Sermon Feb. 22-23, 2025

Title: Be kind and merciful!

Text: Luke 6:27-38

Facebook live: Be kind and merciful!

37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure, you use it will be measured back to you.”

Valentine’s day was last week on the 14th. Many shared this love with their spouse, boyfriends and girlfriends, children, relatives and loved ones.

Love is nice and it’s easy to share with those we love.

Detroit loves Steve Yzerman of the Red Wings but not so much Claude Lemieux.

And whether you are right leaning or left leaning … the other side is always Claude Lemieux, while you and I only see a smiling Steve Yzerman in the mirror of our own reflection. We love whom we love.

But the text today tells us:

… love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

In a sense:

Love those who vote different than you.
Do good to those who can’t stand you.
Bless those who would spit in your face.
Pray for those … you get the idea!

Close your eyes, and think of those who hate you, who have hated you, who have wronged you, and then think of those you hate, have hated, and have at one time or another completely disagreed with.

You have and I have.

It is the reality of our sinful nature.

Now again: … love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you,
and … pray for those who abuse you.

These words of Jesus, for his first hearers, must have been hard to hear as they are for us even now.

Many were persecuted. Many lived under the lordship of others. Many had no hope for a better temporal existence.

In the United States there were masters and slaves. To a degree, there still are.

Last week we heard the blessings of being poor, hungry, and weeping in this life contrasted with the woes of those who are rich, full and laughing and Jesus continues this eternal perspective for his hearers then and you and me today, with an equally hard teaching.

29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

You’ve heard the phrase in our day, “He or she has disrespected me!”

Now, respect as my parents taught me, is earned not demanded. But, if we feel disrespected that might be considered a slap in the face in our day.

We may even think of taking action, or retaliating but for we who are in Christ, the eternal reality is this:

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, while we were still God enemies, Christ died for us.

Born in sin, born God’s enemies in the fall, we have collectively slapped God in the face – we have disrespected God!

We have made him our enemy.

But God, turns the other cheek and loves you anyway.

In the death of his son, he shows us mercy, and the greatest respect he gives to we who deserve his distain and wrath –his son - to die for our sin and the sins of the whole world.

He forgives our sin in Christ, and gives us the cloak of his righteousness taking our filthy sin-stained cloak and places it upon himself in exchange.

Christ has shown true love for we who were - his enemies, and in Christ, we are made children of our heavenly Father and called to reflect his love to others.

To love those who hate us, as God loves we who hated him.

This past week I stopped by the Diner for lunch. I said hi to Mary the waitress whom I’ve known for 40 + years and as I sat looking at the menu a man approached my table. I said hello to him and he said,

I’ve had at times people come to me and pay for my lunch. At times they tell me directly and other times they do it in secret. I’ve had the pleasure of doing it also for someone I don’t know. Many times, for me it’s police officers or firemen. Sometimes I let them know and other times just pay their bill. I don’t know them but can’t say that they are my enemies.

Jesus says,

32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.

But we give expecting nothing in return.

But the gospel concludes:

38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.

Blessing come and it is good to do for others as well.

This kind of kindness should be paid forward. It’s unexpected and a joy to receive and even more joyful to give. And God says it with a promise.

For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Now turn it around again as we did last week in the message:

Could you do the same if the person was not just unknown to you, but someone who actively was an enemy or one who hated and wronged you? It would certainly make it harder to reach out.

Bully story: Apology and forgiveness.

https://www.goalcast.com/dad-apologizes-man-he-bullied-20-years-later/

32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

It is my hope that the Spirit motivates us all to show kindness to those
we come in contact with and especially, to reach out to those who might not be our friends, to those we’ve wronged, and to those who have wronged us especially with the forgiveness that the Lord has shown us.

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

Amen

Sermon Feb. 15-16, 2025

Title: Keep your eyes upon Jesus!
Text: Luke 6:17-26

Facebook live: Keep your eyes upon Jesus!

17 And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.

When I was in eighth grade, I tried out for the track team at South Jr. High school in Allen Park. At one of our practices, I was standing at the end of the long jump pit watching as some of the team practiced their jumps. Tom, a ninth grader and one of the better athletes at the school made his jump and upon landing was evidently not happy with how he landed. As he got up and walked by me, he gave me a kick to my leg at his displeasure in himself and the spikes of his cleats made two long cuts into the back of my calf. Bleeding and in pain the coach sent me to get it cleaned up and he talked to Tom though I don’t remember any apology. It took weeks for my wound to scab over and heal and I don’t remember much else of my track career so I probably just stopped attending practices and focused on other things. 54 years later I still remember that wound though.

Wounds and scaring are part of this life. You, I’m sure have your own stories and wounds to deal with. Some of the wounds like mine are old and etched in your memory, and other may be fresh and still healing.

We all, like the crowds in our gospel lesson today, would seek to touch Jesus and have him heal our troubles - immediately as well.

Many who came to hear him –

… a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon,

Jesus was drawing disciples but what he says next must have caused them to pause and wonder.

The Beatitudes

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!
23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

Hearing that might have caused them to pause and it might us as well.

The blessings of poverty, hunger and weeping and hate Christ says bring his Kingdom, satisfaction, laughing and rejoicing.

Good news for sure but not what a 13-year-old me would have wanted to hear as I stood bleeding and hurting by the long jump pit.

Christ here is speaking to earthly people, who have an earthly perspective, about a heavenly reality.

Let’s turn it around.

Blessed are you who have the Kingdom, for your poverty has been removed.
Blessed are you who are satisfied, for your hunger has been fed.
Blessed are you who laugh, for your tears have been wiped away.
Blessed are you when you rejoice and leap for joy at your reward in Heaven, for the hate, exclusion, and reviling of this world, has been overcome in Christ Jesus!

The eternal perspective of the word proclaims the reality of what is ours now in Christ.
Verse one from our opening hymn today Come unto Me, Ye Weary, speaks of that reality:

1 "Come unto Me, ye weary,
And I will give you rest."
O blessed voice of Jesus,
Which comes to hearts oppressed!
It tells of benediction,
Of pardon, grace, and peace,
Of joy that hath no ending,
Of love that cannot cease.

LSB 684 vs. 1

Jesus Pronounces Woes in this life as well.

24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.
“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

The earthly perspective as opposed to the eternal perspective are also quite telling as we look to what awaits those who lived well, apart from God’s love in this life.

Woe to you who seek consolation, your riches can’t buy you forgiveness!
Woe to you who seek the banquet feast, your seat at the table is for another!
Woe to you who weep, your laughter gives way now to tears!
Woe to you who misused God’s word, those who spoke well of you are now gnashing their teeth!

The gnashing of teeth is what awaits all in this life apart from Christ’s loving forgiveness and redemption.

At times we have our plate full and just as soon find ourselves in want in this sinful world.

We weep at the loss of someone so dear to us that we feel inconsolable only to find joy and comfort in the laughter of a child’s giggles like little children at the children’s message.

The riches of this life don’t condemn us, unless we place our trust and hope in them – shunning our Lord’s care.

When we are marked for hate and evil in this life, God continues to remind us that we are his and that not a one of us who trust in him will be lost.

So,

23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

I wish I had known that as I sat bleeding in pain from the cleats to my leg but that knowledge for me was still a few years off. Thankfully the Lord opened the eyes of my understanding and called me to joy and to prayer.

Verse 4 of our Come unto Me, Ye Weary:

4 "And whosoever cometh,
I will not cast him out."
O patient love of Jesus,
Which drives away our doubt,
Which, though we be unworthy
Of love so great and free,
Invites us very sinners
To come, dear Lord, to Thee!

LSB 684 vs. 4

Cut and bleeding, poor, hungry and weeping - this life can be hard.
Car accidents or cancer;
falls down stairs or Leukemia;
broken bones or estrangement from family members;
hateful and hurtful words or locked in isolation;

We all know these trials and feelings but in Christ the peace and comfort of heaven is your joy, comfort and reward in this life and in the life to come!

Because Christ became poor and humiliated himself to death, even death on a cross, the Kingdom God is yours
Because Christ was hungry after fasting 40 days and 40 nights, you are satisfied in him.
Because Christ wept at the death of Lazarus, you laugh that death is overcome in victory.
Because Christ was hated, and reviled for you, you have the reward of heaven that he won given to you by faith.

Rejoice dear friends, In Christ your reward is great!

Keep your eyes upon Jesus!

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen

Sermon Feb. 8-9, 2025

Title: God’s work, our reward!
Text: Luke 5:1-11

Facebook live: God’s work, our reward!

5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.

If you follow Jesus after he begins his ministry in the first chapters of Luke, what seems impressive to me is Jesus’ sense of purpose—always having someplace to go and something to do. He’s intent and focused on what he came to do with the ultimate focus on those for whom he came.

In the chapter before our text:

Jesus is tempted by Satan in the wilderness of Judea and Jesus is rejected by his hometown friends in Nazareth.

Then he goes to Capernaum and drives a demon out of a man; he heals Peter’s mother-in-law and numerous other people; and Luke tells us the people from Capernaum are so impressed that they want him to stay.

But Jesus declines and makes a statement right before our text today that indicates there’s a reason for all the activity. Jesus says,

“I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God in other places too, for that is why I was sent” Luke 4:43

The necessity of those words brings Jesus to the Sea of Galilee, looking for disciples. They are also the words that bring him to this place, Sunday after Sunday - here at Peace - calling you and me to gather here and forgiving our sins.

On this occasion we find one resident of Capernaum who is not so sure whether Jesus should stay.

The apostle Peter says, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

Those seem strange words for a man who’s just been given a boatful of fish after catching none the whole night, but they can’t keep Jesus from staying with Peter - because by his very nature - Jesus must call others to faith as well.

It is difficult to comprehend that God would desire to call people who may not be interested in him and are in fact his enemies.

But that’s exactly what we have in today’s reading.

Jesus is concerned about the large crowd of people pressing around him. In other places in Scripture, he says they remind him of sheep without a shepherd.

Here and elsewhere, Jesus’ response to their need is to teach them.
We might be tempted to wonder if Jesus could not have improved their immediate needs of money, health or life problems that they or we face.

Important as those things are, Jesus first takes care of the most important need—their need for him and an eternity that he provides.

That’s because Jesus knows that all people are caught in the net of their sins without him.

His concern is translated into action, and so he gets into Peter’s boat and puts out just a bit from the shore so he can teach the people.

Peter, of course, is included among those who are caught without Jesus.

Even though Jesus has already healed many people, including Peter’s mother-in-law, Peter and the other disciples were still trapped in the net of sin, as are all people.

Evidently Jesus’ identity may be starting to sink in for Peter, because he calls Jesus “Master,” and he is willing to obey his Lord and Master.

Now comes the fun part. The carpenter from Nazareth is about to give some professional fishing advice to fishermen.

Ignoring conventional wisdom this carpenter Jesus, tells the fisherman where to fish.

Put yourself in Peter’s place. You’re a fisherman, skilled in your trade.
You know that if the fish are going to run at all, it’s going to be at night.
You know that you don’t catch fish in deep water, but in shallower areas.
You respect Jesus—he’s a great healer, he speaks in a compelling manner.

But what does Jesus know about fishing?

Instead of saying,

“You stick to what you’re good at Jesus, and let me be the fishing expert” or “It’s absurd, a waste of time and a waste of energy,” or

“It doesn’t work that way!” Peter says,

5 … “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

Peter thinks he is the one who is going fishing. He doesn’t realize that the net of Jesus’ love has just surrounded another soul for his Father’s kingdom.

You know the rest of the story. Peter responds in faith, and he and his partners bring in more fish than they can handle.

The fishermen pull up their boats, leave everything, and follow Jesus.

If only we could pull up our nets of sin by faith and do the same!

That’s why Jesus was sent, not simply to do some miracles and impress people, but to catch people for the kingdom.
People like Peter and the disciples and the crowds and you and me can hear the Good News of having our sins forgiven and then follow him.

This is why Jesus was sent.
This is why Jesus was conceived.
This is why Jesus was born.
This is why Jesus suffered.
This is why Jesus was crucified, died, and rose again—to bring you the Good News of forgiveness.

Peter discovered that God’s plans for seeking others always include the efforts of his followers.
Sometimes God’s people just don’t seem interested in catching others.
Remember another fish incident in Scripture?

A man by the name of Jonah was running away from the Lord, not because he was preoccupied with his possessions but because he just didn’t want to get involved when God wanted him to preach to the Ninevites.

In a sense saying, “I don’t even like them Lord!”

After he repented, God used his witness to bring faith to an entire city. To all of us who have ever been “Jonah’s,” the word is clear:

Jesus calls us to, “Repent!” - to stop being afraid – to live as God’s redeemed because God, in Christ has forgiven you!

Now, he calls us to go forth into this world with the Gospel!

And as we return to Peter in our text, - he’s afraid to go fishing with Jesus for another reason:

He and Isaiah in our Old Testament Reading are overcome with fear because they realize they’ve just been in contact with the God of the universe, and they realize how far short they fall from his expectations.

8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

You and I must realize too - we’re in the same boat along with Peter, and we must respond along, with him:

“Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

The good news for today is that Jesus is also in the boat with us.

When it feels like your sins are about, to catch up with you and you wonder if God could love a person like you, he says, “Don’t be afraid. I want you to come fishing with me!”

This is love and acceptance, that the greatest fisherman in the world isn’t put off by your sins but continually calls you to repentance so that you can be with him, and do the same things he does.

When we realize that we have been accepted and surrounded by the net of Christ’s love, then our response of faith puts us in the same position as Peter ready to do whatever Jesus says and ready to go wherever he takes us.
Through these words, Jesus says to Peter and to you and me,

“Stop being afraid. I’ve forgiven your failures and your fears and all of your excuses. Now, join me in boat of life fishing for others.”

What a great way to be reminded that our loving and seeking God wants to use us to bring others into his net of love and care. What a joy to be sought by him, and what a privilege to go fishing with him.

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

Amen

Concordia pulpit - Rev. David N. Emmrich, campus pastor, Lutheran Student Fellowship, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota, Concordia Pulpit Feb. 1, 2001 edited

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen

Sermon Feb 1-2 2025

Title: My eyes have seen your salvation!
Text: Luke 2:22-32

Facebook live : My eyes have seen your salvation!

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;

30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”

What is Peace?

Is it the absence of war?
Only when we feel safe?
While thins go well for some others struggle.
At times, Peace can seem unobtainable.

Peace though, can take on the many different looks, both for young and old, from the baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, to the man Christ Jesus hanging on a cross crying out,

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

But there is both joy and true peace for all, in Christ’s sinless life and in his purifying death that allows all who depart this life, trusting in Christ Jesus as both savior and Lord, to receive eternal peace!

St. Luke writes in his gospel about Mary and Joseph bringing Jesus to the temple of the Lord to make a sacrifice as the Law required.

And while there a man named Simeon, who as we are told was righteous and devout and waiting for the consolation of Israel, or the comfort and peace of God, and we’re told that the Holy Spirit was upon him.

27 … and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;


30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”

The joy of seeing this child, this Jesus brought to fulfillment for Simeon what the Lord by the Holy Spirit had promised,

… that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

I’ve had a joyful time visiting with many members in their home, and in the hospital or care facilities, and bringing the Lord’s Supper to them as it was difficult for them getting to church on a regular basis.

Many would always tell me how much they enjoyed being in worship and wished they could be there with us again, but they are thankful well when they can attend and so enjoy receiving the Lord’s Supper in their home or hospital, when they can’t.

We can all see the effects of time in our lives as we look into the mirror each morning.

As much as we might all hope to have the blessings of a long life, as so many are blessed to do, the reality of death is real and sooner or later we will all answer the door when death knocks.

But also, we have comfort and peace because:

Death’s sting has been swallowed up in victory by our Lord Jesus Christ and His blessed work that frees us from the shackles of our fallen nature, that in and through Jesus Christ and his work, God and man have been reconciled.

As we together grieve the loss of our dear loved ones – as I visited last Saturday with my brother’s extended family at the loss of his brother-n-law who had passed away on vacation, and think about this frail existence we all inhabit here in this world, we can still have hope and peace.

At the time of death, struggles ensue.

Why now?
Why here?
Why me?

When Christ is not involved, peace is hard to come by.

I received this note in the mail about God’s blessings some years back. It was from Cindy Welch, Ed and Virginis Blasius’ daughter. It read:

You may not recognize my name as I've never had the pleasure of coming to a Peace Lutheran Church service. I did happen to be in town several times at Christmas and had the pleasure of hearing Christmas carols in the house from members of the congregation.

Ed and Virginia Blasius looked forward to special visits like those and your monthly visit to their home for an in-home service.

Mom and Dad are both in heaven and I miss them dearly. Today mom would have been 92 and in her honor, I would like to give a check. Thanks to all that made their lives a little brighter. I know how very much it was appreciated by mom and dad.

Our family was blessed to have you and your beautiful congregation in our lives.

Thank you
Cindy Welch

Saying in a sense.

Lord, now you are letting my parents depart in peace,

according to your word; for their eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples …

At the time of death, the Lord can bring comfort and peace, even for the well-known and adored in life like the famous basketball player, Kobe Bryant who died so tragically.

Fr. David Barnes wrote this in the aftermath of his death:

"As sad as Kobe’s death is, a friend texted me today to tell me that a friend of hers attends the same Catholic Church as Kobe and saw him this morning at Mass. There can be nothing more consoling to those who mourn than to know that a loved one worshipped God right before his death because worshipping God is what heaven is.”

- Fr. David Barnes

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,

according to your word;

Comfort and peace, is what Ed and Virginia Blasius knew. It is also what so many of our dear members knew and continue to know, and it is what Kobe Bryant knew.

That Christ had come to rescue him and you and I can know that as well and have peace.

Comfort and peace know the joy of Christ Jesus in each of our lives by God’s grace and mercy, through his Word and Spirit.

Comfort and peace, is being called to follow Christ by God’s Holy Spirit who indwells all believers, and is called the comforter even by Jesus himself.

For Jesus says:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Dear friends, you too have access to real peace.

The father through Christ Jesus our Lord, has came to live, suffer, die and rise again for you and me and all who he gives true peace –

found only in His saving arms that were outstretched upon the cross as He gave up His life for you.

Because of Christ’s purifying death he allows you too, to depart in peace!

So when the trials of life burden you, and the storms of life rage, and when even death is near, rest in the peace of Christ no matter the storms of life.

Because, true peace rests in the loving arms of Jesus, the savior of the world, who reminds us in John’s gospel the wonderful comfort that we can all know:

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30)

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen