Sermon June 16-17, 2012

Title: Christ takes seed in you and grows His kingdom!

Text: Mark 4: 30-32 (ESV)

30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

Dear friends,

There is a scene in the 1989 movie, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where nearing the end of his quest, Indiana, reaches an opening in a cliff but for him to continue on he must take a leap of faith to reach the other side.

As he looks out at what is before him he sees a chasm below that is seriously deep and a distance way too far for him to reach or jump to on the other side. He has followed the directions in a book his father has given him. He faces a dilemma. What to do?

Finally as the scene climaxes and sweat pours off his face, he raises his leg and stepping out in faith walks off the face of the cliff. His foot lands on a solid bridge that was invisible to his sight. From his viewpoint there was no way to the other side. What we are shown as he continues across is that the perspective of the cliff face, on the other side, concealed the bridge that was there right in front of him. In his leap of faith … perspective is everything.

So too in our lesson for today … Jesus had been sharing with His disciples the truth about the Kingdom of God and using parables to explain their meaning. Jesus talked about seed and the sewing of the seed and how it took root and grew or didn’t depending on the soil where it landed.

And we read in Mark Chapter 4 starting at the 4th verse:

4 Some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty fold and sixty fold and a hundredfold.”

The good soil produces an increase … growing … 30 … 60 and even 100 times the amount of seed that was planted!

The Gospel message proclaimed and by the working of the Holy Spirit …

Christ takes seed in you and grows His kingdom!

Jesus speaks of the kingdom of God in our text today, as if a man should scatter seed. The image is vivid in our minds … at this time of year as we plant gardens or take vacations … driving around the state and seeing the many farms and farmers planting seed in the ground … expecting a yield come harvest time.

At the time of our Lord’s lesson in the Gospel reading for today, the blessing that we know of running water, at the turn of the tap, and hoses that get the water to the plant … was far off in the distant future. And so the man …… who had sown seed, sleeps and rises … night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; …the earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

29 …But, when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Jesus continues to speak in our Gospel lesson today about the kingdom of God, using the parable of the mustard seed … a seed so small that when it is sown, into the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth … 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

God’s kingdom grows when and where He wills because:

Christ takes seed in you and grows His kingdom!

The leap of faith that was taken in the fictitious movie by Indiana Jones was staged and it was achieved by sleight of hand and movie magic … but the reality of the powerful tool of the Gospel given in word and sacrament to you by faith is still for some … no big deal.

Even here in church the seed of the word is scattered and falls upon different soil. Some falls on the path … being left where it fell for the birds to find, some on the rocky soil and it sprouts quickly in the service but upon leaving church is scorched by the sun and the cares of the day. Other seed falls among the thorns, which can be those of you who really don’t want to be here and grudgingly come, but the word gets choked and yields no grain. But, some seed falls on good soil and with you the seed of the word takes root; it sprouts and grows – very slowly at times. But, with joy you leave here, sharing the word and the love of Christ producing a yield of 30, 60 or even 100 times!

For others … You might come to church or choose not to. You might have opportunities to tell someone outside this church about Jesus … and forget to. You might even fail to recognize the true body and blood of our Lord in the Sacrament of Holy Communion … and even at times and feel like you are … well … like the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.

You might feel that what you say won’t matter or that what you say won’t have the eloquence of speech of others or that what you say concerning Christ … won’t work to expand God’s kingdom. The doubts you feel … many feel. But Jesus tells you in this parable that God will take your imperfect speech, He will take even the slightest and smallest witness … through your failed stuttering and muttering about Christ and His saving work and grow His kingdom 30, 60 and even 100 times. The word which has been sown will not return void!

We read in Isaiah Chapter 55

11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Just like the tiny mustard seed … which seems at the beginning …so insignificant … God will grow this seed to unbelievable dimensions over time so that the riches of Christ reach so far out that even those that don’t want to come to church and those that don’t want to hear the message of salvation will be transformed through the word by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Christ takes seed in you and grows His kingdom!

The word of God is power. We’re told in Romans 1, by the apostle Paul:

…For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. (Rom 1:16)

I’d like to tell you a story to illustrate my point:

(Silence)

You see … the story about Christ and His saving work can’t be heard … if no one tells the story. If you think that someone else, better than you, will come along to tell the story later … all that may be heard by your friend, neighbor or relative is silence. The word of God is the power and the seed that is sewn unto salvation for those that need to hear the Gospel, and by this power – God - will transform hearts and grow his kingdom now and for eternity. Sometimes it is a very slow growth but understand God is working and His church is growing.

I’m not sure if you noticed, but we have plenty of room here at church in this service and have been on a downward trend these last 10 years. It’s time to sew the seed of the word and trust that God will use the smallest, slightest and weakest witness about Himself to grow His kingdom. He will bring the truth about Jesus by the working of the Holy Spirit and plant, in the lives of others, the seed of the word and grow the church to unbelievable yields. He gives you the power to change lives … by His word and through the power of the Holy Spirit, as a fellow builder of the kingdom of God.

There is a poem that poses a question we all need to ask ourselves. It’s called Builders and Wreckers. As you listen to this poem consider the work of God and the tiny mustard seed and what can be done by the power of the God’s Spirit in the lives of those who build the kingdom through our failed abilities and efforts … by God’s word.

Builders and Wreckers

As I watched them tear a building down
A gang of men in a busy town
With a ho-heave-ho, and a lusty yell
They swung a beam and the side wall fell

I asked the foreman, "Are these men skilled,
And the men you'd hire if you’d want to build?"
He gave a laugh and said, "No, indeed,
Just common labor’s all I need."

"I can easily wreck in a day or two,
What builders take many years to do."
And I thought to myself, as I went my way
What about me, which role do I play?

Am I a builder who works with care,
Measuring life by the rule and square?
Am I shaping my work as best I can
And patiently sharing the Master’s plan?

Or, am I a wrecker who walks to town
…Content with only tearing down?
"O Lord let my life and my labors be
God’s work, built up for eternity!"
Author Unknown

Friend’s, the power of the gospel will build the kingdom of God. Through the weakest of speech and the slightest of skill, the power of God will use even your smallest of efforts, in proclaiming Christ to a dying world, to do His will and bring His people to faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Those that are bound in this life to sin, death and the devil are set free by the power of the Gospel message and believe. The kingdom of God is found only in Christ and His saving Gospel which is the Good News and the message of salvation for everyone who believes.

Christ takes seed in you and grows His kingdom!

God comfort you with this truth now and forever!

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

Amen

My Great Lakes Banjo is finished. Thanks to Mark Zimmerman who replaced the finger board, inlay, frets and binding and did the set up and Randy Costew who finished the resonator and neck, I have a newly restored Great Lakes Special Banjo built in 1977!

LC-MS President, Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, enjoying my Great Lakes banjo at the Pastor's conference in Frankenmuth, Michigan.   May 15, 2012.

Sermon June 2-3, 2012

Title: The fullness of the Godhead in Christ!

Text: John 3:16-17 (ESV)

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Dear friends,

I think that in these difficult times that we live, there is a word that is heard quite often … it’s called diversity.  We are also encouraged by society to embrace diversity or be looked upon as narrow minded and self absorbed individuals. Well, for all of us diverse individuals here, we must ask the question: What is diversity?

Diversity can be defined as:

Of being composed of differing things, and especially the inclusion of different types of people as people of different races or cultures.

We are at the same time, called on to be unique.

Unique can be defined in this way:

To be the only one … or … being without something equal to or quite like … you for instance. Sometimes a person can be called unequaled or unparalleled which can mean to have distinctive characteristics that makes you unique in a way, or the only one.

It is always a unique and diverse experience to preach on Trinity Sunday and to try to bring to our understanding God’s word and the concept and nature of God, presented in the writings of Holy Scripture. It is a job, to say the least, that is utterly … inscrutable! And, with the Trinity, this simply means … that it is difficult to understand and that it is something really hard to figure out!

But God has made a way and we will look a bit closer at His way for us to grasp and understand the Trinity because God has given us:

The fullness of the Godhead in Christ!

In our Gospel lesson today we read the very familiar story of Jesus and this man of the Pharisees, Nicodemus. Now, this man Nicodemus was even a member of the Sanhedrin, the highest council of the Jewish Church and we find this out a little later in John’s gospel. He came to Jesus by night, somewhat fearing his colleagues, who’s dislike for Jesus was very clear from the beginning of His ministry, and also partly because he wanted to be with him by himself and not be disturbed. He felt a growing concern and dissatisfaction with the Jewish leaders, who were condemning Jesus’ unique and diverse message. This means that Jesus had one message, that His message was unequaled in the world, and that it was for all people regardless of race, culture or standing. Nicodemus believed that this new Teacher had something wonderful to say and should be heard and he had a desire to know more.

Nicodemus tells Jesus that he and a few others had come to the conclusion that Jesus was a Teacher that had come from God. They recognized in Him a divine message but not at all an understanding of Christ's divine nature. These Jews to whom Nicodemus belonged had simply drawn their conclusions from the evidence seen before their eyes. God had confirmed the teaching of Jesus by miracles and the testimony that brought conviction to all of them. Jesus commanded their attention with the wonders He performed and they clearly indicated the power of God beyond all question. There was no doubt of God's being with this man Jesus. The knowledge of Nicodemus and the others went so far as to even recognize in Jesus a prophet on a level with those of the Old Testament, but it did not go so far as to accept Him as the Messiah.

The position of Nicodemus is shared by many so-called Christians today. Their confession of Jesus completely conforms to their own reason. They believe Him to be a great Teacher and they praise His loving kindness shown throughout the scriptures. But they do not want to acknowledge Him as the only true God and the Savior of the world. They still see and embrace the idea of diversity and many different paths that lead to a loving god and the unique way that each person finds their way to their own truth.

But Jesus tells Nicodemus and all of us that:

The fullness of the Godhead in only found in Him!

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus can’t quite grasp this concept. “How can these things be?” he asks?

Jesus brings the work of God into focus.

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

The working of God through the water and Spirit in the sacrament of Holy Baptism brings even a tiny child into the kingdom of God.

Many people wrestle with Christ’s unique claims? How about you? Let’s look at a few others:

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

Or how about:

51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:51)

And from John chapter 12:

“Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.

And finally:

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

When we read Jesus’ own words, we see the diverse nature of God and that this nature is composed of different peasons, and that also God is unique, the only one … being without something equal to or quite like.

Jesus lays it all out for Nicodemus:

12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13  No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, - that’s another me statement - the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

It is hard to understand the concept and unique nature of the Godhead and the diversity of the Trinity of God

… but Jesus, connects His work for the salvation of the world to that of Moses, who put a serpent on a pole in the wilderness so that when the people of Israel looked to it, they were healed and lived. We too can look to Jesus for salvation and know that:

The fullness of the Godhead can be found only in Christ!

In Colossians 2 we read about God in Christ and this becomes a bit easier for us to understand:

9 For in him (Jesus) the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

The diversity and uniqueness of the Godhead is found in Christ.

10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Friends … Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, is the fullness of God, and how God has chosen to reveal Himself to us. You who have been buried with Him in baptism have been made alive by the working of the Holy Spirit who, as we also heard last week - is God in us - and having pointed us to the cross of Christ, we see that the record of debt - which is our sins – that the debt has been canceled, because your sins have been nailed to the cross with Jesus.

Somehow … and we can’t expect to figure this out, because it’s part of that inscrutable Trinity of God and that fullness of God is found only in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The cross that I wear has a unique depiction or representation in art of the Trinity of God. It shows Jesus Christ who has been nailed to the cross and behind the cross you see what represents the Father, with His head, just above the cross as his hands reach around the cross holding up and sustaining the arms of Jesus, all the while the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. It is a simple reminder for me, that when I look to Christ … I see the fullness of God … and this fullness of God is found in the diversity of the three persons of Father, Son and Holy Spirit who in unity in the Trinity of God remain unique and through the work of Christ set you and me free from the bonds of sin, death and the Devil forever.

The fullness of the Godhead in Christ!

Today we will partake of the fullness of God together when we come to the Lord’s Table and receive the true body and blood of Christ given and shed for you. That is to say, that we partake with “the communion of saints” or in and through the sacraments, we have become partakers of the holy things of another world.

Martin Luther had this to say about the communion of saints:

“…because Christ and all the saints are one spiritual body, just as the inhabitants of a city are one community and body, each citizen being a member of the other and member of the entire city. All the saints therefore are members of Christ and of the church, which is a spiritual and eternal city of God, and whoever is taken into this city is said to be received into the community of saints, and to be incorporated into Christ’s spiritual body and made a member of Him.”

God has made you a member of Him in baptism, He sustains you and all the saints by His true body and blood given and shed for you. Christianity is unique in that it is the only religion where God come down and reveals Himself to us. God, in Christ, has come down for you and He lived a sinless life, suffered a horrible death, died and was buried and rose again for your justification – which means that you are declared not guilty in the sight of God and by His Spirit, God has called you to believe this Good News.

3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, - not many - and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

The diverse nature of God also is seen in the diverse nature of those he chooses to save. He, desires that all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth!

God comfort you with this truth now and forever!

Amen

Sermon May 26-27, 2012

Title: God’s Spirit points to Christ!
Text: John 15:26-27 (ESV)

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

Dear friends,

On this Memorial Day weekend when we think about those who have protected us and given their lives, so that we might all live and worship freely, we celebrate and remember another very memorial day; the day of Pentecost. It was only a short while ago that Christ ascended back to His Father in Heaven, and we celebrated this event at last weekend’s services where Jesus spoke to His Apostles this promise in the last Chapter of the Luke:

46 … “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

On this day of Pentecost, God’s Spirit descends in power upon the Apostles and we are told:
…there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

What an utterly amazing thing!

God, by the power of the Holy Spirit fills each of His Apostles with the ability to proclaim the truth about Jesus’ sinless life, His vicarious death - which means he died in your place – and His resurrection from the dead, assuring us that we who hope and trust in Christ will too rise from death and live with Him forever. But there is an amazing thing going on here:

6 … and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

God’s Spirit points to Christ!

Having just completed another year of teaching Sunday school and preparing to start my next class at the Seminary called, “Teaching the Faith” I am reminded of what Martin Luther has to say about the Holy Spirit in his Small Catechism:

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true.

In bondage to sin we have no ability to come to Christ and believe in Him. And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, we are told in the Ephesians 2, confirming our inability to do anything about our sinful condition of being dead to Christ. But by the hearing of the Gospel message that Jesus Christ has come and made satisfaction for our sins, we are told by the Apostle Paul that the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience and that God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved (Eph 2:1-5)

God’s Spirit points you to Christ!

A few weeks ago I finished my class on Baptism and I’m reminded of the Baptisms that we have all seen here at Peace when the font is placed in front of the Chancel steps for all to see as parents and godparents gather together with family and friends bringing their infant child to the waters of Holy Baptism.

Following the baptism of the child in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Pastor Merrell continues:

“The almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given you new birth of water and of the Spirit and has forgiven you all your sins, strengthen you with His grace to life + everlasting.”

God’s Spirit points to Christ!

On the day of Pentecost God in His mercy sent His Spirit, in a powerful way, to speak the Good news of redemption in Christ by tongues of fire, proclaimed and heard in different languages through the Apostles, bringing by the power of His Spirit and giving faith to those whom our Lord and God would call to believe.

But, this blessing is no less powerful for you and me. We can, by the simple act of proclaiming the truth about Jesus, free those in bondage to sin, death and the devil, and by the power of this same Holy Spirit, work forgiveness and bring to faith all who would believe.

Freedom is not free … and we all understand its cost, especially on this Memorial Day weekend. Many here have loved ones who served and fought and made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom … so that we might be able to live and worship in a free society and freely speak the truth about Jesus … who He is … and what He came to do for those that will hear this message.

Our freedom from sin also required a price to be paid and that price was that the very Son of God laid down his life, in your place, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you might be brought to faith and believe.

Rejoice, because God’s Spirit points to Christ and Christ dwells in sinners!

There is a story told that illustrates the meaning of redemption. Many years ago there was pastor of a church in Boston, who met a young boy in front of the sanctuary carrying a rusty cage in which several birds fluttered nervously. The pastor inquired, "Son, where did you get those birds?" The boy replied, "I trapped them out in the field." "What are you going to do with them?" "I'm going to play with them, and then I guess I'll just feed them to an old cat we have at home."

The pastor offered to buy them but the lad exclaimed, "Mister, you don't want them, they're just little old wild birds and they can't sing very well." Well, the pastor replied, "I'll give you $10 for the cage and the birds." "Okay, it's a deal, but you're making a bad bargain."

The exchange was made and the boy went away whistling and happy with the deal that he made. The pastor walked around to the back of the church property, opened the door of the small wire coop, and let the struggling creatures free to soar into the blue, redeemed from their bondage and the certain death of being fed to an old cat that was waiting at home.

Christ's coming to seek and to save the lost from the bondage of sin, death and the Devil and paying for them with His holy precious blood is the gift that the Holy Spirit points you to. You and I, though held captive to sin, because of Christ are free.

God’s Spirit points to Christ!

Richard Kirtland was a sergeant in the Second Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers. The day after the great battle of Fredericksburg, Kershaw's brigade occupied the road at the foot of Marye's Hill.

One hundred and fifty yards in front of the road, on the other side of a stone wall, lay Sykes's division of the United States Army. Between these troops and Kershaw's command a skirmish fight was continued through the entire day. The ground between the lines was literally covered with dead and dying Federal soldiers.
All day long the wounded were calling, "Water! water! water!"

In the afternoon, Sergeant Kirtland, a Confederate soldier, went to the headquarters of General Kershaw, and said with deep emotion: "General, all through last night and to-day - I have been hearing those poor wounded Federal soldiers out there cry for water. Let me go and give them some."

"Don't you know," replied the general, "that you would get a bullet through you the moment you stepped over the wall?"

"Yes, sir," said the sergeant - "but if you will let me go I am willing to try it."

The general reflected a minute, and then answered: "Kirtland, I ought not to allow you to take this risk, but the spirit that moves you is so noble I cannot refuse. Go, and may God protect you!"

In the face of almost certain death the sergeant climbed the wall, watched with anxiety by the soldiers of his army. Under the curious gaze of his foes, and exposed to their fire, he dropped to the ground and hastened on his errand of mercy. Unharmed, untouched, he reached the nearest sufferer. He knelt beside him, and poured the cooling life-giving water down the parched throat. This done he then turned to another sufferer.
By this time his conduct was understood by friend and foe alike and the firing ceased on both sides.

For an hour and a half did he pursue his noble mission, until he had relieved the wounded on all parts of the battlefield. Then he returned to his post uninjured.

God has given you the Spirit that points to Christ. In Him you have freedom from sin, death and the Devil and too are motivated to acts of mercy and kindness in His name, fearing no foe because God’s Holy Spirit point you to Christ and His mercy for you and all believers as He took your place under the wrath of God’s judgment at the cross.

By the power of the Holy Spirit in us He will point you and me to Christ’s finished work and will see us all to eternity now and forever.

Amen

Sermon May 19-20, 2012

Title: Witness, Mercy and Life together!
Text: John 17:14-17 (ESV)

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, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

Dear friends,

I had the pleasure of attending the Michigan District's South and East Pastors' conference in Frankenmuth this past Tuesday. The main speaker for the conference was Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison the 13th President of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. While our church here at Peace is relatively small, we are one of many partner congregations that make up the 2.3 million- members of our church body.

The focus and emphasis for the LCMS since President Harrison began his term as President is defined as Witness, Mercy and Life Together:

These phrases illustrate how the church lives and works together to proclaim the Gospel and to provide for our brothers and sisters in Christ in our congregations, communities and throughout the world. And in all we do, Christ is at the center, leading us, sustaining us, keeping us focused on our mission. This will never change.

Today, I’d like to focus on the three parts Witness, Mercy and Life Together in the message for today beginning with the first …Witness.

The definition of witness says that it is: testimony of a fact or event, or it could be a person who testifies in a case or before a judicial court. Sometimes it might be someone who is asked to be present at a transaction, so as to be able to testify to its having taken place. Or it might be one who has personal knowledge of something. And finally it could be a public affirmation by word or example of usually religious faith or conviction such as the heroic witness to divine life.

From our first reading today in the book of Acts we read of the Apostles gathering together just after Christ’s ascension:

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” (Acts1:21-22)

To be the man chosen to replace Judas and take his place among the brothers had a list of qualification. He must have been one who had accompanied the other apostles during all the time Jesus went out among them in his ministry to the people. He had to have been with them from the time of Jesus’ baptism from John until he was taken up from them and ascended back into heaven and he must also be a witness to the resurrection so as to be able to testify to its having taken place.

This would be a person that God would use to proclaim the truth of who Jesus is and what He has done. This person would be a witness …an eye witness. He had to have been there and had to have seen Christ’s baptism, His ministry, His trial and betrayal and ultimately His crucifixion, death burial and resurrection. He didn’t just hear about it … he was there and saw it first hand with his own eyes as did the other disciples.

But what about you and all who weren’t there? How can you be a witness to the truths about Jesus if you didn’t, like Matthias and the other apostles, witness the resurrection first hand?

That is the blessing that you and I share. We have the witness of these eye witnesses to all that Jesus said and did when He was on the earth among them written for our benefit, edification and faith. Christ who ascended on high sent His Spirit to dwell among us and by this Spirit confirm that these accounts written for us are true and reliable. It is truly amazing that as time goes by more and more manuscripts become available, some in fragment form but the more they find the clarity of the witness for us becomes sharper in focus.

Becoming a witness with those who saw Jesus, walked with Him, saw His life, death and resurrection and wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit is something we can do because God has provided these first person accounts and by faith through his same Spirit we too can tell with confidence this story of a God who came to live, suffer, die and rise again just for you and me and for all who are far off who the Lord our God will call.

Witness, Mercy and Life together!

The second of our words from our mission focus is … Mercy.

It can be defined as compassion shown especially to an offender or compassionate treatment for example imprisonment rather than death imposed as penalty for first-degree murder. It also might be a blessing that is an act of divine favor or even a fortunate circumstance …it was a mercy they found her before she froze. Ultimately it is shown as compassionate treatment to those in distress as we see in works of mercy among the poor.

9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater …
11 And this is the testimony that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John: 9a, 11-12)

The Mercy of God has come down. We who are deserving of death have this Good News of life in His Son through Christ’s resurrection. The apostle John connects this testimony of man written on scrolls by men with the testimony of God written on our hearts and the hearts of all who will receive God’s mercy in His name by this testimony. Whoever has the Son has life.

It becomes so very important that in bearing witness we bring this Good News that our God is a God of mercy. The even though we deserve death because the wages of sin brings death, God’s mercy in His Son covers all sin.

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Rom. 6:3-4)

This newness of life is seen in the life of the believer bearing and bringing forth much fruit through acts of mercy. As we discussed a few weeks ago God is the vine and through His Son we are grafted into this vine of life to bring the newness of life we received in our baptisms to those who are in need. At times it is the witness to the reality of Christ and His work in the life of the believer. Other times it is the true mercy of service to God’s people here at peace, in our community and to the ends of the earth that need the compassion of Christians who bring Christ’s compassion to all they do in this life, not through works but through Mercy!

The third and last of the mission focus for our synod is Life Together!

11b keep them in your name, which you have given me that they may be one, even as we are one.

Life together, that they may be one even as we are one. This life together that we as a church share needs to be this message that we, as brothers and sisters in Christ, hold to one faith, one hope and one Lord while we wait for the blessed hope of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ! (Titus 2:13)

Life together not with error but with truth; not with practice in worship styles … as the law of God … but with the same peace that Jesus brought to the upper room and the doubts that Thomas confessed that blessed are those who have not seen, yet believe. This life together becomes that Witness to the truth and the mercy that we share so that we have life together in Him … in the precious name of Jesus!

Witness, Mercy and Life together!

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, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. (John17:14-19)

God in His mercy has sent His only begotten Son to die for you. He has given you faith by the Holy Spirit to Christ’s resurrection. He has sanctified you in the truth so that you live in Him and bring the mercy of Christ to others and He has given us life together in this place and in His name:

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:10-11)

Witness, Mercy and Life together!

As I left the pastor’s conference on Tuesday I was taken by the diverse men that God has called to proclaim the truth about himself to His people. Fat and tall, thin and small, young and seasoned in ministry or like me just starting a second career. God uses whom He chooses for His reasons but it is ultimately His truth, by the power of the holy Spirit, that convicts us through God’s law and brings us to repentance and also it is God’s truth, through that same Spirit, that comforts us in the blessed Good News that on account of Christ’s sacrifice we are forgiven! We thank God that by his Holy Spirit in us, He will see us to eternity, now and forever.

Amen

Sermon May 5-6, 2012

Title: Christ the true vine brings forth good fruit in you! Text: John 15:4-5 (ESV) 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. Dear friends, To please his father a young man who was just entering college went out for the schools track team. He had no athletic ability, though the father had been a pretty good runner in his day. His first race was a two-man race in which he ran against the school’s best runner. He was badly beaten. Not wanting to disappoint his father, the boy wrote home as follows: "Dad, you will be happy to know that I ran against Bill Williams, the best runner in school. He came in next to last, while I came in second." In our lesson today Jesus is speaking to the disciples about truth. Many times truth can get manipulated. In the little story I just told to you, the young boy was truthful. He did come in second while the best runner in school came in next to last. Some may say, “No harm, no foul!” We though understand truth and also understand that it can have consequences when compromised. Many years ago when I was first serving as president of the congregation one of our neighbors on the west end of the parking lot had their back yard fenced. The fence company came out and put the fence where the homeowner told them. They had the fence go down each side and then it went around the play structure at the back of the yard and this also included a very nice mature maple tree. The problem with the fence was that the tree and the play structure were on the church’s property. Well, after speaking with the home owner, having a surveyor lay out the side lot line of the churches property and writing a number of letters we were finally able to get the home owner to move the fence. She thought we were being a bit petty because the fence was only a foot on the churches property. I had to explain to her that this error established a new truth where our property ends and hers begins, and if we let it go as it is every other house that backs up to the our church could use her fence to mark their “New” property line. The truth of who Jesus is and what being grafted to the true vine in Him really means was very important for the disciples to understand. It is very important for you too. It means life or death! 15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:1-2) The branch that is not producing fruit is cut off and that which does produce fruit is pruned, so that it produces more fruit. We as branches grafted into Christ must feed on Him and His word so that we are fed by the word of God. This feeding on Christ and His word brings forth more fruit. Christ the true vine brings forth good fruit in you! In our Old Testament lesson today we heard the story of the Ethiopian eunuch and how Philip opened him up to the scriptures concerning Jesus. He was sitting in his chariot reading the scriptures and Philip approached him and asked him. “Do you understand what you are reading?” To which he replied, “How can I unless someone guides me?” The part of scripture he was reading was from the prophet Isaiah, which read: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. Philip told him about Jesus … The Christ …the Son of the living God. What about you? Do you know Him and His word? Are you connected to the vine and bearing fruit? Are you being fed and seeing Christ throughout the scriptures? Are you in the word and testing what is true? If not the branch begins to die and if it continues to be deprived of this divine nourishment from the word of God it will eventually die and be of no use to the vine in producing fruit. Branches die, get cut off and thrown into the flames. But is anyone’s commentary on the truth concerning the word of God good or should you have a guide like the eunuch found with Philip? Our Epistle lesson today in 1 John asks us to “test the spirits” to see whether they are from God. When you go to get food from the refrigerator or something to eat you need to see if it is spoiled or past the expiration date. Spoiled food brings you no nourishment and in fact can make you very sick. The word of God if corrupted can also draw you away from its desired effect. A question arose a few weeks ago from a member concerning Joel Osteen, the very popular and charismatic television preacher as he was featured on the cover of Guideposts magazine and whether or not it was something to read or to even watch when he is on TV? I explained that I recognize Joel Olseen as one of the many false prophets in our day that manipulate God’s word and the itching ears that want to hear what he is offering and we all need to “test the spirits” to see if what is being taught is from God. Is everything that we hear … being taught and professing to be Christ’s word … professing the same truth? 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. (1 John 4:2-3) If you have watched Joel Osteen and his show, there is very little Christian about it. It proclaims not Christ and him crucified for you. But in the center of the stage is a giant golden globe. Can you say worldly? It preaches a prosperity gospel that says that God wants you to be wealthy and healthy in this life. Believe me, it is my hope for you that you have all the blessings this life has to offer and that God would abundantly meet all your needs but we also see many of our Christian brothers and sisters suffer health and wealth problems in this life. If you remember the story of the paralyzed man who was lowered through the roof of the house by his friends to get to Jesus and seeing their faith Jesus said “Son your sins are forgiven!” But, the Pharisees grumbled and Jesus knowing their hearts said, which is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven or rise, take up you bed and walk?” 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” (Mark 2:10-11) 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1John 4:4) Test the spirits to see whether they are from God and Christ the true vine will bring forth good fruit in you! Christ the true vine brings forth good fruit in you! Christ Jesus is the true vine 28 for “In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28a) And finally from our epistle lesson remember dear friends: 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Christ the true vine brings forth good fruit in you! In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit, Amen

Sermon April 14-15, 2012

Title: Christ Jesus brings peace to all who believe!

Text: John 20:27-29 (ESV)

7 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Dear friends,

In his book, "Holy Sweat" Tim Hansel writes: "In my late twenties, a bunch of my friends and I decided to sail around the world. I have to admit, though, at the time I was a bit worried. I hadn't even sailed before. I was uneasy and anxious. So I spent a lot of time reading the Bible and praying about it, until it dawned on me that God was whispering …

"Tim, I'll give you peace if you read some books on sailing. The reason you're anxious is not due to a lack of prayer, but to your lack of sailing knowledge."

Tim continues: "I wasn't un-prayerful; I was unskilled. So I took a step I needed to take to let God work his peace in my heart. I began reading about sailing."

Tim Hansel, Holy Sweat, 1987, Word Books Publisher, p. 63.

Christ Jesus brings peace to all who believe!

In the upper room, a room somewhere in Jerusalem, the disciples were gathered together. Concerned over the events that had taken place – their Lord had just been brutally tried and convicted and killed and then there was the empty tomb. Mary Magdalene had went to the tomb followed closely by Peter and John. They had not yet understood what this all meant. Here the disciples are gathered together, Thomas was not present and Judas had already gone and hung himself in remorse ... sitting ... conversing and maybe even some pacing … for fear of the Jews.

Even though their conversation is not recorded, you might imagine one something like this:

“Brothers, what are we to do! Just sit here and hide? No, I say we take up the sword to defend ourselves!” Must we sit and hide like dogs waiting to be turned over to the Romans to suffer the same fate as Jesus?”

Another counters, “But remember, Jesus said, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.  He also said that He would go to prepare a place … and that … He would come again!” What does it all mean?

Phillip stood up among the disciples to speak, “When I asked Him to show us the Father, He said to me, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” This is all so hard to understand. What can we do brothers but sit, wait and hope?

Just then:
Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

Peace comes to the upper room with Jesus. This was no ghost. This was no vision. The marks in His hands and sides prove it. This was really Jesus standing before them in the same body resurrected from the dead. They had been alone but a moment ago, and now Jesus stood in their midst bringing with Him the greeting of the resurrected Savior: Peace be with you!

Christ Jesus brings peace to all who believe!

For us the ways of the world bring concern and uncertainty. As Christians we at times feel the pressure to compromise our faith and beliefs to accommodate a more tolerable worldview. Temptation and fear can get the better of us. The Devil tells you to run and hide … and at times you do.

Where is your upper room? Where do you go to hide when trouble strikes? Is it your bedroom? Or, a special chair in a quiet place? Or do you hide in the confines of yourself? Keeping your troubles hid from your family, friends and those that care for you … hoping that you or they would just go away.

In this day and age trouble will find you. Jesus had said as much to the disciples when He told them in John Chapter 16:

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Whether the ways of the world’s problems infiltrate and get in to your own personal world or your own sin brings with it the destruction that can disrupt and ruin lives … but in spite of it all remember:

Christ Jesus brings peace to all who believe!

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

Jesus was sending his disciples into the world to bring peace. Through the proclamation of the Gospel the word would be preached and the Good News declared to all nations.

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

This gift and obligation given to the disciple to retain and forgive sins was no willy-nilly power but only given and to be used through the word. The word of God’s law to declare what He has commanded and how far we miss the mark of his requirements and the word of the Gospel to declare that even though you are a sinner and do what is against God’s law you have an advocate with the Father, our Lord and Savior,

Jesus Christ who brings peace to all who believe!

24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Thomas wanted proof and who can blame him. Human reason can’t make sense of this. Why should he believe? He knows that Jesus died. He saw the scourging, the cross, the nails, the blood and the tomb. For Jesus to be alive, well that would be a miracle.

Unbelief is sin. Sin is separation from God. It is the only sin that is unforgiveable. Thomas would not believe. He needed proof. The word proclaimed that Jesus Christ is risen and had stood among them fell on deaf ears. But eight days later they were all once again in that upper room and this time Thomas was with them.

They were together in the same room but you can imagine a different conversation. No longer were they arguing. No longer were they angry. No longer were they fearful … Jesus had brought them peace. The peace of God always guards our heart and minds in and through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Jesus Christ brought peace to Thomas. He brings peace to you too. His word of promise that your sins are forgiven is just as true and sure as when Jesus walked into that upper room 2000 years ago.

Martin Luther put it this way:
I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever was placed in God's hands that I still possess.

Dear friends: Our Lord Jesus Christ has you in His hands, placed there by the power of the Holy Spirit who has given you faith to believe in Jesus’ sinless life, death and resurrection – for you. It is His promise!

38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me,  that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:38-40)

My friend Mark Gottlieb, much like Tim Hansel in the opening illustration, built a boat, taught himself to navigate, and sailed from his home in California to Hawaii … a pretty amazing feat. But the greatest feat of all was accomplished by Jesus Christ who took on human flesh, lived a sinless life, died a horrible death on the cross in your place and rose from the dead just for you.

Christ Jesus brings peace to all who believe!

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

Amen