Second Sunday of Easter

Christ Lutheran Church & School

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Second Sunday of Easter

April 16, 2023 • Pastor Greg Stenzel • Acts 2:14–32, 1 Peter 1:3–9, John 20:19–31

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HE LIVES TO GIVE ME PROOF AND PEACE

Thomas had been taught and trained by Christ himself. He heard Jesus predict his death and resurrection. Yet, even after hearing the eyewitness testimony of friends who all saw the resurrected Jesus, Thomas had doubts: "Rising from the dead. That can’t be possible!"

Today is a day of great comfort for any follower of Jesus who wrestles with doubt concerning Christ’s promises or doubts about God’s Word. Jesus does not come to rebuke Thomas’ weak faith. Jesus comes to strengthen Thomas’ faith, giving him proof of the mind-bending reality of the resurrection—to let him feel it, touch it, and explore it. Jesus didn’t reject Thomas. Jesus engaged Thomas and gave him peace.

Still today, Jesus comes to his disciples in Word and sacrament. The living Lord speaks to us. He lets us partake of his true body and blood. When we show weakness of faith, he does not reject us. Just as he did with Thomas, Jesus engages us, giving us proof and peace.

Seventh Sunday of Easter

May 21, 2023 • Pastor Greg Stenzel • Acts 1:12–26, 1 Peter 4:12–17, 1 Peter 5:6–11, John 17:1–11

HE LIVES TO GIVE ME EAGER EXPECTATION OF GLORY The Church waits. The Church in Jerusalem waited for ten days between Christ’s ascension and the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost. The Church today waits through the millennia between Pentecost and Christ’s second coming. We are waiting for the gifts that Jesus promised. We live in eager expectation of glory! That glory is not dimmed by early suffering. Rather, our current sufferings only remind us of the glory that awaits us. We are simply following in Christ’s footsteps. First comes the cross, and then comes the crown. Knowing what is coming lets us view our current light and momentary troubles. They cannot mute the joy of living in eager expectation of glory. While we wait during this time between Christ’s ascension and return, we live knowing that we will suffer persecution for our faith in Christ, but God will work it for glory.

Sixth Sunday of Easter

May 17, 2023 • Pastor Greg Stenzel • 1 Peter 3:15–22

God accomplishes His purposes through the witness we give in word and deed.

Pentecost Sunday

May 28, 2023 • Pastor Greg Stenzel • Acts 2:1–21, 1 Corinthians 12:3–11, John 7:37–39

HE LIVES TO POUR OUT HIS SPIRIT Fifty days after the Passover, God’s Old Testament people celebrated Pentecost (Greek for “fifty”). Pentecost commemorated the harvest gathering and was also used to remember the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai, the start of the Church of Israel. Christ chose Pentecost to be the birthday of his New Testament Church too. By pouring out his Holy Spirit, Christ empowered the Church to gather in the great harvest of souls won by the Son. Pentecost is the third great festival of the Church, along with the Nativity and the Resurrection. The early church fathers mention the Festival of Pentecost often enough to lead many to believe it was celebrated annually at the time of the apostles. Pentecost closes the fifty-day period after Easter and ends the festival half of the church year. The Church dresses in red this day to remind us of the tongues of fire that marked the Spirit’s gift, as well as the blood of the martyrs, which was the seed of the Church.