Easter 4A Sermon: Open Door Policy

Preached on John 10:1–10
The Fourth Sunday of Easter — The Good Shepherd
A Spoken Order of Morning Prayer (LSB 235)
3 May AD 2020

Video: Click to view the YouTube video of Open Door Policy. Morning Prayer from the Lutheran Service Book begins with the Verse (235), the Psalmody (LSB 235–237) with the Venite and Psalm 148, and the Readings with Responses (LSB 238). The sermon starts at the 6:45 mark. The service concludes with the Benedictus (LSB 238–240), Collect of the Day, Prayer of the Church, Collect for Grace (LSB 241), Lord’s Prayer, Benedicamus (LSB 241), and Benediction (LSB 242).

Summary: When we come to our heavenly Father through Jesus, we will never find the door shut in our faces. Jesus opened our access that we might approach God in faith while we live on earth. He is also the door through which we’ll travel when we enter eternal life.

Text: [Jesus said,] “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens.

“The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:1–10

Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Video: Click to view the YouTube video of Open Door Policy. Sermon begins at the 6:45 mark.

Other Readings: Psalm 23; Acts 2:42–47; 1 Peter 2:19–25

Easter 4A Sermon: The Sheep Hear His Voice

Preached on John 10:1-10
The Fourth Sunday of Easter, Series A
Good Shepherd Sunday
6 May AD 2017

Title: The Sheep Hear His Voice (MP3 Audio)

Summary: Clear communication isn’t always easy. Hearing difficulties, speaking troubles, background noises, and various distractions stand in the way. And in the case of hearing Jesus, Satan and false teachers pretend to be using our Lord’s voice when actually speaking lies.

However, Jesus says that His sheep will hear and follow. Amidst this world’s distractions, and even though He has ascended into heaven, we hear our Good Shepherd’s voice through the voices of faithful pastors who preach, teach, absolve, baptize, and commune us according to His Word.

It matters not the language, the dialect, or the accent, for His voice speaks throughout the world. He tells us that He loves us, that He died and rose for us, that He forgives all of our sins, and that He calls pastors to continue as His voice across the earth. Through them, Christ speaks His absolution, names and claims new sheep through Baptism, and calls them to eat and drink His body and blood in Holy Communion.

Text: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

“When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:1-10

Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Audio: Click to hear the MP3 of The Sheep Hear His Voice.

NB: For some reason, a few people have had problems trying to play the inline audio if Windows Media is their default MP3 player. If this occurs, you can either change to QuickTime or another default browser player, copy and paste the link directly into a selected player, or download it to your computer, where it seems to work regardless of which player. Several folks have suggested VLC Player from VideoLAN.

Other Readings: Psalm 23; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Peter 2:19-25

Funeral Sermon: Knowing and Known

Preached on John 10:14-15
The Funeral of Melba Corinne Amos Strothmann
1 April AD 2016

Title: Knowing and Known (MP3 Audio)

Summary: Our Lord Jesus shepherds us throughout this life and into life eternal. He speaks forgiveness and new life. His voice never speaks falsehood; His directions never mislead us.

The Good Shepherd guides us every step of our pilgrimage through this life. He defends us against sin and Satan and calls us back when we follow the wrong voice and end up lost and alone.

Jesus knows us and we Him. He knows us throughout our lives and in our deaths. We know Him now in Word and Sacrament and trust that — even if dead and buried — we will hear His call to rise up and know Him face-to-face throughout life everlasting.

Text: [Jesus said,] “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15

Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Audio: Click to hear the MP3 of Knowing and Known

NB: A few people have had problems trying to play the inline audio with Windows Media Player. If this occurs, you can either change to QuickTime or another default browser player, copy and paste the link directly into a selected player, or download it to your computer, where it seems to work regardless of which player. Several folks have suggested VLC Player from VideoLAN.

Other Readings: Psalm 23; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 10:1-18