On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. – v. 18 Our Gospel Reading marks a turning point in Matthew’s Gospel. Upon the Apostle Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, Christ begins to build His Church. And Baptism…

Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” – v. 28 As the Maker of heaven and earth our Triune God is the Author and Director of Life’s story as it is presented for us in Scripture, God’s Word. He not only is the author…

Promise: the invitation to heaven’s banquet is a gift free of charge. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. – Mt 14:20

The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession. – Dt. 7:6b

Whether or not you have a green thumb if you can’t get anything else to grow in your garden you will have no problem having a bed full of weeds. With millions of dormant seeds already in the worked-up soil all they need is sunlight and moisture. Most weeds are hearty little buggers. The thorns…

Jesus addresses a great mystery in our Gospel text today. Why do some people believe and not others? Why do some seem to be going along so strong in their faith then suddenly fall away? As we consider the threats to our faith: the devil, persecution, and the worries of this world, we appreciate all…

Jesus speaks to people weighed down by life’s burdens—financial worries, troubling news, broken relationships, uncertainty about the future, and the guilt of sin. While the world tells us to work harder, become stronger, and solve our own problems, Jesus reveals a different way. The Father makes Himself known not to the self-sufficient, but to those…

We travel to see kids and grandkids. We love going to a niece or nephew’s soccer game. Jesus tells us in today’s text, “And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than…

It is great during good times to believe that God is on your side with His blessings. Have you ever seen an old black-and-white photograph of a church’s Divine Service during or just after World War II? Extra chairs were added in the aisles for the great number of worshipers in dedicated attendance! Seventy-five years…

“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). In this passage, Paul shares with us the Gospel, namely, the good news that Jesus died to forgive our sins apart from anything we have done. The Father sent His Son Jesus to restore our…