Thursday, May 30, 2019

Prayer for Ascension Day

PRAYER FOR THE FESTIVAL OF 
THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD

M: Blessed Jesus, you ascended to the right hand of your Father’s majesty, power, and glory and now reign as eternal King of kings and Lord of lords.
C: We praise you for your victory over sin, death, Satan, and hell.

M: O ascended Prophet, equip your Church to proclaim the precious gospel message of God’s love for all the world.
C: Give courage to our hearts, power to our words, and success to our efforts.

M: O ascended High Priest, represent us before the Father as his own dear children and heirs.  Defend us against Satan’s every accusation.  Ask for the Father’s rich blessings in our everyday lives.
C: Plead for his mercy and grace on our behalf.

M: O ascended King, direct the affairs of governments and nations that they may serve the best interest of your Church.
C: You are our Lord, Master, and King.

Special prayers and intercessions may follow.

M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions.

Silent prayer.

M: As the disciples lifted their eyes to watch your ascension, so lift our eyes daily to look for your coming again in glory.
C: Lord Jesus, come quickly.  Amen.

Update from Good Shepherd (May 30, 2019)

Greetings!


SUMMER SCHEDULE
Divine Services are Thursdays at 7:00 PM and Sundays at 10:00 AM.

        Sunday School & Sunday's Adult Bible Class will be on hiatus throughout the summer.  They will resume on September 8.

OFFICE HOURS
Regular office hours at Good Shepherd will be Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM. While there may be some flexibility to this schedule, we will try to keep it as regular as possible. 


EVANGELISM COMMITTEE MEETING
         In order to make the most of opportunities to proclaim the Gospel in our community, we need to budget our expenses and our time.  We will be meeting to determine our plans and to pray that God will bless them.  Our next Evangelism Committee meeting will be Sunday, June 2 at 11:15 AM.  All members are encouraged to participate in our Evangelism efforts, whether on the committee or not.  But we do need people who are willing to be on the committee to plan.


OPEN FORUM / VOTERS' MEETING
        On Sunday, June 9 after church, we will have an Open Forum and Voters' Meeting.  The main focus of our Open Forum will be long-range planning and discussing the steps we will need to make in the remainder of this year in order to make our congregation as productive as we can in serving our community with the Gospel.  All confirmed members of Good Shepherd are encouraged to join us.  The Voters' Meeting will take place immediately following the Open Forum.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
The dates for our Vacation Bible School have been solidified for this summer.  We will meet Monday-Wednesday (6:30 – 8:00 PM), July 29-31.  This is a change from our regular VBS schedule.
Also changed will be the focus of our VBS.  Rather than limit the study of the Bible to our children (and guests), we want people of all ages to join us.  So, there will be an adult study going on the same time as the children.
The topic of study and discussion for the adults will be The Canon of Scripture: Why These Books?  “Canon” refers to a stick or a standard (like a “cane”).  We confess the 66 canonical books to be the Holy Scriptures.  But why those books?  And why not others?  And what about the Apocrypha; why not them?  For three nights, we will consider how God gave us the Scriptures and why we regard only the 66 books in our Bible as the word of God.
While our target audience is our congregation, we encourage you to invite friends to our VBS sessions—both children and adults.  Look for a registration form on our web page to indicate your participation (more necessary for the children's VBS).

DO YOU LIKE US?
Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook.  Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings.

God bless you.

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

==============================
DIVINE SERVICES -- Summer Schedule
     Thursdays at 7:00 PM
     Sundays at 10:00 AM

SUNDAY SCHOOL & ADULT BIBLE CLASS will resume September 8.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG
www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com

Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church
41415 W. Nine Mile Road
Novi, Michigan  48375-4306
+   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Divine Services -- Sundays at 10:00 AM

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Sermon -- 6th Sunday of Easter (May 26, 2019)


JOHN 14:23-29

JESUS GIVES PEACE
YOU CAN BE SURE OF.

M: Alleluia!  Christ is risen!
Cong:  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

In the name + of Jesus.

     In preparing his apostles for life after his ascension into heaven, Jesus had a lot to say.  St. John dedicated five chapters of his Gospel to record what Jesus taught his disciples on the night he was betrayed.  After Jesus' departure, the disciples would understandably feel at a loss without Jesus there to personally instruct, correct, admonish, and encourage his people.  What's more, Jesus was going to entrust the apostles with that task.  They would not feel up to it.  Jesus is the Son of God, the Word made flesh, and the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  The apostles were not.  Often times, they did not grasp what Jesus was saying.  What hope did they have of being the teachers of the Church?  And then for us—what confidence do we have that they got it right?
     Jesus has answered those questions and alleviates our fears.  He told the disciples: “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:25-26)  Jesus gives peace you can be sure of.
     First of all, we must recognize who Jesus spoke these words to.  He addressed them to his apostles.  He has not told every Christian that he will pour his Holy Spirit directly into us to reveal special things just for us.  Nor does the Holy Spirit give each of us our own personal Gospel to believe.  All that Jesus says he intends for all to hear and believe.  It has become trendy for people to claim, “I am opposed to organized religion; but I am spiritual.”  Spiritual people tend to craft their own truths, as if they have a connection to the Holy Spirit apart from the Bible.  Their faith is more in their own thoughts, feelings, and dreams than in anything else.  They are so filled with their own spirituality that they assume their opinions are God's opinions and their feelings are God's will.
     This produces a great sense of ego and importance—that your thoughts are God's thoughts.  But consider this: How do you know your thoughts are God's thoughts?  What is the source of your confidence?  How can you be sure that you have peace with God?  You might assume it.  You may even insist that you feel it deep down inside you.  You may feel so enlightened and enamored with how deep your thoughts are.  But if this is what makes you spiritual, then know that this is from a different spirit than the Holy Spirit.  In fact, this is rebellion.  This is not approaching God's word with humility.  It is not relying on God's word at all.  Those who claim to be spiritual exalt themselves and stand in judgment over God and his word.  In other words, it is idolatry of oneself.  The Holy Spirit does not give you words which apply uniquely to you.  The Holy Spirit has been given by Jesus to reveal in the Scriptures what is God's word for all people of every age.
     The Lord comes to you in no other way than through his word.  That is the word Jesus gave to his apostles.  Jesus told them, “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.” (John 14:25)  Jesus' words are supreme.  Only faith in Jesus' words save and give life.  If you are going to believe in Jesus' words, then you must know and be sure of what Jesus said.  Therefore, Jesus continued: “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26)  Once again, Jesus does not put it upon you to determine what is truth.  Jesus assigned his apostles the task of teaching and preaching his words.  The apostles put Jesus' words in writing for future generations to hear, to know, and to believe.  Jesus gave his Holy Spirit to them so that did not have to work from faulty memories or get creative in their story-telling.  The Holy Spirit reminded them of the very words of Jesus and guided them to write the very words of God for your life and salvation.  What was true for them is true for you.  What stood firm then still stands firm now.  This is why Jesus gives peace you can be sure of. 
     Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)  Jesus gives peace you can be sure of, and only Jesus gives such peace.  The world is neither reliable nor honest.  The world only gives to you when it can get something out of you.  If you are rich, famous, or productive, the world deems you valuable.  In fact, it gushes over you and regards you as an authority on matters you don't even know about.  But when you become nameless, poor, or your skills diminish, the world casts you aside.  If you have nothing to give, the world tells you that you no longer have value or worth.  It tells you that you are a drain on society.  This is not what Jesus thinks of you at all.
     The Lord Jesus came into this world not to get something out of you, but to give up everything for you.  He came to establish peace between you and God.  You and I have every reason to fear God.  Our sin has destroyed peace with God.  We confess this every week: “I have done what is evil and I have failed to do what is good.  For this I deserve your punishment, both now and in eternity.”  This is an honest assessment of what we deserve for serving our own sinful desires rather than God's commands.  Whether you consider yourself spiritual or not, we have all turned from God's ways to our own.  This is both idolatry and rebellion.  That cannot be ignored.  And it wasn't.  Instead, Jesus took into himself all of our sins and wickedness, and he endured the wrath of God in our place.  The Father unloaded the full curse on his Son and poured out all his fiery wrath at the cross.  Jesus diverted God's wrath from you to himself.  You, on the other hand, are forgiven.  Jesus did not do this to get something out of us, but to bring us into his kingdom.  There is peace between God and man.  God's favor rests upon you.  So, “let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27) 
     Jesus gives you peace you can be sure of.  You don't have to guess or hope or presume to know where you stand with God.  Jesus has given words for you to take to heart so that you will not be left with doubt.  You do not have to try to make yourself all spiritual, as if good vibes and warm fuzzies prove anything.  Instead, you have the very words of God, given by the Holy Spirit through the apostles.  Jesus declared: “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:25-26)  And what Jesus said, the apostles have written for us.  In this way, Jesus gives peace you can be sure of.
     Therefore, life in the Church right after Jesus' ascension is the same now.  The word is just as true.  The Holy Spirit comes through that same word.  Jesus delivers his peace through that word.  While we do not have the flesh and blood Jesus preaching to us, we do have the words of our Lord recorded to teach us, to enlighten us, to encourage us, to comfort us, and to correct us.  The Church continues to rally around these words, just as Jesus said his people would do.  Jesus said, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23)  We cling to these words so that we will be sure of the peace Jesus delivers to us.  For, we still commit sins.  We still fall into temptation.  We still need to confess our sins.  And for all of this, Jesus does not disown or dismiss us.  Jesus' word declares that God's peace still rests upon us.  The blood of Jesus still cleanses us.  The Holy Spirit still dwells in us.  The Father still calls us his beloved children.  We are still heirs of heaven.
     Jesus gives us peace we can be sure of.  He delivers it in his words.  We rally to hear them, study them, ponder them, and take them to heart because by them, Jesus gives us life and salvation.  They are the focal point of our worship, the foundation of our life, and the assurance of eternal glory.  Through them, God has come to make his home with us so that, when our time on earth ends, we will have a home with our Lord forever.  This is not fantasy; it is Jesus' promise.  This is the peace we can be sure of.

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

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Update from Good Shepherd (May 23, 2019)

Greetings!


SUMMER SCHEDULE
Divine Services are Thursdays at 7:00 PM and Sundays at 10:00 AM.

        Our first Thursday service for the summer schedule will be Thursday, May 23 at 7:00 PM.  (There will not be a service on Thursday, July 4.)  Sunday School & Sunday's Adult Bible Class will be on hiatus throughout the summer.  They will resume on September 8.

OFFICE HOURS
Regular office hours at Good Shepherd will be Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM. While there may be some flexibility to this schedule, we will try to keep it as regular as possible. 

ADULT BIBLE CLASS REGARDING SUICIDE
        "And She Was A Christian" is a book that was written by Pastor Peter Preus, a Lutheran pastor whose wife committed suicide.  What hope is there for those who commit suicide?  Is it an unforgivable sin?  Is it the fast-track to hell?  What comfort can be given to those who grieve over the loss of their loved one?  How does one handle guilt, blame, or the shame of being associated with one who has killed himself?  Sadly, too many people have acquaintance with such a tragic death.  
        Our final session will be Wednesday, May 29, 7:00-8:30 PM.  The focus of this final session will be: The Case Against the Suicide (Suicide and Grace)
        If you are interested in the book, "And She Was A Christian," ($25 each), please speak to Pastor Schroeder.  (Or  you can order your own through the link.)

EVANGELISM COMMITTEE MEETING
In order to make the most of opportunities to proclaim the Gospel in our community, we need to budget our expenses and our time.  We will be meeting to determine our plans and to pray that God will bless them.  Our next Evangelism Committee meeting will be Sunday, June 2 at 11:15 AM.  All members are encouraged to participate in our Evangelism efforts, whether on the committee or not.  But we do need people who are willing to be on the committee to plan.

OPEN FORUM / VOTERS' MEETING
        On Sunday, June 9 after church, we will have an Open Forum and Voters' Meeting.  The main focus of our Open Forum will be long-range planning and discussing the steps we will need to make in the remainder of this year in order to make our congregation as productive as we can in serving our community with the Gospel.  All confirmed members of Good Shepherd are encouraged to join us.  The Voters' Meeting will take place immediately following the Open Forum.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
The dates for our Vacation Bible School have been solidified for this summer.  We will meet Monday-Wednesday (6:30 – 8:00 PM), July 29-31.  This is a change from our regular VBS schedule.
Also changed will be the focus of our VBS.  Rather than limit the study of the Bible to our children (and guests), we want people of all ages to join us.  So, there will be an adult study going on the same time as the children.
The topic of study and discussion for the adults will be The Canon of Scripture: Why These Books?  “Canon” refers to a stick or a standard (like a “cane”).  We confess the 66 canonical books to be the Holy Scriptures.  But why those books?  And why not others?  And what about the Apocrypha; why not them?  For three nights, we will consider how God gave us the Scriptures and why we regard only the 66 books in our Bible as the word of God.
While our target audience is our congregation, we encourage you to invite friends to our VBS sessions—both children and adults.  Look for registration forms on our web page to indicate your participation (more necessary for the children's VBS).

DO YOU LIKE US?
Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook.  Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings.

God bless you.

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

==============================
DIVINE SERVICES -- Summer Schedule
     Thursdays at 7:00 PM
     Sundays at 10:00 AM

SUNDAY SCHOOL & ADULT BIBLE CLASS will resume September 8.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG
www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com

Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church
41415 W. Nine Mile Road
Novi, Michigan  48375-4306
+   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Divine Services -- Sundays at 10:00 AM

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Summer Schedule begins

The unofficial beginning of summer is Memorial Day weekend.  That often means people will be traveling on the weekends for vacations, weddings, family reunions, etc....  Unfortunately, it also means that people will not be in church on Sundays.

In order to accommodate summer plans so that you will not have to miss church, we will have our summer schedule for Divine Services.  Throughout the summer, beginning May 23, we will offer Thursday evening services at 7:00 PM.  These services will precede the Sunday service so that you can begin your weekend with God's Word and Sacrament.  (NOTE: We will not have a Service on Thursday, July 4.)  Of course, our regular Sunday Divine Service continues to meet at 10:00 AM.

In the event that you are out of town and are looking for a church to attend at your destination, you can always find a local WELS congregation through the WELS website.  There, you can get directions and information from the Church Locator.  You may still want to call the church you will be attending to confirm worship times, as they can vary from what is listed on the WELS web page.

Sunday School and Sunday morning Adult Bible Class are now on hiatus throughout the summer.  They will resume on Sunday, September 8.

Monday, May 20, 2019

Graduation weekend

This past weekend, we managed to have two of our children graduate from college.  Nathanael officially graduated from Concordia in Ann Arbor on Sunday, May 19.  Nathanael chose not to walk in the graduation ceremonies (despite Laura's questioning), but he has completed all that needed to be done for the diploma.  We are proud of him, and we are looking forward to see where he will working and what he will be doing.  He has some ideas, but no definitive plans at the moment.

And while we would have made efforts to get to Nathanael's graduation ceremonies in Ann Arbor, we were not terribly broken up about not having to drive through the night from New Ulm, Minnesota to Ann Arbor, Michigan to be at both graduations.

On Saturday, May 18, the whole family managed to be in attendance for Faith's graduation from Martin Luther College, as well as the Call service where Faith was assigned to be a teacher in a Lutheran school.  Faith graduated with a double major, meaning she was eligible to be assigned to any grades from K-12.  Faith's preference was for high school, and she was even recommended for the high school level.  Needless to say, we were all surprised when Faith was assigned to teach science to grades 5-8 at Mt. Lebanon Lutheran School in Milwaukee.  And of course, she will also be coaching.

Faith's Divine Call is certainly different than what was expected, and it is taking some time to wrap her mind around what all of this entails.  But different means different.  We cannot assess it as either good or bad until she experiences the staff, the students, the school, the work, living in Milwaukee, etc...  Early phone calls by Faith to the people at Mt. Lebanon have indicated that different will be good.  And if we believe the Holy Spirit is at work in his Church, then we also believe God thinks it is good that Faith will be serving at Mt. Lebanon.  We are proud of what she has accomplished in the past, and we are looking forward to what her future will be.

Here are some photos from the weekend.



The graduates, Nathanael and Faith.

Grandma & Grandpa Schmidt came to congratulate Faith in New Ulm.



In the Chapel of the Christ.


This photo shows two people who are agonizing over Faith's assignment.  Faith was hopeful that she might return to her alma mater, Michigan Lutheran Seminary, as a tutor.  (MLS did not get any new female tutors assigned to it.)  Philip, who will be a senior at MLS next year, was praying fervently that Faith would not be assigned to be a tutor while he is still there.  Both had strong reactions to the announcement of Faith's assignment--Faith was surprised; Philip was relieved.

Thursday, May 16, 2019

Update from Good Shepherd (May 16, 2019)

Greetings!


REGULAR SCHEDULE
Our Divine Services are on Sundays at 10:00 AM.

SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Our summer schedule will be in place by the end of May, going into Memorial Day weekend.  In the past, we have had a Monday evening service.  This year, we are changing that to a Thursday evening service at 7:00 PM.  The Thursday service will be the same readings and sermon as the upcoming Sunday.  Our first Thursday service for the summer schedule will be Thursday, May 23 at 7:00 PM.

OFFICE HOURS
Regular office hours at Good Shepherd will be Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM. While there may be some flexibility to this schedule, we will try to keep it as regular as possible. 

ADULT BIBLE CLASS  —  Galatians
Our final Adult Bible Class for the Spring will be on final chapter of St. Paul's letter to the Galatians.  The final topic will be based on Galatians 6:1-18: “Let us care for and encourage one another.”

ADULT BIBLE CLASS REGARDING SUICIDE
        "And She Was A Christian" is a book that was written by Pastor Peter Preus, a Lutheran pastor whose wife committed suicide.  What hope is there for those who commit suicide?  Is it an unforgivable sin?  Is it the fast-track to hell?  What comfort can be given to those who grieve over the loss of their loved one?  How does one handle guilt, blame, or the shame of being associated with one who has killed himself?  Sadly, too many people have acquaintance with such a tragic death.  We will meet on the Wednesdays in May, 7:00-8:30 PM, to consider Scriptural ways to answer questions about suicide and to console those who grieve over the loss of loved ones who choose to end their own lives.  The remaining schedule is:
                    May 22 -- The Case Against the Suicide (Suicide and Sin)
                    May 29 -- The Case Against the Suicide (Suicide and Grace)
        If you are interested in the book, "And She Was A Christian," ($25 each), please speak to Pastor Schroeder.  (Or  you can order your own through the link.)

HVL Spring Concert
Please join us on Friday, May 17, at 7 pm for the annual spring concert featuring songs and musical selections from the HVL full choir, Hawk Singers, and band. Following the concert there will be a dessert reception in the multi-purpose room to give a chance to say our thanks to the Kasten family. Mr. Brian Kasten has served as a teacher, coach, and the athletic director at HVL for the past 5 years.  He has taken a call to serve at Divine Savior in Doral, Florida, beginning next fall. In thanks and gratitude for his service at HVL we will be having a dessert reception following the concert. Desserts can be brought to the kitchen prior to the concert.  We will also have a spot for cards and notes of appreciation for the Kasten family. 

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
The dates for our Vacation Bible School have been solidified for this summer.  We will meet Monday-Wednesday (6:30 – 8:00 PM), July 29-31.  This is a change from our regular VBS schedule.
Also changed will be the focus of our VBS.  Rather than limit the study of the Bible to our children (and guests), we want people of all ages to join us.  So, there will be an adult study going on the same time as the children.
The topic of study and discussion for the adults will be The Canon of Scripture: Why These Books?  “Canon” refers to a stick or a standard (like a “cane”).  We confess the 66 canonical books to be the Holy Scriptures.  But why those books?  And why not others?  And what about the Apocrypha; why not them?  For three nights, we will consider how God gave us the Scriptures and why we regard only the 66 books in our Bible as the word of God.
While our target audience is our congregation, we encourage you to invite friends to our VBS sessions—both children and adults.  Look for registration forms on our web page to indicate your participation (more necessary for the children's VBS).

OUT OF TOWN
Pastor Schroeder and his family will be out of town from Thursday, May 16 – Sunday, May 19.  In case of emergency, please contact Pastor Matthew Minzlaff of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church (South Lyon) at (248) 437-1651.

DO YOU LIKE US?
Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook.  Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings.

God bless you.

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

==============================
DIVINE SERVICES
     Sundays at 10:00 AM

SUNDAY SCHOOL
     Sundays at 8:45 AM

ADULT BIBLE CLASS
     Sundays at 8:45 AM

SUMMER SCHEDULE BEGINS MAY 23
     Divine Services -- Thursday - 7:00 PM: Sunday -- 10:00 AM
GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG
www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com

Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church
41415 W. Nine Mile Road
Novi, Michigan  48375-4306
+   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Divine Services -- Sundays at 10:00 AM

Sunday, May 12, 2019

Today's Earworm: Dog and Butterfly by Heart

Last night, Laura and I were looking through YouTube videos and watched "Behind the Music" which featured Heart.  While the song Dog and Butterfly was not one of Heart's biggest hits, I always thought it deserved more air play than it got.  I think a strong argument could be made for Ann Wilson being the best female vocalist in rock and roll.  And I also think Nancy Wilson could be the most underrated guitarist in rock and roll.

Anyway, since that "Behind the Music" episode, this song has been going through my head.  So, it wins the earworm award for today.

Enjoy.


Sermon -- 4th Sunday of Easter (May 12, 2019)

JOHN 10:22-30

YOU ARE SAFE IN THE HANDS
OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

M: Alleluia!  Christ is risen!
Cong:  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

In the name + of Jesus.

     Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  Martin Luther, in his Small Catechism, commented on this: “God's good and gracious will is certainly done without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.”  Luther's comment may seem like nonsense to you since you see evidence daily of a world which is cruel, wicked, and defective.  If the world is like this, how can we say that God's good and gracious will is certainly done?
     Our misunderstanding is that we are confusing heaven and earth.  The perfection you long for—we all do, and no one can blame you for that—is in the heavenly, glorious kingdom that Jesus promises to you.  Anyone who tells you that you can have your best life now is directing you to worldly glory and pleasure, and is no servant of Jesus.  Jesus does not promise you that, so to say that Jesus is not true to his promises is wrong.  You can't hold Jesus accountable for promises you wish he had made.  This world is corrupt, and for that reason it is dying.  Until it dies, deadly and destructive things happen in it.  This corrupt world will be destroyed by fire on the Last Day, and our Lord will make a new heaven and earth for his saints.  That is the home you long for.  That is the best life, but it is not now.  It is then; and then, it will be uninterrupted and unending peace, joy, and glory.
     But Martin Luther's comment on the petition, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” is true.  So, what is God's good and gracious will?  How is it done among us?  Luther continues: “God's will is done when he breaks and defeats every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh, which try to prevent us from keeping God's name holy and letting his kingdom come.  And God's will is done when he strengthens and keeps us firm in his word and in the faith as long as we live.  This is his good and gracious will.”  So, the Lord's promise is not that he will make this world perfect, nor will he make your life in this world perfect.  His promise is that he will set you apart from this corrupt, dying world, that he will strengthen and keep you from all that would destroy your salvation, and that he will finally deliver you into the glorious kingdom to come.  This is God's good and gracious will, and this is what we pray our Father in heaven will do for us.
     Dear Christians, I bring you good news of great joy: God the Father answers your prayer through Jesus.  You are safe in the hands of the Good Shepherd.  Our Lord Jesus Christ declares: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.” (John 10:27-29)  If you are praying that God's will would be done in your life, Jesus assures you that, through him, God's will is guaranteed to be done for you.  He has redeemed you, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won you from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil.  Therefore, Jesus gives you eternal life, and he keeps you secure in the one true faith unto life everlasting.  You are safe in the hands of the Good Shepherd.
     He does all this through his voice, that is, through his word.  For, the Good Shepherd speaks to his sheep.  He attached his word to water so that in holy baptism, you are cleansed of all sin and born anew into God's family.  He attached his word to bread and wine so that in holy communion he keeps you fed and nourished as you make your way heavenward.  He gives you his word in holy absolution so that, when you confess your sins, he assures you that his blood has paid the price for you, and therefore, he forgives you of every misdeed, even the ones you can't remember.  And he gives you his word through the preaching of the minister he has sent to you so that, by this office, you are comforted, encouraged, admonished, and equipped for all good things.  By these things, you are safe in the hands of your Good Shepherd.
     The promise of your Good Shepherd is necessary, because the enemies of the sheep do not go away.  As sheep, we continue to be what we are—sheep that are defenseless and prone to wandering away.  The prophet Isaiah says: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way.” (Isaiah 53:6)  This is the nature of sheep.  We are absorbed by our own appetites.  We put our attention is whatever gives us instant gratification.  We don't think of the dangers, so we don't keep watch as we ought.  Often, we don't care.  And this is why we need a shepherd.
     The sheep need a shepherd because the dangers are real, because the enemies are out for blood, and because they play for keeps.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)  When the Bible describes your enemy that way, it is not exaggerating.  The devil wants to destroy you.  He wants you to be damned.  He wants to sink his claws and teeth into you and to tear you apart.  What chance does a sheep have against a lion?  The devil knows that we are outmatched.  He seduces.  He deceives.  He entices.  He tries to draw you away from Jesus by appealing to your fleshly appetite.  He convinces you that he has better delicacies than your Good Shepherd.  He promises you more pleasure, more happiness, and more benefits from doing things his way.  And like sheep, we go astray.  We follow his voice.  We feed on his temptations, and we crave more and more.  Repent.  For the devil seeks only to devour you, and you cannot save yourself from him.
     This is why you need a shepherd.  And this is why your Father in heaven sent you the Good Shepherd.  The Good Shepherd, Jesus, has snatched you out of the lion's mouth.  He threw himself into the lion's mouth for you.  Jesus was mauled, bloodied, and killed in order to rescue you.  The Good Shepherd has laid down his life to save you.  But now Jesus is risen.  The Good Shepherd lives to guard and keep you so that the devil, the world, and your own sinful flesh will not overtake you.  He tends and feeds you so that you will be kept strong in God's word and in the faith as long as you live.  The Lord Jesus will even nudge you with his staff to bring you back.  While it feels like a mean stroke, it is a loving shepherd who keeps you from straying away from the safety of his care.  This is what the Lord Jesus Christ says: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.” (John 10:27-29)  You are safe in the hands of the Good Shepherd.
     “God's good and gracious will is certainly done without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.”  Through Jesus, God's will is done in our lives.  He saves sinners.  He guards and keeps us so that we remain in the true faith until life everlasting.  Nothing can rip you away from him—not sin, not death, not even the devil.  The devil has been conquered.  Sins have been taken away.  And death must give you up for the resurrection to life everlasting.  You are safe in the hands of your Good Shepherd.  He strengthens you through his word—whether it is proclaimed or added to the sacraments.  His voice continues to comfort you in your fears, to warn you against your enemies, to encourage you to walk faithfully with him, and to console you in times of hardship and pain.  As long as your are listening to your Shepherd's voice, you are safe in the Good Shepherd's care. 
     Finally, our Good Shepherd's voice will call us into our heavenly home.  There, we will lie down in green pastures—never again to be concerned about enemies.  There, we will sit beside still waters—forever at rest from all our labors.  There, we will be restored to perfection in body, mind, and spirit.  There, the new heaven and earth will be perfect, and our lives will be perfect in it.  There, we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  This is what Jesus accomplished when he came to do the will of his Father.  God's will was certainly done, even without our prayer.  By God's grace, his will has been done among us also.  For, we are safe in the hands of our Good Shepherd.  This is his good and gracious will.

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

Saturday, May 11, 2019

A Prayer for Mothers' Day

INTERCESSION FOR MOTHERS’ DAY

O Almighty God, who did send forth your Son to be born of a woman, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and who by His holy incarnation did in truth cause her to be the very Mother of God, thereby crowning and honoring all motherhood, grant your perpetual favor and blessing upon all of our mothers, that they in turn may be a blessing to all their children. Bless the memory of those of our mothers who have passed on from this vale of tears, and leave us not comfortless. Grant also to the Holy Christian Church, which is the Mother of us all, prosperity in faithfulness, that we through her pure milk of the Word may gain everlasting joy, through the Son of Mary, your only Son Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Friday, May 10, 2019

Mules Football -- hype video

Maybe this video does not get everyone hyped, but I am looking forward to seeing Andrew play this fall at the University of Central Missouri.  Sadly, we will have to watch almost all his games live-streamed, but at least we will get to see him that way.

He has worked awfully hard to get where he is, and he certainly did not take the straightest route to where he is.  But he is poised to have a great season.  So, Andrew, get healthy, get ready, and get going.  We are hyped here.

The video:



Thursday, May 9, 2019

Update from Good Shepherd (May 9, 2019)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE
Our Divine Services are on Sundays at 10:00 AM.


THURSDAY AFTERNOON WORSHIP
An abbreviated service is conducted on Thursdays at 3:30 PM for the sake of members work on Sundays.  Our final service before the Summer Schedule begins is May 9.  Call or text (248) 719-5218 to confirm that you will be attending.

SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Our summer schedule will be in place by the end of May, going into Memorial Day weekend.  In the past, we have had a Monday evening service.  This year, we are changing that to a Thursday evening service at 7:00 PM.  The Thursday service will be the same readings and sermon as the upcoming Sunday.  Our first Thursday service for the summer schedule will be Thursday, May 23 at 7:00 PM.

OFFICE HOURS
Regular office hours at Good Shepherd will be Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM. While there may be some flexibility to this schedule, we will try to keep it as regular as possible.  


ADULT BIBLE CLASS  —  Galatians
       Our Adult Bible Class is reading through St. Paul's letter to the Galatians.  The main purpose of this letter was to offer correction and encouragement to a congregation which was convinced that human effort must be added to the Gospel promises to be assured of one's place in the kingdom of God.  This is a constant struggle that we face, convinced that our salvation is somehow based on our performance or worthiness.  This epistle, perhaps more than any other, teaches us what it means that we are saved “by faith alone.”
      May 12            We are at the same time sinner and saint. -  Galatians 5:16-26
      May 19            Let us care for and encourage one another. -  Galatians 6:1-18 

ADULT BIBLE CLASS REGARDING SUICIDE
        "And She Was A Christian" is a book that was written by Pastor Peter Preus, a Lutheran pastor whose wife committed suicide.  What hope is there for those who commit suicide?  Is it an unforgivable sin?  Is it the fast-track to hell?  What comfort can be given to those who grieve over the loss of their loved one?  How does one handle guilt, blame, or the shame of being associated with one who has killed himself?  Sadly, too many people have acquaintance with such a tragic death.  We will meet on the Wednesdays in May, 7:00-8:30 PM, to consider Scriptural ways to answer questions about suicide and to console those who grieve over the loss of loved ones who choose to end their own lives.  The remaining schedule is:

                    May 15 -- The Case Against the Suicide (Suicide and Faith)
                    May 22 -- The Case Against the Suicide (Suicide and Sin)
                    May 29 -- The Case Against the Suicide (Suicide and Grace)
        If you are interested in the book, "And She Was A Christian," ($25 each), please speak to Pastor Schroeder.  (Or  you can order your own through the link.)

REDFORD PREGNANCY CARE CENTER (RPCC)
The ladies of Immanuel Church, South Lyon (330 E. Liberty Street) are throwing a Baby Shower THIS SATURDAY (May 11) from 11 AM to 1 PM to provide a few things needed for the RPCC.  The donated items for RPCC will be given to mother's and their children.  We are opening our doors and hearts by extending the invitation to the ladies of your congregations.  They may start a collection of new or gently used items (refer to the attachment) to deliver to us before 11 AM shower.  Fellowship, and a light lunch will be served, with a short presentation by a representative from RPCC.

DO YOU LIKE US?
Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook.  Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings.

God bless you.

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

==============================
DIVINE SERVICES
     Sundays at 10:00 AM

SUNDAY SCHOOL
     Sundays at 8:45 AM

ADULT BIBLE CLASS
     Sundays at 8:45 AM

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG
www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com

Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church
41415 W. Nine Mile Road
Novi, Michigan  48375-4306
+   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Divine Services -- Sundays at 10:00 AM

Sunday, May 5, 2019

Sermon -- 3rd Sunday of Easter (May 5, 2019)

ACTS 9:1-19a

THE LIVING SAVIOR RAISES UP UNLIKELY SAINTS.

M: Alleluia!  Christ is risen!
Cong:  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

In the name + of Jesus.

     One of the great lies that the devil says and which we are very quick to believe is that some people are saved because of the kind of people they are.  We might think that we are destined for heaven because we have behaved better or studied harder or done more than others—or even because we were confirmed.  It is easy to believe because we like to think that we are better, smarter, and more diligent than others.  And we can find examples of bad people to make our case.  But it is a lie. 
     Every service, we make a confession.  We make that confession because it is true.  But it is also a reminder so that we don't buy into the devil's lie.  Our confession is this: “I confess that I am by nature sinful, and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions.  I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good.  For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity.”  Your confession does not concern itself with anyone but you.  It does not consider if you are better or worse than anyone else.  It just acknowledges that you are a sinner.  It is what you are.  It is what you have done.  And it is why you deserve God's punishment.  God did not choose you because you are better, smarter, or more diligent.  God chose you in spite of your sins—not because of who you are, but because of who he is.  The living Savior raises up unlikely saints.
     Perhaps the most unlikeliest of saints was the man from Tarsus named Saul.  He was very religious.  He was moral and decent, but he grew to hate people whom he thought were corrupting his religion.  Saul went throughout Jerusalem, overseeing the arrest and even the execution of those who confessed that Jesus is Lord.  His bloodthirst led him out of Jerusalem to foreign lands.  But as he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.  And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  And he said, “Who are you, Lord?”  And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” (Acts 9:3-6)  
     When the light from heaven shone around Saul, he knew that it was the true God, Yahweh.  He said, “Who are you, Lord?”  Saul was convinced that he was doing the Lord's work, defending him.  So, I can't imagine the shock that went right to Saul's heart when he heard the answer: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (Acts 9:5)  Jesus is the Lord—true God from true God, of one substance with the Father.  Through him all things were made. (Nicene Creed)  You would think that if Jesus took the time and effort to appear to Saul, it would be to slay him for his threats and murder.  Rather than a light from heaven, why not a lightning bolt to strike him down?  Yet, Jesus loved Saul.  He called him into his kingdom.  Instead of striking down a sinner in his wrath, the Lord raised up a saint in his mercy.  The living Savior raises up unlikely saints.
     The Bible has no problem showing sinners in all of their ugliness and evil.  The Bible doesn't record events to make us think that the saints of the past earned their status.  All were sinners.  All needed God's grace.  All proved it.  If we call anyone a “hero of faith,” it is because God made them what they were.  There is only one hero in the Bible, and he does not set out to slaughter people—not even the likes of Saul.  He came to save.  He came to rescue sinners from the torment, wrath, and death that they deserve.  The living Savior raises up unlikely saints.
     Your wicked thoughts, words, and actions are not put in print for all the world to read, and I am sure you are grateful for that.  It is painful enough when people tell stories about you.  But when God shines the light of his word on you, you are an open book before him.  He knows everything—from the behavior that everyone saw to your dirty little secrets.  If this alarms you and disturbs you, it should.  This is why we confess as we do: “For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity.”  
     But that is not the only confession we make each week.  We also confess how the Lord loves and saves sinners.  Your hero, Jesus, came into the world to save you from wrath and punishment.  He slew your enemies by being slain for you.  Your enemies are not flesh and blood people.  Saul was a man that people feared because of he was breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. (Acts 9:1)  Ananias sure feared him: “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.  And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” (Acts 9:13-14)  Ananias had good reason to believe: “Saul is coming to kill me.”  But even if he had, Saul could not send Ananias to hell.  That comes from sin, death, and the devil.  These are the enemies Jesus overcomes for us.  It is from these that sinners are rescued and made saints.
     Brady, you not only confess this, you committed it to memory: “He has redeemed me a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sin, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent sufferings and death.” (2nd Article of the Apostles' Creed, Luther's Small Catechism)  The Lord Jesus has rescued you from your enemies.  He gave himself in exchange for you—the Son of God on behalf of all mankind.  He let sin condemn him.  He let the grave take him.  He let the devil have his way with him.  But Jesus rose from the dead.  The payment for your sins, whether they are well known or secret, has been paid in full.  You are forgiven.  Death has lost its grip.  The grave may hold you for a while, but it must give you back.  Just as Jesus rose from the dead, so he will come again to raise you up.  For, you belong to Jesus, not to the grave.  The devil has no claim on you.  You are sons and daughters of the Most High King.  How unlikely that God would spare rebels.  But he does more!  He gives you a place in his kingdom.  The living Savior raises up unlikely saints.
     But now, beware.  The devil is not going to concede defeat.  He wants you back, and he still lies to you.  Think of how devil would have tormented Saul: “Look how much violence, hatred, and death you are responsible for.  There is no way you can set foot in heaven.”  Or he could have seduced him this way, “After your conversion, look how much good you have done for Jesus.  That should win you all the points you need for salvation.  Trust in your goodness, Saul; you've earned it!”  But it is all lies.  The devil will point you to anywhere but to Jesus.  Only Jesus raises up saints—even unlikely saints, and his is the only voice that matters.  Brady, notice that I never once had you memorize anything the devil says.  He lies and brings a cursed death.  Only Jesus has the words of eternal life.  Keep listening to him.
     When Saul came to Damascus, he sat in a house by himself—neither eating nor drinking.  He devoted his time to prayer.  No matter how sorry Saul was for his past, he did not find comfort in his self-imposed time of repentance.  So, the Lord sent him a pastor.  The Lord called Ananias to go and restore his sight.  More than that, Ananias was sent to absolve Saul of his guilt and wash away his sins in baptism.  Through baptism, Saul was united to Jesus and received all the benefits of his saving work.  Through baptism, our living Savior raised up an unlikely saint.
     And Jesus did not tell Saul, “Just stay out of the way, and try not to mess anything up.”  Instead, the Lord called Saul to go and preach about the same grace he had been shown.  Saul knew that he had sinned against Jesus and deserved punishment from him.  But Jesus did not treat him that way.  Instead, Saul was commissioned to go and tell other sinners what Jesus had done for them, that Jesus pours out grace rather than wrath, that Jesus desires to save all people, even those whom we would consider unlikely for salvation.  For, the living Savior raises up unlikely saints.
     You and I are not apostles.  We won't do miracles or travel the world to establish new churches.  But we all know what God's grace is and how it has saved us.  While we confess our sins week after week, we also hear Jesus' forgiveness applied to us.  There is no interrogation about whether our sins were too many or too wicked.  There is the proclamation that the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sins.  And just as Jesus has saved us, so we who bear his name get to confess and profess how Jesus is gracious, forgives sinners, delivers from death, and opens heaven to all who believe in him.  We never know who God will bring into his kingdom through our confession.  It may be the unlikeliest of people.  But we do know that our Lord likes to save sinners.  He has proved it; for, he has saved us.

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

Friday, May 3, 2019

Sermon -- Chapel at Huron Valley Lutheran High School (May 3, 2019)

REVELATION 22:1-5

FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS.
We Look Forward To Life In Heaven.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Is this world a good place, or a bad place?  Is life full of blessings, or of hardships?  If I were going to make you pick one or the other, your answer will be determined by what's been going on in your life or what you are paying attention to.  If you have a new boyfriend, then everything is great.  People are wonderful, and even the dandelions are pretty.  If your grandmother was just killed in a car accident, then everything is clouded by sadness and pain.  You won't care about the Avengers movie, singing birds, or chocolate chip cookies.  This world gives a mix of sorrow and happiness, blessing and hardship.  We have all felt it.
     You know why this world is full of problems.  The Bible reveals it.  When sin entered the world, it corrupted everything.  It corrupts people.  This is why people are jerks.  It is why people steal from you, lie to you, lie about you, and turn their backs on you.  And it is why you say nasty words about other people and then feel ashamed when you learn that those nasty words got back to the person you were speaking about.  Sin ruins relationships.  And it produces all kinds of problems in life—car troubles, health problems, flooding, allergies, and ultimately death.  The Lord is still good and kind to us, and he does fill our lives with blessings, but those blessings are often tainted by the hardships we face.  Sin has given us a broken the world and broken lives.  And we cannot fix it or escape our own sinful condition.
     This is why we fix our eyes on Jesus.  Jesus has come to save us from our sinful condition.  And you know this, too.  Jesus transferred our sins to his account and covered the debt we owe.  The blood of God's Son pays the price for all the children of mankind.  And Jesus transferred his righteousness to our account.  When you were baptized, you were clothed with Jesus' righteousness and cleansed of every stain of sin.  Since God now declares you innocent and regards you as blameless, you are destined for everlasting life.
     Right now, you are all children of God—forgiven of all sins and saints in God's kingdom.  But the world you live in is still broken.  There are still hardships, sorrows, and pain.  You must understand that the path you are on is the same path Jesus walked.  In this world, you will have troubles.  Jesus did too.  Jesus entered his glory after his resurrection from the dead.  And so it will be for you.  You will be raised up free from sin and sorrow, pain and problems.  We fix our eyes on Jesus as we look forward to life in heaven.
     St. John gave us a glimpse of that perfect life.  It will be a new creation, a new heaven and earth.  Paradise will be restored.  St. John packs a great deal of imagery in these few verses.  God is light, and he will forever shine on his people.  The water of life will be there—a great river flowing so that no one will ever thirst for righteousness.  You will have it in abundance.  The tree of life is there—in fact, two trees which continually bear fruit on which God's saints will feast.  The leaves of those trees will bring perfect healing to bodies, relationships, and whatever has been bruised or broken.  “No longer will there be anything accursed.” (Revelation 22:3)  God's redeemed people will serve him perfectly.  Never again will you know regret for your own sins, nor will you be sinned against.
     St. John does not tell us what we might be doing in heaven—what kind of entertainment there might be, whether or not there are sports, camping trips, or roller coasters.  It doesn't matter.  What does matter is that we will be delivered from all evil.  There will be no more sorrow, mourning, crying, or pain.  There will be no disease, disaster, death, or decay.  What does matter is that we will be with Jesus.  He loved us enough to suffer hell so that we will never have to.  Jesus lived for us, died for us, and rose from the grave to destroy death for us.  God is love, and we will be with him, basking in his love, his light, and his glory forevermore.
     We fix our eyes on Jesus as we look forward to life in heaven.  We fix our eyes on Jesus in order to be kept in his care until we are taken to that perfect life in heaven.  He has already put his name on our foreheads in baptism.  We hunger and thirst for his righteousness, and he continually feeds us.  Jesus is the fruit which hangs from the tree of life, which is the cross which has ransomed you from death.  We already get to feast on that when we come to the altar of our Lord and partake of the heavenly meal.  This is how we fix our eyes and ears and minds and hearts on Jesus, and this is how he strengthens and keeps us in the true faith until life everlasting.  We fix our eyes on Jesus until we receive life in heaven; and then we will be with Jesus forever.

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