Sermon -- Summer Sermon Series: Lord's Prayer, 6th Petition (August 24, 2025)

LUKE 11:1-4

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION.

In the name + of Jesus.

    This petition has confused many Christians.  When we pray, “Lead us not into temptation” to the Father, it infers that he might.  Pope Francis even suggested that this petition needs to be changed to avoid misunderstanding.  However, no man has a right to change the words of our Lord.  It is our understanding that needs correction, not God’s word.

     St. James wrote, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ because God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.  But each person is tempted when he is dragged away and enticed by his own desire” (James 1:13-14, emphasis added).  Temptations do not come from God.  He is pure and holy.  He does not condone sin, much less encourage it.  Temptations arise from within us.  We are sinners which means that we are naturally prone to rejecting God’s commands and craving what God forbids.

     One reason people accuse God of tempting people has to do with the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  Our Lord had put that tree in the middle of the Garden, which means that Adam and Eve would see it often.  God attached this word to that tree: “You shall not eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, for on the day that you eat from it, you will certainly die” (Genesis 2:17).  People have reasoned that the Lord was laying a trap.  They argue that by putting this tree in such a prominent place, God was practically begging Adam and Eve to sin against him.  Either the tree was evil, or God was evil for putting the tree there. 

     That’s not how God saw it.  After God had completed his whole creation, God gave his assessment: “God saw everything that he had made—which included the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil—and indeed, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31).  So, the tree was good, and the word God attached to that tree was good.  The tree presented Adam and Eve with the opportunity to demonstrate loving and willing obedience to the Lord by keeping his commandment.

     Adam and Eve had one commandment by which they could demonstrate their love for God.  You and I have ten.  Just as the Lord placed the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil where Adam and Eve would see it all the time, so also the Lord puts in front of you, every day, opportunities to demonstrate loving and willing obedience.  By doing this, God is not tempting you to sin.  These are opportunities for you to honor, serve, and obey the Lord and to love your neighbor.

     Just as the devil twisted everything in the Garden of Eden, so he continues to pervert God’s good gifts.  The devil warps God’s good blessings for his own perverse purposes.  The internet can be good.  The devil teaches us to use it for perversion, for insults, to stoke envy, or to distract us from our responsibilities.  Music is a tremendous blessing from God.  The devil uses it to glorify promiscuity and to celebrate debauchery.  God gave us speech to encourage, to comfort, and to build each other up.  Satan leads us to use our words to tear people down.  All God’s gifts are given so that we can glorify him with them.  The devil tempts us to use them for selfish and perverse purposes.

     We pray, “Lead us not into temptation,” because Jesus warned us, “Temptations to sin are sure to come” (Luke 17:1).  In fact, they are never-ending.  The devil even turns opportunities to do good into temptations to do evil.  When God gives you the opportunity to be patient, the devil stokes up anger.  When God gives you the opportunity to console someone who is miserable, you might find joy in their suffering.  When God gives you the opportunity to help someone in need, you may ignore him so you can focus on yourself.  What God offers as an opportunity to do good, Satan turns into a chance to do evil.  So, we pray, “Lead us not into temptation.”

     Sometimes God puts your faith to the test to strengthen you in it.  But Satan will use the same event to tempt you to sin against God.  It serves one purpose for God, but the opposite purpose for the devil.  So, if you should lose everything through tragedy like Job, would you still confess that God is good?  If you should have to wait for relief like the Israelites in Egypt who endured centuries of oppression, would you still hold on to God’s promises?  If you should daily be seduced to do evil like Joseph was by Potiphar’s wife, would you remain steadfast in purity?  When you are despised and defamed for confessing God’s word like all the prophets and the apostles, will you still confess that word?  God uses such difficulties to draw us closer to him.  The devil uses them to drive us away, not merely to disobey God’s word, but to abandon it altogether.  These tests can be intense.  The Father’s discipline can seem harsh.  The temptation to forsake the narrow path which leads to heaven for the broad and easy road which leads to hell can be enticing.  This is what the devil wants for you, not God.

     The hymn What a Friend We Have in Jesus includes the line, “Jesus knows our every weakness.”  So does Satan.  Guess where he will attack you.  The devil knows which sins you find most attractive.  He knows what could lure you away from the kingdom of God, and he will put out the bait again and again.  His temptations for you are tailor-made.  What tempts me may not tempt you, and what tempts you may have no appeal to me.  But the temptations will come to us all.  That is why we call upon our Lord, “Lead us not into temptation.”

     In his explanation of the 6^th Petition, Martin Luther told us why our prayer is so important.  He wrote, “We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not lead us into false belief, despair, and other great and shameful sins, and though we are tempted by them, we pray that we may overcome and win the victory” (Luther’s Small Catechism: 6^th Petition).  

     I try to warn young people in Catechism Class about such temptations.  Teenagers and twenty-somethings are often embolden people to do things that are wicked—whether they are seduced or pressured or act on their own foolishness.  There is a reason the Psalms teach us to pray, “Do not remember the sins of my youth” (Psalm 25:7).  If you are older, odds are that you have something in your past that qualifies for “great and shameful sins,” not that we outgrow these things.  After great and shameful sins, Satan  works to lead people into despair.  That happened with Judas Iscariot.  It was mere hours after he had betrayed Jesus that Judas was filled with great shame and remorse.  He was so overwhelmed by his guilt that his solution was to kill himself.  Having despaired of God’s grace, he perished.  Sadly, this pattern has been repeated by many young people.  Satan plays dirty.  Pray hard and pray often that Satan does not lead you into false belief, despair, and other great and shameful sins.

     Shame is a big reason why people do not come to church.  They expect that the church will only pile on a heavier burden of guilt.  I suppose that happens in some cases.  But Jesus did not come to crush you in guilt; he came to take your guilt away.  Jesus Christ does not condone sins, but he did pay for them and he does forgive them.  We come to church to receive our Lord’s absolution.  We come to have the blood of Jesus purify us from all sin.  He releases us from every charge of guilt.  Jesus is not ashamed of us.  He presents us to his heavenly Father as holy and blameless.  No one needs to despair over his sins.  Satan will always accuse, but Jesus sets us free.

     The devil takes what is good and perverts it into what is evil, but the Lord turned the tables on the devil.  He took what was evil and turned it into what serves your highest good.  It was evil when religious leaders plotted against Jesus.  It was evil when Judas Iscariot betrayed him.  It was evil when Jesus was falsely accused, mercilessly beaten, unjustly sentenced, and brutally executed on a cross.  It was evil when the religious leaders mocked him, calling out, “If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!  …He saved others, but he cannot save himself.  If he’s the King of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him” (Matthew 27:40,42).  Satan tempted Jesus right to the end to prove himself to his enemies or to abandon his suffering, to come down from the cross, and to let ungrateful sinners perish in their guilt.  But Jesus faithfully obeyed his Father’s will, and he died for our sins.  All the evils the devil worked among sinful men Jesus has used for your good.

     Jesus has taken away your guilt.  There is no need to despair, even over great and shameful sins.  If you are haunted by your sins, then go to your pastor for Private Confession and Absolution.  Hiding your guilt and pretending that everything is fine will not provide you with any relief at all.  Your burden may remain your secret, but it also remains your burden.  Listen to God’s word: “A person who conceals his sins will not prosper, but one who confesses and abandons them will receive mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).  Neither your pastor nor your Lord will be surprised that you have given into temptation.  Neither your pastor nor your Lord wants you to suffer the burden of shame or the weight of your guilt.  The devil wants to bring you to despair.  The Lord wants you to have peace and hope.  The Lord gives you a pastor to deliver these to you.

     You have been redeemed by Jesus.  Your sins are forgiven, and God’s favor rests upon you.  Nevertheless, you and I still need to pray, “Lead us not into temptation,” because temptations are not going to stop.  Right after Jesus was baptized and the Father declared from heaven, “This is my Son, whom I love” (Matthew 3:17), the devil came to tempt Jesus.  If the devil attacked Jesus, he will certainly also attack you who have been baptized into his name and are beloved children of God. 

     Our Lord summons you to pray to him so that you are not overcome by temptations.  In fact, he extends a promise to you.  He says, “Call on me in the day of distress.  I will deliver you, and you will honor me” (Psalm 50:15).  To fend off the devil, you have been given the word of God and prayer.  To strengthen you in the battle, Jesus gives you his body and blood.  To preserve you in godliness, the Holy Spirit continues to work in you to will and to act according to God’s good pleasure.  Our Father in heaven strengthens us to stand firm against the devil, the world, and our flesh.  He does not lead us into temptation; instead, he leads us on paths of righteousness and into eternal glory.

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

Update from Good Shepherd (August 21, 2025)

Greetings!

SUMMER SCHEDULE 

Divine Service is Sunday at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School & Adult Bible Class resume on September 7 at 9:00 AM.
Bible Matters will resume on Wednesday, September 3 at 6:30 PM.

          If you will be away for the weekend, alternative local options include St. Paul's (17810 Farmington Road, Livonia) which offers a service on Thursdays at 6:30 PM; St. Peter's (1343 Penniman Ave., Plymouth) which offers a service on Mondays at 7:00 PM; and Peace (9415 Merriman Ave., Livonia) which offers a service on Mondays at 7:00 PM.
          If you are traveling, consult the WELS Church Locator to find a WELS church near your destination. You may want to call to confirm the worship time(s) as their schedule may change for the summer months.

CALENDAR: For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

SUMMER SERMON SERIES
          On the Sundays in July and August, we will meditate on the Lord’s Prayer.  You can find the schedule here.

BBQ THURSDAYS
          Join us for an evening of summer fun and fellowship on Thursday evenings. The host family will provide the meats of choice. Other members are encouraged to bring dishes to round out the menu. Contact the host family to indicate how you can help.
          Our final BBQ Thursday is TONIGHT (August 21) at 6:00 PM -- Bob & Diane Wozniak to host. (Bring your own beverages and lawn chairs.)

ROAD CONSTRUCTION
          Be aware that west-bound traffic on 9 Mile Road is closed between Haggerty and Meadowbrook. There is no known date for the end of this project. Paving on 9 Mile Road continues, but it looks like they are getting closer to completion.

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (August)

> Here are some dates for upcoming events. Please join us and invite friends to enjoy these events too.
          Church Picnic -- Sunday, September 14 at Good Shepherd
          Octoberfest, a celebration of the Lutheran Reformation – Sunday, September 28 at 5:00 PM.
          Trunk or Treat – Sunday, October 26 (3:00 – 5:00 PM)
We welcome members to join us and to help plan these various events. Even if you take charge of one event, that will benefit us all.

>  We are still looking for more estimates to replace the windows in the chapel. With the seasons changing, so will the placement of the sun during our Divine Services.  Soon, it will not be blinding on the north side of the church which gives us more time to get the window replacement we want instead of a hurried solution.

>  Our projector has not been consistent in projecting.  Since it is better than ten years old, we are considering a replacement.  We are looking into getting a smart TV with interactive capabilities which allows HDMI input as well as ability to draw with a special, electronic pen.  This will allow for the pastor to continue to draw his map of Israel for Bible Class.  IYKYK.  (If you don’t know, come to Bible Class!)

>  Security cameras are being installed around the exterior of the church.  Thanks to Mark Casmer and Jake Vega-Miranda for getting these set up.

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE FALL SCHEDULE
Sunday School (ages 3 - 6th grade) will resume on September 7 at 9:00 AM.
Adult Bible Class (7th grade and older) will resume on September 7 at 9:00 AM.  We will study the book of Revelation.  A schedule can be found here.
Bible Matters (a discussion group for adults) will resume on Wednesday, September 3 at 6:30 PM. We will have an overview of the Minor Prophets.  A schedule can be found here.
Bible Information Class will begin on Monday, September 8 (7:00 - 8:30 PM).  A schedule will be posted soon.  You are encouraged to invite friends to this class.
6th Grade Bible History will begin in early September. Time and day to be announced soon.

Church picnic will be held at Good Shepherd on Sunday, September 14 after church.

Octoberfest, a celebration of the Lutheran Reformation, will be on Sunday, September 28.  Vespers will be at 5:00 PM, followed by a bratwurst dinner and a Luther Lecture.

Trunk or Treat will be Sunday, October 26 (3:00 - 5:00 PM).

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

           Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the Divine Service from August 17, 2025. (1542) Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, August 17, 2025 - YouTube

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS
          The pastor will be a little looser in observing formal office hours in the summer (usually, Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon). During the summer months, it is more enjoyable to read outside than in the office, weather permitting. Call or text to confirm any meetings with the pastor (248-719-5218).

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.

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

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

 SUMMER SCHEDULE

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

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

BIBLE MATTERS -- The Minor Prophets

In the Hebrew Scriptures, they are one book.  In our Bible, they are twelve books.  They are called the Minor Prophets due to their length, but not due to their importance.  They are often overlooked, and so they are usually unfamiliar.

In our fall session for Bible Matters, we will have an overview of each book.  We will not be digging terribly deep into any book due to time.  Rather, we will be considering the main theme of each book and what makes each prophet’s message unique.

Bible Matters meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.  All are welcome.  Questions and discussions are encouraged.

The tentative schedule is below.

September 3              Hosea, a prophet to an unfaithful lover

September 10            Joel, a prophet

September 17            NO CLASS

September 24            Amos, a prophet who rebukes faithless worship

October 1                   Obadiah, a prophet for Israel’s “brother,” Edom

Jonah, a reluctant prophet sent to Nineveh

October 8                  Micah, a prophet who rebukes the rich and powerful

October 15                 Nahum, a prophet against Israel’s enemy, Nineveh

October 22                Habakkuk, a prophet with a bitter complaint

October 29                Zephaniah, a prophet who judges many and offers hope to a few

November 5              Haggai, a prophet who wants God’s house built

November 12             Zechariah, a prophet who reveals many visions

November 19             Malachi, a prophet with the final word

November 26            Thanksgiving Service (7:00 PM)

YouTube -- Summer Sermon Series: Lord's Prayer, 5th Petition (August 17, 2025)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, August 17, 2025.

Adult Bible Class -- The Revelation of St. John

          In love and in mercy for his Church, Jesus Christ revealed through the blessed Apostle what his Church can expect until his return.  The Holy Spirit gave us many images to give us warnings and encouragement as we await the return of our Lord at the final judgment.  What does our Lord want us to know through these images which are both amazing and confusing?  That is what our study will be this fall. 

Class begins at 9:00 AM on Sundays.  The tentative schedule is as follows.

 

Sept. 7             Introduction             What is apocalyptic literature?

                        Revelation 1             The glorified Savior is revealed to St. John.

Sept. 14          Revelation 2              Letters to seven churches, part 1.

Sept. 21          Revelation 3              Letters to seven churches, part 2.

Sept. 28         Revelation 4-5          Worship in heaven

Oct. 5              Revelation 6-7           The seven seals

Oct. 12            Revelation 8-9          The seventh seal produces seven trumpets

Oct. 19            Revelation 10-11       A scroll, two witnesses, and the seventh trumpet

Oct. 26           Revelation 12            The Dragon and the Woman

Nov. 2             Revelation 13            The Beast from the sea and the Beast from the earth

Nov. 9             Revelation 14            Three angels and the Harvest

Nov. 16           Revelation 15-16       Seven bowls/plagues

Nov. 23          Revelation 17-18       The Prostitute and the Fall of Babylon

Nov. 30          Revelation 19            The Wedding Feast and the Rider on the White Horse

Dec. 7             Revelation 20            1,000-year reign and the final judgment

Dec. 14           Revelation 21            The New Jerusalem

Dec. 21           Revelation 22            Jesus is coming soon.

Sermon -- Summer Sermon Series: Lord's Prayer, 5th Petition (August 17, 2025)

LUKE 11:1-4

FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US.

In the name + of Jesus.

    Of all the commands our Lord has given, perhaps the hardest one to observe is this one: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ has forgiven us” (Ephesians 4:32).  It is hard to forgive those who have sinned against us.  We have our reasons.  One is that forgiveness is not justice.  Justice says that anyone who commits a crime or a sin should pay a price.  When someone sins against you, it is personal.  Your sense of justice boils over to vengeance.  Our pride demands retribution.  Some call it getting even.  It is not.  It is upping the ante and giving it back worse than you got it. 

     St. Paul tells us what the Lord expects of us and why: “(Forgive) one another, just as God in Christ has forgiven us” (Ephesians 4:32).  God the Father forgives us freely.  That’s because Jesus Christ willingly paid the price for our sins.  If we are Christians, then we are to act like Christ, forgiving people freely and eagerly.  But we do not.

     Why not?  We have our reasons.  Maybe you’ve argued, “They don’t deserve it.”  And actually, that is true.  No one deserves forgiveness.  God’s command is, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  When people sin against you, they do not give you the love they owe you.  If someone does not give you what they owe you, they are indebted to you.  You know it, and you want to make sure that he who sinned against you knows it, too.  If you just cancel the debt, you gain nothing.  If you refuse to forgive, you get to hold his sin over his head, claim moral superiority, and have control over that person.  That sounds much more appealing.

     We pray: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  If you think you have good reasons to not forgive those who trespass against you, don’t you think that the Father has more and better reasons to not forgive you?  God pours out his love upon you daily.  He provides all you need for body and life.  He gave you skills and abilities and opportunities to enjoy your interests.  He fills the world with beauty and creature comforts.  All this he does because he is your good and merciful Father in heaven, and not because you have earned or deserved it.  For all this, you ought to thank and praise, serve and obey him.  This is most certainly true.

     But that’s now how it works out, is it?  God shows us how we can serve and obey him in his Commandments.  But we are convinced that we know better than our Father in heaven.  We ignore what God has to say, either in sinful weakness or in outright defiance.  This is especially true when our Lord calls us to forgive those who trespass against us.  We won’t.  We have our pride.  We’d rather bear a grudge.

     How should the Lord respond when we do not give him the obedience we owe him?  We might think that God should just forgive us.  We have our reasons.  We assume that our sins are not so serious for God to be upset by them.  We believe that God would tell us that our anger is justified and that we are right to withhold forgiveness.  Maybe we think that God really won’t carry out the punishment he threatens and that our sins will suffer no real consequences.  We might want to think that, but God does not. 

     If the Lord does nothing about our sins, then we don’t need to take God or his word seriously.  If there is no price to pay, who cares what we do?  But this is what the Lord says, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he did while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).  This is why we pray for our Lord to forgive us our trespasses.  For, there is a price to be paid by any who do not give God the love and obedience he is owed.  If he does not forgive, then we have no hope for heaven.  None.

     Can the Lord be just and still be merciful?  He is both through his Son, Jesus.  Jesus came because the Father does take his Commandments seriously.  He does not set aside his judgment against the guilty.  Rather, he sent Jesus to become the guilty one for us.  This is why Jesus went to the cross.  There, God the Father carried out his justice.  All your guilt was taken by Jesus.  He was made THE guilty one.  Jesus was sentenced, condemned, and put to death—for, that is the wages of sin.  Jesus paid the price for you.  All of God’s punishment was absorbed in him.  You, on the other hand, have received full pardon.  The Lord does not treat you as your sins deserve because Jesus was treated as your sins deserve.  This allows God to be both just and merciful.  As St. Paul wrote to the Romans: “He did this to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so that he would be both just and the one who justifies the person who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).  Having been shown such mercy, our Lord calls on us to be merciful to others and to forgive those who have trespassed against us.

     To illustrate this, Jesus told a parable (Matthew 18:21-35).  He said that the kingdom of heaven is like a king whose servant owed him millions of dollars.  The servant begged for mercy, promising to pay back everything.  This servant never stood a chance to repay the debt.  So, out of mercy, the king cancelled the debt.  The servant was free.  That servant went and found a fellow servant who owed him 100 days’ wages.  He demanded to be repaid what he was owed.  Just as the first servant did, the fellow servant pleaded for mercy and promised to repay everything.  The first servant refused.  He demanded what he was owed.  He had his fellow servant and his family hauled off to debtor’s prison.  When word got back to the king, he said, “‘You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt when you begged me to.  Should you not have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had mercy on you?’  His master was angry and handed him over to the jailers until he could pay back everything he owed.” (Matthew 18:32-34).  Jesus, then, gives us this warning: “This is what my heavenly Father will also do to you unless each one of you forgives his brother from his heart’” (Matthew 18:35). 

     Every sin we commit is against our Lord.  Every lustful thought is about using our neighbor for our own gratification.  This is an abuse of the neighbor God has given you.  Every complaint despises God’s provisions and promises.  Every selfish act exalts our own will over God’s will.  Every spirit of revenge usurps God’s role as judge.  Every sin we commit is against our Lord, but not every sin is against you.  Not every act of violence is against you.  Not every snide remark is against you.  But some sins are.  Sin is love that is owed you but denied you.  It is like the debt of 100 days’ wages which was owed by a fellow servant.  It is substantial, and we don’t need to pretend it’s not.  But it is minimal compared to what we owe God and have denied him.  Our debt to God is not only substantial, it is insurmountable. 

     And yet, the Lord Jesus Christ was pleased to pay that debt for you.  He paid a debt he did not owe because you had a debt you could not pay.  And he continues to do this.  The blood which was shed for your sin is delivered to you here again and again to cleanse you of your sin.  The body which bore your guilt at the cross is delivered to you here and continues to pardon you of every offense.  The Lord does not grow weary of forgiving the penitent.  His grace is greater than your sins. 

     If we bear the name of Christ, then we are called to be Christ-like in how we treat other people.  We pray, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  Is this forgiveness deserved?  No.  Grace, mercy, and forgiveness are never deserved.  Grace, mercy, and forgiveness come from the giver.  They are given freely because the giver desires to be compassionate, longs for reconciliation, and peace—just as God, in Christ, treats you, loves you, and forgives you.

     We pray, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  In some cases, you will find it hard to do that.  Some sins against you are especially painful.  They have damaged reputations and relationships.  They cannot be undone.  How can you forgive someone who has inflicted such harm?  First of all, you do not have to pretend that sins are not painful or evil.  When Joseph addressed his brothers about their sin, he stated, “You meant evil against me” (Genesis 50:20).  He did not tell them, “Oh, it’s okay,” because it wasn’t.  It was evil.  There is nothing wrong about acknowledging that.

     Secondly, you do not need to follow the adage, “Forgive and forget.”  Can you really forget the pain that was done to you?  Do you think the first Christians ever forgot the harm that St. Paul had done to them?  Do you think Bethsheba ever forgot David’s arranged murder of her husband?  Joseph surely did not forget his brothers selling him into slavery.  So, you may never forget.  Forgiveness is not forgetting.  Forgiveness is pardoning the offense.  It is relinquishing your right to avenge yourself.  It is choosing to not hold it over another and to remind him what he did over and over again—which tells him that you have not really forgiven anything.  Psalm 103 declares, “(The Lord) does not treat us as our sins deserve.  He does not repay us according to our guilty deeds” (Psalm 103:10).  Forgiveness means that we treat people likewise—again, not because it is deserved, but because it is needed.

     Thirdly, it should be noted that there is an immense chasm between refusing to forgive and struggling to forgive.  If you refuse to forgive, that means you are insisting upon justice and vengeance.  If you insist on that, the Lord will concur with your desire, and he will carry out justice and vengeance upon you.  Jesus warned, “With the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38).

     If, however, you are struggling to forgive those who trespass against you, that shows you know it is right to forgive from the heart.  You are doing battle with your sinful nature which would rather bear the grudge.  These battles are usually hard.  The only way to overcome is not to focus on the wounds you have received, but to focus on the wounds which Jesus has received for you.  Only Jesus’ mercy can stir up mercy within you.  Only Jesus’ compassion can make you compassionate.  Jesus loves you with a love that is undeserved, but it is also undeniable and unending.  When he pours that into you, it will spill over onto others, even upon those who have trespassed against you.

     “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  Rejoice that God does not base his forgiveness upon ours.  Rather, we base our forgiveness upon God’s.  We get to be merciful, because he is merciful.  And his mercy endures forever.

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

Local Tourist -- India Day

The Local Tourist and his Mrs went to the Suburban Collection Showplace for India Day which celebrates India's independence.  This festival had eluded us for years because we were enrolling our children at Michigan Lutheran Seminary on the same weekend in past years.  This year, these events are a week apart, so we went.

Other than $10 for parking, the event was free.  There was lots of food, music, and cultural dancing, and LOTS of clothing for sale.

We also saw various paintings, prints, and statues, mostly religious in nature.  I never bothered to ask much about them, so I remain ignorant. I hope to improve on that.

Here are a few photos.

Update from Good Shepherd (August 14, 2025)

Greetings!

SUMMER SCHEDULE 

Divine Service is Sunday at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School & Adult Bible Classes resume in September.

          The summer schedule will run from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. There will be no Sunday School or Adult Bible Class. Divine Services will be at 10:00 AM.
          If you will be away for the weekend, alternative local options include St. Paul's (17810 Farmington Road, Livonia) which offers a service on Thursdays at 6:30 PM; St. Peter's (1343 Penniman Ave., Plymouth) which offers a service on Mondays at 7:00 PM; and Peace (9415 Merriman Ave., Livonia) which offers a service on Mondays at 7:00 PM.
          If you are traveling, consult the WELS Church Locator to find a WELS church near your destination. You may want to call to confirm the worship time(s) as their schedule may change for the summer months.

CALENDAR: For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

SUMMER SERMON SERIES
          On the Sundays in July and August, we will meditate on the Lord’s Prayer.  You can find the schedule here.

BBQ THURSDAYS
          Join us for an evening of summer fun and fellowship on Thursday evenings. The host family will provide the meats of choice. Other members are encouraged to bring dishes to round out the menu. Contact the host family to indicate how you can help.
          So far, we have the following hosts:
                    August 14 (TONIGHT) -- Mark & Carol Camser to host. (Bring your own beverages and lawn chairs.)

ROAD CONSTRUCTION
          Be aware that west-bound traffic on 9 Mile Road is closed between Haggerty and Meadowbrook. There is no known date for the end of this project. Paving on west-bound 9 Mile Road continues.

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (July)

>    Here are some dates for upcoming events.  Please join us and invite friends to enjoy these events too.

          Church Picnic -- Sunday, September 14 at Good Shepherd

We welcome members to join us and to help plan these various events. Even if you take charge of one event, that will benefit us all.

>  We will be looking for more estimates to replace the windows in the chapel. 

>  Photos for our pictorial directory will be taken on four different Sundays after church.  The dates will be: August 17; August 24; September 7; and September 21.  A sign-up sheet has been posted at church for you to select a date.  We encourage all our members to take part in this to make our pictorial directory as useful as possible.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

           Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the Divine Service from August 10, 2025. Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, August 10, 2025

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS
          The pastor will be a little looser in observing formal office hours in the summer (usually, Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon). During the summer months, it is more enjoyable to read outside than in the office, weather permitting. Call or text to confirm any meetings with the pastor (248-719-5218).

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.

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

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

 SUMMER SCHEDULE

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

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

YouTube -- August 10, 2025

 Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, August 10, 2025.

Update from Good Shepherd (August 7, 2025)

Greetings!

SUMMER SCHEDULE 

Divine Service is Sunday at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School & Adult Bible Classes resume in September.

          The summer schedule will run from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. There will be no Sunday School or Adult Bible Class. Divine Services will be at 10:00 AM.
          If you will be away for the weekend, alternative local options include St. Paul's (17810 Farmington Road, Livonia) which offers a service on Thursdays at 6:30 PM; St. Peter's (1343 Penniman Ave., Plymouth) which offers a service on Mondays at 7:00 PM; and Peace (9415 Merriman Ave., Livonia) which offers a service on Mondays at 7:00 PM.
          If you are traveling, consult the WELS Church Locator to find a WELS church near your destination. You may want to call to confirm the worship time(s) as their schedule may change for the summer months.

CALENDAR: For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

SUMMER SERMON SERIES
          On the Sundays in July and August, we will meditate on the Lord’s Prayer.  You can find the schedule here.

BBQ THURSDAYS
          Join us for an evening of summer fun and fellowship on Thursday evenings. The host family will provide the meats of choice. Other members are encouraged to bring dishes to round out the menu. Contact the host family to indicate how you can help.
          So far, we have the following hosts:
                    August 7 (TONIGHT, 6:00-8:00 PM) -- Family Food & Fun Night at Good Shepherd. (We will have a food truck and yard games.)
                    August 14 -- Mark & Carol Camser to host. (Bring your own beverages and lawn chairs.)

ROAD CONSTRUCTION
          Be aware that west-bound traffic on 9 Mile Road is closed between Haggerty and Meadowbrook. There is no known date for the end of this project. Paving on west-bound 9 Mile Road continues.

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (July)

>    Here are some dates for upcoming events.  Please join us and invite friends to enjoy these events too.

          Family Fun Night with a Food Truck – TONIGHT!!! August 7 (6:00 – 8:00 PM)
          Church Picnic -- Sunday, September 14 (place TBD)
          BBQ Thursdays – We are looking for some people to host an evening in your backyard with members of Good Shepherd. It is a relaxing evening among friends.

We welcome members to join us and to help plan these various events. Even if you take charge of one event, that will benefit us all.

>  We will be looking for more estimates to replace the windows in the chapel. 

>  Photos for our pictorial directory will be taken on four different Sundays after church.  The dates will be: August 17; August 24; September 7; and September 21.  A sign-up sheet has been posted at church for you to select a date.  We encourage all our members to take part in this to make our pictorial directory as useful as possible.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

           Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the Divine Service from July 27, 2025: Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, July 27, 2025

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS
          The pastor will be a little looser in observing formal office hours in the summer (usually, Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon). During the summer months, it is more enjoyable to read outside than in the office, weather permitting. Call or text to confirm any meetings with the pastor (248-719-5218).

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.

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

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

 SUMMER SCHEDULE

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

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

Sermon -- Summer Sermon Series: Lord's Prayer, 4th Petition (August 3, 2025)

LUKE 11:1-3

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.

In the name + of Jesus.

      Satan engages in a continual attack on the Scriptures, and he attacks on many fronts.  One on-going attack is against Creation.  The Bible declares, “God created the man in his own image.  In the image of God he created him.  Male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27).  Many reject the “male and female” of God’s creation.  They insist that you can be both, or neither, or that you can change from one to the other, sometimes from day to day.

     When God created male and female, he also gave them particular roles.  To the man, he gave the role of protector and provider.  To the woman, he gave the role of helper and child-bearer.  Modern people have cast off these roles.  Instead of regarding them as blessings which God gave, people cry out, “Destroy the patriarchy!”  Women are taught that the role of man is to be despised and craved at the same time.

     Another attack on Creation is the theory of evolution.  This, we are told, is not even open to debate anymore.  The entire universe and every life in it are supposed to have happened by pure chance.  If God gets credit for anything, he is said to have given creation its start.  After that, God simply let things happen as they did.  Death, then, is not a curse, but a natural and necessary step for improvement of the species.  Sin is regarded as a societal construct, meaning that a majority decides what is sinful or not.  So, the goal is no longer to stop committing the sin which inflicts guilt, but to get more people to say it is not evil.  With evolution, the origin of mankind is murky.  When exactly did the knuckle dragging species become sentient human beings?  Adam and Eve are regarded as mythical figures, not historical people.  If so, there is no original sin.  Then sin and death have no connection.  If Genesis 1-3 (the creation of the world, the forming of the man and the woman, the fall into sin, and the promise of a Savior) is fictional, then what do we need a Savior for?  To be saved from what?  In the end, evolution makes Jesus Christ useless and unnecessary.  And that is the point of Satan’s attack on Creation.

     “(We) believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth” (Apostles’ Creed).  We believe it because we trust that God is telling us the truth about his Creation.  Our Lord not only created it, he still loves it, cares for it, blesses it, and sustains it.  This was all put into motion when our Lord created the world.  When God created the vegetation, he blessed it.  “God said, ‘Let the earth produce plants—vegetation that produces seed, and trees that bear fruit with its seed in it—each according to its own kind on the earth,’ and it was so” (Genesis 11:1).  This blessing assures us that seeds will continue to produce the next harvest.  We plant them, even though we have no control over how they will grow.  But God does.  So, when we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” we are only asking God to keep his word and to continue his blessing to provide fruits, vegetables, nuts, and berries for another season.

       When God created the animals, he blessed them as well.  “God blessed them when he said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply.  Fill the waters of the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth’” (Genesis 1:22).  Just as God blessed the fish and the birds, so he also blessed all land animals.  Year after year, the animals reproduce.  We get to marvel at their colors, speed, power, and agility.  Some we prepare in the crockpot or on the grill.  So, when we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” we are asking God to continue his creative blessing upon all the fish, birds, and animals.  And we acknowledge that our bacon cheeseburgers and chicken nuggets come from him.

    When you consider the individual petitions of the Lord’s Prayer, six out of seven petitions have to do with the kingdom of God and spiritual blessings.  That’s because the spiritual blessings have eternal value.  But Jesus did not dismiss our earthly needs.  He taught, “Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33). 

     Our Lord knows that we live an earthly life.  We need food, clothing, and shelter for basic survival.  But our Lord usually gives us far more than our most basic needs.  Even if our diet were limited to bread, just think of the variety God supplies.  There is wheat, rye, pumpernickel, and sourdough.  There are croissants, bagels, and doughnuts.  There are tortillas, pitas, and naan.  You get the idea.  But our Lord also provides spices and herbs, fruits and vegetables, fish and meat, and so forth.  Our Lord is most generous in how he blesses us with food.  He also provides clothing, shelter, orderly society, governmental structure, the change of seasons, art, music, laughter, and so on.  When we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” we are giving thanks to our Father in heaven for his fatherly goodness in all these things.  We thank him for the blessings which make life more than a matter of survival, but bring us happiness and comfort. 

     Our Father in heaven demonstrates his amazing generosity in providing daily bread to all the world.  As Martin Luther teaches us to confess about this petition, “God surely gives daily bread without our asking, even to all the wicked” (Luther’s Small Catechism: Lord’s Prayer, 4^th Petition).  Our Father is pleased to sustain the lives of all people, whether they acknowledge him or not.  Jesus said, “Your Father who is in heaven … makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).  This shows just how loving and gracious our Father is.  That love and care is not limited to people, either.  God loves all that he has made.  He cares for every creature.  Psalm 145 reminds us, “The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.  You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing” (Psalm 145:15-16, emphasis added). 

     Our Father in heaven is kind in bringing variety and generous in supplying abundance.  But mankind has often been unappreciative of God’s goodness.  What God provides is never enough or good enough.  Even in the Garden of Eden, where “God said, ‘Look, I have given you every plant that produces seed on the face of the whole earth, and every tree that bears fruit that produces seed.  It will be your food’” (Genesis 1:29), even there the man and the woman craved fruit from the one tree God had forbidden.  And so it continues.  God’s provides, but his provisions receive criticism.  When the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness for forty years, the Lord provided manna for them.  This was bread that they did not have to grow, harvest, and mill.  They simply had to collect what God miraculously provided every morning—daily bread in the truest sense of the word.  If the Lord had not provided it, the Israelites would have died.  Nevertheless, God’s gifts were not good enough.  They complained, “We are disgusted by this worthless food” (Numbers 21:5)! 

     You and I may not declare our disgust, but we are seldom content.  We envy people who have been blessed with more wealth.  We are jealous of people whose blessings are shaped differently.  This does not mean that God has failed to provide your daily bread; it means that you are not content with God’s blessings.  Or perhaps you do not trust that God will provide your needs.  Do you worry that God will fail you?  Now, if you and I pour our money into luxuries and frills—and look through your house, it is a lot of luxuries and frills—it is not God’s fault that the bills do not get paid.  Repent, because God is always faithful.  Even poor people have what they need to live.  Poor people even manage to have large families.  They may live on meager means, but they still live.  God provides daily bread, just as he promises.

     Jesus warned us, “A man’s life is not measured by how many possessions he has” (Luke 12:15).  At the same time, God’s love is not measured by how many possessions we have.  God’s love is demonstrated by the fact that God made himself part of his creation.  The Lord took on flesh and entered this world to deliver us from our sins—for our failure to give thanks, for our failure to trust him, for our coveting other people’s blessings, and for our desire to collect more and to crave what is better or even what is forbidden.  Jesus perfectly trusted his Father to provide for his needs, even though he had no place to lay his head.  Jesus went to the cross where his only possession—his garments—were stripped from him.  The only thing that Jesus had possession of when he suffered and died was our sins.  He paid for those with his life.  But in doing so, he covered the debt we owed and atoned for the obedience we had not given. 

     And now, Jesus still has connected himself to created things to bring the benefits of this salvation to us.  Jesus attaches his salvation to the waters of baptism to wash you clean of every stain of sin.  Jesus attaches himself to the bread of holy communion.  Under this bread, Jesus sustains your faith with the body that has overcome death.  Jesus attaches himself to the wine in the cup.  Under this wine, Jesus gives you the blood which purifies you of all sin.  Daily bread will sustain your life for hours, but the Bread of Life will grant you life without end.  This is what we truly hunger for, and our Lord supplies this need, too.

     “Give us this day our daily bread.”  The heavenly Father knows that you need it, and he will provide it.  But this daily bread only has value for a while.  Therefore, this is what the Lord says: “Hey, all of you who are thirsty, come to the water, even if you have no money!  Come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.  Why do you spend money on something that is not bread?  Why do you waste your labor on something that does not satisfy?  Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good.  Satisfy your appetite with rich food.  Turn your ear toward me, and come to me.  Listen, so that you may continue to live” (Isaiah 55:1-3).  The day will come when you won’t care about what you will eat or what you will drink or what you will wear.  For, your life on earth will have come to its end. 

     Your Father in heaven provides all you need for this life.  Better, your Father in heaven supplies all that you need for eternal life.   He gives you the Bread of Life.  He clothes you in garments of salvation.  He will bring you to heavenly mansions.   Food, clothing, shelter.  It is all you need.  And your Father gives it for free.

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