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.

Fifth Sunday in Lent
Judica
March 17, 2024
Pastor Andy Wright

Dear people of God, take refuge in Jesus and in the words he gives. “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” Jesus is the “I AM.” He is the one true eternal God who revealed himself to Moses and has taken on human flesh. He is the one who was promised of old, and he is the one who is your Redeemer. Lift up your eyes this Sunday for your redemption draws near. See and behold this great love God has had for you in Christ and still has you.

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Wednesday after Laetare
March 13, 2024
Pastor Andy Wright
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Laetare
March 10, 2024
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

In the end, being with Jesus and having what He gives us, that’s what we need the most. And with the good things He gives us now, He would give us true faith and a foretaste of all that’s soon to come. 

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Wednesday after Oculi
March 6, 2024
Pastor Andy Wright
Third Sunday in Lent
Oculi
March 3, 2024
Pastor Andy Wright

Your protection and deliverance are found in Christ who is the Stronger man who has overcome the strong man. Jesus has done this through his perfect, obedient life, suffering, and death for you in your place. Through the weakness of the cross, Christ crucified, you are redeemed and set free from the bonds of sin, death, and the devil.

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Wednesday after Reminiscere
February 28, 2024
Pastor Nicholas Belcher
Second Sunday in Lent
Reminiscere
February 25, 2024
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

Jesus would not have us see Him as a cruel, strange Lord Who despises us and is pleased to see us suffer. But He would have us see Him as the very Son of God and the promised Messiah, Who works sometimes very mysteriously to strengthen our faith in Him and, because of His great love for us, to make us more like Him.

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Wednesday after Invocabit
February 21, 2024
Pastor Andy Wright
First Sunday in Lent
Invocabit
February 18, 2024
Pastor Andy Wright

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Take comfort today in Jesus. Temptation for you is something in which you have the victory in Christ, and you have the promises of God to take care of you now and the future rest and glory to come.

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Ash Wednesday
February 14, 2024
Pastor Nicholas Belcher
Quinquagesima
February 11, 2024
Pastor Andy Wright

Thanks be to God this day for the faith given by the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God for his great compassion in Jesus, the Son of David, who has mercy on you. Fix your eyes on him and cling to his promises today that he is yours and has saved you by his blood. Cry out to him at times knowing that he hears and answers you and will never forsake you. Look toward Jerusalem as Lent approaches hearing and seeing your redemption accomplished by the one who stopped along the way to heal a blind man. Hear and understand that this was done all for you and go for your faith has saved you.

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Sexagesima
February 4, 2024
Pastor Andy Wright

Rejoice this day that the Kingdom of God is yours and God’s word is given to you. Find rest and consolation in Jesus, the Sower of the seed, and have all that he says you have. Fear not the devil and his ways. Don’t despair as the cares of this life try to take your eyes of Christ. Don’t worry when the church seems to be weak and small. God’s power is made perfect in weakness and his grace is sufficient for you.

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Purification of Mary and
the Presentation of Our Lord
February 2, 2024
Pastor Nicholas Belcher
Septuagesima
January 28, 2024
Pastor Andy Wright

There’s great comfort in this parable for you today dear people of God because it means that God is true to what he says, and he is generous toward you in Christ. God promises you what is yours and it all depends on what Jesus has done.

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Transfiguration Sunday
January 21, 2024
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

Christ…shone brightly as the One Who came not to receive glory from men, but to give us His own, to restore innocence and purity to the fallen and to banish the darkness of our ancient sinfulness.

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Second Sunday After Epiphany
January 14, 2024
Pastor Andy Wright

All this glory is for you dear bride of Christ. The hour of Jesus has come, and he has accomplished your salvation. Rejoice this day in the Lord who changed water and to wine. He is the Lord who has created all things, ordered all things, and grants you to dwell in those things in which he gives.

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The Baptism of our Lord
January 7, 2024
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

The Spirit descending and resting on Jesus makes manifest to us the reality that Jesus has restored our nature in Himself. And the Spirit descends from heaven like a finger plainly pointing out that this One—Jesus—is the One with Whom the Father is well pleased; this is the new head of the human race—the Second Adam and the perfect image and likeness of God in our flesh.

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Epiphany
January 6, 2024
Pastor Andy Wright

What an Epiphany this is to know God in the flesh as he has revealed himself to you and continues to manifest himself in your life as you hear his word and receive his sacraments. Your life in Christ is an Epiphany lived out in this world until that day when you will see the Lord unveiled in glory. That future Epiphany will be a glorious day that will never end where all the saints fall down before the Lamb on his throne and rejoice in the salvation, he has given to you freely. Epiphany now and Epiphany to come but the same Lord who is first and last, the end and the beginning. To him alone be the glory now and forever.

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Circumcision and Name of Jesus
January 1, 2024
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

 

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Christmas 1
December 31, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

Mary’s child is her Lord and God just as he is yours. His future is your future and what a glorious one it is. God is your Father, and he delights in you his child and what your future holds. Go through this life as an heir of all things. Taste and see that the Lord is good, and his steadfast love endures forever. And then go and depart this place and, whenever the Lord wills it, in this earthly life in this peace of Christ which surpasses all understanding always knowing Christ is yours and you are his own.

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The Nativity of our Lord
December 25, 2023
Pastor Nicholas Belcher
Eve of the Nativity
Divine Service
December 24, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

God is where he wants to be. God is in the manger, and this is beautiful. He’s here for you just as he lay in the dirty manger he was where he wanted to be and as he slept soundly as a babe, he was on his heroic course for you. For unto a child is born, unto you a Son is given. You are his and he is yours “Glory to God in the Highest” now and forever.  

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Advent 4 (Rorate Coeli)
December 24, 2023
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

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Mid-week Advent 3
December 20, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

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Advent 3 (Gaudete)
December 17, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

Rejoice in Jesus and rejoice as you look forward to that day when he comes again not in the lowliness of the manger or hidden in means but when he comes again in great glory as only, he can do. Rejoice in the Lord always. He is at hand. The Lord has come, he is here now and for you in his means of grace, and he is coming again to take you to a comfort beyond compare that will last forever. People of God rejoice, and come, Lord Jesus!

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Mid-week Advent 2
December 13, 2023
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

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Advent 2 (Populo Zion)
December 10, 2023
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

Would to God that when you look at each other in the eyes here in this place, as redeemed Christians, as those baptized into His love and into His body here, would that you perceive Your Redeemer in one another. Would that when you look into each other’s eyes, you’d know that it’s not they who live but Christ Who lives in them and Who moves them to come alongside you to bear your burdens with you and so fulfill His royal law.

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Mid-week Advent 1
December 6, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

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Advent 1 (Ad te levavi)
December 3, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

Fix your eyes on Jesus. Lift up your soul and trust in him. Greet him as your King now and when he comes again in glory. Wait with eager anticipation and know that no one who waits for him, your King, will be put to shame. Meet and greet your King, Jesus, with great joy and join with your fellow saints, the Church, as you begin this new church year with renewed vigor, “Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.”

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Last Sunday of the Church Year
November 26, 2023
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

On that day when He appears, either you’ll be ready, or you won’t. Either you’ll be prepared, or you won’t. There won’t be any going back or making up for wasted time. And what will be revealed for all to see is whether we’ve been wise or foolish in what we’ve been devoted to up till then.

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Eve of Thanksgiving
November 22, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

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Second Last Sunday
November 19, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

Christ crucified and risen for you is your confidence to face the day of judgment and the reason why the sheep, you, have eternal life. That’s what God says even now to you his dear people. The comfort of the Gospel is the comfort of knowing your judgment. Look forward to the final day when the Lord doesn’t look at your sin but says to you, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’”

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Third Last Sunday
November 12, 2023
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

If…we open ourselves to the wisdom of the holy Scriptures and drink deeply of Job’s words, potent and well-mixed as they are with the Holy Spirit Himself, if we avail ourselves of their medicinal effect in us, dear ones, by the grace of God, we will find ourselves being cured of our spiritual apathy; we’ll find ourselves more zealous for and devoted to the things of God, and for our common life together as His people in the Lord Jesus.

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Trinity 22
November 5, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

Your sin is forgiven. This is most certainly true. Rejoice in this forgiveness. Listen and learn from Jesus too how to treat your brother when he sins against you. Forgive him.

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Festival of All Saints
November 1, 2023
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

 

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Festival of the Reformation
October 31, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

 

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Trinity 21
October 29, 2023
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

Whether He grants a measure of temporary restoration and relief, like He did for the royal official in our text, or if He bids you to wait patiently until He brings permanent restoration and relief in the Day of the Resurrection, dear ones, commend all things into to the nail-pierced hands of Him Who shed His blood for your forgiveness, the One Who is our life and Who brings life out of death.

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Trinity 20
October 22, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

These words of Jesus today humble you, but they also exalt you as you see your Lord has called you his own and forgives your sin and keeps calling you. He has chosen you as his own, don’t doubt that for one minute. You are God’s people. Rejoice, “All is ready.” Feast now and feast forever.

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Trinity 19
October 15, 2023
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

Teaching, preaching, and healing are the core elements of Jesus’ ministry. They can’t be separated from one another. Both His teaching and preaching illumine the mind and restore the soul, and His healing miracles restore the body. And what’s on full display for us in our Gospel lesson today is the paralytic, whom Jesus restores in both his body and his soul…[But] which of these two is our Savior’s priority? To be sure, He comes to restore mankind to wholeness in body and soul, but tell me, which of these two is, for Him, of first importance, and is the same true for you?

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Trinity 18
October 8, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

Jesus is the Lord. He’s not some generic nebulous god who is unknowable. Jesus is God in the flesh who reveals himself to you though his word. He is the one prophesized and promised through David and all the prophets. Trusting Christ, you see Jesus as the Lord who has accomplished salvation for you. He is the one who has fulfilled God’s law completely and perfectly as he has loved the Lord with all his heart, soul, and mind and his neighbor as himself. This is the life, death, and resurrection of Christ for you. You see this perfect love of God to and for you as you behold him as the crucified one who has made atonement for your sin and God’s wrath against you has been appeased by the shedding of his blood. He doesn’t leave you searching for his will or trying to wonder where you stand before him. He is risen from the dead and you are righteous in his sight.

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Trinity 17
October 1, 2023
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

Flee pride…like the deadly plague it is. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled. There’s no escaping this; there’s no escaping the futility of pride. But whoever humbles himself will be exalted. This is because the place of humility is the place where Jesus is.

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Michaelmas
September 29, 2023
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

Don’t lose sight of the bigger picture…St. Michael and all the holy angels are working even here and now for our benefit–and this is because of the grace and mercy of the Lord, Who gives them charge to do these things. Give thanks that we have their help, and above all, give thanks to the Lord your God, that He has made known the depths of His love and care for you in the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Trinity 16
September 24, 2023
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

For us…it is the highest honor to receive the summons of our Lord to come here for these things, to be raised to newness of life like the widow’s son and to say with him and St. Simeon, Lord ‘my eyes have seen thy salvation and the glory of thy people Israel.’

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Trinity 15
September 17, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

Called by name in Holy Baptism you know the Lord who is the Maker of heaven and earth and who has redeemed you by the blood of Christ. That changes everything, then. It fixes your eyes on Christ crucified for you and sees this world in and through him. It knows that God will not let you be put shame as you trust in him.

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Holy Cross Day
September 14, 2023
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

This is the life of the baptized child of God that all of you have been brought into. It’s a cruciform life. It’s a life of faith and obedience to God lived under the cross of Christ. Thus, by dying in Christ, we live.

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Trinity 14
September 10, 2023
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

Come present yourself before our blessed Savior and give thanks like the Samaritan, both today and everyday. And know that by faith in Jesus—the incarnate Salvation of God—we, together with all the company of the redeemed, shall see the face of God in the land of the living–unblemished, resurrected, full of gladness, and free.

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St. John's Classical Lutheran
School Opening and
Installation of Teachers
September 6, 2023
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

The point of my homily to you tonight is as simple as it is important, and that is this: that the opening of St. John’s Classical Lutheran School is nothing less than a gift from God, and I humbly urge all of you to cherish it as such.

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Trinity 13
September 3, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

Rejoice this day in what mercy you have been shown. You are redeemed by the blood of Christ. Your wounds have been healed. You’ve been lifted and taken to the inn. You are fed and nourished at the cost of the Lord, and he promises you he is coming again to take you to be with himself. Have confidence in all this today as a Christian. Know with certainty that you belong to Christ, your sin is forgiven, and you have eternal life.

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Trinity 12
August 27, 2023
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

The devil, the world, and our fallen flesh work in concert with each other to lead us away from truly hearing what the Word of God says about Who Jesus is and what He’s come to do. The deaf-mute man in Mark 7:31-37 thus becomes an image for everyone who cannot hear God’s Word and therefore cannot confess its truth. We, like this deaf-mute man, are dependent on Jesus to conquer the devil and undo his work, so that we can hear the truth of God’s saving Gospel and confess the very same with our mouths. Thanks be to God that Christ our Lord does just that.

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Trinity 11
August 20, 2023
Guest Pastor Roberto Rojas
Zion Ev. Lutheran Church
Winter Garden FL

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Trinity 10
August 13, 2023
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

Our Lord visits us this day in His Word and Sacrament, in the gifts and blessings He so freely gives. And at the font we’ve all been cleansed from the wickedness of sin by the washing of water and the Word. There we were consecrated by Him to be His royal priests, a holy nation unto Him—even spiritual temples of the Triune God.

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Trinity 9
August 8, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

The world comes and go but your Lord has overcome the world. Use what you have been given wisely. Be faithful in a little and God makes you faithful in much. View everything through the lens of Jesus crucified and risen for you. Know who you are in this world and know what you have in Christ. Your sin is forgiven, and you have eternal life. He is your joy, your crown, your all, your bliss eternally. Dear saints of God that means everything, absolutely everything.

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Trinity 8
July 30, 2023
Pastor Nicholas Belcher

Jesus’ warning to us against false prophets is dire—and for good reason. Preachers and teachers of God’s people who (1) have no legitimate authority from God to speak in His name, and those who (2) may have legitimate authority to preach and teach but who promote false doctrine, pose a great danger to all who would enter through the narrow gate that leads to life. But our Lord’s strong warning reflects his love for us and his zeal for our salvation. Therefore, we should honor the rightly called servants whom God sends to work on His behalf and for our benefit, and we should cling to the pure teaching of the Gospel as revealed in holy Scripture which brings life through Christ.

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Pastor Nicholas Belcher
Ordination & Installation
July 23, 2023
President Justin Panzer,
Kansas District

Ordination and Installation Service Part 1

Ordination and Installation Service Part 2

Trinity 7
July 23, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

The same God who created Adam and Even putting them in the Garden of Eden is the same God who fed the 4,000 in the Gospel reading and is the same God who has redeemed you. God will not forsake you in this world or into the life to come.

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Trinity 6
July 16, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

Your Lord has indeed accomplished your salvation. His active obedience fulfilling God’s law was for your benefit. He fulfilled all the Law and the Prophets, and he was the perfect sacrifice for you sin and the sin of the whole world. Now all his righteousness is yours through faith in him. He has had mercy upon you and your sin is forgiven. He has given you a new life in the waters of your baptism. God’s word is clear on this, you have in those saving waters what Christ has accomplished.

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Trinity 5
July 9, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

Each day repent of your sin and look to Christ who has redeemed you. Rest in his word that promises you have eternal life. Find solace in the church that is eternal and will not be overcome. When times of trial and hardship come and all seems to be hopeless, cling even more to the Lord who is your anchor and keeps you from being tossed here and there by every passing fad and false teaching itching ears want to hear. Look to the horizon too and know what is coming. The Lord is returning and will take you to himself. On that day the toil will be gone. All doubts and struggles will be gone. All sin will be gone. All death will be gone. That day will be glorious day without compare when the fishing and work is over and it’s time to eat at the feast forever.

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Visitation of Mary
July 2, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

John’s confession is your confession. Elizabeth’s confession is your confession. Mary’s confession is your confession. Join with them and all the saints speaking, living, and singing this confession every day. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Rejoice indeed in God your Savior. “For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”

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Trinity 3
June 25, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

There’s great joy in heaven over you who have been called by the Gospel and given faith in Christ. Your baptism day was a party in heaven and there is still rejoicing as your Lord continues to forgive you and guard and keep you in his care. There is great joy in heaven this day as your sin is forgiven and you have new life in Christ.

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Trinity 2
June 18, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

Dear Christian, Wisdom calls out and says, “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.” This is what Jesus has done for you and he says, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’”

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Trinity 1
June 11, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

Take this to heart dear children of God. The Lord looks at you this very day and says, “you are righteous in my sight.” With this declaration you know that you will be where Lazarus went and is even now. He had Moses and the Prophets and so do you. God has spoken to you and your eyes are fixed on Jesus, your Savior. Your life is hidden in Jesus and now you walk through this world as one who knows you have a future glory to come and looks at your neighbor with a love that flows from the love of Jesus for you. You go through this life seeing your neighbor as one for whom Christ has died just as he died for you. Your heart belongs to Christ and this heart is a new heart that overflows with mercy toward your neighbor. It’s a heart that treasures God’s word as the words of life and the lamp to your feet and the light to your path. Your prayer each day is for God’s protection and care even as you with all boldness call him your dear Father for in Christ you are his dear children.

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Festival of the Holy Trinity
June 4, 2023
Vicar John Kastner

God the Father showed you his loving heart when he poured on you his Holy Spirit through his Son Jesus Christ. There he opened your eyes to see just who this Creator is. The one who created all things has become your heavenly Father. He did this through his own eternal Son because of the Son’s obedience to the Father in your place. And the heavenly Father made your sonship a guarantee through the seal of the Holy Spirit, whom God richly poured into your heart as a guarantee. So here in these baptismal waters, God tells you everything you need to know about him: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

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Pentecost
May 28, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

The Lord’s peace is yours this very day. It’s real peace, the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. Not only that but there’s confidence and certainty in the peace of Jesus. That’s the wonderful thing you see here at Pentecost. God is working in your life when you have his word and sacraments, and this is where you find him for you. You aren’t scattered about tossed back and forth when it comes to the Christian faith. He doesn’t leave you wondering whether you are his or if you have Christ. You don’t find the gospel apart from the means of grace. The Holy Spirit is a preacher, and he sanctifies you; you are a holy one, a saint.

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Easter 7 - Exaudi
May 21, 2023
Vicar John Kastner

Dear Christian, let this be your confidence and certainty. The conviction of the apostles is yours. The boldness of the apostles is yours. Their power of the Holy Spirit is yours. You too may proclaim the name of Jesus. You too may glory in the possible suffering and (as God wills it) even death for sharing the love of Christ. At the very least, take confidence that the words you regularly read from the apostles are true. They are backed up by the words and promises of Jesus who foretold their witnessing power and the pains they would suffer for showing this power.

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Ascension Day
May 18, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

Ascension Day is a day of comfort. Confess boldly, “And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.” Know what this is all means as you speak those words and what this all means. It’s a day for you to rejoice in your Lord who is near and is yours now and forever.

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Easter 6 - Rogate
May 14, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

The Son of God, true God and true man, is yours and that means everything. In Christ you have it all as God commands you to pray and promises to hear you. And hear you he does now as you pray and on that final day into eternity where your faith ends, and you see him face to face just as Jesus is risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity.

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Easter 5 - Cantate
May 7, 2023
Vicar John Kastner

God does not change. He has been constant in mercy towards you so far. He has washed you with the waters of regeneration. He has taught you from his sacred writings. He invites you to come and eat of his Son’s blessed Supper. His mercy has been constant and a firm rock of certainty. Do not forget the power of his Word. Do not swerve from the paths of his righteousness. Receive his Word with meekness; for it made you into the first fruits of his creation, and it has the power to save your soul.

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Easter 4 - Jubilate
April 30, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

Dear saints of God, joy is on the horizon even as you look to Christ and see him crucified and risen for you and rejoice in him. Jesus is the crucified one and he lives and so do you and so shall you. Jesus said, “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”

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Easter 3 - Misericordias Domini
April 23, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” You are the flock of Jesus and that’s extraordinary. Jesus has laid down his life for you and brought you into his flock, the church. There are so many promises that you have as the flock of Christ. Jesus gives you eternal life. Jesus knows you and you know him.

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Easter 2 - Quasimodo Geniti
April 16, 2023
Vicar John Kastner

Our Lord places his seal and mark on these men. They are his special, called men who will have a special task. What is this task? It is to go out and forgive sins. Jesus promises them that these men have the authority to retain or remit sins, to withhold forgiveness or to give forgiveness. They have the authority to spread the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. And they do this all the while proclaiming Jesus. For, wherever they speak of God’s forgiveness, they will speak of the wounds and marks which the crucified and risen Savior bore in order to win that forgiveness.

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The Resurrection of our Lord
April 9, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

As you gather this morning and hear that your Lord’s tomb was indeed empty, and he is risen know what you have and what your future holds. This is an extraordinary day. “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Jesus is risen and that changes everything. Even as you face death you know the end of the story for you. Jesus is risen and so shall you. Your sin is forgiven, and you have eternal life.

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Vigil of Easter
April 8, 2023
Vicar John Kastner

God had sanctified the Sabbath, the seventh day of creation, and made it holy. He set it apart because he had rested from all his work. Now, Jesus has sanctified his resurrection day because it is a new day of a new creation. The seven days of the old creation have passed; the new day has dawned. The sun is here and will never more be diminished. Easter has come and it will remain. The Lord has given you the sign of the empty tomb as a testament to this fact. You are now a new creation. You are fashioned as a new creature, living with the same life as the one who was crucified but now is arisen. To him be the glory, to the end of the ages. Amen.

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Tenebrae - Good Friday
April 7, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

The Lord died at the hands of men who meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. That’s what the Lord does because nothing would stop him from redeeming you in Christ. Listening to this all, behold your crucified Lord stricken, smitten, and afflicted and sing your tongue of this glorious battle and victory you have in the death of Christ for you.

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Maundy Thursday
April 6, 2023
Vicar John Kastner

We see many things which were shown beforehand by the prophecies of God, through both words and actions. A thorough study of the Scriptures will show that God had placed before his people a type through his salvation of the Passover and the sacred feast which followed as a commemoration. The slaying of the lamb, the sign of the blood, the rescue from death, all these were pointing to show greater things which were to come. The antitype, or fulfillment, is in our Lord’s sacred meal, the Lord’s Supper. What God did before will help us to treasure and rejoice over what God does now.

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Holy Wednesday
April 5, 2023
Vicar John Kastner

When faced with the reality of his sin, when faced with the wounded glare from his Lord and Master as Peter finished denying him for the third time, Peter did not shrink back into his own guilt and shame. He did not remain secluded in the “what if”s of despair. No, even though he recognized his wrong, even though he wept bitterly, he also knew the Lord’s forgiveness and love. He trusted in that love which would cover a multitude of sins. He knew from his Lord’s promise (“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners”) that the Lord would not reject his repentance. He took Jesus’ words as true, secure, and trustworthy.

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Palmarum
April 2, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

Greet your humble King who rides on in majesty to die. Wave the palms and cry out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” He truly has come and is here now. Blessed indeed is he and blessed are you dear daughter of Zion. Fear not. Rest easy in him.

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Lent Midweek 5
March 29, 2023
Vicar John Kastner

So what then is a proper examination? The proper examination is to see if you have faith. Behold, it’s simple; but, this examination is not simplistic. Do you have the faith required to receive this gift? What is this faith? It is the faith which trusts in two things: one, I need this gift, and two, I know my savior Jesus will provide it here.

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Judica
March 26, 2023
Vicar John Kastner

Jesus does not speak for his own glory. He lets himself be slandered; he lets lies be spoken about him. Yet, what he will not give up is the truth. He will continue to speak and defend his Father, the one who has sent the Son to teach the truth. He lets his Father do the ultimate judgment. The Father seeks for his Son to be honored. The Father will work to judge and vindicate his Son. So, dear Christian, be encouraged by this fact: if you are slandered, if you are ridiculed, the Father seeks to honor you. He will vindicate you, if not now, if not soon, then for certainty in the age to come.

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Laetare
March 19, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

God shows you mercy and takes care of you in body and soul. The Lord is yours and you are his. He takes care of you in all circumstances even as he took care of his people since the world began. The same God who rained down manna and quail is the same God who worked the miracle in John 6. This God is who has redeemed you. He knows you and has called you by name in the waters of Holy Baptism. He gives you your daily bread. He hears and answers your prayers. He guards, keeps, and upholds you with his righteous right hand. He forgives you and shows you mercy.

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Lent Midweek 3
March 15, 2023
Vicar John Kastner

Keep that in the forefront of your mind when you hear those words “given for you, shed for you.” This cross was for you. There are a lot of misunderstandings of the cross. There are a lot of people who want to create their own Jesus, picking and choosing what things they want to listen to. To know Jesus rightly you must look at his cross and why he had to endure it. To know why he had to endure it, you must look to his words given at the Lord’s Supper. It was always a sacrifice for you, for your sins, so that you might taste God’s new covenant for all mankind to receive.

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Oculi
March 12, 2023
Vicar John Kastner

What the man of God will be concerned over will be the good, the right, and the true. He will want to follow the example of the Lord Jesus; to follow the good and precious offering to God. He will do all this because he has now been made an eternal child of God. He will do it because he has been established forever. Amen.

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Reminiscere
March 5, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

Rejoice this day and call upon the Lord. Be persistent in the faith the Lord has given you and strengthens you in as you go through this life. Desire to be the dog that eats the crumbs from the master’s table and know that your place is far better. Your place is at the eternal wedding feast which knows no end. That’s what you are promised, and you see as you behold your Lord crucified and risen for you. So, remember his mercies and call upon the Lord to remember them as well. He is faithful, he will surely do it.

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Lent Midweek 1
March 1, 2023
Vicar John Kastner

This Lententide should be a good reminder of the difficulty of this journey until you reach the eternal banquet; the difficulties of the weight of sin which still clings to your body, the difficulties of the strife and turmoil which surrounds you, the difficulties of the pain and misery common to this world. All these may weary you. All these may lead you to despair. Find your power, find your strength in this meal. Trust in the Lord who is the physician of body and soul. Receive from his gracious hand the medicine of immortality.

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Invocabit
February 26, 2023
Vicar John Kastner

Why did Jesus have to learn this obedience? He learned this obedience to his Father to become a source of salvation for all. He proved that he was the new Adam, the true Son of God, made and kept in the image of God. Now, all who receive the new Adam, this Jesus Christ, receive his perfection and obedience as their own. They receive the ability to learn and grow in this obedience as the true children of God.

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Ash Wednesday
February 22, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

Lent is here upon you once again. Remember that you are dust and repent. Know and cling to Christ who destroyed death by his death and gives you eternal life. Rejoice in your redemption in Christ who has created in you a clean heart and renewed a right spirit within you and will never cast you away from his presence for he alone is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Rightly know your place as dust but know in faith with all boldness and confidence in Christ that you are redeemed and in eternal life you shall live.

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Quinquagesima
February 19, 2023
Pastor Andy Wright

Fix your eyes on Jesus crucified for you and cling to his promises today that he is yours and has saved you by his blood. Cry out to him at times knowing that he hears and answers you and will never forsake you. Look toward Jerusalem as Lent approaches hearing and seeing your Redemption accomplished by the one who stopped along the way to heal a blind man. Hear and understand that this was done all for you and go for your faith has saved you.

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Sexagesima
February 12, 2023
Vicar John Kastner

Now is the season of sowing. Now is the time for the Word of God to be placed across all creation. Then comes the time of the harvest. Then comes the expectation of his labor. As the sower expects to find grown plants and much fruit, so God expects to find people who fear, love, and trust in him above all things. He expects to find those who believe his promise of eternal life and want to suffer all in order to keep it. He desires a people that belong to him and are devoted to him.

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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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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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