St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, Slater, Missouri

The Lord tested Abraham already knowing how the patriarch would respond. He knew that He would need to stop Abraham from killing the child of promise with whom he had so recently been blessed. At first glance, the account is harsh enough for believers to handle and is apparent proof to unbelievers that we gather to worship a cruel, barbaric deity. But first glances are never complete and seldom correct. Knowing the powerful faith He’d created in Abraham allowed God both to ho...ld him up as an example of belief and to help us to realize the enormity of His sending His Son Jesus to fulfill His promises to Abraham and to bless all mankind. Abraham found out only three days before they reached the mountain in Moriah. Isaac discovered the truth only when his father took and bound him to the altar. But there was never a time when the Father didn’t know what He needed to do to save us, never an instant when the Son didn’t know what was coming. Yet the Father willingly sent the Son and the Son willingly took on our human flesh, suffering and dying that we might have life in Him. Preached on Genesis 22:118.

First Sunday in Lent service at 10:30 a.m. The sermon The Lamb will be on Genesis 22:118.First Sunday in Lent service at 10:30 a.m. The sermon The Lamb will be on Genesis 22:118.

Tomorrow's forecast is looking bad so no Ash Wednesday service or Bible study. Please be safe and warm.Tomorrow's forecast is looking bad so no Ash Wednesday service or Bible study. Please be safe and warm.

Awe-struck and confused, Peter didn’t know what to say on the Mount of Transfiguration and so began to babble. Believers today may worry about babbling when others show interest in their faith. But if you know the Scriptures and keep your eyes on Jesus, His Holy Spirit will bless you with all that you need to say. Preached on Mark 9:29.

Elisha didn’t want to loose his teacher but knew that Elijah’s time on earth was near its end. Twice, groups of prophets tried to discourage him from following Elijah to the end but he would hear nothing of it. As the hour grew closer, we discover that it wasn’t only affection that held Elisha to Elijah but also the desire to have the same prophetic spirit as his mentorand to have it two-fold. Elijah affirmed that Elisha would receive his desire if he stayed until the end, a...nd so he did. While we don’t normally have such a spectacular background to the blessing, we receive this same Holy Spirit through Baptism and God’s Word. We sometimes distinguish between the Prophetic Word and the Apostolic Word but in reality, there is only One Word: Jesus, the Word Made Flesh. Moses handed the mantle to Joshua, Elijah to Elisha, and Jesus to the Apostles. Lord continues hand down the call to proclaim from generation to generation, calling pastors, missionaries, and evangelists to proclaim Him and through them calling new generations to faith and salvation. Preached on 2 Kings 2:112.

Today I was installed as pastor of the Slater congregations, Peace and St. Paul's (Saline City). Fellow Pastors of the Concordia North and South Circuits were j...oined by other area clergy brothers, including former pastor Doug Dubisar, regular supply preacher Gene Stueve, district Vice President Brian Thieme, and Kim Scharff of Norborne and preacher Andy Etzler of Fayette, both of whom regularly trusted me to fill their pulpits when they wre out of town. Grandson Jared came with Stephanie and me, playing trumpet in St. Paul's morning service and during the installation that evening. See more

Ladies Aid meets Thursday 2 p.m. in the Parish HallLadies Aid meets Thursday 2 p.m. in the Parish Hall

Evening Bible Study 6:30 tonight: Starting w/Genesis 45 as Joseph reveals himself to his brothers.Evening Bible Study 6:30 tonight: Starting w/Genesis 45 as Joseph reveals himself to his brothers.

Even as Jesus proclaimed these blessings to His disciples, He was also embodying them in all He said and did. Truly, He who is eternally blessed is also the only one who fulfilled all the conditions for blessedness. Yet instead of holding the blessings to Himself, He offers them freely to all who believe in Him. MP3 audio in comments

John, who knew Jesus perhaps better than anyone on earth, still didn’t know what Jesus was like in glory. Nor did he know what we will be like in the Resurrection. Yet the Spirit inspired him to tell us that when we are raised to eternal life, we will find ourselves like Him to the core of our beings. If you'd rather listen, there's a link to the MP3 audio in the comments.