allsaintsjonesboro Sermons

Persevering Against the Darkness

A sermon for the First Sunday in Advent, by Fr. Dan Suelzle.

The Entry into Jerusalem; Simon Bening (Flemish, about 1483 – 1561); c. 1525–1530; Tempera colors, gold paint, and gold leaf on parchment.

Our lives as Christians are marked by a tension between the sure grace of God that is ours now through baptism into Christ, and the “not yet” of Christ’s final, glorious return. Therefore the Christian life is one of perseverance. As we begin this new church year in the season of Advent, we are urged to wake from sleep, to cast off works of darkness, and to live with sober watchfulness against the threats of the world, the devil, and the flesh. Our strength and guidance for this ongoing battle—the “habitus” of the Christian life—do not come from self-effort, but flow from a faithful proximity to the gifts of Christ, in Word and Sacrament. It is through these means that God calls, equips with the armor of light, and transforms us, assuring us that our salvation is secure in Christ, whose glorious return on the last day is nearer now than when we first believed. Listen to the full sermon below.

allsaintsjonesboro Sermons

Let Thy Holy Angel Be With Us

Yesterday (Sept. 29) was the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. The holy angels aren’t something we give a lot of thought to, and when we do, often our imagination is informed more by popular culture than God’s Word. God’s angels are warrior ministers—creatures who are deployed to comfort and protect God’s people, fighting the spiritual battle that is being waged against Satan and his fallen angels. This war, highlighted in the Feast of St. Michael, is real and affects Christians, as the devil works subtly to tempt us, to destroy us, and to cast doubt in God’s Word and promises. God be praised that, though Satan’s wrath is great, it is not too great for our Lord. Satan’s time is short; he and his angels are already conquered in Christ. Therefore, rather than fearing, despairing, and losing heart, we thank God for his angelic protection, as he deploys these warrior ministers to defend and guide us, preserving us from danger and finally directing us to Christ. Listen to Father Suelzle’s entire sermon below.