Third Sunday of Easter Joplin Missouri — On April 19, 2026, Immanuel Lutheran Church gathered for the Divine Service on the Third Sunday of Easter. The risen Lord Jesus Christ continues to reveal Himself to His Church through His Word and Sacraments, strengthening our faith and filling us with the joy of His resurrection. Pastor Christopher Ramstad proclaimed the Gospel from Luke 24:13–35, the beloved account of the Road to Emmaus, where Jesus opened the Scriptures and made Himself known in the breaking of the bread.
Third Sunday of Easter Joplin Missouri: The Road to Emmaus
The Third Sunday of Easter falls during the great fifty days of the Easter season, a time when the Church celebrates the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. At Immanuel Lutheran Church in Joplin, Missouri, the congregation gathered at 8:00 AM for the Divine Service. This Third Sunday of Easter Joplin Missouri service followed the historic liturgy from the Lutheran Service Book, with the readings appointed for this day drawing the faithful deeper into the reality of the resurrection and its meaning for daily life.
Scripture Readings for the Third Sunday of Easter Joplin Missouri
The appointed readings for this Sunday proclaimed the power of Christ’s resurrection and its impact on the life of the Church and every believer.
First Reading: Acts 2:14a, 36–41 — The Apostle Peter preaches boldly on the Day of Pentecost, declaring that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ. Cut to the heart, the crowd asks what they must do. Peter calls them to repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and about three thousand souls are added to the Church that day.
Psalm: Psalm 116:1–4, 12–19 — The psalmist gives thanks to the Lord who heard his cry in the midst of distress. He asks, “What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits to me?” and answers with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, calling upon the name of the Lord in the presence of all His people.
Epistle: 1 Peter 1:17–25 — St. Peter reminds the Church that we have been redeemed not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish or defect. Through Him we are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead, so that our faith and hope are in God.
Gospel: Luke 24:13–35 — Two disciples walk the road to Emmaus on the first Easter, downcast and confused. The risen Jesus draws near and walks with them, opening the Scriptures and explaining how all things written about the Christ must be fulfilled. Their hearts burn within them as He teaches, and He is made known to them in the breaking of the bread — a foretaste of how Christ continues to come to us in His Word and Sacrament.
Theological Reflection: Known in the Breaking of the Bread
The Road to Emmaus account is one of the most beloved resurrection appearances in all of Scripture. It reveals the pattern by which Christ continues to meet His people today. For worshipers on the Third Sunday of Easter Joplin Missouri and around the world, just as Jesus opened the Scriptures to Cleopas and his companion, so He opens His Word to us each Sunday in the Divine Service. And just as He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread, so Christ gives us His true body and blood in the Lord’s Supper for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod confesses that Christ is truly present in His means of grace — in the preaching of the Gospel, in Holy Baptism, and in the Lord’s Supper. The Emmaus disciples’ experience mirrors our own: the risen Lord comes to us not in spectacular visions but through ordinary means, in Word and Sacrament, where He promises to be found. On this Third Sunday of Easter Joplin Missouri celebrates with the whole Church that our hearts burn within us when God’s Word is rightly proclaimed.
About Immanuel Lutheran Church in Joplin, Missouri
Immanuel Lutheran Church is a congregation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod located at 2616 S Connecticut Ave, Joplin, MO 64804. We gather each Sunday for the Divine Service at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM, with Sunday School and Bible Classes at 9:20 AM. Whether you joined us for the Third Sunday of Easter Joplin Missouri worship or are visiting our page for the first time, our worship follows the historic liturgy from the Lutheran Service Book, centered on the proclamation of God’s Word and the administration of the Sacraments.
Martin Luther School, our LCMS day school, serves students in Early Childhood (age 3) through 8th grade with Christ-centered education rooted in the Lutheran confessions. Whether you are new to the area or searching for a church home, we welcome you to visit and hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed in its truth and purity.
View more sermons and worship services from Immanuel Lutheran Church on our Services and Sermons page. You can also watch past services on our YouTube channel.