Category: Turn Your Radio On 2026

April 13, 2026

Broadcast

                       Confessing Jesus - Part 1
                             John 20:19-23
                              04/13/2026


        19   On the evening of that day, the first day of the
             week, the doors being locked where the disciples
             were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood
             among them and said to them, ``Peace be with
             you.''
        20   When he had said this, he showed them his hands
             and his side. Then the disciples were glad when
             they saw the Lord.
        21   Jesus said to them again, ``Peace be with you. As
             the Father has sent me, even so I am sending
             you.''
        22   And when he had said this, he breathed on them and
             said to them, ``Receive the Holy Spirit.
        23   If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are
             forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone,
             it is withheld.''  (ESV)

        Historically the Church does not look at Easter as a single
   day, but as an entire season, forty-nine days of celebrating the
   resurrection of Jesus.  Therefore, yesterday We prayed the
   historic Collect or prayer of the Church for the Second Sunday of
   Easter:
        Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the
        Lord's resurrection may by Your grace confess in our
        life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God;
        through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and
        reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
        forever.


        Our Gospel lesson for the Second Sunday of Easter has three
   parts.  In the first part, Jesus comes to the disciples and gives
   them, and the Church, the authority to forgive and retain sins.

        On the evening of that day, the first day of the week,
        the doors being locked where the disciples were for
        fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and
        said to them, ``Peace be with you.''  When he had said
        this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the
        disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.  Jesus said
        to them again, ``Peace be with you. As the Father has
        sent me, even so I am sending you.''  And when he had
        said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
        ``Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of
        anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness
        from anyone, it is withheld.''


        This is the purpose of the Church, to proclaim the good news
   that Jesus died to pay the price of our sin, only to rise again
   to give to us eternal life.  Where sins are forgiven, death is
   overcome.

        May our Lord grant us faith to trust in His Word, that we
   have life because Jesus died and rose again.  Amen.

April 10, 2026

Broadcast

                         He is Risen - Part 5
                               Mark 16:8
                              04/09/2026


        8    And they went out and fled from the tomb, for
             trembling and astonishment had seized them, and
             they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
             (ESV)

        The reaction of the women to the angelic message, ``Jesus is
   risen, He is not here,'' astonishes the modern Christian.  ``And
   they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and
   astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone,
   for they were afraid.''  Yet is was a natural fear, for
   everything changed in an instant.  Where the women expected
   death, there was life.

        Over the years the Church has prayed
        Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten
        Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened
        the gate of everlasting life to us.  Grant that we, who
        celebrate with joy the day of our Lord's resurrection,
        may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving
        Spirit.


        We believe the resurrection account, not only because the
   Bible is the true and inerrant Word of God, but because the Holy
   Spirit has given us faith which receives His gifts and trusts His
   Word.  But too often our response to the resurrection mimics the
   response of the women, we flee and say nothing.

        Let's change this.  At Trinity Lutheran Church we proclaim,
   publicly and clearly, that Jesus Christ died to pay the price of
   our sin and rose again to give to us eternal life.  This word of
   truth sounds foolish in the ears of those who demand proof, but
   that does not mean that Jesus did not rise from the dead.

        We proclaim this on the airwaves, on our website, and each
   Sunday at 9:00 a.m. as we gather together at God's invitation to
   receive from Him His richest blessings.

        May our Lord grant us faith to accept the invitation to hear
   His Word for our eternal benefit.  Amen.

April 9, 2026

Broadcast

                         He is Risen - Part 4
                              Mark 16:5-7
                              04/09/2026


        5    And entering the tomb, they saw a young man
             sitting on the right side, dressed in a white
             robe, and they were alarmed.
        6    And he said to them, ``Do not be alarmed. You seek
             Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has
             risen; he is not here. See the place where they
             laid him.
        7    But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is
             going before you to Galilee.  There you will see
             him, just as he told you.''  (ESV)

        None of the followers of Jesus anticipated the events of
   Easter Sunday.  Although Jesus clearly taught that He would die
   and rise again, they did not understand.  Therefore, when the
   women arrived at the tomb at dawn, they were perplexed, to say
   the least.

        And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on
        the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were
        alarmed.  And he said to them, ``Do not be alarmed. You
        seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has
        risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid
        him.  But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is
        going before you to Galilee.  There you will see him,
        just as he told you.''


        The angels answered the classic questions which we need to
   address for every event: what, why, when, how, where, and who.
   Quickly the women learned that Jesus is risen from the dead, and
   that He was going to see the disciples in Galilee.  The women
   were given explicit instructions to tell the disciples and Peter,
   who was disgraced by denying Jesus, of the resurrection and
   Jesus' instructions.  The message is simple and direct.

        Because the women found the tomb empty, and because the
   angels told them Jesus' instructions, the Church is able to pray:
        Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten
        Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened
        the gate of everlasting life to us.  Grant that we, who
        celebrate with joy the day of our Lord's resurrection,
        may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving
        Spirit.


        May our Lord grant us faith to accept the gift of life given
   to us because the tomb is empty.  Amen.

April 8, 2026

Broadcast

                         He is Risen - Part 3
                              Mark 16:5-7
                              04/08/2026


        5    And entering the tomb, they saw a young man
             sitting on the right side, dressed in a white
             robe, and they were alarmed.
        6    And he said to them, ``Do not be alarmed. You seek
             Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has
             risen; he is not here. See the place where they
             laid him.
        7    But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is
             going before you to Galilee.  There you will see
             him, just as he told you.''  (ESV)

        At dawn on Easter Sunday, several women, including Mary
   Magdalene, went to the tomb of Jesus to wash and prepare His body
   for its final burial.  Because time was very short of Friday
   evening, they didn't have time to finish these tasks before the
   beginning of the Sabbath.  Unexpectedly, they found the tomb
   open, the stone removed.

        And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on
        the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were
        alarmed.  And he said to them, ``Do not be alarmed. You
        seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has
        risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid
        him.  But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is
        going before you to Galilee.  There you will see him,
        just as he told you.''


        Let's pause for a moment and consider angels.  The word
   ``angel'' means ``messenger,'' which means that the angels are
   created beings who are sent to do various tasks for God.  An
   angel told Mary she would bear the Christ Child.  Angels
   announced the birth of Jesus.  An angel announced the
   resurrection to the women.

        The message is simple, Jesus is risen from the dead.  He is
   no longer in the tomb.  The angels instructed the women as to the
   next things they needed to accomplish so that the disciples would
   be aware of this good news.

        Therefore the Church prays:
        Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten
        Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened
        the gate of everlasting life to us.  Grant that we, who
        celebrate with joy the day of our Lord's resurrection,
        may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving
        Spirit.


        May our Lord open our hearts and minds to the message of the
   angels.  Amen.

April 7, 2026

Broadcast

                         He is Risen - Part 2
                              Mark 16:2-4
                              04/07/2026


        2    And very early on the first day of the week, when
             the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.
        3    And they were saying to one another, ``Who will
             roll away the stone for us from the entrance of
             the tomb?''
        4    And looking up, they saw that the stone had been
             rolled back -- it was very large.  (ESV)

        There is a lot of controversy surrounding Easter Sunday.
   Can we trust the Biblical accounts of the resurrection?  Did
   Jesus really rise from the dead, as the Bible claims, or is this
   simply a religious myth which was built up over time, as some
   modern authors suggest?

        And very early on the first day of the week, when the
        sun had risen, they went to the tomb.  And they were
        saying to one another, ``Who will roll away the stone
        for us from the entrance of the tomb?''  And looking
        up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back -- it
        was very large.


        The chief priests, expecting some sort of trickery from the
   disciples, asked Pontius Pilate to set a Roman guard on the tomb.
   The stone which covered the opening of the grave was sealed, the
   guards alert for any disturbance.

        Were the tomb left unguarded, the truth of the resurrection
   would certainly be in doubt.  But the witnesses of the
   resurrection were the very people who had the most to lose if the
   grave was empty.  That the soldiers fled the scene, according to
   Saint Matthew, shows that Jesus is risen from the dead.

        Therefore the Church prays:
        Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten
        Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened
        the gate of everlasting life to us.  Grant that we, who
        celebrate with joy the day of our Lord's resurrection,
        may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving
        Spirit.


        May our Lord open our hearts and minds to the good news that
   Jesus has overcome death and the grave.  Amen.

April 6, 2026

Broadcast

                         He is Risen - Part 1
                              Mark 16:1-8
                              04/06/2026


        1    When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary
             the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so
             that they might go and anoint him.
        2    And very early on the first day of the week, when
             the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.
        3    And they were saying to one another, ``Who will
             roll away the stone for us from the entrance of
             the tomb?''
        4    And looking up, they saw that the stone had been
             rolled back -- it was very large.
        5    And entering the tomb, they saw a young man
             sitting on the right side, dressed in a white
             robe, and they were alarmed.
        6    And he said to them, ``Do not be alarmed. You seek
             Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has
             risen; he is not here. See the place where they
             laid him.
        7    But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is
             going before you to Galilee.  There you will see
             him, just as he told you.''
        8    And they went out and fled from the tomb, for
             trembling and astonishment had seized them, and
             they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
             (ESV)

        Yesterday was Easter.  Rather than celebrating the coming of
   spring, rather than focusing on bunnies and baby chickens and
   chocolate, let's hear what the day is truly about.

        When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the
        mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they
        might go and anoint him.  And very early on the first
        day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to
        the tomb.  And they were saying to one another, ``Who
        will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of
        the tomb?''  And looking up, they saw that the stone
        had been rolled back -- it was very large.  And
        entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the
        right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were
        alarmed.  And he said to them, ``Do not be alarmed. You
        seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has
        risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid
        him.  But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is
        going before you to Galilee.  There you will see him,
        just as he told you.''  And they went out and fled from
        the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized
        them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were
        afraid.


        Let us pray the Prayer of the day for Easter:
        Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten
        Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened
        the gate of everlasting life to us.  Grant that we, who
        celebrate with joy the day of our Lord's resurrection,
        may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving
        Spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and
        reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
        forever.


        May our Lord grant you faith to hear the good news that
   Jesus Christ is indeed risen.  Amen.

April 3, 2026

Broadcast

                          Holy Week - Part 5
                             John 19:28-30
                              04/03/2026


        28   After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now
             finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), ``I
             thirst.''
        29   A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a
             sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch
             and held it to his mouth.
        30   When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said,
             ``It is finished,'' and he bowed his head and gave
             up his spirit.  (ESV)

        Today is both the darkest and the most important day in
   human history.  Jesus the Christ, true God and true man, died
   upon the cross to pay the price of your sins and mine.  The
   promise made to Adam and Eve on the day they sinned is fulfilled
   by the agony of our Savior.

        After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished,
        said (to fulfill the Scripture), ``I thirst.''  A jar
        full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge
        full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to
        his mouth.  When Jesus had received the sour wine, he
        said, ``It is finished,'' and he bowed his head and
        gave up his spirit.


        Once and for all time our Lord was sacrificed to redeem
   sinners.  In His death is our life.  He who knew no sin became
   sin for us that we might be redeemed from eternal death.

        Some larger parishes may have a worship service from noon to
   three, the hours of darkness.  Others, like Trinity, will gather
   in the evening to ponder this gift of love.  No matter when the
   congregation gathers, it gathers because God so loved the world
   that He gave His only-begotten Son.

        Therefore the Church prays today:
        Almighty God, graciously behold this Your family, for
        whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed
        and delivered into the hands of sinful men to suffer
        death upon the cross; through the same Jesus Christ,
        Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and
        the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.


        Amen.

April 2, 2026

Broadcast

                          Holy Week - Part 4
                        1 Corinthians 11:23-25
                              04/02/2026


        23   For I received from the Lord what I also delivered
             to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he
             was betrayed took bread,
        24   and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and
             said, ``This is my body which is for you. Do this
             in remembrance of me.''
        25   In the same way also he took the cup, after
             supper, saying, ``This cup is the new covenant in
             my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in
             remembrance of me.''  (ESV)

        Each week, as we gather together at our Lord's invitation to
   receive from Him the gift of the forgiveness of our sins which
   leads to eternal life, we celebrate the most blessed Sacrament
   which Jesus bestowed upon His Church on Thursday of Holy Week.
   Saint Paul wrote:
        For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to
        you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was
        betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he
        broke it, and said, ``This is my body which is for you.
        Do this in remembrance of me.''  In the same way also
        he took the cup, after supper, saying, ``This cup is
        the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you
        drink it, in remembrance of me.''


        Here the Church, here each one who receives the body and
   blood of Jesus in and under the bread and wine, is given tangible
   proof of God's grace and mercy.  Saint Paul reminded the
   congregation in Corinth: ``The cup of blessing that we bless, is
   it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we
   break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?''[1] As
   we depart the table, we do so knowing our sins are forgiven for
   the sake of Jesus who willingly bore the guilt and shame so that
   we may receive the gift of life.

        Therefore, today the Church prays:
        O Lord, in this wondrous Sacrament You have left us a
        remembrance of Your passion.  Grant that we may so
        receive the sacred mystery of Your body and blood that
        the fruits of Your redemption may continually be
        manifest in us; for You live and reign with the Father
        and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.


        Please join us at Trinity Lutheran Church this evening at
   7:00 as we ponder our Lord's gift of grace and mercy.  Amen.


   ____________________

   1. 1 Corinthians 10:16 (ESV)

April 1, 2026

Broadcast

                          Holy Week - Part 3
                            Isaiah 62:11-12
                              04/01/2026


        11   Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the
             earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, ``Behold, your
             salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him,
             and his recompense before him.''
        12   And they shall be called The Holy People, The
             Redeemed of the LORD; and you shall be called
             Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.  (ESV)

        As we look at the Gospel accounts of Holy Week, the week
   Jesus died, it seems that He did not go into the city on
   Wednesday.  Rather, He stayed in Bethany, where He and His
   disciples were guests in the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha.

        On this day, we read not only Luke's passion account, but
   also from the prophet Isaiah.
        Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the
        earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, ``Behold, your
        salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and
        his recompense before him.''  And they shall be called
        The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD; and you
        shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.


        Isaiah clearly spoke of the death and resurrection of the
   Messiah for the redemption of all people.  Therefore today the
   Church prays:
        Merciful and everlasting God, You did not spare Your
        only Son but delivered Him up for us all to bear our
        sins on the cross.  Grant that our hearts may be so
        fixed with steadfast faith in Him that we fear not the
        power of sin, death, and the devil; through the same
        Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
        and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.


        May our Lord grant you the peace which comes from faith in
   Christ Jesus.  Amen.

March 31, 2026

Broadcast

                          Holy Week - Part 2
                           Matthew 23:37-39
                              03/31/2026


        37   O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the
             prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How
             often would I have gathered your children together
             as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and
             you would not!
        38   See, your house is left to you desolate.
        39   For I tell you, you will not see me again, until
             you say, ``Blessed is he who comes in the name of
             the Lord.''  (ESV)

        We believe, teach, and confess that Jesus died and rose
   again to pay the price of all sin for all people for all time.
   Why, then, are many people condemned?  It is not that God desires
   their eternal death, but that they have rejected the message of
   salvation by grace through faith for the sake of Christ.

        On Tuesday of the week Jesus died He and His disciples
   visited the Temple in Jerusalem.  While there, Jesus lamented
   over the the city, expressing His frustration that the message of
   God's mercy was rejected.

        O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the
        prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often
        would I have gathered your children together as a hen
        gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!
        See, your house is left to you desolate.  For I tell
        you, you will not see me again, until you say,
        ``Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.''


        Within forty years the city would be in ruins, destroyed by
   the Romans.

        Today the Church prays for those who do not yet know the
   peace of God which comes from the forgiveness of sins.  We hope
   that this message of peace reaches those who otherwise have no
   lasting hope.

        Almighty and everlasting God, grant us by Your grace so
        to pass through this holy time of our Lord's passion
        that we may obtain the forgiveness of our sins; through
        Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns
        with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.


        May our Lord grant us grace to accept His gift of love with
   thanksgiving.  Amen.