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Author Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens), a notorius doubter, remarked, "It is not the things in the Bible I don't understand that trouble me; it is the things in the Bible I DO understand that trouble me." Christ's suggestion that it would be better to cut off one's hand than go to hell may be one such troubling truth.  It is confounding who take the Bible literally, but not seriously. Dr. Zeile discusses the real issue, the source of sin  in the human person, and how Christ addresses that. This message is accompanied by the Apostle's Creed, Offertory, Rite of Holy Communion, and the hymn, "Rise My Soul to Watch and Pray."

Jonah's was a message of repentance, of "turning," changing your mind, and changing direction before disaster follows.  The pagan citizens of Niniveh were given this opportunity to repent, and so are we. Dr. Zeile's instruction is accompanied by the Introit, General Prayer,  and two hymns, "O Christ the True, the Only Light," and the beloved "The Church's One Foundation." 

Christ appeals to our sense of gain or advantage when He asks, "What profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" The paradox of gaining by renouncing,  and its converse, the irrationality of evil, are the joint-subject of this meditation. Readings from Psalm 46 as well as Matthew 16, along with the Agnus Dei and Grundtveg's  "God's Word is our Great Herirtage" (paraphrase of Luther's Mighty Fortress v.3 ) are included. 

This meditation addresses the puzzling circumstances of the disciples' leaving Christ behind to dismiss those He had fed with fish and loaves. And why were they so frightened of seeing a ghost? The context and significance of the miracle are presented by Dr. Zeile in a compelling message, accompanied by the Navy Hymn. 

What does the Christian life look like? St. Paul's words to Timothy show that God grows His Church, not by revolution, nor by retreat and seclusion, but by assimilation as when Christians live their faith in the world, promoting what is good and giving the glory to God. Trials and crises will come, but God's people are in it for the long haul, recognizing their weakness and thus relying on God. The readings include Luke 16 and the hymn "Christ the Servant."

Dr. Zeile reads Psalm 64 in the 16th Century translation of Coverdale found in the Book of Common Prayer; the 17th Century King James Version; and in the 18th Century Challoner revision of the Douai-Rheims translation.

The Holy Innocents are the infants of age two or younger slain in Bethlehem in Herod's attempt to kill the Christ. As the first to be killed for Christ these infants remind us that monstrous evil exists and even rises to power in this world; at the same time, these infants were called to God's presence to enjoy bliss while the survivors mourned below. Into this world of evil and mourning can the Christ to share our woes so that in Heaven we might share His bliss. This meditation is accompanied by the ancient hymn of Prudentius, and the Coventry Carol.

There was a special place in God's plan of salvation for the City of David, Jerusalem. Christ taught us not to swear by Jerusalem for "It is the city of the great King," speaking of Himself in words from Psalm 48. This meditation is accompanied by the Maginificat, the Litany, and two hymns concerning the great city: "Jerusalem, Thou City Fair and High"; and the medieval "Jerusalem the Golden."

The order of Compline is the Church's night-time prayer and this is chanted and includes a homily on the Holiness of Christ in light of Exodus 15:11. Three Advent hymns are included: "Hosanna, Praise and Glory," "The Advent of our King," and Jesus Came the Heavens Adoring."

Though only commanded for the Day of Atonement, fasting is practiced often in the New Testament. The prophet Isaiah brings a message concerning the way it can please God. Psalm 84, Thanksgiving Prayers, and Luther's hymn, "If God had not been on Our Side," accompany this message.

This message from early Advent reviews the Scripture teaching about living the upright, sober life that is incompatible with carousing. The line between merry-making and carousing is often ignored and brings trouble to even well-meaning individuals; but the God-centered life manifests the Spirit's gift of self-control. Confession & Absolution, the Agnus Dei, and the hymn, "God Loved the World" are included in the program.

Peter had denied Christ three times, and after His resurrection Christ allows Peter to affirm three times his love. What Peter believed and Judas did not was the message of forgiveness that Jesus had taught all along. The bell choir plays "Christ is Risen, Alleluia," and the Communion Rite is celebrated. "Spread, Oh Spread Almighty Word," and St. Ambrose' "O Blessed Holy Trinity" are hymns included in this brodcast.

Beginning with the Decalog (Ten Commandments prayed responsively), and accompanied by Luther's hymn on the Commandments ("That Man a Godly Life Might Live"), this message on the Law of God discusses how that law is applied to our individual and corporate lives, and its chief purpose: to drive sinners to the Gospel of forgiveness.

Implicit in the Old Testament is the Triune identity of God, that He is One God in Three Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Dr. Zeile's message shows how this identity is implicit in Isaiah 48 :16 where the Servant of the Lord declares that He is sent by Jehovah with the Spirit. This meditation for the Festival of the Most Holy Trinity is fittingly accompanied by the Te Deum Laudamus from Matins, the Litany, and classic hymns, "Praise the Almighty , My Soul Adore Him,' and Luther's "In Peace and Joy I Now Depart," based on the Nunc Dimittis.

"Why should it take up the ground?" is a question some parents ask about a lazy son. This is a warning to all of us that we are put on this world for a purpose and will be accountable to our Creator for that. But knowing our purpose gives us assurance of God's blessing as well as meaning to our lives, the double blessing, spiritual and temporal that God intends. This meditation is accompanied by Psalm 84 and the contemporary hymn, "Fruitful Trees, the Spirit's Planting," as well as by the celebration of Holy Communion.

Jesus' beatitudes in Matthew 5 and Luke 6 are not what we would expect- "Happy are the POOR?" Many of His teachings are counterintuitive, contrary to appearance, as when we see a child playing, and another in misery doing homework- that latter one is blessed for his future is better than the former. But unlike self-help advisors, Jesus points us not to ourselves but to His Father who distributes every blessing. This is preceded by the Liturgy of the Word  (Introit, Kyrie, Gloria, and Collect), and followed by the Magnificat. The Navy Hymn is included as well.

This sermon for Ascension Day discusses the Biblical meaning of of God's Right Hand, which is not the crude picture of God as a giant floating out in space, or even of God's right hand being a place "Away" from this earth. Rather, as Martin Luther pointed out (and many Christian teachers before him), God has no hand of flesh, but He has a hand of power, and this power is everywhere. Christ's ascension to the right hand is His taking the seat of power, enabling Him to promise "Lo, I am with you always/everywhere, even to the end of the world/age." It is therefore a celebration of Christ's enthronement as is brought out by the readings from Acts 1 and Mark 16,  and the 5th Century hymn, "Hail Thee, Festival Day."

The Prophet Ezekiel tells a parable or allegory given him by God to show His will even in seeming disaster. This is certainly applicable to the Easter gospel as Dr. Zeile explains. The message is accompanied by Psalm 77, the Easter Litany, and the contemporary Lutheran classic hymn, "Water, Blood, and Spirit Crying."

This message is based on Paul's teaching that we have "Peace through the blood of His cross." The significance of blood which is identified with life in the Hebrew tradition is shared by Dr. Zeile in the exposition. This same blood is promised in the Sacrament of the Altar, or Holy Communion which is included in this broadcast.