Category: Turn Your Radio On 2026

August 19, 2026

Broadcast

                           Forgiven - Part 3
                             Luke 18:10-12
                              08/19/2026


        10   Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a
             Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
        11   The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus:
             ``God, I thank you that I am not like other men,
             extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like
             this tax collector.
        12   I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I
             get.''  (ESV)

        This we our prayer acknowledges God's grace even as we
   confess our unworthiness.
        Almighty and everlasting God, always more ready to hear
        than we to pray and to give more than we either desire
        or deserve, pour down upon us the abundance of Your
        mercy, forgiving those things of which our conscience
        is afraid and giving us those good things that we are
        not worthy to ask, except through the merits and
        mediation of Christ, our Lord.


        ``Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee
   and the other a tax collector.''  As people looked on, they saw a
   man who was highly regarded as a religious leader hurrying into
   the Temple at the time of the sacrifice.  They also were
   disgusted at the other man, someone who worked for the Roman
   government, one who made his living at the expense of others.

        The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ``God,
        I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners,
        unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I
        fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.''


        This is a prayer, for prayer is talking to God.  But this
   prayer neither asks God for a blessing, nor is it a prayer which
   confesses a sin.  The Pharisee exalts himself above others,
   claiming religious superiority.  In the eyes of society, he is
   correct.  No one can match his civil goodness, his meticulous
   keeping of the law.

        His prayer is one of pride and arrogance, born out of
   experience.  He was, after all, one to whom others respected as a
   pillar of the community.  Did his prayer please God?  Did his
   good works earn him the assurance of eternal life?  May our Lord
   grant us humility, that we may be willing to serve Him by serving
   our neighbors.  Amen.

August 18, 2026

Broadcast

                           Forgiven - Part 2
                             Luke 18:9-10
                              08/18/2026


        9    [Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted
             in themselves that they were righteous, and
             treated others with contempt:
        10   Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a
             Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  (ESV)

        We pray:
        Almighty and everlasting God, always more ready to hear
        than we to pray and to give more than we either desire
        or deserve, pour down upon us the abundance of Your
        mercy, forgiving those things of which our conscience
        is afraid and giving us those good things that we are
        not worthy to ask, except through the merits and
        mediation of Christ, our Lord.


        God, in His infinite grace and mercy, has given His Son to
   die to pay the price of our sins.  He promises that we will find
   forgiveness as we gather together to hear His Word and to partake
   of the Sacraments.  He invites the humble, the poor, the sinners
   to come into His presence to give them the hope which comes from
   the promise of life everlasting.

        [Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in
        themselves that they were righteous, and treated others
        with contempt: Two men went up into the temple to pray,
        one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.


        There are people you expect to see in church.  They
   frequently quote the Bible, pray in public, and are very careful
   to keep both the Ten Commandments and the laws of society.
   Others you wonder about.  The man with the drinking problem, the
   young lady who has a reputation for being less than faithful in
   her relationships, the student who is always in trouble as
   school.  These also are welcome.

        The church is not for self-avowed saints, but for sinners in
   need of redemption.  The church is not for the person who is
   perfect, but for the person who feels the weight of sin.

        May our Lord grant that we sinners heed His call to come
   into His presence to receive His good gifts and blessings.  Amen.

August 17, 2026

Broadcast

                           Forgiven - Part 1
                             Luke 18:9-10
                              08/17/2026


        9    [Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted
             in themselves that they were righteous, and
             treated others with contempt:
        10   Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a
             Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  (ESV)

        The prayer of the week both confesses God's grace and mercy,
   while confessing our unworthiness because of our sin and
   rebellion.
        Almighty and everlasting God, always more ready to hear
        than we to pray and to give more than we either desire
        or deserve, pour down upon us the abundance of Your
        mercy, forgiving those things of which our conscience
        is afraid and giving us those good things that we are
        not worthy to ask, except through the merits and
        mediation of Christ, our Lord; who lives and reigns
        with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.


        What we deserve is God's eternal wrath and punishment.  What
   we receive is everything we need to support this body and life.
   What we receive is the forgiveness of our sins for the sake of
   the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

        The text this week, the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax
   Collector, reinforces our understanding of God's great mercy.

        [Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in
        themselves that they were righteous, and treated others
        with contempt: Two men went up into the temple to pray,
        one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.


        We will learn that God offers us the forgiveness of our
   sins, not because of our works, but because of His love.  The
   person who is holy in the sight of his neighbors may not be the
   one who receives full pardon for his transgressions.

        May our Lord grant us faith to trust in Him for our
   salvation.  Amen.

August 14, 2026

Broadcast

                       The Time is Now - Part 5
                             Luke 19:41-44
                              08/13/2026


        41   And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept
             over it,
        42   saying, ``Would that you, even you, had known on
             this day the things that make for peace! But now
             they are hidden from your eyes.
        43   For the days will come upon you, when your enemies
             will set up a barricade around you and surround
             you and hem you in on every side
        44   and tear you down to the ground, you and your
             children within you. And they will not leave one
             stone upon another in you, because you did not
             know the time of your visitation.''  (ESV)

        This week we have heard Jesus' prophecy about the
   destruction of Jerusalem which happened about forty years after
   His death and resurrection.
        And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over
        it, saying, ``Would that you, even you, had known on
        this day the things that make for peace! But now they
        are hidden from your eyes.  For the days will come upon
        you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around
        you and surround you and hem you in on every side and
        tear you down to the ground, you and your children
        within you. And they will not leave one stone upon
        another in you, because you did not know the time of
        your visitation.''


        Because of this warning, the Church prays:
        O God, You declare Your almighty power above all in
        showing mercy and pity.  Mercifully grant us such a
        measure of Your grace that we may obtain Your gracious
        promises and be made partakers of Your heavenly
        treasures.


        We have seen that the city was destroyed because they did
   not know the time of Jesus' visitation.  By rejecting God's mercy
   they sealed their own fate.

        The time is now.  Today may be the last time that you hear
   of God's mercy and pity.  How will you respond?  Will you put off
   learning more about God's grace?  Will you realize that this may
   be the last opportunity you have to hear of His love?

        Please join us at Trinity Lutheran Church each Sunday
   morning at 9:00 a.m.  as we come to a better understanding of
   God's mercy.

        May our Lord grant that we know the time of His visitation
   for our salvation.  Amen.

August 13, 2026

Broadcast

                       The Time is Now - Part 4
                             Luke 19:43-44
                              08/13/2026


        43   For the days will come upon you, when your enemies
             will set up a barricade around you and surround
             you and hem you in on every side
        44   and tear you down to the ground, you and your
             children within you. And they will not leave one
             stone upon another in you, because you did not
             know the time of your visitation.''  (ESV)

        The Church prays:
        O God, You declare Your almighty power above all in
        showing mercy and pity.  Mercifully grant us such a
        measure of Your grace that we may obtain Your gracious
        promises and be made partakers of Your heavenly
        treasures.


        Why was the city of Jerusalem destroyed?  God, who is long-
   suffering, eventually removes sinful nations which reject Him.
   The religious leaders of the day did not recognize the
   opportunity that God gave to learn of Jesus, to accept His gift
   of salvation.

        Therefore, Jesus foretold their destruction, which happened
   in August, 70 A.D.
        For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will
        set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem
        you in on every side and tear you down to the ground,
        you and your children within you. And they will not
        leave one stone upon another in you, because you did
        not know the time of your visitation.''


        Here is the lesson for each of us.  The Church proclaims the
   words of Isaiah the prophet, calling everyone to hear of God's
   grace, love, and mercy.
        Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him
        while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and
        the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the
        Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our
        God, for he will abundantly pardon.[1]


        May our Lord grant that we hear His voice and follow Him.
   Amen.
       ____________________

       1. Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV)

August 12, 2026

Broadcast

                       The Time is Now - Part 3
                             Luke 19:43-44
                              08/12/2026


        43   For the days will come upon you, when your enemies
             will set up a barricade around you and surround
             you and hem you in on every side
        44   and tear you down to the ground, you and your
             children within you. And they will not leave one
             stone upon another in you, because you did not
             know the time of your visitation.''  (ESV)

        This week the Church prayed:
        O God, You declare Your almighty power above all in
        showing mercy and pity.  Mercifully grant us such a
        measure of Your grace that we may obtain Your gracious
        promises and be made partakers of Your heavenly
        treasures.


        As Jesus entered into Jerusalem the Sunday before He was
   crucified, amid the waving of palm branches and the shouts of the
   crowd, He wept and grieved over the coming destruction of the
   city.  Those who called for Jesus' death did not recognize that
   He is the Son of God, the Messiah who God sent to redeem each
   person from sin, death, and the power of the devil.  By not
   recognizing Jesus, the religious leaders and their followers
   sealed their own fate.

        Forty years after Jesus rose from the dead, the city of
   Jerusalem was destroyed by the armies of Rome.  Jesus' words, His
   prophecy, were shown to be true.
        For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will
        set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem
        you in on every side and tear you down to the ground,
        you and your children within you. And they will not
        leave one stone upon another in you, because you did
        not know the time of your visitation.''


        There is a point when God withdraws His offer of mercy,
   pity, and grace.  He never forces Himself on anyone.  He shows us
   the true peace which comes from the forgiveness of our sins for
   the sake of His Son, but will allow people to harden their hearts
   against Him.

        Today you hear His voice, the good news that Christ Jesus
   died and rose again to defeat death and the grave.

        May our Lord grant that we know the time of His visitation.
   Amen.

August 11, 2026

Broadcast

                       The Time is Now - Part 2
                             Luke 19:41-42
                              08/11/2026


        41   And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept
             over it,
        42   saying, ``Would that you, even you, had known on
             this day the things that make for peace! But now
             they are hidden from your eyes.''  (ESV)

        God does not force Himself on anyone.  He offers life and
   salvation, the peace which comes from knowing your sins are
   forgiven, to all people.  Each person has the right to reject
   God's gracious gift, for God did not create us to be robots, but
   intelligent beings.

        This week the Church prays:
        O God, You declare Your almighty power above all in
        showing mercy and pity.  Mercifully grant us such a
        measure of Your grace that we may obtain Your gracious
        promises and be made partakers of Your heavenly
        treasures.


        How does the Gospel reading which we heard last Sunday
   reinforce the truth that God's power is found in mercy and pity,
   not in a show of force?
        And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over
        it, saying, ``Would that you, even you, had known on
        this day the things that make for peace! But now they
        are hidden from your eyes.''


        The Father sent His only-begotten Son, Jesus, to pay the
   price of our sin.  Jesus willingly took on our human flesh,
   placed Himself under God's Law, and fulfilled that Law perfectly.
   Yet, in His innocence, He was crucified because He took your sin
   and mine upon Himself, suffering death and condemnation so that
   you and I may live with Him for all eternity.  This sinless Son
   of God wept in grief and sorrow for those who were about to put
   Him to death.  He never desired their destruction.  He never
   desired their condemnation.  His death and resurrection covered
   their sin as much as it covers the sins of those who do not
   reject God's offer of life.

        May our Lord grant that we hear of His mercy and pity, and
   believe in Jesus as our Redeemer.  Amen.

August 10, 2026

Broadcast

                       The Time is Now - Part 1
                             Luke 19:41-44
                              08/10/2026


        41   And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept
             over it,
        42   saying, ``Would that you, even you, had known on
             this day the things that make for peace! But now
             they are hidden from your eyes.
        43   For the days will come upon you, when your enemies
             will set up a barricade around you and surround
             you and hem you in on every side
        44   and tear you down to the ground, you and your
             children within you. And they will not leave one
             stone upon another in you, because you did not
             know the time of your visitation.''  (ESV)

        The Bible is quite clear that God desires that all people
   come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, have faith in Him, to
   receive the gift of everlasting life.  We believe, teach, and
   confess that the faith which trusts in Christ Jesus is a gift
   which we receive as the Holy Spirit causes us to recognize our
   sin and to hear of Jesus' sacrifice.

        This week our prayer confesses this truth, even as we ask
   God's rich blessing on the Church and individuals.
        O God, You declare Your almighty power above all in
        showing mercy and pity.  Mercifully grant us such a
        measure of Your grace that we may obtain Your gracious
        promises and be made partakers of Your heavenly
        treasures; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,
        who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one
        God, now and forever.


        Yet, the Gospel reading for this past Sunday is the prophecy
   of the destruction of Jerusalem, spoken on Palm Sunday as Jesus
   rode into the city the week He was crucified.
        And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over
        it, saying, ``Would that you, even you, had known on
        this day the things that make for peace! But now they
        are hidden from your eyes.  For the days will come upon
        you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around
        you and surround you and hem you in on every side and
        tear you down to the ground, you and your children
        within you. And they will not leave one stone upon
        another in you, because you did not know the time of
        your visitation.''


        This week we will see God's love expressed even as He
   condemns those who reject Him.

        May our Lord grant us wisdom to recognize the opportunity to
   hear of His grace.  Amen.

August 7, 2026

Broadcast

                     Faithful Stewardship - Part 5
                              Luke 16:13
                              08/07/2026


        13   No servant can serve two masters, for either he
             will hate the one and love the other, or he will
             be devoted to the one and despise the other. You
             cannot serve God and money.  (ESV)

        What is your priority in life?  Is it wealth or power or
   fame?  Is it the toys you can buy, or the trips you can take, or
   that body that comes from hours at the gym?  Where to you spend
   your time, talents, and treasures?

        Too often our desires pull us away from the love of God.  We
   begin to worship the creation and ignore the Creator.  It may
   begin innocently, but eventually our passions for things
   overcomes any good sense we might have.

        Jesus told His disciples: ``No servant can serve two
   masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or
   he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot
   serve God and money.''  The things of this world pass away, the
   things of God are eternal.

        Because we cannot serve God and money, we pray:
        Let Your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers
        of Your humble servants; and that they may obtain their
        petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please
        You.


        Please join us at Trinity Lutheran Church at 9:00 Sunday
   morning to learn more about God's grace, love, and mercy as found
   in Jesus Christ so that your desire may be to serve Him.

        May our Lord grant you eternal blessings as you fear, love,
   and trust in Him above all things.  Amen.

August 6, 2026

Broadcast

                     Faithful Stewardship - Part 4
                             Luke 16:11-12
                              08/06/2026


        11   If then you have not been faithful in the
             unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the
             true riches?
        12   And if you have not been faithful in that which is
             another's, who will give you that which is your
             own?  (ESV)

        The things of this world are temporary.  Nothing lasts
   forever, not even the earth and sky.  How we use the things of
   this world shows how we approach the eternal gifts of God.

        Jesus asked His followers:
        If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous
        wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?  And
        if you have not been faithful in that which is
        another's, who will give you that which is your own?


        Because we desire to seek first the kingdom of God and His
   righteousness, we prayed:
        Let Your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers
        of Your humble servants; and that they may obtain their
        petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please
        You.


        Often we are selfish in our use of our time, talents, and
   treasure because we are afraid of the future.  As we seek to
   fear, love, and trust in God above all things, we come to know
   that even when we are dealt a devastating blow such as a personal
   disaster, He is with us and will care for us.

        Thus, as we can so do, we give of our time to help others by
   volunteering at the Hospice, or in coaching little league, or
   serving at church or in the community.  We use our talents, not
   for our own enjoyment, but to bring joy and comfort to others.
   We visit the sick, we provide meals for those who are in trouble,
   we hold the hands of those who mourn.

        May our Lord grant us the wisdom to recognize the
   opportunities to serve Him by serving our neighbor.  Amen.