Sermon July 18-19, 2026

Title: We are gathered into the barn of the Lord!
Text: Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43

Facebook live: We are gathered into the barn of the Lord!

30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”

Sin can often have a gradual and cumulative effect on our lives.

Sitting in my basement a few years ago I saw a bee buzzing around. I picked up a fly swatter and got him. Over the summer it was one or two here and there and I took care of it as I could. I saw a few outside by my porch and sprayed some but that was about it. I didn’t know where they were getting in and over the winter forgot about it.

I saw a few dead bees on my floor and cleaned it up but when I went to turn on the water valve in the drop ceiling of my basement for the outside faucet, I found the basketball size nest that lay hidden in the ceiling. Thankfully, the bees were dead and I just had to remove the nest, but left unattended the hive could have over run my house.

That is how sin can be if left unattended, it grows.
Last week we discussed the parable of the Sower who sowed seed, throwing it everywhere, on the path, the rocky ground and even on good soil.

The parable was explained by Jesus that the seed was the word of God and the Gospel proclamation that went forth, transforming hearts of stone to good soil where the word takes root and brings forth faith in those called by God through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Today’s parable builds on that by saying:

“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.

So in explanation to this parable, Jesus says that He is the one who sows the good seed, and that the world is the field, and the wheat that grows - which sprouts from the good seed - are those who are the children of the Kingdom by faith.

The weeds, we are told, are those who are sons of the evil one which is the devil himself - who sows the lies that Jesus is not who he claims to be, which is - the way the truth and the life.

So as is made clear in our text, the world will consist of both those who believe and those who don’t believe, and being that the church is also in the world, we will have our own share of weeds among believers.

So as the church, shouldn’t we look to pull out those weeds among us?

Where do we start?
What should we use to judge each other?
How about little Amelia VanDewater?

As a newly Baptized member of God’s church Amelia has been marked as one redeemed by Christ the crucified, and we like her, have been made good soil by God’s Holy Spirit!

But even those who haven’t been baptized? Paul says in Roman 10:

9 …, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

And then he continues:

11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.

So belief in the heart is what justifies or makes righteous and those who believe will not be put to shame but will be saved.

So, as Jesus says to the question of,

28”do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 He says, ‘No, because in gathering the weeds you may pull up the wheat as well. 30 Let both grow together … until the harvest, and then I will tell the reapers to Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”

In other words, the wheat is left behind after the weeds are gathered to be burned and then gathered into the Lord’s barn.

Growing up in and around the Midwest, I’m sure we’ve all had plenty of experience pulling weeds. As a young boy I was sent out to do weeding around the house and also went with my dad to a farm where he leased five acres to have a vegetable garden, we went to … you guessed it … to pull weeds!

Now, sometimes when I pulled the weed, I also pulled out the plant I was weeding around. My Dad was none too pleased with that. That can be very frustrating and at times you might think that you are doing more harm than good.

It also seems that these weeds seemingly grow up overnight. I would go out and pull weeds with him one day, but the next day, out of nowhere, new weeds had appeared.

Maybe you can appreciate like me the truly demonic nature of weeds and why Jesus used them in the parable?

When sin becomes visible in the church, we are told to call those who are sinning to repentance - with gentleness and respect, and we are to first remove the beam from our own eye before seeking to remove the speck from the eye of our brother.

I’ve been to a number of pastoral installations and ordinations over the years and many verses of scripture are read during the installation service. One of the many verses is 2 Timothy 4:2 which says:

2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

The pastor is as well to call to repentance through the preaching of the Law those who are going the wrong way and are in disobedience to God’s word, but also to do this with individuals as well.

This, only deals with the visible sin and it can never show the intention of the heart or the motive and even more importantly, who are wheat and who are weeds.

That will be determined by God himself at the final judgment.
So what do we know?

Well it is Christ’s desire that all would be saved and come to knowledge of the truth, 1 Tim 2:4, even for those whom we believe to be far from the Lord and his reach.

This is accomplished by the proclamation of the Gospel in word and sacrament which will bring to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit those who believe, and by God’s grace, into His family through that same promised forgiveness by faith in Christ’s finished work.

We also know from the parable today, that some - those who are called the weeds in the parable are those who are the sons of the evil one - the devil, and that they will reject the saviors blessed call through the gospel message and through this unbelief be destined for destruction – thrown into the fiery furnace and in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

This will be of their own choosing as they reject the work of the Holy Spirit choosing to remain dead in trespass and sin.

But you all have this assurance:

43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Sermon July 11-12, 2026

Title: The word gives growth unto a great harvest!
Text: Matt. 13:1-9, 18-23

Facebook live: The word gives growth unto a great harvest!

23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

When I worked in sales in the piano business and began waiting on customers there’s a principal we all learned: It is called the “KISS Principle,” as in, K-I-S-S: And it means, Keep It Simple, Stupid! In other words, if you want people to understand what you’re saying, and in my case showing them the benefits of owning a piano, I was reminded by the KISS Principal … to keep it simple. Don’t talk to technical or in ways that people can’t understand what you are really trying to say.

It seems a bit strange then that Jesus would use parables or stories that were something like a riddle at times to teach the crowd.

How will they learn from these parables?
Wouldn’t this complicate understanding?

The disciples even asked about this:

“Why do you speak to them in parables?” (v 10).

Actually, hearing God’s Word with understanding isn’t just a matter of “getting” the parables. Understanding God’s Word is hard anytime, and there are good reasons for this, but particularly when Jesus speaks in parables.

Jesus knows his audience well.

There are things He knows that are keeping them from hearing and understanding what He is saying. Jesus teaches his disciples that even though 12 the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, Heb 4:12, the hearer – which is you and me - in our sinful state has the ability to resist and misunderstand God’s word.

As Luther says in the explanation of the Third Article of The apostles Creed:

I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.

We understand that faith is a gift of our loving God.
So, what is it that keeps us from hearing … understanding and bearing fruit?

First, Jesus says, it’s the devil.

He is like the birds that come and snatch the seed off the path. Certainly, we all can attest that the devil exists … because we notice the sinfulness of our thoughts even, at times as we wonder off while listening to a sermon.

No that would never happen.
What are you thinking about right now?

Are you thinking about what you did last night, or what you might do after church?

Whatever it is … you can be sure that the devil will shorten your attention span and even introduce thoughts into your mind … that have no business being there at this time!

Years ago I attended a funeral for a classmate and, though the funeral had many good points and opened the ears of those who needed to hear, there was one speaker who closed the ears of all by talking too long, being unfocused, and turning the funeral into a Bible Study, so that the loved ones having ears closed - had to lead him back to his seat.

“You mean I’m done?” “Yes. You’re done.”

We need to know when to speak and when to hold back and just love those who are hurting before they close their ears to the message.

The second thing Jesus says is that it’s your flesh.

The sinful flesh, yours and mine, looks for the next spiritual high. As long as everything is going well, we’re all for the Word. But when problems arise, or when tribulation and persecution come, we’re quick to abandon the word and leave it far behind.

This is like the seed that falls on the rocky soil. We avoid suffering and substitute something more palatable and to our liking.

I officiated at a funeral many years ago that had that had many ears opened through the evangelizing work of Robert Fisher who was a member of Peace and had passed away. I heard from many friends at the funeral how he brought Jesus to so many of them through his mentoring in AA.

One man who I talked to told me that Bob was his sponsor and mentor for 17 years ... "He literally saved my life!"

What a blessing he was to many that heard the word from him.

Third, Jesus says it’s the world.

We have many cares, some that even steal away the joy of listening to the Word. Yes, at times the word of God is joyful, but we have work to do, whether from our employer or a teacher at school or even well intention friends.

We may be concerned about our income, our children, the rising expenses of health care, and other essentials to our life – as our costs go up … sometime our income goes down.

What to do?

When you deprive yourself of preaching and the word you steal the Good News God wants you to hear.

The devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh make up the unholy trinity that keeps us from hearing and bearing fruit – they block the word if you will.

The meaning of the Third Commandment, you shall keep Holy the Sabbath day, calls on hearers not to despise preaching and God’s Word. It needs to be “set apart” which is what holy means, yet when you are listening, problems and a lack of understanding happen and then this is precisely what occurs. The Preaching … and God’s Word are both despised.

But God’s Word is heard, and when it is - understood - what a blessing!

Jesus said to the Twelve,

“But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it” (vs 16–17).

How does that happen?

Jesus answered the disciples’ question this way:

“To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given” (vs 11–13).

Did you hear that?

Hearing and understanding God’s Word is given; it’s a gift.

You have just been gifted … Just now.

Again … you have been given the Spirit of God in Christ. For many of you, that first happened at your Baptism.

Your eyes have been opened to see that Jesus truly is the Son of God who came to take away the sins of the world by dying for you on the cross.

And you continue to hear God’s Word that kills the sinner inside and raises the new man to life … just like the seed that dies in the ground and then sprouts and grows and eventually bears fruit.

It is the listening to God’s Word and his preaching that does this.

With his death on the cross, Jesus has conquered the devil, the world, and our flesh. This gives you and me the authority and the comfort to pray, “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”

This evil is not just some impotent, inanimate, impersonal substance. It is the evil one, who steals the Word from our hearts, who tempts us with suffering, and coaxes the world to follow him.
But our Lord has overcome the evil one, and in faith in his victory we may pray confidently and resist the snares and traps he sets.

Our Lord has chosen you – dear friend - to receive this gift of faith so that you may hear and understand. This is grace and grace alone. No merit on your part has caused this, but our Lord and his love for you give it freely.

Jesus teaches the disciples to sow the Word of God liberally.

There are no places, regardless of their potential to grow, where the Word of God may not or should not be preached.

The Sower, in the parable is spreading seed everywhere … over the path, the rocks, and the weedy areas. That’s because God’s grace is for everyone.

Everybody who hears the words you have heard today may be certain that Jesus really has died and has risen for them, has forgiven them, has given them eternal salvation.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Sermon July 5, 2026 - Pastor Terry Nelson

Title: Rejoice and Hear God's Promises!
Text: Zechariah 9: 9-12

Facebook live: Rejoice and Hear God's Promises!

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Sermon June 28, 2026

Title: Peace is found in Jesus!
Text: Matthew 10:34-42

40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.
42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Being received into Christ is your great reward!

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Peace came to the Earth at the promised birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

He came to restore the peace that was lost through the fall into sin between God and man.

Peace was earned at the cross by Jesus Christ where the price of sin was paid in full and satisfaction made.
God and man are now at peace.

But, there also is another effect as a result of the Gospel being proclaimed. Maybe you’ve experienced it? Jesus tells his disciples:

36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.

Man against father and daughter against mother, daughter-n-law and mother-n-law will be at odds. This sounds very similar to last week’s reading and Jesus gives us a warning as well.

37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life in this life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Where Jesus says that he came not to bring peace but a sword we need to understand this a bit more. What is the sword that He brings that his disciples should be aware of?

Paul gives us a glimpse in Ephesians chapter six when he uses the metaphor of putting on the whole armor of God and he here also gives us a better picture of who the fight is truly against

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood … but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

The fight may appear to be against father and son or mother and daughter and this fight will have the battle scars of a true fight, but the truth is first that those who are opposed to the word of truth proclaimed and received by the work of the Holy Spirit are led by a different spirit … the spirit of darkness who fight against the sword that Christ has.

Paul gives us the armor:

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

The armor that is put on has different functions:

14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

All of the armor that is given for the use of the disciples and us is defensive.

All that we put on gives protection from the darts of the evil one though one … is given for our use as a weapon.

The sword of the Spirit which is the word of God!

True Peace is found in Jesus!

I had a conversation a number of years ago with a friend who I had been witnessing to. I had invited him to church and he said, “Sunday mornings are the time that my wife and I do things and go places.”

His wife was not a believer or interested in hearing about Christ at all. I asked, “Do you get up early Sunday and do things?” He said, “No, we don’t really get up until about 10:00 am.” So, I said, “Why don’t you go to an 8:00 am service and you can be back home before your wife gets up and 10:00, then you have the whole day to spend together?

“No, that won’t work … because she’ll be mad that I went to church … she thinks it’s stupid.”

Ultimately, they got a divorce.
Both were at fault.

Unfortunately, their marriage was not built on the hope that Christ gives.

38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life in this life will lose it, even if it appears that the love of wife, brother, sister, father, son-n-law, daughter-n-law or whomever, is a reason to forsake Christ and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

The cross of Christ can take us many ways. At times it feels like a hard place to be but Jesus promises never to leave you or forsake you.

Jesus comforts us all:

40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward.

Your reward is in Christ. He has given you the most blessed reward of eternal life which is the prophet’s reward and the reward of a righteous person … Jesus Christ!

It is yours because you are His! This gift is not only for you, but for all who have been brought to faith by the work of the Holy Spirit.

42 … even the little ones given a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” Your reward is held fast in Christ by God Himself and you are His now and for eternity!

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Sermon June 20-21, 2026

Title: Fear not for God loves you and is with you!
Text: Matthew 10:5, 21-33

Facebook live: Fear not for God loves you and is with you!

31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

The Bohemian reformer John Hus, who lived about 100 years before Martin Luther, was a man who believed the Scriptures to be the infallible and supreme authority in all matters of faith. He died, burned at the stake, for that belief in Constance, Germany, on his forty-second birthday. As he refused a final plea to renounce his faith, Hus's last words were, "What I taught with my lips, I seal with my blood."

Source Unknown.

The prospect of standing for what one believes is getting more and more difficult. Simple truths that have been understood for years are being challenged. My truth … is the phrase of the day.

1 John 2:16-17 summarizes a bit of the dilemma:

16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

In his goodness and mercy God has called us to be his people.

He has forgiven us our sins.
Daily and richly, he supplies all our needs.
He has set before us eternal life.
All of this is by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

During the days of his public ministry, our Lord sent his disciples out to preach the gospel. First, it was the twelve, then the seventy-two and finally it became the general commission for all of his followers.

Today it is our commission.

This brings us to our Gospel reading today:

5These are the twelve that Jesus sent out, instructing them, …

But the bulk of our text today points to what await those who profess faith in Christ.

21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

The work of those who were sent would not be fun or easy.
Persecution would be part of the lot of those sent.

Not only would the world hate them but so too their family, brother, father children and so on. Christ says,

Have no fear of them … proclaim the truth!

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Our Lord put it in various ways:
Preach the gospel to every creature.

Make disciples of all nations.
Be my witnesses in all the world.

Preaching, making disciples, and witnessing – this is our task!

It is our call; it is our work. This is what the Lord has given us to do. The importance of this work is plain:

Apart from the gospel there is no salvation. Apart from Jesus Christ there is no hope.

Jesus has said:

6 … “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

In the words of St. Peter:

12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

The urgency of the commission is also plain. Generations are born; they live and die. While they live, each member of the generation has an opportunity to know Christ and find salvation in him. For we who know Jesus we are given the opportunity and task to make him known to others. Once life ends, eternity and judgement come.

The love of God overcomes fear!

Today, the brokenness is laid bare for all to see and at times embraced, at least by the world and the worldview of many.

No more is Christ the way the truth and the life for those whose peace is found only in:
My way! My truth! And my life!

The persecution of those who proclaim the name of Christ is growing.
It is and has been dangerous to those around the world.

Proclaiming Christ in our country too is being met with anger and only time will tell the extent of the persecution we all might feel.

So, what do we who are Christians do in light of this evil in the world?

Well certainly we pray, but we also need to be in the world though not of the world or conformed to its ways.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said in a very poignant way as he was confronted with all that Hitler and the Third Reich were doing leading up to and including World War II.

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

He continues on in his book, The Cost of Discipleship:

“Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ.

It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life.
It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner.

Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: 'Ye were bought at a price’ and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us.

Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

Fear not for God loves you, and is with you!
It is the mission of the church as we learned to “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Matt 28
It is a mission of the Church at large, our own LC-MS, and of we here at Peace:
To make disciples, to proclaim Christ, to baptize and teach;

It is a rough road, and a dangerous road. Many die along the way, in doing the work of proclaiming the gospel. But Christ says, Fear not!

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

We have many sparrows next week coming for VBS. We show them Jesus in our service to them as neighbors and point them to the truth of who Jesus is as our savior and redeemer.

Christ has promised that where he is you too will be also. He has a room prepared and where He is you too will be also. And He gives you and me the work to do with this promise:

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, John 14:12a

I’d like to close with these words of comfort from Luther:

Now, since these promises of God are words of holiness, truth, righteousness, liberty, and peace, and are full of universal goodness, the soul, which cleaves to them with a firm faith, is so united to them, nay, thoroughly absorbed by them, that it not only partakes in, but is penetrated and saturated by, all their virtues.

For if the touch of Christ was healing, how much more, does that most tender spiritual touch, nay, absorption of the word, communicate to the soul all that belongs to the word!

In this way therefore the soul, through faith alone, without works, is from the word of God justified, sanctified, endued with truth, peace, and liberty, and filled full with every good thing, and is truly made the child of God, as it is said,

“To them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” John 1: 12

And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in and through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior now and forever.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Sermon June 13-14, 2026

Title: Pray, send, go, and tell the Good News!
Text: Matthew 9:35-10:8

Facebook live: Pray, send, go, and tell the Good News!

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

In our gospel today:

35 … Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.

In the proceeding part of chapter 9 Jesus:

Healed a paralytic brought to him lying on a mat.
He called the apostle Matthew, the tax collector, to follow him.
He raised a daughter from death to life.
He healed a woman from bleeding who touched the hem of his garment.
He restored the sight of two blind men who asked him for mercy.
And cast out a demon from a man unable to speak who then spoke.

Our compassionate Lord went to those in need or they came to him.

He brought life where only death reigned.
He healed those who had been unable to be healed.
He restored sight and cast the demons away.

[Jesus] had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

We’ve talked a bit over the last months about the need for pastors and the churches that are without one and going through the process to self-evaluate. They are trying to be honest with themselves as their needs and church has changed.

Our Pastor’s conference in Frankenmuth last month had a number on conversations about that and our Synod convention next month will deal with this as well.

We have symbols from two sister congregations in our Narthex that for many of their members now call Peace their home, and there are other churches in our circuit that are in need of pastors. It is a hard reality for many more churches in the future.

I mentioned last weekend that we had a husband and wife visit us on Trinity Sunday from a Prescott Valley Arizona and they asked for prayers for their congregation, Trinity Lutheran as they struggle without a pastor.

After all, the church is the gathering of the faithful no matter where it may be, and all churches need an under shepherd of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ to proclaim God’s word and distribute his gifts!

The Twelve Apostles

10 And [Jesus] called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Each church in our circuit grows and falls as the Lord dictates.

I think pastors are given calls to move the process along. After all we are creatures of habit. We would all stay put and do things just as they are unless moved along by the Lord.

5 These twelve Jesus sent out,

The 12 disciples were probably not looking for a change.
They liked Jesus and were content to follow him and stay where they were.
But he sends them out, taking them out of their comfort zone and giving them marching orders.

“Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

Life and needs have changed for some of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Some are without a shepherd and waiting on the Lord.
Some are watching services online.
Some can’t come or drive.
Some are in care facilities.
Some are dealing with cancer and other illnesses.
Some can’t do stairs.
Some are mourning the loss of a spouse and struggle with grief.

In some cases other Circuit Pastors are visiting church members to help out.

We all, in compassion for the Lord’s sheep, are trying as best we can to serve God’s people as his under shepherds, where we are.

I am thankful for all my brother pastors and their efforts.

No one size fits all here. “The times they are a changing,” as Bob Dylan once sang and we all have to have our eyes open to this reality.

Every year things change.
2026 is no different.

The hope is not to avoid change but to hold dear to the unchangeable Jesus.

Jesus is after all: The way the truth and the life!

Sickness, war, protests, midterm elections, our Synod convention, birth and death. Everything the world deals with, the church deals with, and the root cause, result, and solution, are the same.

Sin, death and Jesus

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23

Whether like Peace member Erna Gidcumb, who rests in Jesus having finished the race in this life last month. Or, the myriads of other members and loved ones from this church and others who have once blessed us with their presence in this life and now joy in Christ’s presence, the sting of death is real.

It hurts, It’s personal, it’s troubling, and it’s no respecter of age, race, gender, status or political affiliation. So, the mandate from Jesus to his disciples should ring in our ears as well.

38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Our prayers are for both the Lord to send laborers; knowing that we might be called upon to be one of those to bring Christ to those in need as pastor’s, helpers and friends.

While death is the result of sin, Jesus is the solution for sin.

Christ needs to be proclaimed in this life with or without pastors - not to diminish the concerns in this life but to illuminate the greater reality.

All roads lead to death in this life, but only one way leads to peace and life eternal and that’s Jesus.

Our sermon hymn 826 Hark, the Voice of Jesus Crying brings all of our concerns and in a wonderful way points to the Blessed Hope that Jesus is.

Your hope, trust, and security in this life is only for a while.
Let us rest in Jesus’ call as the lyrics of our hymn make clear.

1. Hark! the voice of Jesus calling, "Who will go and work today?
Fields are white, the harvest waiting, “Who will bear the sheaves away?"
Loud and long the Master calls out, Rich reward he offers free:
Who will answer, gladly saying, "Here am I, send me, send me."

2. If you cannot speak like angels, f you cannot preach like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus, you can say he died for all.
If you cannot rouse the wicked, With the judgment's dread alarms,
You may lead the little children, To the Savior's waiting arms.

4. Let none hear you idly saying, "There is nothing I can do,"
While the multitudes are dying, and the Master calls for you.
Take the task he gives you gladly; Let his work your pleasure be.
Answer quickly when he's calling, "Here am I, send, send me."

Pray, send, go, and tell the Good News!

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Sermon June 6-7, 2026

Title: Let us all, like Matthew, follow Jesus!
Text: Matthew 9:9-13

 
Facebook live:  Let us all, like Matthew, follow Jesus!

9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

As we begin today with our gospel reading, Jesus sees Matthew as he is sitting in his Tax office and he says to him, “Follow Me.”

The response is immediate. Matthew got up and followed him.

This begins a life of service to his Lord. It was not always easy, but we can be sure that it was always special as he walked in the presence of the living Christ.

This man had been called Levi, the son of Alphaeus as St. Mark tells us in his gospel, but from now on Matthew continues with a new name and a new calling.

It is possible that Matthew may have known Jesus before this time.

He may have heard of him or even heard him, but there is no mistaking he is now the Lord’s and God’s call is always effective. Jesus was directly enrolling Matthew in the Lord’s work and he would be standing in Christ’s closest circle of followers.

The words of Jesus were simple and direct.
I don’t know if there were other conversations that preceded this call but the simple two words were 

enough for him: “Follow Me.”

Jesus called others too: fisherman, brothers, Nathaniel who he saw while he sat under a fig tree, and even one who would betray him. But today it is Matthew.

The invitation and calling still comes to us today.

Some of you heard the call as infants in the waters of Holy Baptism, while others hear God’s inspired word that calls you to believe as you talk to friends or grieve the loss of a dear loved one at a funeral or visitation. God works through the ordinary times and circumstances of life to bring himself and this reality to you.

God’s word and his call are sure.

We shouldn’t think that it was easy for Matthew to walk away from his life and the work he did. He probably had a lucrative income and a family, we’re not sure but it is never easy to give up things that are important in our lives and in our past to serve Jesus. But God makes it happen and rewarding.

The gospel continues in a most interesting way.

10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.

If you had friends over to your house, who would they be?

Well, maybe people like you.

People that work with you, socialize with you, live with you, live near you, and those whom you desire to know or get to know better.

You also might want them to know your friends and those friends that are new to you, like Jesus.

It is not surprising that Matthew had tax collectors and sinners in his home and at this feast. He may have even invited the Pharasees to expand his circle of friends or to bring them the Good News to follow Christ as well.

They were not happy with the whole affair or Jesus who reclined at table.

Saying, to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Which is another way of saying,
“Why do you eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Which is another way of saying,
“Why does your teacher eat with you?”

To this Jesus answers with his words of great perspective:

12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

Also quoting the familiar words of the Prophet Hosea from our Old Testament reading today:

‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus takes his critics to task.
Jesus points out the inherent problem with their reasoning.
They think they are well!

They don’t realize the sickness that dwells with in all born in sin who are all born to die. They think those connected to Jesus have the problem, but Jesus is not the problem, he is the cure.

Christ alone is the great physician!

He alone can save!
He alone can heal!

The person who thinks he is spiritually well, who thinks he is righteous and perfect and without sin, may not feel the need for a savior - having a lifelong rebellion against God and the things of God.

You know them and I know them. If fact we were them, especially when we think:

“I’m doing pretty good and I can make it one my own. At least, I’m not as bad as, you know who!” Tax collectors and sinners!

Many live that way and are without hope.

No Jesus.
No future hope.
No eternity in his presence.
But a real eternity, separated from God in Christ forever.

Don’t fight and throw away the gift!

Jesus doesn’t want your work. He wants you.
Jesus doesn’t want your stuff. He wants you.
Jesus doesn’t need your money. It’s all his anyways.

But his does want you to be his child, and he wants you to trust all that he came to do, for you!

The Pharisees never really felt the need for the mercy of God, or the comfort he gives because they trusted themselves. Maybe that is why they were so unloving towards others?

Many today live the life of a pharisee as they trust themselves, trust their schools, trust their jobs, and trust their families and friends, to be their guide and aid in the good and bad times of life.

Don’t place your hope in things that pass away.

It was not easy for Matthew to walk the way of following Jesus. It cost him much but also gave him much more that he gave up.

Our call is to follow Jesus and to invite others to know him because he desires that they would be his children as well.

Look to the empty tomb and know that because Jesus Christ, conquered sin, death, and the devil we too by faith in his work shall rise to an eternity with him also.

Hear the call of the Lord. Follow me!
Let us all, like Matthew, follow Jesus!

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen