Pastor Sullivan's Blog

In the Name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. What makes a person a sheep? It’s tempting to look at Christ’s parable with a quick glance and answer, “Works!” And this is how many see it when Christ commends the good works of the sheep. “ I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. ” “Do this and inherit the kingdom.” But their works aren’t what makes these people into lambs of the Lord Jesus. They are sheep because during their earthly lives they heard the voice of the Good Shepherd and believed His word. In Joh n 10:26-28 Jesus tells the Jews, “ But you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand. ” The P...

In the Name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Moses tells us in Genesis 2:7, “ the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. ” God created man from the soil of the earth and to remind him of his ancestry, God called him ‘Adam,’ which in Hebrew means ‘earth.’ The Lord God created man out of soil to signify that as man was cultivate and seed the soil of the earth, so God would cultivate and seed the heart of man, which had been brought forth from the earth. As the ground beneath our feet was created to accept seed and bear fruit, so God created the hearts of men to accept the seed of the divine word and bear spiritual fruit. God implanted the seed of His Word into Adam. That seed took root in Adam’s heart, but was soon torn away from him by the wiles of the devil. The devil tempted our first parents to be like God, to turn away from faith in their Creator and turn towards...

Grace and peace be unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 1)         Christ will return to judge the living and dead. The Lord promises this numerous times throughout the four Gospels. Today’s appointed Gospel lesson is one of those promises. Ever since Jesus ascended into heaven, Christians have lived in eager expectation of His return in glory. The New Testament even ends with the teaching of Christ’s return. The final words of Christ to St. John in Revelation 22:20 are, “ Surely I am coming quickly. ” When Christ returns He will take those who believe the Gospel to inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world. On that day, everything you have now by faith you will have by sight. St. John writes in 1 John 3:2, “ B eloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. ” A...

Order of Holy Communion - Pg. 15 Hymn # 296 Speak O Lord, Thy Servant Heareth Hymn # 261 Lord Keep Us Steadfast in Thy Word Hymn #  49 Almighty God Thy Word is Cast   Introit A-WAKE! - || Why do | You | sleep, | O - | Lord? *             Arise! Do not cast us | off - | for- - | ev- | er. - || Why do | You | hide | Your - | face, *             And forget | our | af- - | flic- | tion? || For our soul is bowed | down | to | the - | dust; *             Arise for our help | and - | re- - | deem | us. (Psalm 44:23-24a, 25a, 26a) || We have heard with | our | ears, | O - | God, *             Our fathers have told us, the deeds You | did - | in - | their | days. || You drove out the na- | tions | with | Your - | hand, *             But them You planted, because | you - | fa- - | vored | them. || You have saved us from | ...