Sermons from the Divine Service

This sermon was delivered by Pastor Akers at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection on April 27, 2025.

The Wounds of Christ Give Us Life. “For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood” (1 John 5:7). These three point to Christ and flow from Christ. Jesus shows His disciples His hands side, from which blood and water flowed, saying “Peace be with you.” He presents the wounds which turn our fear to gladness an...

This sermon was delivered by Pastor Akers at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection on April 20, 2025.

Christ’s Resurrection Means That We Will One Day Be Raised. “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). By the shed blood of Christ, the Lamb of God, eternal death has passed over us. Now we pass with Christ through death into life everlasting. For Christ the crucified One is risen! The stone has been rolled ...

This sermon was delivered by Pastor Akers at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection on April 19, 2025.

The Vigil of Easter is celebrated at the end of Holy Saturday as the conclusion of the Triduum Sacrum (three days of prayer). It ushers in the celebration of the Resurrection of Our Lord on Easter Sunday. The Vigil of Easter connects the days of Holy Week, especially Holy Thursday and Good Friday, with the culminating celebration of t...

This sermon was delivered by Pastor Akers at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection on April 18, 2025.

Christ is our Passover Lamb. Just prior to the Exodus from Egypt, the Lord instructed the Israelites to sacrifice a spotless Passover Lamb: “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year” (Exodus 12:5). So it is that our spotless, sinless Lamb was led to be sacrificed for us: “Jesus, bearing His cross, went out to a pla...

This sermon was delivered by Pastor Akers at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection on April 18, 2025.

Christ is our Passover Lamb. Just prior to the Exodus from Egypt, the Lord instructed the Israelites to sacrifice a spotless Passover Lamb: “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year” (Exodus 12:5). So it is that our spotless, sinless Lamb was led to be sacrificed for us: “Jesus, bearing His cross, went out to a pla...

This sermon was delivered by Pastor Akers at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection on April 17, 2025.

Let Us Love One Another, as Christ Jesus Has Loved Us. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). By eating His Body and drinking His Blood, we proclaim to all the world that Jesus is, indeed, our Passover Lamb, who was sacrificed for us on Calvary. In Ch...

This sermon was delivered by Pastor Akers at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection on April 13, 2025.

The Cross and Passion of Our Lord Are the Hour of His Glory. “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:29–40). To fulfill Scripture, our Lord rides into Jerusalem on a humble donkey so that He might die upon the cross (Zechariah). His kingly crown will not be made of gold but of thorns, the sign of sin’s curse....

This sermon was delivered by Pastor Akers at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection on April 6, 2025.

Jesus Is Our Redemption. In the temple Jesus said, “If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death” (John 8:51). For Jesus came to taste death for us—to drink the cup of suffering to the dregs in order that we might be released from its power. Clinging to His life-giving words, we are delivered from death’s sting and its eternal judg...

This sermon was delivered by Pastor Akers at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection on March 30, 2025.

The Lord Feeds His People. The Lord provided bread from heaven for His people in the wilderness (Exodus 16:2–21). Now He who is Himself the living bread from heaven miraculously provides bread for the five thousand (John 6:1–15). This takes place near the time of the Passover, after a great multitude had followed Jesus across the sea,...

This sermon was delivered by Pastor Akers at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection on March 23, 2025.

Jesus Overcomes the Strong Man. Our Lord Jesus is accused of doing evil when in fact He is doing good. He casts out a demon from a mute man so that he is able to speak (Luke 11:14–28). But some said Jesus did this by the power of Beelzebub, Satan. Like Pharaoh of old, their hearts were hard (Exodus 8:16–24). They did not recognize the...

This sermon was delivered by Pastor Akers at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection on March 16, 2025.

Holding God to His Word. Jacob wrestled with God; he would not let Him go until he received a blessing from Him (Genesis 32:22–32). So it was with the Canaanite woman. Though Jesus seemed to ignore and reject her, she continued to call upon His name and look to Him for help (Matthew 15:21–28). Even when the Lord called her a little do...