allsaintsjonesboro Sermons

Feast of Sts. Peter & Paul

Today (June 29) is the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, the holy apostles “through whom we have received the beginning of our religion,” as we prayed during Mass in the ancient Collect of the Day. In Ephesians 2:20, we hear that as those who have been made members of the household of God, we are built upon the “foundation of the apostles.” What does all of this mean? How do the apostles–and these two men in particular–fit into a biblical, Christ-centered faith? Is the foundation upon which the Church (and we as members of it) are built the apostles as men (as important as they are) or is that foundation perhaps something, rather, which comes to us from the apostles but is more bound up with their doctrine and Scriptural writings? These two men teach us an important lesson today, a lesson which helps us remain on the via media and avoid the extremes of either papism or modern evangelical biblicism. Listen to the sermon below for more.

allsaintsjonesboro Sermons

Whoever desires to be saved must, above all, hold the catholic faith…

This past Sunday was the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. One of the fixtures of this day in the liturgical year is the Church’s recitation of the Athanasian Creed, an ancient statement of faith that helps us confess in great detail the biblical doctrine of who God is–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. During Divine Service at All Saints, though, as we heard the Scriptures read and listened to the sermon, we were reminded that it is important to confess rightly who God is chiefly because it helps us uphold and confess the true biblical teaching and faith of what the Triune God does, for us and for our salvation.

The true catholic faith has at its center the work of God–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit–to rescue us from sin and justify us before the Father, to cause us to be born again into God’s household and kingdom, to restore us to God eternally as His dear beloved children. We heard in the Gospel lesson from John 3 that we are brought to God and into His kingdom through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. Through the rebirth of water and the Spirit, as those who have had the name of the Triune God placed upon us, we have been rescued from sin, death, and the devil, and have been made new in Christ. We saw this happen firsthand on Sunday to little Baylor Nathaniel. God be praised! Listen to the sermon for more.

allsaintsjonesboro Sermons, Uncategorized

Come Holy Spirit, Fill the Hearts of Thy Faithful

This past Sunday was the Feast of Pentecost, a day in which our focus turns especially to God’s gift of the Holy Spirit. Born again of water and the Spirit–having received the Spirit of adoption–you are directed to the love of God your heavenly Father in and through Christ Jesus. Christ has accomplished your salvation through His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave! Now, with Christ having ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit continues the work of actually proclaiming and delivering Christ and the gifts of Christ to you. It is the Holy Spirit who brings you to and keep you with Christ in the one true faith. And strengthening you in the faith through proclaiming Christ to you, He also proclaims and delivers Christ to those around you in your daily live (at least in part) through you. Hear more in this sermon from Father Leigeber.