Pastor Sullivan's Blog

Grace and peace be unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. “ Many are called but few are chosen .” With today’s parable Jesus teaches us the doctrine of predestination or eternal election. The Greek work translated “chosen” is also translated “elect.” Whenever Christ or the Apostle Paul begins speaking about eternal election we’re tempted to think it as something it’s not. The idea in the mind of most is that God, from eternity, made an arbitrary and absolute decree of who would be saved and who would be damned. People imagine God gathering the entire human race before Him and electing this one and that one to eternal life, while electing the rest to eternal damnation. The idea of a “double” predestination, that God predestines some to life and others do damnation, is not found in the Holy Scriptures but comes from the imagination of sinful man. Neither is the idea that predestination is absolute, without regard for anything whatsoever, found in Holy Scriptu...

In the Name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Christ compares the kingdom of heaven to a king who has prepared a marriage for his son. When everything is prepared, he sends his servants to call those who had been invited to the feast. It should have been a joyous occasion for the king’s subjects. But “ they were not willing to come. ” The people despise the king and this wedding so they simply refuse the invitation. The king shows patience and mercy by sending out other servants. They are to tell those invited about the benefits of the wedding. “ See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle are killed, and all things are ready. ” Many made light of this message and went their way. They had better things to do. One goes to his farm. Another goes off to his business. This first group is apathetic toward the wedding. They could care less. The rest though, they go much further than simply despising the king and His gracious invitation. They hat...

Order of Holy Communion - Pg. 15 Hymn # 239 Come, Thou Almighty King Hymn # 375 If Thy Beloved Son, O Lord Hymn # 402 O God Forsake Me Not Introit - Pg. 81 Readings Isaiah 65:1-2 Ephesians 5:15-21 Matthew 22:1-14 Collect for the 20th Sunday after Trinity Grant, we beseech Thee, merciful Lord, to Thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed form all their sins and serve Thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. Sermon on the Holy Gospel Grace and Peace be unto You from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 1)          “ The Kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son. ” What is this blessed union which God the Father, the King of all things, arranges for His Only-Begotten Son? It is the incarnation. God the Son, the second perso...