Sermon for December 29, 2013

Sermon for First Sunday after Christmas/New Year’s Eve Observed

December 29, 2013, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Wallis, Texas

Sermon Text:  Psalm 27

Sermon Theme:  “Whom Shall I Fear?”

(Sources:  Two online Illustrations from SermonCentral.com; original ideas and personal illustrations; Psalm 27, SermonCentral.com; Concordia Pulpit Resources, Volume 21, Part 1, Series A; Nelson’s 3 in 1 Concordance/Reference)

 Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

 The Bible’s picture language of light coming into the darkness begins in Advent and crescendos to a climax at Christmas, with a denouement of bursting light at Epiphany.  Today, at this mid-point between Christmas and Epiphany, we consider the words of Psalm 27, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” 

There are so many memorable examples in Scripture of light coming into the darkness to end it, — at least a dozen of the Psalms, including our sermon text and Psalm 89:15, “Blessed are those . . . who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord,” proclaim this.  Isaiah 9:2:  “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.”  John 3:19:  “Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light, because their deeds were evil.”  John 9:5:  Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.”  Acts 26:18:  Jesus tells His disciples, “I am sending you to open their eyes and turn them from darkness into light.” 

There are at least 50 or more of such quotations in the New Testament alone, so let those examples suffice to make my point, that in Christ, we come out of the darkness into a great light.  The reassurance that David gives in our sermon text is the rhetorical question, ‘whom shall I fear’ if I have the light. Continue reading

Sermon For December 22, 2013

Sermon for Fourth Sunday in Advent, December 22, 2013

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Wallis, Texas

Sermon Text:  Isaiah 7:10-17

Sermon Theme: “Here’s a Sign for You”

(Emphasis online Commentary; Emphasis online Illustrations; Wally Becker, Concordia Journal, Fall 2013, Vol. 39, No. 4; original ideas; Anderson’s Preaching Workbook, Cycle A; Merriam-Webster Collegiate Encyclopedia; online Daily News)

 Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ

The world is full of signs, isn’t it?  We ring a big bronze bell as a sign that our worship service is beginning.  Some folks believe that a full moon is a sign that the fishing is good.  The interpretation of signs differs according to the kind of person you are, — if you’re an optimist, you look at the clouds in the sky and think that it’s partly sunny.  Pessimists look at those same clouds, and say it’s partly cloudy.  Realists never look up because they know that there are birds flying overhead.

In recent years, modern churches have gone to putting up huge, colorful signs with flashing lights in front of their church to grab people’s attention.  Not too long ago, one of those flashing-light signs said, “If you’re looking for a sign from God, this is it!”  At best, that makes us chuckle!  Continue reading

Sermon for December 15th, 2013

Sermon for Third Sunday in Advent

December 15, 2013, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Wallis, Texas

Sermon Text:  Isaiah 35:1-10

Sermon Theme:  “The Desert Shall Rejoice”

(Sources:  Anderson, Cycle A, preaching workbook; Concordia Journal, Fall 2013, Vol. 39, No 4; Emphasis Online Commentary; Emphasis Online Illustrations; Believer’s Commentary; original ideas and examples)

 Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

 If anyone had taken a walking tour of the United State during World War II, one of the things they would have noticed was the absence of young men between the ages of 18 and 30.  The young men of America had either been drafted or had enlisted, with even 16 year olds lying about their age and volunteering to serve.  It was a period during which our land was barren of young men.

In the huge window of one of the stores in Dime Box where I grew up in the forties, there were pictures of the sons of the community who had died in the War or were missing in action; they were sorely missed.  Continue reading

Sermon for December 8th 2013

Sermon for the Second Sunday in Advent

December 8, 2013, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Wallis, Texas

Sermon Text:  Matthew 3:1-12

Sermon Theme:  “So Why Do We Need to Repent?”

(Sources:  Emphasis online Commentary; Emphasis online Illustrations; Anderson’s Cycle A Preaching Workbook; original ideas)

 Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

 You know, some people consider this countdown to Christmas as “Party Time!”  It’s the time of year for giving and going to Christmas parties.  When I was still teaching at the college, I had some colleagues who actually competed to see who could get themselves invited to the most cocktail parties during December.  “Free booze!”  They would say.

When my colleagues were throwing their Christmas parties, I know for certain they would not have invited John the Baptist.  Come to think of it, I probably would not have invited John either.  Continue reading

Pastor Appreciation Day – 2013

Pastor Appreciation Day Banner

Sunday, November 24, was the day chosen to celebrate “Pastor Appreciation Day” for Pastor Ray Spitzenberger, who has served at St. Paul’s for 25 years. The sign pictured proclaims the special day, and Pastor Ray was served many pieces of his favorite pie, pumpkin.

Sermon for December 1st, 2013

Sermon for the First Sunday in Advent

December 1, 2013, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Wallis, Texas

Sermon Text:  Isaiah 2:1-5

Sermon Theme:  “Swords into Plow Shares”

(Sources:  Emphasis online Commentary by Ronald Love; Emphasis online Illustrations; Concordia Journal, Fall 2013, Vol. 39, No. 4; Anderson’s Preaching Workbook, Cycle A; original ideas; Houston Chronicle, 11/26/13)

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

“’Tis the season to be jolly!”  Most of us think we ought to be feeling that inside of us right now!  We should be filled with joy and happiness as we anticipate family gatherings, gift sharing, brightly decorated Christmas trees, and neighborhood streets adorned with tinsel and lights!  A happy time of the year it should be, and it is for many people.

But for some it is a time of great stress.  According to the Life Stress Test, there are 43 life events which cause people much stress.  Going to jail is one of those; moving to another city is another one.  Going on a vacation trip is yet another.  Christmas is on top of the list.  Instead of being relaxed and feeling jolly, many folks stress out at Christmastime.  Perhaps it’s because anticipating Christmas intensifies the other stresses already inside us. Continue reading