Bible Study: Luke 24:13-35, April 30, 2014

A Bible Study taught by Pastor Lewis Polzin on April 30, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bemidji, MN, on Luke 24:13-35. This Bible Study will help to lay a foundation for the sermon that is preached the following Sunday.

The Bible study recording may also be accessed by clicking the title of this blog post and playing it in your browser.

Bible Study: The Book of Concord, Augsburg Confession 27

A Bible Study taught by Pastor Lewis Polzin on April 27, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bemidji, MN, on The Book of Concord. This Bible Study uses Concordia Publishing House's Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions as a basis for our study. Please feel free to follow along.

The Bible Study recording may also be accessed by clicking the title of this blog post and playing it in your browser.

A Pastoral Approach: Sermon: John 20:19-31, April 27, 2014

A sermon preached by Pastor Lewis Polzin on April 27, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bemidji, MN, on John 20:19-31. The text of this sermon may be found by clicking this link here. The sermon recording may also be accessed by clicking the title of this blog post and playing it in your browser.

Sermon: John 20:19-31, April 27, 2014

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The text this morning is from the Gospel of John, the twentieth chapter:

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. 

Thus far the text.

Dear friends in Christ,

     Christ is risen!  He is risen, indeed!  Alleluia!  Amen!  Notice, what happens today with this risen Jesus Christ.  He walks through walls.  He scares the ever-loving snot out of His disciples.  He does miraculous signs among people.  Jesus’ risen body doesn’t look too different than His pre-crucifixion body, save the holes, yet because Jesus is now risen, because He is now making full use of His divinity, there is no end to what He can do.  And what’s the one major thing He is focused on doing today?  Bringing peace.

     That’s right, peace.  The disciples are hanging out in a locked room because they’re afraid of the Jews, and the man they all thought was dead, appears in the midst of them.  So, they’re all afraid, terrified, because they’re worried the Jews, the Sanhedrin, the people who put Jesus to death, are going to do the same thing to them.

     I don’t know if you’ve ever been afraid, truly afraid.  I’m not just talking pit in your stomach scared, I’m talking afraid to the point of being sure you’re going to die.  I don’t know that I’ve ever been that scared.  The closest I can come is the feeling I get right before I wake up from a recurring nightmare I’ve had since I was a kid.  It’s a feeling of utter despair, there’s nothing you can do, there’s nothing you can fight with, you’re going to die, you’re going to die horribly, and you can’t stop it.  

Sermon for the Wedding of Beth Holzhueter and Isaiah Hahn, April 26, 2014

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The text that serves as the basis for this message comes from the reading from the Gospel of John, the fifteenth chapter:

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Beth and Isaiah, and my dear friends in Christ,

     Today is finally the day that you have been waiting for.  Beth, you have planned and plotted, you have dreamed and desired.  Isaiah, you have been right there with her.  We have worked together, we have talked about much, and today is finally the day, the day when you will both take each other as your beloved spouse, to have and to hold from this day forth and even forevermore.

     And this is a joyous day.  This is a glorious day.  This is a wonderful day.  But this is day one, my friends.  This is the wedding that begins your marriage.  Today, you know, is not the fullness of the marriage itself.  Today, there are rainbows and unicorns, today there are wedding bells, brass quintets, feasting, and glorious beauty in this place.  But I cannot tell you what tomorrow will bring.  I cannot tell you that it will all be the same as this forever and ever.

A Pastoral Approach: Sermon: Matthew 28:1-10, Easter, April 20, 2014

A sermon preached by Pastor Lewis Polzin on April 20, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bemidji, MN, on Matthew 28:1-10. The text of this sermon may be found by clicking this link here. The sermon recording may also be accessed by clicking the title of this blog post and playing it in your browser.

Sermon: Matthew 28:1-10, Easter, April 20, 2014

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The text this morning is from the Gospel of Matthew, the 28^th chapter:

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” 

Thus far the text.

Dear friends in Christ,

     Christ is risen!  He is risen, indeed!  Alleluia!  This glorious Easter Day we have now the resurrection of our Lord!  This is an amazing thing.  Though all the world were against Him, though He became sin on our behalf, though He was wounded for our transgressions, though He died for our iniquities, this God-man Jesus was vindicated by His Father and was raised from the dead for our justification!  Christ is risen!  He is risen, indeed!  Alleluia!

     This morning, there are earthquakes and angels, there are soldiers who get faint, and there are feet.  Feet.  I had a professor in seminary who pointed to this passage as definitive, eyewitness proof that Jesus had actually risen from the dead and was not just some disembodied spirit.  After all, these women saw Jesus face-to-face, and what was the first thing they did?  Fell down, grabbed His feet, and worshipped Him.  This same professor was alright with changing our Easter greeting, too, from, “Christ is risen!  He is risen, indeed!  Alleluia,” to “He has feet!”  He has feet, indeed.  Alleluia!

Lenten Sermon: Person of Interest: Judas, Luke 22:1-6, 47-48, April 17, 2014

   This sermon series will investigate some persons of interest in the death of Jesus Christ. Each sermon will ask if this person is guilty of the death of Jesus Christ.  As we listen and hear the case against each player in the death of Christ, we also hear that the words are for us today. May the Lord bless us as we hear His Word.

     This sermon, preached by Pastor Lewis Polzin on April 17, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bemidji, MN, focuses on Luke 22:1-6, 47-48. The sermon recording may also be accessed by clicking the title of this blog post and playing it in your browser.

Bible Study: The Book of Concord, Augsburg Confession 27

A Bible Study taught by Pastor Lewis Polzin on April 13, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bemidji, MN, on The Book of Concord. This Bible Study uses Concordia Publishing House's Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions as a basis for our study. Please feel free to follow along.

The Bible Study recording may also be accessed by clicking the title of this blog post and playing it in your browser.

A Pastoral Approach: Sermon: Isaiah 50:4-9a, April 13, 2014

A sermon preached by Pastor Lewis Polzin on April 13, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bemidji, MN, on Isaiah 50:4-9a. The text of this sermon may be found by clicking this link here. The sermon recording may also be accessed by clicking the title of this blog post and playing it in your browser.

Sermon: Isaiah 50:4-9a, April 13, 2014

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The text this morning is from the Prophet Isaiah, the 50^th chapter:

The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty? 

Thus far the text.

Dear friends in Christ,

     This Palm Sunday, as every Palm Sunday we celebrate, moves us closer, of course, to the crucifixion of the Christ.  Every time we gather together this day with shouts of loud Hosannas, we also realize that in a few short days, the crowds will be screaming, “Crucify Him!”

     Perhaps we lumber toward this week with a bit of trepidation.  Perhaps we do not desire to have yet again one more Holy Week go by where we are to feel awful for our sins, to be depressed by the bloody corpse of Jesus, to be reminded how black and ugly our sin makes us by the colors and the music and the preaching and the lights.  Perhaps we just want to sit here on Palm Sunday and sing Hosanna Loud Hosanna!  Perhaps we just want to be joyful and wave palm branches.  Perhaps we just want to be happy in Jesus Christ.

Growing in Christ: Matthew 27:11-66

A Bible Study taught by Pastor Lewis Polzin on April 10, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bemidji, MN, on Matthew 27:11-66. This Bible Study is based on the curriculum from Concordia Publishing House's Sunday School curriculum, "Growing in Christ," a curriculum for all ages, helping to teach parents and teachers the material God in Christ wishes His children to learn to trust more in Him.

The Bible Study recording may also be accessed by clicking the title of this blog post and playing it in your browser.

Lenten Sermon: Person of Interest: Caiaphas, John 11:45-53 , April 29, 2014

   This sermon series will investigate some persons of interest in the death of Jesus Christ. Each sermon will ask if this person is guilty of the death of Jesus Christ.  As we listen and hear the case against each player in the death of Christ, we also hear that the words are for us today. May the Lord bless us as we hear His Word.

     This sermon, preached by Pastor Lewis Polzin on April 29, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bemidji, MN, focuses on John 11:45-53. The sermon recording may also be accessed by clicking the title of this blog post and playing it in your browser.

Bible Study: The Book of Concord, Augsburg Confession 27

A Bible Study taught by Pastor Lewis Polzin on April 6, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bemidji, MN, on The Book of Concord. This Bible Study uses Concordia Publishing House's Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions as a basis for our study. Please feel free to follow along.

The Bible Study recording may also be accessed by clicking the title of this blog post and playing it in your browser.

A Pastoral Approach: Sermon: Romans 8:1-11, April 6, 2014

A sermon preached by Pastor Lewis Polzin on April 6, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bemidji, MN, on Romans 8:1-11. The text of this sermon may be found by clicking this link here. The sermon recording may also be accessed by clicking the title of this blog post and playing it in your browser.

Sermon: Romans 8:1-11, April 6, 2014

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The text this morning is from Paul’s Letter to the Romans, the eighth chapter:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit… if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. 

Thus far the text.

Dear friends in Christ,

     Are you having a good Lent?  Are you appropriately penitent?  Have you given your alms?  Have you prayed more?  Have you served your neighbor?  Have you turned your hearts toward God?  Have you done all the things that are expected of you in this season of repentance as we follow Jesus to the cross?

     Or are you like me?  Do you turn your heart to the things of the flesh?  Have you, instead of repenting, become more entrenched in your own sin?  Have you, like me, focused more on your own desires and wants and needs than the need of your neighbors?  Have you lived according to the flesh and not the Spirit?

     You see, when I read this Romans 8 passage, I can’t just focus on the first verse, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  I keep reading until I get to, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh… for to set the mind on the flesh is death…”  Oh, man.  I’m in trouble.

     You see, I know where my heart wants to go.  When Lent gets busy, when ANYTHING gets busy, it’s so much easier for my heart to be inclined towards sin than anything else.  I don’t want to focus on God.  I don’t want to set my heart on the things of the Spirit.  I don’t want to think about Christ’s Church.  I don’t want to think about reading the Word of God.  I don’t want to think about baptism.  I don’t want to think about the Lord’s Supper.  I don’t want to think of anything about the Spirit.  I get tired, I get worn out, I get sinful.  I set my heart and my mind instead on sin.  I let that be my first reaction.  I let sloth and gluttony and pride rule.

Growing in Christ: John 11:1-45

A Bible Study taught by Pastor Lewis Polzin on April 3, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bemidji, MN, on John 11:1-45. This Bible Study is based on the curriculum from Concordia Publishing House's Sunday School curriculum, "Growing in Christ," a curriculum for all ages, helping to teach parents and teachers the material God in Christ wishes His children to learn to trust more in Him.

The Bible Study recording may also be accessed by clicking the title of this blog post and playing it in your browser.

Lenten Sermon: Person of Interest: Malchus, John 18:10-11, Luke 22:49-53 , April 2, 2014

   This sermon series will investigate some persons of interest in the death of Jesus Christ. Each sermon will ask if this person is guilty of the death of Jesus Christ.  As we listen and hear the case against each player in the death of Christ, we also hear that the words are for us today. May the Lord bless us as we hear His Word.

     This sermon, preached by Pastor Lewis Polzin on April 2, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bemidji, MN, focuses on John 18:10-11 and Luke 22:49-53. The sermon recording may also be accessed by clicking the title of this blog post and playing it in your browser.