03162014 Second Sunday in Lent (Lent 2)

Sermon Audio

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.  AMEN.

Whenever I would enter a classroom in elementary school, middle school, high school, college, graduate school and seminary, the first thing I would do would be to look at the board.  Now when younger some will be able to relate it was the old slate chalk boards that had the dusty erasers that always needed taken out to the poll in back of the school and ‘beaten out’ or ‘dusted’.  In today’s world we have what we have before us, a dry erase board.  A new-fangled invention, because some people we know have become allergic to the chalk and these boards are a little less messy and hypoallergenic.  None the less, what is on the board when you enter the classroom is a clear indication of what the teacher would be teaching about or lecturing to the class about for the day.

So to this morning, as we begin in our series on Holy Baptism, I have a simple yet very profound math problem on the board.  It isn’t bad math by any stretch, but it does relate to us and what we receive when we are baptized.  Let’s pull out our bulletin insert and delve into the Sacrament of Holy Baptism by reading the response to the questions, “What is Baptism?” and “Which is that word of God?”  The Sacrament of Holy Baptism, What is Baptism?  Baptism is not just plain water, but it is water included in God’s command and combined with God’s word.  Which is that word of God?  Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  Let’s ask God to help us understand our own baptism as we go to Him in prayer.

Lord of Heaven and earth, Your Word is definitely and certainly true and commands us to trust You in all things.  Enable us as we gather here this morning to understand Your commands are not for our detriment, but our blessing, for this blessing comes because of our baptism into Your Son’s life, death and resurrection.  May we fully understand this and clearly thank and praise You for all the blessings we find in Your Word for all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

On our board this morning is a simple formula that denotes not only a simple math truth, but the truth of what we receive in our baptism.  “1 + 1 + 1 = 3”  We could easily use symbols for this and would potentially make more sense for us.  The first “1” is a symbol for us in Holy Baptism of the Water.  [DRAW a DROP of WATER] A few weeks ago in confirmation we were talking about Holy Baptism and I was explaining how anybody could baptize in cases of emergency.  Again a student asked a very good question, “Does the water have to be ‘holy water?’”  I simply responded, no it is not required nor necessary.  The water can be any water.  Whether from a water bottle, river or any source, it only needs to be water.  This satisfied their curiosity and showed me they were all in fact listening and interested.

The second “1” signifies the “Word of God”.  [DRAW a BOOK/BIBLE]  It is God’s Word or the Holy Scriptures that clearly and unmistakably changes the playing field.  God’s Word reveals not only the heart of God, but prophesied about what God would do in sending His Son Jesus Christ.  From the waters of creation where the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit hovered over the Water on the Earth, to the use of the Word of God by Jesus Christ against Satan.  God’s Word sets us free and when connected with the Water in Baptism, reveals the gifts of God for the people of God.

The Final “1” signifies you and me.  [DRAW a human] Water plus the Word of God is not only tangible, but when poured over our heads or we are immersed in the Water, God makes us a new creation.  A month and a half ago, I had the extreme pleasure to baptize a man who was near death.  He had requested Holy Baptism and wanted it before he died.  The significant thing was not the use of Water or Word, but that with the connection of Water plus Word plus his presence, God in the most extraordinary and profound way entered his life and offered him life and salvation.  God came down from heaven and for the first time called him a child of God.  What is more profound is that less than a month later, I had the extreme pleasure to tell, not of what this man had done on earth, but of what God had done in him through, Water, Word and its being poured over his head and how now he after his death he rested in his Saviors arms.  He was a new creation redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ for all eternity.

In that one moment what we receive in our baptism with Water plus Word plus our presence equals the greatest blessing of all eternity.  We receive the “3” or the ‘logical part’ or the blessing of the Holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  [DRAW a Triangle]  With our baptism into Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection, we receive the greatest blessing for all eternity.  This is the promise and the fulfillment of the promise of eternal life we are made partakers of with our baptism.  We now are partakers of eternal life and our entrance into heaven is promised unto us.  This is the free grace that God offers unto us that we with our baptism are now partakers of with WATER, WORD and EACH OF US.  This is God’s Work, not man’s.

I was once asked about baptism and what is my role in the act of baptism?  The question stemmed from an understanding that well, you are the pastor, so you must have a significant role in baptism.  And my response was simple and clear.  Baptism is a gift that God offers unto us.  It is something that we as Pastors are only passively involved in, God is the main action agent and I as pastor am just a mere spectator.  Yes, I pour the water over the persons head, yes, I say the words, but it is not me, but God working through me.  God is the main character here in divine action.  I am only a sinful man, God is the one Who baptizes people, I am only a simple towel boy that is privileged to be used by God to impart the greatest gift of grace known to mankind.

For with our baptism, God offers us grace upon grace and offers us eternal life.  Through the WATER intimately connected with WORD being poured over US, God gives to us the greatest blessing of eternal life in the Trinitarian Name being bestowed upon us.  And today we receive another of the greatest mysteries of God of His Son, Jesus Christ precious Body and Blood.  Through our baptism we receive the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation and today are offered His precious Body and Blood.  These are the blessings we receive from Father, Son and Holy Spirit for all of mankind, including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning remembering the grace offered to us through our baptism of WATER and WORD over EACH of US by the invocation of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  AMEN.

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03152014 Funeral Sermon for Kay Hull

Sermon Audio

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight O Lord, our rock and our redeemer!!  AMEN!!

Let us pray!  Gracious Lord Jesus Christ, with Your Holy Hands You shaped the earth and formed man and woman in Your image.  Today we come before You with our hearts heavy from the loss of Kay.  Yet, You remind us in Your Holy Word that not only was she made, formed and shaped in Your image in the womb, but You have made her new with her baptism into Your life, death and resurrection.  For this gift of grace showered upon her through the Waters of Holy Baptism reflect not only the love You had for her, but the promise that comforts us now as we are here to say goodbye.  Though the veil of death separates us today, Your promises to her are fulfilled with her entrance into Your Holy Kingdom where she now rests in Your loving arms.  May the Gospel message promised in her baptism and now fulfilled in our hearing comfort us as we mourn, for Your Word promises us the Holy Spirit to comfort and remind us of Your eternal presence and the promise of eternal life for all mankind, but especially all the saints of Kay’s family gathered here at Emmanuel to say goodbye.  AMEN.

When an artist paints or draws the intent of the artist is to share an experience or a moment in time that they themselves personally experienced and want to share with others.  The artist begins with a vision in mind of what the final outcome will be, whether a scene of a picturesque mountain, a stream of water and the tranquility felt while relaxing beside the flowing brook or even the plains of Kansas and the wheat ready for harvest blowing in the wind.  Clearly the artist vision of the experience has more than meets the eye from the painting or drawing, but until one meets the artist or hears the story behind the artwork, it continues to be a mystery for those viewing the creation.

In a clear and profound way, we who gather here this morning are very similar to individuals who view artwork, but in our case our view is not of art, but of our experience with Kay.  All of us when we first met Kay had clear ideas from our first encounter with Kay and what she was like.  Mine was out here in front of the church and parsonage after first arriving.  It revolved around Kay’s car and the damage that had been done to the front fender and door of her car.  For me just having arrived here in Western Kansas at my first call it was something that was not a mountain top experience, but for Kay it was a very profound event for Kay and something that she needed to share with somebody.  Not only did Kay need to share it, Kay needed someone to help her carry the load or burden of that experience and how to deal with it.  And since I was her new pastor, Kay wanted me to be the one to help her carry her load.  But I wasn’t the right person, there was someone else that she knew that was made for this and I only needed to remind her Who that was that could and would help Kay carry her burden.

If there is anyone that could sympathize with Kay about what occurred in her life, it was a master artist, creator and someone that was already a friend to Kay.  That person was Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ the great artist had formed Kay in her mother’s womb and knew her from the time of her conception.  When Kay was baptized in the waters of Baptism, Kay was forever changed and God claimed Kay as His own in her baptism into His life, death and resurrection.  From that moment, Kay’s life was never the same, it was forever changed.  It did not change who she was, it did not change what Kay did or how she acted, but the Waters of Baptism changed Whose Kay was and where Kay would spend eternity.

Through the Waters of Baptism, Kay was washed with the Blood of the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.  With Water connected with Word, Kay was made a child of God and redeemed.  No longer was she just a young woman, she would marry Duane, adopt a step son and have two beautiful daughters, Denise and Rachel and enjoy the joys of being a grandmother, who would share what she had been given through the Water and Word of baptism, the gift of faith.  It was so important that Kay made sure her daughters came to confirmation and grandson Danny came to Vacation Bible School put on by Sky Ranch and learned about Jesus Christ.  And Kay’s faith was unmistakable in her personal desire to learn more about her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Most of us sitting here in the pew are unaware that Kay not only visited other churches, she also met with the Ruth Circle, Marilyn Eklund’s small group and other Bible Study groups to learn more about her faith and use the muscle of faith given to her in her baptism.  From the time she was baptized over at the First Christian Church Kay wanted to learn more about her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and this is the aspect that was hidden from most of our view, but it was clearly visible to God her Father in heaven in Whose arms she now rests.

Not only did Kay want to learn more about her Father in heaven, she came to God’s table and received the eternal food in the Lord’s Supper that would strengthen her on this pilgrimage and provide her eternal life.  When Kay would come and receive the Lord’s Supper of Jesus Christ precious Body and Blood, she would receive the fruits of creation that God clearly offers with the words, “Given and Shed for you for the forgiveness of sins”.  We all know the painting of the Last Supper painted by Leonardo Da Vince, where Jesus Christ instituted the Last Supper.  In this painting, Jesus disciples gathered around a table thinking they were only sharing in the yearly feast of the Passover.  Unbeknownst to them, they were sharing in the most intimate last meal with Jesus Christ before His death.  In that moment, Jesus turned the feast on its head and Da Vince captures for us today a beautiful portrait and reminder for us of what Jesus Christ was offering then and still for each of us today. 

Today Kay in a very real way is sharing with Jesus Christ in heaven the greatest feast of food, all because of her baptism into Jesus Christ, life, death and resurrection and her receipt of His precious Body and Blood around the altar of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  This is the life lesson that God fulfills to Kay today and that we celebrate here as we say goodbye.  For even in my own life, Kay taught me a very important and profound lesson that still sticks with me today.  That day when I first met Kay outside of the parsonage, Kay taught me a very insightful lesson in pastoral ministry that has impacted me and continues to affect me and I am thankful for today as we say goodbye.

As a Pastor, when I hear the troubles of an individual, I personally might not view the individuals’ problem as a mountain to overcome or the trouble they see it as, but in the eyes of the individual experiencing it this is something that is deeply affecting them.  But God in their sharing this event is inviting me to learn from them and walk with them through the valley.  And Kay’s experience was no different, because on that day she taught me and provided me the opportunity to grow in my ministry and how I would walk with the souls entrusted to my pastoral care.  Kay helped me to grow closer to God and become a better pastor, for she was a child of God, redeemed by the Blood of Jesus Christ and now rests comfortably in her Lord and Savior’s arms.  No longer with the pain of rejection of this world, nor of the cancer she valiantly fought against, but now Kay is hand in hand with her betrothed Duane in the eternal presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

May we who still mourn and are still on our journey, take comfort in the truth of our salvation found in Jesus Christ.  And may the salve of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and what He did on Calvary for all of mankind, but especially Kay, help us to see each other in and through God’s eyes as the redeemed children of God and welcome one another as God has welcomed Kay into His kingdom where we will be welcomed as His children.  For this is the offer for all of mankind from God, but especially all the saints of Kay’s family and friends here to say goodbye.  AMEN.

Now may the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding guard our hearts and minds and comfort us today, because of what Jesus Christ did for Edna and each one of us!  AMEN!

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03122014 Wednesday of Lent 1

Sermon Audio

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.  AMEN.

When this country was settled, there was not an excess of paper, nor computers or as many law offices as we have today.  There was only one thing that had any validity, it was man’s word.  It didn’t matter if it was for water rights, cattle sale or even how families would divide the land homesteaded by their parents, a man’s word was his bond.  It would stand up in court and nobody doubted or denied the validity of a man’s word.

This history not only is important, but clearly connects to us how God’s Word has impact and importance for us here today.  The Word of God that we have had passed down from generation to generation as contained in the Holy Bible is true.  Unlike society which has changed, God’s Word and the intent we find has not changed from the Garden of Eden, to the desert where God’s people toiled for 40 years to Jerusalem where Jesus was killed to us today that sit here in Goodland, KS.  God’s word is the bed rock which we can know God and believe that God has not changed.

Now man’s interpretation has changed, whether from the understanding of words to the application here in the world, but God’s Word has not changed.  For God’s Word has one intent in mind and that is the salvation of all of mankind.  God’s Word from Genesis pointed to the coming of a figure that would redeem mankind.  The prophets continuously looked for the coming Messiah and celebrated yearly this remembrance in the Seder and Passover feast.  And when Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, changed water to wine, calmed the storm and raised Lazarus from the dead, Jesus was the manifestation of the greatest love from God for us, His children.  And in Holy Scripture we have this unchanging Word of God that is True even for us today.

Yet, daily God’s Word is under attack.  Whether in society, schools or even and especially by Satan himself.  God’s Word is under attack and we, the children of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit are the ones who can walk the line and keep God’s Word pure.  For God’s Word being true connects with us tonight as we continue our series about baptism.  For without God’s Word connected to Water Holy Baptism would not have the meaning, validity nor value that is clearly offered unto us today.

In Holy Baptism when God’s Word connected to Water washes us clean it connects us directly to the promises of God.  We should not doubt, but daily Satan tries to get us to doubt God and His Word.  This has been the tactic used by Satan from the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve and even continues with each of us today.  When we doubt God and His Word we jeopardize our salvation.  God’s Word does not change and if we doubt it then we are in folly and Satan the father of lies has won the victory.  But God does not give up that easily on us nor His Word.  God clearly calls us to believe in His Word as truth, because in it we find the greatest gift from Him.

The greatest gift in His Word is the promises found in our Baptism into Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection.  We receive in this Sacrament the truth of generations that clearly sets us free from the bonds of death and frees us to eternal life.  These are the promises that are fulfilled when we are washed with the Blood of the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.  These are the promises that God offers to us when we believe His Word as truth and trust fully in the divine gifts offered for us at the font.  For when we are brought to the font and washed clean, we no longer are bound but shielded by God’s Armor of the Word of God.  In the Word of God we find the truth of the grace God offers us and sets us free to embrace.  For this freedom is for all of mankind, but especially all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel who believe that God’s Word is true and that in our baptism God offers us the truth of the forgiveness of sins for each and every one of us.  AMEN.

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