Martin Luther's Evening Prayer
"An Unchanging Faith for Changing Lives" describes the message of God for us in the turmoil of the 21st Century. This faith is taught at St. John's Lutheran Church of Taylor, Michigan, and other congregations of the Lutheran church-Missouri Synod. Rev. Dr. Richard Zeile, Pastor at St. John's, applies the Word of God to our everyday experiences. God's LAW always accuses, but God's GOSPEL shows where grace can be found, through Jesus Christ who died for our sin, but rose that we may have eternal life.
Episodes
433 episodes
Matthew 21: The Prayer of Hosanna
In the historic lectionary, both Palm Sunday and the First Sunday in Advent have the Gospel Matthew 21:1-9. Dr. Zeile's message points out the meaning of the word Hosanna which calls upon God to "Save now!" and reflects on what we need to be sa...
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29:36
Isaiah 58: The Fast God Desires
After the Martin Franzman hymn, "Thy Strong Word", Dr. Zeile discusses the message from God given in Isaiah 58 about fasting, a message very suited to Lent, the Christian fast season. In addition to some historical context and perspective, the ...
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29:36
Mark 10: The Rich Young Ruler
After the classic 17th century hymn, "Thee Will I Love," Dr. Zeile discusses the invitation received by the wealthy young ruler in Mark 10 who balked at forsaking his wealth to follow Jesus. In principle, we have received the same invitation an...
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28:04
Mark 1: The Kingdom is at Hand
After a responsory, collect, and Psalm 30, Romans 10 is read by an elder, and the hymn, "O Christ who Called the Twelve", is sung. Then Dr. Zeile speaks on Mark 1:14-20, the urgency of Christ's message regarding the Kingdom (rule) of God, which...
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28:29
Numbers 21: Tempted by Boredom
Boredom, like anger, is an experience, not a sin, but it can set us up for temptation. Dr. Zeile's message based on Israel's experience in the wilderness alerts us to the folly that awaits those who cannot "wait upon the Lord." After Psalm 146,...
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28:32
Luke 4: Rejection
One of the painful experiences of the 21st Century is REJECTION by those who know us best. It is sobering to reflect on the fact that Jesus Christ shared this painful experience, alienation from those He loved. This sermon is accompanied by rea...
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29:42
2 Corinthians 3: Blind to Truth
This meditation for Transfiguration Sunday is accompanied by Psalm 121, a General Prayer (prayer for blessing in general, for all in general, as opposed to particular requests for particular persons), and Transfiguration hymns, "Jesus on the Mo...
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29:19
Genesis 17: A New Name
Abram was given a new name, Abraham, because he found a new identity as a father of many nations (peoples). Dr. Zeile's meditation on this promise shows how it is fulfilled in our day (3 billion people today look to him as a Father), and that t...
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28:51
Deuteronomy 4: God's Rules
We often regard rules negatively as restricting our freedom; yet God's Law enables us to accomplish things we could not achieve before, just as rules make activities from chess to driving possible. Dr. Zeile's meditation brings out God intended...
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29:05
I Corinthians 1: The Foolishness of God
This message on the Foolishness of God being wiser than man's wisdom is accompanied by Matthew 15, the Nicene Creed, and a choir singing "Dona Nobis Pacem" ("give us peace").
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28:11
Loving the Lost
This A Capella service begins with the contemporary hymn, "Only a Holy God," then Continues with readings from 1 Corinthians, Psalm 27, and Matthew. Dr. Zeile's meditation concerns the painful truth that family members, particularly adult child...
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29:06
Romans 13: Put On Christ
After the beginning of Evening Prayer (Vespers), this message, suitable for the New Year, explains the new life Christians are called to live, not by their own power but by Christ. The classic hymn, "The Advent of our King," and a choir anthem ...
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29:53
Luke 2 The Name of Jesus
This service for New Year's Eve begins with prayers entitled "Devotion to the Holy Infancy," Psalm 8, and the homily on the meaning of the name Jesus, meaning "Savior" and its two aspects, that of rescue and the other of healing. Hymns, "Infant...
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29:13
Psalm 126: Too Good to be True
This Christmas episode includes reading of the Christmas Gospel, Luke 2, interspersed with hymn or choir selections. Dr. Zeile's meditation on Psalm 126 brings out the Gospel quality of being so much better than we could imagine.
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28:53
AVARICE (Greed): a Deadly Sin
In the 6th of the series on Seven Deadly Sins Dr. Zeile discusses the psychological need to hoard things and to put our trust into material possessions which will pass away. This was preached on Holy Thursday and parts of the service are includ...
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27:16
LUST: a Deadly Sin
In this 4th in a series on Seven Deadly Sins, Dr. Zeile speaks frankly of the social, psychological, and spiritual damage this temptation has wreaked upon modern society where people have been exploited and rejected by those who have know...
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28:48
Psalm 15 in 3 Classic English Translations
Dr. Zeile reads the Psalm in the 16th Century Book of Common Prayer, the 17th Century King James Version, and the 18th Century Challoner revision of the Douai-Rheims translation.
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3:24
WRATH (Anger): a Deadly Sin
This is the third message in Dr. Zeile's Lenten series on the Seven Deadly Sins. In addition to elements of Evening Prayer (Vespers) are included the classis hymn, "Thousand, Thousand Thanks Shall Be," and Dr. Zeile's own hymn on the Dead...
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29:03
GLUTTONY: a Deadly Sin
This is 2nd in Dr. Zeile's series on the Seven Deadly Sins, often called "Capital" sins, not because they are worse than other sins but because they are the sources or motivations for sinful acts. Dr. Zeile explains the deadly aspect, in natura...
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29:37
SLOTH: a Deadly Sin
This begins a series on the 7 Deadly Sins: Sloth, Gluttony, Wrath, Lust, Avarice, Envy, and Pride. Dr. Zeile's meditation on this, the "deadest" of the deadly sins includes elements of Evening Prayer (Vespers), and the Passion reading from Lent...
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28:33
Psalm 143: Let Your Good Spirit Lead Me
This message is based on the Psalmist's prayer which was fulfilled for all believers at Pentecost. Dr. Zeile's sermon is accompanied by the Confessional rite, Introit, Gloria in Excelsis, a reading from Acts 2 and the classic medieval hymn, Com...
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29:44
Psalm 17 in 3 Classic English Translations
Dr. Zeile reads the Psalm in the 16th Century Book of Common Prayer, the 17th Century King James Version, and the 18th Century Challoner revision of the Douai-Rheims translation.
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7:33
Psalm 16 in 3 Classic English Translations
Dr. Zeile reads the Psalm in the 16th Century Book of Common Prayer, the 17th Century King James Version, and the 18th Century Challoner revision of the Douai-Rheims translation.
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5:16