Sermon for Ascension Day, 2026

Fr. Andrew's sermon on Article XXIII of The 39 Articles of Religion: Of Ministering in the Congregation, preached on the Fourth Sunday after Trinity (6.28.2026)."It is not lawful for any man to take upon him the office of public preaching or ministering the sacraments in the congregation before he be lawfully called and sent to execute the same. And those we ought to judge lawfully called and sent which be chosen and called to this work by men who have public authority given unto them in the congregation to call and send ministers into the Lord's vineyard."

Fr. Andrew's sermon on Article XXII of The 39 Articles of Religion: Of Purgatory, preached on the Third Sunday after Trinity (6.21.2026)."The Romish doctrine concerning purgatory, pardons, worshiping and adoration as well of images as of relics, and also invocation of saints, is a fond thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God."

Fr. Andrew's sermon on Article XXI of The 39 Articles of Religion: Of the Authority of General Councils, preached on the Second Sunday after Trinity (6.14.2026)."General councils may not be gathered together without the commandment and will of princes. And when they be gathered together – forasmuch as they be an assembly of men, whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and Word of God – they may err, and sometimes have erred, even in things pertaining unto God. Wherefore things ordained by them as necessary to salvation have neither strength nor authority, unless it may be declared that they be taken out of Holy Scripture."

Fr. Andrew's sermon from Trinity Sunday (5.31.2026). We pray that you are blessed by the message.Lessons from Holy Scripture: Genesis 18.1-33; John 3.1-15; Revelation 4.1-11.

Fr. Andrew's sermon from Pentecost Sunday (5.24.2026). We pray that you are blessed by the message.Lessons from Holy Scripture: Isaiah 11.1-16; John 14.15-31; Acts 2.1-11.

Fr. Andrew's sermon on Article XX of The 39 Articles of Religion: Of the Authority of the Church, preached on the Sunday after Ascension Day (5.17.2026)."The church hath power to decree rites or ceremonies, and authority in controversies of faith; and yet it is not lawful for the church to ordain anything that is contrary to God's Word written, neither may it so expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another. Wherefore, although the church be a witness and a keeper of Holy Writ, yet, as it ought not to decree anything against the same, so besides the same ought it not to enforce anything to be believed for necessity of salvation."

Fr. Andrew's sermon from Ascension Day (5.14.2026). We pray that you are blessed by the message.Lessons from Holy Scripture: 2 Kings 2.1-25; Acts 1.1-11; Mark 16.14-20.

Fr. Andrew's sermon on Article XIX of The 39 Articles of Religion: Of the Church, preached on the Fifth Sunday after Easter (5.10.2026)."The visible church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men, in which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments be duly ministered according to Christ's ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same. As the Church of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch have erred; so also the Church of Rome hath erred, not only in their living and manner of ceremonies, but also in matters of faith."

Fr. Andrew's sermon on Article XVIII of The 39 Articles of Religion: Of Obtaining Eternal Salvation Only by the Name of Christ, preached on the Fourth Sunday after Easter (5.3.2026)."They also are to be had accursed that presume to say that every man shall be saved by the law or sect which he professeth, so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that law and the light of nature. For Holy Scripture doth set out to us only the name of Jesus Christ, whereby men must be saved."

Fr. Andrew's sermon on Article XVII of The 39 Articles of Religion: Of Predestination and Election, preached on the Third Sunday after Easter (4.26.2026)."Predestination to life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby – before the foundations of the world were laid – he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation, as vessels made to honour. Wherefore, they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God be called according to God's purpose by his Spirit working in due season; they through grace obey the calling; they be justified freely; they be made sons of God by adoption; they be made like the image of his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ; they walk religiously in good works; and at length, by God's mercy, they attain to everlasting felicity. As the godly consideration of predestination and our election in Christ is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh and their earthly members, and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things, as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation to be enjoyed through Christ, as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God; so, for curious and carnal persons, lacking the Spirit of Christ, to have continually before their eyes the sentence of God's predestination is a most dangerous downfall, whereby the devil doth thrust them either into desperation or into wretchlessness of most unclean living, no less perilous than desperation. Futhermore, we must receive God's promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in holy Scripture; and in our doings that will of God is to be followed which we have expressly declared unto us in the word of God."