Theme: The Word That Saves! – Rev. Terry Nelson
Text: Romans 10: 5-17
Facebook live:
31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
Monday, August 3, 2026
Sermon Aug. 1-2, 2026
Title: The Lord gives all that we need!
Matt. 14:13-21
Facebook live: The Lord gives all that we need!
19Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20And they all ate and were satisfied.
He was in the hospital, so I needed to make a visit.
A routine doctor visit caused the doctor call an ambulance to take him to the hospital.
It was more serious than they first expected.
It was going to require surgery.
It was Friday afternoon.
When I arrived, he seemed to be doing alright. Nothing, looked out of the ordinary. I gave him communion and we talked. I had a prayer for successful surgery and told him that I’ll see him again after surgery and to rest easy.
I got a call on Monday.
Mark had passed.
He didn’t get to the surgery that was planned because he had a heart attack as he was being prepped for surgery.
I was shocked to say the least.
I needed time to be alone.
This was unexpected.
So too Jesus.
Death has a way of getting your attention.
What had been, is no more.
John the Baptist had been beheaded in prison …
And Jesus withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself.
Human emotion calls us to withdraw, separate, and to renew.
Jesus needed time to process John’s death.
Sometimes you don’t get that time.
But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.
Do you ever feel like that?
The crowd just won’t let you rest.
You just want a few minutes to process things,
to be by yourself.
Loss has taken its toll.
Friends, I’m no Jesus, and neither are you.
We feel loss and the suffering and grief can need time to process.
At times, time is not what we have.
“Pastor, can I see you for a moment?”
The sinful self wants to scream.
Thankfully Jesus shows us another way.
14 When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Compassion is defined: as a deep feeling of care for others that leads to an active desire to help.
Sin tears compassion apart.
We look inward.
“Can’t you see? I’m hurting!”
We don’t often see, and often can’t see the pain others are suffering.
But Jesus can!
15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”
The disciples see the need, but the answer is to send them away.
Pain and suffering can cause us to send those in need in our lives away too.
Can you help me? No!
Do you have a few minutes? No!
16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”
But, we don’t … and We can’t … and like the disciples …
17 … “We have only five loaves here and two fish.”
When you can’t, when you don’t, and when you won’t, you have to come to Jesus.
Jesus can, Jesus does, and Jesus will.
Jesus can.
Because he hears your prayers and cries for help. It is his desire to always hear the pleas of his children.
John 9:31
31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.
Deuteronomy 31:8
8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
Jesus does.
Matt. 14:13-21
Facebook live: The Lord gives all that we need!
19Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20And they all ate and were satisfied.
He was in the hospital, so I needed to make a visit.
A routine doctor visit caused the doctor call an ambulance to take him to the hospital.
It was more serious than they first expected.
It was going to require surgery.
It was Friday afternoon.
When I arrived, he seemed to be doing alright. Nothing, looked out of the ordinary. I gave him communion and we talked. I had a prayer for successful surgery and told him that I’ll see him again after surgery and to rest easy.
I got a call on Monday.
Mark had passed.
He didn’t get to the surgery that was planned because he had a heart attack as he was being prepped for surgery.
I was shocked to say the least.
I needed time to be alone.
This was unexpected.
So too Jesus.
Death has a way of getting your attention.
What had been, is no more.
John the Baptist had been beheaded in prison …
And Jesus withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself.
Human emotion calls us to withdraw, separate, and to renew.
Jesus needed time to process John’s death.
Sometimes you don’t get that time.
But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.
Do you ever feel like that?
The crowd just won’t let you rest.
You just want a few minutes to process things,
to be by yourself.
Loss has taken its toll.
Friends, I’m no Jesus, and neither are you.
We feel loss and the suffering and grief can need time to process.
At times, time is not what we have.
“Pastor, can I see you for a moment?”
The sinful self wants to scream.
Thankfully Jesus shows us another way.
14 When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Compassion is defined: as a deep feeling of care for others that leads to an active desire to help.
Sin tears compassion apart.
We look inward.
“Can’t you see? I’m hurting!”
We don’t often see, and often can’t see the pain others are suffering.
But Jesus can!
15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”
The disciples see the need, but the answer is to send them away.
Pain and suffering can cause us to send those in need in our lives away too.
Can you help me? No!
Do you have a few minutes? No!
16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”
But, we don’t … and We can’t … and like the disciples …
17 … “We have only five loaves here and two fish.”
When you can’t, when you don’t, and when you won’t, you have to come to Jesus.
Jesus can, Jesus does, and Jesus will.
Jesus can.
Because he hears your prayers and cries for help. It is his desire to always hear the pleas of his children.
John 9:31
31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.
Deuteronomy 31:8
8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
Jesus does.
Because he has promised to hear and to answer.
Psalm 116:2
Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
Psalm 118:5
Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.
Psalm 138:3
On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.
Jesus will.
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.
The disciples know …
17 … “We have only five loaves here and two fish.”
18 And [Jesus] says, “Bring them here to me.”
The trouble, the fear, the wants and the needs have to go to Jesus.
Jesus is our Sabbath rest.
There is no other help that makes sense.
There is no other help that brings peace.
There is no other help that brings forgiveness.
19 Then Jesus ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
Jesus broke the loves and gave them to the disciples and they fed the crowd. Five thousand men besides women and children. A sizeable number of people and all were satisfied.
There were twelve baskets full of broken pieces that remained as a reminder for the disciples of what the Lord had done and could do. The gospel remains for me and you as a sign of what Christ has done and can do in our lives.
That what seems impossible for man is possible with God. He is able to fill the impossible in our lives and to use us to fill the impossible in others’ lives.
We bring our needs to Jesus and we come to him with thanksgiving for all that he has done for us.
The Lord gives all that we need!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Psalm 116:2
Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
Psalm 118:5
Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.
Psalm 138:3
On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.
Jesus will.
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.
The disciples know …
17 … “We have only five loaves here and two fish.”
18 And [Jesus] says, “Bring them here to me.”
The trouble, the fear, the wants and the needs have to go to Jesus.
Jesus is our Sabbath rest.
There is no other help that makes sense.
There is no other help that brings peace.
There is no other help that brings forgiveness.
19 Then Jesus ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
Jesus broke the loves and gave them to the disciples and they fed the crowd. Five thousand men besides women and children. A sizeable number of people and all were satisfied.
There were twelve baskets full of broken pieces that remained as a reminder for the disciples of what the Lord had done and could do. The gospel remains for me and you as a sign of what Christ has done and can do in our lives.
That what seems impossible for man is possible with God. He is able to fill the impossible in our lives and to use us to fill the impossible in others’ lives.
We bring our needs to Jesus and we come to him with thanksgiving for all that he has done for us.
The Lord gives all that we need!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Monday, July 27, 2026
Sermon July 25-26, 2026
Title: Christ is our pearl of great value!
Text: Matt 13:44-52
Text: Matt 13:44-52
Facebook live: Christ is our pearl of great value!
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
As we begin today, we again look at the parables of Jesus in the Gospel of St. Matthew. If we remember the last two weekends we recall that the Sower, who sowed seed everywhere, found that the seed that fell on the good soil took root and produced a crop that yielded 30, 60 and even 100 fold.
Last week we learned that the wheat that grew from the good seed, was planted by the Son of man, in the field of the world, and that the devil also planted weeds among the wheat where both would grow until the harvest, separating both wheat and weeds or believers and unbelievers by God’s angles at the end of the age.
Today we have three short parables and they all bring to mind the topic of the kingdom of heaven. We’ll look at these and see the truth that, through the Gospel:
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
In last week’s parable Jesus explained that the field was the world and the good seed is the children of the kingdom. In today’s parable the children of the kingdom are the treasure hidden in the world brought to faith by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel’s proclamation.
Christ then is the man who found you, His treasure, but this treasure of being his child is hidden apart from faith, in the field of this world.
So to purchase the world back, Christ empties himself, sells all He has, as it were and gives Himself as a ransom to buy and redeem this world lost in sin, death and the power of the devil.
Jesus then says:
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Knowing that a perfect pearl, of large size, of spherical shape, would far surpass in value hundreds of small, imperfect pearls, this merchant, an expert in his line, set out to seek, and, if possible, to find, such a rare valuable pearl. Having found one which seemed to him exceedingly precious, he risked his all, stripping himself of all his possessions in the one great venture of his life. The glory and beauty of God's mercy in the Gospel - so great and precious a gift that all else sinks into insignificance beside it.
Popular Commentary of the Bible, P.E. Kretzmann NT Vol.1 Pg.76-77
The pearl of the Christians is the greatest treasure in the kingdom of God … salvation in Christ!
He who has learned to know this priceless gift will gladly renounce all goods, joys, and delights of this world, and consider all human wisdom and righteousness as loss, in order to gain Christ.
But that is not always the case.
As I was driving some time ago, I caught a story on the Moth Radio Hour. This show has people speaking in front of a live studio audience and relating a story that was of some significance to them.
The speaker was Christof Koch an American neuroscientist who had been raised Roman Catholic and struggled with his own belief in God alongside his work as a scientist. The topic was: God, Death and Francis Crick. Francis Crick was also a scientist, who made his mark in DNA research and was an atheist. The two, though from different generations, spent many years in collaboration and study even authoring a book together called The Quest for Consciousness.
One day as they worked together, Francis Cricks received a call and confirmation that his terminal cancer had returned. Christof said he was immensely impressed with the Stoic faith of his atheist elder friend. “No doom and gloom, no gnashing of teeth and no tears just, “Accept what you can’t change.” And then he went on with what Francis Crick had to say, “Everything that has a beginning must have an end … those are the facts, I don’t like them, but I’ve accepted them.”
This also caused Christof to reflect on his own mortality. Ultimately, he saw Francis Crick as his hero, with how he dealt with his own demise.
The show concluded with Christof speaking of being saddened by the loss of his belief and religion like, fond childhood memories, concluding that we all have to grow up, which is difficult for many and unbearable for the few, concluding that we have to see the world as it really is and stop thinking in terms of magic.
Or, he says, as Francis would have put it, “This is a story for grown men not a consoling tale for children.”
https://themoth.org/stories/god-death-and-francis-crick
To that Jesus answers:
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The net of the Word of God and its Gospel proclamation is cast into the sea of the world and at the end of the age it will be gathered to the shore.
Here the angles will separate those, the righteous, who by the power of the Holy Spirit, are brought to faith in Christ and believe - while others - called evil, will be thrown into the fiery furnace of Hell and there, no matter how stoic they may be in this life, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The first Hymn Martin Luther ever wrote is called Dear Christians, One and All Rejoice.
I’d like to share with you stanzas 4-5, as it speaks beautifully to our message today.
Broken and condemned by the Law we are rescued by Christ and made his child and forgiven. Please turn to Hymn #556 in your hymnal and let us joyfully sing these important words into our hearts receiving the forgiveness they convey in the work of Jesus to give us forgiveness, comfort and peace!
4.
But God had seen my wretched state
Before the world's foundation,
And mindful of His mercies great,
He planned for my salvation.
He turned to me, A father's heart;
He did not choose the easy part
But gave His dearest Treasure.
5.
God said to His beloved Son:
“It’s time to have compassion.
Then go, bright Jewel of My crown,
And bring to all salvation;
From sin and sorrow set him free,
Slay bitter death for them that they
May live with you forever.
We can’t know who will be gathered … but we can trust that God knows.
He will gather his children unto himself and all that believe in Christ will be saved.
Those who have once shared this faith but have fallen away, God, by his Holy Spirit will continue to call and we pray once again give them life by the Spirit found only in Christ.
Because, Christ is our pearl of great value!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
As we begin today, we again look at the parables of Jesus in the Gospel of St. Matthew. If we remember the last two weekends we recall that the Sower, who sowed seed everywhere, found that the seed that fell on the good soil took root and produced a crop that yielded 30, 60 and even 100 fold.
Last week we learned that the wheat that grew from the good seed, was planted by the Son of man, in the field of the world, and that the devil also planted weeds among the wheat where both would grow until the harvest, separating both wheat and weeds or believers and unbelievers by God’s angles at the end of the age.
Today we have three short parables and they all bring to mind the topic of the kingdom of heaven. We’ll look at these and see the truth that, through the Gospel:
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
In last week’s parable Jesus explained that the field was the world and the good seed is the children of the kingdom. In today’s parable the children of the kingdom are the treasure hidden in the world brought to faith by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel’s proclamation.
Christ then is the man who found you, His treasure, but this treasure of being his child is hidden apart from faith, in the field of this world.
So to purchase the world back, Christ empties himself, sells all He has, as it were and gives Himself as a ransom to buy and redeem this world lost in sin, death and the power of the devil.
Jesus then says:
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Knowing that a perfect pearl, of large size, of spherical shape, would far surpass in value hundreds of small, imperfect pearls, this merchant, an expert in his line, set out to seek, and, if possible, to find, such a rare valuable pearl. Having found one which seemed to him exceedingly precious, he risked his all, stripping himself of all his possessions in the one great venture of his life. The glory and beauty of God's mercy in the Gospel - so great and precious a gift that all else sinks into insignificance beside it.
Popular Commentary of the Bible, P.E. Kretzmann NT Vol.1 Pg.76-77
The pearl of the Christians is the greatest treasure in the kingdom of God … salvation in Christ!
He who has learned to know this priceless gift will gladly renounce all goods, joys, and delights of this world, and consider all human wisdom and righteousness as loss, in order to gain Christ.
But that is not always the case.
As I was driving some time ago, I caught a story on the Moth Radio Hour. This show has people speaking in front of a live studio audience and relating a story that was of some significance to them.
The speaker was Christof Koch an American neuroscientist who had been raised Roman Catholic and struggled with his own belief in God alongside his work as a scientist. The topic was: God, Death and Francis Crick. Francis Crick was also a scientist, who made his mark in DNA research and was an atheist. The two, though from different generations, spent many years in collaboration and study even authoring a book together called The Quest for Consciousness.
One day as they worked together, Francis Cricks received a call and confirmation that his terminal cancer had returned. Christof said he was immensely impressed with the Stoic faith of his atheist elder friend. “No doom and gloom, no gnashing of teeth and no tears just, “Accept what you can’t change.” And then he went on with what Francis Crick had to say, “Everything that has a beginning must have an end … those are the facts, I don’t like them, but I’ve accepted them.”
This also caused Christof to reflect on his own mortality. Ultimately, he saw Francis Crick as his hero, with how he dealt with his own demise.
The show concluded with Christof speaking of being saddened by the loss of his belief and religion like, fond childhood memories, concluding that we all have to grow up, which is difficult for many and unbearable for the few, concluding that we have to see the world as it really is and stop thinking in terms of magic.
Or, he says, as Francis would have put it, “This is a story for grown men not a consoling tale for children.”
https://themoth.org/stories/god-death-and-francis-crick
To that Jesus answers:
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The net of the Word of God and its Gospel proclamation is cast into the sea of the world and at the end of the age it will be gathered to the shore.
Here the angles will separate those, the righteous, who by the power of the Holy Spirit, are brought to faith in Christ and believe - while others - called evil, will be thrown into the fiery furnace of Hell and there, no matter how stoic they may be in this life, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The first Hymn Martin Luther ever wrote is called Dear Christians, One and All Rejoice.
I’d like to share with you stanzas 4-5, as it speaks beautifully to our message today.
Broken and condemned by the Law we are rescued by Christ and made his child and forgiven. Please turn to Hymn #556 in your hymnal and let us joyfully sing these important words into our hearts receiving the forgiveness they convey in the work of Jesus to give us forgiveness, comfort and peace!
4.
But God had seen my wretched state
Before the world's foundation,
And mindful of His mercies great,
He planned for my salvation.
He turned to me, A father's heart;
He did not choose the easy part
But gave His dearest Treasure.
5.
God said to His beloved Son:
“It’s time to have compassion.
Then go, bright Jewel of My crown,
And bring to all salvation;
From sin and sorrow set him free,
Slay bitter death for them that they
May live with you forever.
We can’t know who will be gathered … but we can trust that God knows.
He will gather his children unto himself and all that believe in Christ will be saved.
Those who have once shared this faith but have fallen away, God, by his Holy Spirit will continue to call and we pray once again give them life by the Spirit found only in Christ.
Because, Christ is our pearl of great value!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Monday, July 20, 2026
Sermon July 18-19, 2026
Title: We are gathered into the barn of the Lord!
Text: Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43
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
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
Monday, July 13, 2026
Sermon July 11-12, 2026
Title: The word gives growth unto a great harvest!
Text: Matt. 13:1-9, 18-23
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.
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.”
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
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
Saturday, July 11, 2026
Sermon July 5, 2026 - Pastor Terry Nelson
Title: Rejoice and Hear God's Promises!
Text: Zechariah 9: 9-12
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.
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.
Monday, June 29, 2026
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
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
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