allsaintsjonesboro Sermons

The Good Samaritan and the Medicine of Christ

A sermon for the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, by Fr. Josh Leigeber.

“We love because He first loved us.” So what does it mean for God to make us love what He has commanded? That is what we prayed for in the Collect yesterday.

In the Gospel, a lawyer asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responds not with a checklist, but with the familiar parable of the Good Samaritan. But the ancient Church heard in this parable something far deeper than a lesson about being kind to our neighbors. What if the wounded man in the ditch is not primarily someone we are being told to help, but a picture of us?

The man has been beaten, robbed, and left half dead. He cannot save himself. Then the Samaritan comes to him, binds his wounds, pours on oil and wine, and carries him to an inn. The Church has long recognized in this a beautiful picture of Christ’s work for sinners—and of the Church as the place where Christ continues to care for those He has rescued.

But if we are the wounded man, what does that mean for the Church, for the pastors Christ has entrusted with His wounded people, and for the Word and Sacraments by which He continues to heal us?

And what does all of this have to do with our prayer that God would “make us to love that which Thou dost command”?

Listen to the full homily below.

allsaintsjonesboro Sermons

Jesus cares about doctrine. So should you.

A sermon for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity, by Fr. Dan Suelzle.

Jesus’ warning to “enter by the narrow gate” and “beware of false prophets” is fundamentally an act of divine love meant to protect believers from spiritual destruction. False teachers never present themselves as obvious threats; like wolves in sheep’s clothing, they offer smooth flattery and mirror Satan’s ancient tactic by subtly asking, “Did God really say?” This question intentionally shifts focus away from objective Scripture and toward subjective human doubt and preference. The Christian faith is not an a la carte menu to be customized according to personal taste. Rather, it is the undivided truth delivered by Christ—a truth that demands vigilance, humility, and an unyielding commitment to reject deceptive falsehoods in favor of God’s Word.

To discern true teaching from subtle deception, believers must evaluate a teacher’s “fruit”—their doctrine—against the sole standard of Holy Scripture, rather than popularity, eloquence, or emotional appeal. Faithful, Christ-centered proclamation does not shy away from exposing human sin through the mirror of God’s Law, nor does it attach strings to the unconditional grace promised in the Gospel. Caring deeply about pure doctrine is far from an exercise in intellectual pride or winning theological debates; it is simply to rejoice in the treasures of heaven: forgiveness, true wisdom for our lives, and eternal salvation. By remaining anchored in the Scriptures, we are guarded against the subtle lies of the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh, and we rest securely in the saving promises of Christ.

Listen to the full sermon below.

allsaintsjonesboro Sermons

No More Excuses

A sermon for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity, by Fr. Josh Leigeber.

Jesus did not come to lower God’s standards or soften His commandments. In this Sunday’s Gospel, He reveals the true depth of God’s Law, exposing not only outward sins but the sinful heart itself. Every attempt to excuse ourselves, redefine sin, or compare ourselves favorably to others ultimately collapses before the searching words of Christ.

Yet the One who proclaims the Law is also the One who fulfills it. Where we have failed, Christ has been perfectly righteous in our place. Through His cross, our sins are forgiven; through Holy Baptism, we are united to His death and resurrection; and through His Word and Sacraments, He continues to strengthen us to walk in newness of life. The Law leaves us with no confidence in ourselves so that our confidence may rest entirely in Christ, whose righteousness alone opens the kingdom of heaven to sinners.

Listen to this week’s sermon as we consider how Christ strips away every excuse, calls us to genuine repentance, and comforts us with the good news that our righteousness is found in Him alone.

Listen to the full sermon below.