Month: September 2010

Text: Luke 16:19-31
Date: Pentecost XVIII + Proper 21 + 9/26/10
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, Rochester Hills, MI

You will recall that this chapter of Luke’s Gospel began with a story Jesus told about a dishonest, shifty or crafty steward or manager who, when he found out the end of his employment was near, quickly made arrangements in the nick of time to survive. The surprise ending was that the dishonest steward was commended by his boss for his shrewdness. Jesus was simply saying, because you can count on God’s mercy at least for now, it would be best to take advantage of that mercy now before it is too late, to repent and be received into His eternal family of faith. Continue reading “Moses and the Prophets and the Resurrection”

Text: Luke 16:1-15
Date: Pentecost XVII (Proper 20) + 9/19/10
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, Rochester Hills, MI

I “batted 1000” on vacation. The first Sunday, in Kingman, Arizona, I attended the Wisconsin Synod church. Though I could not attend communion I heard an absolutely marvelous sermon—textual, organized, clear, and though a little heavy on the Law to begin with, ended with a wonderful flourish of Gospel at the end. My second Sunday I attended our Grace congregation in San Diego, California—young pastor, lots of young couples with children, and they “put up with” an hour-and-a-half long service! While it had its “informal” moments, still it was a reverent and liturgically sensitive service with a magnificent sermon that, as the previous Sunday, began with a “practical” (read, “Law”) direction but ended with a joyous proclamation of pure Gospel. Continue reading “Merciful Lord”