The following is the Memorial Day Service done at Immanuel and St. John's.
Invocation – In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
6:1 O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger,
nor discipline me in your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing;
heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.
3 My soul also is greatly troubled.
But you, O LORD—how long?
4 Turn, O LORD, deliver my life;
save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
5 For in death there is no remembrance of you;
in Sheol who will give you praise?
6 I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.
7 My eye wastes away because of grief;
it grows weak because of all my foes.
8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
9 The LORD has heard my plea;
the LORD accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.
History is no stranger to death. Since the fall into sin, there have been those who would try to make innocent people suffer through aggression, and through violence. Cain killed Abel because he was jealous. The book of Judges is full of examples of armies attacking God’s people mercilessly over 3000 years ago. Later on in scripture the Babylonians attack Israel as well. There have been World Wars, Civil Wars, Wars in Asia and the middle East, and all of them are a terrible test of a nations strength. What a blessing than that we live in a nation and a time where we have brave souls who will stand up to defend our country. Who will purchase our freedom with their blood and with their lives.
Through out countless battles and wars, brave American soldiers have fought through rain and snow so that we may be here today. So that we can have our jobs and our homes and our families is relative safety. Today, on Memorial Day, we take time out of our peaceful safe lives, and gather together here to remember those whose blood has set us free on earth, and to give thanks for their great sacrifice. For without these men and women, we could not live the life that we live. We thank God for them, at the same time that we pray the words of our psalm saying, “How long O Lord, How long.” How long must we fight to keep our freedom? How long must we struggle for our independence? How long must we lose friends and loved ones who are defending us?
At the same time we ask that question, we know the answer. Because of our sin, this world will always have its struggles, it will always have its battles to be fought and God willing won. It will have these until finally the last day comes.
So as we gather and remember those who gave up their lives for our earthly freedom, shedding their blood for America, we must also remember Him who gave up His life for our eternal freedom, shedding His blood as a sacrifice for our sins. For as Soldiers die in battle for America, so too does Christ die in the battle for the entire world. Jesus Christ was nailed on the cross so that you might be free from all sins, from death and the devil, so that you might have eternal life away from tears, away from war, away from sorrow and fighting and death. Jesus, who with his holy precious blood purchased and won you, so that you may live apart from this world of death. Jesus is no stranger to death either, for He gave up His life, so that you might receive life, and life to the full. God’s blessings on this great day of rememberance for those slain for our freedom. Amen.
Let us pray. Dear Lord gracious heavenly Father, be here with those who today remember loved ones and friends who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our earthly freedom. Bless those who mourn. Comfort the bereaved. Point all of us to the hope of life everlasting with Jesus Christ our Lord, who gave his life so that all men might be experience freedom with you forever. Thank you for our freedom, here in America, and the promise of Freedom with you forever in your kingdom, where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.
Lord remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray, “Our Father…”
The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you, the Look upon you with Favor, and give you peace. Amen.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Easter 6 - G - 2011 - Noah's Ark
Grace mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text today is the Epistle lesson read, especially these words from St. Peter, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” Thus far our text.
Dear friends in Christ. Always be prepared to make a defense for the hope that is inside of you. It seems that in our world today, we as Christians are always on the defensive. “How can you believe that ridiculous stuff. There was no one named Jesus. There isn’t a god. The world came about from evolution, and your faith is pointless. Why don’t you spend your time doing something worthwhile instead of at that silly church?” How do you respond? What do you say?
The world wants us not to believe in that hope that we get from Jesus Christ. It doesn’t want us to believe that Jesus really has come, that He really is God, and that in His death we have forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. Rather, the world continually bombards us with other messages, messages that don’t point to Jesus, but rather point to ourselves. The world wants us to trust in our own goals and ambitions and desires. And the example that Peter uses is Noah and the world wide flood that destroyed the world during his life time.
Noah, who lived when the world was so evil, that the book of Genesis says, “The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.” Mankind had become so wicked, so evil that God’s only course was to destroy everything through water. But God still showed his mercy to you and me, by deciding to bring one man safely through the deluge in an ark. God told a man named Noah and his 3 sons to build an enormous ark to carry life safely through death.
So Noah and his sons began building a giant ark, far away from water, just as God has commanded him. Can you imagine the things people said to Noah. “Hey Noah, nice boat, where you gonna float it? Hey Noah, why don’t you come eat, drink and be merry with us instead of wasting your time with that God of yours? Hey Noah, there’s a baseball game on TV, Hey Noah, its summer vacation, Hey Noah why don’t you preach a nicer message than that silly flood stuff?”
But Noah was prepared to give a defense, Noah preached to those people, just as God’s ministers have always preached. “Repent, or the world will be overturned with water.” The message is the same as Jonah, “Repent or Nineveh will be overturned,” and John the Baptist, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand,” and even as we proclaim today, “Repent, for Jesus will return one day soon.” Even as we do not know the day or the hour. Noah preached this message up until God closed him into the ark, for then it was too late, and the ark was closed, and God’s judgment took place. 40 days and 40 nights of rain, and water had destroyed the earth except for Noah and his family, 8 souls in all.
In the same way in our first lesson, St. Paul must make a public defense to all the hoity toities in Athens. Boldly in the center of their public square St. Paul said that Jesus is the known God, the one who has come and redeemed the world. Even as St. Paul was accused of advocating foreign Gods and brought publically before all the people of town, he was ready to give a defense of what his faith meant – that Jesus had overcome the world.
Friends, we are much like St. Paul and Noah in so many ways. All the time, people question our beliefs. “How can God be three persons in one God?” It doesn’t make sense! How can Jesus be completely God and completely man? How can you be a sinner and a saint at the same time? Aren’t you Christians just a bunch of hypocrites? Come! Eat drink and be merry! Enjoy this world and all the carnal pleasures that are here! But St. Peter says we must give a defense, and in giving a defense we will suffer ridicule. We will suffer embarrassment as people laugh and scoff at us and our faith. We are not to laugh and scoff back, we are not to purposely offend, but in gentleness and kindness, we point people to the hope that is with in us.
For Jesus too has suffered. Jesus suffered in your place for your sins. Those things that each of us have committed that would have kept us off the ark, Jesus died for. Those things that cause us to want to skip church and leave behind the faith, Jesus bled for. Any and all sins that you have committed by your fault, your own fault, your own most grievous fault, are all forgiven.
For Jesus is the reason for the hope we have. Jesus is the defense that we boldly proclaim as we say, “Jesus has purchased and won me from all sins, death and the devil. And he did so for me on the cross.” I no longer live, but it is Christ that lives in me. He is the reason that I have hope in this terrible world. He is the reason I can make it through each day because in his glorious resurrection, he proved that he has overcome the world and its suffering and death. I am not longer a slave, I am Christ’s. As our Gospel lesson says, Jesus “will not leave us as orphans, he will come for us.” And “Because Jesus lives, so too will I live.”
These aren’t just some words we say to try and make each other feel good. They aren’t just us spouting nice sounding platitudes, Jesus really has come, and he really has been raised forever and ever amen. And as we proclaim this message, we will join in Jesus own suffering. Just as all of Noah’s friends and perhaps even his own father died in the flood, so too will we lose family and friends. Just as St. Paul was beaten publically again and again in public squares, so too will we face persecution. But just like them, Jesus too will carry us through safely, so that we may enter life and peace with Jesus.
And just as Noah was carried safely through in an ark, so too are you safely carried through the struggles of this life in Baptism. There Jesus came to you in Water and Word. There you were washed in the blood of Jesus. There you have passed safely through this world, and have already entered eternal life.
Be ready to give defense. Be ready to point to Jesus. Not to show off. Not to earn good for yourself. Rather be ready to point to Jesus because he has given you so very much that you could not have on your own. He has carried you through the flood of this world into everlasting life. He has been with you in your struggles, and in Him you have already overcome. Jesus, the hope and the reason for our faith, has bought you with his blood. Amen.
Dear friends in Christ. Always be prepared to make a defense for the hope that is inside of you. It seems that in our world today, we as Christians are always on the defensive. “How can you believe that ridiculous stuff. There was no one named Jesus. There isn’t a god. The world came about from evolution, and your faith is pointless. Why don’t you spend your time doing something worthwhile instead of at that silly church?” How do you respond? What do you say?
The world wants us not to believe in that hope that we get from Jesus Christ. It doesn’t want us to believe that Jesus really has come, that He really is God, and that in His death we have forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. Rather, the world continually bombards us with other messages, messages that don’t point to Jesus, but rather point to ourselves. The world wants us to trust in our own goals and ambitions and desires. And the example that Peter uses is Noah and the world wide flood that destroyed the world during his life time.
Noah, who lived when the world was so evil, that the book of Genesis says, “The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.” Mankind had become so wicked, so evil that God’s only course was to destroy everything through water. But God still showed his mercy to you and me, by deciding to bring one man safely through the deluge in an ark. God told a man named Noah and his 3 sons to build an enormous ark to carry life safely through death.
So Noah and his sons began building a giant ark, far away from water, just as God has commanded him. Can you imagine the things people said to Noah. “Hey Noah, nice boat, where you gonna float it? Hey Noah, why don’t you come eat, drink and be merry with us instead of wasting your time with that God of yours? Hey Noah, there’s a baseball game on TV, Hey Noah, its summer vacation, Hey Noah why don’t you preach a nicer message than that silly flood stuff?”
But Noah was prepared to give a defense, Noah preached to those people, just as God’s ministers have always preached. “Repent, or the world will be overturned with water.” The message is the same as Jonah, “Repent or Nineveh will be overturned,” and John the Baptist, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand,” and even as we proclaim today, “Repent, for Jesus will return one day soon.” Even as we do not know the day or the hour. Noah preached this message up until God closed him into the ark, for then it was too late, and the ark was closed, and God’s judgment took place. 40 days and 40 nights of rain, and water had destroyed the earth except for Noah and his family, 8 souls in all.
In the same way in our first lesson, St. Paul must make a public defense to all the hoity toities in Athens. Boldly in the center of their public square St. Paul said that Jesus is the known God, the one who has come and redeemed the world. Even as St. Paul was accused of advocating foreign Gods and brought publically before all the people of town, he was ready to give a defense of what his faith meant – that Jesus had overcome the world.
Friends, we are much like St. Paul and Noah in so many ways. All the time, people question our beliefs. “How can God be three persons in one God?” It doesn’t make sense! How can Jesus be completely God and completely man? How can you be a sinner and a saint at the same time? Aren’t you Christians just a bunch of hypocrites? Come! Eat drink and be merry! Enjoy this world and all the carnal pleasures that are here! But St. Peter says we must give a defense, and in giving a defense we will suffer ridicule. We will suffer embarrassment as people laugh and scoff at us and our faith. We are not to laugh and scoff back, we are not to purposely offend, but in gentleness and kindness, we point people to the hope that is with in us.
For Jesus too has suffered. Jesus suffered in your place for your sins. Those things that each of us have committed that would have kept us off the ark, Jesus died for. Those things that cause us to want to skip church and leave behind the faith, Jesus bled for. Any and all sins that you have committed by your fault, your own fault, your own most grievous fault, are all forgiven.
For Jesus is the reason for the hope we have. Jesus is the defense that we boldly proclaim as we say, “Jesus has purchased and won me from all sins, death and the devil. And he did so for me on the cross.” I no longer live, but it is Christ that lives in me. He is the reason that I have hope in this terrible world. He is the reason I can make it through each day because in his glorious resurrection, he proved that he has overcome the world and its suffering and death. I am not longer a slave, I am Christ’s. As our Gospel lesson says, Jesus “will not leave us as orphans, he will come for us.” And “Because Jesus lives, so too will I live.”
These aren’t just some words we say to try and make each other feel good. They aren’t just us spouting nice sounding platitudes, Jesus really has come, and he really has been raised forever and ever amen. And as we proclaim this message, we will join in Jesus own suffering. Just as all of Noah’s friends and perhaps even his own father died in the flood, so too will we lose family and friends. Just as St. Paul was beaten publically again and again in public squares, so too will we face persecution. But just like them, Jesus too will carry us through safely, so that we may enter life and peace with Jesus.
And just as Noah was carried safely through in an ark, so too are you safely carried through the struggles of this life in Baptism. There Jesus came to you in Water and Word. There you were washed in the blood of Jesus. There you have passed safely through this world, and have already entered eternal life.
Be ready to give defense. Be ready to point to Jesus. Not to show off. Not to earn good for yourself. Rather be ready to point to Jesus because he has given you so very much that you could not have on your own. He has carried you through the flood of this world into everlasting life. He has been with you in your struggles, and in Him you have already overcome. Jesus, the hope and the reason for our faith, has bought you with his blood. Amen.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Easter 5 - G - Let not your heart be troubled, Jesus the way the truth and the life.
Sunday's Sermon - a day late.
John 14:1-14
1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; [1] believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [2] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” [3] 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. [4] From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me [5] anything in my name, I will do it.
Grace Mercy and Peace to you from God the Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text today is the Gospel lesson, especially these words, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” Thus far our text.
Dear friends in Christ. Let not your hearts be troubled, Jesus has given you the kingdom, he has gone ahead of you to prepare many rooms for you. If it were not so, would He have said it? It is yours here and now. What good news! What a great blessing!
But there is just one little detail isn’t there? One little thing that in our text, Thomas realizes Jesus forgot to tell us, “Lord, since we don’t exactly know where you are going, how in the world are we supposed to know how to get there?” Yes Jesus, you have given us this, but how in the world do we actually get there? How do we inherit the kingdom? How do we enter heaven? Where do we go, what do we do? How do we get there?
Like Thomas, we often wonder the same thing. And our world has come up with many answers on how to get to heaven. And so often we hear these various ways that we may get into heaven, and we believe them and trust in them to finally bring us to our eternal homes. It is not bad to want heaven. But it is so dangerous to listen to sources outside God’s own words about how we may enter heaven.
Outside of God’s word, we hear that to get into heaven we must have more good in us than we have evil in us. We must do good things, and try to stay away from the bad. In other words we are supposed to be loving, to be kind, to care for those around us more often than we curse other drivers on the road, more often than we curse our neighbor and more often than we hate those who disagree with us.
This sounds like a nice idea doesn’t it? Think of how wonderful our world would be “if we could all just get along.” All you need is love right? “Imagine, all the people living life in peace” if they would just love their neighbor. It would be a utopian society without war, and hate, and murder. “What a wonderful world.” But do you see the problem in this thinking? Do you see the weakness in this train of thought? Friends, we cannot do more good than evil, and if we think we can we misunderstand our own condition.
For each person on this planet is infected with sin. Each person is so totally evil that they cannot do good, they can’t achieve a perfect utopian society. We call this original sin, and it poisons each one of us. Because of this original sin, we no longer really want to do good, we no longer want to care for others. Yes we might in short spurts, we might say we want to help others, but if the motivation comes from within ourselves, it is steeped in sin. And if all we do is steeped in sin, we cannot do enough good to earn heaven. We cannot enter by our own means.
Think of it in this way, when you have a cold, your nose runs, you cough, you may get a fever. These are all the symptoms of the virus that infects your body. In the same way, we are all sick with sin. We show the outward symptoms of hate and disgust at our neighbors. We commit adultery, we face suffering and death, and all of these, while sin in themselves point to that great illness we have been conceived with. We are separated from God. We are apart from him, and nothing we can do will lead us back to him. Thomas is right, we do not know the way, because the way is perfection, and it is something that we in ourselves cannot achieve.
So are we lost? Are we stuck here in the midst of our sin, while Jesus taunts us with the promise of a mansion with many rooms, while we cannot even get there? No. You see, we may not get there on our own. We may not earn our way there. We can’t do it. But Jesus tells us the way to get there. He says we must come through the Way, the Truth and the Life. And the Way the Truth and the Life is not a road map that we must follow. It is a person. Jesus, in our text says, “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes through the Father except through me.”
You see there isn’t a list of things to do. There isn’t a level of good things that you have to do to be saved. It is entirely by Grace that you are saved, through Faith, through Jesus Christ alone. Jesus says in our text, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” Jesus himself will be the way, he himself will carry you into your eternal home. He will lead you into peace and comfort.
Jesus is the way because he himself has been perfect. He was born apart from sin, having not inherited it from his Father, for his Father is God the almighty. He lived a perfect life, always in perfect relationship with his Father, and always serving his neighbors. He cared for those around himself, instead of cursing, blessing. Instead of hating, loving. Instead of fighting, showing patience and kindness. All of these things and more Jesus did for you who could not do them on your own. Finally, Jesus did gave everything he had to purchase and win you from your sin. He gave up his own life on a cross. He hurt for you. He felt pain for you. He died in your place, and he poured out his life giving blood upon all in sin.
It is the perfect medicine for us sinners, the blood of Jesus. He doesn’t just treat the symptoms of our sin, he heals the cause. He sets us free, so that yes, now we may serve our neighbor. Yes, now you may love your brothers and sisters in peace, and not need to fight them any longer, for you have been healed by Jesus, the way, the truth and the life. He will lead you and carry you with himself into his Father’s heavenly kingdom. IN him, and him alone, do you have all the blessings that you could ever hope for and dream of and more.
How do you get into heaven? The Way leads you. The Truth of God’s word points you ever to the Son of God, Jesus. And in Him, you have life. It isn’t about you at all, it is all about Jesus. Amen.
John 14:1-14
1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; [1] believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [2] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” [3] 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. [4] From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me [5] anything in my name, I will do it.
Grace Mercy and Peace to you from God the Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text today is the Gospel lesson, especially these words, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” Thus far our text.
Dear friends in Christ. Let not your hearts be troubled, Jesus has given you the kingdom, he has gone ahead of you to prepare many rooms for you. If it were not so, would He have said it? It is yours here and now. What good news! What a great blessing!
But there is just one little detail isn’t there? One little thing that in our text, Thomas realizes Jesus forgot to tell us, “Lord, since we don’t exactly know where you are going, how in the world are we supposed to know how to get there?” Yes Jesus, you have given us this, but how in the world do we actually get there? How do we inherit the kingdom? How do we enter heaven? Where do we go, what do we do? How do we get there?
Like Thomas, we often wonder the same thing. And our world has come up with many answers on how to get to heaven. And so often we hear these various ways that we may get into heaven, and we believe them and trust in them to finally bring us to our eternal homes. It is not bad to want heaven. But it is so dangerous to listen to sources outside God’s own words about how we may enter heaven.
Outside of God’s word, we hear that to get into heaven we must have more good in us than we have evil in us. We must do good things, and try to stay away from the bad. In other words we are supposed to be loving, to be kind, to care for those around us more often than we curse other drivers on the road, more often than we curse our neighbor and more often than we hate those who disagree with us.
This sounds like a nice idea doesn’t it? Think of how wonderful our world would be “if we could all just get along.” All you need is love right? “Imagine, all the people living life in peace” if they would just love their neighbor. It would be a utopian society without war, and hate, and murder. “What a wonderful world.” But do you see the problem in this thinking? Do you see the weakness in this train of thought? Friends, we cannot do more good than evil, and if we think we can we misunderstand our own condition.
For each person on this planet is infected with sin. Each person is so totally evil that they cannot do good, they can’t achieve a perfect utopian society. We call this original sin, and it poisons each one of us. Because of this original sin, we no longer really want to do good, we no longer want to care for others. Yes we might in short spurts, we might say we want to help others, but if the motivation comes from within ourselves, it is steeped in sin. And if all we do is steeped in sin, we cannot do enough good to earn heaven. We cannot enter by our own means.
Think of it in this way, when you have a cold, your nose runs, you cough, you may get a fever. These are all the symptoms of the virus that infects your body. In the same way, we are all sick with sin. We show the outward symptoms of hate and disgust at our neighbors. We commit adultery, we face suffering and death, and all of these, while sin in themselves point to that great illness we have been conceived with. We are separated from God. We are apart from him, and nothing we can do will lead us back to him. Thomas is right, we do not know the way, because the way is perfection, and it is something that we in ourselves cannot achieve.
So are we lost? Are we stuck here in the midst of our sin, while Jesus taunts us with the promise of a mansion with many rooms, while we cannot even get there? No. You see, we may not get there on our own. We may not earn our way there. We can’t do it. But Jesus tells us the way to get there. He says we must come through the Way, the Truth and the Life. And the Way the Truth and the Life is not a road map that we must follow. It is a person. Jesus, in our text says, “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes through the Father except through me.”
You see there isn’t a list of things to do. There isn’t a level of good things that you have to do to be saved. It is entirely by Grace that you are saved, through Faith, through Jesus Christ alone. Jesus says in our text, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” Jesus himself will be the way, he himself will carry you into your eternal home. He will lead you into peace and comfort.
Jesus is the way because he himself has been perfect. He was born apart from sin, having not inherited it from his Father, for his Father is God the almighty. He lived a perfect life, always in perfect relationship with his Father, and always serving his neighbors. He cared for those around himself, instead of cursing, blessing. Instead of hating, loving. Instead of fighting, showing patience and kindness. All of these things and more Jesus did for you who could not do them on your own. Finally, Jesus did gave everything he had to purchase and win you from your sin. He gave up his own life on a cross. He hurt for you. He felt pain for you. He died in your place, and he poured out his life giving blood upon all in sin.
It is the perfect medicine for us sinners, the blood of Jesus. He doesn’t just treat the symptoms of our sin, he heals the cause. He sets us free, so that yes, now we may serve our neighbor. Yes, now you may love your brothers and sisters in peace, and not need to fight them any longer, for you have been healed by Jesus, the way, the truth and the life. He will lead you and carry you with himself into his Father’s heavenly kingdom. IN him, and him alone, do you have all the blessings that you could ever hope for and dream of and more.
How do you get into heaven? The Way leads you. The Truth of God’s word points you ever to the Son of God, Jesus. And in Him, you have life. It isn’t about you at all, it is all about Jesus. Amen.
Friday, May 20, 2011
The End of the World?
Recently it has been in the news that the E Bible Fellowship has predicted tomorrow as the end of the world. First off, we know from scripture that no one knows the day or the hour. Futhermore, I am not convinced they actually believe it either. See below:
Found this on the "Doomsday Church" website - (http://www.ebiblefellowship.com/)
"Judgment Day - May 21, 2011 - 1 Day Remaining -
On this site, you will find hundreds of hours of teaching on the Bible which you can listen to online or freely download. You can also join us each Sunday for our worship service live simulcast over the internet and the evening Fellowship Hour is a time when you can ask questions relating to the Bible. We also distribute free Bibles, free MP3 CD's and free tracts."
As if with judgment day being tomorrow, I would have time to listen to hundreds of hours of teaching on the bible. And if tomorrow (Saturday) is judgment day, how could I listen (how could they broadcast?) to their church simulcast Sunady morning? Am I missing something? And if they are raptured, who do I ask the questions to on Sunday's "Fellowship Hour".
Guess I will just stay a Lutheran Amillennialist and let it be the way it is.
.
Found this on the "Doomsday Church" website - (http://www.ebiblefellowship.com/)
"Judgment Day - May 21, 2011 - 1 Day Remaining -
On this site, you will find hundreds of hours of teaching on the Bible which you can listen to online or freely download. You can also join us each Sunday for our worship service live simulcast over the internet and the evening Fellowship Hour is a time when you can ask questions relating to the Bible. We also distribute free Bibles, free MP3 CD's and free tracts."
As if with judgment day being tomorrow, I would have time to listen to hundreds of hours of teaching on the bible. And if tomorrow (Saturday) is judgment day, how could I listen (how could they broadcast?) to their church simulcast Sunady morning? Am I missing something? And if they are raptured, who do I ask the questions to on Sunday's "Fellowship Hour".
Guess I will just stay a Lutheran Amillennialist and let it be the way it is.
.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Baptism Bible Study 02
Below is the link to the second part of our study of Baptism.
God's Blessings
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Easter 4 - G - 2011 - Hear his voice and follow him
John 10:1-10 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text is the Gospel lesson, especially these words, “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”
Dear friends in Christ. Shepherds care for the sheep, that is their job. They take the defenseless sheep out into the open country, and watch over them while they graze. When a predator arrives, hungry to eat the sheep, the shepherd calls his sheep together and protects them so that the enemy may not touch or harm them. When they need more food, the Shepherd gently leads them to a new pasture where they may feast and grow fat.
Friends, in our text today, Jesus tells us a story about sheep. A flock of sheep is safely corralled in a pen. They are there awaiting the arrival of their Shepherd. While they await there, thieves and robbers jump the fence to come in and try to kill and steal the sheep from their rightful owners. We know they are thieves and robbers because they try to get the sheep out of the pen by means other than the gate. They try to throw the sheep over the fence. They try to dig a hole under the fence and pull the sheep out. But the sheep “will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.”
But when the Shepherd arrives, the sheep hear their name. They hear the voice of their true Shepherd calling to them, and they flock together around Him. And the only way they can leave the sheep pen is through the gate. Having been brought out safely, the Shepherd “Leads them beside still waters” and “makes them lie down in green pastures, restoring their souls.”
Friends, Jesus takes time to tell you this whole long sheep story not so that you will become better educated about sheep, but rather so that you will know more about yourselves. You see this story isn’t about sheep at all. It’s about you, and even more so, it’s about your Good Shepherd, Jesus. You have been placed here in this world by God. God created this world and everything in it for you and for all humankind. That’s what we confess in the creed. He placed you here with his very hands. He gave you all that you have and all that you need.
But we also know that ever since God has placed you here that robbers and thieves have been trying to steal you from God’s possession. Satan, ever since that fateful day in the Garden of Eden when he said, “Did God really say?” has been trying to steal you away from God. He even uses the same words to try and steal you away today. Did God really say that Jesus is the only way to be saved? Can’t I believe in Mohammed or in New Age mysticism or other things and be just as saved? Did God really say that marriage between a man and woman was the only place for sex to take place? Did God really say I shouldn’t say anything bad about my neighbors and friends? Did God really say this, did God really say that?
In the end, so often we would believe that robber Satan much more than we believe our true shepherd. So often we would let that robber throw us out of the sheep pen, we would let him lead us away from our Shepherd. Friends our text is clear, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy”. Satan and his words “Did God really say?” are only there to try and kill you. To try and lead you into eternal death and damnation. Satan wants you to suffer as he will suffer, in the etnernal punishment of hell – the very absence of the gifts of God – forever. Having faith in the words of the robber who wants to murder you and serve you for dinner is not the shepherd’s plan.
But today, the shepherd calls you. Our text is clear, today your shepherd calls you by name. Each one of you was called by name – the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, as you were baptized into that name for your eternal life. Today your shepherd calls you and you hear his voice and come running. You hear the Good shepherd’s voice as He tells you His very word contained within the Holy Scriptures.
His word tells you not about what you can do to be saved, or what you must do to be holy, but it tells you that Jesus has come. It tells you that Jesus is your good shepherd and that his voice is louder and clearer than the voice of Satan. You hear the shepherd who would give up his life on your behalf. Who rather than to let you be killed or murdered that he will give up his own life on your behalf to guard you and protect you.
Our epistle lesson says, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
“The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” Do you hear what this text says? Jesus leads you, he goes out ahead of you so that you may follow along. Jesus has gone ahead of you through death. He has gone ahead of you into eternal resurrection. He has gone ahead of you now to prepare a place for you. In his Father’s kingdom are many mansions. If it were not true would he have said so? Jesus has done this so that you might have life and have it to the full.
Jesus, your good shepherd. Jesus the one who leads you through the perils of this life. Jesus the one who gaurds and protects you in the midst of all the struggles of this world. He doesn’t promise there won’t be problems or struggles. But he promises you that he will be with you through it all, to face the robber and thief who would murder you. And that in the end, you will have eternal life, and have it to the full.
You are Jesus little lamb. He is your good shepherd. And when your short life is ended, by his angel hosts attended, he will fold you to his breast, and there within his arms you will rest. Amen.
Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text is the Gospel lesson, especially these words, “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”
Dear friends in Christ. Shepherds care for the sheep, that is their job. They take the defenseless sheep out into the open country, and watch over them while they graze. When a predator arrives, hungry to eat the sheep, the shepherd calls his sheep together and protects them so that the enemy may not touch or harm them. When they need more food, the Shepherd gently leads them to a new pasture where they may feast and grow fat.
Friends, in our text today, Jesus tells us a story about sheep. A flock of sheep is safely corralled in a pen. They are there awaiting the arrival of their Shepherd. While they await there, thieves and robbers jump the fence to come in and try to kill and steal the sheep from their rightful owners. We know they are thieves and robbers because they try to get the sheep out of the pen by means other than the gate. They try to throw the sheep over the fence. They try to dig a hole under the fence and pull the sheep out. But the sheep “will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.”
But when the Shepherd arrives, the sheep hear their name. They hear the voice of their true Shepherd calling to them, and they flock together around Him. And the only way they can leave the sheep pen is through the gate. Having been brought out safely, the Shepherd “Leads them beside still waters” and “makes them lie down in green pastures, restoring their souls.”
Friends, Jesus takes time to tell you this whole long sheep story not so that you will become better educated about sheep, but rather so that you will know more about yourselves. You see this story isn’t about sheep at all. It’s about you, and even more so, it’s about your Good Shepherd, Jesus. You have been placed here in this world by God. God created this world and everything in it for you and for all humankind. That’s what we confess in the creed. He placed you here with his very hands. He gave you all that you have and all that you need.
But we also know that ever since God has placed you here that robbers and thieves have been trying to steal you from God’s possession. Satan, ever since that fateful day in the Garden of Eden when he said, “Did God really say?” has been trying to steal you away from God. He even uses the same words to try and steal you away today. Did God really say that Jesus is the only way to be saved? Can’t I believe in Mohammed or in New Age mysticism or other things and be just as saved? Did God really say that marriage between a man and woman was the only place for sex to take place? Did God really say I shouldn’t say anything bad about my neighbors and friends? Did God really say this, did God really say that?
In the end, so often we would believe that robber Satan much more than we believe our true shepherd. So often we would let that robber throw us out of the sheep pen, we would let him lead us away from our Shepherd. Friends our text is clear, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy”. Satan and his words “Did God really say?” are only there to try and kill you. To try and lead you into eternal death and damnation. Satan wants you to suffer as he will suffer, in the etnernal punishment of hell – the very absence of the gifts of God – forever. Having faith in the words of the robber who wants to murder you and serve you for dinner is not the shepherd’s plan.
But today, the shepherd calls you. Our text is clear, today your shepherd calls you by name. Each one of you was called by name – the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, as you were baptized into that name for your eternal life. Today your shepherd calls you and you hear his voice and come running. You hear the Good shepherd’s voice as He tells you His very word contained within the Holy Scriptures.
His word tells you not about what you can do to be saved, or what you must do to be holy, but it tells you that Jesus has come. It tells you that Jesus is your good shepherd and that his voice is louder and clearer than the voice of Satan. You hear the shepherd who would give up his life on your behalf. Who rather than to let you be killed or murdered that he will give up his own life on your behalf to guard you and protect you.
Our epistle lesson says, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
“The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” Do you hear what this text says? Jesus leads you, he goes out ahead of you so that you may follow along. Jesus has gone ahead of you through death. He has gone ahead of you into eternal resurrection. He has gone ahead of you now to prepare a place for you. In his Father’s kingdom are many mansions. If it were not true would he have said so? Jesus has done this so that you might have life and have it to the full.
Jesus, your good shepherd. Jesus the one who leads you through the perils of this life. Jesus the one who gaurds and protects you in the midst of all the struggles of this world. He doesn’t promise there won’t be problems or struggles. But he promises you that he will be with you through it all, to face the robber and thief who would murder you. And that in the end, you will have eternal life, and have it to the full.
You are Jesus little lamb. He is your good shepherd. And when your short life is ended, by his angel hosts attended, he will fold you to his breast, and there within his arms you will rest. Amen.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Easter 3 - E - 2011 - Ransomed
Grace mercy and peace to you from God our Father though our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text today is the Epistle lesson, especially these words, “you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” Thus far our text.
Dear friends in Christ. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed alleluia! Amen. You were ransomed from the futile ways you inherited from your forefathers. Our text is clear – St. Peter’s word’s proclaim this message. We are ransomed not with gold or silver, but with the precious blood, innocent suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ransomed. It’s a word that we often quickly skim over. Ransomed is a word that deals with slavery and imprisonment. When someone is kidnapped, they are held for ransom. When the ransom is paid, they are set free. When someone is a slave, they may be set free if they can pay their purchase price – a ransom. So if our text tells us that we have been ransomed, that means we must have been in bondage. We must have been held captive.
As modern day americans we don’t like that idea. We like to think we are not slaves and have never been slaves. We have done so much to earn our worldly freedom. But still our text tells us we have been captives, telling us we were under the authority of futile ways inherited from our forefathers. We were slaves to useless things. And what is more useless and futile than our own sin. What has more held us in captivity and yes even slavery than “those thing we do not want to do, but yet do.”
Yes, in sin, we are slaves. We are slaves to sex. We are slaves to our desire to do it our own way, even when God’s word and even modern social scientists say our way isn’t the best way. We hold up and glorify sex outside of marriage, and so often we just accept it as a part of our modern life instead of taking a bold stand to what is right by God. We are slaves to sex as we look at things that are inappropriate on our computers and televisions. We are slaves to sex as we read novels that depict things that we wouldn’t want our young children to read. Friends, sex is a beautiful gift from God that he has given and that has its place. In our sin, we have corrupted it, and become slaves to it.
We are slaves to sin! We are slaves to our greed, always wanting more and more. Always wanting what our neighbor has or always wanting what we don’t have ourselves. We know it isn’t fair if someone else has what we want. So often we will do whatever we possibly can to get our hands on the mammon of this world. The things we are so greedy for are the things that will not last, the things that moth and mold will destroy, but that we so badly want anyways. God gives us everything we need to support this life and body, and yet we want more, more, more!
We are slaves to sin! We are slaves to our own indifference as we care mostly about what is beneficial to our own selves, and ignore those who are around us and really truly in need. We ignore those who are sick, so that we can have time to watch our television shows. We ignore those who mourn so that we can take care of our own business. We ignore those who have serious struggles, saying, “to each his own, let each take care of their own issues.”
We are slaves to sin as we tell lies about those around us, or pass on “information” we have heard without knowing if it is the truth or not. We put others down, we spread vicious rumors and lies. We ourselves lie about things, taking advantage of the kindness of people to benefit ourselves. We are slaves.
In all of these things and more, we are guilty. In all these things and more we are slaves to sin. And as slaves to sin we are also slaves to sin’s counterpart – death. As slaves to sin we must also submit to death and the grave. For the wages of sin is death. Through sin, death entered the world. And if we are slaves to sin, we have no choice but to obey, we must die if we are slaves to the sin of this world.
But friends, our text is so clear. You have been ransomed. You have been set free. You have been rescued from the futile ways of your forefathers, the futile ways of sin. You don’t need to submit to them any longer. As St. Peter says, and as we quote in our Small Catechism, Jesus Christ has ransomed you, not with gold or silver, but with His holy precious blood, innocent suffering and death. He has set you free from slavery and made you a child of His kingdom. You may now live and reign with Him to all eternity, just as Has risen from the dead, and lives and reigns himself. In Jesus, you are no longer a slave. You are free.
Being free, when faced with temptation, be they sexual, be they in regards to gossip or greed or selfishness, we don’t have to give in. We may declare loudly and boldly – I DO NOT BELONG TO YOU SIN OR SATAN, BUT I BELONG TO JESUS! I will be free, for Christ has made me so. I am baptized into him. I partake in His body and blood! I am God’s own child! I gladly say it!
Friends, you are God’s child, no longer a slave. Why do you turn back to your slavery? Why do you give in to the struggles of this world? You are ransomed. You have been purchased by Christ. You belong to Him, and nothing else matters here in this world. What great news!! What a great Word that has been proclaimed! You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. You may now serve your Lord and your neighbor freely knowing that you do not have to submit to the sin of this world.
Can you imagine what this means? Picture a slave out working in the field, doing the will of his master without being able to care for himself. Long hard days of labor, from dawn until dusk doing the will of his slave driver. Finally, the news arrives! You are free! You have been ransomed! Does the man return to his slavery and say – “well this is easier!?” NO! The man goes forth celebrating and sharing this news with all! I once was a slave, but now I am free. I once was captive and now I am ransomed!
Friends, you are ransomed. You are free. In the death and resurrection of Jesus, you may leave your slavery behind forever and every and ever – even unto eternity. Amen.
Dear friends in Christ. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed alleluia! Amen. You were ransomed from the futile ways you inherited from your forefathers. Our text is clear – St. Peter’s word’s proclaim this message. We are ransomed not with gold or silver, but with the precious blood, innocent suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ransomed. It’s a word that we often quickly skim over. Ransomed is a word that deals with slavery and imprisonment. When someone is kidnapped, they are held for ransom. When the ransom is paid, they are set free. When someone is a slave, they may be set free if they can pay their purchase price – a ransom. So if our text tells us that we have been ransomed, that means we must have been in bondage. We must have been held captive.
As modern day americans we don’t like that idea. We like to think we are not slaves and have never been slaves. We have done so much to earn our worldly freedom. But still our text tells us we have been captives, telling us we were under the authority of futile ways inherited from our forefathers. We were slaves to useless things. And what is more useless and futile than our own sin. What has more held us in captivity and yes even slavery than “those thing we do not want to do, but yet do.”
Yes, in sin, we are slaves. We are slaves to sex. We are slaves to our desire to do it our own way, even when God’s word and even modern social scientists say our way isn’t the best way. We hold up and glorify sex outside of marriage, and so often we just accept it as a part of our modern life instead of taking a bold stand to what is right by God. We are slaves to sex as we look at things that are inappropriate on our computers and televisions. We are slaves to sex as we read novels that depict things that we wouldn’t want our young children to read. Friends, sex is a beautiful gift from God that he has given and that has its place. In our sin, we have corrupted it, and become slaves to it.
We are slaves to sin! We are slaves to our greed, always wanting more and more. Always wanting what our neighbor has or always wanting what we don’t have ourselves. We know it isn’t fair if someone else has what we want. So often we will do whatever we possibly can to get our hands on the mammon of this world. The things we are so greedy for are the things that will not last, the things that moth and mold will destroy, but that we so badly want anyways. God gives us everything we need to support this life and body, and yet we want more, more, more!
We are slaves to sin! We are slaves to our own indifference as we care mostly about what is beneficial to our own selves, and ignore those who are around us and really truly in need. We ignore those who are sick, so that we can have time to watch our television shows. We ignore those who mourn so that we can take care of our own business. We ignore those who have serious struggles, saying, “to each his own, let each take care of their own issues.”
We are slaves to sin as we tell lies about those around us, or pass on “information” we have heard without knowing if it is the truth or not. We put others down, we spread vicious rumors and lies. We ourselves lie about things, taking advantage of the kindness of people to benefit ourselves. We are slaves.
In all of these things and more, we are guilty. In all these things and more we are slaves to sin. And as slaves to sin we are also slaves to sin’s counterpart – death. As slaves to sin we must also submit to death and the grave. For the wages of sin is death. Through sin, death entered the world. And if we are slaves to sin, we have no choice but to obey, we must die if we are slaves to the sin of this world.
But friends, our text is so clear. You have been ransomed. You have been set free. You have been rescued from the futile ways of your forefathers, the futile ways of sin. You don’t need to submit to them any longer. As St. Peter says, and as we quote in our Small Catechism, Jesus Christ has ransomed you, not with gold or silver, but with His holy precious blood, innocent suffering and death. He has set you free from slavery and made you a child of His kingdom. You may now live and reign with Him to all eternity, just as Has risen from the dead, and lives and reigns himself. In Jesus, you are no longer a slave. You are free.
Being free, when faced with temptation, be they sexual, be they in regards to gossip or greed or selfishness, we don’t have to give in. We may declare loudly and boldly – I DO NOT BELONG TO YOU SIN OR SATAN, BUT I BELONG TO JESUS! I will be free, for Christ has made me so. I am baptized into him. I partake in His body and blood! I am God’s own child! I gladly say it!
Friends, you are God’s child, no longer a slave. Why do you turn back to your slavery? Why do you give in to the struggles of this world? You are ransomed. You have been purchased by Christ. You belong to Him, and nothing else matters here in this world. What great news!! What a great Word that has been proclaimed! You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. You may now serve your Lord and your neighbor freely knowing that you do not have to submit to the sin of this world.
Can you imagine what this means? Picture a slave out working in the field, doing the will of his master without being able to care for himself. Long hard days of labor, from dawn until dusk doing the will of his slave driver. Finally, the news arrives! You are free! You have been ransomed! Does the man return to his slavery and say – “well this is easier!?” NO! The man goes forth celebrating and sharing this news with all! I once was a slave, but now I am free. I once was captive and now I am ransomed!
Friends, you are ransomed. You are free. In the death and resurrection of Jesus, you may leave your slavery behind forever and every and ever – even unto eternity. Amen.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
The Death of Osama Bin Laden: A Teaching Moment on the Doctrine of Vocation and the Two Kingdoms
By Rev. Paul McCain of CPH. This article helps teach us how we should respond to the death of Osama bin Laden as Christians. I invite you to read it.
The Death of Osama Bin Laden: A Teaching Moment on the Doctrine of Vocation and the Two Kingdoms
Rejoice! God has delivered you from your enemies!
Psalm 18
1 I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of destruction assailed me; [1]
5 the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
7 Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and quaked, because he was angry.
8 Smoke went up from his nostrils, [2]
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
9 He bowed the heavens and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.
10 He rode on a cherub and flew;
he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him,
thick clouds dark with water.
12 Out of the brightness before him
hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.
13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice,
hailstones and coals of fire.
14 And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
16 He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
17 He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
19 He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
20 The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all his rules [3] were before me,
and his statutes I did not put away from me.
23 I was blameless before him,
and I kept myself from my guilt.
24 So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25 With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
26 with the purified you show yourself pure;
and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
27 For you save a humble people,
but the haughty eyes you bring down.
28 For it is you who light my lamp;
the Lord my God lightens my darkness.
29 For by you I can run against a troop,
and by my God I can leap over a wall.
30 This God—his way is perfect; [4]
the word of the Lord proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?—
32 the God who equipped me with strength
and made my way blameless.
33 He made my feet like the feet of a deer
and set me secure on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your right hand supported me,
and your gentleness made me great.
36 You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip.
37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
and did not turn back till they were consumed.
38 I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise;
they fell under my feet.
39 For you equipped me with strength for the battle;
you made those who rise against me sink under me.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs to me, [5]
and those who hated me I destroyed.
41 They cried for help, but there was none to save;
they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them.
42 I beat them fine as dust before the wind;
I cast them out like the mire of the streets.
43 You delivered me from strife with the people;
you made me the head of the nations;
people whom I had not known served me.
44 As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me;
foreigners came cringing to me.
45 Foreigners lost heart
and came trembling out of their fortresses.
46 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation—
47 the God who gave me vengeance
and subdued peoples under me,
48 who delivered me from my enemies;
yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me;
you rescued me from the man of violence.
49 For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations,
and sing to your name.
50 Great salvation he brings to his king,
and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
to David and his offspring forever.
Praise the Lord - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - For he has delivered his people!
The Death of Osama Bin Laden: A Teaching Moment on the Doctrine of Vocation and the Two Kingdoms
Rejoice! God has delivered you from your enemies!
Psalm 18
1 I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of destruction assailed me; [1]
5 the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
7 Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and quaked, because he was angry.
8 Smoke went up from his nostrils, [2]
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
9 He bowed the heavens and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.
10 He rode on a cherub and flew;
he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him,
thick clouds dark with water.
12 Out of the brightness before him
hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.
13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice,
hailstones and coals of fire.
14 And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
16 He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
17 He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
19 He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
20 The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all his rules [3] were before me,
and his statutes I did not put away from me.
23 I was blameless before him,
and I kept myself from my guilt.
24 So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25 With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
26 with the purified you show yourself pure;
and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
27 For you save a humble people,
but the haughty eyes you bring down.
28 For it is you who light my lamp;
the Lord my God lightens my darkness.
29 For by you I can run against a troop,
and by my God I can leap over a wall.
30 This God—his way is perfect; [4]
the word of the Lord proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?—
32 the God who equipped me with strength
and made my way blameless.
33 He made my feet like the feet of a deer
and set me secure on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your right hand supported me,
and your gentleness made me great.
36 You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip.
37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
and did not turn back till they were consumed.
38 I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise;
they fell under my feet.
39 For you equipped me with strength for the battle;
you made those who rise against me sink under me.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs to me, [5]
and those who hated me I destroyed.
41 They cried for help, but there was none to save;
they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them.
42 I beat them fine as dust before the wind;
I cast them out like the mire of the streets.
43 You delivered me from strife with the people;
you made me the head of the nations;
people whom I had not known served me.
44 As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me;
foreigners came cringing to me.
45 Foreigners lost heart
and came trembling out of their fortresses.
46 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation—
47 the God who gave me vengeance
and subdued peoples under me,
48 who delivered me from my enemies;
yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me;
you rescued me from the man of violence.
49 For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations,
and sing to your name.
50 Great salvation he brings to his king,
and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
to David and his offspring forever.
Praise the Lord - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - For he has delivered his people!
Monday, May 2, 2011
May 2011 News and Views from the Pews
Below is the link to this months News and Views from the Pews
Included this month:
Ella's Big News
The Grinch who tried to steal Easter
VBS Preregistration is open
and MORE!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Confirmation - 2011 - The Gifts God Freely Gives That Now Save You.
Easter 2/Confirmation Sunday 5/1/2011
1 Peter 1:3-9
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-- kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith-- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Grace mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text today is the epistle lesson, especially these words, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” Thus far our text.
Dear friends in Christ, especially you young confirmands. Today is a special day. Five young people officially become confirmed members of our congregation and, for the first time, receive the gift of the Lord’s Supper. Today, you get to partake in that preview of heaven, with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, and eat the very body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Today you begin the Christian life in earnest, the life of receiving gifts from God. Receiving from God. That is what today is about. That is what confirmation really is. It isn’t about what you do at all. It is completely about what God gives, and what God gives is his own Son, life, forgiveness, and salvation. God generously pours out all sorts of wonderful amazing gifts upon you here in His church, here in His Word, here among His people. Today your confirmation is completely and totally a gift.
The gifts you receive today are gifts that you need. Gifts that will carry you throughout your life. You see, just like every other person that has been confirmed here, just like every other member of this church and every person present here, you and I are sinners. Each one of us daily and grievously sins against our God and creator. We turn against Him. We disobey him in so many ways. We have all learned the 10 commandments, and in learning them we know that we do not keep them – we don’t even come CLOSE! And the biggest sin of all is when we take all sorts of other things, and put them into the place of God, breaking that first commandment. We make ourselves into a god, into the ultimate judge, and by doing so we spit in the eye of the true God.
Friends, we break these commandments when we think we don’t need to continue our learning past confirmation – and we all have considered that at one time or another. We break these commandments when we skip church for work, or play, or worst of all, when we say we don’t need what is offered here at church. We break these commandments when we openly go against God’s word, or in similar fashion openly deny the faith that is so graciously given by our heavenly father. We all have done it. We all are guilty. We all are wrong. Not one is better than another. All have fallen short of the glory of God. There is not one who is righteous, not even one!
Dear friends, dear confirmands, dear former confirmands and members of church. We don’t deserve anything from God, because we have so thanklessly turned our backs on him. We have constantly told God, “I have no need for you, I am my own boss, now step aside while I do what I can do for myself.” The problem is, we can’t do anything. We cannot save ourselves. We can’t clean up the mess we have made. We are stuck in our sin, and there is no way out.
But (today is not about how we’ve fallen short, how you’ve fallen short, how you will continue to fall short) today is about gifts. Today is about what God promises to give to you sinners, even to you sinners who don’t deserve anything from Him. Today is about a promise made first to Adam in the garden, and even now today to every child that is baptized. A promise of forgiveness. A promise of life. A promise of salvation. This promise is Jesus. This promise was first gifted to Adam and Eve in the garden, only a few short moments after that first sin. God gave them the promise that one day they would be saved from their sin.
This promise was given over and over again throughout the Old Testament, to Abraham, to Jacob, to David and more. God gave the promise of rescue. God gave to each person here that promise as you were baptized into God’s name. It is a promise that here today is given to you again, and you are confirmed in the faith.
The promise God gives you is assured in blood. This promise is given freely without any doing of your own. It is given simply because you could not do it on your own. The promise God gives you is fulfilled as Jesus dies and rises again for you. It is fulfilled as you Jesus cries out on your behalf, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” In the death and the resurrection of Jesus, you dear confirmands, and yes, you dear brothers and sisters in Christ, are promised heaven. You are promised rescue. You are promised a place apart from weeping and mourning, apart from gnashing of teeth. You are promised to be given – in faith – an eternal inheritance from your Father.
Today, for the first time you will participate in this promise, in this gift from God, as you come up to this altar and here eat the very body that was given on your behalf, and that was raised again. For the first time, you will drink of the blood that was poured out for your forgiveness, and that still today courses and flows through the living Jesus Christ in his kingdom. Dear confirmands, and dear Christians, here today at this altar, you participate in heaven.
What a gift! What a promise! IT is for you! It is yours now! As our Epistle lesson says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” It is yours now, as you are confirmed in the faith.
Please don’t misunderstand, life will not suddenly be easy. You will not always want to come here to church, you will not have a pain free life. Even our text says that there will be struggles. But because of the gifts of God has given to each of you, you can know that these struggles are like a refiner’s fire that will strengthen your faith. Each week as you come and eat and drink this body and blood, God will keep on giving gifts to you. He will keep pouring out His blessings upon you. Even in the struggles of your life, he will keep on giving to you. That is your promise today.
Dear confirmands, and dear friends in Christ. Today God gives to you. Tomorrow God gives to you, and even forevermore. “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” That is God’s gift to you today. Amen.
1 Peter 1:3-9
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-- kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith-- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Grace mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text today is the epistle lesson, especially these words, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” Thus far our text.
Dear friends in Christ, especially you young confirmands. Today is a special day. Five young people officially become confirmed members of our congregation and, for the first time, receive the gift of the Lord’s Supper. Today, you get to partake in that preview of heaven, with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, and eat the very body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Today you begin the Christian life in earnest, the life of receiving gifts from God. Receiving from God. That is what today is about. That is what confirmation really is. It isn’t about what you do at all. It is completely about what God gives, and what God gives is his own Son, life, forgiveness, and salvation. God generously pours out all sorts of wonderful amazing gifts upon you here in His church, here in His Word, here among His people. Today your confirmation is completely and totally a gift.
The gifts you receive today are gifts that you need. Gifts that will carry you throughout your life. You see, just like every other person that has been confirmed here, just like every other member of this church and every person present here, you and I are sinners. Each one of us daily and grievously sins against our God and creator. We turn against Him. We disobey him in so many ways. We have all learned the 10 commandments, and in learning them we know that we do not keep them – we don’t even come CLOSE! And the biggest sin of all is when we take all sorts of other things, and put them into the place of God, breaking that first commandment. We make ourselves into a god, into the ultimate judge, and by doing so we spit in the eye of the true God.
Friends, we break these commandments when we think we don’t need to continue our learning past confirmation – and we all have considered that at one time or another. We break these commandments when we skip church for work, or play, or worst of all, when we say we don’t need what is offered here at church. We break these commandments when we openly go against God’s word, or in similar fashion openly deny the faith that is so graciously given by our heavenly father. We all have done it. We all are guilty. We all are wrong. Not one is better than another. All have fallen short of the glory of God. There is not one who is righteous, not even one!
Dear friends, dear confirmands, dear former confirmands and members of church. We don’t deserve anything from God, because we have so thanklessly turned our backs on him. We have constantly told God, “I have no need for you, I am my own boss, now step aside while I do what I can do for myself.” The problem is, we can’t do anything. We cannot save ourselves. We can’t clean up the mess we have made. We are stuck in our sin, and there is no way out.
But (today is not about how we’ve fallen short, how you’ve fallen short, how you will continue to fall short) today is about gifts. Today is about what God promises to give to you sinners, even to you sinners who don’t deserve anything from Him. Today is about a promise made first to Adam in the garden, and even now today to every child that is baptized. A promise of forgiveness. A promise of life. A promise of salvation. This promise is Jesus. This promise was first gifted to Adam and Eve in the garden, only a few short moments after that first sin. God gave them the promise that one day they would be saved from their sin.
This promise was given over and over again throughout the Old Testament, to Abraham, to Jacob, to David and more. God gave the promise of rescue. God gave to each person here that promise as you were baptized into God’s name. It is a promise that here today is given to you again, and you are confirmed in the faith.
The promise God gives you is assured in blood. This promise is given freely without any doing of your own. It is given simply because you could not do it on your own. The promise God gives you is fulfilled as Jesus dies and rises again for you. It is fulfilled as you Jesus cries out on your behalf, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” In the death and the resurrection of Jesus, you dear confirmands, and yes, you dear brothers and sisters in Christ, are promised heaven. You are promised rescue. You are promised a place apart from weeping and mourning, apart from gnashing of teeth. You are promised to be given – in faith – an eternal inheritance from your Father.
Today, for the first time you will participate in this promise, in this gift from God, as you come up to this altar and here eat the very body that was given on your behalf, and that was raised again. For the first time, you will drink of the blood that was poured out for your forgiveness, and that still today courses and flows through the living Jesus Christ in his kingdom. Dear confirmands, and dear Christians, here today at this altar, you participate in heaven.
What a gift! What a promise! IT is for you! It is yours now! As our Epistle lesson says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” It is yours now, as you are confirmed in the faith.
Please don’t misunderstand, life will not suddenly be easy. You will not always want to come here to church, you will not have a pain free life. Even our text says that there will be struggles. But because of the gifts of God has given to each of you, you can know that these struggles are like a refiner’s fire that will strengthen your faith. Each week as you come and eat and drink this body and blood, God will keep on giving gifts to you. He will keep pouring out His blessings upon you. Even in the struggles of your life, he will keep on giving to you. That is your promise today.
Dear confirmands, and dear friends in Christ. Today God gives to you. Tomorrow God gives to you, and even forevermore. “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” That is God’s gift to you today. Amen.
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