Sermon November 7-8, 2026

Title: Don’t be fools, fuel up! 

Text: Matt. 25:1-13

Facebook live: Don’t be fools, fuel up!

10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

This past week, I was thinking about a drive I made to the seminary to receive my certificate of recognition for completing the SMP program back in 2014.

As a student I followed directions very well, and did all the work required, and even at times, received good grades!

So getting up at 5:00 am was not a problem, and driving the 3 ½ hours to the seminary was not a problem, and seeing the sign that said, Fort Wayne 20 miles, was not a problem … but as I got closer … there was no signs that said Fort Wayne next 2 exits.

Instead, I saw a sign that said Jefferson Ave. next exit … I wasn't sure was this the one I needed?

I drove past it.

Thinking that it was the exit I needed, I turned around and headed back north. I took the exit for Jefferson Ave. and as I drove, I saw signs that said Historic Fort Wayne with an arrow.

No, this isn't right I thought, so, I once again headed north on I-69. I drove three miles to the next exit of Goshen rd. Was this the right exit? I wasn't sure?

It didn't sound right, but it was 15 minutes to the 10:00 am start of the service and I was going to be late, if I wasn't right.

West Coliseum Blvd came up next. Now this looked familiar, 10 minutes to 10:00 … would I make it?

There were slow drivers in front of me and on the side of me.
Lord don’t let my oil run out!

I pulled onto N. Clinton St and headed the short distance to the Seminary. I turned onto the grounds oblivious to the 15 mile and hour speed limit signs.

What are they going to do, give me a certificate of recognition and a ticket I thought.

I pulled into the parking lot, no spaces … wait; there is one in the back. I got out of the car and I could hear the call to worship bells ringing, so I begin to run!

Certainly, I can run to the chapel and be on time, I thought.

It’s raining as I begin my jog to the chapel. I arrive with no time to spare.

I go in and head to the front of the chapel with wet and windblown hair, less prepared, and out of breath than I expected.

I sit down in the front row next to my classmates … and immediately everyone stands up for the opening invocation!

My lamp was empty.

I had failed.
I thought I knew the way.
I thought I would arrive early.
I thought I would have time to visit.
I thought, I thought.

Had I prepared, I would have printed a map.
Had I prepared, I would have known the exit number.
Had I prepared, I would have arrive on time with plenty of oil in my lamp. How foolish I was.
But not you.

As we look to this gospel text and parable today let us begin with a few verses that precede this reading today from chapter 24. Here Jesus, is speaking with his disciples and says:

42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

And:

44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

And finally:

50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know.

So the text today speaks of the end times and being prepared.

25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

In the parables that we have studied previously, the kingdom of heaven and the joy that awaits those who believe had been described as a Wedding feast. There were those closed with wedding garments and those who were not. There was also a casting out and a weeping and gnashing of teeth.

And now the word continues, for the disciples and our benefit, with the foolish and wise virgins who took their lamps and while the wise had oil in their lamps and the foolish did not and while the bridegroom was a long time in coming, they were unprepared for the time of his arrival.

Being unprepared is not a good thing.
This time of year it can get really cold and windy.
Leaves can get blown down and all around.
It can be a reminder of what is around the corner … winter!

It would be easy to forget and be unprepared. Thankfully we have made arrangements with Ron Brewer who plows the lot here at church, and hopefully as the weather turns cold and the snow flies, we will be prepared for what winter brings.

Being prepared is a good thing but not all prepare for what is coming.

For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,

How much good is a lamp that has no oil in it?

Not much!

We know about oil here at church and at times the candles that have had no oil in them. They may have a dry wick and no fuel from which to draw. Thankfully Erika Hoffmann keeps our candle oil in stock so we might relate to the wise who …

4 … took flasks of oil with their lamps.

As we know lamps with oil bring with them light and light the way.

Or, in church, the candles light our service and symbolize God’s light and presence among us.

But in our parable the oil signifies something more. It signifies the work of God by the working of his Holy Spirit that brings faith … the gift of God for we who believe.

When Covid first hit in 2020, I was the candle boy here at church.

I filled the candles every week.
It’s not a hard job but it is necessary.
Prior to the pandemic and the shutdown, the Altar Guild did the work.
I didn’t think much about it.
I just expected that they would do the work and we would have oil for the candles in church to light.

But then in the middle of March 2020, it became my responsibility.

I did it during the week and then check it on the weekend to make sure that I did it and didn’t forget.
I wouldn’t want to look foolish and have to hear,

“Pastor, the candles won’t light. Didn’t you fill them?”

Not that forgetting the candles is an unpardonable sin here at church.

But in the parable what did the foolish lose?

They lost focus on the bridegroom’s coming.
They lost focus on Jesus.

The faith of God in Christ by the Holy Spirit had dimmed to the point of flickering, and had gone out.

What does this say to you and to me and to all who have been given this gift of faith?

Should we ignore it or should we do all we can to make sure it is robust and full?

Surly, it is God’s gift and he brings us to faith through that same word and keeps us in the faith.

If God, through the means of parents and our family puts a plate full of food in front of us but we ignore it and don’t feed on it we remain hungry. The gift and blessings are wasted.

So to, if we ignore God’s word and don’t hear, read, or feed on it.

Our faith in Christ dims and is replaced by other things of the world that cause us to focus on everything other than Jesus the bridegroom of the Wedding Feast.

To lose focus on Jesus can cause us all to fall away and to see our oil run dry. To have no fuel for the wick of faith to draw and to see the light of Christ flicker and go out.

But God has promised that where his word is, there the Holy Spirit is, to give faith in the gift of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It is only possible to believe on Christ by the gift of faith through the power by the Holy Spirit. The oil of God in your lamp is God in you and given you as a gift working faith to believe and to live as beacons of hope.
Over the last year many have placed their hope in who would be elected. It’s the biggest election of our lifetime!

National, State and local politics are important and have dominated our lives but also our hopes. Someone is always let down.

One learned politician once wrote:
The learned fool writes his nonsense in better language than the unlearned, but still 'tis nonsense.

B. Franklin.

At times we who have lamps are fools.

We fool ourselves into believing that we have measured up.
That we are acceptable in the eyes of God, and that we will all stand before him in righteous acceptance.

While we,

Deny his word,
Deny his gifts,
Live contrary to his word

But by God’s working, Christ has made a way to give you a full lamp.
Christ has filled you with His Spirit who points you to him.
Christ has promised he would never leave you or forsake you.
Christ continues to feed you on word and sacrament so that the gift of faith continues to fill your lamp for you who trust in Him.

You too who have been filled by God’s blessed faith are wise and prepared and ready for the coming of him, who was and is and is to come, Jesus Christ our Lord!

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

Amen

 

Sermon November 1, 2026 All Saints Day

Title: The hope of peace is found in Christ!
Text: Rev.7:9-17

Facebook live: The hope of peace is found in Christ!

13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Two weeks ago, during the Devine Service, as I was preparing the table for the Lord’s Supper, I accidentally knocked the Cruet over. I tried to catch it but wine spilled on the linens. The sacrament continued and all was fine but the communion linens would need a thorough cleaning!

Do you know how hard it is to clean wine off the linens?

Well, I can assure you that the Altar Guild knows, and I’m thankful they know how to clean the wine out of the linens, too!

Now too, the black stain of sin that has come upon all believers - has been washed clean in the blood of the Lamb - because we who have been buried with Christ in Holy Baptism – have also been raised with Christ to newness of life and are now covered with his righteousness.

Washed clean, as new fallen snow.

The Heavenly vison of St. John the apostle in the Book of Revelation is also something we’ve been studying over a number of months in our Sunday Bible Study.

Can you imagine the vision that John saw?

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Those who are clothed in white robes – have had their robes washed in the blood of the Lamb. A wonderful symbol of the reality that our sin is washed away by:

The Lamb of God who takes away the sins on the world!

The Altar guild makes our linens white by their care, but no Altar Guild could get the sin covered robes this white.

But, the blood of the lamb of God can!

What a blessed image and vision!

This past September, I had two funerals for two long time members, Virginia McDonald and Rick Arnold.

Many of you won’t know their names or them, as they have not been in active attendance for some time. But the Lord knows them!

They too, have had their robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb!

As a pastor, the care of the Lord’s sheep is the joy we who serve are given.

Vicar Rich, is working towards that end as well. To be the hands and feet of Jesus bringing care to the members of Peace as the Lord leads.

But, as pastor there is also a sad reality to this blessed work, as I have to say goodbye to many wonderful members that I have known and cared for with the Lord’s gifts.

Last week, Peace member and long time St. Mark’s member, Nancy Salo had a stroke and passed into the Lord’s care. Her daughter Cindy and I talked and she shared that Nancy didn’t want a memorial, so the family has that on hold at this time.

But I must take this time to share a bit about Nancy.

[Personal recollections of Nancy]

The stain of sin that cannot be washed away by any other means is made a brilliant white in the blood of the Lamb!

When Vicar Rich and I attended the All-Pastor’s Conference earlier in October, I got to spend some time with my former pastor at St. John Lutheran church in Rochester, Pastor Ron Moritz.

It was good to see he and his wife and spend some time together.

After all these years it was still hard for me to call him Ron and not, Pastor Moritz!

I remember a Bible study he taught many years ago, where a woman in the class asked him:

“Pastor, what is Heaven going to be like?”

To which he replied,

“Well … having never been there … I believe that it going to be a very tangible place, because our loving God works with tangible things.”

John in his vision records,

… a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Palm branches require palm trees.

The restoration of all things.

Even the angels cry out,

12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Amen! Which means - Truly, let it be so!

The picture from John of this Heavenly vision is one of:

White robes – which symbolize Holiness!

Standing – Erect, Confident and Victorious!

Palm Branches – Used to celebrate the festive joy of the Feast of Tabernacles in the Old Testament, which also has an ancient Christian tradition of burying those who die in the Lord, victorious, with palm branches in their hand!

Angles, elders, and four living creatures along with a great multitude!

Pastor, what is heaven going to be like?

It sounds like a joy filled gathering, celebrated with those who die in the Lord. Which is also a promise that the trials and tribulation of this sin filled life have a blessed end in Jesus, and that as Jesus tells his disciples in John 14:3

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Amen! And Amen!

All things in Christ are always - yes, and Amen!
The promise is to be in Christ’s presence.
That we shall not hunger or thirst.

The Lamb, our loving God, Jesus Christ himself, will be our shepherd, a blessed reality that we share right now!

Being an under shepherd here at Peace is a great blessing, but there will be no need for an under shepherd when the Good Shepherd himself, Jesus Christ cares for his flock himself and we are in his presence.

And the living water that you have been washed with in your baptism, which marks you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified, continues in this heavenly eternity – wiping away every tear from your eyes!

No tears, dear friends, only joy!

John writes in our epistle:

3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure

No tears, only joy!

Amen to that!

Dear friends, Virginia McDonald, Rick Arnold, Nancy Salo and many other family, friends, and Peace members, who have trusted in Jesus, have this eternity promised, just as you and I do, today.

We honor their memory today and the memories of all the saints who from their labors rest, but more importantly, we are honored by our loving heavenly Father who has brought us all into relationship with him through the life, death, and resurrection of his beloved Son, Jesus.

So, we remember those who have departed this life this year, and rest in the arms of Jesus:

15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.

17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Behold, you are part of that great multitude that no one can number! Rev. 7:9

As we come to the Lord’s Table today, in fellowship and communion, we receive a foretaste of the Kingdom of God promised and the reality of forgiveness in a real and tangible way.

This gift of Christ Jesus is given and shed for you!
Your place at the table is secure!

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

Amen

Sermon October 24-25, 2026 Reformation: Sermon Vicar Matthew Rich

Title: True freedom is found in Jesus!
Text: John 8:31-32

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31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Freedom,

We all love our freedom, but what does that freedom mean? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the first definition is the quality or state of being free, such as the absence of necessity, corrosion, or constraint in choice or action.

Maybe in our culture this definition of freedom is acceptable,

People are free to vote which way they want to, they have the freedom to choose their jobs, to have their families, which type of transportation they will have, and what kind of housing they will live in.

You chose what time to get up this morning, what road you would use to get to church, even which pew you would sit in. You make choices daily in your lives.

But those choices don't always just affect you; some of those choices directly affect other people. How you exercise that freedom has an impact on those whom you come in contact with.

What that impact is, you may or may not be aware of. The idea that your freedom would have a negative consequence often doesn't even cross your mind.

We are selfish in our thinking, believing that our freedom does not have consequences. We turn a blind eye to the wrong that we are doing to justify what we believe is right. The light that Jesus wants to be becomes a hidden under a bushel basket. The light of Jesus becomes obscured by the working of our good works in the name of freedom.

The works we do seem to start out with the best of intentions but after just a short while we begin to feel constrained by them, it starts to feel like bondage. The more we work, the harder it becomes, the more we try to free ourselves, the more we are entangled and entrapped by our works.

What started out as us exercising our freedom, has turned into our new god.

We daily try to do better but whatever success we have is short-lived. We find ourselves weighed down by the burden of our sin.

Why has our freedom turned out this way! What could we have done to make it better? We believe there should be something we can do to make up for our mistakes!

The Jews who had believed in Jesus also thought that their Works would keep them free. They, like us, thought that they could trust in what nation they had been born and also that they were descendants of Abraham.

As they were celebrating the care of that God had provided for their ancestors in the desert at the festival of Tabernacles, they were so caught up in their works, so entangled in the works of the law, that they were blind to the truth that was right before them.

They could not see that the law was pointing them to Christ, they're celebration and all of their works that they were performing, it was being completed by Jesus!

He had told them that he is the living water and that those who thirst should come to him, he also was teaching them that he is the light of the world and that those who would follow him would never walk in darkness. Those were some of the very things that God had provided for Abraham's offspring as they traveled through the desert.

So how were they not able to see?

They had been slaves in Egypt under pharaoh. They had been taken captive by the Babylonian Empire in 586 BC and held for 70 years. Why would they say they have never been enslaved to anyone?

Jesus is answer to them didn't even address those things, he told them plainly if you commit sin, you are a slave to sin.

So, their perceived freedom as a descendant of Abraham kept them from abiding in his word. Their work of the law was their justification.

The performance of their rituals and works overshadowed the truth. It made them trust in themselves in not in God. The truth of Jesus, and the forgiveness and freedom from sin through abiding in his word was completely obscured by their own pride of trusting in their own works.

Martin Luther found the church much in the same condition as he struggled to see how a just God could forgive unjust people. He was missing the mark on how to be free, that is the true freedom that is in Christ.

He also thought he could free himself from the slavery of sin through his various works. But this just led to more doubt and more works. With the beginning of the Reformation in 1517, Luther's quest began in uncovering the word of God and the rediscovery of the truth that is found in the gospel of Christ.

The gospel had been completely veiled behind the rules and works of man and was not obtainable.

Every effort or work was doomed to fall short and would just lead to deeper despair.

Luther wrote this in the letter titled of the freedom of a Christian. He was speaking of the church when he said this

"Through this perversion, the knowledge of Christian grace, faith, Liberty and of Christ himself has altogether perished, and its place has been taken up by an unbearable bondage of human works and laws until we have become, as the Lamentations of Jeremiah say, Servants of the vilest men on Earth who abuse our Misfortune and serve only their base and Shameless will."

True freedom, the freedom that can only be found in Jesus, it is not about personal choice. It is not about the government or the earthly authority that you live under.

It is about being released from slavery; that is the slavery of sin.

Our works and our determination can do nothing to alleviate our position. Our works keep us as a slave till sin. Until the Light of Christ is revealed, we will continue in our sin, and our works will be as filthy rags.

Jesus, speaking of being set free, was not referring to our temporal freedoms or the first definition of freedom that we spoke of earlier. He was speaking of the freedom from sin death and of the devil. that freedom comes from the son, and his sacrifice on the cross.

Jesus said So if the sun sets you free you will be free indeed.

And he has set us free

Though Luther had struggled with sin and repentance, by abiding in God's word, God's grace and mercy were revealed to him in God's word.

The righteous shall live by faith.

And the faith is this, that Jesus Christ, in his life, death, and resurrection, has covered all of our sins. It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.

And this faith, is the grace of God, as a free gift.

He loved each one of us enough, that he sent his only son to live and die and to rise again so that the entire price for our sin was paid by him.

Abide in Him, abide in his word and receive the freedom that is yours in Christ.

Only true freedom is found in faith in Christ. The sermon title was already printed when I noticed that I should have added the word "only."

While it is true that the true freedom is found in Jesus. The better title would be true freedom is found only in Jesus.

I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the father except through me.

There are no exceptions, true freedom is found only in Jesus.

We are free to live a life that is pleasing to him through that gift of faith that has been given to each of us. Not that we have done anything to deserve it, but that he gives it to us generously, daily, and in each hour of our need as the holy spirit continues to point us to the comfort that is ours abiding in his word.

As we remember our baptism where we were marked and redeemed by Christ and where we were buried with him in death and we rise with him in new life through the Holy Spirit. This is our comfort, knowing it is his work and not ours.

And that he abundantly pours out his grace to all who would receive him as he gives us his true body and True Blood for the Forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of our faith, and also, as we confess our sins, his forgiveness is immediate as we receive that absolution.

We are free to share his Word with all who would listen. We all have those times and places where sharing this good news of the gospel and the true Freedom that is found only in Jesus Christ could bring Comfort to those who are in need.

We are free in Christ and his saving work through the grace of God through faith. So we call him Lord, and he tells us to abide in his word as believers. As the Apostle Paul writes in 1st Corinthians 9 verse 19. For though I am free from all. I have made myself a servant to all that I might win more of them.

His freedom from sin death and the devil brought him freedom to abide in Jesus Christ and the comfort that is only found in being a servant of Christ.

Not from force or coercion, but from the love and comfort of the Holy Spirit which is the unmerited grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Let us joy in the freedom that was one for us on the cross as we daily look to Jesus and his saving work. As We rise and settle down each day, let us look for the ways to abide in the truth of his word. Let us receive the forgiveness of our sins and rest in the comfort that God has forgiven us for the sake of Christ and his work, and not ours.

Let us rest in the fact that nothing we do will earn us any of his grace. But rather, that God the father, in his mercy, has chosen to give us that Grace of faith in Christ and has made us free to be his own children.
Not having to be worried about who's offspring we are in this world. But that the wonderful unmerited grace of God is for all who are called to be his.

The world likes to put its freedom over us. We struggle with things in this world; there are times when we feel the world is having its way with us and that the light that we have been given is hidden. But thanks be to God that Christ has overcome the world. Our strength is found in him, abiding in his word.
We are no longer a slave to sin and our works, but to Christ and his works. So, if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.

I would like to share this quote from Martin Luther;

Since these promises of God are holy, true, righteousness, free and peaceful words, full of goodness, the soul which clings to them with a firm faith will be so closely united with them and all together absorbed by them that it will not only share in all of their power but will be saturated and intoxicated by them. If a touch of Christ healed, how much more will this tender spiritual touch, this absorbing of the word, communicate to the soul all that belong to the word. This then is how faith alone without works, the soul is justified by the word of God, sanctified, made true, peaceful and free, filled with every blessing and truly made a child of God.

May the freedom and comfort, that is found only in Jesus Christ be yours on this Reformation Day and every day. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sermon October 17-18, 2026

Title: You, dear friend are the Lords!
Text: Matthew 22:15-22

Facebook live: You, dear friend are the Lords!

15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle [Jesus] in his words.

In our Gospel for today, Jesus, askes:

“Whose likeness and inscription is this?”

Something similar to this might have been said to my grandfather Michael as he arrived at Ellis Island upon his immigration to the United States. My dad’s dad had been born and raised in Bratislava, Slovakia and so had my grandmother Anna, though she had been born in Liverpool England where her parents went to work in the shipping and boat building industry while my great grandmother was pregnant.

To this day I feel a kinship and connection to Liverpool and the Beatles - though I’ve never been there. Wishful thinking I suppose?

Throughout my life I’ve had time where people would come up to me and say, “How do you pronounce that name?” To which I would reply, “Russell.”

“No, no!” they would say, “Not that name, the other name!”

“Oh.” You mean Tkac. “Tack? How’d you get tack out of that?”

Well, the Slovak pronunciation for T-K-A-C is (T) Kach with the T silent. My grandfather tried to explain this to no avail so he changed the pronunciation to Tack. No big deal, but if he would have moved the letters around a bit my life would have been a lot easier. In fact, when my youngest brother Tom went to the Naval Academy and a military career in 1977, he formally changed the spelling of Tkac to Tack. He felt it would be simpler than trying to explain it throughout his life.

My brother is still Tom Tack, though the youngest, he is still the tallest at 6’-3” and of all the boys he most closely bears the image of my dad in appearance, as well as singing and dance moves! Probably not a good thing?

If my dad was ever offended by my brother’s decision to change the spelling of our family name, I never heard about it. In fact, all I heard about from my dad was,

“Did I tell you what Tom did?”
“Did I tell you where Tom is?”
“Did I tell you how much money Tom saved me by going to the Academy?

My dad’s image is all over my brother Tom and no spelling change was going to change that.

But there is another important resemblance to be aware of:
By faith you bear the likeness of Christ!

To say that the Pharisees are not happy with Jesus would be an understatement and they begin to plot and make plans to trap him.

First, they were kicked out of the vineyard. (Matt. 21:33-44)

Then last week, they were removed from the wedding feast and cast into outer darkness. (Matt 22:1-14)

Now, they want to catch Jesus in something that they can then accuse him of, and turn him over to the authorities to have Him tried, and ultimately, their hope is to have Him put out of their midst and put to death, so they can get rid of him once and for all.

6 And they sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians …

The disciples [followers] of the Pharisees went to Jesus and also brought some of the Herodians with them.

The Herodians are only mentioned a few times in the New Testament and there is some debate as to whether they were a political sect distinct from the Pharisees and Sadducees and supporters of Herod Antipas, or were actually soldiers in Herod’s court. Either way … the Pharisees were bringing a political or military group with them in opposition to Jesus.

… saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.”

This is what might be called … painting a picture.

“Saying” … we believe everything you say, because we know you’re telling the truth. You don’t care what others say … even if they are the religious leaders so why don’t you say it in front of these Herodians, these followers of King Herod … and of course we mean you no disrespect!

“So, 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

And what they are really saying is:

Speak up, so these Herodians – who either make the laws or in force the laws - can hear you!

We know in the two kingdoms, the Kingdom of Grace and the Kingdom of the world God works. He works through word and sacrament in one and through those who rule, lead or govern in the other.

In the Old Testament reading for today in Isaiah 45:1-7 God calls the Persian King Cyrus – his anointed saying,

… whose right hand I have grasped,
to subdue nations before him
and to loose the belts of kings,
to open doors before him
that gates may not be closed:

The Lord says –

2 “I will go before you
and level the exalted places,
I will break in pieces the doors of bronze
and cut through the bars of iron,
3 I will give you the treasures of darkness
and the hoards in secret places,
that you may know that it is I, the Lord,
the God of Israel, who call you by your name.

God calls Cyrus for his purpose, just as God called Pharaoh to serve his needs in the Exodus from Egypt telling Moses in Exodus 7:

2 You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. 5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” Exodus 7:2-5

God works in the church through his means of grace and in the world through those he wills, both good and bad, for his ultimate purpose. We might remember Jesus’ response to Pontus Pilate in John 19:10-11
10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.”

The Pharisees and the Herodians – were working to thwart God and his will in redemption through Jesus.

But God would have his way.

18 [To this] Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” as if they didn’t know 21 They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”

Some years ago as I drove through Pontiac, I came to an intersection where the light was yellow. I quickly accelerated through the intersection and saw the light was still yellow as I passed through.

Shortly after feeling good about my decision I heard the siren of a Pontiac Police car and feeling angry, I pulled to a stop down a side street. The officer wrote me a ticket for failing to stop at a red light and when I said the light was still yellow, he said “Well, you’ll have a chance to appeal that in court.”

Court Day comes and the Judge is a kindly old visiting Judge in his late 80’s. He speaks softly, and all those before me accept their responsibility before the judge for the violations they are charged with.

My turn comes and when the Judge asks me my plea, “I plead not responsible, your honor!”

I then give my side and the officer gives his. The judge in his kindly and grandfatherly voice says, “Russell, you have an impeccable driving record. I don’t think I’ve seen one as clean as yours? But it’s going to cost you to keep it that way! I find for the plaintiff, no points but fees of $250. Case dismissed!”

You and I know the laws. We know what or whom has been placed over us whether it is the laws that are on the books, or the police officer that has just given you a ticket, or the judge or political official who has just ruled or voted in a way that is contrary to how you think or desire or maybe even how God’s would desire.

We are all called to live and proclaim God’s truth in a world of believers and unbelievers alike.

We are called to love those who persecute us. If the laws call us to do something contrary to God’s word, we need to sand firm and use our ability as citizens to also exercise our rights in the kingdom of the left to bring about change.

The things that in this life may grieve us as Christians, grieve our loving God as well. But He who is righteous is long suffering.

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish,

but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 2:9

God is slow with you and He is slow with me.

Not giving up on us and our failings, but calling and bringing us by the power of His Spirit, to believe.

God in Christ has suffered with us and for some of us for many years as we at times choose to fall away from His word looking to what society and the civil leaders tell us what to believe and do.

He is long suffering towards us and we need to be long suffering to those that don’t see things as we do.

Then [Jesus] said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”

This image is very simple to see. The question of should we pay tax is simply answered by Jesus to give to Caesar or give to the State what it requires, but then it becomes a bit harder. Give to God what is His.

I gave the state the $250 fine.

God has called me to read his word and follow him, to trust and to believe.

You are called to respond to the call of the gospel.

The Pharisees and Chief Priests had been called and they had refused to care for the vineyard and ignored the invitation to the wedding feast.

We too look to things other than the things God’s desires and drift away from Him and his word. God’s desire is you and that you fully trust in Him.

God has claimed you and made you His! So that, by faith you bear the likeness of Christ!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!

Amen

Sermon October 10-11, 2026

Title: Rejoice! You are clothed in Christ!
Text: Matthew 22:1-14

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22 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.

When I was 18 or 19 years old, my friends Bob, Jimmy and I went to weddings.

No, I don’t mean we went to a wedding we were invited to, we just went to weddings. We dressed up in suits and headed to Mercy College.

Almost every weekend they hosted four or more wedding receptions and having little money we devised a plan for a free evening.

We’d arrive with cards in our hands, slip into the reception and find a seat far away from the action.

We looked like we belonged and if the time was right, we got a good meal or if not, we got a drink or mingled among the girls working the event.

It seemed like a harmless way to kill and evening and meet girls we thought.

If the reception got a little boring, we moved down the hall to another room to see if the celebration and action was better. After two or three receptions we happened upon the last wedding reception, slipped in and found our seat.

The bride and her father were just beginning the daddy, daughter dance and soon others joined in to dance with the bride. To my surprise as I looked on my friend Bob walked up and took his turn dancing with the bride.

A bit bold you might say, and you would be right!

But this was the fourth wedding this evening and by now we were pros at this.

Following the dance Bob, Jimmy and I were having drinks at the bar when this man came up and started a conversation with us. As we talked, he asked us what side of the family we were from. Bob quickly said, “The groom’s side!” To which the man look right at him and said, “I’m the groom!”

Needless to say, we were shown the door.

Trusting in ourselves and without a proper invitation we were found out and cast out into the darkness of the evening, left to find our car and go home.

Rejoice! You are clothed in Christ!

22 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.

So Jesus moves right from the master and the vineyard parable from last week to the parable of the wedding feast. The chief priests and the Pharisees had just realized that Jesus was talking about them as the ones who would be removed from the vineyard and it would be given to other tenants.

Now, with the wedding feast parable, He once again paints the picture of those who will be welcomed at the feast.

4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”

5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.

The chief priests and Pharisees are once again singled out as those who having abused the vineyard and the servants sent to get the master’s good grapes are now in this parable, the ones called to the feast but pay no attention and shun the invitation.

So, like the master in the previous parable - who will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants:

7 The king [too] was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy.

So He tells them;

9 Go … to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So, the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Both … bad and good … those who, to human eyes appear to be worthy, and those who we might assume would never be invited, are called.

Maybe you found my little wedding story funny. It is, though in hindsight it can be one story on the road to destruction.

Maybe you’ve heard the phrase;

"Remember that for every mile you drive there are two miles of ditch".

It’s just a simple analogy but profound reality that for every road we travel in life, there are two miles of ditch along the way inviting us to veer off the road and into the ditch. There are twice as many chances on either side for us to stray away from God and end up in the ditch.
I’ve had times in my life where the road wasn’t clear, where it wasn’t easy to see the shoulder, until the tires hit the rumble strip and woke up my awareness - directing me back towards the road!

Few of us ever intend to drive into the ditch. For most of us, it is simply that in life … little by little … we move ourselves from the safety of following Jesus and end up lost and off the road God intends us to be on.

The gift of grace and faith becomes rejected, and little by little the wedding garment of salvation is removed as once again you clothe yourself in the filthy rags of your own self-righteousness.

Those rags, like a well-worn pair of jeans can be so comfortable that you might not even notice the change.

But the reality is there. You shun God’s word, reject God’s gifts, return to your old ways and if it’s not you … maybe it a loved one who’s rejected God and is in the ditch.

It is a lonely way at times.

Without the wedding garment, you are not invited to the wedding feast and the clothes you have on, no matter how comfortable and nice they look, they stink and give you away as an imposter when the bridegroom comes and asks:

11 … ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’

The wedding garment is the veil and righteousness of Christ.

It is given to you by faith through the working of the Holy Spirit.

You are clothed with it in baptism and made Christ’s disciple and follower.

The garment of Christ, identifies you as one invited to attend the feast and your place at the table insecure.

Your name card is at the table, and by faith in Christ you wear the wedding garment right now!

The devil, the world, the ditches of life, and the stain of sin cannot remove the garment of forgiveness given you in Christ!

Unlike Bob, Jimmy, and me you don’t have to look for a wedding to crash because the one invitation that’s needed you have, and the one feast that matters is given to you in Christ, and Jesus has secured your place!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!

Amen

Sermon Oct. 3-4, 2026

Title: By the fruit of forgiveness, Christ overcomes the world!
Text: Matthew 21:33-46

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33 “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country.

In 2007 a remarkable thing happened. A brand-new Plymouth Belvedere that was buried in a vault in the ground in 1957 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood was unearthed. 50 years after it was buried the ground was moved away from the top and the concrete slabs that entombed the car were removed. A crane lifted the car in celebration of Oklahoma’s Centennial, though the result that emerged was not what was expected when the car was first buried. 50 years of water underground had turned a once new 1957 Plymouth into a pile of rust.

Not even the key for the car’s ignition survived fifty years under ground and under water!

So too the things of this world; what we hope to preserve in this life will be destroyed but what God changes by his word of truth will be preserved by his work for eternity!

Following our lesson last week where the Chief Priests and elders questioned Jesus’ authority and which ultimately caused Jesus to ask them this question; “John’s baptism was from God or man?”

“I don’t know” was their reply fearing both Jesus and the people.

So too Jesus also refused to tell them where his authority came from.

Today we see also Christ’s continued teaching to the Chief Priests and Elders with his use of parables. And we know that a parable is a story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels.
33 “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country.

Jesus here begins with an image of a vineyard, life, fruit, and sustenance.

You can imagine a beautiful vineyard contained within a fenced [walled area] and all within the vineyard is the masters, having been leased to the tenants to tend and produce fruit.

So also, this world that God created and gave to the children of Israel who were to manage his creation and produce fruit.

34 When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. 35 And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.

As the harvest approaches the master sends servants to get what is His. But they are mistreated, beat, stoned, and one is killed.

The message of John the Baptist to the Pharisees and Sadducees was to:

- Bear fruit in keeping with repentance,
- Turn away from sin, and to receive the washing of repentance in the baptism that he offered.
- And that this all points forward to the one that was to come whose sandal John was not worthy to untie.

Those who study the Law and the Prophets should have connected this to the Book of Isaiah, but they had hardened their hearts and refused to hear.

John was sent to prepare the way. He ultimately was killed.

The question asked last week by Jesus in our gospel lesson:

25 The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” - put the Chief Priests and Elders on notice.

Jesus simply asks them, do you trust God or man?
Their answer was a decisive, “We don’t know,” coming out of both fear for Jesus and the crowds.

36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them.
Our Lord here shows the Chief Priests and Elders that they too acted like the tenants in the parable, treating the servants sent from God as despised and rejected.

They were caretakers of the Lord’s vineyard and they have fallen short.

37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son … they said to themselves,

‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’

It is no coincidence that the tenants killed the son for in keeping with the parable Jesus was showing the type of death he too would suffer.

39 And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

Jesus was led outside the city gates where the prisoners were taken to a small hill called Golgotha to be crucified, so the image of the master’s son being thrown out of the vineyard parallels the Lord’s own rejection and so to those who name the name of Christ, whether Apostle, whether King, or just simply you and me.

So Jesus asks this question …

40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” What will he do to those who have been given the responsibility to care for all that is the masters?

We’ll, the Chief Priests and Elders answer for themselves:

41 They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

The point is; that those who had been given the vineyard as tenants to care for the master’s property thought more of the property for themselves than the master.

Even His son they killed. The analogy of heaven and hell is a good one for Chief Priests and Elders desired a heaven apart from Christ and a heaven apart from Christ … is hell.

43 Therefore [Jesus says] I tell you; the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.

A baptism of repentance with John has become a baptism of forgiveness in Christ. Physical Israel, those born of the flesh, has given way to Spiritual Israel, those born of the Spirit, born again, born anew and born from above.

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ John 3:5-7

By the fruit of forgiveness, Christ has overcome the world!
You dear friends, who have been baptized, who have been born of the Spirit, who have been born from above, have been given the Kingdom.

You have been marked as Christ’s, and redeemed by him.

He has washed you clean and you have been given the Vineyard and heaven is your home and God by his Spirit, continues to work in you and me to bear fruit for his Kingdom!

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

Amen

Sermon Sept. 26-27, 2026

Title: The question and the answer are Christ’s!
Text: Matthew 21:23-27

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24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?”

Who gave you this authority? This is the questioned asked of Jesus.
By what authority are you doing these things?

Authority has to come from some place.

13 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Rom. 13:1

God rules his church and has given the church the authority to call pastors to preach and teach his word and to administer his gifts. We cannot claim this authority by ourselves but it is given by God through the working of the Holy Spirit sent on the Day of Pentecost through the church.
Authority is given to the church by God in this Kingdom of grace. But God also works in the Kingdom of the world, through his authority, given to governments and elected officials, and in Luther’s day, through princes, emperors and magistrates to keep the peace and care for the people.

In 1981, 69 days into his presidency Ronald Reagan was shot.

In the aftermath and confusion there was a famous miscalculation by Alexander Haig, Reagan’s Secretary of State. He claimed, wrongly that – he was in charge of the government. Maybe it was just the inclination of a former general who had once been in charge, or as has been suggested, there was much jockeying for power between those in the cabinet. To this Defense Secretary, Casper Weinberger said: “He’s wrong! He doesn’t have such authority,” President Reagan eventually signed over authority to George Bush his vice President, because he had the authority to do so.

During the pandemic a few years ago, there was also quite a few times when authority has been questioned.

Who has the authority and power? The Governor or the Legislature; the States or the Federal Government; the courts that determine or the people that elect?

At times power is claimed.
And other times power is questioned.

When I first became Pastor of Peace, I was at a Red Wings game with my friend Pastor, Paul Monson and jokingly said, “I’m thankful that the Lord allows me to play the part of pastor at Peace.”
To which Pastor Monson quickly said,

“Russ, you are the pastor of Peace!”

Jesus replies to the question of his authority with a question of his own because He knows from where His authority comes.

24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, from where did it come?

From heaven or from man?”

This gets to the chief priests and elders as they know …

“If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”

A least Secretary Alexander Haig was man enough to take a stand in time of crisis even if he was wrong and misguided, while the chief priests and elders both show their fear of Jesus and the crowds.

Jesus has authority and Jesus gives authority.

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee … 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:16-20

In John’s gospel, Jesus gave authority to the disciples who would build the church through Christ’s means of word and sacrament, proclamation and gift.

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” John 20:21-23

Article VII: Of the Augsburg Confession, concerning the Church says:

1] Also they teach that one holy Church is to continue forever. The Church is the congregation of saints, in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered.

2] And to the true unity of the Church it is enough to agree concerning the doctrine of the Gospel and 3] the administration of the Sacraments. It is not necessary that human traditions, such as, rites or ceremonies, instituted by men, should be everywhere alike. 4] As Paul says: One faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, etc. Eph. 4:5-6.

But where is the church?

Is it in a boat on a lake communing with nature and thinking about God and his majesty? No.
Is it in the better home and living provided for your family? No.
Is it where the children want to go because they have fun and feel welcome? No.
It is where Christ is and where his gifts are, and where forgiveness of sins is found in His name. Yes!
It is here … at Peace Lutheran Church and countless churches around the world where the gospel is preached and the sacraments are rightly administered according to Christ’s institution.

As both saint and sinner the devil is quick to point your reason and understanding to other things. It happens to me too.

Yes, the sporting events are back, and school has resumed, and many other activities like music and theatre that we enjoy can distract us from the one thing needful, and that is the hearing of God’s word of comfort and mercy and receiving of his gifts for the forgiveness of our sins.

Even the turmoil of Covid 19 and the political battles that rage on and on and on, which bringing joy or fear for us in one outcome or the other, cannot comfort us with the blessings the church gives in Christ’s forgiveness and gifts. Even when we lose in the world we win in Christ!

God works through these means of grace, to bring about his will.
It is he who has the authority to forgive and retain sins and it is given to His church on earth for your benefit.

The blessed absolution you hear from those who have been given the authority from God through the church’s call to stand in the stead and by the command of Christ, is the authority that pastor’s bear as under shepherds in Christ’s church.

It is not authority claimed but authority given for the wellbeing of God’s people.

Our epistle reading gives us this charge:

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Phil 2:1-2

Friends, just like Saint Paul, you too have received your forgiveness from the one who has authority to forgive, Jesus Christ our Lord. The comfort and peace of Christ and abide with you all!

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

Amen