“Love is A Gospel Diamond” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

This sermon was preached at the Rocky Mountain District in Denver for their 50th Convention

S-1500 TS/3B 6/05/2015 Hymns: (O) #525; (S) # 543; LS. #507; #535; #700; #537 (C) #837

Texts: Psalm 103:1-12; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; John 3:14-21

Theme: “Love is A Gospel Diamond” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Rocky Mountain District Convention, Denver, CO. Thursday of Holy Trinity week

IN NOMINE IESU

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for this blessed occasion is the text chosen for your Convention from St. Paul’s letter to the Church at Corinth: “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

President Andersen, Colleagues in the proclamation of the Gospel, delegates, family and friends, I bring you greetings from President Harrison and your church body Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS). The LCMS’s mission Statement reads like this: “In grateful response to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities, and the world.”

Love is what it is all about. You have heard the statement: “Love makes the world go around.” And it is absolutely true. Without love we have nothing. Without love our world is empty. Without love we would be without hope.

The Apostle Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit catalogues for us what love is, does and doesn’t do. He concludes this chapter by saying: “…but the greatest of these is LOVE!”

For this reason, I have titled the sermon for the special gathering of God’s people of the Rocky Mountain District “Love is a Diamond Gospel” PAUSE.

Some of you know that I grew up in Haifa, Israel. About 20 miles south of my home is the town of Netanya which has a diamond factory. Israel doesn’t mine diamonds, but it has factories where they cut, polish and set them in stones and ship them all over the world.

If you were to stop at this diamond factory the workers would be delighted to sell you a pretty diamond. As they do they will explain to you about the 4C’s of diamond grading. They are:

Color,

Cut,

Clarity and,

Carat

The price of the diamond is dependent on these qualities. The bigger the carat the higher the price. Some of you know how expensive diamonds are especially if you have given it a gift to the one you love. That is why some men go broke as they purchase an engagement ring.

Diamond is a rare jewel that stands above the rest. Did you know that before a diamond reaches a woman’s hand, it will probably touch at least four continents and the lives of hundreds of people?  The expertise of many skilled and experienced craftsmen is necessary in the complicated process of extracting and finishing a diamond.

Furthermore once a diamond goes through this process not one is exactly the same. Each diamond has its own individual characteristics that make it completely unique in its own right. These slight differences between each stone mixed with the rarity of gem quality stones available make every diamond special.

So, too, is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For the love of Christ is a Gospel diamond. It is touchable and tangible. It is memorable and monumental. It is notable and noticeable. PAUSE.

In 1988 I led a tour to the Holy Land. One of the (elderly) ladies that joined me on the trip was a survivor of a tornado that had struck her town and home. The only thing she was able to grab before she lost all of her belongings was her passport and cashier’s checks.

She needed lots of help because she was unable to walk. Two kind hearted men—a pastor and his layman said, “Pastor Nour, you take care of the other travelers and we will take care of her.” These men were living from the gospel! These men were living deeply from the story of God’s great love in Christ for them that they demonstrated the gospel diamond on the 11 day journey. They pushed, pulled and carried her wheelchair to every location. She never missed any sight or anything we participated in. That is love in action.

However, in our sinful flesh we do not always show love to those around us. We don’t love our spouses the way we should. We don’t show love to those who are above us. We speak evil of others. We are jealous of others. We envy others. We claw, hurt and shame others. We don’t often respect our pastors, and at times have roast pastor in the afternoon. The pastor is long winded, he is monotone or boring. And, we, pastors don’t always show care and love to those we serve. Love is not easy for us to demonstrate.

Yet, when you walk through the corridors of Holy Scriptures you see God who is love touching many with His loving, compassionate and pierced hands. In 1 Kings 19, Jesus (The Angel of the Lord) touches Elijah and feeds him so that Elijah travels on this meal for 40 days. All because of the loving touch.

We see the same in the New Testament. Jesus touches the blind; the demon possessed, the lame the lepers and even the dead are restored. Through the gracious hands of Jesus—love is manifested in the Gospel diamond.

That is why the Sacred Meal which we will soon receive is the Gospel diamond. In that LOVE meal Jesus touches us and fills us with His love. Here He both feeds and forgives and all from His pierced side and hands and feet. Jesus is truly, actually present with us. He is not a picture, but He Himself is present… present to touch us and feed us, to forgive us and give us strength for the journey that is ours… that is yours! This love meal is more costly and precious than any diamond you or I, or all of us together could buy—it cost the Lord, our Bridegroom His life-blood as the ransom for His Bride-the Church. He paid for her through His suffering, death and glorious resurrection. Therein lies the Gospel diamond—In Jesus our Savior and God. PAUSE.

Some say, “Love is just a word until someone comes and gives it meaning!” How right they are. Someone did come. He didn’t come from four different continents but from the glories of heaven to earth—the Word made flesh and gave meaning to our lives—that we are precious in His sight; That we are His SEGOULA—His TREASURED POSSESIONS.

To be sure, love is a Gospel diamond because there is power in that Word. Pastor Paul understood this and that is why he highlighted that these three remain: “faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Love is what it’s all about. Christ’s Love, His Agape Love. Yes the greatest of these is love… The love of Christ: in our hearts, in our heads, and thankfully, in our homes and in this family we know as the Lutheran Church, here in the grand Rocky Mountains.

Yes, it is this Agape Love which He has lavished upon us that now reflects like light off a diamond, off that Diamond Love, reflecting and refracting His heart and His finished work into the darkest corners of the darkest hearts – all so that others may indeed know this Jesus who is Love. We are called, my brothers and sisters in Christ to be His own, and in that we reflect His love to others. What a privilege! What an honor! What a high calling!

Diamonds can be breath-taking. When I see a beautiful diamond sparkling and the light dancing on it and through producing colors and patterns it takes my breath away. So when I see Jesus in action through you, and the light of the Holy Spirit and the glory of God dancing and through you, when I see the church at worship in adoration and praise of the One true and living God in Jesus Christ and brothers and sisters agreeing in faith and joining in prayer, that Gospel diamond is breath-takingly beautiful and it takes my breath away. PAUSE.

Beloved saints in Christ, remember earlier I said that there 4C’s for diamond grading? Color, Cut, Clarity and, Carat. But there are also 4C’s in the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus.

Cross, Care, Compassion and Communion.

Today, by the grace of God, as we gather to begin the Rocky Mountain District Convention, may the Holy Spirit help us to celebrate this Gospel diamond! Surely now He has called each of us by His four “C’s” by His Cross, and in His Care, through His Compassion, such that as we share Communion with Him and with one another, others too will see His great love.

20 Miles S. of my house in Israel is the town of Netanya. Netanya, means “God gave.” He certainly did. He gave us love found in an infant child wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. He gave us love on Calvary’s cross in His crucified only-begotten Son. And through that crucified Son, now risen from the dead as proven by an empty tomb, He gave us forgiveness of all our sins and eternal life in His beloved Name —Jesus.

Therefore, may we with grateful hearts give thanks to the One who loved us from before the foundation of the world and granted us this Gospel diamond to guide us the Bride of Christ to our eternal home with Him our Bridegroom forever and ever. Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DOE GLORIA

“Power at our Disposal!”

S-1368-3SAP/C 6/5/2013 Hymns: (O) #451; (S) #447; L.S. #332; #307; (C) #52

Texts: 1 Kings 17:17-24; Galatians 1:11-24; Luke 7:11-17

Theme: “Power at our Disposal!” (1 Corinthians 1:18-24)

Question: “How powerful are you?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for Armed Forces’ Sunday is from the Epistle lesson: “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Saints in Christ, my credentials for preaching for Armed Forces’ Sunday are slim. As a life-long civilian, I have never known what it is like to wear the proud uniforms of the Army, Marines, Navy or the Air Force. The only uniform that I have ever worn is that of the scouts. I wore it proudly and served many years.

Today, I am not here to talk about my scout’s experience, but about the faithful men and women of every military branch who have served and who will serve in the future. To those of you who have served this great nation, I am grateful for your service and we as God’s people salute you. And for those of you who will serve in the future, we pray God’s blessings upon you and your family.

Today, we observe Armed Forces’ Sunday. On this day that we pray for and give thanks for the military might that is ready to be deployed at a moment’s notice to handle any hostility, we also rejoice in another power that is at our disposal 24/7/365. This power is God’s gift to help us fight the battle of faith and remain standing. And this power is the cross that changes lives and people and nations.

The text for our reflection and meditation is from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Church at Corinth: “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” Yes, there is power in that cross: Power to heal, forgive and bring peace, power to open the eyes of the blind, power to raise dead hearts, power to cause sinners to come to Jesus and bow before Him; and power to help us see that the message of the cross is indeed foolishness to the world.

Our nation has one of the most powerful military in the world. We have power to protect our security and American citizens anywhere. We have Special Forces, Elite Teams from our Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines who train for very important missions, like the one that took out Osama Bin Laden. In fact, there are standing plans in place right now that will allow for us to insert a mighty military force within hours anywhere on the planet! Indeed, we have many powerful armaments with a wide variety of force. The power of this force is indeed formidable! Aircraft carriers, B1 bombers, Raptors, Torpedoes and Drones. The military uses their power to send drones, shoot missiles, drop bombs. This power is one that can destroy any force that would seek to work harm to America or its friends. But no matter how powerful we are, we can’t win all of the wars, nor defeat every enemy that means us harm. No matter how many powerful weapons we have, they can’t always protect us from every harm.

However, there is a greater power that we have at our disposal. It is the power of the Gospel that St. Paul speaks about in the text. This is the power that is above every power, this is the power that has changed the sinner to be a child of the heavenly Father. This is the power of the cross and the empty tomb. And we should never be ashamed of this power, as Paul reminds us in Romans: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (1:16).

This is the power that is at our disposal—the Gospel at work in our lives. This is the power that changes Gentiles and Greeks alike. This is the power that destroys the enemy and opens the gates of heaven for us. Military might can only destroy and kill. The Power of the Gospel can kill and make alive! And when the Gospel makes you alive, that life lasts forever. The Gospel has the power to make an enemy a brother and bring peace to the ones in the midst of hostility and anger. PAUSE.

Just as our Commander in Chief has the power to send boots to the ground, or a Drone to destroy enemy combatant, so does our Heavenly Father has the power to destroy and put to death every enemy of ours. He sent the ultimate power dawned in human flesh as an infant. Though He appeared weak lying in a manger, yet He had power at His disposal to stem the tide of evil.

This is the glorious news for Christians to hear the message of hope and reconciliation through the power of the Gospel. His message to us is the power that our loving Heavenly Father has projected on a universal scale for all of humanity. This is the power that is found in Christ our Savior who died in our place. This is the power that destroyed the enemy Satan. This is the power that helps us overcome sin when we are tempted. This is the power that helps us see our need for a Savior.

Jesus Christ who is the Lord of the Armies of heaven projects His power both of grace and of judgment. In Christ Jesus, His love has targeted our human depravity and He has delivered to fallen man grace and upon grace; but at the same time, He has delivered the blow of death and defeat and destruction to Satan in a most astounding and unusual manner. The Father didn’t use a drone, which is an unmanned aircraft. No, this was a manned mission that involved real flesh and blood. The Father sent His Son to the cross to be crucified in our place. What looks like weakness and foolishness to the world is now the ultimate triumph of the human race. Christ crucified and resurrected is the power projection of God the Father. It is the crowning achievement of our salvation and the surpassing wisdom of God.

Today, on Armed Forces Sunday, we thank the Lord for the brave young men and women who defend our freedom at every cost. We support them with our prayers and in every manner that is possible. We want to do this, to help bring an end to the hostilities around the world; so that the wars in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan are not repeated.

All of this is reason enough to mark Armed Forces’ Day. But there is one more word to be said. Although there has always been in the Christian Church an honourable strand of tradition that is pacifist by belief and principle, most Christians have always believed that evil must be confronted, resisted and defeated. ‘Be sober-minded; be watchful”, warned St Peter in his First Epistle, ‘Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world’ (1 Peter 5:8-9).

This battle against evil is one of the great motifs of the Christian story. But we live in an age in which the big stories are seldom told, the big picture seldom seen. The posh word for the forces which shape and mould the thinking of today is Post-Modernism, which (very briefly) believes that there is no big story worth telling, or big picture worth seeing. All that matters is me and my story, and you and your story. So all the old standards and values, rules and responsibilities, are devalued.

But you and I have a story to tell: A beautiful story—that the God of heaven the mighty, powerful and gracious Father has come to our aid. He sent His Son Jesus to do battle in our place. And the arena for this battle was on a tiny hill just outside of Jerusalem. The armaments were not Drones, B1 Bombers, Missiles or bullets; no they were soldiers, crown of thorns, hammer, nails and wooden beam in the shape of a cross. On it the battle raged for six full hours and then death came and the Lord of the Armies gave up His Spirit and was laid to rest in a borrowed tomb.

Satan and all his evil forces were dancing and celebrating in the victory parade. They were giving each other high five and laughing at the defeat of the Lord of the Armies of heaven. But that was Friday, and Sunday is coming. Sunday morning the One who was defeated and placed on a cold slap returned to life and all of the enemies took flight. And now, we, the Christians can sing the victory Hymn. “Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross; lift high his royal banner, it must not suffer loss. From victory unto victory his army shall he lead, till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed” (TLH 451: v1).

Today, we thank God for those who fight for us, every soldier from every branch, but above all for the Eternal Soldier Jesus Christ who gives us the power to live with Him forever; because of His victory. Amen.

Now the peace...

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“A Letter of Instruction” (1 Cor. 1:22-25) 3rd of sermon series “Letters For Lent”

S-1303 3SIL/3B 3/11/12 Hymns: (O) #5; (S) #333; L.S #18; #57; #8 SOD (C) #354

Text: Exodus 20:1-17; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; John 2:13-22

Theme: “A Letter of Instruction” (1 Cor. 1:22-25) 3^rd of sermon series “Letters For Lent”

Question: “Are you easily instructed?” Armour, SD.

In the name Jesus, Amen! The text for the 3^rd Sunday in Lent is the Epistle Lesson. “For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Cor. 1:22-25).

Saints in Christ, the sermon theme for today is: “A Letter of Instruction.” With that in mind, I share with you this Chinese proverb: “Give me a fish and feed me for a day, teach me to fish and feed me for a life-time.” It is vitally important for us as Christians to be taught, not only to fish to feed ourselves and family, but more significantly, to be taught the Truth of Scriptures that feeds us for eternity.

The problem is we are a people who are not well versed in the Bible, its meaning and what it is that we believe, teach and confess as Lutheran Christians. I would venture to say that many of you can’t give a clear distinction between our church body and other Lutheran bodies. Many don’t know what the Catholics believe and why we don’t commune at their table. Many can’t clearly explain why we practice the very loving and Biblical doctrine of close communion; why we don’t have women pastors; why our liturgy is so important; and why we are different in our teachings from other Christian denominations.

Let me tell you, that in the middle of the 19^th Century, the founding fathers of our church body decided to be aloof, arrogant, separate, distant, excluded and so haughty that they didn’t want anyone to be part of their church body or come to the Lord’s Table. These German Lutherans didn’t want to associate with anyone and keep the sweet message of the Gospel just for themselves. That is why they decided to practice close communion. PAUSE.

If you believe what I just told you about our founding fathers, then I have some ocean-side property for sale. (Smile).

Often times, we don’t know the truth, nor do we want to be instructed to learn the truth. At times we make things up pretending we know it all. I share this story with you to make my point clear.

In the early 1900, a lively looking attendant stood on the rear platform of a sleeping-car in the Pennsylvania station when a fussy and grumpy old man clambered up the steps. He stopped at the door, puffed for a moment, and then turned to the young man in uniform. “Porter,” he said. “I’m going to St. Louis, to the Fair. I want to be well taken care of. I pay for it. Do you understand?” “Yes, sir, but—” The old man started up again, “Never mind any ‘buts.’ You listen to what I say. Keep the train boys away from me. Dust me off whenever I want you to. Give me an extra blanket, and if there is any one in the bunk above me put him in another room. I want you to—”

The attendant said, “But sir—”. The old man once again silenced him saying, “Young man, when I’m giving instructions I prefer to do the talking myself. You do as I say. Here is $5.00. I don’t want anyone to bother me. Not a word sir, you understand?” The train was starting to leave. The attendant pocketed the bill with a smile and swung himself to the ground. “All right, boss!” he shouted. “You can do the talking if you want to. I’m terribly sorry you wouldn’t let me tell you—but I am not going on that train.” PAUSE.

How often do we find ourselves like this grumpy old man doing the speaking but not willing to listen to others? Certainly, we don’t want to be instructed. And the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart. We don’t want to be taught, because our hearts are sinful and want to be the master of our destination.

But it is during Lent that we realize that we need a Savior. It is during Lent that we see our falling sinful nature. It is during Lent that we understand how terrible sin is and what it does for us as it pushes us away from our holy God.

I want all of you to do an exercise as I instruct you. Take two fingers like this. First, God is God and the second, we are not. That was the way it was in the Garden of Eden until sin came into the picture and now the fingers are inverted. Now I am God and He is not. That is the definition of sin, all sin. I will be in control, not God. I will live my life according to my way, not God’s. I will be boss, not God. Repentance is bringing the fingers back to their original position, and of course, only God the Holy Spirit can bring about that change. God is still God and I am not.

That is what we have in the text before us today. Even the people at the time of St. Paul, had it all mixed up and were not willing to be instructed. That is what He told them: “For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

Indeed, the Jews demand sign and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles. The cross is an instrument of healing but only to those who believe its message. The cross is the bridge that connects redeemed people with a holy God. The cross is the message that brings about forgiveness and peace between God and man by the Man Jesus Christ. To many it is nothing but showing a weak Savior who died at the hands of Roman soldiers. To many it is an embarrassment. To many it is nothing but foolishness.

Everything that we teach, believe and confess flows from the cross and the empty tomb. Everything that we carry out in this house of worship is based on Jesus’ life and His living Word. People may not believe it, but we do. People may not understand it, but we have the Holy Spirit to help us gain His wisdom. People may not like it and neither do we, but for us to grow in the knowledge and grace of God, we need Him in our life. (Go back to the hand sign again). It is during Lent that we come to our senses. During Lent we acknowledge our sinfulness and seek His forgiveness. During Lent the Holy Spirit helps us let God be God and me be me. During Lent we walk with Jesus, see Him bruised and bloodied for our sake. During Lent we, by the power of the Holy Spirit, learn more and more of what it is that He has done to free us from the devil’s strong hold.

What a privilege to know that our wisdom, our smarts is nothing but foolishness in the sight of God. What a privilege that we have the written Word of God, to read it and be instructed by it. What a privilege to know that the Letter of Instruction from Paul is one that will draw us to a closer walk with Jesus. What a blessing to be here and be instructed in those things that lead to eternal life.

As we are instructed we learn. As we learn we become instructors. We are blessed, honored and privileged to be in the Lord’s house so that we become Letters of instructions to those around us. The Holy Spirit makes you a teacher of His blessed Word so that you can speak with confidence about what it is that saves us, what it is that draws us to Him and what it is that separates us from Him.

Today, I encourage you and implore you in the name of the loving Savior, who died and rose for you to be that kind of letter. Study His Word, learn His Word and grow through His Word and then teach it to your family, friend and neighbor.

May we be faithful in being willing to be instructed in His truth and teachers of this truth? Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA