02052017 Transfiguration and 5th Sunday After Epiphany - We are moved by the Holy Spirit to speak of God!

February 5, 2017
We are moved by the Holy Spirit to speak of God (v. 21)

SERMON TEXT

All of us have heard the tale of the young preacher who went to see a member of his congregation, but the conversation that occurred didn’t contain condemnation for the old man’s lack of attendance.  The fiery young preacher didn’t tell the member, he needed to give more money.  The young preacher didn’t try to get the man to get on a committee or come to church because he hadn’t attended during his entire tenure.

The young preacher sat quietly with the old man around an open fire pit, watching the fire burn brightly not only with glowing embers that consumed the wood added to the fire, but with a clear warmth.  After many minutes without a single word conversation.  The preacher reached over to the pair of tongs that were used to move the logs for maximum burn and warmth.

The preacher had noticed a lone rather large piece of cold coal from a long ago fire that was sitting very close to the old man’s feet that were outside of the warmth and clear burning of the rest of the fire.  Reaching purposefully, he picked up the cold coal and carefully placed it in the center of the fire with the bed of coals.  Very quickly the coal began to glow, the once cold coal now was glowing and heated up and burning with all the rest of the fire, heated by the warmth of its surroundings.

Minutes passed and with each moment the fire continued to radiate the warmth of the fire.  Slowly the preacher arose and bid his host a good day and left.  The very next Sunday, the old man, visited by the young preacher was seen returning to the warm embrace of the people that were journeying with him.

This story is a metaphor for us this morning of what we are celebrating.  Today we remember and celebrate when Jesus Transfigured before Peter, James and John.  Like the coal that had been separated from the fire for too long, once ‘reintroduced’ or ‘returned’ to the warm embrace of the fire that cold piece of coal became aglow from the fire.  Jesus in His transfiguration, showed His true Glory to the three disciples and enkindled in them not only an awe, but especially the realization that Jesus Christ, the man they had walked with and lived with, was not just a simple man, but truly the Son of God.

The change or transfiguration that occurred of Jesus not only changed the reality of the disciples understanding of Who Jesus was, but would radically change not only their understanding of the man in their midst, but especially Whose Son He was, the Son of God.  It would also transfigure their future after Jesus was raised from the dead and walked with them, ate meals and became transfigured by Jesus Christ.

We who gather here today are not only the spiritual descendants of the disciples, our understanding of Whose Son Jesus was is clearer than it was for the disciples.  We look back with 20/20 vision of Jesus Christ.  We see through the lens of the Gospel message not only portrayed, but fulfilled on the Cross of Calvary.  We see a Savior Whose death on Calvary transfigured us and our reality through our baptism into Jesus Christ, life, death, resurrection, but also His Transfiguration before Peter, James and John.

What does this mean for us today?  With our celebration of Jesus Transfiguration, we have but one joyful task to do.  We are moved by the Holy Spirit to speak of God.  For Peter since he witnessed these events, wrote his epistle and we who read it are empowered, no, we are moved by the Holy Spirit that has been given to us in Holy Baptism and inspired to speak of God and His Son Jesus Christ to all that we meet.

While I was under the weather this last week, I watched Risen, in preparation for our “Films of Faith” next month.  So compelling is this story that it isn’t just a story of mystery of the risen Christ, or of relationship, but of discovery and how one individual, a non-believer, discovered the truth and began to truly understood the Gospel message and was moved to become like the disciples, ‘fishers of men’.

We who gather here today gather having heard the first-hand account of the disciples who witnessed the transfiguration and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We have heard read Peter’s message which has one intent in mind.  Not only to give God the greatest glory, but in order that we who gather here today, may be moved.  Moved not to division nor indifference, but in order that the Gospel message of salvation of what Jesus Christ did on Calvary may be spread to the ends of the earth. 

Just as the Roman Prefect was changed by this message in “Risen”, we to can be transfigured.  It is my prayer that we through the Work of the Holy Spirit can be changed, in order that “We are moved by the Holy Spirit to speak of God”.  Not only here within the walls of the church, but in our community, in order that the saving message of Jesus Christ will impact our world.  So today let us resolve to move each of us closer into the fire and warmth of the church and set us ablaze to speak of God.  In order that God can transfigure each of our hearts, our minds and our spirits, just as He did with the three disciples.  And ultimately move us by the Holy Spirit to speak of God daily.  So that on the last day God will usher each of us into eternity with our transfigured Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN.

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01152017 2nd Sunday After Epiphany - By His Doing We are In Christ Jesus!

January 15, 2017
By His doing we are in Christ Jesus!

As we gather together this morning in the shadow of the Christmas and Epiphany Seasons, we have heard about the gifts given by the Three Wise Men of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.  We have followed the shepherds who were watching their flock by night, but stopped in order to go and see what they had heard from the echoing of the angels who proclaimed the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.  We have gone to the manger to Mary and Joseph who crouched where their child was wrapped in cloths lying in the manger.  We have heard all these things about Jesus Christ, for He was and continues to be the greatest gift given unto mankind.  We have learned that this Child, this gift, our Savior, Jesus Christ came in order to offer mankind eternal life.

Yet, our culture doesn’t understand eternal life.  Our culture looks at the toys and joys we have today, whether of a football game that is won in the last seconds.  An outgoing leader whose legacy will be recorded in history books, the impact on our pocketbooks or in the recesses of our minds.  Or the challenges faced in relationship with political parties, professional sports rivalries or the personal relationships we have with parents, children and even our spouse.  These challenges like noise in a loud room, drown out the truth that was clearly found in the manger of Jesus Christ and His offer of eternal life for all of mankind including each and every one of us.

You see, eternal life is more than the daily challenges and sometimes self-imposed obstacles we face.  The gift of eternal life, offered to and for us through Jesus Christ is a gift clearly and specifically for us.  And, Jesus Christ wants to give the gift of eternal life to each and every one of us.  For Jesus gift to and for us is given, not because of what we do, what we have done, nor any merit on our own, but the gift of eternal life is given by Jesus Christ out of His unending and forgiving love for each and every one of us. 

Paul says, “By His doing”.  In essence by the doing of the Child, Jesus Christ, Who was found in the manger, we who live in the world, we who believe, will be grafted into Jesus Christ.  Hence why our connection with Jesus Christ isn’t just begun with our hearing the Word of God.  Or by the Holy Spirit being active in each of us, but even when we bring our children for Holy Baptism, where the people of God stand and with the parents and family take responsibility for the raising of our children in the faith.  This is where God not only showers us with Water and Word, but enfolds and embraces us in the most intimate embrace and fulfills what Paul says, ‘we are in Christ Jesus’.

So now the reality of this world and our destination radically changes.  Instead of living in fear of what tomorrow may bring.  Instead of allowing the shadow that hangs over of our relationships with our family, friends and even our loved ones that at times overcome us, our reality changes because of the Child in the Manger named Jesus Christ.  The small child found in the manger wrapped in strips of cloth with His coming into the world overcame what binds us and has set us free out of His love for us.  Since “By His doing we are in Christ Jesus” we no longer are bound, but are set free in Jesus Christ, through His great love for each and every one of us, through our faith in what He has done.

One of the best cinema examples of faith was when Harrison Ford in the movie, “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”.  As Indy followed meticulously the diary of his father the final obstacle between him and finding the Holy Grail is an expansive canyon.  Indy can see the entrance, but this canyon and no clear way to get across it seems to exist.  And the instructions read, ‘walk by faith’.  All that Indy sees is the chasm and the entrance to a place that could save his dying father.

Finally after wrestling and struggling with this reality of the chasm he faces, Indy steps out in faith.  And lo and behold there is an invisible bridge to get to the other side and reach his goal of finding the Holy Grail.

We who gather this morning unlike Indiana Jones, have found the real and true Holy Grail that does offer us eternal life, Jesus Christ.  We found and have worshiped Him in the manger and today in Jesus Christ and His Word which we have heard this morning, the sacrament we are about to receive from His altar.  For in this gift of His Precious Body and Blood we find eternal life.  May we believe what we have heard and are about to partake and ultimately come to the full realization of Paul’s words of grace and comfort that we are enfolded into Jesus Christ loving arms when we believe “By His doing we are in Christ Jesus”.  AMEN.

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01182015 Second Sunday After Epiphany

Gospel Audio
Sermon Audio

January 18, 2015

God covers us up!

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.

            For Christmas Sarah was given by Michele’s parents a 21^st Century set of children’s tinker toys.  These are not like the ones I grew up with that were wooden.  Michele and I kid each other, because they remind us of the model sets we would build chemical structures with in Chemistry that had many angles and the potential for many different variations.  The modern set not only are made of plastic, but they are much larger and can build structures taller structures than even me.  Well, like all kids, Sarah loves playing with them.  She has the potential to build almost any structure that she wants or her imagination can dream up. 

On the box there are four or five different structures that they show, so while my parents were here, Sarah wanted Bop-Pop, my Dad, to help her build.  Needless to say, we built, took apart and rebuilt quite a few times in the next couple of days.  But one of the most intriguing parts was that with every structure we built, it needed a covering.  Just like the Indian sweat lodges that would have the hides from animals to cover it to keep the cold out in winter, Sarah needed a covering for the structures we had made.

            So with every structure we found blankets and covered the structure to make a place for Sarah to hide and play and she loved it.  This was a place where Sarah could pretend, move around in and hide where she not only felt safe and protected, but was a special place made especially for her by her Bop-Pop, but also me her Father.

            Today in our Old Testament lesson, we encounter the story of Moses asking to see God and being covered by God the Father.  Unlike the blankets we used on Sarah’s tinker toys, God in a conversation with Moses didn’t put something as simple as a blanket over Moses, God used His own hand.  God in a divine and very profound way revealed Himself to Moses, but was protecting Moses, not from something evil, but from what would kill him, seeing God face to face.  The potential of seeing God’s face was the main reason God wanted to clearly protect Moses, but also honor Moses request to see God’s Glory.  For if anyone were to see God’s face, whether by accident or on purpose, they would die.  And God didn’t want Moses to die.  God had so much more for Moses to accomplish.

            But not only was it the protection God gave Moses, God’s covering shielded Moses from God’s identity.  How often do we do that as well with family, friends, coworkers or even here in the church?  We don’t open up or show our true nature because we are afraid of being hurt or revealing to much of our inner selves.  Whether it is by the clothes we wear the brash way we treat people or even as subtly of our not coming to church, because we might encounter a person that hurt us or treats us as a lower class citizen.  We try and protect ourselves. 

Yet, God’s protection of Moses is different.  God was not only trying to keep Moses alive, but allow Moses to be the one person who would have seen God.  Granted it was only His back, but for Moses to see even God’s back was more than had been seen since Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

But a bigger question for us today is for what reason had this happened?  Simply it was because Moses had found favor in God’s sight.  Moses clearly had found great favor from the God of the universe.  Not only did God know Moses name, God was making a covenant promise with Moses and the people of God that He would be with them.  God would go with the people of God and even distinguish them, claim them and reveal Himself to them.  And the first step was with Moses.

So profound is this revelation that truly it was not fully fulfilled until Jesus Christ entered in the manger in Bethlehem.  For when Jesus Christ was born in the manger, God’s Glory in His Son was fully revealed for all of mankind.  Not only in the manger, but also in the Jordan River that we celebrated last week with Jesus baptism.  When the people heard God’s voice and saw the Holy Spirit descend upon Jesus in the form of a dove, God’s glory was fully revealed for everyone who witnessed it.  And the moment when Jesus Christ hung on the Cross of Calvary and uttered the words, “It is finished”, the plan of salvation was fully complete.  After having seen the face of the Son of God, we now through our baptism are covered by the grace God first offered Moses, by God’s hand, but now each of us in, through and by our baptism into Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection are covered by God, not only by His Hand, but by His Son Jesus Christ when we celebrate and remember those events even 2000 years later. 

For the sins of mankind and each of us gathered here were fully atoned by Jesus Christ and we now have been covered by God’s grace freely given for all of mankind.  This is the gift we are offered and freely given and how we now are covered by God and forgiven.  For through Moses, Jesus and our baptism, we have found favor in God’s sight.  We have been covered by not only God’s Holy Hand, but by His Son Jesus Christ and we now find true favor and forgiveness with and from God.  This is not for a select few, but for all of mankind, including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel who will partake of His precious Body and Blood, given and shed for all of us for the forgiveness of sins and be covered by the grace of God through and by Jesus Christ.  This is God’s gift for each and every one of us gathered here today covered by His gift of grace, His Son, Jesus Christ.  AMEN.

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02022014 Presentation of our Lord, 4th Sunday After Epiphany

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.

If one were to go up to the hospital and enter into the Physical Therapy Department, which many of us here this morning have done, you find that there are parallel bars, weights, stretchy bands and an exercise bike that is used on a daily basis.  Whether it is rehabbing a torn rotator cuff in the shoulder, knee surgery, hip or knee replacement or an injury that happened while lifting the groceries, shoveling grain out of the pit to prepare for harvest or while trying to get that one problem cow back into the coral, Jack and all of the therapists have the right tools needed to not only strengthen, but recondition the body back to health.

This morning we have before us a pair of crutches, a walker and a cane.  You might wonder, are we turning the church into a rehab facility?  But really each of these items is a good symbol for the Third Petition of the Lord’s Prayer.  Let’s pull out our bulletin insert for this morning and read responsively as a congregation the “What does this mean?”  and “How is God’s will done?” sections.  “The Third Petition of the Lord’s Prayer,  Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  What does this mean?  The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.  How is God’s will done?  God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die.  This is His good and gracious will.  Let us ask for God’s will to be done.

Let us pray, Gracious God, with our prayer we ask that Your will be done in our lives.  We ask for Your perfect plan to be fulfilled for each of us.  Strengthen and keep us firm in Your Word and faith until we enter Your Kingdom and spend eternity with You.  For this only occurs because of what Your Son, Jesus Christ did for all of mankind on Calvary, including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

When Michele and I were first married, her siblings and my brothers all either had children or began to have kids around the same time, with us being last.  One of the interesting things that we always talked about was that when the children were little they began to crawl on all fours, then as they grew they began to walk and run on their own two feet.  And we would joke and kid our parents at least on Michele’s side that one day they would need what I have before us today, sometimes crutches or a cane and eventually a walker.

These items are a great symbol for us today for the Third Petition of the Lord’s Prayer.  When we teach our children to pray initially we use simple prayers, like “Now I lay me down to sleep”, we teach them table prayers of “Come Lord Jesus” or “God is great, God is good” and eventually we teach them the Lord’s Prayer.  Each prayer builds upon the other and connects the importance of not only keeping God in our lives, but insuring we do so on a daily basis.

The Third Petition of the Lord’s Prayer, exposes another importance of our need to pray for God’s will to be done.  God’s will is done simply as Paul says in 1 Thessalonians, with our being made holy by God, also known as sanctification.  If you were to ask either our spouses or children, this may be a rare occasion, even for me.  But the reality is, God makes us Holy with our belief in the forgiveness of sins and that Jesus Christ died for us.  God is the action agent here, we cannot and do not do this on our own, we are unable to, but God fulfills this for us.  And the fruits are here that we partake of around the altar with our receipt of His precious Body and Blood, given and shed for us for the forgiveness of sins.

But, why a pair of crutches, a cane and a walker?  Ironically, each of these items are meant to be an aid for mobility, whether walking or for some of just independence.  They provide stability, a stable platform and the ability to move with surety when our balance may be a little out of whack or we are weak.  And this petition is the exact same, it is the stability that we need as we walk and live in this world, since we are Christians and not of this world.  We can use the Lord’s Prayer to stabilize our lives and this petition especially reminds us of the importance of God as we encounter the sinful world that we live in today.

We need the stability and knowledge of God’s will being done, but also and more importantly that God’s will is done ‘on earth as it is in heaven’.  In our praying this, we are asking God to perfectly fulfill here on earth God’s plan here on earth.  Not a plan for us to have all the greatest toys, the biggest house or the best farm, which is the envy of our neighbors or friends we meet down at the elevator or for coffee.  Nor is it to have the best kids, the greatest sports legends of Goodland nor the most welcoming family.  God’s will is for salvation to be fulfilled for all of mankind.  Remember what Paul said, the importance is found when we remember it is for all of us to be ‘made holy’.  And this only occurs with our going to God in prayer and asking Him for His will to be done.

But what does a pair of crutches, a cane and a walker have to do with our being made holy.  Just as we go from crawling on all four as babies, to two feet as toddlers and adults to three with our mobility with canes or walkers as older adults our faith walk is no different.  In our faith walk some of us either are still crawling on all fours, hobbling around and in need of crutches because we are the walking wounded, or we need a cane to steady us because of the winds of life.  As we walk and journey with our faith, each of us individually has hurts that we carry and that burden us and sometimes even overwhelm us.

Personally, I at one time needed a walker for my faith, because of what I had experienced in my own personal and professional life.  I needed a spiritual walker to steady me and help me pray this petition of the Lord’s Prayer.  After using the walker for a time, I moved to a cane to continue to steady me and help me strengthen my muscles of faith and finally I again walked without any aid.  But this is the struggle that we as Christians undergo and experience in our daily lives and need support to walk through.

This is why I as your Pastor am here to walk with you, to journey with you and to be the light of Christ for you.  I have personally been in the depths of despair, I have fallen in the pit, I have experienced being separate from God.  It is not a good feeling and God wants all of us to pray this petition so we can be free and live as a Child of God.  You may need the spiritual walker or crutches to hobble as you spiritually heal or a cane to steady yourself.  And the Lord’s Prayer is not only this aid, but the way and means that we heal from life as we experience it and are healed by it with our use of the Lord’s Prayer.

May we as we pray “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”, be reminded that God’s will is fulfilled with our relying upon Him and using Him as our walker, crutches and cane.  And when we come and partake of His precious Body and Blood as we do today, this meal will strengthen us and enable us to not only be strengthened, but also healed as we prepare for our entrance into heaven.  For these are the promises that have been fulfilled through Jesus Christ, Who came, lived and died in order that all of mankind might be saved.  Especially including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel who need spiritual crutches, walkers and canes to help us pray with surety “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.  AMEN.

01262014 3rd Sunday After Epiphany - Annual Meeting

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.

Many of you sitting in the pew have experienced sitting on the combine or tractor and watching the sky either to the North, West or South that potentially would blow up a storm.  Unlike in the winter, early spring or late summer where a good rain or snow would be a blessing, some of you have watched storms blow in as you were headed to the field or sat on the edge of it ready to cut your winter wheat that was ready for harvest.  You wish you could have driven faster, harvested the wheat and got it to the elevator and beat the wind and hail that could easily ruin your winter wheat harvest for the year.  At times you beat the storm or it just stayed the other side of the draw or field that you had just cut or on your neighbors side of the line.  But ironically, it was all about speed and getting finished before the storm arrived.

This morning as we consider the second petition of the Lord’s Prayer, we pray a petition that is not only about speed, and getting things accomplished before a storm, but about God’s kingdom coming.  Let’s pull out our bulletin insert for this morning and read responsively as a congregation the “What does this mean?”  and “How does God’s kingdom come?” sections.  “The Second Petition of the Lord’s Prayer,  Thy Kingdom come. What does this mean?  The Kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.  How does God’s kingdom come?  God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead Godly lives here in time and there in eternity.  Let’s ask God to fulfill this petition with our prayer.

Let us pray, Heavenly Father, in this petition we ask for Your Kingdom to come.  In doing so it is in faith that Your Word will have accomplished Your divine plan and we will have fulfilled our calling as Your servants, in order that Your Glory will be revealed, not only for us, but also for all of mankind.  For when Your Kingdom comes, we will celebrate and want to speed in order to get into Your Kingdom to be with You for all eternity.  For this only occurs because of what Jesus Christ did for all of mankind on Calvary, and especially all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

If one were to measure the speed that a person travels when going to a Denver Bronco’s or Kansas Chief’s football game, or a Colorado Rockies baseball game, or to a KU or K-State football or basketball game it would probably be a little above the speed limit.  We as fans clearly are excited for ‘our team’ and the experience we will have and want to support them and have a good time.  Sometimes we get overly excited and our foot gets a little heavy and we go above the speed limit.  At other times we drag our collective feet when it comes to certain events, either because we wanted it over yesterday or we really don’t even want to be at the event.  Unlike sports, worship here at church or annual meetings like today are events that all of us, including me avoid or at times believe they are not important or won’t make a difference, because worship or meetings like today’s seem to always have the same outcome.  We see the same people do the same jobs, we hear the same reports, but nobody wants to speed up or charge ahead and get excited about how God is working here at Emmanuel in Goodland, KS.

But let’s consider this, when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, and especially the Second Petition, we are asking God to speed up His kingdom coming.  It may seem out of place, but I have three speed limit signs here this morning to help us understand and put into perspective this concept of speed and its perfect application for us when we pray the Lord’s Prayer.

Yes, these are signs we see everyday, whether when we drive the streets of Goodland or the highways of Western Kansas, but we don’t expect them in a church.  But when we pray the Lord’s Prayer we are asking God to come sooner rather than later, to speed up and come faster.  Paul in Romans gives us a great indication of this when he talks about the kingdom of God, it “is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 14:17). 

We find peace when we remember that God in perfect timing and at the right speed sent His Son into the world in a little city called Bethlehem in a lowly manger.  God also sent the Holy Spirit not to replace Jesus Who ascended back to the Father after dying for our salvation, but to bring a perfect peace and joy for each of us.  When we careen down the highway or back roads of Sherman, Cheyenne, Wallace or Thomas Counties doing faster than the posted speed limit, we may not have much peace, especially when we meet a stock or harvest truck or vehicle that doesn’t share the road as generously as we might.  We clearly become worried if the kingdom will come sooner for us because of their speed or ours, but the reality is that no matter the outcome, we need to trust God.

Today we as a congregation are at a crossroads.  We sit looking at a speed limit sign and have the opportunity to ask God are we going above the speed limit, or below the speed limit in our ministry here at Emmanuel?  We collectively in our annual meeting will talk about matters of the church that deal with money, the bounty or lack there-of, we will make decisions about who leads our congregation and the direction we have been going in the last year and where we want to go from here.  We will consider how faithful we have been as a congregation with God’s gifts to each of us that we return to Him of our offerings, no matter the amount, and what we can do differently in order for God’s glory to be fulfilled in our midst.  And we will ponder the speed that we have been moving, whether at warp speed with decisions and actions, a snails pace with growth and outreach or at some happy medium.  Each of us will have clear and distinct feelings and opinions and we need to share these openly and honestly, we need to accept everybody’s individual opinion and not understand them as an indictment by nor against anyone, including me as your shepherd.  And we are called by God to journey through this together in order for God’s Glory to be fulfilled here in Goodland at Emmanuel.

My prayer is that God would embolden us to move at a speed that is right for Emmanuel.  Either speed up and trust God to provide and run in faith that God will provide for our needs or slow down and make the hard decisions that are best for us, or both of these opportunities in a God pleasing way.  When I came here to candidate to be your pastor, I was amazed at the wide open expanse, the area and the speed that one could go, even on the two lane highways.  What I was also amazed about was the opportunity and the drive the congregation had to be a change agent here in Goodland.  God is calling us to this still and my prayer is that we as God’s children will come together and walk in faith and trust and at the speed God wants us to, not at the speed we relegate the church to because of our other business, interests or obligations, but at the speed that gives God the greatest glory.

Remember even Jesus Christ experienced speed in His day.  From the time of His arrest, to trial by the Sanhedrin and then Herod and Pilate and His crucifixion, Jesus crucifixion was faster than all of recorded history.  But when Jesus was crucified for all of mankind, no one knew how the world would radically change on Sunday with His resurrection.  Jesus resurrection radically changed the trajectory and speed of Christianity and still impacts us today.  May we lay claim to Jesus resurrection and may it speed up our prayer that He taught all of mankind, including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

01192014 2nd Sunday After Epiphany

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.

Recently I was going through some files on my personal computer at home and found some images that were very near and dear to both Michele and I.  They weren’t of our time at Western, where we first met, or of our wedding day where we said the immortal words, ‘I do.’  Nor were they of our first house we bought and moved into.  The pictures I found were not from a camera, but from the image that was created using some amazing medical technology.  It wasn’t the fascinating journey of a camera that is swallowed that takes pictures every second for the next 12 hours as it journeys through the body, nor was it the journey that no one enjoys of the colonoscopy, where no one wants to go.  The pictures I found were from the 3D sonogram from before Sarah was born.  Remarkably these pictures showed in clear detail her eyes, nose and face and created for Michele and I a special image of what our future daughter would look like once she was born.  It also created in our mind and heart the ability for us to identify with Sarah while still in the womb.

This morning we begin our adventure and journey of learning with the Lord’s Prayer.  Last week, I asked the question are you laying down or are you going to sit up?  Meaning, not your physical posture, but your spiritual posture.  This morning, we have before us three individual and distinct objects or representations.  The first is an artistic depiction of our church, Emmanuel, the second is the symbol we are best known for with Luther’s Rose and the third is the founder of our faith family, Martin Luther.  Each of these three items are distinct, but have a connection with the First Petition of the Lord’s Prayer.

Let’s pull out our bulletin insert for this morning and read responsively as a congregation the “What does this mean?”  and “How is God’s name kept holy?” sections.  “The First Petition of the Lord’s Prayer,  Hallowed be Thy name.  What does this mean?  God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also.  How is God’s name kept holy?  God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it.  Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven!  But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word profanes the name of God among us.  Protect us from this, heavenly Father!  Let’s go to God in prayer and ask with confidence for God to help us to keep His name in its truth and purity.

Let us pray, Gracious God, Your name is certainly hallowed in itself.  Enable us to call upon You in prayer and petition and use it rightfully in prayer and praise and not with malice, anger nor conceit.  For as Your children we are called to not profane but proclaim Your salvific deeds for all mankind through what Your Son, Jesus Christ did on Calvary for all mankind, including all of us saints here at Emmanuel.  AMEN.

Emmanuel, Luther’s Rose and Martin Luther, each object of itself has distinct meaning and value.  Martin Luther for standing up for the faith of the Bible and proclaiming “Grace by Faith in Jesus Christ”.  Luther’s Rose as the symbol that explains perfectly the belief that Jesus Christ died for all of mankind.  And our church of Emmanuel as a beacon of this faith here in Goodland.  Each of these images in and of themselves not only are unique and tell individual stories, they have an identity which all of us can individually connect with, but collectively they highlight for us today our individual and collective identity with God and the connection we have with the First Petition of the Lord’s Prayer.

Consider if you will the Lord’s Prayer taught by Jesus to His disciples was meant as a simple means of prayer.  It also begins with calling upon God’s name and “hallowing” God’s name in whatever we do or say.  I remember as a child sitting in the front pew as my Pastor, Dr. Ortner explained clearly that taking the name of the Lord in vain was not only wrong it was blaspheming and dishonoring His name.  It also was against the intent of the First Petition of the Lord’s Prayer.  Needless to say his admonition and warning was enough to scare me to never take God’s name in vain, even when I slam my finger in a door, stub my toe on a piece of furniture or even stepping on one of Sarah’s toys with my bare feet.  But even though God wants us to not use His name in vain, we still do at times and in our own way.  What if we were to do that to our earthly parents?

If any of us were to curse at our parents when we were growing up we either received a thorough rinsing of the mouth with soap, a quick hard slap either across the mouth or our backsides or we may have even felt the sting of the strap, whether their belt, a paddle or even the strap that hung by the bathroom sink to sharpen Dad’s razor.  We immediately understood what respect was all about and how if we talked in this way, we immediately would know we had done wrong.  Please understand I am not condoning any of these responses, but I want all of us to realize this is how our earthly Fathers and Mothers reacted.

But let’s ask the question, do we parents have the same reaction from our Heavenly Father?  Definitely not.  But the reality is that we have or we know of people that take God’s name in vain.  So how can we instead of using God’s name in vain, hallow His name and keep it holy?

For Martin Luther, he kept God’s name holy by holding fast to his faith.  When he stood before the Emperor and stood firm in his faith saying, ‘Here I stand, I can do no other’, he honored God and hallowed the faith given to him in Baptism.  Luther made his declaration and kept God’s name holy and blameless and honored God with not only his determination, but his firm belief in ‘grace by faith.’

The explanation of Luther’s Rose clearly illuminates the faith we share daily in our word and witness.  Whether the white rose and the purity, the spikes representing the wounds of Christ, the heart and how God enters our heart and the cross is the central part of our faith.  This is just one of the symbols that we not only use in teaching the faith, but how we honor God and His name.

And finally as we gather here today we honor God’s Name in our celebrating the Lord’s Supper.  Our remembering the feast He instituted on the night He was betrayed not only strengthens us, but it empowers us to understand our faith as our communion with Him.  Our identity is no longer a matter of opinion, but a reality that clearly expresses our conviction of faith found in Martin Luther, the symbols of faith we have, but especially in our faith here at Emmanuel.

This is perfectly expressed by our sign that we have announcing our presence in our community here in Goodland, not only with our outward expression in the Films of Faith we will enjoy today of October Baby, but also on our front yard.  Last week the men of the church took down our outward expression of the Nativity, but what still remains is a more permanent expression, it is our sign.  Our sign includes Martin Luther in the name Lutheran, the seal we use to teach the faith, but also our name of Emmanuel as our declaration of keeping God’s name holy here in Goodland.  May we always keep God’s name holy for His Name offers us salvation through His Son Jesus Christ for all of mankind, including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning, ‘hallowing His name.’  AMEN.

01122014 Baptism of Jesus

Gospel Reading
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.

The first real apartment I had when I was at seminary was an upstairs dwelling of an older ladies house in Western New York.  It included a kitchenette with fridge, stove, sink, bathroom, bedroom and my own entrance to the house.  It was perfect for me, because I didn’t need much, wouldn’t be doing much entertaining and only needed limited room.  At that time I didn’t have as many books as I do now.

When I first moved in, a friend who had previously had the apartment still needed a place to stay, so I went out and bought a cushioned chair that transformed into a bed as well, matter of fact, the one we have here this morning.  Whenever I had company or my friend would come in from Canada and spend the night, I always had this mini-futon seat that turned into a bed.  It has travelled from Western New York to North Carolina, to Virginia and all the way out here to Kansas and I still use it today.  But ironically it is a great metaphor for us to understand our next topic in our Catechism series.

So let’s pull out our bulletin insert for this morning and read responsively as a congregation the “What does this mean?” section.  “The Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer, Our Father who art in heaven. What does this mean? With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.  Let’s go to God in prayer and ask with confidence for His presence and blessing upon our time deliberating about the prayer His Son taught us to pray.

Let us pray, Gracious Father, You tenderly invite us to boldly come to You in prayer and pray with confidence.  May we Your dear children believe our prayers will not only be heard, but answered by You.  Not with possessions or objects that pass away but with the Gospel that saves us for all eternity that is found in what Your Son Jesus Christ did on Calvary for all of mankind.  Including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

When I would lay on the futon and sleep, it provided a soft place to lay my head and rest.  Not only could it be easily moved from room to room and state to state, it also was easy to transform it from a seat to the bed.  Let me show you….As you can see it is extremely easy, but the ironic part is that its ease of transition from seat to bed is perfect for our consideration of the Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer.

Jesus disciples had asked Him to teach them how to pray.  They had been taught the liturgical prayers of the Jews in the synagogue from when they were young in order to have the Bar Mitzvah and knew exactly what they were, but now with Jesus Christ among them and having heard that John the Baptist had taught his disciples to pray, Jesus disciples wanted to ask Jesus specifically the what and how of prayer as His dedicated, loyal and determined followers.  Just as we have this cushioned chair here, unless you ask someone who knows how to ‘transform it’ from chair to bed, it can be difficult even to put it back from bed to chair.  So to with prayer, unless you have someone to teach you how to pray, it can be intimidating and even a missed opportunity that we even miss on a daily basis in our own personal lives, even as pastor.

Yet, the prayer that Jesus taught wasn’t just about the words, it was about the intent for the individual praying.  Jesus intent was to not make the prayer a rote thing, or something that people memorized and said only when ‘prompted’ whether in the service or even around a hospital bed.  The Lord’s Prayer is meant to have a deeper meaning.  It is ironic that when I go and visit people who are nearing their entrance into the Church triumphant, or in Good Sam who may not be as responsive, when I first get there, when I launch into the Lord’s Prayer they chime in clearly and regularly and follow along very easily.  When we Lutherans baptize our children one of the things I as pastor remind parents, sponsors and even you the congregation is that we as the Body of Christ have the responsibility to teach our children the Lord’s Prayer.

So like having a person who knows how to ‘transform’ the seat to a bed, we need someone to teach us the real meaning and importance of the Lord’s Prayer.  Hence, our series on the Catechism and now our concentrating upon the Lord’s Prayer we need a guide and that is exactly what Jesus Christ has sent to you today, this is my calling as your pastor.  I am the guide to help you understand its meaning, but also as the Spiritual Leader of the Church you have called me to hold everyone in the congregation accountable.  The way I want us to frame our responsibility is to ask a simple question using the seat before us this morning as a metaphor, are we laying down or are we sitting up in our use of the Lord’s Prayer?

It is ironic, that before I was called here as Pastor of Emmanuel I had and still have a higher calling.  It is to my family.  I as Husband to Michele, Father to Sarah and head of the household am personally responsible for the spiritual life of our home.  This is the same responsibility that all Fathers have in their home.  Some take this responsibility seriously, others do not.  Some Fathers pray with their families at meals, lead nightly devotions with their families and teach their children about the faith.  Other Father’s are less comfortable with this responsibility, because either their Father never did it or their Father felt it was not important or they are always working trying to provide for their family by working long hours on the farm, at the shop or even on the road trying to make ends meet.  Yet, when we baptize our children this is the responsibility that we have to and for our children, not only as Father’s, as Mother’s and even as members of the Congregation.

Let me share how important this is and how I have seen the fruit of this responsibility in my own life.  As you know we had a difficult time having children and we are blessed to have Sarah.  When we first came to Emmanuel Sarah was quiet and didn’t talk so we found help here in the school system and now she can talk a blue streak with the best of them, matter of fact she talks so much we sometimes have to have ‘the no talking game’ now.  But as Sarah grew I felt it was important as her Father for me to teach her the Lord’s Prayer.  As much as she has been in church she had picked up some of the phrases and wanted to learn this prayer.  Well, I found the best way for me to teach her was on the way to school.  So every Friday for a month, we practiced the Lord’s Prayer, and now she knows every petition.  To say the least I am a proud Father of my daughter Sarah.  But what is ironic, Sarah does not say this prayer ‘laying down’ or lazily, she says it so everyone can hear her.  Matter of fact every Sunday I can hear her voice as we pray this prayer and it puts a smile on my face.

When we look at this chair or bed, depending upon it’s configuration, one can lay down in comfort or sit up.  My question for us today is, as a saint of Emmanuel redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ for all mankind, including all of us saints gathered here this morning, when you pray the Lord’s Prayer that Jesus taught His disciples, are you laying down in quiet comfort going through the motions, or are you being the leader of your family, modeling for your children the faith and free grace given to you and them in baptism by Jesus Christ and sitting up to be heard?  May God help you sit up and be heard from this day forward praying the Lord’s Prayer.  AMEN.

Sermon 01292012 Transfiguration Sunday

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, on the mount of Transfiguration Peter, James and John beheld Your divine glory.  This was to confirm for them and us that You had to go to Jerusalem to die for our sins.  May we begin to prepare our hearts as we prepare for our Lenten journey to survey the wondrous Cross, not as an end, but the beginning of our relationship with You.  For You came to save us from our sins and Your transfiguration confirms the divine plan of salvation for all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

After Michele and I were married, there was a time where movies played an important part in our entertainment.  One of the trilogies that we thoroughly enjoyed was the “Lord of the Rings” adventures of Frodo, Sam, Gandalf, Aragorn and the other hobbits from the Shire and other characters of Middle Earth.  One scene from the Two Towers is especially poignant for this morning.  Gandalf, whom everyone had thought had died fighting a Balrog in Mount Doom, suddenly appears in the Forest to a few of the company, Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli, that had set off in search of the Hobbits taken by the forces for the Dark Wizard.  When Gandalf appears, he no longer is the Gandalf the Grey, but has transfigured and transformed into Gandalf the White.

So to this morning the story of Jesus Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration was not only a stimulus for J.R.R. Tolkien, but was the inspiration for the return of Gandalf.  As we heard, “Jesus Christ took with Him Peter and James, and John…and led them up a high mountain by themselves.”  It was not uncommon for Jesus to go to mountains for prayer and communion with God the Father, but in taking Peter, James and John, it probably caused some of Jesus followers to wonder what would occur.  Once on the mountain, probably Mount Tabor, which is East of Nazareth, Jesus “was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became white as light.”  For those of you who have been up when the sun rose and see the sun in the distant East rising, Jesus transfiguration wasn’t slow, it was immediate, it was blinding.  Consider if at noon you were to look directly in the sunlight, this is what looking at Jesus would have been like.  Jesus immediately transfigured before them and Peter, James and John beheld the Glorified Body of Jesus Christ.

Then, “Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him [that is Jesus]”.  In this account Matthew inspired by the Holy Spirit, clearly identifies two men that predate him by 1500 and 1000 years respectively.  Moses who had died and Elijah who had been taken up into heaven in a fiery chariot were conversing with Jesus, splendid in white, in His Spiritually Glorified state.

Can you imagine the conversation, the two greatest representatives of the Old Covenant, one having given the Law, the other being the most zealous for the Law, on the eve of the Law’s ultimate fulfillment were speaking to Jesus Christ, the one Whom would fulfill the Law?  Yet what does Peter do, he doesn’t try to ‘hold onto these three figures’, but says, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  Peter wants these three men to stay and probably wants to ask all kinds of questions and sit at their feet and drink up the wisdom and instruction of all three individuals.

Yet, what occurs, the plans of men to delay the fulfillment of the law is thwarted by none other than God the Father.  In similar fashion to Jesus Baptism that we celebrated earlier this month, “a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”  Just as on the river Jordan where God’s voice Spoke and Jesus was revealed as the Son of God.  Here on the Mount of Transfiguration God reveals to James, Peter and John that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of His promise.  This Jesus Christ Whom they have seen heal the blind, the lepers and the lame, feed the multitudes, teach with authority and explain more explicitly God’s Kingdom and prophecy about His own death and resurrection is revealed as the fulfillment of the prophecy of old.  Jesus Christ in Whom the Father is “well-pleased” is the One Who would complete the plan of salvation.

As soon as God the Father spoke, Peter, James and John Jesus disciples, “fell face down to the ground and were terrified.”  In their sight and hearing, they had seen legends of the Old Covenant and heard the Voice of God the Father and some would say out of their wits they were ‘terrified’.  But the Pastoral Shepherd that Jesus was, “came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.”  The vision they had just beheld Jesus plainly and clearly says for them not to be afraid of and Jesus commands them, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”

So what can we take away today, 2000 years later?  What gem does God reveal for us today as we celebrate His Transfiguration, the appearance of the Moses and Elijah and the strict command to the disciples to ‘tell no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead’?  The gem we take away is that this same Jesus Who revealed His Glory on Mount Tabor, fulfilled on the Cross of Calvary for you and for me the plan of salvation.  In His one gesture of dying a sacrificial death on the Cross, He made You and I heirs of eternal life.  We no longer are bound by sin, death and the devil and we are transfigured as well in our baptism into His life, death and resurrection. 

This same Jesus Christ Who not moments earlier was in splendid array in garments Whiter than any other transfigures us as well.  Through our baptism with Water and Word, we, the collective church of Emmanuel Lutheran are transfigured and made in the image of God.  Though we still live in earthly attire, though we are conceived in sin, though we are both saints and sinners as Martin Luther would attest, we have been through the Blood of the Lamb transfigured by Jesus Christ.  We are a new creation that waits now for God’s calling to come home to be with Him in His Kingdom.  Our transfiguration is an accomplished fact and because Jesus has been raised from the dead, we now are empowered to tell others what He has done for each of us through Water and Word for all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

Sermon 01222012 Third Sunday After Epiphany

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 power of Your Word is immeasurable, whether it is healing, rebuking of the wind or sending away a Centurion for whom You healed His servant.  May we as we hear Your word spoken to our hearts through the work of the Holy Spirit turn and return us to Your care and affirm our need and desire to hear Your Word in preaching, teaching and forgiveness offered for all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

This morning at the conclusion to the Epistle Lesson and in preparation for the Holy Gospel, we sang an acclamation.  Hear again, what was sung:

Alleluia, Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the Words of Eternal Life!!  ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!

This Gospel Acclamation sung exclusively in preparation for the proclamation of the Gospel is sung in every season except for “Lent”, due to the use of the Alleluia.  And is appropriate for us this morning, especially for the lesson we hear of the leper being cleansed and the great faith of the Centurion.

It is clear from the text that Jesus has just come down from the mountain, most likely having been praying and having communion with His Father in heaven.  For Jesus ministry required His absolute best and prayer allowed Him to focus and be refreshed for the demands of the people.  And here the people see Jesus and swarm Him, because of His power and teaching with an authority unheard of or unseen for a long while.

But what happens, but a leper, the despised of the world, the outcast of the society comes to Jesus.  For this leper, the question we sang, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” is answered in his coming to Jesus Christ to “make him clean”.  But the leper says, only “if You [that is Jesus Christ] are willing”.  Thus with a faith in the Word and Power of Jesus Christ, Jesus unlike the crowds who would not even be in the same house, synagogue or bath as this leper, “stretches out His hand and touches him, saying “I am willing; be cleansed.”  Jesus Christ, Word of God incarnate reached out and touched an outcast and healed this man of his leprosy and restored him in mind, spirit and especially body where he was now clean and no longer outcast by society.

By Jesus Christ acclamation, He willed that this man no longer be outcast, but be cleansed and restored.  What does Jesus require?  For the leper to “go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” And thus fulfill the Old Testament law and not give the legalists or those who wanted to find fault with Jesus any ammunition or cause to question His going against the Levitical Law.

Then Jesus encounters the Centurion entering Capernaum.  And Jesus is moved by the faith of the Centurion who only asks “just say the word, and my servant will be healed.”  For the faith shown by the Centurion in the power of Jesus Word, Jesus says, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel”  For the Centurion looks with the eyes of faith and sees and knows what will be fulfilled by Jesus Christ.

These two examples, the leper and the Centurion reveal not only the power of Jesus Word, but the depth of faith by two vastly different individuals.  The leper was outcast by society and the Centurion, who was a career soldier, model for us today what true faith really is.

What if we had the faith of the leper and the Centurion?  Yes, we don’t have a disease that our society relegates us to the outskirts of the city, or are an occupying force from the Roman authority.  But we today live with something much worse.  We are sinful creatures, conceived in sin.  The old Catechism acronym that some of you might remember is very true, “What does SINS mean?”  We are Sinners in need of a Savior.  And this is exactly what the leper and the Centurion understood clearly and model for us today.

For our Savior, Jesus Christ came down from the mountain and cleansed a leper and He came down from heaven and offers us the forgiveness of sins.  In fulfilling the plan of salvation, Jesus Christ offers us the forgiveness of sins that takes away our sin and we no longer are sinners in God’s eyes.  We through the blood of the lamb are redeemed and freed from the power of sin, death and the devil and are set free.  The power of Jesus Christ Word declared to us in the forgiveness of sins frees us and through the Waters of Baptism we now put on our garments of salvation offered for each and every one of us, because of Jesus Christ innocent death on Calvary.  And the example of the leper and the Centurion enable us to sing boldly the acclamation “Alleluia, Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the Words of Eternal Life!!  ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!”  For Jesus Christ came to set us free and proclaim to us and the World the Words of Eternal life for all of us saints, especially we who gather here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

Sermon 01152012 2nd Sunday After Epiphany

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, at the wedding feast in Cana, Your mother pressed You to ‘fix’ the situation.  In obedience to Your mother You performed the first of many miracles, but it was not just a miracle, but a revelation of Your glory for Your people.  May we who partake of Your precious Body and Blood this morning receive, the miracle of Your presence in, with and under the Bread and Wine and receive the greatest gift of Your Precious Body and Blood and Eternal Life for all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel.  AMEN.

This past Sunday, the football game between the Denver Bronco’s and the Pittsburgh Steelers was for some an opportunity to gloat.  When the game finally ended, we know the outcome, the Steelers season had come to an end.  Some claimed it was ‘destiny’, others claimed it was a miracle.  The fact remains, Denver would continue playing in hopes of making it to the Super Bowl and the possibility of earning the coveted ring.  Interestingly the man who led the Bronco’s is a man of faith, we know as Tim Tebow.

In this morning’s Gospel lesson, another man of great faith, Jesus Christ, is not known in Cana of Galilee and is currently without a target on His back from the Scribes and Pharisees.  Jesus is attending a wedding with His mother.  What occurs, but Mary, enlists Jesus in service to help the family because they, the family and friends, have ‘drunk’ all the wine that had been acquired for the marriage banquet.  This is one of the greatest tragedies of a family that is not prepared at the celebration of a marriage.  Unlike the game last Sunday, Jesus mother knew of the potential of Jesus, and “said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” ”  With the faith not only of a mother, but a believer who had carried Him in her womb and travelled to Jerusalem to dedicate Him, fled for Egypt for sanctuary and safety and returned to Nazareth, Mary believed in Jesus.  What does occur, but a miracle, the first recorded divine act of Jesus Christ.  Jesus instructs the servants to fill the jars with water and then draw a drink out to take to the headwaiter.

When I was in Israel in Cana of Galilee there is a church that has been built on the site of this historic first miracle of Jesus.  In an alcove a jar, similar to the one used in Jesus day sits and one cannot but feel a connection with Jesus Christ Who walked those very streets over 2000 years ago.

This morning we partake not of a miracle that is as tangible as water being turned into wine, but we partake of a greater miracle.  The miracle we partake of is our partaking of the precious Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  When the words of institution are spoken, God reaches down from heaven and in, with, through and under the earthly elements of bread and wine, reveals the greatest miracle we are enabled to see today.  No longer is it just bread and wine, it becomes the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, broken and shed for each and every one of us for the forgiveness of sins.  Unlike with the miracle of Cana in Galilee, we sit on the front row and are called to be ‘active participants’ of the miracle of the gift of eternal life for all of us.

Yet, what is our response?  We know from the Gospel, the response of the headwaiter who tasted the Wine, ““Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.””  So to with the feast we receive this morning, what is your response?  How do you receive the precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ?  Will you continue as if nothing changes?  Or will you after having been fed by Jesus Christ precious Body and Blood, which gives the forgiveness of sins and eternal life, be changed, be transformed or be renewed for service in God’s Kingdom?

Just as Jesus first miracle revealed His power and possibilities of the future of His ministry, we as well have the opportunity as well in the service of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I ask you now as you come forward this morning to receive the miracle of Jesus Christ in the Bread and Wine as the precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ to work in God’s Kingdom and be active participants here at Emmanuel.  If you don’t know how God can use you, whether you are 7 or 77, I would like to walk with you down the path of discernment and let God through the work of the Holy Spirit mold and shape you to be the child of God that you are destined to become.  You could be a greeter, reader, usher, coffee host, council member, board member or any capacity you feel led to serve in, but more importantly, God through His precious Body and Blood, broken and shed for you feeds you for His service in His Kingdom here at Emmanuel.  It is my prayer that we can do this together and through the power of the miracle of Jesus precious Body and Blood transform our lives our ministry and our church into the divine work that God has in store for us here in Goodland, KS, for all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel.  AMEN.