Sermon January 25-26, 2020

Title: Christ will make you fishers of men too!
Text: Matt 4:12-25

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

We are in the Epiphany season. What does Epiphany mean? For those in the world it means Jesus Christ being made manifest or being made known. The Messiah had been long expected by Israel. For the Jews in our day he is still looked for and expected. When will he come they wonder?

For many in the world this season means playoff football and clearance sales. For you and me it also means tax season and paying what you owe or possibly getting a refund - time to think … time to gather … time to prepare your tax statements and W-2 forms.

For some it is time for a vacation. It’s cold out, let’s pack up and go someplace warm!

For those in the church it may be some of these things or all of the above.
In our Gospel lesson today, Jesus leaves Nazareth and goes into Galilee, to Capernaum by the sea so that the words spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled.

15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”

What does it mean to follow Christ?

In a sense it means:

16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light,

It is God, working in the world and through his means of making himself known.

In Jesus’ day … he walked by the Sea of Galilee and called two brothers who were fisherman, Andrew and Simon, saying:

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Their response was to follow him … immediately!

So to with James and John his brother a short time later, 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Not all who saw the light of Christ followed.

Why some and not others is the age old divine question? Why are some brought to faith and believe while others resist and reject? Only God knows but John does shed light on the will of those in darkness in Chapter 3:

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

And so too our epistle lesson confirms:

18 For the word of the cross is folly [or foolishness] to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

So it is God’s power to save and man’s will to flee light and love darkness.

The inherent will to sin is strong in all of us. We all fall short of God’s expectations and for some, our sin calls us back to the darkness of inequity that we love. Why some and not others?

It’s been said:

Some people change their ways when they see the light, others only when they feel the heat.

Source Unknown.

The Gospel is really good news but let us not forget Christ’s call:

17 … “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

The turning from our sinfulness is first – necessary - before the gift of forgiveness is received.

When we are brought to faith God gives us his Spirit and calls us to follow him.

For many of us God’s call came in the waters of Holy Baptism when we were washed and called to a life of holiness.

For some it came later in life as God’s word took seed in their heart bringing them to faith and belief in Christ’s finished work for their redemption.

Each begins with God’s work that is received, but it is our faith and it is our belief none the less.

Ill.

I went outside last Monday. The sun was out and shinning down. It was still cold but when the sun broke forth from the clouds it warmed me.

I did nothing … I simply received the warmth. I had nothing to do with the sun shining but it was really me who was warmed, it was my joy, it was my smile on my face but it was still cold! Man! 12 degrees is cold in the middle of January Sunny of not!

So, if the faith we have is a gift, and the belief we share brings us the joy of forgiveness, why do so many love the cold darkness of sin and keep heading in that direction?

Last weekend a bird flew into my picture window. It was a morning dove. It hit pretty hard and was laying on my hose real. A small hawk looked like it was chasing it. It was alive and I was able to bring it in the house, placed it in a laundry basket with a lid and let it rest a few hours to see if it might get its senses back. After a few hours Monica and I took the basket outside and it flew a short distance. I thought I might pick it up and place it back in the basket a while longer. When I tried to pick it up again it flew to the end of my yard. The care it had received was forgotten and getting away was paramount.

Birds are creatures of habit.

Christians at times are as well.

We have our dwelling places of happiness and hope in this temporal world.

What we see at times as success is really defeat. The idols that we build for ourselves continue to fail. I’m reminded of the fellow on Crescent Lake Road that has a small bus all painted up with a Detroit Lions logo and stripes, a real Party Bus! Though it never really has anything to party or be excited about – same old Lions right.

But I did see hope – He got a newer bus and painted this one too with the lions logo. Can you imagine … the lions have let him down for so long he needs another bus! Where is your Party Bus of hope? What in this life will bring you comfort?

For those not here it obviously is in something else. What, where, whom …

Many find their peace at home, with sports and with other pastimes away from church and having no interest in Christ or his gifts I know it’s not you who come because you’re here and that is where Christ has promised to be!

He is here by his word to bring about repentance.
He is here in absolution, to comfort and forgive you.
He is here body, blood, bread and wine to unite you to himself in the sacrament of the Altar.
He is here as a washing away of sins in baptism and a bestowing of his Spirit that calls you to believe.
He is here … so why do so many stay away?

It is the devils desire to have you not attend at all! So he will make being away as comfortable and joyful as possible and he will make attending as difficult and troublesome as possible.

Of course we at times in our own sinfulness do and say things that drive people away but the Lord will prevail. He will pursue the lost so that when they fall so low as to reach bottom only his turning by the Spirit will give hope. Those who are afflicted will be healed and those comfortable in sin will be brought low.

Just as Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people so too he is here when his word is preached and his gifts are given for the forgiveness of sin.

Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men is Christ call in Baptism and throughout the Christian life. His means are here. Come and receive his gifts!

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

Amen

Sermon January 18-19, 2020 – Life Weekend

Title: Behold the Lamb!
Text: John 1:29-42a

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

This weekend we celebrate the gift of Life from conception to God’s calling us to our eternal rest. Whether in the womb, childhood, adult life or old age, life is precious and gift of God. We, who are born in sin unto death, receive rebirth by God’s work in Christ, bringing us in relationship to him and back to the original righteousness he intended.

We are his workmanship and reminded … in the beginning of:

God’s creating work.
God’s all powerful word.
God’s illuminating Spirit hovering over the waters.
God’s breath of life, that was breathed into the formed dust of the ground giving life to that which God had created,

Male and female he created them. Gen 1:27c

We think of Adam and Eve, the Garden of Eden, the fruit of the tree in the midst of the garden, the fall into sin … and death came.

My friend Paul’s daughter Michelle was born on June 9th 1980 three months premature struggling for life. Her sister Diana had been born one year earlier but after 48 hours of life in the NICU had died in her father’s arms.

Michelle wasn’t expected to survive, and if she did the doctors warned, she might be brain damaged and blind. But survive and thrive she did. Fast forward 18 years, Michelle graduated 3rd in her high school class. It had been her dream to be a pilot and serve our country as her grandfather a WWII veteran and B-52 pilot did. She had the grades, was physically able, and after receiving an appointment from Congressman John Dingell she went to the Air force academy. Interestingly her boyfriend at the time went to the Naval academy.

As graduation neared, he had a leave of duty and decided to go home before Christmas. The weather was mild for December – not much different than the weather we’ve had this year. It was a dry and warm day visiting with his parents and friends so he took his motorcycle out for a ride. The car didn’t expect or see him as he entered the intersection. He was killed and Michelle, her dad, his parents and friends were devastated.

The wages of sin is death. Rom. 6:23a

But God proclaims in our gospel reading today:

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

What God had created perfect and what had been broken by the fall of man into sin, God will restore through this lamb, this savior, this man Jesus.

Proclaimed and pointed to by John as God’s lamb, who takes away the sin of the world.

Life is precious gift and when death comes we are all devastated.

I wrote Michelle a note of comfort not knowing what to say. I don’t even remember the exact year this happened. I can’t remember what I wrote or said except to say that in some way I prayed that God would bring Michelle comfort and peace and get her through this difficult time.

32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son[ of God.”

Michelle had a distinguished career having flown in Afghanistan and Iraq.

As she was preparing for one of her deployments, Paul’s wife Rebecca said to him, “I’ve been praying that Michelle meet a nice young man!” Paul thought to himself, “Well, that’s nice but she’s going to Afghanistan! There’s little chance of that happening anytime soon.” Well, we kept her in prayer during the long months, and as her deployment was coming to an end Paul got a call from Michelle in Germany on her way home. “Dad, she said, I’ve met a boy!” Rebecca just smiled.

Jesus is the Lamb of God.

4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:4

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth. Isaiah 53:7

Jesus is the Sacrificial Lamb

18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
1 Peter 1:18-19

24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
1 Peter 2:24

Jesus is the Mighty and Victorious Lamb spoken of in Revelation.

Revelation 5:6-12

… I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain … 9 And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”

Michelle and Justin returned home from Afghanistan. The families got to meet and get to know each other as Justin was from Ann Arbor. Life was good. But, Michelle had one final deployment before her service to our country was concluded. Her final tour came, but rather than let her go alone, Justin volunteered to go as well, though he had completed his tours and could have stayed home.

True love, dear friends, looks to the needs of another.

John’s testimony points to Christ

No longer is Jesus a babe in a manger
He is the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form. Col. 2:9
He is God for us.

He is God’s Son, marked for death so that you may be his child marked for life!

He, Jesus, is God in the flesh, God’s redemption, God’s Messiah, the King of Israel, the kingdom of God among you, God’s peace and your redemption.

Michelle and Justin received the rank of Major and finished their final tour oversees and moved back to Colorado. They were engaged and married in October of 2015 having retired from active military duty. He now is a pilot for Southwest and she teaches English at the Air Force academy. They have been blessed with two beautiful children. I was blessed to baptize their daughter Kalais. God’s comfort and peace has come.

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.”

It is God who desires all to see Christ.

At times it is during the trials of life that the Spirit makes him known.

It is at times in the lives of others that we can see by that same Spirit God’s work more clearly.

And it is at times like these that we need to share and shine forth all that God has made known and done for you and me through the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world!

Andrew … found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus.

This Good News is something to shout about!
This Good News is something to share with others!

God has overcome the wages of sin, death so that by his Spirit we too have life in his name!

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

Amen

Sermon January 11-12, 2020

Title: Baptized into Christ is life from above!
Text: Matt. 3:13-17

16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

This weekend begins the season of Epiphany. Christmas is no more. Christ Jesus is, Emmanuel, God with us, and from the visit of the wise men bearing gifts celebrated January 6th the Epiphany season begins.

Today we celebrate the baptism of the Lord. At Christmas a babe is born in a manger, he is named and circumcised, the wise men visit and make Christ known to the world, and now the man Jesus comes to the river to be baptized by John.

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.

Jesus came down to John … and we might ask why?

Why would Jesus come to John?

He certainly didn't need to repent, because He was not born in the natural way and conceived in sin.

He also didn't come down to John like the Pharisees and the Sadducees, who came in unbelief, and in an arrogant and mocking manner … rejecting God’s council against them.

But he came as those who were sinners and who needed repentance, though He had no sin.

John was certainly surprised to see Jesus coming:

14 … saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

John recognizes Jesus for who He is … “the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29)

So the question is why does Jesus come and seek Baptism - as there is no sin and uncleanness in Him which Baptism would remove?

For He here takes your place and my place and stands - in place of all - who are sinners, and since all, especially even the arrogant people who do not acknowledge that they are sinners, Jesus must become a sinner for all – even for those who reject him. He has come and has taken on our sinful flesh and will take to the cross … in His passion, the full weight of the sins of the world which He bears.

P.E. Kretzmann

Baptism is either the work of God or the work of man. It is either something God does and gives to us or it is something we do for God.

So Jesus answers John:

15 … “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

Jesus here confirms John’s previous statement in a sense saying “You are right John. It is not I who needs baptism … but I have come for this purpose.” It is God’s purpose in Christ to be marked in your place so that you and all born sinful might be saved.

Here is not Jesus as example. Here we do not see Christ baptized and say,

“Oh, I should be baptized like Jesus too.”

His is a bloody baptism. His is a baptism of death so that you might have a baptism of life. In Christ’s baptism Jesus is marked as God’s beloved son in whom the Father is well pleased. God is pleased because Jesus is the once for all acceptable sacrifice, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!

In baptism we too are acceptable to the Father, not because we model Christ in our actions but because we receive the gift he has won on our behalf. This changes us from dead in sin to alive in Christ being buried with him in Baptism and raised to newness of life.

The Reverend Phillips Brooks who lived in the 1800s in Massachusetts said:

“No man in this world attains to freedom from any slavery except by entrance into some higher servitude. There is no such thing as an entirely free man.”

Phillips Brooks (1835- 1893)

That is true in one sense. We are always in this life bound to our sin. All that we say and do is filtered through our sinful flesh. We are a slave to sin or as Martin Luther has taught in his book the “Bondage of the Will” … “we are all in Bondage to our sin.”

But Paul brings joy to light in our epistle for today when he says:

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

Baptized into Christ is life from above!

One of the church Fathers – Tertullian, wrote of baptism in this way:

The primary principle of Baptism is that the Spirit of God, who hovered over (the waters) from the beginning, would continue to linger over the waters of the baptized.”

Tertullian – De Baptismo IV (ANF 3:670)

This is made possible for you and me because:

16 … when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
In Christ is where the favor and pleasure of God rests!

For just as, after the waters of the flood, by which the old sinful world was killed and taken away — a Baptism, of the world so to speak—a dove was sent forth from the Ark and was the herald which announced to the earth the removal of God’s wrath. After returning with the olive branch, this too became a sign which to this day is a sign of peace.

So too by God’s heavenly gift —we emerge from the waters of Holy Baptism our sins removed and washed away by the dove of the Holy Spirit, and in Christ Jesus God is well pleased with you and me having God’s peace sent out from the heavens, through Christ’s Church, which is a type of ark.

Tertullian – De Baptismo VIII (ANF 3:672)

Epiphany is Christ being made known to the world. We understand the visit of the Wise men and the gifts that they bring to worship our Lord.

But the real gift is not brought to Christ but is given by Christ.

His gift is his very body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. By His taking on humanity he was marked with His creation and with you and me. When He was baptized by John he received the weight of sin poured out on him as the chief of sinners, though he remained sinless.

He went to the cross with your sin and the sins of the whole world on him and received the wrath of God’s punishment that we deserve. And because of his atoning work - you and I receive what we don’t deserve - God’s favor on account of Christ.

Those baptized at the font received that same forgiveness.

Marked as one redeemed by Christ the crucified, we are washed clean in the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit and are given New Life and New Birth of water and the Spirit!

We are made God’s Child and have been adopted into His family – children of Abraham - and given the inheritance of heaven and life eternal in Him.

Baptized into Christ is life from above!

Christ has made a way for all to be found in Him through the holy flood that is baptism. The means he gives is faith in His finished work, given to you and me as a gift by God’s Holy Spirit, working in and through Baptism. Daily rejoice in God’s simple way of bringing you to him through water and the word.

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

Amen

Sermon January 4-5, 2020

Title: All blessings are yours in Christ!
Text: Eph. 1:3-14

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

Life seems to be as bad right now as it has ever been. Maybe you feel it and maybe you know it too?

A year or so ago I got a text from my brother asking me to give him a call and if I had a moment to talk. It wasn’t uncommon and I quickly returned the call.

“Hi Ron, how are you?” I asked.
“Not good,” was the reply.

My brother sounded spent. His voice was soft and lost. It was not our normal conversation. He told me that he had got a call from his son and that Vince’s childhood friend had committed suicide. His parents went away for the weekend and he was staying at their house to watch the dog. They called and talked to him as they were leaving to make the trip back home from Grand Rapids. Two and a half hours later they found him in their home dead from a gunshot wound.

They didn’t know he owned a gun.
They didn’t know there was a problem.

They didn’t expect this … and even though my brother and nephew had lost touch with this young man after high school nobody expected this – family or friends - from a college educated 25 year old with no history of family or life problems … nobody expected this.

Stories like this have become all too familiar in our day. I can’t remember a story like this growing up. Sure there were deaths and some tragic when I was growing up. A classmate died in a fire, another of cancer, a younger brother of the guy who sat behind me in homeroom was murdered by a family friend. Tragic for sure but all three would have been here had not the fire, the sickness, or the evil deed of another prevailed.

We end one year and begin another with joy and sorrow. I received a picture of my brother, Ron’s new grandson Henry, born the day after Christmas. Joy and smiles abound! He even looks to me like my brother as a baby. What a joy to their family.

I read online also with sadness the story of a small plane crash in Lafayette, La. that killed Carly McCord, a 30 year old sports reporter and daughter–n-law of LSU coach Steve Ensminger, along with four others. Tears and sadness abound. What a tragic family outcome just after Christmas.

At times like these, God’s blessings can seem distant or small in comparison to the weight of life trials that comes upon us - at times in our lives - that we didn’t anticipate or expect.

When joy or sorrow comes we need to be reminded of hope. Not just hope for a better tomorrow but hope that surpasses all human understanding. And that is what Paul puts to scroll in the opening of his letter to the Ephesians.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

Our blessings are not in the joys or sorrows of our earthly lives but in Christ and in him we have every spiritual blessing promised in Christ and delivered to us through God’s work. No matter the joy or sorrow we face.

Each New Year we have the promise of a better day ahead and that the sorrows of the year just ended can be better as we look to our future and what tomorrow might bring. Often times as we look back we see all that this life didn’t deliver and the hope for tomorrow became much the same as before or simply a life of ups and downs.

Despite the ups and downs though Paul reminds us of God’s calling:

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

You stand … not marked in sin but marked in him … as holy and blameless!

Think about that! You are set apart and marked without fault.

In this life you stumble and fall. You miss the mark and are overlooked. You argue and fight and feel at times hopeless but in Christ you are holy and blameless.

Why? Well, its God’s love!

In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

It is God’s will that you be his child.
It is God’s will that this happen in Christ.
It is God’s will that no matter your success or failure in this life …
… that in Christ, God’s grace and favor come to you.

We were brought forth in sin, conceived in sin, and in sin death comes – we are filthy and whether through sickness or tragic circumstances like my classmate Sylvia dying in a house fire at 14, or Marc dying from cancer as the Allen Park Jaguar football team won the league championship, or Kevin -brother of Kent and Keith who was killed at the hand of a family friend, tragically and senselessly.

In the world life becomes death.
In Christ death becomes life.

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Temporal and heavenly realities are ours.

Tears in this life will come. Will you lose a job or get one? Will a loved one die or will life be added to your family? Will yours be tears of sorrow or joy?

Only God and the future know for sure but I’m sure it will be some of each as we continue in this life both with our families and our church family and our community and national families as well.

The reality of need and of promise, of blessing and curse don’t always come at the proper or desired time in this life. At times our need often remains while the hoped for blessing seems to be to those Ephesian readers and then to us as well.

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

It’s all ours because of Christ.
It is all ours according to his will and purpose.
It is all ours to the praise of his glory!

Where?
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, 

The word proclaimed and the word connected to the water in Holy Baptism.

When? 

When you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

When we were marked in Christ as forgiven, through the gospel proclaimed and sealed in the sacrament of Holy Baptism by God’s working.

Who?
14 who is [God’s] guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it.

God the Holy Spirit in you.

Why?
Simply to the praise of his glory.

It is simply his love and grace and favor on account of Christ that God has marked you as his. No work and no merit. No sorrow or joy. No right or wrong.

Just Christ, for you 

Just Christ, in you 

Just Christ, with you 

In times of life that have no explanation.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

In Christ!

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

Amen

Sermon December 29, 2019 - 1st Sunday after Christmas

Title: In Christ we have been set free!
Text: Gal.4:4-7

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Years ago at St. John in Rochester where I attended Dr. James Bolt, who was principle of the school, told a story about his son who was learning to drive. He had his learners permit and while dad was at work was practicing backing the car out of the garage and pulling it back in. As Dr. Bolt was getting home he said:

“I noticed my wife and son waiting for me by the garage. As I walked up I could see the look of fear and sadness on my son’s face. As I got closer I could see that my wife wasn’t too happy either. Upon further investigation what I found out was that as my son practiced pulling the car in and out of the garage … on one of the times he was pulling the car in … he stepped on the gas instead of the break … and pushed my table saw into the family room!”

“It was at that time that I had a really good lesson of Law and Gospel. As I looked at my son I saw that he knew quite well what he had done wrong and I didn’t need to remind him of that. So I gave him the gospel saying, you’re lucky your mom and I love you!”

In Christ we have been set free!

As the opening illustration points out, children are under the care of their parents. In ancient times as well as today the law places the well-being of children to the authority and care of their parents and guardians.

“At the time of Paul, the minor was legally about in the same position as the slave. No act of his had the sanction of the law, unless it was performed through his legal representative. He was under guardians, or tutors, and stewards, or trustees, until the time appointed of the father, who might even make a provision to limit the heir’s right to his property beyond the age of legal majority.”

Popular Commentary of the Bible P.E. Kretzmann NT Vol. 2 Pg. 245

Paul’s letter to the Galatians is an important letter as it points to the sufficient work of Christ Jesus over and above the demands of the Law that had been perplexing the Christians of Galatia. Though they had been recognized as Christians, and James, the head of the Jerusalem Church spoke of no circumcision for gentiles at the Jerusalem council, Paul in his letter has to once again distinguish faith from works.

25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, (no longer are you like a child or a slave under the care of a parent or guardian that will look out for your needs) 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (Gal 3:25-29)

You too:

In Christ we have been set free!

Here Paul distinguishes that the Law was a guardian before Christ came. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

Your sinful nature sure wants to place you back under a guardian. It wants to take your freedom in Christ which has set you free from the curse of the law and bind you in bondage again to your sins that have been forgiven in Christ.

And many times, you who have been forgiven … stay bound to your sin … why?

Oh, I suppose it is because we are sinners from birth and can’t let go of our guilt.

The Galatians too, as noted in the text have been brought back into bondage by the Jews who are zealous for the law. They have great zeal to keep what time and again they know they can’t keep but try and try they might. Many try at times to justify themselves instead of receiving the free gift of forgiveness found only in Christ.

But not you or me! We never worry about the law, regulations or requirements in our lives!

When I was taking my seminary classes,
I wasn’t concerned with what the professor required, what I should read or how I could best pass his class with a good grade. Nope … not me! Sure ....

Do you see how we all are creatures of the law?
We all need and love to follow regulations.

The law is a natural for us and it is easy for we who love to have a list of requirements so we can measure how well we meet the demands, rules or even what the professor or our boss, husband or wife requires.

But, there is good news for the Galatians And for you and me from Paul with one of the most blessed texts that I know:

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

The truth is the Galatians had been set free but continued to climb back into their jail cell of the Law thinking that they can do what it demands. Christ has set them free by his all sufficient sacrifice. He paid for their freedom and nothing that they do can add to their freedom. It is finished as Christ Jesus said from the cross

These Galatians are sill Abraham’s offspring, called son’s of God through faith …

… when? 

At their baptisms when they … put on Christ. No longer, Jew or Greek, neither slave nor free … no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

This is salvation that binds no one to any work, but truly comforts all to the Good News that on account of Christ you are free from what the Law requires because Jesus came and kept the Law perfectly for you.

The Law still has relevance though because it shows you where you fall short and stops you with the knowledge of right and wrong and even guides you and me in how we should live. But for Paul the message that he wanted to get across to the Galatians is that their freedom is truly free on account of Christ and His sacrifice for sin once and for all!

You are free dear friends! You are forgiven in Christ!

There is nothing that needs to be added to Christ’s work. All that needs to be added is you … called by the Holy Spirit to believe, having your name written in the Lamb’s book of life … you are Christ’s, forgiven because of His work and needing nothing more but the faith in His work that is given you by God.

There is a great quote by Patrick Henry that reads:

“I have now disposed of all my property to my family. Though there is one thing more I wish I could give them … and that is faith in Jesus Christ. If they had that and I had not given them a single shilling, they would have been rich; but if they lack that, and I had given them the entire world, they would be poor indeed.”

Source unknown

You are rich indeed because you have your heavenly Father’s love on account of Christ. Because of him you are forgiven and have put on Christ Jesus. The sin you were born in has been exchanged for the righteousness of Christ and you have received His fullness and love by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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

Amen

Sermon December 25, 2019 – Christmas Day

Title: Christ the King the word made flesh!
Text: John 1:1-14

 
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The early church leader St. Augustine was once [stopped] by a man who showed him his idol and said, “Here is my god; where is yours?”

Augustine replied, “I cannot show you my God; not because there is no God to show, but because you have no eyes to see Him.”

Source unknown

Today through the eyes of faith, and at His incarnation we see in the manger, a baby the Christ child and say: “Here is my God!”

Christ the King the word made flesh!

John 1:1-18 has been one of my favorite sections of scripture. It expresses the deity of Jesus Christ, His glory that he has with the father and the abundance of His name which is full of grace and truth.

In the beginning, God, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit parallels in John 1:1 what is said by him in Genesis 1:1.

As God, in the beginning created the heavens and the earth, so too we learn from John’s gospel that “in the beginning was the Word,” that the “Word was with God.” And that “the Word was God.”

What is evident in Genesis 1 is that God is a plurality as creator and that His Spirit hovered over the face of the waters and that God spoke and said, “Let there be light.”(Genesis 1:3)

This is in John’s gospel elaborated, expanded and explained … as the Word, that from the beginning … was with God and that He was God and that through Him, through the “Word,” all things were made.

In Genesis the light that God set forth by His “Word” is the light of men and though the darkness cannot overcome it, this light of the “Word” continues to shines forth.

God’s light that shines forth in his Word and whom God is made known by, is revealed by the One who has seen God and is God and to whom his children believe and know his name.

This name of the “Word” is the eternal name which John came to testify to, so that the world might recognize him … the eternal God.

YHWH, is the name by which the Word, from eternity, has been made known to the world and by revelation and by faith we know Him to be Jesus.

Christ the King the word made flesh!

Not all see the “Glory” that is only revealed by faith in the Christ.

Not all see salvation in him; because it is made know by that same faith and working of the Holy Spirit.

But though not recognized, salvation is there – in the child - none the less.

The writer to the Hebrews says that this Christ child:

3 … is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

He came in the flesh so that those who are unable to see … that was you and me and in fact the entire world born in sin …

could be made righteous,
could be made new,
could be born again …
born anew … from above … born of God … and given new life in Him.

The world doesn’t want to hear this, and the world doesn’t want to see this, and that is what makes this child and this birth ever more amazing!

Because he came anyway, despite the hatred … despite the sin, he came for you.

Ill.

This past year I was summoned to the bedside of dear member Trudy Berousek. More than ninety years of age, she was stricken with congestive heart that would prove her fatal illness. As we talked and prayed, over the years knowing that God’s call home would come for her, she said: "Pastor, I’m ready to go home. The weakness of old age was on her, and the pain of sickness, but there was no gloom. It was light of Christ in her. The joy of Jesus!

Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

And that’s how it is with God! From its very opening pages, all the way to the end of the book, the Bible is a story about how God has pursued us with joyful love … an unchanging and unquenchable and UNDESERVED love, because he wants us to come home … to his house! And we do that in this life through the gift of grace by faith! It’s an amazing privilege.
Christ the King the word made flesh!

The joy we feel today is reflected in Christ, the child in the manger that we celebrate today. Though given as a gift there was a real price to be paid. This very son of God came to redeem the world by His life, death on the cross for you, and his glorious resurrection assures that you will rise too!

Today you too need to see Jesus for who He is; the author and finisher of your faith. He is the one who has taken away the sins of the world and in Him you have life eternal – because his gift is perfect!

The good news is that through the working of the Holy Spirit you have been brought to faith and through the means of grace, of word and sacrament, you are continually built up in Christ being made holy in Him, this beautiful child of Bethlehem that was prophesied long ago.

The truth that we are given in this Christ is not fiction. It is the true and blessed working of our Lord to redeem the lost, you and me. You have been forgiven and are found in him. Rejoice in this blessed gift of God!

Christ the King the word made flesh!

Do not fear what this world gives but see what God gave, in his child … in his manger.

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

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

Amen

Sermon December 24, 2019 - Christmas Eve

Title: God proclaimed is Christ the King!
Text: Heb.1:1-6

6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God's angels worship him.”

Twenty plus years ago the question was posed in an email to me and other church members who were engaged in a bible study at a small church I attended.

It simple read: “Are there Prophets today?”

The question was asked in regards to discussions that had arisen during the study. Some believed and had wondered if God still gave special revelation to people today – speaking to them directly – or in the same way that he had in the past? Many answered the email with thoughts, opinions and speculation.

After carefully thinking about this question I replied with the first 30 world of Hebrews 1.

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.

In a grand way the letter to the Hebrews opens: In many and various ways God long ago, spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but at the end of these days spoke also to us in His Son.

God did not give the revelation of the salvation to come at one time and in its entirety, but bit by bit showing one fact concerning the coming Messiah and now another, revealing first the fact that …

He would be born of a woman, then that
He would be of the seed of Abraham, then that
Judah was to be His linage, and then that
He was to be a son of David.

At other times, in this Son, we see his deepest humiliation, and then his highest triumph and exaltation.

In many ways God spoke of old: 

through institutions,
or sacrifice,
sometimes by parable,
or psalm and
sometimes in a dream or vision.

Thus God spoke in the times of long ago. But that was not His final speech or his revelation.

And that is not to say that he is bound to never do that again.

But, he is bound to truth so that those who claim to be speaking for God better be darn sure that they are speaking truth … whether heard by dream, vision or audible voice or speaking forth what God has already said in his word, and it better be in accord with the truths of scripture.

The son is his appointed heir. But as Luther states: Everything that is said of Christ’s humiliation and exaltation must be ascribed to Christ the man, for the divine nature can be neither humiliated nor exalted.

Jesus Christ, God’s son according to His humanity has been appointed Heir of all things. According to this humanity and God’s will, he should be Lord over all things created and the universe should be in subjection to Him.

He is the rightful Heir of the eternal God and all that is his. The worlds and all things were created through Him and everything as we know it came to be through His almighty power.

Jesus Christ, in his humility and in his divinity, the second person of the Trinity, distinct from the Father and Holy Spirit as to persons, is nevertheless one in essence with Father and Spirit, and Himself the Creator of the world.

Popular Commentary of the Bible P.E Kretzmann NT Vol. II Pg 439

Ill.

Like many I took philosophy in college and had to read many philosophers at the seminary. To say it got a bit tedious would be an understatement. If I never had to read Immanuel Kant or René Descartes again would be too soon. I apologize if you are a fan … though looking for meaning in self and what is known … leads many Philosophers to unbelief and atheism.

One such Philosopher, Jean-Paul Sartre, and being near the end of his life told Pierre Victor: "I do not feel that I am the product of chance, a speck of dust in the universe, but someone who was expected, prepared, prefigured. In short, a being whom only a Creator could put here; and this idea of a creating hand refers to God."

His fellow philosopher, atheist, and long-time live-in companion Simone de Beauvoir retorted: "How should one explain the senile act of a turncoat?"

HIS Magazine, April, 1983.

Certainly, we who have been brought to faith in Christ by the working of the Holy Spirit know and understand the work of God in the sinner and an eternity that awaits you and me who believe.

At Christmas the coming of the Christ child reveals what God had long ago and in various ways spoken by the prophets. Through God’s revelation in these last days we see the flesh and blood of his means to conquer sin, death and the devil born to a virgin in a lowly stable. What had been spoken of … is now here to see in a tangible way as God’s word reveals it to us.

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

This God, who in the beginning was the word, and this Word was with God, and was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God [and] 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
John 1:2-3

Christ upholds the universe because according to the word of God all things were made by and through him.

But it is not in his deity and in his power that he restores all things but in coming as a child, for you, and being what we are that he finishes and fulfills all that was spoken of him in times of old and by the profits.

After making purification for sins …

This child, this Jesus came to be the once and for all sacrifice for sin.
He came to restore the relationship between God and man.
He came to die in your place and rise for your justification;

which means he came to be what you and I couldn’t be.

God’s son, begotten of the Father,

6 … when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God's angels worship him.”

This child, this Jesus, this God/man … came for you.

… and he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

You have God’s love, in Christ
You have God’s peace, in Christ,
You have God’s forgiveness, in Christ
In Christ you will spend eternity with him!

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

Amen