On the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, the people of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Joplin, Missouri continued their journey through Romans 7 — gathered on the Fourth of July weekend as our nation marked its 250th year. Pastor Christopher Ramstad preached the war that rages inside every believer, and the Gospel that answers it: “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
The War Within Every Believer
Saint Paul does not hide his struggle. “I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing” (Romans 7:19). The Apostle knows the Law of God is good — the problem is not the Law, the problem is us. As Pastor Ramstad noted, this is where last week’s reading from Romans 7 left off: the Law is holy, righteous, and good. Our own conscience bears witness — the good we ought to do, we leave undone; the sin we ought to flee, we run toward anyway. That tug-of-war is the shared experience of every Christian.
“Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!“
Romans 7:24–25 (ESV)
Paul refuses to end in despair. Just when the back-and-forth threatens to overwhelm him, he lands on a rally cry of joy: Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. The question “Who will deliver me?” already has its answer — and His name is Jesus.
United in the Problem — United in the Solution
It was a fitting weekend to speak of unity: fifty states, one nation, 250 years. “United we stand, divided we fall,” the saying goes. But Pastor Ramstad pointed to a deeper unity. We are all united in one problem — sin — and we know it is deadly, for “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Yet we are even more deeply united in its solution. That shout of triumph, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord,” belongs to the whole gathered body of Christ as it hears the Word and receives the Sacrament.
The freedom Christians treasure most is not merely life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is the freedom Christ won at the cross — freedom from sin, death, and the devil. And that freedom is not license to sin, but the joyful liberty to serve God and neighbor. “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!” (Romans 6:1–2). It is the same grace Pastor proclaimed earlier this summer from Romans 5: while we were still weak and ungodly, Christ died for us.
A Children’s Message: The Heavy Stone
Before the sermon, DCE Jason Glaskey called the children forward and hauled out a gym bag weighted with the biggest stone he could find. Volunteers tried to lift it — some could, none could carry it far. “We are not made to carry that kind of weight,” he told them. And yet every day we carry something far heavier: our sin. Pointing to the words on the sanctuary wall, the children read together, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus does not simply watch us strain; He takes the load all the way to His cross, and then He puts His own yoke on us — because a yoke is how He pulls with us the rest of the way home.
Rest for Your Souls
The Gospel appointed for the day is Jesus’ gentle invitation — the very promise that gives rest to our souls when the war within leaves us exhausted.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV)
This is where the sermon lands: your deliverance is already accomplished. In Holy Baptism you were joined to Christ’s death and His resurrection; the old Adam is drowned and a new person rises to walk with Him. Win, lose, or draw in the daily struggle, Christ has already claimed, sealed, and delivered your salvation in His blood — and He keeps handing it back to you at the font and at the Lord’s Supper, His body and blood given for the forgiveness of sins.
Worship on the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Immanuel’s summer worship continued with Holy Communion in the Divine Service. The appointed readings were:
- Old Testament: Zechariah 9:9–12 — “Rejoice greatly… behold, your King is coming to you.”
- Epistle: Romans 7:14–25a — the war within, and “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
- Holy Gospel: Matthew 11:25–30 — “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden.”
The liturgy carried the same Gospel from start to finish. We opened with the baptismal hymn “Father Welcomes” (LSB 605), sang “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say” (LSB 699) as the Hymn of the Day, and — mindful of the holiday weekend — closed with “God Bless Our Native Land” (LSB 965), commending our country to the Ruler of wind and wave.
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
Lutheran Service Book 699, st. 1
“Come unto Me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down
Thy head upon My breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
So weary, worn, and sad;
I found in Him a resting-place,
And He has made me glad.
Summer Worship at Immanuel
Through the summer, Immanuel Lutheran Church gathers for one service each Sunday at 9:00 AM, with the Christian Education Hour for all ages at 10:15 AM. Whether you have worshiped your whole life or are just beginning to explore the faith, there is a place for you here. Jesus brings life — meet Him here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost?
It is one of the “green” Sundays in the long Season after Pentecost, the half of the church year that follows the great festivals and focuses on the life of faith. In 2026 the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost fell on July 5, using the appointed readings from the three-year lectionary (Series A). Browse more messages in our sermons archive.
What Bible readings were used on July 5, 2026?
The Old Testament reading was Zechariah 9:9–12, the Epistle was Romans 7:14–25a, and the Holy Gospel was Matthew 11:25–30. Pastor Ramstad preached on the Epistle, continuing the congregation’s walk through Romans 7.
What does “take My yoke upon you” mean?
A yoke joins two animals so they can pull a load together. Jesus invites the weary to be yoked to Him — not to add another burden, but because He carries the weight with us and for us. His yoke is easy and His burden light precisely because He has already borne our sin to the cross.
When does Immanuel Lutheran Church worship?
In the summer we worship Sundays at 9:00 AM, with Bible class and Sunday School at 10:15 AM. During the school year we return to services at 8:00 and 10:30 AM with the Education Hour between. New here? See what to expect at a Lutheran service or learn what we believe.
About Immanuel Lutheran Church
Immanuel Lutheran Church is a confessional congregation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod at 2616 S Connecticut Ave, Joplin, MO 64804, and the home of Martin Luther School (PK–8). We proclaim Christ crucified and risen, delivered to sinners through Word and Sacrament. Learn more about what we believe, explore past messages in our sermons archive, or reach out with a question or prayer request — we would love to hear from you.