Sermon 10-6-24
The first verse from the epistle reading in Hebrews for today is critically important: Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
And what we have heard is the Word of God.
For if we do not, if the Word of God is not in our hearts and minds, if the Word of God isn’t our anchor holding us fast . . . then we will drift away from it. Little by little, slowly but surely.
But that’s what happens, isn’t it? We’re not believers one day and unbelievers the next. We usually don’t go from right to wrong in one great leap, but usually an inch at a time.
When we listen to what we have heard from the world, and not God, we give in to our desires…which may even seem harmless at first; but before you know it hearts have grown hard—sin takes control and unbelief creeps in. God’s word is no longer the authority—church is out of the picture.
So when the Pharisees approach Jesus, as we heard in the Holy Gospel today, their question is not about what is good or right, it’s about what is lawful. Or in other words, what can we get away with? They’re really not interested in marriage, but in trapping Jesus, to give them the victory over Him. Marriage just happened to be the topic of the day. So, is it lawful, Jesus? What do you say?
But Jesus isn’t about the law; Jesus is about what He made good. He is the God of all creation standing before them. The God who created them. The God who gives good gifts, like life and marriage. Gifts that are to be received with thanksgiving. But how far the Pharisees had drifted away from God.
Our culture today has done the very same thing. We’ve taken what is not right, good or moral and legalized it—creating more problems for society, law enforcement and our legal system, not to mention the very risk of losing our souls.
To the Pharisees the issue was all about control. So, how about us? What’s the greatest stumbling block for Christians to day?
Does our culture think that marriage is good, or unnecessary?
Marriage is no longer the way God designed it. People can marry whoever they want. No one needs a piece of paper to have sex or children. There are even life-like robots, so there are no messy emotions or strings attached. When God created woman and walked her down the aisle in the garden of Eden and gave her to Adam and Adam to her it was good. How far we’ve drifted from the good God created. When God created someone who had never been before - a woman - and gave her to Adam they rejoiced in one another. Were one with each other and from their oneness came - children. Though many in our world today consider children to be an inconvenience or an accident that can be remediated with surgery, or a pill. and U know what? It’s lawful.
So what’s a God to do with people like us having such hardened hearts? Marriage and sexuality are just one issue where we’ve drifted away from God’s good. Not asking whether what we’re doing is good or not, but is it lawful? Can I get away with it?
Creation is fallen—marriage, families, communities, cities and nations. The world’s a mess. We are a mess.
And just because we call something good doesn’t mean it is. The only good is that which God calls good. So, what’s God to do?
Maybe He should have written us a certificate of divorce and sent us away. Maybe he should have let us destroy ourselves. But He didn’t.
Instead, He sent His Son that we might have life--a good life. That we might be born again from above. That we might be children of God. That we might be new creations from the water and blood that flowed from His side. That we might be good, washed clean from our sin, and be one flesh with Him.
In this life as we know it, death usually separates the husband and wife. But Jesus’ death, unites us to Him. Unites us to His resurrection…that our hardened hearts lying in the cold, dark grave, will be raised up to new life. God has given us what is really good, new life - not because of a loophole in the Law, but because our sin is forgiven in Jesus’ name. Our sin has been washed away, by water and the Word. The water of Holy Baptism, the Word of Absolution…
…for every sin and failure in marriage.
…for every sin in thought, word, and deed.
…for every doubt and failure to listen to God’s Word.
… for sins of our bodies and sins of our souls.
…for sins done knowingly and unknowingly. Jesus died for all of them,--no matter how ugly they are.
But in Jesus’ death on the cross, He also took everything infected and corrupted by our sin and made it perfect through His rising to life again. That is the good gift He offers to every one of us now.
What sin has caused you to drift from God? Is it something you’ve actually done, or something you’ve thought or said? Is it something you’ve put off doing? Is it an unforgiving heart? Jealousy? Anger? Selfishness? Self-indulgence?
There are so many tributaries of sin that cause us to drift away from God and His Word. Jesus was made like us in every way but without sin. He suffered when tempted - by the very same temptations that overwhelm us - He knows how hard it is. He comes to anchor us to God the Father and His Word, that we might remain firm in Him and live the good life He has chosen to give us. A life of love; of laying down our lives for others. Please pray with me.
O Guardian of our souls, we thank You for Your spirit’s voice that calls us to repentance when we have strayed from Your will. We pray that You will continue to speak to us through Your spirit, leading us away from sin and into righteous living. Please help us to be attentive to Your guidance and respond with gratitude as You show us the way to eternal life. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Sermon - September 22, 2024
Today we’re going to talk about worms…not the kind you use for fishing. But have you ever had a tune, or a jingle, of a song that worms its way into your head and you can’t get rid of it?
Or maybe it’s a thought that gets stuck in your head. Maybe it’s a concern in your life, a problem from work, or an assignment at school about which you can’t stop thinking.
Or it can be something good-- like an upcoming vacation. When you have a mind worm, you do things like forgetting to make a turn when you’re driving. Mind worms keep you up at night.
Or maybe it’s - a heart worm… a desire that worms its way into your heart. Something you want so badly that it begins to take over your life. You daydream about it, you obsess about it. Maybe it’s a person, or an accomplishment. But somehow it begins to define you; what you do and how you use your energy.
Mind worms and heart worms are not necessarily bad. It’s not bad to have goals or to try really hard for something. But they can turn bad.
When something controls you, like a heart worm, that’s idolatry—because it displaces God in your heart--it becomes what you fear, love, and trust instead of God. Something that you‘re afraid you’ll never get…something that you love more than anything else…something that gives you pleasure.
I think the disciples had a heart worm about greatness. They wanted to be the greatest. They even outrightly asked Jesus about it in Matthew 18. They argued about it in the Mark reading for today, and they were even disputing about it on the night when Jesus was betrayed, right after He gave them His Supper in Luke 22! That’s how dangerous heart worms can be. How they can take over your life and crowd everything else out.
Maybe that’s one of the reasons Jesus told the disciples in the Gospel text that He was going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they would kill him and when he was killed, after three days he would rise--but it kind of just bounced off them. It didn’t sink in. Because all they had on their minds and in their hearts was which of them was the greatest.
Jesus was nice about it; He asked them what they were discussing. Of the Gospel writers Mark is the most direct; he says they were arguing. But we do that too. We’re not fighting! We’re just having a discussion for heaven’s sake!
But we know what’s going on with the disciples, because it happens to us. Mind worms-- heart worms--worms of sin and evil from satan--worms from the world so we desire what they desire and value and then of course, there are some worms we come up with because of our own sinful nature. Those things that start out innocently enough, but the deeper they go, the more control they exert, and the more dangerous they become.
In the Epistle reading from James we heard about the jealousy and selfish ambition, passions at war within us. Somehow, we think we can be friends with the world --with desires like the world. But that becomes opposition to God. I’m not sure we realize just how dangerous this can be.
So how do we get rid of these worms, these consuming ideas in our lives? What we need is a jolt like a come to Jesus moment. So our focus on what is most important can be restored.
When the 12 disciples were arguing about worldly greatness, Jesus said: Look. If you want to be first, if you want to be great, you must be a servant and have faith like a child. That was just the shock--the jolt the disciples needed. It is absolutely necessary that we have these kinds of attitude corrections in our lives.
And that’s one reason we gather here for worship each week. Because the worms of satan, the world and our sinful selves try to squirm their way back into our ears, minds and hearts. When we are away from hearing God’s word, when we occupy our minds with other ideas and so-called truths, we place our lives in danger and if left alone our souls are endangered.
So we gather here each week to worship—to reset minds, hearts and lives. To focus on Jesus and His forgiveness and life. To fill our ears and minds and hearts with the realization we are not our own. We are subjects of King Jesus. We are not great in the eyes of the world, but we are pearls of great price in the eyes of God. King Jesus became the least to serve the likes of us.
So we gather to confess our sins. We pray for God’s mercy. We gather as old and young, parents and children, workers and bosses, to praise and thank the Lord our God. We gather to hear once again all that Jesus has done for us: He was delivered into the hands of angry men. He was killed and after three days He rose from the dead...to raise you and me up from our sins, to new life with Him. The world doesn’t think any of us are worth very much . . . but your value comes from the fact that God believes you are worth the life of His n! So many of the things we think we want, aren’t really worth having.
So we gather here week after week, blessed with so many children of all ages to be reminded we are His own.
As a groom looks lovingly at his bride, so Jesus looks at us with love in His eyes.
Jesus comes to us in word and sacrament; His divine word promises all believers eternal life. What we hear aren’t the opinions of a man or the thoughts of the world, but the words of truth from the Son of God Himself.
Jesus comes and feeds us with Himself to take away our sin and give us life and salvation. It’s kind of like being de-wormed so we can focus on what is life giving and lifesaving
So we pray today for the Lord to grant us humility and childlike faith. Humility, to realize and recognize who we are and what we are to be about. To look to the cross and see just how much God loves and values us, because God believes we’re worth it.
Dear Heavenly Father, we give You thanks for coming among us in the person of Your Son, Jesus the Christ, to restore us to a right relationship with You, our Creator. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, please strengthen us in faith, that we might turn from our selfish ambitions and serve You by serving others, especially those in need. Let our lives be a mirror of Your redeeming grace. This we ask, in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.
Sermon 9-15-24 - Mark 8:27-39
HEAVENLY FATHER, May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing to You our rock and our redeemer. Amen
Someone who drives a BMW might say: “Fords are for losers.”
A football player might say: “Soccer is for losers.”
and a foodie might say: “Frozen pizza is for losers.”
You can make up Your own if none of these seem to fit.
Even if those comments are made in jest, they still irritate. No one wants to be thought of as a loser. That’s why we try to keep up with the latest fashions and technology. But have you ever considered heaven is for losers?
That’s what our Gospel text is about this morning.
Peter and the other disciples had come to believe that Jesus was the Son of God. Peter made the great profession about Jesus: “You are the CHRIST, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16).Yeah Peter! But the disciples still had to learn what it meant that Jesus was the CHRIST.
The meaning of CHRIST is more than a part of Jesus’ name. CHRIST comes from the Greek word CHRISTos, which means anointed Jewish king who is yet to come. So when we refer to Jesus as the CHRIST it means He is more than our Savior from sin: He’s our king who deserves our allegiance.
Jesus was appointed to save the world from God’s anger over sin. That’s what Jesus meant when He told the disciples: “…the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again”.
Have we heard that Jesus had to suffer and die to pay for our sins so many times, that we’ve forgotten the real cost?
t time the disciples had heard Jesus speak about his upcoming death and they were shocked. It’s like the homeowner who had a leaky roof. It was just one spot, and it shouldn’t cost much to fix it. But the quote he received was for $20,000! Way more than he could have imagined; but to properly fix the problem the rotten roof sheathing, timbers and worn-out shingles all needed replacing.
The disciples didn’t really understand Jesus’ mission or how bad the problem of sin really was. They didn’t give a thought to the fact that Jesus would have to suffer and die – to fix the problem.
So Peter tried to dissuade Jesus. There was no need for this loser talk. That wasn’t the way for a king to think. That’s when Jesus took Peter aside and rebuked him pretty harshly. “‘Get behind me, satan! You do not have the things of God in mind, but the things of men.’
Peter-- unintentionally insisting there was no need for Jesus to suffer and die, placed himself on satan’s side. Right after Jesus’ ministry, satan tempted Him with the offer to rule the world, if He’d just bow down to him.
Jesus didn’t tell Peter He’d think about it. He told him just how serious his suggestion was.
So how do we deal with temptation?
We often mull over a situation until we come up with a way to justify our actions, our words, our behavior then commit a particular sin --would be OK.
We often think that retaliation is my right because that person deserves it for being so mean. S/He did it first.
Or we ignore helping someone because they may misuse what we give them.
I can’t help someone at home because, I’ve already put in long hours at school. We seem to be able to come up with some justification to be comfortable in our sin. We let our opinion compromise our obedience to God.
Those are temptations we need to be rebuke immediately.
Interestingly enough, this text also illustrates how temptation can come from well-meaning friends.
Maybe it comes from the girl or boyfriend who suggests that moving in together would cut down on living expenses. Or it comes from your spouse who suggests that you can participate in a sinful situation if it’s legal and doesn’t hurt anyone. These are the temptations that are the most dangerous because they come to us from those we trust.
But now what did Jesus mean when He said to Peter “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Heaven is for those who have turned to Jesus in their despair admitting they can’t do it alone. Heaven is for the disobedient child who asks for forgiveness. Heaven is for all those who consistently fail to live as one of God’s children and seek God’s mercy and grace.
But heaven isn’t for those who simply brush away their sin, like bothersome flies. Neither is it for those who despair over their sins and refuse to be comforted by Jesus’ promise of forgiveness.
Jesus never said, “Take up my cross and follow me.” Jesus’ cross is different than ours. With His cross Jesus felt God’s righteous anger, so we wouldn’t have to go through the same thing.
We need not beat ourselves up over our sins. We do need to confess them, and truly be sorry for them; we need to stop living in them, knowing that thru Jesus God has forgiven us. That’s what Jesus accomplished at the cross. He doesn’t ask us now to carry His cross, but to take up our own cross.
We sometimes think that our cross is a horrible disease like cancer or some other burden in life, but it isn’t that at all.
Taking up your cross means to put others needs before your own. It means in whatever circumstance we have influence--we share the name of Jesus. We are to reach out in all circumstances so that the name of CHRIST will be proclaimed. It means living your life to God’s glory and not your own. It means taking every opportunity—good or bad, to praise the name of Jesus, His goodness and the joy you have in His name.
That’s the cross Jesus is talking about.
The world and our culture wants power and idolizes those who have it. But remember Jesus’ warning in regard to such thoughts? He said, “What’s the point of gaining all the power and all the riches in this world if you end up losing the eternal life of happiness?”
It’s like the parent who endures hours of cooking—getting so tired, making a mess, having to clean up, but happy to do if for the family s/he loves. It’s that kind of joyful service we will be happy to give others because Jesus continues to joyfully serve us.
We are all called to give up our self-centered nature that resists Jesus—and it’s not easy and is usually associated with struggle and pain. As Jesus led His doubtful disciples through a time of change so He will lead us through times of uncertainty as well.
Let us pray. Almighty God, Your Son, Jesus CHRIST, was lifted high upon the cross so that He might draw the whole world to Himself. Grant that we who glory in His death for our salvation may also glory in His call to take up our cross and follow Him; through Jesus CHRIST our Lord, Amen.
Sermon - September 1, 2024 - Mark 7:14-23
Kind and generous God, You are the giver of all blessings, You alone can offer wholeness for our broken world; You alone offer well-being to each and every person. May we receive what You offer in gratitude and awe. May we share what You so freely give, so others will know the truth of Your salvation. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
How’s your recovery coming? Recovery from your heart surgery?
We know that heart disease comes from a number of factors: heredity, stress, diet and a few other things. A person who continues to eat fat foods, and fails to exercise regularly, with a history of heart disease in their family is very likely to have heart problems later in life.
As technology and medicine continue to advance, we are blessed to have many new procedures to correct some of the problems that have plagued people for centuries. Heart transplants are an amazing work of God given blessing to humanity and the graciousness of heart donors.
When a person receives a new heart, they also take a medication to make sure that the body does not reject the new tissue. The medical team will advise the recipient to break their unhealthy habits. Basically they suggest a regiment of exercise, a well-balanced diet low in cholesterol, sodium and fats, and to balance work and rest in the person’s daily routine.
All of God’s children have had heart surgery. We have had spiritual heart surgery. Our Gospel lesson describes our hereditary condition. Out of the evil heart comes evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, profanity, envy, slander, arrogance, and wrongdoing. That’s the way we were. Thru Holy Baptism God has given us new hearts.
The Holy Spirit has come in and done a heart transplant, empowering us to believe and trust in God. He has created faith in us. He has taken out our old heart that is selfish by nature and replaced it with a new one that wants to love God and wants to love its neighbors.
How are we to take care of our new hearts that God has given to us? God has provided us with His Word to nourish us, which happens anytime we hear God’s word read and preached. It happens when we read our Bible like daily exercise for our new hearts. In addition, Jesus gives us His body and blood in the Lord’s Supper to provide sustenance for our faith.
So how is your recovery coming?
Are you sticking to your spiritual diet? Or are you sneaking junk food the world offers and the evil one encourages?
Are you getting your spiritual exercise?
How about the stress? Are you stressing about whether God will take care of all of your needs?
It's really easy to fall into a Pharasitic syndrome and when we do our hearts suffer. When we make up our own rules about what was right and wrong, good or bad. very easy to point fingers at others, accusing them of being wrong, only to ignore or deny our own failing spiritual health.
That’s what the Gospel text says Pharisees do. Jesus quotes the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah, who said, “They have let go of the commands of God and are holding to the traditions of men.”
We have made up our own rules or removed God’s commandments because we think we know better than God. The evil one has really sold us a bill of goods.
Unfortunately, we aren’t very good at following even our own rules.
Many people see God’s laws as restrictions, preventing them from having fun. Nothing could be further from the truth. God loves us so much that He wants us to live life to its fullest. God’s commands are there to keep us from damaging our hearts. He wants us to follow them, not that we will earn His favor, not to keep Him from getting mad at us, but to keep us close to Him.
Here's an example. I love my wife and show her love in very tangible ways, not to earn her approval or bribe her into doing something for me. I do it to deepen our relationship—that I might be close to her. It’s the same with Jesus. When we try to obey God’s laws, we have a deeper fellowship with Him and it is good for our heart health.
God’s laws are also like a spiritual angiogram. If you are not familiar with the medical procedure, it is a way for doctors to see the places where the arteries in your heart might be clogged. God’s laws show us when we fall short of where God would want us to be in our relationship with Him and with others. They tell us when we have hurt our relationship with Jesus and with those we love.
In spite of our heart-damaging behavior, God is at work for us. God’s heart was so filled with compassion, that He rescued us. God’s love comes shining into our hearts even when we were lost in sin and He knew we couldn’t get out of it. He sent His Son, Jesus to repair the problem for us. Jesus, the Great Physician, came down from heaven. He followed the spiritual diet and performed the spiritual exercise for us. He kept the Law perfectly in our stead. Then He was nailed to a cross and His heart that was filled with our sinful, spiritual cholesterol finally stopped beating. But on the third day, His heart started pounding once again. The heartbeat of His love could not be silenced by the grave. God has given you a new heart. It cost Jesus His very life to give it to you. What a precious gift that God has given to us, His children.
What does God think about the way we live our lives?
Are our lives in sync with God’s plan for our lives?
Christianity should shape our thoughts, words and deeds—our personality.
So how’s your recovery going? Are you using God’s word for heart health?
Are you getting plenty of rest as you spend time alone with God?
Are you exercising yourself spiritually as you share your faith with people who don’t know Jesus?
Those who feel God’s love have much to offer the hurting and disconnected in our world. May we all let Jesus’ love shine through our words and deeds, and bring light and life to those around us. Amen
8-25-24 Sermon
Let us pray: Dear Heavenly Father, through the power of Your Holy Spirit, please open our hearts and minds to Your Word for our lives, revealed to us through Your Son, Jesus the Christ, and by that same Spirit, please give us the courage and wisdom to live our lives for You, that we might truly worship You in spirit and truth. This we ask in Christ’s holy name. Amen.
What image comes to your mind when you think of someone or something that’s “Squeaky Clean?” For me it is a sparkling, streak free window or mirror.
The Pharisees and teachers of the Law, in today’s Gospel reading, desired to appear “Squeaky clean” before God because of their outward actions and appearances. These same teachers criticized Jesus and His disciples for not keeping “all the traditions of the elders” and Jesus, quoting Isaiah, said, “These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” In Matthew 15, Jesus addressed the Pharisees and scribes and called them “HYPOCRITES.” He said in verse 8, “these people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me.”
It’s possible to say the right thing with the wrong heart. We can sing God-glorifying hymns on Sunday with hearts that are far from God. We can recite Scriptures and have God’s mighty Word come out of our mouths but have no intention of living for the One who inspired it.
When people always know what to say, sound wise, and speak eloquently, they seem like they know what they are talking about, and we assume they are close to God. That’s not what is impressive to God.
We see in Romans 12:2 that the Lord wants “living sacrifices.” It is the living for Jesus that is “true worship.”
Singing the right words without living the right way makes our worship worthless. Quoting Scriptures without any intention of doing what it says is useless.
Don’t be impressed by mere words someone says, but rather look at how they live and what they do. Jesus said in Matthew 7:16, “You will know them by their fruits.”
If we get our hearts right and treasure God above all else, we can give Him the best form of worship and offer ourselves as living sacrifices. When the fruit of our lives matches the fruit of our lips – that’s what is holy and pleasing to God.
In explaining further, Jesus told the parable in Mark 7, “Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’”
Jesus later told to His disciples that the real “heart of the matter” is “What comes out of a man’s heart that makes him clean or ‘unclean.’ Because from within, out of a person’s heart, comes evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, profanity, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All of these evils come from inside and make the person ‘unclean.”‘
Only by God’s Word will we be able to define what is pleasing and what is displeasing to Him. God graciously gives us His Word so that by it we may gain wisdom and understanding. And He warns His followers – including you and me- not to “add to what He commands you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.”
The 13 “heart issues” which Jesus says make us unclean” divide into 3 categories –unclean thoughts, unclean words and unclean actions—that’s what defiles us. (Evil thoughts include greed, cruelty or hatred, deceit, envy and arrogance; ungodly and slanderous words include cursing, false testimony or lies and using profanity. Jesus goes on to say that the unclean actions which defile us “from within” include sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, obscenity and making light of what is serious.”)
Urged by the Holy Spirit, it becomes evident that we each need to humbly bow before our Creator in repentance, asking His forgiveness. In Christ Jesus, we fully and freely receive His mercy, forgiveness and grace because Jesus took upon Himself all our sin, guilt and shame. For these He was punished, crucified and died, in order that through His victory over sin, death and the power of the devil, we would receive forgiveness and eternal life!
What we could NEVER do for ourselves- making ourselves acceptable to God by our own actions and following man-made traditions- Jesus has fully accomplished for us. God doesn’t want empty promises. He desires a life that is truly aligned with His. Thanks be to God, through Jesus, we are “Squeaky Clean – Inside and Out!”
Gracious, merciful and all loving God, it is not always easy to follow You. Please strengthen our willingness to trust You and do what pleases You. As others once shared the good news and invited us to follow, so may we be the ones to invite others, that by sharing the Gospel they too will meet the God who gives new life. May we live Your love with joy each day. In Jesus’ name we pray Amen.
8-18-24 Sermon
Heavenly Father, we give You thanks for Your gift of creation and for establishing life on this planet we call earth. We thank You for revealing Your will for our life, through the words of holy scripture. But most importantly, we thank You for the gift of life, given to all who believe that Christ has redeemed us from our sin, and offers us the hope of new life in Your heavenly kingdom. In Christ’s name we thank You. Amen.
There was a man who got a very simple job packing oranges. He was told: "Just put the big oranges in the green box, the medium-sized oranges in the white box, and the smallest oranges in the yellow box." An hour later, the new employee told his new boss, ’’I quit.” "Why?” asked the boss in amazement. “I cannot take the pressure making all these high management decisions,” he replied.
Decisions are part of life—whether we like it or not. Some decisions are easy and can be made in a split-second --others take longer. Some decisions need to be made to protect our lives— or the lives of others.
In the gospel lesson, people had a chance to receive the salvation of God but were offended because Jesus said that He was the Living Bread from heaven, and if anyone ate his flesh they would live.
That offended people. They were willing to settle for a materialistic miracle--the free bread. But when Jesus talked about being the Bread of life and offering heaven to them, they walked away. They were offended at the idea that God would come down from heaven and be one of us. They had a hard time believing another human being could offer the gift of eternal life. They were offended at the free offer of salvation & many of them walked away.
So Jesus asked the 12 disciples "Do you also wish to go away?" And good old Simon Peter answered for them by saying, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God!”
Peter hasn’t always received great reviews. He was often impulsive, hot-tempered man. Peter didn’t understand all that Jesus was saying about flesh and blood either, but Peter had faith in Jesus. Peter wasn’t just a fair-weather friend. LORD, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
And later when Peter addressed the council of Jewish leaders, he said: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people except the name of Jesus. Peter’s proclamation could have had him stoned to death.
Now Peter could have claimed his identity as a Jew, one of God’s chosen people, a descendant of Abraham as a way of salvation.
He could have pointed to animal sacrifices at the temple as a way to forgiveness.
He could have hoped that his good deeds outweighed the bad ones so he could have been considered righteous, as many people still do today, but he didn’t. He went all in for Jesus. He didn’t hold anything back and neither can we!
When it comes to eternity, we can’t claim self-righteousness. We don’t follow new age philosophies.
When it comes to eternal life, we look only to Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
We know and believe that Jesus suffered and died for every one of our sins once and for all and we claim His promise that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have the gift of eternal life.
But it’s when we’re asked to invest our entire life in Jesus, we start stammering—we become hesitant. So which of Jesus’ teachings offend you?
Are we offended when we are told to love our enemies?
What about giving our possessions to those who are in need? We take offense, because how do we know if they are deserving?
When Jesus says, “Go and sin no more” -- we know sin is deadly, but how dare Jesus expect us to change our lifestyle?
We are offended when Jesus commands us to love people we don’t like. To love others the way Jesus loved us means I must take abuse from people and still pray that God the Father will forgive them. I’m not sure I like that one very much. Loving one another as Christ loved us means I don’t get my way all the time. It means I have to put the needs of others at the level of my own. It means that I will build up someone instead of criticizing.
Loving one another the way the LORD loved us means that I have to change. But I don’t want to change. Whether we admit it or not, we too, find the words of Jesus hard to listen to. So the bottom line is this: are you willing to turn away from the words of eternal life?
In all the decisions we are called to make, the most important one has to do with our relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus asked the disciples whom they would follow. All of us must answer the same question. What is our life going to be about?
Each one of us must decide how much control Jesus is going to have if any at all.
But Jesus calls His followers to take the difficult path. Will you follow Jesus when it calls for sacrifice, service, love, involvement? Will you partner with Him in all areas of your life?
Apart from Christ we can be fooled into living only for the moment and of making no preparation for the world to come. Eternal life means more than living for satisfaction now. It means a destiny beyond the grave. It means hope in the face of death.
Joshua said, "but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
What do you say? All glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning is now and forever will be. Amen
August 4, 2024 Sermon
Great Giver of what is satisfying and good, help us discard the junk foods of this life to take hold of what is life-giving—bread that satisfies, waters that quenches thirst, and Your light that shines in the darkest places of our being. Please fill each one of us, we ask, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
What do today’s vehicles, computers, cellphones, appliances, McDonald Happy meals toys, and Chinese food all have in common?
They all rely on a business concept, first coined by Brook Stevens, in 1954. His theory is called planned obsolescence, which is nothing really new. But after he coined the term, it became the strategy used to help businesses prosper. Create a product, that creates excitement, and the product will sell. However, the product is intentionally designed to become either obsolete or cease to function. But because people have a perceived need, it will need to be replaced. We can all think of countless examples!
Computers are made to be replaced in two to five years. New software is written every six months, requiring a new pc to run it. Vehicles have an average lifespan of 11.5 years. Dealerships want you to purchase an extended warranty. Simply meaning they don’t expect the vehicle to hold up much beyond the five-year mark. Household appliances are no longer expected to last more than ten years.
We fall for the principle of obsolescence over and over again. We even seek such things out, for the rush, for the excitement of having something new again. Today’s gospel challenges that thought. Jesus advised the people of God then and all of us today, to switch from chasing that which is planned to be obsolete, and switch to desiring that which will satisfy forever.
We read from Mark’s Gospel about the feeding of the thousands of people with five loaves and two fish. People had run all the way around the Sea of Galilee, looking to find Jesus. There in a desolate region, after teaching them about God’s love, Jesus fed them with two fish, and some bread, which only nourished them for a short time. Getting hungry again, they went searching for him throughout Galilee because they wanted more food from him… They were motivated by a self-interest to seek out Jesus. They found Him in the Capernaum synagogue.
Just as we need to replace those things of which we are so proud, the truck that will cost more to fix, than it is worth; the computer that will no longer update anymore. They wanted the food, to have their desire and hunger satisfied.
Jesus even acknowledged their self-serving motivation for seeking Him out. He calls them to seek something more substantial--something that will be everlasting: Food that sustains to eternal Life.
Jesus takes their hunger and changes it towards something more nourishing.
We live in a culture, that seeks satisfaction. When something or even someone no longer satisfies us, we replace it. A new vehicle, or a new home, that gives us the excitement for which we’re looking. If it doesn’t satisfy or excite us – trade it in, for something more powerful, faster, or that which gives a greater sense of being satisfied.
Jesus is really speaking to the obvious: nothing truly satisfies, nothing quenches our thirst, and we chase after that lack of satisfaction until it destroys us.
Jesus says: Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.
Don’t chase after the sin, which promises fleeting satisfaction at best, but leaves you empty and wasted. Instead, look for the things that will sustain you, forever. Look to Jesus, and what He provides. It sustains us, and will indeed satisfy us, more than anything else.
God the Father sent Jesus to give us the things that cause life to thrive until we enter into eternity. Jesus encourages everyone to take what He alone can give.
Did they listen? Do people today listen? Of course not.
We like planned obsolescence!
When Jesus says that his food will nourish you until eternal life—food that he gives out, they ask what’s the catch? What’s the cost. They plainly ask: "What must we do, to be doing the works of God? What price do we have to pay?”
They didn’t listen, or they didn’t get it. That which is worth the most, is that for which the price has already been paid!
There is still another element in our personalities that stands in the way of receiving what Jesus offers to give. It’s part of our temporary enjoyment to be able to think or say: “I earned this.”
By taking credit for the upgrade’s, we experience in life we think we earned it. Maybe in some way planned obsolescence shows us we have worth and value—without God.
When the people mention Moses giving them the manna from heaven, Jesus corrects them. It was God the Father who gave them the manna. His correct points them to the One who is able to provide all things. Pretty simple thing actually. Trust the Father and the one the Father has sent. Trust Jesus. That’s it!
You want to live forever in complete joy? Trust Jesus.
You want your sins forgiven, and temptations removed? Trust Jesus.
You don’t have to go on a pilgrimage, You don’t have to pay thousands or millions of dollars or say thousands of prayers. Just trust Him.
Trust that His death on the cross was for You. Jesus paid all the cost. Jesus provided the way back to having a relationship with God the Father. Trust in Him. Have faith that Jesus’ work, is for You and all believers.
But the people that day just couldn’t do that, much like most people today. They asked: Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you?
For anyone who is used to planned obsolesce, it’s a very good question. The people of Israel’s ancestors were fed, not by their own work, but because God proved Himself trustworthy and faithful to care for His people.
We know that the bread of life, Jesus, was sent down from heaven, and because of that, we know we are sustained in Him, for eternity.
That is how the passage ends, with an incredible guarantee. When Jesus provided that which would sustain life, His very life and death, and resurrection, our chasing after that which satisfies, becomes mute. For nothing will satisfy our true needs like Jesus. Not food, or drink, not stuff, or luxuries, not even a meal at the pizza ranch or China buffet will stay with us as long.
What will, is the incredible love and mercy, grace and peace of God, revealed to us in Christ Jesus. Things that were planned, from before the foundation of the world will never become obsolete or have an expiration date. God is for us, that will never perish.
and because the love of Jesus will not perish neither shall we. We will have complete satisfaction, God’s favor and peace!
And now may the peace of God, guard Your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, AMEN.
July 28, 2024 Sermon
Dear Heavenly Father, You sent Your Son to reveal Your will and grace, and to restore us to a meaningful relationship with You. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, please open our hearts and minds to receive His word, to focus our lives around His redeeming grace, and empower us for witness. This we ask in Christ’s holy name. Amen.
A common theme in holy scripture is the assurance that with the Lord there is no need to fear. Even as we are confronted with things that give us heartache and pain, separation and sorrow, our Lord comes to us amid the chaos to calm our fears and give us hope. Today’s Gospel is a case in point.
I don’t think we can really comprehend what the disciples were truly going through as they journeyed with Jesus—listening to Him teach and seeing the things He did.
Granted, there were many teachable moments, but some of them were not all that flattering.
This text from Mark’s Gospel centers on how they didn’t know it was Jesus walking on the water. It was just a few weeks ago when we heard that Jesus was sleeping soundly on a cushion in a boat and a great storm arose. How could they have forgotten that event so quickly?
And today, as Jesus climbs into the boat with them, scripture tells us that the disciples were utterly astounded because they had already forgotten about the miracle in the feeding of the 5000 which had just happened--and actually thought Jesus was a ghost.
We might tend to think that all these events should have been obvious to the disciples because we already know the end result-- hindsight is always 20/20. But when the disciples were literally in the middle of the storm, they could only go by what they thought they were seeing . . . and they didn’t get it. Eventually they will.
This Gospel clearly shows us the strains and pains God’s people were experiencing, both the disciples and the crowds on Gennesaret’s shore.
As the disciples were on the sea, the text says, they were straining against the heavy winds making very little headway. It was late, they were tired, and there was a real fear that they would not make it across safely. These disciples strained to make any headway at all.
With Jesus’ help, the disciples land on the other side of the sea, where Jesus encounters the second group of people. Jesus’s fame had spread throughout the region, so they brought to him their sick and lame--and Jesus healed them, even if all they were able to do was touch his clothing. There was only one thing that could help them deal with the pains of this mortal life: the presence of Jesus. It was true then; it is true now.
If each one of us honestly look at our lives, we would probably agree that we are truly blessed by God. We have family and friends to share our lives; we are blessed with jobs and opportunities to use our gifts in service to our neighbor; we have a place to live and food to eat and many other blessings from our Creator allowing us to enjoy all that God provides.
However, there are moments where the wind picks up: we fight with someone we love, our job is stressful, or even taken away from us; the responsibilities of homeownership overwhelm us, our life or someone we love is in jeopardy. Like the disciples, we find that the days become long, and we are tired and making any headway in life is painful.
As people of God, we know we can turn to Him for help. But as sinful people, we often think that we can do it ourselves, and even knowing Jesus, we may see him as the disciples did: like a ghost and not really there.
When life is a struggle, when hardship happens, when suffering is up close and personal, we tend to close up, to isolate ourselves, to bear the strains and pains of our misery alone. As people of faith, we ought to know this is not the way things are intended to be; we know where we can turn to find divine help, and yet we choose not to.
An outsider looking at our life might sometimes think, “How come you don’t get it? Haven’t you learned by now that Jesus is always with you?”
It was the presence of Jesus that brought calm amid wind and waves. It was the presence of Jesus that brought healing to the sick and frail. It is the presence of Jesus that comforts us bringing help, healing and life through forgiveness and grace.
From the moment of our Baptism, the Lord’s promise is that he will never leave us or forsake us.
He continues to make his presence known through His Holy Word. We have his very life given to us in the Lord’s Supper. His presence is demonstrated to us as we receive his daily provision in all times and in every circumstance, all because Jesus is present with us.
In fact, Jesus knows the heartache and hurt that we experience. He is the one who died for us on the cross and has risen from the grave to give us the eternal gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation.
“Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid”. These are powerful, comforting words right from our Lord and Savior.
Look to Jesus, as He steps into the boat with us to bring an end to our strains; he brings his healing touch to us for all our pains of body and soul; he has gained for us the kingdom and promises us life with him eternally. Just as He promised, Jesus is always with us.
Your health and life are forever preserved by the presence of Jesus, so whatever may come for you, you can confidently pray to the Lord:
Our hands and feet, Lord, strengthen; With joy our spirits bless Until we see the ending, Of all our life’s distress, and so throughout our lifetime, Keep us within Your care and at our end then bring us, to heav’n to praise You there. Amen
Sermon for July 21, 2024
O Lord God, our constant Companion, we are eternally grateful for Your presence with us as we travel the road of life on earth. Our burdens are lightened; the colors are brightened when we feel You near. The darkness is less threatening, and our fears are less frightening when we remember You are with us. Our joy is multiplied, and our praise is magnified with You by our side. Please remind us that You are always near so that we might find blessing and glorify Your name. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
5000 is a lot of people. and if it were 5000 men plus their families, the number would be much greater. But that many or even more-- did not show up. Many did not run around the lake. Many were on the right side of the lake and didn’t care. Many had a low opinion of Jesus so they didn’t go.
Jesus wants everyone to receive His gifts. and in one sense, everyone does. For everything that is, is a gift from God. The rain that falls on the just and the unjust. Divine blessings are given to believers and unbelievers. The Lord is good and generous to all.
As we pray the 4th Petition of the Lord’s Prayer…give us this day our daily bread… not so that God will give it - He already does - but so that we will realize it all as gift from Him and receive our daily bread with thanksgiving. The eyes of all look to You, O Lord, and You give them their food at the proper time; You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing (Psalm 145:15-16).
Sin, of course, affects the gifts of God. Creation is not as it was originally created. Greedy people horde while others go hungry. One life is destroyed so that another may prosper. Competition is more likely than compassion, lust not love, pride not humility, power not service, me not you … We must admit we take the gifts of God meant for everyone and not share them.
If there are only five loaves of bread and two fish, then I’m going to make sure I’m at the front of the line to get my fish sandwich . . .
Or if there’s a gas shortage, I’m going to make sure my gas tank is topped off . . .
During covid toilet paper was in short supply because people were hoarding.
So when Jesus told His disciples to give this flock of thousands something to eat, He knew they couldn’t do it. But rather than send them away, He wanted His disciples to turn to Him, the Giver of all gifts, to provide what was needed. To repent of our selfish nature, turn away from ourselves, look to Jesus, and stop relying on ourselves. From Ps. 145, The eyes of all look to You, O Lord . . . Or, at least, we should.
Because in this world filled with problems and division and it’s only getting worse--what can we do with our two hands and two feet? The evil one wants us to think we can do so little in the scope of the world, so why even bother? Forgetting--that when we do what we can, God will do the rest.
Remember whose two hands and two feet saved every single person who ever lived and ever will live? It was those same hands that took that bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it for all to eat, that were nailed to a cross. Never again would He take, bless, thank, break, and give. But risen from the dead, He provided for us forever. He provides for us today—here and now. That miracle of feeding the flock continues as the divine and human Jesus, the dead and risen Good Shepherd gives all that He has.
His voice is still heard in the faithful preaching of His Word. Children of 0 are still being brought into His flock through the washing of Holy Baptism.
The eyes of our bodies should look to Him for the food we need, so the eyes of our souls may look to Him for the forgiveness we need. All these gifts become our daily bread, and we receive these gifts, we do so with thanksgiving.
No one in the crowd by the Sea of Galilee that day left hungry. There were even leftovers, because the Lord is never stingy with His gifts.
But we must not forget, there were people who remained hungry - those who did not bother, or thought it was a waste of time, to be with Jesus. Jesus was there for them, Jesus would have fed them, but they would not.
But that’s not the end of the story. Just as Jesus gave His disciples the food to give to the flock, so He gives His Church today the gifts to give. Just as Jesus sent out the disciples, He sends His Church—you and I to give these gifts to all. Not all will come, not all will receive, not all will be bothered, so we continue to pray. So each week gathered in front of the Baptismal Font—front and center, we receive the gift of His forgiveness. We hear God’s word being taught, and we realize how blessed we are to be in the flock of the Good Shepherd. and thus we bless the Lord!
Then we take this blessing out into the world, to others, which will be more than enough. There is always more than enough in the hands of Jesus. More than enough in His merciful and mighty hands. More than enough in His compassionate hands of blessing. More than enough in his feeding, tending, gracious hands. Until they be hands raised up, on the Last Day, as we enter our Promised Land. To be with our Shepherd, receiving gifts not deserved, but freely given. Thanks be to God! Amen
7-7-24 Sermon
Let us pray: Dear Heavenly Father, You have come among us in the person of Your Son. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, open our hearts and minds to receive Jesus as Lord. Please pour out Your redeeming grace upon each person here today and enable us to call upon You for our salvation. This we ask, thru Jesus Christ our savior and redeemer. Amen.
The Gospel of Mark gives us two accounts that might seem unrelated to each other. First, we hear about Jesus returning to Nazareth and meeting some resistance. We might think Jesus should have had a home field advantage, but he didn’t. When Jesus started teaching with authority in the synagogue, people thought this hometown boy had gotten too big for his britches.
There is even a hint of scandal as the people of Nazareth questioned His lineage. We all accept Jesus’ virgin birth, but in that time and place it bordered on an insult to skip over naming the father as head of the household. The implication was: Jesus was an illegitimate child, bringing shame to his family and the whole community.
When Jesus had the audacity to claim the honor of a prophet someone needed to put Him in his place. He was a common builder, nothing more.
Prior to all this, Jesus had been busy healing people in Capernaum and across the Sea of Galilee, but now Jesus was amazed by the lack of faith He saw in His hometown. Mark writes, “and he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them.”
But the question is not about whether Jesus chose to do miracles or was He prevented from doing them? Many theologians have been caught up in arguments about God’s omnipotence and grace. ’s focus on what happened in Nazareth.
Jesus did heal a few people. There were some who sought him out in faith, just as Jairus did on behalf of his dying daughter, or the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years.
It’s quite interesting that Jesus responded when Jairus and the hemorrhaging woman fell at His feet and asked for His mercy. Jesus’ limited ability to do great things in Nazareth was because nobody bothered to ask – except for a few, and they were healed. So how does our faith affect the way God works?
Mark is simply pointing out that we have an important role to play in the manifestation of the kingdom. This isn’t just about salvation, it’s about the role each one of us has in making God known in the world.”
How intentional are we when it comes to God working in our lives?
If we continue to nurture some hurt –typically stemming from the lack of forgiveness, or if there is a regret or maybe it’s a grudge or anger that continues to burn inside you, we prevent God from working in and through us.
We all know people who have allowed addiction to define their identity. Others hang on to a problem so they get more attention. They really don’t want God to solve their problem. So how many of us prevent God from doing the work He wants to perform in us?
Or maybe God is calling you to some commitment that you want to ignore, some ministry opportunity you are afraid to accept, some challenge to grow but you think it’s too difficult.
This isn’t only about accepting God’s grace to save us it’s inviting Jesus into our hearts. It’s about our willingness to be true disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. It’s about trusting God enough to ask Him to change us and really mean it.
The disciples who followed Jesus to Nazareth didn’t abandon Him when the town rejected His message. As Jesus kept on with his ministry of preaching good news and healing the sick, casting out demons and giving hope to the poor, the disciples were learning what it meant to be a true follower of Christ.
And that brings us to the second part of this Gospel.
Sometimes rejection and persecution are the springboard for further ministry. Jesus commissioned his disciples just moments before He ascended into heaven. He said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Jesus gave some very specific directions to His disciples as they went out in His name. He told them what to take, and what not to take. He wanted the disciples then and now to depend on God to provide for their needs. Jesus knew that they would face rejection at some point.
They saw the way He left Nazareth and went into the nearby villages to keep preaching and healing. Now He told them to shake the dust off their feet as they left any place that did not receive them or their message.
So they went – and their ministry was fruitful. No doubt they ran into some opposition from time to time. We know that Jesus faced growing resistance from those who felt threatened by His message. But that didn’t stop Him from seeing it through, from dying on the cross for you and for me, from rising on the third day to defeat death and sin once and for all.
Sometimes I wonder if we fear rejection so much that it prevents us from experiencing God’s power at work in our lives. When we shrink back from stepping out on faith, we shortchange ourselves, and Christ can do no work in us.
Following Jesus means putting it all on the line. We may find that some don’t want to hear our message of hope. That doesn’t mean we should stop sharing it. Some may ridicule us or walk away. There are others who will respond to the good news that God loves them. When we put our full faith in Christ, living in the assurance that He will act, He can change our brokenness into fruitfulness. Amen.
