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March 28, 2025

Broadcast

                         One Way Only - Part 5
                              Luke 11:23
                              03/28/2025


        23   Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever
             does not gather with me scatters.  (ESV)

        Jesus had cast out a demon from a man.  He declared that He
   overcame the power of the devil, the prince of this world,
   because He is both true man and true God.  He demonstrated His
   victory over sin and death as He burst out from the tomb on
   Easter.

        We are conceived and born with sin, standing condemned
   before God because that sin is passed from father to child.  No
   matter how hard we try, no matter what we do, we cannot change
   our human nature which was corrupted by our first ancestors.
   This is evident as we know that our children do not need to be
   taught to sin.  Our children, and we ourselves, need to be taught
   to be kind, to acknowledge others, to say ``please'' and ``thank
   you.''

        There is one and only one hope for our redemption from sin
   and everlasting separation from our heavenly Father who created
   us in love.  That hope is faith in Jesus Christ, who died and
   rose again to pay the price of our sin, to defeat the devil, the
   world, and our own sinful flesh.  Jesus told those who doubted
   Him: ``Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not
   gather with me scatters.''

        Please join us on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. at Trinity
   Lutheran Church to learn more about God's rich love, grace, and
   mercy.  Hear how Jesus died to redeem you from those demons who
   would cause you eternal harm, who desire that you do not hear the
   truth.

        May our Lord grant us faith to know that Jesus Christ is the
   way, the truth, and the life.  Amen.

March 27, 2025

Broadcast

                         One Way Only - Part 4
                             Luke 11:21-22
                              03/27/2025


        21   When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own
             palace, his goods are safe;
        22   but when one stronger than he attacks him and
             overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he
             trusted and divides his spoil.  (ESV)

        Jesus had cast out a demon from a man.  He declared to those
   who spoke against Him, who accused Him of being in league with
   the devil, that the kingdom of God has been revealed in their
   sight.  He then told them a short parable.

        When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace,
        his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he
        attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor
        in which he trusted and divides his spoil.


        In this world, the devil is secure because no one has the
   power or strength to resist him or his temptations.  We all have
   sinned, we all have desired to reject God's holy Word.  We all
   have acted with selfish motives, thereby harming our neighbors
   and those around us.

        But, when Jesus was born, He was not conceived with sin, for
   He was born of a virgin.  Thus Jesus, who is true man, also had
   the power to fulfill God's law perfectly.  Although He did not
   transgress God's law, He took upon Himself our sin, dying on the
   cross to redeem us from the devil.  He attacked and overcame the
   prince of demons, the lies of this world, and the sinful desires
   of our own flesh.

        When Jesus burst forth from the tomb on the third day, He
   proved that He had overcome even death.  The devil is defeated,
   and all who die will rise again when Christ comes again in glory
   to judge the living and the dead.

        May our Lord grant that we hear of the strong man who has
   released us from the power of the devil, giving us the promise of
   eternal life.  Amen.

March 26, 2025

Broadcast

                         One Way Only - Part 3
                           Luke 11:17-18,20
                              03/26/2025


        17   But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them,
             ``Every kingdom divided against itself is laid
             waste, and a divided household falls.
        18   And if Satan also is divided against himself, how
             will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast
             out demons by Beelzebul. ...
        20   But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out
             demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon
             you.''  (ESV)

        Jesus had cast out a demon from a man.  Many who saw this
   example of His power over evil suggested that this was a trick,
   that Jesus was a fraud who was in league with the prince of
   demons.

        But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, ``Every
        kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a
        divided household falls.  And if Satan also is divided
        against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you
        say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. ...  But if it
        is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then
        the kingdom of God has come upon you.''


        It is absurd to think that the devil would want people to
   think that he was unable to resist the power of Jesus.
   Throughout history it has been shown time and again that a nation
   experiencing a civil war is ripe for defeat if attacked by an
   enemy.  Although Saint Luke did not comment on the words of the
   demon who was cast out, other times the demons fought and cursed
   Jesus as He overpowered them.  The demons were terrified of
   Jesus, which would not be the case if this was a show being put
   on by the devil for some unknown reason.

        When we see the power of God, we should acknowledge that
   power.  When we hear of God's grace, we should not doubt His love
   and mercy.  When we understand that He is our refuge and strength
   in times of trouble, we should not turn away from Him.

        May our Lord grant us eyes to see His love as demonstrated
   by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

March 25, 2025

Broadcast

                         One Way Only - Part 2
                             Luke 11:15-16
                              03/25/2025


        15   But some of them said, ``He casts out demons by
             Beelzebul, the prince of demons,''
        16   while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a
             sign from heaven.  (ESV)

        This week we are discussing Jesus Christ as our only hope of
   salvation from sin and eternal death.  Many people are opposed to
   the message that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, the
   only pathway to our heavenly Father.  The Gospel lesson for last
   Sunday, the account in Luke's Gospel of Jesus casting out a
   demon, says this rejection of our Lord happened from the very
   beginning.

        Saint Luke recorded the actions of some who saw Jesus cast
   out the demon.
        But some of them said, ``He casts out demons by
        Beelzebul, the prince of demons,'' while others, to
        test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven.


        Those who rejected Jesus held Him to a different standard
   than others who taught the Word of God.  They would rather
   condemn Jesus as a fraud, as being in league with the prince of
   demons, than to admit that His message of God's grace and mercy
   is true.  We see this today, that those who are opposed to the
   message of God's love will make up absurd stories to discredit
   the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Others will demand that
   even the name of Jesus not be uttered in public.

        Why silence even the name of Jesus?  Those who oppose Him by
   demanding that Christianity not be mentioned in the public sphere
   are actually confessing that the message of truth has power.
   They are afraid that accepting the truth that we cannot by our
   own reason or strength redeem ourselves from the sins we commit,
   they will have to acknowledge that our help is in the name of the
   Lord.

        May our Lord grant that we hear His Word and believe in His
   grace and mercy for the sake of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

March 24, 2025

Broadcast

                         One Way Only - Part 1
                              Luke 11:14
                              03/24/2025


        14   Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When
             the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and
             the people marveled.  (ESV)

        The Introit, the opening Psalm, for last Sunday began, ``My
   eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of
   the net.''[1] King David wrote this Psalm as a confession of
   God's rich goodness and mercy.  This weeks text is a graphic
   illustration of Jesus' power over all evil, including the devil
   and all his minions.

        The account from Luke begins with an exorcism, casting out a
   demon, which was a fairly common request made of Jesus.  This
   exorcism led, ultimately, to the truth that there is only one
   hope for eternal redemption, that being by God's grace for the
   sake of Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection.

        Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the
        demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people
        marveled.


        Some people who hear of our Lord Jesus Christ, who accept
   that He has the power to redeem us from sin and death, trust that
   the Gospel is true.  As a Church, we pray that all people may
   hear of the grace of God, that they do not reject His love, but
   come to know of the peace which He freely offers.

        This week, however, we will look at the arguments made
   against Jesus by those who oppose Him, and the result of their
   unbelief.

        May our Lord grant us faith to hear His Word, to believe in
   Him, and trust in Him for everlasting life.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. Psalm 25:15

March 21, 2025

Broadcast

                             Woof - Part 5
                           Matthew 15:26-28
                              03/21/2025


        26   And he answered, ``It is not right to take the
             children's bread and throw it to the dogs.''
        27   She said, ``Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the
             crumbs that fall from their masters' table.''
        28   Then Jesus answered her, ``O woman, great is your
             faith! Be it done for you as you desire.'' And her
             daughter was healed instantly.  (ESV)

        While teaching in the area around Tyre and Sidon, a
   Canaanite woman asked Jesus to cast a demon from her daughter.
   Although Jesus seemed to ignore her, to rebuke her for daring to
   ask Him for this blessing, the woman persisted in her prayer.

        And he answered, ``It is not right to take the
        children's bread and throw it to the dogs.''  She said,
        ``Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall
        from their masters' table.''  Then Jesus answered her,
        ``O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as
        you desire.'' And her daughter was healed instantly.


        Like the Canaanite woman, we are unworthy to approach Jesus
   in prayer.  After all, we have sinned in thought, word, and deed.
   Yet we cling to God's grace, knowing that His promises are
   certain, that He has called us and marked us as His own children.
   The Canaanite woman admitted that she was not of the house of
   Israel, that she was like a little dog.  But like the dog who
   eagerly sits under the table, she looks for the smallest morsel
   that falls to the ground.  The merest crumb of God's love
   exceeded all powers of earth and heaven.  What she received from
   Jesus was not crumbs, but the fullness of His love.

        This incident in the life of Jesus is written for our
   learning.  Pray without ceasing, knowing that God desires all
   people to be saved, to come to the knowledge of the truth.  This
   is the message you will hear each Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. at
   Trinity Lutheran Church as you join us in receiving God's gift of
   forgiveness and life everlasting.

        May our Lord grant that we have faith to await His
   blessings, knowing that He has declared us worthy for the sake of
   His Son.  Amen.

March 20, 2025

Broadcast

                             Woof - Part 4
                           Matthew 15:24-25
                              03/20/2025


        24   He answered, ``I was sent only to the lost sheep
             of the house of Israel.''
        25   But she came and knelt before him, saying, ``Lord,
             help me.''  (ESV)

        While teaching in the area around Tyre and Sidon, a
   Canaanite woman asked Jesus to cast a demon from her daughter.
   Jesus seemed to ignore her and the disciples who desired that
   Jesus send her away.

        He answered, ``I was sent only to the lost sheep of the
        house of Israel.''  But she came and knelt before him,
        saying, ``Lord, help me.''


        Early in John's Gospel, Jesus told a Samaritan woman,
   ``Salvation is from the Jews.''[1] Jesus was descended from
   Abraham, from the tribe of Judah, from King David.  He worshiped
   in the Temple in Jerusalem and fulfilled the Law given to the
   Jews by God.  His primary audience was Jewish, as were His
   disciples.  Only after He was rejected by the rulers of the
   Temple, only after Pentecost, did the apostles truly reach out to
   the surrounding nations.  Yes, Jesus was correct that He was sent
   to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

        Yet the woman, though not Jewish, knew that even from the
   days of the Old Testament, God showed mercy on those not of
   Jewish descent.  Salvation is not exclusive to the Chosen People,
   it begins with the message passed through them to the whole
   world.  Thus she insisted, ``Lord, help me.''

        We don't know when or how the Canaanite woman came to faith
   in Jesus Christ.  She calls Him ``Lord,'' confessing Him to be
   God.  She calls Him the ``Son of David,'' confessing Him to be
   the Messiah.  She does not take silence as answer, so she
   continually prays even when she seemingly is rebuked.  After all,
   there is no other help but Jesus alone.  May our Lord grant us
   faith to continue to call upon Him in every trouble Amen.
   ____________________

   1. John 4:22

March 19, 2025

Broadcast

                             Woof - Part 3
                           Matthew 15:22-23
                              03/19/2025


        22   And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region
             came out and was crying, ``Have mercy on me, O
             Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely
             oppressed by a demon.''
        23   But he did not answer her a word.  And his
             disciples came and begged him, saying, ``Send her
             away, for she is crying out after us.''

        This week we are looking at an incident in Jesus' life which
   was recorded in Matthew's Gospel.  Jesus had left the area around
   Jerusalem and was in the region of Tyre and Sidon.

        And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out
        and was crying, ``Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of
        David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.''
        But he did not answer her a word.  And his disciples
        came and begged him, saying, ``Send her away, for she
        is crying out after us.''


        It is obvious from Matthew's account that this woman was
   persistent in her request.  Eventually the disciples got tired of
   her impassioned request.  Did they ask that Jesus cure the
   woman's daughter, thus bringing silence and peace?  If so, the
   disciples were acting as loving friends, ones who pray on behalf
   of another, imploring God's blessings in time of trouble.  We
   would hope this is the case.

        The other possibility, the disciples craved silence more
   than seeing the woman helped.  They possibly did not care if the
   woman's daughter was healed, only that the irritation stop.  This
   often is the way we look at the plight of others, with
   indifference and apathy, seeing our own benefit over the needs of
   our neighbor.  If this is the case, the disciples were not acting
   with Christian love but out of selfish motives.

        When we are confronted with someone's needs, we ask our
   heavenly Father to give us the strength to help, to be the answer
   to their prayer, to reflect God's love by serving our neighbor.

        May our Lord open our eyes to see our neighbor's needs, and
   our hearts to act to help them in times of trouble.  Amen.

March 18, 2025

Broadcast

                             Woof - Part 2
                           Matthew 15:21-23a
                              03/18/2025


        21   And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the
             district of Tyre and Sidon.
        22   And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region
             came out and was crying, ``Have mercy on me, O
             Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely
             oppressed by a demon.''
        23   But he did not answer her a word.

        Jesus had been teaching around Jerusalem and Judea, much to
   the dismay of the scribes and Pharisees.  They had grown a bit
   argumentative, making it difficult for Jesus to teach His
   disciples.  Matthew recorded:
        And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the
        district of Tyre and Sidon.  And behold, a Canaanite
        woman from that region came out and was crying, ``Have
        mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is
        severely oppressed by a demon.''  But he did not answer
        her a word.


        There are times that we pray and it seems that God is simply
   not listening.  Did Jesus hear the Canaanite woman?  Why did He
   remain silent?

        We believe, teach, and confess that God hears each of our
   prayers.  He answers each one, many times not in the way we
   desire, but in the way that is most appropriate.  Sometimes, to
   strengthen our faith or to give an example of faith to others,
   that answer might be delayed.

        Because we do not know the unintended consequences of our
   prayers, we ask God for temporal blessings only according to His
   will.  His answer of ``yes'' may, in fact, be inappropriate,
   causing more harm than good.  We don't know, so we make our
   request in faith.

        May our Lord grant us faith to trust in Him, to hold firmly
   to His promise of forgiveness and everlasting life, even when He
   seems to be silent.  Amen.

March 17, 2025

Broadcast

                             Woof - Part 1
                           Matthew 15:21-28
                              03/17/2025


        21   And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the
             district of Tyre and Sidon.
        22   And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region
             came out and was crying, ``Have mercy on me, O
             Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely
             oppressed by a demon.''
        23   But he did not answer her a word. And his
             disciples came and begged him, saying, ``Send her
             away, for she is crying out after us.''
        24   He answered, ``I was sent only to the lost sheep
             of the house of Israel.''
        25   But she came and knelt before him, saying, ``Lord,
             help me.''
        26   And he answered, ``It is not right to take the
             children's bread and throw it to the dogs.''
        27   She said, ``Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the
             crumbs that fall from their masters' table.''
        28   Then Jesus answered her, ``O woman, great is your
             faith! Be it done for you as you desire.'' And her
             daughter was healed instantly.

        This week we are learning of God's grace and perseverance in
   prayer.  What might seem to be God's indifference and opposition
   may, in fact, be a blessing not only for the one who prays, but
   for all people.

        And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the
        district of Tyre and Sidon.  And behold, a Canaanite
        woman from that region came out and was crying, ``Have
        mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is
        severely oppressed by a demon.''  But he did not answer
        her a word. And his disciples came and begged him,
        saying, ``Send her away, for she is crying out after
        us.''  He answered, ``I was sent only to the lost sheep
        of the house of Israel.''  But she came and knelt
        before him, saying, ``Lord, help me.''  And he
        answered, ``It is not right to take the children's
        bread and throw it to the dogs.''  She said, ``Yes,
        Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from
        their masters' table.''  Then Jesus answered her, ``O
        woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you
        desire.'' And her daughter was healed instantly.


        What are the lessons we should learn from this event in
   Jesus' life?  Does God indeed answer our prayers?  Why can we
   boldly ask Him for both spiritual and temporal blessings.  That
   is the topic for this week.

        May our Lord grant us faith to trust in Him even when He
   seems to be silent.  Amen.