Sermon -- 8th Sunday after Pentecost (July 14, 2024)

MARK 6:7-13

THEY WERE SENT IN THE STEAD AND BY THE COMMAND OF CHRIST.

In the name + of Jesus.

      Everything the Lord Jesus Christ did in his life and ministry was intentional.  He was intent of observing all the Commandments of God.  He obeyed intentionally because Jesus found it a joy to do what is good and right.  But he also did it out of a sense of duty—to provide an obedience that we have not given.  He fulfilled the Law for us.  Jesus also intentionally went to Jerusalem to suffer and die.  Nothing was coincidental.  He was betrayed, tried, and sentenced to death on a cross.  And he knew it was coming.  He went anyway—on purpose—despite the pain and the shame of crucifixion.  He willingly did it out of love for his heavenly Father who had sent him to do it, and he did it out of love for all people even though all people have earned that cursed death.

     Jesus was also intentional in choosing his disciples.  He was intentional in his teaching and training of them.  They watched Jesus interact with people as they came to him for healing and for hope.  Jesus taught about the kingdom of God, which is found in him.  But Jesus’ time on earth as our flesh-and-blood Savior would not last long.  He would ascend to the right hand of the Father where he dwells to intercede for us and prepare a place for us.  But what would happen to the kingdom and the preaching and the people after his ascension?  This is what he called and trained his disciples for. 

     Jesus’ intention was that his apostles would be his witnesses to the world.  The word was entrusted to them.  They were to proclaim what had been given to them.  But Jesus did not wait for the day of his ascension to send them out.  “He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits” (Mark 6:7).  Jesus commissioned them to preach his word.  They were sent in the stead and by the command of Christ.

     To preach in the stead of Christ means that they preached Jesus’ word.  To go by the command of Christ means that they went with the authority of Jesus.  “So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.  And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them” (Mark 6:7).  They spoke the words of Jesus, and they did the works of Jesus.

     Perhaps you are struck most by their authority over unclean spirits.  That’s understandable.  The demons are stronger than we are.  We continually fight against their temptations, but we do not overcome.  The demons more crafty than we are.  Their deceptions sound reasonable.  How often do we adopt demonic rationale to defend our sins?  “Yes, I was rude and insulting to her.  She deserves it!”  So, we claim that rudeness and insults are good.  “I didn’t exactly tell the whole truth about that, because I am not going to pay for it!”  So, we claim that lying and fraud are good.  Repent.  For, this is what the Lord says: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). 

     The disciples were sent to speak and act in the stead and by the command of Christ.  Therefore, Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits.  There were many in Jesus’ day who were not merely captive to sin; they were physically possessed by demons.  If the disciples were to act in Jesus’ stead, they would do the works Jesus did.  If they were sent out at Jesus’ command, they had the authority of Jesus himself.  So, when they encountered people who were demon-possessed, the disciples cast the demons out.  They spoke the word of God, and the word of God held power over the devil and all his hordes.

     It still does.  Demon possession is rare in our day, although not unheard of.  Demon oppression, however, is common.  The demons stir up guilt and shame.  They produce anxiety and apprehension.  They convince you that everyone else’s life is fun and exciting while yours is hard and boring.  How can it be otherwise?  Just check Instagram!  The demons draw you into false assumptions, provoke envy, and spread misery.  This is how they oppress you.  When King Saul was tormented by an unclean spirit, he found relief when David came and played music for him.  I have to believe that David did more than harp-plucking.  He must have done psalm singing, too.  This drove the demons away.  This is why it is so important to give your ears to God’s word, to meditate on it, to pray out loud, and to sing solid hymns.  The demons cannot stand against God’s word.  The unclean spirits want to oppress you and lead you to despair.  God’s word grants you peace and relief.

     It is unlikely that people outside the kingdom of God are possessed by the devil, but they are claimed by him.  Only the message of Jesus sets people free from the shame of their sins, from the power of death, and from the claims of Satan.  Jesus shows himself to be the one—the only one—who soothes broken hearts and relieves burdened consciences.  The devil will taunt you over your sins; Jesus will pardon you of them.  He assures you that any and all guilt has been absorbed by him.  Jesus suffered the judgment sinners should receive.  Since the judgment has been received by Jesus, there is no condemnation for you.  He lives to forgive sins.

     Jesus sends out his ministers to speak in his stead and by his command.  This brings you such great comfort because you do not have to wrestle with your own thoughts about whether or not you are forgiven.  Forgiveness does not come from inside you; it is bestowed upon you from outside—just like holy baptism and holy communion.  The benefits of God’s grace are put upon you from the Lord Jesus.  Therefore, Jesus sends ministers who speak and act in his stead and by his command.  When a pastor absolves people of their sins, it is Christ who speaks through him: “I forgive you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  And God’s people respond, “Amen,” as in, “Yes, it is true.”

     Pastors are sometimes asked, “What gives you the right to say, ‘I forgive you’?”  Jesus gives us the answer.  On the night after Jesus’ resurrection, he appeared to his disciples in an upper room and said to them, “‘As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld’” (John 20:21-23).  It would be wonderful if Jesus came and personally assured you of your forgiveness.  But he does not do that.  He calls ministers to go in his name, to act with his authority, and to proclaim his word.  So, forgiveness is proclaimed in the stead and by the command of Jesus.  The voice may be a pastor’s, but the word and the authority are Jesus’.  Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven. 

    When Jesus sent the disciples out two by two, it must have surprised them to hear Jesus’ restrictions: “He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.  And he said to them, ‘Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there’” (Mark 6:8-10).  This was intentional.  Jesus was training his disciples to trust in God’s provision and protection.  They were not promised success, but they were promised that God the Father takes care of his own people.

     That continues to this day.  The provision of God’s ministers does not come through miracles, but from the faithful who take God’s word to heart.  Jesus implied that there would be godly people who would receive the disciples into their homes.  They, in turn, were to be content with the support that God’s people would provide.

     This is how it works today.  Some may think that a congregation pays the pastor to preach.  And in some places, that is true.  But if the support of the pastor hinges on what he preaches, then the congregation can fire the pastor if he tells them what they don’t want to hear.  But a faithful prophet of God does not cater to the whims of mankind.  The man who is sent in the stead and by the command of Jesus is first and foremost a servant of Jesus.  He is under orders from Jesus and answerable to him.  He is not in it for money or popularity.  Just as Jesus gives all his gifts for free, the pastor does too.  He preaches for free.  He administers the sacraments for free.  He teaches classes for free.  He visits people for free.  The congregation supports the pastor not so that they can control him or his message, but so that the pastor can give his full time to serving God’s people.

     The disciples were sent out in pairs.  They were sent in the stead and by the command of Christ.  “They went out and proclaimed that people should repent.  And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them” (Mark 6:12-13).  Those who were sent by Jesus did the works of Jesus.  So, why aren’t these miraculous powers at work among pastors today?  If pastors claim to speak in the stead and by the command of Christ, why aren’t they doing the miracles that Christ did?

     St. Mark provides the answer for us.  At the conclusion of his Gospel, St. Mark noted, “They went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs: (Mark 16:20).  Since the Gospels had not yet been written, how was anyone to know if the words of the apostles were the words of Jesus?  The answer: Jesus confirmed the message with miraculous signs.  The apostles proclaimed the words of Jesus.  This was confirmed by the works of Jesus.  But you and I have the message confirmed for us in writing.  The word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, written by the apostles, and confirmed by Jesus’ authority, is given to us for our salvation. 

     Although we have been focusing on the ministers of Christ, the word of God has the same authority no matter who is speaking it.  If you tell others about the forgiveness won by Jesus, you have the authority of Jesus backing you up.  If you warn a sinner of his foolish ways and call him to repent, you have the authority of Jesus upholding your words of warning.  You speak in the stead of Christ because you are of Christ.  You speak by the command of Christ because he has entrusted you with his word to confess it and to proclaim it.

     This is what Jesus intended for his Church, and he intends it to serve for your temporal and eternal good.

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

YouTube -- 8th Sunday after Pentecost (July 23, 2023)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, July 23, 2023.

Sermon -- 8th Sunday after Pentecost (July 23, 2023)

MATTHEW 13:24-30,36-43

THE LORD KNOWS THE RIGHTEOUS.

In the name + of Jesus.

      Throughout the Old Testament, the Lord repeated the promise that the Savior.  He foretold what he would be like and what he would do.  One description is from the prophet Isaiah: “He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear” (Isaiah 11:3).  This baffles us, because we know of no other way to judge.  When a witness is called to the stand in court, he is not asked to tell us what he thinks about the accused or to offer conjecture about his motives.  Such questioning instantly finds objection and is dismissed.  Witnesses are asked only to testify to what they have seen and heard.

      Likewise, we make judgments about people based on what we see and hear.  Is the person we are talking about a good person or a jerk?  Is he honorable or despicable?  But we often don’t know enough for our judgment to be fair.  If you see a man hunched over and yelling at a woman, you may conclude that he is abusive and that she is a victim.  Later, you may learn that she is hard of hearing.  What we see and hear often deceives us.

     This is also true in the kingdom of God.  “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.  So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also” (Matthew 13:24-26).  As the plants began to sprout, they all looked the same.  No one could tell the difference between the wheat and the weeds.  Since weeds are undesirable, the workers suggested pulling them all out.  But if you can’t tell wheat from weeds, your judgment will lead to disaster.  So, the master said, “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, ‘Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn’” (Matthew 13:30).

     The particular weeds in the parable are called “tares” in the King James Version.  Some translations might call them darnel.  They are known as “false wheat” because they look exactly like wheat when they are growing.  You can’t tell the difference.  The problem is that darnel is poisonous.  If you eat it, it will make you sick.  It could kill you.   The only way you can tell the difference is when the heads of grain are produced.  The heads of darnel are purple.  Only when the crops are mature and ready for harvest can the poisonous darnel be separated and destroyed while the good wheat is kept.

     The harvest is Judgment Day.  That is when the Lord will separate the wicked and the righteous.  He will not be fooled at the final judgment, and he is not fooled by it now.  The Lord knows the righteous.  We, however, cannot tell who is righteous in God’s eyes and who is not.  We can find examples of atheists who are kind, generous, honest, hard-working, and honorable.  We can also find examples of people who profess the Christian faith who are rude, crude, lying, thieving, and manipulative.  Perhaps you have had people question your character, saying, “I can’t believe that came out of your mouth.  I thought you were a Christian.”  Our actions can give people reason to challenge our confession.  No one who knows you will call you perfect.

     Consider this example.  Abraham and his wife, Sarah, had settled in a territory where the king was named Abimelech.  Abraham, knowing that his wife, Sarah, was a beautiful woman, feared that he would be killed so that his wife would be claimed by another man.  So, Abraham told Sarah, “Say that you are my sister.”  King Abimelech took notice of Sarah and added her to his harem.  Then the Lord appeared to Abimelech in a dream, saying, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife” (Genesis 20:3).  Understandably, Abimelech was confused and pleaded his innocence.  How could he know that Sarah was Abraham’s wife when they said she was his sister?  The Lord showed mercy on Abimelech because he had acted in innocence.  But here is the surprising twist.  The Lord said to Abimelech, “Now then, return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours” (Genesis 20:7).  So, the Lord was pleased with Abraham who had lied, but his wrath was against Abimelech who had acted in ignorance.  What gives?

     The Lord knows the righteous, and he counted Abraham righteous despite his sins.  Why?  The Bible tells us: “(Abraham) believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).  Abraham had no righteousness of his own.  His sin against Abimelech and other events prove that.  Yet, by faith Abraham believed that the righteousness of the Messiah to come covered him.  However, since Abimelech did not believe in the Lord, he remained in his sin no matter how much integrity he had.  Granted, Abimelech’s integrity was admirable, but integrity does not save us, any more than we are saved by being nice, sincere, or decent.

     In order to dwell in the presence of the holy God, one must be holy.  God cannot permit even a blemish of sin to dwell with him; for then it would no longer be a holy place.  The Bible has us ponder this: “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?  And who shall stand in his holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully” (Psalm 24:3,4).  So, if you want to dwell in the home of righteousness, you yourself must be righteous.  You must be without even a smudge of guilt.  This is proper justice.  The guilty are punished, but the righteous are blessed.  And the Lord knows the righteous.

     So, how can we get the righteous we need to stand before the Lord?  I know my hands are dirty.  I know my mouth is filthy.  I know that my heart is not pure.  This is why the Lord sent a Savior.  Once again, an Old Testament promise described him: “This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD is our righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:6).  It is not merely that he is the righteous Lord.  He is, but it is more.  It is for our benefit.  The Lord is OUR righteousness.

     Jesus did all things in perfect agreement with the Commandments of God.  He lived with clean hands—doing only good to other people and giving generously of his time, his effort, and his healing touch.  He had a pure heart—demonstrating compassion for those whose lives were a mess, showing patience to disciples who just did not get his lessons on humble service, and even praying for those who were putting him to death.  That perfect, obedient, innocent life is not just an example of righteousness, Jesus has made it our righteousness.  This is what the Lord says: “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).  The very righteousness you need to stand in the presence of God has been bestowed upon you.  It is not your own righteousness, but it has been given to you by Jesus so that you will not perish.  The Lord knows the righteous.  And the reason the Lord knows is this: He has given that righteousness to you.  He is the source and giver of your righteousness.  So, you shall not be judged based on your own merits.  You are judged according to the merits of Jesus Christ.  And if you are judged based on Jesus’ merits, you are pure.  The Lord knows the righteous, and he is our righteousness.

     When the servants saw that the wheat and the darnel were growing together, they recognized the problem, but the master said, “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, ‘Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn’” (Matthew 13:30).  We might become frustrated that the Lord lets the righteous and the evil intermingle.  Like the angels, we might also plead with the Lord to banish the evil so that the righteous may thrive.  Yet, the Lord does not do this. 

     One of the reasons that we are frustrated by the righteous being mixed in with the wicked is because we do not want the influence of the wicked foisted upon us.  We want to be preserved from wickedness rather than be swept away by it.  That has always been a concern.  Lot moved into the city of Sodom for safety reasons, and it left a profound, negative effect on his family.  Solomon was influenced by his wives to adopt foreign gods.  For the sake of their happiness, he abandoned the faith.  Such examples and more ought to stir us up to prayer and devotion to God’s word and sacraments so that he will preserve us.  So, even though the Lord’s wrath remains on the wicked, he uses it for our good—keeping us devoted to the word so that we will not be enticed away to sin and death.

     The Lord knows the righteous, and by word and sacrament he preserves us in his righteousness.  But he still has us mingle among the unrighteous.  This serves God’s purpose, too.  For, how will you have any influence on other people if you don’t speak with them or live among them?  If we do not confess God’s truth, how can it be heard?  How will the wicked be snatched out of death and judgment if they do not learn about Jesus who saves sinners?  Where will anyone find hope and comfort if they do not hear about the righteousness which guarantees the peace of Paradise? 

     The Lord knows the righteous.  He is the one who plants the good seed in the world so that he will gather the wheat into his barn.  He is the one who labors to make us fruitful and productive.  And while we give evidence that we are sinners, we certainly also give evidence that we are God’s people.  For the Lord works in us and forms us to be more like him—compassionate, kind, patient, forgiving, truthful, helpful, noble, and moral.  These traits do not save us, but they are evidence that we are saved.  It is still the merits of Jesus which save us.  The Lord is pleased with us because Jesus has made us pleasing to him.  He is our righteousness.  He is our comfort.  He is our peace.

     On the Last Day, when the angels go forth to separate the righteous from the wicked, the Lord will know that you are his.  Jesus says, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:43).  Then, we will finally be what we have always wanted to be—God’s people who look, act, think, and live like God’s people.  Then, we will not merely be covered in righteousness; we will be confirmed in righteousness.  The Lord knows the righteous, and he will make us known as his righteous ones.

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

YouTube -- 8th Sunday after Pentecost (July 31, 2022)

Here is the service from Sunday, July 31, 2022.

Sermon -- 8th Sunday after Pentecost (July 31, 2022)

FROM THE PEN OF ST. PAUL

COLOSSIANS 1:1-14

WE ARE FRUITFUL IN CHRIST.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Christians are in the habit of going to church.  We know what to expect.  We find comfort in it.  We have friends here.  But if a stranger were to ask you, “Why do you go to church?” how would you answer?  Is it just a habit?  An obligation?  That you would feel guilty if you don’t go? 

     We go to church and to Bible Class to hear God’s word for our comfort, encouragement, and guidance.  We study it and to meditate upon it.  Some might say that we come to learn, but that is not quite right.  Our best attended service is Easter.  You don’t go to Easter services to learn things.  You already know how the story ends.  Easter does not present any surprises.  Now, you will have moments of enlightenment when something in the Bible strikes you like it had not before.  Those “Aha!” moments come to us throughout our lives, and we are grateful for them.  But that is not why we continue to come to church and to Bible Classes.  We come to hear the words of Christ so that we will become like Christ.  For, we are fruitful only in Christ.

     When Paul wrote to the Christians in Colossae, he commented that “we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints” (Colossians 1:4).  The Colossian Christians knew about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for them.  They had heard the Gospel and they believed it.  They knew the facts.  They learned the passages.  They trusted in God’s promises. 

     St. Paul wrote this letter to assure them that knowledge of Jesus was a good start.  Paul’s prayer for the Colossians was that they would grow deeper in faith, in wisdom, and in godly living.  To believe in Christ is good; to become like Christ is the goal.  This is the prayer of the apostle for his fellow Christians.  It is God’s plan for you, too.  We are fruitful in Christ.

     Here is Paul’s prayer for the Colossians, and indeed for all Christians: “We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1:9).  We long to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will.  But there is only one way to know God’s will.  He has to tell us what it is.

     Some years ago, there was an exercise for engineers who were hired by Microsoft.  They were given an assignment to fill Bill Gates’ house with state-of-the-art technology.  They came up with some pretty slick ideas.  Media was voice-activated.  Lights were motion-detected.  So, when Mr. Gates walked from one room to the next, lights and music would turn on in the room he entered and shut off behind him.  But the best idea was by a group that did nothing.  They just asked a question: “What does Mr. Gates want?”  The only way to be sure that Mr. Gates would be satisfied with the work is if it is what he wanted.  The only way to know what Mr. Gates wanted was to ask him.  We are fruitful in Christ when we ask, “What does our Lord want?”  And to know that, we must listen to his word.

     First of all, the Lord wants you to know that you have been redeemed.  As St. Paul wrote, “[The Father] has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.  He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:12-14).  The Father sent his Son to redeem you from a dark, dreary existence of fear, doubt, guilt, and regret.  You are no longer ignorant of God’s love or your eternal future.  The Lord has enlightened you to know that Jesus has redeemed you.

     God the Son became a man so that he could die.  Jesus died under God’s curse which was illustrated when the sun refused to shine on him.  He died in darkness with our guilt under our curse.  But this man is also true God; so, his death is the sufficient payment for all mankind.  The price to redeem has been paid in full.  Sadly, many people do not know it.  Many still live in doubt and fear, with guilt and regret.  They should not have to, but since they don’t trust in Jesus, they live with darkened hearts and fearful consciences.  They have no real hope.  Not so with you.  You have been delivered from the domain of darkness to the light of God’s love, favor, and forgiveness.  You have a hope that many do not have because you have been brought to trust in a promise that all need.  Regardless of what happens in this world, you have a place in heavenly glory and bliss that awaits you.  This is not based on a wish, but on the very words of God.

     This Gospel has made you wise for salvation.  But our Lord also wants you to be wise for godly living.  He wants you to have “the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1:9).  In his word, God tells you what his will is so that you can have spiritual wisdom.  This wisdom means putting God’s word to action in your life.  To believe in Christ is good; to become like Christ is the goal.  And we are fruitful in Christ.

     We come together in God’s house to be filled with spiritual wisdom.  God reminds us that his word alone is eternal and that everything else will pass away.  Then God’s word sets our priorities accordingly.  God directs us to use the things he has given out of love for our neighbor rather than loving things and using our neighbor.  God’s word moves us to turn from sin because it shows us that sin is always destructive.  It never satisfies.  It always causes harm.  And it cannot be ignored.  Wisdom means that we will cast off our sins and fight against them.  We do not want to be sinful with wicked works, but fruitful with good works which are always beneficial.  We are fruitful as long as we are in Christ.  

     We come to church to hear God’s word.  In doing so, we become better acquainted with his will.  We are given motivation to repent of our sins and strength to renounce them.  The Lord fills us with wisdom and the will to do what is pleasing to him.  If we are in Christ, we will be fruitful.  For this is what the Lord says: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  …Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:1-5).  

     We are fruitful in Christ, and we remain in Christ as we remain in his word and are nourished by his sacraments.  God strengthens and sustains our faith through the Gospel.  He prunes from us the sins that entangle us so that they will not overcome us.  He nourishes and strengthens us so that we become like Christ and bear the fruit he seeks.  To believe in Christ is good, but the goal is to become like Christ.  And we remain fruitful as long as we are in Christ.

     We come to church in order to receive the answer to another part of St. Paul’s prayer: to be “strengthened with all power … for all endurance and patience with joy” (Colossians 1:11).  We live in a world that is hostile to God’s word.  People mock Christians when they “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (Colossians 1:10).  We are encouraged to embrace sin rather than repent of it.  We are regarded as strange when our behavior is chaste and when our words are not obscene or profane.  If you speak with people and do not pepper your speech with filthy language, people will notice.  Some will even ridicule you for being too goody-goody because your godly behavior convicts them.  You need not be surprised by this.  St. Peter observes, “They are surprised that you do not plunge into the same overflowing river of filth with them, and they slander you” (1 Peter 4:4).  When the mockery mounts up, you may feel like you have to apologize for purity and chastity.  You may become weary of holding on to godly living.  If it seems like no one else cares, you will wonder why you should care anymore.

     Do you see why Christians come together for worship, why we need to?  It is so that St. Paul’s prayer, which is also our prayer, would be answered: to be “strengthened with all power … for all endurance and patience with joy” (Colossians 1:11).  We need God’s word to keep us mindful of our place in his kingdom and of the glory that comes to those who stand firm in the faith.  We need the sacraments to strengthen us so that we will stand firm in the faith.  Our Lord sustains us when the fight for the faith gets hard.  Jesus reminds us that he himself dwelt among sinners with patience and mercy.  He knows what it is like to live in this world.  Rather than cast off people in disgust, Jesus interacted in mercy.  In love, he called them out of the domain of darkness—out of doubt, fear, and guilt to a life of comfort and confidence.  In love, he calls us to be like him and to do likewise.  And when we prove ourselves to be sinners, Jesus assures us of his faithfulness to us and forgiveness for us.  He restores us, redirects us, and rejuvenates us.  In Christ, we are kept fruitful.  For, to believe in Christ is good, but the goal is to be like Christ.

     We come to church because we need each other for this encouragement.  We support one another and pray for one another as we patiently wait for our Lord’s return.  When he comes again, he will gather all his people together to give us the glorious kingdom he has won for us and has promised to us.  While we wait for our Lord’s return, we gather in his name to hear his word and feast on his body and blood.  This enables us to wait with patience, with endurance, and even with joy.  This motivates us to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (Colossians 1:10).  This keeps us fruitful and keeps us in Christ—the only place we find redemption and the forgiveness of sins.

     Why do we come to church?  Because we want to be with the Lord.  Here, he meets us in the word and the sacrament.  Soon the Lord will return and take us to be with him, and we will be with the Lord forever.  When that day comes, guess what?  We will be like Christ.  We will be perfected in the knowledge of God.  We will be in perfect harmony with God’s will.  Every trace of darkness will be driven out.  All fear, doubt, guilt, and regret will be banished, and we will dwell in everlasting light.  We will be gathered for everlasting worship—the heavenly feast, the choirs of angels, and the communion of all the saints in peace and joy forever.  We will be with Christ, and we will be like Christ.  That, after all, is the goal.

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

YouTube -- 8th Sunday after Pentecost (July 18, 2021)

 Here is the service from July 18, 2021.

Sermon -- 8th Sunday after Pentecost (July 18, 2021)

AMOS 7:10-15

THE LORD CALLS ORDINARY PEOPLE FOR EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE.

 In the name + of Jesus.

      “Who do you think you are?”  People usually say it to put someone in their place.  If you’ve had an unruly child, you’ve probably said that to him.  A store owner might say it to a customer who is making ridiculous demands.  I remember one “Who do you think you are?” moment from social media.  A man was giving some medical advice on a blog.  Of course, we don’t believe everything we read on social media.  So, one commenter shot back, “Oh, and are you a doctor?  Is this your area of expertise?  Did you write a paper on it?  And did it go through peer review?”  The man replied, “Yes.  Yes.  Yes.  And yes.”  That was a “Who do you think you are?” moment that backfired.

     The prophet Amos endured his own “Who do you think you are?” moment when he was sent to preach to the northern tribes of Israel.  The nation of Israel had been divided into two kingdoms after the house of David proved to be unfaithful to God.  Ten tribes broke off in the north.  But since the king did not want his subjects going to Jerusalem for worship, he set up his own renegade worship.  One of those places was in Bethel.  Even through God had said he would dwell in the temple at Jerusalem, the king set up an alternative temple.  Even though God had declared only Levites could serve as his priests, the king of the north hired anyone who wanted the job.  Amaziah was one such priest.  He was a renegade priest of this renegade worship in this renegade temple.

     God had been clear what he demanded of his people for faithful worship.  In the north, they tried to mimic it, so it looked religious.  For many that was good enough.  But God is never pleased when we stray from his word.  Pretty sins are still sins.  If that is how they regarded worship, we should not be surprised that they also turned from God’s word in their lives.  That is why God sent Amos to them.  He was not content to let his people fall away.  The Lord commanded Amos, “Go, prophesy to my people Israel” (Amos 7:15).  God still called them “my people.”  He wanted to keep them.  So, God called this ordinary man to do extraordinary things.

       Amos gave warning to the renegades who tried to make their abandonment of God’s word look pretty and pious.  Amos’ words of judgment were interpreted as conspiracy against the king and his temple.  The priest Amaziah said, “The land is not able to bear all his words” (Amos 7:10).  Amaziah was implying that these were Amos’s words, a petty man with a political agenda.  In other words, “Who do you think you are?!”  Therefore, he sought to drive him out of the north.  “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there, but never again prophesy at Bethel” (Amos 7:12-13). 

     Amos was an ordinary man, and he said so.  He said, “I did not ask for this job.  I am no professional prophet, and I did not go to seminary.  I herded sheep and cattle.  I tended orchards.  I was pretty successful at it.  But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel’” (Amos 7:15).  Amos was an ordinary man called to do extraordinary things.  And he made it clear, he was not spouting off his own political views or personal opinions.  The Lord had sent him.  The Lord gave him the words to say, and Amos was saying them.  God’s word was no less God’s word just because they came out of the mouth of an ordinary man.  Amos preached God’s truth to restore God’s people.  God calls ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

     Amos had to endure his “Who do you think you are?!” moment.  Amaziah tried to discredit Amos when he was rebuked by God’s word—as if silencing God’s word means it no longer applies.  We might hurl that phrase when we don’t like what we hear, too.  We all crave praise, and we usually gravitate to those who give it.  It is no longer enough to have permission to sin against God, we also want praise.  We want people to tell us that it is awesome when we cheat, defraud, fornicate, get drunk, take revenge, and pervert God’s word to support our actions.  We cut off those who tell us otherwise. 

     Sin turns everything upside down.  The world has reversed the definitions of love and hate, good and evil.  It is called love to encourage whatever makes people happy, and you will be called evil if you cite God’s word to say that anyone is wrong.  But this is what the Lord says: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).  The unrighteous cannot inherit the kingdom of righteousness.  Those verses convict and condemn us all; for no one is righteous.  God warns us so that we will not continue to violate his word and will not continue in sin.  Those who do fall under an everlasting curse.  But now such warnings are hate speech.  Let’s say it as clearly as we can: God’s word is now hate speech.  Calling sinners to repent is considered evil. 

     We need not be surprised at this.  We bristle at correction, too.  When we are confronted by sin, our defense mechanism kicks in.  We attack the one who calls us to repent.  “Oh yeah?  Who do you think you are, as if you’re perfect?!”  But even if everyone is a fraud, God’s word remains true.  This is what the Lord says: “there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:22-23).  It is useless for us to play games to determine who is better, who is morally superior, or whose virtues glitter more brightly.  The standard is not the virtue of the one who speaks.  The standard is the word of God which is flawless and faultless.  Judgment does not rest with me or you or Amaziah or Amos.  All judgment has been entrusted to Jesus in whom there is no fault.  And he will uphold every word of God.

     If we do not follow God’s word, we are following lies.  Persuasive lies are still lies.  Pretty sins are still sins.  Here, God is right to ask us, “Who do you think you are to pit yourself against my word?  The word of the Lord endures forever.  Those who do not believe in it will certainly perish forever.”  No one is saved because he looks religious or is nice or found what makes him happy.  Salvation is found only in the word of God. 

     Jesus came to do the most extraordinary thing—to win a full pardon for the guilty and to rescue condemned people from death.  To do this, Jesus came as an ordinary man.  He came to do what we have not.  He not only preached God’s Law as true, he was true to God’s Law throughout his life.  He even took our place under God’s Law.  He lived our substitute and credited his holy life to us.  Our sins he took as his own, so that he could render a just judgment.  He was condemned as a renegade for us; and he sets us free as innocent.  You now stand before God as his saints—not because you are morally superior to anyone, not because you are more religious, not because you are worthy.  You are saints because Jesus has decreed it. 

     God uses ordinary means to apply to you his extraordinary grace.  When you were baptized into his name with ordinary water, you were washed clean and clothed in Jesus’ innocence.  Your salvation is secure because Jesus has backed this promise with his sacrificial death and glorious resurrection.  He continues to strengthen and keep you in the one true faith through a meal of ordinary bread and wine to which Jesus attaches words of extraordinary grace.  “This is my body,” he declares—the body that has conquered the grave and lives forever.  “This is my blood,” he declares—the blood which has paid for all your sins.  “This is for you” he declares—so that you receive the benefits of his death and resurrection.  And if your sins still haunt you, he provides you a minister to administer his absolution.  Through a flawed and ordinary man, God makes his extraordinary divine decree: “I forgive you in the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.”  None of this is based on the worthiness of the ordinary man who speaks and acts in the stead of Christ.  If it were, how could you ever know you are forgiven?  Rather, it all rests on the merits of Jesus Christ.  He lives and reigns to back every word he has uttered.  This is how you know you are redeemed and remain a child of God.

     God calls ordinary men to do extraordinary things.  Jesus called Andrew, Peter, James, and John who were ordinary fishermen.  Jesus called a political zealot named Simon.  He called Matthew, a tax collector.  He even called a persecutor of the Church, Paul.  Amos was a rancher and tended an orchard.  These people had different personalities, skills, and backgrounds.  These ordinary men had no plans to become preachers of God’s word.  God had different plans.  He called each of these men to become prophets and apostles in his Church.  The Lord calls ordinary people for extraordinary service.

     God still calls ordinary people to be pastors in his church.  None of them is called because if superior virtue or worthiness.  Nevertheless, God has been pleased to entrust the ministry to men.  Most are not pastors.  Still, he has entrusted you with his word to teach it to your children and grandchildren, to confess it to friends, and even to invite acquaintance and strangers to hear the word of the Lord.

     If you declare the word of the Lord, you might have someone stomp on you with a “Who do you think you are to lecture me?” moment, especially if they know your past.   You might even think, “Who am I that I should say anything to anyone else?”  But God’s word is not true because you are perfect or even good.  God’s word is true because God has said it.  You do not need to defend yourself for telling the truth.

     Regardless of who might discredit you by saying, “Who do you think you are?”, you know who you are.  God has told you: You are his beloved child.  You are his redeemed saint.  And you have been entrusted with the words of life.  This is all the more reason to speak to your loved ones about the mercies God has shown you!  What greater love could you show your friends than to tell them about the hope God gives to sinners?  This is the word which has saved you, comforts you, and guides you.  Will it not do the same for those whom you know and love?  If Amos can do it, so can you.  For, God calls ordinary people to tell this extraordinarily good news. 

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

Sermon -- 8th Sunday after Pentecost (August 4, 2019)

LUKE 10:25-37

THE ONE WHO HAS MERCY

SAVES US.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The expert in the law came to Jesus to test him.  The motive behind his question was not good, but his question was not necessarily bad: “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25)  This should be a concern for every man, woman, and child who has ever lived.  Everyone recognizes that we are to live good lives and stay away from wickedness.  Sinful thoughts, words, and deeds bring upon us guilt, but our consciences commend us for good thoughts, words, and deeds.  People recognize that a judgment faces us when we die.  It is most comforting to know where you will stand when that judgment comes.  To be unsure is terrifying.  So the questions is good, and many people ask it in one way or another.  “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25)
     Since the man was an expert in the law, Jesus appealed to his expertise: “What is written in the Law?  How do you read it?”  And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”  (Jesus) said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” (Luke 10:26-28)
     The expert in the law was already uneasy.  His answer was right, but he knew that he had not done what the law commanded.  But he was a good lawyer, so he wanted to find the loophole.  He sought a way to be excused from doing everything the law actually demanded that he do.  So he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29)  
     Before we come down too hard on this expert in the law, we do the same thing.  We agree in theory with God's law: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  But we insist that there have to be conditions or limits on this.  “Love my neighbor, yes, but what about jerks?  I don't really have to love a jerk, do I?  And what about the people who tell stories about me behind my back or lie to my face?  Love them?!  What about that guy who cut me off on the freeway or stole my parking spot?  And what about terrorists, or drug dealers, or pedophiles?  Certainly not them.  Love my neighbor, yes, but it doesn't mean everyone, right?   There's got to be a line to be drawn somewhere.  Who is my neighbor?”  This is nothing but an admission that we do not love our neighbor as ourselves, and that we have not done, cannot do, and—if we are honest—are not willing to do what God demands so that we will have eternal life.
     To answer the lawyer's protest, Jesus told a parable.  A man traveled the windy road down from the heights of Jerusalem to the valley where Jericho was.  Robbers beat him and left him half dead.  Then came along two clergy men—people who should have had compassion on the dying man.  Who knows why they passed by?  Fear of an ambush?  Laziness?  Simply not wanting to get involved?  It doesn't matter.  They had no compassion for their dying countryman.  Then came along a Samaritan.  It is hard for us to appreciate the disdain that Jews and Samaritans had for each other.  Maybe we could liken it to the Isrealis and Palestinians today.  A meeting between these two would probably not end well.  But the Samaritan had compassion on the man.  He treated his wounds and bound them up.  He brought the man to an inn and nursed him throughout the night.  Then he covered the man's expenses with two denarii, or two day's wages, and he even pledged to cover further expenses on his way back through.  Suffice it to say, this man went above and beyond the call of duty in caring for the man who had been left for dead.  And he was a Samaritan, an enemy to the man who had been beaten!
     Jesus concluded the parable with this question: “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”  He said, “The one who showed him mercy.”  And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” (Luke 10:36-37)  Now, this is where the story ends.  We do not hear how the lawyer responded.  Did he walk away resolved to show more mercy than he had before?  Did he walk away dejected, knowing that he was incapable of the mercy Jesus had demanded?  Did he recognize that he had no way to gain eternal life?  We don't know, and ultimately, we don't need to worry about what the lawyer did.  We do need to be concerned about ourselves.
     We know that the Law is good.  We certainly want others to love us as we love ourselves.  And in theory, we know that we should love others and be merciful to them.  But the part that convicts and condemns us is Jesus' word: “Do this, and you will live.” (Luke 10:28)   And if we are doing all we can to gain eternal life, we realize that we can't do it.  If we are going to have eternal life, it must come from outside of us.  And it does.  The one who has mercy saves us.
     God's compassion for you is revealed in Jesus.  Jesus grew up in Nazareth, which is in the northern part of Israel.  In the Old Testament when the kingdom of Israel was divided, the south was known as Judah, and the northern tribes were known as Samaria.  So, Nazareth was in the territory of Samaria.  If Jesus' enemies from Jerusalem wanted to smear him, they could call him a Samaritan.  In fact, they did; and Jesus did not reject the smear.  Jesus, this Good Samaritan, has had mercy upon you.
     Jesus found you in your sinful condition—spiritually dead, destined for the grave, and stripped by Satan of the image of God.  Jesus did not concern himself with whether you were lovable or worthy.  He did not despise you based upon your background or behavior.  He did not reject you for lying to his face about your sins or trying to steal his honor by claiming a righteousness you don't have.  He did not let your disobedience temper his mercy.  He saw you in your need, and he acted for your benefit.  He cleansed the infection of your sin with the waters of baptism.  He treats your wounds and covers up your shame.  Jesus covered all the expenses to save you.  He paid for the debt of sin which he not owe and emptied himself of everything in order to save you.  The one who has mercy saves you.
     The lawyer's question was a good one, if taken seriously.  And yet, there is something humorous about it.  He asked Jesus, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25)  He wanted to know how to inherit something.  What do you have to do to become an heir of something?  Nothing.  You can't do anything to become someone's heir.  You might assume that you are the heir in your parents' will.  You might even think you've earned it.  But the truth is there is nothing you can do to become an heir.  Someone has to make you an heir by writing your name into his will.  And once he dies, only then do you receive the benefits of that will.
     Jesus Christ has made you an heir of eternal life.  In order for you to receive the benefits, Jesus had to die.  He laid down his life in order to win you a place in the heavenly kingdom.  His innocent life of perfectly loving his fellow man—even his enemies!—was given in exchange for your sins.  His holy, precious blood was shed to wash you clean of all guilt.  His resurrection assures you that you are also now children of the resurrection and heirs of eternal life.  The one who has had mercy saves you. 
     Jesus' final instructions to the lawyer still stand: “You go, and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37)  Having been shown mercy, now you get to go and show love and mercy to others.  It remains God's will that you love your neighbor as yourself.  Mercy is not given because people are lovable or worthy.  We love our neighbor—not according to his behavior or background, but according to his need. 
     Nevertheless, we do not love our neighbor to inherit eternal life.  For us to have eternal life, Jesus has done all the work.  Our inheritance comes from Jesus alone.  The one who has had perfect, unlimited mercy upon you saved you.  Jesus has taken care of your need—cleansing you of all sin, conquering death, and opening heaven up for you.  By his death, you receive eternal life.  By his mercy, you are saved.  And by his love, you see the love that you get to demonstrate to others.

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

Sermon -- 8th Sunday after Pentecost (July 15, 2018)

EPHESIANS 1:3-14

YOU ARE GOD'S ELECT, BY GRACE.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The doctrine of election, or predestination, is either one of the most comforting or one of the most petrifying teachings in the Bible.  You may have never pondered the doctrine as its own topic, but you have probably asked the question which is linked to it: “Why are some saved and not others?”  Or, to make it more personal, “Why am I one of God's people?  What made me so special?”  Such questions are understandable, and they are not necessarily bad.  What may be bad is how you approach your answer to these questions.  The difference is as great as heaven and hell.  As a result, the doctrine of election can lead us either to the confidence and comfort that we are saved or to the terror that we can never know if we are saved.
     The teaching itself is actually pretty simple.  God's election is summed up by St. Paul this way: [God] chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. (Ephesians 1:4)  But we wonder: “How can I know if I am one of God's elect, one of God's chosen?  St. Paul wrote '[God] chose us in [Christ],' (Ephesians 1:4), but how do I know if that 'us' includes me?”  
     We are always tempted to begin theology with ourselves.  “Why am I one of God's elect?  What is there about me that would make God choose me?”  If you begin with yourself, then you are on a mission to prove you are a worthy choice—that God chose you because there is something in you.  You are special.  You are more endearing to God.  You are better than others.  To believe that, you have to cite the evidence: “I attend church and give offerings.  I volunteer my time.  I help your friends with their problems.  I give generous tips to the waitress.  I stay out of seedy men's clubs.  I pay my bills, stay out of jail, and even avoid traffic tickets.”  While society is grateful that you have been a credit rather than criminal, these do not save you.  And if you trust in your deeds, no matter now good they appear, you will be damned.  Repent.
     If you look at yourself as you consider why you are saved, you will never find comfort or peace.  How good do you need to be to be good enough for God?  You could never know if you are good enough.  The Lord, however, does tell you the standard for heaven.  It is not that you are better than most; it is this: “You must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)  This is abject terror, because no one is perfect, no matter how hard we try, no matter how much evidence we cite.  God can't choose us because we are good enough or because we are special.  We are not even endearing because we are sinners.  God does not praise what is corrupt.
     It also does no good to reason that you have been chosen by God because other people were a worse choice than you.  It is not only untrue, it is also a horrible way to think of other people.  It is as if we would say to our neighbor, “Well, I can understand why God did not choose you.  It's no surprise that you would go to hell.”  There is no one who is worthy of heaven, for all have sinned.  All deserve punishment.
     When we begin theology with ourselves, the best we can do is be uncertain about our place in heaven.  To face death with that uncertainty is terrifying.  Therefore, St. Paul has you consider the doctrine of election from the right direction.  God's election does not say as much about who you are as it does who God is.  Consider again what St. Paul says about your election to be saved.  He wrote: [God] chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. (Ephesians 1:4)  Notice when God chose you: before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4)  You were not even around for God to assess your behavior.  Before you could do anything, good or bad, God chose you from eternity to be his own.  Now, notice what motivated God to choose you.  In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace... (Ephesians 1:5-6)  You were predestined to be a part of God's family.  This is to the praise of his glorious grace.  In other words, you were not chosen because you have done something special; you were chosen because God is gracious.
     You are God's elect, by grace.  From eternity, God elected you.  But your place in God's family was purchased in time.  St. Paul repeatedly emphasizes where you can find it so that you will not miss it: In Christ.  Ten times (!) in these verses, St. Paul uses the phrase “in Christ” (vv 3,10,12) or “in him” (vv 4,7,9,10,11,13 twice) to show you that God's grace is revealed through Jesus.  In Jesus, you have the one who takes up your sin and wickedness.  In Jesus, you have the one who has suffered the cursed death on behalf of sinners.  Therefore, in Jesus and in Jesus alone, do you find the full pardon for all your sins.  What's more, in Jesus, you find the only man who has ever obeyed God's commandments perfectly.  In Jesus, you find the only source of holiness there is.  And by being baptized into Jesus, you are cleansed of all your filth and covered in a robe of righteousness.  Therefore are found to be holy and blameless before [the Lord] (Ephesians 1:4), just as he demands you to be, and just as he chose you to be.  In Jesus, and in Jesus alone, you have the assurance that you are saved.
     You are God's elect, by grace.  The Father chose you from eternity.  Before the world was even created, God loved you and knew you.  He acted to make you his own.  So, in the fullness of time, the Father sent his Son into the world to save you.  The Son paid for your sins, conquered death, and opened heaven for you.  God's promises were fulfilled at Mt. Calvary about 2,000 years ago in history.  And to complete God's act of election, God also acted in your lifetime to bring you into his family.  St. Paul wrote, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14)  
     You are God's elect, by grace—chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and marked by the Holy Spirit.  This seal by the Holy Spirit is like a first installment of a purchase.  The purchaser makes it to secure a legal claim on the article in question, and it obligates the purchaser to complete it.  You have been brought into God's kingdom now, but the glory has not yet come.  But God has obligated himself to bring you into his glorious kingdom; for he has adopted you into his family and, therefore, made you heirs of his glory.
     You are God's elect, by grace.  And the Lord continues to remove from you the fear and doubt about your place in God's kingdom.  He does not tell you to consider how well you serve, how much you do, how good you are, or how strongly you believe.  To put the focus back onto sinful people is to cast everything back into doubt.  Therefore, our Lord gives us promises that depend on his faithfulness, not ours.  You are God's elect, by grace.   All of your hope is found in Christ.  Are you baptized into Christ?  Then you are cleansed of sin and sealed by the Spirit.  Do you believe his word?  Then you benefit from promises that have been guaranteed by Jesus' death and resurrection.  Do you crave more assurance?  Then flee to the altar where the body and blood of Christ are given for you for the forgiveness of sins and for the strengthening of faith.  In Christ, you have promises.  In him, you find comfort.  In him, you are confident.  It is those who forsake Christ, neglect his sacraments, or no longer hear him who lose all that he has given.
     You are God's elect, by grace.  All that you need for salvation, the Lord has provided.  This is the great comfort and confidence that he gives you so that you can know you are saved.  He has done all the work to save you so that you do not have to wonder, fear, or doubt if it has been done or if it has been done right.  All of this is for the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:12,14), that God loves and saves sinners.  Therefore, glorify him by receiving his good things and declaring his goodness; for you are God's elect, by grace.

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

Sermon -- 7th Sunday after Pentecost (July 8, 2018)

MARK 6:1-6

JESUS IS A PROPHET 

WITH A LIFE-GIVING WORD.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Twice, St. Mark mentions that people were amazed.  First, the hometown people of Nazareth were amazed by Jesus.  Many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things?  What is the wisdom given to him?  How are such mighty works done by his hands?” (Mark 6:2)  They were not astonished in a way that said, “Wow!  Look at his works of mercy.  And he is telling us what we need to hear!”  Rather, they were astonished in a way that said, “Who does this guy think he is?!”  They heard the word of the Lord preached by the Lord, but they did not believe in him.  They saw Jesus doing works which only the Lord can do, but they did not accept Jesus' claims to be the Lord.  And they took offense at him. (Mark 6:3) 
     The other person who was amazed in this lesson was Jesus.  He marveled because of their unbelief. (Mark 6:6)  These were not strangers in a strange land.  Jesus was preaching to God's covenant people in their synagogue.  He was teaching family, friends, and neighbors to whom the Scriptures had been read and preached regularly.  Even though they marveled at Jesus' wisdom and wonders, they would not confess him as Lord.  They would not even listen to him anymore.  Jesus is a prophet with a life-giving word, but they were not interested.  Jesus was too familiar to them to take him seriously.  And he marveled because of their unbelief. (Mark 6:6)
     The citizens of Nazareth are not unique.  They serve as a warning for us who have been Christians for a long time.  The saying is true: “Familiarity breeds contempt.”  We have heard the Sunday School lessons already, and we are bored with them.  We have filed away our Catechisms because we have been confirmed.  We are satisfied with a cursory knowledge of the Bible and see no value in taking time to meditate and truly ponder God's word.  Jesus is a prophet with a life-giving word, but we are too familiar with it to crave it.
     We know that Jesus and his word are important, but we are not always that excited to hear it.  Pastors and parishioners both get lured into thinking that we must do something amazing to make the word of God more attractive.  The desire may be noble—to have as many people gathered around the word as possible.  Usually, we invoke the young people to promote ways to make worship exciting, accepting the false notion that they always have to be entertained.  But it is an admission that we think we have to bring life to God's word and that, by itself, God's word is just not enough to keep our attention.  The goal becomes making worship exciting and entertaining.  And once worship becomes a show, you have to find new ways to keep people interested.  We would rather be excited than enlightened.  We would rather hear peals of laughter than calls to repent.  We want worship to be continually new and fresh, because familiarity breeds contempt.  We think that whatever is unchanging is uninteresting.  Repent; because our God is constant and his faithfulness is steadfast.
     Jesus' ministry in Nazareth was over quickly.  He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.  And he marveled because of their unbelief. (Mark 6:5-6)  It is not that Jesus was powerless; it is that his desire to heal and the bless was rejected; therefore, he withheld it.  If they held him in contempt, they would even hold his mercy in contempt.  This is a warning for us.  Jesus is a prophet with a life-giving word, but when we become too familiar with his words, we crave something more flashy.
     Now that it is vacation time, people are heading off to different parts of God's creation.  We all have our favorite places—beaches, lakes, mountains, rivers, and so on.  We marvel at the world God has made.  We find it inspiring and post photos of it.  Some even claim they get in touch with God by looking at scenery.  But when Jesus came as a prophet, he did not show people pictures of the Grand Canyon or the Alps.  He preached.  He is a prophet.  He proclaimed a life-giving word.  God's power may be seen in the creation, but his forgiveness and salvation are not.  These come through words.
     The bulk of our lives is conversation.  Our relationships are built on them.  Whether it is husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, men at the golf course, or women slurping coffee at Tim Hortons, our conversations keep our relationships alive.  If you read a transcript of those conversations, I am willing to bet that most of them would not be gripping dialogues.  “How about this weather?”  “Did you see the Tigers' game?”  "Pick up a gallon of milk on your way home”  Not exactly sonnets; and yet, the conversation is necessary.   Even the small talk matters.  It is cherished no matter what your relationship with someone is.  The deeper the relationship, the more intimate the conversation.  When people are speaking, they share themselves with each other and show their love.  When communication goes silent, then you know there is a problem.
     Jesus is a prophet.  That means he speaks to you.  The Lord communicates with you because he loves you.  He does not flatter or manipulate you.  He speaks true, life-giving words.  He speaks words of insight, correction, admonition, and encouragement.  The Lord consoles you, soothes you, and declares his faithful love to you.  He speaks words that show he knows you intimately.  He knows your sin—that you have treated his words with contempt while using your words to lie, to gossip, and to boast.  He knows our words have been motivated by anger, jealousy, and obscenity.  He calls you to repent of such wicked words.  They have consequences both among people and before God.  If Jesus' words seem hard to you, it is because he cares too much for you to silently watch you continue in sins which lead to hell.  But if his call to repent cuts deep, then his promise of mercy not only soothes, it gives life.  Jesus delivers you from the consequences of careless words.  He speaks an absolution which he has backed up with his sufferings and death on our behalf.  Jesus, who is the Word made flesh, did not treat us with contempt, but suffered the consequences of our words and actions in silence.  He died under Gods' divine curse for every one of our misspoken words.  But he lives to speak words of forgiveness and salvation. 
     Jesus is a prophet with a life-giving word.  And he gives us better words to speak.  He teaches us to confess his word which saves us.  He guides us to speak words of truth which serve to build up other people.  And we continue our conversation with our Lord by speaking words of praise to him in response to his words of peace for us.  It is a conversation that begins in this life and will continue into all eternity with the Church that worships in heaven.
     Jesus was astonished that his life-giving words were rejected in Nazareth.  Although Jesus came to give life to the dying, he does not drag anyone into his kingdom by force.  If a man persists in his stubborn unbelief, if he believes he is good enough without Jesus, or if he simply loves his sins too much, the Lord will not abduct him.  He will not lay waste to his home if he will not believe.  Therefore, Jesus did not threaten the people of Nazareth with leprosy or rain fire on their city. 
     Jesus is a prophet who calls as a loving God to a sinful people.  He uses words of promise, of mercy, of grace and peace, and by these alone does he bring people out of their rebellion and into his kingdom.  This word is preached to you every week and can be read by you every day.  This is where your Lord speaks to you.  He expresses his love and concern.  He bestows mercy and peace.  He assures you that he does not hold your foolish words against you, but forgives you and guides you to speak with more honesty, with more care, and with more interest in the well-being of other people.
     Jesus is a prophet with a life-giving word.  Familiarity with Jesus does not need to lead to contempt.  Rather, it leads to comfort for sinners and confidence for salvation.

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