Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church - Olive Branch, MS

Reformation History Continued 

Installation of Vicar Jake Bennett

Reality Revisited and Closed Communion

Old Testament: Daniel 10:10-14; 12:13
Psalm 91 (antiphon: v. 11)
Epistle: Revelation 12:7-12
Gospel: Matthew 18:1-11 or
      Luke 10:17-20

Our Father in Heaven Protects His Children by Giving His Holy Angels Charge Over Them
We live in "a time of trouble" (Dan. 12:1), in the midst of great tribulation; for Satan and his wicked angels have been thrown out of heaven and have come down to earth "in great wrath," with woeful "temptations to sin" and with constant accusations (Rev. 12:8-12; Matt. 18:7). Even so, we are encouraged by the presence and protection of St. Michael and the holy angels, whom God sends to help us in the strife (Dan. 10:11-13). By "the authority of his Christ," His holy angels guard and keep us in body and soul. These heavenly servants of God preserve His human messengers on earth, the ministers of "the blood of the Lamb," against all the power of the enemy; for by "the word of their testimony," the Church is saved and the devil is defeated (Rev. 12:10-11; Luke 10:18-19). By their preaching and Baptism of repentance, the old Adam and the old evil foe are "drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matt. 18:6); and as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, so are His people delivered and raised from the dust of the earth through the forgiveness of their sins (Dan. 12:1-3).

The Prophet of Judah Habakkuk 

Funeral Sermon for David Ogdon 

Martin Luther and the Reformation 

Reality of the Sacrament of the Altar

Introit: Ps. 86:1, 7, 12, 13; antiphon: Ps. 86:3, 5
Gradual: Ps. 102:15-16
Old Testament: 1 Kings 17:17-24
Psalm 30 (antiphon: v. 5b)
Epistle: Eph. 3:13-21
ProperVerse: Ps. 115:11
Gospel: Luke 7:11-17

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."

Micah 6-7