tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311143565007092342024-03-14T07:22:20.323-07:00News and Notes for the Saints at St. Paul's and Pastor Ronnie KochThis is a convenient place for members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Fredericksburg to check for updates and information to keep up to date with what is happening within our local church, our Iowa District East and the Synod at large. Pastor Ronnie Koch will from time include his sermons or other Bible lessons on this site.Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.comBlogger562125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-65224369146044968382024-03-14T07:21:00.000-07:002024-03-14T07:21:48.792-07:00Sermon for Lent Midweek 4<p> <span style="font-size: 11pt;">“We preach
Christ Crucified.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the name of Jesus. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">1 Corinthians 1:18-25 </span></b><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"> </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">For the
word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to
us who are being saved it is the power of God.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"> . . . <span class="text"><b><sup>22 </sup></b>For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek
wisdom,</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>23 </sup></b>but we preach
Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>24 </sup></b>but to those who are called, both Jews and
Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>25 </sup></b>For the foolishness of God is wiser than
men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We preach Christ crucified. That word
“Preach” has become a technical term and specifically churchly activity. But
all Christians do it, when we talk about Christ crucified to others. When a
mother sings “Jesus loves me” to her infant, she’s preaching Christ crucified.
When a father prays with his small children and teaches them by word and
action, he is preaching Christ crucified. When a Christian sees their neighbor
down in the dumps and gives the consolation of heavenly forgiveness and hope of
heavenly life, you’re preaching Christ crucified.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">But mostly we use that word “preach”
to mean what the whole church does together publicly, corporately, when the man
appointed and ordained preaches, proclaims, announces the word of Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Paul here in 1 Corinthians used the
Greek word for preach, that was used especially of official announcements.
Before there was mass media there were specially appointed messengers, or
criers who would go into the center of town or at the entry gate of town,
wherever people gathered and he would announce or proclaim important messages.
Maybe there would be chariot races tomorrow afternoon. Maybe the king had
issued an important decree. Maybe there was news to announce that the king’s
armies were victorious in an epic battle. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We preach Christ crucified. And in this
announcement there is good news of our King’s important decree—you are
justified by His grace. There is good news of our King’s victory in an epic
battle. As we sing in the hymn, he is the death of death our foe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Christ crucified, some may think it
sounds like Christ lost, God’s Son was beaten and defeated. But no, Christ
crucified is the power of God. Some may think it sounds foolish. But no, “</span><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Christ
crucified the power of God and the wisdom of God.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"> <span class="text"><b><sup> </sup></b>For
the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger
than men.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">You heard how those who passed by the crucified Christ mocked Him.
They said, “<u>If</u> You are the Son of God, <u>come down</u>. But they had it
all wrong. It’s just the opposite. <u>Since</u> He is the Son of God, He <u>must</u>
stay on the cross. The true Savior, the true Son of God, the true Christ is the
crucified Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">The opening hymn said it this way, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">“Uplifted for the world
to see <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">He hangs in strangest
victory, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">For in His body on the
tree <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">He carries all our ills.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;">Romans 3 says that Christ
crucified is how we who have sinned and fall short of the glory of God are redeemed
and justified and given atonement for our sins. And it says this is for all who
believe (vs. 22). So that we believe, we preach and we listen, to this
announcement, this good news, this proclamation from on high:</span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;">Christ crucified. Amen.</span></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-83345182218294703422024-03-10T06:31:00.000-07:002024-03-10T06:31:50.129-07:00Sermon for 4th Sunday in Lent<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Lord
feeds His People</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Exodus
16:4 </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">4 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Then
the <span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span> said to Moses,
“Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people
shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them,
whether they will walk in my law or not.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.4pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">This moment in the wilderness was a situation of testing
for the people of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.4pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I’m told the Sinai Desert is like the surface of the moon
or Mars. There’s no water, no vegetation, just rocks, lots of rocks. Little
rocks and big rocks. It sounds like that’s what it was like back then, also. A
nice place to visit, maybe, but you wouldn’t want to live there. Also, you
wouldn’t want to spend 40 years walking around out there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.4pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">That place and climate made the lesson God was teaching
very clear, a couple of million people camping out in a wilderness like this –
within a week or two they will be completely helpless to find food or water,
shelter or safety. They would have nowhere to turn for help and rescue. Nowhere
but from heaven. That was their test. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.4pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The long story of the Old Testament teaches that testing is
good, contrary to what we might expect. It’s good to just get a pass, an easy A,
It’s nice when you can just move right along. But the truth is, it’s better for
your character and for your faith, to be tested now and again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.4pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">It was good for the ancient people of Israel, that God fed
them. It was also good for them to get hungry. The Lord let them get hungry
that they would call out to Him and know that He is the Lord, that they would believe
that He in His good mercy fed them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Exodus 16:16-19 </span></b><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Moses said: <b><sup>16 </sup></b>This
is what the </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 115%;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> has
commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall
each take an omer,<sup data-fn="#fen-ESV-1964a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-1964a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+16%3A16-19&version=ESV#fen-ESV-1964a" style="box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px;" title="See footnote a"><span style="color: #4a4a4a;">a</span></a>]</sup> according to the number of the
persons that each of you has in his tent.’”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup style="font-size: 1.2rem;"><span id="en-ESV-1965">17 </span></sup></b>And the people of Israel did so. They
gathered, some more, some less.</span></span> <span class="text"><b><sup style="font-size: 1.2rem;"><span id="en-ESV-1966">18 </span></sup></b>But when they
measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and
whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could
eat.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup style="font-size: 1.2rem;"><span id="en-ESV-1967">19 </span></sup></b>And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any
of it over till the morning.”</span></div><h1 style="margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></h1>
<p style="line-height: 20.4pt;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">If you’re following along
with the daily Bible readings we list in the monthly church newsletter, you’re
just getting into this book of Exodus. When you read Exodus, admittedly, it can
be tedious. There is so much detail, so many instructions that are exact,
precise, and detailed. So think of it this way, the Lord with these meticulous
instructions is training His people. He’s teaching them how to listen to His
words. He said </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“Let no one leave any of it over
till the morning.”</span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<h1 style="margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Exodus 16:20 <span class="text"><sup>20 </sup></span></span></b><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the
morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p style="line-height: 20.4pt;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">So they learned an unpleasant
lesson. When the Lord speaks, it’s good to listen to Him. When He speaks there
is misfortune and curses for those who will not listen to Him. There is promises
and blessings for those who hear His word and keep it. Each of the commandments
of God have these curses and blessings attached to them. Take the third
commandment for example, Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Those who
hear it and keep it are given the blessings that flow from worshipping God, hearing
His word, receiving His sacrament, strengthening their faith, directing their
lives for the week ahead. Those who do not listen to this commandment are left
outside of the Lord’s means of grace and in danger of being left outside of His
kingdom. Or take the 6<sup>th</sup> Commandment, you shall not commit adultery.
This world in which we live is hurting under the misfortune and curse of not
hearing and obeying this commandment. When marriage and the family is disrespected everything
else about society and life suffer. But when Husbands love their wives and the
home is filled with love and peace and joy, the family, the community, society
is blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<h1 style="margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Exodus 16:21 <span class="text"><sup>21 </sup></span></span></b><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat;</span><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p style="line-height: 20.4pt;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Lord gave. The people ate
and lived.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 20.4pt;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Many years later, Jesus said,
“I am the bread of life. . . </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has
eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day</span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">”</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span>(John
6:54).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="line-height: 20.4pt;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Jesus makes a connection between bread and
eternal life. If we truly understand our daily bread, If we are truly thankful
for every morsel, our Lord provides, we will come to understand and believe in
His gift of life everlasting. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 20.4pt;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">A good prayer before meals is this verse from the
Psalms: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Psalm 145:15-16 <span class="text"><sup>15 </sup></span></span></b><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The eyes of all look to you,</span></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">and you give them their food in due season.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span class="text"><b><sup style="font-size: 1.2rem;"><span id="en-ESV-16337">16 </span></sup></b>You open
your hand;</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">you satisfy the desire of every living thing.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">You can picture the living
things that are daily satisfied by the Lord’s hand, feeding them. The bird in
the nest, for whom the Lord provides good parents who bring the worm and bug. The
lamb or calf for whom the Lord provides the nursing ewe or cow. The hungry beggar,
and the Lord provides for him or her a good neighbor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Food and faith go together.
We trust the Lord to give us our daily bread, and all things we need. We trust
the Lord to give us the forgiveness of our sins, salvation and eternal life. Amen.</span> </p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-11265971481870585152024-03-06T15:50:00.000-08:002024-03-06T15:50:13.335-08:00Sermon for Lent Midweek 3<p>Christ crucified. “The Wisdom of God”</p><p>1 Corinthians 3:18-22</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">In the name of Jesus. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Christ crucified seemed to be foolish. So we who cling to Christ
crucified, would seem to be fools.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Pilate was amazed that Jesus would not defend Himself, but
would go forward to crucifixion. Pilate’s wife wanted him to have nothing to do
with Christ crucified. In the same way, many Greeks and Romans heard the good
news of Christ crucified, brushed it off as foolishness. Every century since, there
have many who were wise in this world, so wise that they considered Christ
crucified foolishness. It is of them, that the verse says, “The Lord knows the
thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">So we hold dear what the world says is foolish. We believe
that Christ crucified is the Wisdom of God. All these years later and we talk
about it, we sing about it, we pray about it, we lean our faith on it. We pray
that the Lord would imprint this image on our hearts, that the full inscription
be, Jesus Crucified for me. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">In 1 Corinthians 3 Paul shows the great contrast between human,
worldly wisdom and God’s wisdom.<span class="text"> “If anyone among you
thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become
wise.</span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">The Lord does not care how smart you are in the wisdom of
this age, this world. He calls you to have His wisdom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Now of course, there is some stuff you gotta know to get by
in life. When you learn your lessons, when you pass a test, earn a certificate,
you get a measurable recognition. But the true wisdom that God seeks in you is
not something you can show off or boast about. It must come from above. And it
is placed into you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">One of the problems that Paul was dealing with in 1 Corinthians,
was that the Corinthians were dividing themselves up into different groups.
Some were bragging that they were taught by the Apostle Paul. Others said well,
we are of Peter’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others said Apollos,
is ours. It was silly, and it was missing the big idea of what it means to be a
Christian. Paul tells them, “<span class="text">So let no one boast in men.
For all things are yours,</span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text"><b><sup style="font-size: 1.2rem;"><span id="en-ESV-28416" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">22 </span></sup></b>whether Paul or Apollos or
Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours,</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text"><b><sup style="font-size: 1.2rem;"><span id="en-ESV-28417" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">23 </span></sup></b>and you are Christ's,
and Christ is God's.</span>”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">The Corinthian’s problem was that they were thinking too
little of themselves and what all they have because they are saved by Christ.
They had forgiveness of their sins, eternal life, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Holy Spirit and his many gifts, and they
had the wisdom of heaven. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">All things are yours. You have to think that way, when you
lust after pleasures in this world, why? All things are yours. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you feel the frustration of not getting
your way, All things are yours. When you suffer a loss, and lose what you
thought you could never live without, All things are yours, because you are
Christ’s.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">There is a fear of the unknown. You might have a fear of
being foolish. People often have the bad dream in which they show up to work
and suddenly can’t remember how to do their job. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">When it comes to knowing the heavenly truth. You don’t need
to fear or worry. Don’t ever allow feelings of inadequacy into your head when
it comes to your faith and wisdom. All things are yours. And you are Christ’s. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Many Christians are tongue-tied when it comes to their faith.
They feel unfit to speak about the things of Christ; they are afraid to say
something wrong and sound like a fool. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Take stock of the wisdom that is yours in Christ crucified. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Christ crucified is the Wisdom of God. When Christ was
crucified for you, He gave you all things. In Christ you have it all and you
lack nothing. You can say, The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-10448816268236239242024-02-28T15:54:00.000-08:002024-02-28T15:54:37.954-08:00Sermon for Lent Midweek 2<p> Christ crucified. “The Power of God”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">In the name of Jesus. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Jesus said to Caiaphas, the High Priest, “I tell you, from
now on </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">you will see the Son of Man </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">seated at the right hand of Power and </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">coming on the clouds of heaven.</span>” But Caiphas didn’t
believe Him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He turned to the rest of
Jewish ruling council and said, <span class="text">“He has uttered blasphemy.
What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text"><span id="en-ESV-24117" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">What is your judgment?” They
answered, “He deserves death.”</span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span>(Matthew 26:64-66). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">In the ears of his enemies, what Jesus says sounds like
blasphemy and lies. They could not, would not believe that Christ is the Power
of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">We who are in Christ, believe what He says. We believe Christ
crucified. “The Power of God.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Colossians chapter 1 was written to teach us Christ. It shows
us who He is and what He can do: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Who He is:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The image
of the invisible God. God who is invisible to us mere mortals, becomes
accessible to us in the person of Jesus Christ, the image of God. In Jesus, the
Son of Man, the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">And what He does:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
Christ true God, yet also true man, was crucified for us and then became the
firstborn from the dead. He is Head of the Church of all believers, and we
believers are members of His body, and we go together, headfirst, through death
and into eternal life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Colossians chapter 1 lists things Christ can do. That’s what the
word “power” means “can do.” As we meditate on Christ crucified. “The Power of
God”, we consider what Christ can do. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Christ crucified has the power to deliver us</span></u><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colossians 1: 13 <b><sup>“</sup></b>He </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">has delivered us from </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">the domain of darkness and transferred us to </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">the kingdom of </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">his beloved Son</span>”.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">That’s how come
you can call Him Lord. He was powerful enough to defeat the domain of darkness.
He has established His Kingdom by overcoming all enemies. He has delivered you
and answered your prayer of “Thy Kingdom Come.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Christ crucified is the power of God to deliver you from the enemies of Sin
and Death and the Power of the devil and to transfer you to the Kingdom of Light
and eternal life. Do you believe that? If so, then leave behind all thoughts
and acts of darkness. Desire nothing but His Kingdom and His life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Christ crucified
is the Power of God to Redeem</span></u><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colossians 1: 14 “<span style="background: white; color: black;">in whom we have redemption, the
forgiveness of sins.</span>”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">When we meditate on Christ crucified, it’s a delight to
recite, or sing the catechism’s words: “who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned
person, purchased and won me from all sin, from death and from the power of the
devil, not with gold or silver but with His holy precious blood and with his
innocent suffering and death.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Christ crucified
is the Power of God to Redeem</span></u><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you believe that? Do you count on
that? Such that no matter what scary, ugly situations you may have found yourself
in, Christ is the Power of God, the Can Do of God, there is nothing, nowhere
that Christ cannot redeem you out of. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">That verse
14 said, “<span style="background: white; color: black;">in whom we have
redemption, the forgiveness of sins.</span>” <u>Christ crucified is the Power
of God to forgive sins</u>. Do you believe that? If so then you ought not to be
sulking in regret and a guilty conscience. When you hang onto old sins, when
you have those recurring thoughts that you have done some things that you can
never get over, when you listen to the accusations the devil would stir up
against you, you’re thinking like even Jesus can’t forgive you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christ crucified Can Do. He is the Power of
God to forgive sins.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Lastly, peace: <u>Christ crucified is the Power of God to make
peace.</u> It takes someone powerful to make peace. He reconciles you and me to
Himself. Forgiving our sins redeeming us out of the Domain of sin, death and the
devil, He has reconciled us, brought us back into good standing, and made a
peaceful relationship with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you
believe that? Then have a high priority to live out that peace every day, in
your heart and with your neighbor. Christ is the Power of God to make peace.
With His power, you can do it. You can forget old grievances. You can overcome
hard feelings. You can say, “I’m sorry.” And you can sincerely forgive those
who have trespassed against you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Caiphas and any other characters who have set their hearts to
despise Jesus will not believe the power of Christ crucified. We believe this. We
count on this. We are blessed by Christ crucified, the Power of God. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-9107048503358757622024-02-22T07:16:00.000-08:002024-02-22T07:16:57.624-08:00Sermon for Lent Midweek 1<p>Bless us with the mind of Christ crucified.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ
Jesus</span> (Philippians 2:5).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">These are
some of the encouraging words Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi. He told
them, “<span style="background: white; color: black;">let your manner of life be </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">worthy</span> of the gospel of Christ</span>.” This was
an exhortation and an encouragement. Not just the scolding of the law, as if Paul
would tell you, “Why can’t you be more like Jesus?” Rather, He was inviting the
Philippians to consider how they would do well to have the mind of Christ. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">We join with those Christians of that far away place, long
ago and we pray to the same Lord, saying, “Bless us with the mind of Christ
crucified.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Let’s then consider having the mind of Christ in three ways:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In prayer, in peace, in patience.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">First, in prayer. Bless us with the mind of Christ crucified
in our worship and prayer. We are blessed to have the actual prayers of Jesus
that He spoke on the night He was betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. He
prayed, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless,
not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). Three times he prayed this
prayer. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Learn the mind of Christ crucified from the way he prays. When
we pray with the mind of Christ, we are not only begging for what our hearts
desire. But we are willing to have our desires conformed to His. In Jesus’
prayers in the garden, we hear Him coming to terms with the cross and the
suffering that He is about to endure. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">The cross is no accident. It was the Father’s will for Jesus
Christ to suffer and die, punished for your sins and my sins. Our Lord Jesus,
true man, prone to human suffering and death and so struggling with the built-in
desire to avoid suffering and pain and live, He struggles in prayer. Until He
says, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, (this bitter drink),
then so be it, your will be done.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Bless us with the mind of Christ crucified that we may pray
for our Lord’s will to be done and trust that His will is done. And after we
have brought our prayers to the Lord, three times even, let that be enough. Trust
His good and gracious will. Be at peace. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">And that’s number 2: Peace. Bless us with the mind of Christ crucified
– a mind of peace. After this prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, our Lord is
at peace. He is resolute. He doesn’t hesitate again. He has no anxiety, no
anger. Unlike Peter who pulls out a sword and clumsily cuts off the ear of one
of the bad guys, Jesus has no violence within Himself. No rash reactions to the
suffering inflicted upon Him. He simply says to His Judas, “Do what you came to
do.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">In Christ crucified find peace. He obediently, willingly,
suffered and died for you. That your sins would be forgiven, and your guilt
atoned for. Let the mind of Christ crucified fill you with peace, trusting that
because He who died for you in such humiliation is now exalted to the highest
heavens to reign in glory forever and He calls you to His presence so you can
share in that exaltation and glory in eternal life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">In due time that is. Just as Christ was exalted after His time
of suffering, so you also will need to have some patience through suffering
before the glory is full. Let your prayer be, Bless us with the mind of Christ crucified.
<i>Crucified</i>. Think about what you’re asking for. You want to be like Jesus,
to pray like Jesus, to have peace like Jesus, that, of course will include
suffering in this life, like Jesus. Philippians 1:29 says this: <b><sup> <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">“</span></sup></b>For </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">it has been granted to you that for the sake of
Christ you should not only believe in him but also </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">suffer for his sake,</span>”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">In this life, those who have the mind of Christ will expect
suffering. You will suffer because things aren’t like they should be, because of
sin and sin’s companion, death. You will suffer because your flesh will
constantly be drawn to sin and there will be the ongoing internal struggle
against. You will suffer because the devil hates you and all that is good. You
will suffer because the world has scorn for Christ and mocks you for following His
way. You will have to suffer, because the alternative is to just give up and not
care and just let evil happen and never let good happen. Because as soon as you
let the mind of Christ be at work in you, there will be suffering also.</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"> “Bless
us with the mind of Christ crucified that we may have His patience in suffering.”</span><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Hear again Paul’s encouragement in Philippians 5: “Have this
mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus</span>” <span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">(Philippians 2:5). Did you catch what
he’s saying? that it <i><u>is </u></i>yours? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Baptism’s reminder is that you are Baptized
into Christ. Into His death to sin and into His life of peace and eventual glory.
You have Christ. You have the mind of Christ. In prayer, in peace and in patience.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Amen. <o:p></o:p></span></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-19823376637621537532024-02-14T14:43:00.000-08:002024-02-14T14:43:12.341-08:00Sermon for Ash Wednesday<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“Where
your treasure is. . .” Matthew 6:21</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Jesus
says, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).
This is our text.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Our
practice of Lent: the extra church services, the Lent Hymns, prayers, the
Psalms and other readings are healthy for the soul. They lead to Christ,
crucified – for our salvation and our eternal life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">They are
also good for our training in righteousness. We learn and grow in our repentance
and faith with the help of the words and actions of Lent. Specifically, in Lent
we learn how to repent of our sins, and which sins we should repent of. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Some sins
are so obvious, one doesn’t need any outside instruction to recognize them. We
each have a conscience and it works to point out to us what we have done wrong.
For example, if there is someone that you would love as a Valentine, but you say
or do something that saddens them and brings them to tears, your conscience ought
to sting. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">But other
sins are not so easily noticed or even recognized as being sin. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For these we need the word of our Lord to convict
us of our wrong, to teach us and train us in righteousness. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Jesus does
just that in tonight’s Gospel reading. He says, “<span style="background: white; color: black;">And </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">when you fast, do not look gloomy like the
hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by
others” (Matthew 6:16).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Jesus describes hypocrites as being very proud of their
religious acts. Let’s let His words instruct us and guide our consciences. Let’s
think about this carefully, do we ever wear our own goodness like a medal of
honor. Do we ever do something that is nice, good and proper, admirable even, but
while we are doing it, we desire to get some recognition for it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's like we’re saying, “Hey did y’all see
what I just did there?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">This is the way the self-centered mind will work. It gets
busy feeling so proud of yourself. Proud of your own spiritual endeavors.
Convincing yourself that you deserve others to acknowledge and admire all that’s
good about you. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">It’s tricky here because you can trick your conscience with situations
like this. You say to yourself, “I’m doing a good thing. Nothing wrong with it.”
But the Lord is teaching you that your motivation, your love is aimed at the
wrong thing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Jesus says that those who think and act like that, “have received
their reward.” That implies that the reward is in this time and in this world,
not forever, not in heaven. It can be rewarding to be noticed. It is a pleasure
to be well thought of by others. But such feelings, such treasure won’t last. “Do
not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">There is an old saying used on Ash Wednesday, “Remember that
you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” That reminder shows that we can’t
take much credit for anything that lasts. What treasure can we find within
ourself and our own spiritual works? The kind of treasure that turns again to
dust.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The treasure to be desired, must be beyond ourselves, namely,
in Christ crucified. He is your Treasure. You have this treasure when He comes
to you with His Word and with His body and blood. You have this Treasure that
will not be corrupted over time, or stolen by anyone or anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Christ crucified rescued you from all sin. Daily He draws you
out of sin, teaching you how to repent of all sins and believe in His
forgiveness. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All sins – Those obvious
ones that your conscience will so easily recognize, and those trickier sins,
like thinking too much of yourself, with pride like the hypocrites. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">So this Ash Wednesday let’s begin Lent repenting of any self-centeredness.
Repent of the love of self. Repent of the temptation to trust your own good
spiritual acts. Learn from the Lord to Love Him, not yourself, to trust Him,
not yourself, to treasure Him, not yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Let’s keep learning from the Lord. Let’s have Him train us in
His righteousness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">When you come for Individual Confession and Absolution, we
usually use the order of service for it, that is in the hymnal. And in there after
you’ve confessed your sins, you have this line to say, “I am sorry for all of
this and ask for grace. I want to do better.” That’s just how it goes, when you’re
sorry for having done wrong in the past, you want to do better in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Here's how we will strive to do better with our Lent actions
and prayers and with our heart and attitude. We will look beyond ourselves and
the dusty treasures we too often hold on to. We will look to Christ crucified
and trust Him to be our treasure that will last now and forever. Amen.</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-12999894821501504952024-02-05T09:30:00.000-08:002024-02-05T09:30:22.716-08:00Sermon for Sexagesima<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">"The Seed is The Word of
God” -- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Luke 8:11</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">And when
a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to
him, Jesus said in a parable,</span><b style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </b><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“A sower went out to sow
his seed” (Luke 8:4).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus
told many parables -- stories about earthly, ordinary things, to teach a
spiritual, heavenly truth. So because they were heavenly, spiritual, often the
parables were hard to understand and have resulted in differing, even
conflicting interpretations of their meaning. But this parable in today’s
Gospel reading is easy. It’s easy because Jesus gave the exact interpretation.
He tells us what it means.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">He
says, Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. A seed is
full of potential for new life. So is the Word of God. It’s Ready to grow, and
enliven, and produce a crop, with patience, a hundredfold.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Let this
be comforting Good News to anyone who has ever felt like they weren’t very
productive, that they could have done better. Let this be the answer to our failings
and regrets. Christ our Lord comes to us in His Word and plants in us a living
faith. Faith produces the crop that is truly important. Ultimately faith is the
thing we have now that will last, on into eternal life.</span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The crop
that Jesus tells us to expect from the Word of God is the peace of mind hearing
his absolution. It’s the hope of getting His invitation into life eternal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the clean conscious that trusts that God
is pleased with you now and forever because Jesus died you and saved you. Take
this word of God into your minds and into your hearts, where it will have the
power to grow and flourish into a living, active faith. Rejoice to have that
crop today and forever. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">So that’s
the seed the Sower sows. But then Jesus lists off four places where that seed
lands, four different kind of soils.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The first
is when the seed falls along the path, where the soil is hardened by foot traffic
and so it doesn’t sink in. It lays there where the birds can come snatch the
seed away.</span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus says this is what it’s
like when the devil comes and takes away the word from the hearts of some. And they
don’t believe. They are not saved. With this parable, Jesus urges each man,
woman, boy and girl to watch out. The devil is at work. You know what it is
like, don’t you. Even while you are here in the house of the Lord, where His
true word is read and preached, your mind wonders to things trivial, earthly,
even sinful. With stealth the devil distracts the mind from truly, carefully
listening to the Word of God. Guard yourself against the distractions and stray
thoughts the devil would use to take the Word of God away from you. Here’s
somethings you can do:</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Come into the house of the Lord and pray for clear thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Come into the house of the Lord with the expectation of
blessings and strength for your faith, given in the Word and Sacrament.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Make mental notes, or even better, write down a note or two
about the Word that you hear, that you have something to take home with you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Next,
some seed fell among rocks. So the soil is not conducive to good roots. The resulting
plant is not strong or healthy. When the hot sun beats down on it, it withers
and dies. Jesus says, that’s like a faith with little depth, based on emotions.
In times of testing and tribulation, the emotions change and the faith withers.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Faith
comes from hearing the word of God. It does produce emotions like joy and empathy,
charity, peace, contentment. But faith is different from the emotions and not
to be based on our feelings, but on the Word of God. When trials and tribulations
come and they will, Jesus says, Faith needs a sure and strong root in the Lord,
not the shallow roots of fickle human emotions.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The third
kind of soil where the seed is scattered, is full of thorns and thistles. Jesus
says that’s like faith that is strangled by the cares and riches and pleasures of
life in this evil world.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Here again,
this is an easy parable to understand. We all know the cares and pleasures of
life that would choke out the Word of God. We live in a world that is rich in
cares and pleasures. Each of you know what kind of pleasures abound that
distract souls from hearing and believing the word of God. If you play your games
with religious fervor. And if you make your religion to be just a pastime, your
letting the thorns of life choke out the good crop of faith.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now we
recognize that Christian’s have the freedom to be away from church on the occasional
Sunday. But hear the Lord’s warning to examine what’s growing in your life:</span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What is your love? the pleasures and cares of
sports and leisure or the Lord, His Word, your faith and eternal life?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus said,
“A sower when out to sow his seed.” The soil needed the sower’s work and care.
It would have not produced a crop without the sower’s seed. You are the soil.
You need the Lord and His Word.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Land
needs management. It needs care and hard work. There’s a misinformed idea that
just because people pollute and destroy the land, the land would be better off
if people would just let it alone and let nature be free to grow. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recently saw a piece of ground marked off as
“Prairie Restoration”. But it obviously 0had not been properly cared for. If
you looked closely you could see some prairie grasses and wild flowers, but it
was mostly taken over by thorns and thistles, burrs and briars. Nature can be
beautiful. But it can also be ugly, dangerous and deadly. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Lord
God told Adam, the first man, to care for the earth, to work the land by the
sweat of his brow. So today, those who are charged to care for the land, must
continue to do so.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Likewise
you need the Good Lord to manage your faith and life. You need His work on you,
sowing His Word in your mind and in your heart, where it will grow and produce
a crop leading to eternal life. Amen.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-56523513429404443592023-12-18T08:25:00.000-08:002023-12-18T08:25:42.814-08:00Sermon for Advent 3<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="QuickMark"></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 24.0pt;">Rejoice!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 24.0pt;">Philippians 4:4</span></b><span style="font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 2.5in; tab-stops: -1.0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -2.0in;">On this third Sunday of Advent, the Introit
includes verses from Psalm 85 and these poetic lines from Philippians chapter 4<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b>Rejoice in the
Lord <span class="ChantMark">|</span> always;<span class="ChantMark">*</span><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>again I will <span class="ChantMark">|</span> say, Rejoice.<br />
Let your reasonableness be known to <span class="ChantMark">|</span> everyone.<span class="ChantMark">*</span><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Lord <span class="ChantMark">|</span> is at hand.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;">Let’s
consider three questions about this command from God’s Word: Rejoice:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black;">When should you
rejoice?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black;">Why should you
rejoice?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black;">How will you rejoice?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;">First one
is easy, when should you rejoice? Always.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Keep on rejoicing, always, I’ll say it again, keep on rejoicing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Actually, we should say this, if you
are not rejoicing, you are sinning. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: 200%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;">There
are moments when you must weep and mourn. Those moments should not be
denied. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But our mourning does not
have to exclude rejoicing. 2 Corinthians 4 teaches us how to find comfort
and joy even in times of distress: <span class="text"><b><sup><span style="background: white; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">7 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">For this
light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory
beyond all comparison,</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text"><b><sup style="font-size: 1.2rem;"><span id="en-ESV-28861" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">18 </span></sup></b>as we look not to the things that
are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen
are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.</span></span><span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: 200%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">There
are times when you will feel angry. In your anger, do not sin. Do not let your
anger kill your joy. Repent of your sin. If your fellow people make you
angry, seek forgiveness from the Lord and learn from him to forgive
others. </span></span><o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in;"><span style="color: black;">Then with a clear conscience, Rejoice in the Lord always.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;">So
clearly, not every moment of your day or every day of the year is going to be a
time of rejoicing at the same level, with the same concentration, and the same
vigor. Rejoice always. And occasionally, regularly, rejoice even more. Like
running a marathon, you can’t sprint the whole thing. For most of it, you have
to set your pace. And go one step at a time. So is the life of rejoicing in the
Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Here’s the way I like to advise Christians
about praying: You can pray anytime. And you must pray regularly. I add the “regularly”
part because, well you know how it is. If the lazy human nature gets to
thinking, “ah, I can pray anytime. So I will pray later. And then the day goes
by and you haven’t prayed, so you say, “Oh well, I guess I will pray tomorrow,
since I can pray anytime.” And tomorrow goes by and the next day. And your
prayers are lacking. Make regular time for prayer, as a habit, and then also,
whenever you call upon the Lord, anytime.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So rejoice in the Lord always. And particularly
find occasions, to consciously, intentionally, take a few moments to rejoice in
the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Secondly, consider, Why you should rejoice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;">This
passage gives the answer. In the Lord. Rejoice in the Lord. Because of your
baptism and faith, you are in the Lord. Eternally, in the Lord. Just as he is risen
from the dead, we too, united with His resurrection are looking forward to an
eternal, resurrected life. A life of peace and comfort and joy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So listen to the children and their
parts at the end of the service today. They have for us readings on the birth
of Jesus, but also his death and burial, and then his glorious resurrection on
Easter and His ascension into heaven from whence He promises to come to us
again. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black;">In the Gospel reading today, John the Baptist and his disciples
get the message about what they should be noticing in the life and work of
Jesus Christ. </span><span class="VerseNumber">5</span>the blind receive their
sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead
are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them (Matthew 11:5).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">The life of Jesus
Christ produced reason for our rejoicing. All the work that Jesus Christ has
done produces reasons for our rejoicing. Because He is all for us. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">So then how should
you rejoice? As I mentioned, R<span style="color: black;">ejoice in the Lord always.
And particularly find occasions, to consciously, intentionally, take a few moments
to rejoice in the Lord. Those moments are guided by the Lord himself. He comes
to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you and blesses you with His word of
Gospel and the sacrament of His body and blood. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black;">Take the gifts He gives, rejoicing in the Lord. Hear His
precious gospel. Recite the Christmas gospel. Say back to Him the gospel He has
said to you as you pray regularly and anytime. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black;">Amen. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-86293585503287773242023-11-29T07:44:00.000-08:002023-11-29T07:44:04.435-08:00Sermon for Thanksgiving<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Thanksgiving Eve<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">November 22, 2023<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Counting on
His Blessings<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Luke 17<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">15 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned
back, praising God with a loud voice;</span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>16 </sup></b>and he
fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Before medicines were developed to treat the
several diseases known in the Bible as leprosy, those infected were forced to stay
apart from society -- isolated so they wouldn’t spread the disease. Lepers
could get together with each other. For the company and support groups of
lepers would stick together. There’d be leper colonies. Here a group of 10
lepers were hanging around together. I’m not sure if 10 is enough to be a
colony, but it’s a good size number. Some of you know what it takes to feed 10
people, or find a place for 10 people to sleep, or to manage how 10 people can
get along without getting upset with each other. 10 can be a crowd.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">But notice this: There was one who didn’t just go
along with the crowd. The crowd was heading off on their way, now cured and
cleansed from leprosy, they were happy to go and not turn back. One didn’t go
along with the crowd. He stopped and turned back Praised God, worshipped the
Son of God, Jesus and gave Him thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">This Thanksgiving and on through the rest of the
holidays even up to Easter, let’s not go along with the crowd. But let us pause
to praise God, worship the Son of God, Jesus, and give Him thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">The crowd is satisfied with all the trappings of
the holidays, the food, the special events, the decorations, and so forth. No
harm in these things. But let’s pause from the crowd’s rush from time to time
in these days, and remember God our Redeemer, Creator. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Everyone strives to be their own person; we all
strive to be true to ourselves. But you realize, there’s too many times when we
just go along with the crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why go
with the crowd? Maybe it’s fear of being ridiculed or rejected. There’s been a
strong pressure on us since we were children to behave like the rest are
behaving. There’s the peer pressure that we warn young people about, but peer
pressure works on all ages. Christians have to learn to stand out, to stand up
for their believes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Often a person just goes along with the crowd
because it’s the easiest thing to do. It takes little thought, little effort.
Jesus pointed out the Samaritan leper’s faith. That faith was demonstrated in
the intentionality of his actions. He paused, thought about it, and worshipped
the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">The Puritan Pilgrims of Plymouth were ones who
didn’t just go along with the crowd. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
crowd in England in the early 1600s led by King James were oppressive to the
Puritans. They said the Puritans were being “Non-conformist” in their religion.
Whether King James and the Official Church of England was right or wrong on the
issues at stake is a question to consider later. But the thing is the Puritan
Pilgrims didn’t want to have an earthly king tell them how to worship and pray.
Neither would we.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">A couple of hundred years later, German princes were
declaring laws on how Lutherans should worship and pray. Especially the
powerful King of Prussia was telling Lutheran churches that they needed to
compromise with non-Lutherans, just go along with the crowd. Because of this
oppression, many German immigrants came to the United States in the 1830s, and
this immigration led to the organization of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">The Puritan Pilgrims of 1620 and the Lutheran
Pilgrims of the 1830s are positive examples of faith. They are good examples of
actively, intentionally confessing the faith in words and actions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">True Christian Thanksgiving is an act of faith.
It is an admission that the good we have comes from the Lord. When the
Samaritan leper stopped and turned back Praised God, worshipped the Son of God,
Jesus and gave Him thanks he was making a bold statement, a powerful confession
of his faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">For this one leper, everything else could wait. This
one thing mattered, his faith in Christ, and the worship of his Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">For the Puritan Pilgrims they faced the dangers of
primitive sea travel and the uncertainties of entering a new land. But they did
so in faith, counting of the blessings that the Lord would provide them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Our Lutheran forefathers immigrated to this land
with faith in the Lord, knowing that come what may, the Lord would provide.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">You can give thanks. You can admit that you are
thankful to God and His Son Jesus Christ, your Savior. You can confess your
faith, with boldness and confidence, counting on the blessings of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-28355029522649820572023-03-12T06:45:00.004-07:002023-03-12T06:45:59.662-07:00Sermon for Lent 3<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jesus said,
“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You can read
all over the place where Jesus would thus bless those who hear the word of God
and keep it. So he blessed the mute demon possessed man who heard the word of
the Lord, believed it and was blessed to speak again. So he blessed the Canaanite
woman who believed the word of the Lord and trusted the Lord to have mercy when
she begged and she was blessed to have her daughter healed. Blessed was the
tax-collector who believed he was a sinner and sought mercy from the Lord,
unlike the well-respected Pharisee who could not believe or keep the word of
the Lord that told him to repent of sins and stop bragging. Blessed was Simeon
who believed the word of the Lord that his eyes would see the promised Savior –
Simeon was blessed to depart in peace. Blessed are you who are hearing the word
of God and will keep it: keep it in your heart and in your mind and in your
daily walk with the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That’s how you
are blessed. Don’t covet other stuff that you are not given. Don’t get all
discouraged because you don’t have this or that and say to yourself, “God hasn’t
blessed me.” I don’t have all the money I want. I don’t have the best things. I
don’t have the respect from others that I deserve. I don’t have the position I
was always trying to get. I don’t have the people around me to support me and
help me and make me happy. Those things are blessings when you get them from
the Lord. But don’t despise him for how he chooses to give out blessings. Listen
to Jesus: “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” That’s
the blessed state you have, regardless if other things haven’t worked out like
you want.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hear the word
of God and keep it. Hear the whole word of God. Keep the whole word of God. Hear
both the Law and Gospel of God. Keep the Law by turning away from sins and
turning toward the way of the Lord. Hear the Gospel. Keep it by trusting the
Lord when He says, “You are forgiven.” And go on your way in the newness of
life that is yours through the Gospel. “Walk in love, as Christ loved us and
gave himself for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The incident recorded in Jeremiah’s book that we read today
is an example of this, a rather bad example. The hearers of the Word of God that
Jeremiah spoke did not keep it. They rejected it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jeremiah was commanded by God to speak a word to the people.
The Lord said to Jeremiah, “<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Do
not hold back a word. <span class="VerseNumber">3</span>It may be they will
listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may relent of the disaster
that I intend to do to them because of their evil deeds” (Jeremiah 26:2-3).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Word of
God is His will, but it is his resistible will. He allows it to be so, that men
and women can hear his word and if they choose, they can resist it, reject it,
not keep it, but dismiss it. The will of God is perfect. We know He gets what
he wants, yet in this wicked world, there are some things that work against his
will. The devil works against God’s goodness, wreaking havoc in the world and
in the lives of the world’s occupants. The sinful human nature within each of
us wants to thwart God’s good and gracious will, and won’t listen to the word and
won’t keep it. It’s only by the gracious working of the Holy Spirit that anyone
can hear and keep the words that the Lord speaks. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jeremiah was
given this message to preach to the people of Judah: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You
shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD: If you will not listen to me, to walk
in my law that I have set before you, and to listen to the words of my servants
the prophets whom I send to you urgently, though you have not listened, then I
will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the
nations of the earth’” (Jeremiah 26:4-6).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Shiloh was
once, in the early history of Israel, a beautiful center of worship. People
came there and received the means of grace. They sang the praises of the Lord.
But some centuries before Jeremiah’s day, enemies of God’s people, probably the
Philistines, destroyed it. So there were these ruins of the place, just 18
miles away from Jerusalem, where Jeremiah is preaching. It was a depressing, discouraging
sight for the people to picture. They knew exactly what this warning meant. And
it made them mad. They said, <span class="VerseNumber">9</span>Why have you
prophesied in the name of the <span class="DivineName">Lord</span>, saying, ‘This
house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without
inhabitant’?” (verse 9).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now they got
what Jeremiah was saying mostly right. But they missed the very key part. They
didn’t keep the word that said: “If you will not listen to me, to walk in my
law that I have set before you, and to listen to the words of my servants the
prophets whom I send to you urgently, though you have not listened, then I will
make this house like Shiloh.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">All these people
had ears that were working. They heard the word. But their hearts were hard and
selective in what word they kept. They got mad at Jeremiah -- more to the point,
they were mad at God – but they directed their anger at Jeremiah. “You shall
die!” They chose to believe that Jeremiah hated them, that he wanted their ruin.
They accused him of prophesying against them. Jeremiah was guilty in their
judgement of saying terrible things, things that some in our day have a
powerful name for -- “hate speech.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But, no,
Jeremiah wasn’t speaking this out of hatred or malice. The Lord had told him to
talk this way for their own good, for their preservation. The Lord’s desire was
that they would turn, turn back to him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The world
around us hears what the Lord says but will not keep it. They hear only part of
the Lord’s Word. He says do this, don’t do that. And they say, “God hates us.
He won’t let us do what we want; He won’t let us be who we are.” They don’t
hear and keep all that the Lord says, “If you will listen to me, it will be
good for you. You will have life and salvation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You are blessed
when you hear the word of God and keep it. All the word of God. Turn from evil
and do good. Repent and believe God. Hear him describe how he made you, body
and soul. Hear him when he tells you that you live in a world broken by sin,
and that your misdeeds and your godless thoughts have broken your life further.
Hear him when he says, Repent and walk in my ways. Hear him now when he tells
you of the cross of Jesus where your sins of deed and thought are forgiven and
removed, for Jesus’ sake. Again, this week’s Collect, let us pray:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">O God, whose
glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from
Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to
embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus
Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-49490213836443462192023-02-19T09:27:00.005-08:002023-02-19T09:27:58.580-08:00Sermon for Quinquagesima<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Knowing Jesus in His Suffering – Luke 18:34<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"> </span></sup></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">And taking the twelve, he
said to them, <span class="woj">“See, we are going up to Jerusalem,
and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will
be accomplished” (Luke 18:31).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">You could see as you followed along in this
Gospel reading for the day that there are two paragraphs, two scenes in the
life and teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the first scene, Jesus tells his
disciples what is going to be happening when they go up to Jerusalem. He is
going to be handed over to the Gentiles, the Roman occupation force. They will
treat him shamefully, spit on him, kill him, and on the third day he will rise.
And the disciples don’t get it. These things are hidden from them. They can’t
see what he’s talking about. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">In the second scene, there’s a blind beggar in
Jericho, and he sees. He gets it. He’s told that Jesus of Nazareth is coming
by, and he knows enough to call on him by a different title. He calls out
Jesus, Son of David, have mercy in me. He acknowledged Jesus to be the long
promised King that Israel had been waiting for, like the great King David only
different, better. The blind man knew and trusted to call on this promised one,
this promised Messiah. “Have mercy!” Jesus calls this faith the man had. He had
faith, he believed the Son of David, the anointed Messiah, could help in his
affliction.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Luke, guided by the Holy Spirit, had to choose
carefully what events about Jesus life to record. He didn’t have the time or
the ink to record it all. So it’s important to see what he included. And it
must be intentional that he included these two paragraphs one after the other
showing this great contrast between the disciples’ cluelessness and the blind
beggar’s faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">It was worth writing down, worth passing on that
the only one who got Jesus, on this trip up to Jerusalem was a blind man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">The disciples knew Jesus of course. They’d been
with him all along. They heard him preach and learned his lessons. But when he
talked about his suffering, his humiliation at the hands of evil men, his
cross, they did not grasp what was said. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a clear contrast here: the one who
suffers calls out to Jesus and has faith in what Jesus does. Those who are well
and at ease, are blind to understand why Jesus does what he came to do. The
disciples were just going along that road heading to Jerusalem. Making progress
on the journey, refusing to believe that there would be suffering and cross
ahead. The blind man, in his ailment, could only cry out in faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Thursday last week I was visiting with the three
year old children at Fun in the Son preschool. It was about first thing in the
morning and I asked them “Are you going to have a good day today?” And these
three year olds were so bright and chipper and excited about every little thing
so of course they said, “Ya!” It was snowing and there was a wind chill. And
all of us had wet and muddy shoes. But it was a good day for all. I love the
optimism of children.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">But I am an old Lutheran pastor. I had to bring
it all back to reality. Especially the reality that we hear from God:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Law and Gospel. So first the law. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">I asked them, “Do you ever have a bad day?” And
they couldn’t even answer that. All they could think of was that they were
having a great time at the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I
gave them some examples. What about when you are hurt and have an ouwie? Do you
ever cry ‘cause you don’t get your way? What about when you’re angry because
your friends mess up your stuff? And then each one started remembering a time
or two when they had had a bad day. I assured them that Jesus loves them each,
when they are having a good day or having a bad day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">So let me ask all of you those same questions: do
you ever have a bad day? Like when you are hurt and have an ouwie? Do you ever
cry ‘cause you don’t get your way? What about when you’re angry because your
friends mess up your stuff?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please know
that Jesus loves you, when you are having a good day and when you are having a
bad day. And this goes against our thinking, but it’s true: It’s on the bad
days when we are most likely to cry out “Lord, Have mercy on me.” In our good
days, when we are just going along, forward down the path ahead, we don’t grasp
the need we have for the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">We often pray together about the bad days. We
pray that God would save us from the hurts and suffering, protect us from our
enemies, deliver us from evil. We ought to also pray, “God save us from our
good days.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Thanks be to God for good days. Enjoy them. But
let’s not covet them. Nor should we fear bad days. In all our days, we trust
the Lord Jesus who loves us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Living the Christian life we are called to a
self-discipline, not always choosing what is easy, not avoiding what is
difficult just because our flesh finds it unpleasant and unfun. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">So we are given a time of discipline and
self-reflection. Lent starts Wednesday with Ash Wednesday. I ask you to use
these next couple of days to think about your personal observation of Lent. In
Lent we meditate on Jesus’ cross even as we take up our own and follow him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">As Jesus headed up to Jerusalem and to the shameful
treatment he would receive there, so we follow him, knowing Jesus as the one
who suffers for us and who suffers with us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">We will have the Divine Service this first
Wednesday in Lent, beginning with the confession of our sins and hearing the
absolution of the Lord. Reflect beforehand on what you will be confessing, what
is on your mind and in your heart and what is leading you to call out to
“Jesus, Son of David, Have mercy!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Consider what you can do this Lent, setting aside
some time to pray, to listen, to discipline self, with the goal of Easter in
mind. Easter is a good day. Not just because it is easy, fun, comfortable. But
because our Lord brings us with him through the bad days and good days, through
suffering and the cross, and finally into his eternal life. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-69465350095980877352023-01-08T09:31:00.003-08:002023-01-08T09:31:37.493-08:00Sermon for the Baptism of our Lord<p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Matthew 3 [when Jesus was baptized]
behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well
pleased” (vs. 17).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You gotta know some stuff. You have to
learn. Most stuff, even if you have already learned, you gotta hear it again
every so often, else it gets lost to the fog of time and competing memories.
Christian faith is more than just knowing stuff, you gotta believe it, trust in
it make it yours for life. But never get to thinking that faith is completely
different than knowing stuff, or that knowing stuff is a hindrance to
believing. You have to know what it is you are believing. The baptism of Jesus
was recorded in the Gospel so Christians would know about God, and about Jesus
and about your life with God and with Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">First, about God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Christian confesses, “I believe in
one God.” There is only one God. That’s made clear throughout all the Bible.
All the other supposed gods are made up in the imaginations of men and women,
or worse yet, are demons, masquerading as gods. God, the true God, is One a
complete and perfect unity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Christian says, “I believe in God
the Father and I believe in God the Son and I believe in God the Holy Spirit.”
God the Father, whom we pray to as we’ve been taught to say, Our Father who art
in heaven. God the Son, who was born at Bethlehem to be our Immanuel, our God
with us. And God the Holy Spirit whom we were given at our baptism and remains
with the believer lifelong comforting with peace, joy, faith, self-control and
all his other fruits. Three “Persons”, as the way we’ve come to talk about it,
while still One God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That great moment at the Jordan River,
the One God showed Himself in three persons. The Father spoke from heaven,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” The Son of God was
standing in the water, being baptized by John. The Holy Spirit presented
Himself in a visible form, a dove.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We Lutheran Christians have benefited
from the insights of Martin Luther on lessons like this. He said, This shows
that baptism is no ordinary human custom and practice. It is a divine command
and promise. The Triune God Himself shows baptism to be a divine act when He, Father,
Son and Holy Spirit show up at the baptism John was doing in the old Jordan
River.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now about Jesus, you gotta know
somethings about Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">John was reluctant to baptize him at
first. By all rights he should have been. Just previously it is recorded that
John was preaching to the people of that time, “I baptize you with water for
repentance” (vs. 11). Jesus was sinless. He had nothing to repent. Repentance
was inappropriate for him. It’s for all the rest of us, including John. So John
says, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (vs. 14).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Son of God humbled himself. He
with the Father and the Holy Spirit is forever one God, enthroned in the glory
of his heavenly home. He came down from heaven and became a man. Jesus, the
man, did all things that a man has to do, including submitting himself to
another, John the Baptist and preacher. He was “fulfilling all righteousness”. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus is our Immanuel -- God with
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is with us in the waters of
baptism. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This passage is so helpful in teaching us about Jesus -- who He is
and What he does. The Father’s voice from heaven says, “This is my beloved Son,
with whom I am well pleased.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus is the Man in the river. Jesus is the Son of God. Who is
Jesus? True God and True Man.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Father tells what Jesus does when he says, “With whom I am
well pleased.” The Father is pleased. Without Jesus there is so much that the
Father is unhappy with. He had told the world what he wanted, the Ten
Commandments. But people did not do them, and today, even more so, the
Commandments of God are not honored or obeyed. The world is filled with
problems because of this. People get sick, get old, and die. So you might be
left wondering, what’s God think about me, a poor sinner?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What a happy sound to hear God the Father say He is pleased. Do
you know what will make God happy? There’s Jesus, doing all righteousness,
being born in humility, being baptized with us sinners, teaching the Father’s
word, dying for our sins and living again for our eternal life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now, you gotta know somethings about what the baptism of Jesus has
to do with you. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Romans 6 gives additional thoughts to this. St. Paul writes “We
were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just
as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may
live a new life.” (Rom. 6:4)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Right there in baptism, Jesus us Immanuel, God with us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus didn’t have to be baptized. You did.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus didn’t need to repent of sins. You do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus didn’t need any forgiveness. You do. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus didn’t need to die. You do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There He is with you and you with him, buried with Him through
baptism into death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have that picture in mind of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and
Holy Spirit, there on the banks of the Jordan River. It’s for you that they are
there. The Father is pleased with you, because you are baptized and given
Christ’s righteousness. The Son is there, Jesus, Immanuel, God with us. The
Holy Spirit is there, teaching you to learn and believe the love of Jesus and
your new life with </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">God who is well
pleased.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-18797745119325839492022-12-18T09:33:00.004-08:002022-12-18T09:33:41.358-08:00Sermon for Advent 4<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elizabeth
said to Mary, “For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the
baby in my womb leaped for joy” (Luke 1:44).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Mary heard some
spectacular news when the angel Gabriel came to her from heaven. Gabriel told
her she would have a baby, and the Baby is </span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">the
Son of God.</span> And then to add more believability to it, Gabriel also told
Mary, “<span class="text">And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has
also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called
barren.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text"><b><sup style="font-size: 1.2rem;"><span id="en-ESV-24922" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">37 </span></sup></b>For nothing will be
impossible with God” (Luke 1:36-37).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So Mary
thought it good to go visit her relative Elizabeth. And as she approached the
home of Elizabeth and husband Zechariah, she called out her greeting, and
before she could reply her greeting in return, Elizabeth was interrupted by
this commotion. The baby in her womb leaped for joy. As depicted on the service
folder cover, little baby John, leaped for joy. John heard the greeting. John
somehow, with the help of God, knew what was going. John believed. John leaped
for joy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His Savior had come. The Savior
of the world was here in the womb of Mary his mother. The promised Lord and
Messiah has come down from heaven to earth and was made man, ready to deliver
us. John believed this and the fruit of that faith was joy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now I know
skeptics and critics will scoff and say, “No way.” Babies don’t know anything.
They can’t believe anything. They cant feel joy or grief.” And so they disrespect,
they despise babies. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Elizabeth
says it right, the movement she felt was Baby John’s joy. Verse 41 says, “</span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And Elizabeth </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">was filled with the Holy Spirit</span>”. This was
not her imagination, her wishful thinking, her personification of the mass of
tissue in her womb. This was her understanding, as she was led by the Holy Spirit,
inspired to believe and confess. <span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
example of Elizabeth and Mary’s babies gives us even more reason to love children,
born and unborn. We want them to be baptized, because they can believe. We don’t
want them aborted and thrown away. We don’t disrespect and despise them. We love
them, honor them and admire them. We grown ups, should have such joy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hear that Baby Believer John leaped for joy
in the present of his Savior, Baby Jesus, and we should conclude this. We
should have such joy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now a person
might say, “It was easy to have joy then”. They were full of the Holy Spirit, according
to Luke. There were these miracles happening all over. Elizabeth’s having a baby
in old age. Mary’s having a virgin birth. There’re angels popping up all over. They
had lots of reason for joy. But by comparison, life here and now is so
ordinary. Plain. Boring. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In her
song, the Magnificat, Mary praises God for, as she says, “great things he has done
for me.” She admits in the Magnificat that she is a handmaiden, a servant of
the Lord. She was plain, simple, ordinary, engaged to plain, simple, boring
carpenter from Nazareth, an ordinary, plain, boring town. But then Mary tells
what the Lord does. He blesses the plain and simple. He lifts up the humble and
brings down the proud in the imagination of their proud hearts. The Lord does
not bother with the rich, the famous, the powerful who believe they don’t need
The Lord and don’t need his saving. The way the Lord works is he blesses the
poor sinner and forgives. He has grace for the weak and the dying and gives
eternal life. He has regard for the sorrowful, and he gives them comfort and
joy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So we may
not live in such marvelous times as Mary and Elizabeth and John. We might not
be famous and fortunate. But we have God’s favor. We can look back at this Magnificat
regularly, not just in Advent. We can hear again and again, the comforting
words of Mary, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and we can apply them to ourselves.
She said, “The Lord</span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> has
looked on the humble estate of his servant.</span>” Find reason for joy in
that.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Consider how it went for
John. He heard the voice of the mother of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In
the book, <i>What to expect when you’re expecting</i> it tells how researchers
found that in the third trimester, that’s what baby John was, babies will turn
their heads toward an interesting sound coming from outside the womb. John
heard. John believed. John leaped for joy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Well that’s how it is for
you too. You’ve heard. You believed. You’ve been given the fruit of such faith,
including joy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You have heard what your Savior
says. He says, I am with you. Because of the miracles that were happening to
Mary, the miracles that were happening in Mary, Jesus is with us. He took on
flesh and blood. So he can say, “I’m with you.” I’m not a God who is far off in
the heavens. I am in the flesh, in the world, in your life.” The fullest
expression of that word from the Lord is when He says “take, eat, this is my
body.” “Take, drink, this my blood.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You have heard what your Savior
says, when in death at the cross he said, “Father forgive them.” Your sins and
guilt are erased by his words. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Even until your last hour
in this life, you will have the words you’ve heard, to trust in, to be comforted
by, to have joy in. He says, You will not perish, but have everlasting life.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-77979508343482189092022-12-04T06:33:00.004-08:002022-12-04T06:33:38.877-08:00Sermon for Advent 2<p>“Watch Yourselves”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jesus said, “<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">But watch yourselves </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">lest </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and
drunkenness and </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">cares of this life, and </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">that day come upon you suddenly </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">like a trap” (Luke 21:34).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">This might be unexpected to some, that we start off December
in church hearing a dire, stern warning from the Lord. Judgement Day is coming.
Watch yourselves. If someone comes to church with worldly expectations of what
we will do here, it might be confusing to hear the Advent message “watch
yourselves lest the end of the world come upon you suddenly like a trap.” If a
person comes into church expecting to hear a happy Christmassy message, to get
some warm feelings on a cold day, to have a comfortable, cozy experience like
watching a Hallmark movie, then it’ll be jarring to listen to this message from
Jesus: “<span class="woj">the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and
great glory.</span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span>. . [so] Straighten and <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">raise your heads, because </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">your redemption is drawing near.</span>”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">You notice of course, how there’s a difference between the
world’s celebration of Christmas and the Church’s celebration of Christmas. One
very significant part of that difference is timing. The world around us has
already made a good start on the holiday season. While in the church, we are
saying “not yet”. The Gospel reading for the day, is not yet Christmas, it’s an
Advent message, preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which will happen
soon, we are to expect. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">“Not yet” is an important concept of the Church and the
Christian life. “Not yet”, we are not in heaven yet. Our journey is not yet
complete. Our struggle is not yet over. If you hope to feel good in this life,
life will treat you with difficulties that will teach you to say, ‘not yet’ but
true and full happiness must wait into the life to come with the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The church’s disciplined pattern of waiting and saying, “Not
yet” is good practice for life. We are living in this “not yet” time. Sure, you
know that Jesus has come into this world, born in Bethlehem and crucified
outside of Jerusalem. So you know you’ve been saved and given eternal life. But
you do not yet feel it, see it, enjoy that new life fully. You gotta wait for
it. Faith is edified and strengthened when you tell yourself, not yet, I have
to wait for the blessings my Lord has promised me. I have to take his word for
it that it is all coming when the time is right. But for now, I have to have
patience and exhibit endurance and hope in the Lord. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Patience, Endurance, Hope -- These things are fruits of faith,
fruits of the Spirit. The Lord Jesus invites us to take these fruits as we wait
for his coming and the consummation of all creation. He says, “<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">watch
yourselves </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">lest </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and
drunkenness and </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">cares of this life, and </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">that day come upon you suddenly </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">like a trap”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">As we wait and watch, we will see the signs that day is approaching,
like the new leaves on the fig tree giving signs that summer is about to
return. There will be signs in the universe and signs in people. “T<span class="woj">here will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the
earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea
and the waves,</span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="woj"><b><sup style="font-size: 1.2rem;"><span id="en-ESV-25843" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">26 </span></sup></b>people fainting with fear
and with foreboding of what is coming on the world.” For generations we have
been noticing the signs in the heavens and on earth: Natural disasters, wars and
rumors of wars. But note also how Jesus says fear that people have is a sign of
the approaching end. This worldwide rise in fear and anxiety in the souls of
people is a sign for us that the Lord is preparing to bring an end to this
world and have His Kingdom come.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">So, therefore, “</span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">straighten
up and </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">raise your heads, because </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">your redemption is drawing near”</span> says Jesus. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">That is his message to you who have this “not yet” attitude,
who are waiting for him to come, ready for him to come, because you love him. Have
patience. Exhibit endurance. Hope in the Lord and in his promises. “Watch yourselves.”
“Take heed” was the old way of saying it. Jesus says, “But </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">stay awake at all times, </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">praying that you may </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">have strength to escape all these things that are going to
take place, and </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">to stand before the Son of Man.</span>” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">“Stay awake”. What’s that mean for you? Jesus is talking in
parables, in figures of speech, in metaphor. This isn’t the physical distinction
between sleep and awake. We should all get our needed physical rest. But Jesus
hear speaks of spiritual wakefulness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s
three examples of how you stay awake spiritually. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">First, pray. Pray that you may have strength to escape all these
things. The signs of the end of the world are enough to make those without
faith faint for fear. But you, when you see fearful signs, Watch yourselves and
pray for strength.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Second, remember His promises. When worries and fears come at
you, stay awake. Trust God. Trust his promises. He says he loves you, cares for
you. His biggest promise of all was in sending His son into this world so that whoever
believes in him will not perish but will have eternal life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Third, remember your vocation in this life. Keep doing what
the Lord has called you to do. Love your neighbor. Be patient with your
neighbor. Anxiety and distress make a person impatient with those around you.
When you start thinking, “I don’t have time for this. I don’t have time to
listen to them. I don’t have time to go out of my way for them.” Stay awake.
God give you your time, your moments and your days. What better do you have to
do than to care for the people whom God has sent your way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">You can do that with the hope that is in you. So then we
conclude with the blessing given in the Epistle reading of the day, Romans 14:</span>
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">May
the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the
power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Amen.</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-47846542940423219602022-10-23T06:43:00.001-07:002022-10-23T06:43:08.294-07:00Sermon for October 23<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Center of our Faith..</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew 9:2</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And behold, some people brought to him a
paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the
paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are
forgiven.” (Matthew 9:2)</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is the center of our faith: Jesus says,
“Your sins are forgiven.” Everything else in religion and doctrine, life and
death, in heaven and hell, has to take a less significant place than this one
point: "Your sins are forgiven."</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">You are to believe that, and remember that, because often there
will be other things that seem more important to you at the moment -- more
pressing. It’s easy to think too little of forgiveness of sins. It becomes
something we just assume. We think, “Yes, we confessed our sins at the start of
the service. We’ll mention it again the next time we’re in church. But let’s get
on with things. There’s so much else we want to think about. There’s so much
else we want from God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Of course, you expect many and great things from God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But consider this, why would you </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">expect blessings from God like healing of your ailments and
maladies or other miracles if your sins are not forgiven? How can you expect heaven
to be open to you and the angels coming down and up to help and minister to you,
without first and foremost having your sins forgiven?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">At the center of the Lord’s Prayer is this petition, “forgive us
our trespasses.” We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not
look at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them. We are neither worthy of
the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that He
would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve
nothing but punishment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">It would be foolish to assume good things from God before the
forgiveness of your sins. You’d be denying your condition as a descendant of
Adam and Eve. You’d be arrogant claiming your sins aren’t a problem.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is the center of our faith: Jesus says,
“Your sins are forgiven.” This gets to the center of God’s heart, his favorable
stance toward us his children. God is love. For the righteous and holy God of
heaven to love us sinners, he must forgive us. So from the foundation of the
world he had his heart set on forgiving us sinners by sending his only Son,
Jesus Christ to take our sins away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In this gospel reading today, some scribes were
very critical of Jesus, his words and his actions. Scribes were the religious scholars
of the day, experts on the Bible, which at the time of Jesus was just the Old
Testament. They seemed to expect God would be stingy with forgiveness. They knew
all about his judgement and his retribution for sin. But they knew little about
his forgiveness. It’s like they preferred his judgement and wrath and hoped his
forgiveness would be rare and difficult to come by. So when Jesus so freely
announces to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven.” They object. Jesus was
interfering with God’s work. God is against sin, don’t you know. For Jesus to
say otherwise was blasphemy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus miraculously healed a paralyzed man in our
Gospel reading today. He did so as a lesson to anyone who would hesitate to
believe him when he says, “Your sins are forgiven.” Jesus says, “what’s easier,
to say, “Your sins are forgive,” or to say, “Rise and walk?” Then he shows that
both are easy, for Jesus. It’s easy for him to fix problems of the body and physical
life. It’s easy for him to fix our problems of the soul and spiritual life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">People like the Scribes will say, “no, it can’t
be that easy.” Especially when we see the sin in someone else’s life, it’s mean
of us to say, “that stuff is not going to be easy to forgive.” That attitude is
mean and misguided. It shows a false understanding who Jesus is. The Scribes
didn’t believe that Jesus could forgive sins, because they didn’t believe that
Jesus was God come down from heaven and made man. So also, when we hesitate to forgive
those who sin against us, when we say something like, “No way! That sin is too
big, too evil, it can’t be forgiven.” We show that we are not believing Jesus,
not believing who He is and what He says. For Jesus sake, put aside grudges.
Get over the hard feelings. Forgive as Jesus forgives. When he says, “Your sins
are forgiven,” It’s that easy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now, here’s another problem we might have. The
thinking can go like this: “Well if forgiveness is so easy, it must not be that
important. If forgiveness is free, it must not be that valuable.” Remember, it’s
free to you. But it was costly to Jesus Christ. He paid all for it. You who
have truly received that forgiveness free and easy, know how precious that
forgiveness is. That’s why it remains at the center of our faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let’s never think that forgiveness is cheap. Let’s
never take it for granted. We go back again and again to the forgiveness of our
sins. It is our practice to recite it regularly, weekly in our church, daily in
our prayers. There is a great value to the faith to belong to a church that keeps
the forgiveness of sins at the center. Some have let it fall to the side. Some
have replaced forgiveness with other ideas like acceptance and tolerance. Many
churches nowadays are trying to baptize worldly, liberal ideas, trying to make
them seem religious. There are Churches preaching a message of acceptance and
tolerance for those who take pride in deviant behavior and immoral lifestyles. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s be clear: forgiveness is not the same as
tolerance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think of someone who’s family member has been
murdered. In Christian faith, the survivor will strive to find forgiveness. But
they would never want to show acceptance or tolerance. Forgiving sin, does not mean
accepting sin, nor tolerating sin.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When sin is accepted and tolerated, the result
is no repentance, no faith, no hope. God calls sinners to repent of sin and go
forward in faith, as Ephesians 4 says, <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>22Put
off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt
through deceitful desires, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
24and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true
righteousness and holiness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-86504180742627268352022-10-18T11:44:00.003-07:002022-10-18T11:44:59.129-07:00Service on October 16<p> Our Sunday Divine Service was livestreamed here:</p><p><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://fb.watch/geGCiRSeq_/&source=gmail&ust=1666204335043000&usg=AOvVaw2-W1M2GQHcUU0lniDx3u2G" href="https://fb.watch/geGCiRSeq_/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">https://fb.watch/geGCiRSeq_/</a></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-69261740034881582022022-09-11T06:36:00.003-07:002022-09-11T06:36:23.282-07:00Sermon for Trinity 13<p> Luke 10:23-37</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Eighth Commandment<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What does this mean? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We should fear and love God <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">but defend him, speak well of him, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and explain everything in the kindest way. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our text for our meditation this morning is the Gospel
reading of the day, the Good Samaritan. A lawyer was trying to justify himself.
Trying to show that he was a good neighbor. He asked Jesus, “And who is my
neighbor?” Answering, Jesus tells this story.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jesus is the best storyteller; his stories are so easy to
relate to. Because he was able to know human nature perfectly, his stories have
these characters that seem more real than real life.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can just know what that priest in the story was like. He
was dressed well, clean and proper. He comes across a bleeding, needy victim of
an ugly crime and he says, “Ew! I’m going to pretend I don’t even see that.”
You can picture that scene vividly, can’t you? Because you know someone like
that. You can be taken aback a little by that scene, can’t you? Because you’ve
at times acted like that, for whatever reason, reluctant to help a poor,
pitiful neighbor in need. It’s all too relatable.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But I tell you, I can’t relate exactly to one aspect of this
parable. I don’t know about all of you, but it’s been years since the last time
I was walking along a road and came across somebody laying in the ditch,
unconscious, bloody and bruised. Fortunately, we live in an easier world, with
less violence and crime than in some places and at other times.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But of course, Jesus’ lesson here can be applied to many
situations in life. Every day we have opportunities to answer the question, “Who
is my neighbor?” and “How can I show mercy to him or to her?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I hope it’s rare or never that you have to help someone who
has been beaten up by robbers. But I’m sure you will have many times where you
can help and show mercy to someone who has been beaten up by just life and the
problems of life in this world. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s unlikely that in the near future you’ll need to use
your first aid knowledge and skills on someone who has been beat up with fists
and clubs and has been left half dead. But it’s very likely that you’ll hear
someone, some neighbor get beat up with words, until his or her reputation is
half dead.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Good Samaritans help their neighbor, according to the 5<sup>th</sup>
commandment, by tending to the needs of the neighbor’s life and health. Good Samaritans
will also help their neighbor according to the 7<sup>th</sup> commandment, by
helping with the needs of possessions and property. And Good Samaritans will
help their neighbor according to the 8<sup>th</sup> commandment by protecting
and defending the neighbor’s good name and reputation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We should fear and love God <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">but defend him, speak well of him, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and explain everything in the kindest way. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The easiest thing always is to do nothing. To be like the
priest and the Levite, who say, “This is none of my business”, turn and walk
the other way. But the 8<sup>th</sup> Commandment instructs you to do what’s
uncomfortable, what’s risky. It’s hard to speak up for someone when the crowd
is tearing them apart. It’s uncomfortable to speak well of him, when everyone
else is enjoying the juicy gossip.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Good Samaritan used medicinal oil and bandages to help
the wounded, he got him to shelter, and got him cleaned up and fed. How do you
help out someone who is being attacked by gossip. I’ve got three examples of
things you can say. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“Are you certain about that?” In this world of
sin, lies get more traffic than truth. Let’s agree together that we are going
to no longer let lies stand, nor half-truths. If we aren’t certain about the
story, let it go untold.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“Maybe you should talk to so-and-so about this?”
When people are complaining about so-and-so, behind their back, the right thing
to do is stop the gossip and lead it toward a conversation of reconciliation.
Jesus says, If you’ve got something against another, Go, show him his fault, “just
the two of you, and if he listens, you have won your brother” (Matthew 18:15).
Let’s agree to no longer be partakers of gossip, but instruments of reconciliation.
Direct those with complaints and grievances to work it out face-to-face. Behind
the back, it won’t get fixed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“I think you’ve been talking to the wrong
people.” This is a wise one I just heard recently. A good neighbor was hearing
some gossip that was just not even believable. So she stopped the gossiper and
told them to consider the source of the gossip. Let’s all agree to strive for such
wisdom. Realize that there are going to be some around us who love to spread
gossip, whether true or not, doesn’t matter as much as if it’s juicy. Choose
carefully who you listen to. Gossip spreads worse than contagious diseases. We
got some good practice on social distancing a couple years ago. You might
consider how to keep a safe distance from those who spread mean lies.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With the 8<sup>th</sup> Commandment we hear how words can be
powerful for evil or for good. Know that your good Lord in heaven wants you to
use words for the good, even as He constantly speaks good words to you and for
you. At the end of the service he are going to sing “MY HOPE IS BUILT ON
NOTHING LESS”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">His oath, His covenant and blood<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Support me in the raging flood;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When ev’ry earthly prop gives way,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He then is all my hope and stay. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All other ground is sinking sand.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“His oath, His covenant and blood.” Christ speaks good words.
His oath and covenant are that he will care for you, forgive you and love you forever.
His words, are coupled with his actions, referred to in the song as “his blood,”
his sacrificial dying for us. His words and his actions are powerfully good to
save us and sustain us. That’s his mercy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He calls us to show mercy to others.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When we show mercy, we’re showing Christ’s mercy. We’re
showing that we get it. And we want others to get it, too.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Amen.<o:p></o:p></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-22309075768111642312022-08-28T06:27:00.006-07:002022-08-28T06:27:35.985-07:00Sermon for Trinity 11<p><a name="_Hlk111462810"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Sixth Commandment</span></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; tab-stops: 46.5pt 57.0pt 67.5pt 78.0pt 88.5pt 99.0pt 109.5pt 120.0pt 130.5pt 141.0pt 151.5pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk111462810;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">You shall not commit adultery.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; tab-stops: 46.5pt 57.0pt 67.5pt 78.0pt 88.5pt 99.0pt 109.5pt 120.0pt 130.5pt 141.0pt 151.5pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk111462810;"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">What does this mean?</span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk111462810;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; tab-stops: 46.5pt 57.0pt 67.5pt 78.0pt 88.5pt 99.0pt 109.5pt 120.0pt 130.5pt 141.0pt 151.5pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk111462810;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">We should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure
and decent life in what we say and do, and husband and wife love and honor each
other.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk111462810;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal">In Genesis chapter 4, Adam and Eve obeyed God. In Chapter 3
they had disobeyed God. They had disregarded his command and ate the fruit of
the tree in the center of the garden. But now they, with repentance and faith,
obeyed God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord God had said, “Be
fruitful and multiply.” They obeyed him. “Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she
conceived and bore Cain . . . And again, she bore his brother Abel” (Genesis
4:1). “Adam knew his wife.” That is a pure and decent way of saying it. They
followed the 6<sup>th</sup> Commandment, even though it hadn’t been written
down yet in any Bible or on any stone tablets. God’s law is inscribed on the
hearts of all men and women. Adam and Eve understood clearly that the
commandment of God against adultery is a command for husband and wife to love
and honor each other. So in knowing each other, loving and honoring each other
and having children together they obeyed God. They obeyed him because of his
law. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They also obeyed him because of his gospel. God had made a
promise that they had heard and believed. God promised them a descendant of
theirs, a seed that would grow from their family, would save them -- that the
serpent, that old evil foe, would bruise his heal. But the Savior would crush
the serpent’s head. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It's impossible for us now to imagine what it must have been
like for Adam and Eve. All the rest of their life they were living with this
memory, struggling with the reality, that they had paradise and they lost it
because they sinned. They went through their days longing for redemption, for
salvation, for a new life. And in faith and hope they held on to that promise
of the Seed of their marriage and family, the descendant who would come to
crush the serpent’s head and all his works and all his ways. So they had
babies. And it seems as though Eve like many other pious faithful mothers
coming after her for generations, would wonder and hope, is this child to be
born the one promised? It took thousands of years of waiting, but then Jesus
Christ was born of Mary. And there was glory to God on high and on earth peace,
goodwill toward men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As we sing in the hymn, “Built of the Rock the Church shall
stand, Longing for rest everlasting,” so Adam and Eve and all Old Testament
believers were longing for a Savior, “Could this be the Promised One?” They
would ask. And that is not a bad way for faithful people to live—longing for
the Lord and the life everlasting. We kinda do that too, we believe that Christ
will come on the last day. And we are ready for that to be any day, because we
will greet him with rejoicing. So every day we could ask ourselves, “Is today
the day?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Longing for the Lord’s salvation, Adam and Eve had babies with
the promise in mind that one of their children, grandchildren, great grand
children or somewhere down the line, the Savior would be born. In the meantime,
they lived together as faithful husband and wife, as devout parents to their
children, trying to raise them up as best they could. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As Cain and Abel grew up, they learned the things the children
must learn, how to walk, how to talk, how to tend the crops, how to care for
the livestock – and significantly how to worship the Lord. When both boys
brought offerings to the Lord, it is evident that their parents had taught them
about the Lord. There were no preachers around that time. Adam and Eve were the
preachers. There were no Sunday school teachers. Adam and Eve taught their
children the lessons. This family would sit down to pray, to learn their
lessons about God, to serve God with their offerings, the first fruits of their
labors. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I know, it’s hard to think of them as a nice, sweet family,
because we just heard again how things turned out. Cain killed Abel, the first murder,
actually the first human death. But God didn’t blame their upbringing, or their
dysfunctional home life. He doesn’t say, Adam, Eve, what have you done. The
responsibility is all Cain’s, “Where is your brother, Abel?” It was Cain’s sin.
God had just warned him about it. “Why are you angry, and why has your face
fallen? . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sin is crouching at the
door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What a shame! Such a nice family. And see how those kids
turned out. Adam was heartbroken. Eve was heartbroken.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Christians are heartbroken when their loved ones don’t keep
the commandments, like this sixth one for example. Adultery is a selfish, inconsiderate
act that hurts everyone involved. Divorce hurts. It hurts every relative and it
hurts all society. It breaks Christian parents’ hearts when their kids don’t
keep the 3<sup>rd</sup> commandment and stop going to church. We suffer the
most from those sinners who are closest to us.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And as I listen to people talk about the heart-breaking
situations in their families, I hear a great deal of shame. I suppose it’s
shameful because we have this assumption that good Christian homes should consistently
produce good Christian people who always make the best choices and live-long
and prosper. When things go bad, it’s a shame. Is it that you are longing for
forgiveness for the bad decisions and bad actions someone else is making? Know
and believe that the blood of Jesus Christ has removed your sins and covered
your shame.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So What’s the use? Why even remember the 6<sup>th</sup>
commandment. How can we honor marriage and the family when our own lives are so
marred by sin and death. Are our families any better than those of the unbelieving
world around us? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">No, we cannot brag about the goodness and righteousness in
our homes and in our families. But we can boast in the Lord who has done good
things, and continues to give good blessings.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We must continue to speak to each other and to speak out to
the world about the will of God expressed in the 6<sup>th</sup> Commandment. He
wants husbands and wives to love and honor each other. He warns about the sins
of adultery and sexual perversion that have devasting consequences. We can never
give up on the ideal of marriage and family – especially because it shows us
the love of Christ.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When we know what a good, honorable, love-filled home is, we
learn a priceless lesson on the love of Christ. Ephesians 5 -- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the
church and gave himself up for her, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that
he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the
word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot
or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Adam, created in the image of God, was to love like God
loves. He was given Eve to love and adore. As Adam loved Eve he was teaching a
lesson to her and to his sons about Christ’s love and salvation. We’re not going
to give up on the truth of marriage and the pure and decent love and honor of
one man and one woman. Despite the heartbreaks and shame, we’re not going to
give up, because Christ who loves us His church, will not give up on us.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Amen.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-59106380907160456122022-08-21T08:42:00.001-07:002022-08-21T08:42:07.697-07:00Sermon for Trinity 10<p>\<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Romans 10:4
-- For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Every man,
woman, boy and girl should know the 10 Commandments. God wants you to know the
10 Commandments. They show you what God wants you to do. That’s the law: God’s
statement of what you are to do and not to do. It’s also good to know, as it
says in the Epistle reading today that Christ is the end of the Law. That’s
good to know. It should be a relief to know.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s good to
know what’s the end, what’s the point we’re getting at. So as we have been
going through the commandments and their meanings, we need to bring up the
question, “what’s the end?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Or perhaps,
as we go through these you might be saying, “when will it end?” That’s how the
law of God can strike a sinner, making you ask, “Aah! Where will it end?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Take the 5<sup>th</sup>
Commandment for example, “You shall not murder.” Those of you who have never
killed anyone, may have the quick thought of “No problem.” “I’m clean on that
one. Tick, check the box. I’ve finished here.” But oh no, that’s not the end.
Jesus says, “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer.” The fifth commandment does
not merely condemn the outward act of murder, and end there. It gets at what’s
in the heart: anger, resentment, contempt, jealousy, rivalry, impatience, all
these vile thoughts and feelings that are basically saying, “I wish that so-
and-so would just drop dead.” Likewise with all the other commandments, they
don’t end with your outward acts and the outward appearance you can put on to
make yourself look right. The commandments keep going until you are guilty of
sin. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In this letter
to the Romans, Paul reaches out to members of the church in Rome pointing out
the difference between those who were pursuing righteousness on the basis of
their works, versus those who have attained righteousness by faith. It was
specifically the Jews who were relying on their works, their outward zeal for
God to make themselves righteous. Because they were so good at following all
sorts of rituals and gestures of outward righteousness, they assumed that they
accomplished the law, even the end of the law. Verse 3 says, “For, being
ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish
their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Human nature
tries to find its own righteousness. But God’s righteousness is Christ. He is
the end of the law for all who believe. God gives you the end. It is the
person, Jesus Christ. God doesn’t want anyone to die. So He gives Jesus Christ,
the Resurrection and the Life. He is the opposite of the murderer. He lays down
his life so you can live. He died so you don’t have to die eternally. He takes
your away your guilt for not following the law. He gives you his righteousness.
When is this all going to end? When Jesus says to you, I forgive you all your
sins.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Actually
that’s the end God had in mind all along. That’s the intended end point. From
our perspective we hear, “Christ is the end of the law”, and we say, “Finally!
Our struggle is ended because Jesus died for us. Our sin is atoned for. Our
regrets are washed away. Our guilt is removed. We can stand righteous before
God.” From God’s perspective, that was the end all along. The end of the law,
the goal, the intention of telling you things like, “Do not murder” is Christ,
that you believe in Him and find your righteousness not in yourself but in him.
That was the end God had in mind all along.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">You
can see this with the first murder that ever happened. Cain killed his brother
Abel, because of jealousy and out of spite. And God came to Cain and said, ““Where
is Abel your brother?” (Genesis 4) That was a hard law question; it brought out
the guilt. And the Lord said, “What have you done?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">God’s
law says, “Do not murder.” The point to all humanity is clear. Don’t go around
killing each other. Respect life. Respect God. He is the One who gives life and
controls life and death. You don’t. You don’t get to decide who gets to live
and who should die. Don’t despise the life God gives to the other guy. And the
other guy should hear that too – for your good and your safety. You want the other
guy to hear God commanding him not to murder you. That’s the point of the 5<sup>th</sup>
Commandment. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But
God’s end point for the 5<sup>th</sup> Commandment and all the commandments is
that a guy like Cain, or any sinner would see their sin, and be sorry for it.
God’s end point is that no one can find their own righteousness, but instead, believe
in the righteousness of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That’s
the end, that’s the goal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Look
to the end. Keep your eye on the goal, which is Christ. Like running a race, focus
on the finish. Don’t have your head down looking inward at yourself. That’s
what those are doing who think they can have righteousness themselves, by their
own work. If your looking inward, looking to your own self and your own power
you will stumble. The Bible says, “Christ is a stumbling block, a rock of
offense” (Romans 9:33). If you are not running to Him, you’ll stumble on him.
What a shame that’ll be. But then the Bible says, “whoever believes in him will
not be put to shame.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
only hope for the world and any sinner in it, is Christ. Those who do not have
him as their end, stumble on him. He is in their way because they are running
after something else. And eventually they stumble over him, and their end is
destruction and shame. Even in his own temple Christ found those who were not
focused on him and his righteousness. Jesus Christ visited the temple in old Jerusalem,
and he found people chasing after other things. He warned them of the
destruction that was coming. He said it was because “you did not know the time
of your visitation.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Friends,
know the time of your visitation. God comes to you. He visits you and speaks to
you. Each week, in church, every day in your heart, he says to you, “Follow my
commandments. Repent of your sins. Believe in me. Believe in my Christ. Don’t
have your own ends in mind. But know Christ. He is your end point. Your focus
and your goal.” Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-3296288261000272112022-08-07T06:18:00.002-07:002022-08-07T06:18:38.378-07:00Sermon for Trinity 8<p> </p><p class="MsoCaption">THE THIRD COMMANDMENT<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body">Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What does this mean?</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body">We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching
and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets” (Matthew 7:15). He
warns his little flock, telling them to expect that there will be “wolves in
sheep’s clothing”.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You know what that’s like. You’re hearing the voices of
false prophets all the time, spewing forth ideas about religion, or ethics--what’s
right and wrong, ideas about the philosophy of life; ideas that clearly go against
the Word of God.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some of these false prophets know exactly what they are
doing: they are intentionally subverting the Lord and His good ways.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But many of the proponents of false ideas do so because they
have been deceived, led astray. Unwittingly, carelessly, they pass on the ideas
of false prophets who have gone before them which appeal to their sinful minds--deceived
to think they are doing good, even as they live and work against the Lord and
His Word. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jesus indicates what it will be like on Judgement Day. Many will
say to Jesus, when he comes to judge the living and the dead, “Lord, Lord, we
have been prophesying in your name. We cast out demons in your name. We did great
things for you.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And Jesus responds to those poor misguided souls, “I never
knew you. Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That’s what they will hear. In this life they were happy to
follow and spread ideas of religion and the philosophy of life that were
against the Lord and His Word. The were happy to come up with ideas out of
their own imagination. But come Judgement Day they will hear, “Depart from me.”
And then there is only hell. Hell was created for the devil and any angels or
archangels or men or women who depart from the Lord.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hell is not a pleasant thing to talk about. It’s not a
comfortable easy thing to think about. But we must. Remember what the Holy
Spirit said in the Old Testament reading from Jeremiah about those who say to
those who despise the Word of the Lord, “‘It shall be well with you’; and to
everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall
come upon you’” (Jeremiah 23:17).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is better to warn of hell, than to deny it or ignore it.
There will be disaster for those who follow their own ideas of religion and the
philosophy of life.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And they have no excuse, for God himself gives true religion
and the true meaning of life in the preaching of His Word for you.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are pleased to confess this each time we remember the
Third Commandment. God has not left us to our own devices, our own imagination,
our own hearts and minds to figure all things out. He gives us the preaching of
his Word to hold sacred and gladly hear and learn.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Over the years, Lutherans have observed the ways people try
to know God and His ways – how they’ve tried to build a relationship with God,
even make deals with God. Already back in the 1500s, Martin Luther and his
co-reformers pointed out how so many turned to human experts like popes, and
priests and scholars who could mediate the way to know God and his ways. You
can’t rely on human experts, even if they are powerful, captivating
personalities, if they prophesy contrary to the Word of God. All humans have
sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lutherans observed that many tried to find within themselves
the ideas of religion and the way of life. Some rely on their own reason and
intellect, supposing themselves to be smart enough to figure things out. Others
rely on their own hearts, their emotions—what feels right, that becomes the deciding
factor. But human reason and emotion are full of sin and incapable of grasping
God. Imagination is a Fawlty guide. Emotions are shaky ground on which to base
your life and faith.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So in 1530 our Lutheran forefathers confessed before the
world and the Roman Catholic Emperor at that time, these words: “God cannot be
dealt with, he cannot be apprehended, except through the Word.” (The Apology of
the Augsburg Confession, Article IV, “Concerning Justification”.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That’s why God wants you to know and keep the Third
Commandment. “Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy.” Never despise or
neglect God’s Word and its preaching. But hold it sacred. Gladly hear it.
Gladly learn it. And by it, as through means, apprehend God.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That commandment is for you, who gladly hear and learn the
Word. That commandment is for me, that I diligently work to preach it to you
and those not here. Pray for this please.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Holy Spirit says in the Jeremiah passage for today, “Is
not my word like fire and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” (23:29)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The word of God is power. Power is the ability to do work,
to accomplish great things. The Powerful Word of God does things. So, Let it be
so. Hear it. Believe it. Let it guide you, shape you, comfort you.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jesus says a good tree is recognized by its fruit. Your Lord
Jesus is recognized by his good fruit – His word. His word of Law that tells
you what to do for your own good and tells you when you have done wrong, to
admit it and do right. And his word of Gospel, which is His word from the
cross, where in his dying breath He says to his Father in heaven, “Forgive
them.” And to the believer with him there, he doesn’t say, “Depart from me, you
workers of lawlessness”. He says, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
Amen.<o:p></o:p></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-73964954586151478642022-08-02T11:03:00.002-07:002022-08-02T11:03:27.756-07:00From the Association of Confessing Evangelical Lutheran Congregations (ACELC.net) -- Ten Theses on God's Arrangement of the Sexes<p>God created us male and female. In his image he created us. Lately we have all been hearing the ungodly words of those who wish to distort the truth about who we are and what it means to be male and female. In every age, the Christian Church must confess God's truth and respond to the lies of the world and the old evil foe, Satan, which deny and attack God's truth. This statement from ACELC.net is faithful to the Bible and the Lutheran Confessions of our faith. Studying it will serve us well to review what God says about the two sexes he wonderfully made. We encourage you to read (pdf) or listen to (YouTube) this statement of Christian confession.</p><p><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/mychurchwebsite/c2001/gods_arrangement_of_the_sexes.pdf" style="color: #ae8b70;">Ten Theses on God’s Arrangement of the Sexes</a></strong></em></p><p><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/30z6BUUZuaw" style="color: #ae8b70;" target="_blank">video</a></strong></p><p><br /></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-71277099557701610902022-05-08T06:38:00.004-07:002022-05-08T06:38:55.235-07:00Sermon for 4th Sunday of Easter<p> Jesus said, “A little while, and you will see me no longer;
and again a little while, and you will see me” John 16:16.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Alleluia! Christ is risen!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Easter continues. In fact, every week we gather on this day,
the Lord’s day, in remembrance and celebration of the Sunday resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead. And the believers in Jesus will continue to do so until
the end of time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“A little while” – That’s what Jesus calls this time we are
in right now, the time between his first coming and his second coming – the
time between when he came here to earth to die on the cross and rise again and
the time in the near future when he will come again to judge the living and the
dead. His disciples are expected to wait this little while with faith and the
expectation of great and joyful things to come when their Lord Jesus returns.
As he says, “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your
hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (vs. 22).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That’s the life that we who are his disciples have now, as
we wait with joyful expectation to see him. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We have this life after Easter.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 116 gives a handy way of describing what this life
after Easter is like. I am going to introduce this Psalm today, and include it
in services in the weeks ahead, that by continued praying it and remembering
it, the words will stick in our minds and the meaning will stick in our hearts.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Psalm 116:12 </u><span class="text"><u><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">What
shall I render to the </span></u></span><span class="small-caps"><u><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord </span></u></span><span class="text"><u><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">for all
his benefits to me?<o:p></o:p></span></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Consider all his benefits. We are beneficiaries
of a great and wondrous treasure. This treasure has been paid for, not with
money, not with gold, but with the precious blood of Christ and his innocent
suffering and death. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Life after Easter is given meaning when we consider
this question, “What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?
What do you and I, the beneficiaries of the life, death and resurrection of our
Lord Jesus Christ and all the benefits that flow from Christ, what do we do
now, what love, what life do we render to the Lord?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">The next verse of <u>Psalm 116 says, I will lift
up the cup of salvation</u></span></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><u><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></u></span><span class="text"><u><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">and call on the name of the </span></u></span><span class="small-caps"><u><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></u></span><span class="text"><u><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">.</span></u></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">This is a vivid picture of our life after Easter.
We are given the bountiful benefits of our Lord’s death and resurrection in the
cup of blessing that he pours out for us now, in our life time. We meditate on
the great things our Lord has done for us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has given us pardon and forgiveness for all
our sins. He has rescued us from death and hell. He has given us life – life to
the fullest now and life forever with him in his Kingdom. What’s the best way
to render our puny thanks for that? How can we ever pay the Lord back for his incomprehensible
gifts to us? What’s a fair amount to give him in return? It’s way beyond
anything we are capable of producing and giving to him. Instead Psalm 116 leads
us to say, I will just keep on taking the salvation my Lord is giving. I will
keep drinking from the cup of salvation. When I am at a loss to do anything
that could properly, fully render my thanks, I will just take more of his benefits
to me. It is a foolish and futile notion to think we can somehow repay God for
salvation and eternal life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Who among us can fully repay our mothers for all they’ve
done for us? She nurtured you in her womb. She went through an uncomfortable
process to give birth to you. She prayed for you, nursed you, got up in the middle
of the night for you, worried about you when you were out too long, taught you lessons
about earth and heaven. And in return you might give her some tokens, flowers,
a nice brunch, but you can’t really give her enough to make up for it all, and
that’s not what she would want anyway, is it?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So much more, the relationship between you and your Lord
God. You say, “What should I do to say thanks? He says, “Here, have more. Receive
again today the blessings given you at your baptism”, he says, “Where I washed
your sins away and gave you new life. Come soon and often to my table and eat the
body of Christ and drink from the cup of salvation. Call on my name every day,
and I will be there and will bless you again and again. My Spirit will be with
you, to comfort you, bless you, prosper you and guide you into the new life I
have appointed for you.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Psalm 116: “</u><span class="text"><u><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">I
will pay my vows to the </span></u></span><span class="small-caps"><u><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></u></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><u><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></u></span><span class="text"><u><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">in the
presence of all his people.</span>” </u></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Led by the Spirit of God, filled with the
blessings of the cup of salvation you are now led to fulfill the vows you have
made to the Lord. That’s your calling and vocation in life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Today we think of this especially with the
graduates we are recognizing and honoring. Katie and Grace, I’d suggest you use
this time of your graduation to remember and give thanks to the Lord to all his
benefits to you. And then consider your vocation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Vocation is a noun, but it is based on a verb, an
active verb with a subject and a couple of objects. God is the subject. You are
the object and the things he has in store for you are the objects. He who has created
you and redeemed you, now calls you to great things, this new life in Christ. With
the aid and comfort of the Holy Spirit, he gives you a life to live in service
to him and to others. He calls you to be his daughters and so his representatives
here in this life in this world. You are called to show mercy to others as he
has shown it to you. He calls you to bless others with the words you speak and
the smiles you share and the work you do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">We are wishing you the best today. But of course,
things won’t always go smoothly and easily. You know how life here goes. But we
go forward with life in faith and trust, with the promises of Jesus our Lord
who says to you,</span></span> “Y<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">ou have sorrow now, but I
will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy
from you” (John 16:22). Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-67804851224518625642022-05-01T06:05:00.002-07:002022-05-01T06:05:27.694-07:00Sermon for the 3rd Sunday in Easter<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jesus said,
“So there will be one flock, one shepherd” (John 10:16).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As we
meditate on the words of our Lord today, the images of green pastures and pools
of still waters, are sure to bring comfort to the soul, peace to troubled
consciences, and a sense of security to frightful hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The rod and
the staff of the Good Shepherd comfort the sheep. The rod the shepherd has is
to ward off the enemies: the lion, the wild dogs that would harm the sheep. And
the staff -- a shepherd’s staff has a crook in it, like you see in the bulletin
cover today. That’s to reach out and hook a sheep by the neck or leg, to pull
it back in the right direction, to keep her from wondering off or falling into
danger. There’s no comfort, peace, or security in just letting the sheep wander
off wherever they want to go. The Good Shepherd is gentle and loving, even as
he directs and sometimes even disciplines. Comfort, Peace and security comes
went the enemies are beaten off, and because so often, a sheep is its own worst
enemy. It takes a rod, and it takes a staff to be a good shepherd. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Epistle
reading, 1 Peter 2 talks about the Shepherd and the sheep. “He himself bore our
sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
By his wounds you have been healed. <span class="VerseNumber">25</span>For you
were straying like sheep.” As the shepherd must correct his straying sheep with
rod and staff, so it is with our Good Shepherd Jesus. His word is his rod and
staff to guide us and to redirect us away from our misguided attitudes and sinful
desires.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That’s
actually what he was doing that day when he said these words, “I am the Good
Shepherd”. The audience for this sermon of Jesus included his disciples, but also
a bunch of Pharisees and a formerly blind beggar man. Just before this, Jesus gave
sight to the blind man and the Pharisees were all upset about the miraculous healing.
You see, Jesus had done this work on the Sabbath and that was against their
rules. With no mercy at all toward the poor blind guy, they were vehemently arguing
and insulting Jesus. It's like they were mad because the Lord was merciful. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">These
Pharisees think that they themselves are the big deal. They despise others who
are not like them, or who don’t meet their exalted Pharisaic expectations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Jesus tells them, “I have other sheep that
are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.
So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus was
all about mercy. And with the rod and the staff of his word, he directs his
listeners to show mercy, likewise. That means you have to look at others as God
sees them. God shows no partiality toward souls, nor should we, his people. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There is
another example of this in the book of James, chapter 2: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and
fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also
comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and
say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand
over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions
among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved
brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in
faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6
But you have dishonored the poor man.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is one
of those passages that hits the sinful heart like a rod. It has to hit to the
heart because we can use outward “proper” behavior to hide the evil, unmerciful
thoughts going on inside. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So hear how
Jesus talks to the Pharisees when they have these unloving hearts. He says, “I
am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Is there
anyone you despise, that you can’t respect because they are different than what
is commonly accepted? Consider this, what if they are sheep of the Lord’s one
flock. What if they, like you, know Psalm 23 and pray it? Jesus says, “there
will be one flock, one Shepherd.” And he, not you, not me, he is the one who
makes the call as to who is in that flock.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is not
to say that all bad behavior is excused. That’s what the world around us has
got wrong with the buzz word “tolerance”. They use that word to talk about bad
behavior, immoral, perverted behavior that goes against God’s word and creation.
The world says tolerance means you cannot critique immorality, you cannot guide
children and others away from bad, unhealthy choices and disfunctioning. When
really, to be merciful toward your fellow human being means talking about,
speaking up for what is good and right and God-pleasing. In mercy we Christians
invite others to join us in sorrow for our sins, both sins of outward bad behavior
and sins of hidden bad attitudes in the heart. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Then when we
and they turn from sin and turn again to follow our Lord we hear his voice. He
says “<span class="VerseNumber">14</span>I am the good shepherd. I know my own
and my own know me, <span class="VerseNumber">15</span>just as the Father knows
me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In what way
is He our Good Shepherd? Two things: First He knows us, and we know him by
faith. And second, He lays down his life for the sheep. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He is your Good
Shepherd like so. He guides you to Himself and to follow in His ways, and He
dies for you. He loves you and me and all sinners. He doesn’t act out of frustration
with us for our intolerable behavior and attitude. No, but in mercy he guides us
with rod and staff and he forgives us with his holy precious blood and his
innocent suffering and death. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-88271540510341850232022-04-14T18:34:00.001-07:002022-04-14T18:34:15.760-07:00Sermon for Holy Thursday<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="VerseNumber"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">33</span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after
those days, declares the <span class="DivineName">Lord</span>: I will put my law
within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and
they shall be my people. Jeremiah 33:33<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Remember
this line from the Gospel reading for Palm Sunday? We heard this, that the “disciples
did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then
they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done
to him” (John 12:16). Jesus teaches his disciples, including us, of course,
explaining to us why he did what he did. As we, tonight, meditate on that ho ly
supper that Jesus instituted on the night he was betrayed, we learn from him “these
things that had been written about him and had been done to him.” Receiving the
body and blood of Jesus, who has since been glorified is the best way for us to
gain understanding and faith in what our Lord did for us on the Cross. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He had
promised, back in Jeremiah’s day, that He would make a new covenant with his
beloved people. “I will make a new covenant”, he said. Not like the old one the
Israel broke in their disobedience and idolatry.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Throughout
the Bible, God made covenants with people. He made a covenant with Noah and
made the rainbow, promising to keep the world going now, not destroying in it again
in that way. God made a covenant with Abraham, telling him to leave your home country
and go to a new land I am giving you and I will bless you there and like the
stars of the skies, so many shall your offspring be, and all nations of the
earth will be blessed by one particular Offspring.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Covenants
are sometimes made, man to man. Maybe as a business agreement, or a friendship,
an alliance. The marriage of a husband and a wife is a covenant between them,
sealed when they make their vows and promises to each other. A covenant from
God is like that, but different in some very significant ways. First
of all, it is very one sided with God. In this covenant he is cutting with us, he
is the one doing it all. He doesn’t work out an agreement with us as though he
needs our contribution or our attention. There is nothing we have that he
lacks. He makes a covenant with us simply because he wants to be our God and he
wants us to be his people. What’s more, With God, it is an everlasting
covenant. We need not fear that he will break it or change it. Even the old
Covenant, it wasn’t he that broke it. But Israel, his people did. So he says, “I’ll
make a new one.” So just like Israel had 12 tribes, from the 12 sons of Jacob,
whom God called Israel, So now Jesus takes 12 apostles and makes a new covenant
with the new Israel. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We who
believe, are brought into that new covenant and it makes us new. Here’s what God
does to us with this new covenant: “</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their
hearts.” The law of the Lord is, simply put, love. Love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your mind and with all your strength. And love your
neighbor as yourself. On the night our Lord instituted the Holy Supper, he told
his disciples, “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another” (John
13:34). That’s why this is called Maundy Thursday, because of that commandment
or mandate, all related words.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">An essential
result of the New Covenant, written on the heart, is a new love for God and a
new love for others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With his
death on the cross, our Lord Jesus did what it took, to pay for all the sins of
all the world. By his death on the cross, he redeemed all the world. Now,
because of that he is ready and able to make a new covenant with you. On the cross
it’s for all. In the cup, it’s for you. He says, “This cup that is poured out
for you is the new covenant in my blood.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus serves
you his body to eat and his blood to drink, because he wants to make this new
covenant with you. He wants to assure you that He is your God, and you are His
people. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Amen.</span> </p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531114356500709234.post-43120439774578046282022-04-11T12:15:00.007-07:002022-04-11T12:15:51.253-07:00Sermon for Palm Sunday & Confirmation<p> <span style="font-size: 11pt;">So the Pharisees said to one
another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after
him.”</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">(John 12:19)</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Jesus says, “Follow me.” He says
that to you Trice, and Grace, and Miyah, and Kendall. Follow Jesus.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Confirmation is about a lot of
things: The fulfillment of your midweek Bible lessons and catechism
instruction, your joining this congregation as a confirmed and communicant
member, it is a rite of passage, a sign that you’ve grown up. But most
importantly, it is the public confession that you are following Jesus. Your are
his disciple. He is your Lord and Savior. This is confirming what’s been true
since your baptism, You are a follower of Jesus Christ. So consider now, what
all that means.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">First, you are a follower of
Jesus, and that means you are not a follower of other things that are against
the Lord. We teach from our catechism that there are especially three enemies
of the Lord and his ways, that hinder his will and don’t want his Kingdom to
come: the devil, the world and our sinful nature.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">You are a follower of Jesus, so
obviously you are not a follower of the devil. Now, what that will mean is
you’ve been brought into an arena where the devil is fighting. He </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">has to work harder on you, than he does on
someone who doesn’t care. He will work harder to tempt you, to lead you astray,
to give you what seem like good reasons to give up and not bother with the
religion and the faith of the Lord and his church. But you just have to say,
nope, I follow Jesus.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Likewise, You are a follower of
Jesus, so you are not a follower of the world and its ways. You are making a
public statement today, that is completely different from what the world around
us says. You’re saying that the Lord God has created you. And He redeemed you
from sin and death. And he sanctified you and gave you a new birth and new life
of faith. The world says that nothing created you, you just came to be by
chance and chaotic randomness and that’s all there is to look forward to in the
future. So the world says you’ve got to take care of things yourself, and you
hear what kind of things the world says, without any acknowledgement of the
Lord and his law: the world says, Choose for yourself what kind of person you
will be, what gender you will be, what you will think and feel, choose for
yourself without a thought or care about the people around you or the God above
you. To which you are saying, in your confirmation vows this morning, I follow
Jesus Christ. Him alone I serve. Him alone, I trust.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The third spiritual enemy working
against you when you follow Jesus is your own sinful nature. All of us who are
born of flesh and blood are by nature selfish. So we always bent on putting
ourselves first, reluctant to put others first, even including the Lord Jesus
Christ. To make the vows of confirmation, means you have to repent of your
sins, repent of your sinful nature, repent of your self-first attitude.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Think about what Jesus was doing
as he was riding that donkey on the Palm strewn street. You know where he was
riding to? He was riding into Jerusalem. And we know what was waiting for him
there. There were a lot of people crazy angry toward him. These Pharisees that
are watching on, were filled with anger and hatred. “We’ve got to stop him.
They said. We’ve got to put an end to this or the whole world will go after
him.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Jesus was riding right into the
middle of that hatred and anger. He was riding to his arrest and trial filled
with false witnesses. He was going forward toward a beating, thorns, pierced
hands and feet. He is riding on to his death. You’d think he wouldn’t want to
do that. But he rode on, for your faith and your salvation.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Jesus says, “Follow me.” So that
means you will probably have to go where you don’t want to go, for Jesus’ sake.
Here’s what I mean: Jesus will say, “Follow me; repent of your sins and your
selfish sinful nature.” And that’s not the favorite place to go. It’s not the
easiest, most pleasurable thing to do. The sinner in all of us wants to say,
“No, I don’t want to go there. I don’t want to admit that I was wrong. I don’t
want to let on that I’m not right.” Jesus says follow me, even if it’s not
where you want to go. Follow me, He says, “I’m going to the cross. Repent of
your sins and believe what I say. There at my death on the cross, you are
forgiven and redeemed.”</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">It's good to follow Jesus, despite
what your human nature makes you feel about it. It’s good to follow Jesus,
despite what the world says. It’s good to follow Jesus despite what the devil
would try to trick into believing otherwise.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">It’s good to follow Jesus to his
cross. You do that when you pray your prayers of repentance and ask for him to
forgive you your trespasses. You follow Jesus to his cross as you continue to
hear what he says in his word. You haven’t learned it all yet. He has more to
teach you. Keep reading, hearing, learning, and believing. You follow Jesus
when you come with faith and joy to the altar and receive his body and blood
with his promise, this is for you, for the forgiveness of sins and where there
is forgiveness, there is life and salvation.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">And when your last hour comes, follow
Jesus. He’ll take you home. None of us knows when that day will be, how it will
be, what it will be like. Because it’s unknown, it’s kinda scary. And we might
want to say, Lord I don’t want to go where you are leading me. When we who
follow Jesus reach that point, we can close our eyes in death and have peace.
We can be like the Daughters of Zion who rejoice and say, "Behold, your king is
coming to your righteous and having salvation is he, Hosana! Blessed is he who
comes in the name of the Lord."</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Amen.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>St Paul's Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14931430150319732848noreply@blogger.com0