The sermon text is from Luke 11:1-13.

            When you read the Gospel of Luke pay close attention to sequence.  Immediately before our text, Jesus rebuked Martha for thinking the important thing was her getting dinner [...]]]>             Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

            The sermon text is from Luke 11:1-13.

            When you read the Gospel of Luke pay close attention to sequence.  Immediately before our text, Jesus rebuked Martha for thinking the important thing was her getting dinner ready instead of sitting at Jesus’ feet with Mary listening to the Word of God.  True worship of God is about receiving from Him first, about being fed by Him.  Mary chose the better thing that would not be taken away, because she let God be the giving God He wants to be for His children.  In faith, she valued what she received from God more highly than anything she could offer to Him.  Only after God’s Word works in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit, do Christian good works flow in service to God.

            Now that we see the importance of being fed by God’s Word, Jesus turns to prayer.  True Christian prayer is always responding to God.  As His Gospel has its way with us, our hearts are led to call upon God as “dear children ask their dear father.”  It’s so true if you want a fuller prayer life, be fed by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament and the Holy Spirit will lead you into a more vigorous life of praise and thanksgiving and prayers for every need.

            Sometimes people who long ago quit hearing God’s Word will say, as if to reassure even themselves, “I’m still a Christian I believe in God.  I pray.”  St. Luke in this week’s and last week’s lesson wants us to understand that you don’t sustain your Christian life through prayer.  Rather prayer is faith’s response to the God who sustains our faith through His Word.

            So the disciples ask what should always be our prayer: “Lord, teach us to pray.”  Jesus begins, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name.’”  At Jesus’ Baptism God proclaimed Jesus to be His Son.  Earlier in chapter 10 Jesus prayed to God as Father.  Now, isn’t it amazing that when Jesus teaches the disciples to pray He says, “Father, hallowed be Your name.”  Jesus places the disciples and you and me into the same relationship with God that He has.  He’s our Father.  In Holy Baptism, you were clothed in Jesus and made sons and daughters of God.  Now Jesus says, when you pray, you pray like little children calling to a loving daddy.  Joined to Jesus through faith in Holy Baptism, God regards our prayers as dear and precious to Him.

            More than anything else receiving our true identity in Jesus – sons and daughters of God – makes us bold to pray.  Because human fathers are sinners, this isn’t a perfect analogy, but imagine for a second how hurt and saddened a father would be if their child never turned to them for help.  Imagine if a youngster sought all advice and counsel and aid from not-so-good friends, a bad group.  The loving father would crave the prayers and the questions and requests from the child, not because it made the father more, but because his wisdom and resources are best able to meet the needs of his child.

            That’s why we need to be taught to pray to our Father God, because our sinful hearts chase after false gods, seeking wisdom not from God through His Word but in empty idols and foolish peddlers of human wisdom.  Our wisdom corrupted by sin and destined for hell chases after the world, following dead end roads that lead to hell.  But through faith in Jesus, we have a Daddy, a heavenly Father, that knows how best to meet our needs.

            Many homes can relate to this…  In our home we’re working on how to ask for things.  To this point, when a need arises in our home we hear a shrill, “Juice” or “Milk” or “Snack”, or something less dignified when it concerns potty training.  Children need to be taught how to ask.  It’s a good proof of the reality of the devil and our inborn sinful nature that children don’t have to be taught to be rude and selfish and demanding, but they do have to be taught to be good.

            The Lord’s Prayer is God’s perfect prayer, containing everything God’s children need.  Remember all these things we pray in the Lord’s Prayer we pray not only for ourselves but also for all of God’s Church – every believer.  Praying God’s name be kept holy is praying that His Word is taught truthfully and that we live our lives according to that Word, honoring God’s name with our lives.  Praying for God’s Kingdom to come is praying for the Holy Spirit to create and strengthen our faith and others through His Word, and that He takes us to His heavenly Kingdom.  Praying for God’s will to be done is to say, “God beat down and kill my sinful will and the will of the devil and sinful world.  Teach me to will what you desire.” 

Praying for our daily bread is learning to be thankful that God is the source of everything we have, and asking Him like little children turning to our true Father for our needs.  Praying for God’s forgiveness is the life of repentance, confessing our failures and bringing our sins to our gracious Father, even as we pray that God’s forgiveness will move us in true love and forgiveness to those around us.

Praying that God would not lead us into temptation is praying for God to deliver us from the devil’s traps, and asking God to sustain us through life’s trials as we bear the crosses and challenges of life.  Only our Divine Dad can get us through this life safely and bring us home, and so we pray that God would deliver us, and all our brothers and sisters in Jesus, from every evil, sin and death and finally take us with Him to our perfect, heavenly home.

God also wants us to pray our own prayers, the specific things that are on our hearts, for our family and nation, for our church and the spread of His Word.  Yet, if we consider it rightly all these things are in the Lord’s Prayer – this perfect prayer from God Himself.  It has everything.  But it’s also the most abused.  It’s so easy to roll through the Lord’s Prayer and not think about it.  We know it so well sometimes we don’t consider what we’re saying.  Luther even suggested as we pray the Lord’s Prayer, praying each petition at a time, and naming all the things that are included under that petition as a way to remember what it’s all about.  A good way to grow in prayer is to read each petition and meaning from the Small Catechism and then praying it for all the things included in that petition.  A good hint for growth in prayer is to read a Psalm or Scripture passage and then pray for what God is teaching in that passage.

Next, Jesus teaches about the boldness of prayer and God’s heart to answer us.  “Suppose of you of you has a friend that comes to you at midnight… because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.”  The point here: If even sinful people would be ashamed to turn away a friend who comes at an inopportune time, how about a God that Scripture promises: “Watches over your coming and going forever.”  We pray boldly, because God commands us to pray and promises to hear us.  James wrote: “Let him ask in faith, without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is tossed and driven by the wind.  That person must not think he will receive anything from God.”

True faith doesn’t pray as if buying a lottery ticket.  This isn’t any normal dad we’re praying to.  It’s the Heavenly Father, who spoke the earth into being… the Father who knows us so intimately He knit us together in our mother’s wombs… the Father who sent His sinless Son to die and rise from the dead to make us His sons and daughters… the Father whose Holy Spirit claimed us in Baptism and shouts our identity as forgiven and loved kids of the King in the promises of His Word.  We are bold in prayer, not because we deserve His answer, but because His love assures us: “Everyone who asks, receives; he who seeks finds; and to him to knocks the door will be opened.”

Our prayers are always tempered with the words, “Thy will be done”, not because we aren’t sure God can handle it, but because we aren’t clinched-fist, screaming children demanding our way.  Our Father knows best how to care for us, and even when He doesn’t give us what we want, He always gives us what’s best.  He’s not a father who gives a scorpion instead of an egg or a snake instead of fish.  He’s a Father who always gives the best – as evidenced in Calvary’s cross – when He gave His own Son to make us forgiven members of His heavenly family.

Dear friends, claim this great gift that God gives you – the gift of prayer.  Let your homes and families be joined in one voice to the true Father, “Giver of every good and perfect gift.”  “Give thanks in all circumstances.  Pray without ceasing,” 1 Thessalonians 5 says.  Fed by God’s Word, ask the Father to send you His Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit’s work is to create and strengthen our identity.  He roots us in our place in God’s family as loved and forgiven children by joining us to God the Father through Jesus His Son. 

We pray:  Dear Father, You call us your children through Jesus Your Son, send us Your Spirit and make us bold to live our lives with praise and thanksgiving, calling upon You in every need, through Jesus Christ, our Brother in the flesh and Your eternal Son.  Amen.

And now may the peace of God which surpasses human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

            The sermon text is from Luke 10:38-42.

            I have a confession to make…  I’m ashamed to say when I was a kid and I got to church on days when there was a baptism, my heart [...]]]>             Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

            The sermon text is from Luke 10:38-42.

            I have a confession to make…  I’m ashamed to say when I was a kid and I got to church on days when there was a baptism, my heart would sink.  Today, we were so blessed to share God’s gift of new life in Baptism for Madelyn and Spencer.  We are blessed to celebrate this Sacrament with Mark and Kristie, Nathan and Amanda, and all their families… but back then I would have groaned. 

            Back then I would have been thinking about ball games or some such nonsense, but today God by His water and Word raised Madelyn and Spencer from sin and death to life in Christ.  Sometimes we forget but a few minutes ago we witnessed a miracle of God driving out the devil by His mighty Word and pouring out His Holy Spirit.  You don’t get more amazing than that.  But 30 years ago, I wouldn’t have been impressed.  But that’s how children and spiritually childish adults are.    

St. Paul said, “When I was a child, I thought like a child.  Now that I have become a man I have put childish ways behind me.”  Well, I wish we could put those ways behind us.  For us, it’s more a daily struggle to put away our cold, indifferent, sinful flesh.  Daily we are lazy and lethargic about God’s Word, distracted by worldly things, and daily we must repent.

Part of me thinks Martha takes a bad rap in our text.  Do you blame her for being distracted by a dozen visitors on a surprise visit one of whom was God?  Particularly in that culture, hospitality was important, as evidenced by Abraham hosting God in our Old Testament lesson.  If someone came to your home, they were your guests, a meal was expected.  I bet Martha was exhausted and panicked and angry that Mary stayed sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening to Him teach, instead of helping out.

God’s Kingdom needs doers, too.  James wrote:  “Be doers of the word and not hearers only.”  The Church needs “Marthas” – willing saints who sacrifice their time and energy, not for recognition or honor, but because they are compelled by the love of Christ.  For us who know so completely that we are saved without any works, apart from anything we do, but saved solely by grace for Jesus’ sake, it’s a disgrace that we are so lazy and careless about using our time, talents and treasures in service to God and our neighbor.  Remember, Jesus said, “To whom much has been given, much will be required.”  The church needs her “Marthas.”  Humanly speaking, our ability to impact the world with the Gospel depends on getting involved and letting God use us.

Jesus didn’t rebuke Martha for her passion to serve, but for misplaced priorities.  Before Martha could feed Jesus and the 12, she needed to be fed by God’s Word.  You and I have nothing to offer unless we are fed.  There’s only so long you can use a bucket to water the flowers if you never fill it up.  A Christian un-connected to Christ through His Word is useless – “a resounding gong or clanging symbol”, Paul says.  The Church is in deep danger when she mistakes meetings and committee work and service opportunities for the essence of church life.  True Christian good works flow from buckets filled to the brim and overflowing… hearts bursting with God’s grace, allowing that grace and forgiveness to flow through us to our neighbors.  We are thankful for every “Martha.”  And this church has many.  But Martha’s problem is sometimes our own.  Remember being a Christian is first and foremost about receiving from God – not giving to Him.  In fact, it’s the receiving that makes us joyful servants. 

I’ve heard lay leaders and pastors of many different churches say how hard it is to find people to serve on church council or sing in choir or teach Sunday school or vacation Bible school.  Churches never have too many volunteers.  All of Christendom struggles to find “Marthas”, Christians willing to serve sacrificially.  But if you keep looking, you’ll see even fewer emulate Mary.  My informal survey of pastors indicates it’s easier to get people to build a table or clean one than to get them to sit around it with other Christians and learn God’s Word.  It’s easier to fill a church council than a church Bible study.  “Martha, Martha, you are worried about many things, but only one thing is needful.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

True faith begins with Mary at the feet of Jesus, absorbing, being fed, nourished by God’s Word and the Lord’s Supper.  “I am the Vine,” Jesus said, “You are the branches.  If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.  Apart from Me, you can do nothing.”  My brothers and sisters, no matter what else a church does or how else she grows, the true measure of spiritual health is found in the number of branches connected to Jesus the vine.

What God offers you in His Word is the best, and it won’t be taken away from you.  He offers you this – the promise that for all your and my misplaced priorities and distracted lives – God came in living flesh.  He shared our humanity in every way, except without sin.  His Word gives us the best because God’s Word in every sentence and every page is about God loving us sinners so much that He came to live and die in our place.  It’s the best, because God wants on every page of His Word for us to come to the conclusion that we sinners have been redeemed.  Our failures were carried by Him, and His victory over death and hell is His free gift to us through faith.

His Word gives us the best, because His Word with water clothes us in Jesus and God’s Word names us orphans as His adopted sons and daughters with a heavenly home.  His Word is the best, because when we’re worn down and run down from a million jobs, it brings us rest and confidence that Jesus did the greatest work that really matters by dying for our sins and rising from the dead.  His Word is the best because it’s filled with the Holy Spirit and makes our weak faith forgiven and strong.

His Word is the best, because His Word with lowly bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper, means God serves you, spreading the Table of His love and feeding His family with Jesus’ very body and blood.  His Word is the best, because when Jesus serves us with His words of love and life, it won’t be taken away.  Resting at the feet of our Savior in His Word, no one in all the world is strong enough to tear us from the arms of God’s love.  God’s Word promises you, you are His, bought and paid for by Jesus.  Amen.

And now may the peace of God which surpasses human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

The sermon text is from Galatians 5:1, 13-25.

Our text seems fitting as we approach Independence Day on July 4.  We are so blessed to live in the United States.  We may sometimes take for granted that the freedoms [...]]]> Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The sermon text is from Galatians 5:1, 13-25.

Our text seems fitting as we approach Independence Day on July 4.  We are so blessed to live in the United States.  We may sometimes take for granted that the freedoms we enjoy aren’t enjoyed by all peoples.  Any civics student knows that our nation’s Founders believed freedom was endowed by God.  Those who framed the Constitution were convinced that the greatest threat to freedom didn’t come from tyrants on the outside, but the natural impulse of government to grow and assert itself more and more. 

Taking that into account, they devised a system of checks and balances to limit the federal government’s size and scope.  The Constitution was finally ratified only after adding a Bill of Rights that placed strict limits on the scope of government, concluding with the 10^th Amendment which said that all powers not expressly stated devolved to the state governments and the people themselves.  They wisely recognized that enemies of freedom on the inside could be as dangerous as foreign enemies.

St. Paul taught that Christ came to fulfill God’s Law for us, and that justification, or forgiveness and salvation, before God was a free gift because of His perfect keeping of the Law in our place.  When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, those who received Him through faith were covered in His perfect righteousness.  Last week our verses said, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus; for as many of you who were baptized in to Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ…  And if you are children of God you are heirs.”

Our text reminds us: “For freedom Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be bound again by a yoke of slavery.  You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” 

Paul recognizes freedom in Christ is a precious gift.  We are sons and daughters of the King of Kings through faith in Christ Jesus, but freedom is not to be taken for granted.  The devil is an ever-present enemy lurking to snatch us back into slavery to sin and death, but the bigger problem is the enemy within us – our old sinful flesh. 

When the Holy Spirit calls us to faith we are reborn children of God.  2 Corinthians 5 says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”  Until the Holy Spirit changes our hearts and re-claims us, we are lost, sinful creatures.  Until the Holy Spirit sets us free in Christ, we are damned in hopeless, helpless bondage to sin, death and the devil.  When God through His Word or through the watery Word of Holy Baptism creates faith in our hearts, we are free and forgiven children in God’s family. 

At the same time, two things are true for God’s baptized children through faith.  We are free and forgiven children with a new nature.  Our hearts are reborn in true righteousness and holiness.  1 Corinthians 6 says, “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.”  But at the same time, until the day we die this nasty, old sinful nature clings to us.  At the same time, we are new natures in Christ, our biggest enemy still lies within – it’s that selfish, sinful flesh that only cares about me, me, me, me…

Understand this is only a temporary condition.  In our resurrection bodies this sinful flesh will be done away with, but here and now it’s a real problem.  We’re fighting a war and part of us is a traitor, holding onto our pride, lusting after our own evil desires and selfish ends.  So Paul’s words for today are teaching us how to live our identity as children of God without slipping back into the obvious acts of the sinful nature: “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like.” 

That sinful nature in us lusts after all these things biting and devouring other people hatefully, pride-fully putting ourselves over others.  The sinful flesh looks at the dying sinful world and thinks, “That looks fun.  I wish I could be doing that.”  It looks at others and puffs up in pride and bitterness.  The sinful flesh glamorizes the Hollywood morality or treats people as trash to be trampled under foot, fighting and quarreling and gossiping.  The sinful flesh lusts after money, is jealous of those who have more, is never content, never trusting that God will give what we need.  The sinful flesh leads to hell.  Paul says, “I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Most disturbing of all, our dying world and our corrupt sinful flesh somehow believes that’s what freedom is all about.  Luther wrote: “Freedom that seeks its own end is no freedom at all, but the devil’s tyranny.”   

This traitor within us, this sinful flesh, is our worst enemy, because we always look great in our own eyes.  Philippians 3 says, “Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.  Their mind is set on earthly things.” 

Many of you remember a point in your life when mom or dad or both put their arm around your shoulder and said, “Son/Daughter, I love you and always will.  You’re mine.  Wherever you go, you carry my name and whatever you do reflects on me and your family.  Remember who you are.”

In our text, God through His Spirit-inspired Word, is putting His arm around your shoulder.  Jesus said, “You didn’t choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to bear fruit.”  You and I don’t deserve it, but by God’s grace He sent His Son to die and rise from the dead.  Jesus purchased your freedom at the price of His life.  You are free – no longer under the devil’s tyranny – but free from condemnation and damnation – freely forgiven and freely loved for Jesus’ sake.  Romans 9 says, “It doesn’t depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”  God set you free from the Law’s accusation.  You are free from the death sentence that doomed you to hell.  In Christ through faith, you are a child of God – an heir of His heavenly mansion.  Romans 8 says, “There is no longer any condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  God be praised!  That’s His Word, and all His words are true. 

But don’t forget whose child you are and squander eternal life with Christ.  Don’t listen when the enemy within, the old sinful flesh, wants you to become a prodigal son or daughter, squandering the inheritance in a foreign place.  Remember you were clothed in Jesus in Baptism.  Remember His Word:  “I have called you by name; you are mine.”

This poem says it well:  “Two natures beat within my breast; the one is cursed, the other is blessed.  The one I love, the other I hate.  The one I feed will dominate.”  Since that’s how it is for us who are free in Christ this side of heaven, how do you fight the enemy within?  Our text says, “Don’t use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature.”  Don’t feed the beast within.  The friends you choose, the movies you watch, the music you listen to, the websites you surf can either build you up or destroy you. 

God’s Word and Sacraments are the means God chooses to build you up and make you strong and free men and women in Christ.  God’s Word and Sacraments are how the Holy Spirit waters and cares for you, making you living, fruitful branches off of Christ the Vine.  Jesus said, “I am the Vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in Me, and I in him, he will bear much fruit.  Apart from Me, you can do nothing.”  In His Word and at His altar, God reminds you and strengthens you in your identity, forgiving and freeing you from the tyranny of false freedom.  Romans says, “Faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ.”

Prayer is God’s gift of constant contact, running back to our heavenly Father in our failures, and asking God’s strength as free people to serve others.  Prayer draws on God’s strength and claims His promises to hear and answer us in our need.

God set you free.  Jesus, God’s eternal Son, was free, yet He selflessly became your servant to save you.  In Jesus, we are free, loved and forgiven before God, yet God doesn’t call us to a life of serving ourselves, but bearing fruit in service to others.  Just as you get no credit for being set free in Christ – it’s all by grace!  The good works that God will do through you aren’t your own – as though you could take some credit.  The Holy Spirit lives in you, daily crucifying your lusts and desires in repentance and daily reminding you whose you are. 

God has set you free to stop trying to buy your way out of a jam with Him – Jesus is your freedom.  In gratitude to God, the Holy Spirit causes us to bear fruits of love for God and each other: “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.”

In our national policy there is vigorous debate about whether our nation should be in the business of spreading freedom.  For we who are free in Christ, there is no such debate.  Our freedom in Christ is a joyous, privilege.  What an honor that we who are truly free – eternally free in Jesus – are called by God prayerfully to bear fruit in our families and church, with our friends and neighbors, even with our enemies.  We are living branches off Christ the Vine, letting God’s love work through us for the good of our neighbor.  By God’s grace, as the Spirit waters us through His Word, may we echo Paul’s words from Galatians 2:  “I have been crucified with Christ; and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”  Amen.

And now may the peace of God which surpasses human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

            The sermon text is from Galatians 3:23-4:7 previously read.

            When my brother’s identical twin boys were young, they wore all the same clothes.  You couldn’t tell them apart.  Everything one would wear the other had to [...]]]>             Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

            The sermon text is from Galatians 3:23-4:7 previously read.

            When my brother’s identical twin boys were young, they wore all the same clothes.  You couldn’t tell them apart.  Everything one would wear the other had to have also.  When they were old enough to notice, any attempt to dress them differently from the other was met with tears and protest.  In their minds and hearts they were bound so closely to each other that what they had to have the same clothes. 

            Our clothing speaks volumes about who we are.  Many times as a pastor my clerical collar has earned the greeting, “Hello, Father.”  If I’m dressed down a bit at Walmart, I might find people asking for directions to find a product.  Like it or not people form opinions about others on the basis of how we dress.  Growing up, we were taught you dress up to go to God’s house.  You weren’t supposed to go to church so people could check out what you wore it was just a sign of reverence for God, a sign of bringing the best.  In my first church full of farmers in Nebraska that might mean the farmers newest pair of overalls, but the idea was the same.  When we played sports the coaches told us to wear our uniforms with class, it reflected on the rest of the team.

            In our text, Paul says, “All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”  Dr. Luther’s Galatians commentary notes Paul’s not really talking about clothes.  Under God’s Law, our appearance as Christians, our face to the world, is a reflection of who we are in Christ.  How does the world see us?  If people see us using profanity or gossiping about others or getting drunk or living sinful lifestyles, what conclusions will they draw about us?  More importantly, what witness do we make to the world when they see us speaking or acting in a way that cheapens the Christian name?  Will unbelievers be drawn to Christ when they see us or will they suspect there isn’t much to admire in Christ or Christians?

            Not only are our clothes a reflection on us, but our behavior reflects on the faith we confess and the Savior we love.  Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men that they see your good deeds and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  It’s worth considering whether our words and actions glorify God or bring great joy to the devil. 

In a worldly sense, we dress for success.  Only a very foolish job applicant would fail to clean it up for a job interview.  Like it or not, every moment of our lives is a confession before God and the world about our faith in Jesus.  Each morning we choose the clothes we’ll wear into the day, when as Christians we might better ask God’s guidance to wear our faith and hope in Christ in such a way that it honors God; that our words and actions glorify Him, not bring dishonor on the God who calls us “sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

I’ve heard it said often, and now know it to be true, that parents have to watch what they say and do, because little eyes are watching and repeating and imitating.  On Father’s Day, we rejoice in Christian dads and moms, and we’re reminded how important it is that in all our words and actions our children learn to know and love Jesus, not just through the words of a Sunday school teacher, but through the living presence of a godly dad and mom in their homes, praying and doing devotions, church and Sunday school, and in all our daily choices.  This is a Christian parent’s first and highest calling to model God’s love in Christ in words and life.  You know the old admonition to parents, “More things are caught than taught.”  Put another way, “Actions speak louder than words.”  The point being:  the importance of Christ we teach with words must be supported by letting our young people see Christ in our lives.

In Romans 14, Paul says, “Let us behave decently as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.  Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”  Ephesians 4 says, “Put on the new self created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”  Both places the Greek word is the same.  As we have been clothed in Christ, so God calls us to holy lives with our family, within our church, in our work and community.  Within each of our stations in life, our true vocation is to let God’s love shine through us to a very dark world.

The problem is our words and actions leave us torn and soiled.  From the bad things we do to the good things we don’t do, at the end of the day we’re far from spotless.  Like pigs wallowing in the mud, we carry the encrusted layers of failure.  Hebrews says, “Without holiness no one will see God.”  As kids when we came home filthy, mom wouldn’t let us into the house until we hosed off outside.

God had every right to turn us away, yet, “In the fullness of time God sent forth His Son born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those under the Law that we might receive the adoption of sons.”  In Jesus, the God who embodies perfect holiness, chose to make our problem His.  Jesus spotlessly lived under God’s Law for us, never sinning in word or action.  The pure and unblemished Lamb of God, 2 Corinthians says, “Became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God.”  At the cross the only sinless God-man carried our sins and received God’s judgment in our place and He has become our “righteousness and holiness and redemption.”

Your identity in Christ is a gift to you through Spirit-given faith.  You and I haven’t lived as sons and daughters, but God chose to strip away our sin-encrusted failure, clothing us in Christ.  By God’s standard we haven’t lived up to our callings as moms and dads and church members and employees and friends and citizens, but our Heavenly Father is the perfect Father who restores His prodigal children to the family.

Baptism isn’t just another empty commitment you and I make in a life of unfulfilled commitments.  In Holy Baptism, you were clothed in your Lord and Savior.  His perfect righteousness is the holy garment that covers our failure.  In water and Word, God made a promise He intends to keep, a pledge sealed in the blood of His Son.

When God the Father by the power of the Holy Spirit clothes us in Jesus, God counts our sins as Jesus’ sins, washed away because He wore them to the cross.  Baptized into Christ, through faith, our Heavenly Father sees Jesus’ righteousness as our own.  Our eternal death and judgment already happened.  Romans 6 says, “Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ were baptized into His death?  We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father we too may live a new life.”

The world tends to place great stock in fashions that change every year.  Clothed in Christ as baptized children, God chose our outfits and tailored them perfectly for us.  While styles may change, God’s garment of forgiveness in Jesus is timeless.  Isaiah 61 says, “My soul rejoices in my God for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.”

Unless Jesus comes before that time, each of us will one day die and lay down these earthly bodies.  2 Corinthians says, “In the tent [of these bodies] we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed we will not be found naked.”  The cross-covered pall that clothes our casket will be the final reminder that these bodies clothed with Christ in Holy Baptism will one day stand up from the dust of death.  These bodies washed and set apart in Christ, fed and forgiven at His altar… these bodies will rise just as Jesus rose, body and soul reunited to claim the heavenly home God made yours when He called you sons and daughters through faith in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

And now may the peace of God which surpasses human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

The sermon text is from Luke 7:11-17…  Jesus’ heart went out to her and He said, “Don’t cry.”  Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it [...]]]>             Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.  Amen.

The sermon text is from Luke 7:11-17…  Jesus’ heart went out to her and He said, “Don’t cry.”  Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still.  He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”  The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.  They were all filled with awe and praised God.  “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said.  “God has come to help His people.”  This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

Many of you saw pictures this week of the massive sinkhole that opened up in a Guatemalan neighborhood.  The ground opened up in a huge, perfect circle, swallowing a 3 story building, leaving a massive open pit 70 feet wide and 100 feet deep.  The entire neighborhood was roped off to keep people away until they can understand how and why it happened and how best to fix it.

I couldn’t get that haunting image out of my mind as I thought about our text and Jesus’ healing of the dead boy in Nain.  Death, especially the death of a child, can leave a giant hole in the hearts of the survivors.  Like that Guatemalan sinkhole, it can seem like the earth opens beneath our feet and everything falls away, all our hopes and dreams.

The widow in our text had already lost her husband.  The death of a spouse can be devastating in our day, but back then an un-married woman with no family was in desperately bad shape.  And now we’re told her dear and only son was being carried to the cemetery for burial.  She must have felt the foundations of her life crumbling under her feet, as they carried her boy to the grave.

Approaching Nain’s town gate, we’re told Jesus’ heart went out to the widow.  The Greek word literally means His guts were twisted.  Jesus ached for the sad woman as His stomach wrenched at the sorry sight.  Friends, may we never doubt our Savior’s heart of mercy for us.  The Christ who said, “Come to Me, you weary and heavy-burdened”, isn’t distant from us in our struggles and pain.  Psalm 146 says, “The Lord watches over the sojourner; He upholds the fatherless and the widow.” 

From our perspective, Jesus’ actions are beautiful, approaching the widow with His words, “Don’t cry!”  At the time it must have seemed strange that Jesus interrupts the procession.  Jesus seems very bold, even a bit insensitive, interrupting the funeral service, reaching up to touch the coffin.  This very act of contact with the dead would make a Jew unclean according to the ceremonial laws of the Old Covenant.  Yet, death is as sleep to Jesus.  The Lawgiver asserts His supremacy over the Law, and even the natural laws of death by commanding, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 

Perhaps, the mourners remembered Elijah in our Old Testament lesson through whom God raised the widow’s son.  Not recognizing Jesus as God in the flesh, they thought a great prophet had come, saying, “A great prophet has come to be among us.  God has come to help His people.”  But here is the important difference, Elijah asked for the Lord’s help saying, “O Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!”  Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 

God creates life and only God is able to restore it.  He restored life in our text, but He doesn’t always.  Many times we’ve heard there is nothing in life worse than outliving your child.  It’s unnatural.  That’s not how things are supposed to work.  And yet the simple fact is that just as the widow in our OT lesson lost her son, just as the widow from Nain lost her son, loved ones die.  Whether they be husbands that die, like the widow, or sons or daughters, whether it be from miscarriage or crib death or even at a good, old age.  Little ones die, even a widow’s son. 

Isaiah wrote: “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.  The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them.  The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever.”  But not only death brings great gut-wrenching pain – divorce, abandonment, abuse, caring for loved ones during extended illness.  And Jesus was there to help in Nain, but where is He today?  Where are the miracles today?  One might be tempted to cry out in silent suffering, “Jesus have you forgotten me?  Where are you in my time of need?”

Always remember and take comfort that even in times of grief, God is still in His heaven, and Christ Jesus sits at God’s right hand ruling all things for the good of His dear children.  God still comes to help His people. He doesn’t promise to take all pain away, and that we will enjoy comfortable, easy lives this side of heaven.  Death wasn’t God’s idea.  It’s a result of sin.  But Jesus entered into death that we might have His promise of life.  God’s way of bestowing true and eternal life is through death, and young or old that’s never a comfortable, painless thing, but God has come to help His people. 

The hymn writer taught us to sing, “I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless; ills have no weight and tears no bitterness.  Where is death’s sting?  Where, grave, thy victory?  I triumph still if Thou abide with me.”  As we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, our Good Shepherd walks with us.  He carries you in His arms, embracing you in the gift of life that never ends through faith in His own victory.  He walks with you through the pain of broken lives and families.  He enfolds His people in His care, because like the widow of Nain, He feels that same deep, passionate concern for your worries and hurts.  You are His adopted children, engraved in the palm of His hand and carried close to His heart. 

Yours is a mighty and living Savior, who by the power of the Holy Spirit, brings from death to life and brings His people into His heavenly home.  One day, at the coming of Jesus, even these broken and lowly bodies will stand up from the dust of death and be made gloriously whole.  For those who fall asleep in Jesus, we will be bodily awakened and raised to share in the victory He secured for us by His Easter victory over the grave.  The Psalmist wrote, “My soul finds rest in God alone;  my salvation comes from Him.  He alone is my Rock and my salvation;  He is my fortress I will never be shaken.”

At a time of loss, the devil’s most sinister trick is to get believers to turn inside themselves.  The devil’s greatest ploy is to pry our weary eyes from the cross and shine them on our own troubles.  It’s not wrong to mourn loss of any kind, but as people redeemed by Christ the crucified, we have a new and living hope through Jesus’ resurrection.  Paul wrote: “Brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant, or to grieve as the rest of men who have no hope.”  To turn inside ourselves is to turn away from any real hope to escape depression and pain.  Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled; neither let it be afraid.  I am going to prepare a place for you, and I will come again to take you to be with Me.” 

Take comfort in the healing touch of Your Savior.  Jesus touched the corpse-laden coffin at the gate of Nain that day, but Jesus wasn’t defiled or unclean.  Instead, Jesus restored and brought life to that little boy.  He still touches our lives today through His soul-healing, cleansing power.  He touches our lives as He sends His Holy Spirit to work faith through His Word.  The Spirit touches our lives and washes us clean in the waters of baptism, making sinners into saints and members of His heavenly family.

Make no mistake we believe in a God who holds in His hands life and death, sickness and health, the God who still heals and cares for His people according to His unsearchable wisdom and will.  Sometimes God works through doctors and nurses.  Sometimes God touches our lives today through the hearts of those who cry along with us.  He brings comfort through the mutual sharing of burdens.  Through fellow saints who have walked the same painful road, or through those who quietly share your suffering.

This morning He touches our lives as we receive the body and blood of Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.  His body is life-giving food, and His blood is life-giving drink.  This is truly medicine to carry us through the trials of life, and one day to see us to life eternal.  These very bodies that weaken and waste away are the bodies He has claimed in Holy Baptism, the bodies into which He gives His own body and blood, cleansing our sins and pledging that our bodies too will share in the victory when our Lord returns in glory. 

God has come to help you His people.  Just as with the widow and the town of Nain, so we see the salvation of our God.   As Jesus went to the cross to give us eternal life and healing, we saw another procession of death, with another only-begotten Son Jesus, leaving another city Jerusalem, followed by another poor widow.  But in Jesus’ path to death He forged our path to life forever “kept in heaven for you who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation ready to be revealed in the Last Time.”  Though the townspeople of Nain couldn’t understand it, their words are eternally true for you… In Christ, God has come to help His people.  Amen. 

And now may the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

            Today, we remember the awesome outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  Ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit like flames of fire descended on the disciples and they preached in different [...]]]>             Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

            Today, we remember the awesome outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  Ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit like flames of fire descended on the disciples and they preached in different languages.  God the Holy Spirit used their words to bring 3000 people to the waters of Holy Baptism, trusting in Christ as their Savior.

            Sometimes the Holy Spirit gets a bad rap.  Even though the Holy Spirit is true God, equal in power and majesty with the Father and the Son, we think too little of the Holy Spirit’s grace and love that “calls us out of darkness into His marvelous light.”  Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all one God and work together in every way to bring their blessings for us, but God’s truth is without the Holy Spirit it would all be lost.  It’s definitely true that God the Father judged our sins and damned them at the cross.  It’s true that Jesus was obedient to His Father even to death for us, but none of that would help us today without the Holy Spirit.  And that’s why Pentecost is a good day!

            Consider this:  Imagine I gave you a billion dollars and put it in the bank for you.  You would think that was very nice, I’m sure.  But until you can access that, I’ve done you no good.  Until I give a check book or bank card or some way for you to get the money, you will be really bummed out.  You won’t perceive it as good at all.  You’ll be frustrated.

            Now imagine I give you a billion dollars, but instead of locking it up in the vault I bring a million dollars to you every morning and put it into your hand.  Which would you rather have?  A billion dollars locked away that you can’t touch or put right into your hand?

            This is my point, and this is why Pentecost is such an awesome day and why we praise God the Holy Spirit for His love.  When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead salvation was won for the whole world.  Praise God, “It is finished!”  He doesn’t need to die again and rise again and again to save us.  Hebrews 7 says, “He sacrificed for our sins once for all when He offered Himself.”  Done.  Finished.  Over.  Mission accomplished.  Praise God!  But… there’s one little problem!  Unless the Holy Spirit comes, what Jesus did perfectly for you and me and the world at the cross is like getting a billion dollars you can’t touch.  Jesus died on the cross outside Jerusalem but you can’t go back 2000 years and thousands of miles to get it. 

            This is the great thing about Pentecost and why today we praise God the Father, Son and THE HOLY SPIRIT.  You can’t get back to the cross.  But God the Holy Spirit brings the cross and grave to you.  Jesus won forgiveness, life and salvation and doesn’t lock it up in the tomb, the Holy Spirit brings to your forehead the treasure of God’s rich grace.  In Baptism’s water and Word, the Holy Spirit pours His extravagant love into your life.  With Christ’s Body and Blood, the Holy Spirit brings Calvary’s cross-won conquest and places it on your tongue – “This is for you! And for your sins!  You are forgiven.”  The Holy Spirit inspired the writing of God’s Holy Word and He still uses that pure Word of Life to whisper love and forgiveness into your ears – bringing Calvary’s cross and Easter’s tomb to your ears: “It is finished.”

            Jesus said, “The Holy Spirit will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment…  The Holy Spirit takes from what is mine and makes it known to you.”  Got it?  The Holy Spirit kills us.  He shows us our sin and how we deserve to die.  He makes us cry out with the Pentecost crowd:  “Brothers, what should we do?”  And then the Holy Spirit makes us paupers rich.  We’re tattered, dying bums lost in spiritual bankruptcy, and He clothes us in Jesus by bringing us to faith.  He makes us eternally rich with a treasure that’s beyond any this world offers – a heavenly mansion by grace through faith for Jesus’ sake.

Abby and Kahre, Pentecost is a good day for confirmation.  A few years ago, the Holy Spirit joined you to Jesus in your Baptism.  Today, as you confess the faith into which you were baptized, the Holy Spirit puts Christ into you – His life, His strength, His forgiveness, His body and blood.  God has His own miraculous ways to feed our faith and Christ’s body and blood you receive today is an infusion of life and power from Christ the Vine to you, the branches.

Abby’s confirmation verse says, “Fight the good fight of the faith.”  Abby and Kahre, all your lives you’ve put up with loving but pesky big brothers, and my guess is it works both ways.  Your parents probably remember endlessly pleading, “Stop fighting!”  From the earliest age, you’ve been told not to fight.  You may have been told it’s good to fight for the defenseless and those who can’t help themselves, but for the most part, you’ve been told fighting is bad.  Don’t do it.

Today, God is telling you to fight – not with Adam and Tyler, and not out of meanness – but to “fight the good fight of the faith.”  All of us suffer from the fear and anxiety of living our faith.  There are times when the world will jump up and loudly shout against God’s Word of truth.  They’ll say we must tolerate sin.  They’ll excuse it and even glamorize it with teen magazines and Hollywood movie stars and television shows that make sin look like the true path to happiness.  While God has and will bless your lives with dear friends and family, there will be lots of times when standing for what’s right and holding on to God’s Word will not make you popular.  There may even be times when it hurts your heart to know you can’t go follow the choices others are making. 

That’s why Paul says, “Fight the good fight.”  There are some fights worth having.  God’s Word is His gift to you.  When the world says, compromise it – fight the good fight.  When the world says soften it or look the other way, God says, “Fight the good fight.”  When the devil says, you’ll be happier doing it my way – fight the good fight. 

If that all sounds kind of militaristic, that’s not a bad thing.  You are Christian soldiers, called to put on the full armor of God.  But while you prepare to fight the good fight of faith, remember that Christ has already won your victory.  In Jesus, God has taken your side and declared you winners.  The Holy Spirit fights for you, bringing you strength and forgiveness from heaven   You and I are loved by God.  We don’t deserve it, but Christ brought us peace with God and made us part of His eternal family through faith.  When you receive the Lord’s Supper, Jesus brings peace to us soldiers of the cross. 

No matter what the world thinks, you need never doubt how God thinks toward you, as He gives into your lips Himself, His very body and blood for your forgiveness.  Resting in Jesus through faith, you can be confident of your heavenly home.

Some might think it’s cocky or prideful to know you’ve got a place in heaven.  Kahre’s confirmation verse reads: “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Christians are never boastful.  Because we know God’s Word, we know better than anyone else what we are, and we can say with St. Paul, “In me there is no good thing.”  We can’t boast, because God’s Word says even the best things we can do are still sinful and weak.  True Christian humility is a gift of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit lives in us and causes us to see how unworthy we are of God’s love. 

But it doesn’t end there.  When the Holy Spirit shows us how deeply we deserve God’s wrath, He leads us to understand how amazing God’s grace is – that to redeem slaves, He sent His Son.  So we have a boast after all – but not in ourselves.  We boast that our God is so perfect in power that He crushed the devil’s head for us.  We boast that Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross is the perfect, payment for our sins.  We boast that there’s nothing here on earth worth comparing to the joy that will be revealed in us.  We boast in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ through which the world has been crucified to us, and we to the world.

Like fighting, boasting is usually a bad thing.  But here again, God’s Word gives you permission to boast in Jesus – your Big Brother in human flesh and true God from eternity.  That’s worth fighting for, and it’s worth boasting about.  May God the Holy Spirit who has called you to this heavenly hope, strengthen and preserve you in His truth until we and all His Church go home.  Amen.

And now may the peace of God which surpasses human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

The sermon text for this morning is from the 10th chapter of John:  Jesus answered, “ I did tell you, but you do not believe.  The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  My [...]]]> Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!        

The sermon text for this morning is from the 10^th chapter of John:  Jesus answered, “ I did tell you, but you do not believe.  The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  My sheep listen to my voice;  I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;  no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all;  no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  I and the Father are One.”

When Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd, He’s telling the people He’s the Lord.  Everyone knew the 23^rd Psalm:  “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”  He’s also telling them that Jesus comes to lead His people to good food and green pastures, and that as God’s sheep we can trust His voice and follow Him.  Our Good Shepherd Christ Jesus isn’t a hired hand, He owns the flock.  He created us.  He won’t run away when His sheep are in danger.

The world is full of false shepherds.  Jesus warned, “Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in my name, claiming, I am the Christ, and will deceive many.”  The Good Shepherd calls out to lead us through trial and trouble, but it’s important that sheep don’t thoughtlessly follow any “Johnny-come-lately.”

In an age of Biblical illiteracy, God calls His sheep to be childlike in our trust of Jesus our Shepherd, but never to be content with a childish faith – but to crave a deep, intimate knowledge of God’s will as He feeds us on His pure Word of Truth.  Jesus said:  “My sheep hear my voice and follow Me.” 

But let’s be honest, too often we’ve been lazy to listen.  As God’s people, the sheep of His pasture, we need to learn again to love the voice of the Good Shepherd.  Our children and grandchildren need to hear words of life from the Good Shepherd in Sunday school and midweek, so that they learn to recognize the Shepherd’s voice.  Our adults need to make a priority of Bible class where we share God’s Word together.  Devotional reading of God’s Word in the home needs to drown out television. 

God’s Word speaks clearly and guides us into His truth.  He warns us away from  sin – away from embracing lifestyles that destroy our faith.  And, contrary to popular opinion, God’s Word hasn’t changed.  It shows us where a truly blessed life can be found and warns us not to forage in the worthless weeds when God wants to feed us on the pure pastures of His Word.  Colossians 3 says, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.” 

Starving oneself from God’s Word, makes us easy prey, unable to recognize the wolves who prey on the vulnerable.  Peter wrote, “The devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and they know Me.”  Whose voice are you hearing? 

In a world that long ago gave up on the idea that there is a truth – and you can know it with certainty – the Good Shepherd says, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”  How eternally sad will be the end for those little lambs who don’t take seriously God’s call to hear His voice – who refuse to plug their ears when the devil whispers his lies.  The false shepherds of this world seem inviting, but in reality the devil’s putrid pastures are spiritual poison and lead only to hell. 

Baptized into the flock of our Lord, we hear the Good Shepherd’s voice of grace.  Through His precious call, our Good Shepherd establishes a relationship with His sheep that He always remembers.  While we wander, the Good Shepherd searches us out and finds us, lifts us to His shoulders and restores us to His flock. 

In this Easter season, we remember our Good Shepherd saved us, becoming a Lamb, without fault or blemish, and as the Lamb of God, Jesus offered Himself up to take away the sins of the world.  Our heavenly Father sent His Son to die that He might restore us to life through Jesus’ resurrection from the grave.  The Shepherd died for His sheep, so that God’s precious lambs would have life through His resurrection. 

At Easter’s empty tomb, the sheep hear the angel’s word of life “Christ is not dead. He has risen, just as He said!”  Our Shepherd conquered death and the devil on our behalf, and, through faith, creates an eternal flock.  Daily God uses His Word to feed us and strengthen us, as He creates and strengthens us to know our Shepherd, His Word and His will.  Strong faith comes from knowing a strong Shepherd.  Romans 10 says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ.”

Much trouble and sadness, and even eternal death, comes when we ignore God’s voice.  Amazingly, we can even crowd out God’s voice with worldly choices and priorities, even believing these dying things are more important than the Good Shepherd.  But all worldly things will one day die away.  Only one thing has eternal value for us and our loved ones.  Peter wrote:  “All men are like grass, and all their glory as the flowers of the field.  The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.”

While the Good Shepherd never promises the road we travel will be an easy one, He does promise to be with us.  He promises to strengthen us for the journey by the indwelling of His Holy Spirit.  He promises to be “with us always to the very end of the age.”  Life’s road is often rocky, with snares and pitfalls, but Christ the Shepherd won’t stumble.  His Word is sure, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me;  Thy rod and they staff they comfort me.”

Late one night, a little girl was awakened by a thunderstorm.  She went flying into her parent’s bedroom, “Mommy, I’m scared.”  The mother, half-awake and half-unconscious, replied, “Go back to your room.  God will be there with you.”  The small girl stood in the unlit doorway for a moment and then said softly, “Mommy, I’ll sleep here by Daddy and you go in there and sleep by God.”

In the rocky, difficult times of life it isn’t always easy to feel the presence of our Good Shepherd, but Isaiah 43 tells us, “I have called you by name;  you are Mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;  and when you pass through the rivers;  they will not sweep over you.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

Jesus went on to tell the Jews, “My sheep hear my voice and follow me, and no one can snatch them from my hand.”  The Good Shepherd Jesus is true God and true man.  He is stronger than the devil, this sinful world, and our sinful flesh, and “we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”  That’s a promise you can bank on – a promise guaranteed when He rose from the grave.

I made what I thought was an unbelievable discovery this week.  Did you know unshorn sheep can carry more than 40 pounds of wool?  They don’t like it.  It doesn’t make their lives easier for sure.  Sometimes that’s how our lives can become.  We carry around so much added weight.  Life apart from God and His Word can become a tangled mess of unbearable burdens as we stumble and crash into the wasted ways of the world. 

The Good Shepherd searched for you and me.  He died and rose again to make us His sheep, and searches us out, as the Holy Spirit calls through God’s Word.  He lifts us to His shoulders and restores us to His flock.  With His words of forgiveness spoken in His stead and by His command, Christ shears away the heavy load of sin.  Isaiah 1 says that Jesus died to make our tangled, sin-splattered coats whiter than snow.  With His very body and blood at His altar, the Good Shepherd brings us to green pastures and quiet waters, “preparing a table before us in the presence of our enemies.”  Because Christ rose from the dead, the words of the Good Shepherd Psalm are eternally true for those who know the Shepherd through faith:  “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  Amen.

And now may the peace of God which surpasses human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

            The sermon text is from John 16:12-22.  Jesus said, “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”

            The Holy Spirit inspired King Solomon to pen these words:  “To everything there is [...]]]> Christ has risen!  He has risen, indeed.  Alleluia!

            The sermon text is from John 16:12-22.  Jesus said, “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”

            The Holy Spirit inspired King Solomon to pen these words:  “To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven… a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.”  Something about that has never seemed quite right.  At least for us who are in Christ, we think joy should fill all our waking moments.  How could we be anything less than giddy when we consider our future?  In the glow of Easter’s resurrection reality, shouldn’t life’s load be lighter than air?

            In our text, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would soon come upon the disciples and guide them into all truth.  He warned them their hearts and hopes would shatter when they saw the Lord of Life dying on the cross.  While the world celebrated Jesus’ death, the disciples grieved.  And though the disciples couldn’t yet understand, Jesus was telling them that after their heart-rending grief they would rejoice to see the Living Savior – and that joy no one could take away.

            “So many churches, so many pastors and Christians have so little joy today.”[1]  Who could deny these are challenging times – even for Christians, or, given our corrupt world, especially for Christians!  So many families are struggling to make ends meet; struggling without jobs or hope to find a job; struggling to love and support their spouse; struggling to raise Godly children or care for aging parents; struggling to rise from the ashes of despair when illness or death incinerates hopes and dreams for the future; struggling to breathe while running from one obligation to the next; struggling to find room in over-crowded lives for the Christ who alone brings true joy.

            Of all people our lives should be filled with joy.  “Rejoice in the Lord always,” Philippians 4 says.  Psalm 100 says, “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.”  Rather than scowls and frowns etched into the lines of our face, our Introit Psalm says, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth; Break forth into joyous song and sing praises!” 

Yet, we have the sense that joy, being a fruit of the Holy Spirit, shouldn’t be so much work.  It’s probably true that some of the most depressing sermons ever preached nagged people about being joyful, as though reminding someone of what they aren’t enables them to produce what they can’t.  Among the works of the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5 counts love, joy and peace.  If joy – I mean real joy – were so normal we wouldn’t have to pray our Collect, “O God, Grant that our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found.”  If joy were something that the Law could beat into us, we wouldn’t have to ask God, “Create in me a clean heart… Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation.”

            I think unbelievers have the stereotype of Christians as joy-less people – and if we portray that it’s to our shame.  They think we’re old, “sticks-in-the-mud” who can’t have any fun.  The world clamors and craves and scrounges for a joy that has no future but eternal death and hell.  And because they have no hope for life beyond this world, I think unbelievers even more ambitiously crave joy among the things of this world.

Now, it’s true that unbelievers find joy in many of the same things we Christians enjoy – though they don’t realize or believe they are gifts from God.  Things like family, work, hobbies, entertainments are good gifts from God.  Like sunshine and rain that fall on believer and unbeliever alike, the gifts we enjoy here on earth are God’s witness to His care.  True joy traces those gifts back to their source.  True joy knows “every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.”    

God creates us to find perfect joy in Himself.  But the corrupted human heart is like a junkie looking for the next fix.  When our friendships or marriages and families or work, or life in general becomes joy-less, it can’t be healed by replacing a spouse or buying a car or boat or taking a long vacation.  No spending spree can purchase true joy or bring it back when it’s gone.  If our life is joy-less – and let’s be honest sometimes it is – it does no good to treat symptoms.  By that I mean, joy-less lives can’t be healed by piling on extra things, jobs, games, or persons.  The problem lies deeper.

The sinful human heart is like that ruptured oil well in the Gulf of Mexico leaking its toxic death into our lives.  Burning off oil or trying to scoop it up doesn’t get at the real problem.  Joylessness has a root cause, and that cause is our sin-corrupted heart.  Jesus said, “Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality.”  Our corrupted sinful nature is a deep well of death that must be capped.

Notice in our Gospel lesson, grief crushed the disciples at Jesus’ death.  Their hearts were gushing fear and hopelessness, but Jesus didn’t wait for them to pull themselves together and man up.  He didn’t wait for them to collect themselves and then reward their newfound joy with some Easter Good News.  For the disciples to be dragged, gloom-dripping from the oil-slick of sadness and self-pity, God acted for us.

Remember when Jesus was born, the Christmas angels thrilled Bethlehem’s shepherds, “Rejoice!  I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be for all people.  Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.”  Jesus is joy in the flesh.  He came as true God in human flesh to bring real, lasting joy to our dying world.  Jesus entire life and ministry was about joy.  He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me.  He has anointed Me to preach Good News to the poor; to preach freedom for prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

When Jesus rose from the dead, the angels of God rejoiced with great joy.  Our Living Lord broke the iron grip of sin, death and the devil.  God has redeemed you and me and all creation from hopelessness and joylessness and opened the floodgates of lasting, joy in the nail-pierced hands of our Savior.  But God doesn’t stop there.  Our Risen Jesus the Good Shepherd searched mountain and valley to find us lost sheep, lifts us to His shoulders and carries us home.  Jesus rejoices over you: “Rejoice with Me!  I have found my lost sheep.” 

The truth is Jesus told a parable about us – We squandered our Father’s inheritance in sinful misery, but God the Father watches and waits for His prodigal sons and daughters.  Our Father comes joyfully jumping, embracing us with His Word of forgiveness.  He clothes us in the Baptismal robes of Jesus’ righteousness.  He invites us to the Altar of the Lord’s Supper and the feast of forgiveness in Jesus’ body and blood – for PRAISE GOD – once we were lost but now we are found.  The Bible is filled with God finding joy in us, even angels rejoicing in heaven that we sinners have been washed clean in the precious blood of Jesus the Lamb of God.

Easter changed it all.  God the Father rejoices that Jesus is bringing us home.  He celebrates Jesus’ victory for us.  Even now He’s preparing a wedding feast of joy in heaven for all who know Jesus through faith.  (And we rejoice, that one day by God’s grace we’ll take our seat at that wedding feast with fellow believers like Wendy who will soon be a world away.)

As we rejoice that God finds joy in us and sent Jesus to give us eternal joy in heaven, it’s important that we keep perspective.  All of God’s good gifts are for your joy in His love, and with the Psalmist, we “give thanks unto the Lord, His mercy endures forever.”  We rejoice in life’s good gifts, but we’re just traveling through this world it’s not our true home. 

Earlier we prayed, “Grant, O God, that we fix our hearts where true joys are found.”  Many times our lives are blissfully happy, blessed beyond our dreams.  But many times our lives are difficult and trying, and here God is also blessing us as He bends our hearts and hopes toward heaven.  Just after our text Jesus said, “I have told you these things that in Me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart I have overcome the world.”

Life can be a slog sometimes.  Joy that’s rooted in an experience is fleeting.  Your team wins a game.  Your child is born.  You get a raise.  All those feelings can dissipate, especially when your team loses, your kid is a brat, you lose a job.  Our joy is rooted in a promise – Jesus died and rose from the dead for you for the forgiveness of sins.  In water that promise was put on your head.  In His body and blood, that promise is given into your lips.  That kind of joy can exist even when we feel deep sorrow, because we know we have a heavenly home waiting.  That heavenly joy our Epistle talks about is Jesus’ gift and no one can take it away.  Revelation 21:  “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them.  They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  Amen.

Christ has risen!  He has risen, indeed.  Alleluia!  And now may the peace of God which surpasses human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

            The sermon text is from John 21:1-14.

            You’ve probably heard the old story about Joe and Larry who were out on the lake early one morning.  The fish were hitting so well they fished till late morning when a hearse led a funeral procession over the [...]]]> Christ has risen!  He has risen, indeed.  Alleluia!

            The sermon text is from John 21:1-14.

            You’ve probably heard the old story about Joe and Larry who were out on the lake early one morning.  The fish were hitting so well they fished till late morning when a hearse led a funeral procession over the bridge near where they were fishing.  As the procession slowly passed Joe stood up in the boat and reverently cupped his ball cap over his heart until the entire line was gone.  When he sat back down, Larry said, “Joe that was very touching.  I’m impressed.  I never knew you had that in you.”  While re-baiting his hook Joe answered, “It’s the least I could do.  She was a good wife to me for the last 30 years.”

In our text for today, seven of Jesus’ disciples were out fishing on the Sea of Galilee when they saw Jesus standing on the shore, but no one recognized Jesus.  They didn’t stand up in the boat and sing the “Hallelujah Chorus.”  They didn’t cup their hands over their hearts or fall to their knees.  They just kept fishing away.        

Now remember these 7 disciples were probably all professional fisherman before Jesus made them “fishers of men.”  But as they eased their boat to within 100 yards of the shore, Jesus calls out to them in a way that shows He’s taking authority over them.  In the original text, Jesus says, “Children, you haven’t caught any fish?”  When they answered, “No,” Jesus said, “Throw your net on the other side of the boat.”  I guess at that point they were willing to try anything, because our text tells us when they did the catch was so large they could hardly bring it in.

Then St. John, the author of our Gospel, was the first to figure it out.  He turned to Peter in the boat and blurted out, “It is the Lord.”  Peter was the fiery, impetuous disciple.  When he heard John’s words, John wrote: “As soon as Peter heard him say, ‘It is the Lord,’ he wrapped his outer garment around himself and jumped into the water.”  So while the other disciples struggled to stay afloat and save their catch and tow it to the shore, Peter went swimming for Jesus.  When Peter got to shore, he saw Jesus had already started breakfast, cooking fish and bread over burning coals.  You see, the disciples needed to catch fish, but the Son of God, who earlier in His ministry had turned 5 loaves and two fish into a feast for 5000, didn’t have to go fishing to provide breakfast. 

Jesus called them to bring some of their catch to add to His breakfast.  So again, rambunctious Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore.  Now, Peter may have been incredibly strong or given super-human strength, because this catch could have weighed more than 1000 pounds.  Now, here’s where you get one of those neat – aha moments.  Remember St. John was a professional fisherman, so these are the kinds of details you’d expect him to include:  “[The net] was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.”  Doesn’t that sound like a fisherman?  He notes the fish were large.  He notes the exact number, 153.  And, he notes that contrary to what one would expect with such a catch – the net wasn’t torn.

Finally, when everyone’s on shore, Jesus says, “Come and have breakfast.”  And once again, Jesus serves each of them, taking the bread and giving it to them and doing the same with the fish.  The text of this miraculous catch of fish ends by reminding us of the greatest miracle of all: “This was now the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.”

            This is a precious text, whether your vocation is fishing or farming or business or parenting or being a student…  All the blessings and gifts we enjoy in life from the fruit of our labors are really gifts from God.  God doesn’t only take care of our eternal, spiritual needs.  He blesses our earthly lives.  Psalm 145 says, “The eyes of all look you to You, O Lord, and you give them their food at the proper time;  You open your hands and satisfy the desires of every living thing.”  How blessed we are that God gives “every good and perfect gift”, and how wise we are to recognize in everything we do – whether student or farmer or parent or fisher – God is the source of all good.  “Dear God, thank You for Your gifts and as we serve You give us all that You know we need!”

            I think we can also officially declare this to be the first Easter breakfast, except this time the meal isn’t served by the youth group or church council or ladies aid.  Just as Jesus served the disciples, washing their feet on Maundy Thursday, He again serves His disciples, His children, with a miraculous meal.  What a great reminder of God’s gracious ways, the King of Kings came “not to be served but to serve.”  And that’s still God’s gracious with us today.

You and I are blessed beyond words to be served by our gracious God as He invites you His children to His altar to receive the even more miraculous gift of Christ’s very body and blood!  Receiving our Risen Lord Jesus, trusting in His Easter victory for us and for our salvation, we are fed and forgiven with the heavenly food that sustains us in this life and beyond.  Receiving Jesus’ true body and blood, the Living Lord who serves us out of pure grace strengthens us to serve Him.

            Lives of service to God can be a lot like our text.  Fishing on their own the disciples were skunked.  You and I have all had the experience of dismal failure in our Christian lives; times when our words and thoughts and actions brought shame to our Savior.  We’ve gone through long nights when it seems like we’re wasting our time; dark nights of depression and sadness.  We’ve all spent countless moments of our lives living for ourselves – out on our own – doing our own thing with little concern for the Living Christ who leads and guides our lives.  Like the disciples, too much of our lives is wasted without that relationship with God guiding our thoughts, words and actions.

            This is Easter’s joy and hope for us as we follow Jesus to our heavenly homeland.  The God who created you in His image, who serves you with the gifts of His creation and takes care of each day’s daily bread, is the God took the form of a servant.  Jesus was true God and true man, serving us by walking perfectly in our shoes, dying and rising from the dead.  Even as Christ the King calls us into His service to do His will and work, He still serves and strengthens and forgives us, sending His Holy Spirit to baptize us into His family.  He serves us at His Table the Easter breakfast that sustains us eternally – His flesh and blood given for you.

            May God bless your service as He calls us to let down the nets of His love in this world, telling and sharing our Risen Jesus.  May God bless you as the Holy Spirit uses your words and witness to gather into His nets a world of lost sinners.  May God bless you as He serves you – purely out of His undeserved love – with strong, heavenly food.  Christ has risen!  He has risen, indeed.  Alleluia!

            And now may the peace of God which surpasses human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

            The sermon text for this Easter Sunday is from Luke 24:1-12 previously read.

            We all remember the January 12 earthquake in Haiti that killed an estimated 230,000 people.  One of those assumed dead was a 28 year old, rice vendor named Evan Muncie.  His family gave up [...]]]> Christ has risen!  He has risen, indeed.  Alleluia!

            The sermon text for this Easter Sunday is from Luke 24:1-12 previously read.

            We all remember the January 12 earthquake in Haiti that killed an estimated 230,000 people.  One of those assumed dead was a 28 year old, rice vendor named Evan Muncie.  His family gave up all hope when on January 23 the Haitian authorities declared an end to search and rescue efforts.  Evan was among many for whom funerals were held.

            February 9, 27 days after the quake, delirious and malnourished, Evan was discovered in the ruins of a collapsed marketplace.  Doctors suggested he must have had access to water but may not have had food.  His mom, through an interpreter, said, “I thought he was dead, but God kept him from dying.”  Evan reportedly told doctors that someone in a white coat brought him water while he was pinned down.  An angel, perhaps?  Only God knows.  What we do know is – Evan was the last survivor.

            Jesus didn’t survive the cross.  Jesus on at least 3 occasions told His followers He would die and rise from the dead, yet none of the women on Easter morning expected to find Jesus alive.  That grief-stricken procession to Jesus’ tomb carried spices to finish the burial so hastily-completed in the Good Friday twilight.  Some of those women had stood beneath the cross and heard the Lord of Life cry out: “It is finished.”  They heard Christ commit His spirit into the hands of God the Father.  They saw the rush of blood and water when the soldier beneath the cross shoved his spear into Jesus’ side, confirming Christ the Savior was dead.  Their only thought as they traveled to the tomb: “Who will roll the stone away for us?”

            God be praised!  What they found at the tomb was not what they expected.  The massive stone had been rolled away.  Two angels had the privilege of preaching the Easter Gospel to the startled women: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; He has risen!  Remember how He told you… the Son of Man must be… crucified and on the third day be raised again.”

            Our sermon theme is “The Vindicating Word.”  A vindicating word is a word that proves something is true.  Jesus predicted His death and resurrection before it happened, but that wouldn’t mean much if Easter morning the ladies found Jesus’ dead body.  St. Paul in our Epistle (15:17f) wrote: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”

            It’s a sad reality that some who claim to be Christians reject the truth of Jesus’ bodily resurrection from the dead.  They suggest the ultimate power of the Christian hope is in living Jesus’ message of love for your neighbor.  For them, whether the grave was empty or occupied isn’t the point, but imitating Christ in a life of good works. 

It may be that even among us there are some for whom the Christian faith is nothing more than a code of ethical ideals, a set of laws that we follow, and if we’re good enough, good will come our way.  Even some who intellectually accept the reality of Easter’s resurrection live their daily lives as though the Christian faith is something that makes me feel good – a good luck charm of sorts – and not a daily relationship with a living Lord and Savior.  But St. Paul wrote: “If Christ has not been raised our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain.”

            If your life has become something of a dreary procession through each day’s tedious tasks… If your hope is rooted and grounded in this world and its empty accomplishments… If your relationship with Christ is little more than something you learned that never made the journey from your head to your heart… Then, today, in the message of the angels “Christ has risen!” rejoice that God has vindicated the words of Jesus by raising Him bodily from the dead.

            Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.  No one takes My life from Me, I lay it down of My own accord.  I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly.”

            The rich and abundant life Jesus promised was vindicated when He burst the bondage of death and rose triumphantly from the grave.  Christ Jesus struck the mortal blow to defeat the devil, emptying death and the grave of its power over God’s blood-bought children.  We who are baptized into Christ through faith have a joyous certainty about our future.  No child of God needs to live in misery and fear as though the grave is the end.  The Living Christ promised, “I am the resurrection and the life; He who believes in Me will live even though He dies, and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”  

Jesus came as true God in human flesh to offer His life as the final and perfect sacrifice for all sin and every sinner.  Nothing remains undone.  It is finished.  2 Corinthians says, “In Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting our sins against us… God made [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us that in [Christ] we might become the righteousness of God.”

When God the Spirit raised Jesus from the dead on Easter morning, God the Father vindicated Jesus’ work.  Jesus’ resurrection was God the Father’s stamp of approval.  Job well done!  All that Jesus came to do He did perfectly.  God the Father accepts Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf.  At the cross, God regarded our sins as though they were Jesus’ sins, and through faith God regards Christ’s righteousness as our own.  Romans 4 says, “Righteousness will be counted to us who believe in Him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” 

God vindicated Jesus’ work when in the darkness of Calvary a huge earthquake shook Jerusalem and the temple curtain was in two.  For centuries only the High Priest entered behind that temple curtain to sacrifice for the sins of God’s people.  When God tore that curtain, He vindicated the truth that in Jesus the final and perfect sacrifice for sins has been made.  Easter’s resurrection is God’s vindication of Jesus’ promise: “Because I live, you will live also.” 

Beloved in our Risen Christ!  May this word of vindication from your Gracious God fill your hearts with a special joy that follows you each day until you breathe your last and go to the heavenly home God has prepared for you.

            Last week I got this report: Through our Lutheran Church Missions Board we support Vicar Gui Kasongo Kabeo, a French speaking African immigrant from the Democratic Republic of Congo.  He described what this joy in Christ looked like for his congregation.  “When I was in Africa, I had friends who called themselves evangelical Christians who literally starved themselves to death by fasting, attempting to please God.”  When Vicar Kabeo learned the free gift of grace from Jesus our Savior, he described one Sunday preaching to his congregation of immigrants in Wisconsin:  “When I finally understood justification by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone fully enough to preach it clearly, my entire congregation stood up and sang and danced for one hour in thanksgiving to God.  It went on so long I called my mentor pastor and held the cell phone up so he could hear the rejoicing.”

            May God grant us that joy in Jesus!  His work of dying for our sins has been vindicated.  Our debt is paid.  “There is no longer any condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  We may not be dialing our cell phones, but what a joy for us to share with the world this Good News!  Christ has risen!  He has risen, indeed.  Alleluia!

            And now may the peace of God which surpasses human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.