Jesus, Mary and the Cross — A Holy Week Meditation

In all the gruesome gore of the crucifixion, amidst the injustice and cruelty, and the terrible suffering and pain, John relates to us a most incongruous scene of touching affection: When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said…

A Luther Sermon on Good Works

Epistle Sermon on the Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity Martin Luther, Church Postil (1544) — Ephesians 4:22–28 Translated by John Nicholas Lenker (1909) 1. Here again is an admonition for Christians to follow up their faith by good works and a new life, for though they have forgiveness of sins through baptism, the old Adam still…

Wedding Homily

Preached at Dr. Long Methodist Church in Sofia, Bulgaria, at the joining of Matt Osterndorf and Yana Nikolova in holy matrimony on 16 July 2022 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen. Let us pray:Lord God, you sent Your Son Jesus Christ to be the Bridegroom of…

My Peace I Give to You

Sermon on the Feast of Pentecost Genesis 11:1–9, Acts 2:1–13, John 14:23–31 Preached at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Fareham, on 31 May 2020 Grace to you and peace from God, our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Let us pray: Come Holy Spirit and kindle the hearts of your faithful to the fire…

What makes a Pharisee?

A sermon preached at Our Saviour Lutheran Church on the 11th Sunday after Trinity Date: 7 August 2016 Text: Luke 18:9–14 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Those of us who are familiar with the teachings of Jesus, and have been steeped in the Christian…

The Humble King

A sermon on Palm Sunday, preached at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Fareham 20 March 2016 (You can listen to the sermon here.) Texts: Zechariah 9:9–12; Philippians 2:5—11; Matthew 21:1–9; Matthew 26:1—27:66   Behold, your king comes to you, humble and riding on a donkey. The people of Jerusalem recognised their king. They knew Him because…

Rejoice in the Lord

Sermon preached at Vespers for the 61st Annual Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Coventry 2 October 2015 Ps. 119:145–52; Philippians 4:4–9; Luke 11:5–13 There are certain commands that almost always have the opposite effect from what they actually command. An exasperated parent’s “For goodness sake, stupid child, stop…

Holding Forth Jesus

A sermon for Ash Wednesday, preached at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Fareham (typos and all) And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your…

Maundy Thursday: Eating and Drinking Life

Preached at Our Saviour Lutheran Church on 17 February 2014. You can listen to a recording of the sermon here. Text: 1 Corinthians 11:23–32 We have heard read tonight the institution of the Holy Supper of our Lord, as narrated by St. Paul to the church in Corinth, and with our own mouths we have confessed…

The Lord Who Saves

Sermon preached at Our Saviour Lutheran Church on the 2nd Sunday after Christmas, 5 January 2014 Text: Matthew 2:13–23 You can listen to the sermon here. What’s in a name? For us moderns, not a lot. Names are labels chosen from a stock of traditional or (increasingly) non-traditional stock. We name children after relatives or…