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allsaintsjonesboro Sermons

Christ, the Faithful Steward

Yesterday, we heard Christ’s teaching from Luke 16 about stewardship and how Jesus shows us what true stewardship looks like. The Father entrusted Him with everything—including fragile human flesh and blood—and He spent it all for you. Every step of His life, every word He spoke, every drop of His blood was given so that you might be forgiven and made a child of God.

That changes how we see our own lives. What we have—our time, our abilities, our possessions—isn’t really ours. They’re gifts from God, placed into our hands for the sake of others. Earthly things won’t last, but when they’re spent to share Christ’s love and His Gospel, God uses them for something eternal.

So take heart. Your salvation doesn’t rest on how well you manage what you’ve been given—it rests on Jesus, who has already secured it all for you. And now, with joy and freedom, you can use His gifts to point others to the one treasure that never fades: Christ Himself, who is your peace and your home forever.

Listen to the sermon:

allsaintsjonesboro Sermons

Homily of the Feast of Saint Lawrence

Saint Lawrence Distributing Alms; 1447-1449, by Fra Angelico.

This past Sunday was the Feast of Saint Lawrence, third century deacon and martyr. The Gospel lesson was from John 12:24-26.

Wherever our Lord and Master is, that is where we want to be. Jesus graciously invites His servants to be where He is—not just in moments of comfort, but even on the road to the cross. The world promises ease and success, but through his gracious presence in Word and Sacrament, Christ delivers something better and eternal: forgiveness, life, and salvation. St. Lawrence of Rome knew this well, trading worldly treasures for the treasure of Christ, even unto death. Even though we may not live under the threat of death, we are still encouraged by Lawrence in his martyrdom, for through him we see God’s faithfulness in the midst of trial. Because Christ has conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, we are glad to be where our Master is, even if it means hardship or unpopularity. So we gather where He locates Himself for us: in Word and Sacrament. For wherever our Lord is, there is truly life, both now and forever. Listen to the entire sermon from Father Suelzle below.

allsaintsjonesboro Sermons

Earthly & Heavenly Bread – A Homily on Mark 8:1-9

On the Seventh Sunday after Trinity (Aug. 3), Father Leigeber preached on Christ’s miraculous feeding of the four thousand (Mark 8:1–9), reminding us that God alone provides our daily bread—both for this life and for the life to come.

The multitude in the Gospel lesson left everything behind to hear Jesus’ Word, going without food for three days. Their hunger for the Word of God outweighed their bodily needs—a striking example of the truth that “man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

Jesus, seeing their need, feeds them miraculously with seven loaves of bread and a few small fish—showing that God is the giver of all things, physical and spiritual. Father Leigeber reminded us that our meals, our homes, our families—everything—are gracious gifts from our heavenly Father. This is why Christians pause to pray before meals, following the example of Christ Himself.

Yet the feeding miracle points beyond mere daily sustenance. The language of taking, blessing, breaking, and giving the bread to the disciples draws our attention to the Holy Eucharist, where Christ feeds His Church with His very Body and Blood. Just as He used the disciples to distribute bread to the people, so today He uses pastors to deliver His heavenly gifts in Word and Sacrament.

In a world of busyness and distraction, we are tempted to neglect this miraculous Meal. But Jesus’ compassion remains. Even if we’ve been forgetful or careless, He still offers Himself to us. Every Sunday, Christ performs a miracle—nourishing and sustaining His people with the Bread of Life, for the strengthening of faith and the hope of resurrection.

Let us never forget the Source of all good things. And let us give thanks, both at our tables and at His altar: “O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy endures forever.”

Listen to the entire sermon: