Posts by Rev. Tab Ottmers

In 2023 the Texas Rangers were awarded a key to the city of Fort Worth for winning the World Series. Not to be outdone, the city of Arlington awarded Taylor Swift a key to the city in honor of her Eras Tour the same year. Houston awarded native Houstonian Meghan Thee Stallion a key to the city because of her successes in the rap industry. What does it mean to be awarded a…

In a few weeks we will celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord. This is the focus and pinnacle of our life as Christians. The fact that Christ was raised from the dead gives everything that he says priority. Paul preaches to the Corinthian church in this way, “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised…

For our time together this Lent we will look at the way the Holy Spirit guided the writers of the scriptures to make use of the theme “The Hand of The Lord.” Whether tightening a bolt, crocheting, or typing on a computer, there is so much that we do with our hands. The Greek physician Galen called them the instrument of instruments. Indeed, hands are instruments that can…

The Relationship Between the Office of the Public Ministry and the Royal Priesthood of All Believers This was the title of our Sunday School study that we have been covering for the last few months. The Bible study looked at the verses of the Bible that describe for Christians how we are to live together in the church. Each study focused on one or the other side of the…

Recently one of our High School youth asked me, “Why does Texas attract all the religious cults?” This question was prompted by a class that mentioned the events in Waco from 1993 concerning the Branch Davidians. I chuckled because to our high school aged members 1993 is considered history! I am feeling old…The question was a good one though and it does relate to the…

For this month I am sharing with you a sermon preached by C.F.W. Walther (October 25, 1811 – May 7, 1887). Walther was the first president of the LCMS. He preached this sermon on recognizing that our nation enjoys its place of success and favor because of the mercy of God. We are to always give thanks, not just one day a year, but the life of the Christian is lived every…

Sunday September 29th is St. Michael and All Angels Sunday. It is a Sunday that we set aside to remember the gift that God gives us in his creating angels. The Christian church has celebrated this remembrance since the 5th century when the construction of St. Michael’s church somewhere near Rome was completed and dedicated. We don’t celebrate this day every year since…

In Sunday School we are reading “Disordered – Lies about Human Nature and the Truth That Sets Us Free.” This book is authored by Rev. Christopher S. Esget, an LCMS pastor in the US. Pastor Esget begins by teaching us what he means by the title “Disordered.” By taking us through scripture and real-life application, Rev. Esget shows us that we cannot always trust our…

God has provided a new ark for all people, the church. This is where his sacraments are given out and his word is preached, this is where we come to hear his word. His word is where we flee to when sin rains down on us relentlessly. We give thanks to God that he has remembered his people and…

There are many ways to react to evil and sin. Many try to distance themselves from their sins when they get caught, “Oh that’s not truly who I am.” They try to claim that their sins don’t belong to them while standing with their proverbial hand in the cookie jar. The sin is still present. It is still having its desired effect on those who sinned…

it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

“I Have Not Yet Ascended To The Father.”John 20:11-18 “But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know…