“God Does ALL Things Well.” (Gen. 1:3-4; Rom. 8:28)

S-1494 5/1/2015 Hymns: (O) #53; (S) #57; C) #32

Text: Genesis 1-5; Romans 8:26-30; John 10:7-18

Theme: “God Does ALL Things Well.” (Gen. 1:3-4; Rom. 8:28)

Celebration of New Life for Roy Johnson

Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia amen!” The text for the celebration of Roy’s new life given by His loving and faithful Good Shepherd Jesus is from Genesis and Romans. “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.” (Gen. 1:3-4); And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

St. Shirley, family and friends; today is a bitter sweet day for you. It is sweet because we know that Roy is no longer on this earth suffering with the terrible disease of cancer. No longer does he have to endure the pain and aches of body that was falling apart. No longer will he take medicine, be pocket by nurses and doctors visits to make him feel better. That is sweet indeed!

But it is also a bitter day for you. It is a bitter day because your husband of over 30 years is no longer with you. He will no longer go to the store to get things. No longer will he be able to help you around the house. He will no longer be able to sit and visit with you about life and its challenges. No longer will he smile at you, hold your loving hands and bless you with his presence.

And yet as you consider the bitter sweet day, I want you to pay close attention to God’s glorious promises that Roy as His baptized child is with Him NOW. God’s glorious promise to do everything well for Roy has been fulfilled perfectly on Calvary’s cross! We can be certain without a doubt that God does all things well.

As many of you knew our departed brother Roy struggled with the dreaded disease of CANCER. Cancer was taking its toll on him. It made him very weak. He lost lots of weight and was unable to care for himself. He needed help!

Even though cancer had attacked his body and slowed him down, by the power of the Holy Spirit, he still put his hope in Christ His Savior. Often when I visited him I would remind him of Pastor Paul’s message. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose;” that God indeed has done all things well for him in spite of his condition, and he would smile and say: “Yes Pastor, the Man upstairs knows what He is doing and He does it well.”

Last Monday night, I got a call from you Shirley telling me “Roy had fallen and if I could come and help him.” I said, “I could! However, I don’t think it is a good idea. I should call 911 because he needs more help than I can offer.” You finally agreed. I called and they took him to the hospital and then to the nursing home.

When I visited him on Tuesday afternoon, we had a great visit and shared with him God’s comforting Word from Psalms 46 and 121. We held hands and prayed. He was smiling and said you know Pastor: “God does all things well!” I looked at him and said, “You know Roy that would be an excellent sermon title for the celebration of your new life.” He smiled and said again, “I like that Pastor!” Thus the theme for this celebration is, “God does all things well!” PAUSE.

Saints in Christ hear me well. I am not saying that God is the author of this bad disease that has attacked Roy. God is not punishing Roy because of His past sins. God did not condemn him because He didn’t like Roy.

No! On the contrary God loved Roy so much that He sent His Son to earth to redeem and restore Him. In Genesis chapters 1 and 2 we often hear the word, God in His creative activities Has done good things for His beloved people. In Paul’s message to the Romans God uses every situation and condition for the good of His people. Furthermore, Jesus in John chapter 10—in the discourse of the Good Shepherd declares: He will lay down His life for His sheep.

Roy IS one of His sheep. Please notice I am speaking of Him in the present tense because He is alive with Christ now. Jesus in love and mercy has done everything good for Roy. He permitted others to cause Him to suffer terribly. He has done all things well by permitting others to crucify Him. He has done all things well—He carried Roy’s sins and ours upon His shoulders. Christ has done all things well—He died for Roy. He has done all things well—He was buried in a cold grave. He has done all things well—He rose from the grave for Roy. He has done all things well—destroying the power of death.

Jesus has done all things well…overcome our arch enemy—Satan. He has done all things well—done away with the punishment of sin. He has done all things well—He forgave Him all of His sins. He has done all things well—offered Him eternal life. He has done everything well—welcomed Him to His table to dine and drink with Him. He has done all things well—wrapped His arms around Roy and said: “Roy, you are Mine! I have purchased your life with My blood. You are My child forever and nothing can separate you from My love and pierced hands!”

Roy’s confirmation verse affirms this blessed truth. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” With Jesus as your Good Shepherd there is nothing that you need. He supplies what is lacking in us—His holiness and righteousness. His love and kindness. His grace and forgiveness. His faith and eternal life

Yes, indeed, Christ has done everything well—not only for Roy; but for you Shirley and you saints in Christ. Know the truth and hold it tight. Your salvation is guaranteed by the Good Shepherd Jesus. Not because you have done something good, but because He is good ALL the time. He is so good that He works in His creative activities to give us all that is good from the sun and rain, family and friends. Everything around us is used by Christ to make our lives better.

But the greatest is when we gather in His house, confess our sins and receive all of the blessings He has given us out of His goodness and mercy--ALL that we need for this life and the next. Here in this house we hear the clear and pure message that God indeed has done all things well and He continues to do.

Around His Word and Sacraments we learn anew the promise of God that Roy knew so well that in every situation and in every condition He does everything well for us for today and always.

Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed Alleluia! Amen.

Now the peace….

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“God’s Saving LOVE” Romans 5:6-8

S-1420 3SIL/3A 3/23/2014 Hymns: (O) #140 vv 1-3; (S) #342; L.S #153; #744 LSB; # 354. (C) # 140 vv 4-6

Texts: Exodus 17:1-7; Romans 5:1-8; John 4:5-26

Theme: “God’s Saving LOVE” Romans 5:6-8

Question: “How would you paint love?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia! The text is from the Epistle lesson “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Precious and loved children of God, last month many of you celebrated Valentine’s Day. Some of you got lovely gifts—chocolate, candy, flowers, Jewelry, clothes, taken out for supper or something else. Those gifts were given in love from your man or your lady, mother, father, or grandparents. These gifts were given in love because someone thought of you and wanted you to know that you are loved.

But when was the last time you got something from someone who hates your guts. A person who when he/she sees you his blood pressure goes up, his eyes reflects hatred and fumes flow from his/her nostrils. When someone hates us it is the last thing they would think of doing—giving a gift. If truth be told, they would rather move away from us or give us a knuckle sandwich. It is not normal for enemies to show love. It is not natural to demonstrate care and concern for someone you despise. It is unheard of and not practiced in any culture.

Yet, today, the Apostle Paul tells us clearly and convincingly that is precisely what our loving, gracious and merciful God has done. Notice the words of Paul that “It was while we were sinners that Christ died for us.” He demonstrated His saving love towards us—His enemies. Instead of sending us to the abyss of hell, He becomes the ultimate Sacrifice-dying in our place on the cruel instrument of the cross.

Paul, the one who calls himself “the chief of sinners” paints a most vivid and colorful picture of God’s saving love towards the ungodly and His enemies—He dies for them. With these words you see God’s love given freely and abundantly. Here you learn the truth that God’s saving love is by grace alone—while we were sinners. Here you will learn that God would spare nothing to win you back to Him. Here you get a grasp of the truth that God is willing to go to hell and back for you so you don’t have to taste hell.

This kind of love is unheard of, unthinkable and unimaginable—who has ever heard of such love? And yet it is as real as the sun that rises daily…and the air we breathe. This is the love that flows from the veins of Christ who loves us and chose to give His life as The Lamb on the altar of the cross. But how do we describe this kind of love and with what words do we convey something so foreign to us? PAUSE.

One of the hardest things I went through when I came to the USA was learning the English language. Part of the challenge was all of the slangs used. And Americans use slangs often and they are confusing to a foreigner like myself. Such as “Keep your pants on.” (But I do have them on). Or, “What do you have up your sleeves?” (Nothing, except my arms). “Hold on to your horses” (What horses?). Or “We got to hit the road?”

The first time I heard these sentences I was dumbfounded. And when I heard about hitting the road, I had to ask, “What is this Hit the road?” Why would you hit the road?” People would say to me, “I don’t know. It is just one of those dumb things we say.” Then a wise guy would start stomping the street with one foot saying, “See, we hit the road!” I wasn’t impressed with that explanation. I would respond “Maybe to an American it makes sense, but to an Arab, is crazy!”

We often use slang terms when we’re searching for superlatives, words to describe the highest or utmost degree of something. It’s not big, it’s humongous. We’ll attach “super” or “mega” to a word. In an effort to get more vivid expressions, we even move to the extremes of life and death. And then of course, the ultimate is when something is so good, it’s “to die for,” “Oh that cake is so good, it’s to die for!” When we are trying to find a way to convey the height of our love for something, what stronger language can there be than that? You should see his car: “It’s to die for!” When it comes right down to it, probably no one would actually be willing to die for a chocolate cake, or a great car, but it certainly expresses vividly the height of our appreciation for those things. Love is often demonstrated in sacrifice and in giving.

And no greater sacrifice has ever been displayed on the canvas of human history except in the cross of Christ. That is why Paul states, “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still SINNERS, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). This is not slang, but it’s hard for us to understand because it is not common among us to see. Indeed it is unthinkable, unimaginable and unheard of—who ever heard of such love. You have! Holy Scripture testifies and affirms the grace and love of God towards those who were created in His image. You heard of it this morning again as Jesus spoke Gospel words to the Samaritan woman. PAUSE.

Certainly this is unthinkable, unimaginable and unheard of, yet God has painted Himself with beautiful language to convey who He is and what He does. In 1 John 4:8, 16 we find a straightforward phrase that has the profoundest implications: “God is love.” What a pregnant phrase. We can spend our lifetime pondering the meaning of that sentence without ever plumbing its depth. It is worth noting, in the original language John does not say that love is God, but only that God is love.  The two terms are not interchangeable. Let us confuse the two. God indeed is love and His love is above any human thought or understanding.

Therefore, today by the grace of God as we have been brought by the Holy Spirit into His presence we behold this love given and shared through His absolution, His Word at the font and at the table.

But to whom does God demonstrate this unthinkable, unimaginable and unheard of LOVE? Do you know who He did this for? For all of humanity—so that every son of Adam and every daughter of Eve, will not experience the Second death; but live with Him forever and ever. He did it for you and me. He did it not because we have anything to offer God, but only because He offers us the greatest sacrifice ever witnessed in the world—the suffering, death, burial and resurrection of His Son. Yes, His Son showed us God’s Saving Love. It is yours today and every day by faith alone, through grace alone and on account of Christ alone.

Because God’s love is a saving love—He saved us while we were yet SINNERS. And we can sincerely say, it is no exaggeration or figure of speech that Christ came to die for us sinners. Thus, we take this message outside these hallowed walls and share them with other sinners so they too might know the saving love of God. God grant us the desire and will to carry this message to every corner of the world. Just as the Samaritan woman had done. Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA.

“It All Depends on God” Romans 4:1-3

S-1418 2SIL/3A 3/09/2014 Hymns: (O) #149; (S) #381; (C) #245

Texts: Genesis 12:1-9; Romans 4:1-8; 13-17; John 3:1-17

Theme: “It All Depends on God” Romans 4:1-3

Question: “On whom do you depend?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia! The text is from the Epistle lesson “What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:1-3).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Children of the Covenant, people of God, there are many sayings in the English language that have become so common to the human experience that we just “know” them and what they mean. In fact, let’s have a little fun with this to illustrate my point. I will start one of these wise sayings and I will let you finish the familiar thought. Ready? “The early bird…‘catches the worm!’ “Practice… ‘makes perfect!’” “Where there is a will…‘there is a way!’” “God helps those…‘who help themselves!’” “If you want something done right…‘you have to do it yourself!’”

You may or may not use these familiar thoughts in your everyday life, but you still know them. You know them because this is the way that most people think and live. In the right setting, some of these ideas are indeed very wise. But when we allow these thoughts to enter into our theological thinking and our lives of faith, the problem begins. There are times when we allow this human wisdom to invade our life with the Lord. We feel that we can make ourselves righteous and holy before the Lord. When we think like this we have simply allowed the devil to dupe us into thinking that our salvation depends on us and what we do.

However, Scripture is clear! These thoughts of our own righteousness before God are just plain wrong! As a matter of fact, it doesn’t depend on us at all. It ALL depends on God and His kindness to us sinners. As Paul reminds us in the text this morning, No one can take credit for his or her salvation, not even father Abraham! We can’t count on our efforts because of the standard of the Law. The Law demand perfection. And that is where we fail. We fail because none of us ALWAYS seeks the will of God. None of us ALWAYS looks after the needs of our neighbor. None of us ALWAYS honor, love and serve God above all else. That is why in the Gospel lesson this morning Jesus tells Nicodemus that a man must not only be born, but also be “born from above.” Apart from God there is no righteousness, holiness, or purity on our part. Because of this impurity it is impossible for us to earn salvation. Salvation is a free Gift and depends on God ALONE. PAUSE.

This truth is found all around us. We hear it, we see it, and we experience it daily. I don’t have to remind you of the evil the human race carries out daily. Besides the clear evidence of Scripture that paints the heart of man as evil, unholy as Paul teaches saying: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips.  Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.  There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Human history clearly testifies to the depravity of man. History can be seen as nothing more than a catalog of the wickedness of man. This is also not just a matter of the past. Look at the news today and you will see that wickedness is alive and well!

Since human wickedness is so pervasive and it is so ingrained in our human nature, it becomes even more clear that if man is to receive righteousness, it must come from outside the human experience. Scripture attests that the only source of righteousness is God Himself. Indeed it all depends on God. Paul, led by the Holy Spirit states emphatically, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” (v. 3)

While man’s attempt to work at righteousness brings failure, frustration, and further disillusionment, the righteousness of God brings eternal rewards and blessed future. Most obvious and most longed for is the reward of eternal life. This again, demonstrates the fact that we believers count our righteousness as a gift of God is a reward in itself because it shows our dependence is ALWAYS on God, and not on ourselves. No one is able to stand in the presence of the holy God and say, “I have done it! I have earned God’s righteousness. I have saved myself!” You can try to think like this. But know this, if you do so, God will answer, “Depart from Me you wicked man, I never knew you!” (Mt. 7:23). PAUSE.

Paul teaches us the blessed truth that we are justified by grace apart from the work of the Law. Without our loving and gracious God, we would have no blessing, no future and no hope. Without our dependence on God we fail miserably. With these brief words, we are taught that faith and work can’t coexist as the source of man’s salvation. It is like oil and water, they just don’t mix. The message of God to Abraham and to all of His heirs has always been a message of grace and faith.

The only hope for ourselves and for our world is that by faith in Jesus Christ and the righteousness that such faith holds to, man who is by nature evil, wicked, dead is counted as holy, righteous and justified before God. Therefore we say it again; it ALL depends on God and not on us.

This hope of our bright future is evident during our Lenten journey. Because now during these days of traveling to Jerusalem, to Golgotha, to the cross and the empty tomb, we have a clearer picture of God’s great love to humanity in sending His only Son to be our Savior and Redeemer.

St. John in the Gospel reading for today states: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him” (3:16-17). It doesn’t get any clearer than that. Christ’s teaching is clear SALVATION depends on Him going to the cross, dying in our place and rising on the 3^rd day. PAUSE.

So if it all depends on God, where do we fit in? If it isn’t about our work, what is left for us. Paul gives us the clear answer: That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all His offspring, not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham. Our salvation is rooted not in our work of believing. It is rooted in the One in whom we believe. Faith trust that God is not only able and willing, but has already accomplished what He promises. That is why faith is not about us but about the One who goes to the Cross, lays in the tomb and bursts forth in glory. Faith isn’t about me. Faith is about JESUS!

Wisdom like this just doesn’t sit well with a wicked and dying world. When we as Christians cling to our hope in Christ outside of ourselves, the world looks at us in just as confused a manner as Nicodemeus looked at Jesus in the middle of the night visit so long ago.

We have this hope of salvation from God because we have been born into it. The waters of Holy Baptism flood over us and we are born anew. We are born into a family where faith is the fountain from whence good works flow. The righteousness that we put on display when we confess our sins, receive forgiveness, feast on Christ in the Holy Supper, sing our praises, raise our prayers, give our gifts to the Lord and selflessly serve our neighbor is really nothing more than us using the gift of faith that God has given us in baptism. It is in our baptismal identity that we have a sure and certain confidence for our salvation and our Christian life because in baptism it doesn’t depend on us. It is the free gift from a God who loves us with an un-ending love! In those waters Christ marks you with His cross. In that act the Father confesses: “You, My child, belong to Me. You bear My seal of approval and are counted righteous. YOU ARE MINE!”

So those wise statements that we talked about at the beginning of the sermon have no place in the life of faith. They have no place because they point us away from the font and the cross. They point us to ourselves and our own efforts. What we find in our own efforts is failure, sin and death. And if Abraham couldn’t do it, Paul couldn’t do it, and Nicodemus couldn’t do it? How on earth can we foolishly think that we can?

But we don’t have to. Just as Abraham, Paul and Nicodemus came to faith on account of Christ and so have we. Jesus has come. Jesus has lived. Jesus has died. Jesus has risen. And He has done it all for you. It does not depend on you. It all depends on God! AMEN!

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“The Wages of Sin and the Free GIFT” (Romans 5:15-17)

S-1416 FSIL/3A 3/09/2014 Hymns: (O) 262 vv 1-2; (S) 369; L.S. 157; 307; 155; (C) 262 vv 3-4

Texts: Genesis 3:1-21; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

Theme: “The Wages of Sin and the Free GIFT” (Romans 5:15-17)

Question: “What is your most cherished gift?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia! The text is from the Epistle lesson “But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that One man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the One man Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:15-17).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Son’s of Adam and Daughter’s of Eve, Lent is more than just a journey to Jerusalem, Golgotha, and the cross. It is the story of the Fall of man into the deepest abyss, and the tragic consequences of sin: it brought death to mankind and separation from God our loving Father; but it is also the story of our redemption, reconciliation and restoration brought about by another Man—Jesus Christ.

On this First Sunday of Lent we realize that the Lord of the Church, Jesus Christ invites us to join Him as He makes His final journey to the cross and the empty tomb, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem.” From the high point of the Mount of Transfiguration, the church has descended to the plain, to Ash Wednesday, and to the journey that will end at the cross; and in forty days, we will be privileged to stand with the women and look into the empty tomb on Victory Sunday.

For many, the journey to the cross is a sentimental one, Jesus is portrayed as the poor man who died for His con­victions, and the minor characters of the Passion are held up for minute examination.

However, today, the Holy Spirit reminds us that our journey in Lent is not only to a cross but to an empty tomb, not only to defeat but to deliverance, not only to sorrow but to celebration, not only to death but to life, not only to suffering or shame but to a victory earned by the heaven sent-Savior, Jesus the Christ. Yes, we need to hear both messages all the time.

Paul, the author of the text, highlights the “free gift” 5 times in 3 verses; but he also demonstrates the contrast of the wages of sin and the free GIFT. The First Adam brought condemnation the Second Adam brought Salvation. The 1^st brought death, the 2^nd life. The 1^st pain, the second paradise; the 1^st universal guilt, the 2^nd forgiveness; the 1^st failed and the second triumphed. Sin was the cause of the disobedience of the Fist Adam; but grace was the result of the Second Adam. Grace as the blessed free gift given out of love for us—SINNERS. PAUSE.

The first confirms to us of how deeply, dearly, clearly we are loved. The second promises to us the lively hope we have in a living Savior. Without a sense of being dearly loved and without a sense of high hope, we human’s can’t cope.

A colleague of mine (Peter Kurowski, a Pastor from California, MO), has been working for months with a talented young lady who is addicted to alcohol. Because she doesn’t sense she is loved, because she does not see clearly the meaning of Christ’s resurrection, she flounders going back to the slavery of the bottle. Until she beholds the Lamb who loved her, until she beholds the eternal I Am who rose for her, she will revert to the alcohol as her master.

Everyone of us here needs to know how deeply God loves us—for us to face what we face. Everyone of us daily needs and abundant dosages of hope to face a worse than otherwise is hapless, hopeless, and haunted life. This is the free Gift Paul promises to us.

In the opening pages of Holy Scripture, Moses tells us that after God created all things, He declared “all to be very good.” However, the good that God celebrated didn’t last long. The devil would not leave this good creation alone until he would deceive us and follow after him in the way of death rather than the Lord’s way of life.

Indeed, things went from good to bad in the blink of an eye. With one bite, sin and Satan became the evil biting at the heels, a stumbling block, a destructive force of darkness and corruption. One bite, and all that was good, very good, became bad, very bad. Creation, all creatures, and the crown of the creation became bad, very bad. Sin infected every corner of God’s creation.

The dark storm and clouds of sin rolled over God’s beautiful good creation, and everything changed. Hunger replaced plenty; pain replaced pleasure; toil replaced bliss; struggle replaced peace, and death replaced life. All of creation groaned under this overwhelming burden. The stark reality is this: The fullness, the holiness, the goodness of what once was served only as a painful reminder of what was no longer true. PAUSE.

From the heights of perfection to the depths of corruption; from the image of God to the tarnish of sin; from walking hand in hand to hiding from God’s face—great was the Fall; all because man and woman listened to the wrong voice. Out into this world Adam and Eve were driven and found themselves helpless in the midst of this terrible wilderness.

Yet, in that Garden when man and woman fell, was another voice—the voice of God speaking gracious promise to them. He would send a Redeemer to bring about deliverance from the fall! Great was the promise to the outcast from the paradise of Eden. Even in the midst of the disaster, even as our first parents were driven from Eden, even as the sweat, the toil, the pain, and death became humanity’s lot, there was the promise. A promise for them and for their children, a promise for the world, a promise for all generations; and a promise for you. The Lord God promised that He would provide the Seed, a Son who would crush Satan. He would be the offspring of God and woman who would be bruised for our iniquities; this Child would overcome sin and death and open the gates of the new garden—to everlasting life.

This was brought about with the New Adam, the One who would fulfill the Law perfectly, where the first Adam failed terribly. The First Adam brought darkness, but the Second Adam brought light; because He obeyed the voice of the Father: “Son, go down to earth and save mankind from the everlasting punishment of hell!”

“To us a child is born, to us a Son is given” (Is. 9:6). The Lord God can be trusted, for His voice always speaks truth. The Lord God keeps His promise, and the Christ is born, Son of
God and child of Mary. Yes, He was bruised for our sin as the nails were driven and the cross was raised. Yes, His blood was shed and His head fell in death, but the grave could not hold the Promised One, for He rose up and crushed the head of the deceiver. Great was His victory, and great was the fall of the evil one!

Son’s of Adam and Daughter’s of Eve, our purpose in Lent is not just sorrow over sin, not just remorse over the enormity of our guilt. That will, of course be present as the Law does its work. But our purpose in going up to Jerusalem is to be saturated with the Gospel, to know that where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, to be renewed in faith and invigorated for life precisely because the free gift is not like the trespass.

All of this is ours because of the free Gift Christ brought forth to us from another garden—Gethsemane. From that Garden the payment for sin began and culminates on another tree. From the fruit of the Tree of the cross we receive the Free Gift of Eternal life and peace for ever more. PAUSE.

Beloved in the Lord, we know what our sins have brought. But I also implore you to see the free gift offered through the Second Adam. Hear the truth and take it to heart as my colleague, Pastor Peter Kurowski put it into a poem.

Adam and Eve had a great fall

Adam and Eve took with them all

For thousands of years humans have tried

For thousands of years humans have died

Trying to find a way to cheat death

All their best efforts turn into meth

Only One person in History did succeed

And He got nailed for Adam’s death deed

While Adam’s act led to condemnation

Jesus’ life, love, and death brought justification

While Adam was overcome in a paradise garden

Jesus in Gethsemane was earning our pardon

While Adam in Eden was overcome by a tree

Jesus nailed to a tree died for you and me.

In the New Adam, we found the rich grace of God’s Free Gift for now and always. Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Water: A Gift of Death and Life” (Romans 6:3-4)

S-1407 BOTL/3A 1/12/2014 Hymns: (O) #302; (S) LSB #594; L.S. #298; #300; (C) #301

Texts: Isaiah 42:1-9; Romans 6:1-11; Matthew 3:13-17

Theme: “Water: A Gift of Death and Life” (Romans 6:3-4)

Question: “Do you know how valuable is YOUR Baptism?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia! The text for the Baptism of the Lord is from the Epistle lessons “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4)

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Most precious people of God, last week we marked the Epiphany. Over and over again we said that Epiphany was about light and life. Light is a powerful force. Light gives life. Light gives safety. Light exposes. Light heals. The Epiphany light of our Lord Jesus Christ is a great gift from our Lord that kills and makes alive.

Today, we turn our attention to another great force in creation. Water. Water like light is essential for life. Did you know that you will die much sooner if your body is deprived of water than if you are deprived of food? Water is omnipresent in our great creation too. Our Lord has seen fit to make a world that is over 70% water! Life in our bodies and in our world is not possible without water. That is why in South Dakota when there is rain, there is an abundance of crops, but when there is a drought, it is a terrible thing.

Water is a precious commodity and critical for persevering life. But water can also be most destructive. In the Scriptures we read of Noah. 40 days and 40 nights of rain deluged creation leading to a worldwide catastrophe. Since then, when we think of floods we can’t help but think of Noah. While the Lord has promised never to destroy the entire world in a flood, we are still reminded of the destructive power of water. You have seen that first hand two years ago when much of the Midwest was flooded as the Mighty Mississippi River began to swell. Thousands of acres of farmland, scores of homes and businesses and a way of life for several months were all washed away by the unchecked water. But we have seen more. A couple of years ago Hurricane Sandy hit the East Cost and the tranquil waters of the ocean into turned into an instrument of carnage and death. The very bodies of water that have been placed here by the Lord to make life possible are also able, in a world marred by sin, to wreak disaster, destruction & death! PAUSE.

So in a real way, on this Baptism of Our Lord, we consider the great gift of water. It is a gift of both death and life. What is true in our life in the world is also true in our life with the Lord. Water is both a gift of death and life. This is what we hear from the Lord through St. Paul in his letter to the Romans. In this precious Word we hear how Baptism, which is the application of water, both buries and raises—it kills and it brings forth life. The mighty miracle of Baptism, administered at the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ, kills and makes alive. We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

But this new life is not possible were it not for the new life granted to us in Christ. On this first Sunday after the Epiphany, we observe and celebrate the Baptism of our Lord Jesus in the Jordan River by John the Baptizer and revealed by the heavenly Father to those who were there to see the beloved Son of God.

John knew this long before our Lord Jesus instituted the Holy Washing that we know as Holy Baptism. That is why he reacted the way he did when his cousin Jesus came to be baptized in the Jordan. John would have prevented Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answered Him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

And the significance of that act of righteousness for us is that all who are now baptized into Christ, into His body, the Church, partake of that righteousness which Christ obtained for us through His perfect life, His atoning death on the cross, and His subsequent resurrection from the grave. That means we have an unlimited supply of God’s grace that kills the old man in us and raises in us a new man that loves Him and serves Him with humility and joy. PAUSE.

The Wildman in the wilderness known as John the Baptizers paints a most beautiful picture of this righteousness as He reveals to us that the Man standing before him was not and is not part of the swirling waters of death that is our sinful world. NO! Jesus was the Holy One who is from God and sent by God to bring about life and salvation. For this reason, Jesus willingly stepped into those waters. In an obedience that pleased His Father in heaven, our Lord allowed Himself to be washed away in the tsunami of our filth, sin and death. He rode the current of death through Galilee, into the plains and all the way to the Hill country of Judea. But eventually the waters swept over Him. On the hill called Calvary, our Lord willingly went under the waters of sin and death. All of the destructive force of those waters washed over Him as He allowed Himself to be drowned and die.

The Babe of Bethlehem, who a week ago, the Magi came to visit, bow before, offered Him gifts and worshiped Him permitted it to happen for our sakes. He took it into Himself to fulfill all of God’s righteousness. This pleased the Father so much that He spoke profound words: “This is My beloved Son with whom I Am well pleased” (Mt. 3:17). Indeed, He was and is pleased with His Son. In fact, it was for that very reason Jesus came in the first place!

And what happens after the flood of sin washed over Jesus that makes our baptismal waters a dual power? Jesus went under the water of sin and death. But He did not stay there. He paved a way through the waters for those who would come after Him. His death in the waters stilled them. No longer could the raging waters of sin claim us as victim. It serves only as a washing. Those still waters wash away the sin and death that would assault us and they leave us with life! Like Jesus, we die in that powerful water of Christ and miraculously we are raised out of the water to a new life. This life is a resurrection of the highest order. It is life that will never again be overcome by the water of death! NEVER!

Today, by the mighty, majestic and marvelous miracle of Baptism—the Baptism of Christ and yours, remember that you have died and been raised to a new life. Therefore, as the redeemed, baptized children of God, we can by the power of the Holy daily remember our baptism, repent of our sins and live our lives for our King, Jesus and present Him with our most precious gifts—our new lives of faith, righteousness and holiness.

This holiness has come upon us at our Baptism. In Baptism God clothed us with the garments of His salvation. By His grace, Christ’s forgiveness covered us and His holiness counted for us. Through His Word, as we hear and read it, He wraps that beautiful robe more tightly around us and fastens its buttons more securely.

Indeed, beloved, know this truth and celebrate it every day. Jesus’ death in the flood of sin and His rising out of the water and the grave makes our Baptism an eternal GIFT of life! Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“A Letter of LOVE” (Romans 5:6-8) 2nd of sermon series “Letters For Lent”

S-1300 2SIL/3B 3/04/12 Hymns: (O) #657; (S) #430; LSB (C) #245

Text: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Romans 5:1-11; Mark 8:27-38

Theme: “A Letter of LOVE” (Romans 5:6-8) 2^nd of sermon series “Letters For Lent”

Two Questions: “How do you show love?” Armour, SD.

In the name Jesus, Amen! The text for the 2^nd Sunday in Lent is the Epistle Lesson. “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

Saints in Christ, they say that “Love is ALL you need.” Love makes the world go round.” “Love changes you.” and “Love changes others!” Do you believe these statements? Is it true that all we need is love? These words maybe lofty, honorable and glorious, but people don’t want just words, they want action. Love is an active verb. It isn’t just the sentimental, mushy, nostalgic or trite. True love is demonstrated by word and deed.

In Salt Lake City, in 1987, a young wife and mother of two, Stacy Bess, whose dream was becoming a teacher, sets out to obtain her first teaching position after graduating from college. With the school year already underway and her teaching options limited, she finds herself accepting a job at “A School With No Name,” where she is expected to teach homeless children from grades 1-6 in the same classroom. Stacey is excited by the opportunity and earnestly prepares for her first day; however, her dream becomes a nightmare when she arrives at the shelter. The building is chained; the “classroom” is a filthy shed with few tattered books, one desk, several old mismatched chairs and a resident rat. The school district’s personnel director (Timothy Busfield) who hired her remains unreachable when she repeatedly tries to solicit resources. Additionally, the undernourished, unkempt and unruly children and their struggling, disillusioned and occasionally disrespectful parents are worlds away from Stacey’s teaching dreams.

Stacey fights off her tears and discomfort and, with the support of her loving husband, (Steve), determines to press on and teach these unwanted and unloved children to the best of her ability. Stacy, the caring and loving mother, begins to spread this love upon the students and win them over to her side. She starts by cleaning, painting and decorating the “classroom.” She buys with her own money, supplies and food to teach and fill their empty stomachs. Reacting to Stacey’s obvious interest, care and love for them, the students begin to blossom. Even the parents are touched by this new teacher and the love she has poured upon their children.

For eight years, Stacey taught in the School With No Name. In her memoir Nobody Don’t Love Nobody, Stacey wrote about her heart-wrenching experience and the changes that took place in the lives of these students because someone loved them enough. She has won many prestigious local and national awards. A highlight came when she was honored with the esteemed National Jefferson Award, along with First Lady Barbara Bush, Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackman and Ambassador Walter Annenberg. Oh what a difference love makes in the lives of others. Love indeed is all we need, when it is not simply words, but tangible and touchable. PAUSE.

In today’s text, the Apostle Paul reveals to us that kind of love with these words: “—but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”

My brothers and sisters in Christ, Paul tells us that God shows, demonstrated and proved His love for us while were sinner. Jesus didn’t only speak words of love, but showed the world what it means to love someone unconditionally. From the cradle to the cross, the whole life of Christ has been one of love. He loved His heavenly Father, and obediently came to fulfill man’s rescue and redemption. He loved His earthly parents and obeyed them dutifully and joyfully. At age 12, we find Him lovingly teaching at the Synagogue. In love, He called the 12 fishermen to follow Him and be His disciples. During His 3 years of ministry, He was a loving teacher—teaching them about in the Kingdom of God, His mission, His grace and His love. In love He touched many unwanted and unloved people—lepers, outcasts and sinners. In love He healed many, raised the dead and opened the eyes of the blind. But there is more.

Unlike Stacey, who loved her students, purchased school items for them, provided care and shelter; but she also had help, her husband Steve, other homeless people, educators and parents and at the end of the day, she would head home. But Jesus did it ALL ALONE. He not only painted over our sins and decorated our lives with beautiful things—No, He did more. He fought the enemy head-long, suffered our hell, crucified on a tree by Roman soldiers and purchased our salvation not with dollars and cents, but with His personal life. And at the end of the day, He didn’t go home, NO but stayed with us and still does.

I would concur with the opening statement of what people say: “Love is ALL you need.” Love makes the world go round.” “Love changes you.” and “Love changes others!” If you replace the word “love” and place it with “Jesus” then, that is all you need. It is Jesus who makes the world go round. It is Jesus who changes us. And it is Jesus who changes others.

Where God is there is LOVE. But where God isn’t love is not found. We saw this truth this past Monday, in Chardon, Ohio, when a young man T.J. Lane entered his high school cafeteria and went on a shooting rampage killing his classmates. So far this tragedy has claimed the lives of 3 innocent bystanders and two others who are injured.

According to news report, this kid came from a broken home, was a loner, and often bullied. Whether that is true or not, I don’t know. But one thing is evident, not much love has been shown to him either from home or others. I wonder if someone would have shown him love, how would things have turned out. It is hard to say. But I believe, when we Christians, show and demonstrate that kind of love; when we are the letters of love to others, we change lives one at a time.

We see this through the care and love of one single teacher—Stacy Bess in Salt Lake City, Utah. We see it on a far larger and grandeur scale in the care and love demonstrated and shown by Jesus Christ as He lays down His life as a ransom for sinners—you and me.

Certainly, Jesus fulfilled what Paul said in this letter of love: “…but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Our sermon hymn captures this demonstration of love with these words: “My song is love unknown, My Savior’s love to me, Love to the loveless shown That they might lovely be. Oh, who am I That for my sake My Lord should take Frail flesh and die?” (LSB 430 v. 1). PAUSE.

Did you get it? Do you see what God does? He shows and demonstrates His love towards us while we are sinners. It is too bad that we don’t always show love to others. It is so sad that even in the Church, people hate each other and speak ill of each other. Rather than going to the one who hurt you and speak with him privately, they go behind his/her back. It is a tragedy, when we are not the love letters to the world.

On the other hand, we may show love to those who love us. We may be kind to those who are kind. We may show mercy to those who show mercy. But not God! God doesn’t think and feel the way I do. His love doesn’t depend on what I do. He doesn’t show goodness only to those who are good. That would make His love and concern as imper­fect as mine.

The sweet story of the gospel is simply this—Christ died for me and all people while we were still sinners. God’s eternal Son, Jesus Christ came to earth to give His life as a ransom for me while I was nothing but a disobedient, dirty, dead, dumb and damned sinner. His grace that brings me salvation in Christ is entirely one-sided. It is totally undeserved by me, a working of His divine love. That’s the way God feels about it, and He gave me His letter of love to affirm it in my life.

As you prepare to leave this house of worship today, I exhort you in the name of Him who is love—Jesus Christ, to be a letter of love to others. Again, take one or two names and lift them up before the Throne of Grace and let them taste and see the love of Christ in your words and deeds.

God bless you as you become a letter of love for someone today and always for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA.

“Death With A Purpose!” (Romans 8:31-39)

S-1290 Baptism of Christ/3B 1/08/12 Hymns: (O) #590; (S) #594; LS #628; #627; (C) #601 LSB

Text: Genesis 1:1-5; Romans 6:1-11; Mark 1:4-11

Theme: “Death With A Purpose!” (Romans 8:31-39)

Question: “What is the Purpose for death?” Armour, SD.

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for the Baptism of Christ is from the Epistle Lesson: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4).

Beloved family of faith, ever since the fall of man into sin, there has been one thing that no created being could escape—death. Death disrupts our future, destroys our plans and disturbs our hearts. Death seems so absolute and final. When you look at the cold and lifeless body of your loved one laying in the casket, your heart aches and your eyes water. Indeed death disrupts our future, destroys our plans and disturbs our hearts.

It all seems so hopeless, pointless, fruitless and purposeless. We work so hard to live for a purpose. As we grow up, we want to get married, build a home and have a family. We go to school to better ourselves and have a good future. We continue to strive to get a good job to provide for the family we have been blessed. We plan our lives according to our vision and purpose. But then, death comes knocking and the purpose for our existence stops in its tracks. That which we have purposefully worked long and hard for, appears to be for naught. And our hearts are void and empty.

Death appears to be the winner. It robs us of the joys of life and the hope of the future. Death seems to take our breath away and send us into the gloom of night. Death emerges as the victor but that is not the case beloved in the Lord.

Today, the Epistle lesson gives us hope, heaven and happiness. Here the Apostle Paul tells us the purpose of death—our death is that we have a guaranteed future. Death may appear the winner or the victor, but that is not the case, it is only a mirage but that is not so. In another letter Paul writes: “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:55-56).

Today, in the waters of the Jordan we see something totally different and absolutely wonderful. Christ becomes one with us. He takes on Him—our sins, our shame, our death and our hell. In that simple act of stepping into the waters, Jesus takes your place and presents you totally holy and sinless in the sight of God. You need to know that Jesus’ act of descending into the water was unnecessary for Him—He did NOT need to be baptized—He did it for our sake and gave us His undeserving grace.

Listen kindly to our preacher as he writes by the power of the Holy Spirit these marvelous words. “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” Our death has a purpose—a purpose to live with Christ here on earth and forever in paradise. PAUSE.

My beloved saints, you know it was just yesterday I returned home from (Israel) being with my family attending the funeral of my father. When we attended the funeral, I was saddened to hear the priest speak words empty of comfort, nothing about the victory over death; and no hope of the resurrection. He outlined the good things my father did. And he encouraged everyone to pray to the saints and to Mary so that God would accept my dad into heaven.

I sat there astonished at the empty words without purpose. They had no purpose of bringing hope to the hopeless. They had no purpose of bringing help to the hurting and they had no purpose of giving comfort to the sorrowful.

After the worship service was over, I asked if I could say few words and I begun thus: “Christ is Risen! And they responded He is risen indeed! Alleluia! (3 times I shared these words). I spoke of this day in these words. “This is a day of sorrow and joy, a day of tears and a day of happiness. I explained why it was such blessed day for my father; quoting the book of Revelation chapter 21 saying: ‘The suffering has ended!’ No more mourning, no more sorrow, no more pain, no more cancer, no pills, no chemo therapy, no blood being drawn, no vomiting. Now my dad is in the arms of His blessed Savior, Jesus Christ; who has won the victory, destroyed sin, death and the devil; and cleansed my father from every stain of sin.”

I went on to say, “But it is a sad for us who are left behind as we mourn his passing. No longer would I be able to call my father to tell him I love you or wish him Merry Christmas; no longer will I be able to dine and spend time with him whenever I go back home; no longer would I have the privilege of sharing with him my life, my ministry, and family which the Lord has blessed me with.”

And then I spoke these words in conclusion. “We have hope! Hope in the blood of Christ that washed us and made us pure and holy. Hope in being baptized into Christ that made us His family of faith. Hope in the wounds of Christ that brings healing. Hope in the crown of Christ that assures us one day, we will get a crown too. Hope in cross of Christ that earned the victory; and hope in the empty tomb.” And finally I said: “Encourage one another because the victory is ours.” I then sat down.

After my family and I stood line for people to convey their condolences to us, in preparations to leave to the cemetery, many of the saints said: “We have never heard such comforting and calming words.” Even one of my cousins came up to me and said: “Nabil, you had me in tears; you even made me hunger for death!” Thanks be to God for the powerful word the Holy Spirit moved me to share. It is the Word that points us to crucified Christ, who has come as the heaven-sent Savior; who was baptized into our lives of sin, and death and shame; but rose again and by His resurrection has given us the purpose to live.

Therefore, today as we celebrate the Baptism of Christ, we also celebrate our BAPTISM. Because we have died in these waters and rose again to live for Him; and know the purpose of our lives. PAUSE.

What is the purpose of your life? It is more than just getting married, building a home, having a family; it living the life Christ wants for you—to be His messengers of hope. A messenger with a purpose! To tell the world that Satan is not the victor but Christ is! To point them to the Sacrament of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper; where we receive comfort and strength and the certainty that our lives have a purpose.

We have all died with Christ in baptism. But we have also been raised with Him to a new life. That’s the blessing of being a Christian. That’s the blessing of being a Lutheran Pastor; and Lutheran people who know the power of the resurrection. As well as the wounds of Christ, the blood of Christ and the empty tomb; that empty tomb points to our resurrection too.

Since Christ gave hope to those who were mourning; He, too, gives us hope even and in spite of walking through suffering and sorrow and sadness. PAUSE.

I was amazed! I was just overwhelmed at the cards of sympathy and calls that came to my house when people knew my father had died; e-mails from friends and brother pastors and acquaintances that I have met over the years. Do you know, what was the one common denominator in all of these messages? In a simple word it is this: Thank God for the victory of the resurrection.

These words are the hallmark for the Christian. They give us hope, they give us help and they point us to heaven. Oh, what a joy to know the blessings of God are ours. Indeed, we can say, “Death has a purpose; to destroy the old life—the life of sin, and to give us the new life—the life of sainthood with Christ. For that we say: “Thanks be to God for the victory of His resurrection which guarantees our resurrection. Amen and Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA.

“It’s Hard!” (Romans 12:9-13)

S-1268 11SAP/3C 8/28/11 Hymns LSB(O) #594; S#430; LS. #851; #633; #867; (C) #854 v 1,3,5

Text: Jeremiah 15:15-21; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28

Them: “It’s Hard!” (Romans 12:9-13)

Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The text for the 11^th Sunday after Pentecost is from the Epistle lesson: “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” (Romans 12:9-13).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

People of God, chosen and beloved, there are certain things in life that are hard on us and hard for us: Hard for us: To confront someone who speaks evil of us, to forgive those who hurt us and to let go of past sins. Hard on us: To be away from the one we love, lose a child, deal with mom’s Alzheimer, go through divorce; fail a test, get laid off, or lose your farm.

However, these things are not as hard as what the Apostle Paul asks us to do in the text. Pastor Paul tells us to do those th ings that are almost impossible. Love others more, be kind, and don’t pay evil for evil, be patient in tribulation. But to do these things is not easy.

Do you like to forgive someone who hurt you or shamed you? Are you able to love the one who smeared your name and reputation? Can you honor those who dishonor you? Do you fervently pray for your enemies? To be sure “It’s hard” to do because we are not people who pray for those who hate us and want to kill us. We are not willing to forgive quickly the ones who do us wrong.

As you and I listen to Pastor Paul, we cry out saying: “Paul, you got to be kidding with what you are asking of me a follower of Jesus Christ!” Paul, you have lost your mind, you can’t be serious! But he is not kidding and indeed he is very serious about what he asked.

But this is not the only thing he asks. In another book he writes: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor. 13:4-7).

Can we honestly say that we have done these things? Has our love been patient and kind? Have we always rejoiced in helping others or do we grumble when they ask us? How many times have we kept record of the wrongs others did to us? Do we forget easily the evil against us?

To be sure even among the most ardent lovers and couples here have had their bouts. Maybe they have not had an all out 15 rounds knockout fight. But there has been the silent treatment. There has been the slamming of the door shut that rattled the glass. There has been the departure that left burned rubber and there has been that look that kills. PAUSE.

We are all guilty of not doing what the Apostle Paul asks us to do because we are selfish and self-centered sinners. More often than not we want to get revenge instead of giving brotherly affection. More often we want to give them a knuckle sandwich than the kiss of peace.

But what Pastor Paul has written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote to help Christ’s followers and we should be doing them. What He has asked of us indeed IS HARD! He asks us to let our Gospel light shine and glorify our heavenly Father.

Paul is not the only one who asks us to do the hard thing. Jesus does too. In the Gospel lesson today, the Savior asks us to carry our cross and follow Him. But we complain. “Lord, the cross is heavy and I can’t carry it! Lord, I don’t want this cross, give me someone lighter! Lord, let someone else carry the cross!” But Jesus doesn’t release us of our responsibilities as His redeemed children. He declares: “If you want to be My followers, take up our cross and follow Me.” What Jesus is asking of us IS HARD. We cry out. “LORD, I CAN’T DO IT!” What Paul and Jesus ask of us is hard indeed. To be sure it is downright impossible! We can’t do what they ask. We don’t have it in us. PAUSE.

But don’t think for a moment that it was easy for Jesus the heaven-sent Savior to carry the cross either. But that is why He came. Certainly Jesus could have taken the easy way out. He wouldn’t have had to die for the sins of the world—yours and mine. Certainly He could have turned His back on the mission and ministry that He was sent by the Father to do. He certainly wouldn’t have to do it. He could have let us remain in sin and suffer the punishment of hell.

But that would have been the easy task. Jesus didn’t come to do the easy thing; He came to do the hard thing. He came to carry the cross. And He did carry the heaviest cross the world has ever seen. Upon this cross was the weight of all the sins of the world, beginning with the first Adam and ending with the last son of Adam and daughter of Eve. This cross He carried all the way to Calvary. Upon it He was extended and nailed. Upon it He suffered the agony of hell and God’s wrath. Upon it He did what Paul asked of us—to forgive others.

You my brothers and sisters in Christ should know that it was hard for the Savior to do this act of mercy and win our salvation. This thing was so hard that He prayed in the Garden. When Christ prayed for us in the Garden, how difficult it must have been for Him sweating droplets of blood in His anguish. “Father, take this cup away from Me...But not My will but Yours be done!” The Savior prayed for those who beat Him and nailed Him to the cross: “Father, Forgive them...” And the Savior did earn our salvation and completed His mission of rescue and deliverance. PAUSE.

To be a follower of Jesus Christ is hard. It demands a sacrificial life of us. We are called to imitate our Lord and Savior. But oh, how hard that is. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. No matter how much I love my wife, I don’t always love her as I should. No matter how much I love this congregation, I have a hard time loving all of the people and serving them faithfully. No matter how much you love me, there are those days when you struggle loving me. That is the nature of the beast.

The Christian life is hard. The point is we can’t do these things on our own. It is impossible for us sinful humans; but with God all things are possible. Christ did take His cross and carried it all the way to Calvary; died on it, so that life while difficult at times is not impossible. In fact it is guaranteed by the cross.

Because of the Savior’s faithfulness, you and I can do what we couldn’t do on our own. Because of His love, we are able to love others and show kindness and serve them more. Because of His mercy, we show mercy and compassion. Because of His forgiveness, we forgive others the wrong they have done us.

Jesus did the hard thing so that we can live in peace. This doesn’t mean that we don’t follow His decrees or commands, but rather live for Him, obey Him and serve Him with all of the gifts He has given us. And when it is hard for us to do something we rely upon Him for strength, wisdom, fortitude and love to do the hard thing.

Today, the Holy Spirit has led to this house of worship for a reason—to strengthen you in your walk of faith. Today, because of the Word and the Sacrament, you are enrolled in the ministry of the cross bearing. Today, by His strength alone are we able to do the impossible and point many to the One who has redeemed them and bought them with His own precious blood. God grant us the ability to always do the hard thing. Amen.

Now the peace…

Soli Deo Gloria.

.

“The Tipping Point!” (Romans 7:24-25)

S-1261 3SAP/3A 07/03/11, (O) #577; (S) #276; (C) #54

Text: Zechariah 9:9-12; Romans 7:14-25; Matthew 11:25-30

Theme: “The Tipping Point!” (Romans 7:24-25)

Question: “Have you reached your tipping point?”

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for the 3^rd Sunday after Pentecost is the Epistle lesson: “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25).

In Nomini Iesu,

Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ, if you listen to the commentators on the news, there is a rather new vocabulary word that they seem to toss around a lot. The term is “tipping point.” This isn’t about “tipping” a few beverages at the local watering hole. It isn’t about “cow tipping” either. A tipping point is something far more serious. A tipping point is the point when significant change takes place.

However, this term is nothing new. It has been around for years. But we use it and identify it more now than in the past. It is said: “In October of 312 A.D., “that Constantine in a dream saw the image of the Christian cross on the sun, and heard the words “In this sign, you shall conquer.” He ordered shields and clothing of the soldiers to bear a cross on them and he won the Battle of Milvian Bridge against Emperors Maxentius and Licinius during civil wars. Constantine became the First Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity. In 313 Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which proclaimed religious tolerance of all religions throughout the empire. That was the tipping point when the Great Roman Empire gave freedom to Christians to worship their Savior and Lord without fear of being put to death by fire, thrown to the wild beasts or crucified on a Roman’s cross.

There are many tipping points in our lives. Tipping points that have changed history in general and Christianity in particular! In the 16^th Century a German monk named Martin Luther, started the Protestant Reformation and taught the truth of Scripture that we are saved by grace alone, on account of Christ alone through Scripture alone.

In 1964 another tipping point affected all Americans. Thanks to an atheist, Madalyn Murray O’Hair changed the opportunity afforded to all students to pray in schools. That was a tipping point that has affected us till today and we are reaping the consequences of taking God out of the picture ever so slowly, from schools, work places and even homes. How sad and tragic.

There are those who call the proposed troop drawdown a tipping point in our armed conflict in Afghanistan. Another “tipping Point” might be coming as we deal with our national debt issues. There is a tipping point now as the flood waters are rising in Minot, Oacoma, Chamberlain and other places. Marriages reach a tipping point where the conflict forces the ungodly change called divorce or a repentance that leads to reconciliation. PAUSE.

But my beloved in the Lord don’t let one woman alter your thinking or privileges to pray to the God of all grace in public and private. Use every opportunity to know the Scriptures to feed your souls and grow to a closer relationship with your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Why, you might ask? Because, in the plan of Salvation there is a tipping point. That tipping point is the cross of Calvary! It was there that the most significant change of all time happened. There in the sacrifice of the sinless Son of God the balance of sin and death tipped in our favor. It was there that Jesus changed our status from being blind, dead, enemies of God into redeemed children bound for eternity with Him.

Because of the Cross of Christ the Tipping Point is in our favor. Satan has no power over us. Death can’t hold us. Sin can’t damn us; ALL because of the greatest Tipping Point in the History of the world. This is a universal truth. This is what Zechariah is talking about in the Old Testament Lesson: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!” (Zech. 9:9) Yes, rejoice saints in Christ. Jesus has tipped the balance of scales in your favor. He has done what you and I can’t do on our own.

However, there can also be a spiritual tipping point in our own faith walk with Jesus as well. Each one of us faces a conflict within us of epic proportions. St. Paul captures this in the second lesson. It is there that he very directly and correctly identifies the “civil war” that exists with us. We are at the same time Saint and sinner. There are these two constants battling within us. But the truth is our help does not come from within us. What is inside of us will work against the salvation that Jesus has won for us at the cross. Our only hope comes from outside of us.

The Lord Jesus Christ gives us the proper support from outside of us, as we are challenged daily in facing our crisis. He turns these crises as tipping points to our advantage. Our crisis shows us that we are indeed sinners in need of a Savior. The Holy Spirit highlights this for us—He is also the One power that tips the battle in our favor. He uses the Law to show us our sin.

Oh, the Law that accuses and condemns us before a holy God. The Law of God that points our failures to be true followers of Jesus. The Law of God that kills. Yes, when that Law kills we find ourselves in the same position as St. Paul who wrote in the text “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. We AREN’T good. Even when we try, we find ourselves doing what we detest and hate. It is part and parcel of who we are.

However, the Lord knows what we need. The balm of the Gospel is applied and the balance tips. We go from death to life, from blindness to sight, from enemies to friends of God. But the battle is not over. Every day that there is temporal life in this human body, we are in this Civil War. At times it can seem overwhelming. PAUSE.

Like the great theologian Paul, we cry out saying: “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Indeed, we are wretched, poor, miserable sinners who need help. And who is it that gives us this help; Paul shouts the answer to bring comfort to our burdened hearts and peace to our troubled minds: Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Yes and a thousand times yes. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” who gives us the victory. The very same Cross that served as the tipping point in universal salvation is the same tipping point for our personal salvation. Jesus knows this. So He bids us rest from our labor of war against our flesh and the world. And the only place where we find this rest is in Him. In His Word and Sacraments He gives us the tools to fight the enemy of the flesh and rejoice in what He has accomplished.

Tipping points are all around. History highlights these events, but so does God’s Word. Constantine saw it in a vision, Martin Luther found it in God’s Book, Americans learned it through History in 1776, soldiers are coming home and the economy is causing havoc. Madalyn O'Hair affected prayers in the public school and Paul was changed from a murderer to a messenger of Christ and His love through the personal encounter with Jesus.

This same Jesus guarantees that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Every other yoke will weigh us down. It will drag us deeper into the muck and mire. But Jesus’ yoke is easy. He has borne the burden of the cross beam. He has carried its weight. We are free. Now, under that simple burden; we are free from fear and futility. We live and move and have our being in Him. So you and me, sons and daughters of Zion, can rejoice! Not only for today, but forever, because Christ has made the greatest tipping point—YOUR SALVATION SURE. Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA.

“Walking With God” (Psalm 23:4)

S-1099 7/23/10 9SAP/3C Hymns: (O) #744; (S) #752; Solo “How Great…” (C) # SOD #18

Texts: Psalm 23; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 14:1-6

Theme: “Walking With God” (Psalm 23:4)

Celebration of New Life for Letha L. Kramer

Armour, SD SOLI DEO GLORIA

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The text for the celebration of the new life promised to our departed sister in the faith Letha is from the Good Shepherd Psalm: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You ARE with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

Family and friends, especially you Janet, Karen, Bruce and Barry we gather today in the house of the Lord to take comfort and consolation in His Word and His promise given to us who trust and believe in Him. His Words are hope and help in the hour of sorrow. His Words of promise are a sweet honey to the taste that otherwise would be bitter as you walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

Today, as you gather in the Lord’s house to say farewell to someone you love, there is a lump in your throat, a knot in your stomach, a tear in your eye and empty spot in your heart. No matter how you view death—death always interrupts, it always intrudes and it always interferes with our lives. Even when you know that death is drawing near as was the case with your loved one; you are never prepared when it arrives.

This happened to you this past Tuesday about 10:12 a.m. when the Lord in His mercy called our beloved sister in the faith home. She is gone to be with the One who claimed her in the waters of Baptism, but you are left to walk in the valley of the shadow of death. PAUSE.

Did you know that walking for exercise was not always in? Some of you walked because you had too. You walked to school, the barn, chicken coup, the grocery store, and the courthouse for that was the mode of transportation then. But in the last 20 years you began to notice people walking all over the country. Even here, in our little town of Armour, you see people walking and some even have their iPod tied to their arms and swinging back and forth to get exercise. Some people call a friend to walk with them.

And so today, you need to realize and know for certain that even though you are walking in the shadow of death, you are not walking alone. David, the author of the text stated, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You ARE with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” Indeed, the Word of the Lord is true. You are not walking alone, for the Lord of heaven and earth is with you wherever you go. As the hymn writer states, “He walks with me and He talks with me along life’s narrow way.” Jesus the Good Shepherd and the Friend of sinners walks with you through the valley of the Shadow of death. And this walk is not burdensome but a blessing. For it is only a shadow, not death itself. A Shadow can’t hurt you, frighten you or rob you of your peace.

Sometimes we are frightened because we see a shadow, but there is no need to fear a shadow, for it is not the real thing, but simply a shadow. And so we take comfort in the walk that Jesus leads and direct us on our journey of life. PAUSE.

Anyone who knew Letha knew she walked. As a young child she walked in the house of her parents Luther and Annis. Later on she walked down the isle of Trinity Lutheran Church at St. Peter, MN to confess her faith and receive the Sacrament. Later still she walked that same isle as she was joined to her husband Earl in holy matrimony. And she continued to walk. She and her husband faithfully and joyfully walked each of their children to the Lord’s house, baptized them and watched them grow in the faith. She walked ahead and behind her children. She walked to tidy the house, pick the toys up, buy groceries, prepare food, and do the laundry. After her husband past away she moved to Carter Wieses’ apartment. Often you saw her walking to the post office, grocery store and even to church to walk up these steps and kneel down to be fed and nurtured with the heavenly manna.

But as the sand through the hour glass began to empty, her legs were not as sturdy as they were once, but she continued to walk to church to receive God’s heavenly gifts. However, the time did come when she was no longer able to walk and had to be placed in the nursing home. There she had to use a wheel chair to get around. And when that happened and she couldn’t come to church, the church came to her and offered her the life-giving body and blood to sustain and strengthen her in the faith. I have visited her often and she was found faithful in confessing her sins and longed to get the sacrament. It never failed, with tears in her eyes she would say, “Thank you Pastor for coming to visit us and not forgetting us!” What a blessing it was for me to minister to this saint in Christ.

Walking can be a joy or a chore. If you are out walking for fun enjoying God’s wonderful creation it is not bad, if you are out walking to hunt it is not terrible, but if you are walking because your car broke down, it is pretty bad and you probably are angry and mad at God because the car broke down.

But walking is nothing new. Throughout all of Scripture we see people walking. We read of the Israelites walking to freedom from Egypt to the Promised Land. Jesus walked with His disciples to many villages preaching repentance and the Good News. He even walked to Calvary carrying His own cross as the ultimate payment for sins including Letha’s. On the night of Christ’s resurrection there were two disciples who walked with Him for 7 miles to the village of Emmaus without recognizing Him, but when they discovered who He was, they walked back and told everyone, that He has risen from the dead and that He is ALIVE!

Yet, the greatest example of walking with God is found in Genesis where we read: Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him” (Gen. 5:24). Can you envision the scene of Enoch walking with God? I sure can. Here is Enoch walking and talking to God. Moses tells us that He walked with God and God took Him. This is another way to say that Enoch didn’t die but was transported directly from earth to heaven.

I like to share with you a picture to help you understand how this walking took place. It probably went something like this: Enoch and God were walking together one day and they just kept having so much fun and Enoch didn’t realize how far they had gone. When Enoch looked back he said to God, “Lord, I should go back I am getting far away from my home and I will soon be missed.” And God said, “Oh, Enoch, don’t worry about it, we are having such a great time, let’s keep on walking.” They walk some more and again Enoch says, “Lord, I should go back I am getting far away from my home and I will soon be missed.” And God said, “Enoch, don’t worry about it, we are having such a great time, let’s keep on walking.” They walk some more and talked some more and again Enoch says, “Lord, I should go back I am getting further and further away from my home and I will really be missed.” And God with a big smile on his face said: “Enoch, your home is so far away, but Mine is close, why don’t you come and stay with Me forever.” And so God took him.

That is precisely what the gracious Lord, the Good Shepherd and Friend of sinners Jesus did this past Tuesday. He looked at Letha with a smile and said, “Letha, you have walked on the earth for 94 years and no need to walk any further. My home is closer come and stay with me. And she did.”

Beloved in the Lord, you may miss her. You may weep her passing. But know for certain she is forever walking with the Lord. What a joy to know that God walked with Letha and she is walking with Him even now. What a privilege for us to look forward to the day when we will walk with our Savior forever. Amen.

Now the peace…

“Afraid…? (John 20:19-20)

S-1183 2SOE/3C Hymns #(O)#208 vv 1-5; S #208 vv 6-10; L.S. #192; #209; #307; (C)#47

Texts: Acts 5:12-20; Revelation 1:4-18; John 20:19-31

Theme: “Afraid…? (John 20:19-20)

Question: “What Are You Afraid Off?”

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The text for meditation for the 2^nd Sunday of Easter is from the Gospel lesson: “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord” (John 20:19-20)

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

People of God, chosen and beloved what are some of your fears? Each of us in this room has fears that shackle us and place us behind doors. Doors built not by carpenters, but by our minds. Some of these fears are so strong that we freeze, become immobile, and loose hope. Some are afraid of the dark and death. Others are afraid of hearing the dreaded word from the doctors office—“it is terminal there is nothing that we can do.” Still others are fearful of loosing a job, home, spouse or your child. Fear grips us, binds us and imprisons us. Though we may not admit it, it is true none-the-less.

This is where we are in our text. The time is Sunday evening after the resurrection. The disciples we are told by John are hiding behind locked doors because they are afraid of the Jews. Fear bound them. Fear drove them into hiding. Fear caused them to loose hope. Talk about fear! It was so real behind those locked doors that first Easter weekend in Jerusalem that you could almost smell it. Just when the disciples were convinced that Jesus was the Son of God, the bottom had dropped out. They had walked with Him and witnessed His words and works. Twice they had even heard the Father call Him “My Son” and seemed to have their answer as to who He was. But then the stone had been rolled before the tomb, shutting in Jesus’ lifeless clay. And another stone, one of fear, had rolled before their hearts shutting out their trust that He was the Son of God.

Now don’t blame these disciples. They had spent 3 wonderful years with their Master and Lord. They had talked with Him, ate with Him, saw Him perform miracles and were taught by Him that He is the Lord who comes to bring salvation. But, they also saw what happened to their Master and Lord, Jesus Christ during Holy week. They had witnessed His arrest, His suffering, His humiliation and some even witnessed His death. They were afraid to get the same thing that their Lord received. But this is Sunday evening now. The Mary’s had told them the Lord has been raised. John and Peter ran to the tomb and saw it empty. But they didn’t believe it. They hid not only behind constructed walls, doors and window but their hearts shut the world outside.

While in hiding, the Risen Lord comes to look for the troubled and fearful disciples. The ten are prisoners of fear and doubt. The fact that Jesus seeks them out and says “Peace be with You!” even though they are filled with doubt and fear tells us something about this mighty, merciful Messiah—His compassion and grace are never short to unlock and remove the doubt from our minds and hearts.

These fearful and bewildered disciples stand with their mouth wide open and say nothing. Envision the scene. There they are huddled behind the closed doors but all of a sudden there is someone in the room with them. Through locked doors Jesus enters into their presence. He comes in the form of flesh that has been dead and is now alive. Jesus comes into that locked room so full of fear and brings PEACE! And this peace is in concrete form. HE IS THE PEACE! The crucified and risen Christ is the ultimate peace for these fearful followers. He looks like Jesus. He sounds like Jesus. And this One has the things that ONLY Jesus can have. He offers them His hands and side. He has all the marks. He IS the Messiah! He is Jesus! HE IS ALIVE!

And if these words—“Peace be upon YOU” is not enough, the resurrected Christ says, “Look, at my pierced side, hands and feet: “It is I! Fear not little flock!” He stands in their midst, alive, bearing the scars of the cross. But these scars are now His badge of honor, for they reveal that the payment has been made in full for all that caused our peace to vanish. The full payment is received in His nail marks, in His pierced side. Surely He was dead – but in His dying, He destroyed death. He stands alive, and so do we!

He declares with creative force, not light out of darkness, but life for death, therefore, “Peace be with YOU!” That is, Peace is Yours, the bad stuff is gone, not a wisp or a whisper remains – He says, “Peace be with you!” and in that He means, “Lo, I am with you. . . always . . . even to the end of the age!”

When you are shackled with fear it is hard to hear the message spoken to you. But Jesus doesn’t stop communicating His grace and love to His troubled and fearful disciples. He shows them the scars and tells them I have overcome the world. He breathes on them and sends them out with power that changed History forever.

It is ironic how quickly things change for these troubled and hiding disciples—they go from fearful to faithful, from cowards to courageous, from bewildered to bold confessors of the faith. The 11 men understood the true meaning of peace. Peace is found in the love of God who sent His Son to die for all of our sins. Jesus’ death on the cross brought about peace between God and man. This peace is not only for the disciples but all who trust in Him. Even the apostle John said: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (1 John 4:18).

Having comforted their hearts and heads with His presences the Risen Lord Jesus sends His disciples out to work for Him. He breathed on them and told them to forgive others in His name and to take the message to every corner of the world. PAUSE.

My beloved are you afraid? Stop being fearful! Hear the One who said, MY PEACE I GIVE TO YOU. Do you have doubts? By faith be like Thomas who said, “My Lord and My God!” When Christ comes into our shackled hearts, He drives out fear and doubt and in its place, places faith and security.

No need to be afraid—in Me the Risen Lord there is pardon and peace. No need to doubt—Jesus the Risen Lord says in Me there is hope and heaven. In Me the Risen Lord states, no need to worry or lose sleep because I have loved you and forgiven you all of your sins. Today, the Risen Lord proved His love for you by seeking you out. Even here in this place, the Risen Lord Jesus comes to us with His Word and Sacrament and gives us His peace in the Meal of peace.

The Risen Lord gives us the Word in which we find confidence. The Word is not only a message from long ago, but something alive and active right now. The Word has power because it is God’s Word. Through it He comes into our “locked rooms” of doubt. He unlocks the doors and leads us out into fresh joy and freedom and hope.

Faithful followers of the Risen Lord hear Him well today, again: “My peace I give to you” Instead of fear in our hearts the Risen Lords places His love and peace for now and forever. Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SDG

Living For the Lord "Romans 14:7-8

S‑1073 09/14/2008 18SAP/3A Hymns: (O) #342; (S) #398;L.S. #360; #40; #506, (C) #401

Texts: Genesis 50:14-21; Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35

Theme: “Living for the Lord” (Romans 14:7-8).

Armour, SD. SOLIE DEO GLORIA.

Question: “What do you what you do?”

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for our meditation is from the book of Romans. “For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” (Rom. 14:7-8).

INTRODUCTION: Saints in Chris Why do you do what you do? “Mommy, why do you make the sign of the cross over you when pastor says that he forgives you in the name of Jesus and other people don’t?” “Daddy, why do you have the pastor put the bread directly into your mouth while other people let him put it in their hands? “Grandpa, why do you drink out of the big cup at communion and Grandma takes the little one?” “Pastor, why do you wear that big, baggy white dress when you are leading worship? “Pastor, why do you ask us to take some time to reflect on our sins, and sometimes it is so long?”

How would you answer these questions? Well, you could go into a long discussion of Article 10 of the Formula of Concord which talks about a thing called adiaphora, which means things neither commanded nor forbidden by God. But would that really answer the question? I don’t think so. Would it not be better to simply answer that this is the way that we as followers of the Savior, serve the Lord Jesus Christ as we live out our lives of faith? Of course it would. If you are one who makes the sign of the cross, it doesn’t make you any more special to our Lord than those who don’t. In the same way, if you receive the Lord’s blood from the chalice it does not make you a better Christian than the person that receives it from the individual cup. These are all issues of personal piety. We do what we do to serve the Lord. If that differs from the family sitting in the pew behind us, that’s ok! No one can claim any superiority over another in this.

But the important thing is to know why we do what we do! This is the best form of Catechesis—the teachings of the church. Yet, many people don’t know why we do the things we do. This reminds me of a story I read sometime ago. A young lady watched her mother cut a roast square and put it in the roaster. She looked at her mom inquisitively and asked, “Mom, why did you cut the roast Square?” The mom responded, “I really don’t know your grandma did it this way.” So they decided to ask grandma. They called grandma and asked the same question, and she responded, I don’t know, but my mom did. So they went to great-grandma and asked her the same question. She simply said, “Because I have a square roaster.”

You see, faithful friends, just because we do things differently doesn’t mean that we are better or worse than the person next to us. Nor can we say this is the only way that it can be done.

But honestly, are we always like that? Or are there times when we think that our way is the right way, the only way of doing things. Come on now! Be honest! Aren’t there times when we become so convinced that we are right and the other person is wrong that it even begins to affect our life with the Lord? You bet it does!

This was the problem that was starting to arise in Rome. The Christians in the congregation at Rome were starting to deal with a number of people new to the faith. Some of them were still insistent on keeping the old Jewish customs of ritual eating and holidays. Others heard what Paul and others were teaching about Christian freedom for those baptized into Christ. They had been freed from all those requirements and they longed to be free. This was obviously starting to become a point of contention. Those who wanted to be like the good old days were insistent on it. Those who wanted a new freedom were just as insistent. This became a battle ground in the church. They lost focus of what the Lord called them to do in spreading the Good News. PAUSE.

So what was the church to do? The human answer would be to form a committee, kick around some solutions and bring it to a vote. Then if the old timers got enough members to the meeting, then the old way it would be! But there would be the off chance that the youngsters would rally enough troops and then the new ways would be voted in. This would make great sense to us. When persuasion doesn’t work, just get more votes…Please keep in mind that what is always popular is not always right, and what is always right is not always popular!

But this is not the Way of the Lord. And today, the Apostle Paul by the Holy Spirit’s leadings commends to the Romans and us these blessed truth. Paul focuses everything in its proper place. He turns the discussion to the Author of Life and the Lord of the Church—Jesus. None of us live to himself, and none of us dies to himself. If we live, we live to the Lord. If we die we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or we die, we are the Lord’s!

Another way, Paul is saying is this: “The entire life of Christian service should be viewed as Christ’s action being carried out in the life of the believer: ‘I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me’” (Galatians 2:20).

Having been called to faith in Christ, we begin to think differently. The Christian life is never about us and what we want or what we think is right. Instead the Christian faith is about the other. This is what the whole of Scriptures are all about. No greater “other-ness” thinking can be seen than at the cross. There, our sinless Lord and Savior had others in mind. He wasn’t thinking of self as the mob seized Him in the Garden. He was not thinking of Himself as He faced the sham trial, the mockery and the abuse. He could not have been thinking of Himself as the cat of nine tails welted His back and shredded His flesh. He wasn’t thinking of self at the very moment of the crucifixion. He couldn’t have been! How else could He have said what He said from that cross? “Father forgive them…Do you know who are the “them”? It wasn’t only those who were brutally beating Him. It wasn’t only those who spit on Him, mocked Him, humiliated Him and eventually put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. No, it is for us also who are seated here at Redeemer in Armour. When we would be cursing and fuming and demanding our way, Jesus was speaking only of forgiveness. Jesus at the cross only speaks and acts out only of providing the thing that the other person, YOU, needed most.

There at the cross Jesus had the weaker brother in mind. You were that weaker sibling in the faith. You were weak with sin and awash in death. But Jesus had you in mind. He could have taken the easy way out, but didn’t. He didn’t because there was no other way for you to be set free. And now you have been freed. Sin can no longer dog you. Death can no longer deny you entrance to eternity and satan can no longer destroy you. YOU ARE FREE.

But now, how will we use that freedom? Do we use this Christian freedom to serve what we want at the expense of another brother or sister in Christ? Will we use it to brow-beat fellow Christians into submission to what we think is right? Will you bring a weaker brother into the fellowship just to tear him or her apart because of a view they have? NO! This is not the way of a Christian. We are called to speak the truth in love. Ours is a ministry of reconciliation not retribution. Ours is a ministry of healing not hurting. Ours is a ministry of caring not condemning. We are free to live our lives for Christ for the sake of others and not for ourselves. If we are living for ourselves, we push Christ to the edge, if not out of our lives. Friends, this should not be! But we do everyday. In our homes, in our families and yes even here among the body of Christ this happens.

Since it does happen among us here, St. Paul calls us to repentance. For every one of those times you have only considered yourself and your own ideas at the expense of another, Paul says REPENT. For every time you as the weaker brother tried to put unfair and unbiblical limits on a fellow Christian, Paul says, REPENT.

Repent because you belong to Christ. Your life belongs to Christ. Your death belongs to Christ. Everything in between belongs to Christ. And yes, your brother or sister against whom you have sinned belongs to Christ. His grace is sufficient for you. He has paid the price for you. You are free. Free to bow your knee and your tongue confess the great and gracious Lord Jesus Christ.

God grant us the grace to consider that weaker brother or sister. God grant us the freedom from the sins of self. God grant us the grace to let nothing hinder our confession of Christ, to one another and to the world. AMEN.

Now the peace…