The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

July 5th

Collect of the Day:

Gracious God, our heavenly Father, Your mercy attends us all our days.  Be our strength and support amid the wearisome changes of this world, and at life’s end grant us Your promised rest and the full joys of Your salvation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Theme for the Week          Supporting Others Faith

Verse of the Week:            2 Timothy 1:5

Daily Bible Reading List:

Mon: 2 Timothy 1:1-18        Tues: John 12:1-11 Wed: Exodus 2:1-10

Thurs:            Romans 8:18-30     Fri: Exodus 23:14-19

Catechism Reading:

What is the benefit of this eating and drinking?

 These words,

"Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,"

shows us that in the Sacrament

forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation

are given us through these words.

For where there is forgiveness of sins,

there is also life and salvation.

How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?

Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things,

but the words written here:

"Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins."

These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking,

are the main thing in the Sacrament.

Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say:

"forgiveness of sins."

Who receives this sacrament worthily?

 Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training.

But that person is truly worthy and well prepared

who has faith in these words:

"Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins."

But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them

is unworthy and unprepared,

for the words "for you" require all hearts to believe.

Sunday of Confession (Sermon)

Set Apart in Truth

John 17:12-19

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our text for this morning comes from the Gospel lesson. Jesus is in the middle of his high priestly prayer, which is basically John 17. Here he talks about his disciples’ relationship with the World. Jesus has protected and taken care of them, but now he is going to die and wants to make sure they are not abandoned.

Jesus, therefore, builds on the way God has dealt with his people since the creation. Adam and Eve are made clearly different and distinct from all the other animals, or even creatures in creation. Likewise, God called Abraham to leave his family and set him apart from the people he lived with as he sojourned in a foreign land. Joseph in the land of Egypt lived a separate and distinct life. Jacob and his family were given the land of Goshen to remain separate from the Egyptians.

Even after the Israelites left Egypt many of the laws they were given, now referred to as ceremonial laws were all designed to remind the people to remain separate and distinct from the other nations. Many Christians today forget how the most common heresy in the Old Testament was Syncretism, or trying to harmonize the LORD God with other gods and other faiths. But even Jesus in his High Priestly Prayer is praying for his disciples to remain distinct and separate from the world in which they have to live.

Thus, we will look further at what it means to be “sanctified in the Truth.” Most of us would key in with Pilate and ask, “What is Truth [or the truth]?” But we already know that answer. Jesus is the Truth. The truth is the Word of God made flesh to die for the forgiveness of sins. This word can not be broken nor does God let it see corruption.

So the real question is not about what is truth, but what does it mean to be sanctified. And here the ESV actually helps us with a footnote. The footnote says: “Greek set them apart (for holy service to God).” So Jesus is not praying for the disciples to be holy in the sense of perfect or even justified. This is not saying that they should receive forgiveness, redemption, or justification in the truth or by means of the Word made flesh.

But Jesus is asking for them to be set apart from the rest of creation or the fallen world. He is praying for the Father to keep them separate and distinct from modern thought or cultural influences. He is likewise praying that as they live in the world, they would be set aside or consecrated for a particular task.

St Peter will talk about a holy nation and a royal priesthood. He says this as a precursor to them living as exiles and sojourners to abstain from passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. St Peter is calling us to live moral and honorable lives. Jesus is praying for his people to remain separate and distinct by what they say, do, and believe.

Jesus prays, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world,” (which we may think of as death,) “but that you keep them from the evil one” (or ruler of this world). Therefore, they should be separate from the rest of fallen creation, not of the world, just as Jesus himself is not of the world. St Paul talks about those of the man of dust and those belonging to the man of Heaven. Then Jesus asks the Father to set them apart in the truth identifying the truth of the Word of God.

Now with the assurance that whatever he asks his Father in Heaven he will receive it, Jesus continues, “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” Jesus was sent into the world not to join the world, but to remain separate. He was sent not to become one with the world, but to help the world become one body with him. Jesus was sent to save the world. He was consecrated for the purpose of dying on the cross for your forgiveness.

Here the ESV gives us another footnote: “Or I sanctify myself; or I set myself apart (for holy service to God).” Just as Jesus set himself apart to save sinners, God has set you apart to save sinners. Just as Christ set himself apart to live a perfect or good life among the world, God has set you apart to live a moral life in the world.

Today, is not about me describing the perfect life you ought to live. Today rather is about reminding you that you are not to be like everyone else. You are not supposed to look and act like everyone else. Just because the majority says something is okay or right does not mean you get to accept it. You have been called by God to be set apart. You may not be a perfect person or the best example of Holy living, but you are still called to be set apart.

Abraham is a great example to us with respect to faith, but might not be the best example when it comes to lying, adultery, and stealing. King David likewise gives us a good picture of faith and being separate, but not so much of Holy living.

Thursday, June 25th was the 485th Anniversary of the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession. The Princes of Germany bowed their necks to Emperor Charles V as they gave their confession of Faith. The Augsburg Confession separated the Lutherans from the Romans and likewise still today separates Lutheranism from the rest of the world. But all of these princes also confessed that they were sinful human beings.

Our confession of faith helps to keep us sanctified in the Truth. But it does not prevent us from evil living or false deeds. Thankfully, Jesus set himself apart for that task. He went to the cross to die for the forgiveness of our sins. He rescues us from the World and points us to a renewed creation yet to come. In Christ you are a separate and distinct people belonging to God. God has sanctified you in the truth, and is preparing you for the age to come in Jesus Christ. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

The Sunday of Confession

June 28^th

Collect of the Day:

Almighty and merciful God, defend Your Church from all false teaching and error that Your faithful people may confess You to be the only true God and rejoice in Your good gifts of life and salvation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Theme for the Week          Fight for Doctrine

Verse of the Week:            1 Timothy 6:12

Daily Bible Reading List:

Mon: 1 Timothy 6:3-21        Tues: Numbers 22:21-41  Wed: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Thurs:            John 17:12-19          Fri: Proverbs 15:15-29

Catechism Reading:

The Second Article: Redemption

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven

and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty.

From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

What does this mean?

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God,

begotten of the Father from eternity,

and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary,

is my Lord.

Who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person,

purchased and won me from all sins,

from death, and from the power of the devil;

not with gold or silver,

but with His holy, precious blood

and with His innocent suffering and death,

that I may be His own

and live under Him in His kingdom

and serve Him

in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness,

just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity.

This is most certainly true.

The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

June 21^st

Collect of the Day:

O Lord, keep Your household, the Church, in continual godliness that through your protection she may be free from all adversities and devoutly given to serve You in good works; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Theme for the Week          Without Prejudice

Verse of the Week:            1 Timothy 5:21

Daily Bible Reading List:

Mon: 1 Timothy 5:17-25      Tues: Deuteronomy 19:15-21       Wed: Habakkuk 1:1-2:5

Thurs:            1 Timothy 5:1-16      Fri: John 7:53-8:11

Catechism Reading:

The Sixth Commandment

You shall not commit adultery.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God

so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life

in what we say and do,

and husband and wife love and honor each other.

The Seventh Commandment

You shall not steal.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God

so that we do not take our neighbor's money or possessions,

or get them in any dishonest way,

but help him to improve and protect his possessions and income.

The Eighth Commandment

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God

that we may not deceitfully belie,

betray, slander, or defame our neighbor,

but defend him, [think and] speak well of him,

and put the best construction on everything.

The Third Sunday after Pentecost (sermon)

What Stops Us

John 14:15-21

Grace to you and Peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our text for this morning comes once again from the Gospel lesson, John writes, "many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue." Jesus tells us there are many people who believed in the Light. They even believed Jesus was the light, but remained away for fear of losing their position, family, or community.

So let us change our place in the world. Let me put you in a strange situation, but a situation Christians around the world are facing everyday. Maybe even some of you are facing these very questions. What would keep you from confessing the faith? Or just a little differently, What could someone do or say to you to stop you from believing in Jesus?

Most of us in the comfort of our home congregation, surrounded by friends and family would jump up and immediately shout nothing. We would stand up with Peter at the Last Supper and say we will never fall away.

What if you moved away from the support of your family? What if you moved into a community that did not have a Lutheran Church? What if you had to live in a place were being a Christian was against the law, or would put you out of the community? The disciples of Jesus were Jews. They were very much a part of the community. All their friends and family members were Jews. They shared their faith, worldview, and practices in common with the majority of people around them.

They found themselves after a very short time in the minority. They listened to the words of Jesus Christ. They came to believe what he said and taught to be true. They even watched as he was put to death, even as he for told. Beyond that they saw him in the flesh after he rose from the dead. They knew for certain, beyond a doubt. Thomas even received his special appearance, after he would not believe.

They became the minority almost over night. They found themselves under direct persecution by the Sadducees and the Pharisees. Friends and Family would have rejected them. So put yourselves in those shoes. Do you not confess something for fear of what other people might think? Do you reject something to be true simply because it is not what you were told as a child? I can point out to you how scripture tells us Noah gathered two of every kind of animal. I can point out to you that Jonah was swallowed by a large fish not a whale. I can even show you how God requests things of his people that does not sound good, right, and salutary to our ears.

Were you told lies when you were a child? Are you still telling your children those same lies? Or maybe the World around us has been lying to us. Maybe the World is telling our children lies. Did you know that Pluto is no longer considered a planet?

What could someone do or say to you to stop you from believing in Jesus? What could you discover that once known you would automatically stop believing? Or closer to our text, what could happen in the world for you to deny Jesus like Peter on Good Friday, or simply the authorities in fear of being put out of the synagogue?

I don't know about you. You might have to come up with something for yourself. But the one thing that strikes me more than the rest is the wages of sin is death. I know that I am sinner. I know that I have not lived a good life. I know that I deserve to be cast into Hell and burn for eternity. But I also know that Christ has died for my sins. He has taken my sins away. But the wages of sin is death.

Therefore, if you killed me and I didn't die, I think that might make me think twice about what I believe. Granted I even know that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. So I know that even if I die, I will be raised from death on the last day. And on that last day, I will see my Redeemer in the flesh. But I know the power of God and the Peace of God and the mercy of God are all beyond my comprehension. And while I may say there are many things you can not believe along side of God.

For me the greatest thing is you can not look at your own life and say you have led a holy life. How can you look at the commandments of God, and think for one second that you do not deserve death. I may even think there are times when I have followed the commandments, which simply means I am lying to myself. But to think I have not done anything in my entire life worthy of death?

I know that I am a sinner. I know that all of you are sinners. And if God chooses to raise one of you from the dead, before the resurrection, Great! Even if God chooses to raise me from the dead before the last day, I will accept it. But to destroy death and the power of death is our last enemy to put under his feet.

I have told you my answer. If you want to test it, you will have to kill me, so please don't. But I urge you to think very much this week, about what God has done for you. Think about what Jesus Christ said and did for you. Even remember those around the world who are parted from support structures and friends, to strengthen their faith. Lastly, think about why you might not speak about Jesus in your community.

Do you bow to pressures of the world around you? Are you willing to speak out about politics, child rearing, and other social issues? Are you likewise willing to speak even bolder about Jesus Christ, both what he expects of us and what he has done for us?

You have sinned and the wages of sin is death. Christ died for you, so that you will not die eternally. Christ is risen for you as the first fruits of our resurrection.

The Peace of God that surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

The Third Sunday after Pentecost

June 14^th

Collect of the Day:

O God, our refuge and strength, the author of all godliness, by Your grace hear the prayers of Your Church.  Grant that those things which we ask in faith we may receive through your bountiful mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Theme for the Week          Faithful to the Faith

Verse of the Week:            1 Timothy 4:6

Daily Bible Reading List:

Mon: 1 Timothy 4:1-16        Tues: Romans 10:5-21      Wed: Genesis 1:3-9, 31

Thurs:            John 14:15-21          Fri: Isaiah 10:20-34

Catechism Reading:

The First Commandment

You shall have no other gods.

What does this mean?

We should fear, love and trust in God above all things.

The Second Commandment

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God

so that we do not curse, swear, use satanic arts,

lie, or deceive by His name,

but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.

The Third Commandment

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God

so that we do not despise preaching and His Word,

but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.