Lay ministers serve RLC

Resurrection Lutheran Church welcomes Rev. John Hazzard as its next pastor. Pastor John has been a member of Resurrection his whole life. On Nov. 2 he was ordained by the North America Lutheran Church Bishop Dan Selbo and installed by Pastor Tim Loehrke. After retiring from Port Clinton Schools, Pastor John followed finalized his dream to become a pastor.

Sermons

Epiphany IV February 1, 2026

Sermon Text Matthew 5:1-12

The Rev. Dr. David M. Wendel

Grace Ev. Lutheran Church, Westerville, OH

“Life in Relationship!”

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

As you came in this morning, opening the worship folder, seeing that the Gospel reading is the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount, did you have any momentary, fleeting thought like, “Oh, the Beatitudes--again?” I’m sure that was the response of some preachers, since we just had the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount as our Gospel reading on All Saint’s Day, this past November, as well as on All Saint’s Sunday in 2023 and 2024. And having just heard this text really, just a few weeks ago, here it is again. And—can we hear a particular Gospel lesson too much?

Martin Luther wrote about the Sermon on the Mount, in his commentary on Matthew, “Everyone would say, ‘Now that the Sermon on the Mount is so common that everyone has it written in a book and can read it daily, nobody regards it as something special and precious. Yes, we may grow tired of the (teachings of Jesus) and neglect them, as if, not the high Majesty of heaven had uttered them, but some cobbler…so that we never feel or taste what a treasure, force and power there is in the words of Christ. But he who has grace to recognize them as the words of God, and not of man, will surely regard them as higher and more precious, and we will never grow tired or weary of them.”

So, how do we come to the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, and how do we receive them? Have we heard them so often that we forget how special and precious they are, neglecting them, as if they are mere human words, rather than the very words of God, spoken to us by the Son of the high Majesty of heaven? This is how we are to receive the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes—never growing tired or weary of them, but feeling in them, tasting in them, what a treasure, what force and power there are in the words, not of Paul or the apostles, but in the words of our Lord Himself, as He communicates to us, the mind, the will and the intention of God! We have now two Sundays when we will hear from the Sermon on the Mount. So what treasure, force and power is there for you and for me, today, in the Beatitudes?

As comforting as they may sound in our ears, these words of Jesus were a harsh judgement against the religious leaders and teachers of Judaism! Luther wrote, “As kindly and sweet as this teaching is for us Christians…just so vexatious and intolerable were they for the Jews, for Jesus hits them a hard blow in the very beginning with these words, rejecting and denouncing their teaching and practice.” And how is that?

In Judaism at that time, the religious teachers believed and taught that blessings would come to those who considered themselves spiritually rich and accomplished and obedient. In other words, they believed that the Pharisees, Sadducees, priests and scribes were blessed, because they kept the laws and commandments perfectly. They taught that when you were obedient and totally committed to God’s will and God’s expectations, you would be blessed. Which led to a certain self-righteousness among the religious leaders who believed they alone would be saved because they alone were worthy. They looked down upon those who were not so obedient or righteous, those who were poor, spiritually, the rank and file, ordinary, everyday religious folk who worked for a living and didn’t have the ability to spend every day in the Temple, studying the Torah, as did their well-to-do religious leaders. Who were thought to be blessed in life? Those who were obedient, those who obeyed, those who were outwardly religious. Which is why Jesus’ words were heard as a harsh judgement against the religious leaders of Judaism, because Jesus was asserting the direct opposite of what the leaders were teaching! Jesus was asserting that all were blessed, even those who were not considered obedient and righteous! Which made it harder for the leaders to control the people, to get the people to do what they wanted them to do, if they were blessed, already! The religious leaders in Jesus’ time would preach and teach, “You must do thus and so, or you will be cursed—with illness, misfortune, and sorrow.” That’s what the Jewish preachers preached. Whereupon Jesus arrives and says, rather, “Even the spiritually poor and weak, will be blessed. Even those who sin and mourn their sinfulness, will be blessed. Even those who are lowest and most humble in Judaism, will be blessed.” That’s what Jesus is saying in the Beatitudes in Matthew’s Gospel. He’s talking to the apostles and the rest of the disciples in the crowd, saying, “God isn’t blessing only the Pharisees and Sadducees, the priests and scribes.” “No, God blesses the lowly sinners, those who are not the most spiritual, the most obedient, the most outwardly religious.” In fact, Jesus says, “God blesses all who are not full of themselves, but hunger and thirst for righteousness, honestly, truly seeking God.” In this sense, the Lord is throwing open the kingdom of heaven to all, even those followers who are reviled and persecuted, for not being, perfect and sinless, not relying on their own righteousness, but relying upon, clinging to—Jesus. And that doesn’t mean only those who would be persecuted later in the first century. For Jesus was preparing his followers to be reviled and persecuted by the religious leaders in their own time, because they were now following Jesus and rejecting the religious system of Jerusalem, the Temple and the synagogue, which taught that people could please God and save themselves, by their own actions, if they would just try hard enough.

Interestingly, as the Lord God was speaking judgement, through Micah, upon the rich and powerful of Israel and Judah for their pride and violence and abuse of the weak and vulnerable, they cried out, “What more do you want us to do, to avoid judgement and wrath,” thinking it was in their power to appease God by their actions. They asked, “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn son for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” To which Micah replies, “The Lord God has told you what He wants, what He values; and what does the Lord require of you but to act rightly toward your neighbor, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah says, the Lord God doesn’t desire thousands and ten thousand animal sacrifices. The Lord God doesn't ask for the sacrifice of your firstborn child. All of that ended, with the once for all sacrifice of His Son on the cross, for the forgiveness of our sins. All for one purpose and one purpose only—to establish a renewed relationship with His people…with His children—with you and with me. The new covenant established a relationship, between a Father and His sons and His daughters. For that’s what He wants…a relationship, in which His children act rightly toward each other, love, love, love kindness, and walk humbly with God our Father.

These are not requirements, for what God seeks isn’t the fulfillment of requirements, but that we live in relationship with Him and with our neighbor. That’s what Jesus is teaching us in the Sermon on the Mount—what it looks like to live in relationship with God. Because we are blessed. Because we are already chosen, redeemed, adopted, we are blessed, and as the blessed, we act righteously toward our neighbor, we LOVE showing kindness to others, and we seek nothing more in life than walking humbly, with our God.

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

Epiphany 3 January 25, 2026

Sermon Text Matthew 4:12-25

Pastor John Hazzard

“Follow Me”

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ

In this season of Epiphany, the Church rejoices that the Light of the world has dawned, not in secret, but openly in fulfillment of God’s promises. In today’s Gospel, Matthew shows us that Jesus’ ministry begins exactly where the prophets said it would, revealing Him to be the promised Messiah foretold throughout the Old Testament. From that place of fulfillment, Jesus then speaks His first public words: a call to repentance, as He summons ordinary men to follow Him in faith and obedience. Finally, Matthew shows us what this revealed Messiah does; He goes out teaching, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and bringing healing to a darkened and broken world. As we hear this Gospel, we are invited to see who Jesus truly is, to hear His call to repent and believe, and to recognize our own place in the ministry of the Light who now shines through His Church.

Matthew repeatedly uses the phrase “was to fulfill”—53 times directly and 43 times indirectly, for a total of 96 references—to make his purpose unmistakably clear. Writing primarily to people of Jewish background, Matthew demonstrates through the Law and the Scriptures that Jesus is the fulfillment of the long-promised and long-awaited Messiah. Jesus is not the Messiah because of a single text or isolated prophecy, but because the entire Old Testament bears witness to Him. He did not appear suddenly or act according to His own will; rather, everything He did was in perfect obedience to the will of the Father. We know this because Jesus’ actions were foretold hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of years before they occurred.

Matthew highlights this fulfillment in our Gospel reading when he writes, “Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled.” Matthew then cites Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali… the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.” These verses leave no doubt that Jesus is the promised Messiah, not only for Matthew’s original Jewish audience, but for all who have “eyes to see and ears to hear.” I don’t know of any other religious leader, or any other leader for that fact, that can make this claim. These verses leave no doubt that Jesus was truly the promised messiah just as it did for those 1st century Jewish people that had “eyes to see and ears to hear.”

Having established Jesus’ messianic identity, Matthew then turns to Jesus’ message: “From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” This call to repentance stands at the heart of Jesus’ preaching and remains central throughout Scripture. Repentance is not merely an acknowledgment of sin; it is a change of mind that leads to a change of life. This same call is echoed by John the Baptist, Peter, Paul, and the apostles, demonstrating that repentance is inseparable from the proclamation of the gospel itself.

Indeed, Scripture makes clear that there is no salvation without repentance. Paul states plainly in Acts 20:21, “I earnestly bore witness for both Jews and Greeks to repentance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus.” Salvation comes through repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ. Through the regenerating work of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, we are brought into Christ, and Christ comes to dwell in us. As Paul declares in Galatians 2:20, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me,” demonstrating the reality of Christ’s indwelling presence.

This gracious union with Christ is further emphasized throughout the New Testament. Colossians 2:6–7, Romans 6:4–5, and 1 John 2:5–6 all testify that believers are “in Christ” through God’s gracious work, expressed through baptism, sustained in Holy Communion, and shown by a genuine desire to live a godly life. These realities reflect not only our outward actions, but a deep spiritual identity: we are in Christ, and Christ is in us. For this reason, Jesus’ proclamation remains as urgent now as it was then: “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.”

We see in the Gospels that Jesus’ apostles immediately left their livelihoods, families, and everything familiar to follow Him. When Jesus called His disciples, He did not choose priests from the Sanhedrin, nor the Sadducees, Pharisees, or scribes. Instead, He called men whom the world would have considered ordinary and unimpressive. This stands in sharp contrast to how leadership is typically chosen today. In business, organizations, or even coaching positions, those selected are usually people with proven success, people with impressive résumés, or recognized status. Jesus, however, did none of this when He chose those who would walk closest with Him.

In our passage, we see that the first four men Jesus called were fishermen. Later, these same men would be described by the Jewish leaders as uneducated and untrained, and the people were amazed because these were not the kinds of individuals one would expect to help establish a kingdom. To say their résumés were lacking would be an understatement. Yet, when Jesus called them, they immediately left their nets, boats, businesses, and families to follow Him. They did not delay, hesitate, or attempt to negotiate the cost. Their response was one of immediate obedience.

Jesus called these ordinary men in the same way He calls us today. Though they were common by worldly standards, they would go on to change the world through the apostolic message they proclaimed. Andrew, Peter, James, and John followed Jesus at once, and we, too, are called to follow Him with that same readiness and trust. Their lives remind us that God does not depend on human credentials but on faithful obedience.

Following Christ, however, requires sacrifice. We must be willing to give up things in our lives in order to be obedient to Him. At times, this may mean losing friends or even experiencing division within our families, as some may view us as self-righteous or unwilling to compromise. While “family first” is a common cultural motto, Scripture calls Christians to place Christ above all else. Others may even accuse us of being unloving because we refuse to say what God has told us in scripture is wrong so that people don’t have to feel bad about themselves. Yet our obedience must always be carried out with a loving and compassionate heart, recognizing that loving God with our whole heart and loving our neighbor as ourselves often comes at a cost.

This raises an important question: why is immediate obedience so important? First, it demonstrates genuine faith in Christ. When we obey without delay, we show that we trust Him. Second, hesitation can cause us to miss the very blessing Christ intends for us. When we pause to overthink, rationalize, or delay, we reveal a lack of faith, and this may cause us to miss the opportunity God had prepared. Delayed obedience can result in lost moments of grace and purpose.

For this reason, we must learn to listen carefully and respond immediately to what the Lord is calling us to do today. Perhaps God is calling you to witness to someone, but hesitation or fear causes you to ignore that prompting. In doing so, you may miss the moment when that person’s heart was ready to hear and receive the gospel. Scripture and experience alike teach us this truth: delayed obedience is disobedience.

Matthew writes, “Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.” As a result, His fame spread throughout Syria, and people brought to Him all who were suffering, those afflicted by disease, pain, demonic oppression, epilepsy, and paralysis, and He healed them. Great crowds followed Him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. These verses present for us the ultimate model of Christian ministry. Jesus’ work can be clearly summarized in three interconnected actions: He reached people, He taught them, and He cared for them.

First, Jesus reached people by going to where they were and speaking to them. He did not wait for the crowds to come to Him; He went throughout Galilee, engaging people in their everyday lives. Second, He taught them by proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. His message was not moral improvement or religious self-effort, but the announcement that God’s saving reign had arrived in Him. Finally, Jesus cared for the people by healing every disease and affliction imaginable, demonstrating the restoring power of God’s kingdom breaking into a broken world.

This same pattern is evident in the early Christian Church described in Acts chapter 2. In verse 47, we are told that the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved, God was reaching people. In verse 42, the believers were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching, God was teaching His people through His Word. And in verse 45, they were selling their possessions and distributing the proceeds to care for anyone in need—God was caring for His people through the love and generosity of the Church. The ministry of Jesus continued through His body, the Church.

This is also the ministry to which we are called as members of Resurrection Lutheran Church. As members of the one true Church, the Body of Christ, of which Christ Himself is the head, we are called to follow this same pattern. We gather first to worship, to hear God’s Word, and to receive His gifts. Then we are sent out to reach those we encounter in our daily lives, teaching and “healing” them through the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ and His plan of redemption and salvation.

So, what does all of this mean for you and for me? It means, first and foremost, that Jesus Christ, just as Matthew’s ninety-six references to Old Testament prophecy testify, is the promised Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. It also means that when we repent and turn to Christ, we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Our hope does not rest in our strength, our obedience, or our worthiness, but entirely in Him.

Finally, it means that no disease, no pain, no suffering, and no demonic power can ultimately overcome us, because Jesus Christ reigns as Lord and final judge over all things. The same Savior who reached, taught, and cared for the crowds continues to reach, teach, and care for us today, and He now sends us out to do the same, confident that His kingdom has come and His victory is already secure.

The peace of God which surpasses all human understanding keep your hearts in our crucified and Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ; The Lamb of God who is the Great Light that over comes the darkness of this world.

Transfiguration Sunday February 15, 2026

Sermon Text Matthew 17:1–9

Prepared by Pastor John Hazzard

“The Transfiguration of our Lord”

PEACE AND BLESSING TO YOU FROM JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD AND OUR SAVIOR.

In today’s Gospel text, the Transfiguration reveals the Good News that we believe as Lutherans: Jesus Christ is truly the beloved Son of God, sent to save us. On the mountain, Peter, James, and John see Jesus shining with divine glory, and they hear the Father’s voice say, “This is my beloved Son… listen to him.” This shows that Jesus is not just a teacher or prophet, but God in the flesh, the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, represented by Moses and Elijah. Yet the same glorious Son would soon go down the mountain to suffer and die for our sins. The Good News is that this divine Son willingly humbled himself, went to the cross, and rose again so that we are forgiven and reconciled to God by grace alone through faith. As Lutherans, we believe that we do not earn this salvation by our works but receive it as a free gift because of Christ alone. The Father tells us to listen to Jesus, and in his Word, we hear the promise that our sins are forgiven and that we have eternal life in him.

To better understand the events that unfolded during the Transfiguration of our Lord, it is important to know that transfiguration means undergoing a complete change of form or appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state. We see the concept of biblical transfiguration—a divine transformation of appearance. In 2nd Corinthians 3:18, believers were transformed into the Lord’s Image, and in the Old Testament On Mount Sinai the glory of the LORD descended in a cloud and Moses’ face shone so bright, after being in the presence of God, that he was forced to cover it as he addressed his people (Exodus 34:29). As dramatic as these examples are they do not compare to The Transfiguration of our Lord. In those earlier instances, the radiance was a reflection of God’s glory. But on the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus did not reflect God’s glory—He reveals it as His own. The miraculous Transfiguration that Peter, James, and John witnessed was not an isolated miracle but the fulfillment of what God had promised in the Old Testament.

Christ’s Transfiguration, however, was not merely reflected—it was the divine glory of God shining forth from within Him. The vision of the Son of Man in Daniel 7, shining in heavenly majesty and coming with the clouds, is now fulfilled in Christ. The promise in Deuteronomy 18 of a prophet like Moses is fulfilled when the Father declares, “This is my beloved Son… listen to Him.” Finally, consider the promise at the close of the Old Testament. Some of you may recall, that Malachi chapter 4 foretells that Elijah would come before the great and awesome day of the LORD. On that mount of Transfiguration, Elijah stood there, speaking with Jesus. The Law and the Prophets—Moses and Elijah— all bore witness that the day of the LORD had surely arrived in Christ. The age of fulfillment had dawned.

In view of all that we just heard, the most important insight might be understood when this event is seen through the lens of apocalyptic vision. At the Transfiguration the disciples, just like Daniel, are given a vision of who Jesus really is, “This is my beloved Son” and what he will be in God’s future kingdom. It was important that the disciples knew Jesus’ true identity and of his future destiny because soon, Jesus would be persecuted. He would go down the mountain and embrace his fate. When this happens the disciples must remember who Jesus is and the future glory that awaits him. They must remember Moses, and Elijah and the voice that said, “This is my beloved Son.” It is not a coincidence that we are also reminded of Jesus divine glory, as we are about to begin the season of lent.

The central and overpowering truth is that God is in Christ. The Transfiguration is not merely the divine stamp of approval on the ministry of Jesus—it is the fact that God has broken into our world through Jesus the Christ. The Transfiguration matters deeply for us as God’s children because it reminds us of who Jesus truly is and why we can trust him with our lives. The disciples saw a glimpse of Christ’s glory before they would see his suffering, so that when the cross came, they would not lose heart. In the same way, we are given this radiant vision of our Lord so that when we walk through valleys of fear, doubt, illness, or grief, we remember that the One who suffers with us is also the glorious Son of God. The Father’s voice still speaks to us: “This is my beloved Son… listen to him.” We listen to him in his Word, where he declares our sins forgiven and calls us his own through Baptism. This matters because our faith does not rest on our feelings or strength, but on Christ’s unchanging glory and mercy. My most sincere hope for us is that we would cling to Jesus alone hearing him, trusting him, and following him confidently as we descend down the mountain into our daily vocations. When God’s glory feels hidden under the cross, we are called to bear; we are strengthened in His promises, knowing that the light we glimpse in the Transfiguration is the same light that will one day shine fully upon us in His eternal kingdom.

This radiant revelation of Christ’s glory not only anchors our faith and hope but also exposes the frailty and confusion that still cling to our hearts. Matthew Gospel quietly reveals our human condition as much as it reveals Christ’s glory. Like Peter, James, and John, we are often overwhelmed and confused by what God is doing. Peter wants to build shelters and stay on the mountain, trying to capture the moment and control the situation. We try to do the same thing in our lives because we prefer glory without suffering and clarity without mystery. We are uncomfortable with the way of the cross. We would rather remain where things feel bright and certain than follow Jesus down into the valley where hardship awaits. When the clouds covered them and the Father spoke, the disciples fell face down in fear. That, too, is our condition before a holy God—sinful, afraid, and unable to stand on our own. On our own, we misunderstand who Jesus is, we speak without understanding, and we tremble in the presence of divine holiness. Our human condition is marked by weakness, fear, and a longing for glory, because of our inability to grasp God’s greater plan. We need Jesus not only to reveal his glory to us, but to touch us, lift us up, and tell us, “Do not be afraid.”

Peter, James, and John never forgot what they witnessed on the holy mountain at the Transfiguration of our Lord. For a brief and radiant moment, the veil of Christ’s humility was drawn back, and His divine glory shone forth unmistakably. In that brilliant light of Transfiguration, Jesus was shown to be truly human and truly God—one person whose divine majesty and human flesh are perfectly united. What was hidden in Christ’s humanity—as He took on the role of a humble servant—was revealed in divine splendor. And what was revealed was the eternal Son standing in glory with Moses and Elijah, the Law and the Prophet once again bearing witness to our Promised Messiah.

This epiphany helps us understand how the Apostle John could later proclaim with such bold clarity: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). The glory glimpsed on the mountain was the glory John confessed in his Gospel—the glory of the eternal Word through whom all things were made, in whom is life, and whose life is the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John testifies that this same Word “became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). From His fullness we have all received grace and mercy. The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Though no one has ever seen God face to face, the only Son—who is Himself God and is seated at the right hand of the Father—has made Him known. The Transfiguration, then, was not a departure from the incarnation but a revelation of who this incarnate One truly is.

Peter, too, would also be impacted forever by this unforgettable event. Though he really didn’t fully understand what was about to happen as Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem, the memory of that sacred mountain never faded. Indeed, it strengthened his apostolic witness. Peter would later insist as we heard in today’s second lesson, “We did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). Peter recalls how Jesus received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came from the Majestic Glory: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Peter tells us that he and the others heard that voice from heaven when they were with Him on that holy mountain. Therefore, the Transfiguration confirmed both the prophetic Scriptures and the apostolic proclamation. Peter came to understand that day that the prophetic word is completely reliable. Those prophesies did not come from the imaginations of man but are the inspired words of God spoken by the prophets.

What does this mean for both me and you? Matthew’s account brings the Father’s command into sharp focus: “This is my beloved Son… listen to him.” This divine statement reveals not only who Jesus is, but also how we are to live. First and foremost, we are called to listen to Him. To listen means more than to hear; it means to receive His Word with humble faith, trusting in His promises more than our feelings, our fears, and even our own understanding. Like Peter, James, and John, the three disciples that were with the Lord that day, we long to remain in moments of spiritual brightness, to build tents and stay on the mountain. Yet Jesus leads us down into the valley—into the ordinary rhythms, responsibilities, and struggles of daily life.

There, in our vocations, the glory we have beheld in the Gospel takes on the shape of the cross. We follow Him not by clinging to extraordinary experiences but by loving and serving our neighbors in His name. And when fear overtakes us, as it did the disciples who fell face down in terror, we hear again His gracious word and feel His gentle touch: “Rise and have no fear.” Our transformation begins not with our effort, but with His mercy and grace. It is because we have seen His glory through the proclamation of the Gospel that we are freed from fear and anchored in faith. We no longer seek to impose our own plans but learn to turn it all over to the Lord as we trust in the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding. In these times, the best place to be is on the top of the mountain with Jesus.

And how exactly do we find ourselves on top of the mountain with Jesus? Fr. Satish Joseph may have said it best, “Today, I want to propose to you that it is the Eucharist (and I would add, it is in the Holy Word and Sacraments) where Jesus and our life come together. Here is our mountain of Transfiguration. Each Sunday is our Transfiguration Day. Here we bring life and face it with Jesus. Here our life mingles with God’s life. Here our timeline merges with God’s timeline. Here we enter into Communion – God with us and we with God. And then, with Jesus we go down the mountain and face life for another week. We do this while on earth, until one day, our lives will become totally one with God and share in our future glory.”

So, God calls us to a life of listening, trusting, and following—a life shaped by our understanding of who Christ truly is—the incarnate Son of God who sustains us by His abundant grace as we walk in humble obedience. We walk this path until the day when faith gives way to sight and we behold Him, not briefly on a mountain, but eternally in His kingdom, in the full radiance of His unveiled glory.

The peace of God which surpasses all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in our Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen

First Sunday of Lent February 22, 2026 Sermon Text Matthew 4:1-11

Ross Hazzard

We Must Trust God!

We must trust God. As a Christian that statement seems obvious, but like most things in life, it’s something that’s simpler said than done. And yet, I can’t over emphasize just how important it is for us to simply trust God. I’m sure we can all attest that this life is full of pitfalls waiting to swallow us whole, plunging us into darkness. You see Satan does not respect us nor does he fear us enough to come to us openly. The devil does not fear us enough to announce himself in our lives. He sneaks into our lives in our darkest moments. When we are alone, when we are afraid, and when we feel trapped, he whispers to us. He comes to us with twisted promises and lies disguised as half-truths. He encourages each of us to turn away from God and toward worldly things, or worse yet, he encourages us to try to rely on ourselves.

But we are so very lucky because God not only provides for us, loves us, and cares for us. He also warns us about the dangers of this world and shows us exactly what we need to do to avoid them. Our scripture texts this morning provide us with two of the most iconic examples of the devil and how he works. We see the devil himself tempting Eve and Adam into sin and plunging all of mankind into chaos and death. And then we see the devil desperately attempting to derail humanities salvation by tempting Christ in the desert. Our passages this morning give us a clear look at our enemy’s biggest weapon in this war for our eternal life, temptation.

As Christians we hear this word a lot: Temptation. A word so important that it is explicitly mentioned in the Lord’s Prayer. According to Oxford’s dictionary temptation is, “the desire to do something” and it emphasizes that this “something” is “especially wrong or unwise.” But is that all that temptation is? Is it really just a desire to do bad things? Yes, yes, it is. For many people it is this inexplicable desire to do something wrong. To let the intrusive thoughts win, but for us, for Christians it’s so much more. The Greeks referred to temptation as peirasmos, which depending on the context, translates to a trial. And that is exactly what temptation is; a trial that tests our faith, a trial that tests our love, it tests our patience, and it entices us to sin. There is not a single person here today that has not given in to temptation at some point in their lives, even if they didn’t know it at the time. Temptation is one of those enigmas of the human condition, some are pretty obvious and easy enough to avoid, but often those are just distractions from the silent dangers that wait in our own hearts.

So then, how can we overcome temptation? Luckily, we never have to look far for answers to any of life’s difficult questions. The answer is right here! God has given us all that we need to know right here, spelled out in The Bible. Let’s take a look at our scripture passages this morning. We’ll start in Genesis. Immediately Eve is confronted with the devil, and we’re told that he tempted Eve to question God, “Did God actually say…?” The devil calls God’s word into question, setting what seems to be a pretty obvious trap. But this is literally the oldest trick in the book. And for good reasons. How often are we encouraged to question God? Especially in today’s era of political correctness and moral ambiguity. How often are we encouraged to cut God’s word out of our homes, our lives, our work, and our minds. And often, this temptation isn’t so obvious to us. It has become so commonplace that we have become desensitized to the gradual ostracizing of God from our lives.

Eve was able to see through the devil’s opening gambit. Unfortunately for her, and all of us, he is nothing if he isn’t persistent. He continues to question God’s word when he tells Eve, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God.” Not only does he not back down, he doubles down. He tempts Eve to not only question God’s word but also tempts her to be like God. There’s a common phrase penned by Oscar Wilde that says, “Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.” I’m sure at that moment Eve must have been thinking something similar. What could strengthen her relationship with God more than being like God? She may have even thought that if she could take care of herself then God wouldn’t have to be inconvenienced. I’m certain that her intentions were from a place of love. And how often does Satan use that love against us! We try not to inconvenience people, or we try to stand on our own two feet. We would rather live our lives trying to overcome all of life’s hardships alone, for our sense of pride, or our misguided interpretation of what we must do for those we love. Satan weaponizes our love and our need to feel in control of our lives to tempt us to be more like God instead of simply trusting God. If only Eve could have taken a step back in that moment, and realized she needed to only rely on God’s word and His love for her. But the fault does not fall on Eve alone. At any moment Adam could have stepped in, he could have done something to help. We are told that Adam was with her at the time. So why didn’t he do something?

Because temptation takes on many forms. Adam was tempted to be a bystander. To simply watch. He felt no obligation to stop what he clearly was seeing happening right in front of him. Many of us have probably given in to this same temptation. We give into this temptation every time we drive by someone stranded on the side of the road. We give into this temptation when we ignore calls because we don’t feel like talking or assume if it is important they’ll leave a message or text us. We avoid things that inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable, not because we have any real reason to avoid these things but just because it isn’t our problem. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying to uproot our lives to help others, but when it is within our power to help, why don’t we? Adam fell victim to this sin but worse yet is what followed.

Adam gave into the temptation of following Eve and ate of the fruit of the tree himself. No different than many of us, Adam was tempted to blindly follow someone close to him. How easy is it for us to do the same? When someone we love or care about is doing things that may be morally grey or outright wrong, oftentimes it is much more difficult to question it. Even when we know better, we find ourselves following along because the temptation comes from someone who we believe has our best interests in mind. And they might believe they do too, but the human mind is flawed and easily tricked. Why then would we follow them into sin when God has given us a clear and simple method of overcoming temptation.

It isn’t a mystery; Christ demonstrates our only defense against temptation in our Gospel text this morning. Before we get there though, let’s establish some context. Prior to the events described in our Gospel, Jesus had just been baptized in the River Jordan. He had started His preparations for His ministry and teaching that would culminate in His eventual persecution and death on the cross. To complete His preparations the Holy Spirit led Him into the desert where He fasted for forty days. And only after these forty days does the Bible tells us, “He was hungry.” That’s probably putting it mildly. I don’t know about everyone else, but I can barely make it from breakfast to lunch. I can’t imagine the gnawing pang He must have been experiencing after forty days. And it was only then that the devil reared his ugly head. The tempter knew, the same as all of us, that it was pointless, but he tried anyway because he wasn’t ever going to get a better opportunity than this one. And what was the first thing the devil did? He questioned God. “If you are the Son of God…” The devil is demanding proof, trying to wound a pride that isn’t there. Jesus doesn’t have to prove Himself to be the Son of God. He just is! But as we’ve seen the tempter do in the past, he weaves multiple layers of temptation into every breath. In the same sentence the devil demands Christ to turn the stones at their feet into bread. Christ is faced with unimaginable hunger and in an instance, He could satiate this hunger. But instead, what does Christ do? He calmly rebukes the devil, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Undeterred, twice more the devil tempts Christ. And twice Christ responded in kind. The devil tempts Christ to question God’s word. “It is written,” that God will not let any harm befall you. Throw yourself off this temple. Let’s see if it’s true. Surely if God is honorable and just, He wouldn’t lie about these things. If God loves you, He will send His angels to save you. And Jesus responds, “It is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” The devil tries one last time. He takes Jesus to a high mountain and promises to give Him everything the world has to offer. You can be ruler over all kingdoms and have every worldly desire, if you would only worship me. The allure of worldly things has been a stumbling block for so many of us, but not Christ. Again, He rebuked the devil, “For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” And having failed the devil left Him. But how did Jesus do it? How did He succeed where everyone before Him and everyone after Him have failed? Of course, the obvious answer is that He is Christ our Lord. He couldn’t fail because temptation has no sway on Him. But it’s more than that. Christ could have just as easily repelled the devil or struck him down the moment he appeared. But for our sake He allows Himself to be tempted.

You see, temptation is a trial. It is a trial of our faith and one that we face daily. As God, Christ is above temptation but as man His faith can be tested, like all of us. So He allows Himself to be tested to demonstrate His unbreakable faith. He allows Himself to be tested to harden His resolve because He knows full-well that this is just the beginning of His trials, and after He overcomes all of them, the cross is waiting for Him. But more than anything, He allows Himself to be tested to be a model for our lives. Like Christ, temptation is an opportunity to strengthen our resolve and demonstrate our faith. We should grasp it with both hands and follow His example. Jesus shows us exactly what to do. Like a bright neon sign screaming, in case of temptation Trust in God. God gives us all that we need to overcome any trial in our lives, no matter how big or how small. God provides us with the armor to shield our hearts and the only effective weapon with which to repel those who threaten our eternal life. God gives us His word. And Christ wields that word better than any Olympic fencer. I know that’s a summer Olympics event but bobsledder didn’t feel right. But Christ does for us what He has always done, He leads by example.

Three times the devil tempts Jesus. And how does Christ respond? With God’s word. Three times Christ utters the three most powerful words in the English language, “It is written!” That’s the secret. The word of God. Trusting in God. You see, God knew we would be tempted. He knew Adam and Eve would be tempted. He knew Christ would be tempted. So, God handed each of us the only way to defend ourselves. God gave us His word. Eve did so well in her first attempt, she quoted God directly and trusted in what God told her. It was only when she began to doubt that temptation and sin could wrap around her heart. If she had only stood firm and trusted God wholly and completely, how different would things have been. Sin would not have found a foothold in the world. But it did. What now? What can we do about it? We can’t do anything about sin. But all hope is not lost, Romans tells us, “As one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.” Luckily for us Christ defeated sin. He lived the perfect life as a model for our lives. He overcame temptation. He ministered to the people. He endured horrific persecution. And He overcame death. He did all these things for us.

God always does these things for us, because He loves us. He warns us about the pitfalls of life. God gives us everything we need to overcome all of life’s tribulations. He comes to us and He walks with us even when we don’t deserve it. What did God do after Adam and Eve had succumb to sin? He went to them. He didn’t abandon them. They had broken His trust, defied His one simple rule, and spat on the loving and caring relationship that they had. And He went to them regardless. He could have just as easily struck them down and started over, but He loved them. The same way He loves us and comes to us. They gave into temptation and at the very moment they ate of the fruit of the tree they welcomed the misery of life. For the rest of their days pain and misery would follow them. But instead of leaving them immediately to navigate life, God gave them one last great gift. He gave them His word. He passed on the knowledge of what was instore for them and how they would need to navigate through life. Even after all they did. He didn’t forsake them. And I promise you that God will never forsake you either. At our highest highs He’s there with us celebrating. At our lowest lows He’s there comforting us. When life is going well, He is out in front of us clearing the way forward. And when life is a struggle, He is by our side fighting with us. God will fight our battles for us, if we let Him, Christ proved that when He took on death and the devil and won to overcome sin for all who believe in Him and Trust in Him. And that’s just the things we know God is doing. How much more is He doing for us without us even noticing? I’m sure you already know this but sometimes we all need to be reminded. God Loves You. Whether you want Him to or not. He loves you. Whether you think you deserve it or not. He loves you. I hope you can find comfort in that. Even if things seem difficult right now. Just know that He’s here for you.

So, what does that mean for us? We can’t do anything to earn God’s favor or lose it. Christ already paid the ultimate penalty for our sin. But we can open our hearts and our minds to God. We can work toward a better relationship with Him every day and help ease the burden of our lives. We must harden our resolve and prepare ourselves daily for the ongoing struggle against sin and tempter. We must open our hearts to the Holy Spirit and reaffirm our faith daily. Make time for God. Get to know God. Talk with God. As with all things God has given us everything we need, to do these things. He has given us our time, so that we might make time for worship as we are here today. But I also encourage you to make a conscious effort this coming week to sit quietly and either meditate or pray. It doesn’t have to be long, one or two minutes. Set down all of life’s distractions and just open yourself to the Holy Spirit. What do you have to lose? If nothing else, for a minute or two you can have a break from the constant bombardment of life. If you find yourself struggling with anything, no matter how grand or how small, make time to pray. It doesn’t have to be a cookie cutter prayer, and it’s better if it isn’t. Just start talking to God, open up and just tell Him whatever is on your mind. Even if you don’t know why you’re sad or upset, just talk because often He’ll guide you to the answer you didn’t even know you were looking for. And in times of struggle, when you feel the tempter whispering in your ear. When sin rears its ugly head, temptation calls you, or addiction just won’t let go. Don’t try to struggle through it alone. Acknowledge it, name it, and turn it over to God in prayer. Turn to God’s word, read the Bible. If you don’t have one at home, let us know. We’ll make sure that you don’t leave here today without one! Because as our text this morning proved, there is nothing more powerful than God’s word. Seek God’s word, in the good times and the bad. He has given us the greatest gift anyone could ever receive. He has given us the only means through which to know Him. He has given us the only means through which to know how to overcome life’s many obstacles. He came down from heaven and conquered sin for us. He has given us everything because He loves us. He gives all this to us freely and all we need to do is not shove it back in His face like an ungrateful child. All we need to do is appreciate Him, love Him, and trust in Him and His word. I beg you, if you don’t remember anything else from this sermon, remember that God Loves you and all you need to do is Trust God.

2nd Sunday After Epiphany January 18, 2026 Sermon Text: John 1:29

Pastor John Hazzard

“Lamb of God”

The grace and peace be to you from our Risen Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.

In England a person’s title is seen as important because it shows the person with the title to be a prominent member of society. No matter the title, from King, to Queen Mom, to Prince and Princess, to Duke and Duchess, to Earl and Lad, people covet the titles that are bestowed on them. Just a little side note. I am not sure if many of you are aware of this, but when I was in high school, I was given the illustrious title of Duke. Not “the Duke of Earl,” nor was I called “the Duke of Port Clinton” or anything like that, my title was just Duke. As many of you may have already guessed, it was because The Dukes of Hazzard was a popular TV show at the time.

This title was a nickname given to me by the older wrestlers on my high school team. Having this nickname/title seemed to entitle me to several privileges which included sitting at the Junior/Senior lunch table, which my freshman classmates did not have the privilege to enjoy, not getting locked in the wrestling mat storage box, as well as having the privilege of riding “shotgun” in the front seat when I rode to football and wrestling practice with Fudge Gutowski or John Gluth. The nicknames we had for one another were very important, every bit as important as the titles given to the British Royalty. As a matter of fact, if you didn’t have a nickname, you felt left out. I felt like a big shot because of this exclusive title of Duke, even if it was the result of a corny early 80s tv show like The Dukes of Hazzard.

Like most titles and good things, they do not always last. Once my upper-class teammates graduated from high school, my title and privileges graduated with them. I found myself sitting alone at the lunch table and driving myself to practice for a while, which was quite a humbling lesson. I was no longer the bigshot I felt my title suggested.

With all that being said, the most titled person of all time is Jesus of Nazareth. RC Sproul tells a story about a speaker who was scheduled to speak about “Who Is Jesus.” This speaker did nothing but list all the known titles of Jesus and it took that speaker about a half hour to list them all. He began, the Christ, the Son God, the Son of Man, Lord, the Consolation of Israel, the Lion of Juda, the Alpha and the Omega, and the list went on and on, but out of all of those names, the title which should be by far the most important to us is the title John the Baptist gives Jesus, “The Lamb of God” who takes away the sin of the world! This is a title that is much more than some simple nickname; it is the most important of all the titles Jesus had.

In our Gospel text we are told, “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” This title is only found in two books of the Bible. Here in John’s Gospel he reveals several of the titles attributed to Jesus. In John chapter 1 Jesus is called the Word of God. John the Apostle declares, in the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God. Later in verse 34 Jesus is called the Son of God, in verse 36 he is called the Lamb of God, in verse 38 he was called Rabbi by two of John the Baptist disciples who then decided to follow Jesus, in verse 41 Andrew called Jesus the Messiah as he described him to his Brother Simon Peter, in verse 49 Nathanael tells Jesus that he is the Son of God; the King of Israel, and finally in verse 51 he calls himself the Son of Man. In this very short literary span, we hear Jesus called by all these titles, but the most important of the titles used is “The Lamb of God”.

The title Lamb of God is a rarely used in the Holy, as a matter of fact this title is only used in two places in all of Scripture and both of those books are written by the Apostle John. We hear this title used here in Chapter 1 of his Gospel and then in the 6th Chapter of last book of the Bible, the Book of Revelations. So, we may be wondering how John came up with this title?

We know in the Old Testament—as part of the Law—that bulls and goats were used as sin offerings. The scapegoat then had all of the sins placed upon it after which it was driven out into the wilderness. But lambs were not mentioned. So where does this idea come from that Jesus is “The Lamb of God” that takes away sin.

The obvious answer is that like Moses, Isaiah, Elijah, Daniel and the others, John the Baptist was a prophet and was more than cable of giving revelation from the Mind of God. The other part of the answer is that Jesus, as the Lamb of God, has been present in the Old Testament all along. And just like one of those “seek and find puzzles,” in which the longer you stare at the page the more you see the little pictures hidden in plain sight, Jesus comes into view.

The image of Jesus as the Lamb of God begins to appear when we read in Isaiah 53 how it will please the Lord to offer up his suffering servant. It is written;

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression[a] and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.[b]
So here in Isaiah 53 we have the suffering servant that God sends being compared to a Lamb that willingly suffers for all of our iniquities.

Additionally, another hidden image can be seen when we look closely at what Moses commanded the Israelites to do on the day of Passover. He told his people to sacrifice a spotless lamb without blemish and then they were to place the blood of the lamb on their doorposts so that the Angel of Death would “pass over” their homes sparing their firstborn from death.

Finally, we see Jesus pictured in Genesis 22 when God commands Abraham to go to Mount Mariah and sacrifice his only son Isaac. Just as Abraham is about to faithfully plunge his knife into the heart of Isaac, he is stopped as a ram, a male sheep suddenly becomes trapped in a thicket and becomes the substitutional sacrifice taking the place of Isaac. So, we see that throughout History the strand that runs through all of Scripture is that God provides the perfect sacrifice that would take the wrath that we all deserve. Jesus is and always has been “The Lamb of God that Takes Away the Sin of the World.”

This has all been prefigured in Isaiah’s prophecy, in the “pass over” narrative, and in the grace, God exhibited when He offered the lamb to take Isaac’s place as the sacrifice. These are all figures of Christ as the “Lamb of God” as they suddenly emerge from the mouths of the prophets and the pages of Scripture when we take the time to read the Holy Bible.

We hear all the titles given in the first chapter of John’s gospel, but out of all those titles, as I stated early, Jesus as “The Lamb of God” who takes away the sins of the world, is arguably the most important. As the “Lamb of God” Jesus lived the perfect life so that as He shed His spotless blood, died, was buried, and rose again from the dead he conquered death once and for all. Jesus as the Lamb of God was anointed during his baptism by the pouring out from heaven the Holy Spirit. He is the one who brought about Pentecost, the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. God’s title is proclaimed by John the Baptist. Even though he didn’t immediately understand its significance, Jesus is the spotless Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world.

So, what does all of this mean for you and for me? It means that our standing before God is not based on a title we carry, a reputation we’ve earned, or a place we think we deserve at the table. Unlike the titles of this world, whether royal, social, or even the nicknames that once made us feel important, this title of Jesus does not inflate our pride. It humbles us. Because the title Lamb of God tells us something honest and uncomfortable about ourselves: we needed a sacrifice. We needed a substitute. We could not fix our sin, outrun it, or outgrow it.

But it also tells us something astonishing about God. God did not demand that we bring the lamb. He provided it. Just as He provided the ram for Abraham, just as He commanded the blood of the Passover lamb to protect His people, God Himself provided the Lamb who would finally and fully take away sin—not just cover it for a time but remove it forever.

When John the Baptist points to Jesus and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” he is declaring that forgiveness is no longer a ritual, no longer temporary, and no longer reserved for a few. It is finished in Christ. Your guilt, your shame, your failures, and your rebellion were laid on Him. And like the lamb led to the slaughter, Jesus did not resist, He did not protest, and He did not turn away—because His love for us held Him there.

For you and me, this means freedom. It means we no longer live trying to earn God’s approval, because the Lamb has already made us acceptable. It means we no longer define ourselves by past sins or fading titles, because Jesus has given us a new name: forgiven, redeemed, child of God. It means when we stand before God, we do not stand alone—we stand covered by the blood of the Lamb.

And finally, it means hope. Because the Lamb who was slain is also the Lamb who reigns. The same Jesus who took away the sin of the world now lives, reigns, and intercedes for His people. One day, as John tells us in Revelation, every knee will bow before the Lamb, and those who belong to Him will worship, not in fear, but in joy. So, behold the Lamb of God. Trust Him. Rest in Him. Follow Him, because this is the only title that saves, and it is enough for you and for me.

The peace of God which surpasses all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in our Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ; The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Amen.

Second Sunday of Lent March 1, 2026

Sermon Text John 3:1-17

Pastor John Hazzard

“A Secret Meeting with Jesus”

Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

In the third chapter of John’s Gospel, we are confronted with one of the most profound conversations in all of Scripture—a secret nighttime meeting between Jesus and Nicodemus. It was during this meeting that our Lord reveals that salvation is not achieved through knowledge, status, or religious effort, but through a new birth “from above.” He teaches that this rebirth comes by water and the Holy Spirit, fulfilled in baptism, made possible through His being lifted up on the cross, and received by grace through faith. From the wilderness serpent in Book of Numbers to the obedient faith of Abram in Book of Genesis, Scripture consistently points us to the same truth: we are saved not by our own understanding or works, but by trusting in God’s promise and responding in faithful obedience. Salvation is nothing less than being united to Christ, reborn by the Spirit, and brought into communion with the living God.

Nicodemus, a Pharisee whose job it was to rule, give council, and teach the Jewish people, came to Jesus to engage in a serious theological discussion. Nicodemus rightly recognized that Jesus was “a teacher sent from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with Him.” And perhaps as a teacher, Nicodemus wanted to gain important insight that only a prophet sent by God could give. Nicodemus had no idea about how right he was about that. However, despite his education, Nicodemus did not realize that Jesus was the Incarnate Son of God, in the flesh, right in front of him. He was like many of the people we hear today who express that Jesus was a great man, a man that taught us important lessons about what it means to be “a good person.” All of these sentiments fall far short of who Jesus is; Jesus was and is God.

In our gospel text it seems at first that the answer Jesus gave was in no way connected to what Nicodemus had just said. Jesus was saying, “you came to me for teaching and understanding, but what you really need is to be “born anew” be “born again.” This is where we all have to begin. We all must be born from above otherwise it’s impossible to understand or be apart of the kingdom of God. Jesus then revealed the way for Nicodemus, and us, to enter God’s eternal Kingdom. Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Jesus makes it very clear; He tells us that we must be “born again.” This is a rebirth from heaven above that is made possible by the waters of baptism and the Holy Spirit. “Unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (3:5). From the very beginning, the Church recognized the water to be the water of baptism and the Spirit to be the Holy Spirit. However, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that this whole notion of being born of water, and the spirit is so much more than just being sprinkled, poured, dipped, or totally submerged in a baptismal pool. The water Jesus is referring to, cleanses us all the way to the core of our heart and soul. It is the regeneration that takes place in us by the grace of God through the power of the Holy Spirit when we are baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This is a rebirth into a life where we can and desire to turn to God our creator and away from the things of this world that separate us from Him. This means that this new birth that Christ told Nicodemus about is the result of the anointing that takes place when we are joined to Christ in the renewing waters and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit—which all leads to our salvation, only possible because of Christ Jesus and the work of the cross.

Jesus then continues to explain what makes it possible for a person to be born again. Nicodemus critically responds in response to Jesus’ declaration that a person must be born again to be saved. Nicodemus sarcastically asks, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus lovingly responded with the answer, “I have spoken to you of earthly things, and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

Here Jesus pointed to the Holy Scripture that Nicodemus knew all too well. He tells the account of how the children of Isreal were wandering in the wilderness and became discouraged and impatient as they waited on God’s promise and Moses' return. They complained against God and tried to take matters into their own hands instead of trusting in the Lord. As a result, God punished them by plaguing them with venomous serpents and many died. When God’s children turn from their wrong doings and cried out to the Lord in repentance, He gave them a way to be healed and made whole again. The Lord told Moses to make a brazen serpent and raise it on a pole so that anyone who was bitten could look to the serpent and be miraculously healed.

Jesus quoted scripture as He so often did, to explain how the new birth takes place. Mankind in their fallen nature have been bitten by the viper of sin and are doomed to eternal death as the result. The serpent of brass is a foreshadow of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Jesus was lifted on the cross on Calvary in the same way. He bore the judgement that we deserve so that when we look to Him in faith we may be saved. Jesus, He who knew no sin, was made sin for us, that we might be made righteous before God, washed clean by the blood of our Savior.

Christ’s apostles remind us in their epistles, that the new birth is necessary for our salvation. We die to sin and are buried with Christ as we enter the baptismal water only to emerge united to Him and His body, the Church. We are cleansed, justified, and sanctified—all in our baptism. Paul tells us that through our baptism we receive, “the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Tts. 3:5) This is only made possible through our faith and God’s grace. That is why by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone we are saved.

So, why did God do this for us? Jesus has an answer for this as well, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. Even though we know how much God loves us we still deny and hide from the truth that we are sinners.

This saving faith, given to us by grace and sealed in our baptism, is not a passive belief but a living, active trust in the promises of God. The faith that unites us to Christ is the same kind of faith that has always marked God’s people: a faith that hears His call and responds in obedience. Long before the fullness of redemption was revealed in Christ, we see this very pattern of faith in the life of Abram.

In Book of Genesis 12:1–9, we see that when God called Abram to leave his country, his people, and his father’s household, Abram went, without a detailed map, a guaranteed timeline, or visible proof of what lay ahead. He responded to God’s promise with immediate obedience, trusting the One who called him more than the comfort of what he was leaving behind. Abram stepped into uncertainty because he believed in God’s character and covenant. When we come to faith, we are invited into that same kind of trust: a faith that moves, that obeys, and that is willing to leave familiar ground in order to follow God’s leading.

Abram’s journey also shows that faith is not just a single decision but a continual walk. As he traveled through the land, he built altars and called on the name of the Lord, demonstrating dependence and worship along the way. Likewise, genuine faith today is more than a moment of belief, it is a life shaped by trust, obedience, and worship even when the full promise has not yet been fulfilled. Like Abram, we are called to anchor our confidence not in what we can see, but in the faithfulness of the God who leads us forward.

This should allow us to then understand that salvation is so much more than just the forgiveness of sins or some simple intellectual acknowledgement of Jesus and His teachings. Salvation is nothing less than participation in the life of God Himself. In Christ, we are granted communion with God, restored to a right and living relationship with the Holy Trinity, and renewed in our very humanity. All of this is possible because divinity and humanity have been united in the person of Jesus Christ. That’s why when we are saved, born again if you will, it is at that moment that we are in union with God, a union only possible because we are in Christ and Christ is in us. (Col. 3:3) Paul compares this union to the intimate all-encompassing union that is experienced when a wife is joined to her husband in holy matrimony.

The intimate relationship that we experience as born-again children of God comforts and sustains us for all eternity. Day after day, year after year, each of us must walk through the wilderness of this fallen world. Sometimes that wilderness is the grief of losing someone we love. Sometimes it is the sting of hatred or rejection. At other times, it is our own sin that has tangled our lives and brought pain to ourselves and others. And often it is the heavy burden of illness, our own or that of someone dear to us. The realities of life in this broken world can press in so deeply that we begin to wonder whether joy will ever return, whether life will feel meaningful again.

`“Don’t give up” can sound hollow when the pain is real. Yet faith in Jesus Christ truly changes how we endure these trials. It does not remove suffering; this side of heaven, a world corrupted by sin cannot be free from sorrow. But faith gives us something the world cannot—hope. We need not live in fear, because we trust in Christ and in His sure promises. We remember that He gave His life for us on Calvary’s hill. And the story did not end in death. On the third day, God raised His Son from the grave, triumphing over sin, death, and the devil.

So, lift up your eyes to the hills. Remember that through the death and resurrection of His only Son, God has conquered all. In Christ, He has made us more than conquerors. He has set all things right. As Psalm 121 proclaims, “The LORD is your keeper… The LORD will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The LORD will keep you going out and you’re coming in from this time forth and forevermore. ”What does all of this mean for you and for me? It means that Christianity is not merely about being moral, informed, or religious—it is about being made new. It means that we cannot rely on our background, our knowledge, or even our good intentions. Like Nicodemus, we must be born from above. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we must look in faith to the One who was lifted up for our healing. Like Abram, we must trust God enough to follow where He leads. It means that in our baptism we have been joined to Christ’s death and resurrection, and therefore our lives are no longer our own. We are called to live as people who have been reborn, people who walk in the light rather than the darkness, who turn from sin, who trust in God’s promises even when we cannot see the outcome.

Most importantly, it means that our salvation rests not in what we have done, but in what Christ has done. Because He was lifted up on the cross, because He rose again, because He pours out His Spirit, we have life—real life, eternal life—even now. And so, we live in confident hope, anchored in His grace, walking by faith, until the day when the new birth we have received is brought to its fullness in His eternal Kingdom.

Let us pray,

Heavenly Father, You who so loved the world that You gave Your only begotten Son, we come before You this day in humility and thanksgiving. We confess that we cannot enter Your kingdom by our own wisdom, effort, or righteousness. Like Nicodemus, we often seek understanding, yet what we truly need is to be born from above. Grant us anew the gift of Your Holy Spirit, that we may trust wholly in Christ, who was lifted up for our salvation. Lord Jesus Christ, as the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness, so You were lifted up on the cross for us. When we are burdened by sin, doubt, suffering, and fear, turn our eyes again to You. Teach us to look upon Your cross in faith, to rest in Your finished work, and to rejoice in Your resurrection victory over sin, death, and the devil. Holy Spirit, You who bring about the new birth through the waters of Holy Baptism, stir up within us a living and active faith. Strengthen us to walk as children of the light. When we journey through the wilderness of grief, illness, temptation, or uncertainty, sustain us with the sure promise that we are united to Christ and held securely in the Father’s love. Keep us, O Lord, in this saving faith until the day when the new birth You have given us is brought to its fullness in Your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

The peace of God which surpasses all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in our crucified Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Third Sunday of Lent March 8, 2026 Gospel Reading: John 4:5-26 Pastor John Hazzard

“Jesus is Our Living Water”

Grace and peace to you in our Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.

This week in our sermon text, we heard about another encounter Jesus had with a woman at Jacob’s well. The Gospel of John is well known for recording many of the personal encounters that Jesus had with individuals from all walks of life. In this case, it was not only a woman but a Samaritan woman—someone who was considered immoral because she had been married several times and was now living with a man who was not her husband.

Just last week we heard about the meeting that took place between Nicodemus and Jesus. Nicodemus was a Jewish leader and a member of the Sanhedrin. Now we are allowed to eavesdrop on a conversation between Jesus and this woman who was considered something of a social outcast. This conversation should not surprise us because we know that Jesus did and does care about people no matter how they are preserved by society. Jesus Himself told us that he came to save the sick rather than the healthy. The reason this encounter seems unusual is that she was a woman, and in that culture, women were not normally involved in mixed-gender public conversations. Secondly, she was a Samaritan. And third, her personal life—having had several husbands and living with a man who was not her husband—caused many people to view her as morally compromised. These factors would have caused her to be seen as a social outcast in both Jewish and Samaritan circles. Jesus and His disciples had left Judea and were heading north to Galilee. To reach Galilee they had two choices. They could take the shorter route through Samaria, or they could travel around it, which many Jewish travelers chose to do because of the deep animosity that existed between Jews and Samaritans.

The roots of this tension go back centuries. When David became king, he moved the center of Israel’s political and religious life to Jerusalem. Later, King Solomon built the famous Temple there on Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount). That temple was destroyed by the Babylonians and later rebuilt when the Jewish people returned from exile, eventually being expanded during the reign of Herod.

After the kingdom of Israel was divided into the Northern and Southern kingdoms, the Northern Kingdom began to recognize Mount Gerizim—located in Samaria—as their sacred place of worship. Mount Gerizim was associated with important events in Israel’s history. It was near the place where Abraham was believed to have been prepared to sacrifice Isaac, and it was also the location where Moses instructed the Israelites to assemble for a covenant ceremony before entering the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 11:29; 27:12).

In 722 BC, the Assyrians conquered the Northern Kingdom. Many Israelites there began intermarrying with surrounding pagan peoples. Later, when the Southern Kingdom was taken into exile by the Babylonians in 586 BC, the Jews from Judah resisted intermarriage in order to preserve their identity and religious heritage. Because of this difference, many Jews came to view the Samaritans as people of mixed ancestry and compromised faith. The hostility became so strong that some Jews even included a harsh petition in their prayers: “Lord, do not remember the Samaritans in your resurrection.”

Yet in this morning’s Gospel account, we see something remarkable. Jesus deliberately travels through Samaria and ministers to this Samaritan woman—someone who was marginalized both socially and morally. Jesus speaks with her, reveals truth to her, and treats her with dignity and compassion. This moment shows us the depth of Christ’s infinite love, not only for this woman but for all people including you and me.

Later in this narrative, we learn that although Jesus was on His way to Galilee, He stayed in that Samaritan town for two more days. The people urged Him to remain with them, and during that time He continued teaching and preaching. Many of them came to believe that He truly was the promised Messiah. It is clear that Jesus went out of His way to minister to this woman and used her to bring the gospel to the Samaritan community.

This story is a powerful reminder that it does not matter how broken, rejected, or lost a person may feel. The Samaritan woman had been defined by her past, her reputation, and the divisions of her society. But when she encountered Jesus, she discovered truth, grace, and new life. In the same way, no matter where we have been or the burdens we carry, we can be found and restored in the truth of Jesus’ word. His love reaches beyond our failures, beyond social boundaries, and beyond the labels that others place upon us. In Christ, even the most unlikely person can be seen, known, and redeemed. This encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman points us toward a deeper truth about who Jesus is and what He offers to all who come to Him.

Later in the Gospel, Jesus makes a powerful declaration recorded in Gospel of John when He says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6). Jesus is not simply someone who teaches truth. He is the truth. He is the way that leads us to the Father, and He is the source of the life that our souls so desperately need. The Samaritan woman was both physically and spiritually thirsty that day. Consider just how thirsty she must have been—how empty her life and her soul must have felt. This does not mean that she was passionately pursuing the things of God or hungering and thirsting after righteousness. In fact, the evidence suggests otherwise. Yet we can reasonably imagine that she was searching for meaning and peace. Otherwise, she would have come to the well in the early morning with the other women in order to avoid the heat of the day. Instead, she came alone at noon. Her isolation suggests that something in her life was deeply broken. It is clear that this Samaritan woman was seeking peace, even if she did not yet know where to find it.

Theologian Thomas Aquinas once responded to someone who observed that many people who were not Christians seemed to be seeking God. Aquinas replied, we see people all around us desperately seeking peace, desperately seeking relief from their guilt, desperately seeking something to fill the emptiness of their souls and their lives. And we look at them and think that they must be seeking for God who has the power to heal them. The truth is that they were only searching for the things that God could give them, while at the same time fleeing and avoiding the Lord Himself. It is only by the grace of God as Christians that we have the power to seek God. Jesus knew this to be true about the Samaritan woman. He knew that the woman’s life was a wreck. He knew the brokenness of her life. Her story revealed a pattern of searching for happiness in the wrong places. She never stopped trying to find happiness. She was married five times, each time she thought this is the one that will make me happy, this is the one that would last. Yet each attempt left her empty again and again. The truth of the matter is that we must turn to our Lord and Savior instead of depending on the things of this world. Her experience reminds us of a truth that still applies today: the things of this world cannot fill the deepest needs of the human heart.

That day, the woman came to the well looking for ordinary water—something that could only satisfy a temporary physical need. But Jesus offered her something far greater: living water that would satisfy the deepest thirst of her soul. In the same way, people today search for meaning, peace, and fulfillment in many different places. Yet true life is found only through Jesus Christ and through the truth of His Word. That truth is revealed to us through the Scriptures and made alive in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit. When we spend time in prayer, meditation, and reading the Bible, the Holy Spirit opens our hearts and minds so that we can understand God’s will and hear His voice speaking into our lives.

This is why time spent in God’s Word is never wasted. When we step away from the noise and distractions of our busy lives and spend quiet time with the Lord, something important happens within us. Our hearts grow still. Our faith becomes stronger. And we are reminded once again that Jesus is the way that leads us, the truth that guides us, and the life that sustains us.

Just as Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well and spoke truth into her life, He continues to meet us today through His Word. In moments of prayer and reflection, the living Christ still speaks to His people. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are drawn closer to Him and renewed in the grace and truth that only He can give.

Take time today to come to the well. Open your Bible. Spend a few quiet moments in prayer. Lay your burdens before the Lord and allow His Word to speak into your heart. If you have been searching for peace, fulfillment, or direction—turn to Jesus and receive the living water that only He can give. Let Him fill the emptiness of your soul and lead you into the life that truly satisfies.

The peace of God which surpasses all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in our crucified and risen, Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Epiphany 5 February 8, 2026

Sermon Text Matthew 5:13-20

Pastor John Hazzard

“Salt and Light”

GRACE AND PEACE TO YOU FROM OUR CRUCIFIED AND RISEN LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS THE CHRIST.

Last week we heard Jesus speak words of blessing in the Beatitudes—promises given to those who belong to the kingdom of God. Now, as we move into verses 13 - 20, Jesus turns from blessing to calling. Still addressing His disciples, He tells them what their lives are meant to look like in the world. “You are the salt of the earth,” He says, and then He adds, “You are the light of the world.” These are not suggestions or compliments; they are statements of identity and responsibility. Those who follow Christ are called to live in a way that visibly reflects Him.

To understand this calling, we need to remember how salt was used in the ancient world. Salt seasoned food and brought out its flavor. It preserved food from decay. And it created thirst. When Jesus calls His followers the salt of the earth, He is saying that His disciples are meant to bring godly flavor into a world that has grown bland, to preserve what is good in a culture prone to decay, and to awaken in others a thirst for righteousness and for God. But salt only serves its purpose when it is used. Salt kept in a container benefit no one. In the same way, our faith was never meant to remain hidden or confined. As followers of Christ, we are called to step out, to live our faith openly, and to let God use us where He has placed us.

Let us look at the first use. We are to be people that add zest or tang to the world around us. We are called to actively be apart of the world around us not stay to ourselves or close ourselves off to a world that is quick to judge us as being too judgmental, old fashioned, hateful, or even prejudice. Of all people we should be the people to offer spice, zest and joy as we lovingly and boldly interact with those around us.

You may recall that the second use of salt was as a preservative. This is exactly what we as individuals and the One Holy Christian Church have been called to do. As individuals and the church, we are to keep the world from destroying itself. This is seen as an impossible task by most people. For thousands of years the secular world has accused Christians and the Christian Church of causing pain, division, and strife in society. This is simply not the case.

In fact, the Christian Church is responsible for creating the university system of education, created Hospitals, established orphanages, and brought about the High Era of western art—particularly in music and painting. Again, the Church acted as salt: preserving what was good, restraining what was destructive, and giving form and beauty to human culture. The Church of Christ has been the saltlike preservative that has kept western civilization from imploding in on itself due to the weight of its own internal corruption. Wherever the gospel took root, it did not merely save souls for eternity—it shaped communities, cultivated compassion, and anchored societies to something greater than themselves.

This brings us to our third use of salt, and that is to provoke thirst in all of those around us. Those around us become thirsty when they experience the way we live our lives. The joy and peace we experience as we go about our day-to-day business trusting and honoring the God, does not go unnoticed. This is why it is important that we don’t lose our saltiness. You may be asking yourself how salt could suddenly lose its saltiness? The first century Jew experienced this situation when they went to the Dead Sea to harvest what looked like salt only to find out that the salt minerals had leached out of all the other crystallin material. The salt that adds flavor, preserves food, and makes individuals thirsty was no longer present. And the salt that served no purpose was cast aside and trampled underfoot being no use to anyone.

Make no mistake about it, we’ve been taught to keep the salt in the salt- shaker where it can do no harm—or good depending on your perspective. The truth is the only thing that is keeping our present-day world from self-destruction is the influence of Christ and his people. We are called to preserve what is worth preserving. And how do we do that? We do this by lovingly and faithfully proclaiming the Word of God as revealed incarnately in Jesus Christ and inerrantly in The Holy Bible.

The truth of the matter is this: Christianity has made the world brighter and better, it truly has been the light of the world. When Christ entered history, He did not step into a morally enlightened age. The Greek and Roman empires, for all their philosophy and power, were steeped in brutality, exploitation, and immorality. It was into that pagan world that the gospel came, and it transformed hearts, homes, and entire cultures. What law could not restrain and philosophy could not heal, Christ redeemed.

Yet today, many of the very immoralities Christianity once confronted and overcame are being normalized again in our own society. Over time, we have been desensitized—often through technologies meant to advance us, but which have instead shaped us. In many ways, we are witnessing the construction of a modern-day Tower of Babel. This tower is built not of bricks, but of technology, political correctness, and human self-confidence. Like Babel of old, it seeks security without God, significance without dependence on God, and unity without obedience to God’s Word.

God is no longer welcomed at the center of our culture. He is pushed to the margins—or dismissed altogether—under the claim that He is unnecessary, outdated, or even a fairytale people once believed when they “didn’t know any better.” But Scripture exposes this mindset to what it is. In Genesis 11 we hear the people say, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves.” This is communal pride—humanity united in self-exaltation—and pride is especially destructive because it leaves no room for God.

Sin, you see, is not always a sudden personal failure. Sometimes it is shared. Sometimes it is organized. Sometimes it is a vision, a movement, a way of life that an entire culture embraces while quietly—and deliberately—excluding God. And whenever that happens, Scripture reminds us that what looks like progress is often rebellion, and what sounds like unity is really separation from the very God who gives life.

Just think about what is going on in our own country today. It seems like we are sliding back into a barbaric Pegan existence as Christians and Christian beliefs are being pushed out of mainstream America. In many cases Christians and God’s Word is welcomed if we stay on the reservation—if we stay in our churches and know our place. We can proclaim God’s Word and profess the Good News of Christ and Him crucified if we do it where it can’t hurt anyone. But when we venture off the reservation we shouldn’t say anything that goes against popular belief. It is obvious that Satan is doing everything He can to remove God from our culture today.

What amazes me most is how dramatically society’s attitude toward God—especially toward Jesus Christ—has shifted in such a short time. There was a time when going to church and Sunday school was simply part of life, even for families who did not consider themselves dedicated believers. I remember Pastor Borrows sharing how parents would faithfully bring their children to church, even if they didn’t stay themselves, because they believed Christianity taught values worth passing on. Today, we often see the opposite. Many families want nothing to do with historic, biblical Christianity. Instead, they replace it with vague forms of spirituality—belief without truth, comfort without repentance, religion without Christ.

So many people have shared with me their heartbreak over loved ones—children, grandchildren, family members—who no longer believe. And what makes it even harder is the fear they carry. They are afraid to speak about Christ because it seems to push people further away. It is as though simply hearing about God’s love is viewed as dangerous, as if faith in Christ might somehow harm a person’s life. That fear weighs heavily on us, because we know the truth: the gospel does not destroy life—it gives it. Christ does not take away what is good; He restores what is broken

So, what are we to do in light of all this? First and foremost, we do what we were called to do before the foundations of the world were ever laid: we entrust everything to the Lord our God. We place our whole lives in His hands, trusting that He is with us and that He will sustain us in all things. We honor Him and worship Him with our whole heart, soul, and mind, confident in the promise that in Christ, all things are possible.

And once we have turned everything over to the Lord, we are then called to care for the lives He has entrusted to us. We learn to quiet our anxious minds and silence the fearful, negative thoughts that so often paralyze us and keep us from living as Christ has called us to live. We step into the world around us not with panic or bitterness, but with steady confidence—knowing that God has us, that we are never alone, and that His grace is sufficient. Living this way allows us to become what Christ calls us to be: examples of a godly life. Rooted in trust and strengthened by faith, we are then free to move outward—to love generously, to serve faithfully, and to reflect the peace of Christ to everyone we encounter. This is how salt and light live in the world: grounded in God, steady in hope, and overflowing with love.

This is the key to it all. Love God and then spread this love to those around you. This does two things. First, it draws us closer to God, because the moment we intentionally direct our love toward Him, we begin to recognize the love our Lord is continually pouring out upon us. Second, as we extend that love to those around us—especially to those who are willing to receive it—our lives become a witness. Through our words and our actions, others catch a glimpse of the love God has for all people. In loving others, we reflect the heart of Christ, and the gospel is made visible in a world that desperately needs to see it.

When we demonstrate love out of the concern we have and not with a spirit of judgement, the Holy Spirit can create an ember in their heart that God can fan into a roaring fire that brings about a baptism of the Holy Spirit that changes lives. We don’t always need to say things to spread the gospel. As we confidently walk in faith and love, our actions can sometimes speak louder than words and be a witness that allows God ultimate love be revealed, bringing those that have resisted Christ and the Holy Spirit to faith. But this can only be done if we resist the lies that Satan puts in our minds that we should cripple ourselves with worry to the point that we are no longer effective witnesses for Christ. It is this love and confidence that will allow the Word of God and the Holy Spirit at the right moment act in the unbeliever’s life.

We must not lose our saltiness. We are called as the “salt of the earth” to not allow the world to contaminate us. We must not let our saltiness be diluted or our light extinguished by being crippled with fear and sorrow. We should not succumb or stoop down Satan’s worldly ways in order to avoid discomfort and hardship. Just as Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness when he told Jesus, Worship me and I will give you all the kingdoms of the world. Jesu is quick to remind us, “What good is it to gain the whole world and lose your soul.”

Jesus reminds us that we are the light of the world. He alone is the true Light, and yet that same light now shines in us because Christ lives within us. Scripture assures us of this truth. In 1 John 4:13 we are told, “By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” And the apostle Paul presses the point even further when he asks in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Do you not realize about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you?” The light we bear is not our own—it is the living presence of Christ, shining through His people into a darkened world.

Just as salt preserves what would otherwise spoil, we—as the salt of the earth and the light of the world—are called through Christ to bear truth into the world. That truth is this: in Christ, and through the work of the cross, all things are possible. We are saved by grace and brought into an eternal relationship with God. This is not a truth meant to be hidden, but one meant to be lived and proclaimed. Therefore, we let our light shine before others, not so that attention is drawn to us, but so that all may see and give glory to God the Father in heaven. As the salt of the earth and the light of the world, we are called to do God’s work, to reflect His love, and to make His glory known in a world that desperately needs His truth.

THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH SURPASSES ALL HUMAN UNDERSTANDING KEEP YOUR HEART AND MINDS IN OUR CRUCIFIED AND RISEN LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS THE CHRIST; THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD. AMEN

Lutheran Church

RESURRECTION

Lay ministers serve RLC

Sermons

Luther Home
of Mercy

Lutheran Church

RESURRECTION

Lay ministers serve RLC

Sermons

Luther Home of Mercy

Luther Home
of Mercy