Sermon Aug. 26-27, 2023

Title: Jesus is the Christ!

Text: Matthew 16:13-20

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15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

To have access to our church building you need a key. During services the building is opened and access granted. Following services, the building is locked and you can’t get in … unless you have a key.

God’s word functions in a similar way; Locked and opened, bound and free, command and promise, Law and Gospel.

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

Here, wages are contrasted against a free gift and sin and death exchanged for eternal life by means of Christ Jesus our Lord.
To proclaim the truth of who Christ Jesus is and what he has done … you have to know the truth of who Jesus is and what He has done. You have to be brought from death to life.

This change and this knowledge comes to you – not by your own efforts or wisdom and strength – but by the power of God’s free gift through the Holy Spirit, working through the word, so that you and I can - by faith - trust and confess Jesus Christ.

15 He [Jesus] said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

From the region of Tyre and Sidon and the encounter with the Canaanite woman from last week, Jesus and the disciples move to the east and a bit south towards the area of Caesarea Philippi.

As noted last week the disciples missed some of Jesus’ teaching. They saw the 5000 fed; saw Jesus and Peter walk on the water and the wind and the waves calmed by Christ on the Sea of Galilee; saw steadfast faith from a woman who was not one of the Jews, God’s chosen people, which resulted in her receiving healing for her daughter’s oppression by a demon – immediately. Now, we move ahead a bit in their journey past the feeding of the 4000 and to beware the leaven - or teaching - of the Pharisees and Sadducees and Jesus now asks the disciples a question.

13 … “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

Jesus asks this question to the group. They all had been missing some of His teaching and what he had revealed about himself, even saying at one point “truly, you are the Son of God.” Matt. 14:33b.

They, along with the people, had seen the signs and miracles done along the way and Jesus asks them, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

Well, the peoples responses vary. “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

The disciples had heard some of the talk among the people. They thought maybe that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead or that one of the prophets, from long ago had returned.

Luke 1:17 tells us:

17 [John] will go before Jesus in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

The people got some of what was proclaimed understanding that John, Elijah and Jesus are connected in some way. So, Jesus asks the disciples directly:

“But who do you say that I am?”

Now I want you to understand the importance of the question Jesus asks and the answer that Peter gives. It cannot be answered by human wisdom.

If I were to ask you this same type of question about myself, “Well some might respond saying you are Russ a childhood friend who grew up in Allen Park, or Russ a co-worker for many years at Evola Music in Bloomfield Hills. Some might say that I’m someone who attended St. John Lutheran Church in Rochester 25 years ago, while others might say a long time member of Peace Lutheran Church here in Waterford.

But to that same question directed to you here, “But who do you say that I am?” One might speak and answer for the group and say.

"You’re our pastor.”

The answer does not mean that only one member in the church understands who I am and that I’ve been called to serve as pastor here. But in some way when the truth has been stated, the others know, understand, and agree.

This truth though, is known by human wisdom. But to the question Christ Jesus asked about himself, it is only known as it is revealed by the working of the Holy Spirit and by faith working through the word.

By faith Christ Jesus is confessed!

Many though in our day neither know God’s word or Christ Jesus the word of God made flesh. Bound in sin we are all brought into this world as God’s enemies and consigned to death. Through the proclamation of the word, God works faith in and where he pleases turning those bound in sin free so that they too might confess and call Jesus, “the Christ, the son of the living God.”

Some might say that the confession – you are the Christ the Son of the living God - is the sign and the evidence of faith. It is for sure, but we as Lutheran’s also trust the word of God and the promise.

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

We are to follow Christ’s command and promise, and make disciples by baptizing and teaching.

Parents teach their children by singing hymns and songs to them or reading them Bible stories and lessons. We then bring them to Sunday school and Church so they can be instructed and learn what this faith - that they have been given - means and so it doesn’t just die away from them from lack of feeding, or by our own sinfulness, the sinfulness of others or the working of the devil.

Baptizing is good and it’s God’s work, whether it is a baby or one old enough to be instructed and once instructed desires baptism.

Luther says in his writing on, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, which is a big title that simply means the church held captive:

“For the Word of God is powerful enough, when uttered, to change even a godless heart, which is no less unresponsive and helpless than any infant”

http://www.onthewing.org/user/Luther%20-%20Babylonian%20Captivity.pdf Pg 41, Paragraph 2

It is God who brings to faith and it is faith that says as Peter did:

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus commends Peter!

“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah!

And he tells Peter where the source of this confession comes from:

For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter [which means rock], and on this rock [which means the rock of Peter’s confession of faith] I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Jesus does not build His church on Peter’s person - but on Peter’s confession which is your confession too, and Peter’s faith is nothing more than your faith and the faith of all, given by God through word and sacrament so that God’s church, and God’s kingdom against sin, death and the devil, is built.

Finally Jesus is speaking to the disciples says:

19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

The keys are given to the church and administered by those called to serve in the place and by the command of Christ. That is why when the pastor says, “I forgive you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” you can trust that you are forgiven, as if Christ himself were speaking the forgiveness to you directly.

Receive the forgiveness of the Lord always!

Joy in his word and sacraments which bring faith, trust in Christ and confesses always that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

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

Amen

Sermon Aug. 19-20, 2023

Title: Faith in Jesus is Peace!
Text: Matt. 15:21-28

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28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

St. Augustine reminds us:

Faith is to believe what we do not see; and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.

Augustine.

Last week we took a walk on the water with Jesus and Peter. If you remember, Peter had his eyes focused on Jesus and he asked Jesus to call him out of the boat so he could walk on the water to where Jesus was. Christ said “Come” and Peter walked on the water to Jesus but as the wind and the waves raged Peter lost focus … he took his eyes off Christ and beginning to sink, cried “Lord save me!” Jesus took hold of Peter and when they both entered the boat and the wind, and the waves ceased.

Today’s reading once again has Jesus looking for a place of rest. The people had been following Him relentlessly looking for maybe a free meal here and there, healing for their illnesses, and any manner of a miracle – but they were not terrible interested in the gospel message that had been being preached. Sounds pretty familiar, doesn’t it?

Many in our own day look for temporal blessings instead of eternal security.

So, Jesus withdrew from the populated area of the Sea of Galilee and went up north to the region of Tyre and Sidon in the district of Phoenicia.

22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.”

This woman knew about Jesus. Apparently, His fame had spread beyond the region of Galilee. She also had been familiar with the books of the Jews and their coming Messiah, and by the working of the Holy Spirit came to believe that this Jesus was the one prophesied from long ago, calling him both “Lord” and “Son of David.” Her request is also a petition for the Lord’s mercy upon her situation. Her focus is upon Jesus.

To this the Lord remains quiet. We are told that he didn’t even say a word, continuing on with His business as if he hadn’t heard a thing.

Martin Luther says:

“Christ nowhere in all the gospels is painted as being so hard as here.”

And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.”

The disciples didn’t want the bother, didn’t want the problem, telling Jesus to send her away. “She isn’t one of us.” You can almost hear them say. Once again, the disciples fail to have or show compassion. Just as with the feeding of the 5000 they were content to send them away … until Jesus says,

“They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” Matt. 14:16

The disciples are an interesting lot. First, they cry out in fear as they are tossed by the wind and the waves on the Sea of Galilee.

They see a ghost which turns out to be Jesus. He calms their fears as he and Peter get into the boat and the sea is calmed.

They all reply, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matt. 14:33b

Now, just as quickly, seeing someone else in distress, they want her sent away … they don’t want to be bothered.

The disciples are you and they are me, if we are honest with ourselves.

At times we don’t want to be bothered even though we have Jesus and His wonderful Good News and gift of faith. If there is a need,

“Not me, I’ve done my time let someone else do it!”

Or we’re too quick to see all that we do ourselves, and we want others to recognize just how much we do too and how hard we work for the church and for Christ.

Both are wrong and both are sinful because you have Christ and His gift of faith which is to have you love others as Christ has loved you.
So Jesus says to her,

“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

To this Luther says: “Christ was a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, But when [Christ] came he found many Samaritans and Sadducees, as there are many, [skeptics] still today, but he was supposed to preach to the Jews, and afterward to the whole world through the apostles. Christ was therefore sent to the Jews in person because they had the promise.

The Gentiles didn’t have the promise, but they had mercy.

LW Vol.54. Pg. 451

The Canaanite woman replies: “Lord, help me.”

Here his words are stinging but true.

“It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.”

It is implied that the Gentile woman and all her family and people we’re not God’s chosen people – called to his table - as were the Israelites, that they could be considered in the eyes of God only as dogs [or outsiders], while the Jews were His children.

That’s a stern judgment which the Lord gave, in which there surely appeared not a glimmer of hope for the distressed mother.

As Luther writes, there was not an absolute denial of her request; there was still room for an argument. And, besides, Christ had not compared her people and her family to the street-dogs, but to the house-dogs that live with their masters in the home.

Kretzmann Popular Commentary on the Bible NT Vol. 1 pg 84-85

If you have ever had a house dog you know that in many cases they live with their owners very well and receive many times … food from the table.

The woman does not lose faith or take her eyes off Jesus but simply replies,

27 … “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.”

She says, yes sometimes even the dogs receive those crumbs, those blessings that she is looking for, because the dogs stay at the table. They are near the table and if your dogs are like my dogs … they don’t move … but sit waiting.

This woman would not be denied. She was keeping her eyes upon Jesus and knew by faith that He had the gift she needed, and the gift she wanted, both for herself and her daughter. To this Jesus says:
“O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Luther in his Table Talk discussions says: That Christ didn’t speak to us, but about us, [We who are afar off.] He wished to test this woman’s faith, and when she said, “Lord, it’s true, I don’t deserve it, and I know I didn’t have the promise,” Jesus heard her prayer.

LW Vol. 54 pg. 451

“God our Father has made all things depend on faith so that whoever has faith will have everything, and whoever does not have faith will have nothing.”

Martin Luther.

Your prayers too are heard because you have faith in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Christ has had mercy upon you and has given you forgiveness of your sins. You are his child a member of his family grafted into the vine receiving all that is at His table.

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

Amen

Sermon Aug. 12-13, 2023

Title: The storms are calmed in Christ!

Text: Matt. 14:22-33

 
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31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

On September 18, 2009, my friend Tim’s daughter Andrea suffered a tremendous heart attack. She was a sophomore at the University of Michigan at the time and thankfully near the University hospital. The extent of the damage was so severe that Andrea needed a new heart.

Her heart transplant was done on October 13. Even though she had a stroke the morning of the operation Andrea wanted to go through with the surgery. After many sleepless nights, prayers and concern Andrea was able to go home and start her rehabilitation.

This was a tragic situation to say the least for any family to go through. Andrea was mad at God and life. Her parents continued to encourage her and pray. As Tim and I talked one day when I called to check on her condition, he said something very profound. He said, “God can heal her or God can take her. Whatever He does I’ll continue to trust Him.”

Andrea got back to school and finished her sophomore year. But as Tim said someone else had to lose their life so she could live.

Verse 1

The razor’s edge is going to cut you, deeper and deeper
You hate the way it hurts and the time it takes to heal
You cover up the wounds and hope no one will notice
The way the razor works and the way the razor feels

But God know, Yes God knows, God knows when you hurt

That was the first verse of a song I wrote many years ago for a Christian band I was part of in the 90’s called 2ND Chance. The razor’s edge was a metaphor for the pains in life that we all deal with, how we hide those pains and cover the wounds and how in spite of the pain God knows and hears us during the times of trial.

Last week’s message showed our Lord Jesus Christ’s compassion to the crowd that had followed Him when he went to a desolate place to grieve by Himself after hearing that John the Baptist had been killed by Herod.

After the feeding of the five thousand the day was drawing to a close, the people had been fed and the compassion of Christ had been made evident to all … especially His disciples. Now Jesus sends them all away so He can get back to the business of why He came here to grieve John’s death and to pray.

Jesus finally got about the work He came to do … to pray and grieve. He had sent His disciples back across the lake in the boat He had arrived in by Himself.

When evening came, he was there alone, Matt. 14 23b

I’ve often wondered what the disciples talked about as they contemplated the miracle they just had witnessed with the feeding of the large crowd with five loaves and two fish, or what they were now talking about as they departed in the boat across the lake leaving Jesus back on the shore.

It might have been a combination of bewilderment and joy?

“Can you imagine all the people that were fed and still we had twelve baskets of pieces left over after all had ate their fill?” one disciple might have remarked.

“It was truly a miracle!” another might have exclaimed as they all remembered the Quail and manna from heaven that God had fed the Israelites with as they made their Exodus in the wilderness so many years before.

“He is truly the Messiah!” another might have added all the while not aware that the winds had picked up and the little boat, beaten by the waves, was making small progress fighting across the lake towards their destination.

Verse 2

In life we got to stumble, little by little
Feeling for the bottom just to know which way is up
You look upon the journey and you think no one will hear you
Call out for a hand to reach and pick you up.

And God knows, yes God knows, God knows when you call.

25And in the fourth watch of the night [Jesus] came to them, walking on the sea.26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear.

Fear, at times consumes us all.
It’s real and we all deal with different levels of it.

It could be the fear of life’s economic uncertainty.
It could be a change of location or a health concern.
It could be a random act of violence on someone we don’t know, someone we know, or the fear that it could happen to us as well.
Or, it could be just a change of wind that brings danger to an otherwise peaceful calm.

So call on the Father
And call on the Son
Together the blood of life was shed for everyone.

It is only by the work of the Holy Spirit that we can we come to Christ or call on him.

And as Jesus approaches the boat he comes to the disciples with these wonderful comforting words:

"Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." Matt. 14:28b

Jesus was there in the midst of the wind and waves with the calming reassurance for the disciples that it will be alright because He is in control of all in this world and the next. Even though storms, wind, and waves can cause doubt, we can trust that Christ is there with reassurance, though at times doubt still remains.

28And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." Matt. 14:28

Christ was Peter’s focus in time of fear but he still needed proof. Take heart; it is I didn’t cut it for Peter. So Jesus calls him once again.

29 He said, "Come." So, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

10 feet, 12 feet 15 feet … it doesn’t say.

When Christ is Peter’s focus all is well. He hears the Lord’s voice and wants to be the first to embrace His Lord. Jesus calls Peter to come and the miracle of walking on the water is repeated as Peter, in faith, steps out of the boat.

30 But when [Peter] saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Matt. 14:30

Peter knew Christ, saw him and heard his voice. Yet in the storms of life the comfort of Christ can be overcome for us in the moment of affliction and fear.

Verse 3

A heart that’s broke or breaking starting to crumble
You feel just like the weight of the world is caving in
You call out for forgiveness you hope your prayers are answered
Seeds of doubt are planted every time that you begin

And God knows, yes God knows, God knows when you call.

God is the answer to Peter’s fear.

Christ is the focus of his call as his fear overwhelms him and he begins to sink. – Lord save me!

Jesus hears and responds to Peter’s cry in that:

31[He] immediately [reaches] out his hand and [takes] hold of him

Matt. 14:31a

Christ is Peter’s strength in the midst of impending fear and doom. As the wind and the waves calmed and Peter and Jesus once again entered the boat, the words of Christ as he took hold of Peter’s hand again invaded Peter’s thoughts:

"O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Matt. 14:31b
Christ is ready to take hold of you too as you worry through the storms of life.

He will reach out and take hold of you when you feel overwhelmed by Life’s fears.
He makes a way when there is no way. He says:

"Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." Matt.14:28b

Even when faith and doubt overwhelm us, He is the Peace that surpasses all human understanding.

14 years after her transplant, Andera Bierema is a social worker in Chicago. God Knows!

But most importantly, Jesus has come to redeem Andrea and all the lost and has taken our sin upon Himself, so that even though death is a reality in this life, there is comfort that because he lives you too live – in him!

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

Amen

Sermon Aug. 5-6, 2023

Title: The Lord is compassionate!
Text: Matt. 14:13-21 

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19Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20And they all ate and were satisfied.

The passengers were sitting quietly in the subway car, when a man entered with children who were extremely noisy and active. To the passenger’s surprise, the man (who was obviously the father) sat down and closed his eyes, ignoring the loud and rambunctious children. He sat as though he were oblivious to them! The subway car was ringing with chaotic noise. The children's behavior was way out of line, and everyone was getting agitated - except the father.

Finally, a passenger leaned over and spoke to the man about his children. The father opened his eyes and seemed to finally grasp the situation.

"Oh, you're right. I guess I should do something about it. We just came from the hospital where their mother died about an hour ago. I don't know what to think, and I guess they don't know how to handle it either."

Many times we too become agitated before we show compassion.

Our gospel begins:

13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself.

The news that the disciples brought to Jesus was the news that John the Baptist had been beheaded by Herod. Hard news for anyone to hear especially if the news involves someone we know or are close to that has lost their life.

Jesus needed to get away to grieve. So He gets into a boat and goes across the lake to a place that is quite to be by Himself – to a place that is desolate.

But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.

When you think of desolate you might think of a place devoid of inhabitants and deserted. A place that is joyless and sorrowful - as if separated from a loved one. A place showing signs of abandonment, dilapidated, devoid of warmth, comfort or hope. But what does Jesus find?

14a When he went ashore he saw a great crowd,

He went to get away; to be by Himself; to collect His thoughts; to pray and here he finds not a desolate place at all, but one filled with a very large crowd of followers.

I believe that even this crowd would have given Jesus a pass had he became agitated. But what does Jesus do?

… and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

We too fail to see and reflect God’s compassion in our daily lives. Many times, agitation - seen through the eyes of sin - become the first reaction we have before – we see through the compassionate eyes of faith given to us by our loving savior Jesus – by the power of the Holy Spirit

Compassion would show for a Christian the wonderful evidence of the fruit of the Spirit.

To think of someone else and their needs first and foremost is a Christ-like virtue.

Stories of listening:

For me as a manager listening to employees when business and life was going wrong.

Or how Ben my boss listened to me as he put his hand on my shoulder saying, “It will get better.”

Or, how I as a pastor need to hear with compassionate ears the people that the Lord has given to my care.

Jesus’ showed compassion to the crowd of people gathered at this place and His compassion extended to their physical need as well.

These five thousand men, women and children hungered and were fed in a miraculous way by Jesus, but the miracle was probably not even something they were aware of. God’s great blessing filled their hunger and showed the disciples the compassion and power with which Jesus was sending them out.

Each had a basketful of leftovers to testify to what Jesus has done and will continue to do through them.

God would be with them as they went forth. His miraculous work would be worked through them.

Jesus would speak as they spoke to others.

All that Jesus is and does would be with them as they walked in His place with His word, bringing freedom to those in need of the saving knowledge of Christ in a fallen world. The compassion that Jesus has would be the compassion they share with and give to sinners so that they are healed of their sin, fed by our precious Lord’s word, and satisfied of their wants and needs.

Jesus has compassion.

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Rom 3:23

His compassion is extended to all sinners who are lost and in need of salvation.

Jesus has compassion.

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

His compassion comes to us through the free gift of the gospel for the salvation of all who believe.

Jesus has compassion.

8 God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:8

His compassion comes to you and me even though we are sinners. He took our sin upon Himself at the cross and by grace through faith in His finished work we are free of sin and covered by his righteousness.

Jesus has compassion.

9 Because, by the power of the Holy Spirit in you, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Rom. 10:9-10

His compassion allows us by the power of the Holy Spirit to confess the truth of this good news for ourselves and to share this with others.

Jesus has compassion … on you!

13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Rom. 10:13

He heals your sin and covers you with His righteousness so that you are, by faith, free of your bondage to sin, fed by his holy word, as well as His very Body and Blood in the Lord’s Supper given and shed for you and for all who are satisfied and found in Him.

This, your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gives you simply out of His Grace, mercy and love for you and with gratitude you are able to be compassionate and show compassion to others.

Finally, I leave you with a few of the wonderful words from our Sermon Hymn today.

Now Thank We All Our God

Now thank we all our God With hearts and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, In whom His world rejoices;
Who from our mothers' arms Has blest us on our way
With countless gifts of love And still is ours today.


Oh, may this bounteous God Through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts And blessed peace to cheer us
And keep us in His grace And guide us when perplexed
And free us from all ills In this world and the next!


All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
The Son, and Him who reigns With them in highest heaven,
The one eternal God, Whom earth and heav'n adore;
For thus it was, is now, And shall be evermore.

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

Amen