He that lieth down with dogs shall rise up with fleas.
‹Benjamin Franklin›
Atlantis: the domain of the Stingray
30Nov
2005
Wed
10:47
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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Midweek Advent I

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ...God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful." Did you hear those words? Listen to them again: "Grace and peace to you from God our Father...God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."

24Sep
2005
Sat
10:39
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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A Wedding Sermon

Mark 10:6-9

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Listen to those words again, because they have a very important meaning for you. And I don't mean just for this day. For these are words important to you, John, since February 15, 1975, and you, Jane, since December 12, 1983. In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Yes, these words were first spoken over you when you were drowned—as was heard-hearted Pharaoh; as was the world, spare Noah and his family—and as you were brought back to life; when you were brought back to newness of life. They were spoken over you in the waters of Holy Baptism, when you were converted from enemy of God to His precious and most beloved child. They marked your entrance into and beginning in His Kingdom.

3Jul
2005
Sun
14:23
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Matthew 11:25-30

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

"At that time Jesus said, 'I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.'"

What are these things that Jesus is talking about? Who are the wise and learned? Who are the little children? All very good questions, and their answers will help to explain this passage from St. Matthew's Gospel. So, let us be about the task of answering them.

What are these things that Jesus is talking about?

26Jun
2005
Sun
14:05
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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Presentation of the Augsburg Confession (observed)

John 15:1-11

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame...

That is the verse from Psalm 119—the banner—by which these words were presented:

To Emperor Charles V...Most invincible Emperor, Caesar Augustus, most clement Lord: Your Imperial Majesty has summoned a meeting of the Empire here at Augsburg to consider taking action against the Turk, discussing how best to stand effectively against his fury and attacks by means of military force. The Turk is the most atrocious and ancient hereditary enemy of the Christian name and religion. This meeting is also to consider disagreements in our holy religion, the Christian faith, by hearing everyone's opinions and judgments in each other's presence. They are to be considered and evaluated among ourselves in mutual charity, mercy, and kindness. After the removal and correction of things that either side has understood differently, these matters may be settled and brought back to one simple truth and Christian concord. Then we may embrace and maintain the future of one pure and true religion under one Christ, doing battle under Him, living in unity and concord in the one Christian Church...

12Jun
2005
Sun
13:55
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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St. Barnabas (observed)

Matthew 10:5-16, Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3

Today is St. Barnabas. So, for today's entry, here's a sermon from the archives. Enjoy!

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

What we have before us is Jesus sending out the Twelve. He sends His disciples to preach a most joyous message: "The kingdom of heaven is near." "Joyous?" you say? Yes! This is the best news given for preaches to preach—the kingdom of heaven is near, that is to say, the Christ is come to take away the sins of the world.

13Mar
2005
Sun
13:28
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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Fifth Sunday in Lent

John 11:1-53

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

As our season of Lent 2005 comes to a head, we continue to be confronted with our own mortality. What was kicked off with Ash Wednesday—"you are dust and to dust you shall return"—continues in the little town of Bethany. The wages of sin is death, and Lazarus has received payment; he lies in the tomb, his body rotting and decaying as the physical effect of sin takes its toll—lying there four days, a bad odor has no doubt formed.

6Mar
2005
Sun
12:00
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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Fourth Sunday in Lent

Matthew 20:17-28

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear Baptized, once more, a selection from this morning's Gospel:

Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!"

23Jan
2005
Sun
11:52
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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Third Sunday after the Epiphany of Our Lord

Matthew 4:12-23

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

What a life filled with setbacks and continual difficulty. Nothing seems to go His way. And it will continue to seem as if nothing will ever go His way. And it all started while He was still in the womb.

Mary was with child by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, who was pledge to be her husband, was filled with doubt and confusion. "She's pregnant, but I didn't do it. What will the people think if I take her to be my wife while she's pregnant? Or, better yet, what will they think if we get married and the baby is already here?" So, he sought to divorce her quietly. How could he take Mary and the baby to be his own?

2Jan
2005
Sun
02:30
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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Second Sunday after Christmas

John 1:1-18

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."

Is that not an interesting way to begin a Gospel? St. John points to the very beginning, using words that would have us look at the very beginning of our Scriptures—Genesis. More than that however, he tells you that your Savior was there when the heavens and the earth were created: "In the beginning was the Word..." Jesus is the Word! He was with God in the beginning, and He was God.