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The Shepherd’s Voice – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Tomah, WI

The Shepherd’s Voice – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Tomah, WI

著者： Good Shepherd Lutheran Church - Tomah WI
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Welcome to The Shepherd’s Voice, the podcast ministry of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Tomah, Wisconsin. Each episode shares Christ-centered preaching, Bible teaching, and encouragement for your walk of faith. Rooted in the historic Lutheran confession, we proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins.

Whether you’re a lifelong Lutheran, exploring the Christian faith, or seeking hope in daily life, The Shepherd’s Voice offers clear Law and Gospel preaching, devotionals, and reflections grounded in God’s Word.

Join us as we lift high the cross of Christ and connect listeners to the Shepherd who knows His sheep by name.

Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. キリスト教 スピリチュアリティ 聖職・福音主義
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  • The Sixth Sunday after Trinity | Matthew 5:17-26 | Jesus Doesn't End the Law, He Fulfills it

    The Sixth Sunday after Trinity | Matthew 5:17-26 | Jesus Doesn't End the Law, He Fulfills it
    2026/07/12
    July 12, 2026 The readings today really provide a nice little sermon for us to ponder. The Old Testament gives us the Law, including the Ten Commandments. The Epistle explains how we should be dead to sin and alive to God. Finally, the Gospel shows how Jesus fulfilled the Law. For this sermon, we will start with the Old Testament reading from Exodus. These words from God remind Israel of how He rescued them from Egyptian slavery, highlighting His greatness as a God and Father. They also present the Ten Commandments, which show what service in God’s kingdom should look like, both to Him and to others. However, as we know, we do not always follow the law as we should. We fail to act morally; often, our actions can’t be justified. Our words lack decency and grace. Reflect on the commandments. Do you avoid adultery in thought, word, or deed? What would your phone or computer search history reveal? Do you use the Lord’s name in vain? Let’s listen to your child’s speech and find out. What does someone’s church attendance reveal about remembering and observing the Sabbath Day? How are your parents? Do you listen to and obey them, children? What about you older children, do you still call your parents and help them as you should? Have you coveted or stolen a neighbor’s property? Should we check out your garage? Or what about murder? Have your words spoken in the darkness, the gossip of your lips, slain your neighbor? The Law is meant to show you how to live as a child of God. However, because you can’t do this perfectly, the Law exposes your sin and the ways you’ve fallen short of keeping the commandments. You don’t like this, and I understand. None of us usually enjoy being told we’ve failed, and none of us appreciate the disappointment in a parent’s look. Sometimes, you encounter folks who I want to believe are well-meaning, saying that the Ten Commandments don’t apply to us today. They claim the commandments were strictly part of the Old Testament, and after Jesus came, they no longer matter. We call these people antinomians — anti-law. They downplay the law so you can live guilt-free. However, does Jesus say that the law doesn’t matter? No, in the Gospel today, Jesus says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17) Even more, Jesus says, Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:19) Alright, so the law, the Ten Commandments, still matter to us today. But they are not what the Scribes and Pharisees thought, something to be achieved. You can’t achieve the Ten Commandments or live a perfect life. Jesus will emphasize this through His teaching on anger. You see, those who believe you can achieve or fulfill the Law often see it narrowly as only the outward acts of man. But Jesus wants the Scribes, Pharisees, and you to understand that transgressions not only include but also begin within the heart, as He said. ‘You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, “Raca!’ (or insults his brother) shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. (Matthew 5:21-22) Murder starts in the heart and mind, with your thoughts before it turns into gossiping words, and God forbid the physical taking of a life. And so you don’t become a hypocrite in the temple or congregation of the Lord, Jesus says, Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. (Matthew 5:23-25) To oversimplify these words: You cannot rightly approach God’s altar to offer Him praise or receive His peace if you have not first reconciled with those you have trouble with, those you are at odds with. Often, we believe the false idea that if we simply don’t say something or avoid reconciliation, time will heal all wounds. However, without reconciliation, not only is the sin still very present, but you also cannot properly approach God’s presence, and you should fear His punishment. However, it’s often our inability to stay silent and refrain from speaking that not only gets us into trouble but also leads to the spiritual harm of our neighbors through gossip. In many ways, what drives...
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    11 分
  • The Fifth Sunday after Trinity | Luke 5:1-11 | The Pursuit of Happiness

    The Fifth Sunday after Trinity | Luke 5:1-11 | The Pursuit of Happiness
    2026/07/05
    The Fifth Sunday after Trinity July 5, 2026 Luke 5:1-11 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Yesterday, the country paused for fireworks, picnics, and celebrations. But why? It was our nation's Independence Day. It marks the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, some 250 years ago in 1776, a document few continue to read, but many will quote these words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” So, you are promised an existence. The right to life – being alive. And you have the right to liberty, meaning you are free. But you are also given the pursuit of happiness. Well, what does this mean? Is the pursuit of happiness a state of being, or does the word “pursuit” mean chasing after or seeking happiness? If you ask most people today, they would say the pursuit of happiness is an effort that citizens chase. Like being an overcomer or a rags-to-riches story achieved through hard work, grit, and determination. This is how most of the world thinks and operates. In the Gospel, there were no riches for Peter, no abundant catch of fish. What he did have in his possession were empty nets to be cleaned. Cleaning the nets would not be enjoyable; it would be downright laborious and tidiest work, yet this fishing crew worked hard with no bounty to show for it. Their pursuit of food and happiness led to the deep darkness of disappointment. The deep darkness of disappointment remains a challenge for you as well. While you desire joy and happiness and work hard for it, you often find yourself unsatisfied in life. You grumble when others receive promotions you have worked so hard for. You are distraught over the happiness shown by other families, while you simply strive to hold onto the family you have. You grow depressed as sin enslaves you through secret addictions of the heart. Life isn't fair, and you are not always joyful. You have developed a lack of satisfaction with your labors and vocations because they do not yield the fruit you desire or the profits you expect. Yet, you are reminded through the interactions of Peter and Jesus how all things come from God's hand, even our freedom. Solomon was the author of Psalm 127, a Psalm that speaks to the reality that the foundation of all your labors is God the Father. Solomon writes, “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” (V. 1) Your protection and care are derived from the presence of God. The wisdom of God's Word is the foundation of your homes and the labors we undertake. But the world is fallen, unsatisfied, and anxious. Solomon writes again, “It is in vain that you rise early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” (Psalm 127:2) The bread of anxious toil is the result of man’s fall into sin and recalls the Words God spoke to Adam in the garden after the fall, “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread.” (Genesis 3:19) No longer would labor be enjoyable, but thorns and thistles would fill the earth and hamper the pursuits of man. They would remind man of their dependence upon their Father in heaven and bring us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” These are the words Jesus is teaching Peter and the rest of his crew. Our daily bread and the needs for life, family, and country all come through His gracious hand. In the miraculous catch, Jesus reveals His authority over heaven and earth. He shows Himself as the God-Man. Peter’s confession then is our confession – “Depart from me, because I am a sinful man, Lord.” It’s a confession of awareness, unworthiness, and sinfulness. But, Peter was wrong in one aspect when he said, “Depart from me.” In reality, he should have said, "Lord, come to me because I am a sinful man." To you as to Peter, Christ says, “Do not fear.” Do not fear because, through His death and resurrection, your confession of sin is met with an announcement of absolution and forgiveness. Through your baptism, you were plunged into the depths and darkness of Christ's death and raised to the glories of new life through His resurrection. Our English translations always fail to provide a clear understanding of Jesus’ words near the end of the Gospel, as they often say, "Do not be afraid. From now on, you will catch men." Instead, the correct translation should be, "From now on, you will catch men alive." To catch men alive takes us back to the beginning of our text, where crowds gathered upon Christ to “hear the Word of God.” Here is why pastors are sent into the world to proclaim God's Word to you and those who are in despair from the toils and arduous...
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    10 分
  • The Festival of St. Peter and St. Paul | Matthew 16:13-19 | Being Lead to Christ through the Saints

    The Festival of St. Peter and St. Paul | Matthew 16:13-19 | Being Lead to Christ through the Saints
    2026/06/28
    The Festival of St. Peter and St. Paul June 29, 2026 Matthew 16:13-19 +INJ+ As we celebrate the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, maybe you are wondering, why? Why would we observe this date in the Church’s calendar? Do we need to? No. Is observing this day worthwhile? Absolutely. But why? Well, if you were to open your hymnals to the roman numeral page xii, you’d read, Our churches teach that the remembrance of the saints is to be commended in order that we may imitate their faith and good works according to our calling. (Augsburg Confession 21) These words come from the Augsburg Confession, the main document of the Reformation I mentioned last week, and, as you can see, this short statement explains three reasons why we should remember the saints, such as St. Peter and St. Paul. First, to thank God for giving faithful servants to His Church. Second, through such remembrance, our faith is strengthened as we see the mercy that God extended to His saints of old. Third, these saints are examples by which we may imitate both their faith and their holy living according to our calling in life. But pastor, that’s Catholic. Again, what I just read is from the foundational documents of the Lutheran Church, dating back to the Reformation. So, let me ask you this: how many of you have the date a loved one who died marked on your calendar? How many of you have these dates programmed into your digital calendars to remind you annually, this is the day my mother, father, sister, brother, husband, or wife died? Honestly, many of us don’t need reminders; we just recognize these dreaded dates when they come around each year. But what do you do when these anniversaries of your loved one’s death draw near? Do you tell stories? Do you find yourself talking to a loved one as if they’re still sitting across from you? Does the smell of food or the taste of drink bring you back to a specific moment in time, a cherished memory? These situations happen to all of us, and when they do, they become opportunities to reminisce and thank God for placing faithful Christians in His Church and in our lives. To remember through these memories the many ways God extended His mercy and love to these dear saints in our lives, even through trials and tribulations. Or finally, to see the lives of the saints who now dwell in heavenly glory as examples for us to follow as we journey through life as husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and friends. You see, in many different ways, you are already remembering the saints in your lives as you remember those you love and who are now with Jesus. So why is this different for the Church today? Why wouldn’t we remember the saints of old, those whose names are written in the Scriptures? Those whom we can certainly relate to, such as St. Peter and St. Paul? St. Peter, the one who said to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” only to deny Jesus when times became difficult. (Matthew 16:16) Haven’t you denied Jesus with your words and heart when you deny your faith in front of others, such as when you're asked if you go to church or believe in Jesus Christ? What about St. Paul, who persecuted Christians and is believed to have hurled stones at St. Stephen as he was dying. Haven’t you persecuted others for their faith? Maybe you’ve mocked each other's beliefs or used your words as weapons against someone because of how they pray or confess their Christian faith. Still, even while St. Peter and St. Paul had their immense failings, they also heard the voice of Jesus, followed Him, confessed their sins of denial and persecution to Him, and received the forgiveness Jesus won for them and for you upon the cross. These men are examples for all of us. No, we shouldn’t follow their example of godlessness, but rather their faithfulness. We should be encouraged in our faith by seeing how Jesus extended His mercy and forgiveness to such sinners. We should imitate the faith, holy living, and zeal with which St. Peter and St. Paul went on to preach and proclaim their faith in Jesus to the four corners of the world. But do we? Probably not as we ought. We’re a timid people. We often don’t believe other people share in our experiences. We don’t see our lives in other people. But this is exactly why we should remember days like today, why we ought to see our lives in St. Peter and St. Paul, just as we see our lives in our sainted fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, and friends. All of God’s saints are precious gifts for us, meant to be remembered. Why, because their lives all point us to Jesus. So, let me ask you this: Is it wrong to be directed through the lives of others to Jesus? No, not at all. Instead, it’s a good reminder that we should not only be thankful for the lives of the faithful but also pray that we too would be so ...
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    10 分
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