July 16, 2023. Divine Service. 8 A.M.

Pastor Bill Cwirla writes, “Soil is made out of dead stuff.” I must admit that I never thought about it that way, but it makes sense when thinking about Jesus’ parable for today. The only good soil is dead soil. Think about a compost pile. Yard waste and kitchen scraps decompose into organic matter, and a pile of dead things becomes a place where life thrives. The apostle Paul writes in our epistle lesson for today, “If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Pastor Cwirla continues, “Sinners, children of Adam steeped in Adam’s sinful condition, cannot make themselves receptive to the saving Word of Jesus. They will not let Him in no matter how many times He knocks. We do not naturally and willingly repent. We must be driven to it. The rototiller of God’s law must plow us under. We need to be broken, turned six feet under, crushed if the Word of Jesus is going to be fruitful in us.” So that is what God does. He kills to make alive. His life is planted in death. ----- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService