Who is really in control of life—us, or God?

In this sermon preached at St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church in Magnolia, Texas, on the Feast of the Slaughter of the Holy Innocents, we hear how earthly rulers like Pharaoh and King Herod sought to take God’s place, with devastating consequences. The murdered children of Bethlehem stand as martyrs, bearing witness to the truth that we are not kings over our lives—God alone is.

This message also addresses modern attempts to control life through abortion, contraception, and in vitro fertilization, speaking truthfully and pastorally about suffering, infertility, repentance, and forgiveness. Above all, it proclaims Christ Jesus, the true King, who was preserved from Herod’s rage so that He might suffer and die at the right time for our salvation.

Listen for a clear confession of Christ’s lordship, comfort for troubled consciences, and the assurance that God’s good and gracious will cannot be frustrated—even by our sins.

For more information, check out www.stthomastx.church!

What kind of peace does Christmas bring to Magnolia and Montgomery County?

Not the peace of silence, distraction, or pretending that everything is fine—but the peace that remains when Satan accuses, when the world terrifies, and when affliction presses in.

In this Christmas sermon from St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church in Magnolia, Texas, we hear how God answers real guilt and real fear, not by ignoring sin, but by taking it upon Himself. The eternal Son of God is born of the Virgin Mary, taking on real human flesh and blood to bridge the chasm between God and fallen humanity.

Jesus Christ silences Satan’s accusations by His incarnation, suffering, death, and resurrection. Exalted in His humanity at the right hand of the Father, He rules all things for the good of His Church. He sympathizes with our weakness, knows our suffering, and intercedes for us as our Brother and High Priest.

Peace is made for you in the Child of the manger—the God-man who governs heaven and earth and gives forgiveness, life, and salvation to sinners. This is the true peace of Christmas proclaimed at St. Thomas in Magnolia.

For more information, go to www.stthomastx.church!

What does Advent really prepare us for?

In this Advent sermon preached in Magnolia, Texas, we reflect on the Three Advents of our Lord: His first coming in humility to bear our sins, His present coming through the Word and Sacraments, and His final coming in glory to raise the dead and judge the world.

Using the Gospel accounts of Christ’s triumphal entry and the preaching of John the Baptist, this sermon shows how the same Scriptures speak differently depending on where we stand in history—and how they still prepare us today. John’s call to repentance warns against presumption, comforts terrified consciences, and points us to Christ who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire.

For Christians in Montgomery County and beyond, Advent is not only about looking back to Bethlehem, but about receiving Christ now and awaiting His joyful return. What sounds like terror to the unbelieving world is, for the baptized, a promise of purification, resurrection, and eternal joy.

“Surely I am coming quickly.” Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

When Christians struggle with doubt, suffering, or the feeling that their faith and sacrifices might be in vain, where does true consolation come from?

In this sermon on Matthew 11:2–11 and Romans 15:4, preached in Magnolia, Texas, we hear how Scripture gives more than instruction or correction—it gives comfort. John the Baptist, imprisoned and nearing death, sends his disciples to Jesus not to ask for forgiveness of sins, but for reassurance that his preaching, suffering, and martyrdom were not pointless.

Jesus does not rebuke John for asking. Instead, He gives consolation by pointing to His works—the very signs promised by the prophets. The blind see, the lame walk, the dead are raised, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them. In the same way, Christ still consoles His Church today through His Word and Sacraments.

This sermon speaks to Christians across Montgomery County who wrestle with doubt, affliction, grief, or weariness. Faith comes by hearing, and Christ still answers those who ask Him, gently and faithfully, just as He did for John the Baptist.

For more information, go to www.stthomastx.church!

When the world is shaken by tragedy, injustice, grief, and fear, how should Christians respond?

In this Advent sermon on Luke 21:25–36, preached in Magnolia, Texas, we hear Jesus’ call to watch, pray, and lift up our heads—not in dread, but in hope. This message serves listeners throughout Montgomery County and the surrounding area.

The unbelieving world responds to suffering with despair, anger, detachment, or judgment against God. But Christ teaches His Church to interpret these things differently. Every sorrow, every loss, every shaking of heaven and earth is not a sign that God has abandoned His people, but that redemption is drawing near.

Using Scripture’s image of Christ as the Bridegroom and the Church as His bride, this sermon frames the Christian life as a wedding feast already begun. Even now, Christ peeks through the lattice of this fallen world, promising that He is coming soon. For those washed in Baptism and forgiven by His blood, His coming is not terror—it is joy.

“Lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

For more information, go to www.stthomastx.church!

Why does the Church begin Advent with the cry, “Lord, have mercy”?

In this Advent 1 sermon preached in Magnolia, Texas, we reflect on the Kyrie and Hosanna as the Church’s ancient confession of faith in Christ. Drawing from the triumphal entry, the preaching of John the Baptist, and the structure of the Divine Service, this sermon shows how God’s people have always cried out to the Son of David—not merely for help, but in trust that He is the promised Messiah.

The Kyrie is not only a confession of sin; it is a proclamation that Jesus is Lord, God in human flesh, who has come to show mercy. As the Church enters a new year, Advent teaches us to join the saints before us and the saints around us in awaiting Christ’s coming: first in humility, now through His Word and Sacraments, and finally in glory.

What sounds like desperation to the world is, for the Church, joyful confidence in Christ our King, who was slain and yet lives, and who will come again for our salvation.

For more information, visit www.stthomastx.church!

In this sermon from St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church (UAC) in New Magnolia, Texas, Pastor Stanley Lacey preaches on the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, exploring what it means to be truly prepared for Christ’s return. This message emphasizes the reality of the Last Day, the seriousness of sin, the danger of unrepentance, and the comfort of a clean conscience through the Gospel.

Drawing on Scripture, the liturgy, and the Small Catechism, this sermon proclaims Christ as the source of saving faith, the giver of the oil that never runs dry, and the One who keeps His people steadfast through His Word, Baptism, Absolution, and the Lord’s Supper. Whether you’re new to the Magnolia/Montgomery County area or searching for a confessional Lutheran congregation, we invite you to listen and join us as we gather around Christ’s gifts each week in Word and Sacrament.

This sermon for the Second-Last Sunday of the Church Year explores Christ’s teaching on the Final Judgment from Matthew 25:31–46. Scripture teaches that every person will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, where nothing is hidden and all is revealed—every word, thought, and work.

Here the Lord exposes two deadly errors: the belief that works do not matter because salvation is by grace, and the belief that works justify us before God. Christ overturns both. He insists that good works necessarily follow living faith, yet He also shows that the righteous are welcomed into the kingdom not because of their merit, but because He Himself has clothed them in His righteousness and reckons His works to them.

This message calls listeners to repentance, to renewed confidence in Christ’s mercy, and to the joyful, Spirit-worked life of love that flows from faith. Recorded at St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church (UAC) in Magnolia, Texas.

For more information, please visit www.stthomastx.church!

“Then there will be great tribulation…” (Matthew 24:21–25).
This sermon proclaims Jesus’ warning against false Christs and false prophets who lead believers away from His Word. Drawing from Daniel, Ezekiel, Revelation, and the writings of Luther, it shows how the destruction of the old temple fulfilled God’s promise and how Christ, the true Temple, remains our only refuge.
Hear the call to discern truth from deception, to beware of false religion and false confidence in earthly power, and to remain where Christ is found—in His Word, Baptism, Supper, and Absolution.
Preached at St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church (UAC) in Magnolia, Texas. www.stthomastx.church

This sermon from St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Magnolia, Texas, explores Jesus’ words, “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled.” Drawing from Luke 6, Job, and Hebrews 12, it reveals that our Lord knows the pain of loss, poverty, and rejection firsthand.
He was born in a manger, thirsted on the cross, and wept at the tomb—and therefore speaks with authority when He declares that those who mourn, hunger, and suffer for His sake are blessed.
Grounded in Scripture and Lutheran theology, this message offers deep comfort and strength to all who endure hardship, reminding us that Christ directs every trial for our good in this life and eternal life to come.

For more information, check out www.stthomastx.church!

In this Reformation sermon from St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church (UAC) in Magnolia, Texas, hear the clear proclamation of repentance and faith drawn from Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses, Holy Scripture, and the Lutheran Confessions.

Preached in the heart of Montgomery County, this message calls Christians to examine every thought, word, and practice under the light of God’s Word—not human tradition or authority. The sermon explores what true repentance is: an encounter with the truth of Christ’s Word that exposes sin, corrects error, and brings comfort through the forgiveness of sins.

Luther’s bold confession, “Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise,” echoes through this sermon as a living call to the Church today. It reminds believers that we need not fear being wrong when we stand on the righteousness of Christ alone, justified by grace through faith apart from works of the Law.

Whether you’re in Magnolia, The Woodlands, Conroe, or anywhere in Montgomery County, Texas, this Reformation message invites you to return to the heart of the Gospel—repentance, forgiveness, and freedom in Jesus Christ.

Listen and rediscover the freedom that comes from standing on Scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone, and Christ alone.

For more information, visit www.stthomastx.church!

On the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, we hear St. Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:13–21 and the raising of the widow’s son at Nain (Luke 7:11–17). These texts show us Christ’s deep compassion and His power to raise the dead.

As Christians, we confess that apart from the Holy Spirit we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. Yet in Christ we have been raised to new life. Through the Word and Sacraments, the Spirit renews our will, strengthens us in the inner man, and leads us to confess Christ before the world.

This sermon explores what it means to be set free in Christ: no longer slaves to sin, but soldiers strengthened by our Captain in the midst of the battle against the flesh, the devil, and the world. Just as the widow’s son sat up and spoke, so the Christian, raised with Christ, is given a voice to confess Him.

Join us at St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Magnolia, Texas, as we rejoice in the Lord who works in us “both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13), and who promises that on the Last Day He will raise us to eternal life, free from sin forever.

From St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church (UAC) in Magnolia, Texas, this sermon for the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels explores how God’s holy angels behold the face of the Father, rejoice when sinners repent, and fight for the Church. Rooted in the Augsburg Confession and Holy Scripture, the sermon shows how the angels serve as guardians and examples of faith and vigilance. Through Baptism, Absolution, the Lord’s Supper, and the preaching of the Word, we in Montgomery County also behold the face of God and are strengthened to fight the good fight of faith under Christ our Captain.

For more information, check out stthomastx.church!

In this sermon from St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church in Magnolia, Texas, we reflect on the cost of confessing Christ before the world through the lens of St. Matthew’s martyrdom, the beheading of St. John the Baptist, and even recent events in our own time.

The tradition of Matthew’s death, though uncertain, shows the reality that God’s servants have often suffered not only for proclaiming the Gospel but also for speaking His Law in truth and calling rulers and nations to repentance. John the Baptist was imprisoned and executed for confronting King Herod’s sin. The apostles suffered persecution for preaching both Christ crucified and the Word of God’s Law that exposes human sin and pride.

Drawing on these biblical examples, this sermon challenges us to consider what it means to follow Christ in an age where speaking the truth of God’s Word—about marriage, sexuality, repentance, and godliness—can bring hostility, slander, or worse. Even so, Jesus calls His people to confess Him before men, promising that He will confess them before His Father in heaven.

Join us as we give thanks for St. Matthew’s ministry, hear God’s Word of both Law and Gospel, and are encouraged to live faithfully in Montgomery County, Magnolia, Texas, and beyond—trusting in Christ, who values us more than sparrows and who promises eternal life to all who believe in Him.

For more about St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church, visit stthomastx.church!

Sermon on Mark 7:31–37 preached at St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church, Magnolia, Texas.

Jesus takes aside a man who is deaf and has a speech impediment. With His own touch, His own Word, and His own compassion, He opens his ears and looses his tongue so that he speaks rightly. In this miracle, we see what Christ does for us: in Baptism He sanctifies our ears and tongue; in the preaching of His Word He opens them again; and in the Holy Supper He strengthens us with His own flesh and blood.

If you have misused the ears and tongue the Lord has given you, here He restores you again in the midst of His Church, to go forth confessing with the crowd: He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.

Worship Location: 14711 FM 1488, Magnolia, Texas 77354

Divine Service every Sunday at 9:00 AM

Family Catechesis for all ages every Sunday at 10:30 AM

For more information, visit www.stthomastx.church!

This sermon from St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church (UAC) in Magnolia, Texas, explores Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9–14). The Pharisee boasts in his outward righteousness, while the tax collector beats his breast and pleads for mercy. We face the same deceptions today—trusting in works or abusing grace. But God justifies the sinner through Christ alone, our propitiation (Hebrews 2:17), who delivers us from this body of death (Romans 7:24–25).

For more information, check out www.stthomastx.church!

On the Feast of St. Bartholomew, we hear how God builds His kingdom not through human glory but through hidden, often anonymous faithfulness. Scripture records little of Bartholomew—perhaps only his confession, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God!”—yet Christ called and sent him to carry the Gospel to the nations. Tradition tells of his preaching in Armenia, his conversions enraging King Astyages, and his gruesome martyrdom by being flayed alive. By worldly standards, his life seemed to end in obscurity and failure. But through Bartholomew and the rest of the Apostles, the treasure of Christ has been handed down through fragile vessels all the way to us. This sermon from St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Magnolia, Texas calls us to take courage: what seems like straw to the world will be revealed by Christ in the end as precious stone built on the one foundation, Jesus Christ our Lord.

In this sermon on Luke 16, preached at St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church (UAC) in Magnolia, Texas, Pastor Stanley Lacey unfolds Jesus’ parable of the dishonest steward. The world often uses fleeting possessions with shrewdness, while Christians forget the urgency of time. Yet all that we are and have belongs to God, given through His fatherly goodness and mercy. Our Lord Jesus, the perfect steward, laid down His life so that we might inherit eternal riches. Here we are called to use our daily bread, our time, and our possessions not for ourselves, but for our neighbor—so that friends may greet us in the resurrection and we may enter the eternal dwellings of God. Proclaimed in Montgomery County, Texas, this sermon directs hearers to Christ’s generosity and the eternal future secured in His blood.

For more information about St. Thomas, go to https://stthomastx.church/!

In this Trinity 7 sermon from St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Magnolia, Texas, we hear how Jesus feeds the 4,000 (Mark 8:1–9) and answers the disciples’ question: “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?” This is not a repeat of the feeding of the 5,000. Here the Lord has compassion on the Gentiles; seven large Roman baskets (spyrides) replace the twelve Jewish baskets (kóphinoi), signaling Christ’s sufficiency for the nations.

The sermon faces our doubts head-on: we often suspect that we—or our children, neighbors, and friends—won’t be satisfied by the Bread God gives. We chase novelty and distraction, yet Jesus takes what the Church has, blesses it, gives it through His disciples, and all are satisfied. The call is to repent and be comforted: Christ feeds us now with His Word and with His Body and Blood—more than enough for the wilderness we walk (see Numbers 21:5; Matthew 6:31–32).

St. Thomas is a confessional, liturgical Lutheran congregation serving Magnolia and Montgomery County, Texas. We invite you to hear Christ’s Gospel and receive His gifts in Word and Sacrament. Visitors and families are welcome.

In this sermon preached at St. Thomas Lutheran Church (UAC) in Magnolia, Texas, Pastor Stanley Lacey explores Jesus’ words in Luke 6: “Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” What does true Christian mercy look like? What does Jesus mean when He tells us not to judge or condemn, but to forgive and give?

Drawing from Luther’s Fourth Sunday after Trinity postil, the sermon addresses the misuse of judgment, the withholding of forgiveness, and the cold calculations of miserliness. We are shown not only the danger of self-righteous condemnation, but the gracious way of Christ, who “erased the record of debt… having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14).

This message challenges Christians to examine whether we live out the confession we claim, especially in how we treat those who have wronged us. It also reminds us that the Christian life is one of continual mercy—without retirement—until our final rest in Christ.

Join us as we hear God's Word read and preached faithfully each Sunday in Montgomery County. Learn more at www.stthomastx.church.