Hear us, heavenly Father, for the sake of Christ Jesus, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Empowered By the Holy Spirit, We Love Jesus and One Another Read More »
Jesus says, “The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.” This, in my view, is the only place in the New Testament where Jesus tells us about the work of the Holy Spirit outside of the Church. And this three-fold conviction of the Holy Spirit is a message that turns the world upside down in Jesus’ disciples’ day as well as our own. It is a message the Church desperately needs to hear and needs to communicate to our world today.
Spirit, Convict us of Sin, Righteousness, and of Judgment Read More »
Heavenly Father, without Your Holy Spirit, given to us through the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have no power, either as individuals or as a Christian community. Energize us today to rejoice in and to witness to the reality of Jesus in our lives by enabling us to live
with confidence and courage through forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Power of Pentecost? Read More »
O God, You make the minds of Your faithful to be of one will. Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!
Discerning the Spirit Read More »
God our Father, You promise to hear our prayers, whether spoken or even too deep for words. During these Lenten days, breathe the breath of Your Spirit into our mouths, that we learn to pray without ceasing; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!
Lord God, heavenly Father, send forth Your Son to lead home His bride, the Church, that with all the company of the redeemed we may finally enter into His eternal wedding feast; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!
To Be or Not to Be… Read More »
In John 14, Jesus says, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” The primary role of the Holy Spirit, then, is to teach us and remind us of all that Jesus said–perfect communication. When Peter had confessed Jesus to be the Messiah, Jesus said immediately to Peter: “the Son of Man must suffer many things . . . be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Luke 9:22). Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. This is the word that the Holy Spirit reminds us of week after week in Scripture, hymns, preaching, and Holy Communion. It is this word of Jesus that brings us down a notch when we are arrogant and lifts us up when we are brought low by our sin. Christ, crucified for sinners and risen, is perfect communication. This is precisely what the Holy Spirit breathes into our ears.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! While we celebrated Easter Sunday over a month ago, the Christian Church traditionally regards every Sunday as “mini-Easters.” That is because preaching the resurrection of Jesus Christ as we do on Easter is central to our faith. In the resurrection, we celebrate Christ’s victory over sin and death. Because of His resurrection, we confidently hold firm to our Baptism, knowing that we receive forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation paid for by the blood of Christ. Thanks be to God!
Suffering and Hope Read More »
Almighty and ever-living God, as Your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in the substance of our flesh, grant that we may be presented to You with pure and clean hearts; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!
