“Peace In Spite Of…” (1 Peter 5:7)

S-1361-Easter Season/C 5/08/2013 Hymns: (O) #457; (S) #200; (C) #533

Texts: Psalm 23; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 10:11-18

Theme: “Peace In Spite Of…” (1 Peter 5:7)

Celebration of the New Life for Irene Lenora Gjoraas, Armour, SD

Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for the celebration of the New Life granted to our departed sister in the faith—Irene, is her confirmation text: “Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

Beloved in the Lord, today is a day of rejoicing and celebration amidst sadness and sorrow. PAUSE. Today, we give thanks to the Lord for the gift of life He earned for our departed sister Irene. Today, as we are gathered in His house to commend this precious child into the hands of our Lord, we lift our voices heavenward in praise for ALL He has done for us—His suffering, death and glorious resurrection. On account of His mighty act of love on Calvary’s cross, Jesus gives us peace in spite of our situations of grief, suffering and sadness. Today, Jesus reminds you and me to cast all of our cares on Him because He cares for YOU.

As People of the Resurrection, we are attacked daily by so many forces that it can rob us of the peace that Christ has earned for us. We are attacked by fear. We are attacked by the adversary-the devil who doesn’t want us to have peace or joy or happiness. But remember People of the Resurrection that God is greater and stronger than our attacks, says St. Peter in this concluding portion of his letter. It ends on an upbeat but practical note. He tells us how to face life, how to face our spiritual enemy, how to face suffering, and how to face God.

Peter instructs us to face life by trusting God saying: “Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” And today, in this place, Peter reminds each and every one of you to put all of your hopes and dreams in the One who answers every prayer. Place your whole life in the hands of the Carpenter, because those are the tender, loving hands that bring peace and joy.

But when death comes knocking on our door, it disturbs our life. It knocks us and turns our world upside down. Even when we know it is coming it can spin us around and even lead us to doubt the care our Lord has for us. We begin to question God saying, “Why did you have to take my mother from us so quickly? Lord, this is my grandma; couldn’t You have kept her just a little longer with us? Besides, she was in Church this past Sunday, and quickly her life began to spiral out of control and by Friday she left us and went to be with you. God, don’t you care about me?!”

But sin puts a damper on things and our eyes are distracted from God as they gaze upon the one who die d. Sin clouds our eyes and tears begin to fall down our cheeks. Sin troubles our hearts and causes us to wonder does God really care. Does He even know what pain I am going through? Sin plays games with our minds and puts us at odds with our family and loved ones but especially the peace we have with God. And we all face the heartaches, difficulties, testing—and even death. All these events cause us stress. We worry, we fret, and we forget to trust God who is our only source for life and salvation. Left in sin, we have no peace; our lot would be only God’s eternal judgment. PAUSE.

But the good news is we are not left in sin. Peter speaks from personal experience exhorting us to: “Cast all of our anxieties on Jesus, because He cares for you” (5:7). More than likely the Holy Spirit brought to mind the similar words of the Psalmist who also wrote: “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall” (Psalm 55:22).

But oh, People of the Resurrection. God does care about you. God loves you unconditionally. God desires for you to have the peace that surpasses all understanding because He has earned that peace for you through His shed blood. God wants to comfort you even now as you taste the bitter pill of death. God wants to still the storm raging in your heart and head and home. God wants you to know that YOU matter to Him.

Irene mattered to the Lord. She mattered enough to Him that He was willing to go to the cross for her. That trip to the cross and empty tomb was one that He made willingly. On that journey, He suffered greatly. He knew what was coming. He knew the pain, suffering, anguish, affliction and humiliation. And He still faced it FOR HER! And with that comes the promise not only of HIS presence but HER resurrection. Irene still matters to Jesus because as she rests from her labors in this life, she rests in the great comfort of the nail scarred hands of Jesus!

And those same nail scarred hands reach out to you this day. YOU matter to Jesus! YES YOU DO! That cross of Christ is for you too. It is cross that calls you to lay down all of the harm and hurt that the sins of others and your sins have earned. Jesus calls you to peace this day. Peace in the midst of death. Peace with the Lord rooted in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Peace in the relationships you share within your family. He wants this for YOU! That’s how much He cares for you EVEN NOW!

In the opening portion of Peter’s letter we read these words: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials” (1 Peter 1:3-6).

We believers in Christ have a lively hope through a living Savior of an inheritance that fades not away but also reserved for you in heaven...This moves us to cast all our cares upon Jesus...this lively hope, this glorious future, this certainty which for Irene has become a wonderful reality as she beholds the Savior face to face. PAUSE.

Irene, whose name in Greek means peace, knew that peace personally because she had a personal relationship with the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Though she was a sinner and had hardships and difficulties all of her life—lost two husbands, had many surgeries, suffered a lot, she was found faithful being in His house often to hear His Word that brings hope, joy and eternal peace. Even a week ago Sunday, 5 days before she was called home, she sat in this house of worship, heard the Good News again, that her sins are forgiven her on account of Christ her Savior, and dined with Him at His table and had peace with God.

But of more importance it is not that Irene knew the Prince of Peace, but that the Prince of Peace knew her and called her by name in the waters of Baptism on February 1^st, 1931 and nurtured her through His ever living Word and Sacrament. The Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ came into the room where the Disciples where huddled behind closed doors on that first Easter Sunday because they were afraid and their hearts were broken at His death. Into that room He stepped, calmed their spirits and said: in Hebrew Shalom alechem, and in Greek, Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν “Peace be upon you”. (John 20:19b).

Those words spoken by the Prince of Peace so long ago to the Disciples are not just empty words or spoken to them, but they are spoken to you as well even now in the midst of your broken hearts at the death of your mother, sister, aunt, mother-in-law, and grandmother. Into this room Jesus enters and calms your spirit and assures you that He is indeed the PEACE GIVER. He is the forgiver of all of your sins. He is the One who blesses you, enriches your life and guarantees your future with Him in heaven.

Yes, indeed, His peace be upon you here and now and always. The Prince of Peace, Jesus has done away with sin and took upon Himself God’s eternal judgment so that we might be judged righteous and holy not because of what we have done, but because of what He has done for us.

Today, rejoice and celebrate life, because He cares for you. Today, know with certainty, you need not be anxious about anything, but rather, led by the Holy Spirit take Jesus at His Word, hold unto His tender, loving, and pierced hands and walk with Him as our beloved sister Irene had done for the past 82 years, and you will have peace in spite of. Amen.

CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! ALLELUIA!!! AMEN!!!

“Advent Redemption—Bought With A Price” (1 Peter 1:18-19)

S-1285 3MIA/3B 12/14/11 Hymns: (O) 70; S 32; (C) LSB #801

Text: Isaiah 62- 63:5; 1 Peter 1:17-25; Luke 2:36-38

Theme: “Advent Redemption—Bought With A Price” (1 Peter 1:18-19)

Question: “What is the most expensive gift you have ever received?” Armour, SD.

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The text for the 3rd and final Midweek in Advent is from 1 Peter: “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Peter 1:18-19)

In Nomini Iesu,

Tonight, as your pastor, I am privileged and blessed to speak to you as the Redeemed of the Lord and the not forsaken; but ones who have been sought after. Sought after by Him who claims YOU to be His very own; by Him who Restored, Rescued and Redeemed you from the empty ways of life; by Him who bought you; not with gold or silver BUT with His own precious, sinless, spotless blood.

My beloved in Christ, Advent is a time of looking forward with great anticipation of the coming of the Savior, the Redeemer of the world to be born in a manger, but it also moves us to look ahead with great expecation to His Second Advent to take us to the Paradise of heaven.

Throughout all of Holy Scripture, we see the many faithful saints who looked forward to such a time as this. The beloved physician, Luke, paints in his Gospel many wonderful events to help us see the birth of Jesus. One particular incident that I would like to highlight from Luke’s Gospel is this. As the aged priest held his eight-day-old son in his arms, he just had to sing. For in the birth of John, who was to prepare the way for the Savior, Zechariah—filled with the Holy Spirit—saw the certainty of Christ’s birth. And while that wondrous event still lay sixth months in the future, Zechariah sang of it as if it had already happened. “The Lord, the God of Israel, has come to redeem His people” (Luke 1:67). He prophesied these words for all to hear. The centuries of waiting and watching were almost over. Now it was time for unwrapping and for wondering in awe at God’s love gift—a Savior, a Redeemer who will redeem the human race from the pit of despair and the fires of hell.

Can you envision Zechariah holding his son in his hands—a gift from God and praising the Lord of the universe in hearing his prayers? Do you see the tears in his eyes that the waiting for redemption is almost over? Oh, Zechariah marveled at the gift of love in the coming of the Redeemer.

Therefore, like him, we need to marvel at the miracle behind Bethlehem. He hadn’t seen the Christ Child yet, but he knew who that baby would be. “The Lord, the God of Israel,” he stated. In that coming Child, he saw “God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God,” as we also see and confess in the Nicene Creed (The Lutheran Hymnal [TLH]). Zechariah could understand the miracle behind that birth no more than we could, but, like us, he could marvel at the love involved.

A love that moved the Lord to do the impossible—He came down from the unreachable, with a love that is unmatch-able, so that you and I might live forever with Him in heaven. As we unwrap God’s Christmas gift, may we, by the power of the Holy Spirit NEVER forget the miracle that was needed to achieve it and the love that provided it. Zechariah sang that day not only because he saw who that holy Child would be but also because he saw what that Child would do. Again, inspired by the Spirit, he spoke as if it had already happened: “The Lord has redeemed His people.”

Yes, indeed, the Babe in the Manger, the heaven sent Restorer, Rescuer and Redeemer, Jesus the Christ has accomplished the task that saints before us have looked to, and still do. O redeemed of the Lord, don’t pass too quickly by this Word! PAUSE.

Do you understand what it cost the Savior to redeem you? Do you know why He did it? Let me return for just a moment to my old profession a house painter and paint to you with wide brushes and colorful images this picture for you to make you appreciate your redemption—bought at a price.

(Here move over to the center where the table is and the cage is located). A story is told of a pastor of a church in Boston, met a young boy in front of the sanctuary carrying a rusty cage in which several birds fluttered nervously. The Pastor asked, “Son, where did you get those birds?” The boy replied, “I trapped them out in the field.” “What are you going to do with them?” “I’m going to play with them, and then I guess I’ll just feed them to an old cat we have at home.” When the pastor offered to buy them, the lad exclaimed, “Mister, you don’t want them, they’re just little old wild birds and can’t sing very well.” The pastor replied, “I’ll give you $2 for the cage and the birds.” “Okay, it’s a deal, but you’re making a bad bargain.” The exchange was made and the boy went away whistling, happy with his shiny coins. The pastor walked around to the back of the church property, opened the door of the small wire coop, and let the struggling creatures soar into the blue.

In another town, another Preacher came walking by one day and saw Satan holding the sons of Adam and the daughters of Eve in a cage if you will—a prison cell. The Preacher asked “What are you going to do with them? Satan said, “Oh, I will play with them, and torture them with the fires of hell and cause them to work hard labor in my prison cell.” The Preacher looked at him and said, “What would you like to have to spare their lives?” Satan replied, “You don’t want these sons of Adam and daughters of Eve, they are no good to you. They will break your heart, disobey Your commandments, dishonor You with their lives and shame Your name”. The Preacher asked again, “What will it cost for you to let them go?” Satan, with gleeful smile looked at the Preacher and said, “YOUR LIFE FOR THEIRS!” The Preacher responded “DONE!” “Okay, it’s a deal, Said Satan, but you’re making a bad bargain.” And the exchange was made.

(Open the cage here) All of the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve were released from the prison cell at infinitely high price—the precious blood of the Preacher—Jesus the Babe of Bethlehem. And those who were released, with hope in their hearts; with eyes looked heavenward they appeared to be singing: “Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed!”

Saints in Christ, You and I have been held captive to sin, in the prison of Satan, but Christ has purchased our pardon and set us at liberty. When a person has this life-changing experience, he will want to sing, “Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed!” We have done that tonight with our sermon Hymn, “Redeemed, Restored, Forgiven!” Yes, we have been Restored, Rescued and Redeemed by the Only One who could and would—Jesus the Christ.

There are many people out there who rescue others in time of need—firemen, military personal, police officers. There are many others who help in time of need, but ONLY Jesus can redeem, because His life-blood is pure without any sin.

God’s people of old and God’s people of today rejoice in the glorious Good News that we have been bought with a price—not gold or silver, but the precious blood of Christ. God’s people understand the cost of their redemption and the unmatched love of the Savior. And for that we are thankful and joyful to praise His holy name and give thanks to Him for saving us from the fires of hell and opening the gate of Paradise for us. Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“You Have Been Called” (1 Peter 2:19-21)

S-1252 4th SOE/3A 05/15/11, (O) 204, (S) LSB #483, (C) # 49

Text: Acts 2:42-47; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10

Theme: “You Have Been Called” (1 Peter 2:19-21)

Question: “Do You Know Your Calling?”

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for our 4^th Sunday of Easter is from the Epistle lesson: “For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been CALLED, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:19-21).

In Nomini Iesu

Most Beloved in the Lord, while visiting my father in the old country, two of my cousins stopped by for a specific purpose—to bid us come to the wedding of their family members. They came carrying the invitations and after handing them to us said, “Our family would be honored to have you at this wonderful occasion!” Even I received an invitation to be part of this wonderful celebration of my second cousins.

Today, St. Peter stands among us here and hands us an invitation, not to a wonderful and joyous celebration to a wedding, but to a life of suffering and sorrow. Peter tells us this is our calling to suffer for being Christians just as the Savior did Himself and left us an example to follow in His footsteps.

Now my beloved, can you imagine a newspaper add with these lines: Wanted, any person, young and old, male and female to come be part of out team. The job is hard and the journey is long. You will be persecuted, hurt, mocked, laughed at, humiliated, spit upon, beaten and suffer much. How many people do you believe will apply to such an ad? Probably not many in their right mind.

But that is precisely, what Peter tells us. This is our calling as the Redeemed children of God. Our lives as Christians is not a life of ease and trouble-free, but a life of ridicule, a life of rejection a life of sorrow and suffering.

Shortly after the Resurrection of Jesus the Apostles began to spread the Good News. In Acts chapter 4 while Peter and John were doing a good deed in Jerusalem healing a lame man, they were brought to the Sanhedrin for questioning about what they were doing. They threw them in jail and threatened them not to speak of the Resurrection or of Jesus Christ. However, “Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20). In the next chapter the disciples are once again brought to the council of the Jewish leaders: Listen to the discourse please: “And when they had brought them [disciples], they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, ‘We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him’…When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them...they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to SUFFER {emphasis added} dishonor for the name. (Acts 5:27-41). Did you get it these former fishermen who have been called by the Gospel now consider suffering a great joy. PAUSE.

Even, Paul the great preacher and proclaimer of God’s good news suffered much for being a Christian. On the way to Damascus to persecute the church of Christ he was converted by the Lord, Jesus Christ Himself and was called into a fellowship with Him. This is how Dr. Luke describes the calling of Paul: “Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ And he said, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ And the Lord said to him, ‘Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.’ But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine to carry My name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. Listen closely please: For I will show him how much he must SUFFER {emphasis added} for the sake of My name’” (Acts 9:13-16).

Paul’s calling was a life of suffering. We know how much he suffered for the cause of furthering the Gospel. Listen to his catalogue of life of hardship for the sake of Christ His Lord. “But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness…” (2 Corinthians 11:21b-30).

From the prison cell, just before he will lose his head on the chopping block, Paul writes one final letter to the Church at Philippi exhorting them and encouraging them: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). Paul tells us to rejoice even in suffering just like Peter does. But it is so hard for us to remember this is our calling.

As Christians living in the 21^st century we have lost this understanding of our calling. There are many other, far more pleasant aspects of our vocation as Christians that we would focus on. And this change on focus, we concentrate on ourselves—how we can earn more money, rather than serving the Lord and His Church. Sadly, the Church has failed in its message to exhort the believers in their calling to suffer with Jesus for the sake of His Gospel. We should remember that we are in the world, but not of the world. As we live our lives as the chosen and called people of God suffering is an inescapable part of our faithfulness. Jesus never promised a rose garden, but did tell us we will face persecution, hardships and suffering for His sake. We are not above our Master who suffered brutally on the cross of Calvary.

We ought to develop this sense of calling. As the baptized children of God we have been called by the Gospel just as Dr. Luther said in the explanation of the third article of the creed: “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth…” We have been called to a life of service and suffering. Peter put it this way: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10).

In our Gospel reading today, we are told by the Good Shepherd, Jesus that those who belong to Him Hear His call and follow Him. Yes, you are His little sheep. You hear His voice as you gather often in this field eating His ever living Word and drinking from the fountain of eternal water. Here in this place not only does He call you to be His very own, but He equips you to be used by Him in spite of the fact that we might suffer.

Each and every one of us here today have been called—called to be a light to a dark world. Called to be the voice of hope and help to the helpless and hopeless. Called to be the arms of mercy and compassion to those who are struggling in life; called to be an instrument of furthering the Gospel with all of the gifts the Savior has gifted us. You have been called. Know your calling. Whatever it is you have been called to do to spread the Gospel do it in such a way that Your Father’s name might be glorified and your neighbor edified.

After all, Jesus’ call was to save us. That is why on Good Friday He fulfilled the call of suffering our death and our hell and rose on the third day to give us life eternal with Him in heaven. Oh, the joy of knowing that we have been called by the Gospel of Jesus our Savior and Lord. Amen. And Amen.

Now the peace.

Soli Deo Gloria.

“For Your Sake” (1 Peter 1:17-19)

S-1251 3^rd SOE/3A 05/08/11, (O) 193, (S) #210, L.S. # 458; #201; #194; (C) # 189

Text: Acts 2:14, 36-41; 1 Peter 1:17-25; 2—24; Luke 24:13-35

Theme: “For Your Sake” (1 Peter 1:17-19)

Question: “Have you done something special just because?”

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! The text for our 3^rd Sunday of Easter is from the Epistle lesson: “And if you call on Him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:17-19).

In Nomini Iesu Most Beloved,

There are those Sundays when it is tough to preach. Peter preaches on Pentecost and 3,000 are added to the church. Peter goes on in our Epistle to tell us that it is not with silver or gold, but His precious blood, which He knew He would pour out from before the time when He hung the stars in the heavens - and all this, the Savior would do for your sake! Peter goes on to differentiate between the perishable and the imperishable seed! You are now born anew from imperishable seed. Wow! If that was all I had to preach - wow! But add to that the dialog, the encounter, the personal touch of Jesus with the two Emmaus disciples…, on Easter Sunday... and you have something so incredible that it is LIFE itself.

Do you notice a pattern with Jesus after the resurrection? He appears through locked doors, two men who knew Him before do not recognize Him when all of a sudden, as they walk, He appears out of seemingly nowhere. We have a need, and, voila! He is there. Well guess what? You have a need today, and voila! He is here... for your sake! Oh, they didn’t recognize Him in the way He revealed Himself from before the Cross. Peter doesn’t recognize Him with the catch of fish in John 21. We can no longer walk with Him in the same manner we can walk with a flesh and blood friend. But in the means He has given, He is more surely and certainly with you, for your sake!

How foolish and slow of heart we can be to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Even today, we still want sings and wonders. Just this past week while sitting with my cousin, he asked me, “Nabil, how do I know that the Scriptures are true? How do I even know that God exists? A sign would be nice.” But we have the signs and wonders revealed in the Word of the Living God. We have the prophet’s Words written for our learning and for our sake. It is a sure Word and not words like a politician would mouth, not a promise that is hastily spoken, but Words that echo the Creative Force of Him who by this same Word was able to use Peter’s stammering tongue to convert 3,000 souls through one sermon.. He does not give us words of flash and polish, like silver and gold, which tarnish and perish, but His Eternal Word that speaks newness of life into doubting, hurting, lonely, broken hearts. This is a Word that is spoken... for your sake!

Sometimes it’s easy to take the Word of God for granted. How many Bibles do you have in your home? How accessible is the Word on the Internet? Yet we seek hope in lowered interest rates, in sales at the local stores, yes, in all those things that moth and rust may destroy and where thief and robber can break in to steal. We find hope in the words of other men and women, their writings and their wisdom.

Be certain of this, I am pointing the finger at you, knowing I have three fingers pointed directly at my own heart. Yes, I am slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken... and still speak. What they speak is how Jesus is the Christ. They speak how He had to suffer, and die on the Cross and in that enter into His glory!

Notice what it means to enter into His glory! It is to hang on your cross. It is to die in your place. It is to suffer hell for you. It is to go through death to life that has no ending... and has no sorrow... and has no loss... to life that is both eternal and perfect. All this is yours now. This Jesus who was crucified and risen has entered into His glory so that you, too, would enter into His glory! That Glory is your eternal life.

Now it is interesting that in v. 34 of our Gospel we have the words of the Emmaus disciples saying the Lord has appeared to Simon! By that they mean: Peter. The very disciple who denied Jesus three times before the cock crowed (Luke 22:60-62). This is Resurrection night, the same night when Jesus appears behind the locked doors to the disciples. In our text, the Emmaus disciples tell in v. 24 how “some with us (Peter and John) went to the tomb and found everything as the women said, ‘but Him they did not see.’” If we go back to v. 12 of this text we find that Peter runs to the tomb and finds the linen cloths lying there. It is a sign that brings faith, just as with finding Jesus wrapped in the same cloths at His birth (Luke 2:12, and this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.) The cloths as they are found bring faith. When the Emmaus disciples arrive back at the Upper Room, they confirm that Peter’s search for the Risen Savior is true. It is this sight without seeing that is our faith. The Words of God in the Prophets bring us life and light and the love of God. This is for your sake! Are you like Peter, a doubter, and even a denier? Good! You are also one to whom He has appeared, in the same signs, in the same swaddles, that is, in the Word and Words of Holy Scripture.

Yes, beginning with Moses and the Prophets, He tells us, just as He did the Emmaus Disciples, just as He did Peter (whose preaching tells us that God has done all this for your sake!)... For your sake all of this is done. PAUSE.

On this day when we observe Mother’s Day, we realize that many of the sacrifices mother make is for the sake of their family. The late night waiting for their children to come home is done for your sake. The cooking, cleaning and caring is all done for your sake. Their love is poured out for your sake. Their prayers lifted up before the Throne of Grace is for your sake.

But as much as a mother’s love moves her to do the things she does for her family’s sake, the Savior does even more for His own family—He permits us to stand in the presence of the Holy God and speak words of forgiveness and mercy, all for the sake of Christ. Before the Throne of Grace, we see the payments for sins made by the holy, innocent, precious blood of Christ all for your sake. And that same Savior pleads before His Father in heaven for YOUR sake. All of this, He does for you beloved in the Lord. Today, as the Savior on that first Easter night opened the eyes and hearts of the disciples, He also now tells you... all the Scriptures are all and always only about Him and His love for you, a lost and condemned creature, and one who He has purchased and won, not with silver or gold, but with His precious blood and innocent death, that you would be His own and live under Him in His Kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteous innocence and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true...for your sake! Amen!

Now the peace…

Soli Deo Gloria

“Easter MATTERS!!!” (1 Peter 1:3).

S-1182 Easter/3C Hymns #(O)#199; #189; S #191; L.S. (633); #200; #198; #201; (C) #193

Texts: Isaiah 65:17-25; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26; Luke 24:1-12

Theme: “Easter MATTERS!!!” (1 Peter 1:3).

Question: “Does Easter Matter to you?” (9^th in sermon series of Life Together).

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! (3x) The text for our glorious Resurrection Celebration is from 1 Peter “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, because according to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

People of God, chosen and beloved, take a moment and look around. Isn’t the church beautiful? Look at all these Easter lilies! They’re so white and fragrant, what a sight! How about the music? Wow! Wasn’t it wonderful to be able sing “Alleluia” again? Oh, and, didn’t the organ sound great this morning as we sang that joyous hymn, “Jesus Christ is Risen Today”? And how about our choir singing on the top of their voices to make our worship extra special? Resurrection Sunday for me is so special. I just get goose bumps all over. After forty days of Lent, we have come to the other side of Easter and it is such a wonderful event in the life the church. Just take a moment and savor it with me. [Inhale deeply, enjoying being on the scene and, especially the smell of the Easter lilies. Pause Then after a few seconds and then say:] That’s it. Amen. PAUSE AGAIN A LITTLE LONGER

Now, what if the sermon had actually ended right now? If it did, I know some of you would be saying, “That’s it? What do you mean, that’s it? You mean to tell me that I got up at dawn, put on my Sunday best, and came to church for this? What a joke!” But then, again, others of you might be saying, “You know, that’s the best sermon I’ve ever heard him preach. It was short and to the point, and now, the best part is that we just might get out of here early! Yes! Yes! We are DONE!” But in all seriousness, my brothers and sisters in Christ, what if that was the end of the sermon? What if that was it? If Easter is only about smelling the lilies and taking in the special emotion of the day, then Easter really doesn’t matter all that much. On the other hand, if Easter is about some profound, eternal truth, then our time together in God’s house and this worship service really matters.

How much does Easter matter for us? How much does our celebration of Easter matter for others? We are living in a time when people are fond of saying, “You have your opinion; I have mine. Maybe your Easter celebration turns you on but don’t tell me it’s God’s truth,” they say. “Jesus? Well, what about Buddha? Mohammed? And don’t you Christians remember that Pontius Pilate asked, ‘What is truth?’ Truth is whatever you make it out to be. What you Christians believe as ‘truth’ is whatever you and your church friends believe is true for you, but it’s not for me.” That’s the way many people look at it today. Easter and Jesus, many people say, may be “true” for us but not for everybody.

To address this, we’ve got to ask a basic question. How much does Easter matter for us—for you and me faithful followers of Jesus? Ponder that for a moment with me: How much does Easter matter for you? Will our celebration of Easter matter for others?

The Apostle Peter says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, because according to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). We couldn’t agree more! Jesus died and rose for the sins of the whole world, especially for you. In fact, it’s because Jesus did die and rise for you, that you can be assured that every stain and stench of sin has been removed and ALL of your sins are forgiven and eternal life is guaranteed. For you, Jesus allowed Himself to be beaten and bloodied, suffered and scourged, mocked and mauled, teased and taunted. And for you, Jesus allowed a crown of thorns to be thrust on His head. But most important of all, it was for you that Jesus laid down on a fateful Friday, and allowed His hands and feet to be nailed to a wooden cross. Bang. Bang. Bang.

Now, at any time, Jesus could have said, “That’s it! I’ve had enough. No more. I’m out of here!” But for you, yes, for you (point at the crowds), Jesus not only endured the cross, Jesus died on the cross. And He did it to pay for all of your sins. He was then laid in a tomb. And just when it looked like all was lost, just when it looked like this Messiah was just some cruel joke, just when it looked like that was it…that was it!… Just then it happened. Jesus rose from the dead. Alleluia! St. Peter says, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed…but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in God” (1:18-21). Yes, Easter matters…to you…to me…and to all believers the world over!

As followers of Jesus we believe this is the truth. St. Peter says, “You have purified yourself by obeying the truth” (1:22). That’s what we believe but still others could just wave us off. Remember what we said earlier, that some people say “truth” is simply a creation of community? “That’s your opinion.” We here at Redeemer Lutheran Church are a community. And, as a community that is a part of the body of Christ, we live by faith and hope that is anchored in a past activity that assures our present future. We trust that God’s Word is the truth. Yes, we believe this Word of resurrection is the truth and true for us. Our eternal destiny depends on this Word of faith, that “God has given us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Let me ask you an honest question: What will it look like to others because Easter matters to us? When Easter matters to us, will it look like this? Once the service, the music, the organ and the Divine Worship is over, we leave and leave Easter in the church parking lot and head out to our daily lives. Maybe we’re headed to that big traditional ham dinner at Grandma’s house. Then again, maybe you go out for brunch. Oh, and if you are really lucky, you’ll even get a nap in this afternoon! But, as fun as that may all be, by about oh, three or four o’clock, life has pretty much returned to normal. And, Easter is over and done with for another year. If Easter matters, will it look like that? No! When we live as though Easter matters, we put a high priority on being community, on our life together as the body of Christ. We continue to come to God’s house to hear His Word and receive our Lord’s Supper. We continue to be fervent and faithful in our daily prayers and devotions. “Lord, we believe Your Word is truth; help our unbelief!”

When Easter matters we continue as a church to do good works in our community. We make sure that our lives touch others. We care for the needy among us and in our community. We help when and where possible. Or, maybe we put a little extra in the collection plate to take care of the needs of our global missionaries like Amy Kashenov (our own SD daughter who is Kazakhstan), or the Bike For Life, or the congregations that are springing around the States; and to make sure that people in our congregation are able take some short-term missionary trips to wherever there might be need for workers for the harvest of souls.

When Easter matters to us, it not only matters to all of us but it matters to each of us personally. The German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will be constantly crossing our paths and canceling our plans by sending us people with claims and petitions” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together [San Francisco: Harper, 1954], 99). Since Easter matters, will you allow yourself to be interrupted by God? For example, what if you and your spouse go out for what is supposed to be a nice, quiet brunch? It’s the two of you. No kids, no distractions, just some time alone. But now suppose that after being seated at the table, you notice that your waitress ends up being a daughter of this congregation. You know this girl, even though she hasn’t been in church for awhile. You could pretend you don’t recognize her. But when Easter matters, you are concerned when your sister in Christ misses out on the grace and forgiveness that the Lord gives in the worship service. So you spend some talking with that young girl. You let her know that you miss her, and you pray for her.

Or perhaps you allow God to interrupt your busy schedule just long enough to visit some of our seniors who are shut-in and cannot attend church. Take them a plate of cookies. Visit with them. Read a Psalm together and say a prayer. That’s an excellent way to not only care for others within this faith community, but it’s an excellent way to live your daily life to show that Easter matters. Easter matters to you, and it will matter to the person you visit.

When we think of taking Easter into our daily lives, what can be more daily than going to Walmart or Shopko? What if you’re walking down the aisles, and all of a sudden, there he or she is. This is your neighbor, and they are hurting. Maybe they have been laid off and can’t find work, maybe their spouse has left them, or maybe there’s been a death in the family. The easy thing to do would be to put your head down and pass them without saying a word. But when you live like Easter matters, when you take the resurrection of Jesus Christ seriously, you don’t shun that person. Instead you say something like: “John, I’m so sorry about your job. Jennifer, I can only imagine how much you are hurting. Julie, even though we take comfort that Bob is now with the Lord, it must be hard to be alone. May I pray for you?” PAUSE.

My beloved and His beloved, people will continue to say, “Oh, Jesus and Easter, that’s just your opinion.” But when you live your life like Easter matters, people will get curious. Your co-workers and friends, and maybe even your family will say things to you like, “Why are you always spending so much time helping others? Why are you always caring for people? What makes you the way you are?” St. Peter says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (3:15). Then you can say, “You want to know why I’m different? I’ll tell you the truth. It’s Easter. Easter matters to me and I pray Easter will matter to you. Jesus matters, therefore Easter Matters.” That’s it! Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SDG

“I Want This…And This…and This…” (1 Peter 4:1-2).

S-1178 6MIL/3C 3/24/2010 Hymns: (O) #178; #184; (S) #159; (C) #652

Texts: Psalm 69:13-21; 1 Peter 4:1-6; Passion Reading

Theme: “I Want This…And This…and This…” (1 Peter 4:1-2).

Question: “What are you thirsting for?” (6^th in Sermon series on “Life Together”)

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. The text for our Sixth Midweek in Lent is from the Epistle Lesson: “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:1-2).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

People of God, chosen and beloved, you have seen it many times on TV. The camera zooms in on the people who have camped all night long waiting and waiting. You have read about it in the newspapers describing the mad rush of people trying to be first in line. You have heard about it on the radio, as the announcer speaks of the throngs of people lining up one after the other.

What am I talking about? Black Friday—the biggest shopping day of the year. Black Friday falls after Thanksgiving Day, when multitudes of people young and old, boys and girls pitch their tents in all kind of weather to be first in line as Wal-Mart, Walgreen, Herbergers, J.C. Penny’s and the like open their doors. As soon as the doors are open there is a mad rush into the store similar to the Running of the Bull in Pamplona, Spain. People grab a shopping cart and begin to dump this and this and this item.

What possess people to do this? Why would anyone desire to spend a sleepless night standing in the frigid cold or sleeping on a hard floor to be first in line? By nature the human nature always looks to fulfill its needs. We thirst for this and this and this because we think they will satisfy us. This is how foolish we are and deceived we have become.

Tonight, as we continue on our Lenten journey, we reach Golgotha. Just outside the city walls of Jerusalem, we see the Rabbi from Nazareth nailed to a tree. As we draw near enough to the cross, we can actually hear His deep and laboring breath. As we stop silently near, we also hear Him utter these words: “I Thirst!”

Please ponder this scene with me for a moment. (Invite them to close their eyes) Attempt to see His face. Study the sight before you. Look deep into His eyes and see Him weighted down; His blood dripping one drop after another to the ground crusting beneath Him in the hot Palestinian sand. He looks down and then up and says: “I Thirst!” How can it be that He who made the oceans, placed the seas and rivers in their places, and dug the deep wells of the universe is thirsty. Can it be? He who is the Creator, longs for the created things to satisfy His dry and parched mouth with a drop of water? PAUSE.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will help us tonight to grasp another view of Jesus—His humanity. Dr. Luke with these words displays for us fully the humanity of Jesus. His Divinity is veiled in His humanity. And from the cross He who holds the universe on its axes refuses to quench His thirst by one single drop of water, so that He may take upon Him the sins of the world.

Why? Yes, Why? Let Paul answer that question for you: “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Phil. 2:4-8).

Here is the answer to this question. Jesus thought of you first. He put your interest before His. He wanted to save you and you and you. He didn’t come to earth to get this and this and this. But He came because of you, and you and you.

In the text before us this evening Peter calls us to give up thinking of ourselves, and instead think of others. Peter put it this way: “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God”

However, you and I know that from childhood we think of ourselves first and foremost. How often do we ask, “What’s in for me? Or “What do I want to be when I grow up?” Little children ask that question. High school students begin to seek in earnest an answer to that question as they begin to think about colleges and careers. Even working adults ask periodically, “Is this where I want to be?”

Holy Scripture reminds us to aspire to know nothing save Christ and Him crucified. The Word teaches us to aspire to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. It is not enough to know about Jesus. But we want to know Him better; intimately knowing His suffering, His journey to the cross and His glorious resurrection. We want to know what it means to live as a redeemed child of the resurrected Christ. Not only that, but we should desire to share in suffering and dying, just like Jesus.

But we don’t like to suffer. None of us do. Neither you nor I want to go through suffering. But In this sinful and broken world, we are attacked from every corner by the prince of darkness, from the outside and from the Old Adam from within us. Both seek to rob us for our hope, our happiness and our place in heaven. The prince of darkness always attempts to get us of the track of living the life of a child of God. But don’t listen to the devil. Don’t give in to the temptation. Thirst for that which is holy, pure, right and salutary.

This evening I am talking to you, my beloved and His beloved. I am talking to the Christian church, those redeemed by the blood shed by our Savior on the cross, those whom the New Testament calls “the body of Christ.” I am talking to those who know the promise of an end to suffering because Christ died for us. I am talking to you. I’m talking to you who fit the description of 1 Peter 4:1-2: “Since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.” I hear Peter calling us to “arm” ourselves with the same thinking of Christ. I hear Peter saying we’re done with sin but I know we still struggle with sin. Yes, we struggle with sin. How many times have you said, “I’m not going to do this again?” But end up doing it anyway. You cry out to God for strength and forgiveness. And Christ draws near to us and says, “My son, my daughter be of good cheer, you have been forgiven.”

I exhort you therefore, for the sake of Christ to think of yourselves as that body of Christ, as sinners but redeemed and washed by the precious blood of the Savior on the cross; who are already armed with the same manner of thinking as Christ. With this in mind, what do we thirst for? We thirst for justice, for healing, for an end to suffering. We thirst for a stronger economy, for those without work to find jobs, to be able to provide for their families. We thirst for safety, for those in Haiti to get the supplies and protection they need. We thirst for the protection of homes in the water-drenched areas of northeastern SD. We thirst for an end to abortion, slavery, and an end to sin, death, and the power of the devil. One look at our weekly prayer list will show you what we thirst for. We thirst for…this and this and this for the benefit of the whole body of believers to be whole, brought back to the fold, to kneel at the altar, received the blessings and peace God offers us in Christ our Savior.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, there is nothing wrong with us Christians thirsting for better things. It is not sinful to thirst to be an accountant, CFO, nurse, teacher, or computer programmer. But the word that belongs before any label or title we ever have is Christian. It is our thirst to follow Christ first.

And the only way we can do so is if we drink from the fountain of the living water—Jesus Christ Himself. Remember, what the Evangelist Luke stated: “From His side water and blood flowed.” What a picture from His pierced side we are quenched because His gift alone satisfies. No wonder Jesus offered us the cup of Salvation—His blood to take away our sins and quench our thirsty souls with the living river flowing from His pierced side.

Beloved in the Lord, when will our parched throats be quenched? Will our suffering never be alleviated now? By no means! God is daily intervening. In countless ways God is indeed giving us little sips of water so we can endure throughout this drought. Help may not always come, but because Christ lives we live in hope. In fact, that is one of the reasons why we are here. We are the body of Christ in this hurting and suffering world. We are often the instruments God uses to alleviate suffering and bring hope in the here and now, as we wait for the day when final healing will come. We are the ones who wipe tears from the eyes of others as we wait for the day when sorrow will end. We bring the sip of water as we wait for the day when the drought will end. As we wait for the day… the day when the source of living water will return and we will thirst no more. Amen.

Now the peace…

SDG

“How Can I Believe in A God Who Would…?” (1 Peter 1:6-9).

S-1177 5MIL/3C 3/17/2010 Hymns: (O) #153; #183; (S) #402; (C) #558

Texts: Psalm 107:1-15; 1 Peter 4:7-11; Passion Reading

Theme: “How Can I Believe in A God Who Would…?” (1 Peter 1:6-9).

Question: “How do you cope?” (5^th in Sermon series on “Life Together”)

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The text for our Fifth Midweek in Lent is from the Epistle Lesson: “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by⁾ various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:6-9).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

People of God, chosen and beloved, a wife walks into the house and is shocked to find her husband lying on the bed non-responsive. Right next to him is an open bottle with a note. The note read: “Darling, I am so sorry to put you through this. But I can’t take life any longer. Without a job, I am unable to provide for you and the children. I feel all alone, there is no hope in this life and I feel forsaken. Tell the children that I love them!” The wife calls 911 and the ambulance rush her husband to the hospital and pump his stomach clean. PAUSE.

A young couple is in the delivery room about to give birth. They have had five miscarriages and now ready to give birth. The Dr. instructs the wife what to do. After a long, hard labor and delivery, the Dr. looks at the couple and says: “I am so sorry; you gave birth to a still born baby.” The husband hugs his wife and both begin to sob. The wife with tears looks up to heaven and utters her frustrations and anger: “Why God? Why after 5 miscarriages, after nine months of carrying this baby, the baby is born dead? Dear God why? Why wouldn’t you answer our prayers? Why do you forsake us Lord?” PAUSE.

On Sunday evening I got this message via e-mail: “I certainly know that there is no easy answer to the question I will pose. Also, God never has to give us an answer… He’s God, not we humans. But…I wish I could see some type of reason or purpose that this pastor came to our church. Never have we had such conflict and division. Yes, there have been some problems, as we are all humans, but never this!  What good can come of this as a church?”

These are the voices of people who are going through afflictions and agony. You can hear the pain in their voices, and aches in their hearts. You know there is sorrow and suffering in their lives. I have spent time in prayers and on the phone speaking and helping whenever possible. I have tried as a pastor to point them to the only place possible–God’s Holy Word for comfort and consolation.

These are not isolated situations. These events happen daily in the lives of God’s people. How often do people cry out to God over failed relationships? How many people cry out of the despair of unemployment? How many would-be mothers have begged God to give them a child to hold, nurse and nurture? Does God ever hear us? Is He even real? Did He ignore the cries of His people?

Tonight, we need not go the woman’s home, the delivery room or the church in ND to hear the aches and pains in their voices. Instead come with me to Calvary. Open your ears and hear the voice of Him who is hanging on the cross crying out to His Father and saying: “My God, My

God, why are You forsaking Me?”

As the dark clouds swirled over the head of Jesus, He faced His greatest trial—everything He stood for hung in the balance. In a matter of hours He would be dead, and already He had been shamed, humiliated, and discredited. Everyone around Jesus had reason to abandon faith because the pressure to despair was immense. What good was it for Him to patiently wait any longer? What could He possibly be waiting for as death reached out to embrace Him? How could this be the arrival of God’s kingdom that He had so forcefully preached? How could He be the Messiah and long-awaited King of Israel? Had He been mistaken? Now was the time to own up to that! Now was the time to give up! No one could fault Him for it! But stubbornly, defiantly, Jesus pressed onward. He did the unthinkable—He resolved Himself to patiently wait on His Father in heaven. He refused to give up His hope that God’s kingdom was at hand. He did not fight to bring Himself down from that cross. He did not call on an army of angels to intervene. He did not curse God. Foolishly, some mocker would say, Jesus threw Himself into the hands of His God. Foolishly, a scoffer would ridicule, Jesus continued to bless and love those who stood against Him. Following the way of love, He persisted till the end and refused to back down. He would not be deterred; He threw Himself headlong into the destructive path of death itself. And to the despair of those who stayed and watched, death did not yield—it pushed forward unwaveringly, crushing this Jesus under its feet. PAUSE.

In this world death also stands on your doorstep—diseases, disasters, destructions of every sort, wars, and violence rage all around threatening to tear your life apart. Will you continue to look to God in hope or will you walk away in despair? Alone, you will eventually fall into despair, but with others there is a chance for hope. Like the wife, the childless couple and the ND congregation, it is important that you and I face the harshness of reality in the company of each another. If you and I try to go it alone, then we will not make it—we are simply not strong enough. God has given us a community of brothers and sisters that we might build each other up and strengthen ourselves in the face of the world’s darkness. Peter’s first letter was written to Christians facing persecution, people tempted to give up on God. 1 Peter 1:6-7 says, “Now for a little time you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine.” He wrote these words to Christian communities, not to individuals. He wrote about facing despair as part of a community in Christ. Without community gathered around the cross the task ahead of us would be too much. When you and I stare death and despair in the face, refusing to buckle, we need each other. The hymn writer put it this way. “When all things seem against us, to drive us to despair, we know one gate is open, one ear will hear our prayer” (TLH 279, v. 4).

On Friday they laid Jesus’ body in the tomb. He had stared into the abyss and it swallowed Him up. It looked like the kingdom He preached never came and now He was just another dead Messiah—a failure. Scoffers said His trust in a God who would let Him face rejection, suffering, and crucifixion was a joke. How, they ridiculed, could He have thought that such a God was real? His God had been too late—His trust had been in vain. In a world where the strong conquer, He had been weak. In a world where wisdom ruled, He had been a fool. In a world where death had the final say, He was dead. This dark and unforgiving world once again asserted its strength. But as it pressed down relentlessly on this weak and seemingly foolish Jesus, its iron grip began to slip. On Sunday morning, the way of the world was shown to be a fraud. The world that everyone thought they knew was completely turned on its head. Jesus, this crucified failure, was bodily raised to life! His foolishness was proved to be true wisdom—His weakness, true strength! Everything the world thought it had figured out began to crumble in a pile of rubble. PAUSE.

In the stories shared with you this evening, and in countless others throughout the world, we are given small reminders that our natural understanding of what is good or evil, right or wrong, wise or foolish, strong or weak, has been turned upside down in Jesus Christ, the crucified. The insignificant and humble ways of faith, hope, and love are shown in Him to be God’s way. The dark world around us continues to mock their foolish hope but our confidence is that the outcome of faith in our God is nothing short of true rescue on the other side of death.

Until then, we have a living Savior. No one stays closer to you than Christ. Christ is better than the most faithful husband, more understanding than the most comforting wife, more reliable than the best friend. No one is more available or more interested whom you can talk to in the middle of the night, or at any other time, simply by calling out in prayer.

No one comforts better than Christ. In the midst of your deepest pain, His presence brings comfort and strength, through His Words of promise, often delivered by trusted Christians.

No one sees the benefits of your pain clearer than Christ. He sees through the dark, winding tunnel of your Gethsemane all the way to the end. You see only the unrelenting, frightening, thick darkness. He sees beyond it into the shining light of eternity, knowing that the difficulties help to keep you close to Him until you see Him in heaven. This is why you and I can say, with Peter: Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (I Pet 1:8-9).

My beloved and His beloved, from the cross Jesus in the hour of suffering and agony looked up to heaven and cried out in a loud voice: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Do you know why? So that you and I may never, no ever be forsaken by God. Isn’t this wonderful news? You bet it is. Though the world plants doubts in our hearts and heads by asking, “How Can You Believe in a God Who Would…” You may answer because He is the ONLY true God who promises, “LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE.” Amen.

Now the peace…

SDG

“This Is It?” (1 Peter 1:3-5).

S-1173 3MIL/3C 3/03/2010 Hymns: (O) #388; (S) #347; #180; (C) #145

Texts: Psalm 27; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Mark 14:

Theme: “This Is It?” (1 Peter 1:3-5).

Question: “Have you said, “This Is It” lately” (3rd in Sermon series on “Life Together”)

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

(I beg your forgiveness if there is any similarity to your situation. This is not intended in this manner. The names of the couple have been changed to protect their identity)

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The text for our Third Midweek in Lent is from the Epistle Lesson: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy; He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

People of God, chosen and beloved Joan sat at the kitchen table sobbing and weeping bitter tears. She had married Bob her high school sweetheart, the great All American Football player. She had hoped that the two of them would have a very lovely and beautiful life together. But that wasn’t the case.

After 35 years of marriage and 3 children all grown up and gone Joan sat and sobbed at her state of affairs. She cried out to herself and God weeping and saying, “This Is It Lord, I can’t take it any more! This is not the life I bargained for! I can’t stay in this marriage any longer!”

As she was contemplating these thoughts Bob walked into the house and asked, “Why are you crying?” “Nothing,” was Joan’s response. “What do you mean nothing? Why are you crying, then?” Bob asked a second time. Between sobs Joan lifted her head and looked at Bob and said, “This is it Bob. I can’t stay in this marriage any longer. For the last 35 years I have had to put up with all of your cutting and harsh words. I have had to listen to you many times cutting me down and making me feel worthless. In public and private you said hurtful things. Well, Bob I have had it with all of the mental abuse of being degraded by you and made to feel that I am just another piece of YOUR property. I have begged you to speak to me kindly and with gentle words.” But you always say, “That is just the way I am!” “Well, I am sorry, but I can’t take this any more. I want to know that I am wanted and loved. I want to know that I am more than just something to be used for your personal satisfaction. I can’t live any longer in this one way marriage. This is not what I asked for when I sought you to be my husband and the father of my children. This is it! I will have my attorney contact you with the divorce papers. Good bye Bob” PAUSE.

Stories like this fill the air. Perhaps you know someone just like Joan and Bob—maybe it is even your story. Could this be your story? Our whole lives are stories. Some of them have been written, others are being written even as I speak. May I be bold to ask you this evening my beloved an honest question? If you were to wrap your life up in one story, just one story, what would it be? What would be the one big story that makes sense of all the other little stories? Our lives are filled with countless little stories. We go to work in the morning and come home at night; each year seems to get us home a bit later. Each promotion comes with more work, a salary is great, but it also means you don’t get overtime anymore. Everyone is looking to put their little stories into the context of the big, defining story of their lives. Some of us go big and try to become famous and rich, others go a little smaller and just hope that we can leave a little something to our kids. Some of us just want enough to make it in our retirement years, maybe travel a little. Others of us go on mission trips to do some good in the world. We all are searching for that thing that gives life meaning. We hope it will be imperishable, undefiled, and unfading for all time. This is it?

In the story that tells and binds all stories together there are two characters that I would like to introduce you to. On that dark Friday so long ago when they hung Jesus on the cross; two thieves were crucified with Him. Each thief had his own story, just as each of us has our own stories.

My beloved in the Lord, your stories are not my stories. Your stories are not your neighbor’s stories. Your stories are not the stories of your spouse or the stories of your children. Each of us has our own stories and yet our individual stories overlap. That was certainly true of the thieves. The overlap in their stories was their lives of crime, their condemnation, and their execution. But in the end, each thief was defined in dramatically different ways. “One of the criminals who hung there, hurled insults at Jesus: ‘Aren’t You the Christ?’ Save yourself and us!’” (Luke 23:39). That thief’s defining story is cynicism, death, and eternal death. But the other thief’s story reads this way: “The other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.’” (Luke 23:40-43). What’s this thief’s story? It is a simple story: Confession of sin, forgiveness from Jesus, and from Jesus’ own lips—the promise of paradise. This is it, not with a question mark but with an exclamation point.

This is it! This is the big story that brings all our little stories together. There is no greater and bigger story than the Story of Jesus in bringing about our hope and salvation. This is the defining Story that helps us understand who we are and where we’re going.

St. Peter had this story in mind when he wrote to Christians scattered in Asia Minor, what we know today as Turkey. In his first letter to these Christians, Peter writes, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-

5). PAUSE

These beloved Christians in their “life together” were defined by that incredible story. So is ours. Because of the loving acts of God, you and I have a resurrected Savior who gives us hope and a heavenly inheritance. “Today, today you will be with me in paradise.”

There’s insight in this text for living as Christians today. In the past America was an overtly Christian nation. Going to church was a social norm. Most people, whether they were churchgoers or not, knew their Bible stories. Today all kinds of stories are being told in America. Today the Christian message is no longer the privileged story. Our situation is, in some ways, similar to the situation of the Christians to whom Peter was writing. They were not people of privilege. They had never been the “party in power” and had no hopes of becoming so. So how should we live? The same way they did. Amid all the stories swirling in our fractured and fragmented society, Peter encourages us to live together in the story that defines us. He would have us yearn to be immersed in the story of God’s mercy, His acts of loving kindness to you. Peter writes:“In His great mercy He has given us a new birth.” Our story is about the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wow, doesn’t that give us hope! It is according to Peter“…a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Our story is about living with a purpose, a goal. That goal, according to St. Peter is “to an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you.” And what can keep you in this greatest story of all? “…through faith [you] are shielded by God’s power that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” Faith is like a fortress. As the walls of a fortress keep people safe within; so the teachings of Jesus Christ in God’s Word keep us safe. That God sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins, that His resurrection gives us hope, that we have a heavenly future… Surrounding ourselves with these teachings of faith is the way the Spirit of God keeps us safe for eternity.

You, I, and the world are in the same position as those thieves on the cross. So are Joan and Bob. Where is my imperishable, undefiled and unfading life? I know that you know the answer to this question. It is in Christ, Who is your life.

We don’t know all the factors in the one thief coming to this faith. It’s remarkable; however God’s Spirit led Him to such trust at such a time of suffering. But what really was more remarkable? That the dying criminal used his last words and energy to ask Jesus for a lasting gift of life in His kingdom or that Jesus granted it? Both are extraordinary, but that is what Jesus is all about. There is nothing ordinary about Him! He calls us to come to Him…humbly, led by His Spirit, and He gives salvation to all who do. The man on the cross was a common criminal. We don’t know what he stole. But we know who stole his heart and carried away his sin. “Ah, this is it!” the forgiven thief knew then and there…forgiveness and life everlasting from Jesus.

Christian author Tim Wesemann has some wonderful words capturing the feelings and faith of this new believer. Wesemann writes in his book “Seasons Under the Son” (104-105):

If the nails hadn’t been holding the man to that tree, I imagine that he would have fallen on his face at Jesus’ feet. Despite [Jesus’] pain, despite the hell He knew was ahead, Jesus gave this criminal a peace he had never before experienced. And in that moment the man received a little bit of paradise. While fastened to the cross-shaped tree, the thief was also grafted to His Savior—as a branch is to a vine. He was nailed to one cross while his sin was nailed to another. He deserved the death sentence but he received a gracious life sentence. Heaven was his—that very day.

There were more miracles on the day Jesus was crucified than we might at first realize. He didn’t just die for the salvation of all those in the future who would put their faith in Him. In His last moments on earth, Jesus immediately gave everlasting life to someone many may think was undeserving of such a gift. That sounds exactly like the story of our own encounters with Jesus. It sounds like the story of everyone who has ever lived.

The thief said, “Remember me.” Remember that Jesus has remembered you. He remembers your need for a Savior. He remembers the Holy Spirit creating saving faith within you. Never forget that He remembers His daily and eternal promises for your life. Remember that paradise is yours by grace, through faith in the One who hangs around sinners.

(Pause) This is it! Amen! (And shall we dare to say it, even during Lent? Alleluia!)

Now the peace…

“Life’s Better in My Hands” (1 Peter 2:22-23).

S-1169 AW/2/17/2010 Hymns: (O) # 140; (S) 722 LSB; LS. Choir, #428; (C)#653

Texts: Psalm 51; 1 Peter 2:20-25: Mark 14:12-26

Theme: “Life’s Better in My Hands” (1 Peter 2:22-23). (Sermon series on “Life Together”)

Question: “Who is in charge of YOUR Life?”

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The text for Ash Wednesday is from the Epistle Lesson: “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:21-22).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

People of God, chosen and beloved a couple of weeks ago I got this e-mail under the title “FRIGTENING!” (An acquaintance by the name of Mona I met about 6 years ago on a plane to Israel sent it to me). This is what the e-mail stated: “A friend of mine drove me to my condo so I could pick up a few things for my surgery. As we drove home we passed by a billboard not too far from here. We need to do some serious praying. I don’t remember word-for-word what is said, but this is the gist of it: Have questions? Need answers? ISLAM. And then it gave an 800 number to call for answers to your questions and the answer is Islam. If you don’t think this is frightening, let me know and I’ll explain it to you. We should be – in the flesh – terrified.”

I wrote back and asked for more details on the billboard. Here is Mona’s response: “At the top of the billboard it said: ‘Way of life…Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed” with this number to call 1 800-662-ISLAM. She goes on, I forgot to mention that this billboard can be seen as one rides the Light Rail Transit in Minnesota which happens every 7-10 minutes during rush hour, every 10-15 minutes at other times, until late evening or very early morning.”

I called the 800 hundred number and a nice gentleman responded. He thanked me for calling the Way for Life and asked if he could help me? I didn’t tell him that I am a minister, but asked, “What are the tenants of Islam? He explained dutifully, “What you have to do. Keep God’s law perfectly and follow the teaching’s of Mohammed that are written in the Quran. And he made sure to tell me “That no one can pay for your sins and it is blasphemy to believe that someone can do that.” In the end it is really all up to you. You have to take matters into your hands.

So I asked again saying, “Let me understand you correctly. It is all up to me. I have to do good deeds to earn God’s favor.” He answered, “YES!” I asked again, at what point, can you be sure that you have done enough good to pay for your sins? His response, “YOU CAN NEVER BE SURE OF THAT. WE RELY ON THE MERCY OF ALLAH!” He promised to send me a Quran (Muslim holy book) and other materials to read. I thanked him and in my heart I felt so sorry for him.

Why do I say that? Because all of us, whether Muslims or otherwise, think it is all up to me to earn God’s favor. “My life is better in my hands”. I can do it better than anyone else.

Is that really true? Can you honestly say that putting everything in your hands leads you to have peace and certainty that you will earn God’s favor, your sins are forgiven and you are bound to heaven? If you are honest you must admit that is not the case. It never will be because we never know for certain if we have done enough good deeds to outweigh the bad deeds.

So what is the answer to our dilemma? Ash Wednesday is part of the answer, because Ash Wednesday calls us together to hear again the stories of Lent that God knows best what is good for us. Ash Wednesday points us to Jesus’ passion—His suffering, death, and glorious resurrection. These Wednesday night opportunities of worship open our eyes to the reality of why Christ came to earth—to give His life as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. We come here tonight so that we may grow in our spiritual walk of faith. We come here tonight to hear again that the heavenly Father knows what is best for us. As Jesus Himself said on the cross, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” We want to leave worship knowing that life is best lived when we live it totally in the Father’s hands. PAUSE.

We all know that life is not always better in the hands of other people or our very own. Is your life better when you leave it in the hands of the government? Surveys tell us again and again that we don’t trust the government to take care of us. Is your life better when you leave it in the hands of Wall Street? Wall Street seems to be doing OK but Main Street is hurting.

Oh, how painfully we know that reality! When we trust others to do what is good for us, we realize that is not the case. You know what you been hearing in the news lately about the car manufacturing namely Toyota. If you have a Toyota you know that technology is not a fail-safe way to accelerate toward happiness.

So what’s left? More and more people are saying, “Life’s better in my hands.” A few weeks ago, I said this sentence, “If you want to get something done and done right you got to do yourself!” But is this true? Of course not! No matter how hard we try, we can never be certain or sure. Well, you get the idea. Review your own life. We’re living in a society of self-willed people and you and I often go our own bull-headed ways as well. Plain old common sense makes us doubt that “Life’s better in my hands.”

What’s left? Only the cross of Christ. From the cross we hear Him say, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Shouldn’t Ash Wednesday repentance drive us to confess that life is better when we entrust it to the heavenly Father? Let me say that again because it is so important “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” Ash Wednesday repentance drives us to say, “Life is not better in my hands. Life can only be better when I entrust my whole being 24/7/365 into the hands of the heavenly Father.”

That’s what the sermon text is about, 1 Peter 2:20-25. Peter wrote to Christian slaves in Asia Minor. Many of them were leading wretched lives. Peter urges them not to strike out against their masters. Don’t, he says, take life into your own hands. Instead he points them to the example of Christ the Savior. “Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps… He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly” (vv. 21, 23). Life is better, Peter says, when we entrust ourselves to our heavenly Father. But there’s something even more important here. As much as Jesus is our model for trusting our lives to God, the reason we are in church is because Jesus is our Savior from sin. He has forgiven you and me for taking life into our own hands. Listen. “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (vv. 24-

25). The forgiveness He gives you and me is such a change from the world around us, such a change for the world to come, that we are now left to do one thing: Pray the Spirit of God to lead us to totally put our lives in the hand of our Father.

Tonight, as we gather to mark the beginning of our Lenten journey we realize so clearly and concretely how true it is that “Life is NOT better in MY hands”, but in the hands of Him who formed me and made me—my heavenly Father. Jesus knew all along that His life is better in the Father’s hands. For this reason He stated, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.”

And, we, His redeemed children can follow the way of our Savior, because we know He doesn’t lie. Look to His hands, those pierced hands that hung on the cross for every sin of yours and mine. Those pierced hands submitted all, life, heart and soul to His heavenly Father so that He may earn for us forgiveness and life eternal. PAUSE.

I feel sorry for the Muslims and others who rely on their merits to earn God’s favor and receive forgiveness for their sins. I will have another opportunity to speak with Muslim man and guide Him to the truth of God’s Holy Word that Life is better in the Master’s Hands.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, you have come here tonight to ponder anew the suffering of Jesus as He travels from the Mount of Transfiguration to the Hill of Calvary and all in between you see Him using His hands to lead us safely to the other side. Because through these hands we are blessed; by these hands we are washed clean in the waters of Baptism; and through these hands are fed the heavenly manna of His body and blood. No wonder we can say with Dietrich Bonhoeffer our Life together is better in His hands not only for this evening but for the rest of our lives. Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SDG