Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church - Olive Branch, MS

August 3, 2022 - Lutheranism 101 - Who regulates marriage?

Church or State? 

July 31, 2022 - Trinity 7 Sermon

Introit: Ps. 47:3, 6-8; antiphon: Ps. 47:1-2
Gradual: Ps. 34:11, 5
Old Testament: Gen. 2:7-17
Psalm 33:1-11 (antiphon: v. 6)
Epistle: Rom. 6:19-23
ProperVerse: Ps. 47:1
Gospel: Mark 8:1-9

Jesus Restores Paradise and Feeds Us Freely
In the Garden of Eden, our first parents received food freely from the gracious hand of God, apart from any burdensome work (Gen 2:7-17). But after the fall, food would be received only through toil and labor. The curse declared, "By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground . . ." (Gen. 3:19). In other words, "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). But into this wilderness world came Jesus the Messiah to restore creation. Having compassion on the weary multitudes, He renewed the bounty of Eden on the third day, freely granting an abundance of bread to the 4,000 (Mark 8:1-9). So also our Lord Jesus, having endured the burden of our sin, was raised on the third day to bring us back to Paradise. He now miraculously turns the bread of death into the Bread of Life in the Sacrament, giving you His very body and blood for your forgiveness. For "the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).

July 31, 2022 - Bible Study - Elisha’s Double Portion

2 Kings 2

July 24, 2022 - Trinity 6 Sermon

Introit: Ps. 28:1-2, 7; antiphon: Ps. 28:8-9
Gradual: Ps. 90:13, 1, 2b
Old Testament: Ex. 20:1-17
Psalm 19 (antiphon: v. 8)
Epistle: Rom. 6:(1-2) 3-11
ProperVerse: Ps. 31:1
Gospel: Matt. 5:(17-19) 20-26

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).

July 24, 2022 - Bible Study - Elijah

Taken into Heaven 

July 20, 2022 - Lutheranism 101 - Marriage Part 4

Biblical Marriage

July 17, 2022 - Trinity 5 Sermon

Introit: Ps. 27:1a, 11-12, 14; Ps. 27:7, 9
Gradual: Ps. 84:9, 8
Old Testament: 1 Kings 19:11-21
Psalm 16 (antiphon, v. 11)
Epistle: 1 Cor. 1:18-25
      or 1 Peter 3:8-15
ProperVerse: Ps. 21:1
Gospel: Luke 5:1-11

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).

July 13, 2022 - Bible Study - 1 Kings 18

Elijah and the prophets of Baal 

July 13, 2022 - Lutheranism 101 - Marriage Part 3

What God intends for marriage continued 

July 10, 2022 - Trinity 4 Sermon

Introit: Ps. 27:3-4a, 5; antiphon: Ps. 27:1-2
Gradual: Ps. 79:9-10a
Old Testament: Gen. 50:15-21
Psalm 138 (antiphon: v. 8b)
Epistle: Rom. 12:14-21
      or Rom. 8:18-23
ProperVerse: Ps. 9:4b, 9
Gospel: Luke 6:36-42

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).