Author: allsaintsjonesboro

A sermon for the Second Sunday after Trinity, by Fr. Jerome Leckband

What does it mean to “fear the Lord”? In his sermon on yesterday’s Gospel from Luke 14:16-24, Father Leckband guided us through the Master’s invitation in the parable of the Great Banquet, reminding us that true fear of the Lord is not the terror of a slave, but the faithful, expectant love of a child.

Too often, we juggle our spiritual lives with the demands of work, home, and family, treating the Gospel as just another obligation. But the Gospel is not merely one treasure among many—Christ is our very life. We come to His table not because we have it all together, but because we are beggars in desperate need of His righteousness.

The Father has borne all the expenses of this feast through the cross. No matter your sins or past failures, Christ says to you today: “Come, for all is ready.”

You can listen to Father Leckband’s full sermon audio below to hear the complete sermon.

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

In the Gospel for Trinity +1, Jesus tells the sobering account of the rich man and Lazarus. The contrast between the two is not simply one of wealth and poverty, but of faith and unbelief. The rich man receives abundant gifts from God but sees them only as instruments for his own comfort. Lazarus, though afflicted and destitute, trusts in the mercy of God and clings to Him as his true treasure.

This sermon explores how faith changes the way we view both our possessions and our neighbors. The Christian learns to see earthly goods not as treasures to be hoarded but as gifts entrusted by God for the service of others. At the same time, we learn that the deepest poverty is not material want but life without Christ and the riches of His Gospel.

Above all, this sermon points to Jesus Christ, who though rich became poor for our sake, taking upon Himself our spiritual poverty and giving us the riches of forgiveness, life, and salvation. Having received such treasures from Him, Christians are freed to love their neighbors in both body and soul.

Listen to the full sermon below as we consider the warning of the rich man, the faith of Lazarus, and the surpassing riches that God has given us in His Son.

A sermon for Exaudi, by Fr. Josh Leigeber

In this year’s Exaudi homily, the focus centered on the Church’s calling in the time between Christ’s Ascension and His return. Christ has poured out His Holy Spirit and sent His Church into the world to bear witness to the Gospel — not with a message of our own invention, but with the apostolic testimony handed down in Holy Scripture.

The sermon emphasized that faithful Christian witness will often meet opposition because the Gospel confronts sin and proclaims salvation through Christ crucified. Yet Christians are called to respond not with bitterness, but with love, humility, and patient endurance, remembering that apart from God’s mercy we too would remain in unbelief.

Drawing on Saint Peter’s words that “love covers a multitude of sins,” the homily encouraged believers to use the gifts God has entrusted to them — both individually and as the Church together — in service to the Gospel and the salvation of their neighbors.

As All Saints enters its annual Time of Inquiry and prepares for Pentecost, the congregation is reminded that the Holy Spirit continues to work through the Church’s witness while we await Christ’s glorious return.

Listen to the sermon audio below.