Sermon October 26-27, 2019 - Reformation

Title: Fear God and give him glory!
Text: Rev 14:6-7

6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.

The word of God is truth! It is the essence of Jesus - the word made flesh. It is the word revealed as we learned last week in Paul’s letter to Timothy where he writes:

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16-17

It is this eternal gospel that Luther hoped in and wrote for our benefit in his Large Catechism about the second article of the creed:

[27] I believe that Jesus Christ, true Son of God, has become my Lord. But what is it to become Lord? It is this, that He has redeemed me from sin, from the devil, from death, and all evil. For before I had no Lord or King, but was captive under the power of the devil. I was condemned to death and, entangled in sin and blindness.

http://bookofconcord.org/lc-4-creed.php 27

It is this truth that Luther found joy and peace in.

It is this joy and peace that the Reformation blossomed and gave way to.

It is the bondage to sin that Luther felt and was crippled by.

It is the freedom in Christ that brought him peace.

It is a peace that we now share in Christ who made peace with God and has given that peace to you and me by faith in his saving work.

The eternal Gospel spoken of in Revelation is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world in our gospel reading in John.

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

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

To be a disciple is to be a follower of Christ. One who is connected to God’s very words and who abides in them – who takes rest in them - is one who accepts and acts in accordance with those words.

Martin Luther had this to say about discipleship in his lectures on the Psalms:

“In holy and divine matters one must first hear rather than see, first believe rather than understand, first be grasped rather than grasp, first be captured rather than capture, first learn rather than teach, first be a disciple rather than a teacher and master of his own. We have an ear so that we may submit to others, and eyes that we may take care of others. Therefore, whoever in the church wants to become an eye and a leader and master of others, let him become an ear and a disciple first.”

–Martin Luther, Lectures on the Psalms II, in Luther’s Works, Volume 11 (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1976), 245-46.

And as a disciple Jesus tells the Jews and you and I as well:

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

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

He said:

"If anyone could have gained heaven as a monk, then I would certainly have done so." He described this period of his life as one of deep spiritual despair. "I lost touch with Christ the Savior and Comforter, and made of him the jailer and hangman of my poor soul."

But later he found the eternal gospel and blessed peace in the words of Romans 5:1 which reads:

5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Have you felt closed in by the walls of sin? Have you or have your loved ones fled the blessings and Peace found only in Christ and his gifts given in word and sacrament? Are you burdened by the Law and a slave to sin?

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

The truth is you are all bound to sin and its cravings. You desire to do the will of your sinful nature which is in opposition to God’s will and as a result you fall short daily. The world says, “Deep down he is really a good person” - when the truth is deep down we all are worse and worse. The more you get to the core of who we are in our fallen human condition the more you see the sinfulness of man, corrupted to the core from the beginning by our first parents Adam and Eve.

But Jesus reminds His hearers and you as well that:

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

The freedom for the sinner is found only in Jesus. That was the joy that Luther found and what we celebrate in the Reformation. In Christ, true freedom from sin is possible and true liberty for we who are bound with the chains of guilt and despair is broken.

7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” Rev 14:7

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

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

In Jesus’ case … Joseph of Arimathea, for it was his tomb where Jesus was laid. But, the tomb and death was meant for you!

Jesus took your place, He took your cross, He took your death and He took your tomb and He made them what you couldn't … life, freedom, liberty, salvation and forgiveness because …

… if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!

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

Amen

Sermon October 19-20, 2019

Title: Christ is made known through the word!
Text: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ill.

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

According to sociologist Robert Bellah, 81% of the American people say they agree that "an individual should arrive at his or her own religious belief independent of any church or synagogue." (That truth is determined apart from God’s word and teaching in our case.)

This interesting thought is key to the paradox that that those who claim to be Christians are arriving at faith on their own terms -- terms that make no demands … on behavior … or Christian values.

Charles Colson, Against the Night, p. 98.

The apostle Paul tells Timothy and us:

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

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

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

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

Today even gender is no longer a physical determination of male and female but a psychological determination as many see fit - and society in its many forms - in many ways has bought into that truth. How someone sees themselves, or feels about themselves, becomes the determining truth or reality.

Ill.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That is what Paul keeps telling young Pastor Timothy: Preach the Word.

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

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

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

14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, [dear friends we’re here for the duration] but that you keep them from the evil one [from sin, death and the power of the devil]. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them [or keep them holy and separate from the world] in the truth; your word is truth.

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

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

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

4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths [or lies of the evil one as the time now shows]. 

5 As for you, as it was for Timothy, always be sober-minded, [clear headed and knowing that the truth is truth] endure suffering, [that is the reality for all who believe] do the work of an evangelist, [preach the word and comfort those in need the truth you have been comforted with] fulfill your ministry.

We have been blessed by faith with God truth may you all by that same faith be steadfast in receiving God word as truth for and always.

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

Amen

Sermon October 12-13, 2019

Title: Christ’s love leads us as his children!
Text: 2 Timothy 2:1-13

2 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

The soldier's first article of faith is summed up nowhere more eloquently than in an 1865 letter from William Tecumseh Sherman to U.S. Grant: "I knew wherever I was that you thought of me, and if I got in a tight place you would come--if alive." This is the unwritten, unspoken but unbreakable contract of the battlefield: You will leave no one, dead or alive, in the hands of the enemy.

U.S. News and World Report, July 29, 1991, p. 5.

In Paul’s second letter to Timothy we learn what is expected of God’s servants who take on the responsibility of public ministry but also we too are reminded of what God expects of each one of us who has been given the gift of faith in Christ Jesus as his child and how we are to live in this life with the hope of eternity before us.

Timothy had been taught.
    Grandmother Lois, Mother Eunice,
    Apostle Paul, many of the brothers

Timothy must also teach others.
     He must impart the true word that was given to him. Law/Gospel

Timothy must be prepared for trial, persecution and suffering.
     If they rejected Jesus and Paul you must expect the same.

Suffering connects us to Christ.
3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

A soldier is trained.
     Boot camp to break a soldier down and to build up in a new image
     Baptized into Christ and taught the word of God sustained by the Holy Spirit

A soldier is trustworthy.

     Following orders, looking out for each other, knowing others look out for you.

A soldier is faithful.
     Going beyond everything training prepares you for.

5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
     Rules are the standard athletes must obey.
     God’s rules are the standers we must obey … but can’t

The winner finishes ahead of the rest.

     The last will be first and the first will be last. Christ is our blessed hope.

The winner receives the prize.
     The prize is a gift. The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 

The farmer must till the soil.
     Growth comes through work

The farmer must plant the seed.
     Growth comes through means

The farmer receives a harvest.
     Growth produces a harvest [fruit]

8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!

God’s word is our hope and the means to eternity. It is Christ unbound from the death he suffered for the sins of the world and risen to newness of life.

10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect

Christ endured, Paul endured and we endure.

that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 

     Baptism

12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
     A life of faith in service to the gospel

if we deny him, he also will deny us;

Matthew 7:21-23 English Standard Version (ESV)

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.

Jesus is the faithful one and by his work you are declared righteous in him!

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

Amen

Sermon October 5-6, 2019

Title: Do not fear for the gospel is light and life!
Text: 2 Timothy 1:1-14

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

This was a busy week, and will be a busy weekend and beginning of the new week. Prep for a wedding and rehearsal on Friday with the wedding on Saturday, services on Saturday and Sunday and then I leave for the All Pastor’s Conference on Sunday returning on Tuesday.

You might think that this could be my most difficult week and give me pause with all that was needed to do and get done? Well, you would be wrong.

No … my most difficult day as a pastor was January 7th 2013.

That was the Monday after my ordination and installation as Pastor here at Peace when I came to the church to begin my service and realized that my friend and mentor Pastor Bill Merrell had retired, was not here, and it was me – alone - who now needed to move forward with the task and responsibility of shepherding the flock that is Peace Lutheran Church.

Pastor Merrell and I have worked together here in many ways are closer to being siblings, brothers if you will than the father and son image that Paul portrays in our reading but he was and is my spiritual father and mentor.

Paul writes:

3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.

The apostle who was called directly by Jesus on the road to Damascus into his service was not called as we who serve the church as called today. He received this call from Christ himself and places this emphasis on the will of God in Christ whom he serves – with a clear conscience.

Timothy began his journey of service with the gift of God in a different way having his sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in [his] grandmother Lois and [his] mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

Many of us came to faith by the working of the Holy Spirit through the word connected in Holy Baptism and then imparted to us and built in us through the faith and teaching of our grandparents and parents. Timothy’s mother Eunice was a Jewess and believer in Christ while his father was a Greek and during Paul’s second missionary journey with Silas Timothy joined them for their missionary work and a new calling on him and his life. Acts 16:1-5

Paul writing from prison writes to encourage Timothy in the face of trials as many of us during difficult times receive text messages of support today from those important figures in our lives.

Another brother pastor, mentor and dear friend is Pastor Paul Monson who preached at my ordination while Pastor Merrell officiated. Shortly after being installed I was invited to go to a Red wings game and Pastor Monson was there as well with our mutual friend Paul … no not that Paul.

As we were walking up to the gate for entrance I mentioned how blessed I was that God was allowing me to play the part of pastor at Peace Lutheran church. Pastor Monson stopped dead in his tracks, turned, looked me straight in the eye and said, “Russ, you are the pastor of Peace!”

I knew it. I believed it. I simply meant that it was by God’s will and not mine but Pastor monsoon wanted to hit me between the eyes with this reality so that there was no confusion.

Paul tells Timothy:

fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,

Paul is reminding Timothy that he has been called to serve as a messenger of Christ in the same way as Paul - but through a different means and purpose. The laying on of hands confers the same blessing of God as it did then by Paul or fellow pastors today.

7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

At times you might feel doubt about your calling as God’s child. You might feel the need commit yourself anew to Christ. Some even think that they should be re-baptized as testimony of their commitment to Christ.

Was Christ work insufficient? Was the word of God not spoken clearly? Was the water missing? Did the pastor forget something?

I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit is God’s promise upon you and for you connected to the water so that you need not have any doubt. His work never fails and you can rest in God’s assurance that you are baptized and forgiven in Christ.

Our doubt does not negate God’s work. His promise and work and is secure.

Pastors are ordained once and though their call, place or type of service may change and they may be installed for different works they’re doubt in the midst of service does not require a re-ordination.

Luther had this to say about Paul as he battled false apostles in his lectures on Galatians of 1535 standing up to even St. Peter the pillar of the apostles, affirming that his call was not from men; that he had not received it from men but from the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Luther concludes: But what does Paul intend by his bragging? I reply: This doctrine has at its purpose that every minister of the word of God should be sure of his calling. In the sight of God and man he should boldly glory that he preaches the Gospel as one who has been called and sent.

Luther’s Works American Ed. Vol. 26 Lectures on Galatians 1535 CPH 1963 pg. 15-16

For Timothy and for us all Paul encourages to stand firm.

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, [in chains in Rome] but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,

You and I have a different call but it is the same Christ.

You and I have a different service but it is the same gospel.

Paul was called directly by Christ.

Timothy through the laying on of Paul’s hands

I was called by this congregation and my ordination here at Peace.

You and I through our baptism to be God’s people for service to our children and to be his messengers in a dark world where the light of Christ need to shine brightly.

9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been [made known] through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Dear friends: The gospel is never anything but Good News, whether from your lips to ears that need to hear, or from mine. We just have a different call and service to our Lord.

11 for which I was appointed Paul says: a preacher and apostle and teacher,
Paul in writing to his beloved child Timothy tells him:

8 … do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner,

He says,

12 … I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.

Friends, this is our hope too. Not just for Timothy, and not just for pastors but for you and for me as his beloved children as he wrote in another letter at another time for another people from a prison cell:

6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phi 1:6 NIV

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

Amen

Sermon Sept 28-29, 2019

Title: By childlike faith eternity is ours!
Text: Matt. 18:1-11

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

We celebrate this weekend the feast of St. Michael and all Angels. Michael is called the great prince in our Old Testament reading and in Revelation Michael and his Angels fight against the dragon and his angels also know as that ancient serpent, the devil, and Satan saying:

“Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

Is it human nature to want to know who is the greatest?

Or, maybe you want to know your standing compared to your fellow man? At least you and I can be sure that it is a true sign of the motivation of the sinful nature. If you like me grew up or were around in the 1960's and 70's you remember Muhammad Ali or Cassius Clay as was his given name and his statement:

“I am the greatest!”

He said this and then went about proving it on the word boxing stage. In his later years he became an old man that struggled with Parkinson’s disease passing away at 74 years of age a non factor in boxing or any other sport for that matter.

But the disciples come to Jesus with this question of “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

And our Lord answers in reply in a very visual way as He brings a small child and places this child in their midst.

2 … “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

It brings to mind our Children here at Peace and the looks, wonder, answers and faith that these children exhibit by God’s working in them in Sunday school or the corporate praying of the Lord’s Prayer as they did with us last week in church. The weight of the world has not quite torn them down and replaced this childlike faith with the cynicism of the world and the reason that drives our lives and our motives at times.

Jesus continues:

4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus goes on to reveal the blessing and curse in his object lesson for the disciples and also your benefit.

5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.”

In other words, to receive theses precious gifts of God requires the same humility and childlike faith that is given to you by the Holy Spirit. With this faith you are given access to the blessings of Christ and are connected to all that He has merited for you.

6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,

Wow! This takes on a whole different character doesn’t it? How do you cause one of these little one to sin? Are children ever drawn into an illicit activity? Are they ever used for illegal gain?

Ill.

In one incident in Philadelphia show this to be the case. Police are looking for a woman who used a young child to steal someone’s wallet inside a nail salon after the entire theft was caught on tape.

The suspect tells the child to slide the purse over to where she was sitting, and then she reaches into the pocketbook.

The video shows the child taking out a small wallet and handing it to the suspect. The child then slides the purse back over near the victim before the suspect and the child walk out of the store.

Police hope that the video will help to bring the woman to justice.

https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2013/06/18/video-woman-uses-child-to-steal-wallet-inside-kensington-nail-salon/

Jesus tells of the consequence of sin involving a child when He says:

It would be better for him or in this case her to have a great millstone fastened around his/her neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

What about your child and mine? Having been given faith by the Holy Spirit in their baptisms, have they been nourished or have they been spiritually starved, left without the word of God to strengthen and build their faith?

The truth is that sin can be committed; the sin of commission or it can be a result of things not done, the sin of omission. Teaching your child the ways of Christ and bringing them up, as Paul writes to the Ephesian Church in his letter when he says:

4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Eph 6:4)

I take a special note that he writes to fathers because you and I as dads have a special responsibility and are also specially called and gifted by God to do what he calls us to do.
Jesus calls out, “Woe to the world for temptation to sin!” and we who are of the world to understand the consequence of sin and the temptation that leads up to it. Jesus knows that in the brokenness of this life you will have tribulation ... surgery and cancer diagnosis come to light, so I can attest to the struggles of this life. But Jesus says that:

… it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!

And He talks about some severe medicine:

8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

Jesus in talking to the disciple brings them comfort in the storms of life as He tells them to not despise one of these little ones, but welcome them and the faith that they posses by God’s Spirit in them.

Christ is speaking His truth, from His mouth, to the disciple’s ears. You too hear the word of Christ Jesus our Lord preached to you from this pulpit but it is still God’s word and it is still His comfort just the same.

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (Rom 10:14)

Christ Jesus is the gift of life and the savior of the world. His virgin birth, sinless life, death in your place at the cross, burial and glorious resurrection and ascension to heaven above was accomplished just for you. This childlike faith is given by his glorious gospel bringing you to this childlike faith by God’s word and sacraments. Baptism is called the liquid gospel because it bring with God’s word of promised connected to this water life from death, connecting you as a precious child to His life, death, burial and resurrection.

In Him the power of Satan is destroyed and you triumph over the devil with this same childlike faith given to you as a gift of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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

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

Amen

Sermon Sept. 21-22, 2019

Title: The Lord is our true master!
Text: Luke 16:1-15

13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” 14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. 15 And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

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

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

How do you deal with a bad manager? Especially one, who has not been looking out for the owner’s best interest?

2 And [the owner] called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’

It is not an uncommon situation for many who serve in positions of responsibility. As Pastor’s we are called stewards of the mysteries of God. We are called to faithfully divide the word of truth, to preach both the Law and the Gospel, and to administer God’s sacraments rightly.

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

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

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

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

Managers at time try to figure out a solution.

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

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

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

The object for the manager was to do damage control. With this scheme the shortage would disappear, or the income would look to be much smaller than the owner thought. And if he is found out, the customers would still think well of him.

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

Certainly this is not out of the realm of possibilities.

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

Ill.

At a meeting I attended many years ago it was made known that a co-worker had defrauded the company. He had sold instruments for the company but kept the trade-ins for himself and sold them for his own profit. The company was unaware of the trade-ins, as the manager’s paperwork showed only a cash transaction with no trade in information listed.

The manager personally picked the trade in instruments, the customers thought they got value for their trades, and then he sold them out of his garage – to other customers - so the company lost the profit on the trades and future company business. He made some money being very shrewd.

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

Even the master in our lesson, when he received information concerning this latest trick of the manager, could not withhold a certain amount of praise. He praised him, not on account of his unfaithfulness and his fraud, but on account of the cleverness in handling the situation and getting himself out of a very unpleasant predicament in this life.


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

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

“Money easily gotten is money easily lost.”

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

Now, the world makes provision for the future, that is, they look to put themselves and their families beyond care, as soon as possible, it is the focus of their life and they make use of every possible advantage through: retirement investments, pensions, savings accounts , homes, and 401K and IRA investments to name a few. Maybe we’ve all thought to call on Ric Edelman – "that’s rice delman" - to look over our investments to make sure we are cared for in retirement to get the most out of our investments and social security.

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

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

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

Kretzmann

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

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

Ill. continued

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

And the true blessing and gift that God gives you and me is faith in His son.
He has given us life through the death of His son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to live suffer and die and rise again for you and for me. This bears fruit in service to our neighbor, not by works of righteousness that we do, but by true joy in Jesus Christ our Lord.

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

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

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

Amen

Sermon Sept. 14-15, 2019

Title: Rejoice for you are the Lords!
Text: Luke 15:1-10

6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Jesus came for sinners and we can joy in the good news that He has found you and me!

15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear [Jesus]. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

The charge against Jesus has always been harsh. “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” How might that reflect on you and me? Are you accused of being like those with whom you associate?

Interesting, is it not? Jesus came for sinners and that very fact has the Pharisees and scribes grumbling.

Ill.

Years ago in the distant eons of the 1970's I was playing at a club in Wyandotte and a young Priest came with a friend of mine to hear us play. As we talked during a break he remarked: “I wonder what my parish would think of me hanging out in a bar and listening to a rock band?”

And then he said: “It is probably the place I should be and the place I could do the most good.”

When you think about it … where did Jesus spend most of his time? And who did he spend that time with? For sure He was among the people, but here and in many other places in scripture He was with the Pharisees, rulers, scribes and the Jewish leaders teaching … and rebuking … and calling.

What does that say about sinners? They’re everywhere; in the church and out of the church. Those who are piously leading religious lives … or so the impression seems and those who are far away from God … at a bar … hanging out … or so the impression seems.

For Jesus and in His day the perceptions were the same. Some who seemed religious were not and those who were seen as sinners, as in the stories of tax collectors and adulterers, were those God called to faith and used as witnesses to the working of God - through the word - in their lives by His Spirit.

3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?

Ill.

As a manager in a music business I had the owner’s trust. Having keys for three stores I would leave my home in Waterford, stop at his store on Dixie Hwy. and pick up the bank deposit and then go to the Bloomfield Hills store dropping off the money and paperwork for Waterford, and the Plymouth Store that I managed. Each day I handled the business and cash for at least two stores.

One day, I helped my co-worker Alan sell a guitar. At times the drivers delivering and picking up pianos picked up the paper work and cash as well returning it to the office. When it came time for commissions to be paid, Alan didn’t have the guitar sale I helped him with on his paperwork. I looked everywhere and called all the stores and my boss. It was nowhere to be found. The guitar was listed in inventory and there was no sale. It was like it vanished.

I felt terrible. I for one had responsibility for my worker at Plymouth – to see that he got paid for what he sold and to my owner to see that he received the money he had coming. It was nowhere to be found.

After much searching though and talks we all decided to move on my boss told me “Russ it is not that I don’t value the guitar sale but we have to get back to doing business.” It was baffling … but we had business to do.

Over a year later, I had some dead time at the store and decided to clean my desk. Also my briefcase was full of old and outdated paperwork and contracts. As I got rid of that I noticed what looked to be a dollar at the bottom back of the briefcase. As I reached for it I was surprised to pull out six one hundred dollar bills and the contract for one guitar sale for Alan.

I called my boss, “Ben, do you remember that deal on the lost guitar over a year ago?” “Yes”, he said. Well, it was in my briefcase and it will be in the bank today! He said thanks and hung up. He didn’t sound real happy while I was ecstatic.

I talked to his son Jim later that day. “Did you hear about the lost guitar?” I asked. “Yes I did great news!” he said, “Your dad didn’t seem too excited.” “Well, he was mad … said you need to be more careful in dealing with these things and not so careless with the companies money.” I told him, “Dad … be thankful, you have an honest employee. That is worth so much more than $600.”

In our lives losing money can be important. For the Lord it is people, you and me, who have great value to him.

Jesus came for you dear friends - the one lost sheep - just as each one of us are lost at birth. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save those that were lost.” (Luke 19:10)

Sinners need Jesus and His Word and Spirit in their lives; or everything is hopeless.

5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

The place of strength … the high Priest’s shoulders is where the sheep is carried.

Jesus carries the lost sheep that have been found upon his shoulders as the parable continues.
6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

The joy of the Good Shepherd is you!

The joy for sinners is that you are not so lost that Jesus can’t find you. As He says in the parable of the lost coin:

8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?

Jesus Christ by the working of His Holt Spirit will continue to seek you.

9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’

Objects are lost because people look where they are not - instead of where they are.

Or, as might be said: People are lost because we preach the gospel where they are not - instead of where they are.

10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Maybe Father Mike was right and being where people need to hear the good news is important.

15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Jesus will find the lost because He will never stop seeking you and those who need to hear this blessed joy that:

Christ came for sinners. Rejoice dear friends … he came for you and you are the Lords!

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

Amen