Pastor Sullivan's Blog

Grace and peace be unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. “ From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force .” Jesus isn’t speaking of persecution or hostility toward the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven isn’t something that violent men can take by force as if it were an earthly kingdom or institution. The violence the kingdom suffered during the days of John and Jesus was the violence of faith. Faith hears the words of John and Jesus that sinners enter the kingdom of heaven by God’s grace through faith in Christ, and it rushes into the kingdom. The violent who took the kingdom of heaven by force are those who, hearing the gospel of the free forgiveness of sins, stormed the doors of the kingdom which they had previously thought were closed to all except those who fulfilled the Law. “ For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is ...

In the Name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force. This expression is different than what we are used to hearing about the Kingdom of God. Jesus isn’t saying that the kingdom suffers the violence of persecutions, crosses, and trials. Although that’s true, that isn’t what Christ speaks of in the Gospel lesson. Nor is Jesus saying that you can enter the kingdom by violence and physical force. That would go against the rest of Christ’s teaching. So what does He mean when He says the kingdom suffers violence and the violent take it by force? Perhaps a better way to translate Jesus’ words go like this: “ The Kingdom of Heaven advances forcefully and forceful men lay hold of it. ” That’s a bit better and it makes sense with how Jesus says it in Luke 16:16, “ The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. ” The ki...

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 1)         “ From the day s of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. ” These are difficult words. What does it mean that the kingdom suffers violence and the violent take it by force? Was there violence and persecution against the kingdom of heaven at the time when Jesus said this? There had been none up to that point. John was still alive, although imprisoned. Jesus had not yet been crucified, nor His apostles martyred because of their preaching. That would all come in due time. But at this point in the ministry of John and Jesus, violent men had not yet tried to lay hold of the kingdom of heaven. They would try. They would execute John, crucify Christ, and martyr the apostles. They would persecute the church, burn her books, and give Christians over to lions and other creative fates. But none of the...

Order of Holy Communion - Pg. 15 Hymn # 262 A Mighty Fortress is Our God Hymn # 260 O Lord, Look Down from Heaven, Behold Hymn # 292 Lord Jesus Christ, With Us Abide Introit - Pg. 84   Readings 2 Chronicles 29:12-19 Revelation 14:6-7 Matthew 11:12-15   Collect for the Festival of the Reformation O Lord God, Heavenly Father, pour out, we beseech Thee, Thy Holy Spirit upon Thy faithful people, keep them steadfast in Thy grace and truth, protect and comfort them in all temptations, defend them against all enemies of Thy Word, and bestow upon Christ’s Church Militant Thy saving peace; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.   Sermon on the Epistle Lesson Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 1)         The text for this morning’s sermon is the epistle text ...