Our text conveniently divides into three parts. First, the events of Pentecost are recounted, from what is seen to what is heard. Second, the crowds in Jerusalem react to these events, themselves giving a speech, ending with two questions. Finally, Peter responds with a sermon, the first part of which is contained in our text. May the Holy Spirit be upon us…

This is the Sunday of waiting; Ascension was Thursday, and now the church waits to celebrate the coming of the promised Holy Spirit on Pentecost. The apostles didn’t know it, but they only had ten days to wait, as Pentecost falls on the fiftieth day of Easter. Therefore, today we are with the first Christians waiting for the fulfillment of the Lord’s…

The Sixth Sunday of Easter brings us to the brink of Ascension. The season has been filled with the message of the resurrection as a very physical reality for the believers. The language of the texts has strongly reminded us of the importance of the physical office of the ministry. All of this is moving us to the importance of the Ascension.…

On this Confirmation Sunday the Lord reminded Peter and so reminds us, the love of God in Christ cleanses all who by the power of the Holy Spirit confess His name (Acts 11:16–18). We celebrate that this loving gift of repentance is freely given, grace that leads to a life of being loved by God and loving others in His name. We…

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is commonly celebrated as Good Shepherd Sunday. Each of the readings captures the nature of our Lord Jesus Christ as the expemplary shepherd. He is the only one who can ultimately gather, tend and protect us – through the gracious and merciul love given in His cross. He does this all for us – for the love…

The Second Sunday of Easter enables us to see the risen Lord as the disciples did not on Easter morning, but seen or unseen, He is present. The invisibly present Jesus makes Himself visible in an upper room (Gospel). The Epistle from Revelation 1 shows that Jesus as God is revealed to John in the Divine Service on the Lord’s Day. And…

The Easter feast loudly proclaims Christ’s victory over the grave. The “first day of the week” becomes the Lord’s Day. The joyful “alleluia” sounds forth anew. “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!” Thus, the Old Testament Reading from Isaiah tells us of God’s plan and promise of a whole new creation of life. The Epistle assures that death itself has been…

The Fifth Sunday in Lent draws us closer to Calvary; it serves as something of a prelude to Holy Week. The God who delivered Israel through the Red Sea (Is 43:16–17, Old Testament Reading) is now doing a “new thing” in His ultimate exodus from the Egypt of sin and death by way of the cross and open tomb. Link to Service…

The season of Lent is a time of penitence, of reflection on our sinful condition and the specific sins by which we have grieved our heavenly Father. Though our penitential reflection brings us to the realization that we deserve nothing but punishment, it ultimately leads us not to despair but to turn to God as prodigal children (Gospel, Lk 15:11–32) who have…

During the season of Lent, Christians customarily focus on the reality of temptation, both as our Lord experienced it and as we experience it. Yet the reality is that unlike our Lord, Christians do not merely experience temptation; they often fall prey to it. As the servants of Christ, His preachers are charged to warn those who have fallen prey to temptation…