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Weekly Inspiration for Preachers from Pastor Phil Brandt

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Fifth Sunday of Easter – Series C 

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Jesus wrestles with the fact that we often feel so distant from Him. He does not appear like our Sunday School illustrations imagine. He is here, but he is not here. He is here through His Spirit, more truly here than ever we could have known Him in Galilee, yet we yearn for him all the same. Jesus likens this to the anguish of a woman in labor. But when the baby is born, the joy and wonder of new life in her arms makes all better.

In the first lesson, Peter wrestles with the tensions of Jesus who is found out in the world of the Gentiles, unexpectedly so. He thought that real Christians had to look a certain way and conform to his ideas of proper behavior. But the Spirit brings Jesus to strange places, even to the faces of folks who look very different from me.

In the second reading, John points us to a day when all this tension will dissolve, and God will descend with power and glory and take up his residence among people for all the world to see. Now there is tension. Then there is glory.

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Pastor Glen Emery
Pastor Glen EmeryGrace Lutheran Church | Fairbury, NE
My sermon preparations are much easier made and more enriched. There is always good stuff in the introductions and background information. What a blessing!
Rev. Dr. Nicholas Salifu
Rev. Dr. Nicholas SalifuGhana, West Africa
Sunday Sermon notes are extremely helpful for many, not just proclaimers. I've shared them weekly with Elders of the small church I'm privileged to serve and suggest they be used as devotional thoughts during the week. They are appreciative.
Rev. Lloyd Willweber
Rev. Lloyd WillweberKailua, HI
Not only is Dr. Brandt’s sermon studies a great help in preparing sermons, they also are great for use in bible studies and personal devotions. Thank you, Dr. Brandt for all your good work! 
Pastor Toby Joeckel
Pastor Toby JoeckelIntentional Interim Pastor Pilgrim Lutheran | Spokane, WA
I often use Phil’s Sunday Sermon notes to get ideas. His insights are thought-provoking and I appreciate that he often poses questions rather than supplying (or attempting to supply) answers. I’ve used them for a number of years and have been blessed because of them. Thanks brother Phil!
Pastor Skip Nizinski
Pastor Skip NizinskiGood Shepherd | York, PA
Sunday Sermon has been an incredible resource for me in my first four years of pastoral ministry. Pastor Brandt’s work with all of the weekly lectionary texts offer wonderful Law/Gospel insights which have been integral to my weekly sermon prep, reducing the amount of overwhelm I felt as I learned to develop a rhythm of preaching each Sunday. Pastor Brandt’s reflections were helpful not only in sermon prep but also in my own devotional life as well.
Nick Shults, Chaplain
Nick Shults, ChaplainCrowley County Correctional Facility | Pueblo, CO
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