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June 24, 2024

Broadcast

                        Repaying Evil -- Part 1
                             Genesis 50:15
                              06/24/2024


        15   When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was
             dead, they said, ``It may be that Joseph will hate
             us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to
             him.''  (ESV)

        Each time we recite the Lord's Prayer we say, ``Forgive us
   our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.''  We
   ask God to apply the same standard which we apply when dealing
   with people who have caused us great harm.

        This week's Old Testament lesson is about Joseph, the Prince
   of Egypt, forgiving his brothers.  Moses, the author of Genesis,
   wrote: ``When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead,
   they said, `It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back
   for all the evil that we did to him.'''

        What evil did Joseph's brothers commit against him?  They
   first were going to kill him, but relented and placed him in a
   waterless pit.  He remained there until the brothers saw a
   caravan of traders to whom they sold Joseph into slavery.  As a
   slave in Egypt, Joseph was falsely accused of adultery and
   imprisoned for a number of years.  Only as he was able to
   interpret the dream of Pharaoh, and avert a disastrous famine,
   was Joseph released from prison to become second in Egypt.

        Joseph had a lot of problems caused by his brothers, and was
   in a position to give just payment for their actions.  Yet, as we
   will learn, Joseph forgave his brothers in the same way that God
   had forgiven and blessed him.

        May our Lord grant you the peace of knowing your sins are
   forgiven, and the grace to forgive others.  Amen.

June 21, 2024

Broadcast

                    Who is Like the LORD? -- Part 5
                             Micah 7:18-20
                              06/21/2024


        18   Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and
             passing over transgression for the remnant of his
             inheritance?  He does not retain his anger
             forever, because he delights in steadfast love.
        19   He will again have compassion on us; he will tread
             our iniquities under foot.  You will cast all our
             sins into the depths of the sea.
        20   You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast
             love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers
             from the days of old.  (ESV)

        This week we have been looking at the last three verses of
   the book of Micah, one of the minor prophets in the Old
   Testament.  It is Micah who foretold the birthplace of Jesus,
   and, like Isaiah, who lived at the same time, foretold the
   destruction of Jerusalem.  The final words in the book of Micah
   bring the complete joy of God's rich grace, His undeserved love
   for His creation.  Micah proclaims the forgiveness of sins and
   foreshadows the sacrament of Baptism by which the Holy Spirit
   calls us into faith in Christ Jesus.

        Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing
        over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance?
        He does not retain his anger forever, because he
        delights in steadfast love.

        He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our
        iniquities under foot.  You will cast all our sins into
        the depths of the sea.

        You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love
        to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the
        days of old.


        Are you interested in learning more about the God who
   pardons iniquity, who delights in steadfast love?  Please join us
   at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday morning at Trinity Lutheran Church to hear
   more of God's grace and mercy, of the forgiveness earned for us
   by the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

        May our Lord continue to bless and keep you.  Amen.

June 20, 2024

Broadcast

                    Who is Like the LORD? -- Part 4
                              Micah 7:20
                              06/20/2024


        20   You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast
             love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers
             from the days of old.  (ESV)

        The prophet Micah, who was a contemporary of Isaiah about
   700 years before the birth of Jesus, spoke a message of warning
   and of forgiveness.  In the same way that we must proclaim God's
   Law and speak of His wrath towards those who refuse to repent,
   Micah clearly foretold the destruction of Jerusalem because the
   people turned from God.

        Micah reminded those who heard him that God's promises were
   trustworthy, that since the days of Abraham the promise of
   redemption was given to those who believe in His Word.  ``You
   will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as
   you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.''  What God
   promised earlier was fulfilled, so also would be fulfilled the
   promise of the forgiveness of sins and redemption from eternal
   death.

        Micah's message is the same message written by John the
   Evangelist in his first epistle:
        If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the
        truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, [God] is
        faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse
        us from all unrighteousness.[2]


        That forgiveness is found in Jesus Christ, who suffered,
   died, and rose again for our salvation.  The faith which trusts
   in God's promise of redemption is given to us by the Holy Spirit
   who washes us in the waters of Baptism, thus cleansing us from
   the guilt of our sin.  This promise of grace, of the undeserved
   love of God, is offered to each person, without price, without
   our works, simply because of God's mercy.

        May our Lord grant us repentant hearts that trust fully in
   His promise of forgiveness for the sake of Jesus Christ.  Amen.
   ____________________

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

June 19, 2024

Broadcast

                    Who is Like the LORD? -- Part 3
                              Micah 7:19
                              06/19/2024


        19   He will again have compassion on us; he will tread
             our iniquities under foot.  You will cast all our
             sins into the depths of the sea.  (ESV)

        Micah, who lived about 700 years before the birth of Jesus,
   spoke for God as a prophet.  He is the one who said that Jesus
   would be born in Bethlehem, as King Herod's scribes told the Magi
   who followed a star to find the infant King of the Jews.
        But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to
        be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth
        for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin
        is from of old, from ancient days.[1]


        We see that the words of Micah were true concerning the
   Messiah, that he wrote that which was inspired and shown by the
   Holy Spirit.  Micah also wrote: ``He will again have compassion
   on us; he will tread our iniquities under foot.  You will cast
   all our sins into the depths of the sea.''

        Jesus did, indeed, tread our sins and iniquities under His
   foot as He was on the cross.  He paid the ultimate price for our
   sin, suffering the condemnation of being separated from His
   heavenly Father, truly dying the death of the guilty while being
   innocent of all sin.

        When Jesus burst forth from the tomb, He demonstrated that
   He had overcome death, for death cannot hold anyone who is
   innocent.  Jesus' innocence, His payment for our transgressions,
   sins, and iniquities, is credited to us because of God's great
   love.  Our sins are drowned in the waters of baptism, and we are
   marked as God's own dear children.

        May our Lord grant us the peace of knowing that He has given
   us full pardon, that we are buried and risen with Christ Jesus
   through the washing of regeneration and renewal.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. Micah 5:2 (ESV)

June 18, 2024

Broadcast

                    Who is Like the LORD? -- Part 2
                              Micah 7:18
                              06/18/2024


        18   Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and
             passing over transgression for the remnant of his
             inheritance?  He does not retain his anger
             forever, because he delights in steadfast love.
             (ESV)

        The prophet Micah, who lived about seven hundred years
   before Christ, posed a very interesting question.
        Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing
        over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance?
        He does not retain his anger forever, because he
        delights in steadfast love.


        There are many entities who claim to be a god, who demand
   our time, talent, and treasure.  They make demands for sacrifice
   and specific clothing and specific actions.  These gods have
   rules, and the only way to appease such a god is to perfectly
   follow each dictate, both in letter and spirit.  Because
   following such a god requires introspection, there is little time
   to see the needs of our neighbor, to show love to others.

        But the Triune God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy
   Spirit, the God as revealed in the Bible, is not like that.  From
   the moment that sin entered the world, He promised to redeem His
   people.  Only the Triune God delights in showing love, grace, and
   mercy.  His love is everlasting, His anger over sin is for but a
   moment.

        This is why we accept His invitation go enter into His
   presence, to receive this gift of love and redemption.  If you
   hear anything beyond salvation from sin and death because of
   God's undeserved love for the sake of the death and resurrection
   of Jesus Christ, you are not in a truly Christian church.  For
   God pardons iniquity and passes over transgression because the
   Son of God paid the price of our sin.  That is the truth of the
   Bible, the word of the prophet Micah.

        May our Lord grant us the comfort of knowing His love.
   Amen.

June 17, 2024

Broadcast

                    Who is Like the LORD? -- Part 1
                              Micah 7:18
                              06/17/2024


        18   Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and
             passing over transgression for the remnant of his
             inheritance?  He does not retain his anger
             forever, because he delights in steadfast love.
             (ESV)

        What is the message of Christianity?  Is it a bunch of
   rules, you can't do this, you must do that?  If so, it is no
   different than any other religion.  What if the message of
   Christianity was something else, something like, ``For the sake
   of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, your sins are
   forgiven.''  That means all the good works are not to earn God's
   love, but are a response to His mercy.

        The prophet Micah, who wrote about 700 years before the
   birth of Jesus, declared:
        Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing
        over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance?
        He does not retain his anger forever, because he
        delights in steadfast love.


        That changes everything.  If God pardons iniquity and passes
   over transgression, of what are we afraid?  Now we know that God
   demands justice, that there is a payment for each sin.  And we
   know that all people have sinned and fallen short of the glory of
   God.  So how can God simply pardon iniquity and pass over
   transgression?  He can't.  Justice had to be served.  The one
   innocent Man, the Son of God who took on our human flesh, took
   our punishment.

        That is the message we are going to explore this week.

        May our Lord grant you His richest blessings, especially the
   gift of faith which trusts completely in Him.  Amen.

Broadcast

                      The Way of Wisdom -- Part 5
                             Proverbs 9:10
                              06/14/2024


        10   The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
             and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
             (ESV)

        Wisdom has invited us into her house to sit and partake of
   the banquet she has prepared.  Thus, as we enter into the house of
   Wisdom, we begin to shed our foolish and simple ways, to gain
   insight into that which is important and true.  King Solomon
   reminds us: ``The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
   and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.''

        This knowledge of God is not the simple ability to recite
   facts and figures about the Almighty.  It is the knowledge,
   agreement, and trust that comes from God's own self-revelation,
   knowledge received by faith through God's Word.

        The person of faith will begin to understand the difference
   between foolishness and wisdom, even when such differences are
   subtle and hard to discern.  This understanding is not part of
   our sinful nature, but is a gift from God in Jesus Christ, the
   Wisdom of God who took on our flesh to bear our sins and to be
   our Savior.

        Therefore, Trinity Lutheran Church says, ``Come, enter into
   God's presence, into His house, to hear His holy Word, and to
   learn about His love.  Come, receive the forgiveness of your sins
   for the sake of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus
   Christ.  One short hour on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. may lead
   to your eternal feasting in God's kingdom at the banquet that has
   no end.''  Amen.

Broadcast

                      The Way of Wisdom -- Part 4
                            Proverbs 9:7-9
                              06/13/2024


        7    Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and
             he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
        8    Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
             reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
        9    Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be
             still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will
             increase in learning.  (ESV)

        Wisdom has called us to partake of the banquet, to sit at her
   table, to eat and drink and listen to those who are wise so that
   we leave our foolishness behind.  Everyone is invited to hear the
   Word of God, to gain as much insight and wisdom as they can.  The
   Holy Spirit uses the Word of God, the Wisdom of God, to call us
   to faith, to enlighten us with His gifts of understanding and
   trust, and to keep us in a firm relationship with the Triune God.

        Not all who sit at Wisdon's table will benefit.  Many hear
   the truth of God's Word and reject it because they believe they
   are wiser than the Almighty.  Thus Wisdom says:
        Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he
        who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.  Do not
        reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise
        man, and he will love you.  Give instruction to a wise
        man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man,
        and he will increase in learning.


        The fool argues belligerently for his errors of judgment.
   He seeks to justify himself, rejecting all correction, demanding
   that the world conforms to his sense of right and wrong.  The
   fool is never in error, and will defend his ways by getting
   louder and violent.  Not so the wise man.  He will consider that
   which is said and will learn from the interaction.  The wise man
   recognizes and knows that there is much in this world of which he
   is ignorant, so he seeks and appreciates all opportunities to
   learn and to hear informed opinions.  The way of the foolish
   leads to dissension and fighting.  The way of wisdom leads to
   understanding and cooperation.

        May our Lord make us wise through His Word, that we may live
   at peace with one another, seeking the good of our neighbor with
   thanksgiving.  Amen.

Broadcast

                      The Way of Wisdom -- Part 3
                             Proverbs 9:6
                              06/12/2024


        6    Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the
             way of insight.  (ESV)

        What is the goal of Wisdom's invitation to all people to
   join in the banquet she has prepared?  ``Leave your simple ways,
   and live, and walk in the way of insight.''

        As we mature we start asking the difficult questions of
   life.  ``Why are we here?''  ``What does the future hold?''

        Wisdom, the Word of God, calls us to leave the company of
   those who are unaware of the dangers and opportunities of life.
   Wisdom calls on us to experience and understand that which is
   good and right and beautiful and true.  Wisdom calls on us to
   look outside of ourselves, our own interests, our own delights
   and see how we can serve both God and neighbor.

        Wisdom says that we are given the gift of knowledge about
   God, the gift of faith which holds to His promises of forgiveness
   and life everlasting.  Therefore, we change from people who are
   turned in upon ourselves to ones able to embrace God's rich love,
   grace, and mercy.  Wisdom says that for the sake of the death and
   resurrection of Jesus, we are reconciled to God our heavenly
   Father.

        May our Lord grant that we leave our simply ways and walk in
   Him.  Amen.

Broadcast

                      The Way of Wisdom -- Part 2
                            Proverbs 9:3-5
                              06/11/2024


        3    She has sent out her young women to call from the
             highest places in the town,
        4    ``Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!''  To
             him who lacks sense she says,
        5    ``Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I
             have mixed.''  (ESV)

        Wisdom, identified by Solomon as the Word of God, was
   present at the creation of the world.  Wisdom is available to all
   people, free and without asking.
        She has sent out her young women to call from the
        highest places in the town, ``Whoever is simple, let
        him turn in here!''  To him who lacks sense she says,
        ``Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have
        mixed.''


        God's grace, love, and mercy is always free.  He invites us
   into His presence to give to us the forgiveness of all our sins
   and the hope of life everlasting.  We don't need to seek out
   Wisdom, God's Word, and His undeserved love.  It is not hidden
   from our sight, but visible to all people of all times and
   places.

        The call is the invitation of the Gospel to come to the rich
   heavenly banquet.  Wisdom charges no admission fee, nor does
   Wisdom present a bill after dinner.  This is the call of Jesus,
   ``Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give
   you rest.''

        Why would we not accept this gracious invitation?  Do we
   think we are not in need of God's rich love and mercy?  Are we
   without sin, without problems, without conflict?  Are we wise
   enough in our own eyes to not need that which God offers?  Yet,
   many hear God's plea that we come into His presence and ignore
   the voice of His servants who proclaim His goodness.

        May our Lord grant that we hear, understand, and accept His
   loving invitation to dine at His banquet table for all of
   eternity.  Amen.