Zion Lutheran Sioux Falls

Third Sunday of Easter

AS WE GATHER:  Consider a time in your life when someone showed you mercy. When was that, and what was it like?  Perhaps it was for a late homework assignment in school, forgiveness when you dropped the ball on a project at work, or maybe even forgiving a loan of some sort. Mercy is compassion and forgiveness    toward someone who either doesn’t deserve it or actually deserves punishment. In the Book of Ruth we     consider what it means to be shown undeserved mercy. Boaz had mercy on Ruth and Naomi. God works through Ruth and Boaz to selflessly provide for others’ needs. This narrative demonstrates God’s heart toward the lowly and helps set the context for David’s reign.  Christ has had greater mercy on us by providing        forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation for His people. God works through Christ and His Means of Grace to provide His gifts. He also works through others who work His mercy in the world.

Second Sunday of Easter

On Easter evening and again the following Sunday, because the disciples saw Jesus alive, they knew the resurrection was real, and they believed in Him. They were then able to witness to their faith in spite of opposition and persecution from the Jewish council. Though grieved by various traits, it was the “living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:3) that enabled the Early Church to      rejoice. The reality of the resurrection becomes evident to people around us as we live out our faith, confessing Jesus as Lord and offering peace and forgiveness in His name. As they come to faith, they join us and “have life in His name” (John 20:31).

Easter Sunday

We give thanks to God, the Father for the victory over death and the grave He has granted to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. On this day Christ destroyed the power of death for all who believe in Him by His glorious resurrection from the dead. All the angels of heaven now sing His praise: the One who has been crowned the victor!

Palm Sunday

With great celebration the throngs of people welcomed Jesus, but they did not comprehend that His gift of life would come at the cost of His own death.  We are not in the dark about what awaited Jesus.  We know that His great love for us was tested in death on the cross.  We know that Jesus was not victim, but the willing Savior who was determined to pay the price for our redemption.  Today we celebrate the great love that our King has for us.

Fifth Sunday in Lent

These scriptures form a powerful trajectory from death to life. Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones reveals humanity’s inability to save itself from the "grave" of sin. Romans 8 identifies the solution… the Holy Spirit, who dwells in believers to conquer death. This sequence finds its climax in John 11, where Jesus’ authority over the tomb proves He is the Resurrection and the Life. Every bone gathered and every tear shed leads directly to Christ, who conquers the "final enemy" to give us eternal breath.