YouTube -- TEN WORDS: The Preface (June 21, 2020)

Here is the service from June 21, 2020.  Based on Exodus 20:1-2, it is the first in a series on the Ten Words.

Sermon -- TEN WORDS: The Preface (June 21, 2020)

EXODUS 20:1-2

TEN WORDS – THE FIRST WORD.

THE LORD YOUR GOD HAS FREED YOU.

In the name + of Jesus.

      While you know there are Ten Commandments, it may surprise you to know that Christians number them differently.  If the Ten Commandments are the word of the Lord, how can there be differences in their numbering?  One reason is that God does not number them.  God does not even call them the Ten “Commandments.”  In Deuteronomy, Moses says literally, the LORD “wrote on the tablets, in the same writing as before, the Ten Words that the LORD had spoken to you on the mountain out of the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly.” (Deuteronomy 10:4)  As the Hebrews number them, the first word is not even a command.  The first word is this: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” (Exodus 20:2)  The first word is about God.

     God is the creator of heaven and earth and everything in it.  He is the author of life.  As such, he has the right to say how life is to be lived.  As the supreme, all-powerful God, he even has the right to subject us to whatever he wants.  Who could oppose him?  Many find it insulting that God should have that much power and that much say over our lives.  I remember meeting a woman years ago who said that she rejected God and had no use for him.  When I asked why, she explained that she considered God to be a giant toddler—demanding attention and throwing a tantrum if he did get what he wanted from us.  In her thinking, all God ever did was take, take, and take.

     But it is not possible for God to take since everything already belongs to him.  The Bible reminds us, “The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1)  God did not create the universe for his benefit since God does not need the universe for his benefit.  Everything God created he did for the benefit of mankind.  This includes the Commandments he gives.  Before he gave his Commandments and declared his will for all people, he proclaimed who he is and what he has done.  He is neither a toddler nor a tyrant.  Rather, he is your good and merciful Father in heaven.  More than that, he is your Savior.  The Lord your God has freed you.

     For the people of Israel, God revealed his work as a Savior by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.  The Egyptians were the tyrants.  They had abused the people of Israel for their own glory and gain.  They subjected the Israelites to hard labor dedicated to the glory of Egypt.  When the Israelites complained, the Egyptians made their work harder.  When the Israelites sought to hold a festival to worship the Lord, the Egyptians mocked Israel and the Lord.  When the Israelites began to increase, Pharaoh commanded that all their baby boys be killed.  It was not just a matter of the Egyptians being mean and brutal; it was also a matter of the Egyptians threatening the promise of a Savior to come through Israel.  To destroy every male born to Israel is potentially to destroy the Savior.  The Egyptians had declared war on the promise of the Messiah.  The Lord would not let the promise be jeopardized, so he acted to save Israel.

     The Lord God set them free by mocking Egypt's many gods.  Each plague God sent was also a judgment on their gods.  You worship the Nile?  It will turn to blood.  You worship the power of oxen?  Your cattle will have boils.  You worship the sun?  There will be three days of darkness.  Finally, the Lord declared the death of every firstborn male in Egypt, but delivered Israel through the blood of the Passover Lamb.  He led Israel out and to the shores of the Red Sea.  There, the Lord drove back the sea with a strong, east wind which allowed Israel to pass through on dry ground to freedom on the other side.  Those same waters came back together on the pursuing Egyptian army and laid waste to Pharaoh's army.  Israel won a great victory in which they did nothing.  The Lord saved them and set them free.

     The Lord your God has set you free, too.  Your enemy, however, is not a national power.  The Bible reminds us, and we do well to remember it: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:11-12)  Your enemy is the one who wants you damned.  Governments cannot damn you.  Other people cannot damn you.  Neither can war, disease, civil unrest, or injustice.  Your enemy is the devil.  He works tirelessly to coax and seduce you out of the kingdom of God.  And if you are outside the kingdom of God, that will damn you.  

     Our own spiritual blindness fails to see the enemy for who he is.  Remember that woman who branded God as a spoiled toddler who demands attention and has a tantrum if he does not get what he wants?  We, too, think of God that way.  God gives us his Commandments, and we bristle and chafe under them.  We think they are unfair and unreasonable, and we want to be free from them.  If God's Commandments make life hard, and if God says he will punish all who transgress them, then we conclude that God must be our enemy.

     But God's Commandments are not the problem.  God's Commandments expose the problem: You and I are sinners.  Oh, we will quote the Commandments when it serves our purpose.  We hold them up against people who steal from us or lie about us.  But we shrug them off when we don't like them.  We mock our leaders, we slander those who think differently, and we look for congratulations when we defraud our neighbor.  Your problem is not God.  Your problem is not even your fellow man.  Your problem is your own sinful heart and mind which seeks only your own good.  And God's Commandments show you this is true.  For his Commandments are good and holy, and the fact that you chafe under them shows you that you are not.  Repent.

     The Lord your God has set you free from this wretched condition.  He has not set you free from the Law, for God's will does not change.  “Love the Lord your God above all things” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” are always God's will, and they are always good.  The Lord your God, however, has set you free from being condemned by his Law.  That is because Jesus has put himself under the Law in your place.  In your place, he has done all that Law demands and has avoided all that the Law forbids.  In your place, he has suffered all that the Law threatens.  He suffered the curse for every infraction against the Commandments and he has borne the guilt for every failure to live up to God's standard.  Jesus has taken your place both in righteous obedience and righteous judgment.  By this, the Lord your God has set you free from judgment.  Your sins are forgiven.  Your debts have been paid.  The Lord your God has set you free.

     More than that, your nature has been changed.  God has converted your heart so that you no longer consider his Commandments to be unreasonable or oppressive.  No longer do you see the will of God as something evil which prevents you from living a good life.  Rather, you recognize that the will of God is good and serves for the good of all people.  It protects your neighbor from harm and preserves peace among all people.  When other people afflict us with harm or cruelty, it is because they are in rebellion against the Commandments.  And when we insult our neighbor or hurt our loved ones, it is because we have failed to live up to God's good will.  So, the will of God is good, and that is because God is good.

     But the Lord your God has set you free.  You are no longer a slave who must perform to perfection or be damned.  Rather, you are children of the Most High God whose lives now rest in Jesus Christ.  God has granted you both a new status and a new heart.  Your new heart means that you delight in serving God and your neighbor as perfectly as you can because you know God is good and his Law is good.  Your new status means that you are free from fearing God's wrath.  You don't have to wonder at the end of each day if your behavior was kind enough, if your words were true enough, or if your motives were pure enough.  The Lord your God has set you free from fear and judgment and wrath.  Since you are in Christ, you are loved by God each and every day.  And God tells you so, so that you can live in peace and joy.

     Therefore, when God reveals to you what his will is for a good and godly life, you can be sure that the God who saved you is not out to inflict oppression and injustice upon you.  The God who has set you free is good.  The God who has marked you for eternal life is good.  Therefore, his Commandments are good—good for you, good for your neighbor, and good for giving glory to God.  His first word to you is this: I am the LORD your God who has set you free from sin, death, and the devil.  Love me as I have loved you.  And trust me, as I have proven myself trustworthy.

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

Update from Good Shepherd (June 21, 2020)

Greetings!

WORSHIP DURING COVID-19

        Services will continue to be on Sundays at 10:00 AM for the foreseeable future.  We will not be offering the 8:30 AM service unless the attendance demands it after the stay-at-home order ends.  For information on what you can expect when you come to church and what will be expected of you, see this link.

        Services will still be broadcast on Facebook Live, Sundays at 10:00 AM, and uploaded to YouTube.   Share our services and invite friends to tune in.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

         Services are posted on YouTube, usually in a few hours after the service.  When you go to YouTube, do a search for "Good Shepherd Novi" and they should pop up.  (The service from June 14 is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmvwv7P_06U&t=2s )   Feel free to share the videos.

         Bulletins for services can be downloaded from here (scroll down): 

http://goodshepherdnovi.org/worship

BIBLE INFORMATION CLASS

If you or anyone you know would like to study the Scriptures and learn the basics of the Bible, please contact Pastor Schroeder for a Bible Information Class.  It will be done over Zoom (or in person if you are willing) at your convenience.

GOING OUT OF TOWN THIS SUMMER?

As you make your vacation plans, be sure to include a faithful worship pattern as part of your plans.  In order to find the nearest WELS congregation at your vacation destination, check out the WELS Church Locator at https://yearbook.wels.net/unitsearch . 

SUMMER SERMON SERIES -- TEN WORDS
Our sermons throughout the summer will focus on the Ten Commandments.  For the schedule, see this link.

CONCERNING THE CORONAVIRUS

        General thoughts regrading the Church, its services, and pastoral care during a health scare such as the coronoavirus, I refer you to some thoughts I had written earlier.  You can find them at my blog here, under the title, "A Pastoral Concern: The Church Militant, Pastoral Care, and the Coronavirus."

        Regarding worship, particularly home devotions and prayer during this time of quarantine, you can refer to this letter which offers encouragement, advice, and resources for worship at home.  

        Home Devotions: A link to provide materials for home devotions and prayers is here.

CONCERNING PASTORAL CARE

        Online Worship:  Besides Facebook Live and YouTube, you can find the pastor's sermons archived on this blog.  You can use the search bar to find a particular date, day of the Church Year, or Scripture reference.

        Person-to-person care: As much as possible, Pastor Schroeder will be available for private devotions, Holy Absolution, and Holy Communion to members in small groups or to individuals.  You may call to set up an appointment at any time.  Visits by appointment can be done either at church or at your home.

        In case you contract COVID-19:  Please contact Pastor Schroeder.  He will alert the congregation so that your fellow members may pray for you, and he will keep everyone informed of your condition.  If possible, Pastor Schroeder will visit you during your quarantine.  At the very least, he will keep in contact with you and provide devotional materials.  If you want to ask for intercessions for loved ones, we will certainly remember them in our prayers, too.  If your loved one has no pastor, ask if they would like Pastor Schroeder to visit them.  

PRIVATE COMMUNION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Private Communion is available by appointment at any time.

To limit the risk of contracting COVID-19 as much as possible, please review the protocol we will follow when you come in.  You can see it here.

OFFERINGS

While we may not be meeting for worship, we do have financial obligations to meet.  You may either mail your offering into Good Shepherd, or you can set up your offering to be transferred electronically from your bank.  If you are interested in the automatic transfer of funds for your offering, please contact the church at welsnovi@aol.com .

OFFICE HOURS

The office hours at Good Shepherd are going to be fairly fluid as we enter the summer months.  If you want to contact Pastor Schroeder for any kind of meeting, call or text (248) 719-5218.

DO YOU LIKE US?

Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook.  Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings.  Be sure to share posts with friends.

SHARE THIS POST!
We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess.  Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!

God bless you.

In Christ,

Pastor Schroeder

==============================

SUMMER SCHEDULE

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM  (We will also stream on Facebook Live )

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
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YouTube -- 2nd Sunday after Pentecost (June 14, 2020)

Here is the service from June 14, 2020.

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday after Pentecost (June 14, 2020)

MATTHEW 7:15-29

JESUS ALONE IS THE SOLID FOUNDATION.

Portions of this sermon are credited to Dr. Kenneth Bailey's book, “Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes”; InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, IL; (c) 2008.

In the name + of Jesus.

      After a lengthy sermon about what following Jesus actually means, Jesus concluded with a parable about two men who built a house.  We usually pay attention to the fact that one house remained standing and the other fell with a great crash.  What we probably don't recognize is that both men built a house.  If you had looked at each house during its construction, and if you had inspected each house after its completion, you would not have noticed a difference.  Both had walls which were made of field stones, straight and sturdy.  Both had roofs that did not leak.  Each was provided a sufficient dwelling place for their families.  Everything appeared to be in good order at each house.
     But we are not to be deceived by what we see.  We see people whose lives appear to be in good order.  They are healthy, successful, and happy.  And don't pretend they are not.  It does no good to try to convince people that they are not happy.  Their kid's travel team wins tournaments.  When they aren't doing that, they enjoy their lake house.  They may have had to work from home, but they did not lose their job to COVID-19 problems.  What's not to love?  Many unbelievers are plenty happy with their lives.  They don't need Jesus to make them happy.  This is fine; because the goal of the Jesus is not to make people happy. 
     From the outside, there does not seem to be much difference between a Christian and an unbeliever, any more than there seemed to be a difference in the two houses that were built.  The problem with the foolish builder is not that he built a bad house; it is that he built it with no foundation.  Now, to understand how that could be possible, we must understand what it was like to build a house in Jesus' day.  You did not build a house in the rainy season; you waited until summer when you had week after week of hot, dry days to build.  But with the hot, dry days came hard, dry ground.  The ground itself was like bronze (Leviticus 26:19).  If the ground is as hard as bronze, that should serve nicely as a foundation.  So the house was built, and it was solid.  The other man, however, toiled and sweated and ached as he chiseled down through the rock-ground in the oppressive heat.  Because he labored longer and harder to have the same house, he was the one who appeared to be the fool.
     But the rainy season returns every fall.  When the rains hit the ground, the ground softens up.  What had been hard as bronze suddenly has the consistency of chocolate pudding.  What appeared to be a sturdy foundation gets washed away by torrential storms and flash floods.  As the ground gets eaten away, the stones in the wall began to bulge out.  Finally the walls collapsed and the house was in ruins. 
     As long as your world does not have any problems, your life will appear to be just fine.  Many people who are healthy, successful, and happy are convinced that this is how life is supposed to be.  Even Christians are convinced life should be that easy.  When life is easy and people are happy, there does not appear to be any advantage to being a disciple of Jesus.  But then the storms come.  It did not matter who the builders were, neither could avoid storms.  As I had said before, Jesus does not promise that being a Christian will make you happy.  Being a Christian does not make you immune to problems and tragedies.  Just as the storms and winds and floods pounded both houses, so every life will see its share of beatings, too.  You may suffer physical loss of property and wealth.  You may suffer mental anguish of slander or hatred from others.  You may suffer personal loss of loved ones.  You may suffer spiritually with guilt or doubt.  All of these will destroy happiness, whether you are a Christian or not.
     But Jesus alone is your solid foundation.  If your life is founded on Christ, even if you lose a lot, you do not lose the goodness and mercy of God.  Even if you should die as a result of life's challenges and tragedies, you will not lose your place in the kingdom of God.  The Savior who conquered death in his resurrection will raise you up at the Last Day to live in glory forevermore.  So, having this rock-solid foundation matters.  Jesus alone is the solid foundation; and nothing matters more than that. 
     But how do you know you have built your life on it?  Remember, the houses of both builders looked fine until the storms came.  So, how can you be sure that you are not deceived?  Jesus answers: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24)  Did you catch that?  Jesus did not merely say, “Pay attention to God's word,” which is what we heard in the lesson from Deuteronomy.  Jesus commands you to heed “these words of mine.” (Matthew 7:24)  Every once in a while, you may hear someone assert that Jesus never claimed to be God.  But he surely does.  Jesus says that his words alone are the words that save.  Jesus alone provides a foundation that will never be destroyed or even moved.  Jesus alone is the solid foundation for you.
     Jesus answers: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24)  Now, if you strive to do all that Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, you will find it impossible to do.  God may have filled you with a desire to do it—and you should because it is God's will—but you can't.  You and I are sinners, and we still fail to hear and do all that Jesus tells us.  But Jesus' words are not just commandments.  Jesus' words are also words of grace.  Jesus alone is the solid foundation for you.  You will not be destroyed on this foundation; for Jesus alone saves you.
     If Jesus is the solid foundation, that means everything rests on Jesus.  Jesus does not tell us God's commands no longer apply.  Jesus does not change God's will.  God's will is unchanging and unending.  Rather, Jesus fulfills God's will.  The obedience that God commands Jesus has done for us.  And the judgment we deserve Jesus has endured on our behalf.  By this exchange—Jesus' holiness in exchange for our guilt, and Jesus' condemnation in exchange for our pardon—we are redeemed.  We are delivered into God's kingdom.  The Lord himself establishes us on a foundation which remains in all circumstances.  The storms of life may pound on you hard, and they may sweep away many things that seem important and precious, but they cannot drive away the love, mercy, and salvation of Jesus.  Loss of wealth does not eliminate the riches of heaven.  Loss of reputation does not change your status as God's saint.  Not even death can rob you of the resurrection to eternal life.  On the Last Day when all will be raised from the dead to stand in judgment before the Lord, you will stand in confidence.  For you will not be judged on your merits, but on Christ's.  You do not stand on your own foundation; Jesus alone is the solid foundation for you.  This will never be taken from you.
     Jesus alone is the solid foundation.  He urges us not to be deceived by what seems right, what looks right, or what sounds right.  When Satan seeks to deceive us, he is going to make his lies sound right and sensible.  For example, he will tell you that Jesus just wants you to be happy.  It sounds appealing; I want to be happy too!  But sadly, my sinful nature especially wants to be happy and leads me to crave things that will perish—sports, entertainment, food and drink, leisure, and so on.  While those things are not wicked, and while such things will make me happy until my dying day, none of them save me on my dying day or any day before then.  But Satan will convince me that God wants me to have them because he wants me to be happy.  “Beware of false prophets.” (Matthew 7:15)  They are seductive and will help you build a lovely house but it will all collapse in the end.
     Jesus alone is the solid foundation for you.  Here is the hard truth: God does not want you to be happy; God wants you to be saved.  God wants you to know that his favor rests upon you, even when storms come, destroy your happiness, and make you miserable.  God wants you to know that, when you are struggling with guilt and regret, that the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies you of all sin.  God wants you to know that when the storms of life separate you from wealth, health, and even loved ones, nothing will separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  And God wants you to talk about these things regularly with your family and loved ones so that they are not seduced by momentary pleasures.  If your goal is to make your family happy, you will give them worldly gifts which will make them excited for a while.  If your goal is to see your family in heaven, then you will teach them Jesus' words and bring them to receive Jesus' gifts.  That will give them a foundation which will enable them to stand in the worst of storms and at the final judgment.
     Jesus alone is the solid foundation which guarantees forgiveness, peace, and life everlasting.  All other things will pass away.  But Jesus lives and reigns forever, and only those who trust in him will live and reign with him.

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

Sermon -- Funeral for Jan Papson (June 13, 2020)

The Committal for Jan Papson was observed at Glen Eden Cemetery, Livonia, MI.

For the Committal of Jan Papson

(September 13, 1952 - May 15, 2020)

JOB 19:25-27

A LIVING REDEEMER GIVES LIFE EVERLASTING.

In the name + of Jesus.

      To appreciate Job's words, it helps to know Job's background.  God had blessed Job with a large family, made him a highly influential person in his community, and granted him enormous wealth with flocks, herds, and servants.  Then Satan challenged Job's faithfulness to God, suggesting that if God had not given him so much, Job would no longer have a use or a love for God.  So God allowed for Job to lose everything—his wealth, his reputation, his health, and all his children.  Job went from being rich and respectable to pitiful, penniless, and a shriveled up shell of a man.  And yet, Job did not trust what he experienced.  Although he never knew why he suffered and lost as much as he did, he still believed that the Lord was his good and merciful Father in heaven.  Although the evidence suggested otherwise, Job still believed that God loved him and would restore him.
     The particular confession of Job that we are considering does not suggest that Job expected life to get better in this world.  Job looked beyond that.  “I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.” (Job 19:25-27)  Job knew that even if his diseased body would give out, he would be raised from the dead with a renewed and perfected body.  He would see his Savior with his own eyes, and he would live with him forevermore.
     Now, if there is a comparison to be made with Jan Papson, it is that she ended up suffering from cancer for quite some time.  I never even knew her in her more lively, healthier days.  I knew her during a time of catheters, chemo treatments, and frailty.  And while death is not a topic that we usually want to talk about, she and I talked about it often because it was imminent.  God allowed her to endure a terminal illness, and he did not tell us why.  Oh, in general we can know why—this is a broken world and bad things happen in it.  But why God afflicted Jan with cancer?  He has not told us.
     But Jan and I focused on what God has told us.  Like Job, we chose not to focus on what Jan felt and experienced.  We acknowledged her cancer and her frustrations, but we also recognized that these were no proof that God was getting back at her for something, or that God had abandoned her when she needed him.  Our focus remained on what God tells us.  While God tells us a lot that is worth considering, for now we will limit ourselves to Job's confession: A living Redeemer gives life everlasting.
     First of all, our God is a Redeemer-God.  That means he has acted to ransom us from the brokenness of this world.  The first thing that is broken is us.  We are all sinners.  We get bitter, sarcastic, greedy, and petty.  We don't even love our loved ones like we should.  We have all failed to live up to God's standards.  Because of that, we are all marked for death.  Since all are sinners, all will die.  But our Redeemer, Jesus, has delivered us from our sins.  Even though Jesus lived up to God's standards and was without sin, he exchanged his perfect life for ours.  He carried our sins to the cross and suffered the judgment we have earned.  Jesus died a cursed death, enduring our hellish judgment for us.  This is how he has delivered you from the curse of sin and has taken away your guilt.  Jesus is your Redeemer, so there was a cost to saving you.  That cost was his perfect life and innocent blood.  But your Redeemer not only died for you, he rose from the grave and conquered death for you.  This Redeemer lives and can never die again.
     The living Redeemer gives everlasting life.  And the living Redeemer already gave new life to Jan Papson when she was baptized into his name.  By that baptism, the Lord put to death the sinful heart of Jan and gave her a new heart which believed his word and received his blessings.  God poured out his favor upon her, and he never removed it from her.  Cancer may have wracked her body, but that did not change God's mercy.  Like Job's body, Jan's was tainted with sin.  We all are.  That is why we get diseases, grow frail, and finally die.  These sin-stained bodies cannot enter God's holy presence.
     But our living Redeemer gives everlasting life.  He who conquered death will raise up Jan with a new, holy, and glorious body.  She will stand with Jesus on the Last Day and never again know pain, medication, or weakness.  She will live in joy and peace forever.  For now, her soul dwells with Jesus in such peace and joy.  But God did not create us to be ghosts.  He made us to be people with bodies and souls.  Jesus became a body and soul man so that he would ransom us to be his body and soul saints for all eternity. 
     Thanks to Jesus, Jan bore the status of a saint throughout her life.  And at the resurrection of the dead, she will live and look like the saint God has made her to be.  This is the promise God made to her and the confession that Jan lived and died in.  God's promises to her and God's love for her could not be negated by her cancer, her hardships, or her death.  They are proved by Jesus' life and sufferings, death and resurrection—all done to redeem her from sin and death to life and peace. 
       Our Redeemer lives.  And because that Redeemer has saved Jan and marked her as his own, she will too.  In her risen flesh, she will see Jesus.  With her own eyes, she will gaze on a loving Redeemer.  For our Redeemer lives, and he gives everlasting life.

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

Update from Good Shepherd (June 11, 2020)

Greetings!

WORSHIP DURING COVID-19

        Services will continue to be on Sundays at 10:00 AM for the foreseeable future.  We will not be offering the 8:30 AM service unless the attendance demands it after the stay-at-home order ends.  For information on what you can expect when you come to church and what will be expected of you, see this link.

        Services will still be broadcast on Facebook Live, Sundays at 10:00 AM, and uploaded to YouTube.   Share our services and invite friends to tune in.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

         Services are posted on YouTube, usually in a few hours after the service.  When you go to YouTube, do a search for "Good Shepherd Novi" and they should pop up.  (The service from June 7 is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kve6Xr8p168 )   Feel free to share the videos.

         Bulletins for services can be downloaded from here (scroll down): 

http://goodshepherdnovi.org/worship

BIBLE INFORMATION CLASS

If you or anyone you know would like to study the Scriptures and learn the basics of the Bible, please contact Pastor Schroeder for a Bible Information Class.  It will be done over Zoom (or in person if you are willing) at your convenience.

GOING OUT OF TOWN THIS SUMMER?

As you make your vacation plans, be sure to include a faithful worship pattern as part of your plans.  In order to find the nearest WELS congregation at your vacation destination, check out the WELS Church Locator at https://yearbook.wels.net/unitsearch . 

SUMMER SERMON SERIES -- TEN WORDS
Our sermons throughout the summer will focus on the Ten Commandments.  For the schedule, see this link.

CONCERNING THE CORONAVIRUS

        General thoughts regrading the Church, its services, and pastoral care during a health scare such as the coronoavirus, I refer you to some thoughts I had written earlier.  You can find them at my blog here, under the title, "A Pastoral Concern: The Church Militant, Pastoral Care, and the Coronavirus."

        Regarding worship, particularly home devotions and prayer during this time of quarantine, you can refer to this letter which offers encouragement, advice, and resources for worship at home.  

        Home Devotions: A link to provide materials for home devotions and prayers is here.

CONCERNING PASTORAL CARE

        Online Worship:  Besides Facebook Live and YouTube, you can find the pastor's sermons archived on this blog.  You can use the search bar to find a particular date, day of the Church Year, or Scripture reference.

        Person-to-person care: As much as possible, Pastor Schroeder will be available for private devotions, Holy Absolution, and Holy Communion to members in small groups or to individuals.  You may call to set up an appointment at any time.  Visits by appointment can be done either at church or at your home.

        In case you contract COVID-19:  Please contact Pastor Schroeder.  He will alert the congregation so that your fellow members may pray for you, and he will keep everyone informed of your condition.  If possible, Pastor Schroeder will visit you during your quarantine.  At the very least, he will keep in contact with you and provide devotional materials.  If you want to ask for intercessions for loved ones, we will certainly remember them in our prayers, too.  If your loved one has no pastor, ask if they would like Pastor Schroeder to visit them.  

PRIVATE COMMUNION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Private Communion is available by appointment at any time.

To limit the risk of contracting COVID-19 as much as possible, please review the protocol we will follow when you come in.  You can see it here.

OFFERINGS

While we may not be meeting for worship, we do have financial obligations to meet.  You may either mail your offering into Good Shepherd, or you can set up your offering to be transferred electronically from your bank.  If you are interested in the automatic transfer of funds for your offering, please contact the church at welsnovi@aol.com .

INTERCESSIONS 

Intercessions that are requested prior to the bulletin’s printing will be included in the bulletin.  Requests may be made prior to the service as well.
>  
In our prayers....
While we offer up prayers for specific requests in our services, petitions and intercessions can be offered up throughout the week for continued concerns.  Please continue to remember these in your prayers:
>  For the family of Jan Papson, whose committal will be June 13.

OFFICE HOURS

The office hours at Good Shepherd are going to be fairly fluid as we enter the summer months.  If you want to contact Pastor Schroeder for any kind of meeting, call or text (248) 719-5218.

DO YOU LIKE US?

Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook.  Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings.  Be sure to share posts with friends.

SHARE THIS POST!
We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess.  Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!

God bless you.

In Christ,

Pastor Schroeder

==============================

SUMMER SCHEDULE

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM  (We will also stream on Facebook Live )

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
+   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +

Summer Sermon Series -- Ten Words

SUMMER SERMON SERIES

TEN WORDS

And [the LORD] he wrote on the tablets, in the same writing as before, the Ten Commandments that the LORD had spoken to you on the mountain out of the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly.  And the LORD gave them to me. (Deuteronomy 10:4)

June 21     The Preface   (Exodus 20:1-2)

         I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 

                        out of the house of slavery. 

July 5 The 1st Commandment   (Exodus 20:3-6)

         You shall have no other gods. 

July 12 The 2nd Commandment   (Exodus 20:7)

         You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God. 

July 19 The 3rd Commandment   (Exodus 20:8-11)

         Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 

July 26     The 4th Commandment   (Exodus 20:12)

         Honor your father and your mother.

Aug. 2 The 5th Commandment   (Exodus 20:13)

         You shall not murder. 

Aug. 9 The 6th Commandment   (Exodus 20:14)

         You shall not commit adultery. 

Aug. 23         The 7th Commandment   (Exodus 20:15)

         You shall not steal. 

Aug. 30     The 8th Commandment   (Exodus 20:16)

         You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 

Sept. 6 The 9th & 10th Commandments   (Exodus 20:17)

         You shall not covet. 

YouTube -- Holy Trinity (June 7, 2020)

Here is the service for the Festival of Holy Trinity.

Sermon -- Holy Trinity (June 7, 2020)

GENESIS 1:1 – 2:3

THE TRIUNE GOD CREATES GOOD THINGS.

In the name + of Jesus.

      Our Gospel reading contains the most explicit and concise reference to the Trinity: “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:18).  It is in “the name,” not the names; for there is only one God.  Therefore, there is only one name.  There are, however, three persons.  This is a profound mystery, and human reason cannot grasp what the Lord plainly reveals.  We simply take the Lord at his word: This is who he is—one God, and three persons; Trinity in unity, and unity in Trinity.
     Of course, the Trinity is expressed and confessed throughout the Scriptures.  So, quiz question: How far do you have to page through the Bible before you come upon a reference to the Trinity?  Answer: Page 1.  In fact, you don't need to go beyond the first three verses of the Bible to see the Trinity at work.  “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.” (Apostles' Creed)  “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2)  And God the Son?  He is the Word made flesh.  But before he became flesh, he is “the Word.”  So, when God “said,” God the Son was at work.
     The Triune God not only reveals who he is, he also reveals what he has done.  The Triune God has created this world and everything in it.  It did not evolve by chance; it was created by divine design.  A wise and loving God brought all things into being, and along each step of the way, he gave his assessment: “And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:10,12,18,21)  After forming what was without form and after filling what was void, the Triune God completed his creation with his crowning achievement.  In fact, the Triune God paused to take divine counsel, as if to proclaim: This is what it is all about.  This is what this creation is for.  Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27)  
     At the conclusion of all he had made, God gave his final assessment: “God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31)  The Triune God creates good things.  God's creation excelled in goodness.  And that was especially true of the people whom God had created.  They were in his image; therefore, they had to be exceedingly good.  A living spirit is what set the animals apart from the grass and the vegetables and the trees.  This is why we are outraged at the senseless killing of animals, but no one finds it outrageous to mow the law, to trim bushes, or to harvest corn.  But mankind is set higher than the animals.  For, God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27) 
     The Triune God creates good things.  The image of God is recognized in people having an intellect, a will, and emotion.  This is why people are able to build cities, design 767's, smelt precious metals, solve sudoku puzzles, and compose music.  More than that, people have a built-in desire to know God and a longing to know God loves them.  Some have even created their own version of God in order to fill that need. 
     When God first created Adam and Eve, they were the perfect image of God.  While they still had an intellect, a will, and emotion, it was completely perfect and without sin.  Their obedience to God's word was intentional and pleasing.  Their reason did not question or challenge God's word.  Their love for one another was sacrificial and joyfully so.  God created mankind to bless and love them.  And in turn, mankind was created to love and serve God and to love and serve each other.  This was no accident.  This was the divine design of our Triune God.  Our Triune God creates good things.  “And God saw that it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31)  
     No doubt you have heard the statement: “God don't make no junk.”  But the world has gotten pretty junky.  Social distancing and masks are not necessary in a perfect world.  Nor are wildfires or allergies.  Rest assured, it is not God's fault.  It is man who has brought this condition on himself through his sinful rebellion against God's word.  When Adam and Eve reasoned that their lives would be better by defying God's command, they lost God's image.  They did not lose their intellect, will, and emotion.  It is just that sin and selfishness became the guiding force behind them.  This corrupted image now displays itself in wretched behavior such as racism and rioting, sarcastic comments meant to belittle others, and posturing to show how righteous we are.  We seem to have gotten to the point that if we disagree with people, they are evil—not just having a different opinion, but evil.  We have reasoned that our motives are always noble and our ideas are always right.  Therefore, we exert our will to get our way, convinced that our way is superior.  Then our emotions burn hot against those who disagree with us.  You and I are offended when we see such sinful attitudes in others, but we are blind to our own.  If all are sinners, that means we are, too.  Let us consider our words and our ways.  We have good reasons to repent.
     Our Triune God has created good things.  Even if you want to insist that “God don't make no junk,” you ought to recognize that sin has corrupted the good things God has made.  It would be like asking a carpenter to make a cabinet using rotten wood.  The carpenter might have the craftsmanship to make a beautiful piece of furniture, but the buyer will still complain about the quality of it.  The problem is not that the carpenter was bad, but the material he worked with was bad.  And so it is with us.  It's not that being a human being is bad.  In that case, it is true: “God don't make no junk.”  But our human nature has been totally corrupted by sin, and a lot of junk results from that.  When the intellect, will, and emotion are corrupt, everything that flows out of them will be corrupt too.  Even our best is impure.  It may not be criminal, but it surely is not righteous.
     Our Triune God created heaven and earth and everything in them.  He loves what he has created, even though it has been corrupted.  Therefore, our Triune God has acted to reclaim it and to restore it.  In order to rescue man from his damnable fate, God the Son became a man.  God the Son came into the world body and soul, but also with intellect, will, and emotion.  Jesus' intellect, will, and emotion were in perfect harmony with God the Father.  Therefore, he always submitted himself to his Father's commands and devoted himself to loving his fellow man.  Rather than foment disgust about how wicked people were, Jesus had compassion for sinners.  The only people Jesus expressed disdain for were the religious leaders who belittled people and exalted themselves over them.  That does not mean that Jesus gave sinners a pass; it means that he took up their sin for them, just as he does for you.  Jesus went to the cross to atone for the sins of racists and rioters, for those who are sarcastic, and for those who claim a righteousness they don't have.  Jesus gives his righteousness in exchange for all of mankind's wicked intellect, will, and emotion.  He endured the damnable fate of the sinner so that you would be set free from it.  Your sins are pardoned, and your judgment is heaven.  The Triune God did not carry out justice upon you, but mercy.
     The Triune God creates good things, and he has acted to make you a new creation.  By your baptism into the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Triune God has put to death your sinful nature and raised you up anew, just as Jesus Christ was raised from the dead.  Just as the Spirit of God hovered over the waters at creation to bring forth life, so in Holy Baptism the Holy Spirit works in the water to create a new life and to make you a new creation with a clean heart. 
     The Triune God creates good things, and he has begun restoring in you the image of God which was first given to Adam and Eve.  With this newly created image, we take every thought and make it captive to the word of God.  We assess our motives and put to death everything that is sinful, and strive after God's good and gracious will—not just what we think is good, but what God says is good.  Our emotions are no longer devoted to our pride, but to compassion upon those who are in need, who are suffering, or who are still slaves to sinful hearts and minds.
     Of course, we are not perfect.  Far from it.  Our sin continues to cling to us and still warps our thoughts and attitudes.  The image of God will not be restored in us completely until our bodies catch up to our baptism and we are raised from the dead on the Last Day.  Then we will dwell in the new heavens and new earth as perfected people.  We will enjoy a perfect intellect.  Our will and emotion will be in harmony with the Lord's.  And we will find great joy and satisfaction in it.  Until that day, we flee to the Triune God in repentance and for renewal.  He who created man still loves what he has created.  He who redeemed man still gives gifts to him for his good.  The Triune God creates good things.  He has borne your image so that you will forever be renewed in his.

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

Athanasian Creed

This coming Sunday (June 11) will be the Festival of the Holy Trinity.  It is the one Sunday a year when we confess the Athanasian Creed.  You can read through a version of the Athanasian Creed here.

For a little history and explanation of the Athanasian Creed, I offer this.

The Athanasian Creed is one of the three catholic creeds.  The word catholic means universal, as in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.  The word creed comes from the Latin word credo which means “I believe.”  Luther said of this creed, “I doubt whether the New Testament church has a more important document since the Apostolic age.” 

Although named for Athanasius, the bishop of Alexandria (ca. 296-373), it is almost certain that he did not write it.  Neither Athanasius nor his contemporaries ever refer to it.  But even if Athanasius did not write the creed, he certainly would have ascribed to it.  Athanasius was one of the bishops at the ecumenical Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325) which opposed the heresy of Arius (ca. 250-336).  Arius denied the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, teaching that he is of a similar substance to God the Father, but not of the same substance.  In essence, Arius claimed that Jesus Christ is not the eternal God.  This belief has resurfaced in modern-day cults such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons.  The Council of Nicaea adopted the Nicene Creed to affirm that Jesus is “God from God, Light from Light, true God from True God” and “of one being with the Father.”

The Athanasian Creed first appeared in Gaul (France) late in the 5th century.  Early in that century, Europe was invaded from the east by barbarian tribes, notably the Vandals and Goths.  This event marked the beginning of the Dark Ages.  During this time, the people and the clergy lapsed into illiteracy and ignorance of the Scriptures.  In addition, some of the invaders were Arian in their beliefs.  Out of this confusion came the need for a clear statement of faith.  The result was the Athanasian Creed.

The Athanasian Creed quickly assumed an important role in the orthodox church.  (Much of the visible church was overrun with Arianism.)  Emperor Charlemagne (ca. 742-814), in order to preserve the true Christian faith, decreed that all churchmen had to learn this creed and to be able to teach it to the laity.

The second portion of the Athanasian Creed reaffirms the Nicene Creed regarding the person of Jesus Christ.  However, it begins with a most excellent presentation on the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.  It says no more and no less than Scriptures say, letting the paradox of God’s nature stand (i.e., God is one; God is three).

Confessors of the creed should not be put off by the second to last article which says: “Those who have done good will enter eternal life, but those who have done evil will go into eternal fire” (cp also John 5:28,29).  The article does not teach salvation attained by human works, but simply reflects that our good works (or lack thereof) are evidence of God-given faith (or unbelief).  When we remember that our good works are actually God’s work through us, then we will understand this article correctly (cf Ephesians 2:8-10).  In addition, we remember that are judged based on Jesus’ merits, not our own.  We have been given the credit for Christ’s righteousness.  Therefore, we are heirs of eternal life.

This creed ought to bring us great comfort, as it speaks clearly about our God and his plan for our salvation.  Its clearness and boldness are refreshing in this age of doctrinal confusion.  This is no wishy-washy confession.  It states what the Scriptures teach – there is no God but the Lord revealed in the Scriptures, and there is no salvation outside of the name of Jesus Christ.  All who deny this deny the truth; and all who deny the truth forfeit salvation.

Finally, a study of this creed and the history which surrounds it shows how important it is for us to be familiar with the history of the Christian Church.  When we understand how Christians who have gone before us identified error and combated it, then we will better be able to do the same. 

Lutheran Satire -- St. Patrick's Bad Analogies and the Trinity

With Holy Trinity upon us this Sunday (June 7), it is time for a favorite from Lutheran Satire.

Enjoy!

Update from Good Shepherd (June 4, 2020)

Greetings!

WORSHIP DURING COVID-19

        Services will continue to be on Sundays at 10:00 AM for the foreseeable future.  Based on the responses from the most recent congregational survey, we will not be offering the 8:30 AM service unless the attendance demands it after the stay-at-home order ends.  For information on what you can expect when you come to church and what will be expected of you, see this link.

        Services will still be broadcast on Facebook Live, Sundays at 10:00 AM, and uploaded to YouTube.   Share our services and invite friends to tune in.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

         Services are posted on YouTube, usually in a few hours after the service.  When you go to YouTube, do a search for "Good Shepherd Novi" and they should pop up.  (The service from May 31 is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIqYJguTdok )   Feel free to share the videos.

         Bulletins for services can be downloaded from here (scroll down): 

http://goodshepherdnovi.org/worship

BIBLE INFORMATION CLASS

If you or anyone you know would like to study the Scriptures and learn the basics of the Bible, please contact Pastor Schroeder for a Bible Information Class.  It will be done over Zoom (or in person if you are willing) at your convenience.

COVID-19 AND MASKS AT CHURCH
As was noted in previous communications, we expect that people will wear masks in attendance at church.  Are they annoying?  Yes.  Are they inconvenient?  Yes.  Are they an infringement on our freedoms or a method of preserving health?  Well, opinions differ there, and that is part of our challenge as we come together to worship.  Some feel masks are useless; others are truly bothered when they see people who do not wear masks.  Now, put both of these people together in a church and you can sense the problem.
In consultation with the Church Council, here is what I am asking of all our worshipers: Please wear masks throughout your time at church.  Even if you think a mask is a wasted effort, your fellow member in the row in front of you may not share your opinion.  So, please endure the inconvenience out of love for all worshipers so that nothing would hinder people coming to hear God's word and partake in the sacrament together as the body of Christ.

CONCERNING THE CORONAVIRUS

        General thoughts regrading the Church, its services, and pastoral care during a health scare such as the coronoavirus, I refer you to some thoughts I had written earlier.  You can find them at my blog here, under the title, "A Pastoral Concern: The Church Militant, Pastoral Care, and the Coronavirus."

        Regarding worship, particularly home devotions and prayer during this time of quarantine, you can refer to this letter which offers encouragement, advice, and resources for worship at home.  

        Home Devotions: A link to provide materials for home devotions and prayers is here.

CONCERNING PASTORAL CARE

        Online Worship:  Besides Facebook Live and YouTube, you can find the pastor's sermons archived on this blog.  You can use the search bar to find a particular date, day of the Church Year, or Scripture reference.

        Person-to-person care: As much as possible, Pastor Schroeder will be available for private devotions, Holy Absolution, and Holy Communion to members in small groups or to individuals.  You may call to set up an appointment at any time.  Visits by appointment can be done either at church or at your home.

        In case you contract COVID-19:  Please contact Pastor Schroeder.  He will alert the congregation so that your fellow members may pray for you, and he will keep everyone informed of your condition.  If possible, Pastor Schroeder will visit you during your quarantine.  At the very least, he will keep in contact with you and provide devotional materials.  If you want to ask for intercessions for loved ones, we will certainly remember them in our prayers, too.  If your loved one has no pastor, ask if they would like Pastor Schroeder to visit them.  

PRIVATE COMMUNION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Private Communion is available by appointment at any time.

To limit the risk of contracting COVID-19 as much as possible, please review the protocol we will follow when you come in.  You can see it here.

OFFERINGS

While we may not be meeting for worship, we do have financial obligations to meet.  You may either mail your offering into Good Shepherd, or you can set up your offering to be transferred electronically from your bank.  If you are interested in the automatic transfer of funds for your offering, please contact the church at welsnovi@aol.com .

INTERCESSIONS 

Intercessions that are requested prior to the bulletin’s printing will be included in the bulletin.  Requests may be made prior to the service as well.
>  
In our prayers....
While we offer up prayers for specific requests in our services, petitions and intercessions can be offered up throughout the week for continued concerns.  Please continue to remember these in your prayers:
>  For the family of Jan Papson, called to eternal rest on May 15.
     >  For families in mid-Michigan effected by extreme flooding and evacuations

     >  For Jon Rumics, son of David & Diane Rumics, dealing with health concerns related to cancer treatments

OFFICE HOURS

The office hours at Good Shepherd are going to be fairly fluid as we enter the summer months.  If you want to contact Pastor Schroeder for any kind of meeting, call or text (248) 719-5218.

DO YOU LIKE US?

Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook.  Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings.  Be sure to share posts with friends.

SHARE THIS POST!
We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess.  Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!

God bless you.

In Christ,

Pastor Schroeder

==============================

SUMMER SCHEDULE

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM  (We will also stream on Facebook Live )

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
+   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +