Maybury State Park in winter

 Here is why I like white winters.

Sermon -- 4th Sunday after Epiphany (January 29, 2023)

MATTHEW 5:1-12

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

In the name + of Jesus.

     St. Mark described the beginning of Jesus’ ministry this way: “Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14-15).  St. Luke described the days before Jesus’ ascension this way: “He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3).  If the first thing and the last thing Jesus spoke about was the kingdom of God, then we can be sure that this is what his entire ministry was about.  It is not only about Jesus’ death and resurrection, it is just as much about our place in the kingdom of God—what that means both for life on earth and life in glory.

     The longest sermon of Jesus recorded in the Bible is the Sermon on the Mount.  Guess what that was about.  The kingdom of God!  More specifically, it is about what it means to be a disciple in the kingdom of God.  The first verses of this long sermon (Matthew 5-7) have been called the “Be Attitudes.”  This is a cute play on the phrase “Beatitudes,” which is from a Latin word, beati (pronounced bay-AH-tee).  Each “blessed” is “beati.”  But Jesus is not instructing you about what attitude you need to have to get right with God.  Nor is he telling you what will make you happy.  Some have translated the word “blessed” as “happy.”  But “happy” makes little sense.  Consider, “Happy are those who mourn.  Happy are those who are persecuted.”  I may be willing to suffer persecution, but I can’t say I would be happy about it.

     The term which begins each sentence, “blessed,” is a status.  Jesus is declaring that God’s favor rests upon you.  Remember the audience of Jesus’ sermon: “His disciples came to him.  And he opened his mouth and taught them” (Matthew 5:1-2).  You are Jesus’ disciples.  In his sermon, Jesus explained what it means to be a disciple in the kingdom of God.  Blessed are those who are in the kingdom of God.

     The first beatitude sets the tone.  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).  If you are poor in spirit, then you come before God as people who have nothing and are nothing.  We confess our sins without excuses, without defenses, and without explaining our sins away.  That might work with our friends.  If you say to your friends, “Yes, I was rude to her, but she deserved it.  Sure, I fantasize about people I’m not married to, but what harm is there in that?  No, I don’t give time to Bible meditation and prayer; I’m busy.  I’ve got important things to do”, your friends might buy your excuses.  God does not.

     We do not bring anything to God that he needs.  We cannot present our lives as something God should reward.  We are bankrupt.  We are nothing.  That is what it means to be poor in spirit.  If we are to have anything, God must enrich us.  And he does!  Jesus has taken all the sins by which we are indebted to the Lord, and he makes the full payment for all of them.  Jesus suffered what sinners deserve by his cursed death at the cross.  And he enriches us with the righteousness we need to stand before God.  The Bible reminds us, “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).  So, when God the Father sees you, he sees the innocence of Jesus.  That is why his favor rests upon you.  That is why Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).  The kingdom of God is yours.  Right now.  You have forgiveness of all your sins now.  You are the saints of God now.  You have God’s favor upon you now.  Blessed are those who are in the kingdom of God.

     Most of the following beatitudes speak about the final goal of Jesus’ disciples.  Let’s consider the next one.  “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).  We mourn because we are still sinners.  We are haunted by the sins of our past.  If you have lived long enough, the devil will remind you and accuse you of sins you committed decades ago.  Never mind that they are in the distant past.  You still feel the pain, the shame, the regret.  “I can’t believe I said that.”  “I can’t believe I did that.”  “I wonder if he ever got over that time I failed him.”  Everyone has a past.  In the present, we struggle with temptations, and we often lose the battle.  It doesn’t matter that we know better.  It doesn’t matter that we want to do better.  We still sin, and we are disgusted with ourselves because of it.  So, we mourn.

     “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).  The day will come when Jesus will deliver you away from this sinful world and from your sinful self.  He will bring you into the kingdom of glory, and God will wipe away every tear from your eyes.  There will be no more struggles against sin.  No shame.  No regret.  You will not hurt anyone with your sins, and no one will sin against you.  You will be comforted with everlasting peace.  Blessed are those who are in the kingdom of God.

     Most of the beatitudes speak about what Jesus’ disciples will receive.  “They shall inherit the earth.  They shall be satisfied (with righteousness).  They shall receive mercy.  They shall see God.  They shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:5-9).  These blessings will be given to you fully when you are delivered to the glories of heaven.  They have been purchased for you by the holy blood of Jesus.  They have been guaranteed to you by Jesus conquering the grave and gaining authority over death.  Because Jesus lives, he will raise you up from the dead to live forever with him.  The kingdom of God has been firmly established by Jesus, and it will be seen in greater glory by you at the Last Day.  Blessed are those who are in the kingdom of God.

     For now, the disciples of Jesus are called to be like Jesus.  We not only believe his word, we also order our lives according to it.  We strive to be like Jesus, which is what these beatitudes describe.  Jesus is the one who is meek, the one who hungers and thirst for our righteousness, the one who is merciful, the one who is pure in heart.  Jesus is THE peacemaker, reconciling God and mankind.

     If you are like Jesus, then expect to endure what Jesus endured; for no disciple is greater than his master.  Although Jesus was meek, pure, and a peacemaker, there were many who despised him.  They had no use for Jesus at all.  They mocked him, slandered him, falsely accused him, and sought both to harm him and to kill him.  When Jesus stood trial before the Sanhedrin, he was charged as an agitator, as one who preached against Moses, as one who threatened to destroy the temple.  False witnesses came forward to smear Jesus.  Finally, Jesus was condemned because he said he is the Son of God.  When those religious leaders presented Jesus to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, they changed the charges against him, accusing Jesus of opposing Caesar.  It did not matter that the charges were false; the goal was to cancel, to kill, to crucify Jesus—which they did.  You and I may not suffer death for the sake of Jesus and his word, but we should not be surprised if we are mocked and ridiculed for it. 

     There will always be people who mock God’s word.  “It is outdated.  It is full of hate.  It produces bigots.  It is full of lies and contradictions.”  And so on.  If you take your stand on God’s word and live your life according to it, you will be mocked and vilified, too.  Just ask Tony Dungy, former NFL coach and NBC sports commentator.  He defended the idea that babies in the womb should be allowed to live.  Many are calling for him to be fired.  Then ask Ivan Provorov, NHL hockey player for the Philadelphia Flyers.  He refused to wear a uniform that supports same-sex relationships because the Bible condemns them.  He insisted upon standing firm on God’s word.  Many were calling for him to be suspended, fired, or even sent back to Russia.  If you stand firm on God’s word and refuse to give way to sin, you might likewise be mocked, vilified, and slandered.  You should not be surprised if it happens.

     But do you know what Jesus says about that?  “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12). 

     You will not be happy if it should happen to you.  It will not be fun.  But you will not be alone.  They treated the prophets of God this way.  They treated the apostles this way.  They even treated the Son of God this way.  And if they should treat you this way, Jesus assures you that it does not your status.  His word still stands: Blessed are you.  And it does not change Jesus’ decree: The kingdom of heaven is yours. 

     Blessed are those who are in the kingdom of God.  Nothing that people say against you will change your standing before God.  Jesus Christ says that you are blessed.  God’s favor rests upon you.  No matter how much people rave and rage against God’s people, God will never be swayed by them.  You are his beloved people.  Blessed are you.  And no matter how much people despise and deny and dishonor God’s word, it will never make God’s word untrue.  Jesus assures you: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).  Those who despise Jesus and want nothing to do with him will one day get their wish.  They will be banished and sent off to an eternity without him.  But blessed are you who cling to the word of God; you will be saved.  The word of the Lord endures forever, and so do those who believe it.

     Blessed are you who are in the kingdom of God.  Jesus teaches you what it means to be his disciple.  He urges you to remain faithful to him, and Jesus keep you mindful of the glories that will come so that you will not be persuaded by the rantings of wicked people or enticed by any glory that a dying world promises.  Blessed are you, because you have a Savior who is always faithful to you.  You have a heavenly Father who loves you.  You have the Holy Spirit who supports and guides you.  The blessings of our Lord will strengthen and keep you until you enter the endless glories of his kingdom.

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

BIBLE BITS: Matthew 5-7

One of the claims that is often made against Jesus is that he never claimed to be God, and that this title was assigned to him later by his apostles and the early Church.  If there is any truth to this claim, it would only be that you will never find a verse in the Bible where Jesus says, "Ahem.  Let me make this as clear as I possibly can: I am God Almighty, Immortal, Eternal.  And don't you ever doubt it!"

Nevertheless, Jesus makes many statements that he could only make if he is God.  If he is not God, then his statements are rank blasphemy and he can be dismissed as a nut-job.  Well, Jesus' enemies DID understand his words clearly enough.  Therefore, they DID accuse him of blasphemy, making himself equal to God.  And since there is only one God, not several who share equal status, then by making himself equal to God, he is saying he IS God!  And while Jesus' enemies did not use the phrase "nut-job," they did accuse him of being possessed by a demon.

So, while people today insist that Jesus never made any claims to be God, his enemies recognized that he did just that.

In today's personal Bible reading, we have one of those instances where Jesus says something that only God could say.  Several times in Matthew 5, Jesus utters a phrase like this: "You have heard that it was said....  But I say to you."  In most cases, the "it was said" phrase is one of the Ten Commandments.  Verse 21 is the 5th Commandment.  Verse 27 is the 6th Commandment.  Verse 38 paraphrases the 8th Commandment.  Jesus does not deny the Commandments.  He intensifies them.  By saying, "But I say to you..." he seems to be trumping the very words of God.  Who would dare do this--unless Jesus IS God?

But that is precisely the claim.  Jesus can speak as one having authority because he does have divine authority.  Jesus has divine authority because he is divine.  

Jesus has, indeed, claimed to be God.  I suppose many will dismiss him as a nut-job or demon-possessed.  It is the joy of the Church to confess with the apostle Thomas, "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28)!  And those who refuse to confess Jesus as Lord and God now will be forced to do it one day (Philippians 2:10-11).

For your amusement: That Thing You Do

I stumbled across this interview by random chance and am pleasantly surprised to find this.  Here are the four men who played The Wonders in the Tom Hanks movie, That Thing You Do.  If you have not seen the movie, do it.  It is family-friendly and lots of fun.

Here is the interview.

Here is trailer # 1.

Here is trailer #2.

Here is trailer #3.

Here is the theme song from the movie.

Update from Good Shepherd (January 26, 2023)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE

Divine Service is Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School and Adult Bible Class are on Sundays at 9:00 AM. 
Bible Matters will meet on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM. 

For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS: HE WENT THROUGHOUT THEIR TOWNS AND VILLAGES
          Throughout his ministry, Jesus never traveled more than 100 miles from his hometown of Nazareth, yet he covered a lot of ground. We will consider the various places and events which marked Jesus’ life and ministry.  Travel along with Jesus throughout Judea and Jerusalem, Samaria, the villages of Galilee, and a few areas beyond Palestine.
          The schedule for this class can be found here.  Classes are on Sundays at 9:00 AM.

 

NEW HYMNAL INTRODUCTION
          Our target date for using the CW21 hymnal will be Sunday, February 5. While Setting 1 of the Divine Service bears some resemblance to The Common Service in our current hymnal, there will be a few differences. Some of the canticles have been rewritten, and we have practiced parts of this liturgy for the past few Sundays.  On Sunday, January 29, we will review all of it so that we should be pretty familiar with everything when we begin on February 5.  will want to practice those before we utilize them for the entire service. 

          May God bless our worship for the glory of his name and for the edification of his people.

BIBLE MATTERS
          Bible Matters meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.  The winter session is a five-week session leading up to the season of Lent.  Our focus will be: What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?  The particular topics can be found here.  

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE
          Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from Sunday, January 22: (108) Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, January 22, 2023 - YouTube

OFFICE HOURS
          Office hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon. The pastor will be in his office unless a meeting has been scheduled elsewhere (consult the weekly schedule). The pastor is also available by appointment. Call or text (248-719-5218). You may also email (welsnovi@aol.com), but the response may be slower.

BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR GOOD SHEPHERD

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

DO YOU LIKE US?

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

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

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

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

REGULAR SCHEDULE
DIVINE SERVICES are on Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School and Adult Bible Class are on Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Bible Matters meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM. 

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

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

YouTube -- 3rd Sunday after Epiphany (January 22, 2023)

Here is the service from Sunday, January 22, 2023.  The guest preacher for the day was Rev. Mark Porinsky who is retired.  Previously, Pastor Porinsky served for about 40 years at Faith Lutheran Church of Dexter, Michigan.

Adult Bible Class: New Series begins January 29

He Went Throughout Their Towns and Villages

           Throughout his ministry, Jesus never traveled more than 100 miles from his hometown of Nazareth, yet he covered a lot of ground. 

          Starting Sunday, January 29, we will consider the various places and events which marked Jesus’ life and ministry. Travel along with Jesus throughout Judea and Jerusalem, Samaria, the villages of Galilee, and a few areas beyond Palestine. 

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= 

          He said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. (Mark 1:38-39)

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

January 29            Jesus' Birth, Infancy, and Childhood

February 5            The Ministry of Jesus Begins

February 12          Early Ministry in Galilee

February 19          Visit to Jerusalem, Return to Galilee  

February 26          Second Tour of Galilee

March 5                Third Tour of Galilee

March 12              First Withdrawal from Galilee

March 19              Second Withdrawal from Galilee

March 26              Third Withdrawal from Galilee

April 2                  Perean Ministry -- First Tour

April 9                  Easter Breakfast -- No Class

April 16                Perean Ministry -- Second Tour

April 23                Holy Week: Sunday and Monday

April 30                Holy Week: Tuesday and Wednesday

May 7                   Holy Week: Thursday into Friday

May 14                 Holy Week: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

Update from Good Shepherd (January 19, 2023)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE

Divine Service is Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School and Adult Bible Class are on Sundays at 9:00 AM. 
Bible Matters will meet on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM. 

For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

JEREMIAH, THE WEEPING PROPHET

          Our current series for Adult Bible Class is the book of Jeremiah.  Jeremiah is called the weeping prophet because, although he was faithful in his service as God’s prophet, he was grieved at the rebellion of God’s people and, eventually, at the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, the place where God had put his name.
          God’s people of all time do well to heed calls to repentance so that we do not lose the gifts God is eager to give. Therefore, we will hear Jeremiah preach to us and humbly take to heart his words of repentance and his words of promise.
          The schedule for this class can be found here.  

ADULT BIBLE CLASS -- NEW SERIES TO BEGIN

          On Sunday, January 29, we will begin a new series for Adult Bible Class.  This series will consider the settings of places of Jesus' ministry.  Jesus travelled extensively throughout Judea, Samaria, Galilee, and beyond.  Where are these places?  Why did Jesus go there?  What did he encounter while he was there?

          We will consider the itinerary of Jesus' ministry and consider various encounters and events from these places.  Classes are on Sundays at 9:00 AM.

NEW HYMNAL INTRODUCTION, PART 1
          Our target date for using the CW21 hymnal will be Sunday, February 5. While Setting 1 of the Divine Service bears some resemblance to The Common Service in our current hymnal, there will be a few differences. Some of the canticles have been rewritten, and we will want to practice those before we utilize them for the entire service. A tentative schedule for the rehearsal of these canticles is here:
          Sunday, January 22

                    Gospel Acclamation for the Lenten season

                    Preface for Holy Communion

                    Holy, Holy, Holy (Sanctus)

                    NOTE: O Christ, Lamb of God (Agnus Dei) is the same as The Common Service

          Sunday, January 29
                    Review all parts of the liturgy

May God bless our worship for the glory of his name and for the edification of his people.

EVERY MEMBER VISITS – 2022

          Every 3-4 years, the pastor desires to meet with all members in their homes.  It is an opportunity to speak with each other in a less-than-formal setting. The pastor gets to know the people he serves better. It also allows for members to ask about matters that might be personal, to offer suggestions and ideas, to inquire about matters of the Bible that have them confused, or just general chit-chat. Visits would be about 45-60 minutes but can last longer if you want them to. You can also sign up through the links below.  Time slots are first come, first served.  We are down to only two months in 2022.

          The January calendar is here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050a4fa8aa2ea64-every12#/ 

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE
          Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from Sunday, January 15: (99) Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, January 15, 2023 - YouTube

OFFICE HOURS
          Office hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon. The pastor will be in his office unless a meeting has been scheduled elsewhere (consult the weekly schedule). The pastor is also available by appointment. Call or text (248-719-5218). You may also email (welsnovi@aol.com), but the response may be slower.

BIBLE MATTERS
          Bible Matters meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.  The winter session is a five-week session leading up to the season of Lent.  Our focus will be: What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?  The particular topics can be found here.  

BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR GOOD SHEPHERD

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

DO YOU LIKE US?

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

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

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

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

REGULAR SCHEDULE
DIVINE SERVICES are on Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School and Adult Bible Class are on Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Bible Matters meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM. 

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

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

YouTube -- 2nd Sunday after Epiphany (January 15, 2023)

Here is the service from Sunday, January 15, 2023.

BIBLE BITS: Exodus 12-14

When the Lord had sent plagues against the Egyptians, he made a distinction between Egypt and Israel after the third plague.  This was to show that the plagues were not random acts of nature.  God's people were special and set apart from the rest of the world.  God was not impressed with the superpower status of Egypt.  He was disgusted that they worshiped made up gods rather than pay heed to his words.  The plagues were a judgment upon Egypt--both for their mistreatment of God's people and against their false gods.  

After the Israelites left Egypt, the Egyptians regretted letting their free labor go.  So, Pharaoh and his army chased them down.  Israel was pinned between the Red Sea and the most formidable army on the face of the earth.  Perhaps you can appreciate the panic of the Israelites when they saw their predicament.  On the other hand, how quickly they had forgotten the Lord's favor and mercy in regard to the plagues which had just taken place in the previous weeks.

The Lord's mercy upon Israel continued.  Exodus 14 records how God protected the people of Israel from the Egyptians: "Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night" (Exodus 14:19-20).

It was not a different God who stood between Israel and Egypt, a gracious God and a wrathful God.  It was the same God.  What was the difference?  The people of Israel lived under God's favor and the people of Egypt were outside the covenant.  So, Israel received the light from the Lord and Egypt remained in darkness.

So it is today.  Those who believe and are baptized are under God's favor.  Those who do not believe stand condemned.  It is not that there is a different God; God is unchanging.  God's favor comes only through Jesus Christ.  Only those who believe in Christ benefit from his saving work and receive God's favor.

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday after Epiphany (January 15, 2023)

JOHN 1:29-41

BEHOLD!  THE LAMB OF GOD!

In the name + of Jesus.

     When John the Baptist saw Jesus walking by, he appeared to be just another Jewish man among the crowds who came to hear John preach.  In fact, John himself did not make much of Jesus when he first saw him.  John admitted, “I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit’” (John 1:33).  It is exactly as Isaiah had declared: “He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2). 

     This is the way it always is with Jesus.  When he was born, there was nothing spectacular about the birth itself.  Bystanders would have witnessed a young Jewish peasant who delivered a baby boy.  The spectacular part of Jesus’ birth came out in the fields among the shepherds.  The angels appeared to them to reveal what was really going on in Bethlehem: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). 

     Of course, Mary and Joseph knew, but not because the delivery of the baby was miraculous.  There was no special glow around the manger or halo over Jesus’ head.  Mary and Joseph knew that their baby boy was the Son of God because an angel had made it known to them.  The word of God revealed to them the divine nature of this human baby.  They took it on faith, not by sight.  And so it is with anyone.

     If you want to know who Jesus truly is and why it matters to you, it must be revealed to you through the word of God.  If you don’t have the word of God, you might say some nice things about Jesus, but you will not rightly honor him or benefit from his work. 

     Jesus’ identity was revealed to John by the word of God.  “He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’  And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:33).  What was revealed to John he made known to all who were there.  John pointed to Jesus—quite literally—and declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)!  Not only did John identify Jesus, he began to direct his own disciples over to Jesus.  John was a prophet, but Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and the Lamb of God.  He is the one whom all people need.  So, “the next day again John … looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’  The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus” (John 1:35-36). 

     The two disciples followed Jesus and then spent the day with him.  By their conversations with Jesus, those two disciples were even more convinced that Jesus is the Christ.  By the end of the day, Andrew was compelled to find his brother and to spread the news: “We have found the Messiah” (John 1:41).

     Behold, the Lamb of God!  Could there be a more vivid description of Jesus?  He is the fulfillment of the entire Old Testament—both religious ceremonies and prophecies.  Every day, lambs were presented at the temple.  In both the morning and evening sacrifices, lambs were slain for the sins of the people.  Their blood was shed and splashed against the side of the altar.  Their bodies were put on the altar and turned to smoke.  The smoke was a pleasing aroma to the Lord.  On account of the lambs that were slain, the Lord did not count the sins of the people against them.  When the people saw the smoke rising from the altar, they knew that God’s mercy rested upon them.  This happened every morning and every evening so that the people’s hope and comfort remained constant.  But now, Jesus had come: Behold, THE Lamb of God!

     The sacrifice of lambs goes all the way back to the first chapters of Genesis.  You recall that Cain and Abel presented offerings to the Lord.  Sadly, Cain did not believe the promises of God.  He went through the motions of worship and was angry that the Lord did not accept his bloodless sacrifice of vegetables.  But Abel, trusting in God and his promises, “brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions” (Genesis 4:4).  Now, a question arises here: How did they know that sacrifices, more specifically blood sacrifices, were the way that God wanted to be worshiped?

     I suppose we could chalk it up to conscience.  Our consciences bear witness that we have dishonored the Lord with our lives.  We feel bad when our sins harm other people, and rightly so.  Sins are wicked and they are hurtful.  They cause strife.  They destroy trust.  They show people how little we think or care for them.  It is right to confess our sins against one another, to seek forgiveness from each other, and to turn from our self-centered ways and instead show love, respect, and concern for our fellow man.

     Some sins do not harm our fellow man.  Many people insist that such private sins are fine, but that is a lie.  Every sin—whether it is private or public—is an attack on God.  Every sin—whether it is committed by your hands or only in your head—is rebellion against his word.  Our baptism rite reminds us of the depth of our sinful condition.  You will notice that it is not that it does not address how we treat each other; it speaks about our relationship with God.  It says: “We are without true fear of God and true faith in God.”  In other words, we don’t believe God, trust him, fear him, or love him.  If we did, we would not only keep his commands, we would do it with delight rather than with resentment.  But because we are sinners, we become angry and defensive when his word confronts us.  We insist that God needs to change and not be so rigid that he turns people away.  The sinful condition is turned away from God.  We are turned in on ourselves.  We want our will to be done, to be our own gods.  The devil deceived Adam and Eve that they could be like God, and it still the desire of the sinful heart.

     Our consciences testify against us that we have sinned against God.  That is why we feel guilt and are afflicted with fear.  We deserve God’s punishment.  Why else would we feel guilty?  “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), and after death comes judgment.  Why else would we fear death?  So, how do we fix it?

     When a husband does something to upset his wife, he will perform some act of kindness to try to show he is sorry.  He may try to make amends by buying a bouquet of flowers, making a meal, or completing a project he had promised to do.  It may or may not work.  But how can we make amends with God?  Throughout all generations and cultures, many have concluded that some act of sacrifice is needed.  Something must be put to death to atone for people who deserve death.  Whether it is an animal consumed on an altar or a virgin thrown into a volcano, people have used sacrifices to appease God’s wrath.  Perhaps that practice goes all the way back to Cain and Abel.  Cain and Abel likely worshiped that way because that is what God told them to do.  Perhaps the practice continued, though corrupted over time by sinful people.

     But not all the blood of beasts on Israel’s altar slain could give the guilty conscience peace or wash away the stain.  Morning and evening, lambs were slain.  It had to be done day after day and year after year, because they could not atone for our sins.  But God had commanded the Israelites to worship this way because it pointed to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  Behold! The Lamb of God!  Jesus is the fulfillment of every blood sacrifice.  For, Jesus Christ is not just another person who was put to death.  As John the Baptist declared, “I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34).  It is the Son of God in the flesh who dies for your sins.  His holy body was consumed in the fiery wrath of God’s judgment.  His divine blood was splashed on the cross to atone for the sin of the world.  Jesus is the propitiation for sins; that is, Jesus’ sacrifice appeases God’s wrath.  Isaiah foretold it: “The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

     Behold, the Lamb of God!  He is also the true Passover Lamb.  The first Passover lambs were slain when the people of Israel were enslaved in Egypt.  The Lord had told them that he would kill every firstborn in Egypt.  But to deliver the people of Israel, the Lord told them to take a lamb without defect and slaughter it.  They were to put the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of their houses.  When the angel saw the blood of the lamb, he would pass over their homes so that death would not come to them.  The Israelites celebrated this deliverance annually.  It was ingrained into them: The blood of the lamb delivers us from death.  The blood of the lamb delivers us from death.  Behold, the Lamb of God!  He is the true Passover Lamb who delivers you from death.  He died the cursed death you deserve so that you will not be consumed in God’s fiery wrath.  He has also conquered death so that the grave must give you back.  Through holy baptism, the blood of the Lamb marks you so that the curse of death passes over you.

     Behold, the Lamb of God!  We feast each week on the Lamb of God to partake in his benefits.  In some churches, when the bread and the wine have been consecrated according to God’s word, the pastor will present them and declare, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”  These words proclaim the death of Jesus by which we are forgiven, and they declare that Jesus is truly present to make us partakers of his death and resurrection.  The pastor makes the proclamation, and the people respond with their own confession, singing, “O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world.  Have mercy upon us.  Grant us your peace.”  In the sacrament of holy communion, we are marked once again by the blood of the Lamb.  Jesus comes to us to have mercy upon us.  We feast on the Lamb who grants us his peace. 

     Just as the appearance of Jesus was common and unspectacular, so the appearance of the bread and wine are common and unspectacular.  This is why God must reveal what is really going on.  The word of God reveals that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  The word of God reveals that this bread and wine are the body and blood of Christ for you, for the forgiveness of sins.  And you, who may seem common and unspectacular to the world, are the redeemed of God, the children of the resurrection, and the heirs of eternal glory.  God has revealed that to you so that you can have comfort through this life and confidence for the world to come.

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

Update from Good Shepherd (January 12, 2023)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE

Divine Service is Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School and Adult Bible Class are on Sundays at 9:00 AM. 
Bible Matters will meet on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM. (NOTE: We will NOT meet on January 18.)

For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

JEREMIAH, THE WEEPING PROPHET

          Our current series for Adult Bible Class is the book of Jeremiah.  Jeremiah is called the weeping prophet because, although he was faithful in his service as God’s prophet, he was grieved at the rebellion of God’s people and, eventually, at the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, the place where God had put his name.
          God’s people of all time do well to heed calls to repentance so that we do not lose the gifts God is eager to give. Therefore, we will hear Jeremiah preach to us and humbly take to heart his words of repentance and his words of promise.
          The schedule for this class can be found here.  

NEW HYMNAL INTRODUCTION, PART 1
          Our target date for using the CW21 hymnal will be Sunday, February 5. While Setting 1 of the Divine Service bears some resemblance to The Common Service in our current hymnal, there will be a few differences. Some of the canticles have been rewritten, and we will want to practice those before we utilize them for the entire service. A tentative schedule for the rehearsal of these canticles is here:

          Sunday, January 8
                    Dedication of the CW21 Hymnals and resources

                    Breaking in the new hymnals (after church)

          Sunday, January 15
                    Responsive "Lord, have mercy" (Kyrie)

                    NOTE: Glory be to God on High (Gloria in Excelsis) is the same as The Common Service

                    Gospel Acclamation for the season

                    Preface for the Sacrament

          Sunday, January 22
                    Gospel Acclamation for the Lenten season

                    Holy, Holy, Holy (Sanctus)

                    NOTE: O Christ, Lamb of God (Agnus Dei) is the same as The Common Service

          Sunday, January 29
                    Review all parts of the liturgy

May God bless our worship for the glory of his name and for the edification of his people.

NEW HYMNAL INTRODUCTION, PART 2
          We will be adding new ribbons to the new hymnals in order to enable worshipers to bookmark the Psalms and any other portions of the hymnal prior to each Divine Service. The date to make these new ribbon inserts will be announced once we have the materials to do it.

EVERY MEMBER VISITS – 2022

          Every 3-4 years, the pastor desires to meet with all members in their homes.  It is an opportunity to speak with each other in a less-than-formal setting. The pastor gets to know the people he serves better. It also allows for members to ask about matters that might be personal, to offer suggestions and ideas, to inquire about matters of the Bible that have them confused, or just general chit-chat. Visits would be about 45-60 minutes but can last longer if you want them to. You can also sign up through the links below.  Time slots are first come, first served.  We are down to only two months in 2022.

          The January calendar is here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050a4fa8aa2ea64-every12#/ 

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE
          Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from Sunday, January 8: (93) Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, January 8, 2022 - YouTube

          Two things to note.  1) The year is wrong; it should be 2023.  2)  The screen is silent and black until the 1:20 mark.  You will want to scroll forward to get there for the service.

OFFICE HOURS
          Office hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon. The pastor will be in his office unless a meeting has been scheduled elsewhere (consult the weekly schedule). The pastor is also available by appointment. Call or text (248-719-5218). You may also email (welsnovi@aol.com), but the response may be slower.

BIBLE MATTERS
          Bible Matters meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.  The winter session is a five-week session leading up to the season of Lent.  Our focus will be: What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?  The particular topics can be found here.  (NOTE: There will be NO class held on January 18.)

BIBLE INFORMATION CLASS
          While any of our Bible Classes are valuable, Bible Information Class presents an overview of the basic Bible teachings.  This class allows you to ask all those questions that you've had about the Scriptures.  There is no cost.  The schedule can be found here.
          Bible Information Class will meet on Sundays (7:00 – 8:30 PM) beginning January 15.  To register, please contact to Pastor Schroeder at welsnovi@aol.com or (248) 349-0565.

BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR GOOD SHEPHERD

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

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

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

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REGULAR SCHEDULE
DIVINE SERVICES are on Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School and Adult Bible Class are on Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Bible Matters meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM. 

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

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

BIBLE BITS: Genesis 40-42

Today's reading covered a portion of Joseph's interactions with his brothers during a time of famine.  Joseph was the overseer in charge of distributing the reserves of grain to keep people alive during a seven-year famine.  He happened to be on duty when ten of his brothers came as a group to buy food.

Joseph wanted to see if his brothers were any different from their past dealings with him.  Part of this testing included an accusation that they were spies, scouting out any weakness in Egypt.  Such a weakness would be pronounced during a famine.

When the brothers pleaded their case and their innocence, Joseph said he would dismiss all the brothers except one.  The rest would return to get their missing brother (Benjamin) if they were to receive any more food.  

While Joseph spoke to them in Egyptian and an interpreter was used to facilitate this conversation, the brothers began to bicker and argue with one another.  They were convinced that they were suffering because of the terrible way they had treated Joseph years earlier.  Apparently, their guilt was still eating at them all this time later.

In the midst of the bickering, Reuben states, "“Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood” (Genesis 42:22).  Of course, Joseph did not need the interpreter to understand them.  He heard every Hebrew word they uttered.

I wonder if Reuben's statement was the first time that Joseph learned of Reuben's compassion and attempt to save him from being sold into slavery.  Reuben was not present when Joseph was sold.  But here may be the first time he learned that Reuben actively pleaded for mercy upon Joseph.

This explains why Joseph seized Simeon, the second oldest, for imprisonment rather than Reuben.  Mercy was returned to Reuben in Joseph's treatment of him.

YouTube -- 1st Sunday after Epiphany (January 8, 2023)

Here is the service from Sunday, January 8, 2023.

Two things to note.  1) The year is wrong; it should be 2023.  2)  The screen is silent and black until the 1:20 mark.  You will want to scroll forward to get there for the service.

Sermon -- 1st Sunday after Epiphany: Baptism of our Lord (January 8, 2023)

ISAIAH 42:1-7

THE MESSIAH IS MEEK IN HIS MANNER AND MINDFUL OF HIS MISSION.

In the name + of Jesus.

     When you read about Jesus’ life, perhaps you are disappointed at how little is recorded about Jesus’ first thirty years.  We hear some about his infancy.  We get a glimpse of him at age twelve when he attended the Passover and remained in the temple.  But we have almost nothing about his life until he was thirty years old.  St. Luke summed up the first thirty years of Jesus’ life this way: “Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).

     The reason the Bible does not cover the first thirty years of Jesus’ life is because he did not begin his public work until he was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan.  On that day, Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and shown to be the Lord’s Anointed.  Only then did Jesus begin his work of preaching, teaching, healing, and performing other miraculous signs.  Already at twelve years old Jesus knew he was the Christ, but he did not presume to claim or act in this office until he was anointed by the Holy Spirit. 

     Isaiah foretold the anointing of Jesus in our lesson.  He wrote, “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him” (Isaiah 42:1).  These words were paraphrased by the heavenly Father at Jesus’ baptism.  St. Matthew records it: “When Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son—not merely “my Servant,” but “my Son”—with whom I am well pleased’” (Matthew 3:16-17).  Those who were the Bible scholars may have remembered the rest of Isaiah’s words which tell us what the Christ would be like.  The Messiah is meek in his manner and mindful of his mission.

     The mission of the Christ, as Isaiah records it, is this: “He will bring forth justice to the nations” (Isaiah 42:1).  We might expect the Christ would crush people with an iron fist or breathe out threats to scare people straight.  John the Baptist seems to have expected that.  But Isaiah goes on: “He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street” (Isaiah 42:2).  Jesus did not engage in shouting matches with his enemies.  He is neither an antagonist nor a rebel.  John the Baptist was a voice crying in the wilderness, but Jesus was a meek-mannered voice in the synagogues and homes of the people.  The Messiah is meek in his manner and mindful of his mission.

     Isaiah wrote: “A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench” (Isaiah 42:2).  Many of the people Jesus encountered were bruised reeds and smoldering wicks.  Jesus interacted with prostitutes, tax collectors, people of low morals, and others who were haunted by their sins.  It would have been easy to condemn them according to God’s Law; and he would not have been wrong.  It would have been easy to rub their faces in their sins.  The Pharisees did that.  But Jesus treated all people as worthy of his time and attention.  They were not smoldering wicks to be snuffed out.  Rather, they were people to whom Jesus showed mercy.  He sought to fan into flame a faith that clings to divine promises of forgiveness.  Even though they were bruised reeds—broken and crushed by guilt and shame—Jesus sought to bind up what was broken and to bring healing to those who were hurting. 

     Jesus still does this.  We all have sins that haunt us.  If you have a checkered past or if you are struggling to overcome your sins right now, you will find your Messiah to be meek in manner.  He longs to cover your shame and to change your guilt into innocence.  The reason he is meek in his manner is so that we would not hide from him in fear, but rather flee to him in hope.  Jesus could get better behavior out of people with threats of hellfire and damnation.  Society would probably be safer, and people would probably be more polite.  But there would be no joy in life.  We would live in constant fear, trying to do what God desires.  If we celebrated the happy occasions of life, we would be afraid that we may have done something to make God angry.  Our obedience would be given grudgingly, and we would not love God at all—which would only incur more wrath.

     The Messiah does not come to snuff out those who struggle or to snap off those who are broken.  He is meek in his manner.  He is merciful to those who fear.  He “(brings) out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness” (Isaiah 42:7).  Those who are released from the captivity they have deserved may cower with fear, supposing it is not real.  They are waiting for their captors to change their mind and make their suffering worse.  What a joy to have a God who is meek and merciful!  He sets us free from darkness, despair, and damnation.  And he longs to keep us free, so he speaks tenderly to us because he knows that we still struggle and are fearful.  He inspires loving obedience to him—not by issuing threats but by his redeeming love.  He has set us free from the curse of sin, and in the end he will set us free from the consequences of sin—from everything that is broken, deceptive, or cruel. 

     He remains meek in his manner, but do not confuse meekness with being weak-willed.  The Messiah is mindful of his mission.  He is committed to upholding and fulfilling the word of God.  Isaiah had said, “He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth” (Isaiah 42:4).  He remained committed to your salvation.  He did not shrink from those who opposed him.  He did not back away from the word of God when it offended people.  The failure of his friends, the slander of his enemies, the unjust sentencing of both church and state, and the bitter sufferings and death did not discourage him from going to the cross.  He was mindful of his mission and fulfilled it. 

     Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord foretold what the mission of the Messiah would be.  “I will give you as a covenant for the people” (Isaiah 42:6).  Notice that it is not that the Messiah would make a covenant; he would BE the covenant.

     In the Old Testament, kings would make covenants with one another.  The covenant was always a two-sided agreement.  “I will do this for you, and you will do that for me.”  The Hebrew expression is literally “to cut” a covenant.  That’s because the kings would take a bull or some other animal and cut it in half.  Then, to ratify their covenant, the two kings would walk through the blood trail of the severed animal, as if to say, “May I be slaughtered like this animal if I fail to live up to my end of the covenant.”

     The Old Testament covenant between God and Israel was basically this: If you, Israel, will follow my commands, then I will be your God and bless you richly.  But Israel was not faithful to the word of God.  We would not fare any better, either.  The Bible reminds us of this terrible truth: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  We continue to fall short of the glory of God because we continue to sin.  Even as God’s people, we fail to live up to God’s word.  Trying to do what is right to earn God’s favor sounds noble, but it is impossible.  No one who is a sinner has ever stopped being a sinner.  You may curb your behavior, but you cannot change your fallen nature.  That is God’s work alone.

     The Messiah is the covenant.  Thus, Jesus was baptized to fulfill all righteousness.  Through his incarnation Jesus united himself to humanity, but at his baptism he united himself to sinners.  He absorbed all the guilt and shame of every sinner.  He has become the guilty one for you.  Jesus was slain as one who violated the covenant.  He went to the cross to suffer the punishment that sinners deserve.  The righteous one died for the unrighteous to bring you to God.  That was the mission.

     The Messiah is mindful of his mission, and he has completed it.  Jesus has done all the work to secure your salvation and your forgiveness.  He fulfilled all righteousness by his obedient life.  He diverted God’s wrath from you by his sacrificial death.  He destroyed the power of death by his resurrection.  He opens heaven to you.  He is your comfort in life, your hope in the face of death, and your advocate at the final judgment. 

     The Messiah is meek in his manner and mindful of his mission.  That mission includes this: “I will give you as a … light for the nations” (Isaiah 42:6).  Jesus enlightens all people to know that you have a merciful God.  It is not that God eliminates any part of his commandments so that we can dabble in our sins.  Nor is it the case that God’s threats are empty so that we can ignore both his commands and his judgment.  While Jesus spoke freely with the prostitutes, he called them to cease their immorality.  While Jesus feasted with tax collectors, he expected them to do their job without stealing.  When the Pharisees held others in contempt because of their sins, Jesus urged them to see their own sins rather than observe the sins of others.  All people were called to repent and to flee to Jesus for healing and hope.

     The Messiah is meek in his manner, but he remains firm in God’s word.  The Messiah is mindful of his mission, and he always remembers that his mission is to save sinners from death and disgrace.  So, God the Father sent Jesus to be a light for the nations.  Jesus enlightens you to see that he is the only hope for sinners, and the hope he gives is sure.  This is what he promises: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). 

     Just as Jesus united himself to you in his baptism, so he unites you to himself through your baptism.  He has taken away your sin, and he in turn has given you his righteousness and innocence.  This is your confidence because the Messiah is your covenant.  You are not saved by your sincerity, your purity, or your tenacity.  You are saved by Jesus.  The Messiah has done everything to secure your place in God’s kingdom.  Through holy baptism, he presents you as holy and blameless to his Father.  And if that were not enough, here is the new covenant in his blood by which he forgives your sins and gives eternal life.

     “Behold my servant, …in whom my soul delights” (Isaiah 42:1), says the Lord.  Behold!  “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17), says the Lord.  The Messiah is meek in his manner and mindful of his mission.  You are the mission.  So, thanks to Jesus, the Father is well pleased with you, too.

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