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Sermon - Easter Day - Mark 16:1-8

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The Resurrection, Francesco Buoneri, 1619 Jesus Rose, Hence God is Real Why were the first witnesses of the resurrection afraid and astonished? Because God is real, and Jesus is God. Jesus rose, and therefore sin, death, and hell are real, but so is our rescue from those things. Let us then celebrate the resurrection without the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! How do you feel right now? Are you afraid? Has trembling and astonishment seized you? I’m guessing probably not. Today Easter has an ambiance of spring time happiness, with bright pastel colors and smiles galore! So the response of the women on the first Easter maybe strikes you as a bit bizarre: “ And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. ” Why in the world would they be trembling and filled with fear? Shouldn’t they be jum...
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Sermon - Annunciation 2026 - Luke 1:26-38

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The Annunciation, Tintoretto, 1563 The passion of Christ is the fulfillment of the angelic message Eve’s fall to the evil angel Mary’s obedience to the good angel The death of Jesus’ tears the divide between God and man A blessed feast of the Annunciation of our Lord to the blessed virgin Mary! It is a bit peculiar that today we are celebrating the incarnation of our Lord, something that feels like Christmas, in the midst of Lent so close to Holy Week. Perhaps you think I’m a few sandwiches short of a Lady Day picnic, but I’m not making it up. Today, March 25th, is the Feast of the Annunciation. Today has been the celebration of the Annunciation since at least the 5th century, but its dating goes back even earlier since it has been a long-standing belief that Jesus’ death was on March 25th. And it’s believed that Jesus was conceived on the same day that He was crucified. (As an aside, this is why we celebrate Christmas on December 25th, nine months after the Annunciation.) If that wasn...
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Sermon - Judica 2026 - John 8:46-59

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The Sacrifice of Isaac, Caravaggio, 1603 Whoever is of God shall not see death What does it mean to not see death? To see death is to go to hell and suffer damnation, and those who are of Christ will die on earth, but live forever with the Lord in the resurrection, like Abraham. Who are those who will not see death? Only those who are of God through faith, by hearing and keeping God’s Word, are children of God. Just because you claim Abraham or claim God or claim the traditions doesn’t actually rescue you from death. What has happened to prevent us from seeing death? Jesus Christ’s death is the substitutionary atonement for us, who through His blood sacrificed Himself in order to provide the lamb for the burnt offering. These last two weeks of Lent are ramping up to Good Friday. As such, these two weeks are called Passion Tide, and there are various traditions and such that the church has adopted for these weeks. But in spite of how somber these texts are, where today we see Jesus call...
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Sermon - Lent, Midweek 3, 2026 - Baptism, Part 3

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Healing of Naaman, Jan van Scorel, 16th Century The Water of Baptism: Washes away sin, death, and hell Rebirths us as Children of God Isn’t the interaction between Elisha and Naaman fantastic! Here’s Naaman, this great commander of the Syrian army, who is afflicted with leprosy! He had to take advice from one of his foreign born servant girls who directed him to a prophet of the little kingdom of Israel. When Naaman brings his entourage to see Elisha, Elisha doesn’t even go to the door but sends his messenger. Naaman is then told “ Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean. ” Now, we don’t know the rivers of the ancient world, but Naaman does, and this instruction drives him mad! Jordan is a filthy river, and basically any other river would’ve made more sense. But in the midst of this mighty army commander’s temper tantrum, another of his servants has to calm him down and be the voice of reason, saying: “ It is a great word the pr...
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