Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church - Olive Branch, MS

October 30, 2022 - Bible Study - Where are we from?

Brief history of the Reformation 

October 26, 2022 - Lutheranism 101 - Baptism Part 1

What is Baptism and some technical terms

October 23, 2022 - St. James of Jerusalem Sermon

New Testament: Acts 15:12-22a
Psalm 133 (antiphon: v. 1)
Epistle: James 1:1-12
Gospel: Matthew 13:54-58

St. James of Jerusalem, Brother of Jesus and Martyr
"A prophet is not without honor except in His hometown and in His own household" (Matt. 13:58). James the Just was once offended at Jesus' wisdom and mighty works. But He came to faith following His resurrection, when Jesus appeared to Him (1 Cor. 15:7). He then became a leader of the early Church in Jerusalem, present at the council recorded in Acts 15. There James recognized from the prophets that Jesus was the Lord known from of old and returned to rebuild David's fallen tent and restore it, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord and all the Gentiles who are called by My Name (Acts 15:16-18). "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness" (James 1:2-3). Josephus and other historians record that James was martyred by stoning in the 60s AD. "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him" (v. 12).

October 23, 2022 - Bible Study - Assyrian Captivity

Taking a close look at the Assyrian captivity 

October 16, 2022 - Trinity 18 Sermon

Introit: Ps. 122:1, 6, 8-9; antiphon: Eccl. 36:16-17a
Gradual: Ps. 122:1, 7
Old Testament: Deut. 10:12-21
Psalm 34:8-22 (antiphon: v. 19)
Epistle: 1 Cor. 1:(1-3) 4-9
ProperVerse: Ps. 117:1
Gospel: Matt. 22:34-46

In Life and Death, Christ Fulfills the Law of God
The Pharisees ask a Law question. Jesus asks a Gospel question. The Pharisees seek to test Jesus in His own words. Jesus seeks to "test" them in the saving reality of who He is as the Messiah (Matt. 22:34-46). The Law requires you to "fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul" and to "love the sojouner" (Deut. 10:12-21). Failure to keep the Law perfectly brings judgment. On the other hand, the Gospel brings the grace of God given by Jesus Christ, that you may be blameless in the day of His return (1 Cor. 1:1-9). Jesus is David's Son yet David's Lord, true God and true man. He is Love incarnate who fulfilled all the demands of God's Law on our behalf, that we might be saved from the Law's condemnation and sanctified in the Gospel's forgiveness. Thereby we see that "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor. 1:9).

October 16, 2022 - Bible Study - Hosea cont.

Finishing the book of Hosea, minor prophet of Israel. 

October 9, 2022 - Trinity 17 Sermon

Introit: Ps. 119:1-2, 5-6; antiphon: Ps. 119:137, 124
Gradual: Ps. 33:12, 6
Old Testament: Prov. 25:6-14
Psalm 2 (antiphon: v.11)
Epistle: Eph. 4:1-6
ProperVerse: Ps. 116:1
Gospel: Luke 14:1-11
\rWhoever Humbles Himself Will Be Exalted
"Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence" (Prov. 25:6-14). Rather, take the lowest position at the table. Humble yourself before Him. For your place is not for you to take but for Him to give. Conduct yourself with all lowliness and gentleness, bearing with one another in love (Eph. 4:1-6), that the King may give you glory in the presence of those at the table with you. "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 14:1-11). Is this not the way of Christ? He is the one who took the lowest place, who humbled Himself even to the point of death for us. He is now exalted to the highest place at the right hand of the Father that penitent believers may be exalted together with Him in the resurrection. To the humble at His Supper He says, "Friend, move up higher," giving you His very body and blood for your forgiveness that you may ascend to take part in the great wedding feast which has no end.

October 9, 2022 - Bible Study - Hosea

Hosea, Prophet of Israel

October 5, 2022 - Lutheranism 101 - How to Listen to a Sermon and How to Read the Bible

Tips on How to Listen to a Sermon and How to Read the Bible

October 2, 2022 - Trinity 16 Sermon

Jesus Calls forth Life from Death
A large funeral procession carrying the only son of a widow is confronted by another large procession, Jesus and His followers. Death and Life meet face to face at the gate of the city (Luke 7:11-17). Filled with compassion, Jesus comes into direct contact with our mortality in order to overcome it. He touches the coffin and speaks His creative words of life, "Young man, I say to you, arise." Jesus does what is neither expected nor requested. For through Christ, God the Father "is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think" (Eph. 3:14-21). Jesus bore our death in His body that we may share in His resurrection. Even as Elijah stretched himself out three times over the Zarephath woman's son (2 Kings 17:17-24), God stretched Himself out over us in the threefold application of His name in the baptismal water, breathing new and everlasting life into us. "To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."