The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany

A Sermon

Scripture Text: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-37

February 16, 2020 Rev. Mark Ryman

The immature believer thinks, What should I do? The mature Christian asks, What should I hear? For there is often a deeper word than, “Thou shalt.” This is when we hear the Lord say, “But I say to you.” The Spirit gives us a spiritual understanding of the commandment. This is the meat of the word, where there is an inner change that matches the outward action. The implanted word (James 1:21) grows into the outward life but the work of the flesh will never nurture the inward being. This comes by the grace of God in an ongoing, steady inquiry into the word, so that the whole-hearted seeking of God’s will begins to permeate the whole life. The fixed eyes of the heart brings one to walk—and sit and lie down and rise up—(Duet 6:6-7) in the ways of the Lord. This walking with the Lord, like Adam did in the garden, is the way of life. Choose life.

Message Video

Preacher

Mark Ryman

Rev. Mark E. Ryman serves as Interim Pastor for St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC. Previously, Pastor Ryman has pastored other congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as served on the staff of the North American Lutheran Church, and on the Board of Regents for the North American Lutheran Seminary. He currently serves a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.

The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany