Sermon November 1-2, 2025 - All Saints’ Day

Title: Washed in the blood of Christ!
Text: Rev 7:9-17

Facebook live: Washed in the blood of Christ!

13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

For me as a pastor, All Saints Day is a special day, as I think about all those who I’ve had the privilege to know and serve.

In my daily life too, I like you, have had my share of loss with loved ones, whether it was my mom or dad, grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles, friends and neighbors. It is never easy.

Loss puts a period at the end of life saying:

“No more will you and I interact together in this life!”

And while the daily interactions have ended, and though we miss those phone calls, visits, and celebrations together, the promise for reunion is and remains for you and me a future reality, as we wait for our own time of departure from this veil of tears.

3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us that we should be called children of God; and so, we are. 1 John 3:1

As God’s children we have put on Christ, being buried with him in baptism and having washed our robes white in the blood of the lamb.

We therefore are pictured and included with those who as a great innumerable multitude, from every nation, tribe, people and language - clothed in white robes – worship the Lamb!

10 crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

The palm branches are real too, and so is the promise of your presence there with the heavenly throng!

For now though, it remains a Yes, but not yet.

2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he [Jesus] appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

The promise is ours, but not yet fully realized, and the promise is sure and true, so you and I can have full confidence in God and his word.
Just as Christ Jesus came in the form of human flesh to redeem all flesh, so to his words to the crowd, who went up on the mountain to hear are our words to hear as well.

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matt. 5:11-12

Your reward is great in heaven because you are washed in the blood of Christ!

I’d like to tell you about one Saint here at Peace that you won’t know, but will know as a dear friend one day.

Carolyn Wilson came into my life as I was leaving the house of Walt and Lucille Richley.

My phone rang as I was beginning to drive away and it was Pastor Jim Vandellen, retired pastor from Good Shepherd, Lake Orion. He called to see if I could visit a former member of his who lived in Waterford, was home bound, had transferred to St. Stephens and had fallen through the cracks. She had no one visiting her and had not received the Lord’s Supper for a few years.

I told him that I would be happy to put her on my call list. We hung up and I called her and set up a visit.

Carolyn had grown up in the church and also played the organ in her home church in San Francisco where she grew up. She married her husband Rick, had three daughters and quite a number of grandchildren.

I first knew of Carolyn and Rick when Rick was a Director of Christian Education at St. John in Rochester and where their girls grew up.

When I reconnected with Carolyn, she was living alone in Waterford, her husband had passed away and the girls married and out of the house.

We visited together for probably 5 years, monthly. Her health wasn’t good but her spirit and conversation thrived as we talked and she loved to retell stories from her past growing up in San Francisco.

Earlier this year she was moved to a care facility as her health declined. He daughter, Sarah kept me appraised of her health concerns. I continued to visit her. She passed away on February 15th of this year. She was 72. Her family declined to have a service.

That was heartbreaking for me but her eternal home is not dependent on what I do here, but on what Christ has done. She is resting in Jesus!

As a pastor of Christ’s flock here at Peace, I am given to the care of souls as an under shepherd of the Good Shepherd.

The good Shepherd is Jesus and he is our savior and our hope.

In him we find comfort and peace and as pastor I hope to bring that same peace to others in need in this broken world.

The hope that is Christ was my joy and privilege to bring to Carolyn in her home and to all who are given to my care, shut in or at hospital, or gathered here to hear this blessed comfort and good news that is Christ Jesus and his forgiveness.

Like Jesus upon hearing of the death of Lazarus - I too wept at the hearing of Carolyn’s death. Not being able to have a service, I felt loss and in a sense no closure.

Death can do that for we who remain.
Revelations heavenly picture continues:

13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Being brought to faith in Baptism makes you part of this great number from every nation, tribe, people and language.

That was the good news for those early believers too. They knew that this Jesus who had died on the cross was the same one who had risen from the dead and had been taken up to heaven and was the same Jesus who said:

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:3

Dear friends, Carolyn Wilson and the many other family, friends, and Peace members, who have trusted in Jesus, have the eternity promised, just as you and I do.

We honor their memory this day and the memories of all the saints who from their labors rest, but more importantly we are honored by our loving heavenly Father who has brought us all into relationship with him through the life, death, and resurrection of his beloved Son, Jesus.

So, we remember those who have departed this life this year and rest in the care of Jesus:

Kathy Thompson, Carolyn Wilson, Mark Bunarek, Doris Mausling, Don Dekeyser, Rick Heinz and former pastor here at Peace, the Rev. Darowin Cordes.

15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.

17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Behold, you are part of that great multitude that no one can number! Rev. 7:9

As we come to the Lord’s Table today, in fellowship and communion, we receive a foretaste of the Kingdom of God promised and the reality of forgiveness in a real and tangible way.

This gift of Christ Jesus is given and shed for you!
Your place at the table is secure!
In Christ, dear friends, this is most certainly true!

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

Sermon October 25-26, 2025 - Reformation

Title: The truth of the gospel is free!
Text: John 8:31-36

Facebook live: The truth of the gospel is free!

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Freedom is what we celebrate today!

The freedom of the Gospel message; and we continue together with the whole church of God around the world to proclaim that blessed truth to reach the lost and to strengthen the saved with this same blessed good news, that Martin Luther found in the word and what we celebrate today!

Jesus tells the believing Jews in our Gospel today who had been following Him that:

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.”

To be a disciple is to be a follower of Christ.

One who is connected to God’s very words and who abides in them, is one who accepts and acts in accordance with the word of God. Though understandably in our sinful flesh and fallen condition.

In our Gospel reading for today Jesus tells the Jews and you and me as well:

32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

This freedom and liberty of the gospel is what Luther searched for and why he became a monk – thinking that being locked inside the walls of a monastery, devoting himself to fasting, long hours in prayer, pilgrimages, and frequent confession and absolution would keep him away from sin and the power of the devil that plagued him.

Saying:

"If anyone could have gained heaven as a monk, then I would certainly have done so." He described this period of his life as one of deep spiritual despair.

Saying:

"I lost touch with Christ the Savior and Comforter, and made of him the jailer and hangman of my poor soul."

But later he found peace in the words of Romans 5:1 which reads:

5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Have you felt closed in by the walls of sin?

Have you or have your loved ones fled or stayed away from the blessings and peace found only in Christ and his gifts given in word and sacrament?

Are you burdened by the Law and a slave to sin?

33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

Martin Luther writes:

“Discipleship is not limited to what you can comprehend--it must transcend all comprehension.”

and continues:

Thus Abraham trusted himself to (God’s) knowledge, and cared not for his own, and thus he took the right road and came to his journey's end.

Behold, that end is the way of the cross.
You cannot find it yourself,
You must let (God) lead you as though you were a blind man.

It is not you, no man, (and) no living creature, but (Christ) Himself, who instructs you by word and Spirit in the way you should go.

Not the work which you choose,
Not the suffering you devise,

but the road which is contrary and against all that you choose or contrive or desire--that is the road you must take.

To that, (Christ) calls you and me saying you must be my disciple.”

― Martin Luther

The word saying in essence:

Hear me!
Listen to me!
Abide in me!
Follow me!
Be my disciple!

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

The truth is we are all bound to sin and its cravings.

We desire to do the will of our sinful nature which is in opposition to God’s will and as a result you and I fall short daily.

The world says, “Deep down he is really a good person” - when the truth is: the deeper down we go the worse it gets.

The more you get to the core of who we are in our fallen human condition the more you see the sinfulness of man, broken and corrupted to the core, from the beginning by our first parents Adam and Eve.

But Jesus reminds His hearers:
To Listen to him! Saying:

35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

The freedom for the sinner is found only in Jesus!
That was the joy that Luther found and what we celebrate in the Reformation.

In Christ, true freedom from sin is possible and true liberty for we who are bound with the chains of guilt and despair is broken.

Christ has set free those who could not free themselves by his own binding.

The binding of His flesh to the cross in your place
The shedding of His blood for the forgiveness of your sin
A death worthy of a criminal for you and I who are guilty, and the burial in a tomb - meant for another …

In Jesus’ case … Joseph of Arimathea, for it was his tomb where Jesus was laid.

But, that tomb, and that death … WAS meant for you and me!
Jesus took your place,
He took your cross,
He took your death,

And He took your tomb and He made them what you couldn't …
Life, freedom, liberty, salvation and forgiveness.

Salvation is all of God and not of man.
That is the message of the Reformation.

Luther restored the gospel truths about Christ and His merits that had been lost, once again shinning the light of the gospel on Christ’s work, for you!

Because Jesus came to live, suffer, die and rise again for you …
Because of Christ and His merits …
Because the Son has set you free … you are free indeed!

May the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be and abide with you now and forever.

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

Amen

Sermon October 18-19, 2025

Title: Pray without ceasing
Text: Luke 18:1-8

Facebook live:  Pray without ceasing

18 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

If I asked the question: Is it easy to pray?

You might answer:

It’s easy to pray in the hour of need but hard in the hour of plenty.
It’s easy to pray in the hour of sickness but hard in the hour of health.
It’s easy to pray in the hour of distress but hard in the hour of peace.
It’s easy to pray in the hour of sadness but it is hard in the hour of joy.
It’s easy to pray in the hour of death but hard in the hour of life.

Prayer is not a switch we turn on in need and forget about at other times.
Prayer, is that talk with God which we need every single moment of our lives.

Jesus tells us this parable of the widow and the judge.

2 … “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.

The parable is so simple. Yet the truth is profound. Jesus tells of a judge in a city who did not trust in God or did not even regard man.

He was a man who only cared for himself and not for the people.
He was a selfish man. He wanted to do his work the easiest way possible.

Jesus, also tells of another person in the city.

3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to this judge saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

She was a poor widow.
She had no one to defend her and her husband was dead.
She seemingly had no family or loved ones that cared.

If she was like the other widows of her day, she would have depended on others for her support. Now, this widow had a problem, someone had placed a suit against her. She needed someone to defend her against the accuser.

She went to the judge for help.
And she pleads with him, defend me against my accuser.
The judge looked at her, she was poor she had nothing to offer him.
What would be the use of doing it? So, he refused the widow.

However, she would not take no for an answer.

She continually pleaded with him and it bothered him.
He did not want to be bothered with her, yet she continually did.
He finally, had enough and agreed to help her.

It was not because of love and concern for the woman.
It was only because he thought more of himself and did not want to be bothered by her.

He truly did not regard the God who had given him out of love the power to help this widow.

He truly did not regard the widow whom he should have loved as himself yet, he helped her because of her continual pleading.

Jesus then applies this for his hearers and you and me saying:

6 … “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you; he will give justice to them speedily.

Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?

The parable is so simple yet the truth is profound!

Notice the comparison that Christ is presenting to us.
The judge does not fear God or honor man.
The widow needs help and just keeps coming.

The widow in the parable is the Sinner.

That is, you and me, and she had nothing to offer to this unrighteous judge that would convince him to help her, but by her pleading, or prayers.

So too we sinners, before our God have nothing to offer him that should make him want to answer us and our prayers - we are sinners who have constantly disobeyed him and fallen short.

That should not make him want to hear us if we only pray in the hour of need or trouble or sickness or distress, instead of talking to him constantly, he could say to us:

“You think I am only good enough for you in the hour of need?
God away and don’t bother me!”

But he doesn’t do that; Why?

Because he is different than the unrighteous judge of the parable.

He is a God of love and mercy.
He is a God, who looks with compassion on all those who call on him.
He does not regard us according to our sins, but according to our faith in his son our Lord, Jesus Christ!
He says, call on me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee and you shall glorify me.
He is the God who says to us even as sinners,

Keep on asking and it'll be given until you.
Keep knocking, and it'll be opened to you.

For he who asks will receive, and he who seeks will find, and to him who knocks the door will be opened unto him.

He's a God to defend us speedily as we pray.

Our wonderful God, whom we approach in the hour of need is such a marvelous God who reveals his concern for us that even while we were sinners, he died for you and me.

And just like the little children know we know too; Having made us his in the waters of Holy Baptism, he keeps us as his children through the hearing of his word and receiving his gifts.

He compels us to call on him:

Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name …

He wants us to be dependent on him.
He wants us to call on him constantly.
He wants us, to be in constant prayer.
He wants to bring us closer to him!

So as dear children we need to come to our dear father often.

We need to pray as if each moment is our last.

If we only pray in the hour of need or distress or sickness or trouble, then we are only using God like medicine, that we run to in a time of need.

But he's a God who continually wants to be,

Our father - today tomorrow, and forever.

He wants us to realize that we need him every moment of our lives for we do not know when the last day will come.

Jesus says it so clearly:
Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Faith is the gift! Our hope in him is his work in us!

So, as his dear children, call on him at all times,

Not only in bad times, but in good times as well.
Not only in times of sickness, but in times of health.
Not only in the hour of sin, but also in the hour of forgiveness.
Not only in youth but also in old age.
Not only in life but in death.

God calls us to pray continually and not to be weary because he wants us as his child, to ask without ceasing, and to be found full of faith so that we may know he hears and will answer us.

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

Amen

Concordia Pulpit Rev. Ralph F. Fischer 1976 Modified

Sermon October 11-12, 2025

Title: The word of God, lives! 

Text: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

Facebook live: The word of God, lives!

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Two men had an argument. To settle the matter, they went to a judge for arbitration. The plaintiff made his case. He was very eloquent and persuasive in his reasoning. When he finished, the judge nodded in approval and said, "That's right, that's right."

On hearing this, the defendant jumped up and said, "Wait a second, judge, you haven't even heard my side of the case yet." So, the judge told the defendant to state his case. And he, too, was very persuasive and eloquent. When he finished, the judge said, "That's right, that's right."

When the clerk of court heard this, he jumped up and said, "Judge, they both can't be right." The judge looked at the clerk of court and said, "That's right, that's right."

Roger von Oech, Ph.D., A Whack on the Side of the Head, Warner Books, 1983, p. 23.

Truth is Truth! "That's right, that's right."

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

In a recent poll, light is shed on the paradox of religion vs. morality, or God’s truth vs. our actions and how we live.

In the poll, 81% of the American people agree that:

"An individual should arrive at his or her own religious belief independent of any church or synagogue."

Believing that truth is determined apart from God’s word and teaching.

81%!

This interesting thought is key and can help maybe us understand the paradox that many - who claim to be Christians - are arriving at faith on their own terms, and these terms that make no demands … on behavior … or Christian values.

Charles Colson, Against the Night, p. 98.

The apostle Paul tells Timothy and us:

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Truth - when it is God’s word - is Truth!

At times life and society tell us what truth is to be believed – whether marriage is between a man and a woman, or whether we can celebrate this gift from God in any way we choose. Whether even,

27… God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply Gen. 1:27-28a

These words were just proclaimed at the wedding of Bonnie and Dan Trylch.

Today even gender is no longer a physical determination of male and female but a psychological determination as many see fit - and society in its many forms and in many ways, has bought into that truth.

How someone sees themselves, or feels about themselves, becomes the determining truth or reality.

An interesting video that I saw on line has a white man of about 30 years of age and around 5’-8” in height on a college campus asking students what they would say if he told them that he is 6’-4” tall.

Most smile a bit and say: “Well who am I to disagree with your truth. If you see yourself as 6’-4” than I guess you are 6’-4”."

When he pushed it further and asked how they might react to him being 6’-4” and Chinese they smile and roll their eyes and say: “If that is your reality then who am I to argue against you?”

Finally, when he claimed to be a 6”-4” Chine woman, one student said: “Oh come on!”

You see, if you don’t believe and trust God’s word: Then truth is determined by the reality of the individual. If we believe that the child in the womb is just a bunch of cells, then removing them is no different than removing a tumor that is benign or cancerous.

If you don’t believe and trust God’s word: Then there are many paths to the Father as some claim, and Jesus is not the savior of the world and the only way to the father that he claimed to be.

If you don’t believe and trust God’s word: Then you might be a pretty good person, from your perspective, and not dead in trespass and sin as Paul writes - the truth of our condition in Ephesians 2.

If you don’t believe and trust God’s word: Then everlasting life is given to all, apart from faith in Christ, and the death of Jesus Christ was unnecessary and accomplished nothing.

If you don’t believe and trust God’s word: Then the rich man from our lesson a few weeks ago was not in torment in hell, and he could have easily gone from death to life eternal just by changing his truth and reality.

If you don’t believe and trust God’s word: Then Jesus didn’t really rise from the dead and you are still dead in trespass and sin.

But truth is truth … when it is God’s word …

That is what Paul keeps telling young Pastor Timothy:

Preach the Word!

4 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

As Christians we have the truth and we know this by God’s gift of faith alone.

Jesus prays for his disciples in his high priestly prayer of John 17 when he prays to the Father:

14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world,

Dear friends we’re here for the duration.

but that you keep them from the evil one [from sin, death and the power of the devil]. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them [or keep them holy and set apart from the world] in the truth;

Your word is truth!

We are kept in the truth, as we gather together to hear the truth of God’s word, as we receive the gift of forgiveness of sins in our Lord’s word and sacraments and then we go forth joyfully with that same word of comfort and peace to seek those who remain dead in trespass and sin.

For St. Timothy and for you and me, the road remains the same as Paul reminds him:

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,

4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths

or lies of the evil one as the time now shows.

5 As for you, as it was for Timothy, always be sober-minded,

Clear headed and knowing that the truth of the word, is truth

endure suffering,

that is the reality for all who believe
do the work of an evangelist,

preach the word and comfort those in need the truth you have been comforted with …

fulfill your ministry.

That is the work dear friends!

Truth is Truth! "That's right, that's right."

We have been blessed by faith in God’s truth, may we all by that same faith, be steadfast in receiving God word always as truth now and always.

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

Amen

Sermon October 4-5, 2025

Title: Repentance and forgiveness are yours!

Text: Luke 17:1-10

Facebook live: Repentance and forgiveness are yours!

3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Sermon September 27-28, 2025

Title: Comforted by the word of Jesus!
Text: Luke 16:19-31

Facebook live: Comforted by the word of Jesus!

29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Jesus ends our gospel for today with an important truth:

‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’

The reality of faith and life and eternal life as we understand it - as a gift given - is presented here in clarity by our Lord. No one comes to this knowledge on their own, and no matter your status in this life and the blessings you’ve received, you can’t attain what is unattainable through human means.

As we end this section of Jesus’ teaching over the last few weeks on lost and found and how you can become blind of the true riches made available in Christ, we see here the profound contrast of wealth and poverty, good and bad, life and death, in the lives and death of the rich man and Lazarus.

It has been said over the years that the gospel reading doesn’t say, “and he told them a parable.” But simply:

19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table.

So, whether it’s a story with a greater truth, or a truth contained in a real story, it remains the same; there is either prepared an eternity that Jesus says is in God’s presence, or separated from God in torment.

It is a reality that is hard to hear, especially for the Pharisees who have been described as “Lovers of money” - from Jesus’ own mouth, and had just heard from him in our lesson from last week about a dishonest manager who had not been looking out for his master’s possessions – saying:

You are those who justify yourselves before men.

The contrast of the haves and the have nots is clear here though not expected for the self-justified Pharisees.

The rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.

The Pharisees – understanding this image of those who have and are lovers of money, and know the cost of wealth. The purple fabric of kings was not easily obtained. In 2021:

[Archaeologists, uncovered rare fragments of 3,000-year-old textiles stained purple — a color considered the height of royal fashion at the time — in southern Israel.

Radiocarbon dating of the fabrics revealed that they were woven around 1000 B.C., placing them in the time of the biblical kings David and Solomon.

The dye used to stain the fabrics was made from mollusks found hundreds of miles away in the Mediterranean and was extremely valuable as a result.

"For the first time, we have direct evidence of the dyed fabrics themselves, preserved for some 3,000 years," Naama Sukenik, curator of organic finds at the Israel Antiquities Authority, said.

The purple textiles were uncovered at a place called Slaves' Hill, which was home to highly skilled metalworkers.]

https://www.livescience.com/rare-purple-textiles-discovered-israel.html

It is always interesting how archeology confirms in some way the truths – even simple fabric truths – found in the Bible.

Now contrast that with:

… a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table.

Lazarus - represents the outcasts in Jewish society, and are those without the need or means for anything purple and simply desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table.

No archeology needed here, though the term Slaves’ Hill gives us a glimpse of the plight of the have nots throughout history and the archeological evidence confirms that truth as well.

Blessings in this life is not a sign of eternal reward and needs in this life do not determine one’s value.

We see this reality played out as this story from Jesus unfolds.

Death comes to the rich and poor alike. One has blessings and one curse but the reality is different than what we might expect from a worldly point of view and this is not lost on the Pharisees.

The rich man is cast into eternal torment and the poor man names Lazarus to Abrahams side.

I find it interesting that the poor man is named, which for me is maybe a nod to having our names written in the Lamb’s book of life, while those cast into outer darkness hear:

23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Those in the Lord’s presence are known by name and those cast out are unknown – forever.

The story continues.

22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’

Lazarus: carried by angels to Abraham’s side.
The Rich man: in Hades and in torment.

Eternal bliss contrasted with eternal torment.

Even in the hopelessness of Hell we see from the rich man no repentance.

Monica and I had a party at our house many years ago and our daughter Amy, when she was 3 was in her room and ae had a child’s gate at the door. She stood at the gate, holding the bars like in prison, crying out:

“Let me out! I’ll be good!” – A type of repentance for what she had not been good, I guess.

The Rich man has no similar call. He simply calls for Lazarus to serve him, to come and to dip his finger in the water, cooling his tongue.

Riches and status may still be on his mind, but circumstances have changed.

There is a great chasm, that has been fixed.

There is no way to bring together that which has been lost.

The eternal reality is set and fixed by deaths call, with no hope, no repentance, and no peace for those who are rich in their own self-righteousness and cast out.

His cry to Father Abraham indicates this was no ordinary unbeliever, but one who called Abraham his father – a most sad reality.

25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.

Here, a ‘Child’ of the kingdom finds himself cast away with no hope and in anguish.

The story could end there. But the rich man has one more concern. Relegating himself to his own condition he turns his plea to his family, crying:

‘Then I beg you, father, to send Lazarus to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’

The eternal reality ignored in life is now a priority. If someone rises from the dead, they will understand and believe!

This is contrast to Abraham’s strong words:

29 … They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’

The irony in the story and the rising from the dead of Jesus, who is and who was and who is to come continues to be a stumbling block in a sinful world.

Take the time to know him. First in the word of God, read and keep it close. Moses and the Prophets, illumined on the mount of Transfiguration with Jesus between, Moses and Elijah where the Father says:

“This is my Son my Chosen One; listen to him!”

And listening and learning through the word, tell other the Good News of a savior in Jesus who is the way the truth and the life, eternal!

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

Amen

Sermon September 20-21, 2025

Title: The true riches are yours!
Text: Luke 16:1-15

Facebook live: The true riches are yours!

13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. 15 And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

In our lesson today, Jesus brings to the ears of the disciples, and all his followers, a parable or story which illustrates serving God and money.

The previous parables, from the weeks leading up to this, had been directed to the Pharisees, the teachers of the law and the scribes, and now the disciples too would benefit from the Lord’s words.

How do you deal with a bad manager? Especially one, who has not been looking out for the owner’s best interest?
2 And [the owner] called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’

It is not an uncommon situation for many who serve in positions of responsibility.

As Pastor’s we are called stewards of the mysteries of God. We are called to faithfully divide the word of truth, to preach both the Law and the Gospel, and to administer God’s sacraments rightly.

As managers, in companies, you are given the responsibility of managing someone else’s money and possessions and you have to deal in a favorable way with it … or as the parable says … be replaced.

Or, as my brother-n-law Mark once said in speaking of a co-worker:

“He would make a great manager, if under constant supervision.”

So in the Gospel lesson much conniving and cooking of the books ensue.

Managers at time try to figure out a solution.

4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may [still think well of me] receive me into their houses.’

For managers and for us all, self-preservation is a strong motivator. What can we do in this life to better our situation or to preserve ourselves against bad business decisions or circumstances?

5 …, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
6 … ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ … sit down quickly and write fifty.’
7 … ‘And how much do you owe?’ …, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’

The object for the manager was to do damage control.

With this scheme the shortage would disappear, or the income would look to be much smaller than the owner thought. And if he is found out, the customers would still think well of him.

It has even been suggested that the manager had falsified the amounts in the original billings and pocketed the surplus.

Certainly this is not out of the realm of possibilities.

Popular Commentary on the Bible P.E. Kretzmann Pg. 354

At a meeting I attended many years ago it was made known that a co-worker had defrauded the company. He had sold instruments for the company but kept the trade-ins for himself and sold them for his own profit.

The company was unaware of the trade-ins, as the manager’s paperwork showed only a cash transaction with no trade in information listed.

The manager personally picked up the trade-in instruments, the customers thought they got value for their trades in their purchase, and then the manager sold them out of his garage – to other customers.

The company lost the profit on the trades and future company business.
The manager made some money being very shrewd.

Faced with a financial crisis many are clever though dishonest in solving problems.

Even the master in our lesson, when he received information concerning this latest trick of the manager, could not withhold a certain amount of praise.

He praised him, not on account of his unfaithfulness and his fraud, but on account of the cleverness in handling the situation and getting himself out of a very unpleasant predicament in this life.

Popular Commentary on the Bible P.E. Kretzmann Pg. 354

There was a saying that my boss told me many years ago. It was said about those who had paper wealth by speculating in internet stocks. He would say:

“Money easily gotten is money easily lost.”

10 “One who is faithful in little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in little is also dishonest in much.

Now, the world makes provision for the future, that is, they look to put themselves and their families beyond care, as soon as possible, it is the focus of their life and they make use of every possible advantage through: retirement investments, pensions, savings accounts , homes, and 401K and IRA investments to name a few.

Maybe after hearing them on the radio, we’ve all thought to call on the Investment firms that advertise to look over our money to make sure we are cared for in retirement - and to get the most out of our investments and social security.

Unfortunately, God’s children on the other hand, often are anything but energetic and diligent in the things that pertain to God and His kingdom.

We forget that death is real and the end is coming - Sometimes much sooner than we’ve expected - still we’ll all give an account to the Lord in regard to our work with the gospel for Him – in this life.

Jesus here admonishes them that they should so conduct their lives, and the money entrusted to them and as Christians: should use their money and time in the interest of the kingdom of God, in establishing and extending the Church of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

Kretzmann

I’ve said it before but it bears repeating - when God calls us to give of our Time, Talent and Treasure he doesn’t mean to pick one and forget about the others but to use all of our means to his glory and we get to decide how much of each we’ll give.

12 [But] if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

continued …

Interestingly, my boss’ son who mediated the affair of our dishonest manager at a meeting with all the managers of the company, had compassion on the worker and showing him, mercy allowed him to remain with the company, though under supervision of another manager, as he had a wife and two small children.

My boss wanted to still be kind to his family.

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

God in Christ, has given us life through the death of His son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to live suffer and die and rise again for you and for me.

This bears fruit in service to our neighbor - not by works of righteousness that we do, but by true joy in Jesus Christ our Lord.

We can joy in the faith we are given as a gift as children of God knowing that all mercy falls under His control and that he uses you and me as his hands and feet in the world to reach the lost with the comfort of the Gospel message.

You are rich and truly bless because God has given you riches in Him and they will surpass and far exceed those promised by the world.

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

Amen