THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT
December 7, 2025
Pastor Tom Steers
Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto
Our Opening Hymn is: 347 “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People”
... View MoreTHE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT
December 7, 2025
Pastor Tom Steers
Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto
Our Opening Hymn is: 347 “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtRETJ5j5N8&list=RDRtRETJ5j5N8&start_radio=1
Confession and Absolution Page 184-185
The Introit –
Psalm 105:4-8; antiphon: Isaiah 40:3b
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!
5 Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
6 O offspring of Abraham, his servant,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones! 7 He is the Lord our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.
8 He remembers his covenant forever,
the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations. Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen. In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy) Lord have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us.
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
Congregation: And with thy Spirit.
Our Collect Prayer –
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with purified minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Our Bible Readings:
Old Testament: Isaiah 11:1-10 Psalm 72:1-7; antiphon verse 18 Epistle Reading: Romans 15:4-13 Gospel Reading: Matthew 3:1-12
THE NICENE CREED Page 191
HYMN OF THE DAY: 344 “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb-P06QxCpY&list=RDFb-P06QxCpY&start_radio=1
THE SERMON –
Brothers and sisters, peace, grace, and mercy be to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Advent is a season defined by longing.
Before we rejoice with the angels of Bethlehem, before we remember the star shining in the East, the Church enters into the ancient anticipation of God’s promised redemption.
It’s a season that calls us to lift our eyes above the problems and distractions of this life, and listen for a voice that speaks from beyond our schedules and anxieties.
Today, in the Gospel passage, that voice comes from the wilderness.
It’s not a polished one from the temple courts.
It’s not the voice of pop culture or political correctness.
It’s “the voice of one crying in the wilderness.”
A hard, sharp voice that cuts through centuries of silence with a message both simple and earth-shaking: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
John the Baptist stands as the final prophet of the Old Testament and the herald of the New.
His clothing is rough.
His diet is simple.
His message is uncompromising.
He’s a preacher who does not soothe, but awakens.
He exposes sin so that sinners might be healed.
He prepares the way for a kingdom that cannot be bought, inherited, or earned—only received by grace through faith.
John’s call to repentance is the necessary work of God’s Law.
It is the divine plow that breaks the hardened soil of our hearts so the seed of the Gospel can take root.
It is the hammer of God knocking at our door.
And yet, repentance isn’t despair, but preparation.
It is God’s way of making room for the mercy of Christ.
The people of John’s day needed this message.
And so do we.
John is speaking to His generation, and ours.
For while the trappings of modern life differ from ancient Judea, the human heart hasn’t changed.
We still cling to self-righteousness.
We still justify our sins.
We still barter with God as if our lineage, our habits, our ‘good works,’ could secure His favour.
John’s preaching destroys those illusions.
“Bear fruit in keeping with repentance,” he says.
Don’t rely on the fact that you’re children of Abraham.
Don’t rest on yourselves.
The Lord desires hearts that are humbled, contrite, and ready to receive the Saviour who stands among us.
John preached this message because the Messiah foretold by the prophets was drawing near.
Isaiah had spoken of Him centuries before: “A shoot shall come forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.”
Those words were spoken to a nation cut down—politically, spiritually, morally.
Like a tree reduced to a stump, Israel seemed finished.
But the Lord is never abandoned His promises.
From what looked dead, He brought forth life.
From the line of David, He delivered a King.
From a humble virgin, came the Saviour.
This King will not judge by appearances.
He won’t be swayed by wealth or status.
He rules with righteousness, defends the weak, strikes the wicked, and brings an everlasting peace.
John’s ministry says, “He is here. The Messiah has come.”
But even as John announces this hope, he forewarns of judgment.
“The axe,” he says, “is laid at the root of the trees.”
This isn’t a threat, it is truth.
Every tree that refuses the life offered by Christ will be cut down.
Every stubborn heart that will not repent and believe will face the righteous judgment of God.
God is patient, but His patience isn’t indifference.
His mercy is abundant, but it isn’t permission to continue in unbelief.
The One who comes with salvation also comes with a winnowing fork in His hand.
These images are unsettling, but they are holy.
They remind us that God’s kingdom isn't a sentimental idea.
It is the reign of the crucified and risen Lord who will set all things right.
For those who cling to Him in faith, this judgment is pure hope.
It is the end of evil, the end of tears, of sin.
For those who reject Him, it is loss.
The Apostle Paul, in Romans 15, draws our hearts back to the promises that sustain God’s people.
“Whatever was written in former days,” he says, “was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
Hope is not wishful thinking.
Hope is grounded in the unchanging promises of God.
Hope is rooted in Christ.
Paul prays that the God of hope would fill the Church “with all joy and peace in believing.”
Not in achieving.
Not in proving.
Not in comparing ourselves with others.
But in believing—in trusting Christ who fulfills all righteousness for us.
Advent is a season that refocuses us on that hope, that draws us out of ourselves and fixes our eyes on the Savior who has come, is with us now through the Church, and will come again.
As Advent people, we live between the “already” and the “not yet.”
Christ has already come in the flesh, borne our sins, died our death, and risen in victory.
He’s already poured out the Holy Spirit and brought us into His Church through baptism.
He already feeds us with His Word and His very body and blood.
But the day of His visible return has not yet come.
So we live in repentance and hope.
And as Martin Luther wrote, contrition is not a one-time event but the daily life of the Christian.
It means acknowledging our sin, trusting in Christ’s forgiveness, and walking in the new life He gives.
It means bearing fruit—not to earn salvation, but because salvation is already ours in Jesus.
It means living as those who know the King is near.
This hope shapes how we speak, how we forgive, how we endure suffering, and how we encourage one another.
Hope fills the lives of Christians with the reassurance of the Gospel.
It helps us lift our eyes beyond the brokenness of this world to the joy that awaits.
John’s message prepares us for Jesus.
Christ’s cross grants us forgiveness.
And the Spirit works faith in our Redeemer within our hearts.
So, in this holy season, hear the voice crying in the wilderness.
Repent.
Believe.
Lift up your hearts.
For the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The King is near.
And He comes with mercy for sinners, with hope for the weary, and with life that has no end.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT Page 194 Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) Page 195 The Lord’s Prayer Page 196 Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) Page 198 Post-Communion Collect (Right-hand column) Page 201
OUR CLOSING HYMN: 354 “Arise, O Christian People”
THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT
November 30, 2025
Pastor Tom Steers
Chrit the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto
Our Opening Hymn is: 331 “The Advent of Our King”
... View MoreTHE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT
November 30, 2025
Pastor Tom Steers
Chrit the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto
Our Opening Hymn is: 331 “The Advent of Our King”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFXEzRV8pU0...
Confession and Absolution Page 184-185
The Introit – Psalm 25:4–5, 21–22; Ps 25:1–3a
To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame. Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame.
Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy)
Lord have mercy upon us.
Christ have mercy upon us.
Lord have mercy upon us.
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
Congregation: And with thy Spirit.
Our Collect Prayer – Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Our Bible Readings:
Old Testament Jeremiah 23:5-8 Psalm 24 Epistle Reading Romans 13:8-14 Gospel Reading Matthew 21:1-9
THE APOSTLES’ CREED Page 192
HYMN OF THE DAY: 332 “Savior of the Nations, Come”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKO-C5NTNvA...
THE SERMON -- “Lift your heads, our King is Coming”
Brothers and sisters, peace, grace, and mercy be to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Advent begins not with sentimentality, shepherds, or stars, but with a royal procession.
A King approaches His city.
A crowd gathers.
The air is electric with expectation, hope, but also misunderstanding.
Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling Zechariah’s prophecy, presenting Himself openly as the promised Messiah.
This is how the new Church year begins—by remembering that Christ has come in humility, continues to come in His means of grace, and will come again in glory.
The Gospel reading from Matthew 21 may strike us as more fitting for Palm Sunday, and, in a way, it is.
Yet the lectionary places it here on this First Sunday of Advent because the season is not only preparation for Christmas.
Advent is preparation for Christ.
His incarnation in the flesh.
His coming in Word and Sacrament.
And His final return to judge the living and the dead.
In childhood, we can’t wait for Christmas, for the presents, the treats, but Holy Scripture calls us to tap the brakes on the celebration to pause and consider why Christ came.
To reflect on His grace, His sacrifice, and our absolute need.
So, the Church calls us not to nostalgia, but to vigilance, repentance, and hope.
Matthew tells us that as Jesus approached Jerusalem, He sent two of His disciples into a nearby village to retrieve a donkey and her colt.
He gives precise instructions.
And everything unfolds exactly as He says.
This isn’t improvisation, or a spontaneous parade.
It is divine purpose.
Jesus is making His entrance as the true Heavenly King – yes, the Son of David, but also the righteous Branch promise in the Old Testament.
Jeremiah 23 speaks directly to the moment:
“The days are coming,”
declares the Lord,
when I will raise up
for David a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign
wisely and do
what is just and right in the land.”
Israel had a long history of kings who failed — leaders who led people into idolatry, injustice, and ruin.
But God promised a King like no other.
One who would save, would shepherd.
A Sovereign who would gather His scattered flock.
And in Matthew 21, that King arrives.
But He doesn’t come with chariots, war horses, and an army.
He arrives with a borrowed donkey, accompanied by fishermen and common people.
His royal procession is marked not by earthly grandeur, but divine humility.
He is a King who conquers not by force, but by sacrifice.
A King who is crowned with thorns and reigns from the cross.
Psalm 24 asks, “Who is this King of glory?”
And the answer is both majestic and mysterious:
“The Lord, strong and mighty… the Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.”
Christ approaches His temple.
The gates are called to lift up their heads.
Not because the King is small, but because He is great.
In holiness.
In mercy.
Great and ready for the mission He’s come to fulfill.
But the crowds that day didn’t grasp the nature of His kingship.
They cry out, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Hosanna”—is a prayer that means, “Save us now.”
They longed for salvation, but didn’t understand the kind of healing He came to bring.
They wanted liberation from Rome.
Yet, Christ came to bring forgiveness of sin.
They sought a political kingdom.
But Christ came to establish an eternal kingdom and liberation from death and the devil.
So, Advent confronts us with necessary questions:
Do we desire the King as He truly is?
Or do we prefer a king of our own making?
These questions are critical, because Romans 13 reminds us that “the night is far gone; the day is at hand.”
Paul calls the Church to wake from sleep, and put on the armor of light.
Advent isn’t passive waiting.
It’s active preparation.
The laying aside of things we would rather keep hidden.
It is receiving the One who came to save us from ourselves.
Paul writes, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh.”
This is Advent language.
A life marked by Baptismal repentance.
It is the life of faith lived in the certain hope of Christ’s appearing.
To “put on Christ” is to cling to Him as the One who justifies us by His blood.
It is the identity He gives us —children of light, forgiven sinners.
A redeemed people awaiting the final revelation of Christ’s victory on the Last Day.
When Jesus enters Jerusalem, the whole city is buzzing, asking, “Who is this?”
Today, the world still asks the same question.
Some see Him as a moral teacher.
Others as a spiritual guide.
Some fear Him as a threat to their sinful autonomy.
Only faith sees Him as He reveals Himself — the Lamb of God, the Savior of sinners, the Righteous King whose kingdom is not of this world.
Advent sharpens our vision.
It teaches us to see Christ as Redeemer.
To realize our need clearly and understand the world’s desperate condition.
It reminds us that the King who comes in humility will come again in glory.
To judge.
Rescue.
To make all things new.
And until that day, He comes to us now.
Present in His Word, that creates and sustains faith.
In Holy Baptism, in which He saves us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
In His Supper, where He gives us His true body and blood for the forgiveness of sins, just as He said.
He comes where His Gospel is rightly proclaimed.
And all of this because He is Emmanuel — God with us.
So, as we enter this holy season, we echo the cry of the Palm Sunday crowd,
but with a deeper understanding.
With Christian faith.
Hosanna. Save us, Lord.
Save us from sin’s bondage.
From our pride, apathy, our fear.
And save us for Yourself.
For the King who came riding in humility will come again in glory.
The King who once wore thorns will wear a crown.
The One who hung upon a cross will reign forever to give us eternal life.
This is our hope and confidence.
The real promise of Advent.
Brothers and sisters, lift up your heads.
Your King is coming.
And blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT Page 194
Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) Page 195
The Lord’s Prayer Page 196
Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) Page 198
Post-Communion Collect (Left-hand column) Page 201
CLOSING HYMN: 343 “Prepare the Royal Highway”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD-fmRA196Q...
Gracious God, sustain and comfort the family and loved ones of National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, who gave her life in service to others, and heal Guardsman Andrew Wolfe of his wounds.
Lord, in ... View MoreGracious God, sustain and comfort the family and loved ones of National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, who gave her life in service to others, and heal Guardsman Andrew Wolfe of his wounds.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.
Pastor Tom Steers,
Christ the Savior Lutheran Church
Our payers tonight are with the two National Guard members who were wounded in today’s evil attack.
May God heal and restore them and comfort their loved ones, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Pastor T... View MoreOur payers tonight are with the two National Guard members who were wounded in today’s evil attack.
May God heal and restore them and comfort their loved ones, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Pastor Tom Steers
Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church
THE LAST SUNDAY OF THE CHURCH YEAR
November 23, 2025
Pastor Tom Steers
Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto
Our Opening Hymn is: 818 “In Thee Is Gladness”
... View MoreTHE LAST SUNDAY OF THE CHURCH YEAR
November 23, 2025
Pastor Tom Steers
Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto
Our Opening Hymn is: 818 “In Thee Is Gladness”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxROcKwgEUo&list=RDjxROcKwgEUo&start_radio=1
Lutheran Service Book
Confession and Absolution Page 184-185
The Introit – Psalm 98:1-3; antiphon Ps. 124:8
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy)
Lord have mercy upon us.
Christ have mercy upon us.
Lord have mercy upon us.
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
Congregation: And with thy Spirit.
Our Collect Prayer–
Eternal God, we commit to Your mercy and forgiveness the Church Year now ending and commend to Your blessing and love the times yet to come. In this new year, abide among us with Your Holy Spirit that we may always trust in the saving name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Our Bible Readings –
Old Testament Reading Habakkuk 1:1-13; 2:1-4 Psalm 130 Epistle Reading Revelation 22:6-13 Gospel Reading Luke 12:35-40
THE APOSTLES’ CREED Page 192
HYMN OF THE DAY: 861 “Christ Be My Leader”
THE SERMON – “Stay Awake, the Master Is Coming”
Brothers and sisters, peace, grace, and mercy be to you from God our Father and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Advent is near, but before we turn to Bethlehem, Christ bids us to be ready for His return.
As the Church concludes, we turn our attention to the Last Things, the end of time.
Our Bible texts remind us that history is not wandering aimlessly.
Christ is coming in glory.
The Bridegroom is near.
And His people are called to watchfulness.
Luke 12:35–40 is a brief but sharp text; it carries the hope of eternity.
“Be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast.”
There is expectation here.
Anticipation.
Readiness.
Jesus describes believers not as anxious or fearful servants, but those who stand ready because they have faith in the Master.
They trust Him.
Look to Him.
Long for Him.
But watchfulness is difficult when the world seems dark.
And this is exactly what our other readings address.
Habakkuk cries out, “O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and You will not hear?”
The prophet sees violence, injustice, and trouble.
He lives in a world that seems to be growing colder, more chaotic, more confused.
And he stands on the watchtower waiting for an answer.
Psalm 130 describes a similar pain: “Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD.”
The depths—those places where we feel buried under grief, guilt, or uncertainty.
Sometimes, the depth is the fear that the Lord has delayed too long.
At times, it’s the weariness of watching and not yet seeing.
It can be the ache of waiting for vindication while the world mocks the very notion of Christ’s return.
And yet, from the watchtower and the depths comes reassurance.
Habakkuk hears the Lord proclaim, “The righteous shall live by his faith.”
The psalmist writes, “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I hope.”
Revelation 22 rings out with the voice of Jesus Himself: “Behold, I am coming soon.”
Faith.
Hope.
Watchfulness.
Not wishful thinking, but trust anchored in the recorded Biblical promises of God.
Trust rooted in the cross of Christ.
The same Lord, who will come to judge the living and the dead, has already given Himself to redeem us.
Trust knows the returning Master is the same One who bore our sins at Calvary.
Our Gospel reading tells us that watchfulness is actually a mark of the Christian life.
Jesus says, “Stay awake, for you do not know the hour.”
This isn’t a threat.
It’s an invitation to live with clear eyes and open hearts.
A reminder that we live between the “now” of Christ’s finished redemption and the “not yet” of His final revealing.
Staying awake means living by faith.
We keep the lamp of faith burning with the oil of God’s Word and Sacraments.
We live as those who know that everything in this world that dazzles, distracts, frightens, or tempts—is temporary.
The Master is coming.
The Bridegroom draws near.
But notice something amazing in Jesus’ parable.
The servants wait for the master.
They listen for his steps.
They keep the lights burning.
And when he arrives—he serves them.
Here's the great reversal: the Master becomes the Servant.
Christ, who once washed the disciples’ feet, will again serve His faithful at the eternal feast.
The reward of watchfulness isn’t just relief, but the joy of communion with Christ.
What kind of master does this?
Only one.
The Son of Man who gave His life as a ransom.
He is the Judge who comes suddenly.
But also, the Servant who girds Himself to serve His people.
He gathers His servants to the feast and clothes them in His glory.
So, salvation rests not in our merits, but in His mercy.
In preparing for the Last Day, Jesus doesn’t say, “Panic.”
But, “Watch.”
He doesn’t insist we earn His return.
He counsels, “Trust Me.”
He doesn’t shout, “Prepare yourself by your own strength.”
He says, “Stay dressed for action”—that is, remain clothed in the righteousness He freely gives.
Yet, Jesus also warns.
“If the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.”
Christ’s return will be sudden.
Unexpected.
Yet, it will be a surprise only to those who aren’t listening.
Believers, however, live with eyes open.
Not in dread, but hope.
Because our trust is grounded in the promises of the One who cannot lie.
Revelation 22 proclaims that Christ is “the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.”
He began the story.
He will end it.
And He will bring His people safely through.
So, what does watchfulness look like for us?
It looks like repentance.
To be awake is to live daily in the reality that we are sinners—yet forgiven sinners.
We watch by confessing, turning from sin, and clinging to the mercy of Christ.
It looks like prayer.
Calling on the Lord in every trouble with the assurance that He hears, answers, and that His timing is perfect.
Watchfulness looks like endurance.
“The righteous shall live by faith.”
Not by sight.
Not by the apparent triumphs or failures of this world.
Faith endures because Christ sustains it through His Word found in His true Church.
It looks like hope.
Hope shaped by the cross.
Strengthened by the Lord’s Supper.
Hope keeps the lamp burning even in the darkest hour.
And it looks like love.
Christ’s Second Coming doesn’t turn us inward, but outward.
Empowered by His Holy Spirit, we reflect the light of Christ to others.
The Last Sunday of the Church Year isn’t meant to frighten Christians.
But to lift our eyes from the anxieties of this age, to the eternal faithfulness of God.
The One who came in humility will come again in glory.
The One who speaks His Word will declare the final verdict over all creation.
The One who died will raise believers to eternal life.
And so, watch, wait, pray, and trust.
With God’s people throughout the ages, we say, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT Page 194 Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) Page 195 The Lord’s Prayer Page 196 Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) Page 198 Post-Communion Collect (Left-hand column) Page 201
CLOSING HYMN: 917 “Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise”
THE TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
November 16, 2025
Pastor Tom Steers
Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church
Our Opening Hymn is: 791 “All People That on Earth Do Dwell”
... View MoreTHE TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
November 16, 2025
Pastor Tom Steers
Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church
Our Opening Hymn is: 791 “All People That on Earth Do Dwell”
Lutheran Service Book
Confession and Absolution Page 184-185
The Introit
Psalm 121:1-2, 5, 7-8; antiphon: Luke 21:33
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth. The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out
and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy)
Lord have mercy upon us.
Christ have mercy upon us.
Lord have mercy upon us.
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
Congregation: And with thy Spirit.
Our Collect Prayer – (Please stand)
O Lord, almighty and ever-living God, You have given exceedingly great and precious promises to those who trust in You.
Rule and govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that we may live and abide forever in Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Our Bible Readings:
Old Testament – Malachi 4:1-6
Psalm 98
Epistle Reading – 2nd Thessalonians 3:6-13
Gospel Reading – Luke 21:5-36
THE NICENE CREED Page 191
HYMN OF THE DAY: 508 “The Day Is Surely Drawing Near”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJcXREt1nwM&list=RDcJcXREt1nwM&start_radio=1
THE SERMON –
“Christ’s Word Endures Forever”
There are times when the glitter of this world can take our attention away from the eternal to what’s merely passing.
The disciples were amazed by the temple.
The stones were massive, seemingly permanent.
It was magnificent, as our own monuments of wealth and power appear today.
Yet Jesus delivers a prophecy: “The days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
He unfolds a narrative that stretches from the destruction of the temple to Jerusalem, and to the end of this world.
Christ describes a journey from tribulation to redemption, from fear to hope.
This text isn’t meant to terrify believers, but to anchor us in our Lord.
Our Saviour has replaced the temple as the place where God dwells.
His Word endures when all else fails.
His Church has become the meeting place of true believers.
When the disciples were overcome by worldly majesty, Christ reminds them that even the most impressive human achievements are temporary.
The prophecy was fulfilled.
In A.D. 70, Roman armies leveled Jerusalem.
Nations rise and fall.
Buildings crumble.
Jesus warns of wars, earthquakes, and famines which continue through these end times we live in until His return.
Yet these aren’t signs of God’s absence, but reminders that creation itself groans under sin.
They’re “birth pains” pointing to a new creation – Heaven.
The prophet Malachi described this: “The day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and evildoers will be stubble.” (Malachi 4:1).
The proud structures of human achievement can’t endure the Final Judgment.
For us, this means ordering our spiritual priorities through the lens of faith in our Redeemer.
Think of how easily we’re impressed by what seems permanent: financial security, political power, social status.
Yet all these things are transitory.
Wars rage.
Economies collapse.
But Christ’s Word endures.
Jesus then shifts from cosmic signs to personal trials.
The disciples will face persecution, betrayal, even hatred for His name.
But He promises: “I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.”
The Apostles suffered imprisonment and trials.
All of them would be martyred, except John, who spent long, difficult years in prison.
Yet Christ sustains their bold witness even to this day through His Church.
Jesus promised: “Not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.” (vv. 18–19).
This isn’t a guarantee of earthly safety, but of eternal preservation.
Our soul is only secure in Him.
Then comes the prophecy of Jerusalem’s fall (vv. 20–24).
Yet beyond temporal judgment is blessed assurance from Christ: “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” (v. 27).
Here is the ultimate Christian hope.
When the world trembles, when fear grips us, Christ comes not to destroy but to redeem and rescue His people.
He reassures: “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (v. 28).
The believer’s posture isn’t terror, but trust in Christ.
Psalm 98 repeats the promise: “The Lord comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.” (Psalm 98:9).
For the Christian, Judgment isn’t dread, but joy—because Christ is our righteousness.
When you see the world unraveling—whether through conflict or personal hardship—remember this: Jesus hasn’t abandoned His faithful.
He’s drawing near.
These signs of collapse aren’t the end of hope.
They are the prelude to restoration.
Jesus concludes with the parable of the fig tree.
Just as budding leaves reveal summer, so the signs He describes point to the nearness of God’s eternal kingdom.
Here is true certainty: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (v. 33).
Everything visible may disappear, but God’s promises endure.
Jesus warns: “Watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life.” (v. 34).
The danger is not only persecution but complacency with sin.
It was true then, and true today.
So Christ exhorts us: “Stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things and to stand before the Son of Man.” (v. 36).
This is the pastoral core of our text.
Jesus doesn’t leave His disciples in despair, but calls them—and us—to ask for strength, found only in, and through, Him.
To remain rooted to our Saviour in prayer.
Watchfulness is not anxious speculation about dates and signs.
It’s faithful readiness, living in repentance and hope.
We’re called not to use the daily headlines as a Ouija board to calculate when the end will come.
Christ said no one knows that but the Father.
We’re commissioned to be part of His Church, the Body of Christ.
Paul echoes this in Second Thessalonians: “Do not grow weary in doing good.” (2 Thess. 3:13).
The Christian life isn’t folding our hands in fear, but active faithfulness—prayer, endurance, and love until Christ returns.
How do we watch?
Workers labour honestly.
Congregations gather each Sunday around Word and Sacrament, where Christ is present today in His true Church exactly as He promised.
We remain in His Word preached correctly, and in the living spiritual reality of Absolution, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper.
We ‘watch’ when we show Christian love, serving one another and the neighbour.
This is living in Christ’s forgiveness, ready for His return.
The heart of today’s Gospel isn’t destruction, but redemption.
Yet redemption isn’t our escape plan, but Christ Himself.
He endured the cross, so we could be forgiven.
And the resurrection is our assurance that His Good News remains true.
The end of the age isn’t a threat to believers, but the unveiling of salvation.
This is why Malachi writes: “For you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.” (Malachi 4:2).
That “sun” is Christ.
And in this time before Advent, we look to that approaching light.
Luke, Chapter 21, isn’t a code to be cracked, but a promise to be trusted.
This world will pass away, but Christ’s Gospel endures.
So, remain in His Word, in His Church, and faithfully await the day when Christ comes again in glory.
Then our rescue will be complete, every tear wiped away, and we can stand in joy before the crucified and risen Saviour clothed in His righteousness.
Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT Page 194 Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) Page 195 The Lord’s Prayer Page 196 Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) Page 198 Post-Communion Collect (Right-hand column) Page 201
Our Closing Hymn is: 733 “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”
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