I've had an Epiphany!

Artwork: Healing the Centurion’s Servant Artist: Paolo Veronese Date: 16 th century   Worship Theme: Faith trusts in God’s power completely.   No matter how impossible the problem, faith believes that God can and will help.   Faith like that, given by the Holy Spirit, is not reserved exclusively for the direct descendants of Abraham. Rather, the gift of faith comes to every heart in the spiritual House of Israel.     Old Testament: Joshua 5:13-6:5 Now when Joshua was near Jericho , he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" 14 "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?" 15 The commander of the LORD's army replied, "Take off ...

Numbers 6:22-27 The LORD said to Moses, 23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24 "'"The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."' 27 "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them." Today is Trinity Sunday. Each year, we set aside one special Sunday to emphasize the marvelous mystery that our God has revealed Himself as the three-in-one God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Did you ever notice that even though we have only one Trinity festival per year, have you ever noticed the imagery, symbolism and statements of the Trinity that are seen, spoken and sung in our church and worship service? In preparation for this morning’s sermon, I interviewed some of our Epiphany Lower School children here in the church. I wanted to know if they hav...

Artwork: Holy Trinity Artist: Jan Cornelisz Vermeyen Date: 1500-1559 Museum: Madrid , Spain   Worship Theme: The mystery of the Holy Trinity is beyond our comprehension. Yet it is proclaimed in Scripture and believed by Spirit-wrought hearts of faith. We believe in the one true God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.   The height, depth, and breadth of our God gives us peace as we travel towards eternity.   Old Testament: Numbers 6:22-27 The LORD said to Moses, 23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24 "'"The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."' 27 "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."   1. How is the Holy Trinity evident in the blessing Aaron was to put on God’s people? (See 6:24–26.)...

Acts 2:1-21 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both ...

The Divine Service is the main course of a wholesome, spiritually nutritious diet. There’s nothing quite like the gathering of the saints—past and present—around Word and Sacrament. This is no ordinary meal; it’s the very Wedding Feast of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9)!  But just as we don’t wait an entire week between eating meals, neither do God’s people limit themselves to a single serving of God’s Word per week. At best, this would leave our faith famished and malnourished. At worst, we’d starve to death! As central as the Divine Service is to our faith, it is equally vital that we let God nurture our faith all week long through daily devotions.  As Moses says in Deuteronomy 6:5–9: Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road,...