St. John's Lutheran Church Sermons
Web Site: St. John's Lutheran Church
Total Sermons: 179
Total Amens: 1
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Improper Distinctions
We are prone to make improper distinctions in many areas of life. Is there an improper distinction made between what James says and what Paul says concerning salvation? Does James advocate salvation by works over against what Paul preaches about salvation by grace through faith? The truth is that both James and Paul speak of one and the same faith: a true and living trust in Jesus as Savior, and that this faith will make itself known in good works that point others to Jesus.
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Practical Religion
Authentic Christianity possesses an intimate relationship between belief and action: it is practical religion because it is meant to be a practiced religion, coming as a response to the gospel, the word of truth.
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Ready for Battle
Spiritual warfare is a reality for the believer in Christ. As baptized and redeemed people of God, we are "high profile targets" of the enemy, who is bent on our destruction. The weapons that we use are very different than those used in earthly conflict and warfare, but are very powerful: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the Gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. In truth, the victory over against sin, death, and hell has already been won by Christ our Captain through his death and resurrection. It is is strength and power that will see us through.
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Walking Wise
To walk wise means to follow a path of holiness in our actions, to make choices that are pleasing to God, and God directs us in following such a path
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Christ's Copy Cats
Who are our models of faith? To whom do we look to as examples for imitating a godly life in Jesus Christ? Paul invites believers to imitate God and explains what this looks like: putting away falsehood and speaking the truth to our neighbors; being angry but not letting that anger lead us into sin; stealing must give way to work that will support those in need; having holy conversation that builds people up rather than tearing them down; not grieving the Holy Spirit; ridding our lives of things that pull us away from God – bitterness, angry outbursts, wrath, the cry of strife, slander and whatever is bad. In place of these things, God’s people are to be godly and Christ-like: tenderhearted, forgiving others as God in Christ has forgiven us. This is our calling in Christ: to imitate Christ's own example of humble and loving servanthood to others.
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Walking Together
God gives us the community of the Church to correct, to forgive, to build up, to support, and to proclaim His grace.
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Little is Much in the Hands of the Lord
So often we see only what we do not have in matters of faith, and think little of those seemingly small things. But little is much in the hands of the Lord! Paul's prayer for believers here in Ephesians 3 ends with a triumphant song of thanks to God: "Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." What a promise! God is able to do far more than anything we can imagine, and so we trust that little really is much in the hands of the Lord.
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Dead Man Walking
We who once were the walking dead are made truly alive by God's grace, living out lives as willing workers, doing that which God has prepared for us.
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The Riches of His Grace
Paul's letter to the Ephesians makes known t he riches of God's grace in Jesus, the Beloved. Of infinitely greater value than any earthly treasure, the riches of God's amazing love, mercy, and forgiveness are freely given through faith in Jesus. This is not something which can be earned or merited; nor is it something which we deserve. The riches of God's grace are given to us as a gift through the cleansing blood of Jesus. Rather than hoarding this incredible treasure and keeping it all to ourselves, our calling is to share with others what we ourselves have received so they too will be blessed with the riches of God's grace in Christ Jesus.
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Walking in Weakness
As we celebrate our nation's Independence Day, we remember that as Christians are dependent on our Lord, whose love overcomes our weakness
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