Sermons by “Rev. John R. Larson”
The Work of God
There are many views as to what it will look like when our Lord returns and what it will be like forevermore. The reason why there are so many views is simply because many people lose sight of the truth of what it was like in the beginning. It is difficult to understand the end of the story if you do not understand how the story began. There is confusion and it rests upon the perception, or the misperception, of what is real and true; what was real and true in the beginning and what is real and true now. And this misperception is what we see in our Gospel text.
View SermonContentment
So, from this misery, Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) He must have been crazy. How can he say that? Had his heart become immune to feelings, had he become stoic? No!! Did he just look around and see that others had life worse than him and therefore he could be so optimistic? No!! Paul’s secret – Christ. Christ and His love and His strength and His presence brought contentment.
View SermonThree Strands
The cord of three strands is always connected to the cross. With great strength we stand under the cross where our Savior died for the evil in our lives and for the evil in the world.
View SermonWho Sez?
There seems to be a problem. We don’t like to be told anything – especially if it exposes us. Give me praise. Tell me how great I am. But don’t mention my failures. Don’t enumerate my sins. Don’t tell me the truth if it is going to hurt.
View SermonProud?
I have something a little better and a little greater to be proud of. Be proud of the work of Jesus. Be even more confident of Him. Jesus takes us from death to life. Jesus takes us from unbelief to faith. Jesus takes us from bondage to freedom. Jesus takes us from misery to joy. We go from the pit of “A” to the surety of “B”. God has given us our own tower experience, one where we also are born again and we enter into paradise through open gates.
View SermonDress For Success
Let God dress you. Here is another picture from Isaiah, “I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.” (Isaiah 61:10a) “Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness my beauty are, my glorious dress…” (LSB, 563, Verse 1)
View SermonWe Are Beggars; It Is True
But what does it also say? It says, “We are beggars; It is true.” The needs that exist in our world, and with our fellow human beings, are multiplying. In the Tuesday paper was the picture that captured our eyes for these days. A young man is shielding a young lady on the asphalt at the music festival in Las Vegas. Was she dead? Injured? Was this his girlfriend or wife? Matthew Cobos, a soldier in the U.S. Army, was protecting a stranger. He covered her from the danger and then covered her eyes from her having to witness the bloodshed all around. Shortly after that picture was taken they were able to run to safety, but he returned applying medical care to those who had been shot and were injured. There were a lot of beggars there. There were many who were asking for mercy. I’m glad that he and many others were available to give care.
View SermonTaking A Stand
Jesus has taken a stand for us. He is ever faithful to us. He stands with us in life’s darkest times. He stands with us not wanting our faith to fail. He stands with us as a Savior from evil and as the Lord who rules over all things.
View SermonJoy’s First Step
Jesus brings us joy. Your sins have all been paid for by Jesus. You are forgiven. You are clean and pure, considered complete through the blood of Christ. That is joy. You are going to live forever in heaven. No doubt about it!! You will live in the best mansion and enjoy the splendor of God’s peace and love. Jesus rose from death, your hope for salvation rests not in your deeds, but in His. You have a hope of forgiveness and are given eternal life in Jesus. That is joy.
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