Lutheran Subject (Schroeder's blog): February 2024

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Update from Good Shepherd (February 29, 2024)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE
  Sunday School -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.
  Adult Bible Class -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.
  Divine Service -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.
  Lenten Vespers -- Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. Supper at 6:00 PM.
  Bible Matters resumes in April.

For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi. Share it as much as you can.

FUNERAL FOR JACK BOYD
  It has pleased almighty God to call out of this world to himself the soul of our brother in Christ, John “Jack” Boyd. A Christian funeral will be conducted for Jack on Saturday, March 9 at 10:00 AM. It will be conducted at Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home in downtown Farmington (23720 Farmington Road).
  The obituary for Jack Boyd can be found here: https://www.heeney-sundquist.com/obituary/john-boyd
  I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” (Revelation 14:13)

ADULT BIBLE CLASS
  We have begun a series for Adult Bible Class entitled, “Families of the Bible.”  The Lord lays out his plans for godly families. But sin leaves its mark on families, producing families that are strained, fractured, dysfunctional, and blended. We will consider various families who are mentioned in the Bible. First, we will see that there is nothing new under the sun. Then, we will see God’s blessings for families—strength, encouragement, and healing.
  Who will benefit from this series? Husbands and wives, parents and children, singles, divorced, and widowed … anyone who was born into a family, brought into a family, or has been ostracized from a family. I think that should cover all of us.
The schedule for this class can be found here.
  Adult Bible Class beings promptly at 9:00 AM. All are welcome.

LENTEN NOTES

For an overview of the Lenten season, click here.

Lenten Vespers -- Wednesdays in February and March at 7:00 PM. The schedule can be found here.

Lenten Dinners -- Wednesdays before the Lenten services at 6:00 PM.

Martin Luther College Choir Concert
Join us at Hope Christian Academy on Monday, March 4 at 10 am as the Martin Luther College Choir, under the direction of Prof. Adrian Smith, presents a choral concert titled “Piercing the Darkness.” The program will include settings of familiar hymns, as well as selections by choral music composers representing a variety of musical styles.

EASTER FOR KIDS

  Good Shepherd’s 2024 Easter-for-Kids Event will be held on Saturday, March 23, 10am – Noon.
  At this event, kids will follow a path from Jesus’ crucifixion, to the guards who guarded his tomb, to the empty tomb on Easter morning. Along the way, there will be lessons, crafts, and special guests (centurion, angel) to tell them what they have seen. They will get a sticker for their “passport” at each station, with a reward at the end for filling their passport.
  There will be 5 stations – Sign-in, the crucifixion, the Centurian, the tomb, and the selfie-station. We will need some help making this event a success. Here are some of the ways that you can help.
>>> Planning for the stations – we have a basic idea of what each station requires, but need some people to help put it together. This will include planning crafts, decorating, etc. Ideally would like to get someone to be in charge of each station.
>>> Decorating -- We want to turn our room divider into a tomb, need a stone to roll, costumes, etc. We have some ideas to start but just need help making it happen.
>>> Crafts – if you have good craft ideas for kids, we would love to hear them.
>>> Giveaway – put together goodie bags for the kids at the end. Also need some kind of raffle game and prize. (Last year we did a guess the number of jelly beans in the jar.)
>>> Volunteers day of the event – will need people to sign kids in, help with crafts, lead kids into the stations, and some “actors” to play roles. Would ideally like to get about 10 people.
Another way to help will be to “like” and share our posts on social media when they come out. Please help us to make this event a success.

EASTER FOR KIDS—Prep Meeting
We will have another prep meeting for Easter for Kids on Sunday, March 3 after the service. We want to check on how we are progressing as our event gets closer. There are many ways to get involved. If interested, join us for this meeting.

WELS INTERNATIONAL YOUTH RALLY
This summer, about 2,000 WELS teens (from 8th grade graduation through 12th grade graduation) from all over the country will be gathering in Fort Collins, Colorado for a Youth Rally. The Rally will be held June 25-28. All who have attended have raved about what a good time this is. More information can be found at www.welsyouthrally.net. The cost is $410 for early bird registration, March 6 – April 30. Transportation costs are not included in the registration fee. Good Shepherd teens will likely connect with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Livonia to ensure that we have our teens connected to a chaperon. If you are interested, please speak to Pastor Schroeder.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from Christmas Eve (February 18, 2024): Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, February 18, 2024 (youtube.com)

BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR SERVICES AT GOOD SHEPHERD
We will always have services as scheduled at Good Shepherd. Since I live across the parking lot, I can get to the church no matter how bad the weather gets. Even if the service is just me and my family, we will be here. For everyone else, please use your God-given common sense to determine whether or not you will get on the road to attend any service when the weather is bad. We don't want anyone to risk his or her life to be here. But if you do venture out, the scheduled service will take place. It may be only a handful with a cappella singing and/or spoken liturgy, but we will be here.
Bible Classes and meetings may be canceled due to weather. Check your email regarding announcements to see if any of those scheduled events are canceled. If there is no email about it, it is not canceled. But again, use common sense to determine if you can make it, and call the pastor to let him know if you will not be coming.

REGULAR OFFICE HOURS
The pastor will try to maintain regular office hours are Monday – Thursday, 9:00 AM - Noon. To ensure the pastor’s availability, it is best to make an appointment. He is available by phone or text (248-719-5218). You may also email (welsnovi@aol.com), but the response may be slower.

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!

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

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REGULAR SCHEDULE
DIVINE SERVICES are on Sundays at 10:00 AM
Sunday School -- Sundays at 9:00 AM
Adult Bible Class -- Sundays at 9:00 AM
Lenten Vespers-- Wednesdays through March 20
Supper -- 6:00 PM
Worship -- 7:00 PM
Choir -- 8:00 PM
Bible Matters resumes in April.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

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

Sunday, February 25, 2024

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday in Lent (February 25, 2024)

MARK 8:31-38

CHRIST COMES WITH A CROSS.

In the name + of Jesus.

We all have expectations because of our Christian faith. Many of those expectations are valid. At the conclusion of the Nicene Creed, we confess, “We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” We expect this for one reason: Our Lord told us. We also know what to expect in the life of the world to come. Jesus promises to everyone who believes in him, “(God) will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

We also have expectations for what life here and now should be like for Christians. Unfortunately, our expectations are often based on our assumptions rather than anything that God has promised. We know that God is good, and he loves us. Therefore, we assume that he will make our lives good, comfortable, easy, and prosperous. That is appealing. Who wouldn’t want that? Everyone wants life to be whether they are Christians or not. But God has not promised that. To expect it, then, is setting yourself up for disappointment. You may even conclude that God has failed you.

Such assumptions are not unique to you. The apostles had some expectations of what life as a Christian is supposed to be like. They based their assumptions on what they were seeing with Jesus. He was wildly popular with the crowds. They came streaming to him. He healed their sick and brought relief to those who were suffering. He spoke compassionately to those who despised, forgotten, and broken-hearted. Everything seemed to be wonderful for Jesus and his disciples.

But then Jesus informed his disciples what was coming. Christ comes with a cross. “He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly” (Mark 8:31-32). Jesus was not throwing out suggestions, as if the next course of action were up for grabs. He spoke plainly. It was necessary for these things to happen. This was the plan. I suspect that the disciples did not grasp that last part, rising from the dead on the third day. They heard suffering, rejection, and murder. That is the polar opposite of the popularity they were enjoying. Why would they forfeit this glory for suffering and shame?

That is why Peter rebuked Jesus. This is not what he had in mind for Jesus, for himself, or for any of Jesus’ disciples. He had higher expectations. But Christ comes with a cross. Perhaps Peter suggested, “If this is what happens when we go to Jerusalem, let’s just not go to Jerusalem. If you don’t go to Jerusalem, you won’t suffer, be rejected, or be killed!” The Law required them to go to Jerusalem for religious festivals. Avoiding Jerusalem was not an option. None of it was. It was necessary. Christ comes with a cross.

If Jesus had listened to Peter and avoided the cross, he would not have paid for our sins. Our guilt would remain upon us. The devil, who had overcome the world by leading it into sin, would still rule over all things in this world. We would die under God’s curse. We would receive the punishment we deserve, and we would suffer eternal torment in hell. Jesus was sent into the world to save us from all that. To turn away from this mission was a Satanic plan, which is why Jesus rebuked Peter so harshly. Peter wanted and expected ease, comfort, and popularity. Jesus, however, was focused on what God the Father had given him to do. Christ comes with a cross.

Then Jesus gathered many disciples around him to teach them that belonging to Christ also comes with a cross. He said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34). Once again, Jesus was not making a suggestion or tossing out some options. All three verbs are imperatives: You must deny yourself. You must take up your cross. You must follow him. These are necessary, too. Christ comes with a cross.

What is a cross for? It is for killing things. So, what needs to be put to death? Our sinful inclinations and desires. Our self-glorifying goals and lust for personal glory. Our assumptions that being a child of God means that God will always grant us ease, comfort, popularity, and success. God never promised any of these things to us. He may grant them to some extent, but they are not a right. In fact, ease, comfort, popularity, and success can tempt you to abandon Christ, especially if this is all you want.

Jesus calls on you to bear a cross. It is not a punishment, although it may feel like one. Some crosses come because this is a broken, sinful world and bad things happen in it. We are well acquainted with a world of broken bones, broken hearts, and broken homes. For some, it is more crushing than others. Can you imagine the pain that Job and his wife felt when the Lord took from them all their flocks and herds, all their servants and workers, all their wealth and prestige, and all ten of their children? Even if a few servants escaped to deliver the horrific news, Job had no work for them anymore. It was all taken away. This was the cross that the Lord had Job bear. And, by the way, in chapter 2 it got even worse as the Lord let Satan inflict a crippling blow to Job’s body and health. No matter what Job felt, no matter how bad his situation got, no matter how heavy was the cross that Job had to bear, Job believed that his Father in heaven was still good. God took from Job almost every earthly blessing he had, but God never removed the promise of salvation from him. And in the end, that is all Job or any of us really need. Was life easier with all that wealth? I would think so. But Job lived on the opposite end of Jesus’ question: “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul” (Mark 8:36)? Job lost his whole world, but not his faith. Christ comes with a cross, but you do not have to carry that cross without Christ.

We may become envious of people who look like they have gained the whole world. But you don’t see what their hearts and minds are like. You don’t see their fears, doubts, or suspicions. Most people don’t share or admit them. They show you see the image they want you to see. It may look like they have no cross, but if they have no Savior, why would you envy them?

Christ comes with a cross. Every day, we need to deny ourselves all our natural, sinful cravings. While we could go on and on listing thoughts, words, and actions that stand in rebellion of God’s word—and they all need to be put away—we will limit ourselves this morning to our false expectations. We know that life is full of struggles and problems—not just for God’s people, but for everyone. We know people who are suffering. We know the stress and pressure of trying to meet all our responsibilities. There are victims of war, oppression, poverty, and injustice. And we know that these things are not right. Even the efforts to correct the problems are flawed: Why that group and not this group? Why address that problem and not this problem? We know it is broken, and we want it fixed.

All these things happen because this is a sinful world. But then we add to our sins: We blame God—as if he introduced these problems. God did not bring sin into the world; man did. God does not sin against you; other people do, and you sin against them. Nevertheless, we believe we are owed better from God. But now ask yourself, and be honest: What does God owe you? Why does God owe you? Do you deserve better from God? Well, we answered that question in our confession of sins: “I deserve your punishment both now and forever.” Those may be hard words to say, but they are honest. This is why we take up our cross—to put those sinful, selfish assumptions to death. Whatever good gifts we receive from God are given because he is good, not because we are. Even when we bear our cross, God it still good. He never withholds all blessings. But when our cross gets heavy, we are forced to turn to God for strength, comfort, and hope. Where else can we turn? What other hope do we have. If the cross we bear teaches us to despise this world and long for the heavenly kingdom, then the cross is good, right, and salutary. The goal of the Christian faith is not to enjoy ease, comfort, and prosperity in a dying world. “We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.”

Christ comes with a cross. The cross you bear is necessary. It is even good for you. Every day is a battle against the devil, the world, and our own sinful nature. Every day is a struggle to align our mind and our will with God’s. To cast off the cross is to cast off Christ. To forfeit the battle against your sin is to surrender to it and to forfeit your soul. Therefore, the cross is necessary. It may prove to be heavy. You may fall under it. But it is not your cross which saves you. Jesus’ cross does.

The Christ had to go to Jerusalem and suffer. He suffered the punishment you and I deserve for our sins. Jesus had to by rejected, not just by the religious leaders but especially by his heavenly Father. He was rejected and disowned as one cursed; for he was cursed for us. Jesus had to go to Jerusalem to die. For that is the wages of sin. It was necessary for Jesus to do this to save us. By giving himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all, Jesus gained the whole world. For what can God give in exchange for the world? He gave his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life.

Christ comes with a cross. But do not forget the last part: “after three days [he will] rise again” (Mark 8:31). It was not enough that Jesus tended to the sick and diseased and healed them of their ailments. That brought relief, but not forgiveness of sins. That brought comfort, but not eternal life. Jesus secured that by his death and resurrection. He lives, risen with a body that cannot perish or suffer, and whose glory does not fade. Jesus took on a human body to secure these things for our human bodies. This is why we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.

Jesus has given us great expectations for the life of the world to come. All things will be made right. All suffering will be relieved. All sickness put away. All death will be undone. There will be no war, poverty, oppression, or injustice. Through Jesus, we get everything we long for. We get it better than we imagine, and we get it forever. You have every reason to expect this; for Jesus has told you so.

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

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Update from Good Shepherd (February 22, 2024)

Greetings!

For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
  Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi. Share it as much as you can.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS
  We have begun a series for Adult Bible Class entitled, “Families of the Bible.”  The Lord lays out his plans for godly families. But sin leaves its mark on families, producing families that are strained, fractured, dysfunctional, and blended. We will consider various families who are mentioned in the Bible. First, we will see that there is nothing new under the sun. Then, we will see God’s blessings for families—strength, encouragement, and healing.
  Who will benefit from this series? Husbands and wives, parents and children, singles, divorced, and widowed … anyone who was born into a family, brought into a family, or has been ostracized from a family. I think that should cover all of us.
The schedule for this class can be found here.
  Adult Bible Class beings promptly at 9:00 AM. All are welcome.

LENTEN NOTES

For an overview of the Lenten season, click here.

Lenten Vespers -- Wednesdays in February and March at 7:00 PM. The schedule can be found here.

Lenten Dinners -- Wednesdays before the Lenten services at 6:00 PM.

SACRED MUSIC FOR THE SEASON OF LENT
“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” “In the Cross of Christ I Glory,” “My Song Is Love Unknown,” “A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth.” Beginning Ash Wednesday, you can listen to sacred music for the season of Lent 24/7 at lutheranpublicradio.org, TuneIn, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomePod and the Lutheran Public Radio mobile app.

EASTER FOR KIDS

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

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.

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GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

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

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

YouTube -- 1st Sunday in Lent (February 18, 2024)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, February 18, 2024.

Pastor / Teacher Conference (February 19, 2024)

On Mondays, the pastors and teachers of the southeastern conference of the Michigan District of the WELS met at Divine Grace Lutheran Church in Lake Orion, Michigan for our annual joint conference.

Here are photos from Divine Grace.

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Sermon -- 1st Sunday in Lent (February 18, 2024)

GENESIS 22:1-18

THE LORD PROVIDES THE SUBSTITUTE WE NEED.

In the name + of Jesus.

In his epistle, St. James wrote, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one” (James 1:13). God does not promote evil. God does not entice us into evil. Although God may use the evil actions of people for his own purposes, God does not sponsor them; for evil is abhorrent to God. And yet, our Old Testament reading seems to illustrate the exact opposite. The Lord God commanded Abraham, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (Genesis 22:2). The Lord detests human sacrifice, and he has no desire to be worshiped in that way. Still, that is exactly what he commanded Abraham to do. It seems God is leading Abraham into temptation. What gives?

It is important for us to understand this distinction: God does not tempt us to sin, but he does put our faith to the test. He presents you with opportunities to demonstrate loving obedience to him. Sometimes it is easy, like holding the elevator for a stranger; sometimes it is hard, like forgiving your brother-in-law for cheating on your sister. The Lord does not want us to choose what is evil. He wants us to pursue what is good, even if it is painful, costly, or difficult.

God puts us to the test to see if we will trust that is word is true and good. Every day offers us opportunities to do that. Every day, you can be kind to people who try your patience, or you can respond with yelling and cursing. Every day, you can help someone in need, or you can ignore them and choose to believe that they deserve their problems. Every day, you can believe that people are there for you to love or to use. The Lord presents countless ways to put your faith into practice. The devil presents them as ways to satisfy your lusts your ambition, or your pride. The devil makes the evil thing look attractive. That’s the temptation. Or will you turn from evil and do what is good, even if it is hard? That’s the test.

The Lord appeared to Abraham with the command, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love…, and offer him … as a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:2). Isaac held a special place in the heart of Abraham. He was the only begotten son of his wife, Sarah. He was born in Abraham’s old age according to God’s promise. He had waited a long time for this boy to be born. Most important of all, Isaac was the son through whom the promise of a Savior would be fulfilled.

Why would God test him like this? It’s not like God told Abraham, “Your son will die from some illness or accident;” God told Abraham, “You kill him!” Would Abraham trust God’s word to be true and good? Or would Abraham love his son more? The devil would tempt Abraham to believe that the Lord was not good after all, not when he commanded something this hard. The tests that God puts us through are nothing compared to this.

Abraham’s response is almost as unbelievable as the test. “Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him” (Genesis 22:3). Abraham wasted no time. He did not wring his hands, wondering what he should do. I suspect that he did not tell Sarah about this lest she prevent Abraham from following God’s instructions. God had told Abraham what to do, and Abraham immediately set out to do it.

The writer to the Hebrews gives us a glimpse of Abraham’s faith: “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back” (Hebrews 11:17-19). While God’s instructions probably made no sense to Abraham, God’s promise did. Abraham believed that God was still good and merciful. Abraham believed that God would be faithful to his promise. Abraham confessed as much to his servants: “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go on over there. We will worship, and then we will come back to you” (Genesis 22:5, emphasis added). Abraham was convinced that the Savior would still come through his son, Isaac, even if it meant God would raise Isaac back from the dead to do it.

Of course, God did not have to raise Isaac back from the dead. Although Abraham was ready to slay him in obedience to God’s command, the Lord stopped him. Instead, the Lord provided the substitute which was needed. The angel of the Lord “said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.’ And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son” (Genesis 22:12-13).

God had put Abraham’s faith to the test. Abraham proved willing to do what was painful and costly in obedience to the Lord. But since the sacrifice of Isaac could not pay for a single sin—not Abraham’s, not Isaac’s, no one’s—the Lord provided the substitute so that Abraham’s son would not be slain. The promise remained intact. God was faithful, and he upheld his righteousness when it seemed impossible for him to do it.

The Lord tested Abraham to demonstrate his love and faith in God’s word. This foreshadows a far greater love. Consider the parallels. The one to be sacrificed was the called by the Lord, “your son, your only son …, whom you love” (Genesis 22:2). They went off to Mount Moriah which later is the site of the Lord’s temple. Isaac carried the wood upon which he would be offered. The father, Abraham, willingly offered up his son. And it should not be lost on us that Isaac was a willing sacrifice. At this time, Isaac was about 13 years old, making Abraham 113. Do you think Isaac could have wriggled out of his father’s grasp and avoided being slain? Absolutely! The only way Isaac could have been bound was if he willingly allowed himself to be bound.

But the Lord provides a better substitute, a perfect substitute. The Lord provides the substitute we need—one whose death would pay for the sins of the world. God the Father sent into the world his son, his only Son, whom he loves. While Jesus could have wriggled his way out of the sufferings and death, which is what Satan tempted him to do because suffering and dying for someone else’s sins—everyone else’s sins—would be hard. Nevertheless, Jesus presented himself as a willing sacrifice. He carried the wood up the hill upon which he would be offered. He was consumed in God’s fiery wrath as a whole burnt offering for our sins. He suffered and died right next to Mount Moriah. But at Jesus’ death, the Father did not step in to put an end to anything. God the Father willingly offered up his Son to die for our sins so that we would not have to bear God’s righteous judgment and endless torment for our sins. What Abraham and Isaac could not do God the Father and God the Son did. The Lord provides the substitute we need.

What’s more, Jesus brings the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham: “Your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice” (Genesis 22:17-18). The enemies of God’s people are sin, death, and the devil. The gates provided the entrance into and exit from the city. Whoever possesses the gates has total control. The Son of Abraham now possesses the gates of our enemies—sin, death, and the devil. He has overcome them by his death and resurrection. Now he holds authority over them. Jesus paid for sin. The Bible promises, “There is … no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Jesus has conquered death. He promises, “This is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:40). Jesus has snatched you from the devil’s grasp and has overturned the curse he has brought onto the earth. The Bible reminds us, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). Jesus possesses the gate of the enemies. Jesus has opened the gates to set you free from them, and he has opened the gates of heaven to you.

You are now the redeemed children of God. But temptations will still come to you. The devil cannot snatch you out of the kingdom, but he will entice you to leave it. What the devil intends for evil, God intends for good. He puts your faith to the test—not to watch you trip and fall, but to refine you and purify your faith even more. The Lord teaches you to say, “No,” to all wickedness. The Father does not lead you into temptation; rather we call upon him in the hour of trial to give us the strength to stand up under it. Even if you suffer for his sake, he remains your good and merciful Father. Since he is faithful to his promises, he will remain faithful to you. He will continue to provide you with all you need.

And if you do trip and fall, then flee back to Jesus. His obedience stands as the substitution for your sins. His death is the substitution for your life. The Lord has provided the substitute you need. Jesus has overcome the devil for you. Jesus has conquered death for you. Jesus has taken away all sin from you. He lived for you. He suffered and died for you. He rose from the dead for you. Now he lives and reigns for you. There is no substitution for Jesus, for there is no salvation found outside of him.

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

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Better than "He Gets Us"

Someone put this together. This should have run on Super Bowl Sunday. This should run now. Well, it will run here.

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Update from Good Shepherd (February 15, 2024)

Greetings!

For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
  Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi. Share it as much as you can.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS – New Series
  We have begun a series for Adult Bible Class entitled, “Families of the Bible.”  The Lord lays out his plans for godly families. But sin leaves its mark on families, producing families that are strained, fractured, dysfunctional, and blended. We will consider various families who are mentioned in the Bible. First, we will see that there is nothing new under the sun. Then, we will see God’s blessings for families—strength, encouragement, and healing.
  Who will benefit from this series? Husbands and wives, parents and children, singles, divorced, and widowed … anyone who was born into a family, brought into a family, or has been ostracized from a family. I think that should cover all of us.
The schedule for this class can be found here.
  Adult Bible Class beings promptly at 9:00 AM. All are welcome.

LENTEN NOTES

For an overview of the Lenten season, click here.

Lenten Vespers -- Wednesdays in February and March at 7:00 PM. The schedule can be found here.

Lenten Dinners -- Wednesdays before the Lenten services at 6:00 PM. A Sign Up Genius form to provide food for the meals will be sent out soon.

EASTER FOR KIDS

EASTER FOR KIDS—Prep Meeting
We will have another prep meeting for Easter for Kids on Sunday, February 18 after the service. We want to check on how we are progressing as our event gets closer. There are many ways to get involved. If interested, join us for this meeting.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from Christmas Eve (February 11, 2024): Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, February 11, 2024 (youtube.com)

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.

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Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Sermon -- Ash Wednesday (February 14, 2024)

JOEL 2:12-19

REPENT WITH YOUR WHOLE BEING.

In the name + of Jesus.

The prophet Joel wrote scathing words of judgment against the people of Israel. He was not alone. If you read through most of the Minor Prophets, you will see similar pronouncements of God’s wrath, warnings of coming judgment, and earnest calls to repentance. Why was such harsh preaching aimed at God’s people? Was Israel actually worse than the nations around them which practiced child sacrifice? Were the people of the covenant more debauched than others whose worship involved sexually perverted acts? Was Jerusalem even more faithless than Egypt or Assyria or Babylon? To hear the Minor Prophets, you would think so.

Even if Israel was not worse, they did not seem to be any better. The difference is that Israel was given so much more than the nations around them. The Lord had claimed Israel as his people. The Lord had given them his word so that they could distinguish between good and evil, clean and unclean. They were set apart for God; therefore, their lives were to be set apart as godly. Much had been given to them; much was expected of them. Despite their privileged position, they proved to be lazy, negligent, indifferent, and rebellious. They found the perverted ways of the people around them to be attractive. They forsook self-control. They gave way to sinful impulses. Perhaps they felt they had license to abuse God’s grace. Perhaps they thought it did not matter.

Despite all this, the Lord sent the prophets to them so that they would not forfeit the privileges they had as God’s people. The prophet Joel made the plea: “‘Yet even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments’” (Joel 2:12-13). Repent with your whole being.

You and I share the privileged position of being the people of God. You have been rescued from your bondage to sin and death. Jesus has removed your guilt from you so that you will not face the wrath of a righteous God. Rather than stand in terror before the Lord, you are received as the beloved children of your good and merciful Father in heaven. Rather than be haunted by the fact that you are going to die, Jesus enables you to taunt death and the grave. Since Jesus has overcome the grave by his resurrection, he holds authority over death. And since you belong to Jesus, he will raise you up from the grave to live forever with him free from pain, sorrow, and fear. You have been set apart as God’s people. You live as beneficiaries of God’s grace. Therefore, you are also set apart to be godly people, living like Jesus for the glory of Jesus. You have been given much; therefore, much is expected of you.

How easy it is to become lazy! We grow tired of self-control. We forfeit many battles against our sinful inclinations. We use our weakness as an excuse because it is easier to make excuses than it is to fight off temptations and kill off sinful habits. We are also envious of people who have cast off self-control and give themselves over to whatever impulse they have. They are swept away by their sins, but it looks like they are having a blast. They are like the singer of the Grateful Dead who said, “I may be going to hell in a bucket, baby, but at least I’m enjoying the ride.” At least Jerry Garcia acknowledged the possibility of hell; most don’t. And we envy them! We would like to enjoy the ride with them. What should God do when his grace is abused, when his people despise their privileges, and when we would rather blend in than be set apart? The prophet Joel urges us to consider: “The Day of the LORD is great. It is terrifying. Who can endure it” (Joel 1:11, EHV)? The judgment is deserved.

Joel cries out: “‘Yet even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster’” (Joel 2:12-13). Repent with your whole being.

The prophet Joel does not reduce repentance to an outward ritual. Sure, they could rend their garments. That was an expression of grief over their sins. But if it were only an outward act, it was useless. That is why Joel declared, “Rend your hearts and not your garments” (Joel 2:12). The same could be said for putting the ashes on your forehead. If you reduce repentance to getting a smudge of ash, it is pure showmanship. People may commend you for it, but then you have received your reward in full.

On the other hand, Joel does not limit repentance to a mental exercise. He calls on us to engage our whole being in repentance. He calls for fasting, weeping, and mourning. We do not do these in our minds, we engage our bodies. This is the purpose of ceremonies. We do with our bodies what we confess with our mouths and feel in our hearts. After all, our sins are not limited to our hearts. Sin may have corrupted our hearts and minds, but sins pour out of our mouths and hands and bodies. We commit sins with our eyes and ears. Our sins are observed in our actions. They are heard in our words. They are considered in our minds and schemed in our hearts. There is no part of us which is immune to the corruption or free from the guilt. Therefore, Joel urges: Repent with your whole being.

Repentance comes from godly sorrow, but it also means turning away from sin. This is the discipline of self-control. We engage our mouths to reject bitter, sarcastic, or obscene words. We engage our hands to refrain from spiteful or fraudulent actions. We close our ears to gossip. We turn our eyes from illicit entertainment. We discipline our bodies to show that we are not ruled by our stomachs, our wallets, or longings, or our egos. This is the purpose of fasting. When you fast, you are denying yourself the things that want to own you. It is not done to win God’s approval or to earn points. Rather, it is discipline so that sin will not draw you away from a good and godly life, so that you are ruled by faith and not the flesh.

When God’s people become lazy, negligent, or begin to adopt worldly attitudes, we become the objects of scorn—and not just from the Lord. Even the godless will charge us: “You do not take your God or your faith very seriously, do you?” Therefore, we repent with our whole being. Especially during this penitential season, we intensify our discipline. It is not forced upon you. We take up this discipline willingly; for it is part of the answer to Joel’s prayer: “Spare your people, O Lord, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God’” (Joel 2:17)? If we are mocked for our lack of self-control, it is deserved.

Repent with your whole being—turning from sin and turning to the Lord. Joel summons us, “Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster” (Joel 2:13). The Lord has relented from the disaster that comes as a result of sin. He does not treat us as our sins deserve. Nevertheless, he cannot overlook our sins, either. Therefore, Jesus has come to suffer the disaster we had brought upon ourselves.

Just as our repentance is not merely a mental exercise, neither were Jesus’ sufferings and death. Certainly, there was mental and spiritual anguish for Jesus. In Gethsemane, Jesus “said to (Peter, James, and John), “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death” (Mark 14:34). On the cross, Jesus expressed the anguish of his soul when he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” (Mark 15:34)? God’s wrath and judgment were absorbed by Jesus’ entire being. His back was rent by flogging. His face received the punches and the spitting. His head was pierced with thorns. His wrists and feet were torn by nails. His body was given into death. All of it is the payment for our sin—sin which has corrupted us completely in body and soul, heart and hands, mind and mouth.

Repent with your whole being. Your body and soul Savior has been gracious to you. He has redeemed your entire being. He has cleansed your heart. He renews your mind. He moves you to offer your body as a living sacrifice, casting off wickedness and dedicating yourself to good works. Jesus does not merely save your soul. He took on a body to rescue your body from death and the grave. You get to look forward to a resurrection where you will dwell with the Lord, body and soul, as he created you to be. This is why we return to the Lord. He alone delivers us from fear and shame in our hearts and from death and destruction for our bodies.

Repent with your whole being, and engage your whole being in worship and praise. For, when the Lord applies his grace to you, he engages your whole being. Forgiveness of sins does not come to you just by thinking about it. It is applied to you through words delivered from a mouth and received in your ears. Salvation comes to you through water which is poured on a body. We do not baptize souls, but bodies. The body is washed, and the grace of God is given to a whole person. In the same way, you do not commune with God through some vague spirituality. He who came as your body and blood Savior gives you his body and blood in the sacrament of the altar. The living body and blood is taken, and tasted, and consumed. By this eating and drinking, Jesus sustains you, body and soul, in the true faith unto life everlasting.

If you have chosen to receive ashes on your head, it is because you are demonstrating that you are marked for death. If you have chosen to not receive ashes, you are still marked for death. Either way, you repent with your whole being. And your whole being has been redeemed by Jesus. “The Lord answer[s] and sa[ys] to his people, ‘Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations’” (Joel 2:19). He has anointed you with the oil of gladness. He has bestowed the grain and wine by which he gives you his body and blood. Jesus delivers you from the sins that corrupt you and from the grave that claims you. Repent with your whole being. Rejoice with your whole being. Praise him, serve him, and worship him with your whole being. For, Jesus has invested his whole being to redeem you, and he has set you apart wholly for himself.

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

YouTube -- Transfiguration (February 11, 2024)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, February 11, 2024.

Sunday, February 11, 2024

Sermon -- Transfiguration (February 11, 2024)

MARK 9:2-9

TO KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, LISTEN TO HIM.

In the name + of Jesus.

St. Mark’s Gospel reading begins with the words, “After six days” (Mark 9:2). This begs the question, “What happened a week earlier that St. Mark would note the timing?” Looking back in the previous verses, we see that one week prior Peter had given the confession, “You are the Christ” (Mark 8:29).

That confession carried some great expectations about who the Christ would be and what he would do. Up to this point in time, no one had claimed to be the Messiah. So, when Peter made this confession and when Jesus acknowledged it was true, this was a monumental moment for the people of Israel and, in fact, for the world.

Immediately after Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, Jesus foretold his sufferings, death, and resurrection. Yes, Jesus is the Messiah, and that means he will suffer, die, and rise. The Scriptures had foretold this many times. Unfortunately, the disciples did not get it. They had preconceived notions about what the Christ would do.

One of the promises made regarding the Christ—and it was repeated to the Virgin Mary when Jesus was conceived in her—is that “the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:32-33). Many Jews expected that their Messiah would establish a kingdom, elevate the people of Israel, destroy the enemies of God’s people, and reign forever over heaven and earth. Well, that is sort of true. The Messiah does come to do all those things, but not in an earthly sense. He does not come to set up a throne in Jerusalem. He does not come to establish the nation of Israel as the supreme nation on earth. He does not come to destroy the Romans or to drive them out of Palestine. But he does live and reign over heaven and earth for the good of his Church.

The worldly expectations of the Messiah were assumed by the people of Israel, including the apostles themselves. Even as Jesus was about to ascend to heaven, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel” (Acts 1:6)? It was a long-held belief, and it took a long time to purge from their mentality. To this day, people think Jesus will provide worldly glory or peace. But to know what to expect, listen to him.

This is likely why Jesus’ transfiguration was presented to such a limited audience. “Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus” (Mark 1:2-4). Peter’s response was to tell Jesus that it was good that they were there.

This word “good” conveys a sense of being useful. There were ready hands to put up shelters for Jesus and the prophets. Sure, it wasn’t Jerusalem, but it was a place for the glorious kingdom to start. Sure, it was not an army of soldiers or angels, but the prophets were present to help fulfill their promises. And, of course, Jesus radiated with divine glory. Who would not fall to his knees in submission before him? If they didn’t, Jesus would slay them in his might and glory, wouldn’t he? To Peter, James, and John, the Messianic kingdom was breaking out right in front of them. This is what they expected their Messiah to be. They were sort of right, but mostly wrong. To know what to expect, they needed to listen to him. This was not the plan Jesus had revealed to them only six days earlier.

Our expectations of Jesus are often misconceptions, too. We are sort of right in what we expect because we have heard God’s word. But like the apostles, we have made assumptions about how the promises of God should be applied to us. We take it upon ourselves to determine what kind of comfort we should have and what kind of blessings God should provide. To know what to expect, listen to him; but listen carefully.

St. Paul wrote to the Romans, “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28). This promise gives amazing comfort until we decide what this “good” should look like. “My bills should be paid. My health should be strong. Any enemies I have should be put to shame.” That might be what you think is good, but that is not necessarily what God thinks is good for you. You and I think about what will be good for us immediately, in other words, what will make life easy, fun, or glorious. What I think is good is what will make me happy by the end of the day. But God thinks of the eternal picture—what will get you into the heavenly kingdom? God may decide that it is good for you to bear a cross—not fun, but good. If that is what drives you to pray more often, if that is what gets you to long for the heavenly kingdom instead of worldly pleasures, then it is good—not easy, but good. Whatever God chooses to lay on you, he will always use it for your eternal good. To know what to expect, listen to him.

Here is another Bible verse that gets badly misused: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). How many people use this verse to insist they will win every battle, overcome every obstacle, and succeed in every endeavor? After all, if God’s strength is unlimited, isn’t my potential unlimited? But not everyone can be the CEO of the company. Not everyone gets a gold medal at the Olympics. Not everyone gets to the Super Bowl. Not everyone escapes poverty or recovers from illness. So, is this verse only true for the successful? Does it not apply to those who suffer, or to those who humbly live and serve without recognition or rewards?

To know what to expect, listen to God’s word. In this case, context will help you. St. Paul did not claim that he would win every contest or enjoy endless success because God would give him the power. St. Paul had written, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need” (Philippians 4:11-12). The Bible does not promise that God’s people will dominate. The promise is that, no matter what circumstance you endure in this life, the Lord will not abandon you. He will strengthen you so that you will endure. To know what to expect, listen to him.

Many in American Christianity have embraced these misconceptions. To enjoy a life of personal gain and pleasure is very appealing. Who wouldn’t want a life that is fun, easy, pleasing, and comfortable? We have adopted long-held beliefs which need to be purged from us. Repent of trusting in promises that God has not made. To know what to expect, listen to him.

St. Mark wrote that Elijah and Moses “were talking with Jesus” (Mark 9:4). If Peter, James, and John had listened instead of making plans to build shelters, they would have benefited. Instead, the heavenly Father had to refocus their attention. “A cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, ‘This is my beloved Son; listen to him’” (Mark 9:7). The glory of Jesus would not be established on that mountain with such a limited audience. The glory of Jesus would be established on a different hill in full view of the Passover pilgrims at Jerusalem. But rather than radiate with divine splendor, Jesus would bleed and die in shame.

If you listen to him, you know that this is what is to be expected. Isaiah had foretold that the ransom price paid to redeem you would not be pretty. “His appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind” (Isaiah 52:14). At the transfiguration, his appearance was amazing; at the crucifixion, his appearance was grotesque. At the transfiguration, his form was dazzling; at the crucifixion, his form was distorted. In our minds, Jesus’ death was romantic; in reality, Jesus’ death was abhorrent. But that is because our sins are abhorrent. Sin deserves God’s wrath. Sin earns a cursed death. Sin produces a damning sentence of judgment.

To know what to expect, listen to him. He tells us what sins deserve, but he also tells us that he has taken the blows for us. For all the times we preferred our glory over God’s, for all the times we craved to live in our fantasies rather than trust God’s direction, for all the times we were angry at God for failing to live up to promises he never made but we thought he should have, for all these sins and more, Jesus willingly put himself in the crosshairs of God’s wrath and punishment. Was it fun? No, but it was good. Was it easy? No, but it was good. It was good for you, which is why Jesus endured it. All he suffered, he did for you, for your salvation, and for your peace. Why should we expect anything different? Listen to him: “He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

Before Jesus suffered the rejection, the betrayal, the beatings, the shame, and the death at the cross, Jesus revealed his divine glory to Peter, James, and John. “As they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead” (Mark 9:9). Would it have benefited the other apostles if they had seen Jesus’ glory before they witnessed his terrible shame, or at least had known about it? I don’t know. Jesus seemed to think it would not have. Rather than gawk at Jesus’ appearance, it was better to listen to Jesus’ teaching. His momentary glory was not something to be preserved or proclaimed. Rather, Jesus went to the cross to secure everlasting glory—both for himself and for us.

Jesus revealed his divine glory at the transfiguration. He never lost his divine glory because he never stopped being God. But that that glory remained veiled until Jesus’ death. After his resurrection, Jesus no longer veiled his glory. The man, Jesus, was exalted and given all authority, honor, and glory which are his forevermore. Just as Jesus’ humanity was exalted, so will yours be. At the resurrection of the dead, you will receive the glory Jesus has won for you, and you will shine like stars. It will not be a momentary flash as it was at the transfiguration, but an everlasting glory that will never spoil, fade, or perish. You can expect it, because Jesus has told you so. Listen to him.

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