04092017 Palm Sunday Sermon - Jesus is led into Jerusalem to strengthen Him for what is to come!!

April 9, 2017
“Jesus is led into Jerusalem to strengthen Him for what is to come!!”

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This morning we have heard the entire reading from Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the institution of the Lord’s Supper, His betrayal, crucifixion, death and burial with the stone being set in place.  Today our focus should be not on ourselves, but on what is to come, what we have heard Jesus saying, doing and enduring for each and every one of us during Holy Week. 

Today begins the journey that leads to the Cross of Calvary and it begins with Jesus.  “Jesus is led into Jerusalem to strengthen Him for what is to come!!”  Jesus journey began in a lowly manger, led Him into the wilderness to be tempted, brought Him onto the Sea of Galilee to still storms, feed the multitudes, heal the sick and raise the dead, each waypoint on his journey all lead to what we celebrate today.  Jesus triumphal entrance into Jerusalem.

Jesus entrance into Jerusalem, is not in quietness, but with celebration and great fanfare.  Jesus entrance is not as one who would be ridiculed, spit upon, beaten and lashed to within an inch of His life, but with robes by the rich and palm branches by the poor placed on the ground so His feet would not become dirty.  This Man, Who is willing to ride on the colt the foal of a donkey rides on the humblest of beasts, a beast of burden.  For “Jesus is led into Jerusalem to strengthen Him for what is to come!!”

For what is to come as we have just heard is not ‘a walk in the park’, not what any normal person would want nor desire.  But Jesus Christ is not ‘normal’.  Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Jesus Christ comes freely, gladly and lovingly to take away the sin of the World.  Jesus is strengthened for the coming days by His Father, because He, Jesus Christ is doing His Father’s Will.  Jesus rides into Jerusalem in order to ultimately on the Cross of Calvary, offer us eternal life.

“Jesus is led into Jerusalem to strengthen Him for what is to come!!”  The destination is not unknown, the time is not a mystery, the cost is not cheap.  Jesus Christ is led into Jerusalem to give us the victory over sin, death and the devil, through His death in order that we will be in His Kingdom for all eternity and offered eternal life and the salvation of our souls.  And Jesus Christ offers us eternal life out of His great love for us and for all of mankind, but especially for all of us saints gathered here this Palm Sunday morning who believe “Jesus is led into Jerusalem to strengthen Him for what is to come!!”  AMEN.

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04092017 Palm Sunday Gospel Reading

Palm Sunday Gospel Reading

Matthew 26:1-27:66

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¹ When Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples, ² “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be handed over for crucifixion.”

 ³ Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas; ⁴ and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him. ⁵ But they were saying, “Not during the festival, otherwise a riot might occur among the people.”

 ⁶ Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, ⁷ a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. ⁸ But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste? ⁹ For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” ¹⁰But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. ¹¹ For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. ¹² For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. ¹³ Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”  ¹⁴ Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests ¹⁵and said, “What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?” And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. ¹⁶From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.

 ¹⁷ Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” ¹⁸ And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’” ¹⁹ The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

 ²⁰ Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. ²¹ As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” ²² Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” ²³ And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. ²⁴ The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” ²⁵ And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus *said to him, “You have said it yourself.”  ²⁶ While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”²⁷ And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; ²⁸ for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. ²⁹ But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

 ³⁰ After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

 ³¹ Then Jesus *said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BESCATTERED.’ ³² But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” ³³ But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” ³⁴ Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” ³⁵ Peter *said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.

 ³⁶ Then Jesus *came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and *said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. ³⁸ Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”

 ³⁹ And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” ⁴⁰ And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? ⁴¹Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

 ⁴² He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.” ⁴³ Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. ⁴⁵Then He *came to the disciples and *said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”

 ⁴⁷ While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” ⁴⁹Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. ⁵⁰ And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

 ⁵¹ And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. ⁵² Then Jesus *said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. ⁵³ Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”

 ⁵⁵ At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. ⁵⁶ But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.

 ⁵⁷ Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. ⁵⁸ But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.

 ⁵⁹ Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. ⁶⁰ They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward,⁶¹ and said, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’” ⁶² The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” ⁶³ But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” ⁶⁴ Jesus *said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”

 ⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; ⁶⁶ what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!”

 ⁶⁷ Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, ⁶⁸ and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?”

 ⁶⁹ Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” ⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” ⁷¹ When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and *said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”⁷² And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” ⁷³ A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away.” ⁷⁴ Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Matthew 27

 ¹ Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; ² and they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor.

 ³ Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, ⁴ saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” ⁵ And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. ⁶ The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood.” ⁷ And they conferred together and with the money bought the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers. ⁸ For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. ⁹ Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “AND THEY TOOK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, THE PRICE OF THE ONE WHOSE PRICE HAD BEEN SET by the sons of Israel; ¹⁰ ANDTHEY GAVE THEM FOR THE POTTER’S FIELD, AS THE LORD DIRECTED ME.”

 ¹¹ Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” ¹² And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. ¹³ Then Pilate *said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” ¹⁴ And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed.

 ¹⁵ Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. ¹⁶ At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas.¹⁷ So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” ¹⁸ For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over.

 ¹⁹ While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” ²⁰ But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. ²¹ But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” ²²Pilate *said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all *said, “Crucify Him!” ²³ And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!”

 ²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” ²⁵ And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” ²⁶ Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

 ²⁷ Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him.²⁸ They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. ²⁹ And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ³⁰ They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. ³¹ After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.

 ³² As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross.

 ³³ And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, ³⁴ they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink.

 ³⁵ And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. ³⁶ And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. ³⁷ And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

 ³⁸ At that time two robbers *were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. ³⁹ And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” ⁴¹ In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, ⁴² “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. ⁴³ HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴ The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.

 ⁴⁵ Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. ⁴⁶ About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” ⁴⁷ And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.” ⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. ⁴⁹ But the rest of them said, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him.” ⁵⁰ And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. ⁵¹ And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. ⁵² The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; ⁵³ and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. ⁵⁴ Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

 ⁵⁵ Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him. ⁵⁶Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

 ⁵⁷ When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸ This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. ⁵⁹And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,⁶⁰ and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. ⁶¹ And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave.

 ⁶² Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate,⁶³ and said, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’ ⁶⁴Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” ⁶⁵ Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” ⁶⁶ And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.

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02162017 Funeral Sermon for Loren L. Bahe

February 16, 2017
Funeral for Loren L. Bahe

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!  Heavenly Father, as we gather today seeing that the veil of death has been drawn, we mourn Loren’s passing, but know and have heard the promise You made to him of eternal life.  Not only did you model for him care and concern, but you instilled in him and he and Tam passed down to Mike and Kim lessons of love that have not only formed and shaped who they are not only as his children, but Yours through the most intimate connection.  That connection comes through Loren’s and our baptism into Your Son Jesus Christ, life, death, but especially His resurrection.  And though, because of death it seems the connection is broken, because of our faith in You, we believe it is not and we can be comforted by that knowledge today and every day.  May we who gather to say goodbye be comforted through the Gospel of Your Son, Jesus Christ and through its healing salve, which is the most powerful medicine, may we be enabled to understand Your love for us, but especially for Loren as now he and his betrothed Tam are back together again being held in Your loving arms for all eternity.  AMEN.

As we prepared for today, to remember and celebrate Loren’s life, there were for everyone, from Mike, Kim, Deneyce, Jason and others so many not only good memories, but great memories.  From Loren’s always having the best looking shoes, because he not only was an expert in footwear, because he owned three shoe stores in two states.  Loren had a passion for kids, not only caring for his own kids, but countless others here in town when he ran the ‘Teen Club’.  To the clear connection that Loren had with his wife Tam.  Never a harsh word was spoken or disagreement except behind closed doors.  They were always together sharing the highs and lows of not only rural farm life, but also raising Mike and Kim and in the most intimate way sharing, caring and showing his love and understanding but especially instilling a work ethic that was clear and today is rare in our society.

One catch phrase that epitomized Loren’s ethic was simply stated, but revealed the bedrock of his character instilled both by his parents William and Nannie, but also his time in the United States Army.  It was said, you “gotta work before we play”.  At times the work whether at the lake or on the farm overcame the play, but the memories created, the character formed in Mike and Kim and what they have passed down can be clearly and directly linked to Loren and Tam and their insuring that their family came first and their children would never want for anything.

As we sat around the table yesterday, we were looking at some of the pictures that you can see this morning on the screens on the sun deck and the narthex on the west.  One clear connection that leapt out at me is that Loren was confirmed, married and now will be buried from here in this very sanctuary.  The thread that runs throughout Loren’s life is the importance of church, but especially God in his life.  And this clear connection comes from the Gospel we heard only moments ago.

Jesus said very clearly that “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life…”  Loren believed in God and with his betrothed, Tam, clearly instilled in Mike and Kim and others, a moral compass that has served them well.  But it didn’t stop with a moral compass.  The bedrock of who and Whose they were found its root in the clear belief in God.  Was this clearly visible to all people?  Probably not, because Loren was a very private and quiet man, who only let down his guard with the people he knew, trusted and loved.  This closeness and connection wasn’t just for his two children, but has grown with each addition to the family and the clear bonds shared with one another in celebrating birthdays, 4^th of July, around a fire ring at Trenton or sharing a bowl of churned homemade ice cream or with a piece of chocolate cake with icing an inch thick, the way God intended it.

This intimate connection that was known, loved and cherished by those close to Loren, even including his grandson Jason and his family and great grandchildren, now finds its fulfillment with God’s gift of “eternal life” found in the final promise from John 6, where Jesus says, “everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day”.  For today fulfills the gift of eternal life from Jesus Christ to Loren that he was baptized into when the Pastor made the sign of the Cross over his forehead and heart.  Today the exclamation point is placed at the end of the sentence that Loren laid claim to in his Confirmation at this this very rail.  Today God fulfills the gift of eternal life as we lay him to rest next to Tam.  Today we celebrate the completion of not only the circle of life, but Loren’s entrance into eternity and the fulfillment of eternal life.

For though it may seem that death has won today, God, through His Son, Jesus Christ reveals to  we who gather a fuller picture of God’s grace and love for us.  We who gather are empowered and called to believe the offer of grace, not only that was offered and laid claim to by Loren, but that we share with one another of the free gift of grace and eternal life through Jesus Christ.  For this is as Loren would hear Paul Harvey say while driving his brown pickup, is the ‘rest of the story’.  It is a clear demonstration of God’s patience with us and His clearly embracing us, not only in our baptism, but today with the fulfillment of His promise of eternal life, today for Loren and one day for each of us.

May we as we gather to say our final goodbyes, look not with doubt, but with eyes of faith not only believing “that my redeemer lives”.  But that today, God has given us the faith to believe and know the truth found in His Son and Loren’s Savior, of eternal life with Jesus Christ, where now Loren rests in Jesus loving embrace hand in hand with his betrothed, Tam and one day with each and every one of us.  AMEN.

Now may the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding guard and comfort each of us this morning as we commend Loren back to His Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN.

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10232016 - 22nd Sunday After Trinity - Apostle's Creed - "I believe in the Holy Spirit."

October 23, 2016
“I believe in the Holy Spirit,”

Growing up in the Bible Belt of the South, you easily find in most every town a Baptist Church on one corner, a Pentecostal church down near the creek and a Methodist or Episcopal church usually in town.  To find either a Catholic or Lutheran Church meant you had to drive sometimes an hour or more one way.  But what was very clear if you attended any of these churches no matter the name the Holy Spirit was working.  As a child I remember attending an African American church that clearly would call upon the Holy Spirit during the service, because the people believed in the clear and manifest work of the Holy Spirit.  They would shout from the pew, ‘preach it’, ‘Amen’ and other acclamations of praise.  For some of us this would be seen as rude and disconcerting, but these people would not just hear the Word of God, they would let the Word of God inspire them to speak and in one sense cheer on the preacher and this was a strongly conservative Lutheran Church.

At our latest LCMC Convention in Denver, Rev. Ebassa Berhanu preached the opening worship.  Though born in Africa he grew up in his formative years in Minnesota.  Not only have I met him, but attended many meetings with him.  When we would sit around the table talking, he is very reserved, very soft spoken and very quiet and introspective.  But Sunday October 2, 2016, Ebassa didn’t speak with timidity or lack of conviction.  Ebassa was given a gift that we confess in the Apostle’s Creed.  For nearly 30 minutes, Ebassa not only engaged, but mesmerized and inspired many in the audience.  He not only preached the Word of God and the purity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but simply allowed himself to be led, inspired and emboldened to preach by the power of the Holy Spirit on him and his message.  Many people I talked with afterwards, who watched whether in person or on the internet agreed even three weeks later, Ebassa was on fire with the Holy Spirit.

You see, today we turn a page in our confession of the Apostle’s Creed.  We have talked in the last 7 weeks specifically of the Father Who Created the heavens and the earth.  Declared that Jesus Christ the Second Person of the Holy Trinity came down to earth and walked among us, healed many people, but ultimately was crucified, died, was buried, but rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.  And boldly confessed Jesus Christ will come again as we said last week to judge between the living and the dead.  And today as we turn the page, we now move to the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit.

We confess, “I believe in the Holy Spirit,”.  Our confession of the Holy Spirit is a simple, yet powerful acclamation that the same Spirit that inspired people to shout ‘Amen’ or inspires a preacher to speak with clear boldness and authority like Ebassa did at the convention, is the same Holy Spirit that we believe in and boldly claim today with our confession of “I believe in the Holy Spirit,”.

Martin Luther who pounded the 95 Theses on the door at Wittenberg almost 499 years ago in his Small Catechism makes a bold assertion of what not only belief in the Holy Spirit means, but how it applies to each of us today.  Luther writes in his explanation of the Third Article of the Apostle’s Creed, “What does this mean? I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.”

You see this same Holy Spirit that is not only the Third Person of the Holy Trinity is directly responsible for our faith.  Luther says even our ‘reason or strength’ cannot be used to believe in what Jesus Christ did on the Cross of Calvary.  Unlike other churches, Luther says we cannot believe without the divine Work of the Holy Spirit.  For “the Holy Spirit has called [me/us] by the Gospel”.  The Holy Spirit breaks through our at times hard outer shell that we put on like a coat to protect us from the cold winds of Western Kansas, but the Holy Spirit cuts through all layers and powers that we think we have in order to ‘call each and every one of us by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.’

When we confess, “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” we believe the Holy Spirit is not only the Third Person of the Divine Trinity, but the Holy Spirit calls each of us with the Gospel.  For in this call, we receive the proclamation of God of the forgiveness of sins and life and salvation.  We hear the sweetest story ever told that changes our eternal destination.  For it is through and by the Holy Spirit that the Holy Spirit, “enlightens [me/us] with His gifts and kept [me/us] in the true faith.”  This is the gift of God our Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and by the divine Work of the Holy Spirit the gift that is offered unto us when we confess, “I believe in the Holy Spirit,”.

Yet you might ask, I don’t feel any different, I don’t understand how this can occur for me here in Goodland, KS?  Six years ago today in this very sanctuary, I took my ordination vows and publically accepted the yoke of responsibility signified by the stole as the Pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran Church.  I say this not, and let me repeat that, not to hold it over anybody, but simply because one person who was here that day felt how tangible the Holy Spirit was in our congregation of Emmanuel.

Jason Trupp who at that time was Pastor of the Four Square Church here in Goodland took part in my ordination reading one of the lessons.  After that day when meeting with other pastors here in town, Jason made not only an observation, but an acclamation of being able to see and feel the Work of the Holy Spirit here at Emmanuel at my ordination.  Not only in the ordination and installation, but Jason said the Holy Spirit’s presence was so tangible for him and his wife Beverly.  At that acclamation I agreed and said, yes it was present and we as the people of Emmanuel remember the Holy Spirit with a simple light fixture.

It’s not one of the lights out in the sanctuary proper that help you all to read the bulletin or sing the songs.  The Light that reminds us of what the Holy Spirit continues to do with our confession of “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” comes from the altar.  The eternal light is the beacon, the light in the darkness of our fallen world that daily reminds us of Gods continuing to walk with us in our walk of faith.  It is the reminder of how Martin Luther explained it in the Small Catechism.  Our belief in the power of the Holy Spirit Who still today inspires pastors to preach with vigor and vitality like Ebassa, but also the people of God to respond to God’s Work for us, in us and how the Holy Spirit keeps us in the true faith.  May we not only remember what the Holy Spirit does when we see the eternal light when we enter for worship or the darkened sanctuary at night, but believe and boldly confess with the entire church on earth, “I believe in the Holy Spirit,”.  AMEN.

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Speak Your Mind

02082015 Sexagesima Sunday

Sermon Audio

February 8, 2015
God’s Seed will not return without a harvest!

Gracious Heavenly Father, as we inch towards Lent and Spring, may our hearts become like the ground in the spring, pliable and ready for the planting of the seed of the Word of God that leads us to the Cross of Calvary.  And may the harvest be of more people in Your Kingdom through Your Word that came and died in order that we might live.  We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord and King.  AMEN.

            There was once a man who was well known in the community.  It wasn’t what he did in the community that brought him notoriety, but what he said.  Unlike most his words were not like society or what we hear on television, read in the newspaper or even read on Facebook.  The words he said were well placed, direct and to the point.  His Words were at times soft, but carried great meaning.  At other times His words were sharper than a double edged sword so when He spoke it was a truth that cut through most people’s façade.  His words revealed every persons heart desires, but also spoke a comfort for them that even healed their wounds they had carried for years.

            The person I am speaking about is none other than Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ clearly can speak words into each of us and our lives that can cut through our man made façade.  Yet, when Jesus spoke in His day and time the words He spoke revealed the pettiness of the scribes and Pharisee’s of His day.  He was not only looked down upon by the synagogue authorities, but they even plotted to kill Him.  Jesus Christ, Word of God incarnate, the Word that became flesh, Who came to set us free from the bondage we have in our lives of sin, death and the devil was a marked man, because of His Words.  With His Words, captured in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, He clearly and unmistakably planted a seed in people’s lives that would grow and break their hardened hearts and make them more pliable.  This even continues today for some of us who gather here in the church.

            In our Old Testament lesson this morning we heard the prophet Isaiah clearly not only prophecy of Jesus Christ, but also talk about of all things planting, but the application for Jesus is clear and unmistakable.  Jesus Christ is the seed that we Christians who gather here today plant.  Jesus Christ is the seed of the Gospel of our salvation.  It is Jesus Christ sacrifice that we plant in our daily lives.  Just as Jesus Christ walked among the people 2000 years ago and healed their bodies of the maladies, cast out the demons that tormented them and healed their hearts of the hurt that they had carried for countless years, Jesus Christ offers each and every one of us gathered here this morning this same opportunity of help, healing and wholeness found in the Gospel of the Cross of Jesus Christ.

            When we plant the seed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, God will water it and make it grow.  Just as farmers plant the seed of wheat, corn or milo, and insure the ground has the right moisture, the right nutrients and the right conditions, God is the one that makes the seed grow of the plant, but also the seed of the Gospel.  In the Word of God, God is the active agent not only in the planting of the seeds we use for our daily bread that puts money in our bank accounts, food on our table and jobs for us to go to.  God is the active agent that planted the seed of the Gospel in each of our lives.  God is the one Who planted the seed at our baptism, watered it with the Word of God from the scriptures we read weekly, the waters of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion that we celebrate, and God even makes it grow and be ready for the harvest when we go to be with Him in His Kingdom.

            Today we heard about what Feed My Starving Children as an organization has done for the world.  But more than just the organization, these ladies from our community and church who have come and presented have stood up and been willing to plant the seed of hope for people across the world they have never even met.  This is exactly what God is calling each and every one of us to do today.  God is calling us to plant the seed of His Gospel from this day onward.  My question for us today is, “Are you ready to plant?”

            This question is not about whether you have taken your tractor and planter into John Deere, Case or New Holland and had it serviced.  Nor if you have done the work yourselves or gone and bought the latest planter direct from the factory.  It is more a matter of in your life today ‘are you ready to plant?’  When you walk out your door in the morning, are you ready to live a life that plants the seed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in another’s life?  When you talk with members of the congregation or community will what you say, not have an agenda?  Will what you say, would you be willing to say, in front of Jesus Christ?  Or will you pull people into private and plant seeds of destruction that are not of the Gospel of Salvation or for His glory?

            We as children of the light, baptized into Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection are called to plant the seed of the Gospel.  We are called to plant the seed that points to Jesus Christ and His gift for each of us on the Cross of Calvary.  God is calling us to clearly and unmistakably “Lift High the Cross” of Jesus Christ and plant the seed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ wherever we go.

            When I was a child, I was an acolyte from Confirmation until I graduated college.  I not only lit the candles, but our church also had a processional cross similar to the one we have here by the altar.  Every Sunday, the Cross would lead the procession both into and out of the church.  So important was the Cross that even for funerals, we would have acolytes.  And the Cross would process into and out of the church and even to the grave site when loved ones were buried.  But what distinguished the use of the cross every time it was used was the opportunity the congregation and the church had to see the Cross of Jesus Christ lifted high at every worship service.

            Today we conclude our worship singing this very song, “Lift High the Cross”.  For we who gather here today can lift high the Cross of Jesus Christ.  We can answer the question, “Are you ready to plant?” not with the Spring time answer that has a crop that is harvested in the Fall, but more importantly and eternally the crop of saints that will be gathered in God’s Kingdom on the last day.  So let us remember as we “Lift High the Cross”, we can remember it is for all of mankind, including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel who sing the refrain, “Lift High the Cross, the love of Christ proclaim, for all the world, proclaim His Holy Name.”  AMEN.

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11022014 All Saints Sunday

Gospel Audio
Sermon Audio

November 2, 2014

Are we soldiers or subjects?

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

            This morning we celebrate All Saints Sunday here at Emmanuel.  On this one Sunday of the Church Year we remember all of the members, family and friends that have passed away since the last All Saints Celebration November 3, 2013.  Today is to be not only a summary of those lost in the last year, but an opportunity as a family of God to remember, reminisce and remind ourselves, not only of the lives of the people, but especially of what God did for them.  Right here in the baptismal font, or one like it in other churches, God reached down into the lives of the people we mourn and redeemed them by the Blood of the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.  Through the Water and Word of Baptism, God washed our loved ones clean and gave them the garment of salvation that ushered them in death to eternal life.  Now our loved ones have entered into God’s Holy presence and see God face to face.  What joy there is over one who has entered into God’s Eternal Kingdom and His Holy Presence!!!

            We who remain here mourn, sometimes even for many years, but we need to be reminded of a truth.  We to one day will be ushered into heaven as well.  But while we do journey on our pilgrimage here on earth, we need to ask a question “Are we subjects or soldiers?”

            We are subject to the reality that we will one day die.  But are we subjects without a cause or since we are baptized into Jesus Christ innocent life, death and resurrection, are we not then baptized as soldiers in to His Army of believers?  Are we not soldiers indoctrinated into the cause of Christ?  Are we not soldiers fighting for other’s freedom from oppression?  Are we not soldiers that are called into the mission of Jesus Christ for all of mankind?  Are we not soldiers for Jesus Christ?

            We are soldiers, each and every one of us, every man, woman and child.  When we were baptized in the font we enlisted in God’s Army of Believers to spread the message of the Gospel of Salvation.  Our orders were clear, to seek and serve the lowly, the downtrodden, the widowed, the weak and reach into the lives of those that had no hope to give the hope found in Jesus Christ.  We are God’s hands here on earth to reach out and minister in any and all capacities.

            We who gather here today to hear what Jesus Christ did on the cross of Calvary for all of mankind are empowered to minister.  Whether it is calling people who may not have been in church, speaking loving words of witness of the love of Christ to a stranger, friend or family member, or even our mere presence to support those who are in need of our individual and corporate prayers.  We are the people of God enlisted in the Army of God and empowered to do the work of God as God’s soldiers who no longer are subject to Satan.

            Jesus Christ when He set in motion the plan of salvation in the Garden and allowed Himself to be taken into custody, beaten, mocked and scourged by the soldiers, spit upon by the onlookers as He carried the Cross to Calvary.  Then nailed to the Cross for all of mankind, clearly understood and took upon Himself the uniform of a soldier, but also a leader that was willing to die for His subjects, meaning you and me.  Jesus Christ was willing to die for you and for me in order to set us free.  And that is exactly what has happened to those we remember today on All Saints Day.  Our friends, family and loved ones have been set free for all eternity and we will to one day.

            Dr. Henry Cloud summed up clearly what our opportunity is today.  He said, “Don't treat any single scene as if it were the whole movie.  Keep writing the script.  Respond to your current scene in a way that gets you to the good ending.”  The good ending we look for is to be honored as soldiers of the Cross of Jesus Christ.  No better story could be told than one that I read last Sunday afternoon from the One Spark Foundation.

            After our Reformation Service last week I was reading my Facebook Feed on my phone.  There was a story that not only caught my attention, but touched me deeply.  The story detailed the experience of an airline pilot that had a sticky situation, but which has become more common in the last few years.  The pilot told of his experience of meeting a young Sergeant in the Army that was escorting the remains of a fallen comrade back to his family for burial.  The dignity shown by the pilot, flight crew and the Sergeant was not only professional, but full of compassion for the final mission of the young private who was ‘going home’.

            Following his meeting the Sergeant and thanking him for his service to his country and the family during such a difficult time, the pilot was later informed that not only was the Sergeant on board, but the Private’s wife, 2 year old daughter and his Father and Mother all were escorting the Private home.  Due to circumstances beyond the pilots control the family was unable to see the container before its being loaded onto the plane.  And the plane’s destination was a major hub for many airlines so the family would likely be unable to see the soldiers casket upon arrival.  In true compassion for a soldier that had given his life for his country, the pilot went above and beyond the call of duty and through special channels contacted his controller for special instructions and the ability to allow the family the opportunity to personally greet their loved one, who was currently below their feet in the cargo hold.

            Shortly before descent into the airport the Captain received the approval and instructions for this final faithful journey of the Private.  But there was another problem.  Like all flights the pilot knew that once the plane landed and the ‘seat belt sign’ had been turned off all the passengers would jump up and rush to get off the airplane with no concern for this soldiers family.  So once he landed, he radioed the tower and received permission to stop short of the gate.

            After stopping short of the gate, the Captain of the plane came on the intercom and informed the entire airplane of the soldier’s mission of the Sergeant and the Private’s family that was escorting their son, husband and Father home.  In unheard of fashion the family experienced the most grace filled event on their most difficult journey home.  Not one person moved from their seats as the family gathered their belongings and disembarked.  The family was even thanked for the Private’s service, words of comfort, appreciation and applause filled the aircraft as they moved through the plane.  So moved was the cabin crew and passengers many were seen with tears running down their cheeks because of the outpouring of love, compassion and support during the family’s most difficult journey.

            The love shown the soldier and military family is what we have to look forward to when we enter into eternity in heaven.  A rousing applause, hearing the words, “Well done good and faithful servant!”  It is not for what we have done in and of ourselves, but what Jesus Christ has done through each of us soldiers.  For God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ died on the Cross of Calvary in order that we His soldiers in His Army will be welcomed into the company of saints and be with Him for all eternity.  We who gather here today on All Saints Sunday celebrate our brother’s and sister’s who have entered eternal glory.  No longer do our loved one’s struggle and today we remember God’s victory for them and us on the Cross of Calvary and for all of mankind.  Thanks be to God for the victory for all of mankind and all of us soldiers gathered here to celebrate All Saints Sunday today.  AMEN.

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The Gospel in 4:05

In preparation for Back to Church Sunday, I found the following video.

This is a simple four minute video telling the Gospel Message.

Here is the link.

What is the Gospel? from Southern Seminary on Vimeo.

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08252013 13th Sunday After Trinity

Gospel Reading Sermon MP3

Podcast Powered By Podbean

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!  Lord Jesus Christ, the parable of the Good Samaritan was meant to reveal us for who we are, but also to inspire us to become more like You.  Peel the layer of our discontent with ourselves to reveal how You can change us today through not only our hearing Your Word, but fulfilling Your promise of salvation for all mankind, including all of us saints here at Emmanuel.  AMEN.

It is not uncommon for anyone who drives to enter the on ramp for the interstate and encounter a hitchhiker.  Years ago the practice was common to stop and offer a ride and take the person at least to the next interchange or town.  Today this practice has been replaced by fear of who it is on the side of the road, if they are a convicted felon, a deranged individual or someone that is running from the law.  Ironically even here in Goodland, KS at the parsonage and church we have individuals who knock on our door asking for money, help and even a ticket to get to a faraway place like Washington State, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Massachusetts or Arizona.  Some of the individuals and families desperately need our help, others are going from town to town, working the system.  What is ironic, but different is in our Gospel this morning Jesus tells a parable about a wounded man that needs help and how three strangers respond.

I won’t retell the parable but want to ask and answer one question that the lawyer asked.  “Who is my neighbor?”  This question is the whole reason for the parable.  It is to make us realize that according to Jesus Christ our neighbor is not just the person who lives next door, sits in the next pew or that we encounter walking down the aisle at Wal-Mart.  Our neighbor is everyone that we meet daily without exception.

Jesus is clarifying for us who we need to be concerned with, not only with our actions, but even our inactions.  The parable has three main action characters, the priest, the Levite and the Good Samaritan.  They show what they believe and do by their action.  The priest and Levite move to the other side of the road.  They choose to not be troubled to help a man who has been beaten to within an inch of his life.  The Good Samaritan, who by nature and in the culture of that day is not known for doing something for others gets off of his donkey, binds up the mans wounds, places him on his beast of burden and takes him to the local inn and cares for him, pays for his care and promises to pay whatever is required when he returns.

Jesus is speaking to us today that we need to care for one another and step out in faith and be involved in peoples lives.  We need to enter into relationship with even the people we are not comfortable with and those that we necessarily do not agree with whether in politics, religion, lifestyle or beliefs and enter into meaningful and lasting relationship with them.  Jesus words, ‘Go and do the same’ call us to action like the Good Samaritan, not apathy like the priest and Levite.  We are called to be involved because Jesus is involved with each of us today.

Jesus involvement with each of us today is not only the promise of salvation that He offers to us today in His Word.  Jesus came down from heaven, lived among us and taught the hard parables like the Good Samaritan, not to beat us up or for us to feel like it is aimed directly at us.  Jesus teaches these parables in order for us to be His hands and His Good Samaritan for others today.  This is not directed at us to bind our conscience at the preacher or proclaimer, but to hear what God is calling us to do and offering us the opportunity to do today in order to glorify Him.

For in our glorifying God, we not only become more like Jesus Christ, we enter into a deeper relationship with Him, but also with those that we serve and minister to and with.  When we break our bonds of small groups, clicks and our own little social groups, God enters into our relationships and reforms and reshapes us to be His instrument of change, not of apathy or passive aggressive anger or resentment.  We no longer work or live as the Levite or the priest, but are transformed by Jesus Christ into the Good Samaritan willing to cross the road, street, tracks, enter into an uncomfortable place or relationship without fear, because of trusting God where we will spend eternity.

When we become eternity focused and not earthly focused, our reality is radically changed and we can and will make a difference in ourselves as well as with the people that we encounter.  Then we follow Jesus imperative of “Go and do the same” not because we have to, but because of the grace that He offers us through His death on the Cross for all of mankind, including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning. 

Recently I read an article that convicted me of my ‘blind spots’ where I have not wanted to ‘cross the road’ or enter deeper into relationship.  Alex Early penned an article entitled, “A Pastor Walked into a Gay Bar And…”  At first I avoided the article because I thought this article was more a joke than anything, but upon reading the article it epitomized the Good Samaritan story.  While in school expecting to get a job in a few years as a college professor, Alex took a job in a local bar sweeping floor, stocking the beer and generally doing what one has to do to survive with a wife and family.  Prior to taking the position he prayed about this occupation and what God could do through him.  Through his own and his wifes discernment they felt this was where God was calling him to work.

The bar he began to work in wasn’t a classy joint in town.  It was known as a ‘gay bar’.  Alex didn’t take the job to ‘convert’ everyone he met, God had given him a different mission.  It was to be a ‘a friend of drunkards and sinners’.  This realization only came through his reading, studying and believing the scriptures of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ultimately Alex’s interactions with the patrons opened up many opportunities to share the gospel in the most unconventional way.  It wasn’t to ‘beat them over the head with the Gospel’ or to judge them for their lifestyle, attitudes or how they led their lives.  Alex knew who the real judge was, God the Father, Alex’s role also was not to portray himself as the ‘perfect follower’, but as someone who was approachable and willing to walk broken, but also call them his friends.  This non-judgmental and open approach allowed the true Gospel of Jesus Christ to not only be shared, but lived out in a gay bar that shared the true message of salvation for all mankind.  It showed how he could cross the road and minister to a complete stranger like the Good Samaritan and bind up wounds of bitterness and hatred that had previously been levied at Christians and now bring new meaning and understanding to what true relationship could be when following Jesus Christ Gospel call in his life.

We to have been called to this opportunity and now just as the Good Samaritan and Alex, live the Gospel and be God’s ministers and friends even to the broken and down trodden around us.  For this is what God sent His Son into the world to not only live and portray, but offer grace freely as an example for all of mankind, but especially for all of us saints that are gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.