LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 89

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sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in
Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who
are left, will be caught up together with them in
the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we
will always be with the Lord. (1 Thess. 4:13–17)
As Christians we are certainly not ignorant of the Easter
event. The truths of Easter are the essence of the Gospel.
You have been to our Lord’s tomb early that first Easter
Sunday. You have heard the angel’s Easter greeting: “Do
not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was
crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come,
see the place where he lay” (Matt. 28:5–6).
“Christ is risen! [R: He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!”]
Christians have been sharing the good news of that Easter
greeting for centuries, and for good reason. Jesus’
resurrection means “Death has been swallowed up in
victory!” The hymn states: “Christ, the life of all the living,
Christ the death of death, our foe” (LSB 420:1)
The crucified, dead body of our Lord Jesus laid in the
ground has come back to life. “He lives, He lives, who once
was dead; He lives my ever-living head” (LSB 461:1). Good
news for you and me! Forgiveness, life, and salvation for
the sake of Christ Jesus.

That means that someday, upon Jesus’ return, graves will
be vacated. Coffins will be emptied. Head stones no
longer valid. There will be no more death!
Generations of believers whose lifeless bodies now rest in
the grave will rise, just as our Lord Jesus rose. Remember
how Jesus comforts Martha: “I am the resurrection and the
life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die”
(John 11:25–26).
My parents, my grandparents and my great
grandparents, other relatives from generations unknown,
neighbors, and even children who seemingly died before
their time, will rise. I will see their faces again, and I will
hear their voices once again. I will see the twinkle in the
eye of Dr. Suelflow once again. What a glorious reunion of
believers! Can you see that?
Let’s bring it closer to home: Jesus’ empty grave is your
empty grave. His Resurrection is your Resurrection. His
living is your life. Jesus asked Martha, “Do you believe this?”
“Christ is risen! [R: He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!”]
Thanks be to God, who gives us such a victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Keep On Praying
1 TIMOTHY 2:1–7

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind., Pastor Rev. Josemon T. Hoem
68th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod • August 3, 2023 • Matins
I think it is safe to say it’s been a long week. A good week, but
a long week. I woke up this morning feeling a little anxious.
Anxious thinking about moving my daughter 10 hours away
to college next week. Anxious because my son called last
night saying he still has not been approved for in-state
tuition. A little anxious because I am here at convention with
my wife and again the church calls away from family.
If I am honest, I get a little anxious about what the next three
years will bring, for our schools, our universities, and the
church as a whole.
I, like most of you, worry about finances, my family, my
friends, my members, and especially those who remain
outside the church. Yet today I am reminded we have a Christ
who is crucified. I am reminded of the words from the song
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” (you can say it with me):
O what peace we often forfeit;
O what needless pain we bear—
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer. (LSB 770:1)
Convention Sermons

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2023 (68TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 89