Title: Lord, teach us to pray!
Text: Luke 11:1-13
Facebook live: Lord, teach us to pray!
11 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
Our Gospel lesson today begins with our Lord in prayer … a practice that we know from the scriptures, that He did very often.
Most of us know that prayer is – conversation with God – we talk to God about our needs and wants but find it hard at times to know how or for what to pray. This leads to the disciples in our lesson asking Jesus to teach them to pray and His giving of the Lord’s Prayer.
Martin Luther the great reformer was also asked by his barber, Master Peter Beskensdorf, how he prays?
Luther, not one for quick or short answers in spite of all that consumed his time gave his barber a reply … a letter of 40 printed pages! Titled “A Simple Way to Pray”, Luther delved into his deep understanding of prayer and all that the world, the flesh and the devil work at to keep you away from prayer and your conversation with God.
Jesus teaches his disciples:
“Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread,
4 and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
Martin Luther begins his letter to Master Peter by focusing on what he needs to do to be skilled at his vocation as a barber.
Luther says:
“A good clever barber must have his thoughts, mind and eyes concentrated upon the razor and the beard and not forget where he is in his stroke and shave.
If he keeps talking or looking around or thinking of something else, he is likely to cut a man’s mouth or nose – or even his throat.
So anything that is to be done well … ought to occupy the whole man with all his faculties and members. As the saying goes, He who thinks of many things thinks of nothing and accomplishes no good; How much more must prayer possess the heart exclusively and completely if it is to be a good prayer!”
Jesus says:
9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Prayer is a beautiful thing but one that has many obstacles.
The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.
C.S. Lewis
You and I know we miss the mark many times when we pray.
So do I … and so did our Synod President Matt Harrison. In one of his talks at a convention he told a story of when he first was elected president and of a visit with an old pastor, a bishop, of a partner church in Germany.
He said, “In his room was a kneeler that the old man obviously used very often. There were knee marks in the worn pad where he had spent many hours and the arm rest was indented as well. Also, the pages of the Bible were thin with the oil of the hands making them almost transparent.” President Harrison said, “Seeing that I thought to myself – I need to learn how to pray!”
It is one of the things that I resolved to do and to be better at as well. Prayer is something that must be done by you and by me as Jesus tells us to:
… ask … than to seek … and finally to knock.
Luther continues his letter to his barber with this:
It is a good thing to let prayer be the first business in the morning and the last in the evening.
Guard yourself against such false and deceitful thoughts that keep whispering: Wait a while. In an hour or so I will pray.
I must first finish this or that. Thinking such thoughts, we get away from prayer into other things that will hold us and involve us till the prayer of the day comes to (naught). nothing
You can’t know your heavenly father without communing with Him.
This is done by prayer as you ask, seek and knock and by hearing his word of reply as you partake of weekly worship, hearing the Lord’s word of Law and Gospel but truly being comforted by his holy absolution given by God through his means of word and sacrament.
I have been involved in ordinations and installations services over the years and many new pastors called from the seminary have been ordained into the office of the Holy Ministry with a beautiful service, wonderful music, the laying on of hand from the local pastor’s in attendance, and with much singing and prayer.
When God calls a pastor to His church He is calling a pastor to be His representative, called through the congregation to bring Christ and His gifts to His people. It was joyful to be involved and to celebrate what God has done and continues to do for his people.
As we think about our Lord’s words again in the Gospel for today regarding prayer:
11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
The Holy Spirit is given in abundance at these ordinations and installations because God wishes to richly bless His people with His gifts and the most blessed gift you can have is the gift of the Holy Spirit given to you … who works in you, faith in Christ’s finished work and keeps you pointed to Him so that on the last day you may stand firm in that faith unto life everlasting.
And by the Holy Spirit’s work in you from our epistle reading today bring the joyful gift of prayer to the Lord’s logical conclusion when it says:
10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
When you were born in sin the devil would have placed a sign upon your forehead that read "Dead to God," which means that you are dead in sin and dead you will stay. But, God in Christ has ripped that sign from your forehead and replaced it with a new sign that reads “Alive in Christ!”
Your sin has been paid through the cross that Christ endured for you, so that in Him you might have an eternity:
21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. Eph. 1:21
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Monday, July 25, 2022
Monday, July 18, 2022
Sermon July 16-17, 2022
Title: We only need Jesus!
Text: Luke 10:38-42
Facebook live: We only need Jesus!
41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
What to do? VBS is coming next week and we need to prepare!
Make decorations!
Set up the rooms!
Are we ready?
Will children come?
How many children will come?
Will they come back each day?
Are we ready? Are we prepared?
You know how it is and so do I. We all have a bit of Martha in us!
The work that needs done we are convinced is never done. We are never ready really and we work or should I say Monica, works and prepares. The teachers prepare. Monica, and Elise and Matt Tilley made decorations. They laminated the pictures. There was a meeting. And still, are we ready?
Let not the preparation and all we hope to see obscure the gift that is one precious child who comes to hear about Jesus!
Now, in our lesson for today, the wonderful Martha and Mary story that we’ve all heard many times before, it seems, that Martha gets a bad rap at times. As do all who work to prepare.
Poor Martha, doing the work, and all that she could to take care and serve the Lord’s needs, having welcomed him - and those who were traveling with him - into her house while her sister Mary only sits at the Lord’s feet and listens to His teaching.
Jesus and his disciples had been traveling, as the sending of the 72 prepared the way. The Lord’s peace obviously rested on this house as Jesus was welcomed in by Martha and Mary into their home.
Now, you know how things can go when you have guests, expected or unexpected. The visit may have been expected but the time of Christ’s arrival may not have been, and even if it was, I have yet to see a hostess who didn’t still fret over the preparation, making sure that all things were in order.
Martha was determined to see that the needs of Jesus and those with Him were met, I’m sure, with exceeding abundance and that Jesus was distinguished as a beloved guest in her house.
Mary on the other hand knew who was now visiting in her home and she was not to be taken away from her Lord - no matter what earthly things needed to be done.
“We have here two forms of service [here], each done for the Lord, and each with the best of intentions, the one with the work of the hands, the other in listening to the words of eternal wisdom. They need not clash, but have their worth.”
P.E. Kretzmann Popular commentary on the Bible NT Vol. 1 Pg 326
At some point and as I’m sure you can relate - Martha gets frustrated with her sister Mary. Martha is doing all the work by herself - so that Jesus can be properly served in her home and she has lost all patience with her sister Mary – who, I’m sure, remains oblivious to Martha’s dilemma.
She finally has had enough of it and in a tone that speaks of her frustration says:
“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” Luke 10:40b
We’ll in years past I know my wife has at our home been frustrated as she prepares for guests to our home and I wasn’t the best of helper.
Maybe you can relate?
Monica’s focus was on our guests, whom ever that may be, and that they get served in the best way possible. The kids and I were a bit less joyful in service … even though we too want our guests served in the best possible way … we just don’t want to DO the work.
It took Monica a bit of work to get us moving and today … it still takes work to get me moving as the kids have moved on and I am the only one left to be told what needs to be done.
VBS can be a bit like that as well. We all get consumed about all that needs to be done that we forget the joy of what service even one little child can be.
For us it’s not about numbers but it is about Jesus! 1 or 10, 15 or 25? We tell them about Jesus and the good news and hopefully in a way that is fun, entertaining and informative. But, doing it all by yourself and feel overwhelming. Thanks God we had members, willing to help, set up, lead and teach the children in this joyful activity!
Now, I’m sure that if Jesus was coming to your house, you would all want to sit at His feet and listen to the wisdom that he has to say just like Mary … right?
At times, it can be inconvenient to find time for God as there is always something else in life to do.
But, the word of God that we have in our Scriptures today, is the same word of God that sat talking to Mary – the word made flesh! And, this same comfort Mary received from Jesus - so that she forgot the cares Martha wrestled with - is the same comfort you and I receive by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Martha and Mary were both focused on Jesus but in different ways and the Good News that we’ve learned in our gospel lessons reminds us all that as followers of Christ, God uses us all as his messengers in the world.
But you can’t lose sight of Jesus!
You need to know him - to be able to reflect him to a broken world. The cares of the world like those we’ve seen over the past few years can consume us all. As we think of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, remember he was the one who was willing to give his life for you and me.
Not, that Martha’s preparations for Jesus’ visit were not good, but Mary couldn't see what needed to be done - because her eyes were only fixed on her Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Jesus Christ, the word made flesh, came down from heaven for you so that:
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2Cor. 5:21)
Christ is the one thing necessary and He has come for you so that you might live in Him.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Text: Luke 10:38-42
Facebook live: We only need Jesus!
41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
What to do? VBS is coming next week and we need to prepare!
Make decorations!
Set up the rooms!
Are we ready?
Will children come?
How many children will come?
Will they come back each day?
Are we ready? Are we prepared?
You know how it is and so do I. We all have a bit of Martha in us!
The work that needs done we are convinced is never done. We are never ready really and we work or should I say Monica, works and prepares. The teachers prepare. Monica, and Elise and Matt Tilley made decorations. They laminated the pictures. There was a meeting. And still, are we ready?
Let not the preparation and all we hope to see obscure the gift that is one precious child who comes to hear about Jesus!
Now, in our lesson for today, the wonderful Martha and Mary story that we’ve all heard many times before, it seems, that Martha gets a bad rap at times. As do all who work to prepare.
Poor Martha, doing the work, and all that she could to take care and serve the Lord’s needs, having welcomed him - and those who were traveling with him - into her house while her sister Mary only sits at the Lord’s feet and listens to His teaching.
Jesus and his disciples had been traveling, as the sending of the 72 prepared the way. The Lord’s peace obviously rested on this house as Jesus was welcomed in by Martha and Mary into their home.
Now, you know how things can go when you have guests, expected or unexpected. The visit may have been expected but the time of Christ’s arrival may not have been, and even if it was, I have yet to see a hostess who didn’t still fret over the preparation, making sure that all things were in order.
Martha was determined to see that the needs of Jesus and those with Him were met, I’m sure, with exceeding abundance and that Jesus was distinguished as a beloved guest in her house.
Mary on the other hand knew who was now visiting in her home and she was not to be taken away from her Lord - no matter what earthly things needed to be done.
“We have here two forms of service [here], each done for the Lord, and each with the best of intentions, the one with the work of the hands, the other in listening to the words of eternal wisdom. They need not clash, but have their worth.”
P.E. Kretzmann Popular commentary on the Bible NT Vol. 1 Pg 326
At some point and as I’m sure you can relate - Martha gets frustrated with her sister Mary. Martha is doing all the work by herself - so that Jesus can be properly served in her home and she has lost all patience with her sister Mary – who, I’m sure, remains oblivious to Martha’s dilemma.
She finally has had enough of it and in a tone that speaks of her frustration says:
“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” Luke 10:40b
We’ll in years past I know my wife has at our home been frustrated as she prepares for guests to our home and I wasn’t the best of helper.
Maybe you can relate?
Monica’s focus was on our guests, whom ever that may be, and that they get served in the best way possible. The kids and I were a bit less joyful in service … even though we too want our guests served in the best possible way … we just don’t want to DO the work.
It took Monica a bit of work to get us moving and today … it still takes work to get me moving as the kids have moved on and I am the only one left to be told what needs to be done.
VBS can be a bit like that as well. We all get consumed about all that needs to be done that we forget the joy of what service even one little child can be.
For us it’s not about numbers but it is about Jesus! 1 or 10, 15 or 25? We tell them about Jesus and the good news and hopefully in a way that is fun, entertaining and informative. But, doing it all by yourself and feel overwhelming. Thanks God we had members, willing to help, set up, lead and teach the children in this joyful activity!
Now, I’m sure that if Jesus was coming to your house, you would all want to sit at His feet and listen to the wisdom that he has to say just like Mary … right?
At times, it can be inconvenient to find time for God as there is always something else in life to do.
But, the word of God that we have in our Scriptures today, is the same word of God that sat talking to Mary – the word made flesh! And, this same comfort Mary received from Jesus - so that she forgot the cares Martha wrestled with - is the same comfort you and I receive by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Martha and Mary were both focused on Jesus but in different ways and the Good News that we’ve learned in our gospel lessons reminds us all that as followers of Christ, God uses us all as his messengers in the world.
But you can’t lose sight of Jesus!
You need to know him - to be able to reflect him to a broken world. The cares of the world like those we’ve seen over the past few years can consume us all. As we think of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, remember he was the one who was willing to give his life for you and me.
Not, that Martha’s preparations for Jesus’ visit were not good, but Mary couldn't see what needed to be done - because her eyes were only fixed on her Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Jesus Christ, the word made flesh, came down from heaven for you so that:
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2Cor. 5:21)
Christ is the one thing necessary and He has come for you so that you might live in Him.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Monday, July 11, 2022
Sermon July 9-10, 2022
Title: Mercy and love is lived out in Christ!
Text: Luke 10:25-37
Facebook live: Mercy and love is lived out in Christ!
37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
In our text for today we read of a lawyer who stood up to put Jesus to the test. Now, this is not to be a sermon which lifts up or puts down the noble profession of attorneys. But it is the word of the Lord and we can all learn an important lesson.
The question that is asked - “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” - is a bit odd. How do you inherit anything? It might have been more direct if he had asked, “What must I do to earn eternal life?” because that is the question so many what to know.
In my business background we we’re always taught to answer a question with a question so that you could better get to the real objection. So, Jesus, being the best at fleshing out the true meaning to the question that is asked of Him replies with a question.
26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”
Having the ball back in his court the lawyer recites the word giving a summary of the Moral Law correctly, according to Deut. 6: 5; Lev. 19: 18.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
And I might add that he probably said it with a bit of boastful pride too!
Well, finally getting to the real objection, Jesus turns the prideful attorney’s answer back on himself when He says:
“You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
The truth is, as Jesus quite rightly points out, no one, not even one who rightly knows the scripture can keep the Law of God perfectly.
To know the Law and to keep the Law is two very different things. And, this command to love your neighbor as yourself really pushes us well beyond what we can do.
Shoot, for many of us we can’t even love ourselves so how are we going to love others?
But, despite falling short God uses you and me, His children, and:
Mercy and love is lived out in Christ!
You and I also, tend to put Christ to the test.
It’s the same word of God today as it was for the Lawyer and the same requirements that God demands and at times many believe they actually love God and their neighbor enough.
203 baptized and 171 confirmed members here at Peace but we worship less than 60 on a weekend.
Now granted some have moved away and some attend elsewhere and have not yet asked to be removed from the roles and many have departed to be with the Lord.
But many just don’t come, maybe thinking that they’ve loved God enough and like the lawyer ask: “And who is my neighbor?”
God works through means and for better or worse that’s you and me.
We are God’s hands in the world, bringing the love of Christ to a dying world and also to real people. As we learned last week with the sending of the 72 they went proclaiming peace and healing with the good news that the Kingdom of God was at hand.
Sometimes your neighbor needs a helping hand, when the ways of the world brings grief.
At times it is a prayer of comfort to let them know that you understand and will stand with them.
At times it might require a word of rebuke when they are going the wrong way in this life.
And as the church it might require a word of warning from us that to be away from God’s word and sacrament and the gift of worship and fellowship that He calls to participate in may lead to no communion and fellowship with him at all.
Many of the members of Peace need a call from their neighbor.
If you care about a member that you know that doesn’t attend give them a loving call.
If they have needs look for ways to help.
Remind them that God will never leave them of forsake them even if they’ve forsaken the assembly here at Peace and have self-excluded themselves from the church and the gifts God so longs to give them.
Implore them to return as the Lord desires his children to be together where he is and to hear God speak!
Here listen to Luther:
“In times past we would have run to the ends of the world if we had known of a place where we could have heard God speak. But now that we hear this every day in sermons, indeed, now that all books are full of it, we do not see this happening. You hear at home in your house, father and mother and children sing and speak of it, the preacher speaks of it in the parish church — you ought to lift up your hands and rejoice that we have been given the honor of hearing God speaking to us through his Word.”
https://www.christianstudylibrary.org/article/luther-and-power-gospel
The gospel is God’s word for us to use and to bring comfort.
As Jesus said in gospel reading of the Good Samaritan:
36 Which of these three, - the Priest, the Levite or the Samaritan - do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
You go … is a directive for us all. To take Christ’s caring word to those how need its comfort. Physical care and spiritual care are needed by all.
Urban ministries of our district bring this care to those where they are.
Family of God in Detroit, The Flint Mission Network and St. Paul’s in Pontiac bring the word, peace and forgiveness to feed the soul of those in need but also the meals and physical needs of those in our area. Our district is looking for new startups in mission and ministry but for those churches who cant start new they suggest finding a ministry to support. St, Paul is that ministry that is meeting needs and could use help in so many ways. Our circuit pastors and looking into how we all might better help and serve the news of the needy in this way.
36 Which of these three, - the Priest, the Levite or the Samaritan - do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
Amen
Text: Luke 10:25-37
Facebook live: Mercy and love is lived out in Christ!
37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
In our text for today we read of a lawyer who stood up to put Jesus to the test. Now, this is not to be a sermon which lifts up or puts down the noble profession of attorneys. But it is the word of the Lord and we can all learn an important lesson.
The question that is asked - “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” - is a bit odd. How do you inherit anything? It might have been more direct if he had asked, “What must I do to earn eternal life?” because that is the question so many what to know.
In my business background we we’re always taught to answer a question with a question so that you could better get to the real objection. So, Jesus, being the best at fleshing out the true meaning to the question that is asked of Him replies with a question.
26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”
Having the ball back in his court the lawyer recites the word giving a summary of the Moral Law correctly, according to Deut. 6: 5; Lev. 19: 18.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
And I might add that he probably said it with a bit of boastful pride too!
Well, finally getting to the real objection, Jesus turns the prideful attorney’s answer back on himself when He says:
“You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
The truth is, as Jesus quite rightly points out, no one, not even one who rightly knows the scripture can keep the Law of God perfectly.
To know the Law and to keep the Law is two very different things. And, this command to love your neighbor as yourself really pushes us well beyond what we can do.
Shoot, for many of us we can’t even love ourselves so how are we going to love others?
But, despite falling short God uses you and me, His children, and:
Mercy and love is lived out in Christ!
You and I also, tend to put Christ to the test.
It’s the same word of God today as it was for the Lawyer and the same requirements that God demands and at times many believe they actually love God and their neighbor enough.
203 baptized and 171 confirmed members here at Peace but we worship less than 60 on a weekend.
Now granted some have moved away and some attend elsewhere and have not yet asked to be removed from the roles and many have departed to be with the Lord.
But many just don’t come, maybe thinking that they’ve loved God enough and like the lawyer ask: “And who is my neighbor?”
God works through means and for better or worse that’s you and me.
We are God’s hands in the world, bringing the love of Christ to a dying world and also to real people. As we learned last week with the sending of the 72 they went proclaiming peace and healing with the good news that the Kingdom of God was at hand.
Sometimes your neighbor needs a helping hand, when the ways of the world brings grief.
At times it is a prayer of comfort to let them know that you understand and will stand with them.
At times it might require a word of rebuke when they are going the wrong way in this life.
And as the church it might require a word of warning from us that to be away from God’s word and sacrament and the gift of worship and fellowship that He calls to participate in may lead to no communion and fellowship with him at all.
Many of the members of Peace need a call from their neighbor.
If you care about a member that you know that doesn’t attend give them a loving call.
If they have needs look for ways to help.
Remind them that God will never leave them of forsake them even if they’ve forsaken the assembly here at Peace and have self-excluded themselves from the church and the gifts God so longs to give them.
Implore them to return as the Lord desires his children to be together where he is and to hear God speak!
Here listen to Luther:
“In times past we would have run to the ends of the world if we had known of a place where we could have heard God speak. But now that we hear this every day in sermons, indeed, now that all books are full of it, we do not see this happening. You hear at home in your house, father and mother and children sing and speak of it, the preacher speaks of it in the parish church — you ought to lift up your hands and rejoice that we have been given the honor of hearing God speaking to us through his Word.”
https://www.christianstudylibrary.org/article/luther-and-power-gospel
The gospel is God’s word for us to use and to bring comfort.
As Jesus said in gospel reading of the Good Samaritan:
36 Which of these three, - the Priest, the Levite or the Samaritan - do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
You go … is a directive for us all. To take Christ’s caring word to those how need its comfort. Physical care and spiritual care are needed by all.
Urban ministries of our district bring this care to those where they are.
Family of God in Detroit, The Flint Mission Network and St. Paul’s in Pontiac bring the word, peace and forgiveness to feed the soul of those in need but also the meals and physical needs of those in our area. Our district is looking for new startups in mission and ministry but for those churches who cant start new they suggest finding a ministry to support. St, Paul is that ministry that is meeting needs and could use help in so many ways. Our circuit pastors and looking into how we all might better help and serve the news of the needy in this way.
36 Which of these three, - the Priest, the Levite or the Samaritan - do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Saturday, July 9, 2022
Sermon July 2-3, 2022
Title: Hearing the word, we hear Jesus!
Text: Luke 10:1-20
Facebook live: Hearing the word, we hear Jesus!
16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
In the Gospel lesson for today our Lord appoints a large number … 72 as our text reads to go in pairs, telling them:
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
As we learned last week in the Gospel lesson, Jesus was resolute as He set His face towards Jerusalem. His time on earth was moving towards the cross and his atoning and vicarious death for you.
This sending of workers into the mission field would be no easy task as Jesus Himself says when He says, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. This calling and sending, for those 72, would bring the same anger and rebuke that was leveled at Jesus. Many who serve the proclamation of the Gospel today see and feel this as well.
Jesus says:
16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
These messengers were sent to bring peace and healing to a dying world. They were sent with the good news that the Kingdom of God was at hand. The Kingdom of God was embodied in the incarnate God/man Jesus Christ and some would reject this good news … sending the dust of their town off the sandals of those sent in condemnation for their rejection.
Though at times the comfort and peace of Christ is rejected … service to the Lord remains joyful.
Peace and healing. Two wonderful and good things; but in our day to day not always appreciated or received. At times when we have peace we push others to the brink of anger, instead of taming our own tongue and keeping things peaceable. Often we break friendships and even sever families requiring God, through repentance, to bring forgiveness and healing to, those in need.
Christ’s rebuke though, to those who rejected His messengers in Chorizin and Bethsaida which were, almost side by side, on the shores of Lake, Gennesaret – the sea of Galilee - though great miracles had been done in their midst, the words of eternal life and love out of the mouth of Jesus had made no impression upon them.
Even Capernaum, the Lord’s headquarters during His Galilean ministry, would receive the full measure of His wrath on the last day and be forcefully thrust down to hell.
It’s pretty sobering - and a word of warning here for us all.
Though Christ has called us to faith by word and sacrament and has been in our midst for years, decades, and even generations, in both the written and spoken Word of the Gospel; how often, is He (Jesus) neglected and overlooked in the homes of his children?
No Scripture, or family devotion; and no regular church attendance for some; -- how might Christ’s rebuke to these cities reach into your home and mine as the dust of His judgment is kicked off His feet and settles at the feet of those who have turned from His loving call?
Kretzmann Commentary NT Vol. 1 Pg322
As my pastor Ronald Moritz at St. John once said:
“If you reject God’s love, you receive his wrath!”
But even in the Lord’s rebuke there is hope.
Tyre and Sidon, heathen cities whom the Jews despised for their idolatrous practices and beliefs, Jesus said, would long since have repented, covered with sack-cloth, and ashes.
Spending time in the hospital, with home visits, and with funerals, the truth of God’s abiding peace and comfort becomes evident.
Families at these difficult times are brought back to the reality of life and death issues.
Even in dire situations the Lord works on the hearts of those He loves.
Most recently Ruth Dows death and funeral brought the trial of our sinful condition to light. The loss of a dear wife has given much for Charlie to grieve about. Loss and grief are contrasted with the reunion one day, gives hope and peace.
At our convention this past week there were many joyful proclamations of God’s love, service and sending through those who serve and have served.
Rev. Mandla Khumalo - St. Peter’s Confessional Lutheran Church, in Middelburg, South Africa is one. He passed away suddenly in 2021 having served Christs Kingdom for over 40 years.
He preached at the 500th anniversary service of the Reformation at the Breslin Center in East Lansing in 2017. They showed a few minutes of his sermon as he in his raspy voice call us to “Get ready, get set - go!” into the world for mission and service.
Pastor Kenneth Wise, Sr. pastor Trinity Clinton Twp. who preached at the service got quite emotional as he recounted the three dear friends on the list of those pastors who have departed to be with the Lord. As he remembered Pastor Steven Essenburg, who served Charity Lutheran church in Detroit for many years he said, “Steve taught me that sometimes to do mission work - you need to stay!”
Bob Poe and I were brought to tears as we saw Pastor Merrell’s name on the list of faithful departed pastors and more so when his picture was on the screen. Pastor Merrell was one who was called and sent and they stayed as pastor for 32 years and an additional 10 years as pastor emeritus here at peace. Over 50 years of faithful service to the Lord’s work, the Lord’s children and the Lord’s kingdom by going and staying.
God bless his sainted memory!
It was very hard to sing his favorite hymn “Behold a Host Arrayed in White” without tears.
Friends, the good news is really good news as proclaimed by the 72 who returned rejoicing!
“Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
But Jesus reminds them of the great power that they have in His name also cautions them …
20 … do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Christ’s joy is to bring peace to your house in Him. In Christ you receive the comfort of eternal life because His promise is to never leave you nor forsake you. (Heb 13:5)
Christ’s call is to:
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, as you 7 cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. And we are told to 8 be watchful, because the devil, your adversary, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:6-8
Though the devil prowls … in Christ you have eternal security and Lord’s promise that your name is written in heaven.
Through the word of God the harvest is gathered!
While it is not important for us to know the names of the 72 or those whom the Lord uses to bring His Gospel message to the lost.
It is important to know that Jesus knows you … and that your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Text: Luke 10:1-20
Facebook live: Hearing the word, we hear Jesus!
16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
In the Gospel lesson for today our Lord appoints a large number … 72 as our text reads to go in pairs, telling them:
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
As we learned last week in the Gospel lesson, Jesus was resolute as He set His face towards Jerusalem. His time on earth was moving towards the cross and his atoning and vicarious death for you.
This sending of workers into the mission field would be no easy task as Jesus Himself says when He says, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. This calling and sending, for those 72, would bring the same anger and rebuke that was leveled at Jesus. Many who serve the proclamation of the Gospel today see and feel this as well.
Jesus says:
16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
These messengers were sent to bring peace and healing to a dying world. They were sent with the good news that the Kingdom of God was at hand. The Kingdom of God was embodied in the incarnate God/man Jesus Christ and some would reject this good news … sending the dust of their town off the sandals of those sent in condemnation for their rejection.
Though at times the comfort and peace of Christ is rejected … service to the Lord remains joyful.
Peace and healing. Two wonderful and good things; but in our day to day not always appreciated or received. At times when we have peace we push others to the brink of anger, instead of taming our own tongue and keeping things peaceable. Often we break friendships and even sever families requiring God, through repentance, to bring forgiveness and healing to, those in need.
Christ’s rebuke though, to those who rejected His messengers in Chorizin and Bethsaida which were, almost side by side, on the shores of Lake, Gennesaret – the sea of Galilee - though great miracles had been done in their midst, the words of eternal life and love out of the mouth of Jesus had made no impression upon them.
Even Capernaum, the Lord’s headquarters during His Galilean ministry, would receive the full measure of His wrath on the last day and be forcefully thrust down to hell.
It’s pretty sobering - and a word of warning here for us all.
Though Christ has called us to faith by word and sacrament and has been in our midst for years, decades, and even generations, in both the written and spoken Word of the Gospel; how often, is He (Jesus) neglected and overlooked in the homes of his children?
No Scripture, or family devotion; and no regular church attendance for some; -- how might Christ’s rebuke to these cities reach into your home and mine as the dust of His judgment is kicked off His feet and settles at the feet of those who have turned from His loving call?
Kretzmann Commentary NT Vol. 1 Pg322
As my pastor Ronald Moritz at St. John once said:
“If you reject God’s love, you receive his wrath!”
But even in the Lord’s rebuke there is hope.
Tyre and Sidon, heathen cities whom the Jews despised for their idolatrous practices and beliefs, Jesus said, would long since have repented, covered with sack-cloth, and ashes.
Spending time in the hospital, with home visits, and with funerals, the truth of God’s abiding peace and comfort becomes evident.
Families at these difficult times are brought back to the reality of life and death issues.
Even in dire situations the Lord works on the hearts of those He loves.
Most recently Ruth Dows death and funeral brought the trial of our sinful condition to light. The loss of a dear wife has given much for Charlie to grieve about. Loss and grief are contrasted with the reunion one day, gives hope and peace.
At our convention this past week there were many joyful proclamations of God’s love, service and sending through those who serve and have served.
Rev. Mandla Khumalo - St. Peter’s Confessional Lutheran Church, in Middelburg, South Africa is one. He passed away suddenly in 2021 having served Christs Kingdom for over 40 years.
He preached at the 500th anniversary service of the Reformation at the Breslin Center in East Lansing in 2017. They showed a few minutes of his sermon as he in his raspy voice call us to “Get ready, get set - go!” into the world for mission and service.
Pastor Kenneth Wise, Sr. pastor Trinity Clinton Twp. who preached at the service got quite emotional as he recounted the three dear friends on the list of those pastors who have departed to be with the Lord. As he remembered Pastor Steven Essenburg, who served Charity Lutheran church in Detroit for many years he said, “Steve taught me that sometimes to do mission work - you need to stay!”
Bob Poe and I were brought to tears as we saw Pastor Merrell’s name on the list of faithful departed pastors and more so when his picture was on the screen. Pastor Merrell was one who was called and sent and they stayed as pastor for 32 years and an additional 10 years as pastor emeritus here at peace. Over 50 years of faithful service to the Lord’s work, the Lord’s children and the Lord’s kingdom by going and staying.
God bless his sainted memory!
It was very hard to sing his favorite hymn “Behold a Host Arrayed in White” without tears.
Friends, the good news is really good news as proclaimed by the 72 who returned rejoicing!
“Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
But Jesus reminds them of the great power that they have in His name also cautions them …
20 … do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Christ’s joy is to bring peace to your house in Him. In Christ you receive the comfort of eternal life because His promise is to never leave you nor forsake you. (Heb 13:5)
Christ’s call is to:
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, as you 7 cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. And we are told to 8 be watchful, because the devil, your adversary, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:6-8
Though the devil prowls … in Christ you have eternal security and Lord’s promise that your name is written in heaven.
Through the word of God the harvest is gathered!
While it is not important for us to know the names of the 72 or those whom the Lord uses to bring His Gospel message to the lost.
It is important to know that Jesus knows you … and that your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Sermon June 25-26, 2022
Title: Those who follow Christ follow by faith.
Text: Luke 9:51-62
Facebook live: Those who follow Christ follow by faith.
62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Theodore Roosevelt was certainly a leader. In 1901 he became the youngest President of the United States following the assignation of President William McKinley. But Theodore was also a follower.
He followed the lead of his father, Theodore Senior, who inspired him in his servant leadership; he followed mountain man Bill Sewall into the wilds of Main following the death of his own father … keeping up and learning from both Bill and his son to live in the wild and endure; he followed Joe Murray, a lieutenant of New York’s Jake Hess political machine into the Assembly of Albany politics.
On his honeymoon in Europe he followed a few guides up the Matterhorn a 15,000 foot peak which had remained unconquered until 1865. He was an author, writing the Naval War of 1812 from a historian’s perspective as almost a hobby. He nearly chose science as his field of endeavor with his love for birds and the outdoors. He was Lieutenant Colonel of the Rough Riders during the Spanish American War … serving with distinction.
As both a leader and a follower TR wrote:
“A leader should aim to build a life based on service …”
Those who follow Christ follow a servant leader by faith!
In the Gospel reading for today we see Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem. This is a very important time in the life of our Lord. Jesus knew what awaited Him in Jerusalem and he was determined to set his sights there.
Dr. Arthur Just in his commentary on Luke also sees it as important as his two-volume set on Luke begins the second volume with this pivotal verse.
Jesus is resolute. He will not be turned away. His reason for becoming man, the incarnation, is about to be realized. Jesus is moving towards the cross.
The Samaritans turned away the messengers of Jesus as they went to prepare lodgings for him. This brings the wrath of James and John to a boil looking to call down fire from heaven to consume them – bringing to the disciples the Lord’s rebuke.
Notice as Jesus continues on his way, his call to those to follow him, brings a variety of excuses.
59 Jesus called to another, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
In a broken world the spiritually dead are left to bury the physically dead. This sounds harsh to our ears from the Lord to his disciple. The point is that to follow Christ requires a denial of self and self-interests and all earthly ties.
60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead.
Here again Jesus focuses on the reality of death.
If your father’s dead you can’t really help him and there are people that can take care of his remains but also there is a connection to our spiritual state of being dead in sin and to this Christ calls him to, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Or …
Tell those that are dead, or dying … that there is life eternal in me, Jesus.
61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”
Another excuse of an earthly nature, “I must say farewell to those at home,” when the real excuse is I really need to go home now because I’m not really excited about following you.
62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Those who follow Christ follow by faith!
There is a story that a pastor tells of plowing a field when he was a young boy:
He says, plowing a straight furrow was easy, I thought. I didn’t need my father or grandfather telling me what to do.
The first furrow plowed was the most important. It had to be straight, especially when you had acres of land to plow. Each time back and forth you had to put the right wheels of your tractor into the furrow you had just plowed. This was your guide. If you got the first furrow straight, the whole field would end up straight and square. If you got the first furrow crooked, every pass you made was then crooked. This resulted in more time and work at the end of the job, trying to square what was crooked.
Well, Dad had this notion that you should never look back when plowing. You should pick out a spot, such as a tree or fence post, at the end of the field (sometimes hundreds of yards away) and never take your eyes off of it. Keep focused and never look back.
I thought, “How dumb! How are you going to know if you are plowing straight if you don’t look back sometimes to see how you’re doing?”
Throwing Dad’s advice out the window I decided to do it my own way, just once. Looking back, I tried to make a straight furrow. Problem is, you can’t steer very well looking back. You keep trying to jerk the wheel one way or another to overcompensate. You can’t straighten out something that’s crooked. (See Ecclesiastes 1:15a).
The words of Christ popped out at me, as I read the Bible one day: “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62) Dad’s advice was from the Lord!
Do you at times look back too? I think we all do. Ever since I joined the Lutheran church and began attending, there has always been one thing that bothered me… summer.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love summer, but as Lutheran’s we seem to see summer as a break from Church. I mean, it’s nice weather and we can only do so much outside during the year so we really need to get it all done in the three months of summer. And the church is just as much to blame. Many churches have summer schedules from Memorial Day to Labor Day and that indicates that something is different at Church. Some stop bible study because; some won’t come, so we facilitate their not coming by not coming ourselves. During summer we look every which way … except to Christ.
Those who follow Christ follow by faith!
The truth is I love summer as I assume most of you do. We can have both a joyful summer and a strong faith life. Christ does not need to be put aside while we commune with nature. In fact we try to bring a little bit of summer to our worship when we gather in the pavilion during our praise in the pavilion service. The Gospel and its fruit reach beyond these walls. It is not confining but liberating.
The Gospel (Jesus) in our reading set His face towards Jerusalem. Jesus is the Gospel and the Gospel is about Jesus. This spotless Lamb who is fully God and fully man came down from heaven to take your sin upon himself. No, if and or buts about it. He was determined to go to Jerusalem … for you! See, Jesus didn’t look back. He set his sights in that wooden post in the distance, the cross, and kept plowing straight ahead … for you. There is no crooked path because the one Jesus plowed is straight. Straight through the Law to its fulfillment, straight to the cross - the price paid in full, straight to the tomb descending to hell to fully proclaim victory over sin, death and the Devil and resurrected to newness of life on the third day … for you.
Those who follow Christ follow by faith!
Jesus Christ is the path that has been laid straight for you. The Spirit directs your course and it is straight too on account of Him. When you fall He picks you up and plows on with you for He will never leave you nor forsake you. By him you are free of bondage to the past and now look forward to a forever forgiven in him. Receive the joy that the Lord has prepared for you.
Christ Jesus is that man of integrity and high purpose. For you he paid the price and made the way for eternal life and then He calls you by the Spirit and gives you freely all He has. This he does out of divine Love … for you. Joy in this good new by the Spirit now and forever.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
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