Title: Arise and Go!
Text: Jonah 3:1-5, 10
3 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in breadth. 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.
Last weekend we heard the call of Jesus to “follow me.” In today’s gospel reading the call is to “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” As we learned last week as well, God calls us to faith in Christ by the gospel and the working of the Holy Spirit through word and sacrament, the means of grace, and then we are called to action.
The call to action is not always where and when we expect. It is not always how we imagine God might use us and at times it can be uncomfortable. Also, at times the will of those called is not in accord with the will of the Lord. Take Jonah for example.
3 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD.
Jonah is one of the minor prophets of the Old Testament and our midweek study group did an extensive study on the book of Jonah. You might be familiar with the story and of the great fish that swallowed Jonah. As the reading in Jonah chapter three begins, 3 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time. We need to take a step back to chapter to when the Lord first called Jonah. The call God and Jonah’s reaction were a bit different.
1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah …, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.”
The work of a prophet was to speak forth the word of God to those that the Lord directed the prophet to, to bring the word God to them as he has directed. The Apostles too spoke as they were directed by the Holy Spirit and the entire word of God is given for our benefit.
The Apostle Paul in Romans 10:17 tells us: 17 consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. NIV
So, even God’s word proclaimed here, during the sermon is speaking prophetically, speaking forth the word of the Lord … and the will of the Lord.
3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.
By this we can see that God’s word though is not always heeded and listened to.
But Jonah was called to, Arise and Go!
At times the word of God is listened too, as we read in the gospel with Simon and Andrew.
18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
For others it may take longer and require a bit of coaxing. Even the gathering together regularly for worship, as the writer of the book of Hebrews reminds us can be hard for some:
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another,
We may hear the call but may not always heed the call.
Jonah went the other way, down in the belly of the ship to sleep and headed in the opposite direction of where the Lord wanted him to go. You might have felt this way too. What was your Nineveh? Where had God directed you that you didn't want to go and what did God desire you to do that you didn't want to do?
Ill.
A story is told of a Christian woman who was reading the Bible on an air flight. The passenger next to her kept looking over at her and finally asked, “You really don’t believe all that stuff in there, do you?” The woman responded, “Of course I do; it’s the Bible.” The man said, “Yeah, but what about that guy that got swallowed by a whale?” She replied, “Oh, you’re talking about Jonah. Yes, I believe that’s true.” Jesus even mentions Jonah. He asked, “How do you think he survived inside a whale?” The woman said, “I don’t really know. I guess I’ll ask him when I get to heaven.” The man responded, “What if he isn’t in heaven?” She said, “Well, then, I guess YOU can ask him.”
Ill. Jonah, Running from God by K. Edward Skidmore
That may be a funny story but the reality is that there are consequences to what we do concerning God. Do we listen and follow … or do we ignore his word and his will and go our own way?
Jonah ran away but God pursued him. God sent a tempest, a storm of great proportions upon the sea, so that the way of escape was hindered.
You too have the way of peace with God broken by sin. Just as Adam and Eve hid from the Lord after the fall we too hide in darkness of sin and flee the light of forgiveness for fear of condemnation that our sins would be made known. Jonah too hid from our all knowing God.
During the storm Jonah was found out. “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” But the sailors wanted to know what they could do to appease God? So Jonah told them. “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.”
And God sent a great fish to swallowed Jonah.
And God has sent Jesus to rescue you.
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.
Arise and Go! How will you respond?
The second call of the Lord upon Jonah was much different.
3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD.
He didn't want to but he knew what running away from God had gotten him. He hated the people of Nineveh … for they were wicked and despicable. He also knew that when he called out for their repentance … that they would repent and god would forgive and Jonah couldn't stomach that; that these worthless sinners would be forgiven. He knew it. He hated it. He complained about it and … he was right.
4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”
The city is big, three days to just go through it. It is probable the worst Godless place Jonah could think about and the people … the worst sinners imaginable. And Jonah does what God commands he calls them to repentance. “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”
And what happens?
5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.
They repented.
10 [And] when God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
He forgave them. He forgives you, even when at times you can’t forgive yourself, even when you forget him, God pursues you, because he loves you, he has redeemed you, so that you to might be forgiven.
“Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Monday, January 26, 2015
Monday, January 19, 2015
Sermon Jan. 17-18, 2015
Title: Jesus calls you to follow him!
Text: John 1:43-51
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”
It is suggested that you should not take a position of leadership in church unless you are prepared to be honest, pure, and loving in your lifestyle. Leadership is a privilege, and with privilege comes responsibility. God holds teachers of His truth doubly responsible because those who lead are in a position where they can either draw people toward Christ or drive them away from Him. This is illustrated in the life of the famous author Mark Twain.
Church leaders were largely to blame for his becoming hostile to the Bible and the Christian faith. As he grew up, he knew elders and deacons who owned slaves and abused them. He heard men using foul language and saw them practice dishonesty during the week after speaking piously in church on Sunday. He listened to ministers use the Bible to justify slavery. Although he saw genuine love for the Lord Jesus in some people, including his mother and his wife, he was so disturbed by the bad teaching and poor example of church leaders that he became bitter toward the things of God.
Indeed, it is a privilege to serve as an elder, a deacon, a Sunday school teacher, service guild member or a pastor. But it is also an awesome responsibility.
It is therefore important to make sure we attract people to the Savior rather than by our words and actions drive them away.
Source Unknown.
44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
This past Sunday I went to the ordination of my friend Bob Scott. I met Bob at the seminary in Fort Wayne as I was beginning my third year and he was beginning his first. As I participated in his ordination Sunday I thought too of my own ordination already now two years ago.
Bob worked at GM for 30 years before retiring and also has written or edited three books on the Civil War. He is quite gifted and talented in that regard. When he was thinking of retirement he also had planned to spend more time in his retirement writing. Little did he know that the Lord had plans of his own … and too, would have him writing … just not about the Civil War.
Finding the savior is not our work but Gods. He finds us even though we at times don’t know we are lost. Jesus found Philip and called him to “Follow me.” To this Philip responded in faith and called to Nathanael, “We have found him!” and “Come and see.”
God calls us to faith and then to action. He called Bob Scott to faith in Christ and then made a way for Bob to serve Christ. He did that with me too. Not always, does God call us to ministry or even to service as church workers, though that is a blessed call. He calls us all first to faith, he opens heaven to us through Baptism. And with you who are his in Christ he is well pleased. It is then that he uses us as his people to serve others. For some, it is in service here at Peace and Lord knows we have many places to serve. For others he calls us to be a witness to our friends and neighbors just as Philip was to Nathanael calling him to “come and see!”
I've had the joy of doing both. Where and when will the Lord call you?
Jesus calls you to follow him!
At times it is when you least expect it. Take Samuel in our Old Testament reading today:
8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
I felt the Lord’s calling me to service for the last 25 years but it took quite a while for me discern his call, and to hear just how he wished to use me and where.
This past year we lost some blessed servants who heard God’s call and served. But every time we lose someone who dies in Christ or is called to move we see the Lord work in the hearts of others to serve. In the last few years we've had need of a few Elders. Both Jim Rich and Bob Poe answered the call. Jim took some time to prayerfully consider becoming an Elder and as he told me, “Pastor, I didn't want to accept the position unless I was willing to meet the obligations of the position and God kept pursuing me.”
Bob is not new to service here either serving in many capacities over the last 20 years. He had been asked to consider being an Elder but after the Doxology conference the Bob and I attended and the need to support the pastor with service as an elder Bob, told me on the way home, “Pastor, I’m ready to serve on the Board of Elders.”
Finally, after being a member here for over 25 years, Jay Squanda heard and answered the Lord’s call to serve here at Peace as President of our Congregation. Jay too has been very active in service as an elder, Vice President, Secretary and even bought the chicken and cooked for the Chicken BBQ that we have all enjoyed in June the last few years. Jay told me, “Well, maybe the Lord needs me to serve at this time in this way.”
There are so many stories like this to tell. Ladies guild, Altar guild, Sunday school, worship committee … the list goes on and on. As we were doing our Men’s Breakfast Bible Study last Sunday many volunteers came to take the decorations down. Judy Harroon asked me if we could bring the boxes out so they wouldn't disturb our study. I told the men when I came back in, “Guys, we couldn't get anything done in the church if it wasn't for the women!” For that we can all be truly thankful.
But even though Jesus calls … all of us at times only hear the sinful call of our own selfish desires. Whether it is our own sinfulness, 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” or the work of the devil to put the game just at the same time that the Lord needs you at church.
No kidding, One pastor told Bob Scott last Sunday, “Bob, I hope you appreciate me giving up the second half of the football game with my beloved Packers!” And, I believe that he was only partially kidding.
Service is hard. It requires sacrifice. Jesus knows you and he knows me. Truth be told we all would take the easy way out … at first.
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” or it might be interpreted: ‘Behold a son of Israel, who is in no way a son of Jacob.’
In some ways we might be in Christ but not of Christ, following the way of deceit and missing the opportunity to serve, missing the mark which is sin.
Jesus calls you to follow him!
You might ask, “How do you know me?” as Nathanael did. Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
Christ sees you and me. He knows what we've done. He knows all our sins because they became his sins too. He took the sins you've committed and he has taken the ones that you have yet to commit to the cross. There he crucified your sins and mine. And no matter our guilt he has taken that away too.
Ill.
A story is told of an elderly widow, restricted in her activities, who was eager to serve Christ. After praying about this, she realized that she could bring blessing to others by playing the piano. The next day she placed this small ad in the Oakland Tribune: "Pianist will play hymns by phone daily for those who are sick and despondent--the service is free." The notice included the number to dial. When people called, she would ask, "What hymn would you like to hear?" Within a few months her playing had brought cheer to several hundred people. Many of them freely poured out their hearts to her, and she was able to help and encourage them.
Source Unknown.
Jesus calls us to follow him! How will you respond?
49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
It is indeed, a privilege to serve God and man here at Peace but God can use you in so many ways. It is a privilege and a responsibility. May you always be blessed, as you hear and serve wherever the Lord our God calls, because:
Jesus calls you to follow him!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Text: John 1:43-51
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”
It is suggested that you should not take a position of leadership in church unless you are prepared to be honest, pure, and loving in your lifestyle. Leadership is a privilege, and with privilege comes responsibility. God holds teachers of His truth doubly responsible because those who lead are in a position where they can either draw people toward Christ or drive them away from Him. This is illustrated in the life of the famous author Mark Twain.
Church leaders were largely to blame for his becoming hostile to the Bible and the Christian faith. As he grew up, he knew elders and deacons who owned slaves and abused them. He heard men using foul language and saw them practice dishonesty during the week after speaking piously in church on Sunday. He listened to ministers use the Bible to justify slavery. Although he saw genuine love for the Lord Jesus in some people, including his mother and his wife, he was so disturbed by the bad teaching and poor example of church leaders that he became bitter toward the things of God.
Indeed, it is a privilege to serve as an elder, a deacon, a Sunday school teacher, service guild member or a pastor. But it is also an awesome responsibility.
It is therefore important to make sure we attract people to the Savior rather than by our words and actions drive them away.
Source Unknown.
44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
This past Sunday I went to the ordination of my friend Bob Scott. I met Bob at the seminary in Fort Wayne as I was beginning my third year and he was beginning his first. As I participated in his ordination Sunday I thought too of my own ordination already now two years ago.
Bob worked at GM for 30 years before retiring and also has written or edited three books on the Civil War. He is quite gifted and talented in that regard. When he was thinking of retirement he also had planned to spend more time in his retirement writing. Little did he know that the Lord had plans of his own … and too, would have him writing … just not about the Civil War.
Finding the savior is not our work but Gods. He finds us even though we at times don’t know we are lost. Jesus found Philip and called him to “Follow me.” To this Philip responded in faith and called to Nathanael, “We have found him!” and “Come and see.”
God calls us to faith and then to action. He called Bob Scott to faith in Christ and then made a way for Bob to serve Christ. He did that with me too. Not always, does God call us to ministry or even to service as church workers, though that is a blessed call. He calls us all first to faith, he opens heaven to us through Baptism. And with you who are his in Christ he is well pleased. It is then that he uses us as his people to serve others. For some, it is in service here at Peace and Lord knows we have many places to serve. For others he calls us to be a witness to our friends and neighbors just as Philip was to Nathanael calling him to “come and see!”
I've had the joy of doing both. Where and when will the Lord call you?
Jesus calls you to follow him!
At times it is when you least expect it. Take Samuel in our Old Testament reading today:
8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
I felt the Lord’s calling me to service for the last 25 years but it took quite a while for me discern his call, and to hear just how he wished to use me and where.
This past year we lost some blessed servants who heard God’s call and served. But every time we lose someone who dies in Christ or is called to move we see the Lord work in the hearts of others to serve. In the last few years we've had need of a few Elders. Both Jim Rich and Bob Poe answered the call. Jim took some time to prayerfully consider becoming an Elder and as he told me, “Pastor, I didn't want to accept the position unless I was willing to meet the obligations of the position and God kept pursuing me.”
Bob is not new to service here either serving in many capacities over the last 20 years. He had been asked to consider being an Elder but after the Doxology conference the Bob and I attended and the need to support the pastor with service as an elder Bob, told me on the way home, “Pastor, I’m ready to serve on the Board of Elders.”
Finally, after being a member here for over 25 years, Jay Squanda heard and answered the Lord’s call to serve here at Peace as President of our Congregation. Jay too has been very active in service as an elder, Vice President, Secretary and even bought the chicken and cooked for the Chicken BBQ that we have all enjoyed in June the last few years. Jay told me, “Well, maybe the Lord needs me to serve at this time in this way.”
There are so many stories like this to tell. Ladies guild, Altar guild, Sunday school, worship committee … the list goes on and on. As we were doing our Men’s Breakfast Bible Study last Sunday many volunteers came to take the decorations down. Judy Harroon asked me if we could bring the boxes out so they wouldn't disturb our study. I told the men when I came back in, “Guys, we couldn't get anything done in the church if it wasn't for the women!” For that we can all be truly thankful.
But even though Jesus calls … all of us at times only hear the sinful call of our own selfish desires. Whether it is our own sinfulness, 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” or the work of the devil to put the game just at the same time that the Lord needs you at church.
No kidding, One pastor told Bob Scott last Sunday, “Bob, I hope you appreciate me giving up the second half of the football game with my beloved Packers!” And, I believe that he was only partially kidding.
Service is hard. It requires sacrifice. Jesus knows you and he knows me. Truth be told we all would take the easy way out … at first.
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” or it might be interpreted: ‘Behold a son of Israel, who is in no way a son of Jacob.’
In some ways we might be in Christ but not of Christ, following the way of deceit and missing the opportunity to serve, missing the mark which is sin.
Jesus calls you to follow him!
You might ask, “How do you know me?” as Nathanael did. Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
Christ sees you and me. He knows what we've done. He knows all our sins because they became his sins too. He took the sins you've committed and he has taken the ones that you have yet to commit to the cross. There he crucified your sins and mine. And no matter our guilt he has taken that away too.
Ill.
A story is told of an elderly widow, restricted in her activities, who was eager to serve Christ. After praying about this, she realized that she could bring blessing to others by playing the piano. The next day she placed this small ad in the Oakland Tribune: "Pianist will play hymns by phone daily for those who are sick and despondent--the service is free." The notice included the number to dial. When people called, she would ask, "What hymn would you like to hear?" Within a few months her playing had brought cheer to several hundred people. Many of them freely poured out their hearts to her, and she was able to help and encourage them.
Source Unknown.
Jesus calls us to follow him! How will you respond?
49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
It is indeed, a privilege to serve God and man here at Peace but God can use you in so many ways. It is a privilege and a responsibility. May you always be blessed, as you hear and serve wherever the Lord our God calls, because:
Jesus calls you to follow him!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Monday, January 12, 2015
Sermon Jan. 10-11, 2015 The Baptism of the Lord
Title: In Christ, the Father is well pleased with you!
Text: Mark 1:4-11
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Being well pleased is something I think we all would enjoy. At times we are pleased to be recognized for things we do. It might be at church, work or school where the work we do is seen by others, or it just might be a self awareness of things we have done that we are pleased about.
In our lesson today:
11 … a voice came from heaven [saying], “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
It is great to know that in Christ the Father is well pleased … because:
In Christ, the Father is well pleased with you!
As I mentioned in last weekend’s sermons, the next time we will read about Jesus, after his sitting in the Temple as a 12 year old boy, is when he is 30, beginning his ministry and recognized by John as “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”
Here, Jesus goes out to where John is Baptizing. We know very little about what went on over the last 18 years of Jesus’ life from his sitting in the Temple questioning the teachers of the Law to now the beginning of his earthly ministry. But Mark’s gospel begins with a quote from the prophet Isaiah:
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way. He called the people to repentance – to recognize their fallen state as sinners. To this water and to this repentance Jesus comes to John as one, who is mightier than John and even the sandals of Jesus, John is not worthy to untie.
So why baptism, why Jesus and why by John?
Well, John was sent to prepare the way. He was sent to fulfill what the prophet had foretold. He was to be the herald to the one who would come. Mark believes that his gospel and Jesus’ baptism is a fitting place to start.
John had had great success and the people were going out to John, to repent of their sin and to receive this Baptism of Repentance from John. Jesus came to this baptism not so much to replace John, but to replace you.
When Jesus was baptized he fulfilled what was promised and was marked as a sinner in your place. He had no sin, he needed no repentance, but he came for you and for all who are born in the natural way, conceived and born in sin. His baptism was a baptism of death, in that Christ Jesus was marked to be the Lamb of God who takes away your sin, and the sins of the whole world, so that you can be marked not for death … but for life.
With Christ the Father is well pleased and:
In Christ, the Father is well pleased with you!
We daily fall short and are not well pleasing to the father and others most of the time.
Ill.
Thomas Edison's manufacturing facilities in West Orange, N.J., were heavily damaged by fire one night in December, 1914. Edison lost almost $1 million worth of equipment and the record of much of his work. The next morning, walking about the charred embers of his hopes and dreams, the 67-year-old inventor said: "There is value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Now we can start anew."
Alan Loy McGinnis, The Power of Optimism (A longer version of this story is found below).
But not for you and not for me … the disaster of sin and all of our mistakes are not burned up. Because of sin and its consequence we live with the reality of being separated from God and of being God’s enemies. We live with this disaster and we die with this disaster because the wages of sin is death. Rom 6:21
And you [and I] are dead in trespass and sins. Eph 2:1
We are born dead. Sounds funny? But spiritually we are dead. We are separated from God and it will take an act of God to restore us, to make us right with God and this is done only by Christ and only in Christ. With you and with me God is not pleased as we stand in our sinfulness and covered by our own righteousness.
But, Jesus came to be your substitute; to stand in your place; to be marked as a sinner, in your place, for you.
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Here Jesus takes your place as the repentant one, he is without sin and acceptable by the father to be the once for all sacrifice.
10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
The Father is well pleased with Christ and in Christ the Father is well pleased with you!
The Baptism of Christ leads from the waters of repentance by John to Jerusalem Jesus and ultimately to the cross for you.
Luther in his Large Catechism brings to light the importance of Baptism as instituted by Christ and who baptism is by and for whom it is intended.
Luther writes:
3] In the first place, we must above all things know well the words upon which Baptism is founded, and to which everything refers that is to be said on the subject, namely, where the Lord Christ speaks in Matthew 28:19:
4] Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Likewise in St. Mark 16:16:5] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
6] In these words you must note, in the first place, that here stand God's commandment and institution, lest we doubt that Baptism is divine, not devised nor invented by men.
…
10] For to be baptized in the name of God is to be baptized not by men, but by God Himself.
Therefore, although it is performed by human hands, it is nevertheless truly God's own work. From this fact every one may himself readily infer that it is a far higher work than any work performed by a man or a saint. For what work greater than the work of God can we do?
Jesus Christ has gone into the water of repentance for you. He then goes to finish the work for which he came and to give you what you need and could never attain on your own merit. He gives you life and salvation by his death and resurrection and he give you the kingdom of God by his saving act for you.
Sound improbable?
Ill.
In WWI, the American 308th regiment was surrounded by enemy forces and under severe mortar and machine gun fire. Casualties were heavy and supplies were short. The unbearable situation intensified when American artillery began shelling the sector where the 308th had dug in. The only communication was by carrier pigeon. In desperation, a sergeant released the last bird with a note pleading for the Americans to hold their fire. As soon as the pigeon lifted off, a stray bullet grazed the side of his head and tore out his left eye. Then a piece of shrapnel hit his chest, shattering his breastbone. But his homing instinct was strong and he struggled onward. Somewhere in the flight another piece of shrapnel tore off his left leg, leaving the message canister dangling from torn ligaments. The pigeon made it to his loft, however, and the order went out immediately to stop shelling. The 308th survived.
Source Unknown.
In Christ, the Father is well pleased with you!
Though may seem improbable for some it is not with God who makes all things new in Christ. Dear friends you are made new by Christ and in Baptism you are united with him in his death and resurrection and:
In Christ, the Father is well pleased with you!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Text: Mark 1:4-11
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Being well pleased is something I think we all would enjoy. At times we are pleased to be recognized for things we do. It might be at church, work or school where the work we do is seen by others, or it just might be a self awareness of things we have done that we are pleased about.
In our lesson today:
11 … a voice came from heaven [saying], “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
It is great to know that in Christ the Father is well pleased … because:
In Christ, the Father is well pleased with you!
As I mentioned in last weekend’s sermons, the next time we will read about Jesus, after his sitting in the Temple as a 12 year old boy, is when he is 30, beginning his ministry and recognized by John as “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”
Here, Jesus goes out to where John is Baptizing. We know very little about what went on over the last 18 years of Jesus’ life from his sitting in the Temple questioning the teachers of the Law to now the beginning of his earthly ministry. But Mark’s gospel begins with a quote from the prophet Isaiah:
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way. He called the people to repentance – to recognize their fallen state as sinners. To this water and to this repentance Jesus comes to John as one, who is mightier than John and even the sandals of Jesus, John is not worthy to untie.
So why baptism, why Jesus and why by John?
Well, John was sent to prepare the way. He was sent to fulfill what the prophet had foretold. He was to be the herald to the one who would come. Mark believes that his gospel and Jesus’ baptism is a fitting place to start.
John had had great success and the people were going out to John, to repent of their sin and to receive this Baptism of Repentance from John. Jesus came to this baptism not so much to replace John, but to replace you.
When Jesus was baptized he fulfilled what was promised and was marked as a sinner in your place. He had no sin, he needed no repentance, but he came for you and for all who are born in the natural way, conceived and born in sin. His baptism was a baptism of death, in that Christ Jesus was marked to be the Lamb of God who takes away your sin, and the sins of the whole world, so that you can be marked not for death … but for life.
With Christ the Father is well pleased and:
In Christ, the Father is well pleased with you!
We daily fall short and are not well pleasing to the father and others most of the time.
Ill.
Thomas Edison's manufacturing facilities in West Orange, N.J., were heavily damaged by fire one night in December, 1914. Edison lost almost $1 million worth of equipment and the record of much of his work. The next morning, walking about the charred embers of his hopes and dreams, the 67-year-old inventor said: "There is value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Now we can start anew."
Alan Loy McGinnis, The Power of Optimism (A longer version of this story is found below).
But not for you and not for me … the disaster of sin and all of our mistakes are not burned up. Because of sin and its consequence we live with the reality of being separated from God and of being God’s enemies. We live with this disaster and we die with this disaster because the wages of sin is death. Rom 6:21
And you [and I] are dead in trespass and sins. Eph 2:1
We are born dead. Sounds funny? But spiritually we are dead. We are separated from God and it will take an act of God to restore us, to make us right with God and this is done only by Christ and only in Christ. With you and with me God is not pleased as we stand in our sinfulness and covered by our own righteousness.
But, Jesus came to be your substitute; to stand in your place; to be marked as a sinner, in your place, for you.
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Here Jesus takes your place as the repentant one, he is without sin and acceptable by the father to be the once for all sacrifice.
10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
The Father is well pleased with Christ and in Christ the Father is well pleased with you!
The Baptism of Christ leads from the waters of repentance by John to Jerusalem Jesus and ultimately to the cross for you.
Luther in his Large Catechism brings to light the importance of Baptism as instituted by Christ and who baptism is by and for whom it is intended.
Luther writes:
3] In the first place, we must above all things know well the words upon which Baptism is founded, and to which everything refers that is to be said on the subject, namely, where the Lord Christ speaks in Matthew 28:19:
4] Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Likewise in St. Mark 16:16:5] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
6] In these words you must note, in the first place, that here stand God's commandment and institution, lest we doubt that Baptism is divine, not devised nor invented by men.
…
10] For to be baptized in the name of God is to be baptized not by men, but by God Himself.
Therefore, although it is performed by human hands, it is nevertheless truly God's own work. From this fact every one may himself readily infer that it is a far higher work than any work performed by a man or a saint. For what work greater than the work of God can we do?
Jesus Christ has gone into the water of repentance for you. He then goes to finish the work for which he came and to give you what you need and could never attain on your own merit. He gives you life and salvation by his death and resurrection and he give you the kingdom of God by his saving act for you.
Sound improbable?
Ill.
In WWI, the American 308th regiment was surrounded by enemy forces and under severe mortar and machine gun fire. Casualties were heavy and supplies were short. The unbearable situation intensified when American artillery began shelling the sector where the 308th had dug in. The only communication was by carrier pigeon. In desperation, a sergeant released the last bird with a note pleading for the Americans to hold their fire. As soon as the pigeon lifted off, a stray bullet grazed the side of his head and tore out his left eye. Then a piece of shrapnel hit his chest, shattering his breastbone. But his homing instinct was strong and he struggled onward. Somewhere in the flight another piece of shrapnel tore off his left leg, leaving the message canister dangling from torn ligaments. The pigeon made it to his loft, however, and the order went out immediately to stop shelling. The 308th survived.
Source Unknown.
In Christ, the Father is well pleased with you!
Though may seem improbable for some it is not with God who makes all things new in Christ. Dear friends you are made new by Christ and in Baptism you are united with him in his death and resurrection and:
In Christ, the Father is well pleased with you!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Monday, January 5, 2015
Sermon Jan. 3- 4, 2015
Title: Christ desires to be in the Father’s house with you!
Text: Luke 2:40-52
46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”
In November of 2013 my father passed away and over the next 6 months I spent quite a bit of time with my brother in my father’s house. Much of my time was spent clearing out and cleaning the house with my brother Ron. Many memories were rekindled by things in the house or areas of the house which brought back thoughts of days long past that my brother and I shared together.
On one such day I got to the house a bit earlier than my brother and had a chance to just walk through, sit by myself and think of my relationship with my father, what he had taught me and how much I missed him and how comforting it was for me to … be in my father’s house.
So too the reading for our gospel lesson today. Jesus desires to be in his Father’s house. But also:
Christ desires to be in the Father’s house with you!
40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
As was the custom of the family, Mary, Joseph and Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of the Passover. And on the occasion of this visit when Jesus was twelve years of age 43 [that] when the feast [had] ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.
For any of you who have been on a trip and misplaced a child … well … it can be very difficult and tenuous time to say the least.
Mary and Joseph did not know [Jesus was missing], 44 but supposing him to be in the group, so they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.
So you can understand as a parent Mary’s frustration at Jesus staying behind in Jerusalem. Here he is in the Temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
Jesus was no ordinary 12 year old.
48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”
And Jesus reminds Mary and Joseph, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”
The time had gone by so quickly. Jesus, this child born of a virgin is now in our lesson twelve. It is amazing how much some children learn and can do at such a young age.
Ill.
Back in the early 90’s I use to go to the Chet Atkins guitar festival in Nashville with my friend Rob. We would take our guitars and meet old and new friends who had great appreciation for Chet’s music and ability. It never ceased to amaze me how many young boys and girls who were in their early teens who could play circles around me! They had learned many of Chet’s songs and committed them to memory. They were a good imitation of the guitar style Chet had pioneered. But on closes inspection many of these child prodigies lacked a wisdom and maturity in their playing. Over time some would grow to become mature adult musicians while others would slip into obscurity of fall victim to their early success never able to attain that level of accomplishment again. Some of these polished 12 year old kids even signed up and took lessons from my friend Rob where his years of wisdom could bring out the best in them.
This Jesus was different! As has been said, Jesus was no ordinary 12 year old.
… in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
Those who heard him were amazed. This was no ordinary 12 year old. It is something we all need to be reminded of. This child born of Mary on Christmas day is God in the flesh. This Tuesday January 6th, we celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord. It is the day that Jesus is recognized as the savior of all people. It is why the wise men came to worship him and to bring him gifts.
This young boy who was recognized as the savior and who was brought gifts as a young child is now listening and teaching at the feet of the teachers, not as one who simply copied what he had heard and was parroting it back to his teachers, but as one who was and is the source of that wisdom from God on high.
The house of God, the Temple where Jesus sat and taught, is also here at Peace where the true word of God is proclaimed by word and sacrament and also it is you who are His Temple where God indwells all believers by His Spirit pointing you and me to the finished work of Christ. By his Spirit you see Jesus for who he is … the savior of the world … and that by faith you can trust his word of promise, so elegantly proclaimed in John Chapter 14 to:
14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 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.
Christ desires to be in the Father’s house with you!
Jesus is the one who make the way for you and for me. He is the one that the magi’s came to bring gifts to. He is the one revealed as the savior, of the nations come. He is the one who at twelve years of age was, as the writer of the book of Hebrews says:
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
And the next time we encounter Jesus he will be pointed out as the Lamb of God who take away the sins of the world, who will take your place being baptized by John the Baptist with the baptism of repentance, being marked as the chief of sinners for you and then will go to Jerusalem taking your sins to the cross and nailing them there … It is finished he will proclaim.
It is true. This is no ordinary boy sitting among the teachers, teaching with wisdom and power and gently reminding his mother that he needed to be in His Father’s house.
50 And [his parents] did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.
But, in submission, this God who made the world and all things, obeyed his parents …
51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother [the Blessed Virgin Mary] treasured up all these things in her heart.
She, knowing who he is and what he was appointed to do, to be the consolation of Israel and the savior of the world - the Messiah – Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, which means God with us.
52 And Jesus [ as he continued to grow] increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
Christ desires to be in the Father’s house with you!
Just as I desired to be in my earthly Father’s house, to be among the things of his and to be reminded of all he did with me and for me so too Jesus desired to be in His Father’s house and he too desires you to be in his house as his child and so that he has prepared a place for you and for all who will believe – to whom the Lord God will call to himself – to be in his father’s house forever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Text: Luke 2:40-52
46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”
In November of 2013 my father passed away and over the next 6 months I spent quite a bit of time with my brother in my father’s house. Much of my time was spent clearing out and cleaning the house with my brother Ron. Many memories were rekindled by things in the house or areas of the house which brought back thoughts of days long past that my brother and I shared together.
On one such day I got to the house a bit earlier than my brother and had a chance to just walk through, sit by myself and think of my relationship with my father, what he had taught me and how much I missed him and how comforting it was for me to … be in my father’s house.
So too the reading for our gospel lesson today. Jesus desires to be in his Father’s house. But also:
Christ desires to be in the Father’s house with you!
40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
As was the custom of the family, Mary, Joseph and Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of the Passover. And on the occasion of this visit when Jesus was twelve years of age 43 [that] when the feast [had] ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.
For any of you who have been on a trip and misplaced a child … well … it can be very difficult and tenuous time to say the least.
Mary and Joseph did not know [Jesus was missing], 44 but supposing him to be in the group, so they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.
So you can understand as a parent Mary’s frustration at Jesus staying behind in Jerusalem. Here he is in the Temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
Jesus was no ordinary 12 year old.
48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”
And Jesus reminds Mary and Joseph, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”
The time had gone by so quickly. Jesus, this child born of a virgin is now in our lesson twelve. It is amazing how much some children learn and can do at such a young age.
Ill.
Back in the early 90’s I use to go to the Chet Atkins guitar festival in Nashville with my friend Rob. We would take our guitars and meet old and new friends who had great appreciation for Chet’s music and ability. It never ceased to amaze me how many young boys and girls who were in their early teens who could play circles around me! They had learned many of Chet’s songs and committed them to memory. They were a good imitation of the guitar style Chet had pioneered. But on closes inspection many of these child prodigies lacked a wisdom and maturity in their playing. Over time some would grow to become mature adult musicians while others would slip into obscurity of fall victim to their early success never able to attain that level of accomplishment again. Some of these polished 12 year old kids even signed up and took lessons from my friend Rob where his years of wisdom could bring out the best in them.
This Jesus was different! As has been said, Jesus was no ordinary 12 year old.
… in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
Those who heard him were amazed. This was no ordinary 12 year old. It is something we all need to be reminded of. This child born of Mary on Christmas day is God in the flesh. This Tuesday January 6th, we celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord. It is the day that Jesus is recognized as the savior of all people. It is why the wise men came to worship him and to bring him gifts.
This young boy who was recognized as the savior and who was brought gifts as a young child is now listening and teaching at the feet of the teachers, not as one who simply copied what he had heard and was parroting it back to his teachers, but as one who was and is the source of that wisdom from God on high.
The house of God, the Temple where Jesus sat and taught, is also here at Peace where the true word of God is proclaimed by word and sacrament and also it is you who are His Temple where God indwells all believers by His Spirit pointing you and me to the finished work of Christ. By his Spirit you see Jesus for who he is … the savior of the world … and that by faith you can trust his word of promise, so elegantly proclaimed in John Chapter 14 to:
14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 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.
Christ desires to be in the Father’s house with you!
Jesus is the one who make the way for you and for me. He is the one that the magi’s came to bring gifts to. He is the one revealed as the savior, of the nations come. He is the one who at twelve years of age was, as the writer of the book of Hebrews says:
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
And the next time we encounter Jesus he will be pointed out as the Lamb of God who take away the sins of the world, who will take your place being baptized by John the Baptist with the baptism of repentance, being marked as the chief of sinners for you and then will go to Jerusalem taking your sins to the cross and nailing them there … It is finished he will proclaim.
It is true. This is no ordinary boy sitting among the teachers, teaching with wisdom and power and gently reminding his mother that he needed to be in His Father’s house.
50 And [his parents] did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.
But, in submission, this God who made the world and all things, obeyed his parents …
51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother [the Blessed Virgin Mary] treasured up all these things in her heart.
She, knowing who he is and what he was appointed to do, to be the consolation of Israel and the savior of the world - the Messiah – Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, which means God with us.
52 And Jesus [ as he continued to grow] increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
Christ desires to be in the Father’s house with you!
Just as I desired to be in my earthly Father’s house, to be among the things of his and to be reminded of all he did with me and for me so too Jesus desired to be in His Father’s house and he too desires you to be in his house as his child and so that he has prepared a place for you and for all who will believe – to whom the Lord God will call to himself – to be in his father’s house forever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
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