Proper 20 - G - 2011 - Your Just Reward

Isaiah 55:6-9   Phillipians 1:12-14, 19-30       Matthew 20:1-16

Grace, Mercy and Peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is the Gospel lesson just read, especially these words:  “So the last will be first, and the first last.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ.  I want my just reward.  I want what I think I deserve.  This is the attitude of the man in our parable today.  He has agreed to work for the entire day for a set wage, one denarius.  He labors, working hard at his tasks for the day.  And as he works, others come in later in the day.  Some come in a few hours later, and some others even come in at the last minute, only an hour before the end of the day.  As this man works in the vineyard, he talks with those who are around him, and learns that they too have been promised a denarius.  The man begins to think about it.  If the man working only one hour receives a denarius, then don’t I deserve 12 times more?  After all, I have worked longer then they have.  I have been here a whole day, and they have only been here a few short minutes. 

As the man watches the late comers receiving their pay, he begins to imagine what he will do with his extra income.  He begins to imagine what things he will buy, what sort of food he will eat.  He tells himself he really deserves these things, after all the early bird gets the worm, and I was here first, so I should get a bonus for what I have done.   You can imagine the man’s surprise then when he receives his wage for the day’s work, the single denarius that he was promised at the beginning. 

That’s not fair, is it?  That shouldn’t be the way it works, should it?  If someone works longer, they should get more, shouldn’t they?  They should be more richly rewarded for their faithfulness.  And yet, the man in our text received exactly what he was promised, exactly what he agreed to.  He received his just reward.

And what of you, dear friends in Christ?  What does this say to you?  What message can you pluck from this tale that Jesus tells us?  Friends, the truth is that it is for us that Jesus speaks this parable.  It is for the situations that we are in.  We know what our hope is.  We know what our promise is.  We have received the Kingdom from Jesus, we have had our sins forgiven in the precious blood that flowed from the cross.  We have life, and life to the full.  And we have been promised heaven for living a life of faith here in this world. 

What a gift!  What a blessing.  For you see that life of faith isn’t even dependent on us.  It is a free gift that Jesus gives us.  Something we don’t deserve, something we don’t earn, something that is a blessing.   And yet, like the man in the parable, we believe we have earned it, and that it is ours to determine for ourselves.  And so just like the man in the parable, we often look down on those who are around us.  We like to compare ourselves with them, saying, “I am better than he is, aren’t I?  Come on Lord, don’t I deserve something better than that sinner over there.  I mean, I have done more good things for you, haven’t I?”

We are prideful people, aren’t we?  We do like comparing ourselves with others, because we are so good at seeing the speck in someone else’s eye.  We are so good at judging someone else to be guilty while ignoring the glaring sin in our own life.  I have been a Christian longer than you, so I have a greater say in this church.  I have done more good for our community, so listen to what I want.  I have sinned less than that poor miserable person there, so I am holier, aren’t I?  In all of these things, we put ourselves into the first and most important position, the position of power.  And so we grumble to the master of the house, Jesus, and say, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.”

But “The last will be first, and the first will be last.” Friends, it isn’t about being better, it isn’t about deserving more.  Christianity isn’t about any of these things.  Being a Christian is about Jesus, the one who had all glory, power, and honor, and yet gave it up on your behalf.  As St. Paul writes in Philippians, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.   And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!”  Jesus puts himself in last place so that you can receive life.  He takes your deserved punishment upon himself so that you can receive his reward.  He dies, so that you may live.

And Jesus has made all Christians equal in his eyes in that he has given to all who confess his name eternal life.  It isn’t that Jesus is cutting you out, it isn’t that Jesus is taking away what you think you deserve.  No, Friends, Jesus is giving you the whole thing, and he gives it to those others who believe in him as well.  And because all that Jesus gives is a free gift, we are to receive it with thanksgiving, and with joy.  We are to look at those others who also receive the gifts of God with joy as well.  Look how much love your God has.  Look how he has lavished forgiveness upon all people who trust in him.  Look how much he has done for you, and your sin, and the sin of the whole world.  Look how he made himself last so that you could be first. 

It’s not fair.  It’s not the way it should work, is it?  God gives to all, including you, even when we don’t deserve it.  Amen.  

Proper 16 - G - 2011 - Our Confession and Peter's Confession

Isaiah 51:1-6     Romans 11:33-12:8    Matthew 16:13-20 

Grace Mercy and Peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is the Gospel lesson just read especially these words from Jesus.  “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ.  “Who do you say I am?” Jesus asks the disciples.  Jesus asks us this question today, who am I?  This question embodies everything that we believe as Chrsitians, and especially as Lutherans.  Everything we believe teach and confess is supposed to tell us who Jesus is, and what it is that he does for me. 

So what is the answer to this question, who is Jesus?  The world has given many answers to this question, and many of them are based upon our own understanding, our own research and our own preconceived notions.  Some say Jesus is a nice guy who was misunderstood.  Some say Jesus was a great philosopher, teaching us peace, love and harmony in our worldly relationships.  Some say Jesus was just a criminal whose followers made up stories about him.  Islam says Jesus was a prophet who came before the true prophet Mohammed.  And if none of these were bad enough, recently, in the news, I have even heard that Elton John said Jesus was just a misunderstood gay man. 

What about you dear friends in Christ.  What about you, who do you say that Jesus is?  I have spoken with people in our town who have said Jesus is a false teacher.  I have spoken with people who have denied that Jesus actually cares what we do son long as we are a “good” person.  And so what about you.  Who do you say Jesus is?  The answer to this question determines for us all of eternity, all of salvation, and all of forgiveness together. 

So what is the truth?  And how do we know?  Jesus tells Peter today in our text that he got the answer to this question right.  Who is Jesus – He is the Christ, the son of the living God.  But how did Peter know?  How could Peter have been sure?  Was he a good guesser?  Did he have some sort of secret knowledge that revealed who Jesus was?  Was he smarter than the other disciples, and smarter than we are?  Friends no, Jesus says Peter knew not because of his own flesh or blood, not because of his intellect, but rather because God the Father revealed it to him. 

God revealed Jesus to Peter as Jesus walked on water a few weeks ago.  God revealed it to Peter as Peter ate from the miraculous feast of Jesus, not once, but twice.  God revealed Jesus identity as Jesus spoke the very words of God, Blessed are the poor in spirit, the peacemakers and more.  God revealed who Jesus was to Peter in everything that Jesus did to care for those around him.  And these things revealed the truth about Jesus boldly and clearly, that Jesus was the Christ, the savior promised to Adam and Eve, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 

And so Peter boldly confessed his faith, the faith given by God, that Jesus really is God after all.  Peter kept this confession, even despite of a few hiccups where he was confused in his life.  Peter kept this faith all the way to Rome, where he was crucified for believing that faith he had confessed, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

It is not flesh and blood, it is not our own intellect that reveals to us who Jesus is either.  It is the very working of God.  Yes, in this world we are faced with thousands of differing interpretations of who Jesus is.  Is he a nice guy or a lunatic, did he really exist at all?  What should we think of Jesus?  God tells us clearly, revealing Jesus in the same miraculous gifts that he did for Peter. 

God reveals Jesus to us today as we eat and drink the very body and blood of Jesus.  There, in mere bread and wine we come into contact with Jesus, and miraculously know who he is.  God reveals Jesus to us as we hear the living Word of God in the scriptures, the word that tells us what Jesus did and why he came, that we might be saved.  God reveals Jesus to us as we gather together in remembrance of our baptism, where we died and were raised with Jesus forever and ever. 

And so we can confess that same faith as Peter, that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God, not because it makes sense, not because we are smarter than the average bear, not because we are holy, but rather because God has revealed it to us. 

We confess this faith every week when we gather here around the gifts of God, and as we speak the Apostles and Nicene Creed.  “I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord,” so similar to Peter’s confession, you are the Christ, the son of the Living God.  But our confession doesn’t  stop there, for we confess that this Jesus came to earth for me and for my sin.  This Jesus went before Pontius Pilate and was crucified.  That he shed his blood so we might not need shed ours.  We confess that he then raised again on the third day, just as we too will do in him.  In these words, we also confess that we believe Baptism really does work salvation, and that it is necessary for our salvation.

When Peter made this confession, just as he did in our text, he confessed all these things just as we do today.  And because the believing Peter, the faith-filled Peter made this confession through Gods grace and through God’s gifts, Jesus says, Blessed are you.  Dear friends, in this faith we share with Peter, blessed are you.  Blessed are you for death no longer has the last word for you.  Blessed are you because you are no longer held to be guilty for your sin.  Blessed are you because everything you have done wrong, everything you have failed to do that you should have, every things that is wrong with this world for you is gone forever in Jesus.  And in Him, and Him alone, you have the promise of eternal life forever and ever with Him in his kingdom.  Whatever sins are forgiven here in this place are forgiven you in heaven.  And so in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus, your sins are forgiven. 

This is the corner stone of the church, the faith that leads us to confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, that he has died for me, and that in him we have eternity.  This is our faith.  This is our hope.  This is our gift of God, and this is what we confess to believe as Christians.  Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.  Blessed are you who believe this by God’s grace.  Amen. 

Proper 15 - E - 2011 - Bound to Disobedience To Recieve His Mercy

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8           Romans 11:1-2a, 13-15, 28-32            Matthew 15:21-28

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, “For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ.  Disobedience is our way of life isn’t it?  From the moment we are born, can walk, can talk, can do practically anything, we are learning where the rules are and where we can break them.  I can think of countless examples from my own life.  My parents would say, “Adam, clean your room.”  And I wouldn’t.  My parents would say, vacuum the floor, and I would watch TV.  My parents would say mow the yard, and I would ride my bike. 

I know each and every person here did similar things growing up.  Children are known for disobeying their parents.  Don’t touch that, and you would.  Don’t do that, but you would.  Do this, and you didn’t!  And when we were children we didn’t understand why we had rules, and why we had to obey.  But our parents were always working on keeping us safe, always working on providing the best for us.  The rules were there not just to bother us, but they were there for a purpose. 

Dear friends in Christ, our text today tells us a similar thing, only not in relation to our parents, but in relationship to our God, and creator.  The one who put us here on this earth to love us, and to give to us.  But just like a child, almost from the very beginning, we began to disobey God’s word.  Adam and Eve were the first people, and they were also the first to break a rule.  “Don’t eat from that tree” God said, “or you will die.”  Plain and simple, an easy rule right?  But before too long, Adam and Eve had broken it, and brought a life of sinfulness, of disobedience to God for all mankind. 

God consigned Adam and Eve to disobedience.  That word, consigned means he turned them over to the imprisonment of disobedience.  He allowed them to be surrounded by disobedience they wanted because that is what we wanted.  Adam and Eve disobeyed God because they wanted to be in charge in their own life.  And so God let them have what they wanted. 

But it was not as good as Adam and Eve imagined.  Their happy joyous life with God could not be replicated on their own.  They had to struggle.  They had to work hard so that they had enough food.  And worst of all they had to pay the ultimate price, the one God promised would happen for their disobedience, death.  930 years after he was born, Adam finally succumbed to his disobedience. 

Friends, you and I also disobey God.  From the moment of conception in our mothers’ wombs, we already had turned our backs on God.  Through out our entire lives, we do things that God doesn’t want us to do.  We like to gossip about people around us, even if though God says we should not slander.  We like to covet things those around us have.  We like to use language we don’t want our mom to hear.  We do all of these things, and in them all we disobey God in the exact same way that Adam and Eve did. 

Friends, you and I are consigned to disobedience.  We have been imprisoned in our sin so that all that we do is sin.  All that we are is sin.  All that we desire is sin, and on our own we cannot know anything else but sin. 

But  our text says that we were all bound into disobedience so that God might have mercy on us all.  And he has had mercy on us in his Son Jesus Christ.  For your disobedience, Jesus came to this world born of a virgin.  For your disobedience Jesus healed the sick and the suffering around him, even those who we would judge to be unworthy (as in our Gospel lesson today).  Jesus came and he submitted to mankind’s evil disobedience, allowing us to put Him to death on a cross. 

Yes, it was our disobedience that killed Jesus.  It was our disobedience that swung a hammer to pound nails through the hands and feet of Jesus.  It was us that swung the whip and tore off his flesh.  It was our disobedience that desired to put God to death. 

But through it, through our disobedience, God has shown mercy to us.  For the very death of Jesus which we desired in our sin destroyed that death forever.  IN the crucifixion of Jesus we were finally rescued from disobedience forever.  When Jesus died, he died the death Adam deserved.  He died the death Eve deserved.  And yes, he even died the death that you deserved. 

And instead of what you deserved, Jesus gave you the keys to the kingdom. He did not stay dead in our disobedience, but leaving it dead he rose again forever and ever. And you too, in Him alone, will one day rise to everlasting blessedness, righteousness and innocence forever in heaven.  God has had mercy on you poor disobedient sinners. 

So now what, St. Paul asks, For if we have died to sin, can we go on living in it?  Can we keep on doing whatever we want with out caring what God thinks about it.  No friends.  For you have died with Jesus in baptism.  And when you were dead with him, your disobedience died as well.  The old way of doing things doesn’t work any longer.  In Christian love and out of the response to knowing we have salvation in him, we are no longer bound by disobedience, but we are free to do what God would have us do.  We are free to help our neighbor.  We are free to no longer covet.  We are free to no longer disobey.  You are free to be God’s Child, and to be in perfect relationship with him foreve.r 

You once were bound over to sin.  But now in Jesus you are free.  Now through Jesus you have received mercy.  In Jesus, you have countless blessings forever.  Amen. 

Proper 13 - G - 2011 - The Miraculous Feeding

Isaiah 55:1-5          Romans 9:1-13            Matthew 14:13-21

Grace, Mercy and Peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is the Gospel lesson just read, especially these words, “Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ.  Jesus is a Lutheran, and if you doubt it look at today’s text, 5000 people, all satisfied.  It’s the very first church pot luck.  Thousands of people eating after church, .  The people came to Jesus hungry, they came with their sicknesses, and their struggles.  They came to Jesus, and he satisfied them, because he had compassion upon them. 

It had been a tough time for Jesus.  His cousin John had just been put to death, beheaded by King Herod in exchange for an erotic dance by his step daughter.  With only a little while by himself to mourn, he comes and sees countless people struggling in their daily lives.  He sees the people of that day and age who are sick with illnesses, sick with cancer, with blindness, with hurt with pain.  He sees those who need compassion and he gives it to them. 

And after they have spent the day out in the wilderness receiving healing and compassion and sympathy from Jesus, they are hungry, for they have nothing to eat.  The disciples think they should take care of themselves, “Send them to the villages Jesus, make them buy their own food.  After all this is a desolate place”  And who can blame them?  The disciples themselves were hungry, having spent the day helping control the crowds as they came to Jesus.  But Jesus says, “they don’t need to leave, you disciples shall give them something to eat.” 

  Can you imagine the disciples response?  But Jesus, we are hungry ourselves!  We need something to eat too, after all, we have been out here all day and all we have to eat is five loaves and two fish.  How in the world can we feed these 5000 people with only this small amount?  So Jesus took the bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to the disciples.  The disciples pass it out, and all are fed.  Can you believe it?  5000 people fed from 5 small loaves and two fish.  5000 people fed, and even then Jesus provided so much to them that the disciples had to pick up 12 basketfuls of leftovers.  It was a feast, a buffet, a place where they could eat and eat and finally be satisfied.  Jesus provided the meal, and all got their fill. 

Friends, Jesus does the same for you and me today.  For just like those people so long ago, we have many needs.  We have family and friends, and maybe even ourselves that are sick and who are tired.  We suffer from cancer, from Alzheimer’s, from broken and dying bodies, and we need compassion.  There is so much hurt in our world, yes even in our own small town.  There are so many people who struggle so much with sin, and with pain.  There is not one of us who hasn’t felt its effects on our lives, for each and every one of us are so infected with guilt and sin that it is inescapable. 

And so just as in our text, Jesus comes to us.  He comes with healing in his wings, with compassion for us and our sin, he comes to make us well.  And as he comes, Jesus provides for us a feast as well.  Here at this altar in mere bread and wine he gives all the gifts of eternity.  Here he feeds us with such a feast that it provides for us more than we can possibly comprehend.  Here he gives us life and salvation, so that we might be his own and live in his kingdom forever. 

But how Pastor, how can a tiny little wafer that tastes like cardboard really satisfy me?  How can a tiny sip of wine quench my thirst?  It doesn’t make sense.  There isn’t enough there in that small piece of bread and the tiny drop of wine.  It must be our imagination, it must be a silly custom we do. 

Friends, the same Jesus who fed 5000 people with a few loaves and fish feeds you today.  He feeds you yes with a little wafer and yes with a swallow of wine, but in with and under them he gives you himself.  He gives you his own precious body, the body of God which was born of the virgin Mary so that it might be bruised and bloodied for you.  He gives you in the bread the body that had nails driven through his hands and his feet, so that he might suffer and die on the cross for you.  In that tiny wafer you get the whole Jesus ever little bit of him for your forgiveness, your life and your salvation. 

He gives you his blood, in with and under the wine for you to drink.  It is the same blood that flowed through His own veins, until it was poured out as a sin offering for you.  It is the blood that flowed from the wounds of his body, so that you might be rescued in his name.  Jesus, in bread and wine gives you himself, so that you might receive forgiveness for all your sin, for all your doubt forever and ever.  He gives you himself, so you may eat and be satisfied.

And what Jesus gives you in this bread and wine he gives freely.  You do not need to purchase it.  You do not need to earn it.  You do not need to do anything, for it is a beautiful precious gift for you.  “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”  For Jesus has paid the price. 

And the feast that we eat here at this altar is the same feast we will one day eat forever and ever in heaven. It is a foretaste of the feast of the lamb in his kingdom which will have no end.  You will be satisfied, for you will always be full.  You will be satisfied, for the feast will always be given to you.  It’s a feast we share with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven.  It is a feast, prepared for you, so you might be filled. 

Dear friends in Christ, are you hungry?  Do you need healing?  Do you need to be satisfied?  Friends, Come today, and eat the bread.  Come today and drink the cup.  Come today, receive Jesus and be satisfied.  For it is truly his body and his blood, and in it you have life forever.  Be satisfied.  Amen. 

Proper 8 - OT - The Prophet Who Brings Peace

Jeremiah 28:5-9, Romans 7:1-13, Matthew 10:34-42

Grace, Mercy and Peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is the Old Testament lesson just read, especially these words, “As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ.  Peace is something that we always strive for in this world.  Its something we want and desire.  We will often times do whatever it takes for the feeling of peace.  However, in this world, Peace is not something that is easy to come by.  It is not something that is easily found, and in fact, it isn’t even something that is promised here in this world at all. 

But still it has always been something that people want and hope for, even in the most dire of circumstances.  Take our Old Testament lesson for an example.  The Prophet Jeremiah lived in one of the most tumultuous times of ancient Israel.  The nation that once had been militarily strong under David, was now weak and dependent.  The nation that once had prospered financially under the wise Rule of Solomon, now could hardly pay its bills and tribute to its enemies.  The armies of Babylon led by the king Nebuchadnezzar were marching on the much weaker armies of Jerusalem. 

The people of Jerusalem and Israel were afraid, and Jeremiah’s prophecies about the coming destruction of their once proud nation did not make things any better for them.  But in the midst of these difficult times, our text says a false “prophet” Hananiah comes and preaches a message not sent from God.  He proclaims a message pretending to be from God, and tells the people of Israel exactly what their itching ears want to hear. 

“Peace” Hananiah says, “not slavery to Babylon.  Victory, not destruction.  God will rescue us and give us peace in these days and restore the power and prestige of our great nation.  He will restore all the things that the Babylonians have stolen from us.  Peace will finally be ours!”  What a wonderful thought!  What a hope filled message!  What a lie!  God had not promised peace, but rather that Babylon would carry the Israelites away in the yokes of Oxen for their lack of faith and as punishment for worshipping false Gods.  Hananiah proclaims a false message of Peace, and because it sounds better than war, the people of Israel believe it. 

But Jeremiah, when he hears these false words, prophesies himself in our text.  “Oh that it were true” Jeremiah says.  “The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. And the same thing is what God says is going to happen to you because of your sin.”  Yes, one day there will be a prophet who correctly predicts peace, and when that day comes, you will be sure that it is truly a prophet from God.  But Hananiah was not that prophet.  Hananiah was just telling those people exactly what they wanted to hear. 

We too like to listen only to what our itching ears want to hear.  Don’t worry about what God says about it, just do what you want to, and it will be fine.  We want to hear that God will condone whatever we want to do, regardless of what scripture says.  If I want to cheat on my taxes, God will understand.  If I want to skip church to go to the fishing lake, God will forgive me.  If I want to do this, or do that, God will understand. 

Homosexuality, living together, cursing and swearing.  Yes God’s word says its wrong, but my itching ears don’t want to hear that.  Drinking excessively, fighting with family members, hating people who do something wrong to me.  Wanting money more than anything else.  Wanting the best house or car or cellphone.  God says no, look at me, but we say thanks but no thanks.  I want to do these things no matter what God’s word says.  And why do we act that way?  Because ultimately, it isn’t God we want to listen to, it is our own sinful natures that we want to listen to.  Just as those Israelites wanted peace rather than the promise of struggle and pain, so too do we want our own selfish desires rather than what God says we should.    

Friends, what do you want?  What things do you want to do?  Are they what God would have you do, or are they only what you have decided to do yourself.  Honestly look at yourself.  Don’t you too have some things you do that God says No to.  Don’t you have some things that you do that you know are wrong, but you figure, everyone else is doing it, why can’t I? 

So long as we listen to our own itching ears instead of to God’s word, we will never have peace.  So long as we obey men instead of God we will have struggles and fights in this life time.  It is the same for us as those Israelites in Jeremiah’s day.  Looking at our self leads only to sin, while looking at God leads to peace. 

And the God we look towards is the God Jeremiah prophesied about, the Prophet who truly brings peace in this world.  Jesus Christ is that prophet, Jesus who knew that we were selfish and sinful people, came to live among.  Jesus who knew that we listened to what we wanted to hear rather than the truth came and said boldly, “I am the way the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except by me.”  Jesus shows us what our itching ears should look to, his own bloody death on a cross for Forgiveness life and salvation.  There and there alone to we learn what true peace is, the suffering of Jesus. 

For as we see Jesus on the cross, and we know the price paid for our sin, we no longer listen to our sinful nature, for it is dead with Jesus in baptism.  As we see the body of Jesus hanging and dying from a tree, we know that is the body that we eat.  As we see the blood pouring from the side of Jesus, we know that it is that blood of which we drink for our forgiveness.    In Jesus, our itching ears are deafened to the cries of this world, and can only hear the voice of our God, “Come to me, and I will give you peace, come to me and I will give you eternity, come to me, and be forgiven forever.”

Friends, there is no peace in this world.  All the things we turn to and look at will never bring us satisfaction.  Even though our itching ears send us looking for all sorts of comfort in this world, the only true comfort is not here.  Instead we look to Jesus, and we know that there we have comfort there we have peace, there we hear the true voice, the voice that tells us not what our itching ears want to hear, but tells us about our salvation in Jesus.  Amen. 

Trinity - 2011 - OT - Who is Our God

Grace, Mercy and Peace to you from God the Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Our texts today are all three readings, focusing on our God, the Trinitarian God.  Thus far our texts. 

Dear friends in Christ.  Before the beginning, there was only God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  One God in three persons, three persons in one God.  They exist in perfect harmony, love, and understanding of one another.  They have one substance, one will, one desire and always have been and always be the true God of all things. 

This God, so full of love and passion and care wished to share it with you.  So in the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth.  All three persons of our Trinitarian God were present.  Moses tells us in Genesis one, that God the Father created the entire universe through the Word, his Son our Lord Jesus.  And while creation was happening, the Spirit of God hovered above the newly created waters. 

“Let there be Light”, the Father spoke, and instantly his Word and Son brought forth beautiful pure light.  For when your Trinitarian God speaks, he speaks things.  “Let there be day and night”, and there was.  “Let there be sky and sea,” and it appeared.  “Let there be dry land.  Let there be plants, let there be animals in water and on land, let there be stars and sun and moon.  Let there be a safe place for humankind to receive my gifts.”  And as God speaks his Word, it happens. 

For Six days, your God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit worked, creating all that you know.  Writing the laws that govern existence, and in the thousands of years since, we have hardly been able to even begin to understand them.  And on that last day, you God – the three in one God – made your first relative.  He scooped up the freshly made earth, and he carefully and lovingly with his own “one day to be nail scarred hands”, shaped and formed a man in his own image.  He designed your heart and lungs to provide you with breath.  He gave you your brain to think and reason.  He gave a mouth to smile, and arms and hands to hold on to things.  Your God, made you.  And having formed the body of that first man, he leaned close, and breathed the breath of his Holy Spirit into that body, the breath of life entered our flesh, and we became alive. 

All that God made was good – very good.  He himself said so.  The world was good, the universe was good.  It was a safe place, because your God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit was always close to you, always protecting you, always providing for you.  It was good, and in this good world, we would have lived forever in a perfect relationship with our God, just as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit were in perfect relationship with one another.  

But things would not stay good.  By our fault, our own fault, our own most grievous fault, we turned our back on God.  By telling him that even in the midst of this wonderful created world that he gave us, that we did not have to listen to his rules about how His creation should work.  Our first relative, Adam did the only thing God told him not too, and by doing so brought death into God’s good world.  In an instant, the perfect relationship between Creator and Created was shattered, with the creation going its own way doing its own thing.

Friends, we still do this same things.  We still disobey God.  We ignore God’s words “You shall not steal, murder, curse, lie, or hate.”  There is war in our world.  There is pain in our world.  This world, because of your sin and mine, is no longer very good.  It no longer runs smoothly.  It no longer is a safe place, because we abandoned the One God who brought security to this world. 

For thousands of years, in our sin our ancestors have died.  For thousands of years, in our sin, we have felt pain and loss.  The pages of scripture record it clearly for us, and we can see ourselves in the pages.  Adam’s own son murdered his brother.  Noah’s word was destroyed, and then he passed out drunk in the tent.  Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt and then his daughters commit incest with him.  Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery.  Friends the story of our lives and the story of our world goes on and on in the same fashion even today.  Sin is everywhere.  You are guilty of it.  And with Sin comes its punishment, death to all who turn their back on the God who gave life.

But your God loves you so much, He cares for you so much, that He would not separation from Him be the end of the story.  He would not let your life be a meaningless adventure on a doomed rock floating around the Sun.  Your God loves you so that he would give up His own perfect relationship for you. 

God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit decided to rescue you, and the only way that it could happen was for God to become man, to take on your flesh and pay your punishment.  That Trinitarian God will rescue His creation.  And so the Father sent His son to be born of the virgin Mary.  The Godhead to human flesh into itself, never to let it go.  From now until eternity, the Son will be not only God, but man.  And that God-man came and went to Golgotha, to the cross, to death so that you might have life and life to the full.  He took your sin with Him.  All your guilt, all you pain, all your suffering, even your death, Jesus bore to the cross.  And there on the cross, a miracle happened.  While Jesus, the God-man was dying, the Father turned His back on Jesus.  He suffered the separation of Hell.  He was alone, “My God my God, why have you forsaken me.”  And finally, when it was all complete, He gave up His Spirit. 

Do you see what the God who created all does for you?  Do you see what gift He has given?  He gave up Himself so that He might have you to be His own.  He Himself has died on a cross to give you life.  And He Himself has overcome sin death and the devil by His resurrection into eternal life. 

And today, still, your Trinitarian God comes to you.  In Baptism, Matthew writes that you are connected to your God and Creator, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  In Baptism, you belong to him through the work of the Son on the Cross.  Baptism restores that perfect relationship to your God, and you are given forgiveness life and salvation.

Your God is an amazing God.  He is three persons in one God and One God in three persons.  He came and took on Human flesh in the God Man Jesus, and He now gives to you eternal life, restoring you to the new creation of eternity without pain or suffering or death.  Your God gives to you.  Amen. 

Pentecost - 2011 - E - Why Does the Holy Spirit Come?

Grace, Mercy and Peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text today is the reading from Acts, especially these words, “And it shall come to pass, that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Thus far our text.


Dear friends in Christ. Today is Pentecost, the day we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, as described in our second reading today. The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples as they sat, starry eyed and nervous in the upper room 10 days after the ascension of Jesus into heaven. You can picture them sitting there can’t you? “Well Peter, what are we supposed to do now?” “How am I supposed to know John? I’m just a regular guy like you are.” “Well shouldn’t someone know?” These apostles, chosen by Jesus were just sitting around. They were wondering what to do! They didn’t know how to do this Ministry that Jesus had asked them to do. Where do you start? So much for brave and holy apostles.

But as they are sitting there, the Holy Spirit comes, as a flame blowing through the house. He separated into 12 different flames and landed on each one of them. It was only then, that they knew what to do. It was only then that through the Holy Spirit, they were able to fulfill the mission that Jesus had called them to do: To tell the world about Jesus’ life death and resurrection, to preach the word.

After all that is why the Holy Spirit has come, to point us always towards Jesus Christ and Him crucified for your sins great and small. To come and give you the Good News that in Him you need not worry about eternal death, but instead to look forward to eternal life with Jesus. The Holy Spirit never points to himself, but only to Jesus. He never toots His own horn, but he always works faith in you, so that you might receive from Jesus.

But that isn’t what we think of the Holy Spirit, and so often today that’s not how we speak of the Holy Spirit. Today, we often make the Holy Spirit into some sort of divine decision maker. “What would God like me to do today? Should I wear the plaid shirt, or the striped?” We expect the Holy Spirit to tell us what choice we should make so that we can be more holy, and please God with our actions. God should I go on vacation to Hawaii, or California, can you let me know? Should I marry person A or person B? Should I have chicken or beef for dinner?

Friends, it’s not bad to ask God to bless your decisions in these matters, but when we ask the Holy Spirit to divinely tell us what the right answer is, we have taken the Holy Spirit away from His true job. We have separated Him from what he has promised to do, to point us to Jesus.

And what’s worse, so often we allow the Holy Spirit to become the excuse for what we want to do. We see this all over the place. God made me gay, so its ok for me to do what I want. God will forgive me if I sleep with the person outside of marriage. God won’t care if I cheat on my taxes or steal from my neighbor. I have even heard a song that proposes that God has bigger things to worry about than the little sins I do, because he has people like Hitler and Osama Bin Laden to worry about.

Friends, when we do this, once again we are not allowing the Holy Spirit to point us to Jesus, because we aren’t allowing ourselves to realize our own condition and how much we need God. We aren’t allowing ourselves to hear how we are poor miserable sinners, by our own fault, and how we need the forgiveness of Jesus, how we need His mercy and grace. Instead, we don’t even look past our own selves and desires.

But today on Pentecost, we hear why Jesus and His Father sent the Holy Spirit, so that we might learn of Jesus. Remember those apostles, who were sitting nervous and confused in that upper room, wondering what to do? When the Holy Spirit descended upon them, they no longer doubted what to do? They no longer were nervous of the consequences or how to begin. But boldly they went out among the crowds of Jerusalem, and began preaching the Gospel. Through the Holy Spirit, they begin pointing people to Jesus, and they themselves trusted in Jesus.

It wasn’t on their own desire. It wasn’t there decision, but it was a gift that God poured out through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit always points to Jesus. So as the Holy Spirit worked through the Apostles He began to point people to Jesus. He began to proclaim salvation in His holy name. He fulfilled what the prophet Joel wrote, “that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” For the Holy Spirit causes people to call on Jesus’ name. He says look to that cross there, for on it your sins died. Look to that empty tomb of Easter, for there is your assurance that Jesus is raised from the dead. Look to the right hand of God where Jesus lives and reigns, for there you one day will join him in eternal bliss and contentment.

Friends, the Holy Spirit comes to you, just as He did to the Apostles. He comes to you in baptismal waters, where you are washed in the blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins. There, in plain old water combined with God’s word the Holy Spirit gives out freely faith in Jesus. It is as if he grabs your head and turns it to look at the cross of Jesus, completely apart from your own will and desire. There your old sinful nature daily drowns as the Holy Spirit holds him underwater, leaving your Holy perfect in Jesus self to live for all eternity.

The Holy Spirit comes to you, just as to the Apostles as you come here and hear God’s Word. The Holy Spirit promises to always work with that word to create and sustain faith in your hearts. In the weekly bible readings, the Holy Spirit comes to you. In faithful preaching, you are pointed to Jesus the author and perfecter of your faith. And in your own personal bible study, the Holy Spirit feeds and sustains that faith created in your baptism.

The Holy Spirit also comes to you as you receive the Lord’s Supper. There he brings to you and feeds you on Christ’s very body and blood, so that you might have life and have it to the full. Friends, you don’t need to go searching around to try and find the Holy Spirit, He is always at work in you, and He is always exactly where he promises to be: In the Word, and in the two Sacraments, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. And because he points you to Jesus, because he creates faith within you, you have freedom in Jesus. You have freedom to wear plaid or stripes and know that either way, Jesus has forgiven you for the Holy Spirit tells me so. You have freedom to avoid the sins of the world, to avoid stealing, to avoid cursing, to avoid living together and sexual temptation, because the Holy Spirit ever points you toward Jesus who did not give into these sins on your behalf.

Faith comes through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit ever points you toward Jesus. The Holy Spirit ever declares, you are forgiven, not because of your works, but because of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is like a giant roadside billboard that says, “Look there at Jesus, for in him, and him alone do you have forgiveness, life and salvation.” The Holy Spirit ever points you toward Jesus, and because of that, all who call on the name of the Lord will be forgiven. Amen.

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.

Baptism Bible Study 02

Below is the link to the second part of our study of Baptism.

Click here for Baptism Bible Study Part 2

God's Blessings

2010 North Dakota District Pastor's Conference Sermon

I was assigned to preach at the 2010 ND Fall Pastor's Conference in Minot last week.  This is the sermon I preached for the occasion. 

Grace Mercy and Peace to you from God our Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.  Our text today is the epistle lesson assigned for yesterday, 2 Timothy 1:1-14,

"1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,2 To Timothy, my beloved child:  Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to [1] a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, [2] 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. [3] 13 Follow the pattern of the sound [4] words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

Dear Brothers in Christ.  Two parents were asking there 8 year old son what he wanted to be when he grew up.  He told them he wasn't sure, he hadn't really thought it through.  The boy's mother said, "Well, perhaps you should be a pastor, you seem really interested in theology."  The boy's father nodded his head in agreement while the boy thought about it.  "I don't know mom," he replied, "I'm not sure I want to be a pastor.  I don't think I want to sit around listening to everybody else's problems all day." 

So it seemed to this 8 year old that a pastor's job was mostly in dealing with other people's problems all day.  Now 18 years later, he stands in front of you having spent a little over 2 months as an ordained minister and he wonders, how far off the mark was his innocent comment.  Not to say people are always complaining to him, but there are still enormous responsibilities and issues to deal with as an under shepherd of God's flock. 

Fellow brothers in Christ's ministry, you know the issues of what I speak.  Sin surrounds us at ever turn.  In every direction we see Satan's work, and we are asked how deal with it.  We are asked what should be done here or there, and at times it is simply overwhelming.  For only two months have I been a pastor, and already I have seen the affects and results of sin on the people of my congregations, and it makes me wonder, what more will I see, and what have you yourselves seen?

Have you seen pain, sorrow and hurting? A man, who has lost his wife, and now is uncertain what to do, and he comes to the pastor asking "Why did this happen?  Why does God allow cancer?  I am so lonely."  And the pastor must give an answer.  We are confronted with a young woman who wants to be a mother, and yet, has miscarriage after miscarriage.  "Why Lord, can I not be a parent?  Why is God keeping this joy from me?  What happens to the still born child's soul?" and again the Pastor must speak.

Have you seen sin and its effects on your sheep?  Countless young couples who are living together before marriage coming to the pastor, wanting to be married, and the pastor must ask "Lord, how do I handle this situation in a God pleasing manner, both speaking the truth in kindness and gentleness, while still conveying what You think of this sin?"  Pastors are confronted by questions about homosexuality, pornography, alcoholism, drugs and more, and the question is asked, "Why is this wrong?"  "Pastor, why do you have stick your nose in my personal business on these issues? Why can't you just live and let live?"  In addition to these things just mentioned, have you been faced with difficult questions regarding beliefs?  Pastor, why are some people saved and not others?  Pastor, why can't my cousin come up for communion?  Pastor why can't we have women pastors? 

Or maybe you have seen people's fears.  "What happens when I die?  What if I wasn't good enough?  Can God really forgive my sin, because oh Pastor, I have been bad."  Pastors face the fears of people who are not sure how they will make ends meet this month or week, people uncertain how they will feed themselves this week.  There are fears of death, fears of the unknown, fears of not receiving forgiveness.  And these fears include our family and friends as well.  "Pastor, is my mother really in heaven, I don't know.  Pastor, my brother never went to church.  Pastor my kids stopped attending after confirmation." 

As God's under shepherds, we are confronted with this barrage from all sides.  Often we are left awake at night wondering how we will deal with a particular situation, or wondering how God really is working through this situation.  We feel like we are on the front lines of a battle, and we are uncertain what to do or how to do it, because when we are honest, we are no different from those people coming to us.  We have the same struggles and questions.  We too have sorrow and hurting as we share in the death of a loved one, or a family member.  We have sin, both in our thoughts and in our deeds, by what we have done, and what we have left undone.  We know we have not loved God or our neighbors as we ought to.  We too have fears as we wonder how in the world we can handle and deal with the situations before us.  We have questions, "Have I handled this correctly?  Have I said the right thing?  How can God expect me to deal with that?"

We really aren't any different than those whom we shepherd, are we? Perhaps at times we even feel like we are worse, because we can see our own sin and feel our own sinful hypocrisy as we deal with people in our congregations.  Hypocrisy because St. Paul says a pastor should be "Above reproach, husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money and more."  Well, is that you?  It is not me, and I suspect that not a one of us really can fit such a high standard.  Sin is on the offensive, and we are its target.  So where do we turn? 

I can only imagine that St. Timothy asked this same question, "Where do I turn?" And that dear brothers, is why today's text is so important for us today.  Timothy was faced with the same problems and situations which we face today.  St. Paul gives him comfort for all these problems.  Comfort "Not because of our own works, but because of God's own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus." 

Comfort that says in the face of sin, we have hope, hope in the blood and death of Jesus Christ, true God and true man, sent to redeem us all from our sin.  In Him and Him alone do we have comfort and peace in the face of a sinful world.  As our text says, Jesus "abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."  In response to the difficult situations with which we are faced, perhaps where we have no good answers, we look to Jesus on the cross and say, "There is our answer." 

In response to your fears, Jesus says, "In my death and resurrection, I bring you to eternal life apart from tears and weeping."  To your sin Jesus says, "You are covered in my blood, as I have taken your sin from you as far as the east is from the west."  To your pain and sorrow, Jesus says "I am the lamb in the midst of the throne, and I am your shepherd, and I will wipe away every tear from your eyes."  In Jesus, and Jesus alone, we have Grace and Mercy. 

After all this gospel is for us pastors too.  It is for us men who serve as under shepherds just as it is for those to whom we minister in Jesus' name.  Jesus died for the sin of all of us pastors too, and we share in the glorious promises of Jesus.  Each of you has been baptized, and in those waters you were washed in the blood of the lamb.  As St. Paul wrote to Titus, "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness."  Not because of our holiness, not because of  how well we have served him in our congregations.  No.  He saved us "according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, who he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior." 

Here today we are gathered together, and we receive more comfort in his "true body and blood" under the bread and wine "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins."  Forgiveness for our short coming, comfort in times of struggles, promise in the everlasting message of the Gospel.  These are the gifts that God gives to you, as an under shepherd in His church, just as you share them with those you serve in His Name. 

Dear brothers in Christ, the only way that we can serve as pastors in Gods church, the only way we can faithfully serve God's people in the daily struggles of their lives, is in faith in the forgiveness that Jesus pours out upon us and all people.  As our text says, "Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved you and called you to a holy calling, not because of your works, but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave you in Christ Jesus, before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" in you and in your parishioners "for which you were appointed a preacher and teacher."  Dear brothers in Christ, Jesus will guard you in your ministry.  He will support you in struggles.  He will work through your preaching and teaching.  He promised it to Timothy, he promised it to Paul, and he promises it to you, sealing that promise with his own death and resurrection. 

18 years ago, I thought being a pastor meant only listening to other people's problems.  I couldn't have been further from the truth.  Instead, being a pastor means sharing with other people in receiving the gifts of forgiveness life and salvation earned through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Amen.