Category: Moments of Meditation

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.

Broadcast

                          Pentecost - Part 5
                             John 14:30-31
                              06/13/2025


        30   I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler
             of this world is coming.  He has no claim on me,
        31   but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that
             the world may know that I love the Father. Rise,
             let us go from here.  (ESV)

        It was Thursday evening, the night before Jesus was
   crucified.  Having given the disciples the Lord's Supper, having
   taught them of God's grace, having dismissed Judas to complete
   his horrifying plans, Jesus prepared His disciples for the coming
   events.
        I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of
        this world is coming.  He has no claim on me, but I do
        as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may
        know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.


        As Jesus and the disciples prepared to leave the upper room,
   the words our Lord spoke took on special meaning.  Indeed, within
   minutes He would be betrayed, tried, tortured, crucified, and be
   buried.  The ruler of this world, the devil, seemed to triumph
   over the truth of God's love.  From the beginning of time, from
   the day that our first ancestors turned from God to their own
   selfish desires, the plan for the salvation of all people was the
   death of the Son of God.

        In love for God the Father, in love for all people, Jesus
   willingly took the price of our sin, dying in our place, to
   redeem us from the debt of our transgressions.

        Today, the Holy Spirit, working through the proclaimed Word
   of God, working through the visible Word of the sacraments,
   brings you the benefit of Jesus' sacrifice.  Please join the
   redeemed, faithful children of God as they gather to receive this
   gift of life at God's invitation at Trinity Lutheran Church each
   Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m.  The promise is for you and your
   children, for those who hear of God's love, grace, and mercy.

        May our Lord grant you faith to hear His Word, that in
   Christ Jesus you have everlasting life.  Amen.

June 12, 2025

Broadcast

                          Pentecost - Part 4
                             John 14:28-29
                              06/12/2025


        28   You heard me say to you, `I am going away, and I
             will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have
             rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for
             the Father is greater than I.
        29   And now I have told you before it takes place, so
             that when it does take place you may believe.
             (ESV)

        On the night that Jesus was betrayed He prepared the
   disciples for His death, resurrection, and ascension.  He
   promised to send the Holy Spirit who brings all the words Jesus
   taught to remembrance, even these parting words of comfort.
   Jesus said:
        You heard me say to you, `I am going away, and I will
        come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced,
        because I am going to the Father, for the Father is
        greater than I.  And now I have told you before it
        takes place, so that when it does take place you may
        believe.


        Jesus first went away from the disciples as He lay in the
   tomb following His crucifixion.  He came back to them on Easter,
   proclaiming the forgiveness of sins and commissioning the
   disciples to spread the peace which comes from His death and
   resurrection.  These are the words of comfort of which the Holy
   Spirit reminds the Church, the promise that Jesus will come
   again.

        Although Jesus is truly God, He humbled Himself to be born
   of the virgin Mary, suffer under Pontius Pilate, be crucified,
   die, and be buried.  In His humility, Jesus truly placed Himself
   under the Father's will for our salvation from sin and eternal
   death.

        From the Gospel accounts, we do see that the disciples did
   not at first believe the words of comfort Jesus spoke.  Only
   after He was risen from the dead, only after the Holy Spirit came
   to them, did they truly have faith.  Only after Pentecost did the
   disciples boldly proclaim the truth that Jesus is Lord and
   Savior.

        May our Lord's words of comfort bring you peace as you trust
   in His promise to return in glory.  Amen.

June 11, 2025

Broadcast

                          Pentecost - Part 3
                              John 14:27
                              06/11/2025


        27   ``Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
             Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not
             your hearts be troubled, neither let them be
             afraid.''  (ESV)

        The work of the Holy Spirit is to bring to each person the
   benefits of Jesus' death and resurrection.  His sacrifice on the
   cross was the ultimate sacrifice for sin.  His empty tomb says
   that our tomb also will be empty.  Because our sins are forgiven,
   we have the gift of eternal life within the mansions of our
   heavenly Father.

        The Spirit works through the Word and sacraments to inform
   us of the Father's love and the sacrifice of Christ Jesus.  The
   result of the Holy Spirit's work is our knowlege, agreement, and
   trust that Jesus' death and resurrection are for each of us.  The
   result, we are reconciled with God, and have the true peace which
   passes all understanding.

        Jesus told His disciples, ``Peace I leave with you; my peace
   I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not
   your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.''  The peace
   Jesus gives is eternal, freely given.  Any peace the world gives
   is temporary, easily upset by sin, easily broken by our own
   selfish desires.  Nothing, not even temporal death, can separate
   us from the love of God as revealed in Christ Jesus.

        The Holy Spirit causes us to learn of Jesus and to trust
   that His death and resurrection give us life.  That is the faith
   which holds firmly to our Savior.

        May our Lord grant you the peace of knowing you are
   reconciled to the Father.  Amen.

June 10, 2025

Broadcast

                          Pentecost - Part 2
                             John 14:25-26
                              06/10/2025


        25   ``These things I have spoken to you while I am
             still with you.
        26   But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father
             will send in my name, he will teach you all things
             and bring to your remembrance all that I have said
             to you.''  (ESV)

        Jesus spent a bit over three years teaching His disciples
   about the Kingdom of God, of salvation by grace through faith for
   the sake of His suffering, death, and resurrection.  Our Lord
   spoke of the truth of the Father's love for His creation, and the
   plan of redemption which was first promised to Adam and Eve the
   day they sinned.

        Jesus told His disciples:
        ``These things I have spoken to you while I am still
        with you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the
        Father will send in my name, he will teach you all
        things and bring to your remembrance all that I have
        said to you.''


        The words Jesus spoke, the things Jesus did which show us
   the Father's love, are important.  They were recorded by the
   apostles as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit for our
   learning and our redemption from sin and death.  Because these
   words are precious, we treasure them, we read them, and we study
   them.  Jesus told of God's grace and mercy, that we cannot, by
   our own reason or strength, do the works of God or understand the
   wisdom of God.  His words are Gospel, ``I am the way, the truth,
   and the life.  No one comes to the Father except by me.''[1]

        By inspiring the writers of the New Testament, by creating
   the faith which trusts in Christ Jesus as our Redeemer, the Holy
   Spirit does indeed teach us all things and bring to our
   remembrance the words of Jesus.

        May our Lord grant that we hear His Word, and treasure it,
   for that Word brings to us the forgiveness of our sins and life
   everlasting.  Amen.









   ____________________

   1. John 14:6

June 9, 2025

Broadcast

                          Pentecost - Part 1
                             John 14:23-24
                              06/09/2025


        23   Jesus answered him, ``If anyone loves me, he will
             keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we
             will come to him and make our home with him.
        24   Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.
             And the word that you hear is not mine but the
             Father's who sent me.''  (ESV)

        Yesterday, the fiftieth day after Easter, the Church
   celebrated Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit visibly descended
   upon the disciples.  This is not to imply that the Holy Spirit is
   something which was not known to the writers of the Old
   Testament.  Indeed, by the second verse of the Bible we hear that
   the ``Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the
   waters.''[1]

        It has always been the work of the Holy Spirit to call
   people to faith in God.  It has always been the work of the Holy
   Spirit to sanctify those who trust in God, who have heard the
   Word of God, and respond in love to God.  It has always been the
   work of the Holy Spirit to teach us about God, even as the Holy
   Spirit inspired the writers of both the Old and New Testaments to
   proclaim God's Word.

        Saint John recorded Jesus' conversation with the disciples
   on the night He was betrayed.
        Jesus answered him, ``If anyone loves me, he will keep
        my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come
        to him and make our home with him.  Whoever does not
        love me does not keep my words. And the word that you
        hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.''


        Those who love Jesus, those who trust in the Father, guard
   and treasure that which is revealed by the prophets and apostles.
   Jesus taught the words of the Father, the same words entrusted to
   the Church by the Holy Spirit.

        This week we will ponder the work of the Holy Spirit as He
   calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the Church on earth.

        May our Lord bless you this week as you learn more of our
   Lord and Savior.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. Genesis 1:2

June 6, 2025

Broadcast

                     Cost of Discipleship - Part 5
                              John 16:4a
                              06/06/2025


        4a   But I have said these things to you, that when
             their hour comes you may remember that I told them
             to you.  (ESV)

        There is a cost of discipleship, a cost in this world as you
   hold in faith to Jesus Christ as your Redeemer from sin, death,
   and the power of the devil.  The Church is at odds with the
   world, for the Church declares the sickness of sin so that the
   cure of the Gospel may be heard.

        Although in the United States we don't see Christians jailed
   or executed for their beliefs, we are very aware of the daily
   ridicule and scorn heaped upon people of faith.  The
   constitutional freedom of religion has turned into the freedom
   from religion, to the extent that many Christian pastors are
   afraid to publicly pray in the name of Jesus.

        Yet, people of faith, people who hold to salvation by grace
   through faith for the sake of Christ, have hope in this sinful
   world.  They remember Jesus' words: ``But I have said these
   things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I
   told them to you.''  They know that the Christian daily picks up
   his cross and follows Jesus, for Jesus is our only hope in this
   fallen and sinful life.

        You have the opportunity to hear that message of hope, of
   the love of the Father who sent His Son to redeem you from sin
   and death.  Each Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. the redeemed
   children of God gather at Trinity Lutheran Church to receive
   God's gift of forgiveness.  Please join us to hear of God's love.

        May our Lord grant you faith to trust in Christ Jesus who
   bore the guilt of your sin, and gives to you the gift of eternal
   life.  Amen.

June 5, 2025

Broadcast

                     Cost of Discipleship - Part 4
                               John 16:3
                              06/05/2025


        3    And they will do these things because they have
             not known the Father, nor me.  (ESV)

        The truth of salvation by grace through faith for the sake
   of Christ changes how you look at the world.  Because you have
   received the gift of the forgiveness of your sins from God, even
   though you did not deserve or earn that gift, you change how you
   think and act.  Where you once looked out for yourself before
   considering others, now you ask, ``Does this bring glory to God
   and serve my neighbor?''

        Good works flow from faith.  Certainly you can give to
   charity or help others even if you do not have faith in Jesus
   Christ, but what is your motivation?  How many people donate to a
   worthy cause, not because they are concerned about helping those
   in need, but desire the publicity which comes from giving
   donations?

        On the other hand, the world simply doesn't know how to
   handle people who truly seek the good of others before their own
   comfort and reputation.  Unfortunately, people who act with
   unselfish motivation make society nervous.  Jesus was crucified,
   not for crimes, but for healing the sick and raising the dead and
   bringing comfort to those in distress.

        Why are Christians persecuted for their good works, for
   their rejection of the selfish ambitions of society?  Jesus said,
   ``And they will do these things because they have not known the
   Father, nor me.''  The world knows how to handle the power
   hungry, the selfish, and those who look down on the less
   fortunate.  The world cannot handle the caring, the loving, the
   person who seeks the good of his neighbor without thought of
   reward or pay-back.

        May our Lord grant you peace, even as you live in this
   world, but do not live according to the standards of this world.
   Amen.

June 4, 2025

Broadcast

                     Cost of Discipleship - Part 3
                              John 16:1-2
                              06/04/2025


        1    I have said all these things to you to keep you
             from falling away.
        2    They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed,
             the hour is coming when whoever kills you will
             think he is offering service to God.  (ESV)

        Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the twentieth century Lutheran
   theologian who was executed for his opposition to the German
   government during World War II, once wrote, ``When Christ calls a
   man, he bids him come and die.''[1] Because the Christian witness
   concerning salvation by God's grace and love alone for the sake
   of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone does not
   conform to the world's teaching, Christians can expect to be
   prosecuted for their faith.

        Jesus told His disciples:
        I have said all these things to you to keep you from
        falling away.  They will put you out of the synagogues.
        Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will
        think he is offering service to God.


        If you are looking for acceptance in this world, if you are
   looking for popularity, being a confessing Christian is not the
   way to win worldly friends.  If you are looking for the comfort
   of knowing your sins are forgiven, that you can face the
   realities of pain, suffering, and death knowing that you have the
   hope of eternal life for the sake of Christ, the rejection of
   this world is easier to take.

        You have the comfort of the Gospel, that you have died to
   sin through the work of the Holy Spirit, and have risen to new
   life in Christ Jesus.  You see beyond the immediate suffering in
   this world to glimpse the glory of the mansions of God, of being
   with the Father for all of eternity.  The Holy Spirit gives you
   the comfort of salvation by grace through faith for the sake of
   Christ.

        May our Lord strengthen your faith, that when you suffer in
   this world you have the assurance of life everlasting.  Amen.