Easter 2 -- John 20:19-31

Sermon preached at Hope Lutheran.





John 20:19-31


19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them,“Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”


24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”


26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me?Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”


30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

IN NOMINE JESU

Be Like Thomas

Poor Thomas. He will forever be called by that terrible nickname, Doubting Thomas. That moniker has remained with him for two thousand years since Christ rose again, and I imagine it will stay with him until Christ’s return. He has bourn the brunt of countless moralistic sermons about faith, where Thomas is held up as a great example... of what not to do. It even seems like Jesus piles on, saying in our Gospel reading for today, “Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

Lent 3 -- Luke 11:14-23

Sermon preached at Hope Lutheran.


   




Luke 11:14-23
Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. ¹⁵ But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” ¹⁶ while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. ¹⁷  But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. ¹⁸ And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.¹⁹ And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁰ But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²¹ When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; ²²  but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. ²³  Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

IN NOMINE JESU

The Finger of God

Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Dear saints of God, have you ever heard of Benny Hinn? He’s a televangelist who holds huge healing campaigns. If you ever see one of his campaigns on TV, you’ll see people fainting when he touches them, screaming in the aisles, that sort of thing. It’s riveting and dramatic, but is it real? No. Benny Hinn is a false healer and a false prophet. How do I know?

Feast of St. Michael and All Angels -- Revelation 12:7-12

Sermon preached at Hope Lutheran.


Who is Like God? by Joshua Palmer


Revelation 12:7-12
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, ⁸but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. ⁹And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world— he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. ¹⁰And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. ¹¹And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. ¹²Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"

IN NOMINE JESU

Who Is Like God?

Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

            When I mention the Book of Revelation, what sorts of images jump to mind? I think of the Rapture and Tim LaHaye.

Lord's Prayer Sermonette -- Matthew 6:7-13

Sermonette for Homiletics 1.


Lord's Prayer Devotional by Joshua Palmer

Matthew 6:7-13

"And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.  Pray then like this:

    "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

 Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.

 Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts,

   as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

When was the last time you heard a sermon on prayer? Did that sermon tell you that you ought to pray? Probably. But, did it mention that there are specific words that you can pray which you can know, without doubt, please God? What are those words? Well, when the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, Jesus gave them the words of the Lord's Prayer. It is the prayer we should pray, must pray, and will be rewarded for praying. It is the prayer at the heart of Christianity.

Easter 6 -- John 16:23-33

Sermon preached at Catalina Lutheran in Tucson, Arizona.




Easter 6: John 16:23-33 by Joshua Palmer

John 16:23-33

²³ In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. ²⁴Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Romans 12:17-21

O Sing of the Wrath

Romans12 by Joshua Palmer

Romans 12:17-21

¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." ²⁰To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." ²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Mynin aeide thea Pylyiadeo Achilyos.” So begins one of the greatest pieces of literature ever written. It is the first line of Homer’s Iliad. Maybe you read it in high school or remember the story from the movie Troy a few years back.