Title: Be Imitators, by keeping your eyes upon Jesus!
Text: Phil. 3:17-4:1
Facebook live: Be Imitators, by keeping your eyes upon Jesus!
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
4:1Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
When I first came to Peace, I had been feeling that the Lord was leading me into ministry. Things had changed at St. John where I had been worshiping and Pastor Moritz had taken a call to Illinois. I came looking for a church closer to my home but also looking for a church with a pastor that I could learn from. I thought, “If the Lord is calling me into ministry, I need to have a good example of what a good pastor is.”
Thankfully, Pastor Merrell was here and was that man to watch and follow.
The Apostle Paul writes:
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
This call of imitation from the Apostle Paul was a good word for the church in Philippi and for you and me as well. Look to those, he tells them, who have a life lived in the Spirit of Christ and keep your eyes on them. They are a good example for you and me and one that will make your walk with Christ better and more joyful.
Now you may think, who should I model myself after? Who would be a good example? Should I look to someone in the church who has the appearance of a faith life and model them? Well, I’m sure that there are a number of people here in church who would be good examples.
But Paul brings up a few things for the Philippians to consider:
18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Boy, that’s hard to hear. Many people in the Philippian church have become, because of their walk, enemies of Christ. Not walking in the ways of the Lord.
We see and know this as well.
19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
The question Paul, wants to know is why?
Why place your trust in things of this world and in things that will not endure when there is a gift in Christ that brings the joy of heaven and that reality to those who only deserve death and condemnation?
Matthew records in his gospel:
17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” Matt 20:17-19
Paul now reminds the Philippians and us:
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Their citizenship is in heaven. Why? - Because of Christ and His sacrifice, and the gift of faith in His all-sufficient death, for you.
Pastor Merrell was a great example, mentor and friend but he wasn’t Jesus. Sorry to break that bubble. He had his faults just like we all do. We at times disagreed but always the Love of Christ motivated our conversations, lives and service to the church. I am so thankful for him and his example as an under shepherd and Christian man.
But Paul here is calling those in the church to walk as imitators of him who is called by the Lord Himself to be Christ’s representative.
Now, Paul is speaking as he wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit so, his words are God’s words. In the same way, preaching today speaks forth God’s words to you in our day, so that you can hear from God and live out your faith according to God’s desires.
Now, what are those desires that God wishes for you and me? What is the work of God in the life of the believer? What is it that God wants for you and me and all whom the Lord our God will call to do?
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put [Jesus] to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26[Jesus] said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And [Jesus] said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
Luke 10:25-28
To Love God and our neighbor as ourselves or to return the love our God gives us back towards him and in service to those around us is what we are called to do.
Belief, faith and trust are gifts to you and me from our heavenly Father.
His confession, and the confession of all who trust in Christ, is made possible, not because of our will, but because of his will in us by the working of the Spirit of Christ in the life of the believer.
Because:
… our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body (after death) to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Christ will glorify those [in him] … just as He was glorified. So, Paul is making the appeal to them and to us, to stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
Those who stand firm do so because:
We are Imitators of Christ by keeping our eyes upon Jesus!
Christ Jesus by His Spirit working in us makes us imitators of Him, though imperfectly. We fail and fall short, but by the Spirit of God working through the word we are being made into his image, being sanctified and being made Holy.
Christ, by His all sufficient sacrifice, has made peace with God for you and now will form you into His image by the Holy Spirit in you who points you to Christ and leads you through the word into Holy living.
Each day and each week as the ups and downs of life roll in upon you, God empowers you through word and sacrament to grow and act a bit more Christ like as we go through our daily lives, as godly people and imitators of Christ where we can have the fullness of his Spirit working in us.
Psalm 84:12 reminds us:
12 O LORD of hosts,
blessed is the one who trusts in you!
By the power of the Holy Spirit we who are his children trust in Him. God be praised for his glorious gifts to His children now and forever!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
Monday, March 21, 2022
Monday, March 14, 2022
Sermon March 12-13, 2022 - 2nd Sunday in Lent
Title: Though you die, yet in Christ you live!
Text: Luke 13:31-35
Facebook live: Though you die, yet in Christ you live!
34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
It is possible to live under a delusion?
You think you are kind, considerate and gracious when you are really not.
You think you are building positive stuff into your children when in reality, if
you could check with them twenty years later, you really didn't.
What if you could read your own obituary? Would it say the things you hoped it would say about you and your life?
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”
Death is a reality of life and a reality of sin.
Here the Pharisees of all people tell Jesus about the intentions of Herod.
Herod, you may remember, beheaded John the Baptist from prison in response to a dance that pleased him and his guests by the daughter of his wife, Herodias.
Herod had bound John in prison because he had told him that it was not lawful for him to have his brother’s wife and now …
Herod, by the nagging of his conscience for the death of John, believes that Jesus is the voice of John, come back from the dead.
The conscience that tears at Herod concerning John’s death, Herod believes will not bother him if Jesus is killed. But we all know too well that the conscience is not controlled by the human will but is the Law of God written on the heart of man.
So Jesus tells them:
32 … “Go and tell that fox, (meaning one being crafty and sly) ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.
Jesus isn’t taking any of it from Herod. He has His work to do and has His sights set on Jerusalem or as He calls, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!
So it is for you and me and in our day as well. Death is the end of this worldly existence. We are battered in this life with sin and its results. At times there are successes but all too often the failures of our lives and the trials we all face seem to be overcome by the stories in the news.
Death in Ukraine … those fighting and those fleeing. Some standing up against invasion and others looking for a place of rescue and peace.
Or, maybe it’s the many faceless people that are fighting cancer and the prospect of good or bad reports.
They live daily wondering; will I live or will I die?
The reality of death comes to both young and old alike. It is not a respecter of persons and no amount of money or status can hold it at bay or have it release its steel like grip.
Death will come by and to whom it will. We will all get there. But where is hope and salvation?
Paul Kretzmann in his commentary poses this warning:
“On the last day those that were Christians in name only will try to frame similar excuses as those from the biblical text, reminding the Lord of the fact that they heard the Word of God in a church where the pure doctrine was proclaimed, that they were baptized, that they were instructed in the Christian doctrine.
‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ Luke 13:26-27
And even those that merely lived in a Christian Community, and occasionally permitted Christian influence to graze them, will come and try to state this fact as an argument.
But all arguing will be too late. The fact remains that all such people did not [receive] Jesus and His Word, but stubbornly remained [bound] in their sins, and therefore will die and be condemned in their sins.”
Popular commentary on the Bible NT Vol 1 Paul Kretzmann pg. 342
Yet … though you die, in Christ you are made alive and live!
34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!
This place, like many places we know, choose to cover their ears at the proclamation of the Gospel and desire to remain in bondage to sin, death and the Devil. However, it is not Christ’s intentions to leave you there!
He laments:
How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
The unwilling, those who cling to their unbelief and refuse the gift of the Holy Spirit and the faith He creates, will push off the saving gift of faith in Christ looking to the pleasures of this world and the joys they bring for a time.
35 Behold, your house is forsaken. (He continues) And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
So where is hope?
Where is life?
Where is peace?
In Jesus, in his word and in his gifts!
Jesus is our hope!
Jesus is our life!
Jesus is our peace!
He has called you and me by the Gospel having written your name in the lamb’s book of life from the foundation of the world!
Through baptism he makes us alive in Christ and gives us by his Spirit newness of life!
We see the working of God through the gift of Baptism in the life of a little child and remember we too have been marked and redeemed by Christ and given faith in him. We remember daily that we are truly his children.
In Him, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we all who believe will be forever in His presence.
The wings of our blessed Lord have gathered you under the pavilion of His rest so that you can truly rest from all your labors and grief trusting in His all sufficient sacrifice for sin and knowing that we who name the name of Christ Jesus will be with Him for eternity
You too can be known, not for the value of who you are and what you do in this life, but in the value that the Son of God has placed upon you by His death in your place.
His love is shown by His sacrifice in your place so that you can be forever loved by him, redeemed, forgiven, forever, so that:
Though you die, yet in Christ you live!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
Text: Luke 13:31-35
Facebook live: Though you die, yet in Christ you live!
34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
It is possible to live under a delusion?
You think you are kind, considerate and gracious when you are really not.
You think you are building positive stuff into your children when in reality, if
you could check with them twenty years later, you really didn't.
What if you could read your own obituary? Would it say the things you hoped it would say about you and your life?
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”
Death is a reality of life and a reality of sin.
Here the Pharisees of all people tell Jesus about the intentions of Herod.
Herod, you may remember, beheaded John the Baptist from prison in response to a dance that pleased him and his guests by the daughter of his wife, Herodias.
Herod had bound John in prison because he had told him that it was not lawful for him to have his brother’s wife and now …
Herod, by the nagging of his conscience for the death of John, believes that Jesus is the voice of John, come back from the dead.
The conscience that tears at Herod concerning John’s death, Herod believes will not bother him if Jesus is killed. But we all know too well that the conscience is not controlled by the human will but is the Law of God written on the heart of man.
So Jesus tells them:
32 … “Go and tell that fox, (meaning one being crafty and sly) ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.
Jesus isn’t taking any of it from Herod. He has His work to do and has His sights set on Jerusalem or as He calls, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!
So it is for you and me and in our day as well. Death is the end of this worldly existence. We are battered in this life with sin and its results. At times there are successes but all too often the failures of our lives and the trials we all face seem to be overcome by the stories in the news.
Death in Ukraine … those fighting and those fleeing. Some standing up against invasion and others looking for a place of rescue and peace.
Or, maybe it’s the many faceless people that are fighting cancer and the prospect of good or bad reports.
They live daily wondering; will I live or will I die?
The reality of death comes to both young and old alike. It is not a respecter of persons and no amount of money or status can hold it at bay or have it release its steel like grip.
Death will come by and to whom it will. We will all get there. But where is hope and salvation?
Paul Kretzmann in his commentary poses this warning:
“On the last day those that were Christians in name only will try to frame similar excuses as those from the biblical text, reminding the Lord of the fact that they heard the Word of God in a church where the pure doctrine was proclaimed, that they were baptized, that they were instructed in the Christian doctrine.
‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ Luke 13:26-27
And even those that merely lived in a Christian Community, and occasionally permitted Christian influence to graze them, will come and try to state this fact as an argument.
But all arguing will be too late. The fact remains that all such people did not [receive] Jesus and His Word, but stubbornly remained [bound] in their sins, and therefore will die and be condemned in their sins.”
Popular commentary on the Bible NT Vol 1 Paul Kretzmann pg. 342
Yet … though you die, in Christ you are made alive and live!
34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!
This place, like many places we know, choose to cover their ears at the proclamation of the Gospel and desire to remain in bondage to sin, death and the Devil. However, it is not Christ’s intentions to leave you there!
He laments:
How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
The unwilling, those who cling to their unbelief and refuse the gift of the Holy Spirit and the faith He creates, will push off the saving gift of faith in Christ looking to the pleasures of this world and the joys they bring for a time.
35 Behold, your house is forsaken. (He continues) And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
So where is hope?
Where is life?
Where is peace?
In Jesus, in his word and in his gifts!
Jesus is our hope!
Jesus is our life!
Jesus is our peace!
He has called you and me by the Gospel having written your name in the lamb’s book of life from the foundation of the world!
Through baptism he makes us alive in Christ and gives us by his Spirit newness of life!
We see the working of God through the gift of Baptism in the life of a little child and remember we too have been marked and redeemed by Christ and given faith in him. We remember daily that we are truly his children.
In Him, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we all who believe will be forever in His presence.
The wings of our blessed Lord have gathered you under the pavilion of His rest so that you can truly rest from all your labors and grief trusting in His all sufficient sacrifice for sin and knowing that we who name the name of Christ Jesus will be with Him for eternity
You too can be known, not for the value of who you are and what you do in this life, but in the value that the Son of God has placed upon you by His death in your place.
His love is shown by His sacrifice in your place so that you can be forever loved by him, redeemed, forgiven, forever, so that:
Though you die, yet in Christ you live!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
Thursday, March 10, 2022
Sermon March 9, 2022 - Midweek 2
Title: Confession and belief are God’s gifts to you!
Text: Romans 10:8b-13
Is Christ’s work sufficient?
Martin Luther in his book, The Bondage of the will, speaks of man’s free will and his ability to choose when he says:
—"It would be ridiculous to say to a man standing in a place where two ways met, [You see] two roads, go by which [ever road you choose], when one only way was open."—
http://www.truecovenanter.com/truelutheran/luther_bow.html (99 of 283) [12/12/2002 11:41:13 PM
The path to faith is closed except through the working of the Holy Spirit.
As the Spirit works through the Gospel faith emerges in those who are apart from Chris - and they believe. To paraphrase Luther, the road that had been closed has now been opened by God’s Spirit and by Christ’s work and the gift of faith you now believe and are receive the way to everlasting life that God has ordained in Christ from before the foundation of the world.
St. Augustine had this to say:
God's mercy ... goes before the unwilling to make him willing; it follows the willing to make his will effectual.
Augustine of Hippo, Handbook on Faith, Hope, and Love.
For some God’s mercy remains hidden in their life even up to the point of death when faith is brought to life by the Spirit’s work and they believe. Other times we may not know for sure but we trust God’s mercy given in baptism that one who has been marked by Christ God will continue to keep in the faith through the Spirit’s work.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27-28
I proclaim this good news to those at funerals.
It is the blessed hope and sufficient working of our loving God that by his Spirit, through his means of word and sacrament that he keeps us in our baptismal grace which he bestowed on us as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.
Earlier in Romans 9 Paul made this gift clear:
14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
God who in mercy has called you will now bring about the means for your belief.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Eph. 2:8-9
This grace and faith that God gives is effectual. It works what God intends.
God is both the cause and the means by which belief is secured.
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
God has brought about your conversion and has secured your salvation by the power of his Holy Spirit.
That is really good news!
11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
No shame for you or me.
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
It is all God’s free gift!
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
Text: Romans 10:8b-13
Facebook live: Confession and belief are God’s gifts to you!
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
March 9th is a special date in my memory.
In 1981 it happened to fall on a Monday. It was also the day that I began my job with Evola Music, a job that would last and that I would continue to hold on to until December 29, 2012 when I retired. I was recommended to Evola Music by Bob Brucker who was a rep for Midco corporation and he knew and sold small goods to many of the music stores in the area. I interviewed for the job but I didn’t hear anything for almost two weeks. I called Jim Evola back and asked if they had made a decision for the job and he told me that they had not. “Well,” I said, “I need to get a job so if you are still considering me you might want to act before I receive an offer from another company.” Jim called me back the next day with an offer.
It may sound like I was the active agent, or it might have been Bob Brucker, or Jim Evola who talked to his dad about my call and interest in the job. All were important but ultimately it was God. Certainly, my initiative was important but if God had other plans, I would be telling you a different story.
As I searched for work and filled out applications, I was exercising my free will to look for work and to make a decision on what might be the best company for me. God as well has a sovereign will that guides and directs according to his good pleasure. Both are always at work in our day to day lives.
As we think about freedom, most of you know what it is. Some of you here and many in our church fought for the freedom that we in the United States today enjoy. Most, I believe, would say that freedom isn’t free but came at a great cost. So, it is with salvation and our coming to faith, some believe that the cost of Christ’s death didn’t procure it but that the decision we make does.
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim;
Paul Asks this question to those who will read his letter and it is also applies to you and me as well.
“Faith and confession are here mentioned as the two requisites for salvation. So near is the redemption of Jesus to every person in the world, in the Word of the Gospel-message, that it is necessary only to believe with the heart and to confess with the mouth in order to become a partaker of all its blessings.
If any person believes in his heart and confesses with his mouth that Jesus is the Lord and that God has raised Him from the dead, then he has the faith which will give him salvation.”
Kretzmann NT Vol. II Pg 55
For you and me we must ask ourselves this question:
Is Jesus the savior of the word or did he just make a path that we must choose?
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
March 9th is a special date in my memory.
In 1981 it happened to fall on a Monday. It was also the day that I began my job with Evola Music, a job that would last and that I would continue to hold on to until December 29, 2012 when I retired. I was recommended to Evola Music by Bob Brucker who was a rep for Midco corporation and he knew and sold small goods to many of the music stores in the area. I interviewed for the job but I didn’t hear anything for almost two weeks. I called Jim Evola back and asked if they had made a decision for the job and he told me that they had not. “Well,” I said, “I need to get a job so if you are still considering me you might want to act before I receive an offer from another company.” Jim called me back the next day with an offer.
It may sound like I was the active agent, or it might have been Bob Brucker, or Jim Evola who talked to his dad about my call and interest in the job. All were important but ultimately it was God. Certainly, my initiative was important but if God had other plans, I would be telling you a different story.
As I searched for work and filled out applications, I was exercising my free will to look for work and to make a decision on what might be the best company for me. God as well has a sovereign will that guides and directs according to his good pleasure. Both are always at work in our day to day lives.
As we think about freedom, most of you know what it is. Some of you here and many in our church fought for the freedom that we in the United States today enjoy. Most, I believe, would say that freedom isn’t free but came at a great cost. So, it is with salvation and our coming to faith, some believe that the cost of Christ’s death didn’t procure it but that the decision we make does.
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim;
Paul Asks this question to those who will read his letter and it is also applies to you and me as well.
“Faith and confession are here mentioned as the two requisites for salvation. So near is the redemption of Jesus to every person in the world, in the Word of the Gospel-message, that it is necessary only to believe with the heart and to confess with the mouth in order to become a partaker of all its blessings.
If any person believes in his heart and confesses with his mouth that Jesus is the Lord and that God has raised Him from the dead, then he has the faith which will give him salvation.”
Kretzmann NT Vol. II Pg 55
For you and me we must ask ourselves this question:
Is Jesus the savior of the word or did he just make a path that we must choose?
Is Christ’s work sufficient?
Martin Luther in his book, The Bondage of the will, speaks of man’s free will and his ability to choose when he says:
—"It would be ridiculous to say to a man standing in a place where two ways met, [You see] two roads, go by which [ever road you choose], when one only way was open."—
http://www.truecovenanter.com/truelutheran/luther_bow.html (99 of 283) [12/12/2002 11:41:13 PM
The path to faith is closed except through the working of the Holy Spirit.
As the Spirit works through the Gospel faith emerges in those who are apart from Chris - and they believe. To paraphrase Luther, the road that had been closed has now been opened by God’s Spirit and by Christ’s work and the gift of faith you now believe and are receive the way to everlasting life that God has ordained in Christ from before the foundation of the world.
St. Augustine had this to say:
God's mercy ... goes before the unwilling to make him willing; it follows the willing to make his will effectual.
Augustine of Hippo, Handbook on Faith, Hope, and Love.
For some God’s mercy remains hidden in their life even up to the point of death when faith is brought to life by the Spirit’s work and they believe. Other times we may not know for sure but we trust God’s mercy given in baptism that one who has been marked by Christ God will continue to keep in the faith through the Spirit’s work.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27-28
I proclaim this good news to those at funerals.
It is the blessed hope and sufficient working of our loving God that by his Spirit, through his means of word and sacrament that he keeps us in our baptismal grace which he bestowed on us as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.
Earlier in Romans 9 Paul made this gift clear:
14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
God who in mercy has called you will now bring about the means for your belief.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Eph. 2:8-9
This grace and faith that God gives is effectual. It works what God intends.
God is both the cause and the means by which belief is secured.
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
God has brought about your conversion and has secured your salvation by the power of his Holy Spirit.
That is really good news!
11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
No shame for you or me.
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
It is all God’s free gift!
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
Monday, March 7, 2022
Sermon March 5-6, 2022
Title: Christ was tempted and tested and you are forgiven!
Text: Luke 4:1-13
Facebook live: Christ was tempted and tested and you are forgiven!
13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
Temptation lulls you and me and sin results and we all fall victim and give in at times to it. But thankfully Christ Jesus didn’t give in and as a result we have that blessed Amazing Grace of life eternal in his name.
4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.
Sin and temptation we all know it too well. Jesus knew temptation too, yet was without sin.
You might think well He’s God, so He had His divine God-ness on his side. He’s all-powerful, all-knowing, and omnipresent. But it wasn’t the God nature of the God/man that was being tempted. It was the human nature of the God/man that was put to the test.
The truth is that at the incarnation God and man became one in Jesus Christ. He is fully God and fully man. Not part God and part man - or God and man mixed together into this one Jesus.
4 … And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. (Luke 4:1-2)
When we speak of Jesus we need to speak of His humanity in real terms. We need to speak of things that are part of His human nature. Things like time, temptation, and hunger for example … all things we can all relate to.
Over these past 40 days I've been tempted many times as have you with unfortunately sin being the result.
I've done and said things that I shouldn't and not done things that I should. Like you, I fall short every day.
Thank God, I eat … and I eat well, because I've never experienced true hunger, like the type of hunger that Jesus must have felt after 40 days being tempted in the wilderness. This was no little stomach growl; this was hunger that you and I can’t even imagine.
Think of not eating since the end of January and you’d still have a week to go!
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” Luke 4:3-4
The truth is though, that sin is not just thought, word and deed.
It is not overcome by just trying harder not to sin.
It is in fact who we are.
Sin is what we are born in.
Now, this is not to excuse it, but to understand our human nature.
You will fail and you will sin. At times it is blatant and at times you are unaware. Sin permeates our very being and that is why Satan so hounds you and me. Temping you to fall away. Tempting you to give in. Tempting you with the bad and the good.
The sweet flavor of the Paczki was on our lips last week. It’s not always gloom and doom. The taste of sin can be very sweet as well. We forget the 400 calories so, we give in.
“Oh, I’ll only eat half.” we say … but soon the other half is gone too!
My friend used to tease his sister,
“A moment on the lips forever on the hips!’
The devil knows that when presented with a little sin it will lead to a bigger sin and the bigger the sin the guiltier you and I will feel. You will feel shame, and at times guilt for your actions, even an unkind word or a word misplaced can cause hurt. Or worse, you won’t care.
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
Satan here uses the most subtle of temptations; “Command this stone to become bread.” He simply desires Christ, to abuse the power which He possessed as God’s Son for the gratification of the desires of the body.
Jesus answers Satan’s temptation with the word of God:
4 … “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.”
Quoting Deut. 8:3:
3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Deut. 8:3
God’s provision of Mana humbled the Israelites who quickly found that they could not provide for themselves. Instead, they had to trust in God for their daily bread.
Lutheran study Bible Pg 291 Study Note
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
We ask of the Lord in the fourth petition of the Lord’s Prayer, which includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body; because Christ wants us to realize that our entire life … and that of everyone else depends of God.
Question/ Answer 219 Luther’s Small Catechism
But again, the temptation of the Devil continues:
“To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”
And Jesus answers:
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God,
and him only shall you serve.’”
This time Jesus brings God’s word to bear in Deut. 6:13
13 It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. Deut. 6:13
What does this mean - The Catechism asks?
We should fear, love and trust God above all things. Luther gives answer to the First Commandment. You shall have no other gods.
Finally, Satan:
9 … took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written,
“‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’
11 and “‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Quoting Deut. 6:16
16 “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. Deut. 6:16
In the close of the commandments God says:
“I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.” Ex. 20:5–6
13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
When will the opportune time come again for you or me?
13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Cor 10:13
Christ is the one who conquered sin, death and Devil for you. He took all the Devil could give and though tempted was without sin. Christ gives this peace to you and me through the working of the Holy Spirit so that his righteousness is yours and your sin has been laid on him at the cross.
In the face of temptation God provides a way out in Christ and by his Spirit so that we can stand and if we fall, we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous one, to whom we can turn, repent of our sin, and be forgiven in his name!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
Text: Luke 4:1-13
Facebook live: Christ was tempted and tested and you are forgiven!
13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
Temptation lulls you and me and sin results and we all fall victim and give in at times to it. But thankfully Christ Jesus didn’t give in and as a result we have that blessed Amazing Grace of life eternal in his name.
4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.
Sin and temptation we all know it too well. Jesus knew temptation too, yet was without sin.
You might think well He’s God, so He had His divine God-ness on his side. He’s all-powerful, all-knowing, and omnipresent. But it wasn’t the God nature of the God/man that was being tempted. It was the human nature of the God/man that was put to the test.
The truth is that at the incarnation God and man became one in Jesus Christ. He is fully God and fully man. Not part God and part man - or God and man mixed together into this one Jesus.
4 … And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. (Luke 4:1-2)
When we speak of Jesus we need to speak of His humanity in real terms. We need to speak of things that are part of His human nature. Things like time, temptation, and hunger for example … all things we can all relate to.
Over these past 40 days I've been tempted many times as have you with unfortunately sin being the result.
I've done and said things that I shouldn't and not done things that I should. Like you, I fall short every day.
Thank God, I eat … and I eat well, because I've never experienced true hunger, like the type of hunger that Jesus must have felt after 40 days being tempted in the wilderness. This was no little stomach growl; this was hunger that you and I can’t even imagine.
Think of not eating since the end of January and you’d still have a week to go!
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” Luke 4:3-4
The truth is though, that sin is not just thought, word and deed.
It is not overcome by just trying harder not to sin.
It is in fact who we are.
Sin is what we are born in.
Now, this is not to excuse it, but to understand our human nature.
You will fail and you will sin. At times it is blatant and at times you are unaware. Sin permeates our very being and that is why Satan so hounds you and me. Temping you to fall away. Tempting you to give in. Tempting you with the bad and the good.
The sweet flavor of the Paczki was on our lips last week. It’s not always gloom and doom. The taste of sin can be very sweet as well. We forget the 400 calories so, we give in.
“Oh, I’ll only eat half.” we say … but soon the other half is gone too!
My friend used to tease his sister,
“A moment on the lips forever on the hips!’
The devil knows that when presented with a little sin it will lead to a bigger sin and the bigger the sin the guiltier you and I will feel. You will feel shame, and at times guilt for your actions, even an unkind word or a word misplaced can cause hurt. Or worse, you won’t care.
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
Satan here uses the most subtle of temptations; “Command this stone to become bread.” He simply desires Christ, to abuse the power which He possessed as God’s Son for the gratification of the desires of the body.
Jesus answers Satan’s temptation with the word of God:
4 … “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.”
Quoting Deut. 8:3:
3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Deut. 8:3
God’s provision of Mana humbled the Israelites who quickly found that they could not provide for themselves. Instead, they had to trust in God for their daily bread.
Lutheran study Bible Pg 291 Study Note
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
We ask of the Lord in the fourth petition of the Lord’s Prayer, which includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body; because Christ wants us to realize that our entire life … and that of everyone else depends of God.
Question/ Answer 219 Luther’s Small Catechism
But again, the temptation of the Devil continues:
“To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”
And Jesus answers:
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God,
and him only shall you serve.’”
This time Jesus brings God’s word to bear in Deut. 6:13
13 It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. Deut. 6:13
What does this mean - The Catechism asks?
We should fear, love and trust God above all things. Luther gives answer to the First Commandment. You shall have no other gods.
Finally, Satan:
9 … took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written,
“‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’
11 and “‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Quoting Deut. 6:16
16 “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. Deut. 6:16
In the close of the commandments God says:
“I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.” Ex. 20:5–6
13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
When will the opportune time come again for you or me?
13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Cor 10:13
Christ is the one who conquered sin, death and Devil for you. He took all the Devil could give and though tempted was without sin. Christ gives this peace to you and me through the working of the Holy Spirit so that his righteousness is yours and your sin has been laid on him at the cross.
In the face of temptation God provides a way out in Christ and by his Spirit so that we can stand and if we fall, we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous one, to whom we can turn, repent of our sin, and be forgiven in his name!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
Sermon March 2, 2022 - Ash Wednesday
Title: Christ reconciles the word unto himself!
Text: 2 Cor. 5:20b-6:10
Facebook live: Christ reconciles the word unto himself!
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
When we look at a new born baby we might have a difficult time recognizing the corruption of sin upon this beautiful creation of God. How - we might think - can this be a sin bearer and God’s enemy? The truth is that sin brought forth in the fall clings to us all and like life is part of who we are from conception.
We inherit many things from our parents. Some things determine our looks, demeanor, walk, hair and eye color, intellect, intelligence, height and health concerns. One thing we also inherit is sin.
Paul writes:
We implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
As a pastor to the congregation in Corinth, Paul’s words are passionate and direct. He implores those that are either apathetic, which means: (showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern) but living a mere outward type of holiness to be reconciled [or returned to right relationship] to God.
In his first Epistle to the Corinthians Paul had been strong in his rebuke of them in how they were dealing with sin in their midst. Paul had written them:
11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, (someone inside the church) who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
Paul’s rebuke is strong, as it should be. But after the Corinthian’s come to repentance, the sweet comfort of the gospel must be applied. For there is no joy for Paul in leaving a repentant sinner terrified of their sin, that Christ Jesus has carried upon Himself to the cross forever burying it in the grave by his all sufficient sacrifice.
Paul now pleads to the repentant sinner as workers together with Him … not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2 For [God] says:
“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”
The help for the sinner is our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus who became sin for us that we might be reconciled to God receiving again the original righteousness that had been lost and broken in the fall in to sin.
The sin of the world, your sin and mine … God wept over.
But do you? Do you feel the anguish of falling short daily? Are you in prayerful repentance sorry for your sin and asking for forgiveness? Or, is sin your master?
It could be indifference, greed, jealousy, cohabitation, adultery - which Paul speaks of as being sexually immoral; gossip, or simple unkindness … does it cause you to break down in guilt and repent of your sin which really is simply to ask for forgiveness and turn away from sin. Does it for me as well?
In the epistle reading Paul brings Good News to those who are broken and repentant.
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Cor. 6:2b)
Friends, now is the time to receive forgiveness.
Ash Wednesday is the name given to the first day of the season of Lent, in which ashes are applied to the foreheads of Christian’s signifying an inner repentance. This repentance continues throughout Lent as we remember the suffering that our Lord endured at the cross for the sins of the whole world – yours and mine - as we wait in anticipation of Christ’s glorious Easter resurrection.
The work of the ministry is to call sinners to repentance so that the work of God’s Law can bring about a true repentance for sin and the Gospel of salvation a glorious comfort that on account of Christ you are forgiven!
Paul tells the Corinthians and us what the true work of the ministry is commending ourselves as ministers of God:
in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Christ through his ministers today as then absolves the repentant. This gift He gives through his church, so that comfort is given to those broken by sin so that they might be renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit working in them to a newness of life over sin, death and the power of the Devil.
Visitation to those who are unable to come brings Christ and his forgiveness to those unable to come. Whether Don and Jean Pilot, Scott and Sue Regentin, Eleanor Brown, Sue Vogt, Cheryl Vandeweghe, Ruth and Charlie Dow or Bill and Marilyn Rappuhn and many others they all get the same forgiveness you receive in word and sacrament.
As I continue to visit those who are unable to be at church or those who are dealing with illness, I am constantly lifted up as together we pray and remember God’s, loving forgiveness in Christ. And though they can’t right now be with us they always remember Jesus who is the one who has freed them from sin and this broken world giving them the assurance that in Christ they have true forgiveness, peace and comfort and a place in the house of the Lord forever.
Christ reconciles the word unto himself!
We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Please join me in prayer:
Heavenly Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
As we begin this Lenten season, may we recognize our sin and be turned in repentance by the working of your Holy Spirit so that we might receive the comfort of your forgiveness in Christ Jesus who lived, suffered, died and rose again for our justification. Give us all peace and comfort in his work on our behalf.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen
We can all be comforted to know that in Christ we are forgiven and that by His stripes we are truly healed!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
Text: 2 Cor. 5:20b-6:10
Facebook live: Christ reconciles the word unto himself!
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
When we look at a new born baby we might have a difficult time recognizing the corruption of sin upon this beautiful creation of God. How - we might think - can this be a sin bearer and God’s enemy? The truth is that sin brought forth in the fall clings to us all and like life is part of who we are from conception.
We inherit many things from our parents. Some things determine our looks, demeanor, walk, hair and eye color, intellect, intelligence, height and health concerns. One thing we also inherit is sin.
Paul writes:
We implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
As a pastor to the congregation in Corinth, Paul’s words are passionate and direct. He implores those that are either apathetic, which means: (showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern) but living a mere outward type of holiness to be reconciled [or returned to right relationship] to God.
In his first Epistle to the Corinthians Paul had been strong in his rebuke of them in how they were dealing with sin in their midst. Paul had written them:
11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, (someone inside the church) who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
Paul’s rebuke is strong, as it should be. But after the Corinthian’s come to repentance, the sweet comfort of the gospel must be applied. For there is no joy for Paul in leaving a repentant sinner terrified of their sin, that Christ Jesus has carried upon Himself to the cross forever burying it in the grave by his all sufficient sacrifice.
Paul now pleads to the repentant sinner as workers together with Him … not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2 For [God] says:
“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”
The help for the sinner is our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus who became sin for us that we might be reconciled to God receiving again the original righteousness that had been lost and broken in the fall in to sin.
The sin of the world, your sin and mine … God wept over.
But do you? Do you feel the anguish of falling short daily? Are you in prayerful repentance sorry for your sin and asking for forgiveness? Or, is sin your master?
It could be indifference, greed, jealousy, cohabitation, adultery - which Paul speaks of as being sexually immoral; gossip, or simple unkindness … does it cause you to break down in guilt and repent of your sin which really is simply to ask for forgiveness and turn away from sin. Does it for me as well?
In the epistle reading Paul brings Good News to those who are broken and repentant.
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Cor. 6:2b)
Friends, now is the time to receive forgiveness.
Ash Wednesday is the name given to the first day of the season of Lent, in which ashes are applied to the foreheads of Christian’s signifying an inner repentance. This repentance continues throughout Lent as we remember the suffering that our Lord endured at the cross for the sins of the whole world – yours and mine - as we wait in anticipation of Christ’s glorious Easter resurrection.
The work of the ministry is to call sinners to repentance so that the work of God’s Law can bring about a true repentance for sin and the Gospel of salvation a glorious comfort that on account of Christ you are forgiven!
Paul tells the Corinthians and us what the true work of the ministry is commending ourselves as ministers of God:
in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Christ through his ministers today as then absolves the repentant. This gift He gives through his church, so that comfort is given to those broken by sin so that they might be renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit working in them to a newness of life over sin, death and the power of the Devil.
Visitation to those who are unable to come brings Christ and his forgiveness to those unable to come. Whether Don and Jean Pilot, Scott and Sue Regentin, Eleanor Brown, Sue Vogt, Cheryl Vandeweghe, Ruth and Charlie Dow or Bill and Marilyn Rappuhn and many others they all get the same forgiveness you receive in word and sacrament.
As I continue to visit those who are unable to be at church or those who are dealing with illness, I am constantly lifted up as together we pray and remember God’s, loving forgiveness in Christ. And though they can’t right now be with us they always remember Jesus who is the one who has freed them from sin and this broken world giving them the assurance that in Christ they have true forgiveness, peace and comfort and a place in the house of the Lord forever.
Christ reconciles the word unto himself!
We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Please join me in prayer:
Heavenly Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
As we begin this Lenten season, may we recognize our sin and be turned in repentance by the working of your Holy Spirit so that we might receive the comfort of your forgiveness in Christ Jesus who lived, suffered, died and rose again for our justification. Give us all peace and comfort in his work on our behalf.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen
We can all be comforted to know that in Christ we are forgiven and that by His stripes we are truly healed!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
Monday, February 28, 2022
Sermon Feb. 26-27, 2022 - Transfiguration
Title: Master, it is good that we are here!
Text: Luke 9:28-36
Facebook live: Master, it is good that we are here!
34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.
St Francis had this to say about the pride of man:
“Some men become proud and insolent because they ride a fine horse, wear a feather in their hat or are dressed in a fine suit of clothes. Who does not see the folly of this? If there be any glory in such things, the glory belongs to the horse, the bird and the tailor.”
St. Francis de Sales.
Jesus took Peter, John and James and went up on a mountain to pray. Not an unusual thing for our Lord to do. However, on this trip up the mountain the crowds that would have usually been following Him would be nowhere to be found.
You know the crowds; the ones who had followed Jesus; the ones who had been filled. The five thousand, had been fed with the five loaves and a two fish previously in Luke 9:16-17
16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
Luke 9:16-17
These crowds were nowhere to be found. It was just Jesus and three of His closest disciples, Peter, John and James who went up on the mountain … but as it had been many times before it was Jesus who was praying.
29And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Luke 9:28-30
His departure which in the Greek is translated Exodus (ἔξοδος), for the Jew this meant freedom from slavery in Egypt. The Jews had been released from bondage in Egypt; being led by Moses for forty years, in the desert, before entering the Promised Land.
This same Moses is now speaking with a glorified Jesus who will soon take his Exodus (ἔξοδος) heading towards Jerusalem, the Cross and death - a death that will ultimately lead to freedom from sin, death and the power of the Devil for all who are brought to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit’s work and believe. This reconciliation between God and man is made possible only by the once and for all atoning sacrifice of the God/man himself Jesus Christ.
Moses, the Law giver who carried the tablets of stone, etched by the finger of God, measuring the requirements that God has set and our inability to measure up to the standards that God had set is now in the presence of the disciples Jesus has brought with Him, standing with Elijah the prophet, who pointed towards the coming Messiah - Jesus Christ - now transfigured on the mountain:
32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here.
St. Francis pointed out that men become prideful of themselves because of the things that they have, the closes they wear or the horse they ride that are not of themselves but are added to them to give an appearance of glory.
Jesus Christ, on the other hand has to remove the cover of His humanity to reveal the true glory that is his but has been veiled for a time from the eyes of the world.
Peter continues …
… Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.
Peter may have not known what he said or was bewildered at what he was seeing. To be there in the presence of a glorified Jesus; a preview of the resurrected Christ drawing both the Old and New Testament focus together upon Himself had to be overwhelming.
We all fail to recognize the true glory of Jesus at times, seeing only a good man that can be an example for us to follow. But what did Peter say just a short while earlier in our gospel when Jesus asked the disciples:
“Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”
Peter’s confession that Jesus is “the Christ of God” had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit but that didn’t help him to understand fully what our Lord had to do in turning his face toward Jerusalem; knowing full well that what awaited Him was the Chief Priests and Scribes, rejection by the people, a trial, guilty verdict and death on a Cross – all this for you.
As Jesus is transfigured, Peter is thinking about building tents - building tents?
It could be that Peter was just very overcome by what was happening or in some way wanted to preserve and contain the glory of God as the children of Israel desired to do in the wilderness. Tents or no tents, Peter concludes, “It is good that we are here.”
Martin Luther put it this way:
Although out of pure grace God does not impute our sins to us, He nonetheless did not want to do this until complete and ample satisfaction of His law and His righteousness had been made. Since this was impossible for us, God ordained for us, in our place, one who took upon Himself all the punishment we deserve.
He fulfilled the law for us.
He averted the judgment of God from us and appeased God's wrath.
Grace, therefore, costs us nothing, but is cost another much to get it for us.
Grace was purchased with an incalculable, infinite treasure, the Son of God Himself."
Martin Luther, Daily Walk, May 5, 1992.
34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”
As they were standing in the presence of our Holy Lord, Jesus Christ, covered in their own unrighteousness, they were afraid, as it should for anyone who relies upon their own righteousness.
What about you? Sitting here today in the pew or me?
Do you ever miss the mark? Do you ever fall short? Do you see your sin constantly before you? Do you carry the guilt that comes with your sin? Are you burdened and weighed down? Have you fallen short of the mark!
36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.
… until the proper time …
Many times we are silent. We miss the mark and opportunity to share the Good News with friend, neighbor, relative, co-worker and all are in need of the same forgiveness that you and I have received from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, crucified for you and have the blessed assurance of an eternity in Heaven with Him.
Thank and praise God daily that Jesus didn’t miss His mark!
Thank and praise Him that you can listen to him in his word proclaimed and his word preserved in the writings of Holy Scripture.
Thank God you can partake of his body and Blood given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.
Thank and praise God that the Cross was his mark and his destination.
Thank him that he fulfilled his goal as he resolutely headed towards Jerusalem, the Cross and death where He received the full wrath of God poured out upon Him as He suffered and died on this Cross and on this Mount of Calvary, for you!
His crucifixion and death satisfied God’s justice for the sins of the world for you.
His death brought freedom for you and I as we receive the blessed exchange of His righteousness for our sins nailed once and for all to the Cross with him.
His death released you from the guilt you may at times still carry when you fail to cast all your burdens upon Him.
His death accomplishes all of this because on the third day …
He rose … in the glory of His resurrected body, transfigured, incorruptible for you. And you will too - and so will all who name the name of Jesus Christ having been brought to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit. Knowing that in your Baptism you were washed clean in the blood of the Lamb given and shed for you!
“It is good that we are here.”
May our Lord and savior Jesus Christ who has redeemed you, through the power of the Holy Spirit who has called you, comfort you with this blessed Good News now and forever!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
Text: Luke 9:28-36
Facebook live: Master, it is good that we are here!
34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.
St Francis had this to say about the pride of man:
“Some men become proud and insolent because they ride a fine horse, wear a feather in their hat or are dressed in a fine suit of clothes. Who does not see the folly of this? If there be any glory in such things, the glory belongs to the horse, the bird and the tailor.”
St. Francis de Sales.
Jesus took Peter, John and James and went up on a mountain to pray. Not an unusual thing for our Lord to do. However, on this trip up the mountain the crowds that would have usually been following Him would be nowhere to be found.
You know the crowds; the ones who had followed Jesus; the ones who had been filled. The five thousand, had been fed with the five loaves and a two fish previously in Luke 9:16-17
16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
Luke 9:16-17
These crowds were nowhere to be found. It was just Jesus and three of His closest disciples, Peter, John and James who went up on the mountain … but as it had been many times before it was Jesus who was praying.
29And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Luke 9:28-30
His departure which in the Greek is translated Exodus (ἔξοδος), for the Jew this meant freedom from slavery in Egypt. The Jews had been released from bondage in Egypt; being led by Moses for forty years, in the desert, before entering the Promised Land.
This same Moses is now speaking with a glorified Jesus who will soon take his Exodus (ἔξοδος) heading towards Jerusalem, the Cross and death - a death that will ultimately lead to freedom from sin, death and the power of the Devil for all who are brought to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit’s work and believe. This reconciliation between God and man is made possible only by the once and for all atoning sacrifice of the God/man himself Jesus Christ.
Moses, the Law giver who carried the tablets of stone, etched by the finger of God, measuring the requirements that God has set and our inability to measure up to the standards that God had set is now in the presence of the disciples Jesus has brought with Him, standing with Elijah the prophet, who pointed towards the coming Messiah - Jesus Christ - now transfigured on the mountain:
32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here.
St. Francis pointed out that men become prideful of themselves because of the things that they have, the closes they wear or the horse they ride that are not of themselves but are added to them to give an appearance of glory.
Jesus Christ, on the other hand has to remove the cover of His humanity to reveal the true glory that is his but has been veiled for a time from the eyes of the world.
Peter continues …
… Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.
Peter may have not known what he said or was bewildered at what he was seeing. To be there in the presence of a glorified Jesus; a preview of the resurrected Christ drawing both the Old and New Testament focus together upon Himself had to be overwhelming.
We all fail to recognize the true glory of Jesus at times, seeing only a good man that can be an example for us to follow. But what did Peter say just a short while earlier in our gospel when Jesus asked the disciples:
“Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”
Peter’s confession that Jesus is “the Christ of God” had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit but that didn’t help him to understand fully what our Lord had to do in turning his face toward Jerusalem; knowing full well that what awaited Him was the Chief Priests and Scribes, rejection by the people, a trial, guilty verdict and death on a Cross – all this for you.
As Jesus is transfigured, Peter is thinking about building tents - building tents?
It could be that Peter was just very overcome by what was happening or in some way wanted to preserve and contain the glory of God as the children of Israel desired to do in the wilderness. Tents or no tents, Peter concludes, “It is good that we are here.”
Martin Luther put it this way:
Although out of pure grace God does not impute our sins to us, He nonetheless did not want to do this until complete and ample satisfaction of His law and His righteousness had been made. Since this was impossible for us, God ordained for us, in our place, one who took upon Himself all the punishment we deserve.
He fulfilled the law for us.
He averted the judgment of God from us and appeased God's wrath.
Grace, therefore, costs us nothing, but is cost another much to get it for us.
Grace was purchased with an incalculable, infinite treasure, the Son of God Himself."
Martin Luther, Daily Walk, May 5, 1992.
34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”
As they were standing in the presence of our Holy Lord, Jesus Christ, covered in their own unrighteousness, they were afraid, as it should for anyone who relies upon their own righteousness.
What about you? Sitting here today in the pew or me?
Do you ever miss the mark? Do you ever fall short? Do you see your sin constantly before you? Do you carry the guilt that comes with your sin? Are you burdened and weighed down? Have you fallen short of the mark!
36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.
… until the proper time …
Many times we are silent. We miss the mark and opportunity to share the Good News with friend, neighbor, relative, co-worker and all are in need of the same forgiveness that you and I have received from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, crucified for you and have the blessed assurance of an eternity in Heaven with Him.
Thank and praise God daily that Jesus didn’t miss His mark!
Thank and praise Him that you can listen to him in his word proclaimed and his word preserved in the writings of Holy Scripture.
Thank God you can partake of his body and Blood given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.
Thank and praise God that the Cross was his mark and his destination.
Thank him that he fulfilled his goal as he resolutely headed towards Jerusalem, the Cross and death where He received the full wrath of God poured out upon Him as He suffered and died on this Cross and on this Mount of Calvary, for you!
His crucifixion and death satisfied God’s justice for the sins of the world for you.
His death brought freedom for you and I as we receive the blessed exchange of His righteousness for our sins nailed once and for all to the Cross with him.
His death released you from the guilt you may at times still carry when you fail to cast all your burdens upon Him.
His death accomplishes all of this because on the third day …
He rose … in the glory of His resurrected body, transfigured, incorruptible for you. And you will too - and so will all who name the name of Jesus Christ having been brought to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit. Knowing that in your Baptism you were washed clean in the blood of the Lamb given and shed for you!
“It is good that we are here.”
May our Lord and savior Jesus Christ who has redeemed you, through the power of the Holy Spirit who has called you, comfort you with this blessed Good News now and forever!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
Monday, February 21, 2022
Sermon Feb. 19-20, 2022
Title: Be merciful and forgive as Christ has forgiven you!
Text: Luke 6:27-38
Text: Luke 6:27-38
Facebook live: Be merciful and forgive as Christ has forgiven you!
27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
Valentine’s day was last week. Many shared this love with their spouse, boyfriends and girlfriends, children, relatives and even much love was bestowed on Matthew Stafford for winning the Super Bowl, because in some strange way - for we in Detroit - he is still considered Detroit’s quarterback and beloved by many.
27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
Valentine’s day was last week. Many shared this love with their spouse, boyfriends and girlfriends, children, relatives and even much love was bestowed on Matthew Stafford for winning the Super Bowl, because in some strange way - for we in Detroit - he is still considered Detroit’s quarterback and beloved by many.
Love is nice and its easy to share with those we love. Detroit loves Steve Yzerman of the Red Wings but not so much Claude Lemieux. Right leaning or left leaning … the other side is always Claude Lemieux while you and I only see a smiling Steve Yzerman in the mirror of our own reflection.
… love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
Close your eyes, and think of those who hate you, who have hated you, who have wronged you and then think of those you hate, have hated, and have at one time or another completely disagreed with.
You have and I have. It is the reality of our sinful nature.
Now … love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you,
and … pray for those who abuse you.
These words of Jesus, for his first hearers, must have been hard to hear as they are for us even now.
Many were persecuted. Many lived under the lordship of others. Many had no hope for a better temporal existence.
Last week they had heard the blessings of being poor, hungry, and weeping in this life contrasted with the woes of those who are rich, full and laughing and Jesus continues this eternal perspective for his hearers and you and me as well with an equally hard teaching.
29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
You’ve heard the phrase in our day, “He or she has disrespected me!”
Now, respect is earned not demanded, but if we feel disrespected that might be considered a slap in the face in our day. We may even think of taking action, or retaliating but for we who are in Christ, the eternal reality is this:
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, while we were still God enemies, Christ died for us.
Born in sin, born God’s enemies in the fall, we have collectively slapped God in the face – we have disrespected God!
We have made him our enemy.
But he turns the other cheek, in the death of his son, he shows us mercy, and the greatest respect he gives to us who deserve his distain and wrath.
He forgives our sin in Christ, and gives us the cloak of his righteousness taking our filthy sin-stained cloak and tunic upon himself in exchange.
Christ has shown true love for we who were - his enemies, and in Christ we are made children of our heavenly Father and called to reflect his love to others.
This past week I stopped by the Diner for lunch. I said hi to Mary the waitress whom I’ve known for 40 + years and as I sat looking at the menu a man approached my table. I said hello to him and he said,
“Are you a Catholic Priest?”
“No, I replied, I’m a Lutheran pastor.”
He placed a $20 bill on the table and said, “
“I’d like to buy your lunch!”
I replied, “That is really kind of you.”
I learned his name was Mike and he asked me to pray for him. I have and will continue to do so.
Jesus says,
32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.
Mike gave, expecting nothing in return. He was kind, and generous. He only asked for prayer - when I asked what I could do for him.
I can only judge Mike’s actions. They were unexpected, kind, and gracious. I can’t judge his motive, the why he did this.
But the gospel concludes:
38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.
Maybe Mike had received a kindness and wanted to pass it on.
Maybe he had his lunch paid for and thought that kindness should be paid forward.
Maybe Mike was blessed in another way and felt the need to bless another in the same way he was.
Or, maybe, he is the one motivated by Christ simply to be a blessing?
Not only did he buy my lunch, but he helped me finish my sermon with this wonderful illustration and example of Christian love.
For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Now turn it around. Could you do the same if the person was not just unknown to you, but someone who actively was an enemy or one who hated and wronged you? It would certainly make it harder to reach out.
Bully story: Apology and forgiveness.
https://www.goalcast.com/dad-apologizes-man-he-bullied-20-years-later/
32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
It is my hope that the Spirit motivates us all to show kindness to those
we come in contact with and especially, to reach out to those who might not be our friends, to those we’ve wronged, and to those who have wronged us especially with the forgiveness that the Lord has shown us.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
… love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
Close your eyes, and think of those who hate you, who have hated you, who have wronged you and then think of those you hate, have hated, and have at one time or another completely disagreed with.
You have and I have. It is the reality of our sinful nature.
Now … love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you,
and … pray for those who abuse you.
These words of Jesus, for his first hearers, must have been hard to hear as they are for us even now.
Many were persecuted. Many lived under the lordship of others. Many had no hope for a better temporal existence.
Last week they had heard the blessings of being poor, hungry, and weeping in this life contrasted with the woes of those who are rich, full and laughing and Jesus continues this eternal perspective for his hearers and you and me as well with an equally hard teaching.
29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
You’ve heard the phrase in our day, “He or she has disrespected me!”
Now, respect is earned not demanded, but if we feel disrespected that might be considered a slap in the face in our day. We may even think of taking action, or retaliating but for we who are in Christ, the eternal reality is this:
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, while we were still God enemies, Christ died for us.
Born in sin, born God’s enemies in the fall, we have collectively slapped God in the face – we have disrespected God!
We have made him our enemy.
But he turns the other cheek, in the death of his son, he shows us mercy, and the greatest respect he gives to us who deserve his distain and wrath.
He forgives our sin in Christ, and gives us the cloak of his righteousness taking our filthy sin-stained cloak and tunic upon himself in exchange.
Christ has shown true love for we who were - his enemies, and in Christ we are made children of our heavenly Father and called to reflect his love to others.
This past week I stopped by the Diner for lunch. I said hi to Mary the waitress whom I’ve known for 40 + years and as I sat looking at the menu a man approached my table. I said hello to him and he said,
“Are you a Catholic Priest?”
“No, I replied, I’m a Lutheran pastor.”
He placed a $20 bill on the table and said, “
“I’d like to buy your lunch!”
I replied, “That is really kind of you.”
I learned his name was Mike and he asked me to pray for him. I have and will continue to do so.
Jesus says,
32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.
Mike gave, expecting nothing in return. He was kind, and generous. He only asked for prayer - when I asked what I could do for him.
I can only judge Mike’s actions. They were unexpected, kind, and gracious. I can’t judge his motive, the why he did this.
But the gospel concludes:
38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.
Maybe Mike had received a kindness and wanted to pass it on.
Maybe he had his lunch paid for and thought that kindness should be paid forward.
Maybe Mike was blessed in another way and felt the need to bless another in the same way he was.
Or, maybe, he is the one motivated by Christ simply to be a blessing?
Not only did he buy my lunch, but he helped me finish my sermon with this wonderful illustration and example of Christian love.
For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Now turn it around. Could you do the same if the person was not just unknown to you, but someone who actively was an enemy or one who hated and wronged you? It would certainly make it harder to reach out.
Bully story: Apology and forgiveness.
https://www.goalcast.com/dad-apologizes-man-he-bullied-20-years-later/
32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
It is my hope that the Spirit motivates us all to show kindness to those
we come in contact with and especially, to reach out to those who might not be our friends, to those we’ve wronged, and to those who have wronged us especially with the forgiveness that the Lord has shown us.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
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