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Two Birth Days
Introduction This is a homily I preached on Aug. 11, 2009, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., for the funeral of a charter member. Readings Job 19:23-27a Psalm 121 1 Peter 1:3-9 John 11:21-27 Message One of the curious traditions in the history of the Church is to recall to memory our forbearers in…
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Second Birth
Introduction This is a funeral homily I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009. Readings Job 19:23-27a Psalm 121 1 Peter 1:3-9 John 11:21-27 Message One of the curious traditions in the history of the Church is to recall to memory our forbearers in the faith on the day…
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Living Bread, Eternal Life
Introduction This is the homily I prepared for Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, based upon the Gospel. Readings 1 Kings 19:4-8 Psalm 34:1-8 Ephesians 4:25-5:2 John 6:35-51 Prayer Let us pray… “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation[s] of [our] heart[s] be acceptable to you, O LORD,…
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The Bread of Life
“Jesus said to [the crowd], ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” (John 6:35, NRSV) He is bread for the living, the loaf that gives us life, the bread broken in death so that we may live, the loaf…
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“I Am the Bread of Life”
Introduction One of the classes I took at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg in 1988 was an elective on hymnology, the study of hymnody, including its history, use, and development in the life of the Church’s liturgy. Part of the class involved writing some hymn texts. This hymn, “I Am the Bread of Life,”…
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Lord of Loaves and Fishes
Occasion This is a homily for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost, July 26, 2009, based upon the day’s gospel, John 6:1-21. Prayer Let us pray… “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation[s] of [our] heart[s] be acceptable to you, O LORD, [our] rock and [our] redeemer.” Amen. (Psalm 19:14, NRSV) Homily John’s gospel…
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St. Athanasius: The Atoning Logos
Introduction I submitted this paper to Dr. Gerald Christianson on Nov. 22, 1985, as part of my work at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg in a course entitle “The Early Church and its Creeds.” Paper As Christians began spreading the Gospel, persons of both Hebrew and Greek heritages listened, and in listening, appropriated the…
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God’s Bread of Life
Introduction In 1990, while serving as the pastor of First Lutheran Church, Potter, Neb., and Grace Lutheran Church, Gurley, Neb., I prepared a series of six daily devotions, calling the collection “All Good Gifts: Devotions for the Harvest.” This is the sixth and last in the collection. Reading: John 6:25-35 “Jesus said to them, ‘I…
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Living Waters
“As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:38b, NRSV)
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Thirsty?
“…[Jesus] cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink.’” (John 7:37b-38a, NRSV)