Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church - Olive Branch, MS

July 7, 2024 - Trinity 6 Sermon

Color: Green

Old Testament: Exodus 20:1–17
Psalm: Psalm 19; antiphon: v. 8
Epistle: Romans 6:3–11
Epistle: Romans 6:1–11
Gospel: Matthew 5:20–26
Gospel: Matthew 5:17–26
Introit: Psalm 28:1–2, 7; antiphon: vv. 8–9
Gradual: Psalm 90:13, 1, 2b
Verse: Psalm 31:1

Our Only Hope Is in Christ’s Righteousness
 
“Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:20). God demands nothing less than perfection and holiness from you in regard to His commandments (Ex. 20:1–17). Your only hope, then, is not in your own goodness but in the goodness of Christ, who did not come to destroy the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them for you. In Christ, your righteousness does indeed exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. For you have been baptized into Christ’s death and your sinful nature crucified. Therefore, he who has died has been freed from sin (Rom. 6:1–11). You are now raised with Christ to walk in newness of life and to share in His resurrection on the Last Day. Christ has brought you through the baptismal sea “out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Ex. 20:2). Therefore, “consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:11).

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

July 3, 2024 - Apologetics 101 - Presuppositional Apologetics

Presuppositional Apologetics

June 30, 2024 - Peace Lutheran Oxford, MS - Mark 12-13

Mark 12-13

June 30, 2024 - Trinity 5 Sermon

Color: Green

Old Testament: 1 Kings 19:11–21
Psalm: Psalm 16; antiphon: v. 11
Epistle: 1 Peter 3:8–15
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:18–25
Gospel: Luke 5:1–11
Introit: Psalm 27:1a, 11–12, 14; antiphon: vv. 7, 9b
Gradual: Psalm 84:9, 8
Verse: Psalm 21:1

Jesus Makes Fishers of Men
 
The Lord called fishermen to be fishers of men (Luke 5:1–11). The net they would use is the message of the cross, which is foolishness and a stumbling block to the world (1 Cor. 1:18–25). The power of God to save is not in spectacular signs like wind and fire and earthquakes (1 Kings 19:11–21), nor is it to be found in human intelligence and wisdom. The power of God to save comes in the still, small voice of the preaching of Christ crucified. In worldly darkness the disciples could catch nothing. But in the light of Christ, whose Word was attached to the water, the boats were filled with fish. So it is that in Baptism you have been drawn in to the ship of the Church. Though the nets are breaking and some who hear the Word do not believe, pastors continue to cast the net of the Gospel and the Sacraments, that Christians may abide in the boat of the Church and that we may be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks a reason for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:8–15).

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

June 23, 2024 - Peace Lutheran Oxford, MS - Mark 12

Mark 12 cont. 

June 23, 2024 - Trinity 4 Sermon

Color: Green

Old Testament: Genesis 50:15–21
Psalm: Psalm 138; antiphon: v. 8b
Epistle: Romans 8:18–23
Epistle: Romans 12:14–21
Gospel: Luke 6:36–42
Introit: Psalm 27:3–4a, 5; antiphon: vv. 1–2
Gradual: Psalm 79:9–10a
Verse: Psalm 9:4b, 9

Christ’s Mercy Is Ours to Show to Others
 
“Be merciful, even as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:36–42). The old Adam in us wants to condemn and seek vengeance. But the Lord says, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay” (Rom. 12:14–21). To condemn, to avenge yourself, is to put yourself in the place of God. It is to fail to trust that He is just. Ultimately, it is to disbelieve that Jesus suffered the full vengeance for all wrongs. Only Christ is merciful as the Father is merciful. He is the one who overcame all evil with the good of His cross, forgiving even His executioners. Jesus is our Joseph, who comforts us with words of pardon and reconciliation (Gen. 50:15–21). He is the One who does not condemn but gives life that runs over. Only through faith in Christ are we sons of the Father—being merciful, forgiving, doing good to our enemies. For in Christ we know that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Rom. 8:8–13).

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

June 19, 2024 - Apologetics 101 - What is it and Methods

What is Apologetics and Apologetic Methods

June 16, 2024 - Peace Lutheran Oxford, MS - Mark 11-12

Mark Cont. 

June 16, 2024 - Trinity 3 Sermon

Color: Green

Old Testament: Micah 7:18–20
Psalm: Psalm 103:1–13; antiphon: v. 8
Epistle: 1 Timothy 1:12–17
Epistle: 1 Peter 5:6–11
Gospel: Luke 15:1–10
Gospel: Luke 15:11–32
Introit: Psalm 25:1–2a, 5b, 15, 20; antiphon: vv. 16, 18
Gradual: Psalm 55:22a, 16, 18a
Verse: Psalm 18:1–2a

Jesus Receives Sinners
 
“This man receives sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2). The Pharisees’ statement of judgment against Jesus is in fact a proclamation of Gospel truth. For our God is one who delights in mercy, who casts all our sins into the depths of the sea through the cross (Micah 7:18–20). “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15). Those who refuse to be counted as sinners also refuse Jesus who came only for sinners. Those like the older son (Luke 15:11–32), who think they are righteous of themselves, will not join in the heavenly celebration over the sinner who repents and so remain outside of the Father’s house. Let us therefore be on guard against self–righteously trusting in our own merits. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you” (1 Peter 5:6). Rejoice that Jesus receives sinners like us and that He still sits at table with us in the Holy Supper, bestowing His forgiveness and life.

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

June 9, 2024 - Peace Lutheran Oxford, MS - Mark 11:1-14, 20-25

 Mark 11:1-14, 20-25