Sermons by “Rev. John R. Larson”
The Fulfilled Word
We are caught in the paradoxical tension of the now and the now yet, of being sinners in ourselves and yet fully perfected saints in Christ. Simul justus et peccator goes the familiar Lutheran formula. There is a tension, and also a daily repentance. A daily dying to the old self in Adam, and a daily rising to new self in Christ.
“It is finished.” Jesus says it over you in the death of your Baptism, where you died to sin to arise to life in Jesus. “It is finished.” He says it to you again, the words of absolution that recall you to that Baptism and cover you anew. “It is finished.” He says it to you with His body and blood, confirming once again His completed work of your salvation.
View SermonThe Remembering Word
In washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus gives them a pattern for service—“that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:15). This is what it means to live under Him in His kingdom and to serve Him. This King bows before His subjects and washes their feet. So also you with your fellow servants. “A servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him” (John 13:16). What would Jesus do? He would wash feet.
View SermonThe Long Road
But we’re not on this long road alone!! Jesus, the Lord, walks with us. Philippians 2, one of the earliest creeds of the church, speaks about Jesus living in humility, sacrifice and exaltation. We’re on this long road and we need this Lord to walk with us.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)
View SermonThe Suffering Word
He drinks the bitter cup so that we might drink of His sweet, new wine. “Take, drink, this is My blood of the covenant.” He gives His sacred blood for wine, a foretaste of that great feast to come when wine will flow in unending joy in the marriage supper of the Lamb in His kingdom that has no end. He drinks of the stinging cup of our human woe, of our suffering and misery, so that we might be refreshed and renewed by His cup.
View SermonGod’s Answers to Life’s Questions
This week, through various orders in our county and state, it was determined that we will not be open for Holy Week nor Easter. Can you imagine that? Easter is postponed!! Mike Zehnder came up with quite a word to me a few days ago. He said, “Lent is being forced upon the whole world, whether they want it or not.” He’s right. Lent, the time for quietness, repentance, change, reflection, thinking of things that truly matter, is being forced upon us. We aren’t to go anywhere, we are to shelter in place. This is the time for all to open their life to God.
View SermonThe Dying Word
Isn’t that how it is with the life of faith? God seems so distant at times, especially those times of darkness and woe, those dark nights and days, and yet He stands ever near to embrace us in those strong, loving, fatherly arms. Jesus trusted His Father, and He did it on behalf of all of us. His trust is complete and unwavering. Though He dies, yet He trusts. Though He suffers, yet He trusts. Though the Father is silent and hidden, yet He trusts.
View SermonThe Compassionate Word
He places us into family, into community. He gives us to one another that we may be sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, for one another. One time, when Mary and Jesus’ family wanted to take Him into protective custody, fearing that He had lost His mind, His disciples told Him, “Your mother and brothers are here for you.” Jesus looked at the people gathered in a circle around Him and said, “Whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50).
View SermonAll Alone
Late this week we needed to change the church sign on the corner of our lot to let our community know that temporarily we won’t be having worship and other activities in our building. As the sign was being changed a young couple stopped and told us that they love reading what we had recently put up. In light of not being to get toilet paper anywhere, our sign read, “Toilet Paper in Every Stall; Gospel in Every Sermon.” When someone asked why that went up, I told them, “Ascension is a full-service church.”
View SermonThe Ongoing Battle
The battle is in us, around us and below us. “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.” (I Peter 5:8-9a) The devil has all types of names. Devil = accuser. Satan= adversary. Destroyer. Thief. Prince of darkness. It says of him that “he comes only to steal, kill and destroy.” (John 10:10) He is not on your side. Revelation says of him, and his ultimate demise, “For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (Revelation 12:10-11)
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