             written about the Son of Man by the prophets will
             be accomplished.
        32   For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and
             will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit
             upon.
        33   And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on
             the third day he will rise.''
        34   But they understood none of these things. This
             saying was hidden from them, and they did not
             grasp what was said.  (ESV)

        On Sunday, the last Sunday before the beginning of Lent, we
   prayed:
        O Lord, mercifully hear our prayers and having set us
        free from the bonds of our sins deliver us from every
        evil; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who
        lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,
        now and forever.


        This prayer is answered by the work of Christ Jesus.  For
   the next fifty days we will look at our sin and at the love of
   God by which we are redeemed from sin, death, and the power of
   the devil.  It is fitting that the Gospel reading for last Sunday
   is a summary of the events which await the Church in the next
   seven weeks.

        And taking the twelve, [Jesus] said to them, ``See, we
        are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is
        written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be
        accomplished.  For he will be delivered over to the
        Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and
        spit upon.  And after flogging him, they will kill him,
        and on the third day he will rise.''  But they
        understood none of these things. This saying was hidden
        from them, and they did not grasp what was said.


        May our Lord grant us hearts and minds to hear the words of
   Jesus for our eternal blessing.  Amen.