Recent Sermons
Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum: “The Word of the Lord Endures Forever” (1 Peter 1:25). That’s the motto of the Reformation, and it’s the soul of the preaching ministry at St. John’s. With every sermon, we strive for a faithful and engaging proclamation of God’s Word that’s neither shallow nor beholden to cultural whims but instead holds fast to the timeless message of salvation through Christ alone.
Septuagesima
February 5, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright
God’s grace is a wonderful thing indeed. The favor of God is toward you because of Jesus and his work done on your behalf. God’s face looks and shines upon you because your sin has been atoned for by Jesus and you are baptized into his name. This life is lived under the cross and sometimes the work is backbreaking. Sometimes it looks as though the day will never end and that promised denarius will never be seen. But the day will end, and the night will come when no one will be able to work. On that day, though, you will rest with Jesus and all his saints reaping the fruit of Christ’s labor for you. You will sit and drink the fine wine of salvation which overflows at the eternal wedding feast.
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The Purification of Mary and
The Presentation of Our Lord
February 2, 2023
Vicar John Kastner
Dear Christian, here is the Lord Jesus fulfilling all things in your place. Purification is now yours. Redemption is now yours. That is why we return one last time to the story of Christ’s infancy. The Lord enters his temple for the first time, ready to return with a sacrifice that will pay for all sins, once and for all.
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The Transfiguration of Our Lord
January 29, 2023
Vicar John Kastner
Our Lord gives you this sign of the transfiguration so that as you begin your journey down the mountain and to the cross, as you enter into the season of Lent, as you meditate on the holy, bitter, sufferings and death of your Lord Jesus Christ, you might have the strength and encouragement by receiving just a taste of your future glory.
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Third Sunday After Epiphany
January 22, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright
God marvels at you as you behold him in faith. The Father sees Jesus who has atoned for you sin. For his sake you are righteous in his sight. That means absolutely everything as you sit here now and go from this place. Your Lord calls you as his own and he guides you through this life through his word.
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Second Sunday After Epiphany
January 15, 2023
Vicar John Kastner
Jesus’ miracle points to the future day, the day after the end of days, when man will enjoy the richest of foods and the most delectable of wines in an unmeasured amount, and it will be good. The joy will never end. The mirth and laughter will not stop. Even if that was not realized with the wedding at Cana of Galilee, even if there was still an abuse of God’s good gifts, our Lord wants to show his disciples the reason why he has come: to grant all the benefits of his kingdom.
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The Baptism of Our Lord
January 8, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright
The Feast of Epiphany
January 6, 2023
Vicar John Kastner
Those who were under the darkness of blindness, now have been illumined by the Holy Spirit and know of the true God. Those who were under the darkness of death, now have tasted eternal life in Christ. Those who were under the darkness of despair, now have the hope of the resurrection. And this work must and will continue. Through the mouths of preachers, through the mouths of parents, through the mouths of neighbors, through the mouths of teachers, the light of Christ will scatter the darkness of unbelief.
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New Year's Day
January 1, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright
God preaches to you today and places his name upon you again and again in this place and throughout this whole divine service. God is for you and that means everything. Rejoice loudly dear Christians and greet this new year in the name of the Lord. Your Lord has saved you and his name is Jesus.
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The Nativity of Our Lord
December 25, 2022
Vicar John Kastner
We have seen! We have beheld the glory of the only-begotten Son of God. You look at this man and what do you see? You look at this man and you see the Master and Lord, you see the potter who fashioned us all, you see the one who feeds and nourishes all, you see the creator of the stars of night. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that we get to marvel at something so profound and wonderful!
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Christmas Eve
December 24, 2022
Pastor Andy Wright
This is the joy of Christmas; Christ is born for you. Listen to God this very moment. He cries out to you all, young and old, great, and small, near and far, dear people of God. Each one of you sitting here in this place tonight Jesus says to you, “I came, I was born all for you.” God fixes your eyes on the manger to see your Lord lying there who has come for you.
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Fourth Sunday in Advent
December 18, 2022
Vicar John Kastner
This voice of John the Baptist was not only for early 1st century Jewish people living in Palestine. No, this voice proclaims for all people. All should prepare the way of the Lord. All should prepare until that final coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we are to know better who this Jesus is, we compare him to what was promised about him. When others thought John the Baptist to be the Christ or to be the prophet or to be Elijah, his testimony (what he said or what he did) helps to shine the light on the true Christ, the true prophet, to whom the true Elijah pointed. He is the one we await to greet at the manger. He is the one we await coming in glory, riding on the clouds with his angels.
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Third Sunday in Advent
December 11, 2022
Pastor Andy Wright
Second Sunday in Advent
December 4, 2022
Pastor Andy Wright
First Sunday in Advent
November 27, 2022
Pastor Andy Wright
Thanksgiving Day
November 24, 2022
Vicar John Kastner
Especially in this holiday season, when sentimentalities and thankfulness abound but always alongside a vagueness concerning to whom exactly it belongs, it is your duty to be explicit and specific for your praise towards Jesus. To him belongs all the glory. To him belongs all the praise. His is the name above every name. His is the love and mercy to heal and to save.
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Last Sunday of
the Church Year
November 20, 2022
Pastor Andy Wright
Second Last Sunday of
the Church Year
November 13, 2022
Vicar John Kastner
There are many ways God shows his love for the unlovable. Yet, this is an important way: he loves by being patient. O, this love of God which suffers the pain and grief of seeing so much evil done! He does not exact vengeance immediately (although he has every right). He waits; and waits; and waits.
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Twenty-fifth Sunday After
Trinity
November 6, 2022
Pastor Andy Wright
All Saints Day
November 1, 2022
Pastor Andy Wright
Feast of the Reformation
October 31, 2022
Vicar John Kastner
What is the end of this violence? Is the kingdom of God overpowered? Does the scowling of the devil amount to anything? No, of course not! The almighty fortress of God’s kingdom remains through the Word of God purely taught. The Valiant One was not stopped by his death on the cross. No, he rose from the dead, conquered death, and gave power to the Gospel he handed off to the apostles….That one man Martin Luther was not quieted. Through the grace of God more and more saw the truth of the Scriptures: man is justified by faith alone on account of Christ’s merit. Though the pope and the emperor were all eager to devour Luther and the reformers, the Word of God could not be stopped.
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Twentieth Sunday After Trinity
October 30, 2022
Pastor Andy Wright
St. James, Brother of Jesus
and Martyr
October 23, 2022
Pastor Andy Wright
Eighteenth Sunday After Trinity
October 16, 2022
Vicar John Kastner
When you open your Bible and read from any place, you will find God commanding you to love him either by the “You shall…” statements or by examples of how God’s people have lived. But that is not everything God has to say in His Word. There is also his love for us in Christ Jesus. That is the other great topic of the Bible. Jesus wanted to remind the lawyer of this other great topic, so he asked his own question. He noticed them focusing on the “love God with all your heart, soul, and mind” to the detriment of “the LORD your God.” How do we know this? They fail to see that the LORD their God stands right before them, that they could touch their God if they reached out and grabbed Jesus. Without acknowledging that Jesus is their God, they miss the whole point of loving God.
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Seventeenth Sunday
After Trinity
October 9, 2022
Pastor Andy Wright
Pastor Andy Wright
Installation Service
October 2, 2022
President Justin Panzer,
Kansas District
Installation Service Part 1
Installation Service Part 2
Sixteenth Sunday After Trinity
October 2, 2022
President Justin Panzer,
Kansas District
It is for our sakes that Jesus has done this miracle. He certainly knows that we are afraid of death. To that He says, do not be afraid and let not your heart be troubled. Though death is terrible, what can it harm you? It may terrify you. But learn to avoid judging by your feelings and following your fears: look to Jesus and remember what He can do and what He desires to do. He can raise you from death as easily as you awaken a person out of sleep. And, He will do it cheerfully and with pleasure.
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