Sermon -- 3rd Sunday after Pentecost (June 30, 2019)

LUKE 7:11-17

DEATH IS OVERTURNED BY A COMPASSIONATE SAVIOR.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The Psalms declare, “In your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.” (Psalm 139:16)  This means that God had your life planned long before you were born.  God had predetermined when you were to be born, where you were to be born, and to whom you would be born.  Even more than that, God also has predetermined how long your life will be on this earth.  All your days—from conception to death—were written in God’s book before any of them came to be.  God is far more active and interested in our lives than we often consider.
     Even though all the days which God has determined for you are written in his book, he has not revealed those dates to us.  You know that death will come; for it comes for everyone.  But you do not know when it will come.  It will not consult with you or ask permission.  It will not show mercy upon your loved ones.  Death takes, and it does not care whom it hurts.  Death doesn’t just steal people away, death also wounds the loved ones of those taken.
     In a small town called Nain, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. (Luke 7:12)  This widow was all to familiar with this journey.  She had likely made the journey for her parents and her in-laws; certainly for her husband.  Worst of all, she was now making this journey for her only son.  She was not only devastated, she was also going to be destitute.  All means of income or support for her had been carried out to the tombs.  Death had never asked this widow if it was coming at a convenient time.  Death takes, and it does not care whom it hurts or how it hurts them.
     The funeral procession which was departing from Nain was suddenly confronted at the city gate by a different procession.  The Lord of Life and the large crowd with him met the procession of death.  When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her. (Luke 7:13)  It is interesting that we don’t hear about Jesus having compassion on the deceased.  What moved our Lord to act was the fact that his gut ached for this woman.  The compassion that our Lord calls on us to have for widows and orphans was demonstrated at the city gate of Nain.  Death had taken a widow's son.  Death had deeply wounded her.  But death was about to be overturned by a compassionate Savior.
     When he acted, Jesus said something that seems cruel; then he did something that was shocking.  When the Lord saw (the widow), he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.’ (Luke 7:13)  “Do not weep”!?  That is all this woman had left!  Death had wounded her deeply.  It was like telling a paralytic to get up and stretch.  It was like telling a starving man about a five-course meal.  But Jesus was not offering a pep talk.  Jesus was going to dry her tears with a real solution.  Death would be overturned by a compassionate Savior.
     Then Jesus did what was shocking.  He came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. (Luke 7:14)  The Law had declared that anyone who came into contact with a dead body becomes unclean.  Nevertheless, Jesus came up to the dead man and touched the gurney on which he was being carried to his grave.  Jesus took upon himself the uncleanness of death, and then he restored the life of this young man.  He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”  And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. (Luke 7:14-15)  Death was overturned by a compassionate Savior.  Mercy was shown to a devastated widow.  A joyful reunion of saints took place.
     Whenever our Lord performed these miracles, he acted because he has compassion.  He saw sinners whose lives were afflicted with the evils of a sinful world, and he demonstrated his mercy to them.  The miracles such as these also gave concrete evidence of Jesus’ message: The kingdom of God is near.  Each miracle is a glimpse of the heavenly kingdom where all will be restored and perfected.  By raising the dead man, Jesus gave a glimpse of life where death is overturned and where all of the evils, sorrows, and pains that come from sin are eliminated.  Our Lord does not intend us to be reincarnated and to continue re-entering a broken world to live shattered lives over and over again.  Our Lord has come into this world of death and decay, pain and problems in order to deliver us from all of these things forevermore.
     Therefore, Jesus took on human flesh to touch our lives and connect himself to our world.  He knows our world of diseased children, grieving widows, funeral processions, and broken hearts.  Jesus himself had been in a procession to the tomb for his guardian, Joseph.  He did not just watch people hurting; he knows by experience what it is to hurt.  Therefore, he made contact with death and took into himself its uncleanness.  More than that, he absorbed from us all of the filth of our sin and wickedness which is what produces death in us.  The Bible declares: “For our sake (God) made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)  Jesus exchanged his holy innocence for our sinful guilt.  He gave us his perfect life in exchanged for our cursed death.
     “For our sake (God) made him to be sin who knew no sin….” (2 Corinthians 5:21)  Then God did to Jesus was sinners deserve—he put him under judgment, he found him guilty, he sentenced him to death, he put on him a divine curse, and he subjected him to hell.  And this, Jesus did “for our sake,” that is, for us—in our place and for our benefit.  Jesus did not merely witness death or sympathize with people who grieve over death, he gave himself into death for all mankind.  And this he did to put an end to death.  His death has atoned for all our sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  By faith in Jesus, we are.  Jesus' resurrection from the dead puts an end to death so that in him you too might rise from the grave to life everlasting.  By faith in Jesus, you will.  For, death is overturned only by our compassionate Savior.
     Therefore, it will not be just a young man from Nain who rises from the dead.  The grave must give up all its dead.  At Nain, Jesus gave the command, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”  And the dead man sat up. (Luke 7:14-15)  Likewise, Jesus will come from the clouds and will call forth all the dead.  The grave will have to give up all people—good and bad, righteous and wicked.  All will be raised for judgment.  Death has been overturned; the grave will keep no one.  It will be just as we confess: “On the Last Day, he will raise up me and all the dead and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.  This is most certainly true.” (Luther’s Small Catechism; Apostles’ Creed, 2nd Article)
     Death is overturned by a compassionate Savior.  The widow at Nain rejoiced to have her son back.  But as I had said, this was a glimpse of Jesus' everlasting reign.  The glories of the heavenly kingdom have not begun yet.  The widow eventually made one more funeral procession—her own.  Later, her son would be carried out again, this time with no interruption in his trip to the tomb.  Likewise, we all know that we have our own grave to face.  But even in these bitter times, we still have a compassionate Savior.  He has overturned death with his resurrection.  And by uniting us to himself in our baptism, he makes us partakers of the resurrection to life everlasting.  It will be just as we confess: “On the Last Day, he will ... give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.” (Luther’s Small Catechism; Apostles’ Creed, 2nd Article)
     The Psalms declare, “In your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.” (Psalm 139:16)  Though the Lord knows how many days you will live on this earth, he has hidden that information from you.  But he has revealed how many days you will have in his kingdom, and that will be without end.  You are in his kingdom now, for you believe in him, and by faith in him you have been delivered from the curse of sin.  You still suffer the pains and sorrows here, but soon enough you will be delivered even from those.  For death is overturned and life is given by our compassionate Savior.  He will bring us into the heavenly kingdom where there will never again be death or mourning or crying or pain—or weeping widows or dying children.  For God will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and God's people will live in joy forevermore.

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

Update from Good Shepherd (June 27, 2019)

Greetings!

SUMMER SCHEDULE
Divine Services are Thursdays at 7:00 PM and Sundays at 10:00 AM.
        Sunday School & Sunday's Adult Bible Class will be on hiatus throughout the summer.  They will resume on September 8.
        There will NOT be a service on Thursday, July 4.

FAMILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

The dates for our Family VBS are Monday-Wednesday (6:30 – 8:00 PM), July 29-31. 

Rather than limit the study of the Bible to our children (and guests), our VBS will include people of all ages.  There will be an adult study going on the same time as the children.

The topic of study and discussion for the adults will be The Canon of Scripture: Why These Books?  “Canon” refers to a stick or a standard (like a “cane”).  We confess the 66 canonical books to be the Holy Scriptures.  But why those books?  And why not others?  And what about the Apocrypha; why not them?  For three nights, we will consider how God gave us the Scriptures and why we regard only the 66 books in our Bible as the word of God.

We encourage you to invite friends to our VBS sessions—both children and adults.  Look for a registration form on our web page to indicate your participation.

IN OUR PRAYERS

>  Thanksgiving for Ron Schmidt's, father of Laura Schroeder, successful surgery and for continued recovery 

ANNIVERSARY SERVICE

Lola Park Evangelical Lutheran Church of Redford will be having a special service of thanksgiving for Rev. Gregory Gibbons who has served in the office of the ministry for 40 years.  Pastor Gibbons has also been serving at Lola Park for 25 years.  A special service will be held Sunday, July 14 at 4:00 PM with a dinner to follow.  To RSVP for the dinner, contact Lola Park at (313) 532-8655 or via email at lolaparklutheran@gmail.com.  

COLLEGE STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS

The WELS is hosting a gathering for college-aged students and young adults on Saturday, August 10 in Columbus, Ohio.  As of this writing, only the dates is known.  More details will be published when they are made known.

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

DO YOU LIKE US?

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

God bless you.

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder
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DIVINE SERVICES -- Summer Schedule
     Thursdays at 7:00 PM

     Sundays at 10:00 AM

SUNDAY SCHOOL & ADULT BIBLE CLASS will resume September 8.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE

www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

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

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

Sermon -- Chapel at MLS (June 26, 2019)

This was preached at Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw for the Pastors' Summer Quarter on Wednesday, June 26.

LUKE 7:18-23

EXPECT WHAT IS PROMISED.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Immediately after Jesus raised up from the dead the young man from Nain, St. Luke recorded how John the Baptist was languishing in Herod's prison.  John's disciples reported to him the miracles that Jesus was doing, and how his popularity was surging.  Jesus was receiving praise for the works of God which he performed, and John the Baptist was suffering for the word of God which he proclaimed.  You can understand why John had questions for Jesus.  More to the point, John had questions about Jesus.  John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Luke 7:19)

     You and I have not had to face jail time for preaching.  If that should change, so be it.  But we do face some level of wrath and ridicule for preaching the word of the Lord.  Even faithful members will get angry with us when our preaching calls them or their children to repent of their sins.  To make matters worse, we see other churches who pervert the gospel.  They proclaim some form of the message “Love wins,” preaching a Jesus who is cuddly, but not crucified.  These churches are bursting at the seams. We even lose members to them.  It is easy to wonder, “Lord, I am trying to be faithful.  Is this the reward for it?”

     Repent.  A servant is not above his master.  Although the people praised Jesus for giving sight to the blind, giving strength to lame legs, and even raising the dead, they turned on Jesus when he told them that the kingdom of God is more than healing what ails you at the moment.  The works they liked because they benefited from them.  The words they hated because it exposed their wickedness and need for a Savior.  If this is how they treated Jesus and John for their preaching, should you expect any different?  Expect what is promised so that you will not be deceived or despair.

     The people we serve have their share of doubts, too.  They expect that life will be easier and happier.  They are dismayed when it is full of hardship, sorrow, and pain.  They expected that life in the Church would not see problems or pettiness.  Then they see their fellow Christians commit sins, and they are sinned against by their fellow Christians.  They expected that the Christian faith would give them all the answers.  Then their faith gets challenged by arguments based on science, politics, and emotions.  They find themselves stumped.  They fear that they’ve been duped.  They may be reluctant to say it out loud, but they wonder, “Is this all the Christian faith is, or should I expect something better?”

     You are not unique with your doubts and fears.  We confess that God is our merciful Father in heaven.  We teach our children to sing, “Jesus loves me.”  But it does not often feel like it.  We want answers.  So did John the Baptist.  And John rightly sent his disciples to Jesus for answers.

     And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord...  And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” (Luke 7:19-20)  You might have expected Jesus to answer differently.  Jesus could have uttered a direct, “Yes.  Tell John: I am the one.”  But that would have not settled John's doubts and fears.  After all, wouldn’t a conman have answered that question the same way?  Instead, Jesus urged John to expect what was promised.  

     (Jesus) answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.  And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Luke 7:21-23)  The Lord urged John the Baptist to expect what had been promised.  Isaiah had foretold that the Messiah would do exactly what Jesus was doing.  God had made a promise, and Jesus was fulfilling God's word to the letter.  Therefore, Jesus is the Christ and the Savior.  John should not trust what he was feeling or enduring.  Herod's sentence on him was not the word which mattered.  Even if John would be faithful to the point of death, he did not need to doubt.  He had not been duped.  God had told him what to expect.  Jesus urged him to expect what was promised.  Blessed is he who believes what is promised rather than be offended by what he experiences.  Blessed is the one who is not offended by the way the Lord reigns over his Church.

     And so it is with you.  Expect what is promised.  Cling to his word.  Trust with your ears rather than with your eyes or your emotions.  The Lord Jesus never promised you that life would be easy, but he did promise that he would be with you.  Jesus never promised that people would love you and be faithful to you, but he did promise that he would be.  And though you are not told that you will be happy, you are told that you are blessed.  No matter what anyone thinks of you, God's favor rests upon you; for, Jesus has paid the price for your sins.  No matter who despises you, God's love is yours; for it has been declared through holy, innocent blood of Jesus.  His blood covers you, cleanses you, and nourishes you through this harsh life until heavenly glory.  No matter what you feel about yourself, God's verdict upon you is “innocent,” beloved, redeemed.  That verdict was proclaimed by Jesus' resurrection from the dead.  Jesus lives and reigns to enforce it.  It is applied to you in baptism and at the Lord’s Supper.  It is repeated to you in every absolution and benediction.  

     Doubts, fears, and frustrations will come, even to the likes of John the Baptist.  But God's words are the only words that matter.  Flee to God's promises of mercy, forgiveness, salvation, and faithfulness.  Then, expect what is promised and hold God to his word.  For, the word of God stands firm.  The one whom God promised has come and has delivered you from sin.  He promises that he will come again to deliver you to glory.  Blessed is the one who believes and expects what he has promised.

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

Something from ... Francis Pieper on the clarity of Scripture

It was not too long ago that our pastors' conferences (and it likely drifted down to the congregations they served) were consumed with Bible translations.  There have been a number of new translations and revisions over the past few decades.  The result is that there are many versions to choose from.  All have their strengths and weaknesses.  Some are better than others, and even "better" is often considered a matter of preference.

As pastors discussed and debated the best translation to use for our worship and Bible classes, lay people were often left with the impression that they are in the dark about which translation is reliable and trustworthy.  Some even concluded, "There is no way we can really know what God's word is unless we study Greek and Hebrew."  

While knowing the biblical languages is beneficial (and for pastors, necessary), God's word is not impossible to know when it is translated, read, or preached in a different language.  If it were, how did Pentecost have such success when the apostles preached in the languages of the pilgrims who had come to Jerusalem for the feast?

Franz August Otto Pieper
(June 27, 1852 – June 3, 1931)

In his Christian Dogmatics (a four volume set on Christian doctrine), Francis Pieper noted that the Bible is not a hidden book only to be grasped and revealed by the learned.  It is clear and its meaning is clear to all who read it.  Granted, some passages are obscure, but the teachings of God's word are simple enough for even a kindergartner to understand.  (Note: "exegesis" is an explanation or critical interpretation of a text in which the translator analyzes the various words and forms of speech to "lead out of" the text its proper meaning.)

From Pieper: "All exegesis, whether it be in general the unfolding of the sense of Scripture or in particular the explanation of (or rather the attempt to explain) the more difficult passages of Scripture, is based on the fact that the entire Christian doctrine is revealed and set forth in Scripture passages so clear that the learned and unlearned alike can understand them; they do not stand in need of 'exegesis' for explanation.  If Scripture did not have this quality, it would not be for all Christians 'a lamp unto their feet and a light unto their path,' nor would all Christians be able to establish the truth of their faith by Scripture and in the light of Scripture to mark and avoid false teachers." (pp 359-360, Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, Volume 1.  Concordia Publishing House: St. Louis, MO.  (c) 1950.)

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday after Pentecost (June 23, 2019)

1 KINGS 8:22-23,41-43

THE LORD'S COVENANT IS 

EXTENDED TO ALL PEOPLE.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Under King Solomon, the nation of Israel built a temple for the worship of the Lord.  It was one of the most ornate and expensive buildings ever constructed, with panels of cedar, the interior overlaid with gold, and intricate designs cast into it.  Solomon offered the prayer of dedication.  The temple was dedicated to the Lord.  It was the place where the Lord put his name and would dwell among his people.  It was a place where only the priests of Israel could enter.  It was a place where only the people of Israel could offer their sacrifices.  It was Israel's temple for Israel's God.
     The Lord had chosen the nation of Israel to be his own.  This was not an act of favoritism—as if the Lord was disinterested in the rest of the world.  Israel was God's chosen people.  And chosen for what?  God chose them to be the people through whom the Savior would come into the world.  Therefore, the Lord had made a covenant with Israel to set them apart.  It was designed to preserve them as a nation of God-fearing people through whom the Savior would be born.  It is an undeniable truth, and even Jesus says it: “Salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22); but that has never meant that salvation is exclusively for the Jews.
     When Solomon offered his prayer of dedication for the Lord's temple, he recognized that the Lord would gather in people from outside the nation of Israel.  Solomon's prayer was not that God would treat them with less interest or mercy.  Solomon recognized God's will is that God our Savior desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3,4)  Therefore, Solomon prayed, “When a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for your name's sake (for they shall hear of your great name and your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house, hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you...” (1 Kings 8:41-43)  The Lord's covenant is extended to all people.
     I don't know how shocking this petition was to the Israelites who heard Solomon's prayer.  It was easy for Israel to think that this temple was exclusively theirs, and that even God's mercy and salvation were exclusively theirs.  They had a hard time believing God was serious about this: The Lord's covenant is extended to all people.
     It is also very easy for us to think that the kingdom of God is exclusively ours.  It is especially true if you have grown up in the Christian church and have known nothing else.  You might feel that you are in God's kingdom because you have proven yourself.  You have put in the time, the money, the effort, and the prayers.  Therefore, you conclude, God made a good choice when he chose you—as if you were an investment that God made which paid off.  But this is wholly untrue.
     Your place in this world and particularly in God's kingdom is purely an act of God's grace.  Where you born in a Christian home?  Thank God for it!  For, God did not owe you life, much less a life in a Christian home where your parents brought you to church and taught you the promises of God.  You cannot say you proved yourself because these things happened to you.  Rather, these prove God's goodness to you.  While you have benefited from God's grace, God's good and gracious will remains constant: God our Savior desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3,4)  You are among those who are saved and have the knowledge of the truth.  But understand this, too: The Lord desires this to be extended to all people.
     King Solomon recognized that in his prayer.  He understood that people would “hear of your great name and your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm.” (1 Kings 8:42)  Whenever the Scriptures speak about the Lord's mighty hand and outstretched arm, the image is not merely that God is powerful.  The image is that we have a God who saves.  God's mighty hand and outstretched arm in the Old Testament were most visible when God delivered his people out of Egypt.  God's people were oppressed and enslaved by the most powerful nation on earth.  But God rescued the Israelites from their enemies.  While Israel feasted with their Passover meal, the Egyptians were mourning the death of their firstborn.  While the Egyptians were burying their dead, the nation of Israel—men, women, children, flocks, and herds—walked out of Egypt unhindered.  When the Egyptian army chased down the Israelites and pinned them down at the shore of the Red Sea, the Lord drove back the waters.  The Israelites walked on dry ground to the opposite shore.  When the Egyptian army pursued them, the Lord returned the waters of the Red Sea and wiped the army out.  Israel had won a great victory in which they had done nothing.  The Lord won the victory with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and God's people benefited from God's work.
     God's arm has been revealed even more powerfully in conquering your enemies for you.  Jesus has come—the Savior of the Nations; for, God so loves the world.  And Jesus has taken on your enemies.  Jesus battled sin, death, and the devil for you.  Jesus carried your sins to the cross and with an outstretched arm has paid for them all.  Jesus went into death for you, but has risen from the grave with a mighty hand.  Jesus has overcome and released you from all your enemies.  Sin no longer condemns you; you are forgiven.  Death cannot keep you; Jesus has destroyed the power of death.  The devil cannot claim you; for God has put his name on you.  The devil cannot even accuse you; for Jesus has made you blameless in the sight of the heavenly Father.  You are now the chosen people of God.  Chosen for what?  You are chosen to be set apart from a cursed and corrupt world, set apart to honor God with godly lives, and set apart to receive God's salvation.  God has made known to us  “(his) great name and (his) mighty hand, and (his) outstretched arm.” (1 Kings 8:42)  He did not limit his salvation to a few; he won salvation for all.  The Lord's covenant is extended to all people.
     This salvation is found nowhere else.  That is why Solomon acknowledged: “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart.” (1 Kings 8:22-23)  There is no other forgiveness, no other way to eternal life, and no other Savior; for, there is no other God.  He has shown you his mercy so that you delight in his word.  He comforts you by his promises, and he conforms you so that you are eager to live according to his will.
     The Lord's covenant is extended to all people.  We are among the foreigners whom Solomon prayed for.  And there are many more who need this salvation.  God desires them to have it, and so do we.  Like Solomon, we do well to pray that this house which bears our God's name would be a beacon to which many more will come to pray to God and to receive good things from him.  They will only receive it, however, if God's name, God's mighty hand, and God's outstretched arm are made known to those around us. 
     The Lord's covenant is to be extended to all people.  This house bears God's name because God comes to us here through the good news which reveals his mercy, through the sacraments which bestow his blessings, and through the praises of his people who rejoice in his salvation.  You bear God's name because you are his chosen people.  And you and I get to declare the goodness of God whose mighty hand and outstretched arm have worked a great salvation for all.  Through our proclamation and praises, the Holy Spirit extends his kingdom to others. 
     The Lord's covenant has been extended to include us.  Let us commit ourselves to the labor of extending it to others.  For, God so loves the world.  Jesus is the Savior of the Nations.  Our Lord desires his salvation to be delivered to all people.  As this was the prayer of Solomon, as this was the mission of the temple, as this is the will of God, let it be our prayer, our mission, and our will, too. 

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

Family VBS -- July 29-31 (6:30 - 8:00 PM)

Good Shepherd's Family VBS is coming.
July 29-31 (Monday - Wednesday), 6:30 – 8:00 PM.

CHILDREN

          The children will be going through a course with the theme: Set Sail!  There will be Bible lessons, songs, and crafts. 

          To register, go to http://goodshepherdnovi.org/vacation_bible_school_registration





ADULTS
          While the children are having their VBS in the fellowship hall, the adults will meet in the chapel for a different topic.  The Canon of Scripture: Why These Books? 

          It is a study on how we received the Bible and on what is included in the canon.  “Canon” refers to a stick or a standard (like a “cane”).  We confess 66 canonical books to be the Holy Scriptures.  But why those books?  Why not others?  And what about the Apocrypha—why not them?  We will consider how God gave us the Scriptures and why we regard only the 66 books in our Bible as the word of God.

          We understand that not everyone will be able to attend all three evenings due to other scheduling conflicts.  Nevertheless, we encourage you to join us when you can.

          After each evening's session, we will offer desserts and have yards games for people to play so that we can have some family fun time too.  The cost is FREE.  All are welcome.

Update from Good Shepherd (June 20, 2019)

Greetings!

SUMMER SCHEDULE
Divine Services are Thursdays at 7:00 PM and Sundays at 10:00 AM.
        Sunday School & Sunday's Adult Bible Class will be on hiatus throughout the summer.  They will resume on September 8.

FAMILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

The dates for our Family VBS are Monday-Wednesday (6:30 – 8:00 PM), July 29-31. 

Rather than limit the study of the Bible to our children (and guests), our VBS will include people of all ages.  There will be an adult study going on the same time as the children.

The topic of study and discussion for the adults will be The Canon of Scripture: Why These Books?  “Canon” refers to a stick or a standard (like a “cane”).  We confess the 66 canonical books to be the Holy Scriptures.  But why those books?  And why not others?  And what about the Apocrypha; why not them?  For three nights, we will consider how God gave us the Scriptures and why we regard only the 66 books in our Bible as the word of God.

We encourage you to invite friends to our VBS sessions—both children and adults.  Look for a registration form on our web page to indicate your participation.

IN OUR PRAYERS

>  For Ron Schmidt's, father of Laura Schroeder, surgery today (6/20)

 >  For Rusty Graves, recovering at home after a hospital stay last week

ANNIVERSARY SERVICE

Lola Park Evangelical Lutheran Church of Redford will be having a special service of thanksgiving for Rev. Gregory Gibbons who has served in the office of the ministry for 40 years.  Pastor Gibbons has also been serving at Lola Park for 25 years.  A special service will be held Sunday, July 14 at 4:00 PM with a dinner to follow.  To RSVP for the dinner, contact Lola Park at (313) 532-8655 or via email at lolaparklutheran@gmail.com.  

COLLEGE STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS

The WELS is hosting a gathering for college-aged students and young adults on Saturday, August 10 in Columbus, Ohio.  As of this writing, only the dates is known.  More details will be published when they are made known.

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

DO YOU LIKE US?

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

God bless you.

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder
==============================
DIVINE SERVICES -- Summer Schedule
     Thursdays at 7:00 PM

     Sundays at 10:00 AM

SUNDAY SCHOOL & ADULT BIBLE CLASS will resume September 8.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE

www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

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

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

In Recognition of Fathers' Day

Here are two verses that come to mind for Fathers' Day.

See the kind of love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are! (1 John 3:1, Evangelical Heritage Version)

I have no greater joy than when I hear that my children are walking in the truth. (3 John 4, Evangelical Heritage Version)

A blessed Fathers' Day to all our fathers out there.

Sermon -- Holy Trinity (June 16, 2019)

JOHN 16:12-15

THE TRIUNE GOD IS UNITED FOR YOUR SALVATION.

In the name + of Jesus.

     For as much noise as atheists make, there really are not many of them.  Most people believe in some sort of god.  Most people are religious.  God designed man to have a relationship with him—that God would love and bless man, and that man would love and serve God.  Even though man has rebelled against God with his sins, he still longs to know God and to be loved and accepted by God.  That's why even in places where they've never seen a Bible, people still bow to some kind of god.
     So, how is it that all people know something about God?  And why are there so many similarities among such different religions when each speaks of the characteristics of God?  St. Paul gives an answer: “(God) did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” (Acts 14:17)  By his creation, God has revealed himself as kind, powerful, eternal, and imaginative—giving us a world of abundance, beauty, and variety.
     God also make himself known by your conscience.  God has set a standard of right and wrong, and everyone has at least some notion of that.  When you do wrong, you feel guilty.  If you feel guilty, you realize you are accountable for what you have done wrong.  If you are accountable, you must be accountable to the one whose standard you have violated.
     Because all religions say similar things about God, people think that any version of God is valid.  This is not true.  After we make observations from creation and conscience, we still are left guessing at who God is and what he wants.  When people try to probe the mind of God, they end up turning to their own thoughts and feelings for answers.  They tell God what he must be like instead of letting God speak for himself.  The result is confusion, doubt, and fear.  People are still plagued by questions such as: “How do I address my guilt?  What shall I do about death?  How do I get right with God?  How do I gain his good pleasure?”  When people take guesses at these, we end up with different religions and different views of God.
     God's perfect revelation of himself is in Jesus of Nazareth.  He is not merely a prophet who preaches God's word.  He is not merely a teacher who talks about God.  Jesus is God in the flesh.  While there are many proofs of this, the greatest proof is that Jesus announced he would be crucified and three days later rise from the dead.  And then he did as he said.  It had all been foretold by God centuries before Jesus came, and then Jesus did what had been foretold.  Therefore, if you want to know God, pay attention to Jesus.  If you want to hear God's word, listen to Jesus.  If you long to know that you are loved and accepted by God, cling to Jesus.
     What does Jesus tell us?  Jesus tells you that you have a triune God who desires your salvation.  He declared that God the Father so loved the world he had created that he desired to redeem it.  The Father sent his Son, Jesus, to rescue sinners from their guilt and from the grave.  And Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to reveal in sacred writings the words and promises of God so that sinners can have both the comfort and the confidence that they are, indeed, loved and accepted and saved by God.  The triune God is united for your salvation.
     Jesus preached God's good news, but Jesus never wrote anything down.  Jesus spent three years teaching his apostles, but he never told them to take dictation.  Jesus' apostles recorded what Jesus did and taught after Jesus ascended into heaven.  To assure us that the apostles did truly give us the very words of God, Jesus promised, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.  He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.  All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:13-15)  
     The triune God is united for our salvation.  All that belongs to the Father also belongs to Jesus.  Jesus has revealed these things to us in his word.  The Holy Spirit worked through the apostles to give us the very words of God.  Therefore, we study the Scriptures to be sure of who God is or what he wants.
     Many people say that they believe in a god, but they have no idea how to address the burden of their guilt or to take away the fear of death.  Based on their natural knowledge of God, they know that God must be appeased somehow.  Different religions give different answers.  But they all share this in common: Man must do something to earn God's favor.  But who knows how much is enough?  And who knows if you did the right works?  And who knows if God is finally appeased with your sacrifices and pleased with you?  The triune God does not leave you guessing.  The triune God is united for your salvation.
     Jesus reveals to us that we have a good and merciful Father who desires our salvation.  This is what Jesus meant when he told the apostles, “[The Spirit of truth] will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:14)  The glory of Jesus is that he takes away your guilt.  He is God who has become man in order to take away the sins of all mankind.  God is not only united in his desire to save us, God even united himself to us in order to save us.  By becoming man, Jesus took the place of all mankind before his Father.  He took up our sins.  He absorbed the punishment we deserve.  He received the due penalty and the damning sentence for you.  Thanks to Jesus, your sins have been removed.  God has no reason to be angry with you.  Thanks to Jesus, God's favor does rest upon you.  You are children of the heavenly Father.  And the man who took your place at the cross has also conquered the grave for you.  Man has defeated death, and assures you that you, too, will be raised from the grave to live with God forever.  The Holy Spirit was given to the apostles to guide them in all the truth so that you can be sure of it.  The triune God is united in this effort to save you.
     Jesus said, “When the Spirit of truth comes, ... he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak.  ... He will take what is mine and declare it to you.  All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:13-15)  The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit speak with one voice.  For this is one God, and he is united for your salvation.  And since he is the Savior, he does all the work.  He not only did all the work to provide your forgiveness, to overcome death, and to open the gates of heaven, he also has done to work to deliver these benefits to you.  All other religions instruct you about how you must get to God, reach up to him, do work to communicate with him, and take from him or at least strike a bargain with him—your obedience for his favor.  But our Lord has acted to bring us into his family.
     When you were baptized, the triune God put his name on you.  For, you were baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  He has claimed you as his own.  It is just like when you were young and put your name on your school work, a baseball glove, or a toy.  You marked it as yours.  And if anyone tried to say it was theirs, your name made any other claims null and void.  And so it is with you.  Your baptism marks you as God's own.  By it, he silences any claims from the devil that you are too great a sinner and should perish for your sins.  God renders all such claims null and void.  The Father loves you.  The Son has redeemed you.  The Holy Spirit dwells in you.  That is because the triune God is united in his saving work for you.  He does not simply want you to live, he wants you to live with him.  He wants to be with you.  For the Triune God loves you.  He accepts you.  He calls you his own.  And he gives you what is his so that you will be his forevermore.

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

Lutheran Satire -- St. Patrick's Bad Analogies & Athanasian Creed

In honor of Trinity Sunday and the Athanasian Creed.
This never gets old.
From Lutheran Satire.

Michigan District Convention -- Bowling Green University

This past week, June 10-12, the pastors of the Michigan District met at Bowling Green University for our district convention.  The theme of the convention was on Holy Baptism, which always makes for a comforting and Christ-centered theme.  There was no controversy brewing, so it was a pretty uneventful convention.  But a boring convention usually means good things for the district and synod.  Here are a couple of photos from Bowling Green, Ohio.

Worship Notes: The Athanasian Creed

This Sunday (June 16) is Trinity Sunday.  On this one Sunday of the church year, we recite one of the ecumenical creeds which often gets overlooked.  Many Christians are not even aware of it.  Join us to make this bold confession regarding the triune nature of God and the dual nature of Jesus. 

An explanation of the Athanasian Creed is here:

THE ATHANASIAN CREED

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Update from Good Shepherd (June 13, 2019)

Greetings!

SUMMER SCHEDULE
Divine Services are Thursdays at 7:00 PM and Sundays at 10:00 AM.
        Sunday School & Sunday's Adult Bible Class will be on hiatus throughout the summer.  They will resume on September 8.

VBS PREPARATION MEETING

In order to get ready for the children's portion of our VBS later this July, we will need to make sure that we have people in place for teachers, assistants, providers of snacks, promotion, and others to support our efforts.  We will meet after church THIS SUNDAY (June 16).  Even if you do not attend the meeting, please help promote both parts of our Family VBS for both adults and children.

FAMILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

The dates for our Family VBS are Monday-Wednesday (6:30 – 8:00 PM), July 29-31. 

Rather than limit the study of the Bible to our children (and guests), our VBS will include people of all ages.  There will be an adult study going on the same time as the children.

The topic of study and discussion for the adults will be The Canon of Scripture: Why These Books?  “Canon” refers to a stick or a standard (like a “cane”).  We confess the 66 canonical books to be the Holy Scriptures.  But why those books?  And why not others?  And what about the Apocrypha; why not them?  For three nights, we will consider how God gave us the Scriptures and why we regard only the 66 books in our Bible as the word of God.

We encourage you to invite friends to our VBS sessions—both children and adults.  Look for a registration form on our web page to indicate your participation.

IN OUR PRAYERS

>  Fathers' Day (6/16)

>  Thanks for Peter Schroeder's successful surgery (6/12)

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

DO YOU LIKE US?

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

God bless you.

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder
==============================
DIVINE SERVICES -- Summer Schedule
     Thursdays at 7:00 PM

     Sundays at 10:00 AM

SUNDAY SCHOOL & ADULT BIBLE CLASS will resume September 8.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE

www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

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

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

The history of Novi -- Twelve Oaks Mall & How Novi got its name

Here is something cool about the history of the city of Novi.  Novi celebrates 50 years as a city, but the history goes back much further.

There are a number of videos which tell the history of Novi, and I will link to two vignettes.  The first is about the history of the Twelve Oaks Mall, and how it transformed the city of Novi to the community it is today.

The second is probably the most legendary about the city: How did Novi get its name?  This interesting video ends up not giving the answer, but all the most popular theories are given.

Sermon -- Pentecost (June 9, 2019)

ACTS 1:1-21

THE HOLY SPIRIT

GATHERS IN THE CHURCH.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The Festival of Pentecost was one of the major festivals of the Old Testament.  Three times a year, the Lord commanded all Israel to gather in Jerusalem for a festival.  Pentecost, one of those three festivals, was also known as the Feast of Ingathering.  It was a harvest festival, marking the end of the wheat harvest.  So, fifty days after Jesus' resurrection, there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. (Acts 2:5)  The Lord was gathering in his own harvest—people from all nations to be gathered into the Christian Church.
     A remarkable change was taking place at this Pentecost.  As St. Luke had noted, the crowds in Jerusalem were mainly Jews.  They were one people with one heritage and one language.  God's covenant had been delivered through Moses in Hebrew.  The songs of the temple were sung in Hebrew.  The benediction of the priests was put upon God's people in Hebrew.  God's prophets preached in Hebrew to defend the covenant and to correct the erring people.  But now, the New Testament was proclaimed in the different languages and dialects which were heard in the streets of countries around the world.
     St. Luke described the scene: When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.  And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.  And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)  
     Only once before had people been given the ability to speak in unlearned languages, but that was a curse.  In our Old Testament lesson, we heard how the people at Babel defied God's word to fill the earth and subdue it.  In order to drive the people apart, the Lord confused their languages.  This caused the people to look at their neighbors with fear and suspicion.  Those with a common language dispersed to their own communities and filled the earth as God had commanded.  But at Pentecost, the Lord blessed the apostles with the ability to speak in the languages of the earth in order to gather the nations into his kingdom.
     The Holy Spirit gathers in the Church.  The Holy Spirit unites us all into one holy church.  We usually find unity with people when we find a common interest or have a common background.  People bond over their favorite sports team or TV show.  Parents bond with others parents because, “My kid goes to school with your kid,” or “My kid is on the same team as your kid.”  If you went to Disney World and saw another person wearing a Detroit Tigers cap, you would be far more likely to greet that person than someone wearing a San Diego Padres cap.  On the other hand, people who look different, act strange, or speak a foreign language are often looked at with suspicion or even derision.  This leads to ignoring others, fearing them, thinking the worst of them, or even attacking them.  The Lord has declared, “Love your neighbor;” but we are all guilty of putting conditions on that—withholding love from those who speak another language, wear a different wardrobe, or even cheer for the rival team.  The default position of our sinful nature is: “If you are like me, then I like you.  If you are not like me, then I don't like you.”  Repent.
     No matter what a person's skin color is, we all have a sinful flesh.  No matter what country someone has come from, we are all children of Adam and, therefore, destined for the grave.  No matter what language we speak, we all must confess our sins.  There is no difference.  All are sinners.  All need a Savior.  And from all of these people, God the Holy Spirit desires to gather people into his Church.
     When the day of Pentecost arrived, … there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind...  At this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. (Acts 2:2,6)  When the crowds had gathered, Peter preached to them.  He did not tell them that being Jewish made them better or worse.  He did not suggest that being religious made them better or worse.  What he did proclaim is that they were accountable for their sins, no matter who they were.  Our reading does not include Peter's entire Pentecost sermon, but Peter declared to these God-fearing Jews: “Hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.  God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.  …Therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:22-24,36)  
     As great a miracle as the apostles' speaking in tongues was, even greater is the miracle that the people believed Peter's words.  They did not offer excuses.  They did not rely on the fact that they were godly, moral, or decent.  They did not insist that the death of Jesus was not their fault.  Rather, they recognized their sins and their accountability, and they feared the wrath of God.  They were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”  And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Acts 2:37-39)  And on that day, the Holy Spirit gathered into his Church 3,000 people who believed and were baptized.
     The Holy Spirit still gathers in the Church.  Though the miraculous signs do not continue today and you should not expect to suddenly speak Arabic or some other language, the work of the Holy Spirit does continue.  The Holy Spirit gathers in his Church.  There is no difference in how he works, and there is no difference with people today.  We are not better because we are religious, moral, or American.  No one is worse because of skin color, language, or culture.  We are all accountable to God because of our sins.  All people hold this in common—we need a Savior from sin.  Just the Holy Spirit gathered people in the Church through Peter's preaching, so he does today.
     The crowds themselves testified to what they had heard: “We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” (Acts 2:11)  The mighty works of God are the sufferings, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  Although we have defied our God, our God devoted himself to saving us.  We have withheld love from our neighbor who is different.  God is clearly different than we are, but he loves us and made himself one with us by becoming a man.  Although we have assumed the worst about our fellow man, God's heart was set on seeking our eternal good.  We have spoken evil of others whose speech we don't even understand.  But God speaks to us in mercy, declaring us forgiven for the sake of Jesus who laid down his life to pay for our sins.  And Jesus rose from the grave to assure us that we will not be cursed, banished, and scattered like the people at Babel.  Rather, the Holy Spirit gathers in the Church which unites in God's praises with diverse languages and varied cultures.
     The world is united in this: All are sinners.  But the Church is united in this: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2:21)  The Holy Spirit gathers in the Church and unites it in the forgiveness of sins won by Jesus and administered in your baptism.  No matter what culture you come from, it has been sanctified in Christ.  No matter what skin color you have, it has been cleansed in Christ.  No matter what a traditional wardrobe is for you, you are clothed with Christ.  In heaven, St. John saw the saints from every people, tribe, nation, and language there.  They were not forced to learn one dialect.  Instead, each proclaims in his own native language the mighty works of God and confesses Christ.  For the Holy Spirit has converted our tongues to praise our God.
     The Holy Spirit gathers in the Church.  And you, who have been gathered in by him, now get to go forth and declare the praises of God.  God changed sinful hearts and brought life to the dead at Pentecost, and he continues to work the miracle of conversion today.  You get to prophesy, which is today, you get to proclaim the good news of Jesus.  There are plenty of different languages, cultures, and people among us in our city, but there is only one Savior.  We have his word.  It is meant for all.  And you will demonstrate no greater love for your neighbors than to declare the mercies of our redeeming God.

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