St. John Lutheran Sermons

Second Sunday after the Epiphany (2026)

Amos 9:11-15
Romans 12:6-16a
John 2:1-11
This sermon borrows the outline and some phrasing from Rev. Dr. G. Stoeckhardt's Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year. Translated by Erwin Koehlinger. Steadfast Press (2023). 
From the preface:
"Dr. Stoeckhardt (1842-1913) was a pastor and exegetical professor during the formative years of the LCMS. He was the finest exegete in her first century. Given the turbulence in her second century, especially among the exegetical so-called scholars that formed Seminex, he is arguably the best in any century so far.
Less well know is his talent as a preacher...[His sermons] are textual, doctrinal, liturgical, traditional, churchly, well ordered, and practical sermons. None of these is sacrificed for the sake of the other. In this, they are model sermons, perhaps even more so than famous names, because Stoeckhardt sticks to the task at hand: Preaching the text faithfully to the people of God...Stoeckhardt begins with the fear of the Lord, and a love of His Holy Word. It gives him wisdom we [preachers] would do well to learn from and emulate...This is a dangerous book. It has the power to kill and make alive, because Law and Gospel are both delivered in their full scriptural and godly strength. The church can only be improved by such powerful use of God's Word."
This volume of His sermons a mere $12.50 on Amazon. I strongly encourage you to add this volume to your home library. 
Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year: Stoeckhardt, Rev George, Koehlinger, Erwin W: 9798873282982: Amazon.com: Books
 

First Sunday after Epiphany (2026)

Isaiah 42:1-9
Romans 12:1-6a
Luke 2:42-52

Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord

Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:2-12
Matthew 2:1-12

Circumcision and Name of Jesus

This sermon is based on a sermon by Rev. Rolf D. Preus: "The Naming of Jesus." taken from his collection sermons titled: A Year of Law & Gospel Preaching: Postil of Sermons on the One-Year Lectionary. Steadfast Lutherans, Cheyenne, WY. Pg. 221. 

Holy Innocents, Martyrs

This sermon relies on:
-Rev. David Peterson's sermon for Holy Innocents preached at Redeemer in Fort Wayne in 2001
-St. John Chrysostom's Homily on Matt. 2:16 (Homily IX) from Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew. 

The Nativity of Our Lord (2025)

Isaiah 52:6-10
Hebrews 1:1-12
John 1:1-14
Notes: The hymn quoted at the beginning and end of this sermon is TLH 80 All Praise to Thee, Eternal God (Based on a Latin sequence, 11th century, translated into German by Martin Luther, the English translator is unknown.)
The body of the sermon is taken from portions of two sermons by St. Augustine of Hippo. It has been paraphrased and edited for the Saints of St. John by Rev. Anthony Mandile.
Sermon 184:2-3; Sermon 186:1 - from THE WORKS OF STAINT AUGUSTINE: A Translation for the 21st Century. Part III-Sermons, Vol. 6

Sermon for Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols (2025)

Genesis 3:8-15; Genesis 22:15-18; Isaiah 9:2, 6-7; Micah 5:2-4; Luke 1:26-35, 38; Luke 2:1-7; Luke 2:8-16; Matthew 2:1-11; John 1:1-14

Sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Advent (Rorate caeli)

Deuteronomy 18:15-19
Philippians 4:4-7
John 1:19b-28
Reference: C.F.W. Walther, Sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Advent (Walther's Works - Gospel Sermons, Vol. 1), CPH. 

Wednesday after Advent 3 (Gaudete)

Isaiah 2:2-5
Isaiah 7:10-15
Luke 1:26-38a
Sermon References:
Sermon for the Annunciation - Johann Gerhard (Found in Fred Lindemann's "The Sermon on the Propers V2: Pre-Lent to Pentecost)
St. Athanasius - On the Incarnation (Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Grand Rapids, MI)

Third Sunday in Advent (Gaudete)

Isaiah 40:1-8
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Matthew 11:2-10
Sermon References:
Rev. David Peterson, Sermon for Advent 3, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, IN December 13, 2020.