June 29, 2025 - Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul Sermon

Color: Red

First Reading: Acts 15:1–12
First Reading: Acts 15:1–21
Psalm: Psalm 46; antiphon: v. 11
Epistle: Galatians 2:1–10
Gospel: Matthew 16:13–19
Introit: Psalm 89:1, 5, 15–16; antiphon: Psalm 119:46
Gradual: Romans 10:15b, 18b; Isaiah 52:7b, alt.
Verse: Matthew 16:18b

St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles
 
Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” So confessed St. Peter. And Christ promised to build His Church on it by the forgiveness of sins (Matt. 16:16–19). He does this so we don’t try to build the Church ourselves, on this or that person, or by any human means. “Let no one boast in men … whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas,” for “all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s” (1 Cor. 3:21–23). The same Lord “who worked through Peter … worked also through” Paul and is still at work in His Gospel and Sacraments (Gal. 2:7–8). The Church of every age must be recalled to “hear the word of the gospel” — the free forgiveness of sins for Christ’s sake apart from the Law — “and believe.” The Holy Spirit makes “no distinction” among men, but cleanses “hearts by faith” alone. So “we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 15:7–11). Both were imprisoned (Acts 12:1–11), both wrote Scripture (2 Peter 3:15–16), both opposed the world — and sometimes each other (Gal. 2:11–16) — all so “that the truth of the gospel might be preserved” for us (Gal. 2:5).

Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship