Sermon -- Thanksgiving (November 26, 2025)

PSALM 19:1-14

SEE HOW GOD REVEALS HIS GLORY, AND GIVE THANKS FOR IT.

In the name + of Jesus.

    There are two ways that God has made himself known to all people so that no one has an excuse.  The Bible testifies, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Psalm 14:1).  Anyone who denies the existence of God is called a fool because that he denies what is evident to all mankind.  All mankind can see the heavens and the earth and everything in them.  Creation itself insists that there is a God who put it all together.  The other way God has made himself known to all mankind is from the conscience.  The conscience testifies to a standard of good and evil.  It commends those who do good and convicts those who do evil.  It is not some random standard that everyone gets to choose for himself, even though we hear people speak about “my truth.”  Everyone’s conscience upholds the same standard.  This is one reason people say that all religions are the same.  Each religion confesses that there is a God, that he has expectations of us, and that we are accountable to him.  Where religions differ is how to God’s favor.  But God has revealed this to you so that you do not need to live in fear.  See how God reveals his glory, and give thanks for it.

     In Psalm 19, King David points us to God’s creation.  “The heavens tell about the glory of God.  The expanse of the sky proclaims the work of his hands.  Day after day they pour out speech.  Night after night they display knowledge” (Psalm 19:1-2).  Neither atheists nor evolutionists have a proper appreciation for the precision with which God created and sustains our universe.  They claim that it all happened by chance.  To attribute the precision of the heavens to chance is to ignore the glory of God.

     From the very beginning, God proclaimed what his design was.  On the fourth day of creation, “God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to divide the day from the night, and let them serve as markers to indicate seasons, days, and years’” (Genesis 1:14).  With GPS and radar systems, we don’t pay attention to the sun, moon, and stars like the people of ages past.  They relied on the constellations to mark the seasons.  Sailors trusted the stars to determine where on the seas they were.  None of it was guesswork.  The stars are reliable because they are precise.  To say this all happened by chance is as foolish as saying the Mackinac Bridge or Mount Rushmore just happened by accident.  The heavens reveal how wise, how powerful, and how glorious God is.  See how God reveals his glory, and give thanks for it. 

     King David also noted that God’s glory was not revealed only to Israel.  No matter where you live on earth, all people can see the glory of God.  “Their voice goes out into all the earth, and their word reaches the end of the world” (Psalm 19:4).  God’s glory, his wisdom, and his power have been made known to all people because all people witness his creation.  Even the most primitive of people acknowledge the creator even if they don’t know him by name.

     Of course, God’s goodness is revealed by more than just the heavenly bodies that rule over the day and night.  When St. Paul visited one of the cities in Galatia, he proclaimed that God made himself known in other ways.  Paul said, “(God) did not leave himself without testimony of the good he does.  He gives you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons.  He fills you with food and fills your hearts with gladness” (Acts 14:17).  Many do not honor the Lord on Christmas or Easter, but everyone celebrates Thanksgiving because the Lord has demonstrated his kindness to all people by supplying all they need to live.  God’s glory is revealed in the way God has created the world and sustains his creation day after day.  See how God reveals his glory, and give thanks for it.

     Psalm 19 goes on to say that God’s glory is revealed more fully by his word.  In his word, God reveals who he is and what he desires.  While our conscience gives us some understanding of God’s desires, his word makes his will very clear.  David wrote, “The precepts of the LORD are right.  They give joy to the heart.  The commandment of the LORD is bright.  It gives light to the eyes.  The fear of the LORD is pure.  It stands forever.  The just decrees of the LORD are truth.  They are altogether righteous” (Psalm 19:8-9).  King David declares that God’s glory is revealed in his commandments.  His commandments are good because he is good.  “In keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:11).
     But what happens when you don’t keep them?  And what if you don’t want to keep them?  What if you don’t want to honor those who have authority over you?  What if you don’t want to bless those who curse you or to pray for those who persecute you?  What if you want to look at a woman lustfully?  What if you can’t wait to share some juicy piece of gossip because it is the only interesting thing you have to talk about?  God’s word exposes your sin and reveals that you are not right and pure and true and righteous.  “In keeping (God’s commands) there is great reward” (Psalm 19:11), but you and I have earned a curse rather than a reward. 

     First, the sinful heart denies any wrong-doing.  But your conscience does not lie to you.  The guilt is real and inescapable.  Then the sinful heart insists that the problem is God’s word.  “There’s what God’s word says we should do and then there’s real life,” we reason.  But the word of the Lord does not budge.  The conviction sticks.  God’s Law is good, even when it shows you that you are not.  “Yes, by them your servant is warned” (Psalm 19:11), but we have failed to heed the warning.  We have failed to escape the judgment.  In fact, our sinful condition is so corrupt that we fail to understand the depths of it.  “Who can recognize his own errors?  Declare me innocent of hidden sins” (Psalm 19:12).  We even live in ignorance of some of our sins.  If our sins are hidden from us, what hope do we have of freeing ourselves from them? 

     God’s glory can be seen from majesty of his creation.  It is right to give thanks for the beauty and bounty God has provided.  We acknowledge that God is good because our conscience reveals his standards.  And up to this point, all religions are pretty much the same.  Many will glorify the Lord because he is powerful.  Many will glorify the Lord because he is holy.  Many will give thanks to God because he provides for us.  But no one is saved by the Lord for these attributes.  If we are to have hope or comfort, the Lord has to reveal more to us. 

     See how God reveals his glory, and give thanks for it.  King David tells us, “The law of the LORD is perfect.  It revives the soul” (Psalm 19:7).  The Commandments of God do not revive the soul.  They tell you the good that you are to do, but they can’t help you to do it.  The Commandments of God are good, but they can’t make you good.  When we read, “The law of the LORD is perfect” (Psalm 19:7), the word “law” covers more than just the Commandments.  The Hebrew word has its root in the word “throw.”  What God throws out to people is not just orders and threats for those who don’t follow them.  God throws out to us all he wants us to know.  And, as it turns out, he throws out a lifeline to us.  He reveals how his favor is won.  And here is how your Thanksgiving is greater than that of others.  Anyone can and should thank God for well-fed bellies.  But God’s favor for you results in blessings that outlast a turkey dinner, seasonal excitement, and even death.  God provides not just what sustains you for today, but for eternity.

     See how God reveals his glory, and give thanks for it.  He gives us the word that revives our soul.  It is not merely a word spoken, but the Word which became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  Whatever is true of God’s word is true of Jesus; for he is the Word.  As we re-read this Psalm, we see that it describes Jesus.  “[Jesus] is perfect.  [He] revives the soul.  [Jesus] is trustworthy.  [He] gives wisdom to the inexperienced.  [Jesus is] right.  [He gives] joy to the heart.  [Jesus] is bright.  [He] gives light to the eyes.  [Jesus] is pure.  [He] stands forever.  [Jesus is] truth.  [He is] altogether righteous” (Psalm 19:7-9).  See how God reveals his glory, and give thanks for it.

     While other religions have words that give instruction, the Word made flesh took action.  He revives the soul, because he has mercy on the soul that is crushed by guilt.  Jesus alleviated that crushing weight by taking it from you.  “He was crushed for the guilt our sins deserved” (Isaiah 53:5).  The damning weight of your sins fell upon Jesus.  Your conscience has been set at ease because Jesus has taken away all its accusations.  Your soul has been revived so that you live in peace.

     He gives joy to the heart, because he reveals the love God has for sinners.  Jesus has set you apart as children of the resurrection so that you will dwell in God’s holy presence forever.  Jesus shows you that he is not some distant “God.”  He is your Father.  He seeks your good.  He is invested in you and interested in you.  He does not merely put up with you; he delights in you.  He longs to dwell with you and to have you dwell with him.  This is a joy that endures, even in days of grief and trouble.

     He gives light to the eyes.  Jesus sends his Holy Spirit to enlighten us to see that God’s word truly is good.  With David, we acknowledge, “By (your words) your servant is warned.  In keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:10-11).  The words of God show us what we were created for and what we have been redeemed to be.  God’s word warns us against evil so that we are not filled with self-inflicted grief and guilt.  God’s word reveals that we are set apart for good works and destined for glory and honor.  Since we find delight in keeping God’s word in this imperfect state, imagine our joy when we will serve the Lord without failings or flaws!  

     See how God reveals his glory, and give thanks for it.  Rejoice that the Lord “richly and daily provides clothing and shoes, food and drink, property and home, spouse and children, land, cattle, and all (we) own and all (we) need to keep (our) body and life” (Luther’s Small Catechism; Apostles’ Creed: 1^st Article).  The glory of the Lord is revealed in part by his gracious care for his creation.  But you are a new creation.  Therefore, rejoice that the Lord “has redeemed (you), a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won (you) from sin, death, and the power of the devil” (Luther’s Small Catechism; Apostles’ Creed: 2^nd Article).  This is the true glory of God, revealed in Jesus Christ and proclaimed in God’s word.  Unlike all other gods, our Lord loves sinners, saves them, and will dwell with his redeemed forever.  “[This is] more desirable than gold, even better than much pure gold.  [This is] sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10). 

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

Thanksgiving Vespers -- Wednesday, November 26

Thanksgiving Vespers will be Wed., November 26 at 7 PM.  

God has so freely and supplied all our needs—both physical and spiritual.  We recognize his goodness to us in this annual Thanksgiving service.

Give thanks to the LORD for he is good; his mercy endures forever. (Psalm 118:1)

Sermon -- Thanksgiving (November 27, 2024)

GENESIS 8:18-22

GOD’S CARE FOR HIS CREATION WILL NOT CEASE.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Thanksgiving is a time when we remember God’s blessings and praise him for his goodness.  As St. James reminds us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17).  Even though all God’s gifts are good, not everything in this world is good.  While we are grateful for our blessings, we are also grieved and frustrated by the evils we endure.  Some are evils that we observe in this world.  Other evils affect us personally.  The evils of a broken, sinful world cause us to cry out to the Lord.

     One question that gets asked of God is this: “How bad do things have to get before God does anything about it?”  That question is often asked out of frustration.  We see how much wickedness goes on in the world.  There is injustice.  There is violence.  There is perversion.  It seems to go on unchecked.  In some cases, it is celebrated.  The wicked seem to prosper as they defy God.  Perhaps you’ve even wondered, “If the wicked prosper, what is the point of being godly?”  If so, you are not alone.  The Psalmist Asaph complained, “My feet almost slipped out from under me.  I almost lost my footing.  I even envied the arrogant when I observed the peace of the wicked.  For there are no struggles at their death.  Their bodies are sturdy.  They do not have the trouble common to people.  They are not plagued along with the rest of mankind.  Therefore pride is their necklace” (Psalm 73:2-6).

     “How bad do things have to get before God does anything about it?”  Sometimes that question is a charge against God.  It seems like God does not care.  If he did, he would surely do something about it, right?   Perhaps it is a suspicion that he will do nothing.  The wicked surely hope so.  “They say, ‘How can God know?  Does the Most High have knowledge?’  See, this is what the wicked are like—secure forever, they increase in strength” (Psalm 73:11-12).  There is a day of retribution which will consume the wicked, but as long as it delays, the wicked are emboldened in their actions.  And it gets bad.

     While some accuse God of inaction and indifference, others have found fault with God when he DID act.  Recall God’s assessment of the world in the days of Noah: “The Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that all the thoughts and plans they formed in their hearts were only evil every day.  The Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with sorrow.  The Lord said, ‘I will wipe out mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth, along with the animals, the creeping things, and the birds of the sky, because I regret that I have made them’” (Genesis 6:5-7).  When the Lord saw man’s wickedness running unchecked, he responded with stern judgment.  Because he did, many complain that he is a blood-thirsty God who should have demonstrated more patience or mercy.  Sinful people can be so double-minded—accusing God of failing to bring justice and finding fault with him when he does.

    The Lord is a good and gracious God.  His goodness does not depend upon us.  It never has.  God created the world because he is good and because he wanted to shower his goodness on his creation.  He supplied mankind with abundance.  Everything people need to live, God provides faithfully and generously.  God had hoped that people would respond to his grace and goodness with thanksgiving and obedience.  But mankind does not have the goodness with which God created him.  The Lord had decreed before the Flood: “The Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that all the thoughts and plans they formed in their hearts were only evil every day” (Genesis 6:5). 

     We probably conclude that people in the days of Noah were committing violence, thievery, murder, fornication, and so forth.  It was the kind of world in which you would not be safe on the streets at night.  And perhaps it was that bad.  But such actions are not the root of evil.  They are only the evidence that people are evil.  “The thoughts and plans they formed in their hearts were only evil every day” (Genesis 6:5, emphasis added).  Their hearts were evil because they had turned from God.  St. Paul explains in his letter to the Romans: “Even though they knew God, they did not honor him or give him thanks as God.  Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless heart was darkened” (Romans 1:21).  Our sinful condition means that we do not have true fear of God or true faith in God.  We are turned in on ourselves.  People decide their own truth, each one different from another, which results in people belittling, slandering, cursing, striking, or even killing those who disagree.

     God saw how bad things had gotten, so he responded.  God sent a Flood to destroy all mankind, in fact, everything he had created.  To preserve his promise that he would send a Savior, the Lord preserved Noah and his family in the ark.  And because God loves what he has created, he also preserved the animals with Noah.  Both people and animals were charged to repopulate the world.  The world after the Flood had changed.  It was a fresh, new start for people and for animals.  But mankind had not changed.  Listen to God’s assessment of mankind after the Flood: “The intention of man's heart is evil from his youth” (Genesis 8:21).  Nevertheless, this has not changed God’s goodness.

     Once Noah had left the ark, he sacrificed thank offerings to the God who delivered him and his family.  Then the Lord made a promise.  It is a promise that stands to this very day: “I will never again curse the ground because of man….  Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.  While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease” (Genesis 8:21-22).  God’s care for his creation will not cease.

    To this day, mankind’s sinful condition has not changed.  We do not fear, love, and trust in God above all things.  We fear that we might lose our money; we are not as fearful about losing our faith.  We do not trust God when he puts us to the test; we trust our feelings and emotions.  We do not love God above all things.  We rank our own pleasures much higher.  And yet, God’s goodness and God’s care for his creation does not cease.

     It is still God’s practice to bless everyone in this world with all that we need to live.  He does it faithfully, year after year.  It is still God’s hope that people would love him and obey him.  From many, God gets scorn.  Many do not believe that God is worthy of praise and obedience.  And yet, God’s care for his creation does not cease.  Jesus declared, “Your Father who is in heaven … makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45).  God does not play favorites when he comes to blessing his creation.  We might think he should.  But God’s goodness does not depend upon us.  “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease” (Genesis 8:21-22).  God’s care for his creation will not cease.

     God’s goodness is on display at every harvest season.  But God’s greatest goodness was displayed in sending his only begotten Son into the world.  God did do something about the wickedness in this world.  He came to make himself the sacrifice to be slain on behalf of sinners.  This is not because we are good, but because God is good.  St. Paul emphasized that in his letter to the Romans: “At the appointed time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for the ungodly.  It is rare indeed that someone will die for a righteous person.  Perhaps someone might actually go so far as to die for a person who has been good to him.  But God shows his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).  God loved the loveless.  God was good to the wicked.  Jesus befriended his enemies.  Jesus lived and died for those who live for themselves.  Jesus did all this because he is good and kind and merciful. 

     God’s care for his creation will not cease.  God extends his mercy and proclaims his forgiveness to everyone in the world for as long as the world endures.  And while it seems that God is letting all kinds of wickedness go on without interruption or intervention, St. Peter clues us in on what God is doing.  Peter wrote, “The Lord is not slow to do what he promised, as some consider slowness.  Instead, he is patient for your sakes, not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).  The Lord knows how bad things are in this world.  That is why he sent a Savior.  God loves his creation.  God loves the people he has created.  He takes no pleasure in the death of anyone, but rather that they would turn from their wicked ways and live.   

     Therefore, Jesus suffered and died so that no one would have to perish.  Jesus suffered and died for all.  He paid for the sins of the world, even for those who were mocking him and cursing him as he died.  He bore the sins of all, even of those who gorge themselves on God’s gifts without any acknowledgment of God or gratitude.  No matter how wicked people are, God remains good.  No matter how ungrateful people are, God remains generous.  No matter how little people care for God and his word, God’s care for his creation will not cease.

     Jesus has revealed the love and mercy of your heavenly Father.  He provides all you need to live in this life.  No matter how bad things might get, God remains good.  You may lose blessings in this world, but God remains the giver of good gifts.  He assures you that “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22). 

     As long as the earth endures, God’s care for his creation will not cease.  But this world will come to its end.  God will do something about the wicked in this world when he comes to judge the living and the dead.  But God did something about your sin through Jesus Christ.  Jesus has removed your sin from you.  He has cleansed you in the flood of baptism, and he has brought you into the ark of the Church where you are safe.  He will come again to deliver you to everlasting goodness.  He will deliver you to a new creation—a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.  There, God’s love, God’s mercy, and God’s kingdom will not cease.  Neither will our thanks and praise.

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

For your amusement: The Turkey of 29 Pounds

We have a jovial tug-of-war in our house about Christmas music.  While I enjoy Christmas music, I also like keeping things in their own seasons.  My lovely wife has been enjoying Christmas music from the moment a Christmas music channel showed up on Sirius XM radio.  And now WNIC (100.3 in Detroit) is playing 24-hour Christmas music too.  I, on the other hand, am the family curmudgeon, refraining from Christmas music until Thanksgiving.  Once our Thanksgiving service has been completed (which is at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, November 27 -- join us!), I am all in on the Christmas music.  

I will also highlight that Advent music is not to be overlooked.  That can be enjoyed at Lutheran Public Rado once the Advent season begins.  Please be aware, however, that the library of Advent music is not that plentiful, so they will supplement it with other hymns and choral pieces.  Maybe it is best to enjoy Advent hymns live.   You can do that at Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church in Novi on Sundays at 10:00 AM and on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM in the month of December.  Join us for that, too!

Anyway, there are not too many Thanksgiving Carols, either.  Well, I have found one.  It is "The Turkey of 29 Pounds" by The Sportsmen Quartet.  This recording is from 1947, and it is a shame that it is almost unknown.  Enjoy!

Thanksgiving Worship -- Wednesday, November 27, 7:00 PM

We will have our Thanksgiving service on Wednesday, November 27 at 7:00 PM.  All are welcome.

NOTE: The cumulative offerings for Thanksgiving and all mid-week Advent services have been designated for WELS Christian Aid and Relief and for Palabra de Vida’s Crossing Bridges program, up to $500 each. 

WELS Christian Aid and Relief provides financial aid to those who have endured hardships such as natural disasters.  Crossing Bridges is a tuition assistance program which aids the members of Palabra de Vida (WELS Hispanic mission in southwest Detroit) in receiving a Christian education from Peace Lutheran School in Livonia or at Hope ChristianAcademy in Westland.

Thanksgiving 2023

We thoroughly enjoyed our Thanksgiving this year.  Everyone was able to make it home except for Faith.  Laura is still on the mend after surgery to repair her torn meniscus.  Having the Packers put up a win against the Lions was a pleasant surprise.  Poor Caitlin had to endure our loud, exuberant cheers at Packer touchdowns, forced turnovers, and other big plays.  Oh well, she's had the previous four contests between the Packers and Lions to gloat.

We got to have a facetime phone call with my brother, his family, and my Mom.  We also got to hear from Laura's side of the family as they had the big celebration for her parents' 60th wedding anniversary.  We wish we could have been there, but we needed to stay here for Laura's recovery.

I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful as well.

Sermon -- Thanksgiving Eve (November 22, 2023)

2 SAMUEL 7:18-22

ACCORDING TO YOUR HEART, YOU HAVE BROUGHT ABOUT THIS GREATNESS.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The Lord has made many promises throughout the Scriptures.  All of them are evidence of God’s grace.  God does nothing because he owes it.  Everything that exists exists only by God’s command and will.  It comes into being by his grace.  It is sustained by his grace.  And it endures for as long as his grace allows.  So, when God makes a promise, it is a declaration of his gracious intent.  It reveals God’s heart to us.

     The Lord made a promise to King David in the verses just before our reading.  David had intended to construct a temple for the worship and the glory of the Lord.  David observed, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent” (2 Samuel 7:2).  The tabernacle was a travelling house of worship—from Mt. Sinai through the wilderness and into the Promised Land.  Even in the Promised Land, Israel continued to use the tabernacle for several centuries.  It travelled a few times from one city to another.  David was convinced that the house of the Lord deserved a permanent site with greater honor.

     While David’s intentions were good, God’s plans were different.  The Lord gave the prophet Nathan words for King David.  David was a man of war, but his son would be a man of peace.  Therefore, it would be David’s son who would build the Lord’s temple.   This was the Lord’s promise: “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.  He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.   … And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.  Your throne shall be established forever’” (2 Samuel 7:12-13,16). 

     The Lord had promised David not only a successor, but a dynasty.  Therefore, David offered up his prayer of thanksgiving, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far” (2 Samuel 7:18)?  David recognized how much the Lord had done for him.  David was the youngest son from a nowhere town.  While his brothers went off to fight wars for King Saul, David was given the low-level job of a shepherd.  But when the Lord sought a king to replace faithless Saul, David was God’s unlikely choice.  God’s gracious heart was revealed.  According to your heart, O Lord, you have brought forth this greatness.

     Is your story as dramatic as King David’s?  Politically, socially, economically, no.  Nevertheless, your beginnings are exactly the same as David’s.  King David confessed the reality of the sinful condition which affects all people: “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5).  Our sinful condition causes us to abuse God’s commandments and despise God’s gifts.  Consider one of the promises our Lord has made.  The Psalms teach us, “The eyes of all look to you and you give them their food at the proper time.   You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing” (Psalm 145:14-15).  The birds, the fish, the squirrels, and the deer do not worry about God’s provisions or complain about God’s gifts.  We do.  Our worrying shows that we do not trust God to provide.  Perhaps we are so accustomed to luxuries that we are incapable of handling inconveniences or shortfalls.  Discontent even with abundance, we pursue more.  We are devoted to ourselves.  We do not consider how our wealth can benefit others.  Our wealth is not for us to hoard, but to help our neighbor and to honor the Lord. 

     According to your heart, O Lord, you have brought forth this greatness—that even though we misuse God’s gifts and grouse that they are not given more frequently, the Lord has not withdrawn his promise.  When God makes a promise, he is ever faithful to it.  After the Lord had wiped out mankind because of its wickedness in the Flood, the Lord swore to Noah: “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth.  Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.   While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease” (Genesis 8:21-22).  Notice that mankind has not changed.  We are still sinners.  But true to his word, faithful to his grace, the Lord sustains the earth and blesses all creatures on it.  God’s goodness remains constant because of who God is, not because of who we are.  According to your heart, O Lord, you have brought forth this greatness.

     King David was overwhelmed at God’s promise to him and to his descendants.  He rightly acknowledged his lowliness and God’s greatness.  “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? … And what more can David say to you?  For you know your servant, O Lord GOD!  Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness…” (2 Samuel 7:18,20-21).  The Lord had owed David nothing.  The Lord knew David with all his faults and weaknesses, and yet he blessed David richly.  God brought David from poverty to riches, from unknown to famous, from being of no account to highly influential. 

     God’s blessings were great, but his promise was far greater.  That promise went far beyond David and the kingdom of Israel.  Listen to it again:  “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.  He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.   … And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.  Your throne shall be established forever’” (2 Samuel 7:12-13,16). 

      Now, the Lord did establish Solomon, the son of David, as king.  And Solomon did oversee the construction of the temple in Jerusalem.  Although the line of kings from David’s seed continued for about 400 years, it came to an end with the destruction of the temple of Solomon and the city of David.  So, the promise found its total fulfillment in another—Jesus.  Jesus reveals God’s grace and proves God’s faithfulness.  According to your heart, O Lord, you have brought forth this greatness.

     Jesus has built a house for the Lord’s name.  It is the holy Christian church.  Like David, like you and me, like all people, no one has an inherent right to this house.  We all come from the lowly beginnings of outcasts and rebels.  We fail to trust God’s faithfulness.  We are dismissive of God’s generosity.  We are envious of the blessings God gives to others.  These attitudes are worthy of punishment, not reward. 

     Jesus has built his house through his own blood, sweat, and tears.  God had made a promise, and he is faithful to that promise.  One promise came through the prophet Isaiah: “He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).  This promise reveals God’s gracious heart, that he desires sinners to live and not die, to receive blessing instead of a curse.  So, Jesus endured the curse and the death for us.  All who dwell in Jesus’ house and under Jesus’ reign are delivered from sin and death.  According to your heart, O Lord, you have brought forth this greatness.

     Jesus has also established a throne that endures forever.  After paying for sins, Jesus rose from the dead.  Having fulfilled God’s gracious promise, Jesus was exalted by the heavenly Father.  The Son of David sits at the right hand of God the Father which means Jesus rules over all things.  He who bound himself to us now lives and reigns for us.  For this reason, you hold a title greater than the royal title David held.  The title of king is only good for as long as the king is alive.  But your title is an everlasting title.  You are children of the Most High God.  You are brothers and sisters of Jesus.  Since he lives forever, you shall live forever, too.  According to your heart, O Lord, you have brought forth this greatness.

     “Therefore you are great, O Lord God.  For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears” (2 Samuel 7:22).  The Lord has made his heart known to you and has poured out his grace upon you.  He has promised you a resurrection at which your body will be made whole, your understanding will be perfected, your spirit will be forever at peace, your every struggle will be removed, and your every need met.  And again, the promise is not made because it is owed; it is made because God is good.  According to your heart, O Lord, you have brought forth this greatness.

     And the Lord pours forth more promises to sustain you until that day.  Here is one.  Jesus said, “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33).  The promise is that God will give you what you need.  He knows what you need, and he is capable of providing it.  You need not fear or fret. 

     It may be that the Lord will teach you how much less you need by withholding blessings you have become addicted to.  If he does, God be praised; for he will remain faithful.  And if God should remain generous to you, God is testing you to see how you will use his gifts.  Either way, your thanks to the Lord will go beyond prayers and praises on a November weekend; it will be expressed in sharing your gracious gifts with those in need—even if all you can afford is time, energy, or companionship.

     With David, we marvel and ask, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far” (2 Samuel 7:18)?  And the Lord replies, “Who are you?  You are my beloved, my redeemed.  You are princes and princesses of King Jesus, and heirs of everlasting glory.”  Why?  Because God has promised it to be so.  And God is ever faithful to his gracious promises.  According to your heart, O Lord, you have brought forth this greatness. 

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

Thanksgiving Worship -- Wednesday, November 22, 7:00 PM

Our annual Thanksgiving Service will be Wednesday, November 22 at 7:00 PM.  Join us for another opportunity to give thanks to the Lord for his bountiful blessings.

PSALM 118
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

     for his steadfast love endures forever!

2 Let Israel say,
     “His steadfast love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say,
     “His steadfast love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord say,
     “His steadfast love endures forever.”

5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
     the Lord answered me and set me free.
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
     What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is on my side as my helper;
     I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
     than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
     than to trust in princes.

10 All nations surrounded me;
     in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
     in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
12 They surrounded me like bees;
     they went out like a fire among thorns;
     in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
     but the Lord helped me.

14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
     he has become my salvation.
15 Glad songs of salvation
     are in the tents of the righteous:
     “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,
16 the right hand of the Lord exalts,
     the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”

17 I shall not die, but I shall live,
     and recount the deeds of the Lord.
18 The Lord has disciplined me severely,
     but he has not given me over to death.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
     that I may enter through them
     and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord;
     the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me
     and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
     has become the cornerstone.

23 This is the Lord's doing;
     it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
     let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save us, we pray, O Lord!
     O Lord, we pray, give us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
     We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God,
     and he has made his light to shine upon us.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,
     up to the horns of the altar!

28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
     you are my God; I will extol you.
29 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
     for his steadfast love endures forever!

Sermon -- Thanksgiving (November 24, 2021)

MATTHEW 15:29-39

OUR TRUSTWORTHY SAVIOR PROVIDES OUR NEEDS.

In the name + of Jesus.

     When Jesus sat on the mountain by the Sea of Galilee, large crowds came to him.  They brought to Jesus people with various ailments.  It was no small feat to bring them from their towns to the wilderness area where Jesus was, especially the lame and the disabled.  But the crowds had recognized that Jesus healed the sick and diseased.  So the effort to come to him was worth it, and they were not disappointed.  Even though they expected Jesus to bring healing and relief to the mute, the blind, the disabled, and the deformed, they still marveled when they saw Jesus doing this for so many.

     I think we can also give the crowds credit for this: When they came to Jesus, they stayed with him.  They did not come for their quick fix and leave, though perhaps some did.  But most stayed.  4,000 men, besides women and children, stayed.  They wanted to be with Jesus.  And while Matthew does not mention it specifically, Jesus made their stay worth their while.  He spent the time preaching and teaching about the kingdom of God.  Obviously, there was much to say. 

     The trustworthy Savior provided the words that they needed.  He declared God’s directions and demands for a godly life.  The people would have recognized two things about God’s commandments.  One: They were true and right and should be followed.  Two: They had not followed them.  No one has.  The world and everyone in it have been corrupted by sin.  This has not produced only guilty consciences, but it has corrupted all creation.  That is why some people are born blind and deaf, become mute and lame, and have birth defects.  The sick people who were brought to Jesus had not done something which forced God to punish them with disabilities.  The world is broken, and broken bodies are evidence of it.

     The trustworthy Savior provided what they needed.  He reversed the disabilities and deformities of the people who were laid at his feet.  But more, he proclaimed how he would bring relief to guilty consciences, pardon for every offense against God, and even deliverance from death and the grave.  It was Jesus’ healing touch that restored bodies with health.  It would be Jesus’ innocent death which would restore people to God.  Jesus’ innocence would be granted to the people, and their sins and guilt would be taken from them by Jesus.  The death Jesus died for sinners would be cursed so that the death you die will be the entrance into peace and rest.  Jesus even sanctified the grave.  It is not the end for us.  Although the grave will hold our bodies which carry disease, break down in frailty, and finally die, Jesus will raise us up with glorified bodies like his resurrected body.  Our bodies will never again know illness, weakness, frailty, or mortality.  Jesus will restore all things.  Our Savior will produce the bodies we need for everlasting life and give us the innocence we need to stand before the Father.  Our trustworthy Savior provides what we need.

     While we tend to get fidgety when the sermon approaches the 20 minute mark, the crowds stayed with Jesus for three days.  They were so eager to be with Jesus that they had not planned very well.  Whatever food they may have brought was gone.  It sounds like they had gone a little while without food because Jesus was concerned about some fainting.  Jesus did not just care about healing disease and deformity, he cared about the basic needs of these people.  He spoke to his disciples, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat.  And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way” (Matthew 15:32).  Yes, Jesus cares about your basic needs.  He knows you need to eat and to have proper clothing.  His concern is not limited to your soul, as if your body has no real worth.  Jesus took on a human body because our physical well-being matters too.  He did not just save your soul.  Jesus’ body rose from the grave to live forever.  Yours will too.  So, Jesus also cares about nourishment for the body by which he grants you health and strength so that you can live and serve.  Our trustworthy Savior provides our needs.

     The disciples saw the problem.  “‘Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?’  And Jesus said to them, ‘How many loaves do you have?’  They said, ‘Seven, and a few small fish’” (Matthew 15:33-35).  What they had would barely sustain Jesus and the Twelve.  But they were looking out upon thousands.  The problem was obvious enough, wasn’t it?

     Of course, when you know how the story ends, it is easy to laugh at the Twelve and their panic.  When you don’t know what is going to happen next, panic is easier than laughter.  You know what that panic is like.  You wonder how you are going to get through the difficulties you face.  When the doctor orders a battery of tests, you fear the worst.  When you see people becoming more agitated and violent in the world, you wonder how it will affect your children’s future.  When the story line continues to be about backed up supply chains and possibly having the Christmas gifts unavailable to you, you panic about how you are going to make things right.  In some cases, we panic over things that are inconveniences, not problems.  In other cases, the problems seem insurmountable when you are in the middle of them.  What hope do you have?  What is the way out?

     Dear Christians, do you not remember God’s promises?  That he will never leave you nor forsake you?  That he knows you need your daily bread and will provide it?  That he works all things for the good of those who love him?  And has he failed you ever?  True, God may present you with problems so that you can see how weak you are, how misguided your desires are, or how misplaced your trust has been.  He does not guarantee that our earthly blessings will endure.  What he promises is that his mercy will endure.  So, you may very well lose your health, lose your money, lose your friends, and lose your house.  You will certainly lose your life.  But in the end, you will not need any of your earthly blessings.  You will only need his mercy.  Our trustworthy Savior provides what we truly need.

     When Jesus expressed his concern for the 4,000 men in addition to women and children, it was for more than their salvation.  Yes, that was tantamount, but his concerns are for all our needs.  “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat.  And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way” (Matthew 15:32).  Jesus presented the problem to the disciples.  Ironically, it was not an unfamiliar problem.  It was not long before that Jesus had 5,000 men, not including women and children, gathered around him.  At that time, he directed these same disciples to bring to him the scant amount of food they found.  He blessed it and gave it to the disciples to distribute to the crowd.  Everyone ate their fill, and there were twelve baskets full of leftovers.  Could they really have forgotten that?  Could they really have failed to look at Jesus to provide the exact same solution?  Isn’t he trustworthy, compassionate, and omnipotent?  They didn’t get it, and they stood hopelessly staring at seven loaves and a few small fish.

     Our trustworthy Savior provides our needs, and he did so miraculously again.  “Directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.  And they all ate and were satisfied.  And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over” (Matthew 15:35-37).  Jesus knew that these people needed food to give them strength for the journey home.  They would not be punished for spending so much time with Jesus, even if they had not planned ahead.  Just as Jesus blessed their faith with words of divine wisdom, so also Jesus blessed their bodies with food multiplied by divine power.  Our trustworthy Savior provides our needs.

     He provides your needs, too.  The problem we have is that we have a distorted view of our needs.  We have become accustomed to having a standard of living which exceeds any age this world has ever known.  Even the most posh and pampered kings of the past did not have central heating and cooling, washers and dryers, cell phones, internet, and the ability to travel for hundreds of miles in a day.  God has been pleased to give these to us—not out of necessity, but generosity.  The day may come when God decides, “You know what.  Not only do you not need these things, you need to not have them.  It will be good for you to learn that God will provide your true needs, and to trust that he will supply them.”  That day may not come where you lose everything at once like Job did.  It may be that over time God strips away your blessings bit by bit.  But if we can thank God for abundant blessings, we can also thank God when he teaches us to trust in him with limited blessings.  Because whatever God chooses to give us, he is always trustworthy to provide our needs.

     In addition, we are like the disciples who, when Jesus asked them where they should turn for aid, were stumped.  You could almost imagine Jesus saying to the troubled apostles, “Come on, guys!  You’ve seen this before!  Think.  When we had thousands of people around and just a little bit of food, what happened?  How did it get resolved?  Trust in me that I can do it again.”  And when we face our hardships, shouldn’t we get the same encouragement?  “Come on, guys!  You’ve seen this before.  If I supplied your need in the past, and always have, shouldn’t you call upon me in the day of trouble again?  Trust that I will provide and sustain you again.”

     Even if you are facing a difficulty that is new and unfamiliar to you, nothing is new or surprising for the Lord.  Nothing happens apart from God’s will.  And you, dear Christians, are most certainly in God’s will.  He has acted to save you from sin, death, and the devil.  Will he not also act to care for your body and life?  Our Lord keeps his promises and cares for his people.  Our trustworthy Savior provides for our needs, and this is why he receives our unending thanks.

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

Autumn in review

It has been a while since I documented various parts of our family life, so here are a series of photos which give a glimpse of our Fall.  This covers late September through Thanksgiving.  Comments are inserted to supply pertinent information.

The October break from school allowed us to visit Colonial Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City, MI (above) and Fayette State Park in the Upper Peninsula (2 photos below).

Our October break also has visit Faith.  We hiked in a Waukesha County Park (above).

Below, Nathanael, Andrew, and I enjoyed a number of rounds of golf, mostly at Kensington Metro Park.

The two photos above are from Maybury State Park, just five miles from our house.

Below is the new bench put in by the City of Novi, along our church's walking path.

The two photos above are from a late October evening in Northville.

Below is a Schmidt family photo taken at the wedding of Hunter and Emily.  Unfortunately, pastoral obligations and distance prevented David from being in it.

Above, Philip had been exposed to COVID and had to leave Martin Luther College.  Faith agreed to host him during his quarantine.  To our knowledge, neither Philip nor Faith (nor Radon) got COVID.  Thanks for the help, Faith!

Below, Andrew, Caleb, and Philip get in some football in the church yard.

Thanksgiving 2020.  Faith had been exposed to COVID and was unable to be with us.  (Sniff.)  Grandma and Grandpa Schmidt were also with us for the weekend.