Pastor Diana's Radio Sermon Transcripts

RADIO SERMON – MARCH 22, 2026

THIS IS PASTOR DIANA SEAMAN, SERVING AT TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH IN CRESTLINE, OHIO.

GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE BE UNTO YOU FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS THE CHRIST.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER.

OUR GOSPEL LESSON FOR THIS MORNING IS A CONTINUATION OF THE GOSPEL LESSON FROM LAST WEEK – THE STORY OF THE WOMAN AT THE WELL.

SO, WE WILL PICK UP AT JOHN 4:15, “THE WOMAN SAID TO H IM, “SIR, GIVE ME THIS WATER SO THAT I WON’T GET THIRSTY, AND HAVE TO KEEP COMING HERE TO DRAW WATER.”

HE TOLD HER, “GO, CALL YOUR HUSBAND AND COME BACK.”  “I HAVE NO HUSBAND,” SHE REPLIED.

JESUS SAID TO HER, “YOU ARE RIGHT WHEN YOU SAY YOU HAVE NO HUSBAND.  THE FACT IS, YOU HAVE HAD FIVE HUSBANDS AND THE MAN YOU NOW HAVE IS NOT YOUR HUSBAND.  WHAT YOU HAVE JUST SAID IS QUITE TRUE.”

“SIR,” THE WOMAN SAID, “I CAN SEE THAT YOU ARE A PROPHET.  OUR ANCESTORS WORSHIPED ON THIS MOUNTAIN, BUT YOU JEWS CLAIM THAT THE PLACE WHERE WE MUST WORSHIP IS IN JERUSALEM.”

“WOMAN,” JESUS REPLIED, “BELIEVE ME, A TIME IS COMING WHEN YOU WILL WORSHIP THE FATHER NEITHER ON THIS MOUNTAIN NOR IN JERUSALEM.  YOU SAMARITANS WORSHIP WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW; WE WORSHIP WHAT WE DO KNOW, FOR SALVATION IS FROM THE JEWS.  YET A TIME IS COMING AND HAS NOW COME WHEN THE TRUE WORSHIPERS WILL WORSHIP THE FATHER IN THE SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH, FOR THEY ARE THE KIND OF WORSHIPERS THE FATHER SEEKS.  GOD IS SPIRIT, AND HIS WORSHIPERS MUST WORSHIP IN THE SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.”

THE WOMAN SAID, “I KNOW THAT MESSIAH (CALLED CHRIST) IS COMING.  WHEN HE COMES, HE WILL EXPLAIN EVERYTHING TO US.”

THEN JESUS DECLARED, “I, THE ONE SPEAKING TO YOU – I AM HE.”

HERE ENDS THE GOSPEL LESSON FOR THIS MORNING.

ONCE AGAIN, AS WE REMEMBER FROM LAST WEEK, THIS WOMAN – THIS WOMAN WHO NOT ONLY HAD A PRESENT BUT A PAST – WAS NOT ALLOWED BY THE OTHER WOMEN IN TOWN TO COME AND DRAW WATER FROM THE WELL WITH THEM – DURING THE COOL HOURS OF THE DAY.  AFTER ALL, THEY WERE GOOD AND RIGHTEOUS – NOT LIKE THIS WOMAN!

SO, SHE WAS FORCED TO COME AND DRAW WATER DURING THE HOTTEST PART OF THE DAY – AT NOON.

AFTER YEARS OF TRYING TO FORCE HERSELF INTO THEIR MIDST AND TRYING TO DRAW WATER AS THEY CONSISTENTLY MOCKED AT HER AND JEERED AT HER AND PUSHED HER OUT OF THE WAY, SHE FINALLY GAVE UP.

SHE GAVE UP AND CAME AT THE HOTTEST TIME OF THE DAY TO DRAW WATER.  CAN YOU BLAME HER?

AND AS WE LOOK FROM VERSES 1-26 IN JOHN 4, THE WOMAN WASN’T EVEN GIVEN A NAME – NOT EVEN JESUS CALLED HER BY NAME.

BUT HE MORE THAN KNEW HER IN HIS HEART AND THAT IS WHY HE HAD TO GO TO THIS WELL THIS DAY.  HE HAD TO GO AND MEET THIS WOMAN.

THE SWEAT WAS POURING DOWN HER FACE AS SHE DREW THE HEAVY BUCKET OF WATER UP.  SUDDENLY, SHE SENSED THE PRESENCE OF SOMEONE – SOMEONE SHE DID NOT KNOW.

JESUS WAS SITTING BY THE WELL WATCHING HER.  THIS IS WHERE HE STARTED THE DISCOURSE WITH HER ABOUT LIVING WATER.

THEN AS WE PICK UP OUR LESSON TODAY, BEGINNING AT VERSE 15, SHE ASKS JESUS FOR THIS LIVING WATER THAT HE HAD PROMISED HER.

BUT JESUS TURNS THAT SPIRITUAL DISCUSSION ABOUT LIVING WATER TO A PHYSICIAL ONE.  YES, SHE NEEDED TO BE HEALED SPIRITUALLY BUT FIRST OF ALL, THERE WAS A PHYSICAL HEALING THAT HAD TO TAKE PLACE.

SO, JESUS ASKED HER TO GO GET HER HUSBAND.  DID SHE BLUSH?  MANY OF US WOULD HAVE BUT MAYBE SHE WAS SO USED TO THE ACQUSATIONS THAT WERE CONSTANTLY THROWN AT HER, THAT SHE SIMPLY ANSWERED “I HAVE NO HUSBAND.”

JESUS, ONCE AGAIN, KNOWING HER TO THE VERY DEPTH OF HER BEING, RESPONDED WITH, “YOU ARE RIGHT IN SAYING THAT YOU HAVE NO HUSBAND.  YOU HAVE HAD FIVE HUSBANDS AND THE MAN YOU LIVE WITH NOW IS NOT YOUR HUSBAND.”

SHE IMMEDIATELY CHANGED THE SUBJECT – WOULDN’T YOU HAVE?  SHE CHANGED IT TO WORSHIP. 

I FIND THAT A STRANGE TRANSITION.  BUT JESUS WENT WITH IT.  AND THEY CONTINUED TO TALK ABOUT WORSHIP.  FINALLY, IN VERSE 25, THE WOMAN DOES CONFESS “KNOWING THAT THE CHRIST IS COMING.” 

JESUS RESPONDS WITH, “I, THE ONE SPEAKING TO YOU – I AM HE.”

JUST AS GOD APPEARED TO MOSES IN THE BURNING BUSH, “I AM WHO I AM” IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, JESUS PROCLAIMS, “I AM HE.”  I AM THE GREAT I AM.

I AM “THE LIVING WATER” – “I AM THE GREAT I AM.”

WHAT WAS THE WOMAN’S REACTION TO THIS?  SHE NO LONGER CARED ABOUT WHAT THE PEOPLE IN TOWN WERE SAYING TO HER OR ABOUT HER. SHE RAN TO TOWN AND TOLD THEM ALL ABOUT JESUS.  VERSES 39-41 TELL THE REST OF THE STORY – AS PAUL HARVEY WOULD SAY.  “MANY OF THE SAMARITANS FROM THAT TOWN BELIEVED IN HIM BECAUSE OF THE WOMAN’S TESTIMONY: “HE TOLD ME EVERYTHING I EVER DID.”  AND AT THIS POINT SHE DIDN’T CARE.  SO WHEN THE SAMARITANS CAME TO HIM, THEY URGED HIM TO STAY WITH THEM, AND HE STAYED TWO DAYS.  AND BECAUSE OF HIS WORDS MANY MORE BECAME BELIEVERS.

THIS WOMAN, NO MATTER WHO OR WHAT SHE WAS, CAME TO KNOW JESUS – AND NOT ONLY THAT, SHE LED OTHERS TO JESUS. WHAT A TESTIMONY!  AMEN.

AND NOW MAY THE PEACE OF GOD THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.

RADIO SERMON – MARCH 15, 2026

THIS IS PASTOR DIANA SEAMAN, SERVING AT TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH IN CRESTLINE, OHIO.

GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE BE UNTO YOU FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS THE CHRIST.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER.

OUR GOSPEL LESSON FOR THIS MORNING IS TAKEN FROM JOHN 4:1-15, “NOW WHEN THE LORD KNEW THAT THE PHARISEES HAD HEARD THAT JESUS WAS MAKING AND BAPTIZING MORE DISCIPLES THAN JOHN (ALTHOUGH JESUS HIMSELF DID NOT BAPTIZE, BUT ONLY HIS DISCIPLES), HE LEFT JUDEA AND DEPARTED AGAIN TO GALILEE.  HE HAD TO PASS THROUGH SAMARIA.   SO HE CAME TO A CITY OF SAMARIA, CALLED SYCHAR, NEAR THE FIELD THAT JACOB GAVE TO HIS SON JOSEPH.  JACOB’S WELL WAS THERE, AND SO JESUS, WEARIED AS HE WAS WITH HIS JOURNEY, SAT DOWN BESIDE THE WELL.  IT WAS ABOUT THE SIXTH HOUR.

THERE CAME A WOMAN OF SAMARIA TO DRAW WATER.  JESUS SAID TO HER, “GIVE ME A DRINK.”  FOR HIS DISCIPLES HAD GONE AWAY INTO THE CITY TO BUY FOOD.  THE SAMARITAN WOMAN SAID TO HIM, “HOW IS IT THAT YOU, A JEW, ASK A DRINK OF ME, A WOMAN OF SAMARIA?”  FOR JEWS HAVE NO DEALINGS WITH SAMARITANS.  JESUS ANSWERED HER, “IF YOU KNEW THE GIFT OF GOD, AND WHO IT IS THAT IS SAYING TO YOU, ‘GIVE ME A DRINK,’ YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED HIM, AND HE WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU LIVING WATER.”  THE WOMAN SAID TO HIM, “SIR, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DRAW WITH, AND THE WELL IS DEEP; WHERE DO YOU GET THAT LIVING WATER?  ARE YOU GREATER THAN OUR FATHER JACOB, WHO GAVE US THE WELL, AND DRANK FROM IT HIMSELF, AND HIS SONS, AND HIS CATTLE?”  JESUS SAID TO HER, “EVERY ONE WHO DRINKS OF THIS WATER WILL THIRST AGAIN, BUT WHOEVER DRINKS OF THE WATER THAT I SHALL GIVE HIM WILL NEVER THIRST; THE WATER THAT I SHALL GIVE HIM WILL BECOME IN HIM A SPRING OF WATER WELLING UP TO ETERNAL LIFE.”  THE WOMAN SAID TO HIM, “SIR, GIVE ME THIS WATER, THAT I MAY NOT THIRST, NOR COME HERE TO DRAW.” 

HERE ENDS THE GOSPEL LESSON FOR THIS MORNING.

MANY OF US REMEMBER THE STORY WELL.  IT CONTINUES ON TO VERSE 26.  BUT THIS MORNING I WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE FIRST 15 VERSES, ESPECIALLY VERSE 4, “HE HAD TO PASS THROUGH SAMARIA.”

AFTER KING SOLOMON’S DEATH, HIS SON – KING REHOBOAM - ROSE TO RULE IN HIS FATHER’S PLACE.  KING SOLOMON HAD PUT A LOT OF TAXES ON THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL TO PAY FOR THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE.

PEOPLE PLEADED WITH HIS SON TO LOWER THE TAXES – WE CAN RELATE TO THAT. HIS FATHER’S ADVISORS TOLD HIM TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE.  BUT INSTEAD HIS SON LISTENED TO HIS PEERS AND POURED EVEN MORE OF A TAX LOAD ONTO THE PEOPLE.

“ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!”  SO THE 10 TRIBES TO THE NORTH FORMED THEIR OWN KINGDOM – KNOWN AS ISRAEL.  THE TWO OTHER KINGDOMS TO THE SOUTH BECAME KNOWN AS JUDAH.

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT!  OVER THE YEARS, THE JEWISH PEOPLE FROM THE NORTHERN KINGDOM INTER-MARRIED WITH THE PEOPLE FROM SAMARIA – AND THUS BECAME KNOWN AS SAMARITANS.

AND THE GOOD JEWISH PEOPLE FROM THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DESPISED PEOPLE OF SAMARIA.  REMEMBER THE STORY OF THE “GOOD SAMARITAN?”  THAT WAS NOT LOST ON THE GOOD JEWISH PEOPLE – THE LEADERS OF JUDAH. “WHAT?  THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A GOOD SAMARITAN!”

SO, AS WE TURN BACK TO OUR LESSON THIS MORNING FROM JOHN 4, ONCE AGAIN, JESUS WAS MAKING A VERY CLEAR POINT, “HE HAD TO PASS THROUGH SAMARIA.” ACTUALLY, HE COULD HAVE GONE AROUND SAMARIA BUT HE DID NOT.  “HE HAD TO PASS THROUGH SAMARIA.”

WHY? BECAUSE THERE WAS SOMEONE IN SAMARIA THAT NEEDED TO BE MINISTERED TO – TO BE GIVEN THAT LIVING WATER THAT ONLY JESUS COULD GIVE.  HE KNEW, HE KNEW THERE WAS A WOMAN WHO NEEDED FORGIVENESS AND ONLY HE COULD GIVE IT TO HER.

AS I LOOKED AT THE WHOLE TEXT OF JOHN, 1-26, I WAS STRUCK BY THE FACT THAT THIS WOMAN’S NAME WAS NEVER SPOKEN.  PERHAPS THAT WAS A WAY TO PROTECT HER FROM OTHERS?

FIRST OF ALL, SHE WAS A SAMARITAN.  JESUS HAD NO BUSINESS EVEN SPEAKING TO HER.  AFTER ALL, HE WAS JEWISH AND SHE WAS A SAMARITAN.  AND THEN SHE WAS A WOMAN!  WOMEN WERE SECOND CLASS CITIZENS IN THAT SOCIETY.

AND THEN TO TOP IT OFF, EVEN THE OTHER WOMEN OF SAMARIA HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HER!  SHE HAD HAD FIVE HUSBANDS, JESUS REMINDED HER.  AND THE MAN YOU ARE LIVING WITH NOW IS NOT YOUR HUSBAND.

THUS, THE REASON WHY SHE HAD TO COME AND DRAW WATER EVERY DAY AT THE HOTTEST TIME OF THE DAY – NOON.  THE OTHER WOMEN MADE LIFE SO MISERABLE FOR HER THAT SHE HAD NO OTHER CHOICE.  THE OTHER WOMEN DIDN’T WANT HER IN THEIR PRESENCE!

SO FOR JESUS TO GO OUT OF HIS WAY TO ENCOUNTER THIS WOMAN IN SAMARIA, HE KNEW IN HIS HEART WHO SHE WAS.  SHE WAS A SINNER IN NEED OF A SAVIOR.

RADIO SERMON – REFORMATION DAY, OCTOBER 26, 2025

THIS IS PASTOR DIANA SEAMAN, SERVING AT TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH IN CRESTLINE, OHIO.  GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE BE UNTO YOU FROM OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS THE CHRIST.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER.

OUR GOSPEL LESSON FOR THIS REFORMATION SUNDAY IS TAKEN FROM JOHN 8:31-36.  “SO, JESUS SAID TO THE JEWS WHO HAD BELIEVED IN HIM, ‘IF YOU ABIDE IN MY WORD, YOU ARE TRULY MY DISCIPLES, AND YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE.’” THEY ANSWERED HIM, “WE ARE OFFSPRING OF ABRAHAM AND HAVE NEVER BEEN ENSLAVED TO ANYONE.  HOW IS IT THAT YOU SAY, ‘YOU WILL BECOME FREE?’”

JESUS ANSWERED THEM, “TRULY, TRULY, I SAY TO YOU, EVERYONE WHO COMMITS SIN IS A SLAVE TO SIN.  THE SLAVE DOES NOT REMAIN IN THE HOUSE FOREVER; THE SON REMAINS FOREVER. SO, IF THE SON SETS YOU FREE, YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED.” HERE ENDS THE GOSPEL LESSON FOR THIS MORNING. 

ALL FOUR OF THE GOSPELS CARRY THE SCENE OF JESUS BEFORE PILATE.  PILATE ASKS JESUS THE QUESTION, “WHAT IS TRUTH?”  AND JESUS GAVE PILATE NO ANSWER.  IT WAS PROBABLY BECAUSE JESUS KNEW THAT ANYTHING HE SAID WOULD NOT BE HEARD OR UNDERSTOOD BY PILATE.  SO, WHAT WAS THE USE?

WE CAN REMEMBER AS MARTIN LUTHER STOOD BEFORE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND WAS ASKED THE QUESTION, “MARTIN, ARE YOU THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS THE TRUTH?”

WHAT IS TRUTH?  THAT QUESTION IS AS RELEVANT TODAY AS IT WAS IN JESUS’ DAY AND IN MARTIN LUTHER’S DAY.  WE LIVE IN A WORLD IN WHICH THERE ARE NO LONGER ABSOLUTES.  WHAT IS ONE PERSON’S TRUTH IS ANOTHER PERSON’S LIE.  THERE ARE SO MANY GRAY AREAS.  ESPECIALLY IN THIS SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE, WHO YOU HANG OUT WITH ON A CERTAIN PLATFORM WILL DETERMINE WHO AND WHAT YOU BELIEVE.  IT’S CALLED AN ECHO CHAMBER.  YOU ONLY HANG OUT WITH PEOPLE WHO THINK AS YOU THINK.

SO, WHAT IS TRUTH?  IT HASN’T CHANGED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME. PAUL SAYS IT SO WELL IN ROMANS WHEN HE SAYS, “FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALLEN SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.” “ALL” JESUS SAYS LOOKING AT HIS FELLOW JEWS.

THEY RESPOND WITH, “HOW DARE YOU SAY WE ARE SINNERS! WE ARE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM.  WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE TORAH – THE FIRST FIVE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE.  WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE LAW OF MOSES.  THUS, WE ARE NOT IN BONDAGE TO ANYONE OR ANYTHING – ESPECIALLY SIN.”

PRIOR TO OUR LESSON THIS MORNING, JESUS WAS CONFRONTED BY THE PHARISEES REGARDING HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER.  THE PHARISEES WOULD HEAR NOTHING OF IT.  THEY WERE CONVINCED IN THE PASSAGE THAT FOLLOWS IN JOHN THAT BOTTOM-LINE WAS THAT JESUS WAS A SAMARITAN – NOT EVEN A FULL JEW – ONE THAT THE JEWISH PEOPLE WOULD NEVER HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH AND EVEN WORSE THAN THAT – HE WAS DEMON-POSSESSED!

THEY KNEW MORE THAN JESUS.  THEY COULD CLAIM THEIR HERITAGE ALL THE WAY BACK TO ABRAHAM AND THAT WAS THEIR TICKET TO FREEDOM FROM SIN.

SO, WE CAN JUST PICTURE THEM STARING JESUS DOWN AND ANYONE ELSE WHO DARED TO BELIEVE HIS WORDS. REMEMBER, OUR LESSON BEGAN WITH THE WORDS, “TO THE JEWS WHO HAD BELIEVED HIM – PAST TENSE – TO TAKE A STAND FOR JESUS AS OUR SAVIOR, THEN AND NOW, COMES AT A COST.  FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE, THEN AND NOW, TO BELIEVE IN JESUS MEANS A LOSS OF FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY.  TO TAKE A STAND TODAY AS A DISCIPLE OF JESUS – JEW OR GENTILE – MEANS LEAVING YOUR “ECHO CHAMBER” AND BEING FACED WITH THE SAME ACCUSATIONS AND HATE THAT THE IN JESUS FACED SO LONG AGO.

BUT JESUS MAKES IT VERY CLEAR, THEN AND NOW, THAT TO FOLLOW HIM – TO BE A DISCIPLE OF HIS – COMES AT A COST IN THIS WORLD.

“WHAT IS TRUTH?”  JESUS ANSWERED THAT FROM BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD AS THE CROSS WAS ALREADY AT THE CENTER OF GOD’S PLAN OF REDEMPTION FOR THOSE WHO WOULD BELIEVE.

“WHAT IS TRUTH?”  MARTIN LUTHER STOOD ON THE SAME TRUTH THAT DAY AS HE WAS CONFRONTED BY THE CHURCH.  HE STOOD ON THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD AND THROUGH GOD’S WORD WE COME TO A SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST.

AND THAT IS WHERE WE AND ALL HUMANITY STAND TO THIS DAY.  WE ARE EITHER IN BONDAGE TO SIN – SLAVES TO SIN OR BELIEVERS THAT JESUS, WHO DIED ON CALVARY’S CROSS FOR US – SET US FREE FROM SIN AT THE CROSS.

JESUS GAVE THE PHARISEES, PILATE AND HIS FELLOW JEWS NO OTHER CHOICE.  HE GIVES US NO OTHER CHOICE TODAY.  BE FREED FROM OUR SINS THROUGH THE CROSS OF JESUS OR BE SLAVES FOREVER IN SIN.  THE CHOICE IS OURS.

C. S. LEWIS FAMOUSLY ARGUED THAT THE CLAIMS OF JESUS AS THE SON OF GOD, THEN AND NOW, LEAVE PEOPLE WITH THREE OPTIONS:  JESUS WAS A LUNATIC, A LIAR., OR THE LORD (THE SON OF GOD.)

ONCE AGAIN, THE CHOICE IS OURS.  DO WE PUT OUR FAITH, OUR ETERNAL SALVATION, IN THE HANDS OF A LUNATIC OR A LIAR?  OR DO WE PUT OUR FAITH AND ETERNAL SALVATION IN THE SON OF GOD WHO SETS US FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN?

“SO, IF THE SON SETS YOU FREE, YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED.”  THE CHOICE IS OURS.

AND NOW, MAY THE PEACE OF GOD THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. AMEN.

Radio Transcript week of August 31 2025 - THE “SACRIFICE OF ISAAC.”

THIS IS PASTOR DIANA SEAMAN, SERVING AT TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH IN CRESTLINE, OHIO.

GRACE, MERCY, AND PEACE BE UNTO YOU FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS THE CHRIST.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER.

OUR NEW TESTAMENT LESSON FOR TODAY IS TAKEN FROM HEBREWS 11:17-20, “BY FAITH, ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS TESTED, OFFERED UP ISAAC, AND HE WHO HAD RECEIVED THE PROMISES WAS READY TO OFFER UP HIS ONLY SON, OF WHOM IT WAS SAID, “THROUGH ISAAC SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE NAMED.”  HE CONSIDERED THAT GOD WAS ABLE TO RAISE MEN EVEN FROM THE DEAD, HENCE, FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING, HE DID RECEIVE HIM BACK.  BY FAITH ISAAC INVOKED FUTURE BLESSINGS ON JACOB AND ESAU.”

“AND HE WHO HAD RECEIVED THE PROMISES...”  WHAT PROMISES HAD GOD GIVEN TO ABRAHAM?  THE FIRST PROMISE CAN BE FOUND IN GENESIS 12:1-2, “NOW THE LORD SAID TO ABRAM, “GO FROM YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR KINDRED AND YOUR FATHER’S HOUSE TO THE LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.  AND I WILL MAKE OF YOU A GREAT NATION, AND I WILL BLESS YOU, AND MAKE YOUR NAME GREAT, SO THAT YOU WILL BE A BLESSING.”

ABRAHAM LIVED IN THE UR OF THE CHALDEANS.  ACCORDING TO THE CHRISTIAN STUDY BIBLE, “UR OF THE CHALDEANS WAS A GREAT CITY, WITH A TREMENDOUS CULTURE.  IT WAS ALSO A CITY IN DEEP SPIRITUAL DARKENESS.  THIS DID NOT LEAVE ABRAHAM UNTOUCHED.”

AND YET GOD SAW IN ABRAHAM, AS HE DOES IN MANY OF US, SOMETHING ON THE INSIDE THAT HE COULD MOLD AND SHAPE INTO ONE THROUGH WHOM THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH COULD COME – JESUS THE CHRIST.  BUT THAT WOULD BE MANY CENTURIES DOWN THE ROAD.

I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO BE A “FLY ON THE WALL” AS ABRAHAM TOLD SARA THAT GOD HAD CALLED HIM FROM THEIR COMFORTABLE HOME IN UR TO...WHO KNOWS WHAT.  AND WHO IS THIS GOD ANYWAY?  WE SERVE SO MANY OF THEM HERE IN UR.  AND BESIDES THAT ABRAHAM YOU’RE 75 YEARS OLD!  WHAT WAS HE THINKING?  AT LEAST IF I WERE IN SARA’S SHOES THAT’S WHAT I WOULD BE THINKING AND SAYING.  BUT LEAVE WITH HIM SHE DID.

BUT ABRAHAM AND SARA LEFT UR AND FOLLOWED A GOD THEY DID NOT KNOW.  HE HAD MUCH TO TEACH THEM.

ABRAHAM’S NEPHEW, LOT WENT WITH THEM BUT THEY PARTED COMPANY WHEN STRIFE BROKE OUT BETWEEN THEIR HERDSMEN.

IN CHAPTER 13, VS. 14, CHOOSES HEBRON.  LOT CHOOSES SODOM.  GOD BLESSES ABRAHAM FOR HIS CHOICE.  “LIFT UP YOUR EYES, AND LOOK FROM THE PLACE WHERE YOU ARE...FOR ALL THE LAND WHICH YOU SEE I WILL GIVE TO YOU AND TO YOUR DESCENDANTS FOREVER.  I WILL MAKE YOUR DESCENDANTS AS THE DUST OF THE EARTH; SO THAT IF ONE CAN COUNT THE DUST OF THE EARTH, YOUR DESCENDANTS ALSO CAN BE COUNTED.” WOW!  WHAT A PROMISE FOR MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE!  AND “BY FAITH ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS TESTED...”

THEN, IN CHAPTER 14 THERE IS THE WAR OF THE KINGS.  AFTER MELCHIZEDEK, THE KING OF SALEM, WAS DEFEATED, HE OFFERED TO ABRAHAM SOME OF THE SPOIL.  ABRAHAM REFUSED.  AND WE NO LONGER SEE MELCHIZEDEK AGAIN IN SCRIPTURE.  BUT HE POINTS TO JESUS WHO CAME ONCE AND FOR ALL TO PAY FOR OUR SINS ON THE CROSS.

ONCE AGAIN, GOD HONORED ABRAHAM FOR MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE WITH THE WORDS, “FEAR NOT, ABRAM, I AM YOUR SHIELD; YOUR REWARD SHALL BE VERY GREAT.”

I LOVE CHAPTER 15 BECAUSE I CAN SO RELATE TO IT AS I AM SURE THAT MANY OF YOU CAN.  ABRAHAM HAS A MOMENT OF DOUBTING GOD.  IN CHAPTER 15, VERSE 11 IT SAYS, “AND WHEN BIRDS OF PREY CAME DOWN UPON THE CARCASSES, ABRAM DROVE THEM AWAY.”  NOW LET’S TAKE A MOMENT AND PICTURE WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR A 75+ YEAR OLD MAN TO BE DRIVING AWAY VULTURES.  HIS ARMS WAVING IN THE WIND, FLAPPING AS HE ATTEMPTS TO DRIVE THEM AWAY.

GOD FINALLY CALMS ABRAM DOWN AND A DEEP SLEEP FALLS UPON HIM.  AND GOD MAKES A COVENANT WITH ABRAM, “SAYING, TO YOUR DESCENDANTS I GIVE THIS LAND.”  IN ESSENCE, NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING YOU’VE DONE – LIKE FLAPPING YOUR ARMS IN THE AIR TRYING TO DRIVE VULTURES AWAY BUT IT’S ALL BECAUSE OF WHAT I’VE DONE.”

IT'S NOT UNTIL CHAPTER 21 THAT GOD’S LONG-AWAITED PROMISES ARE FULFILLED.  ABRAM AND SARA, NOW ABRAHAM AND SARAH, FINALLY HAVE A SON NAMED ISAAC.  AND THEN WE TURN TO CHAPTER 22 WHERE GOD ASKS ABRAHAM TO “TAKE HIS SON, HIS ONLY SON, ISAAC, AND SACRIFICE HIM.” 

WHAT KIND OF A GOD IS THIS?  WHEN IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THROUGHOUT THESE 25 YEARS OF ABRAHAM BLINDLY FOLLOWING GOD, “AND IT WAS RECKONED UNTO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS...”  GOD WAS NOW SEEMINGLY NEGATING HIS PROMISES.

SO TOO IN THIS WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE, THERE ARE MANY TIMES THAT IT SEEMS THAT ALL OF GOD’S PROMISES HAVE FOUND THEIR “NO” AND NOT YES IN JESUS CHRIST.  BUT WE KNOW THAT GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISES, AS HE DID TO ABRAHAM SO LONG AGO.  NOT AS WE OR ABRAHAM WOULD HAVE THOUGHT BUT AS GOD DEEMS BEST.

STAY TUNED NEXT WEEK FOR A CONTINUATION OF THE “SACRIFICE OF ISAAC.” AND NOW MAY THE PEACE OF GOD THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.  AMEN.    

RADIO TRANSCRIPT WEEK OF JULY 13 2025

RADIO SERMON – WEEK OF JULY 13, 2025 -  “PRODIGAL SON”  

THIS IS PASTOR DIANA SEAMAN, SERVING AT TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH IN CRESTLINE, OHIO.

GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE BE UNTO YOU FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS THE CHRIST.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER.

OUR GOSPEL TEXT FOR THIS MORNING IS THE STORY OF THE “LOST SON” OR THE “PRODIGAL SON.”  LUKE 15:11-31, “JESUS CONTINUED:  ‘THERE WAS A MAN WHO HAD TWO SONS.  THE YOUNGER ONE SAID TO HIS FATHER, ‘FATHER, GIVE ME A SHARE OF THE ESTATE. “SO HE DIVIDED HIS PROPERTY BETWEEN THEM.

NOT LONG AFTER THAT, THE YOUNGER SON GOT TOGETHER ALL HE HAD, SET OFF FOR A DISTANT COUNTRY AND THERE SQUANDERED HIS WEALTH IN WILD LIVING.  AFTER HE HAD SPENT EVERYTHING, THERE WAS A SEVERE FAMINE IN THAT WHOLE COUNTRY, AND HE BEGAN TO BE IN NEED.  SO HE WENT AND HIRED HIMSELF OUT TO A CITIZEN OF THAT COUNTRY, WHO SENT HIM TO HIS FIELDS TO FEED PIGS.  HE LONGED TO FILL HIS STOMACH WITH THE PODS THAT THE PIGS WERE EATING, BUT NO ONE GAVE HIM ANYTHING.

WHEN HE CAME TO HIS SENSES, HE SAID, ‘HOW MANY OF MY FATHER’S HIRED MEN HAVE FOOD TO SPARE, AND HERE I AM STARVING TO DEATH!  I WILL SET OUT AND GO BACK TO MY FATHER, AND SAY TO HIM:  FATHER, I HAVE SINNED AGAINST HEAVEN AND AGAINST YOU.  I AM NO LONGER WORTHY TO BE CALLED YOUR SON; MAKE ME LIKE ONE OF YOUR HIRED MEN.’  SO HE GOT UP AND WENT TO HIS FATHER.

“BUT WHILE HE WAS STILL A LONG WAY OFF, HIS FATHER SAW HIM AND WAS FILLED WITH COMPASSION FOR HIM; HE RAN TO HIS SON, THREW HIS ARMS AROUND HIM AND KISSED HIM.

THE SON SAID TO HIM, “FATHER, I HAVE SINNED AGAINST HEAVEN AND AGAINST YOU.  I AM NO LONGER WORTHY TO BE CALLED YOUR SON.’”

BUT THE FATHER SAID TO HIS SERVANTS,  ‘QUICK!  BRING THE BEST ROBE AND PUT IT ON HIM.  PUT A RING ON HIS FINGER, AND SANDALS ON HIS FEET.  BRING THE FATTENED CALF AND KILL IT.  LET’S HAVE A FEAST AND CELEBRATE.  FOR THIS SON OF MINE WAS DEAD AND IS ALIVE AGAIN; HE WAS LOST AND IS FOUND.  SO THEY BEGAN TO CELEBRATE.  HERE ENDS THE GOSPEL FOR THIS MORNING.

THERE ARE THREE PARABLES IN LUKE 15 THAT JESUS TELLS WITH REGARD TO OUR BEING OUT OF FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.  IN VERSES 1-7 IS THE STORY OF THE LOST SHEEP;  VERSES 8-10 TELL THE STORY OF THE LOST COIN; AND FINALLY, IN VERSES 11-32 WE HAVE THE STORY OF THE “LOST OR PRODIGAL SON.”

THIS MORNING, WE WILL FOCUS ON VERSES 11-27.  VERSE 13 TELLS US OF THE YOUNGEST SONS HEART AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PARABLE, “NOT LONG AFTER THAT – AFTER THE YOUNGEST SON DEMANDED HIS SHARE OF THE PROPERTY – THE YOUNGER SON GOT TOGETHER ALL HE HAD, SET OFF FOR A DISTANT COUNTRY AND THERE SQUANDERED HIS WEALTH IN WILD LIVING.”  IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG FOR HIM TO SPEND ALL THAT HE HAD AND NOT ONLY THAT BUT SCRIPTURE TELLS US THAT HE SQUANDERED HIS WEALTH IN WILD LIVING.

NOW WHAT IS HE TO DO?  AND ON TOP OF THAT, THERE WAS A SEVERE FAMINE IN THAT WHOLE COUNTRY!  THE LAST THING A JEWISH YOUNG MAN WOULD EVER WANT TO DO IS FILL HIS STOMACH WITH THE PODS THAT THE PIGS WERE EATING!  PORK BEING A TOTAL NO NO FOR A JEWISH PERSON.  BUT HE WAS SO HUNGRY HE WAS WILLING TO DO EVEN THAT.  “BUT NO ONE GAVE HIM ANYTHING.

SOMETIMES GOD HAS TO ALLOW US TO BE PLACED IN TOTAL DESPERATION BEFORE HE GETS OUR ATTENTION.  AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT YOUNG MAN.

REMEMBER IN THE BEATITUDES IN LUKE WHERE JESUS SAYS, “BLESSED ARE THE POOR.”   BECAUSE WHEN WE ARE POOR AND TOTALLY ON OUR BACK WE HAVE NO WHERE ELSE TO LOOK THAN UP TO GOD.  AND ONCE AGAIN, THAT IS WHERE THIS YOUNG MAN WAS.

FOR JESUS SAYS IN VERSE 17, “WHEN HE CAME TO HIS SENSES...”  THIS WAS HIS TURNING POINT.  THIS WAS THE POINT IN HIS LIFE, AND MANY TIMES IN OUR LIVES, WHEN GOD AND GOD ALONE CAN BRING US SALVATION THROUGH HIS SON, JESUS.

SO, THE YOUNG MAN TURNED HIS FACE TOWARD HOME.  WE SEE IN THE FOLLOWING FEW VERSES TH AT HE IS REHEARSING TO HIMSELF HIS WORDS TO HIS FATHER, HIS WORDS ASKING FOR AND BEGGIN FOR FORGIVENESS.  KNOWING THAT HE IS NOT EVEN WORTHY OF BEING CALLED A SON.  HE’S WILLING SIMPLY TO BE TREATED AND CALLED A SERVANT.

BUT IN VERSE 20, A FATHER’S HEART—OUR HEAVENLY FATHER’S HEART IS SHOWN IN FULL DISPLAY:  “WHILE HE WAS STILL A LONG WAY OFF, THE FATHER SAW HIM AND WAS FILLED WITH COMPASSION FOR HIM; HE RAN – HE RAN THE WHOLE WAY TO HIS SON, WHILE HIS SON WAS STILL A LONG WAY OFF AND THREW HIS ARMS AROUND HIM AND KISSED HIM.  WHAT LOVE OF A FATHER FOR HIS LOST SON AND OUR HEAVENLY FATHER FOR US.

CAN YOU IMAGIINE HOW DIRTY AND DISGUSTING THE SON WAS – AND MANY TIMES WE ARE- CARRYING ALL THE FILTH AND DIRT OF THIS WORLD.  THE SON’S CLOTHES, THOSE THAT HE STILL HAD ON WERE FILTHY AND DIRTY.  IN FACT, HIS WHOLE BODY WOULD HAVE BEEN FILTHY AND DIRTY.  AND HE WOULD HAVE “STUNK TO HIGH HEAVEN.”  HIS BREATH, WITH EVERY WORD HE SPOKE, WOULD HAVE REEKED SO MUCH WITH A FOUL ODOR.  THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT HIM THAT WOULD HAVE ENCOURAGED HIS FATHER TO EVEN EMBRACE HIM – BUT EMBRACE HIM HE DID.

AND THAT IS WHAT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER DOES WITH AND FOR US.  NO MATTER HOW DIRTY WE COME TO HIM.  WE ARE CLEANSED AND MADE WHOLE AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS.  AT THE CROSS AND ONLY AT THE CROSS, BECAUSE OF JESUS, HE EXCHANGES OUR FILTHY GARMENTS FOR HIS CLEAN GARMENTS.  AT THE CROSS AND ONLY AT THE CROSS, WE ARE MADE NEW AND WHOLE, AS THE PRODIGAL SON WAS,      BECAUSE OF JESUS AND ONLY BECAUSE OF JESUS.

SO THIS DAY, LAY ALL OF YOUR FILTHY GARMENTS THAT HAVE BECOME CONTAMINATED THROUGH THIS WORLD AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS.

AND NOW MAY THE PEACE OF GOD THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST, JESUS OUR LORD.  AMEN.