allsaintsjonesboro Sermons

Christ, Our Champion

A sermon for Invocavit, the First Sunday in Lent, by Father Josh Leigeber.

Lent begins not in comfort but in the wilderness, where Christ enters the field of battle as our Champion. Driven by the Spirit, Jesus confronts the ancient enemy and withstands every temptation—where Adam fell and Israel failed. His victory is not merely an example but a triumph won on behalf of sinners who cannot stand on their own.

The sermon highlights the subtle and persistent nature of temptation, including the quiet spiritual weariness the fathers called the “noonday devil.” Yet Christ answers every assault with the sure Word of God and remains faithful even when offered glory without the cross. In doing so, He secures the victory that is now given to His Church.

Psalm 91 finds its fulfillment in Christ, who still shelters His people under His wings. He delivers His protection concretely through the means of grace: in Baptism, in the living Word, in the Holy Supper, and through His holy angels. Christians therefore do not face the wilderness alone.

With special encouragement for the catechumens, the sermon calls the faithful to remain close to Christ throughout Lent. The battle is real, but far more certain is the promise that those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High abide safely under His shadow.

frsuelzle Sermons

Dust, Death, and Deliverance

A sermon for Ash Wednesday, by Father Dan Suelzle.

The imposition of ashes is a startlingly honest act, a physical confession that strips away our modern delusions of self-sufficiency and immortality. By tracing a cross of dust upon our foreheads, we acknowledge the grim reality that sin and death are inextricably linked—a problem of our own making that we are utterly powerless to fix. Yet, this ashen cross does not leave us in despair; it mirrors the sign made at our Baptism, reminding us that while our bodies return to dust, we belong to the One who conquered the grave. As we enter the penitential season of Lent, we utilize disciplines like fasting and prayer not to earn righteousness, but to sharpen our awareness of our need for a Savior. We turn back to God with broken hearts, finding that His justice and mercy meet perfectly in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who bore our sin so that we might share in His life.

allsaintsjonesboro Sermons

Lord, Have Mercy

A sermon for Quinquagesima, by Father Jerome Leckband.

Jesus’ disciples followed Him, witnessed His miracles, and heard His powerful teaching. Yet when He spoke of His suffering and death, they could not understand. Though they had physical sight, they were spiritually blind. Meanwhile, a blind beggar by the roadside saw clearly who Jesus truly was and cried out in faith, “Son of David, have mercy on me.”

Like the disciples, we are often tempted to want a Savior who fits our expectations—one who makes life easier, solves our problems, and confirms our own goodness. We measure God’s love by our circumstances and quietly doubt His goodness when suffering comes. But God’s greatest act of love is found not in comfort, but in the cross.

The Father delivered His Son to death for the salvation of sinners. What appeared to be weakness and defeat was God’s saving work for the world. In Christ crucified, God reveals a love that does not fail and a mercy that is sufficient for every sin.

The blind man’s prayer becomes our own: “Lord, have mercy.” It is the confession of faith that admits our need and trusts in Christ alone. By His Word and Spirit, God opens blind eyes, calls us to repentance, and fixes our hearts on Jesus, who was given for our sins and raised for our life.