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Sermons 2024

Pastor Rhode proposes a radical idea: to love the Church as Christ loves the Church. The Church is portrayed as both: sinful and righteous, wounded yet healed, and visible yet invisible. The importance of concrete, tangible expressions of love for the Church is emphasized rather than abstract ideals. While acknowledging imperfections within the Church, pastor asserts that the Church is defined by the presence of Christ, his Gospel, and His sacraments. Ultimately, loving the Church means embracing forgiveness and clinging to the voice of Christ amidst all other voices. We are exhorted to affirm the unity of the Church militant on Earth and the Church triumphant in heaven gathered around Christ and His promise of forgiveness and eternal life. To love the Church is to love what Christ loves!

The reason for the disciples' fear and doubt following Jesus's resurrection is not recorded in God's Word, but one can assume their fear was twofold: the fear of death and the fear of shame. Despite their doubts, Jesus appears to His disciples offering peace and showing his wounds as evidence of his victory over death. We are reminded of the importance of believing without seeing and finding comfort in Christ's presence through the sacraments and the Word of God. Let us rejoice in Christ's resurrection and the assurance of eternal life. May we boldly confess Christ despite potential shame.

The status of Jesus as King is unparalleled. God demonstrated His majestic power by exalting Jesus from the lowest possible position to the highest position, far above all earthly and heavenly authorities. Let us contemplate the profound implications of this today in Christ's resurrection and ascension. We view this mighty act of God against the backdrop of worldly rejection and moral decay, symbolized by events like the "Transgender Day of Visibility." Consider the spiritual choices before you: light and darkness. The light of Christ's truth versus the darkness of worldly values. May we recognize the immeasurable greatness of God's power and authority available to a believer in Jesus Christ. Regardless of past mistakes, struggles, and sin, Christ's resurrection offers each of us the transformative power of God that overcomes any sin or darkness in our lives. Our feelings of unworthiness and doubt are surpassed by the power of God's grace. He is risen! He is risen indeed!

In the transition from Good Friday to Easter, a profound shift occurs from darkness to light, reminiscent of key moments in biblical history. Just as light emerged from darkness at God's command during creation, Noah and his family passed from destruction to new life atop the flood waters, and Israel found liberation from bondage in Egypt to freedom at the Red Sea, so too has Christ's sacrifice brought forgiveness and annulled the powers of death and Satan. Believers are called to rejoice. Through Holy Baptism, they have passed from death to life and are united with Christ in his resurrection. Death or worldly threats are no longer a fear, because Christ has triumphed over the grave and promised life to all believers. He has opened Paradise. Rather than viewing the tomb as a place of finality, it is seen as a womb of new life, awaiting the resurrection of the body. Let our hearts be filled with joy and gratitude for the blessings of forgiveness and eternal life through Christ's sacrifice. Death holds no power, for Christ is risen, and believers shall rise with him. Rejoice!

God's most significant work often happens when humans are seemingly inactive, unaware or even asleep. In biblical history this includes God creating Eve from Adam's rib while Adam slept. Abraham's covenant with God and Jacob's ladder dream both occurred during deep sleep. Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and his subsequent crucifixion and resurrection, point us to the spiritual significance of Christ's sacrifice. For by Christ's death the power of death has been undone. When God laid His beloved Son into the dust of death, at that very moment, death was undone. Death was transformed. Those dead and forever gone are now merely sleeping. As we ourselves are laid into the dust of death, we should fear the grave as little as we fear our beds, for God does His most significant work when man is asleep.