Sermon for 11/1/26:
Our Gospel reading for this Sunday is from the 5th chapter of St. Matthew’s account: The Beatitudes. The passage is a beautiful blend of Law and Gospel centered upon the reconciling work of Christ. We must keep this as our guiding light to understand what Jesus is saying. Unfortunately, many groups that deny many of the central tenants of the Faith–the atonement, the resurrection, the sinfulness of humanity, the uniqueness of Christ, etc.–incorrectly apply these according to the “bare meaning” of the words and universalize them to encompass all mankind. Sadly, this robs them of their salvific message: Jesus is speaking of sinners who share St. Peter’s confessions, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and, “There is no other name under heaven by which men must be saved.” As we remember the saints who died in Christ before us, that’s the last thing we want to surrender..
The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 5th chapter:
Seeing the crowds, [Jesus] went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Announcements:
*Advent is fast approaching with “soup suppers” at 6 PM and an evening service at 7 PM starting Wednesday, December 2nd. Come and share a warm meal with us and feed your soul with the Word of God!
*Next Sunday, 11/8, is our Voters’ Assembly. Please make every effort to attend as we will be approving the budget and electing officers for the next year.
This Week’s Sign
This resource is not intended to discourage anyone from gathering in person around God’s Word and Sacraments. Matthew 18:20 and Hebrews 10:25 make it clear that God’s Divine Service is meant to be experienced physically with other Christians. To that end we invite you to join us for our current offerings of fellowship, study, and worship, and to stay tuned for additional opportunities:
*Family Bible Study at 9:00 AM on Sundays: We continue in our study of Titus. We will wrap up chapter two and begin chapter three next Sunday.
*Divine Service at 10:30 AM on Sundays: November 8th, 2026 is the 23rd Sunday after Trinity. Our Gospel reading is Matthew 22:15-22.
If you’re not within driving distance of Ferndale CA, we encourage you to use the Church Locator at LCMS.org to find a church near you so you can gather in person with the communion of saints in your area.
