Text: Matt. 9:35-10:8
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36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
In our gospel today:
35 … Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.
In the proceeding part of chapter 9 Jesus:
Healed a paralytic brought to him lying on a mat.
He called the apostle Matthew, the tax collector, to follow him.
He raised a daughter from death to life.
He healed a woman from bleeding who touched the hem of his garment.
He restored the sight of two blind men who asked him for mercy.
And cast out a demon from a man unable to speak who then spoke.
Our compassionate Lord went to those in need or they came to him.
He brought life where only death reigned.
He healed those who had been unable to be healed.
He restored sight and cast the demons away.
[Jesus] had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
We’ve talked a bit over the last month about the need for pastors and the churches that are without one and going through the process to self-evaluate. They are trying to be honest with themselves as their needs and church has changed.
One of the ladies from St. Mark’s that I visited was a member of Cedar Crest. She said,
“We tried hanging on too long and missed opportunities to join with others.”
Maybe yes, maybe no.
St. Mark’s and others are looking at that crossroad now and many churches, if not now facing that reality, might in the future. After all the church is the gathering of the faithful no matter where that may be.
The Twelve Apostles
10 And [Jesus] called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few
Each church in our circuit grows and falls as the Lord dictates. I think pastors are given calls to move the process along. After all we are creatures of habit. We would all stay put and do things just as they are unless moved along by the Lord.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out,
The 12 disciples were probably not looking for a change. They liked Jesus and were content to follow him and stay where they were. But he sends them out, taking them out of their comfort zone and giving them marching orders.
“Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
Life and needs have changed for some of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Christ be my leader by night as by day;
Safe through the darkness, for He is the way.
Gladly I follow, my future His care,
Darkness is daylight when Jesus is there.
Christ be my teacher in age and in youth
Drifting or doubting for he is the truth
Grant me to trust him; though shifting as sand
Doubt cannot daunt me, in Jesus I stand
Christ be my savior in calm as in strife
Death cannot hold me for he is the life
Nor darkness nor doubting nor sin and its stain
Can touch my salvation; with Jesus I reign
God’s peace be yours now and always!
Copyright Timothy Dudley Smith 1964 Renewed 1992 Hope Publishing Co. LSB
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
In our gospel today:
35 … Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.
In the proceeding part of chapter 9 Jesus:
Healed a paralytic brought to him lying on a mat.
He called the apostle Matthew, the tax collector, to follow him.
He raised a daughter from death to life.
He healed a woman from bleeding who touched the hem of his garment.
He restored the sight of two blind men who asked him for mercy.
And cast out a demon from a man unable to speak who then spoke.
Our compassionate Lord went to those in need or they came to him.
He brought life where only death reigned.
He healed those who had been unable to be healed.
He restored sight and cast the demons away.
[Jesus] had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
We’ve talked a bit over the last month about the need for pastors and the churches that are without one and going through the process to self-evaluate. They are trying to be honest with themselves as their needs and church has changed.
One of the ladies from St. Mark’s that I visited was a member of Cedar Crest. She said,
“We tried hanging on too long and missed opportunities to join with others.”
Maybe yes, maybe no.
St. Mark’s and others are looking at that crossroad now and many churches, if not now facing that reality, might in the future. After all the church is the gathering of the faithful no matter where that may be.
The Twelve Apostles
10 And [Jesus] called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few
Each church in our circuit grows and falls as the Lord dictates. I think pastors are given calls to move the process along. After all we are creatures of habit. We would all stay put and do things just as they are unless moved along by the Lord.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out,
The 12 disciples were probably not looking for a change. They liked Jesus and were content to follow him and stay where they were. But he sends them out, taking them out of their comfort zone and giving them marching orders.
“Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
Life and needs have changed for some of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Some are without a shepherd.
Some are watching on line.
Some can’t come or drive.
Some are in care facilities.
Some are dealing with cancer.
Some can’t do stairs.
Some are mourning the loss of a spouse.
Some of our Circuit Pastors are visiting other church members to help out.
We all, in compassion for the Lord’s sheep, are trying as best we can to serve God’s people as his under shepherds, where we are. I am thankful for all my brother pastors and their efforts.
No one size fits all here. “The times they are a changing,” as Bob Dylan once sang and we all have to have our eyes open to this reality.
Every year things change.
2023 is no different.
The hope is not to avoid change but to hold dear to the unchangeable Jesus.
Jesus is after all: The way the truth and the life!
Virus, pandemic, protest, Elections, our Synod convention, birth and death. Everything the world deals with the church deals with and the root cause, result and solution are the same.
Sin, death and Jesus
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23
Whether like Peace member Jean Pilot, who rests in Jesus having finished the race in this life last month. Or, the myriads of Peace members and loved ones who have once blessed us with their presence in this life and now joy in Christ presence, the sting of death is real.
I went to a funeral today [yesterday] for John Carlton … etc. I went to visit Eleanor Brown … Life and death are a reality.
It hurts, It’s personal, it’s troubling, and it’s no respecter of age, race, gender, status or political affiliation. So, the mandate from Jesus to his disciples should ring in our ears as well.
38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Our prayers are for both the Lord to send laborers knowing that we might be called upon to be one of those to bring Christ to those in need.
While death is the result of sin, Jesus is the solution for sin.
Christ needs to be proclaimed in this life with or without pastors - not to diminish the concerns in this life but to illuminate the greater reality. All roads lead to death in this life, but only one way leads to peace and life eternal and that’s Jesus.
Our sermon hymn Christ Be My Leader from our hymnal LSB #861
It brings all of our concerns and in a wonderful way points to the Blessed Hope that Jesus is. Your hope, trust and security in this life is only for a while.
Let us rest in Jesus as the lyrics make clear.
Some are watching on line.
Some can’t come or drive.
Some are in care facilities.
Some are dealing with cancer.
Some can’t do stairs.
Some are mourning the loss of a spouse.
Some of our Circuit Pastors are visiting other church members to help out.
We all, in compassion for the Lord’s sheep, are trying as best we can to serve God’s people as his under shepherds, where we are. I am thankful for all my brother pastors and their efforts.
No one size fits all here. “The times they are a changing,” as Bob Dylan once sang and we all have to have our eyes open to this reality.
Every year things change.
2023 is no different.
The hope is not to avoid change but to hold dear to the unchangeable Jesus.
Jesus is after all: The way the truth and the life!
Virus, pandemic, protest, Elections, our Synod convention, birth and death. Everything the world deals with the church deals with and the root cause, result and solution are the same.
Sin, death and Jesus
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23
Whether like Peace member Jean Pilot, who rests in Jesus having finished the race in this life last month. Or, the myriads of Peace members and loved ones who have once blessed us with their presence in this life and now joy in Christ presence, the sting of death is real.
I went to a funeral today [yesterday] for John Carlton … etc. I went to visit Eleanor Brown … Life and death are a reality.
It hurts, It’s personal, it’s troubling, and it’s no respecter of age, race, gender, status or political affiliation. So, the mandate from Jesus to his disciples should ring in our ears as well.
38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Our prayers are for both the Lord to send laborers knowing that we might be called upon to be one of those to bring Christ to those in need.
While death is the result of sin, Jesus is the solution for sin.
Christ needs to be proclaimed in this life with or without pastors - not to diminish the concerns in this life but to illuminate the greater reality. All roads lead to death in this life, but only one way leads to peace and life eternal and that’s Jesus.
Our sermon hymn Christ Be My Leader from our hymnal LSB #861
It brings all of our concerns and in a wonderful way points to the Blessed Hope that Jesus is. Your hope, trust and security in this life is only for a while.
Let us rest in Jesus as the lyrics make clear.
Christ be my leader by night as by day;
Safe through the darkness, for He is the way.
Gladly I follow, my future His care,
Darkness is daylight when Jesus is there.
Christ be my teacher in age and in youth
Drifting or doubting for he is the truth
Grant me to trust him; though shifting as sand
Doubt cannot daunt me, in Jesus I stand
Christ be my savior in calm as in strife
Death cannot hold me for he is the life
Nor darkness nor doubting nor sin and its stain
Can touch my salvation; with Jesus I reign
God’s peace be yours now and always!
Copyright Timothy Dudley Smith 1964 Renewed 1992 Hope Publishing Co. LSB
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
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