Category: Moments of Meditation

November 14, 2025

Broadcast

                    Is What You Hear True? - Part 5
                           Matthew 24:27-28
                              11/14/2025

        27   For as the lightning comes from the east and
             shines as far as the west, so will be the coming
             of the Son of Man.
        28   Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will
             gather.  (ESV)

        Jesus warned His disciples about the false prophets who
   would arise following His ascension.  There is no doubt both as
   to where Jesus can be found in the Church, and when He comes
   again in glory on the last day.
        For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as
        far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of
        Man.  Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will
        gather.


        It is not the place of the Church to make moral demands on
   society, but the Church prays that the members of each
   congregation make a positive impact in their community.  It is
   not the place of the Church to replace the government or to make
   demands of secular leaders, but to encourage each citizen to be
   active in caring for their neighbors, which includes being
   involved in public decision making.  The place of the Church is
   to prepare each person for eternity.

        Today our Lord is found in the Church, in the proclaimed and
   visible Word.  We hear the Law which shows us our need for a
   Savior.  We hear the Gospel which tells us of God's love, grace,
   and mercy, that Jesus died and rose again to bring us the
   forgiveness of our sins.

        When He returns, the world will know.  Meanwhile, where the
   good news of Jesus is not proclaimed, the false prophets gather
   to feast.

        Please join us this Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church to
   learn more of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  The Divine
   Service begins at 9:00 a.m., followed by a Bible study.

        May our Lord grant you faith in Christ Jesus that you may
   know the truth of God's love.  Amen.

November 13, 2025

Broadcast

                    Is What You Hear True? - Part 4
                           Matthew 24:25-26
                              11/13/2025

        25   See, I have told you beforehand.
        26   So, if they say to you, ``Look, he is in the
             wilderness,'' do not go out.  If they say, ``Look,
             he is in the inner rooms,'' do not believe it.
             (ESV)

        Jesus warned His disciples about the false prophets who
   would arise following His ascension.
        See, I have told you beforehand.  So, if they say to
        you, ``Look, he is in the wilderness,'' do not go out.
        If they say, ``Look, he is in the inner rooms,'' do not
        believe it.


        As we are looking at our Lord's warning, as we are studying
   God's Word about His coming to judge the living and the dead, we
   realize that this is practical theology.  How are you preparing
   for Christ's return?  We don't know when that day will come, or
   when our Lord will call us to rest from our labors.

        Too often we put aside the important decisions, hoping that
   we can deal with them in the future.  Yet, too often we realize
   that our procrastination and delay has cost us dearly.  In the
   same way we put off buying life insurance or talk about funeral
   planning because we don't want to think about our last days, we
   also hide from God.

        The world offers many paths of spirituality which sound
   pleasant, which require no real commitment.  Yet, in the end
   these spiritual paths which do not include Christ Jesus are
   hollow and empty and unsatisfying.  Is what you hear true about
   finding comfort and peace in this life?

        May our Lord grant that we have the wisdom to think of these
   things, and to look for the truth of God's grace and mercy.
   Amen.

November 12, 2025

Broadcast

                    Is What You Hear True? - Part 3
                           Matthew 24:25-26
                              11/12/2025

        25   See, I have told you beforehand.
        26   So, if they say to you, ``Look, he is in the
             wilderness,'' do not go out.  If they say, ``Look,
             he is in the inner rooms,'' do not believe it.
             (ESV)

        Jesus warned His disciples about the false prophets who
   would arise following His ascension.
        See, I have told you beforehand.  So, if they say to
        you, ``Look, he is in the wilderness,'' do not go out.
        If they say, ``Look, he is in the inner rooms,'' do not
        believe it.


        The Church has always fought to maintain the truth of God's
   Word in both doctrine and practice.  Anything that takes our eyes
   off of the message of salvation by grace through faith for the
   sake of Christ causes harm, even if it is done with the best of
   intentions.

        As a way to help remember the most important teachings about
   God, the Church as developed short summaries of doctrine.  These
   creeds and confessions are not God's Word but explain God's Word
   and serve as a touchstone to recognize false teaching.  Each
   phrase of the creeds and confessions have been examined in light
   of God's Word and have been found to be accurate.

        ``I believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and
   earth,'' tells us that other explanations of the beginning of the
   universe cannot be true.  ``I believe in Jesus Christ, His only
   Son, our Lord,'' speaks of the work of Jesus, His virgin birth,
   His death, and His resurrection.  When the History Channel
   suggests that the virgin birth is merely a story, we look at the
   Apostles' Creed that clearly states that Mary was a virgin.  ``I
   believe in the Holy Spirit'' teaches us how we are brought to
   faith and how that faith is sustained.

        May our Lord give us wisdom to hear the truth of His grace,
   love, and mercy.  Amen.

November 11, 2025

A special thank you today to all the veterans who have served this nation

Broadcast

                    Is What You Hear True? - Part 2
                           Matthew 24:23-24
                              11/11/2025

        23   Then if anyone says to you, ``Look, here is the
             Christ!'' or ``There he is!''  do not believe it.
        24   For false christs and false prophets will arise
             and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead
             astray, if possible, even the elect.  (ESV)

        The disciples asked Jesus about the end of the age, about
   the signs and the time of His return.  Jesus warned His
   disciples:
        Then if anyone says to you, ``Look, here is the
        Christ!'' or ``There he is!''  do not believe it.  For
        false christs and false prophets will arise and perform
        great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if
        possible, even the elect.


        That warning was true from before the day Christ Jesus was
   born through all history.  How do we recognize false prophets and
   false christs?  Their message is not one of death and
   destruction, but of subtle lies and half truths.  Their message
   tempts us to ask the same question the serpent asked Eve, ``Did
   God really say?''

        The Holy Spirit has given the Church the Bible, the
   inspired, complete, and inerrant Word of God.  Our first task to
   detect false prophets is to know what the Word of God says.  This
   means that we must be in the Word, not relying on someone else to
   tell us what the Word says.

        These ``Moments of Meditation'' should lead you to the Bible
   to see if what you are hearing on the radio, what you are reading
   on the Trinity website, what you are receiving in the daily
   email, is true.  Trust, but verify.  Remember, pastors and
   teachers are also sinners who can and do make mistakes, so test
   the words you hear against the Word of God.

        May our Lord grant us wisdom to read, learn, study, and
   understand His Holy Word.  Amen.

November 10, 2025

Broadcast

                    Is What You Hear True? - Part 1
                           Matthew 24:23-24
                              11/10/2025

        23   Then if anyone says to you, ``Look, here is the
             Christ!'' or ``There he is!''  do not believe it.
        24   For false christs and false prophets will arise
             and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead
             astray, if possible, even the elect.  (ESV)

        We are now beginning the last three weeks of the Church
   Year.  In December we prepared for the celebration of Jesus'
   birth, remembering that He took on our human flesh so to redeem
   us from sin, death, and the power of the devil.  For twelve days
   we celebrated Christmas followed by Epiphany, the Gentiles'
   Christmas.  The Epiphany season led us to Lent where we pondered
   our sin and the death of Jesus.

        However, Jesus, being the perfect Son of God and also true
   man, burst forth from the tomb on Easter Sunday.  His death was
   for our forgiveness.  His resurrection is a foretaste of our
   resurrection.

        For fifty days, a week of weeks, we celebrated Easter and
   our Lord's Ascension.  From the day of Pentecost, and for the
   past six months, we pondered the work of God through the Church,
   our confession of faith, and our daily lives.

        Now we reflect on our Lord's promise to return in glory to
   judge the living and the dead.  Jesus warned His disciples:
        Then if anyone says to you, ``Look, here is the
        Christ!'' or ``There he is!''  do not believe it.  For
        false christs and false prophets will arise and perform
        great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if
        possible, even the elect.


        This week we will look at Jesus' warning even as we look at
   our preparation for His return.

        May our Lord grant us faith to hear God's Word and believe
   it.  Amen.

October 31, 2025

Broadcast

                 The Truth Shall Set You Free - Part 5
                             John 8:31-36
                              10/31/2025

        31   So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him,
             ``If you abide in my word, you are truly my
             disciples,
        32   and you will know the truth, and the truth will
             set you free.''
        33   They answered him, ``We are offspring of Abraham
             and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it
             that you say, `You will become free?'''
        34   Jesus answered them, ``Truly, truly, I say to you,
             everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
        35   The slave does not remain in the house forever;
             the son remains forever.
        36   So if the Son sets you free, you will be free
             indeed.''  (ESV)

        So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ``If
        you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and
        you will know the truth, and the truth will set you
        free.''  They answered him, ``We are offspring of
        Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is
        it that you say, `You will become free?'''  Jesus
        answered them, ``Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone
        who commits sin is a slave to sin.  The slave does not
        remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.
        So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.''


        Today is the Feast of the Reformation.  On this date in
   1517, Martin Luther posted ninety-five statements for debate on
   the church door in Wittenberg.  He questioned the teaching of the
   established church and desired that all doctrine and teaching of
   the church come from the Bible alone.  He had no desire to leave
   the church to start a new church body.  He wanted to reform the
   church, take it back to the teaching of Jesus Christ, to the
   truth written by the prophets and apostles.

        Confessional Lutherans still have the desire to proclaim our
   salvation from sin, death, and the power of the devil is because
   of God's love alone, received by faith alone, as revealed in
   Scripture alone, for the sake of Christ Jesus alone.  That is the
   truth which sets us free from eternal death, which gives us the
   peace of God which passes all understanding.

        Please join us this coming Sunday at 9:00 a.m. at Trinity
   Lutheran Church as we proclaim the truth of God's Word.

        May our Lord grant us ears to hear and hearts to trust in
   Him alone.  Amen.

October 30, 2025

Broadcast

                 The Truth Shall Set You Free - Part 4
                             John 8:34-36
                              10/30/2025

        34   Jesus answered them, ``Truly, truly, I say to you,
             everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
        35   The slave does not remain in the house forever;
             the son remains forever.
        36   So if the Son sets you free, you will be free
             indeed.''  (ESV)

        Jesus had been talking with some people who began to follow
   Him because of the miracles they saw.  These followers were
   offended when Jesus said, ``If you abide in My Word ...  you will
   know the truth, and the truth will set you free.''  They did not
   recognize that they were in spiritual slavery.

        Jesus answered them, ``Truly, truly, I say to you,
        everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.  The slave
        does not remain in the house forever; the son remains
        forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free
        indeed.''


        We are by nature sinful and unclean.  Although we recognize
   our selfish desires, although we tolerate selfishness in others,
   we know that our actions do no good for anyone.  Who will deliver
   us from this body of death?

        The key to our redemption from this cycle of sin and self-
   destruction is not found in more laws, in self-help books, in
   seeking the best diet or exercise program or philosophy of life.
   The key is Christ Jesus, who lived, died, and rose again to pay
   the price of our sin.  The key is Christ Jesus, who calls us to
   faith, to trust in Him alone, to receive the complete pardon and
   forgiveness of our sins for His sake.

        In Him, we are joined again to our heavenly Father, fully
   reconciled, declared forgiven and holy in His sight.  We are free
   to respond in love because we have been loved.  Our redemption
   from sin and death is because of God's love alone, not because we
   did or do anything to deserve His grace.

        May our Lord grant us faith to hear His Word, to be set free
   from sin and eternal death for the sake of Christ Jesus.  Amen.

October 29, 2025

Broadcast

                 The Truth Shall Set You Free - Part 3
                             John 8:34-36
                              10/29/2025

        34   Jesus answered them, ``Truly, truly, I say to you,
             everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
        35   The slave does not remain in the house forever;
             the son remains forever.
        36   So if the Son sets you free, you will be free
             indeed.''  (ESV)

        Jesus had been talking with some people who began to follow
   Him because of the miracles they saw.  These followers were
   offended when Jesus said, ``If you abide in My Word ...  you will
   know the truth, and the truth will set you free.''  They did not
   recognize that they were in spiritual slavery.

        Jesus answered them, ``Truly, truly, I say to you,
        everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.  The slave
        does not remain in the house forever; the son remains
        forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free
        indeed.''


        How do we recognize this slavery to sin?  Let's go back to
   the beginning.  There were two false statements Satan used to
   deceive Eve to act contrary to God's command.  First, Satan
   created doubt in God's Word.  ``Did God really say?''  That
   question drives much of the problems in both the church and
   society.  Did God really say that marriage is between a man and a
   woman, that both should care for any offspring?  Did God really
   say that we should love one another, serve one another, and make
   the needs of others a priority?

        Second, Satan dangled the promise, ``You shall be like God,
   knowing both good and evil.''  Who does not want to be in
   control, do have their own desires met even at the expense of
   others?  Selfishness reigns supreme, and everyone suffers.

        Christ Jesus came to set us free from that slavery.

        May our Lord grant us faith to see our sin and to trust in
   Him as our Savior.  Amen.

October 28, 2025

Broadcast

                 The Truth Shall Set You Free - Part 2
                             John 8:31-33
                              10/28/2025

        31   So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him,
             ``If you abide in my word, you are truly my
             disciples,
        32   and you will know the truth, and the truth will
             set you free.''
        33   They answered him, ``We are offspring of Abraham
             and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it
             that you say, `You will become free?'''  (ESV)

        So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ``If
        you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and
        you will know the truth, and the truth will set you
        free.''  They answered him, ``We are offspring of
        Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is
        it that you say, `You will become free?'''


        What is the heart and core of Christianity?  Is Christianity
   like every other religious system, a set of laws and rules which
   we must follow to obtain peace with some greater entity than
   ourselves?  If so, why not pick the easiest religion, or none at
   all, for a system of rules and laws does not bring us hope.
   ``Have I done enough?'' we ask, but we cannot know the answer.
   There is only doubt, and the sinking feeling that we may not have
   a delightful eternity.

        Jesus promised that those who followed Him, if they truly
   heard and believed His word, would be set free from doubt and
   worry.  Jesus taught salvation from sin and death, not because of
   works, but because the Father sent His Son in love to pay the
   price of our sin.  ``Whosoever believes in Him shall not perish
   but have eternal life.''

        However, that goes against our human nature.  We want to be
   in control, we want to take credit for our own success.  The
   Jewish followers pinned their hopes on being descended from
   Abraham, not on the grace of God.  It is ironic that the children
   of Israel, who escaped four hundred years of slavery in Egypt,
   who spent seventy years in Babylon, and who were even then under
   the Roman occupation, did not recognize they were ever slaves.

        Spiritual freedom is not political freedom.  Freedom in
   Christ is freedom from condemnation and the fear of death.

        May our Lord grant us faith to believe His Word, that we may
   be free in Him.  Amen.

October 27, 2025

Broadcast

                 The Truth Shall Set You Free - Part 1
                             John 8:31-33
                              10/27/2025

        31   So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him,
             ``If you abide in my word, you are truly my
             disciples,
        32   and you will know the truth, and the truth will
             set you free.''
        33   They answered him, ``We are offspring of Abraham
             and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it
             that you say, `You will become free?'''  (ESV)

        An acquaintance was taking a philosophy class at Purdue
   University.  His professor stated, ``There is no such thing as
   absolute truth.''  The student was removed from the class roles
   by asking, ``Is that a true statement?''

        It is true that the speed of light is 186,000 miles per
   second, and that dropping a cement block on your foot will cause
   pain.  When someone suggests that truth is relative, they are
   suggesting they disagree and want to change the subject.  We may
   not see the truth, we may not agree about the truth, but that
   does not negate the truth.  Eventually our disbelief and stubborn
   nature will be shown to be in error, and we will live with the
   consequences.  This week we will be looking at the truth Jesus
   taught, ``The truth will set you free.''

        So it was in the life of Jesus.
        So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ``If
        you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and
        you will know the truth, and the truth will set you
        free.''  They answered him, ``We are offspring of
        Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is
        it that you say, `You will become free?'''


        Many Jews had come to faith that Jesus was a good teacher,
   but they still held to the idea that their goodness before God
   was a matter of keeping an external law or pledging their
   allegiance to Him.  They did not understand that Jesus taught we
   are all sinful before God, and that our only hope of salvation
   from sin and death is God's intervention.  Our good works, though
   evidence of faith, do not and cannot earn us eternal life.

        May our Lord grant that we hear, understand, and believe the
   truth of God's grace, love, and mercy.  Amen.