I was looking for a hymn that merges the themes of prayer and the Lord’s Supper for our Postures of Prayer series but found nothing that fully encompassed both. So, I wrote one: “Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God.” This hymn brings together the power of Christ’s presence in prayer and the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, tying them to God’s historic acts of salvation. By blending these themes, the hymn reflects on the redemption Christ offers through His body and blood.

The Journey Behind the Hymn

Writing this hymn was driven by the desire to express two central elements of Christian life: the intimate conversation with God in prayer and the deep, unifying act of receiving Christ in the Lord’s Supper.

Key Themes

1. Prayer: The opening lines reflect Christ’s humility and His presence in our prayers. As we pray, we invite Him into our lives, seeking forgiveness, love, and peace.
2. The Lord’s Supper: The hymn brings us to the night of Jesus’ betrayal, connecting His last meal with His followers to the ongoing celebration of the Eucharist. Through His body and blood, we are united with Him in grace.
3. Passover Connection: Reflecting on the Old Testament Passover, the hymn illustrates how God spared His people and how Christ, our Passover Lamb, protects us today.

This hymn was written not only as a reflection of my personal faith but also as a tool for worship. It combines prayer and the Lord’s Supper in a way that I hope will resonate with others.

If you’re interested in including this hymn in your worship service, feel free to use it—it’s licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC 4.0).

Confession & Absolution based on the readings for Epiphany 5A: Psalm 112:1-9; Isaiah 58:3-9a; 1 Corinthians 2:1-12; Matthew 5:13-20

P      Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, we call on God to forgive our sin.

C      Lord, You have chosen this fast: To break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to tear off every yoke, to share our bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into our house, to clothe the naked when we see him, and not to ignore our own flesh and blood, yet we so often have been tasteless salt. Therefore, because Jesus broke the chains of wickedness and set us free on the cross, forgive us and set us free.

P      When you call, the LORD will answer; when you cry out, He will say, “Here I am.” What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived — God has prepared these things for those who love him. Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God that you know nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I forgive you all your sin in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The righteous one will be remembered forever.

C      Amen. Hallelujah! His righteousness endures forever!

Here’s a playlist of my sermons, classes, and other video teaching.

When I was at Shepherd of the Ridge, I grouped sermons by series if you’re looking for something in particular.

Also, this channel has the recordings of the CrossFeed Religious News video podcast among other things I’ve recorded.

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I created these images for a sermon on religious freedom based on Isaiah 58:3-9, the idea that religion is as much serving our neighbor as attending services, and that no law can stop us from doing that. I ended up going a different route with the visuals, but I submit these images for anyone else’s use for sermons about the Body of Christ saying, “I’d like to help, but my hands are tied.”

Confession & Absolution based on the readings for Epiphany 2A: Isaiah 49:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-42a

P          Our
vindication is with the Lord, and our reward is with our God. Therefore, we
confess our sin to Him.

C          Lord, You formed us from the womb to
be Your servants, but we daily disobey and turn from You in our thoughts and
thoughtlessness, our words and our silence, our actions and inaction. For the
sake of Jesus, forgive and restore us as we eagerly wait for the revelation of
our Lord Jesus Christ.

P          Here is the
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! He is the Son of God, a light
for the nations, to be the Lord’s salvation to the ends of the earth. He will
also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our
Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; you were called by him into fellowship with
his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of
Christ and by His authority, I forgive you all your sin in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C          Amen.

A collection of candle and flame-related images for a sermon based on Isaiah 42:1-7 with a nod to the Epistle lesson, Romans 6:1-11. He restored us when we were united with Him in His death.

Based on the readings for Epiphany 1C (The Baptism of our Lord): Psalm 29, Isaiah 42:1-9, Romans 6:1-11, Matthew 3:13-17

P          The LORD
gives his people strength; the LORD blesses his people with peace. Therefore,
we confess our sin to God that He may give us strength and peace.

C          Lord, You called us for a righteous
purpose and held us by Your hand, but we continue in sin so that grace may
multiply. We give Your glory to others and Your praise to idols. Open our blind
eyes, bring us from the dungeon and from sitting in darkness in the prison
house.

P          Consider
yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus, or are you unaware
that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his
death? He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not put out a smoldering
wick. The Lord’s Servant, Jesus Christ, brought justice to the nations, and if
we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly
also be in the likeness of his resurrection. For we know that our old self was
crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so
that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed
from sin. Having fulfilled all righteousness, the Lord says of you, “This is my
beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.” Therefore, as a called and ordained
servant of Christ and by His authority, I forgive you all your sin in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C          Amen. Ascribe to the LORD, you
heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD
the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness!

Based on Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12

P In Christ Jesus and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence, so we kneel before our King in confession.
C Lord of the nations, the wise men traveled many miles and searched carefully for Your Son, bowed down, and worshiped Him. But even though I need to go nowhere to find You, because You come to me, I still ignore Your presence, and I think, speak, and act selfishly as if You hadn’t come. I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, so I depend on Your mercy on behalf of Christ to forgive my sin that although thick darkness covers Your people, I may see Your glory.
P Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. Through the Gospel, the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I forgive you all your sin in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen!

P At the name of Jesus every knee will bow — in heaven and on earth and under the earth —
C and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
P By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone from my mouth, a word that will not be revoked:
C Every knee will bow to Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.
P All the nations will come and worship before You
C because Your righteous acts have been revealed.
P Lord, who will not fear and glorify Your name?
C For You alone are holy.
P All the nations You have made will come and bow down before You, Lord,
C and will honor Your name.
P If we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,
C and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Drawn from: 1 John 1:7; Revelation 15:4; Psalm 86:9; Philippians 2:10; Isaiah 45:23

In uncertain times, we can take shelter in the cross of Christ, from a sermon, “Reading the Signs,” based on Luke 21:5-28 for Proper 28C