Sermon for the Feast of the Transfiguration, March 3, 2019 (Luke 9:28-36) – “Ignoring the Exodus in the Room”

Printer's Device of Johann vom Berg (d. 1563) and Ulrich Neuber, from Veit Dietrich's (1506-1549) "Summaria vber die gantze Bibel." From the Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive. This sermon was originally preached at Living Savior Lutheran Church in Fairfax Station, Virginia. When you hear the word “exodus,” what comes to mind?  Perhaps you think of the book in the Bible by that name.  Makes sense— we’re in … Continue reading Sermon for the Feast of the Transfiguration, March 3, 2019 (Luke 9:28-36) – “Ignoring the Exodus in the Room”

Sermon for the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany, February 17, 2019 (1 Corinthians 15:12-20) – “A Futile Faith? By No Means!”

"The Resurrection" (1886-1894) by James Tissot (1836-1902), Brooklyn Museum. Originally preached at Living Savior Lutheran Church, Fairfax Station, Virginia. In the name of Jesus, amen. If you have spent as much time in the bowels of religious internet discussion pages as I have (a fact about which I am not proud), you will have often come across members of the New Atheist set— those disciples of Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, among … Continue reading Sermon for the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany, February 17, 2019 (1 Corinthians 15:12-20) – “A Futile Faith? By No Means!”

Patrick Hamilton’s Excursus on Faith, Hope, and Charity from “Patrick’s Places” (1527)

The only known portrait of Patrick Hamilton, painted by John Scougal (1645-1730). The following is excerpted from the great little treatise on Law and Gospel published by Patrick Hamilton, the first Scottish Lutheran martyr, in 1527 as Patrick's Places. The treatise was republished in Foxe's Book of Martyrs (1751), and recently published for the Kindle by Pastor Don Matzat … Continue reading Patrick Hamilton’s Excursus on Faith, Hope, and Charity from “Patrick’s Places” (1527)

Sermon for the Fifth Sunday of Epiphany, February 10, 2019 – “We’re Not Worthy!” (Isaiah 6:1-8)

"Isaiah's Vision" from Luther's Bible, 1534 (Lucas Cranach) This sermon was originally preached at Living Savior Lutheran Church, Fairfax Station, Virginia. In the name of Jesus, amen. When it comes to comedies, I personally enjoy films that have a good degree of absurdist humor mixed into them, and one of the weirder ones in my list of favorites is 1992’s Wayne’s World starring Mike Meyers and Dana … Continue reading Sermon for the Fifth Sunday of Epiphany, February 10, 2019 – “We’re Not Worthy!” (Isaiah 6:1-8)