Isaiah 35:1-10; James 5:7-11; Matthew 11:2-15

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

We all have our doubts. Doubt ends up being a common part of life. Did I make the best decision? Did I choose the right career? Did I say the right words to a friend in need? Will I be able to finish this task in time? Yes, doubt comes in various forms and makes us take a step back and question if what we think or believe is correct.

It should be no surprise to us that even John the Baptist had his doubts. John had been prophesying in the wilderness that the “Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” Matthew 3:2. Since then, John has been arrested by Herod and tossed in prison. He knows even that his death is near, as many have sought to put John to death. For now, he has his doubts about what he prophesied. Was it true? Is the kingdom of heaven truly here? If so, then why is he sitting in prison?

It's not unnatural for Christians to doubt if their faith is misplaced, perhaps even doubting if God exists at all. For living a life of faith is a difficult thing, one that none of us does perfectly. We will have our doubts. But that’s ok! For doubt gives us the opportunity to inquire of God again, to approach Him in His grace and mercy to answer our doubts and worries. For sometimes, we end up finding that our faith was misplaced… misplaced by trusting in our own version of the Gospel instead of the very Word of God.

This is exactly what John the Baptist does. He sends his own disciples to inquire of Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Matthew 11:3. Israel had been waiting for the Messiah for many centuries. By now, they had their doubts that he would ever truly come. But see how Jesus answers this question from John, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them,” Matthew 11:4-5. Jesus points John (and us) to see and hear the very kingdom of God coming in the ministry of Jesus.

For living by faith is to continuously turn back to the Lord and see the very work he is doing in our world and in our very lives. We will still have our doubts, but this is when the Lord invites us to see anew his mercy and grace. To plant our faith again on the solid foundation of His Word amidst even the distractions of this world. For Christ comes to preach the good news to us, that your sins have been forgiven for the sake of his own death upon the cross! For the greatest healing we can receive is the very resurrection of the dead. See this great thing which our Lord has done. He forgives us our sins; he washes us with water and word; he feeds us his own body and blood; he speaks to us his very Gospel! For when we have doubts, may we return and see this wonderful thing which our Lord does in our world and in our very lives!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

There’s always a reaction to an authority figure entering a room. Kids will suddenly stop doing something they think is wrong if they hear a parent walking in. So too employees when their boss arrives. People act different around those with authority over them and rightly so. We know that we can get in trouble if we misbehave, fired from a job, or worse, thrown in jail. There’s meant to be a reaction.

Of course, there will always be that sibling who gives the warning, a coworker that signals of an approaching boss, or a friend that might nudge you before the teacher arrives. They’re simple message is this: Shape up, or else. Get it together before it’s too late and you end up facing the consequences. For so it seems, this is the role which John the Baptist assumes this week.

In our Gospel reading, John is in the wilderness preaching to the people of Israel. All the surrounding regions had come out to see him (Matt 3:5). John’s message to them was simple, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” Matt 3:2. He was warning the people that the true authority was coming, lest they be caught unaware and face the consequences. For the reaction they were supposed to have to such news wasn’t despair or indifference, but repentance.

Repentance is much more than a call to “shape up.” It’s also a call to believe. Repentance is a changing of one’s whole being, a “turning of the mind” as the Greek suggests. For repentance isn’t a one and done type of thing. It’s a continual, ongoing, daily exercise. Repentance is a despising of the sin in our life and a seeking after the grace and goodness of God. Just as John tells the Pharisees, “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance,” Matt 3:8. Just as one must tend and nourish a tree to bear fruit, so too must we water the seeds of faith that it may grow and bear fruit in our lives.

In this repentance and faith, the kingdom of heaven draws near to us. In the preaching of repentance, God asserts his rule and reign over us and in our hearts and minds. For it draws near, not only in the proclaiming of repentance but in the coming of the very Sovereign Lord, in Jesus. He draws near to us that he may gather the faithful into his kingdom, under his rule and thus protect and care for them. For this reason, Jesus comes in lowly fashion, being born of a virgin, raised as a carpenter’s son, even enduring the same temptations which besiege us. Jesus has come to establish his kingdom right here in our midst by his very death upon the cross. Prepare his way through repentance and faith that we may be ready for his coming and so enjoy eternal paradise! 

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 21:1-11

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

This week begins a new Church year for us as we enter into the season of Advent. We’re reminded that while Christmas might be right around the corner, it isn’t Christmas yet. We need time to prepare that we may be ready to celebrate the coming of our Savior properly and with much joy. 

For what kind of preparation is required? It always takes time to prepare for anything. Time to gather food and gifts for the family gathering over the holidays. Time to spend with family and friends. Time to head to church. We must properly prepare our time that we have time to celebrate. Money too. It is no surprise that it takes money to do almost anything these days. Money for food. Money for decorations. Money for gifts. Money, which is in short supply, must be prepared for that which is needed most. 

Of course, Advent is about more than our time and money. The preparation our Lord seeks is rather of the heart and mind. We are to be ready for our Lord to come, our divine King to make his appearance. It’s again an ordering of the things that are most important. We’re not to hold in our heart or mind anything higher than the Lord. But this is why we must cry out this Advent, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Matt. 21:9. The sad reality is that we haven’t prepared ourselves fully. We must repent of the sin that has reordered our lives around ourselves than the Lord. For our cry is for salvation from our Lord.

Yet, this is why we read the Triumphal entry. It reminds us that our Lord is the Lord who comes. He comes even out of necessity. The Lord had need of the donkeys to ride into Jerusalem for he had need to come to his people as their Savior. We should find the language of divine necessity of great comfort for it reminds us of what our Lord has ordered as most important. He had need of you! So, he comes, “humble and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden,” Matt. 21:5. 

This Advent, we must prepare ourselves for our Lord’s coming, or rather be prepared by our Lord’s word to order our lives around him and his word. For this is the true preparation our Lord desires. He desires repentance which leads to life! He has need of it. He has need of saving you! This is why the Son of God left his heavenly throne, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, that he may even live and die upon the cross. Out of necessity for you, our Lord has ordered your salvation above all else. For let us rejoice, even saying, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Matt. 21:10. 

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Malachi 3:13-18; Colossians 1:13-20; Luke 23:27-43

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

There are some things we wish would never end. Kids going to a party never want to leave and say it’s over. Some people never want to admit that their “glory” days are long past. Graduating from high school or college is often seen as the end of our education. Endings can indeed be hard and can cause us mourning and grief. When things come to an end, we must realize that they’re done and gone.

As we reach the end of our church year, we hear more about the end of the world. There will be pain and grief, sadness and mourning. Because of the finality of such moments, we can face great fear and anxiety about when that time may come. And it’s not just the end of the world, it’s also our own death that we fear. 

In our Gospel reading this week, we meet Jesus right before his crucifixion. In Jesus’ final moments, he foretells of the disasters and anguish that will be present in the end times. All his followers were weeping because of the finality of such circumstances. After three long years of following Jesus, it was all coming to an end in horrendous fashion. “And when they came to the place that is culled The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left,” Luke 23:33. Jesus was being put to death for what he taught. And what was more final than death?

There’s a good reason why, as humans, we don’t like endings. We don’t like when things come to a conclusion. Because when a period of life ends, when we finish those things that have been important to us, there’s no going back. And why do we have to face such harsh conclusions? It’s because of sin and death. Our experience of time is corrupted by sin. It’s why we feel like we never have enough time to do what we love, but all our time is stuck doing what we hate. 

But there’s a larger lesson to learn here. Consider Jesus’ final words from the cross. First, he says, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” Luke 23:34. Jesus uses his last moments to forgive us. He forgave those who were putting him to death. He forgave everyone who has sinned against him and whose sins he bore for our sake upon the cross. But there’s something we should learn about Jesus’ death. Jesus’ death was an end for our sin. Jesus’ death was an end for our death. Jesus’ death was an end for endings… because his death wasn’t an end for him. Rather, as he tells the criminal beside him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise,” Luke 23:43. In the Church, by faith in Jesus, we see our endings become new beginnings. Graduations aren’t the end of school, but the beginning of a new life. Goodbyes aren’t forever. And even death has become the gateway to new and eternal life! In Jesus, every “end” becomes the start of a new beginning!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, You reign among us by the preaching of Your cross. Forgive Your people their offenses that we, being governed by Your bountiful goodness, may enter at last into Your eternal paradise; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Malachi 4:1-6; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Luke 21:5-28

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Have you ever heard of opposite day? It was a day when you did the opposite of whatever someone told you. Instead of walking forward, you would walk backwards. Instead of siting down, you would stand up. Instead of trying to win, you would try to lose. Often as kids observing opposite day, everyone would look at you weird because it just never made sense to them. Why do things the “wrong” or opposite way from how they’re supposed to be done?

But I also assume you know the definition of insanity. It makes less sense trying to do the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. If you’ve tried winning by doing the same thing every time... and still haven’t won, then maybe it is time to try a different way. If you keep going through the motions of life expecting to become happy, and still are not happy, then maybe it’s time to do the opposite.

In a time of the church year where our focus is on the destruction and end of the world, the reality for us is actually the opposite! In our Gospel reading, Jesus gives us a very grim look at what the end times will look like, what our world already looks like. However, he doesn’t do so to make you depressed. He does it to give you hope! Consider his words, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom... You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish,” Luke 21:10, 16-18. In the midst of so much evil and destruction, Jesus makes us a promise. He promises that no matter what happens to us, you will always find life through Him!

God’s kingdom is an upside-down, opposite type of kingdom. We suffer, but are happy. We are hated, but have abundant friends. We are persecuted, but never destroyed. Yes, this world will come to an end one day. The terror and horror of it all will bring many to despair. Yet, it’s in the midst of all of these things that Christians are meant to thrive. For the destruction of our world doesn’t mean the end for us, but rather an end to the reign of sin and death. “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near,” Luke 21:28. The end times is our hope as God’s holy kingdom comes crashing into our midst.

As we watch our world falling apart, as we see all the destruction and devastation happening around our world, it gives us the perfect opportunity to witness. Yes, this is exactly what Jesus said to his disciples (Luke 21:13). As the world is being brought to an end, it’s our time to share with others that victory is found in defeat, conquering is found in surrender, and life is found only through death. For we look not for the glory of military leaders, political rulers, nor the best and brightest to deliver us from a world falling apart. We look to Jesus who brings us to new and eternal life through his suffering. This is the glory of the cross, that Jesus has defeated death by his death. Jesus has overcome sin by becoming sin for us. Jesus has sealed the grave by first entering it himself. So, shall it be for you and me. We look not to the glory of our world as it fades away, but to the suffering of Christ that shall bring us to the glory of God unending! 

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

O Lord, almighty and ever-living God, You have given exceedingly great and precious promises to those who trust in You. Rule and govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that we may live and abide forever in Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Exodus 3:1-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, 13-17; Luke 20:27-40

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Comparisons are a wonderful thing (as long as they are accurate). Apples to apples, house to house, similar to similar. Comparisons are often the way we learn new and harder teachings. We compare something we know to that which we don’t know. It helps us bridge the gap in our knowledge so we can both know and learn more things than before. 

But not everything can be compared. Some things are unique and simply can’t be compared with anythin

g else. By their essence, they are unlike everything else. These “one-of-a-kind” items must be understood by other means. 

This is the dilemma we find ourselves in when discussing heaven and the resurrection on the last day. Many Christians wonder what these things will be like. Yes, we try to understand them by comparing them to what we already know. But in our Gospel reading, Jesus shows us an important truth. There is no comparison. As Jesus says, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection,” Luke 20:34-36. What we know of this life is not a good comparison to the life that is to come.

Consider how deep sin runs in our world. It touches every aspect of human life and experience, that is, there’s nothing in this world that isn’t affected by human sin. Thus, even the best parts of human life pale in comparison to the goodness of heaven and the resurrection. On the opposite side, we know that the worst parts of life won’t even be present in the age to come. As we struggle with all the evil in our world, we must be aware (as Paul tells us) that it will only get worse before the end. “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming,” 2 Thessalonians 2:8.

So how can we know anything about heaven and eternity? If not through comparison, though experience in this life, then what? And of course, the simple answer is always… Jesus. It’s because Jesus has told us what to expect, what it will be like. He makes the comparisons for us because he has already experienced it. Jesus who came down from heaven, gave up his throne, now joins us in our world of misery so that you and me may be “worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead…” Luke 20:35. By Jesus’ death on the cross, Jesus has paid for all of our sins. He’s erased our ledger so that by his grace, we may be considered worthy of eternity! In that life, there will be no more marriage for we shall no longer die. There will be no more sin, pain, suffering, greed, or any evil thing. Rather, we shall live with God in holiness and perfection for all eternity!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Living God, Your almighty power is made known chiefly in showing mercy and pity. Grant us the fullness of Your grace to lay hold of Your promises and live forever in Your presence; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Revelation 7:9-17; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Congratulations! You came in last place! Congratulations! You broke your arm! Congratulations! Life is falling apart and you have nothing left. Yes, these aren’t normally things that we celebrate. The sympathy trophies for those who come in last or the participation medals for those who started but didn’t finish might feel more like a greater insult than losing does. This isn’t what we normally do. We like to celebrate winners—the strongest, the fastest, the smartest. These are the people that we celebrate.

But congratulations. Life is terrible... and that’s good! Yes, it’s the complete upside-down logic from what we normally think. But that’s because it’s not our normal logic. It’s God’s logic. God’s kingdom works in an upside-down fashion from what we experience here. Hence, we get the beatitudes this week.

As we come to celebrate All Saints’ Day this week, we hear the upside-down way in which God is at work in our world. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted...” Matthew 5:3-4. Blessed are those who have everything going wrong in life. It sounds strange to us because it is! Jesus comes and blesses those whose life is in shambles, who has nothing left, who can’t even accomplish anything themselves. And yes, that’s a good thing!

For let’s not lose sight of the significance of this church holiday. All Saints’ Day is the day where we remember all those Christians who have died in the faith—our mothers and fathers, our sisters and brothers, our sons and daughters, our friends, and all those we love. It’s a somber day because we weep and we mourn for the pain that death has caused in our life. For in our world, death is seen as the final barrier, even as it’s called a “natural” end. No one is able to escape death. 

But blessed are you who mourn, for you shall be comforted. Not comforted by the ways of this world, but by the upside-down rule of Jesus. For those who find themselves in such low estate know that God alone is their help. Those who suffer the death of a loved one have felt the mortality of their own flesh and know that there’s nothing we can do. But God can... and does! For you who mourn shall be comforted by Jesus’ death. You shall be comforted that Jesus has already died for you and for your sins. Jesus gave himself over to death so that death would no longer have anything on us! “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven...” Matthew 5:12. Yes, All Saints’ Day is a somber day because we still feel the sting of death, however, we find comfort and reason to celebrate because Jesus has defeated death! By Jesus’ resurrection, he has ripped the door off its hinges, rolled back the stone, and shown us that death’s reign is over! So, blessed are you who mourn, for we look to Christ and find eternal life!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Almighty and everlasting God, You knit together Your faithful people of all times and places into one holy communion, the mystical body of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant us so to follow Your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that, together with them, we may come to the unspeakable joys You have prepared for those who love You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!