“Christ sacrificed Himself in His own body on the tree for our sins, so that we who have died to sin, live in righteousness; through His wounds we are healed.”  The following is a portion of a sermon by Johann Gerhard on “The Suffering and Death of Christ.”      “How should we, on account of His suffering, show our gratitude towards Christ?  The scripture shows us this also, in as it admonishes th...

  The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 22.  However, already at the beginning of the month we enter the season of what is called pre-Lent.  While still officially part of the Epiphany season, what are often referred to as the “gesima” Sundays begin to prepare us for the “official” forty day season of Lent leading up to Holy Week and climaxing on Easter Sunday.     The pre-Lente...

“And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.  And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” (Matt. 2:...

Throughout the month of December we celebrate the season of Advent, remembering how the prophet Isaiah declared the miraculous birth of Jesus with these words, “Behold the virgin will conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.” He also described the how the Messiah would, “bring good news to the poor…bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of ...

  As we move into November, the readings and the hymns emphasize the Judgment Day and the return of Christ.  “The day is surely drawing near,” we sing, “when Jesus, God’s anointed, in all His power shall appear as judge whom God appointed.”  (LSB 508)    Therefore, we remember that time is short. They remind us that even though Christians have been waiting for our Lord’s return since He first asce...