Title: Live as salt in the world in service to Christ!
Text: Mark 6:45-56
Facebook live: Live as salt in the world in service to Christ!
50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
A Spanish philosopher, tells the story about the Roman aqueduct at Segovia, in his native Spain. It was built in 109 A.D. For eighteen hundred years, it carried cool water from the mountains to the hot and thirsty city. Nearly sixty generations of men drank from its flow. Then came another generation, a recent one, who said: "This aqueduct is so great a marvel that it ought to be preserved for our children, as a museum piece. We shall relieve it of its centuries-long labor."
They did; they laid modern iron pipes. They gave the ancient bricks and mortar a reverent rest. And the aqueduct began to fall apart. The sun beating on the dry mortar caused it to crumble. The bricks and stone sagged and threatened to fall. What ages of service could not destroy idleness disintegrated.
Resource, Sept./ Oct., 1992, p. 4.
We struggle as God’s children in this world as the temptations of life move contrary to the will of God.
Temptation is a terrible thing. If we’re trying to lose weight and eat healthier, that extra portion, the cake cookies or chips and junk food are right there calling us to partake and be filled. And if you have time … we do have fellowship with coffee and donuts following the service … for your convenience!
But it’s not the cookies, the donuts or the chips that do it. It’s that little voice inside each one of us that calls us to … “Go ahead, it will be alright! You can start that diet tomorrow!”
Temptation can be brought on by ourselves and we can give in to the voice of temptation inside of us … forgetting that other voice in our head that says: “I’m going to get my life together and watch my weight and try to be healthier.”
One voice saying yes and the other no. Or, is it the helpful Ladies Guild that makes all those goodies for October Fest? We remain bound in sin as we struggle and wrestle through life both as sinner and redeemed; both dead in sin and forgiven in Christ … whether thin or needing to lose a few pounds as I’m sure a few of us do.
But Jesus tells us in our lesson today:
42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
To be involved as an agent of sin is very bad in the eyes of the Lord … but especially as it pertains to children. Children remain the most vulnerable people in our society and can be easily led astray by those will ill intent.
When you see children, they are many times holding the hands of their parent, grandparent or guardian. We see them in the store, at the park or zoo or walking to school with one who has care of them.
I remember when my children were young, I had the joy on Wednesday’s, which was my day off, of picking them up from school. I would go and wait with the other parents who were waiting for the bell to ring at Our Lady of the Lakes elementary school – searching with my eyes to see them – and taking hold of them with my hands and walking to the car so we could go home and spend some time together. It was a wonderful time for me and a great memory.
Of course … when Amy was in 8th grade at Notre Dame Prep in Pontiac, she took a less joyful view of dad waiting for her outside the school to walk her back to the car, “Dad, I know where you are! You don’t have to come find me!”
But, that’s for another sermon.
Here our hands, feet and eyes are used in a kind and loving way with our children. But, our leading hand, our directing feet and our searching eyes might also be used to lead astray those loving gifts of God that are given into our care.
So, Jesus gives some very harsh directives to the disciples.
If it is your hand that causes you to sin, cut it off, your foot, cut it off, your eye … gouge it out.
Strong words to be sure, but Jesus is making the point that what waits in the fires of hell apart from Christ is far worse than a life as one … crippled, lame and blind.
Rest assured that it is not what we do that makes us right with God. But things we do can be used by God in the lives of others.
In our epistle reading for today James says:
19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Reader’s Digest had a listing of 60 uses for salt but I’m not going to mention them all … but here are a few:
Keeps wicker looking new,
Make your own brass and copper polish,
Removes wine from carpet,
Cleans grease stains from rugs,
Removes watermarks from wood,
Restores a sponge,
Relieves stings, bites, and poison ivy,
http://www.rd.com/home/over-60-ways-to-use-salt/
Jesus tells us:
50 Salt is good, and then asks, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, or loses its usefulness, how will you make it salty again? ”
Salt has many, many wonderful uses but if it loses its saltiness, it has no longer any use, for flavoring and preserving food, and so much more.
Salt is good and being salt in the world, as Jesus directs, is a wonderful and useful thing for each one of us.
49 For everyone will be salted with fire. The trials of this life will be and are many. You know it and I know it. Do you always do what is good or at times do you cheat to get an advantage, fudge on your taxes for a better return or go against the teachings of Christ and the church as one politician (a practicing Roman Catholic) said when asked the question - when life begins. His answer, “That’s above my pay grade!” Christian integrity and ethics are part of who we are. Granted we all fall short daily, but we have been given the Spirit and God’s law, while not only showing us our sin, but also, by the Holy Sprit’s work in the redeemed of Christ … guides us … so that we love one another (1 John 4:7), love and respect our spouses (Eph. 5:33), and that our children, might honor and respect their parents. (Eph. 6:1-4)
Live as salt in the world in service to Christ!
During the Thirty Year's War in Europe (1618-1648), the King of Sweden, Gustavus Adolphus, was slain while his troops were winning the Battle of Lutzen, in what is now Germany. Sweden was thrown into mourning, and government officials met to determine how to replace the king. Some suggested a republic; others thought the crown should go to Adolphus' cousin, the king of Poland.
The chancellor of Sweden arose and said, "Let there be no talk of a republic or of Polish kings, for we have in our midst the heir of the great Gustavus, his little daughter, who is 6 years of age." Some protested that they had never seen her. The chancellor said, "Wait a minute, and I will show you." He brought in Christina, daughter of the king, and placed her on the throne. One of the representatives who was especially suspicious of the move pressed forward and gazed intently into her face. Then turning to the assembly, he exclaimed, "Look at her nose, her eyes, her chin! I see in the countenance of this child the features of the great Gustavus. She is the child of our king!" From all quarters of the room rang the proclamation, "Christina, Queen of Sweden!"
Unknown.
Look at those around you. Look in a mirror. Your nose, your eyes, your chin have the mark of the one in whose image you have been created.
You are the child of the King of Kings! You are God’s child and in him you reflect Christ who through the Spirit’s work called you to faith.
Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Be who God has called you to be in Christ - His child … with childlike faith … loving God and others, as we also love ourselves.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Monday, September 27, 2021
Sunday, September 19, 2021
Sermon September 18-19, 2021
Title: By childlike faith the Lord is yours!
Text: Mark 9:30-37
Facebook live: By childlike faith the Lord is yours!
34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
At times we all can see the value of our work and service that we do in life at home, work and church as greater than that of others. We even can pat ourselves on the back for a job well done, even though everything that we have and do is received as a gift from God.
Jesus begins to teach his disciples about his ultimate goal, and the mission and reason for his coming … saying to them:
“The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”
This is a hard saying for the disciples to hear and our text says …
32 … they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
Maybe they were thinking, “Who is the Son of Man as this is a reference to God and what about killing him and after three days rising from the dead?”
Certainly, it was a confusing statement from Jesus and not understood by the disciples to the point that they were afraid to ask as we Lutheran’s ask:
What does this mean?
As Christians the questions of life and faith are connected to our very being.
We at times see God’s word through the lens of our own desires and needs.
We value our own opinion and use it to interpret scripture rather than letting scripture interpret scripture.
We try to make scripture say what we want it to say instead of understanding it in the context and way that God has revealed it for our benefit.
The disciples want to know and have discussed among themselves on the way, even arguing who is the greatest. Jesus knows, but asks:
“What were you discussing on the way?”
It reminds me of a parent asking a child what had happened … and you get the silent treatment … they know this was wrong … but wanted to do it anyway.
Remember from last week’s reading the father’s voice from the crowd calling out and pleading to Jesus?
“Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So, I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” … they were not able …
And now they argue among themselves … about who was the greatest.
When I was ordained, I was convinced that I would stop the decline and right the ship that is the church here at Peace. My first year I confirmed eight, this past year none. But joyfully we brought some adults into membership through confirmation and affirmation of faith through the Lord’s work … not mine.
Pride can cause one to think higher of oneself than you should.
There is a difference in taking pride in the work you do and thanking God for giving you the gifts and ability to serve … verses the pride of thinking oneself better than those who came before or didn’t have positive results.
Especially with the Lord work.
Text: Mark 9:30-37
Facebook live: By childlike faith the Lord is yours!
34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
At times we all can see the value of our work and service that we do in life at home, work and church as greater than that of others. We even can pat ourselves on the back for a job well done, even though everything that we have and do is received as a gift from God.
Jesus begins to teach his disciples about his ultimate goal, and the mission and reason for his coming … saying to them:
“The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”
This is a hard saying for the disciples to hear and our text says …
32 … they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
Maybe they were thinking, “Who is the Son of Man as this is a reference to God and what about killing him and after three days rising from the dead?”
Certainly, it was a confusing statement from Jesus and not understood by the disciples to the point that they were afraid to ask as we Lutheran’s ask:
What does this mean?
As Christians the questions of life and faith are connected to our very being.
We at times see God’s word through the lens of our own desires and needs.
We value our own opinion and use it to interpret scripture rather than letting scripture interpret scripture.
We try to make scripture say what we want it to say instead of understanding it in the context and way that God has revealed it for our benefit.
The disciples want to know and have discussed among themselves on the way, even arguing who is the greatest. Jesus knows, but asks:
“What were you discussing on the way?”
It reminds me of a parent asking a child what had happened … and you get the silent treatment … they know this was wrong … but wanted to do it anyway.
Remember from last week’s reading the father’s voice from the crowd calling out and pleading to Jesus?
“Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So, I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” … they were not able …
And now they argue among themselves … about who was the greatest.
When I was ordained, I was convinced that I would stop the decline and right the ship that is the church here at Peace. My first year I confirmed eight, this past year none. But joyfully we brought some adults into membership through confirmation and affirmation of faith through the Lord’s work … not mine.
Pride can cause one to think higher of oneself than you should.
There is a difference in taking pride in the work you do and thanking God for giving you the gifts and ability to serve … verses the pride of thinking oneself better than those who came before or didn’t have positive results.
Especially with the Lord work.
The disciples were seeing themselves with the latter focus rather than the former. How do we each measure up in regards to that same question? I’m sure we all fall short at times.
So it was time for a family meeting. Jesus called them all to gather together.
35 And [Jesus] sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
Wow … there’s a turn of phrase for you. To be first requires being last to lead … you must serve all.
Parents know that. They lead by serving – first they serve their spouse and as a married couple they become one flesh and think and act with the others needs in mind. And certainly, if they have children, they do all for their child.
They live their life in service to the needs of their children.
Don’t believe me, just ask a parent what they are doing and you will hear, “Well, Monday’s we have dance, or soccer, or confirmation or … you name it. Children are dependent on their parents for everything and parents serve their needs at least until they teach them the valuable lesson about taking care of themselves.
So Jesus gives the disciples and us an object lesson.
36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
A wonderful picture of this reality is seen when parents bring their children to baptism and serve the needs of those who are unable to serve themselves.
The greatest in the Kingdom are those who receive Jesus, and you and I can have great joy as well in the gift given us as we joy in serving the needs of those who we have responsibility over.
Let us not, groan and make noise daily whether what we do or what others don’t do in the work or the way we serve when it is God who has done all for our benefit.
Rather, let us like little children, cared for by loving parents and our heavenly Father, joy in all that has been done on our behalf so that we too can, as servants, serve the needs of those who have been placed in our care; and care for those that we come across with the love of Christ and the message of forgiveness found only in the gospel of peace.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
So it was time for a family meeting. Jesus called them all to gather together.
35 And [Jesus] sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
Wow … there’s a turn of phrase for you. To be first requires being last to lead … you must serve all.
Parents know that. They lead by serving – first they serve their spouse and as a married couple they become one flesh and think and act with the others needs in mind. And certainly, if they have children, they do all for their child.
They live their life in service to the needs of their children.
Don’t believe me, just ask a parent what they are doing and you will hear, “Well, Monday’s we have dance, or soccer, or confirmation or … you name it. Children are dependent on their parents for everything and parents serve their needs at least until they teach them the valuable lesson about taking care of themselves.
So Jesus gives the disciples and us an object lesson.
36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
A wonderful picture of this reality is seen when parents bring their children to baptism and serve the needs of those who are unable to serve themselves.
The greatest in the Kingdom are those who receive Jesus, and you and I can have great joy as well in the gift given us as we joy in serving the needs of those who we have responsibility over.
Let us not, groan and make noise daily whether what we do or what others don’t do in the work or the way we serve when it is God who has done all for our benefit.
Rather, let us like little children, cared for by loving parents and our heavenly Father, joy in all that has been done on our behalf so that we too can, as servants, serve the needs of those who have been placed in our care; and care for those that we come across with the love of Christ and the message of forgiveness found only in the gospel of peace.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Sunday, September 12, 2021
Sermon September 11-12, 2021
Divine Service with Holy Communion – CD
Title: The word of God brings death to life!
Text: Mark 9:14-29
Facebook live: The word of God brings death to life!
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”.
We read:
The father cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
It is Rally Day!
One of many in our church’s past 58 years. They’ve looked different and have certainly felt different in the past as I remember them. Sunday school and Bible Study began with all classes while others set up for the pot Luck and picnic. It was a time for beginning again and renewing our faith by hearing and gathering and participating as God’s people, in his gifts of word and sacrament, as we hear and are fed by the word of God for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of our faith.
It still is but it feels a bit different.
I’m 20 years older and so are many of you!
Many of our faithful brothers and sisters in Christ have departed this life for the life eternal and are resting in the arms of Jesus. It’s what we all wait for too.
Yes, it was different then.
Yes, we had more people involved.
Yes, it will be different going forward.
No, we can’t live in the past … though the past can inform our future.
“I believe; help my unbelief!”
Last week our text showed us the Compassionate Christ as he opened the ears and mouth of a deaf mute who then “spoke plainly.” Not only having his ears and mouth healed but being giving him the gift of speech, immediately, as Mark so often says in his gospel account.
In today’s reading:
14 And when they [those that had been following Jesus] came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw [Jesus], were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”
Jesus is known to the people as the one who brings peace, comfort, and healing - the things that you and I also find of great value when things in our life need help. And here a voice from the crown answers Jesus’ question.
“Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So, I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.”
A father’s pleading for his son. “I brought him to you … but your disciples were not able.”
The disciples fell short! They missed the mark! What was needed … wasn’t given … to a man in distress.
I can relate, how about you? At times I feel like I’ve missed the mark especially over the last 10 years as I’ve served the needs of the church.
Have you missed the mark like me?
I think we can all agree with St. Paul:
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. … 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Romans 7:18-24
At times we miss the mark by things we do and at times by things we don’t do.
In years past Rally Day was greatly attended!
I must admit to feeling a bit sad as I think about what we had and how it has changed. We just dedicated the artwork and stoles / vestments from Pastor Merrell and honored his service here at Peace for 40 years as Pastor and Pastor Emeritus. I feel the weight of burden at times as I think about the change over the life of our church from mission congregation, to growing congregation to aging congregation. From what we’ve done, to what we should have done, to what we continue to do and to where we hope to go.
The truth is that the Lord knows all of this and continues to lead, guide and direct.
Our faith is weak when we look inward and to ourselves. Our focus needs to be Christ centered and outward to Jesus and his cross, for there is where true salvation and hope is found.
Jesus answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring [the boy] to me.”
What I didn’t want to hear as a disciple, a Peace member or a pastor, the disciples now hear from Jesus … pain and disappointment from the Lord of Glory at their falling short.
Jesus takes control, “Bring him to me.”
The solutions for the problems we face are always best helped when the focus is on Christ both in prayer and petition. The evil foe is Satan and the forces of demonic activity that perplex and attack us will remain until Christ returns or until we too like our blessed Pastor Merrell and so many faithful past members and friends are called to our eternal rest in Jesus.
This father is grieving for his son as he has been plagued with a demon “From childhood.” We might reasonably look at our own sinful condition and malady as those brought forth in iniquity … conceived and brought forth in sin.
Psalm 51:5
But though we have been freed by Christ Jesus through the working of the Holy Spirit, we still remain in our sinful flesh … both Saint and Sinner… bound in sin and alive in the Spirit.
On the one hand we are freed by the grace of God in Christ and have received all things being made new, but at the same time, we are bound to our sinful flesh and wrestle with faith and doubt, belief and unbelief!
The call … “I believe; help my unbelief!” is the call of a believing soul tormented by a demonic foe. We too call daily to God to lift the burden of sin we carry and to comfort us, and bring us peace … the peace that passes all human understanding.
“You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.”
We too are born into this world dead to God, and it is by God’s command:
“19 Go … make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” that we receive life eternal promised from the lips of our Lord.
Having done a number of baptisms of little children over the years, it always reminds me of this passage when they are baptized because when baptized there is crying out and convulsing. The devil cannot remain but must flee.
Where light is, darkness flees.
“He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
Death, raised to life and caring, through the sacrificial love of the God man Jesus Christ are what God has given you.
Peace Lutheran Church will never be the same. It will never again be what it was.
It will always be though, what God wants and desires it to be.
His house and his children, gathered together around his gifts for the wellbeing of we who have been called to believe in his Son and our Lord Jesus Christ.
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
Dear friends,
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. 15:52,56
God brings peace, comfort, victory and faith through his means!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Title: The word of God brings death to life!
Text: Mark 9:14-29
Facebook live: The word of God brings death to life!
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”.
We read:
The father cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
It is Rally Day!
One of many in our church’s past 58 years. They’ve looked different and have certainly felt different in the past as I remember them. Sunday school and Bible Study began with all classes while others set up for the pot Luck and picnic. It was a time for beginning again and renewing our faith by hearing and gathering and participating as God’s people, in his gifts of word and sacrament, as we hear and are fed by the word of God for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of our faith.
It still is but it feels a bit different.
I’m 20 years older and so are many of you!
Many of our faithful brothers and sisters in Christ have departed this life for the life eternal and are resting in the arms of Jesus. It’s what we all wait for too.
Yes, it was different then.
Yes, we had more people involved.
Yes, it will be different going forward.
No, we can’t live in the past … though the past can inform our future.
“I believe; help my unbelief!”
Last week our text showed us the Compassionate Christ as he opened the ears and mouth of a deaf mute who then “spoke plainly.” Not only having his ears and mouth healed but being giving him the gift of speech, immediately, as Mark so often says in his gospel account.
In today’s reading:
14 And when they [those that had been following Jesus] came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw [Jesus], were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”
Jesus is known to the people as the one who brings peace, comfort, and healing - the things that you and I also find of great value when things in our life need help. And here a voice from the crown answers Jesus’ question.
“Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So, I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.”
A father’s pleading for his son. “I brought him to you … but your disciples were not able.”
The disciples fell short! They missed the mark! What was needed … wasn’t given … to a man in distress.
I can relate, how about you? At times I feel like I’ve missed the mark especially over the last 10 years as I’ve served the needs of the church.
Have you missed the mark like me?
I think we can all agree with St. Paul:
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. … 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Romans 7:18-24
At times we miss the mark by things we do and at times by things we don’t do.
In years past Rally Day was greatly attended!
I must admit to feeling a bit sad as I think about what we had and how it has changed. We just dedicated the artwork and stoles / vestments from Pastor Merrell and honored his service here at Peace for 40 years as Pastor and Pastor Emeritus. I feel the weight of burden at times as I think about the change over the life of our church from mission congregation, to growing congregation to aging congregation. From what we’ve done, to what we should have done, to what we continue to do and to where we hope to go.
The truth is that the Lord knows all of this and continues to lead, guide and direct.
Our faith is weak when we look inward and to ourselves. Our focus needs to be Christ centered and outward to Jesus and his cross, for there is where true salvation and hope is found.
Jesus answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring [the boy] to me.”
What I didn’t want to hear as a disciple, a Peace member or a pastor, the disciples now hear from Jesus … pain and disappointment from the Lord of Glory at their falling short.
Jesus takes control, “Bring him to me.”
The solutions for the problems we face are always best helped when the focus is on Christ both in prayer and petition. The evil foe is Satan and the forces of demonic activity that perplex and attack us will remain until Christ returns or until we too like our blessed Pastor Merrell and so many faithful past members and friends are called to our eternal rest in Jesus.
This father is grieving for his son as he has been plagued with a demon “From childhood.” We might reasonably look at our own sinful condition and malady as those brought forth in iniquity … conceived and brought forth in sin.
Psalm 51:5
But though we have been freed by Christ Jesus through the working of the Holy Spirit, we still remain in our sinful flesh … both Saint and Sinner… bound in sin and alive in the Spirit.
On the one hand we are freed by the grace of God in Christ and have received all things being made new, but at the same time, we are bound to our sinful flesh and wrestle with faith and doubt, belief and unbelief!
The call … “I believe; help my unbelief!” is the call of a believing soul tormented by a demonic foe. We too call daily to God to lift the burden of sin we carry and to comfort us, and bring us peace … the peace that passes all human understanding.
“You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.”
We too are born into this world dead to God, and it is by God’s command:
“19 Go … make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” that we receive life eternal promised from the lips of our Lord.
Having done a number of baptisms of little children over the years, it always reminds me of this passage when they are baptized because when baptized there is crying out and convulsing. The devil cannot remain but must flee.
Where light is, darkness flees.
“He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
Death, raised to life and caring, through the sacrificial love of the God man Jesus Christ are what God has given you.
Peace Lutheran Church will never be the same. It will never again be what it was.
It will always be though, what God wants and desires it to be.
His house and his children, gathered together around his gifts for the wellbeing of we who have been called to believe in his Son and our Lord Jesus Christ.
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
Dear friends,
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. 15:52,56
God brings peace, comfort, victory and faith through his means!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Sunday, September 5, 2021
Sermon September 4-5, 2021
Title: Be opened!
Text: Mark 6:1-13
Facebook live: Be opened!
34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
31 Then [Jesus] returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis.
Jesus was traveling through Sidon along the Sea of Galilee. As we might remember from a few weeks back, the disciples had crossed over the sea after the feeding of the five thousand, and Jesus came to them walking on the water.
The crowds had followed Jesus who had fed them, healed them from illness, and he cast out demons and they are now in the region of the Decapolis – a region of 10 cities near the southeast corner of the Sea.
32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.
The healings of Jesus are numerous in the gospel accounts. At times it is by faith in Christ that we see healing: “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” The old woman thought to herself who had been plagued by the flow of blood for many years in Mark 5:28.
Or, it is by the healing touch of Jesus and the words of Christ’s own command, “Little girl I say to you arise!” as Jairus’ daughter was raised from death to life in Mark 5:41.
In today’s reading a deaf mute is brought to Jesus. He neither knows nor understands what is going on. He can’t hear, and his speech is muted and unintelligible to those who are around him.
… and they begged him to lay his hand on him.
The people knew of Jesus and his healing touch. Those who brought this deaf mute to Jesus begged him to lay his hands on him … as if the laying on of hands from Jesus was the magic formula of healing and required to make one well and whole again. Certainly, Jesus could have healed him in this way.
But Jesus sees the problem with man who is deaf and mute.
Ill.
If you know someone who is deaf or have interacted with them before, you know that they communicate in ways their own. Those who use sign language know that communication with the deaf is highly visual. Our own Michigan District has an active ministry to the deaf and many churches work to accommodate the hearing impaired.
At some funerals I’ve attended, while the service went on there was the traditional speaking of the liturgy to accommodate those like me who can hear … and there was the signing of the liturgy for those who can’t.
My friend Pastor Tom Dunseth, who has been in deaf ministry for years now serves in that capacity with St. Paul in Flint. They also have a deaconess that provides the signing for those members and friends who are deaf so that they could more fully participate in the service.
Communicating with the deaf is special and unique.
Jesus understood that.
33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue.
We can speculate, as many do, that there was something significant about Christ’s touch and fingers in the ears, or that the spit upon Christ’s fingers that touched the man’s tongue … brought about a miraculous healing. But what I believe Jesus is doing here is communicating. He is speaking to the deaf man in a way that he could understand.
Taking him aside privately … away from the crowd … Jesus now can have the man’s attention without distraction. How often have you or I who hear … needed to get away so we can speak to someone privately, so the noise of
the crowd doesn’t distract us?
Jesus gets his attention.
The text says he put his fingers into his ears. Again not the healing but showing that he understands what the man’s problem is and that he intends to correct it. You can almost see Jesus show his fingers to the man and reach to his ears as if to say, “I understand your problem.”
And now we read: … after spitting touched his tongue.
Again in the language of the deaf Jesus wants the man to focus on the problem of his tongue and lack of speech and that he desires to heal these problems. You can see in the depiction on our bulletin cover the man sees and understands what is about to happen. He is fixed on Jesus.
Your maladies and mine are greater than hearing loss and being unable to speak.
You and I and the man who is deaf and mute in our lesson for today are born dead to God and as a result we are unable to come to Jesus and receive the spiritual healing we need and that Christ desires to give.
It takes an act of God to satisfy God’s justice and in Christ, God’s wrath has been appeased. It also takes an act of God to bring you and me from death to life by God working in us through the power of the Holy Spirit … working through the word … opening our ears to hear … so that we believe in him “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Rev. 1:8
34 And looking up to heaven, [Jesus] sighed, not as a means to the healing, or a hope that God the Father would answer Christ’s prayer, but as a sign communicating the heavenly healing that he was about to perform, and a point of our own sighing in our own prayers mediated by God.
and said to him, “Ephphatha,” The common Aramaic language of the home intended by St. Mark to give us the very word Christ spoke … and what it means, “Be opened.”
Jesus has the man’s attention, privately; he shows what he intends to do with his ears and his mouth; that he understands his problem and he is willing and able to help; and he looks up to heaven, the place of all good and comfort, healing and peace and says “Ephphatha, … Be opened.”
35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
The healing of Jesus is complete, opening the ears and mouth of the man who was deaf and mute. And just as the man was healed and “spoke plainly,” as the gift of language was given him, you dear friends, too have had Heaven opened, the place of all good by Jesus Christ the only begotten son of God, and have received comfort, healing, and peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Interestingly, Jesus as he does at times tells them to “tell no one.” And what do they do? They tell everyone! [And] the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.
You know that feeling too, don’t you? When we pray for good test results and they come back good what do you do?
You tell everyone! You joyfully proclaim that good news you have been given for all to hear!
There is even better news than the good test results you get and that is the good news that in Christ all things have been made new again. No more sin, death and the power of the devil to fear because Christ has opened heaven to you and me who were once closed to God as his enemies but now have access to him as his children, having been given faith freely in his son.
37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
And he brings we who were dead in trespass and sin back to life.
He has forgiven your sin and you have God’s favor on account of Christ!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
Text: Mark 6:1-13
Facebook live: Be opened!
34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
31 Then [Jesus] returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis.
Jesus was traveling through Sidon along the Sea of Galilee. As we might remember from a few weeks back, the disciples had crossed over the sea after the feeding of the five thousand, and Jesus came to them walking on the water.
The crowds had followed Jesus who had fed them, healed them from illness, and he cast out demons and they are now in the region of the Decapolis – a region of 10 cities near the southeast corner of the Sea.
32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.
The healings of Jesus are numerous in the gospel accounts. At times it is by faith in Christ that we see healing: “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” The old woman thought to herself who had been plagued by the flow of blood for many years in Mark 5:28.
Or, it is by the healing touch of Jesus and the words of Christ’s own command, “Little girl I say to you arise!” as Jairus’ daughter was raised from death to life in Mark 5:41.
In today’s reading a deaf mute is brought to Jesus. He neither knows nor understands what is going on. He can’t hear, and his speech is muted and unintelligible to those who are around him.
… and they begged him to lay his hand on him.
The people knew of Jesus and his healing touch. Those who brought this deaf mute to Jesus begged him to lay his hands on him … as if the laying on of hands from Jesus was the magic formula of healing and required to make one well and whole again. Certainly, Jesus could have healed him in this way.
But Jesus sees the problem with man who is deaf and mute.
Ill.
If you know someone who is deaf or have interacted with them before, you know that they communicate in ways their own. Those who use sign language know that communication with the deaf is highly visual. Our own Michigan District has an active ministry to the deaf and many churches work to accommodate the hearing impaired.
At some funerals I’ve attended, while the service went on there was the traditional speaking of the liturgy to accommodate those like me who can hear … and there was the signing of the liturgy for those who can’t.
My friend Pastor Tom Dunseth, who has been in deaf ministry for years now serves in that capacity with St. Paul in Flint. They also have a deaconess that provides the signing for those members and friends who are deaf so that they could more fully participate in the service.
Communicating with the deaf is special and unique.
Jesus understood that.
33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue.
We can speculate, as many do, that there was something significant about Christ’s touch and fingers in the ears, or that the spit upon Christ’s fingers that touched the man’s tongue … brought about a miraculous healing. But what I believe Jesus is doing here is communicating. He is speaking to the deaf man in a way that he could understand.
Taking him aside privately … away from the crowd … Jesus now can have the man’s attention without distraction. How often have you or I who hear … needed to get away so we can speak to someone privately, so the noise of
the crowd doesn’t distract us?
Jesus gets his attention.
The text says he put his fingers into his ears. Again not the healing but showing that he understands what the man’s problem is and that he intends to correct it. You can almost see Jesus show his fingers to the man and reach to his ears as if to say, “I understand your problem.”
And now we read: … after spitting touched his tongue.
Again in the language of the deaf Jesus wants the man to focus on the problem of his tongue and lack of speech and that he desires to heal these problems. You can see in the depiction on our bulletin cover the man sees and understands what is about to happen. He is fixed on Jesus.
Your maladies and mine are greater than hearing loss and being unable to speak.
You and I and the man who is deaf and mute in our lesson for today are born dead to God and as a result we are unable to come to Jesus and receive the spiritual healing we need and that Christ desires to give.
It takes an act of God to satisfy God’s justice and in Christ, God’s wrath has been appeased. It also takes an act of God to bring you and me from death to life by God working in us through the power of the Holy Spirit … working through the word … opening our ears to hear … so that we believe in him “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Rev. 1:8
34 And looking up to heaven, [Jesus] sighed, not as a means to the healing, or a hope that God the Father would answer Christ’s prayer, but as a sign communicating the heavenly healing that he was about to perform, and a point of our own sighing in our own prayers mediated by God.
and said to him, “Ephphatha,” The common Aramaic language of the home intended by St. Mark to give us the very word Christ spoke … and what it means, “Be opened.”
Jesus has the man’s attention, privately; he shows what he intends to do with his ears and his mouth; that he understands his problem and he is willing and able to help; and he looks up to heaven, the place of all good and comfort, healing and peace and says “Ephphatha, … Be opened.”
35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
The healing of Jesus is complete, opening the ears and mouth of the man who was deaf and mute. And just as the man was healed and “spoke plainly,” as the gift of language was given him, you dear friends, too have had Heaven opened, the place of all good by Jesus Christ the only begotten son of God, and have received comfort, healing, and peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Interestingly, Jesus as he does at times tells them to “tell no one.” And what do they do? They tell everyone! [And] the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.
You know that feeling too, don’t you? When we pray for good test results and they come back good what do you do?
You tell everyone! You joyfully proclaim that good news you have been given for all to hear!
There is even better news than the good test results you get and that is the good news that in Christ all things have been made new again. No more sin, death and the power of the devil to fear because Christ has opened heaven to you and me who were once closed to God as his enemies but now have access to him as his children, having been given faith freely in his son.
37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
And he brings we who were dead in trespass and sin back to life.
He has forgiven your sin and you have God’s favor on account of Christ!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
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