“Born for You a Savior” (Christmas Eve sermon on Luke 2:1-20, by Pr. Charles Henrickson)
“Born for You a Savior” (Luke 2:1-20)
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” So the angel brought the good news of great joy to the shepherds. And so the good news comes to us tonight: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Let’s consider now, and let us rejoice in, this glorious announcement, under the theme, “Born for You a Savior.”
In particular, I want us to zero in on three terms the angel uses in making this announcement, and they are “Savior,” “Christ,” and “Lord.” These three terms tell us so much about the . . . Read All
Hope for the Sons of Adam. Christmas Midnight 2014
Christmas Midnight
St. Peter Lutheran Church
St. Luke 2:1-14
December 24, 2014
Hope for the Sons of Adam
At the time Jesus was born, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that the whole world should go back to the city of their forefathers to be registered for a tax.
If we want to receive the good news of great joy that the angels proclaim in this evening’s Gospel, we must also go back. We must go back to our origins and consider the years of our life, and also the people we are descended from.
For God has set a date when the entire world will be registered before Him; the entire world will stand before Him and . . . Read All
Jesus in the Lions’ Den: A Sermon for the Nativity of Our Lord
Our celebration of the Savior’s birth can become so routine that we become numb to the joy—and the horror— of it all. On the one hand, it’s really odd that the Incarnation of our Lord is one of the Church’s two chief festivals. For us, nothing could be more normal than celebrating on Christmas Eve. If we didn’t, Christmas just wouldn’t be the same.
But the fact that we actually celebrate on Christmas demonstrates how foolish God’s ways are to the world. We do celebrate on Christmas—and rightly so—but not for any reason the world usually celebrates. We tend to sentimentalize the birth of our Lord, as if it were some kind of silent, holy night. It was holy, to . . . Read All
“What Christmas Is All About: God Saving Us, in a Humble Way, to Be His People” (Sermon by Pr. Charles Henrickson)
“What Christmas Is All About: God Saving Us,
in a Humble Way, to Be His People”
(Luke 2:1-20; Titus 2:11-14; Isaiah 9:2-7)
What is Christmas all about? How do people view Christmas and celebrate it? Why do they look forward to it? Or do they? Some people get burned out on Christmas and want to avoid it. But most folks still like to maintain the custom of celebrating Christmas. Why? What is it about this holiday that makes it so special? I think there is something about this holiday that is special, but it may not be the same as what most people think.
For most people, for most Americans, at least, I think it’s sort of a nostalgic glow . . . Read All
Celebrating Christmas in 2014
CANADA – The Christmas holidays can be a complicated time for those traveling. Lutheran Church–Canada is hoping to make it a little less complicated by posting the seasonal worship time for its churches across the country.
Visit LCC’s website here, and click on the province where you’ll be spending Christmas. Then, scroll down to find a church near you. Click on the “Seasonal Services” button to find out details regarding holiday worship services. If your church doesn’t have its seasonal services listed on the website, try its phone number for more …
Löhe on Luke 2:14 (Christmas Eve)
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luk 2:14 KJV) When the almighty God created the world out of nothing, all the majesties celebrated and the children of light exulted. The universal oceans … Continue reading →. . . Read All
“Where Is God? Answer: Immanuel” (Sermon on Matthew 1:18-25, by Pr. Charles Henrickson)
“Where Is God? Answer: Immanuel” (Matthew 1:18-25)
Where is God in the midst of all of this? You hear this question all the time these days. Whenever there is a tragedy in the news, you hear people asking this question. “Where is God,” and then fill in the blank. Where is God when a tornado levels Moore, Oklahoma, or a typhoon devastates the Philippines? Where is God when there is a terrible school shooting–in Connecticut, in Colorado–and innocent children die? Where are you, God? Why did you let this happen?
Or let’s bring it closer to home. Where is God when a dear friend, as active and vibrant as all get out, and the most dedicated of Christians–when she suffers . . . Read All