Concordia Sermons

Weekly sermons from Concordia Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX.

Hope When…You’re Depressed Ruth 1:1-5, 8a, 16 Naomi is a depressed woman. Throughout the book of Ruth, she blames God for her heartache and hardship. She says, “The hand of the LORD has gone out against me” (Ruth 1:13). And yet, the hand of the LORD is not against Naomi. For through the faithfulness of her daughter-in-law, Ruth, God works to restore the fortunes of Naomi. God can restore us out of depression and despair as well! On Mother’s Day, we also remember how we are called to honor our mothers even as Ruth honors Naomi.

Hope When…Your Children Rebel 1 Samuel 2:22-26 Eli has wicked and rebellious sons. The disobey God’s commands and even abuse women. When Eli tries to talk to them, his efforts prove feeble and futile. His sons do not listen to him. However, there is another young man in this story named Samuel who will eventually become the greatest prophet in all Israel. Eli may have lost his biological sons but he finds a son from God in Samuel. We too have a Son from God in Jesus. When our children rebel, we can give thanks that God’s Son never rebelled, but fulfilled the will of His Father perfectly. And His perfection covers over our children’s rebellion and over our rebellion as well.

Hope When…You’re Estranged 1 Samuel 18:9-14, 21, 31-33 David and his son Absalom are not on good terms. Indeed, one time David says of Absalom, “He must not see my face” (2 Samuel 14:24). This estrangement continues until finally, Absalom is killed in battle. It is only then that David realizes how futile his estrangement from his son has been. When sin estranged us from God, He did not allow that estrangement to remain. Rather, He sent Jesus and deal with us a loving father deals with his son – firmly, but compassionately.

Hope When…You’re Stretched Too Thin Exodus 18:13-18, 21-23 Have you ever felt overwhelmed? Moses knows how you feel! He took on too much. Blessedly, his father-in-law encouraged him to delegate his tasks. One of the great spiritual dangers of our world is the danger of having too much to do and not enough time for what – and who – matters most. Do you delegate what you need to delegate so that you have time for your family and for God?

Hope When…You’re Caught In Blame Genesis 3:1-13 “My wife tricked me!” At least, that’s Adam’s excuse when God questions Adam as to why he broke God’s command. Adam blames his wife for his sin. He tries to pass the buck. How often do we try to blame others for our faults and pass the buck of our foibles to others? The blame game destroys relationships and families. Thankfully, we have someone who took the blame our sins deserved and died the death we should have died – Jesus Christ. Rather than playing the blame game, Christ removes our blame of sin.

Hope When…It All Falls Apart Luke 24:1-6a When the women go to the tomb on the first Easter, they must have felt as if their whole world had crumbled out from underneath them. The Man they had worshipped, followed, and put their trust in was now dead…or so they thought. But on Easter, when they arrive at the tomb, they find hope in what they don’t find. They don’t find Jesus – because He has risen! As we begin this series, we will discover how the risen Christ can offer hope to us – and to our families – just He offered hope to these women on that first Easter morning.